Last month I posted a brief review of the move Everything is Illuminated because I like the unexpected, unconventional and beguiling nature of the story, the well-crafted scenes and performances, and the human insights that lingered in my mind for days afterward. I hadn’t expected to like the movie all that much yet I was totally won over. Since then I’ve thought about some of my other all-time favorite movies and realized that many of these shared distinctive characteristics with this film. The stories aren’t really related to each other, but they are all off-beat (non-formulaic) delights that surprised and charmed me and — as we head into a snowy weekend — I thought they might charm you as well.
| My top three favorite movies may shift from time to time, but Local Hero will always be near the top of my list. Released in 1983, it stars Peter Reigert (post-Animal House) and Burt Lancaster and is directed by the estimable Scottish director Bill Forsyth (Gregory’s Girl, Comfort and Joy). Like all of the movies here it has a light, whimsical streak running through it. The story is that a large Houston oil company sends one of its acquisition specialists, McIntyre, to a small Scots town to purchase the town and, especially, its deep water port that they want to turn into a refinery. Part of the joke is that Mac isn’t even Scottish — his ancestors adopted the name when they got off the boat from Hungary because it “sounded American”.
Devoted to his job and his lifestyle, Mac sets out to complete his mission as quickly as possible but finds himself becoming enchanted by the place and ambivalent about his task. One of the special twists of the story, however, is that rather than being outraged and protective of their community, the locals can’t wait to sell it and become rich! There are several subplots as well and a great cast of characters (referring both to the actors and to the “townspeople” in the movie). The movie is quirky but not in a heavy-handed, off-putting way and it reveals itself little-by-little. The story is partly meant to be a commentary on American capitalism abroad, but this is done warmly and with wit; the scenes between Mac and an entreprenuerial Russian sailor are some of the best, though these are surpassed by Burt Lancaster’s small but vital role. Beautiful scenery, a beautiful story, and did I mention that there’s a mermaid as well? |
 |
 |
I always link The Coca-Cola Kid with Local Hero in my mind because it also tells a comedic tale of what happens when American interests go abroad, but in a more allegorical manner. The screenplay is by an Australian and directed by a Yugoslavian, but culture clashes at the center of the movie, and the characterization of Becker (played by Eric Roberts in one of his less-twitchy roles) is more bemused than pointed. Becker is a hot-shot marketing guru from Coca-Cola, sent from Atlanta to Australia to boost sales in that country. (The movie was made without the fore-knowledge or blessing of Coca-Cola). When he discovers a populated valley in which absolutely no Coke has ever been sold he sets out to conquer, in the process meeting the patriarch of the valley, a cantankerous lord who bottles his own brand of soft drinks.
Greta Scacchi plays the love interest, again, somewhat as an allegory, as are several other characters who come and go with their own perceptions and assumptions about Americans set up in contrast with Becker’s assumptions of this new land. It’s a funny and generally gentle story with great music, including a terrific Coke jingle that the company should have adopted in real life. It’s a good companion movie to watch with Local Hero, but there are a couple of scenes with nudity so it’s probably not for kids (though the story wouldn’t be as interesting to them anyway). |
| A movie that is ideal to watch with the whole family is The Secret of Roan Inish. There are no big stars in the film, but it is directed by John Sayles, who’s work I’ve liked since “The Return of the Secaucus Seven” (another off-beat charmer that was later ripped off by “The Big Chill“). The story focuses on Fiona, a young girl sent to live with her grandparents on the Irish coast after her mother dies and her father and brothers go to work in an industrialized city. Her grandparents still live near the island that was the home of Fiona’s family going back several generations and the seat of the family’s mystical history and the setting for the mysterious disappearance of Fiona’s younger brother, Jamie, spirited away when he was an infant.
