Quietly Enigmatic

This, then, is British actor Michael Kitchen for those of you who don't know. Quite a few people have never heard of him, if recent conversations are any indication. But then, he does his best to stay out of the limelight. Does his job, does it very well, and goes home.

I discovered him first in the film Enchanted April where he brings his ineffable charm to the character of Mr. Briggs.

Then I discovered the stupendously brilliant series Foyle's War. Which I highly recommend.

I read an article once talking about filming Foyle's War... it seems the scripts would be sent round and Kitchen would cut out large sections of his own lines. He would say 'I can do all that [several paragraphs] with one look.' and, according to the guy being interviewed, he could. Kitchen has something of a reputation for being able to express his characters without using many words. He's known for playing (and being) "quietly enigmatic."

Once you know who he is Michael Kitchen pops up in a lot of things...
He was in Out of Africa, which I never saw, but there he is in a film still from the movie.
I did see Lorna Doone -- and was delighted to discover Kitchen in the role of Judge Jefferies. He's been in oodles of other films and series...
And did I mention he's in my favorite movie, Enchanted April?
Well, he is.

Inspired by Leslie's Long Meme

Over At the Top of Squirrel Spur Leslie has done an astronomically long meme. It's a list of 239 films and if you've seen 85 of them you've "got no life." I've seen 34 or 35 (I can't remember if the comet hitting the earth movie I saw on the weather channel one time was called was Deep Impact or not).

Evidently I "have a life."
For the complete list go to Leslie's blog. I haven't followed the rules of the meme at all.

*****

Most of the films on that long list were films I wouldn't even consider seeing to begin with, because what you put in your head -- that's what's in your head. It's wasteful of brain cells to watch stupid time-filler movies, it's disrespectful to my faith to watch movies that advance a lifestyle opposite to the way God wants me to live, and, honestly, I just don't see the point of violent horror films. Movies should be happy escapes from reality.

Now, a GREAT movie, not on that list, would be Enchanted April... I may have seen that one movie alone 35 times. (Does that refute the idea that I "have a life"?) Come to think of it most of the movies I really like weren't on the meme at all. I wonder who would write a movie list that doesn't include:
Kismet
My Man Godfrey
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
White Christmas
Much Ado About Nothing
Groundhog's Day
Wives and Daughters
Sense and Sensibility ... .... maybe, I should write my own movie meme.

*Edited

Quote of the Week

"No one should write a book God wouldn't want to read..."

~ Rose Arbuthnot, Enchanted April

Time Slips Sideways

"Funny how time slips sideways in this place." Caroline (Poly Walker) says in my favorite movie. It seem anachronis to quote Enchanted April in reference to September. But it's true.

Time slips silently, flowing over us in swooping curves like birds flocking and swaying through the cooling mornings. The trees are full of winged evidence of time. Chattering followers of seasons silhouette themselves against the sunrise and arc through the morning -- sinuous reminders of the approaching autumn.

Indian Summer is upon us. The sun brings daily warmth, flip-flops and summer dresses; the crisping nights sing of apple ciders, bonfires and flannel quilts. Soon the leaves will begin to turn, to fall. Indeed, they are turning already.
The Burning Bush has begun to blush red; the licking flames of autumn climb it's branches. I capture this image, fleeting evidence of time, before the branches bare themselves to further seasons, to the thankfulness of November, the starkness of January, the resurrection of April. For right now, for this paused moment, this small eddy in the stream of time, the seasons mingle. The leaves are red and green, the weather warms and chills, the birds are here and there, and with them I follow curving lines washing back and forth across the mornings.

I Want More Good Movies

Clearly the movie industry does not agree with me.

We rented Definitely, Maybe over the weekend and here’s my opinion: Definitely NOT.

Most people probably wouldn’t agree with me; I wish I didn’t agree with me. The movie was well acted – superb, believable performances by an excellent cast. It was well written – first-rate dialogue, brilliant use of voice over and foreshadowing. And the directing and cinematography were stellar as well. Why don’t I like it? I’m not a fan of immorality. Oh, sure the little girl catches out her dad as a former smoker and chastises him, but the teasing “Dad what’s the male word for slut?” doesn’t carry nearly as much weight. The movie condones (where it should condemn or at least correct) the loose morality and sexual perversion of the four adult characters.

Here’s the kicker for me though: His marriage, signing the divorce papers is presented as the only thing standing between the girl’s father and the woman he really loved all along (not her mother) – WHAT? What kind of message is that? Allow me to sum up.
‘Hey, Kido, it’s okay Mommy and Daddy are getting divorced. I know we made commitments and stuff but I never really loved her, we’d both had sex with so many people it was just time to try something else for a while. I’ve really been in love with someone else this whole time.'
‘Sounds great, Pop. Not like families matter that much afterall – need help getting the old girlfriend back?’
My predictable response? DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME.

Now a great movie, which properly addresses the idea of philandering (there are temptations, they are resolved), has yet to be released on DVD. I am not alone in my appreciation of this film. For whatever reasons tons of people love this movie. A Google search on the title reveals multiple sites offering good reviews, fans recommending the film, and several hundred petitions each demanding the release of this film on DVD. And I checked – there are over 800 pages listing bloggers on Google Blogger who have put this movie in their profile favorites.

Released in 1992 this movie, with a stellar cast and truly excellent cinematography (as well as my personal favorite, even though you can’t find it anywhere, movie soundtrack of all time), offers a soothing drama about the lives of four women who face life and find love where they least expected it – in unlikely friendships and their own marriages. The film, nominated for multiple Oscars and Golden Globes, garnered two of the latter. The reworked screenplay was revived in 2003 as a successful Broadway show, and the almost forgotten book on which the film was originally based has not only been reprinted but has become a book club favorite over the intervening years.

I am wearing out my second VHS tape of the movie at a rate which causes me to worry about where I’ll find another copy I can afford. Used VHS copies of the film range from $30 to $80 on Amazon, and yet the film still has not been released on DVD.

To which popular movie do I refer? ENCHANTED APRIL

If you haven't seen it (or haven't seen it in a while), go rent it – if you can find it – and if you can’t find it, do me a favor and complain. I think they’ve stopped listening to me.