Monday, September 24, 2007

The Valley of Elah


For today, just a movie recommendation: "The Valley of Elah" starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, and a couple of real Iraqi War vets who do an amazing job. I suspect this movie will be a litmus test: hate the war, love this movie; love the war, hate this movie.

I didn't see "Crash," the previous movie by Paul Haggis, the director of this one, but I know that for everybody who admired it, there were others who criticized it for making ham-handed social commentary. Some viewers may think this one does that, too, but it wasn't ham-handed to me, it was moving and powerful. I can't think of the last time I sat at the end of a movie with tears leaking uncontrollably from my eyes.

I hope you'll see it, too.

42 comments:

Nancy P said...

It's based on a real story, too.

Didn't I say goodnight in the last post?

Go to bed, Nancy!

Family Man said...

Go to bed Nancy! I already did, and George decided he had to go out, and now I have to try and go to sleep again. However, in my case, sleeping has never been a problem. :)

Goodnight, or I guess good morning now.

pattinase (abbott) said...

In my case, it always has. Looking forward to seeing this one.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the recommendation! I saw the previews yesterday for the first time, and it looked good. I might have to find a movie theatre...great cast.

Happy Monday!!

katiebird said...

Good Morning Nancy! Did you take Family Man's advise?

Hi Family Man & Pattinase & Beth -- Good morning!

Anonymous said...

Morning, kb!

Turns out this movie is playing an hour away...I might wait a bit and see if it comes closer.

Larry Kollar said...

Hm. Refresh wasn't my friend a couple minutes ago. :-P

I had a hard time getting to sleep last night, and that was after I felt sleepy. Oh well, it finally happened. Something sharp poked me around 3 a.m., but I got back to sleep fairly quickly.

AndiF said...

Morning all.

This Monday's picture: First day of fall* in the woods.

* you can tell it's fall because in summer the canopy is so heavy no light reaches the bottom of the hollow.

Anonymous said...

That's beautiful, andif. Through you and Olivia, I'll experience fall this year.

Nancy P said...

I just visited Pattinase(abbot)'s blog, and she has some movie stuff up, too. She also has a post with a wonderful question having to do with how glamorous women who came of age from about 1920 through the forties seemed compared to later generations.

She ends it with. . .was your mother glamorous? Did feminism erase glamour? Did the sixties make me unwilling to spend much time on such things? Do I regret that I never learned to walk in heels or apply eyeliner with any skill? Maybe.

If you want to comment on her blog, the link is in her "profile."

Nancy P said...

That's beaautiful, Andi. Thank you. I love our Monday photos and always look forward to them. And I love the observation about the leaf canopy and light. That's the sort of telling observation that can make a novel come to life and convince a reader the writer knows what she/he's talking about

Nancy P said...

Eek. So I'm reading a post at Pam's House Blend, and there is a commenter: NancyP ! The only diff is in the capital letter at the end.

GhostFolk.com said...

Oh, Nancy...

We all thank god you're NOT Nancy Big Pee.

Nancy P said...

lol, Green Ghost!

Did you get up to any mischief over the weekend?

Anonymous said...

Nancy Big Pee - GG, you are too funny.

AndiF said...

We knew it wasn't you at Pam's, Nancy, because we realize that someone as wise as you clearly knows that you always want to have space between yourself and your p.

Nancy P said...

Andi, snort! Yes, that is another difference, thank god.

Kelly McCullough said...

Hello all,

Just passing through today. I've got a book release tomorrow and that means much in the way of wandering around the internet self-promoting and making signing appointments and writing press releases for my local paper--found out the hard way that it's better to have the book in stores for the local stuff. All things that fill me with that which is not joy. See you in a couple of days.

Anonymous said...

Many congrats on the release, Kelly - hope the rest of the stuff goes well. What's the title, so I can look for it?

See you when you emerge!

Family Man said...

Hey yesterday it was a discussion on coffee at my place, and today it a discussion on "P" at yours. Our little group does have its way with discussions. :)

Kelly McCullough said...
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Kelly McCullough said...

Kelly McCullough said...

