Category Archives: Movies

Individualism and Authenticity in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Posted on July 15, 2014 by hessd

“…the perturbation of Elizabeth’s feelings was every moment increasing.  She was quite amazed at her own discomposure.” [1] Even if Elizabeth Bennet were not famous as the heroine of Pride and Prejudice, this little clip would still probably be recognized … Continue reading →

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Gideon in the Land of Oz

Posted on July 5, 2014 by hessd

I know of a distressingly bad senior center called Lakeview. It is losing money; it has already cut costs; the owner is a bully; the doctor is a wimp; the residents live pathetically limited lives.  What they really need is … Continue reading →

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Divergent: What the un-society looks like

Posted on July 5, 2014 by hessd

It is a really good idea to keep an eye on what you are for.  Otherwise, you will make important decisions based only on what you are against.  Ordinarily, that doesn’t work out well.  It doesn’t work out well for … Continue reading →

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Surrogates

Posted on May 30, 2014 by hessd

“Don’t go out without your surrie.”  That’s what Maggie Peters says to her husband, Tom Peters.  Doesn’t it sound just a little like “Don’t go out without your umbrella.”? “Surrie” is what people in the movie, Surrogates, call the robots … Continue reading →

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The King’s Speech

Posted on March 11, 2014 by hessd

The King’s Speech won the Oscar for best picture in 2013.  I’m not surprised anymore.  Several weeks ago, I got a DVD with a full commentary track and I have been living inside this story ever since then.  The intricate … Continue reading →

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Nelson Mandela: An Educated Man

Posted on December 7, 2013 by hessd

Most of what matters to me most about Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, I learned from watching—over and over—Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Mandela in the movie Invictus.[1]  But in today’s New York Times coverage (here), I learned a little more about those … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Movies, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Still Mine

Posted on August 5, 2013 by hessd

I am not honestly sure whether this is a really good time for movies about old people or whether I have just started to get interested in movies about old people.  I think it’s just a good time.  When Ron … Continue reading →

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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Posted on July 25, 2013 by hessd

I have heard it said that every story has an inner core of meaning—a structure of meaning.  I might have said it myself.  Yesterday. In fact, every story has as many narrative structures as there are people who know the … Continue reading →

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Hannah Arendt

Posted on July 5, 2013 by hessd

Please go see this movie.  It will be good for you.  You will want to talk about it with your friends. Critics have not been very kind to the movie, Hannah Arendt, because it is a talky movie.  I don’t see … Continue reading →

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In a Larger Sense, We Cannot …Hallow This Ground

Posted on July 2, 2013 by hessd

The battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863: 150 years ago today.  Three days of unparalleled carnage followed.  Recent studies conclude that the Union army and the Confederate army each lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 23,000 soldiers in those … Continue reading →

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