Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes tries too hard. The movie is at its best when it is "Sherlock Holmes" plain and simple. When Holmes is 'sleuthing' or bantering with Watson the movie is very entertaining. I loved it when Holmes uses his deductive reasoning to calculate the most effective moves to use to subdue a thug in a back alleyway. He talks it through in his mind, we witness it in slow motion and then in it plays out in real time. It is the opening scene and it is a very clever technique director Guy Ritchie has used in other films (Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). But in the midst of too many explosions, long drawn out fight scenes, and an over abundance of computer generated images (CGI’s), the movie gets bogged down and loses momentum. Robert Downey Jr. is a far cry from Basil Rathbone or Peter Cushing but he is a fabulous Sherlock never-the-less. Ripped, slovenly, overly moody and possibly too close to Dr. Watson, he is a new take on Sir Arthur Canon Doyle's most famous fictional character. Jude Law is too gorgeous to be a plausible Watson but who cares (I'm a sucker for a pretty face). I loved him in this movie and together they make a terrific crime fighting duo. The acting is not the problem; it’s the heavy handed plot. Something about a secret satanic society lead by Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) that practices its evil business under the House of Parliament. It’s too silly. There is no question, the screenwriters (there are 4 of them) were aware of Doyle’s interest in *spiritualism but it is so over-the-top it becomes a distraction. The very talented and beautiful Rachel McAdams plays Irene Adler, Sherlock’s female nemesis but her role here feels strained. This is a screenwriting problem not an acting issue. The ending screams for a sequel but I would love to see it in someone other then Guy Ritchie’s hands. Ouch, I know, but he’s not my favorite director – remember Swept Away? Awful. There is too much big cinematography (albeit CGI) to recommend renting it. It will be greatly diminished on a TV screen. But I’m having a hard time recommending you spend 2 hours and 15 minutes in the movie theater. Then again, if you are a Robert Downey Jr. fan, and I am a big one, how can you miss it? You can’t.

*Doyle became interested in spiritualism after the death of his wife, Louisa, his son Kingsley, his brother, both brothers-in-laws and 2 nephews. He found comfort in his quest to prove scientifically, that there is life after death. In his novel, The Land of Mist, Doyle uses another fictional character, Professor Challenger, to reveal his own personal experiences with contacting the dead.

Movie Review: Avatar

Avatar is destined to become the gold standard by which all science fiction/fantasy movies are measured. Like Cameron’s The Abyss, The Terminator and Aliens, we are witness to images never seen before and trust me, you will be amazed. Although the story is not as compelling as the stories in those movies, the images and the landscapes make up for it (something I never thought possible). The gorgeous and talented Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, an ex-Marine who has lost the use of his legs in battle. The year is 2154 and all of the Earths natural resources have been depleted. The solution; a substance called “unobtainium” (I’m not sure how anyone said that without laughing). The problem; the only place it can be found is on the distant Pandora, the moon of the planet Polyphemus, 3.4 light-years away. Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a very beautiful, very tall and very blue humanoid yet cat-like race who are beyond nature-loving. They are intricately connected to nature through their anatomy. It is just this type of storytelling James Cameron can pull off that makes him a genius and the self-proclaimed, “king of the world”. Remember, he is not just the director; he is the writer. The storyline is classic. The Na’vi have what our planet needs and we have come, with all our military might, to take it. The plan is to attempt a diplomatic solution first by infiltrating Pandora with Avatars; scientific creations masterminded by Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). They are made from combining human DNA with the DNA of the Na’vi. The Avatar is synced to the human who’s DNA was used to create it allowing a type of telepathic control. A few carefully chosen humans have been selected. Jake is not one of them but a twist of fate creates an opening for him and with the promise of "getting his legs back", he jumps at the opportunity. The Avatars' job is to get to know these relatively peace-loving creatures and convince them to move. Needless to say, diplomacy fails and our big military guns - led by Col. Miles Quaritch (a very buff Stephen Lang) and Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), the brains and money monger of the operation - plow in and try to take what they want. The "understory" and compelling force in the movie is the romance that develops between Jake and Neytiri (Zoe Saltana – Star Trek), the beautiful native who saves his life and ultimately trains him to be one of the Na'vi.
Motion Capture Technology is used to create the inhabitants of Pandora. My usual complaint with MCT is that it generates emotionless characters which is not the case here. On the contrary, the Na’vi as well as all the creatures of Pandora are full of expression and emotion. As a matter of fact, they show more emotion then the real life actors (with the exception of Worthington). This is a tremendous advancement in the technology (check out HBO on cable to see how this movie was made - amazing). And if you don’t think it can be sexy to watch two, blue, computer generated images with tails make love, think again.

I have heard endless comparisons of this movie to Dances With Wolves. For me, the movie that came to mind was The Last of the Mohicans. In fact, there is a scene stolen from it. But Cameron gets away with plenty in this movie because it is a visual masterpiece. Clocking in at 2 hours and 40 minutes the movie is too long but no one seems to mind. I did not see one person get up. Even more impressive, not one cell phone light went on; incredible considering the mean age in the theater. There is plenty of unnecessary voice-over but I'm gonna let it slide. Don’t miss it. See it in 3D in an IMAX theater.

Movie Review: Up In the Air

If you read Up In the Air, the novel by Walter Kirn, you will have a hard time recognizing the storyline in the movie. They have kept the main character, Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a corporate axeman for hire, but that's about it. It turns out to be a good thing. Jason Reitman, the screenwriter and director, in a stroke of genius, added two female characters bringing more interest and more heart to this very clever and timely film. Reitman's previous movies, Juno and Thank You For Smoking are both terrific but clearly more about the comedy and less about the drama. Up in the Air incorporates both creating a richer product. The message regarding long held beliefs about happiness and what is important in life are skillfully worked into scenes as naturally as when you and I are having lunch (or a cocktail), sharing heartbreaks, life lessons and insights. By doing this, the movie, unlike the book, has interest not only in the air but on the ground. Up in the Air is the story of a man who relishes in his whittled down lifestyle. He spends most of his life flying all over the country doing the dirty work that company heads can't bring themselves to do: fire employees. The euphemism used for his job, "career-transition counselor". Brilliant. He has no attachments and spends time lecturing on the benefit of traveling, literally and figuratively, with no more then what you can fit in your carry-on luggage. Clooney is as perfect in this role as he was in Michael Clayton. He is newly leaned down and plays a very well oiled machine. Vera Farmiga (Orphan, The Departed, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) plays Alex, Ryan's love interest and even colder, female counterpart. The nice little surprise; Anna Kendrick (Twilight), flexing her acting chops, plays Natalie, the new kid on the block who gives Ryan a taste of his own medicine. With her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, she steals every scene she is in. Jason Bateman, always underrated, is wonderfully slippery as Ryan's unscrupulous boss. Sam Elliot has a cameo at the end of the movie teaching all of us about star power. If the interviews at the beginning and end of the movie of people getting fired seem very real to you, it's because many of them are. What's real is real and we can feel it. Along with great screenwriting and perfect casting, this very smart bit of moviemaking kicks the film up a notch. Even though the movie has little resemblance to the novel, we know it has Kirn's complete endorsement; he has a part as one of Ryan's colleagues. Kirn has written 7 books. This is the second to make it the big screen. The first was Thumbsucker (Keanu Reeves and Vince Vaughn). Why am I telling you this? Because I feel I have to offer you something more and a little different then other reviewers because I'm always late. I try to make up for it with trivia! With all the aerial cinematography and shots of big airplanes, it needs a movie theater. This is an interesting and finely crafted movie with a great ending (always challenging) that will hit home for plenty of people.