Beth, thanks!

It's called Cybermancy and it's the sequel to WebMage. There's info on both including links to reviews here.

Two press releases and a bunch of blogstuff down, a bunch of blogstuff still to go.

Nancy P said...

Hey, Kelly! How about letting me feature your new book on the front page tomorrow? May I use the cover photo on Amazon?

Kelly McCullough said...

That would be great, Nancy!

I really appreciate it, and if you want to note that I'll stop be periodically during the day and say hi and answer questions I'd be happy to add the community here to my refresh and respond list for tomorrow. Also, I've got a pre-loaded set of interview questions and answers (15 in all) and if you wanted to pick five or something and throw them up there as well, you'd be welcome to. If you do, let me know and I'll email the lot over.

katiebird said...

(sneaking in for just a second)

Going back to the Big P issue. That reminds me of your son's advice to you about Peeing in Boots....

AndiF said...
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AndiF said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
AndiF said...

This comment is definitely not worth the effort it's taking to get it posted but wotthehell, third time and all that.

Fine, Kelly -- go ahead and suck me into yet another series* where I have to worry about dying before it ever comes to an end. :P

*No doubt I'll end up having to get Pat Hodgell's email address so I can ask her to harass you at Wiscon.

Anonymous said...

Okay, Kelly, I just ordered both of them from Dreamhaven, and asked for you to sign them for me (blush).

I'm excited! They look really interesting. I love reading books by my new blogfriends...

Good luck with the rest of the blogstuff.

Peeing in boots, kb? What did I miss? :-)

Nancy P said...

Kelly, cool!! This is exciting. A book launch, right here in blog city!

Please do e me the questions.

Okay, you guys, tomorrow is Book Launch Day for Kelly!

Nancy P said...

Beth, lol. Here's the story:

One day when my son was very young, he was wearing only a diaper and cowboy boots. He had a little accident. A wee accident, you might say.

He looked up at me with sad blue eys, and said, "Never pee in your boots, Mom."

It's been my life philosophy every since.

Anonymous said...

I love it, Nancy! It needs to be etched on a wooden plaque and sold in those Western gift stores along the interstate...

Thanks for sharing. I will endeavor to follow your son's sage advice.

LOL.

Kelly McCullough said...

Andi,

Not to worry. They're all complete in themselves and you don't have to read onward. The main body of the series--the big arc will be complete with book five (assuming there is a book five) which I'll hopefully be writing next spring. But if it worries you, I'll see if I can turn up Pat's email.

Beth, thanks! I hope you enjoy them. Is there anything special you want written that you didn't mention in the note to Dreamhaven? If so, let me know and I'll be happy to oblige. You can e me at kelly@ (ignore this bit) kellymccullough.com

Nancy, thanks again. The Q&A is on its way.

Unknown said...

Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster! I finally get to reinsert my imagination into the adventures of Ravirn. Webmage was an awesome mixing of myth- and technology. Can't wait to read it, kelly!

(waves at everyone)

Nancy P said...

Hi, Manee! The FSM loves ya.

Anonymous said...

I need a dictionary...

Flying Spaghetti Monster? Now I'm hungry...or is that a bad thing, in this context?

Waving at manee!

Larry Kollar said...

Woo hoo, book launch! Congrats to Kelly, and now I'll have to swing by Humpus Bumpus next time I have some book money.

Kelly McCullough said...

Hey Manee, good to see you! Thanks for the endorsement.

AndiF said...

Sheesh ... go ahead and make me feel bad, Kelly, by being so nice you'll assist in your own harassment. ;)

Good thing you make all my angst so worthwhile by writing such terrifically imaginative and fun books.

boran2 said...

I've hardly seen any movies in a theater since the b2 boy came along almost 9 years ago. Okay, we all saw Cars last summer, but that hardly counts. I'm afraid that I'll have to wait until the film's dvd comes out a few months from now.

Nancy P said...

Hi, b2! I hope you get here before the champagne runs out tomorrow. :) We're having a launch party for Kelly's new book.

Kelly McCullough said...

Thanks, Far!