Thursday, November 5, 2020

Thursday Movie Picks-Bookish Movies

 

Let's not talk what is in the news as I write this but, let's have fun and talk movies. For you writers out there in the dark(Kinda quoting Norma Desmond), you will love this theme this week, from Wandering Through The Shelves, since it is all about bookish films. I love books, reading them, smelling them because they have this smell whether they are old or new that can't be beat. I love feeling a good ole leather bound book with the gold edges. The only thing I don't like is getting a paper cut from them but I would rather have that than only reading on a kindle. I am so retro as a dear friend calls me. I have quite a few films that I could have discussed but I chose these 3. It was almost a theme within a theme, but I had to honour a great actor that recently passed. Here are my 3...

1. THE NAME OF THE ROSE-1986

Sean Connery starred in this under-rated, cult status gem as an unorthodox friar with his student/protege(Christian Slater), going to a conference(weird because it is the Middle Ages) at a remote monastery. When they arrive, they learn that several monks have been murdered and it is up to William of Baskerville(paying homage to Sherlock Holmes) to solve the murders as long as he can get by the church and their ways. At this time, the monks would create beautiful hand-painted pages and writing, in Latin, since this is before the printing press was invented(1440 by German, Johannes Gutenberg). This monastery has a beautiful library which seems to hold the key to learning more about the killings. Throw in the Inquisition and you know there will be burning ahead. I still want to read the book one day and I bet the book is better than the film, but this film is quite good showcasing some of the great art that came from Church but also shows some of the negative things that came from the power of the Church(Cue the Tune, "The Inquisition, Let's Begin, The Inquisition, Look Out Sin.").

2. IRIS-2001

This is not a feel good film but one about the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. It is pretty damn honest in its telling of it and anyone who has had a loved one who suffers, or suffered, from this disease or any other form of dementia can relate to the characters in this. This stars Judi Dench as the famous novelist Iris Murdoch who was born in Ireland and went to school in Cambridge and Oxford. The character of Iris is played by Judi Dench in her later years and Kate Winslet when Iris was young and very carefree. We learn how free the young Iris was loving intelligent discussions, writing and sex. She meets the shy John Bayley and they marry and stay together for over 40 years even though she still continued to have numerous affairs. When she shows the signs of Alzheimers, her wings are clipped and her husband must care for her. The acting of all parties are superb especially Judi Dench and Kate Winslet(who had a habit of taking off her clothes for movies...totally useless fact for today). 

3. THE READER-2008

This film got mixed reviews but I like it even though it is sad. It stars Kate Winslet(Won the Oscar for this) as a young woman who has an affair with a teen during one summer. Needless to say there is lots of sex (Kate disrobed..of course) but also The young woman, Hanna, loves being read to. The teen naturally obliges and he reads to her every time they are together (after being in the sheets). They part ways, the war comes and goes and he marries and divorces. Now, it is the mid 1960s, and he sees her when he is in school to become a lawyer. His professor take his class to court where these women are on trial for burning a church with 300 Jewish women inside. The women were SS Guards at a concentration camp and he notices Hanna(Kate's character) is one of them. While watching this trial he finally realizes a secret that Hanna has been keeping her whole life. Somehow he feels compelled to help her. You don't want to care for Hanna but, somehow, you do and you understand why he wants to help even though he knows what she did during the war, was inexcusable. Well acted and, I think, one to be seen even if it is not a great film. It has its flaws but I enjoyed watching it. 

Which films would you choose?

Enjoy


45 comments:

  1. I have no idea what movies I would pick but I am very happy with the ending clip - The Inquisition!

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    1. Isn’t it great! It’s always good to have a smile.

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  2. Hi, Birgit!

    I'm glad you mentioned the delightful experience of taking in the aroma of a real, honest to goodness, old-fashioned book. Sniffing a Kindle e-book reader just ain't the same. I remember how exciting it was in grade school when the class received new textbooks for the year. Opening a brand new book for the first time is a multisensory experience that gets you primed for learning.

    I haven't seen any of these films except the one referenced in the bonus clip at the end, but I do thank you for posting a movie that starred the late great Scottish actor Sean Connery.

    Mrs. Shady and I enjoyed Dame Judi Dench in the British series As Time Goes By. I admire Kate Winslet. Her film The Reader seems like a compelling story. My mind has now drifted to Jennifer O'Neill in Summer of '42.

    Mel Brooks went all out for that production number set during The Spanish Inquisition in his 1981 film History of the World: Part I which I saw upon its release.