While that sounds rather dark, the story is anything but as Fiona and her cousin find themselves gradually unwrapping the nearly forgotten ancient secrets of the family and the mystery of what happened to Jamie. Rest assured, there isn’t a speck of evil in the story. In fact, one of the things that makes the film so unique in my mind is that it generates such a compelling drama without a single villain. The young actress who plays Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is amazing and easily carries the movie. I’m surprised that she hasn’t gone on to do other movies (“Roan Inish” was released in 1995). It’s a tremendous story of faith, love and character and an ideal experience for the whole family. Bake some bread, cook up a pot of soup, and eat while you watch the movie! |
 |
 |
This is another movie that took me by surprise when we first watched it. The Emperor’s New Clothes is a “what if” story about what might have happened if Napoleon had managed, through the use of a body double, to escape from Elba and make it back to France. Rest assured, however you think this might have turned out, you’ll definitely be surprised by the story that unfolds. Ian Holm is fantastic as the two Napoleons and the story is a very funny and touching one with a bit of romance and adventure thrown in.
I’m not sure why we even rented it in the first place, but I’m glad we did. While the premise sounds predictable, the story is delightfully original and veers away from the cliched scenes and character reactions that you might expect. It’s not a “major” film but it is very entertaining with likeable characters and a seductive plot. If you rent it just sit back and relax and go with the story and you won’t be disappointed. |
Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it
up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new
to the whole thing. Do you have any points for rookie blog writers?
I’d really appreciate it.
Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would love to have you share some
stories/information. I know my viewers would value your work.
If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
Hello, I would like to subscribe for this weblog to
take most recent updates, thus where can i do it please assist.
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future
and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this publish and
if I may I want to counsel you some attention-grabbing things or suggestions.
Perhaps you can write subsequent articles relating to this
article. I wish to read even more issues approximately it!
Hey! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really
enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I
have found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out
loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & aid different users like its aided me.
Great job.
Great site you’ve got here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality writing like yours these
days. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
you are truly a excellent webmaster. The site loading
velocity is incredible. It sort of feels that you are
doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece.
you have performed a magnificent activity on this subject!
Hi there to every one, it’s truly a nice for me to
pay a quick visit this site, it includes important Information.
Asking questions are in fact nice thing if you are not understanding something fully, except this article offers
pleasant understanding yet.
Great weblog right here! Additionally your website quite a bit up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate link to your host?
I want my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Really when someone doesn’t know then its up to other users that they will assist, so here it happens.
??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????
????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?
???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ????.
???? ? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? ???? ?????
?? ???? ?? ??? ???. ??????
???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ???? ????
??. ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???.
????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???.
??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ????????
???? ???? ???? ???. ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ????.
?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ? ???????? ?????.
??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?????
?????????????. ???? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ??
????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????
??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????.
???? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ejfejaronline ????? ?? si?-bet
???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???. ??? ?? ?????? ??
???? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??
??????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????.
??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??????
?? ????. ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???
? ????? ??? ???. ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?????
????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ????.
?y blog podt :: ?????? ?????? (FAQ)
I like the valuable info you provide for your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently.
I’m rather sure I’ll learn lots of new stuff proper right here!
Best of luck for the next!
My developer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a
variety of websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform.
I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it?
Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find many of
your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for.
can you offer guest writers to write content for you?
I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write in relation to here.
Again, awesome weblog!
Good article. I am facing a few of these issues as well..
If some one needs to be updated with latest technologies after that he must be pay a quick visit this site and be up to date all the time.
Right now it seems like WordPress is the top blogging platform available right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re
using on your blog?
I every time used to read post in news papers but now as I
am a user of net thus from now I am using net for
articles or reviews, thanks to web.
Everything published was very reasonable. But, think about this, what if you typed
a catchier title? I mean, I don’t want to tell
you how to run your blog, however suppose you added a post
title to possibly get a person’s attention? I mean Charmed, I’m
sure | thenightwriterblog.com is kinda plain. You should glance at Yahoo’s
front page and see how they write news headlines to get
viewers interested. You might add a related video or a related picture or two to grab readers excited about what you’ve written. Just my opinion, it might bring your posts a little bit more interesting.
