What’s the best movie you’ve seen lately?
Daily | June 18th, 2008
Let’s Go To The Movies!
Carrie says: The Girl In The Cafe. This movie covers three genres I love: comedy, drama, romance. Bill Nighy (from Love Actually) is a hilariously lonely economist whose life changes when he meets…the girl in a cafe.
Danielle says: Once. With real pain and true talent these characters make powerfully simple choices. An un-Hollywood love story. And a fantastic soundtrack — which won this year’s Oscar, and led to the best acceptance speech of the night (be sure to watch it to the end!) The copyright of the article What’s the best movie you’ve seen lately? in Daily is owned by Carrieanddanielle.com. Permission to republish What’s the best movie you’ve seen lately? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Read more at Carrie and Danielle: Daily
June 19th, 2008 at 1:23 am
The Edge of Heaven by Fatih Akim. Like Head-On an intelligent precise intense movie with real characters. The return of Hanna Schygulla. Sad and inspiring. Akim is the Fassbinder of the new century. A perfect film.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:38 am
The Great Debaters. Directed and starring Denzel Washington. On the plane ride home from Milan last night. Amazing. My favorite quote: “I have no opponents — merely dissenting voices to the truth I speak.” I love that, it’s not about other people. It’s about me, and my truth. Which is why even though I’ve been on the road for weeks now, I carry my Style Statement with me everywhere. It’s my authenticity guide, authenticity, being for me, a very important part of truth. Thanks, C & D. P.S. LOVE the new site.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:17 am
“Click” with Adam Sandler – very timely for me, as I was on the brink of realizing I was living my life trying to rush through certain moments to get to other moments. In the movie, when Adam Sandler asks Christopher Walken for a his opinion on speeding up his life past the difficult and dull moments to get to the “good” moments, Walken advises against, explaining that life is like Lucky Charms but when you get to the end you’re just left with, basically, Corn Flakes. I want to experience the delight of every Luck Charm in the bowl!
June 19th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Lars and the Real Girl. A quirky love story that also illustrates the power of a supportive family and community. Ryan Gosling is exceptional in this role.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:02 am
After the Wedding with Mads Mikkelsen. Brilliant. So amazing. Beautiful to watch.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Escape from Suburbia – documentary
June 19th, 2008 at 5:01 am
I totally agree. After the Wedding is a magnificent film.
June 19th, 2008 at 5:40 am
La Vie En Rose, a movie about the life of Edith Piaf, was so beautiful. Marion Cotillard, who played Edith, was brilliant and portrayed Edith’s quirky mannerisms perfectly.
June 19th, 2008 at 5:41 am
I watched The Kite Runner last weekend. It tells the story of Amir, a well-to-do boy from Kabul, who is tormented by the guilt of abandoning his friend Hassan, the son of his father’s servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan through the Soviet invasion, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the Taliban regime. It’s a must see.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Definitely, Sex & the City!!
I laughed the whole time, except the wedding part.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I have to agree with Lars and the Real Girl. A very unexpected film with great heart and a wonderful story. And of course Sex and the City is fabulous, but in a different way.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Sex and the City. It was like catching up with old friends!
June 19th, 2008 at 7:04 am
A Beautiful Mind. Yes, I know it’s been out for a while but I just saw it recently. A great way to understand the inner world of schizophrenia, although I expect it was simplified a la Hollywood.
Also, we are watching the whole Nero Wolfe series that was aired on A&E….such fun!
June 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
First off, was great finally getting to meet you to last night at the book event! That was really a treat to have so many women I admire all in the same place.
My answer would have to be There Will Be Blood with Daniel Day Lewis, extraordinary acting and storyline that kept me at the edge of my seat. I’ve gotten a few great ones to put on my list from reading what everyone else’s too.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
young@heart.
It’s a documentary about a chorus of senior citizens in Massachussetts who sing rock songs. To see and hear David Bowie’s Golden Years sung by 70+ year olds adds a whole new meaning to the song. The most poignant was a performance of Coldplay’s Fix You.
