Let's All Go to the Movies....

Last week, I saw 3 movies: the ones shown here, plus Medea's Family Reunion, an older DVD that my boss has been recommending to me for a year. He said it was really funny; I found it less so. I learned later that what he saw was a regular movie, and what I happened to rent was a film of a stage play. The action all took place in one location. That limited it somewhat, I guess. I am sure that the movie would be better and more humorous.

The History Boys was adapted from a play which received a Tony award on Broadway. The movie features the original play's cast. I thought it was an excellent film; well-acted and thought-provoking. There is a heavy theme of homosexuality and much of the language pertaining to it was gratuitous and crass. I found it off-putting. In this play, teachers say four-letter words in class. Perhaps that happens nowadays (when I was in school, it would have been unthinkable). It takes place in England, and concerns a group of boys who are about to do their college interviews. Two teachers coach them, each one with a vastly different approach to the task. This one is well worth the time to view, if you can handle the language.

The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, is wonderful. She is wonderful. Everything she has ever been in is wonderful, and this is no exception. The movie begins as Diana has been injured in an accident; the one that ultimately kills her. It concerns the aftermath of Diana's death, the reaction to it by people the world over and the apparent non-reaction by the royal family. I don't know how much of this movie follows what really happened in real life (other than what we can glean from news reports of that time). It is a fascinating glimpse into royal life and "keeping a stiff upper lip". Perhaps some bloggers from the UK can shed some light on the truth (or not) of this movie. I was struck by the attitude of Prince Philip toward Diana, which was hostile, to say the least (at least it was in this film).