practice with amenabar

In order to listen to Italian I watched a lot of Fellini, de Sica and other assorted Italians.

While I’ve seen a few Amoldavar movies I’ve recently discovered Amenabar.

Some on The List may be familiar:

 

Agora I reckon is a load of old piffle, and Vanilla sky – well there ya go (ah I see adapted from Abre los ojos which is not so bad if a bit intense). The others is pretty good and The sea inside is pretty brilliant. Reminiscent, perhaps of aspects of the The diving bell and the butterfly.

Overall though? I’d say Amoldavar was more consistent. And a bit madder.

Did my Spanish improve? Perhaps not.

and tonight

I lay on the couch and watched Whatever happened to Baby Jane. That Bette Davis sure knew how to play mad dames!

Wow.

cats and rooves

Last night I lay on the couch and watched Cat on a hot tin roof.

It’s a marvellous film. The eyes of Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are fabulous. The story by Tennessee Williams is dense and perceptive. There are at times bits in the film that don’t ring true like the speed with which Big Daddy’s pain advances and the hysterical nature of Big Mama.

Robert Fulford’s book talks about the ways that the books of Walter Scott impacted on the morals of the South. He says that the South took to itself the ideas of chivalry and the romantic notions about women. That the soldiers went into battle with the notions of the perfect women in their hearts. Interesting idea I reckon. Amazing that a novel can have such an effect on a population!

two movies

After not seeing several movies for several months I went to see Woody’s latest, Midnight in Paris.

Did I like it? Hmm it was amusing. The main character is unnervingly like young Woody – same intonations. It’s an interesting and amusing idea – a man meets up with the past. A notable past that includes Dali, Bunel, Picasso and Hemingway. It’s a little indulgent and manipulative as the audience (and me) laugh at the in-jokes.

And then I watched Pane e Tulipani. Which I adored. Funny, sweet, idiosyncratic.

I can see why I watch dvds at home sometimes.

reading is such pleasure

From time to time I read a book by Paul Auster and enjoy it. I also enjoy books by his wife Siri Hustvedt, to be honest I have not read many but What I Loved is a wonderful book.

Image of library book with the ID code over the title, alas.

So, reading Sunset Park, I knew would be an intense experience. And it was.
I note that he thanks his daughter for her dissertation on To Kill a Mocking Bird for part of the inspiration for this book. And I can see why. Throughout the book we are treated to various perceptions on the film The Best Years of their Lives. One of the characters sees things that are missing, another sees the slights to returned soldiers.

It is a remarkable book partly because it is a story about people trying to make sense of their lives.

These two writers belong, I think, to that list of fantastic American writers some of us grew up with but Auster reminds me most of Baldwin for the elegant language, the outstanding intelligence and the perceptive analysis of people and their times.

current fav movie

another great one

the diving bell and the butterfly

Watched recently this great movie.

I have to say that I thought it could be a real sleeper but it was fascinating. I think because the language was so poetic. Imagine being shut into that cocoon with only the butterfly eyelashes to let you speak.

Wonderful movie.

un altro

Segio Leone: good stuff Ennio Morricone also good stuff.

thanks heaps, amazon

Another online shopping experience that was easy and sweet.

And a chance to wonder if I should buy High Noon too. Remember seeing that many many years ago. Er Perhaps not the first time it was released – that would have been a minor miracle- but hmmm certainly in the 60s.