Movie recommendations: Before the holidays, we saw several of the Oscar contenders and I would recommend them all. This is a season of men, all of these films portray famous or infamous males, all but one no longer here. I’ve listed the films in order of my preference.
Imitation Game. Alan Turing was a genius and his codebreaking achievements secret for many years. Benedict Cumberbatch is wonderful in the starring role although I’ve since read in a New York Review of Books article that the portrayal of Turing is skewed and that he was not quite as freakish or nerdy as the film makes out.
The Theory of Everything. No question, Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking is simply stunning. Hawking’s accomplishments coupled with the sweet and bittersweet love between him and Jane make this film refreshing and a joy to see.
Foxcatcher. We lived in the Philadelphia suburbs when these events happened and so it was essential to see the film. A lot of wrestling scenes and a bit slow, but Steve Carell gives a creepy and compelling performance as John DuPont.
Mr. Turner. I didn’t love this film, but found it worth seeing. Turner communicates mostly by grunts so there is not much in the way of meaty dialogue and the narrative arc is shallow to almost non-existent. Nonetheless, you get a sense of Turner’s place in the artistic society of the time.
This Week’s Book
Charleston by Margaret Bradham Thornton.
This first novel draws strongly on the author’s own experiences. Thornton grew up in Charleston, she edited Tennessee Williams’ notebooks and he is referenced in the novel, and the main character spends a lot of time doing historical research. The book is a testament to the pull of the South and the history and charm of Charleston (readers who know Charleston’s streets and sights will be more engaged) and Charleston society. It’s a familiar plot–girl attached to boy, girl re-encounters a past love, and girl must decide whether her heart lies with the new love or the old. But there is a surprise twist which I won’t divulge. I would characterize this as a pleasant diversion, a bit like indulging in a slice of Lady Baltimore cake on a summer afternoon.
Sarasota Spot
We continue to be impressed with the cultural offerings in our area. The Music Mondays series charms, informs and delights us with conversation and performance from a different artist each week. And last Thursday’s Sarasota Orchestra concert was over the top. Put together a masterful rendition of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 given by pianist, painter, composer Stephen Hough, add in Elgar’s Enigma Variations (all 14 of them) under Anul Tali’s expressive conducting and you have a wonderful evening! We enjoyed it as much as or more than some San Francisco Symphony concerts!
I agree completely with your comments on The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything – definitely the top of the crop for this year. i didn’t see Foxcatcher or Mr. Turner. i also really liked Selma, although was troubled by the portrait of Lyndon Johnson that reportedly did not give him the credit for his true role in the voting rights movement.