For My Mom: 1989

What gift can I give you?
So close to that fateful day.
In darker moments you have sighed and said “my life is over”.
Natures trick.

So strong in you to gather, protect and nurture.
Where has your love, your tears, your caring gone?
Your warmth may seem at times reflected back,
Unfelt, unchanged.

But did you know when I put my hand on my crying child’s head
Whispering sssh,
It is you whispering softly rocking him close to my chest.
That love that I feel for my child that I never felt before
That is your love for me.

This I can take with me anywhere and give anytime
So filled am I with this love.
I am so grateful.

If you take this, my thanks
As your gift
I hope it will bring you some peace.
It has for me.

Love,
Cory

Movie Review: Invictus

Clint Eastwood has his own unique way of movie making and it separates him from all the other Hollywood moviemakers. The actor/director stamps each of his films with his own special touch. They are direct and straight to the point movies that don’t squander our time with pointless information. This has worked for Eastwood in the past (think Million Dollar Baby) and it works for him again in his new film Invictus. The movie is about the period of Nelson Mandela’s life when he was released from prison after twenty-seven years. Soon thereafter he was elected President of South Africa. He presided over a divided country. The blacks don’t trust the whites and vice versa. In order to unite the country Mandela (Morgan Freeman) came up with the brilliant idea of using sports. Rugby is the sport of choice in South Africa and the Springbok team represented the nation. The team was lead by Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) and he and his teammates were far from favorites to win the 1995 World Cup. Still Mandela thought they could and he enlisted the help of Francoise to inspire the team to greatness. This is the bare bones of the plot and the bare bones of the script. We get glimpses along the way of the country, Mandela and Pienaar but there are no “getting to know you” scenes. It is either basic to the plot or it is not shown; Eastwood never panders to the audience. At first this lack of detail is annoying but as the film progresses we are drawn into the quest for glory of the rugby team and Mandela’s vision of unity. The emotions of the story have a life of their own and eventually make the movie a rousing success. Freeman is amazing as Mandela. He has the look of the man as well as his speech patterns and mannerisms. It is a perfect melding of man and role. Eastwood knows how to draw the best performance from his friend and he makes his performance a celebration of the power of Mandela and his place in history. As Pienaar, Damon is very low key which is in keeping with the role he is playing. Pienaar is an athlete, pure and simple. He appreciates the politics of what is happening, but he keeps his focus on the game. In every way Pienaar’s life is second in importance to that of Mandela, and so it is with the screenplay. Damon has the supporting role and he enhances Morgan’s performance at every turn. Most of us know little to nothing about the sport of rugby, but that doen't stop us from enjoying the film. As long as you can appreciate the dream of unity Mandela has, and how he uses the team to achieve that goal then you will be able to follow. Freeman and Damon are at the top of their game and they are in the hands of the quintessential Eastwood does things the “Eastwood way” and ends up with one of the better movies of this disappointing year.

Movie Review: An Education

I loved this movie. It is a simple coming of age story but it is so much more. The screenplay was written by Nick Hornby (best known for his novel, About a Boy). New to American audiences, Lone Scherfig does a fantastic job directing 25 year old Carey Mulligan in what amounts to an astonishing performance. Mulligan plays Jenny, a 16 year old schoolgirl, smarter then her peers who allows herself to be taken in by David (Peter Sarsgaard), a smooth talking much older man. What makes this movie so special is it's restraint. It never goes where it doesn't need to go. It is the nuance in understanding that this man is not what he seems to be. We all know it. Jenny knows it but there is enough in it for her that she lets herself be seduced. She watches with fascination as David manipulates everyone around him, especially her parents. Using their whirlwind romance as a backdrop, the movie slowly exposes who the characters are without spelling everything out. The subtle art of moviemaking I sorely miss. All performances are perfect. Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour are both flawless as Jenny's parents. Rosamund Pike (Fracture, Surrogates) plays a dumb blonde and does such a great job of it. She has a few memorable and priceless lines. But Mulligan is the superstar. Her gift is her ability to move back and forth between child and grown woman. You will be reminded of Audrey Hepburn at her best. The movie is set in a very repressed London. The year is 1961. No one has ever heard of The Beatles. Everyone is just near boiling under their very proper facades and An Education captures that. There is a lot going on in this very pretty, quiet and unassuming movie. It's only playing in little art theaters so you'll have to look for it.

Broken Hearts

I got some very sad news today; a friend’s 23 year old son died in a hiking accident. He was in Africa working for The Peace Corp. Those are the only details I know (not that any other details matter - a beautiful boy is gone). A dear sweet friend of mine is dealing with a very difficult diagnosis. Life is so fragile and at times, so painful. I try to remind myself why we're here. I read a book once called Who Dies by Stephen Levine. The essential message of the book is this: This life is one incarnation. It is most likely not the first and most definitely not the last. Life, as we experience it, is the soul’s journey. The journey is about learning and healing and it doesn't always feel good. The greatest lessons and the most healing come from the experiences that cause the most pain. I really believe that.
I think about when my parents divorced; absolute agony. Or when my mom died; the profound sense of loss, the sadness, the endless tears and the inability to find my smile. And oh, those broken hearts; the feeling my heart was drowning and simply taking a breath hurt. I would feel the world spinning and it was hard to balance. I thought I would never see the other side. But I did, with all of it. It took time, sometimes many years but eventually I recovered. I would emerge a little wiser, always a little more understanding. The book explains that we probably make these arrangements long before we get here. Between incarnations, knowing there is so much to learn about love, compassion, acceptance, gratitude and forgiveness, we 'negotiate' our lessons. We come into the world forgetting all the plans we, ourselves have made. Awareness of this doesn't make the losses or the heartbreaks any less painful. Our bodies still shake and our eyes still fill with tears. But it does allow us to step back, take a breath and ask, "What is this pain suppose to be teaching me?" "How can I be more loving, compassionate, accepting, forgiving or more grateful?" Maybe, just maybe, we can bring a little light to the darkness. There is no loss in this Universe, only learning and ultimately, only healing.
I really love it here..

Note to self: About these 'lessons': The Universe is very generous. Try to be a fast learner.