You really make it appear really easy along with your presentation however I find this matter to be actually one thing
which I believe I’d by no means understand.
It kind of feels too complex and very broad for me. I’m having a look forward for your subsequent submit,
I’ll attempt to get the hang of it!
przeliczalne na gotówk?
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email.
I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you
might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
Good way of describing, and good paragraph to obtain data on the
topic of my presentation subject, which i am going to
present in academy.
I think that what you posted was actually very reasonable.
However, think about this, what if you were to create a killer title?
I am not suggesting your information isn’t solid., however
what if you added a title that makes people want more?
I mean Charmed, I’m sure | thenightwriterblog.com is a little vanilla.
You ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and see how they
create article headlines to grab people interested.
You might add a video or a pic or two to get people interested about everything’ve written. Just my opinion,
it could bring your posts a little bit more interesting.
SOCOLIVE – ??nh Cao Xem Bóng ?á Online
4K M??t Mà, Free
I like the valuable information you provide on your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check again right here regularly.
I’m fairly sure I will be informed many new stuff proper
here! Good luck for the next!
I do agree with all the concepts you’ve introduced for your post.
They’re really convincing and will certainly work.
Still, the posts are very brief for newbies. May you please
lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thanks for
the post.
Good stuff Cheers.
?????, ????????, ???????, ???, ?????????????, ???????????,
????????????, ???????????????, ???????????????????,
???????????, ??????????, ???????????????, ???????????????????, ???????????,
Visa, workpermit, ?????????????????, ?????????????????????????, Thailand visa, Thai
Visa
Nicely put. Thanks a lot!
Finding the Best Mattress Singapore H?s to Offer – ?hat ?ost
Buyers ?iss
When it ?omes to furniture singapore purchases, f?w decisions feel as personal or important ?s selecting th? right mattress singapore.
?ost people spend m?re tim? choosing ? sofa set t??n they do choosing t?e bed
fram? the? use eveery night. ??e Somnuz range f?om Megafurniture wa? designed ?pecifically t? make t?i? decision clearer f?r Singapore buyers ?y covering the fo?r main construction types m?st local families compare.
?n Singapore, ?everal local factors m?ke mattress selection more im?ortant
than in ot?er countries. Because Singapore st?ys humid alm?st all ?ear, excellent
breathability ?s essential f?r keeping a mattress singapore fresh.
Dust mites thrive ?n this climate, m?king hypoallergenic materials ?
real advantage f?r m?ny households. Many households ?un the aircon ?ll night, ?hich ?ffects ?ow
mattress materials perform ?n real life.
When ?ou ?alk into any furniture store in Singapore, ?o?’ll mainly see fo?r core mattress construction types worth comparing.
Pocketed-spring mattresses ?se individually wrapped coils that
m??e independently, offering excellent motion isolation f?r couples and generally b?tter airflow.
Memory foam ?s loved for it? hugging feel and motion isolation, tho?gh traditional
versions ?ometimes retain warmth ?n Singapore bedrooms. Latex
i? naturally bouncier, sleeps cooler, and resists dust mites
?etter than most foam — a genuine advantage ?n our climate.
Hybrid mattresses t?? t? balance the support ?nd breathability of springs
?ith the contouring comfort ?f foam ?r latex.
At Megafurniture ?ou can test the fu?l Somnuz l?ne — f?om basic pocketed spring to advanced water-repellent ?nd
latex hybrids — ?ll in t?eir furniture store.
Firmness ?s the m?st discussed mattress feature, ?et ?t’s a?so the
m?st misunderstood ?ecause ?t feels ?ompletely ?ifferent depending on y?ur body
weight and sleeping position. If yo? sleep on y?ur sid?, a medium to
medium-soft mattress singapore helps relieve pressure ?t the shoulder and hip.
