October Outing: The Intern

If you've enjoyed movies written and/or directed by Nancy Myers (Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated and many other quirky, upbeat films), you'll likely be glad you joined fellow Movie Club members to see The Intern on October 6. It stars Robert De Niro as a retiree who goes back to work as an intern for company owner Ann Hathaway. Synopsis, trailer, etc. below.


For a change, we'll be seeing the movie at Rainbow Market Square (Front St. just east of Jarvis on north side, entrance in the courtyard beside the north St. Lawrence Market). Yes, the screens are smaller, but it's a funky place that's close to lots of interesting eateries. Sorry if the timing clashes with anyone's class, but the next one was too late for many of us.


Date:          Tuesday, October 6
Time:          Screen - 1:10, meet-up - approx. 20 minutes beforehand)
Restaurant: Bindia Indian Bistro, 16 Market St. (across Front St. from the cinema) www.bindia.ca


As always, there's no need to tell me if you're coming to the movie, but not to eat afterwards. But if you plan to go to Bindia, please notify me by noon Monday, Oct. 6.

Synopsis:  70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin.

Director:Nancy Meyers 

Writer:Nancy Meyers

Stars: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo

Trailer:       http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2361509/

 Review:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-taub/movie-review-the-intern_b_8192404.html

 

September Outing: Learning to Drive

Learning to Drive, in which Patricia Clarkson stars as a recently dumped wife who hires Ben Kingsley to teach her to drive, will be our September choice. 

It's on at the Varsity Cinema (ManuLife Centre, Bloor & Bay) and we'll go to the 2:40 screening. So let's meet about 20 minutes before then near the box office.

Those who wish to nosh afterward will head downstairs to Scaccia. As always, no need to let me know if you're planning to see the film but not eat afterwards; but if you do plan to go to the restaurant, please notify me NO LATER THAN NOON on Monday, August 31.
 

Synopsis: 

Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley star in this feel-good, coming of (middle) age comedy about a mismatched pair who help each other overcome life’s road blocks.

Wendy is a fiery Manhattan author whose husband has just left her for a younger woman; Darwan is a soft-spoken taxi driver from India on the verge of an arranged marriage. As Wendy sets out to reclaim her independence, she runs into a barrier common to many lifelong New Yorkers: she’s never learned to drive. When Wendy hires Darwan to teach her, her unraveling life and his calm restraint seem like an awkward fit. But as he shows her how to take control of the wheel, and she coaches him on how to impress a woman, their unlikely friendship awakens them to the joy, humor, and love in starting life anew.​


Director, Cast, etc.:  www.learningtodrivemovie.com
 

Trailer:
http://www.learningtodrivemovie.com/videos#1

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