humble apologies for the long delay in posts..the holiday season took over but that does not mean movies were not watched.

Do not rush to see "It's Complicated". Meryl Streep's presence could compel me to see pretty much anything she stars in but I found this to be a bit schmaltzy and a sell-out. Sure, it had some funny moments but it is impossible to take Alec Baldwin seriously. It might be worth a watch if you are a captive audience on a plane.

Do NOT see the update and hollywood-ized version of "The Brothers" but DO see the original Dutch version. Excellent.

For a better Meryl fix, check out Julie Julia. It is fun and her Julie Child impression is quite good.

Signing off for now but stay tuned.

Frum MumB

New film in the theatres....Invictus. Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela. Matt Damon plays the captain of the South African rugby team, the Springboks. This is the story of that team when they tried for the World cup in the mid 90's, after Mandela became president of SA. This is based on a book about that game, and the issue of sport in a country where blacks and whites had been kept apart for centuries...blacks playing soccer football and the whites playing the "gentleman's" game of rugby.

A crucial addition and must see...

I cannot believe I forgot to add this to the first launch list: A must see is the Polish movie "Katyn." Katyn details the events leading up to and involving the massacre of the 20,000 + mostly intelligentsia compiled Polish soldiers in Katyn forest. The Germans were blamed for years and only when Communism fell was this Polish Director -- whose Grandfather was one of those killed -- able to make and release this movie. It is, simply put, an extraordinary and moving film. In the same class as "Lives of Others" for those of you who have seen that one.

first list...

in our relative world, everything is subject to interpretation..this is, of course, very true when it comes to movie watching and giving a personal review post. So, keep in mind that the list proffered here will be a collection of contributions from many sources with no authority assigned to any of them. If you add to the list please make a comment on the selection and provide a headline on what it means or meant to you and please do this on the current list of titles. This 'launch list' is in no particular order and provides no particular directive..it was just compiled by some of us while sitting around the table and seemed like a good place to start (50):

1. The Field
2. Lives of Others
   
3. Gran Torino
4. Five Minutes of Heaven
5. The Visitor
6. The Band's Visit
7. Step Into Liquid
8. City of God
9. In America
   
10. The Informant
11. The Sea Inside
12. Children of heaven
13. The Insider
14. Milk
15. Frozen River
16. Seven Pounds
17. The Company
18. The Good Shepperd
19. Bagdad Cafe
20. Syriana
21. Revolutionary Road
22. In Bruges
23. The Bank Job
24. Inside Man
25. Jean De Florette
26. Manon of the Spring
27. Last Holiday
28. Pulp Fiction
29. Walk the Line
30. Once
31. La Vie en Rose
32. The Namesake
33. The Kite Runner
34. The Departed
35. Pans Labyryith
36. The Last King of Scotland
37. Volver
38. Capote
39. Motorcycle Dairies
    
40. Million Dollar Baby
41. Mystic River
42. Station Agent
43. Pianist
44. Y Tu Mama Tambien
45. Talk to Her
46. Amores Perros
47. God Grew Tired
48. The Hurt Locker
49. Remember the Titans
50. Gladiator
    

Launching McFlix...November 29, 2009

This serves as the official launch post for the McFlix blog. McFlix will feature an ongoing list of movies (includes documentaries, docudramas, etc) that can and should be added to by all members -- by blood and association -- of the McDonald family. I am initiating the list and will send out blog information -- URL, access, instructions -- to all. Please post, add, comment or whatever you are inspire to do.