August Outing: Ricki & the Flash

We'll be seeing Meryl Streep starring as an aging rock star in Ricki & the Flash on Tuesday, August 11, at the Yonge/Dundas Cineplex Odeon. Screen time is 2:30, so let's meet near the upstairs entrance about 20 minutes earlier.
 

After the film, those who wish to will walk over to Fran's at Shuter & Victoria Streets for a bite. As always, no need to let me know if you're only coming to the movie. But if you plan to join us at Fran's, please email me by noon on Monday, August 10, so I can make a reservation for the correct number of people.
Below are details about the movie. Hope to see you on Tuesday for a rockin' good time.

Terry



SYNOPSIS

Musical drama by director Jonathan Demme. Meryl Streep stars as Ricki Rendazzo, a guitar heroine who made a world of mistakes as she followed her dreams of rock-and-roll stardom. Returning home, Ricki gets a shot at redemption and a chance to make things right as she faces the music with her family. Streep stars opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer; Rick Springfield, portraying a Flash member in love with Ricki; Kevin Kline as Ricki's ex-husband; and Audra McDonald as Kline's new wife.  


TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8PVK6Hky2A 

July Outing: Suite Francaise

Set in France during the Second World War, Suite Francaise sounds like a real treat for WWII buffs like yours truly, and the fact that TIFF has chosen to present the movie speaks well to its quality.


Michelle Williams stars as a young French woman, with Kristen Scott-Thomas as her judgmental mother-in-law and Matthias Schoenaerts (whom we recently saw in Far From the Madding Crowd) as a Nazi officer who goose-steps into their lives. Below is a synopsis and link to the trailer.


We'll be seeing Suite Francaise at TIFF Bell Lightbox (King & John streets) on Tuesday, July 14. Screen time is 12:45, so let's meet near the box office at about 12:20 


As always, if you plan to go with the group to a restaurant after the film, please notify me no later than noon on Monday, July 13, so I can make a reservation nearby for the correct number of people.


SYNOPSIS:
In Nazi-occupied France, Lucille Angellier waits for news of her husband, along with her domineering mother-in-law. When a regiment of German soldiers arrive in the town, they soon move into the villagers' homes. Lucille tries to ignore Bruno, the German commander who has been posted at her house, but she soon falls in love with him.


TRAILER:  https://www.google.com/search?q=suite+francaise+trailer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Mr. Holmes Preview Screening

Here I am with just a few of our Movie Club members at the free preview screening of Mr. Holmes last evening at the Varsity Cineplex. 

BIG thanks for treating us to this fascinating film about Sherlock Holmes in his later years go to the eOne Group. We huge movie fans appreciate your generosity and would love to accept more of the same in future.

Word to the Wise: One thing eOne could do a LOT better is to inform invitees of the need to redeem their handsome passes for actual tickets before being allowed into the cinema. Because no effort was made to let me know this, so I could alert the group, some of us missed out on something we were very much looking forward to.

See you at the movies,

Terry Poulton
Life Movie Club Moderator

June Outing: I'll See You in My Dreams

On the second Tuesday of the month, June 9, those who haven't already done so on their own will be seeing I'll See You in My Dreams. It's a late-in-life romance starring Blythe Danner (aka Gwyneth Paltrow's mother) and Sam Elliott. Some of our members might deem this film a bit too fluffier than our usual fare, but there's nothing else on just now that I believe would appeal to the majority of us. And I'm pretty sure a pleasant bit of fluff once in awhile won't harm us.


What I would have chosen, if the timing had been better, is Testament of Youth, based on unforgettable the World War I memoirs of Vera Brittain, But it doesn't arrive in our city until June 19.

The Varsity Cinema is the only one in Toronto showing so I'll See You in My Dreams so far, so we'll meet there in front of the box office approximately 20 minutes before the 3:40 screen time.

We'll eschew the Bloor Street Diner afterward because several people (including me) consider it too expensive. So we'll go back to our former spot on the lower level of the ManuLife Centre, Sciaccia. Those who want to go for a bite after the film should notify me no later than noon on Monday, June 8 so I can make a reservation for the correct number of people.

SYNOPSIS:
A widow and former songstress (Blythe Danner), who's finding the dating scene difficult at her age, spends her time with her friends, golfing, gardening and singing karaoke, but still feels lonely.
When she randomly meets a sexy man (Sam Elliott) who's about her age, she realizes that life can begin anew at any age.


TRAILER:  https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=trailer+i%27ll+see+you+in+my+dreams&ei=UTF-8&fr=chr-greentree_ff&ilc=12&type=523482


REVIEW: From the website of the late, great Roger Ebert: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ill-see-you-in-my-dreams-2015

May Outing: Far From the Madding Crowd

As requested by several Movie Club members, a remake of Far From the Madding Crowd is the pick for our outing on Tuesday, May 5.