After experiencing many losses and many heartbreaks in my life, I've come to believe that it takes many many years to truly morn a loss. This is not a bad thing. Quick recoveries from serious losses are more likely denial or repression. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the morning processes means we have to walk around sad, depressed or crying (although we may experience all of that for a while). More often then not, it is a sensation of a heavy heart or the wind passing through us. It comes and it goes as a reminder of what we no longer think we have but is ever present. It's a good thing.

Movie Review: Brothers

Brothers is the anti-war movie of the decade. It is to the Afghan war what Coming Home (1978) was to the Vietnam war. Directed by Jim Sheridan, Brothers is the remake of a Danish film by the same name (Brodre, 2004). The advantage of the original is that without famous faces, the movie generates more power. You buy into the story quicker because the previous characters the actors have played never pop into your mind. For example, it's virtually impossible not to have the thought, "Tobey Mcguire, Spiderman, wow, he really has range". We all know how to move past this but Brodre is better because it's not so "Hollywood". The movie is about two brothers. One is a war hero, Sam Cahill (Mcguire), recently deployed to a fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan. The other brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), is a screw up who has just been released from prison. When Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is thought to be dead, Tommy rallies and comes to the aide of Sam's wife, Grace (Natalie Portman) and their two daughters, Isabelle (Bailee Madison) and Maggie (Taylor Geare). But we know that Sam is not dead. He has been taken prisoner with another marine and tortured. He is eventually rescued but he returns home seriously disturbed by his POW experience. The truth is, this family has already been ravaged by war long before that helicopter is ever shot down. The boys father, Hank Cahill (Sam Shepard), has experienced the damaging effects of a previous war. He is a hard drinking ex-marine who served in Vietnam. His limited ability to be a husband and father is made perfectly clear at Sam's goodbye dinner. This aspect of the movie, the multi-generational collateral damage of war, is the films strength. Both boys have taken different paths, but both are reactionary to their fathers' inability to express affection or compassion. The most poignant scene in the movie is when Sam, recently returned home, behaves towards his daughter Isabelle exactly like his father behaves toward Tommy. All the performances are just O.K. , no raves except Bailee Madison as Isabelle. It is one of the best child performances I have seen since Anna Paquin in The Piano (1993) or Natalie Portman in The Professional (her best role ever-1994). You can wait for Brothers to come out on DVD or On Demand; it does not need a big screen. It should be required viewing for any young man or woman thinking about enlisting. The movie is not without it's shortcomings but it makes one thing perfectly clear, war is hell for everyone it touches. The unbelievable and discouraging fact is that absolutely nothing has changed in Afghanistan since Brodre was released 5 years ago (except now we have more men there - ugh). Try to see the original, you won't be sorry.

Movie Review: The Road

The Road is bleak and grim, unbearably sad and beyond dark but it is thoroughly engrossing and I dare you to take your eyes off the screen. I can only imagine Cormac McCarthy’s total approval of director, John Hillcoat’s and screenwriter, Joe Penhall’s film adaptation of his Pulitzer Prize winning, post-apocalyptic novel. The film is pretty faithful to the source material (although not as poetic); probably too faithful for most people. It will be a very hard sell for general audiences. There is only one memorable part of the book (too involved to write about here - you should read it) that I assume was left out deliberately to insure the movie never brings to mind another post-apocalyptic movie, The Road Warrior (which is a comedy by comparison). Viggo Mortensen is brilliant as The Man and basically carries the entire movie. New-comer, Kodi Smit-Mcphee plays The Boy and does an honest and emotional portrayal of a child trying to survive his nightmarish existence. His incredible resemblance to his mother, played by Charlize Theron (seen only in flashback), brings an unexpected but sorely needed tenderness to the film. But highest honors go to Chris Kennedy, the production designer for providing the cataclysmic landscape, the real star of the movie. Mount St. Helens, still devastated from its explosion 30 years ago, the Oregon coast, the woods of Pennsylvania and some post-Katrina New Orleans provide the very natural dark, dank and twisted metal surroundings that gives an element of realism, setting this movie apart from others like it. Kennedy was also involved in the production design of Hillcoat’s previous and near perfect movie, The Proposition (if you haven't seen it, rent it). The Road follows the treacherous journey of a man and his son as they head to the coast through what has become hell on earth. We are never told what caused the apocalypse and quite frankly, it does not matter. The movie is an allegory about the bond between father and son. It is about love, devotion, personal strengths and weaknesses. When everything is taken away, what do you do? Can you maintain your humanity? The movie ends with just a glimmer of hope which I was extremely grateful for. Robert Duval and Guy Pearce have very small but critical roles. As always, they are both perfect. This movie is obviously, not for everybody. There are plenty of disturbing images that will stay with you long after you leave the theater. Not giving characters names, usually annoying to me, works in this movie. My one complaint, too much unnecessary voice-over. Ugh.

Movie Review: Ninja Assassin

I’ll be honest; I liked this movie a whole lot better then The Twilight Saga. With a name like Ninja Assassin, there is no pretense, it’s not gonna be deep. Within the first 3 minutes there is more bloodletting and dismemberment then there is in both Twilight installments combined. And there are no vampires OR werewolves. This is a revenge movie that utilizes the plot to justify a spectacular display of martial arts and special effects. It features the Korean pop star, Rain who plays Raizo, the trained assassin and hero who turns on his ninja trainer. Considering his background, he does a fantastic job with this role (and it doesn't hurt that he's ripped)! Naomie Harris (28 Days Later) is the pretty girl marked for death, in need of rescue. Look, this is a blood and guts movie that is not for the squeamish (there is a very graphic beheading). But if you like martial arts, you will not be disappointed and you will be very impressed with the scenes of Raizo practicing his craft alone in his room - beautiful. Wait for it to come out on DVD or Demand, grab a beer with your friends (if you're 21) and I promise, you will be entertained.

Movie Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, is truly astounding. It runs for two hours and eleven minutes. There are vampires, werewolves and beautiful half-clad men, and from the very beginning of the movie until the very end, absolutely nothing happens. I'm not sure how that's done, but they did it. It is quite an accomplishment. And, by the way, I liked the first one. I didn't love it, but I like it.