    Win a Dream Date with Shady Dell Knight! Details in my latest post. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!

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    1. You are right bout a real book. My hubby and I always watch As Time Goes By and I loved it since I saw it on PBS back in the late 1990s. That film and The Reader are quite good films but not uplifting ones. I saw History of the World when it first came out also and laughed so hard.

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  3. Hi there Birgit, well for the first time I can say I've seen all films, and the only film I didn't like was the Reader, I found it totally boring, which I was surprised as I love Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes.
    I've both read an seen The Name of the Rose, brilliant film, though I found the book difficult to read as I've done any Umberto Ecco book. Iris was also a good film but then it had the wonderful Dame Judy.
    Keep safe and sane, and good luck with the election results, Kate x

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    1. Thankfully, I am a Canadian so I am glad I am on this side of the border but it is still nerve racking and I hope Biden wins for the World’s sake. Glad you saw all the films but bummer you thought the Reader was boring.

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  4. Not only have I not seen any of these films, but I also have not heard of any of them. What else is new, right? So glad you featured Sean Connery this week. It was a nice tribute to him and his skills. BTW, I'm not sure I even know who Kate Winslet is.

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    1. Kate Winslet was in Titanic playing Rose. Sean needed to be given a little tribute.

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  5. Nice that you were able to honor Sean Connery. I thought Name of the Rose was a bit of a struggle to get through but not a bad film. I could say the same about Iris but I hated The Reader with a passion.

    I'm having computer issues this week so while I have three I'm relying on the Google synopsis for clarity.

    The Book Club (2018)-Four friends' (Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton and Mary Steenburgen) lives are turned upside down when their book club tackles the infamous "50 Shades of Grey." From discovering new romance to rekindling old flames, they inspire each other to make their next chapter the best chapter.

    The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)-Quirky dog-lover Jocelyn and many-time married Bernadette decide to start a book club exclusively dedicated to Jane Austen, primarily to help distract their friend Sylvia from the fact that her husband has just dumped her. Frustrated French teacher Prudie, Sylvia's daughter Allegra and sci-fi fan Grigg join up as well.

    The Pillow Book (1996)-Nagito has a fetish for calligraphy on the human body and meets ideal soul-mate Jerome, an English translator sent to Japan. However, once Nagiko's father's gay publisher rejoins the scene, the story is overtaken by treachery and bloodlust.

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    1. Oh bummer you didn’t like The Reader which is one I did like. I thought you almost went with. Theme within a theme until I read the last synopsis. I heard of the first one and want to see that movie and the second sounds good. Not sure about the last one. I hope your computer issues are taken care of soon.

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  6. I with you on the merit of reading actual books. I've got hundreds of books (possibly thousands? Who's counting?) in our house. My wife would love for me to get rid of them which I think is kind of weird since she is a retired teacher. I don't have a Kindle, but I've read books on my computer screen (tedious) and I much prefer an actual traditional book.

    I have not seen a single one of your picks. I know I've seen a number of films that probably fit into this theme. I'll try a few that come to mind:

    Midnight in Paris is maybe more about writers than books, but I think books figure heavily into the story. And then there's the time travel element which I like a lot.

    The Book of Eli which focuses on one book in particular in a post-apocalyptic world. I've always been a fan of dystopian stories though now they seem to be closer to reality.

    Fahrenheit 451 based on the Ray Bradbury story is a warning to our future. We already are seeing calls to ban certain books in our society and that's kind of scary. It's been a long time since I've seen this film so I don't recall much about it, but I think I liked it. But it is about books.

    Bonus TV episode:

    from The Twilight Zone there is that classic episode "Time Enough at Last" about the bank employee who is obsessed with reading. This is among the best TZ episodes and it really is about books and reading.

    Great subject matter for this week!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. There are so many directions one could go with this theme but I wanted to Centre on actual books or reading than movies based on books. I have been meaning to see Midnight in Paris because I love time travel movies. I have heard about The Book of Eli but not sure I want to see it..the same with Fahrenheit 451 which, I believe, stars Robert Duvall. I know that Twilight Zone episode so well and felt so bad for him at the end. I am not for censorship and remember, when I was in high school, there was a real threat of the law coming into effect where major books like Huckleberry Finn could have been taken off the shelves. A nun taught English that year and she was so opposed to censorship and made sure we read all the books that the moral police were wanting banned.

