esrosedotblog

WOODY

One loss we have decided clearly.

We need to find a good home for Woody.

I am on track with it. Words to our friends and a call to a guy who does antique cars who thinks he might have someone who is interested.

We will see. It is time.

He needs someone who is willing to take over the care and keeping and do some repairs.

Labels: condo, Woody

SUMMER / MILAGE

It hasn't been that hot but today, while waiting for Woody at the Chrysler service place, I found myself moving to the shade to get out of the sun. A sure sign of summer. When it gets really hot we will be in any shade we can find if we stop to talk to someone. A utility pole's shadow will do.

I also felt the sun this morning in a different way. Soon, we will have the summer smell but it will have to be a little drier for that.

This afternoon I noticed Booker doing the same shade thing.

We will know summer is over when we start to move into the sun and out of the shade.

It was funny. At the service place, the guy noticed that we have not cracked 110,000 miles in seven or eight visits. We need 300 or so more miles to hit 11,000. They don't get many cars that change their oil at 200 miles. We take the Woods in every 6 months.

I drive him almost every day except in deep winter. But even then. Just not very far. A mile or two. Three at the most. Errands.

He works just fine. I just don't want to wear him out. Or have trouble too far from home.

Labels: seasons, weather, Woody

LIFEWORKS

Today's movie was Woody Allen's

Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)

Great movie. Classic Allen.

Way back in time. Allen's films would arrive in Boston on an annual basis. They would play at the Paris Cinema on Boylston Street. A huge old fashioned movie theater.

The lines for all shows would go out the lobby and around the corner.

Sitting in the audience you were with kindred souls. All sopping up the latest Allen product. It was a group thing as well as a very satisfying individual adventure.

Allen's films mattered because they were smart. You had to think.

The dialogue was realistic. Not movie talk pap but the way people, of the type of folks who were in the film, talked. Most of us sitting in the Paris either were or would be like those people. Many times we were laughing or crying about ourselves.

Allen's work went through periods which his fans debated at length. He seemed above all that and just kept making movies. And more movies.

I have seen all of his films. I have not enjoyed all of them as much as I would have liked. But I have always, always found myself in the company of a compatriot. We have lived or observed the same country.

For a while Allen's films have not been up to the par we have set for him but they have always been above the par for films in general.

The last several films made outside New York have been on the up trend.

This one is near or above the lifetime Allen average.

Penelope Cruz is wonderful and so is everyone else.

And I mean everyone. Even the smallest parts get the full Allen attention.

I will give this a 4 out of Netflix5 because it will be in the long, long Allen film fest.

Labels: film, films, Woody

PASSED

Woody, the 1984 LeBaron convertible, passed his smog test yesterday.

We always hold our breath. He is 24 years old after all.

But he got right up on the treadmill and did his thing. Very nice job.

The results go into the DMV by computer and I was able to register him this morning on line.

He is good to go for another two years on the smog and another year on the tags.

Labels: Woody

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Early on, 'someone' is reading Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment in this Woody Allen film:

Match Point (2006)

The 'someone' in this case didn't get it. Too much scheming I suppose.

If 'someone' had gotten it, they could have saved themselves a good bit of trouble but then they might not have.............

Well, never mind. We would not have had this great edge of the seat story either.

This is a really good film. Even good for Woody Allen who has found a new life in his first London based production.

The cast is great and plays nicely together.

It is fun to watch the big-lipped Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the even lippier Scarlett Johansson go at it; a real lip mashup.

Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode and Brian Cox fill out the film family where money is no object for anything you want.

Cox just disappears into all his roles. Great.

It is a 5 out of Netflix5 but with Allen, ratings are beside the point.

This is not a NYTimes Best Film because it came after that list was compiled. I just wanted to see it.

Labels: films, Woody

REEL LIFE

Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was Woody Allen's

Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

with Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels.

This ode to depression movies uses the movie within a movie idea in unique and clever way.

Daniels steps out of the screen to meet movie addict Farrow and court her.

Farrow who has an abusive husband at home is taken up with the romance and then, in turn, falls for the real star of the film who comes from Hollywood to help resolve the confusion created by his character's leaving the film being shown.

We see the movie cast dealing with his departure from their story twice. The confusion and comedy created makes for an enjoyable film.

All the stock character of those films are present; the playboys, the rich dowager (countess), the black maid. There is even the token fag.

It isn't very deep which is OK.

The black and white film pieces that we see are wonderfully recreated. They look very much like the real thing.

Have you noticed how often I am using the word 'real'.

Well, we are also watching an unrealistic film about reality that evolves from a story where the unreal becomes real.

Go see it and figure it out for yourself and savor the magic of Allen's exquisitely careful recreation of the places and times.

There are some sets and business (including the film within the film) that are real/reel gaspers.

At the end, Farrow gives us a resolution that is not a resolution. It is certainly not the one we want.

But she is brilliant as she .................well, see it for yourself.

A 4 out of Netflix5.

Labels: best films, Woody