Movie Review: The Blind Side

The movie opens with a few minutes of voice-over as Leigh Ann Touhy (Sandra Bullock), tells the story of how Lawrence Taylor changed football history in a matter of seconds. Personally, I felt it was the best part of the movie and I am NOT a big fan of voice-over because more often then not, it is used to make up for poor movie making. But in The Blind Side, it provides a little education about the game of football including the importance of the left tackle position. I feel smarter. The movie is based on the true story of Michael Oher who was rescued from abject poverty by the Touhy's; clothed, fed, tutored, nurtured and groomed to be a sought after football player. And it's true, they did that and I believe they did it out of the goodness of their hearts. But how do you make a movie like this and not make it feel like; you found a puppy (in the pouring rain no less) and everybody in the family is jumping around asking "can we keep him?" I don't know how and neither did the director, John Lee Hancock. It's actually not all that manipulative (which I appreciate), but it does not engender the kind of emotion that I thought it would (or hoped it would). It is well acted. The only weak-link is Quinton Aron who plays Michael. He does not have the acting ability to play this part without appearing like a caricature of the role. Bullock is perfect and, quite frankly, never better as the no-nonsense, southern bell who protects her interest in Michael like a tiger. There is a Guess Who's Coming to Dinner-like scene, where Leigh Ann walks away from a lunch with her condescending friends. It is very reminiscent of when Katherine Hepburn sends her friend off down the driveway: "..take the check....and get permanently lost. It's not that I don't want to know you, although I don’t, it's just that I'm afraid we're not really the sort of people that you can afford to be associated with." Remember that? How great was that. Not everybody can be Katherine Hepburn and not every movie can be Guess who's Coming to Dinner. Tim McGraw does a nice job as the husband but the best acting and most endearing role is that of the little brother, S.J., played by Jae Head. He is adorable, funny, fast talking and provides the movie with its comic relief. And I loved the credits where you get to see photos and video clips of the real-life Touhy family. They're not as good-looking as their movie counterparts but you can see their genuine affection and you can imagine this very heartwarming story, playing out. It makes the whole movie worth it. It does not need a big screen so I can safely say you can wait for it to come out on DVD. Although, truthfully, there is not much out there so if you want to kill a few a hours, you will not be disappointed. It is also a "feel good" movie and we can all use a little "feel good" right now.

The real Touhy family with Michael Oher

Movie Review: Pirate Radio

In what has been a disappointing movie season, Pirate Radio (released in the UK as The Boat That Rocked) provides a little bit of fun and a lot of nostalgia. Thankfully, it’s not rocket science and does not pretend to be. Opening with the Kinks, "All Day and All of the Night", it’s a frat house on the open seas. Based loosely on the true story of boats that supplied Brits with round the clock, Rock and Roll music during the 60’s when the BBC was trying to keep a lid on it. The cast makes the movie work. It includes Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Count, the foulmouthed American DJ and Bill Nighy as Quintin, the ships captain. Kenneth Branagh plays a whining bureaucrat who is obsessed with shutting these ships down. His real life ex-wife, Emma Thompson, has just a little more then a cameo, as the mother of the teenage boy she has sent off to get “straightened out” by living on board the vessel; probably not her best idea. The movie is filled with music everyone will recognize but people my age, 50 +, will immediately be taken back to high school parties, making out in the basement and slow dancing (especially when you hear Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale”). It was written and directed by Richard Curtis who is best known for his much meatier comedies, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. My one complaint (and pet peeve), it's too long. Ten minutes shaved off this movie would have made it better. Oh yes...go get the soundtrack!

Movie Review: 2012

2012, staring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Woody Harelleson (who I believe plays himself) and a French speaking Thandie Newton, is the special effects movie of the year. No more and no less. The plot is super thin. There is some mention of the Earths core, sun spots, microwaves and tectonic plates. Even more ridiculous is the fact that while the ground is crumbling beneath their feet, the inhabitants of Earth don't quite get that there is a serious problem. Never-the-less, you will be amazed by the scenes of the world collapsing in on itself, skyscrapers tumbling into the sea, earthquakes and tsunamis that engulf the world with water. It is directed by Roland Emmerich who brought us 10,000 B.C., Godzilla (1998) and The Day After Tomorrow. Three movies I did not like. On the other hand, he directed The Patriot and Independence Day. Two movies I did like. 2012, (which I think has scenes taken right from The Day After Tomorrow), is somewhere in between. The big mistake was making this movie two and a half hours long. At this point, we are all familiar with apocalyptic special effects so enough is enough. Two hours would have been plenty. But if you want to experience a ringside seat to the end of world, park your brain at the door of the theater, sit back and enjoy the show.

Movie Review: Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire

Precious is a very good movie but it is excruciating to watch. It's directed by Lee Daniels who doesn't have many movies to his credit but does a tremendous job with this very challenging material. He will not, however, win any awards for subtlety. The movie is about a 16 year old, seriously overweight girl who is pregnant with her second child, both are a result of being raped by her father. Her barbaric mother, absolutely brilliantly portrayed by Mo'Nique (who is a comedian by day!) is the source of endless emotional and physical abuse. As moviegoers, our tolerance for disturbing images is fairly high. Just as a reminder, Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture last year even though we witnessed the torture of a young man using electric shock as well as the deliberate blinding of a child for the purpose of making him a better beggar; pretty rough stuff. But movie-makers can get away with plenty if they mix in occasional humor or the possibility, no matter how meager, of something better to come. In Slumdog we had the promise of money but more importantly, the beautiful girl. In Precious, it's about education and the potential to turn what seems like a hopeless situation, around. Stay in school, learn how to read and you can overcome anything. Shocking scenes of rape and abuse are juxtaposed to the classroom where Precious, now in an "alternative school", is being nurtured, encouraged and inspired to read and write by her dedicated teacher. We are also privy to her hopes and dreams through glimpses of her fantasies and by listening to her persistently optimistic, inner dialogue. Is all that enough to make up for the constant onslaught of very disturbing images? You bet it is. This is not a feelgood movie but the bottom line; this raw and brutal material is presented in a way that allows us to experience just how far a film can go while only offering just the slightest glimmer of hope. And believe me, it is quite an experience. Newcomer, Gabourey Sedibe, is exceptional as Precious. The very pretty, Paula Patton is just so good as Ms. Rain, her teacher. Miriah Carey is unrecognizable and surprisingly outstanding as Mrs. Weiss, the Welfare social worker. And I will be stunned if Mo'Nique is not nominated and win an Academy Award for her absolutely riveting, image tarnishing performance as Mary, Precious's seriously disturbed mother.

Movie Review: Disney's A Christmas Carol

Robert Zemeckis, the writer, director and producer, uses what he learned from making The Polar Express and Beowulf to bring us this visually impressive but very dark 3-D version of Dickens, A Christmas Carol. To accomplish this, he uses his favorite; performance-capture technology. Briefly, the actors work on an empty sound stage and are covered with sensors. The digital cameras record the performance and that information is used when the sets and costumes are filled in later with 3-D animation. The overall effect is a stunning hybrid of animation and real life. Jim Carrey is outrageously perfect as the voice of Ebeneezer Scrooge (throughout all his ages - boy, teen, young and old man). He also provides the voices for The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. He shows a lot of restraint which I personally appreciated. It's no secret, he has a tendency to over-act (do ya think). Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn all do a great job. Parts of the movie are an awe-inspiring virtual reality ride as Scrooge is taken on his whirlwind tour through time flying high over landscapes and through old Victorian cityscape's. And I loved sitting in the middle of a snowfall which the new and improved 3-D technology creates flawlessly. But...the movie is pretty scary, especially in the beginning. Marley's ghost, with his unhinged jaw and 3-D chains rattling right in front of your face, may prove a bit too terrifying for young children (and some grownups). And The Ghost of Christmas Present has this very frightening, very loud and protracted laugh that is simply too creepy (and unnecessary). But more disappointing, the movie never quite reaches the emotional impact that many of the older versions do. Even the Muppet version was more touching. I didn't cry once and I don't think I have ever seen A Christmas Carol without crying. I'm beginning to wonder if performance-capture technology, for all its artfulness, takes something away from a good story. Maybe the problem is, it can capture "motion" but it can not capture "emotion". I remember thinking the same thing when I walked out of The Polar Express and Beowulf. I would have rather seen a Pixar type animated film or a regular movie with real actors. A Christmas Carol is a classic, indestructible story that never gets old but it does get a little lost in this very flashy retelling. I'm glad I saw it but I'm having a hard time recommending it.

