I'm Ready For My Movie Montage!

The other night I got a text from my friend.  She is calling me out on not doing my walks.  I need someone to do that.  But as I feared, the weather has started to turn.  All the rain we missed all summer has started in haste.  So the warmth of home is hard to resist.

I need a movie montage.  Think of all the movie where the lead character goes through a physical transformation. 

"Mirror Has Two Faces"

Dumpy Barbra



A two minute montage of running and makeover later....



Hot Barbra. 

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding"



Frumpy Nia.

Cue the montage with a computer class and contacts, soon we have this.



She is with John Corbett getting married.

"Never Been Kissed"



Nerdy Drew.



Just a montage to adorable.

I just want to montage myself to my goal.  Two minutes of highlights, sweating, running, haircut and some mascara.

Movies make it look so easy.  I guess I'll just have to get off my butt and do it in real time. 

Argo - 2012

"Argo"

I was in grade school when the Iran Hostage crisis happened.   I remember hearing about it on the news, mostly about Kathryn Koob, an Iowan who was one of the hostages.  Going to Catholic school, my teachers/nuns had us praying for their release. 

A few months after the hostages were released, Kathryn Koob visited our school.  I remember thinking she just looked like a normal woman.  I wasn't sure what I thought she'd be like but she just seemed normal, like someone's mom. 

Until this movie, I didn't know about the six people that had hidden out in the Canadian Embassy under danger of death. 




Ben Affleck does a great job as Tony Mendes, a CIA operative who heads the rescue mission.  There are so many actors in this movie. 

John Goodman and Alan Arkin steal all their scenes as Hollywood insiders who help get a fake movie off the ground for Tony's cover.

 

There were a bunch of "hey, that dude looks familiar" people in this movie.  They came and went so fast, I had to check out IMDB to be sure. 

The movie is taut and intense.  Even though I knew going in that it was going to turn out alright, I was still on the edge of my seat.  The performances were really good. 

I do have one issue though.  The movie theater is doing something kind of sneaky and wrong.  I had the day off so I went to a matinee.  I love going to the theater and the first show of the day is an early bird.  I stepped up to the ticket counter and was told it was $9.25. 

"Is that right?"  I asked.  "Isn't it a matinee?"
"It's in XD."  Says little theater boy.
"Really?" 

It was another hour and a half until the non-XD show so I went.  But I don't think this movie needed to be in XD.  It stands for Xtreme Digital.   This movie was made in old seventies style.  There was nothing that needed to be extreme. 

It was a good movie.  I imagine we will see it in the upcoming awards season. 

The Breathing Method - Casting The Movie

The powers in that be Movie Land may have finally heard my prayer!  They are going to finally adapt the final novella in Stephen King's collection "Different Seasons" will be adapted for the big screen.

This is a magical group of stories.



Shawshank Redemption



Stand By Me



Apt Pupil

All the movies were really good.  Apt Pupil was the weakest and still had great performances.  Each story was great. 

Shawshank was the story of Spring and the hope that "springs" eternal.

Apt Pupil was about Summer and corruption of youth. 

Stand By Me, or "The Body" was about Fall and the fall from innocence.  It was also the journey away from childhood and letting go of childish things.

But I have been waiting since I read the book way back in the 80's for the final story to come to film.  It is a Winter story.  It shows us a man in the winter of his life telling a story about winter that changed his life.  (How many times can I say winter in one paragraph, once more I guess)  It is the closest to horror of any of the stories in the collection.  But it is so heartfelt.  There is tragedy and inspiration.  It is a pretty cool story.

So I am going to do those movie makers a favor and cast the main characters for them.  Dear Director person, just call me if you need help getting the minor roles cast.

David

This is a slightly minor character, but he bookends the movie and introduces us the "The Club" where stories are treasured.




It is a small part, but Tom Hanks would be incredible.  His thoughts are all over his face and watching him react to the story told would be magical.  Plus he done King before.

Dr. Emlyn McCarron



Thomas Jane as the innovative doctor.  He can just play smart and believable as a doctor.  He also has to be a little in love with the leading lady.   He has also done King.  (Not a prerequisite I swear!)  But please do not age with make up or CGI, give a senior actor a job with rocking voiceover.

Sandra Stansfield



The pregnant patient.  Emma Stone is the right age and has the determination the character needs.  She is a single woman in the 1930's deciding to keep her unplanned baby.  Stone has an integrity about her that would make this character shine.  

Mrs. Davidson



The doctor's receptionist and nurse is a bit judgemental about young Miss Stansfield.  But she ends up being impressed with her and supporting her in a way I can't write about.  Kathy Bates does more with a look than some actors can do with pages of dialogue.  (OK, she has King cred too, can you say Oscar winner!)

I know that the budget just went up on this film.  What do you think?  Who would you cast?

Busy

It has been crazy busy.  And it is getting colder.  A couple of days ago it rained and I didn't walk out of fear that all the leaves on the bike trail would make it slippery and I would fall.

I LOVE EXCUSES!  I can justify almost any lack of exercise or unhealthy snack.  At least to myself.  Right now is great walking weather.   I can put on my jacket and plug in my music and go.  But it is way too easy to just sit in my chair and watch television.  If I don't go walking the minute I get home I can pretty much forget it. 

I am just really busy.  My job is gearing up for its busy season.  I have family in town for a wedding.  I just need to make it a focus and remember that doing a little every day will make the difference.  Gotta stay on the path. 

My favorite quote.

"If it is important to you, you will find a way.  If it isn't you will find an excuse."

No excuses!

Scenes from the Walk

It is fall.  The weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing.  This is the bridge that starts my path down the bike trail. 

There are leaves covering the trail and crunch under my shoes in the most satisfying way.  I love the sound of walking in the leaves. 

Fall is about my favorite time of year.  It reminds me of starting school and the excitement of my birthday coming up.  I also met my husband in the fall and it reminds me of those early nights of dating.

When we met he was working the night shift.  He could talk on the phone at work, so we would talk for hours.  He would get off at midnight and pick me up at my dorm.  We'd go to an all night diner and eat and talk.  We spent a lot of time talking.  We still seem to have a lot to talk about. 

I'd get home about five in the morning and try to sleep.  Needless to say I did not pass my 8AM class that semester.

 

 

 

The leaves will continue to change and I am looking forward to chilly walks bundled up in a thick sweatshirt.  Hope you enjoy these fall days.