Perfect Imperfection

While watching The English Teacher I kept thinking how boring it would be if everyone were perfect. This amusing comedy features a host of flawed characters -- and the one with the most faults just happens to be our heroine, a 40-year-old unmarried high school English teacher played brilliantly by Julianne Moore. The main character here is a finicky woman who even grades her suitors! When not teaching, she spends most of her time reading books by her favorite authors. She avoids personal relationships and enjoys an uncomplicated life free from real drama -- at least until a former student shows up and brings out another side of her -- which changes her in ways she never expected. Although not a pretty sight, it’s a very entertaining one!

Read the rest of my review by clicking on the link below.

http://www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=review&id=5143  

Best Films about Weddings

Nell Minow, the famous Movie Mom, returns to Movie Addict HQ on Tuesday, May 7, for a discussion about her entertaining book, 50 Must-See Movies: Weddings. Her other film-related books are: 50 Must-See Movies: Mothers; 100 Must-See Movie Moments; and The Movie Mom’s Guide to Family Entertainment. Nell is one of the most respected film critics working today – and her book about movie weddings is a treasure trove for film fans. A.J. Hockery, the Mad Movie Man, has agreed to co-host this fun episode, which airs on BlogTalkRadio at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. Pacific Time).

During the live show, listeners are invited to call in and to participate in a chat. An archived segment will also be available.

What are your picks for best movies about weddings -- and will any of your favorites make Nell's must-see list?  Tune in and find out!

Just click on the link below for more information:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/movieaddictheadquarters/2013/05/07/movie-mom-picks-wedding-flicks 

(50 Must-See Movies: Weddings is available at Amazon's Kindle store.)

Unsinkable Debbie Reynolds

I stayed awake the whole night through reading Unsinkable: A Memoir. Thanks to Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway for giving me such enjoyable insomnia. But describing Unsinkable is not easy. Is it a thriller? A modern Book of Job? A humorous showbiz romp? A behind-the-scenes Hollywood exposé? A heartfelt love story? I think the answer has to be “Yes” to all of the above.

In this candid memoir, Debbie (now 81 years young) pulls no punches as she looks back at the ups and downs of her personal and professional life. Of course, her millions of fans know a great deal about Debbie because she’s been entertaining us – either on film, television or in live shows -- for over six decades. And she’s even joked openly about her bad luck with three husbands. But Unsinkable includes many intriguing surprises – and some quite shocking ones. For example, I did not know that Debbie actually feared someone might kill her at one point in her life. That part of her memoir comes across as more chilling than many a thriller I’ve seen lately on the big or small screen. And although I realized Debbie was having trouble trying to create a museum for her awesome collection of movie costumes and memorabilia, I had no idea how much that project cost her -- both emotionally and financially.

Remarkably, no matter how serious the problem, Debbie soldiered on – just like the character she plays in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, her favorite role. Writing about one dark point in her life, Debbie explains, “I thought about all the hard fights I’d had in my life and career and remembered that I love to work. I love to perform and make audiences happy. They make me happy, and it’s all joy.” As someone who’s seen Debbie’s live shows, I can vouch for how happy she makes her audiences.

Preserving important movie costumes and memorabilia ranks as another love of Debbie’s life. Unsinkable takes us though her trials and tribulations related to that goal. And they are absolutely heartbreaking! But, clearly, love for daughter Carrie Fisher and son Todd Fisher comes across as the most important thing for Debbie – and she dedicated this book to them.

Because I’m a practicing movie addict, my favorite section of the book is Debbie’s personal tour through every one of her films – from June Bride (1948) to Behind the Candelabra, scheduled for release this year (2013) and in which she portrays Liberace’s mother. Her amusing anecdotes concerning directors, fellow actors and the way she feels now about each movie are absolutely priceless! I’m also impressed by the beautiful photos included in this wonderful memoir.

How does Debbie sum up her remarkable journey? “In many ways, my life has been like a fairy tale. I kissed a lot of frogs, but I got a prince and Princess Leia. After thrilling triumphs and some terrible setbacks, I’m still here. I hope we all live happily ever after!” Amen to that, Debbie.

(Unsinkable: A Memoir is published by William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. It’s available on Amazon.com.)