Some of us question whether any new version can top 1967's film of Thomas Hardy's classic novel, in which Julie Christie, Alan Bates and Peter Finch delivered such memorable performances. But we were convinced to give it a go when we watched the trailer, which you can see below.

We'll be seeing the film at the Varsity Cinema (ManuLife Centre, 55 Bloor W.) for the 3:20 screening. I chose the later-than-usual time to accommodate those of us who have Life classes earlier that day. As always, let's meet near the box office at least 15 minutes beforehand and if you don't see me there, go in and find a seat. After seeing the movie, those who wish to discuss it over a snack or meal will go downstairs to the Bloor Street Diner.

As always, there's no need to notify me if you plan to come to the film but not the restaurant. But if you do plan to join us at the Bloor Street Diner, please email me no later than noon on Monday, May 4, so I can make a reservation for the correct number of people: poultonterry@gmail.com.

Hope to see you at the movie,


Terry

SYNOPSIS:  

Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer, captivated by her fetching willfulness; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love – as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance.

TRAILER: 

http://www.cineplex.com/Movie/far-from-the-madding-crowd 

Carey Mulligan sings in the movie: http://www.cineplex.com/News/Carey-Mulligan-sings-in-Far-from-the-Madding-Crowd-trailer?cmpid=contenttag

 

April Outing: Woman in Gold

Yes, Woman in Gold - starring Helen Mirren as the real-life woman who fought to recover art looted by the Nazis - has arrived in Toronto on schedule. Despite somewhat tepid reviews, I feel sure that most of us will enjoy the film, which includes touching flashbacks to when Dame Helen's character was young during the terrifying Nazi era.

Movie Club members will see the film on Tuesday, April 7, at the Varsity Cinema (Bloor & Bay) for the 1:30 screening, after which those who wish to eat and chat will do so at the Bloor Street Diner in the ManuLife Centre. Let's meet near the box office 15-20 minutes earlier, but if you don't see me, just go inside and choose a seat.

As always, there's no need to notify me if you plan to see the movie but not go to the restaurant. But if you do plan to eat, please email me by early afternoon on Monday, April 6, so I can make a reservation for the correct number of people.

Storyline

Helen Mirren stars in the incredible story of Maria Altmann, a Jewish refugee who is forced to flee Vienna during World War II. Decades later, determined to salvage some dignity from her past, Maria has taken on a mission to reclaim a painting the Nazis stole from her family: the famous Lady In Gold, a portrait of her beloved Aunt Adele. Partnering with an inexperienced but determined young lawyer (Ryan Reynolds), Maria embarks on an epic journey for justice 60 years in the making.

Trailer: https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=movie+woman+in+gold&ei=UTF-8&fr=chr-greentree_ff&ilc=12&type=523482


Stories About the Film

Here's an article that isn't particularly kind to the movie, but is all about Helen Mirren: http://time.com/3768715/woman-in-gold-helen-mirren/

This is an interesting article about various battles to recover looted art: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/arts/design/the-story-behind-woman-in-gold-nazi-art-thieves-and-one-paintings-return.html?action=click&contentCollection=Movies&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article 

March Outing: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

 

 

Wouldn't a visit to balmy India be the perfect antidote to the frigid weather we've been battling this winter? I say yes and that's why we'll be seeing The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on Tuesday, March 10, at the Yonge/Dundas Odeon Cineplex. Screen time: 1:25

I was hoping that a later afternoon screening would be available for those of us who want to attend Life's March Mingle beforehand. But the best we can do is 1:25 (the next one is 4:30, which is too late to be practical for those who have to travel home from downtown.) The Mingle goes from 12-1:45, with a speech from Ryerson president Sheldon Levy as the highlight.

We should be able to nip over to the cinema in good time. So let's meet in front of the upstairs box office about 15 minutes before the 1:25 screen time. But if you don't see me there, just go into the theatre on your own and we'll meet up later.

After the movie, those who wish to munch & chat will walk a block west to Bay Street to Red Lobster. As always, if you're only coming to the movie, there's no need to notify me. But if you're planning to hit the Lobster, please let me know no later than noon on Monday, March 9, so I can make a reservation.

Here are a synopsis and trailer for Marigold II. All the Brits we love to love are back, starting with Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Bill Nighy, and they're joined by Richard Gere. Doesn't get much better than that, at least for my taste.

 

Storyline:

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it's making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy - posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone's secrets.

 

Trailer: https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=second+best+exotic+marigold+hotel&ei=UTF-8&fr=chr-greentree_ff&ilc=12&type=523482