Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle does it again. When I started hearing the buzz about Slumdog Millionaire, I did a little research about the director and learned that he also directed Millions, another favorite of mine--a beautiful tale about a young boy who finds a bag full of money and must decide what to do with it. While inspiring and uplifting, Millions is not nearly as emotionally charged as Boyle's newest film.

An incredibly interesting interview with Danny Boyle, about the filming process, Danny Boyle's creative genius, and a bit more about Mumbai and the slums. This interview was on NPR's Fresh Air: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96905439

A great quote from Boyle about the opening chase scene that is more meaningful if you have seen the film: "You don't settle people into the film you just hurtle them into it, full pell, and that's what it's like arriving there. I remember the first time I arrived you were just overwhelmed by the sensory experience of the film, and you think, if I don't start moving very very quickly I'm just going to be swept away by this."

Last night I saw Slumdog Millionaire. It's a good thing that I went with people who know and love me, because I was basically sobbing through the entire movie. The story was absolutely incredible. The soundtrack was eclectic and extremely effective. The style was creative and powerful. And Freida Pinto, who plays "Latika," the leading lady of the film, is truly "the most beautiful woman in the world."

I watched an interview with Freida Pinto and Dev Patel (leading male role: Jamal Malik) on YouTube and they had some great things to say about working with Danny Boyle and the experience of Slumdog Millionaire (the first film for both young actors). They also mention a bit of their background which I found very interesting. Freida Pinto, who is from Mumbai, said, "I think this is the first time in the history of filmmaking that Mumbai has been captured so beautifully and so true to itself."

Watch the interview here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p31g2lk9k58

And here is another interview with Dev Patel on David Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2WiCUqC56g

If you get a chance, see this movie. It was well worth my student ticket price of $7.00, and I'm broke, so that means a lot. Slumdog Millionaire is quite possibly the most beautiful love story I have ever seen, but it is more than just that. It's about hope. It's about rising above circumstance. I cannot say enough about how incredible this movie is--intense and incredible. It deserves all of the awards that it is being considered for.

And if you see it in theatres, watch through the credits--the music and the dance routine is wonderful. It provides a nice, uplifting release after the emotional intensity of the film.

If you're anything like me, bring your tissues.

Obama-rama Inauguration Sensation

Progress. Change. Hope.

I figure that any blogger worth his or her webspace should be blogging about the monumental occasion that is currently occurring: the inauguration of America's first African American President. So, I will join the flurry of posts. Thanks for reading. :)

This morning was like Christmas morning! I woke up early to turn on my television and computer (one source is not enough, must watch NBC, CNN, and check NPR!) and finished some homework while newscasters chatted about the new First Family and their comings and goings--apparently they were already late. Who can blame them? It's been a long few days for them already and it has only begun. My husband, Edward, was still sleeping and by 9:00am I just couldn't take it any longer. I jumped onto the bed and whisper-shouted: "Edward wake up! It's BarackObamaInaugurationDay!" I was so excited that it all came out as one word.

I have never been very interested in politics, but it's safe to say that I have caught the Obama-mania. His poise and personality enthrall me, and his politics intrigues me. He has managed to excite most of the nation in a relatively short amount of time (that is quite a feat considering the size and strength of our apathetic generation). We're starting to feel like united states and it thrills me. Young and old, black and white, men and women, rich and poor all feel that they again have a voice in Washington.

This inauguration day has not been as emotional for me as election day--when the final vote was counted that night I sat on my living room couch sobbing with delight. When Obama was sworn in this morning I, of course, shed a few tears, as is my tendency (my dear friend Hailey calls me "a crier," not in the town crier sense, but the heart-on-the-sleeve-sense. It's pretty true.)

I am just in awe of what this means for our nation. We have a new start. We are filled with hope again and there is a sense of promise on the horizon--it takes a gifted leader to empower so many people in these war-torn, lean economic times. For once I'm feeling quite patriotic! I haven't felt this way since I rode my tricycle in our neighborhood 4th of July parade singing "Proud to be an American" at the top of my little toddler lungs.

Barack admitted in his Inaugural Address that we face many difficult problems--there's no denying that--however, I'm starting to believe that we will not only get through them, but come out stronger on the other side. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Margaret Hoffmeyer turns 89!

My great-grandmother turned 89 today.

We baked a cake and made lasagna and went to visit her last night. She suffers from Alzheimer's, so she didn't really know that it was her birthday, but she still remembers who we are (she even remembers my husband Ed, though we've only been married a little over a year. That one is still hard for her sometimes.)

She had a good night. Sometimes it's harder for her to interact and make conversation, and she is more confused. However, last night she was having fun. She was making jokes and trying to sneak a taste of the cake before we ate dinner.

After dinner, when my mom asked if Grandma was ready for cake she said, "Well yes!" and then looked at my brother's new girlfriend Elodie and said, "You know, she wouldn't let me have any before."

When I told her that I made the cake for her birthday she said,

"My birthday?! Well how old am I?"

I told her.

" I am?!" she asked, with wide eyes.

"You are, can you believe it?"

"Well no I can't"

It was wonderful to spend some time with her. As we were leaving she said, "Well thanks for coming over for my birthday. I don't know how many more I'll have." My uncle quickly reassured her that she had at least 11 left. "I've been telling you for a long time that you're going to live to be 100," he said. She just giggled.

It's amazing to think of all that she has seen in her lifetime. She was born in 1920! It's just incredible. I'm thinking about it even more lately considering the approaching inauguration. She'll probably only catch footage of Obama's address on accident--she doesn't pay much attention to politics these days--but she has lived to see so many changes in our world. It's inspiring just to think about.

Wendell Berry, how you inspire me

Fragments of this poem have been lingering in the corners of my mind for months. Today, I particularly like the bit about silence, but I swear every time I read it some new part strikes a different chord in me. Enjoy.

"How to Be a Poet" by Wendell Berry

(to remind myself)

i.
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill--more of each
than you have--inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your poems,
doubt their judgment.

ii.
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensioned life;
Stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.

iii.
Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.

This is me

Well, here I am in blogspace. This is part of my "new year's resolution" to be more proactive about my career as a writer. It sounds strange to call myself that... Anyway, everyone keeps telling me that it's a good idea to have a blog so people can see my writing style and all that sort of thing.

I have always thought blogs were a little more like diary entries for the wide world to read, which is why I've never had one. But, here goes nothing! We'll see how long I keep this up. At the very least it will be an efficient way to keep my friends and family updated on our lives without sending out dozens of those family-update-holiday letters that everyone loves so much.

So, thanks for reading. My goal is to post twice a month--baby steps for the blog beginner. If you like what you see here, watch for my book coming to a store near you.... in about 25 years. :)

Cheers!