Movie Review Madness: American Sniper

Pennsylvania boy Bradley Cooper and English rose Sienna Miller are darn good actors. They pull off Texan in American Sniper without a fake drawl. Number one in the nation, this movie directed by Clint Eastwood deserves its Oscar nomination and perhaps has a chance to win. It’s sneaking up in the opinion polls. This is based on a true story, and the book of the same name.  

Chris Kyle, an all American Texas boy, had a good eye as a hunter under his father’s direction. Then as a Navy Seal, under Uncle Sam’s eye, Chris Kyle is credited with the most kills of any sniper in history. His four tours in Iraq are a portrait in heroism, and, as the movie shows, a portrait of a very human mortal man. Clint Eastwood guides this movie in an objective fashion – no obvious agenda shows. We have a lot of reasons to admire Chris Kyle, and a lot of reasons to say, “Time to say stop, time to go home to your wife and kids. It’s okay.” Eastwood shows the pressure on soldiers, and the effects of battle.  

Bradley Cooper is fantastic and very worthy of his Oscar nomination. He’s a gung-ho young man who matures before our eyes, and ages into a weary wary man. From what I understand, he captured the essence of the real Chris Kyle. American Sniper is superbly filmed, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You inhale and exhale with Kyle, and you pray that a kid does not pick up a rocket launcher. The tension is palpable and the movie audiences are quiet, totally absorbed in the action. The performances are all nuanced, not stereotypes. This is a rich film, and a snippet of history.  

American Sniper is very worthy of the big screen. You’ll come away with your own opinions of war and its human aftermath, etc. But you won’t question the powerful movie you saw and the excellence of Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper. You will exhale slowly as you exit the cinema.  

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

King of the Hill

proud to climb to the top
gleeful smile says it all
he ran all afternoon

powered by sunshine


Joanne Faries

Book Review: 41 A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush

41: A Portrait of my Father by George W. Bush is unique in that a former president (43) is writing about his father (41), a former president. This is a look into history and a love story of a strong family, a dynamic admirable man, and a salute to a true American hero. It’s also not overly gushy, and does have some minor comments or criticisms that hindsight 20/20 vision does give. I, personally, was hesitant to read the book since I wasn’t overly fond of George Jr., as president. (I think he’s a decent man and is doing a lot of good work as an ex-president). I am, however, very interested in George, Sr. and excerpts of the book intrigued me.  

Sure enough, 41: A Portrait of My Father is well written and has plenty of “Wow, I didn’t know that moments.”  George H.W. Bush was born into privilege but never overly took advantage of it. Graduated from high school, he volunteered to join the Navy in WWII and was the youngest torpedo bomber pilot. He returned home to marry Barbara Pierce, graduate from Yale, and then turning down lucrative Wall Street offers, headed west to Midland Texas to make a name for himself. After much success, he moved on to public service. There he encountered defeats, successes, and a long career in politics, diplomatic service to China, CIA director, and Vice President under Ronald Reagan. Then he earned his own presidency in 1988.  In one term, he oversaw the end of the Cold War, oversaw liberation of Panama and Kuwait, and guided the country through some tough economic times. Tax decisions cost him another term, but probably set the path for Bill Clinton’s economic successes.  

The key to the book is the man behind the accomplishments. George Sr. kept old friends, made new friends, shook hands across the aisle, wrote personal letters, stayed true to commitments and loyalty, valued America but was interested in the world, and is flat out a decent man with an excellent sense of humor. That is what shines through this book. He took pride in family and gave steady support to his wife and kids. From the cover – George H.W. Bush is one of the most beloved statesmen of the twenty first century. 41 is a stirring tribute to an inspiring father and great American.  

I highly recommend this book for a glimpse into history and the Bush family. It’s a quick smooth read, and a powerful portrait of George H.W. Bush (forever 41). He’s now 90 + and in frail health, but still took his parachute jump in 2014. After finishing the book, you shall root for that jump at 95 and 100.

The Making of Gone With the Wind Exhibit

 On our way to San Antonio on 12/26, Ray and I stopped in Austin. At the Harry Ransom Center (UT-Austin), we visited the Making of Gone With the Wind exhibit.   Wow!

 GWTW was my mother's favorite movie and this exhibit brought a flood of memories for me. Reading the book she gave me. Watching the movie with her as it was re-released. Sniffling for Rhett has he mourned his daughter. Rooting for Scarlett to "Never be hungry again."  Loving those swelling strings of "Tara's Theme".

 Remember this gown? Scarlett tries to gussy up for Rhett - to show she's not so poor. But this is drapery material from Tara. Carol Burnett did an excellent send-up spoof complete with the curtain rods still in the dress

 Oh the richness. The exhibit featured all of the telegrams and correspondence as the search for Scarlett took over a year. Screen tests showed how awful it could have been if Vivien Leigh had not been picked. Other correspondence showed the race issues involved, and other concerns for decency issues back in the late 1930s. Embroiled in controversy was an understatement.

However, in 1939, when Gone With the Wind premiered in Atlanta, all of the struggles for casting, going through two directors, etc. faded in the success of such a film. Margaret Mitchell's vision was brought to the silver screen, and lives in Technicolor glory today 75 years after its release.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" - one of the greatest film lines ever uttered. This exhibit was GWTW fan heaven.

Book Review: Hilary Mantel

Shocking title, isn't it?

From the cover blurb - Cutting to the core of human experience, Hilary Mantel brutally and acutely writes about marriage, class, family, and sex. Unpredictable, diverse, and sometimes shocking, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher displays a magnificent writer at the peak of her powers.

This two time winner of the Man Booker Prize excels in this collection of short stories. I shall give some examples of superb writing, and then say "Go read the book as a master class of character, story arc, and unsettling brilliance."

p.47 There was a dull roasting sensation deep inside your limbs, but no sensation as you peeled yourself like a vegetable. You were sent to bed when you were sleepy, but as the heat of the bedclothes fretted your skin you woke again

p.143 Eccles House, was on a stifling scale of its own. I stood and breathed in- because one must breathe- tar of ten thousand cigarettes, fat of ten thousand breakfasts, the leaking metal seep of a thousand shaving cuts, and the horse chestnut whiff of nocturnal emissions

p.198 Render me the texture of flesh. Pick me what it is, in the timbre of voice, that marks out the living from the dead

p.201  I am willing, though, to tear up the timetable and take some new routes; and I know I shall find, at some unlikely terminus, a hand that is meant to rest in mine.

Gosh, I wish I had written that last line

Dream Big

DREAM


DREAM and ACHIEVE


There should be no other labels attached to these words.  No race, creed, etc.


Martin Luther King Day - make it a worthy one

Into the Fire (Pit)

 Friday evening in Texas. Perfect temp - not too hot, not too cold. I flunked Brownies - never made it to girl scouts, but with a gallon of lighter fluid I actually got my fire pit on FIRE.  It was 5:15 pm. Yes, I started early because I wanted to sit with our waterfall gushing and the fire pit roaring - all before it got too late and I was sleepy.

 some pics as the sky slowly turned to twilight.  I could read a bit by the fire. Poor Ray wasn't home yet - traffic was horrible.  He made it around 6:15 pm

 time for contemplation

 contentment

nothing else to be said.  Happy Weekend, Everyone!