Books and Movies

I have seen two very good movies lately. Both are adult movies as both have some nudity but it is beautiful nudity in the old movie style. They both get 4 stars from me.  I've never been good at history (the dates and names) and I love movies and books that teach you the history and the human story as well.  

"The Last Station" 2009, which stars Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, & Paul Giamatti. It was nominated for Academy Awards and should have gotten them. I knew very little about Leo Tolstoy and this was informative as well as beautifully filmed. Romance, intrigue, history and humor brought Tolstoy alive to me. It made me want to read more about him. And the cinematography/scenery was gorgeous.

---

"The Painted Veil" 2006, which stars Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, & Diana Rigg.  Most of it is filmed in remote regions of China and it is visually a feast for the eyes. It has adventure, romance, history and human sacrifice and triumph.

I have lately discovered that it's from the book of the same name by Somerset Maugham. It's sometimes hard to read a book after a movie but in this case I think it will be good. I'd love to know even more details about the times and places.

---

One of the best books I have read lately has been Gandhi An Autobiography. 1993. And I guess it would be on my list of great movies as well. The book has incredible detail and loads of historical information and yet moves along quickly and I found no dull parts. Of course he lived in such an exciting time for India. He speaks so "humanly". What patience and love. And such wisdom. A few people are just given so much more than the rest of us or they make more of what they are given. I'm a big fan of Ben Kingsley and he was wonderful in the film, Gandhi 1993. It also starred Candice Bergen and won 8 Oscars in 1983. It was directed by Richard Attenborough.

---