Back sleepers tend to prefer medium t? medium-firm for goo? lumbar support ?ithout flattening the natural curve.
Stomach sleepers ?hould lean to?ard firmer
options t? prevent t?e hips f?om sinking to? far.
?ecause m?st Singapore homes ?ave tighter bedroom dimensions, choosing t?e
right mattress singapore size prevents the r?om from feeling cramped.
?he cover material is ?ne of t?? most und?r-appreciated features f?r
Singapore buyers. Bamboo-fabric covers ooffer
excellent moisture-wicking ?nd mild antibacterial properties t??t help th? surface stay fresher ?onger.
Water-repellent covers protect ?gainst spills, sweat, ?nd humidity ingress — ?specially ?seful fo? families ?ith children ?r pets.
Here’? h?? t?e Somnuz mattresses l?ne u? with real
household requirements in Singapore. ?he Somnuz Comfy serves ?s
t?e practical entry-level choice — ? solid 10-inch pocketed-spring mattress ideal f?r couples ?r single sleepers ?ho w?nt reliable support ?ithout premium
pricing. T?e Somnuz Comforto ?dds bamboo fabric andd
latex f?r those who prioritise breathability ?nd natural dust-mite resistance.
?he water-repellent Somnuz Comfort Night ?s espe?ially popular with families who want practical peace of mind in Singapore’? humid environment.
Premium buyers often choose the Somnuz Roman Supreme f?r superior materials ?nd long-term
comfort.
Most people test mattresses t?e wrong way d?ring furniture showroom visits —
and ?t leads t? regret l?ter. To g?t u?eful feedback, spend ?t ?east ten minutes on each model in th? exact
position ?ou normally sleep in. Y?u ?an t?? the
entire Somnuz collection comfortably ?t Megafurniture’s Joo Seng flagship ?r Tampines outlet.
Confirm delivery timing matches ?o?r m?ve-in o? renovation schedule
— thi? i? one of th? most common pain p?ints fo? new BTO owners.
Most quality mattress warranties ?ast 10 ye?rs on paper, ?ut the actual coverage f?r sagging and comfort issues
varies ?etween brands.
?ith t?e right choice,a ?ood mattress f?om
? reputable furniture showroom ?ike Megafurniture ?ill serfe ??u well f?r nearly
? decade. Watch fo? gradual signs ?ike new back pain,
centre sagging, or partner disturbance — these ??e
clear signals the mattress h?s reached th? end of its useful life.
Visit Megafurniture’s furniture store ?r browse their fu?l mattress collection online t? find the Somnuz model that matches ?our needs ?nd budget.
Here is my weeb site; 8 Seater Dining set
King88 | Link vào trang ch? King88 – Nhà cái casino uy tín 2026
Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several
weeks of hard work due to no backup. Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
You really put that really well!
Great post. appreciate it!
I appreciate how clear this post is!
This was helpful quite a bit.
Thanks for sharing. I found it useful!
I think you are right with what you said.
That is a useful detail quite often.
Nice take. I had not noticed that detail before!
This discussion is worth reading.
I was looking for a better way to understand this, and this answered it!
Useful one. This is worth remembering!
This is the sort of useful discussion I like to find!
That detail gets skipped a lot, so it is good that you pointed it out.
Useful information in this post, thank you!
This added something to my notes. Appreciate it!
This question appears in many threads, and your answer is simple.
This should help beginners.
I like the practical side of this. Thanks for sharing.
I have been checking similar threads, so this reply came at a good time.
This makes sense to me.
Thanks for the useful answer. It is refreshing to read something that is easy to follow.
The simple explanation helps!
Good thread. I found more than one thing worth saving here!
This is a good reminder when learning this.
This is close to what I was thinking while reading the thread.
Helpful explanation. It cleared things up.
Forum answers like this save time because they get straight to the point!
This comes across as a genuine reply!
Many thanks for the info.
I am going to keep this approach in mind for a similar issue!
This gave me a clearer view.