Movie Review: A Serious Man

From the prolific purveyors of dark comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen, the guys who brought us Barton Fink, Fargo, No Country For Old Men and a few other unforgettable movies, A Serious Man was a huge disappointment. I am by no means a prominent reviewer. I am just a girl who loves the movies and sees just about everything. But I did not see what many other paid and well respected reviewers saw. I may have laughed two or three times. One quarter of the people in the movie theater walked out. I try not to do that. You never know, maybe during the last fifteen minutes the movie redeems itself. That didn't happen. The message of the movie: Even if you are a good, upstanding and devout person, bad things can happen to you. And then there is the message my mother always told me, "Remember sweeheart, nothing is so bad it couldn't get worse". (She was right, by the way). The little addendum in the movie is that in the end, it may not matter. Although I don't think you have to be Jewish to understand this movie (putting aside whether you like it or not), if you are not Jewish, plenty will be missed. I'm not going to belabor this review. It is well acted. Michael Stuhlbarg is perfect as Larry Gopnik, the main character and quintessential nerd who keeps hitting rock bottom and then manages to reach new depths. No complaints there. Just not funny, not compelling and not interesting. In addition, we are forced to "listen" to Larry's socially inept brother, Arthur (Richard Kind) in the bathroom, draining his sebaceous cyst with a suction machine. Not for me. Near the end of the credits it says, "No Jews were harmed in the making of this motion picture". Well, maybe not in the making but how about in the viewing?

Movie Review: Michael Jackson's: This Is It

Fist and foremost, Michael Jackson's:This Is It is an extraordinary accomplishment in film editing. Taken from over a hundred hours of footage gathered during rehearsals for his final concert performance, this one hour and fifty minute documentary is surgically assembled. As it moves from one practice session to the next, your only tip off is he is wearing different outfits - amazing. It is directed by Kenny Oretega, Jackson's good friend and director of Disney's High School Musical series. But make no mistake, this project was directed by Michael Jackson. He is in charge. He knows exactly how he wants every second to look, feel and sound right down to the most nuanced breath. In one segment he says to the band "let it simmer", trying to convey a feeling he wants the music to have but everyone else seems to have difficulty understanding. "That's why we rehearse" he says, always ending his criticisms with, "the love, L-O-V-E", and for some reason, it never sounds artificial. Throughout most of the rehearsals, Jackson is conserving his voice and his energy. But while working on Billy Jean, he can't hold back and to the absolute amazement of his crew, he lets loose and belts out the song while doing his signature dance moves. Everyone stops, jaws drop and the room breaks out in applause. And because we are all still experiencing the aftermath of the tabloid portrayal of his life and death, we are amazed by this man who may not be at the top of his game but who is always, every bit, the consummate performer. At times, he does appear frail, but he does not appear ill. Yes, he gets a little more winded then his 20 year old dancers but after all, he is 50. What is so obvious from this production is that Michael Jackson was so great because everything mattered so much to him. He never looses his focus. He was a perfectionist of the highest order. At the end of the movie, everyone in the theater was on their feet applauding. The documentary also features; Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Rita Hayworth, polar bears, a killer whale, a bulldozer and much more. The concert would have been nothing short of incredible.

QUITTING SMOKING: A MUST - A Posting for Smokers

By the year 2030, the worldwide death toll from cigarette smoking will be 10 million annually (20 per minute).
The tobacco industry has a multi-billion-dollar lobby and an 8 billion dollar a year advertising budget to insure that statistic is realized.
Other then driving a car without brakes, there is very little you can do that is worse for your health then smoking. It really does not matter what else you do to take care of yourself, if you smoke, you are sending a crystal clear message to your body. On a deep cellular level, you are changing the very fabric of your DNA and doing untold damage. Now, in all fairness, you are not smoking because you want to. You are smoking because you have to; you are addicted to one of the most powerfully addictive substances on this planet, nicotine. The most fascinating thing about addiction is, until the realization comes that you no longer can or no longer want to continue using (whatever the substance is), you think you are doing it by choice. You are not. That is why it is called addiction. It is important to understand this because if you are one of those people who feel it is a sign of weakness to use some type of support to quit (like the patch or gum or medication), you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice. This is especially true for smoking because it is not the nicotine that is killing you. It is the delivery system for the nicotine that is killing you. It's called a "cigarette". It is the 4000 compounds and high levels of oxidants found in cigarette smoke that are doing all the damage.

There is something else you should be aware of; the tobacco industry has been adding adulterants to tobacco for decades. Primarily, coumarin (also known as rat poison), which is added for flavor and as a tissue softening agent. By softening lung tissue, it allows nicotine to be absorbed deeper into the lungs creating an increased need for the drug. In addition, they intentionally manipulate the amount of nicotine in cigarettes increasing the overall addictive effect. You see how cleaver the industry is. They have gotten away with this for years. When Dr. Jeffery Wigand (The Insider) blew the whistle on the tobacco industry in 1996, their attorney, Thomas Bezanson claimed that it wasn’t “untrue but that on trade secret grounds, it should not be revealed”. Coumarin was banned as an adulterant in 1997 but due to lack of reporting, it is still found in tobacco products.

Some quick stats rattled off by Wigand in an interview a few years ago: " The number of people in the U.S. who die each year from smoking-related illnesses: 430,000. The percentage of adult smokers who started before they turned 18: 80% to 90%. The amount of money tobacco companies spend on advertising each year: more than $8 billion. The percentage of 6-year-olds surveyed who associated Joe Camel with smoking: 91%." Now that is scary.

In Philip J. Hilts book, "Smoke Screen: The Truth Behind The Tobacco Industry Cover-Up", the extent of the deception is revealed. Study after study (conducted by the tobacco industry) that disclosed just how lethal their product is, were encoded and buried. Even within the original documents, words like "cancer" and "nicotine" were given code names. But the industries most closely guarded secret is it's targeting of youth. It is something the industry must do to sustain itself. If they cannot recruit new smokers, what do you think would happen to the demand for cigarettes in a relatively short period of time? It would drop to zero.

What I am trying to impress upon you, is that the tobacco industry has knowingly, willingly and with deceit, created a world full of people addicted to a drug that they, almost exclusively, provide the delivery system for. And what I am asking you to consider is; do you want to support an industry that promotes human suffering and profits from its blatant disregard for human life?