Roger Ebert Remembered

Like so many movie fans, I’m very sad about Roger Ebert’s passing. He was one of the finest film critics ever published -- and also a great guy! I love to read his movie reviews. They never seem formulaic, and he put so much of himself into everything he wrote. In fact, Roger and his work helped motivate me to become a film critic.

My husband and I had the good fortune to meet Roger several years ago at the Telluride Film Festival during the screening of The Mystic Masseur. This film focused on one man’s burning desire to become an author. "Put my picture on the cover," Ganesh, played brilliantly by Aasif Mandvi, insists to the publisher of his first book, a catechism about the Hindu religion. While discussing the movie with Roger after the screening, I mentioned to him that Larry and I identified with the main character because we just finished co-writing a romantic memoir. “Put your picture on the cover just like Ganesh did,” he advised us. (I believe Roger followed his own advice and made sure his photo was seen on many of the terrific books he wrote.)

Roger deserved the various honors he received, which include a Pulitzer Prize for film criticism and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

No doubt about it, Roger Ebert will be missed. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Easter Parade on TCM Today

One of my favorite movie musicals will be shown on Turner Classic Movies today, and I can hardly wait to see Easter Parade again for the umpeenth time. Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller and Peter Lawford were never better! Great Irving Berlin tunes and an amusing show biz story add to the fun.

Highlights include:

Judy and Fred dressed as tramps performing "A Couple of Swells"

Ann Miller singing and dancing to "Shaking the Blues Away"

Peter Lawford warbling "A Fella with an Umbrella"

Put all this together and you have an oldie-but-goodie musical treat, for sure!

Here's a link for more information:

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2332/Easter-Parade/videos.html

Stop Playing Safe

Described as a “guidebook for greater courage and success,” Stop Playing Safe by Margie Warrell is designed to help readers make changes they have been putting off and move their careers onto a new path of success and fulfillment. Rave reviews are coming in about this important book! For example, here is what one executive has to say about the author and her work:

Margie has an exceptional gift with helping people see things from new, bigger and more constructive perspectives. She will help you identify your barriers to success, and find the courage to take the steps needed to achieve your true potential. -- Sylvia Work, Verizon

Stop Playing Safe sounds like a "must-read" for anyone who wants a more rewarding career and life.

For more information plus a list of great bonuses (full disclosure -- one from yours truly), please click on the link below.

http://bit.ly/12ZEhwm

Funny Essay

Harry and Elizabeth, who knew each other slightly, were lucky to receive assigned seats across from each other at the end of two aisles in the back of their high school World History class. This enabled them to pass notes without the teacher knowing it, and Harry always went out of his way to make Elizabeth laugh. During one class session, the teacher asked the students to write a short essay about Scotland. So Harry very quickly wrote a short one, then passed it to Elizabeth.

SCOTLAND by Harry Lawrence

Scotland is a land filled with Scots. For example, many Scotch people live there. You can tell they are Scotch because even the men wear colorful skirts, which they call “kilts.”

It’s important to mention that Scotland can be found close to Great Britain. However, this land should not be confused with Ireland, which is also close to England (Great Britain). There are very few Scotch people in Ireland, which is the homeland for most Irish people and their leprechauns (tiny green men with pots of gold) instead.

Although Scotland can be considered part of Europe (a continent close to Asia), it does not appear connected to that particular continent. Anyone who wants to get to Europe from Scotland has to fly or travel by boat. But it’s well-known the Scotch people don’t like to spend much money. That’s probably why they don’t buy expensive tickets to Europe and prefer to stay at home in Scotland listening to their bagpipe music.

After learning all this about Scotland, I feel lucky to live in the United States of America.

Elizabeth couldn’t contain herself and laughed too loud at what Harry wrote, probably because of her Irish/Scottish roots. She didn’t give the piece of paper back to Harry fast enough, so both of them were chastised by the teacher, who smiled slyly when she read Harry’s SCOTLAND ESSAY. Happily, she didn’t change the seating arrangements, so Harry and Elizabeth continued communicating with each other and becoming friends during the class all that semester – but they were more careful after this incident.

(Find out more about HARRY AND ELIZABETH LAWRENCE by reading their award-winning romantic memoir, IT HAD TO BE US, available from Amazon’s Kindle Store.)

HAPPY ST. PAT'S DAY!