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. |
Your style is very unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff from.
I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the
opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this web site.
This is a very informative post about online casinos and betting platforms.
I especially liked how it explains the importance of choosing a licensed site before signing up.
Many players often ask where they can find reliable gaming platforms with fair
odds and smooth payouts. From what I’ve seen, checking platforms like vn22vip helps users compare features, bonuses, and overall experience.
Thanks for sharing these insights — they’re helpful for
both beginners and experienced bettors.
Wonderful blog you have here but I was curious if
you knew of any community forums that cover
the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of online community
where I can get advice from other knowledgeable
people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Thanks!
Your way of telling everything in this paragraph is really pleasant, every one
be capable of simply be aware of it, Thanks a lot.
Just desire to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity to your post is just cool and that i could assume
you’re knowledgeable on this subject. Fine along with your permission let me to
snatch your feed to stay up to date with coming near near post.
Thank you one million and please carry on the rewarding work.
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to improve my web site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the layout of your site?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could
connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one
or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. 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!
???? ??? ???????? ????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????????? ??? ?? ?????????? ?? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????.
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Opera.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but
I thought I’d post to let you know. The design and style look great though!
Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Kudos
I pay a quick visit each day some sites and information sites to read articles,
except this website gives quality based content.
It’s going to be end of mine day, however before end I am
reading this great post to improve my know-how.
Feel free to surf to my homepage ????????????
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for cczauvr bh
I was able to find good advice from your blog posts.
obviously like your web site however you need to check the spelling on quite a few
of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform the reality however I will definitely come back again.
Exploratory modules ?t OMT motivate innovative analytical, aiding students discover math’? virtuosity ?nd feel motivated for
exam success.
Unlock ??ur kid’s fu?l potential in mathematics ?ith OMT
Math Tuition’? expert-led classes, customized t? Singapore’s MOE syllabus
f?r primary school, secondary, ?nd JC trainees.
As mathematics underpins Singapore’? credibility f?r quality in global
standards ?ike PISA, math tuition ?s essential to ulocking ? child’s prospective and protecting academic advantages in this core topic.
Math tuition assists primary school trainees excel ?n PSLE by strengthening the Singapore Math curriculum’? bar modeling technique f?r visual p?oblem-solving.
Comprehensive insurance coverage ?f the ?ntire O Level syllabus ?n tuition ma?es c?rtain no subjects, f?om sets to vectors,are ?gnored in a pupil’?
revision.
Dealing ?ith specific knowing designs, math tuition m?kes certain junior college trainees master subjects ?t thei? ?ery o?n speed for ?
Level success.
Inevitably, OMT’? one-?f-?-kind proprietary syllabus complements t?? Singapore MOE curriculum ?y cultivating independent thinkers equipped f?r
lifelong mathematical success.
OMT’? syst?m tracks ?o?r improvement ?ve? time sia, motivating yoou t? intend g?eater ?n mathematics qualities.
Math tuition motivates confidence ?ia success ?n sma?l milestones, moving Singapore students
t?wards ?verall test victories.
Feel free t? surf t? my web-site online math tuition
Peculiar article, totally what I wanted to find.
???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? Easypaisa ??? JazzCash ?? ????? ???? ??????? ??? 100% ???? ????
?????JEETA Pakistan
?? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????????? ??????? ???????????????? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ????.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and the rest
of the site is very good.
Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the issues.
It was really informative. Your site is useful.
Thank you for sharing!
My partner and I stumbled over here from a different web address and thought I might check things
out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to
checking out your web page again.
I’d like to find out more? I’d like to find out some additional information.
It’s truly a nice and helpful piece of information. I am happy
that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi, always i used to check weblog posts here early in the dawn, as i enjoy to find out more and more.
???????? ?????? ????? ???????????? ? ????? ???????.
???????????? (??????, ????????, ???????) ??????? ????? ????, ?????????
????????, ???????????? ???????????,
??????? ??????????? ????? ????? ????????.
???????????? (?????, ??????)
????? ??? ????????, ?????? ????? ????? ????????.
??????? (??????, ???????) ?????????? ???????,
????????? ?????? ?????? (?) ?????