Let's talk about money. Not yours, ours. The economic burden that cigarette smoking places on the United States for medical care and lost productivity is conservatively estimated to be $180 billion dollars a year. The health care costs alone are about 97 billion. Who's paying for that? We all are. Everybody has to share the cost. A significant percentage of this country's total health care bill is attributable to smoking. A very unfortunate statistic is that some of the recipients of those health care dollars are not smokers. They live or work with one. Approximately 54,000 people die every year from second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke. A recent report estimated that second hand-smoke cost the U.S. 10 billion a year.

To be con't....

Movie Review: Where the Wild Things Are

From Maurice Sendak's ten sentence classic children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are", Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers create a magical looking 95 minute, feature film. The movie almost captures the essence of the tale (it's a little tame) about a nine year old boy named Max who has more raw emotion then he can possibly handle. From the opening credits (which are scribbled on with a crayon), we see a boy who is understandably, out of control and has mastered the art of the tantrum. He is dealing with his parents divorce, his older sisters' indifference, mommys' preoccupation with work and her new boyfriend and his science teachers' doomsday vision of the future. Max is brilliantly portrayed by Max Records, a 12 year old who nails this role in a way I can't imagine another child doing. Max Records IS Max, angry and anguished, impossible, confused and very vulnerable. After a day of being pushed to his emotional limit, he runs away, finds a little sailboat and makes his way to an island inhabited by giant, childlike monsters (created in Jim Henson's Creature Shop). In true fairytale fashion, Max learns his life lesson from living with his newly inherited family where he is the self proclaimed King. The question that begs to be asked is, "Who is the intended audience for this movie"? Parents, who should see it, will not go without their kids. It is too scary for very young children and not scary enough for older children. Jonze and Eggers said they "wanted to make a movie about childhood, not a children's movie". They succeeded. It should probably be required viewing for therapists. The movie gives you a birds-eye view of just how lonely, painful and scary a child's life can be. It also provides evidence (because the home life scenario is so real), that sometimes a tantrum is the appropriate response. And for a culture that loves to medicate all behavior that is difficult to manage, it is enlightening, to say the least. The movie features the always perfect Catherine Keener as the very harried and distracted mother and Mark Ruffalo as her boyfriend. James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper, Catherine O'Hara and a few other notables, provide the beasts with their voices and perfect blend of sensitivity and frightening rage. A little bit of trivia: When Sendak misbehaved as a child, his parents would call him "vilde chaya", which means "wild beast" in Yiddish.
Fifteen minutes shaved off of this movie would have made it more watchable. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend waiting for it to come out On Demand or DVD because it will loose a lot of it's visual impact (the cinematography is unique). The bottom line, I think most people will walk away from this movie a little disappointed. What can I say.

Movie Review: Amelia

Amelia is 2 hours long and you feel every minute of it. It is not a good movie and it should be. The screenplay was written by Anna Hamilton Phelan who wrote Girl Interrupted and Gorillas In the Mist, and Ronald Bass who wrote Rain Man. Three outstanding movies. It was directed by Mira Nair who directed The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding and a number of very notable documentaries. Hilary Swank, the Oscar winning actress who blew everybody away with her portrayal of Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry and who was the Million Dollar Baby and who happens to be a dead ringer for Amelia, plays Amelia. So, why doesn't the movie work? Because it's not compelling. The story of Amelia Earhart is compelling so at the very least you should walk out of the movie theater feeling like you have seen a compelling story - but you don't - because you haven't. Biopics are very challenging. For the most part, everybody in the audience already knows what happened. The movies 'job' is to give you insight into the character. What drove her? Was it her alcoholic father (who actually spent time in a sanitarium drying out)? Was it her courageous mother? One interesting fact only mentioned as an addendum is that Amelia's' mother, Amy, was the first woman to climb Pikes Peak. Some of the more fascinating aspects of her life; her bisexuality, the possibility of her being a spy, her infidelities are barely touched or not mentioned at all. The disappointment is that the movie only tells us what we all already know and does it in a very uninspiring way. On the upside, the cinematography is gorgeous and the costuming is perfect. The movie also stars Richard Gere, miscast (he's too old) as her publicist husband, George Putnam and Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal, fellow aviator and lover (one little kiss in an elevator). Vidal's son Gore, who we do get a glimpse of, grows up to be the very famous novelist, Gore Vidal. He wrote the book Lincoln which sits on my bookshelf and I have read twice. Wait for the movie to come out On Demand and watch it on your flat screen.

I want to mention two movies that live up to the challenge of the biopic; The Aviator and Le Vei En Rose. The Aviator, directed by Martin Scorsese is the story of Howard Hughes (played brilliantly by Leonardo DiCaprio). The movie gives us a heart wrenching glimpse into the madness of this legendary aviation giant who, despite his private anguish, was able to achieve greatness. We witness how his phobias and obsessive behavior drove him into seclusion. Le Vei En Rose is the story of Edith Piaf (portrayed with perfection by the beautiful and talented Marion Cotillard), the French singer whose reputation, before the movie, was that of a drug addicted, abusive tyrant. The movie explains how, as a small, very frail child, she was frequently abandon, used and abused bringing understanding and compassion to this incredibly talented, deeply spiritual but tortured woman. Both of these movies are VERY long but you are upset when they end. They are captivating. You can't take your eyes of the screen.
Are these stories more compelling then the Earhart story? I don't really think so. They were simply better written and better directed.

Movie Review: Bright Star

"There is a holiness to the hearts affection. You know nothing of that!" John Keats shouts at his friend and writing partner Mr. Brown. That is what I loved most about this movie, its ability to articulate passion and love-sickness. The movie spans the three year love affair between Keats (Ben Whishaw) and Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish).
Bright Star is deeply romantic and slowly paced. It will only appeal to those of us who love romanticism and are fascinated with period movies. It is rich in its portrayal of the early 19th Century; the dress, language, landscape and strict code of etiquette. The movie will remind you of The Age of Innocence (Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder) but even without a famous cast, Bright Star is infinitely better simply because of the poetry. It is skillfully worked into the film, never feeling forced; an undeniable challenge. The movie was written and directed by Jane Campion who is best known for her Academy Award winning masterpiece, The Piano (Holly Hunter, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin and a miscast Harvey Keitel). Bright Star is not in the same league as The Piano (not by a long shot) but it has a different, quieter appeal that allows it to stand on it's own. Unfortunately, comparisons will be made (just like I did). When a slow moving movie runs for 2 hours the tendency is to say "It should be shorter" or "They should have spent more time editing". Quite frankly, it would not have made any difference. Five, ten, even twenty minutes shorter, it would still feel long. It's the nature of this movie. Liken it to sitting and reading Keats, it is impossible to rush through it.
One more thing: Bright Star makes it clear, 'clothes on' can be more erotic then 'clothes off'.

In case you're interested...
The poem Keats wrote for Fanny:
Bright Star
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving water at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.

Now that is simply very beautiful.