That is good to know. Thanks for mentioning it!
This reply works because it is clear enough!
This is one of those replies that makes a thread worth reading!
I agree with the basic point. Nice comment.
The details here are useful.
This topic was a little unclear to me, but your reply gave me a useful clue!
Useful point. It is easy to forget that when reading too many opinions!
This makes sense with AI tools also when people test prompts.
This reminds me of coding projects.
For people new to this, this reply is a good start!
I like when forum posts include small details.
This thread was worth opening. Appreciate it!
You put the idea clearly. Thanks.
I have had a similar experience with coding.
I had not looked at the topic from that side. Nice comment.
The reply is short, but useful.
I like that this is not overcomplicated!
Good advice. This is worth remembering!
This is a good place to start.
I like the balanced answer. Good reply!
I found this useful while browsing!
I was reading about this for study, and this helped.
Nice to read a simple human answer.
The post is easy to understand. Good stuff!
This reply does the job.
I like this kind of forum answer because it answers the real question!
Good note about that. I might have missed it otherwise!
This topic is easy to overthink, but this explanation keeps it clear.
I agree most with checking real examples.
This is useful enough to send to a friend learning this.
Useful contribution to the discussion.
I did not expect to find such a clear answer!
The example helped. Nice detail.
This should help people avoid confusion!
It helps that you did not only mention the good side.
This gives a helpful way to think about the options!
I am still learning this myself, and this reply helps.
Real use experience is useful here.
Short enough to follow but still helpful!
I like this because it feels practical!
I may need this later!
I saw this topic mentioned elsewhere, and this is one of the more practical replies.
That clears things up. Good post.
This could be useful in a work setup when people need practical choices.
This is useful for study too!
The daily-use angle is useful.
Good point for anyone using tools online!
This thread gave me a few ideas!
Thanks for keeping the answer readable.
This is the detail I was missing.
Different experiences help with this topic. This one was helpful!
This would be useful to save!
The comment feels honest, which makes it more useful!
I had a similar issue once. Your point makes sense.
Fair call. Sometimes the simple answer really is the best one!
This is useful even for people who have some experience.
I like that the comment is not trying to sell anything!
This makes the discussion better!
Testing it yourself is a good point.
This is very relevant for tech topics.
Good note for programming-related work!
This makes sense for games too.
AI tool users could use this advice too.
Experience-based answers are usually better.
Good summary. It is enough to get started.
I needed this for a small project!
This is close to what I needed!
Thanks for making this easier to understand!
This is the kind of reply that keeps forums useful.
This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found
something that helped me. Kudos!
Hi friends, its enormous article about cultureand entirely explained, keep it up
all the time.
When someone writes an piece of writing he/she keeps the image of
a user in his/her mind that how a user can know it.
So that’s why this article is perfect. Thanks!
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for,
what a data! existing here at this webpage,
thanks admin of this web page.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy
on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit
more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Exceptional work!
I visit each day some blogs and information sites to read articles
or reviews, but this weblog provides feature based posts.
fantastic points altogether, you simply received a new reader.
What could you recommend about your submit that you made some days
in the past? Any positive?
Wow! Finally I got a web site from where I be capable of actually obtain useful
data regarding my study and knowledge.
This is my first time go to see at here and i am in fact pleassant to read all at
one place.
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is
great, let alone the content!
Ahaa, its pleasant discussion concerning this paragraph here at this web site, I have read
all that, so now me also commenting here.
Incredible points. Great arguments. Keep up the great spirit.
????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
????
Dubai is solitary of the universe’s beat valid estate investment destinations, oblation dues advantages, energetic
rental yields, and premium lifestyle opportunities.
From confidence villas to high-rise apartments, buying chattels in Dubai provides terrific potential for the sake of
both profits and long-term money growth.
Appreciating the commitment you put into your site and detailed information you present.
It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the
same old rehashed material. Fantastic read! I’ve bookmarked your
site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.