?????????????? ?????. ????? ??????????? ??? —
????? ???????, ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????.
?????? ???? ???????? ????????? ??? ? ???? ?????? ???? (???? ???????)? ????????? ?????? ?? ??? ???.
????????? ?????? ???????????? ? ?????
???????. ??????????? (??????, ????????, ?????????) ??????? ??????
????, ??????? ????????, ????????? ???????????, ??????? ??????????? ????? ?????
????????. ???????????? (????, ??????)
????? ? ?????????, ?????? ?????
? ????????. ??????? (??????, ???????) ?????????? ???????,
????????? ?????? ?????????? ? ????? ??????????????
?????. ???? ????????????? ????????? — ??????? ???????????, ????????? ?
????? ??????.
Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you know after that you can write otherwise it is difficult
to write.
Xiaomi shop ?????? https://apkpure.com/p/com.xiaomi.apk
????????? ?????? ????????????
? ??? ???????. ???????????? (??????, ????????, ???????)
??????? ?????? ????, ?????????
????????, ??????????? ???????????, ?????? ??????????? ????? ????? ????????.
???????????? (?????, ??????) ????? ??? ?????????, ?????? ?????
????? ????????. ??????? (??????, ????????)
????????????? ???????, ???????? ?????? ?????????? (?) ????? ??????????? ?????.
???? ?????????? ????????? — ????? ???????, ??????? ? ????? ??????.
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it looks
like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement.
Do you know any techniques to help protect against content from being ripped off?
I’d certainly appreciate it.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this website.
He was once entirely right. This put up truly made my day.
You cann’t believe just how much time I had spent for this info!
Thanks!
Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured
I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa?
My site covers a lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could
greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel
free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing
from you! Wonderful blog by the way!
Potpisujem. Njihov sustav je zakon za fiskalizaciju u hodu.
Nema nepotrebnih komplikacija, a omjer cijene i kvalitete je i više nego fer.
Palac gore za njih.
Hi there, I enjoy reading all of your post. I like
to write a little comment to support you.
A motivating discussion ?s worth ?omment. I think that youu ?hould write m?re abo?t
th?s subject, ?t mkght not b? a taboo matter ?ut genera?ly folks don’t talk ?bout t?ese topics.
To th? next! All th? best!!
?lso visit my page: escorts in DHA Phase 8 Karachi
Greetings! I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now
and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out
from Dallas Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i
came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few
of your ideas!!
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I
would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be thankful
to you.
Hello there, I believe your site may be having browser compatibility issues.
When I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however,
when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping
issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other than that, fantastic site!
Hello would you mind letting me know which web host you’re working with?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a honest price?
Thank you, I appreciate it!
??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????????? ???????? ?????.
Mattress Singapore Buying Guide: ?verything Yo? N?ed to Kno? Befo??
You Buy
Choosing a ne? mattress ?s one of the biggest furniture singapore investments m?st households wi?l make, ?et it’s surprisingly easy t? get wrong.
?ou’r? expected t? decide after lhing on a showroom sample f?r ?ust a minute ?r two, even thou?h
you’ll sleep on it eve?y single night for the
ne?t 8–12 ye?rs. Megafurniture’? Somnuz
mattresses ?ive you a practical way to compare th? most popular mattress
singapore types ?ide by side in one furniture store.
High humidity, dust mites, ?nd overnight air-conditioning
?se ?ll affect how ? mattress performs ?v?r time.
Singapore’s year-r?und humidity puts extra pressure ?n moisture management ?nside any mattress singapore.
? lar?e number of Singapore families deal ?ith dust-mite reactions, even if t?ey ha??n’t connected t?e dots to the?r mattress singapore.
Overnight air-conditioning ??? als? changes how different foams ?nd covers behave
compared ?ith showroom testing.
?hen y?u ?alk into ?ny furniture store ?n Singapore, y?u’ll mainl?
?ee fo?r core mattress construction types worth comparing.
Individual pocketed spring systems ?ive ?ood support and stay noticeably cooler t?an solid foam blocks.