Movie Review: Paranormal Activity

If you want to enjoy this movie, try to ignore all the hype. It is a good movie. Is it the greatest scary movie ever? No. But this VERY low budget film is good and will stay with you and make you scared when you get into bed at night and shut the lights. The beauty of this movie is its simplicity. First time movie maker Oren Peli knows what Hitchcock knew and all the other great scary movie makers know; less is more. You don’t have to show a lot to scare people. Noise is scary. Low lights with shadows are scary. You don’t need blood spurting, heads rolling, monsters or psycho killers. The movie is shot documentary style like The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield. It uses suspense instead of violence and very few special effects which allows you to think, “Could this really be happening?” The premise is simple. A young couple, Kate and Micah (their real names by the way), decide to investigate a spirit Kate believes has been following her since childhood. They set up a camera in the bedroom and the audience witnesses what happens. Although I have a feeling this movie will become a slumber party favorite, for the full scary effect, it needs a dark, packed movie theater. So go, sit back in your seat, be patient and I promise, you will experience Paranormal Activity.

Movie Review: Whip It

Ellen Page, the tiny 22 year old Canadian actress who can command the screen like nobodies business (think Juno and Hard Candy), plays Bliss, a 17 year old who wants to follow her heart and join a roller derby team called, The Hurl Scouts. The only problem is, her mother, played perfectly by Marcia Gay Harden, is intent on her becoming a beauty pageant queen. The Hurl Scouts, a team made up of women who wear highly modified Girl Scout uniforms, with names like Maggie Mayhem and Bloody Holy, are a no-holds-barred group of girls who really know how to have fun. Juliette Lewis (am I the only one enamored with her because she flaunts her incredibly flat chest), plays Iron Maven, Bliss's nasty adversary who manages to steal every scene she is in. The singer/songwriter Brandon Pigg, plays the adorable but not so admirable, love interest. Drew Barrymore does a great job in her directorial début mixing badass moments with scenes of tenderness. Whip It is a coming of age movie but more importantly, it is about Girl Power. It's fun, fast moving and I would be very surprised if it doesn't reach some kind of cult status.

Movie Review: Surrogates

Bruce Willis plays Tom Greer, an FBI agent in a future where you stay home hooked up to a "stim chair" and your idealized robotic body double (your surrogate) goes out into the world feeding you data. From your chair, you control what your surrogate does and says with your mind. Sounds interesting, right? It's not. The movie doesn't work for a few reasons. The dialogue is strained and there is simply too much of it. The characters are constantly using dialogue to explain what's going on in the movie. Never a good thing. There are scenes that are so contrived you'll be reminded of Shyamalan's, The Happening (if you were unfortunate enough to have seen it). James Cromwell, the actor who played the inventor of the robots in I, Robot, plays the inventor of the surrogates in Surrogates. That goes beyond typecasting and was truly a foolish decision by the casting director. Ving Rhames provides unintentional comic relief as the Rastafarian leader of the anti-surrogate movement. The movie is based on the novel, The Surrogates, by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldelle which was published in 2005. The source material is good but the movie only plays up the mechanical aspect and misses the philosophical point. Maybe they shouldn't have rushed to get it to the screen and spent more time on the screenplay. Skip the movie. Read the book.

Movie Review: Jennifer's Body

Oh boy! Not Academy Award material but not horrible. I expected worse. It's Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Mean Girls meets The Exorcist. Yes, I know, it is blasphemy to mention a movie like The Exorcist in the same breath as Jennifer's Body but they are simply both about demonic possession. The major difference (other then the former being one of the all-time great horror movies and the latter hovering dangerously close to being the worst) is that one is about a sweet girl taken over by a demon. The other is about a girl who is already pretty scary taken over by a demon that's only marginally scarier. The only real change in Jennifer (Megan Fox) is that now, she eats boys. Actually, that's not much of a change. I'm quite certain Jennifer has eaten a boy or two prior to her becoming possessed. Only now, she needs to eat them to stay beautiful. If you can look at the movie as a commentary about teenagers and jealousy and rivalry (the pool scene at the end is classic) it's actually pretty funny and occasionally, scary. And yes, it is a showcase for Megan Fox's body. Guys will probably find her sexier in the Transformer movies where she does not have razor sharp teeth. You don't have to see it in the theater. Wait for it to be On Demand.

I Am Never Alone

Knock knock. Who's there? Someone, because I never feel alone.

I Pray For Guidance

Every morning and every night, every time I find myself not knowing what to do or what to say, I pray for guidance. "Do nothing" or "Say nothing" is usually the answer. Most things are not quite as important as I seem to think they are.

Movie Review: Amreeka

Amreeka is a little movie with a big heartfelt story about optimism, pride and hope in the face of hardship, ignorance and prejudice. It's the story of a divorced Palestinian woman (Muna) and her decision to immigrate to the United States with her teenage son (Fadi), hoping for a better life. She leaves her hectic life in the war-ravaged West Bank with it's dirty over crowded streets and humiliating Israeli check points, to come to the U.S. Unfortunately, life here isn't exactly a bed of roses. In addition to all of the usual problems adjusting to a new culture, U.S. forces have just invaded Iraq and racism against Middle Easterners is at an all-time high. As soon as they arrive, they experience treatment from a customs officer that is uncomfortably similar to the abuse they endure at the hands of Israeli's. Muna, a bank executive back home, finds herself flipping burgers at White Castle. Fadi, smart and actually more mature and better educated then his American counterparts, is constantly harassed. The movie goes back and forth between her struggles and Fadi's. With little exposition and excellent acting, the movie tells a real story that will stick with you long after you get home. Find a movie theater where it's playing. Don't miss it.
p.s. Writer-director Cherien Dabis has first hand experience with the prejudice and harassment that comes with being an Arab in the United States. The Secret Service came to her high school to investigate rumors that her 17 year old sister was involved in a plot to kill the president. Ugh.

I Had A Dream Once.....

I was sitting across a table from someone I was very close to at one time but had not seen in over a decade. I reached across the table and touched their face. I said, "I know this is just a dream but it is still so nice to see you." I woke up feeling so calm and better, overall. It felt like so much more then a dream.

Movie Review: The Informant!

Although slow in the beginning, The Informant! is an entertaining, exceptionally well acted and finely crafted movie based on a true story. Matt Damon plays Mark Whitacre, an obsequious pathological liar who has worked his way up the corporate ladder at ADM, the agricultural company. His performance is reminiscent of his pitch perfect performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley (and let's not forget Damon's range, after all, he is Jason Bourne). The Informant won't be your favorite movie or the best movie you'll see this year, but it is definitely worth seeing for its incredibly well chosen cast and the skillful way it gives you a glimpse into the mind of a somewhat likable sociopath.

In The Beginning

Coming soon.....

What To Do If : You Get Bitten by a Poisonous Snake

This information pertains predominantly to pit viper bites which make up the majority of snake bites in the United States. Of those bites, the rattle snake is usually the culprit. Very rarely, someone manages to get bitten by a coral snake. This takes a lot of effort because coral snakes have very small mouths, very small fangs and a very poor delivery system for their venom. You practically have to stick your finger in the mouth of a coral snake to get bitten by one. Never-the-less, it happens.

