So far I have seen two GREAT movies in 2013 in the theatre and one pretty fun one at home from Netflix.  Sounds like a great start to a great New Year!

On New Year’s Day evening, I went to see Silver Linings Playbook, and I absolutely loved it.  I wouldn’t mind seeing it again soon, as there was a lot to notice and think about. I thought that Bradley Cooper did a great job at portraying a bi-polar man and Jennifer Lawrence played crazy pretty well, too.  Cooper’s character, Pat, loses everything when he loses it and is sent to a mental institution rather than jail.  The movie begins with him being released after 8.5 months in the institution, still against the psychiatrist’s advice.  He lives at home and is doing everything he can to get his wife back.  And there’s ballroom dancing!

Good stuff.

Then last night the Cosmo Girls went to see This is 40 and there was much guffawing!  It was funny scene after scene, and although it isn’t the best movie ever, it was fun to see with the girls and to laugh hysterically together.  And I love Paul Rudd and Melissa McCarthy and Albert Brooks and Chris O’Dowd and Lena Dunham and Judd’s kids and all the small parts played by big people… very fun.  A great night out with the girls.

From Netflix DVD I watched Shirley Valentine.  It was one of those movies that came to the top of my queue and I wondered why it was there, and I began watching it on the B&W tv one night and fell asleep but thought I’d give it another chance in all its colorful glory – and I’m glad I did.  A middle-aged woman wonders what happened to her life, how she got to be who she is, and desires to to re-create the person that she once was.  She goes to Greece (hence the need to see the movie in its beautiful color – Greece is so beautiful!) and still doesn’t feel the happiness she thinks she should, even after being swept away by Costos, handsome Greek man.  🙂  I’m glad I started it over and watched it in full.

Looking forward to getting some BluRay discs from Netflix (love the new player!) and will figure out what movies are on my next “Must See” list!  Last year I saw every single Oscar nominee – almost all in the theatre; I’m not sure that will happen this year, but it may.  I know there are a few that I missed but they will probably be available on DVD when the list comes out.

How about you?  Do you have a favorite movie of 2012?  Have you seen anything good lately?

Related articles

• Final Film Footnotes from 2012 (walkietalkiebookclub.com)
• Megan Fox flashes her funny side in new film (thehimalayantimes.com)
• Shirley Valentine debuts at ArtsWest on January 23 (westseattleherald.com)
• Close up: awards season is upon us (guardian.co.uk)