Memory foam ?s loved for it? hugging feel ?nd motion isolation, thou?h traditional versions ?ometimes retain warmth ?n Singapore bedrooms.
Natural latex options feel lively ?nd stay cooler w?ile being more resistant to dust mites than standard foam.
??ny modern hybrids pair pocketed springs ?ith targeted foam ?r latx layers f?r balanced support ?nd temperature regulation.
Megafurniture’? Somnuz collection conveniently represents t?e
main construction types m?st local families ?onsider.
Firmness is the most discussed mattress feature, y?t it’s ?lso the most misunderstood b?cause it
feels comp?etely ?ifferent depending on your body weight ?nd
sleeping position. Si?? sleepers gener?lly benefit from medium-soft t? medium firmness for proper spinal alignment.
?or ?ack sleepers, medium t? medium-firm usu?lly pr?vides the be?t balance of support ?nd comfort.
Firm mattresses ?ork ?etter f?r stomach sleepers ?ecause
the? ?eep th? spine ?n ?etter alignment.
Bedroom sizes in Singapore a?e often more compact t??n international standards assume, ?o gett?ng the
right mattress size ?s more important t?an simply upgrading to king.
Cover fabric choice matters m?r? in Singapore than most buyers initially think.
Bamboo-fabric covers offer excellent moisture-wicking ?nd mild antibacterial properties t?at help t?e surface stay fresher ?onger.
?he water-repellent cover on thee Somnuz Comfort Night m?kes it far more practical f?r real Singapore
family life.
Megafurniture’? Somnuz collection ??s ?reated t? match the
m?st common buyer profiles ?n Singapore. Somnuz Comfy ?s the ?o-to budget-friendly
option for m?ny Singapore furniture shoppers ?ooking f?r
dependable pocketed spring support. ?f you want ?etter cooling and
allergen resistance, t?? Somnuz Comforto w?t? its bamboo-latex combination ?s ?ften th? smarter pick.
T?? water-repellent Somnuz Comfort Night ?s ?specially
popular ?ith families w?o want practical peace of mind
in Singapore’? humid environment. Premium buyers oft?n choose
the Somnuz Roman Supreme f?r superior materials and ?ong-term comfort.
M?st people test mattresses t?e wrong way dur?ng furniture store visits —
?nd it leads to regret lat?r. Lie on each shortlisted mattress f?r
a full t?n minute? in ?our actual sleeping
position — ?nd have your partner do t?e same if you share t?e bed.
Both Megafurniture showrooms ??t y?u test t?e Somnuz mattresses properly ?n proper bedroom
environments ?ather th?n on a bare sales floor.
Delivery scheduling ?? mor? ?mportant than m?ny buyers realise w?en buying mattress
singapore items. ?ost quality mattress warranties ?ast 10
y?ars ?n paper, ?ut the actual coverage for sagging ?nd comfort issues varies ?etween brands.
Treat t?e decision ser?ously and a well-chosen mattress
wil? deliver years of comfortable sleep ?ith minim?l
issues. If morning stiffness, visible sagging, ?r increased motion transfer a?pear, it’s time to replace — the body often compensates f?r a failing
mattress longer t?an most people realise. ?hether y?u prefer t? shop in person at th??r showrooms o? online, Megafurniture m?kes choosing the ri?ht mattress singapore option simple ?nd transparent.
?ook at my web-site :: dining chair
https://jm-maghreb.net/
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site thus
i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your
ideas!!
????????? ????? ???????????? ? ????? ???????.
??????????? (??????, ????????, ?????????) ??????? ?????? ????????, ??????? ????????, ???????????? ???????????, ?????? ??????????? ? ????????.
???????????? (?????, ??????) ????? ?? ?????????, ?????? ????? ?
??? ????????. ??????? (??????, ????????)
????????????? ???????, ????????? ??????? ??????? ? ????? ????????
?????. ???? ??????????? ??? — ??????? ???????????, ????????? ? ????? ??????.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering
the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly
again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case
you shield this increase.
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this site needs a great deal more attention. I’ll probably be
back again to read more, thanks for the info!
I really like what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and reporting!
Keep up the great works guys I’ve included you guys to
our blogroll.