Most importantly, understand that there are approximately 9000 poisonous snake bites in the U.S. per year and of those, 5 to 10 deaths. Most deaths are a result of inappropriate treatment.

With that in mind:
Make certain the snake actually injected you with venom. Just because he sticks his fangs in doesn't mean he did and there is no sense raising all hell and high water for 2 puncture wounds. Remember, you are not a meal for a snake. You are too big. When a snake lunges out and bites you, 99.9% of the time it is a defensive, "get the hell away from me" bite. The majority of snakes (in this country) are not aggressive. The Cottonmouth (also known as the Water Moccasin found in southern swamps), maybe. Snakes are usually lying around, minding their own business when someone accidentally (or deliberately - never a good idea), steps on them. Two puncture wounds do not necessarily mean you're in trouble. You'll know when you are in trouble because you will be in excruciating pain. The exception is a coral snake bite. Their venom is a neurotoxin and symptoms can be delayed. Most venom is cytotoxic or hemolytic and will begin breaking down tissue or destroying blood cells on contact. The purpose of venom is to start dissolving or incapacitating the snake’s lunch. Fortunately, the snake knows you are not lunch so if he injects, he only injects a small or moderate amount. If he injected you with the same amount of venom he injects into a rabbit, you would be in a lot more trouble then you already are.

O.K., let's assume you have been bitten and injected with venom. The only appropriate action is to immediately figure out how you are going to get to a hospital. Treatment for a snake bite is simple; anitvenom, antivenom and then some more antivenom. You're not treating the bite; you're treating the venom, molecule for molecule. The good news is, if you get bitten by a snake you are probably in an area where the nearest hospital will know how to handle it. If they don't have any antivenom on hand, they'll know where to get it.

There is all kinds of misinformation about first aid for snake bites. Most of it is quite comical.
The funniest is:
Keep calm. Trust me, when a snake lunges with his big fangs dripping with venom and latches on to your arm or leg, you will not be able to keep calm. The reasoning behind it is erroneous anyway. The thinking is, if you keep calm, your heart rate will slow down and you won't be circulating venom through your bloodstream as quickly. Venom circulates through the lymphatics not the blood. So you can jump around all you want. It won't make a difference.
Suck the venom out with your mouth or a straw: This is my favorite. First of all, it's not possible. There is so much swelling and bruising that starts right after the bite that those 2 puncture wounds will not be open enough to allow the venom to tunnel its way out even if you could provide an enormous amount of suction (which you can't). If anyone tells you they have done it and it was successful its because the snake never injected any venom to begin with. If you insist on doing this, you do not have to worry about all the venom leaking out of those holes and into your mouth and poisoning you. The snake venom would be neutralized by stomach acid so go right ahead, you're safe.
Apply ice. This is a dangerous first aid recommendation because the tendency is to stick the bitten arm or leg into a bucket of ice. By the time you get to the hospital the doctor will have to deal with snake bite AND frost bite. If you must, simply apply a little ice pack, a few minutes on and a few minutes off and maybe the bite won't hurt so bad.
Apply a tourniquet: Again, the problem with recommending a tourniquet is that the inclination will be to tie the thing so tight you cut off the blood supply completely. With all the tissue destruction already happening, you will only compound the problem. A very lightly applied tourniquet won't do any harm and you will feel like you're doing something.
To be con't....

FOR MY GRANDMA - Clara Kaplan

No matter what else anyone has to say about my grandmother, one thing is sure, she was always the topic of conversation. Her dynamic powerhouse personality and sometimes audacious and even outrageous acts have left us with an indelible memory of a women who made things happen.

At the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, she went to Russia and managed to extricate to Israel, a brother who survived Auschwitz only to end up in poverty in Moscow.

Six months before the fall of Havana to Castro, she made numerous trips to Cuba to help a cousin get his equity to Miami (she literally smuggled his money out) so that he and his family could leave on a supposed weekend trip and never return to a country that would have certainly turned on him with the change of government.

A born meddler - sometimes for the good - she arranged for the marriage of an orphan and prepared a wedding in her own home. She tried in vain to marry off her own children but they foiled her plans and found mates of their own.

Clara lived with Jacob, her beloved husband for 50 years before his death in 1981. He had saved her life. It was on his trip back to the homeland of his parents in Vilna, Lithuania, that he met a beautiful 15 year old country girl living on a farm with her 8 siblings and her father. Her mother had been shot to death for disobeying a curfew as she ran into the street after her five year old daughter.

Jacob married Clara on The Lusitania which was sunk by a U-Boat in World War II. With the exception of one brother, her family perished in the Holocaust.

As a child bride in the United States and speaking only Yiddish, she started her family, guided the establishment of her own home and helped her family build their lives.

I think about her everyday.

Older Movie Review: Rescue Dawn (2006) by request:

Rescue Dawn is the true story of Vietnam War prisoner Dieter Dengler. It is written and directed by Werner Herzog who also directed the documentary about this same subject, Little Dieter Needs to Fly. This, no doubt, helped give the movie a documentary-like realism. The landscape is authentic and brutally unrelenting. The opening scene is taken from actual footage of incendiary bombs (Napalm) being dropped on Vietnam. It was filmed in the jungles of Thailand and there is never any doubt about where you are. The characters are very real; some of them horrible, some good and some so confused they have forgotten who and where they are. Rescue Dawn is less a war movie and more a survival story. Pumped up about his first mission, German-American fighter pilot, Dengler (Christian Bale – Batman Begins, The Prestige, American Psycho, Public Enemies) doesn't last long before his plane is shot down by enemy fire. He finds himself in the middle of the jungle. While trying to brave the elements, he is captured, tortured and confined in a makeshift Loatian jungle prison run by the Viet Cong. He refuses to sign an anti-American confession because "America gave me wings". He is imprisoned with a group of beaten prisoners of war, two of them Americans, Duane and Gene incredibly portrayed by Steve Zahn (Joy Ride) and Jeremy Davies. Dengler is determined to escape from the moment he arrives. And so it begins; the difficult mission to simply stay alive. Filthy, starving, and continually taunted, Dengler plans his escape. Food is sparse, at times no more than a plateful of worms. Sleeping conditions are appalling. Their hands are cuffed and their bare feet are encased in a stockade-like device. The prison escape is successful but as his prison-mate, Duane explains earlier, “The jungle is the prison”, and their ordeal navigating the terrain makes rescue seem nearly impossible. Rescue Dawn is a gripping account of a horrific story incredibly acted by Christian Bale who gives a believable performance (he did his own stunts and lost a ton of weight) as a man trying to rise above his impossible circumstances. It is not a political movie about whether or not the Vietnam War was right or wrong. It is about the triumph of the human spirit and the incredible will to survive against enormous odds. The music, composed by Klaus Badelt, is haunting and used sparingly. Watching the movie it is not easy but it is worth every gut wrenching moment.