One Hidden Rogue Figures in La La Land

A few years ago, I reviewed the movies The Help, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I liked the Planet of the Apes movie more. It turned out that my opinion was not the popular one. So, with that in mind, it's time to don my critic hat and review 3 more movies. Rogue One, La La Land, and Hidden Figures.

Rogue One

I slept through most of it. I woke up near the end, Cassian is holding Jyn in his arms on the beach and I think oh good, they're togeth--OH MY GOD! (spoiler)* I enjoyed the Snarky Android. It was basically a war movie. And it’s number one at the box office, so obviously I'm not it's target audience.

La La Land

Now, this movie...I'm definitely the audience they want to target. A musical with jazz and appealing actors? Yes please! Did they deliver? Yes Indeedee! Did I LOVE it? Uhhhhhh….no**, but I’m still thinking about the movie and I really like movies that make me think.   

I don’t need to go into detail regarding the main actors excellent work; I’m sure the professional reviewers (note: I did not read the reviews) can describe their work with the eloquence that I lack.

I am fairly sure (and most appreciative) that the actor actually played the music (or at least most of it); because when they showed a close up of the piano, the notes I saw being being played were the same notes I heard.***.  Yes, it was charming...but I don't have a song in my head like I do with most musica – oh wait – 🎵City of Stars🎵 ….but that’s all I can remember.  Maybe I’m not suppose to remember it, being Jazz and improv and all.  

Moving right along, I HATED the ending.  They should have  - nope. Changed my  mind. The ending was not a musical ending, but it was definitely a more realistic ending.  

Oh! I know! I do think it was too long. I thought that the numbers could be shorter.

Fine. Clearly this is a living review, and I will add more as I think of it. In fact, add your thoughts to the comments and I'll put them here.  

 

Hidden Figures

Based on a true story; I loved this movie. It wasn't as gut wrenching as The Help, but they made it clear what the three protagonist women were up against in circa-1961-still-segragated Virginia. The suspense was the best though. For example, I was already spoiled for John Glenn’s orbit around the earth;**** and yet during that scene, I was on pins and needles! This movie took me on a "All feelings" ride, I participated fully (laughed, cried). I highly recommend this movie!

 *Everybody dies

**It won the most Golden Globes awards!  What is wrong with me?!  

**Mozart in Love shows the orchestra faking BADLY  it and it bugs me. 

***He did it! Check your history books!

Chocolent

Lent Time!  Time to fixate on chocolate, since, once again, I can't have any.

The other day (The Time Before Lent), the boss very kindly brought in a plastic container of Hershey's candy and said, "I found these in the back of the pantry. I thought you all might like them." I and the other addicts thanked him profusely.  Imagine our dismay when the candy looked like distressed wood. (there was a pic, but it's gone now)

Sigh....You know how I pretend to be classy and say I really only like dark chocolate?  And how I poo poo the milk chocolate and announce, with a righteous air, that I'm not going to waste the calories on the pedestrian chocolate by the checkout counter?  Confession time: I do like dark chocolate the best, but truthfully,  I will eat any chocolate.  Snickers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Joys, chocolate filled with liquor, even calcium injected chocolate tastes good to me!

There was no chocolate I wouldn't eat.

Until the other day.

Shocked at the fact that chocolate could look utterly unappetizing, I asked how long the chocolate had been in the back of the pantry.  His answer: "I don't know... 5 years?  Maybe more?"
  
FIVE YEARS!   Chocolate was around for FIVE YEARS? I wonder if he and his family are ascetic.  I can't be around chocolate for 5 minutes without devouring it.  

Vive la différence, obviously, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the concept of forgotten chocolate.

39 more days.

Left Thinking

There comes a time when one can't hide who she is anymore....



This is that time....



Time that I tell the world...
.


And maybe --<sniff>--Just maybe! <fist to mouth stifling a sob> --



I can help others like me.



I have no idea how people will react to the following, but it's a sacrifice I must make for future generations:

I am left handed. 

There it is!  In big bold red.  I was born left handed.  It was not a choice. Without doing any research, I'm sure that more than 10% of the world's population is left handed.  I am not ashamed of being a lefty, but I am tired.

I am tired of smudges on the side of my hand because pen manufacturers cannot manage to make a non smudgeable ink.  Who decided we should write from left to right anyway? Isn't it interesting that write and right are homonyms?

I am tired of injuring myself using simple kitchen tools like peelers or spilling on my dress trying to manage a ladle.

What are you right handers so afraid of?  Is it that you use the left side of the brain, so you aren't in your right mind?  So what?  The term right mind is prejudicial anyway.  It should be correct mind.  <Rubbing my chin with my left hand in a musing manner> Ohhhh...no wonder you righties are so afraid.  You're in your wrong mind.

Still.  Did you know that left in Latin is sinistro?  Mm hmm, as in sinister.Yes, I orient left, but I'm just like anybody else in this world.  I love. I laugh. I cry.  I put on my pants one leg at a time.  I just start with the left leg. 

I know lefties have made great strides.  Lefties are no longer forced to learn to write with their right hand. Left handed scissors have been around for quite a while now.  A right hander was able to get beyond my leftiness and marry me.  Fact is, there are many married couples who are different handed.  And finally, the forks in a proper table setting goes on the left side.


Yet I am often banished to the end of the table so my left elbow doesn't touch the person next to me. I admit my elbows get dry sometimes, but I promise you right handers this:  If my elbow touches yours you will not turn into a left hander.

I know my quest for lefty-righty equality will be a long time coming.  New traditions using the left hand must become part of of the social norm....Here's one idea...Since we normally shake hands with our right hand, Let’s start high 5-ing with our left hand! Don’t forget to watch the elbows!