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Alfred Hitchcock, biography, Birth, Books, Cleaning, Distractions, entertainment, film, IMDB, movies, Nicole Kidman, novels, Reading, Rebecca, television, TV
Have you ever stumbled upon the very end of a movie on television, (today, the last five minutes of the movie) and find it to be totally mesmerizing? You totally want to know what happened before you tuned in, and are dying to see the whole film, BUT….now you already know how it ends!
It can be argued that everyone knew how Titanic ended, and it was still an amazing movie. The movie I saw today, I think it’s been ruined for me. I didn’t even know what it was called until the credits started to roll. Turns out it was Birth (2004), starring Nicole Kidman as a woman who becomes convinced that a 12-year-old boy is the reincarnation of her deceased husband.
from IMDB.com
I dashed off to IMDB and immediately remembered the buzz (and criticism) that accompanied the movie’s release. The potential for (and anticipation of) love scenes between Kidman and a young boy rubbed some people the wrong way. That’s their prerogative. Sometimes art is provacative and uncomfortable, and I’m okay with that.
My problem, now, is that I’ve seen the end of the movie, and I’m not sure if it’s worth watching the whole thing. Leaning towards watching it though…the ending was that good.
Another movie that I joined mid-reel was Rebecca (1940), starring Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier, and I have yet to see the beginning. I turned on the TV, for background noise, when I was cleaning the bathrooms. It was not even halfway through, and I sat down with a Clorox wipe in my hand, and didn’t get up for over an hour. Note: I developed a nasty rash in my hand, as a result, but it was totally worth it!
– from IMDB.com
I won’t get into a debate, here, about reading the book versus watching the movie, but I will say that I became obsessed with all things Daphne du Maurier, after the movie, and subsequently read some of her other work (Jamaica Inn) and a fascinating biography (Daphne du Maurier: The Secret Life of the Renowned Storyteller by Margaret Forster).
I love it (contact dermatitis aside) when a book or movie makes time stand still, while the writer/performers crawl right into your brain.
What was the last movie or book that made you feel that way?
squirrel circus 
I can’t see you pictures – it’s a white box w/some little broken square in the middle. But since I go through a book every 2-3 days I’ve got tons of authors that are favorites. Since I’m a mystery/detective/suspense fan my absolute favorite, must have books the day they come out books are by John Sandford, then Lescroat, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and Robert Tanenbaum. Everything by Richard Russo & Nelson DeMille is a must although I wish they’d write faster. But all time, hands down got to read in a couple hours – Janet Evanovitch. Just love that woman’s humor (and maybe Joe Morelli’s grandmother might perhaps remind me of my deceased grandmother-in-law (right down to the major wart in the middle of her forehead).
You mean the movie links I had? Probably no one can see them…you’re just nice enough to tell me 🙂
I go through total phases with what I read. A few years ago (you wouldn’t know it from what I’m into at the moment) I was super into “chick lit” — the whole Sophie Kinsella series “Shopaholic and….”, “Bridget Jones’ Diary”, anything by Candace Bushnell (“Sex in the City”).
A while before that, it was anything by Lawrence Sanders, Mary Higgins Clark, or Robert B. Parker.
For the past couple of years I’ve been heavy into memoir (slightly wonky families — something about it resonates…ha ha…like your GMIL’s wart), but took a break to read the whole “Hunger Games” series over a weekend.
BTW, loved Russo’s “Empire Falls” and “Bridge of Sighs”. “That Old Cape Magic” is sitting on my shelf as we speak. Should I take it to the beach?
My goodness! I missed a Russo book but just came back from the library w/That Old Cape Magic so we’ll have to compare. And I forgot to mention the Hunger Games since that might have been too obvious.
As for memoirs, have you read Welcome to the Departure Lounge, Meg Federico. If nothing else you have to check out the cover of the elderly woman dressed up w/her boa & house slippers holding 2 cucumber slices over her eyes.
Ooh. Glad you picked it up. I think I will take it to the beach. I’m reading Joan Didion’s Blue Nights right now.
The “Lounge” book sounds like an intriguing read — I’ll look for it!
I forgot to mention about Russo – did you know that Nobody’s Fool was a movie starring Paul Newman? Excellent movie too although I could stare at anything that Paul Newman did and think it was great.