DD for new movie + surprise

The highly touted and anticipated movie, Moonrise Kingdom, gets a double d here, disappointing and dumb.  There's another movie out there, Hysteria, that is far more engaging.  It speculates on the early development of the vibrator.  Very interesting and informative with performances by two under appreciated talents, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy.

Movies

I usually avoid the big budget, ridiculous movies, but I decided to give Dark Shadows a try, and it was worth it.  Captivating story of good guy/bad guy (gal).  Johnny Depp is wild, unpredictable and engaging.  So are others in this old time/recent time extravaganza.  This film also has extraordinary special effects.  I'd rate it higher if we saw anywhere near as much of Eva Green as we did in The Dreamers.  Then there is The Most Exotic Marigold Hotel.  The good Brits seniors, set in India with Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and others.  A light, good feel movie that has some serious messages.  Definitely worth the viewing.  Then there's Bobcat Goldthwait's God Bless America, about the loss of civility in our culture.  It starts out with the killing of the world's most horrible baby and goes on from there.  I love this guy's - humor?, but then again, I was a big fan of his earlier film, Sleeping Dogs Lie.  There, the couple grapples with the fact that she went down on the dog.  Oh my!  Not for everyone, but I can't wait for the next one.

It was a SMASH of a season!

If Smash does not pick up a host of Emmy nominations, I will be shocked.  The tv series has it all:  exceptional writing, both script and music, gripping performances by so many people in this cast, it's hard to single them out, an engaging story line about getting a show to Braodway and compelling character and relationships' development.  It is clearly one of the best opening seasons I have ever seen! and NBC has picked it up for a second season. 

Four TV Shows to Watch

Mad Men, Smash, The Killing and The Good Wife

2 Good TV Shows and New Movie

Smash is a good new show that gives a real insight into getting a Broadway show to production, well written with an excellent cast. This show needs to be watched from the beginning, so if you're interested, do that. Then there is The Good Wife. I just started with this in Season 3, and I'm very engaged in, and intrigued by, this show now, so I plan to go back and pick up all episodes I haven't seen.
Check out Friends With Kids, a funny, modern day relationships movie with a very good cast, including Jennifer Westfeldt, who wrote and directed it, and also Jon Hamm, her long time significant other.

Undefeated, Bill Maher and We Should Talk About Kevin

Undefeated is an inspirational movie and an excellent film, but it never should have beaten out Pina for best documentary at the Oscars. Real Time with Bill Maher continues to be one the the top shows on tv, always enlightening, serious, funny and topical. Have you ever seen a movie you don't want to walk out on but can't wait to end? Try We Should Talk about Kevin.

P.S. to last blog entry + Coriolanus request

Shame should be included in the Honorable Mention list, and it contains a pull-on-your-heartstrings moment when Carey Mulligan sings New York, New York.

As for Coriolanus and any other movie using Shakespearean English - subtitles please.