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  7. I read The Name of the Rose, but don't think I saw the movie.
    I saw Iris, came home and told my son if I get Alzheimer's to drive over me with the car. Vaguely remember seeing The Reader. Have no idea what I would choose.

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    1. I figured You read the book. I love the movie. Dementia sucks as you know my mom had it but she didn’t have Alzheimer’s which robs the person of speech since the brain literally shrinks. My mom’s one roommate was 105 when she died but the last 5 years she was in her bed, not talking and making these strange ghostly sounds. It was a blessing when she died and I would never want to be that way.

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  8. I’ve only seen The Reader, and made a point of watching that because I had read the book and liked it (enjoyed is probably not the right word given the subject matter).

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    1. I am assuming the book is better than the film but I do like the film even though it is very sad. Most people seem to really dislike the film jus like The Book Thief but I like both.

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  9. I've heard of them all, but I've only seen The Reader. This theme could be taken a couple of different ways. Because you could totally do a theme on movies about books rather than just based on books. Hmmm.

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    1. This is what I tried to do....these films are all about books from the library, to writing to reading. Added bonus is that they were all books first. Cool eh? I pat myself on the back.

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  10. I really like The Reader. I thought most people did when it came out, but it does have a really mixed memory now.

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    1. Yeah, she won the Oscar for this role but as time passes, it seems people dislike the film and I don’t get it.

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  11. NAME OF THE ROSE sounds good. And is a nice memoriam to Sean Connery.
    Take special care.

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    1. It’s a really good film and one of the better films Sean Connery made.

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  12. Hi Birgit! I love that you honored Sean Connery in one of your picks. I remember seeing THE NAME OF THE ROSE years ago when I was a teen, definitely one of his best films outside of the Bond franchise.

    I have not seen IRIS yet but wow, Kate Winslet AND Judi Dench in it? I better rectify that!

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    1. Glad you,like my Sean Connery pick. Yes, Iris is a good film but not an easy watch.

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  13. Usually the book is better than the movie. I did like the Name of the Rose, and the book was good but a chore to get through. I don't know the other 2, at least Iris. Not even the book for that one. Happy almost FRiday. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Yeah, it is a big book to get through but I heard it is good.

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  14. Good picks, Birgit. Heavy stuff too. I haven't seen any of them.

    There's so much to choose from. I might go with classics: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Wizard of Oz.

    Avoid paper cuts and keep faith.
    We need it, and we have reason for hope.

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    1. Great picks and 2 films I love! Paper cuts are the worst. Hope and faith is what one needs. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

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  15. The Reader is a tough, but very good money. Winslet was amazing in this movie. I still need to see your other picks.

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    1. Yes it is a good movie and she was really good I. This film. She is one of my favourite actresses of today.

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  16. Hi Birgit - I haven't seen any of those ... but sometime I'll get to see them ... interesting choices from you and from your commenters - another set of films to see - take care - Hilary

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    1. Thanks for liking my choices. I hope you see them one day.

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  17. Never heard of The Name of the Rose. Have to put that one my list. Not sure what ones I'd pick. Maybe To Kill a Mockingbird

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    1. I love To Kill a Mockingbird. I hope you see the film and I think, you will like it.

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  18. Iris sounds like a wonderful film, but depressing.

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    1. Had a great weekend but the traffic in Toronto and the QEW is crazy, nutso,

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  20. I only know the first one but I love it. RIP, Sean Connery...

    Hmm...

    Lord of the Rings, of course.
    Others above mentioned To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch: best father character in film or literature.
    Forrest Gump was a book first. The movie is much better.
    Hunt for Red October
    I enjoyed the most recent Little Women quite a lot.

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    1. Love LOTR and so glad you mention The Hunt for Red October. I want to watch all versions of Little Women.

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  21. The Reader sounds wondrous, but I avoid sad. Life is stressful enough, especially now in the states.
    YOU take special care:)

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  22. Birgit,

    Generally the only books I like seeing as movies are action/adventure flicks and as you know I'm not a huge literary buff. "The Name of Rose" peeks my curiosity a bit so I'm going to look for it. The others didn't do much for me but I loved reading about them. Your picks are always interesting. :) Have a filmtastic day!

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  23. I haven't seen any of your picks this week but they do sound good. I actually love the fact there are movies that divide opinions so much - if we all liked and disliked the same things life would be dull!

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  24. So what was the third movie you would've picked if it was a theme with a theme.

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  25. I wasn't a fan of The Name of the Rose but I didn't love the book either so I guess it's normal.

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