The Home Stretch

So I have neared the end of my journey. I don't think I can fit many more films in between now and Sunday. I have "The Hurt Locker" to view tonight, and "In the Loop" sometime Thursday or Saturday. After this past weekend, this will bring my total to: 31 out of 58 films. Here's what I thought of the most recent 4:

"The Cove" was a documentary detailing what happens to 23,000 dolphins a year in Taiji, Japan. (Taiji made American News when actress Hayden Panettiere protested with friends on surfboards in the water trying to save the animals from the oncoming slaughter.) The coverage is difficult to watch, but this work is probably one of the best films I've seen during this challenge. It has authentic suspense and what struck me most was the passion Ric O'Barry has for the dolphins... how that passion inspired world class divers, a rock concert organizer, a marine scientist and an adrenaline junkie to risk arrest and persecution to bring this reality to the world.

I wanted "The Young Victoria" to go on and on for hours. It was SO beautiful to watch. The colors were rich, the costumes were gorgeous and Emily Blunt was a perfect sovereign. I consider a movie great that inspires me to learn more on the subject matter, and I truly want to learn more about Victoria and Albert following my viewing of this beautiful piece of filmmaking. I'm a sucker, though, for strong women- and I will for certain be adding this one to my collection of Elizabeth films.

I probably shouldn't have seen them on the same day because they are such contrasting pieces, but I followed Victoria with "The Messenger" starring Woody Harrelson. Such a well-done film, but so hard to watch. My heart broke as families fell apart at the news of a loved one being killed in action. It's too real and all I could think about was how many times that has had to happen. What I appreciated, however, was seeing how it tore 'the messengers' apart as well- and the rules they have to follow on a notification to keep the situation under control.

Lastly, "Coco Before Chanel." While I am now used to subtitles and hearing French, I didn't care for the movie as much as I'd hoped and the costuming (for which it was nominated) wasn't nearly as exciting as I thought it would be. If you read one of my earlier blogs, you'll see I was rather rooting for this movie to win its category. I'm not so sure now.