More importantly, the film was about how the love of music and having something creative in their lives keeps them young, vital and thriving. These people risked their health to get to rehearsal because they loved it so much.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Away From Her with Gordon Pinsent and Julie Christie, a fantastic film by Sarah Polley, based on a short story by Alice Munro. Deals with aging and Alzheimers. Ironic that Sarah Polley is under thirty and recently married – great insight in depicting a long-term marriage and illness.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Very Young Girls. An intense and eye-opening look at the tragedy of child sexual exploitation (commonly called prostitution)in New York City. Each girl’s story is revealed with strength, dignity and at times, humor. The movie highlights the flaws in the legal system, the flaws in our thinking about prostitution (glamorous – I don’t think so) and most importantly, highlights the work of GEMS – an organization which provides love, guidance and assistance to the girls exiting the life.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Juno – it was very simple and made me laugh out loud – I thought the dialogue was great. And, although they are old, anything by Alfred Hitchcock!
June 19th, 2008 at 7:55 am
This as m second pick. Loved it!
June 19th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Great to meet you too my fellow Carrie.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:58 am
The Visitor. Portrays an older man’s reluctant break out from his conservative lifestyle – music plays a large role in him being able to take a chance on connecting with people out of his zone. It’s also an un-Hollywood mature love story. It makes your heart sing to watch someone so numbed by loss and unresolved grief, take a chance and risk again. With Richard Jenkins – superb acting.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am
SEX IN THE CITY…of course!!! It was fabulous..and even though I don’t watch the tv show religiously…I could still follow each of the characters…I loved the plot, the strong relationship/bond among girlfriends….and the ups/downs of love (careers too)
June 19th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I haven’t seen the Great Debaters yet…but I hear it is a GREAT FILM
June 19th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Juno really made me laugh…I liked her independent spirit…and confidence. I also loved her beau in the gold running shorts! He was sweet and thoughtful and nerdy, I want my boys to be just like that when they are teenagers. The music, the cinematography, the quirkiness…loved it all. http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
June 19th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I am about 20 minutes from finishing that movie and my baby has hidden the remote so I can’t find the scene without watching the whole thing thru again….I am going crazy with anticipation. Hopefully the remote didn’t end up down the toilet as that seems to be his fave dumping ground right now. http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
June 19th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Superbad. It reminded me of being a teenager, they nailed it. A time when you could drink all night and still wake up looking human.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Iron Man….it was fun and Robert Downey, Jr. was cute!
June 19th, 2008 at 8:45 am
The Savages (Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman on fine form).
June 19th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Sex in the City – I am a big fan of the HBO show and the movie did not disappoint at all. A 2 hour episode that showed that the girls are all human and suffer from the same issues that every woman does. I also loved sharing the experience with my girlfriends. Laughing, crying and everything in between.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:50 am
The Fall, absolutely brilliant!
June 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Air India Flight 182 – a new doc by director Sterla Gunnersson – recreates pivotal moments leading up to the infamous bombing of the plane 1985. Very touching, emotional interviews with airline staff, RCMP, RAF rescue, and the Canadian families who lost their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Incredible to consider some people responsible are still walking our Vancouver streets.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Perfume.
Horrific , Raw, Euro-realism. A portrait of an artist – absolutely driven to create his sick macabre master piece, and ultimately consumed by the masses.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I saw last Tuesday, «Into The Wild» a film by Sean Penn based on the true story of Christopher McCandless as he traveled through the US in search of himself/hapiness/etc. (based on the biography by Jon Krakauer). These actors were superb and their play was very touching. Since I saw this film, it changed my life. It made me cry and I had a hard time to sleep aftewards
But it affected me in a good way… I am reading right now «Style Statement» and it’s no coincidence that I saw this film in the same time 
Everybody should see this film. (Excuse my english, I’m french canadian…:)
June 19th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Agreed. Juno was brilliant. Loved it. Filmed in beautiful Vancouver too!
June 19th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I read the book and don’t think I could stomach the movie! As you say, so macabre and raw. Still shiver when I think of it…so an exceptional piece of art that truly provokes discussion. Thanks for mentioning it.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Deja Vu – You know, we really can change everything.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:01 am
The Motorcycle Diaries. Beautiful, moving…real.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
“The History Boys” was incredible. Phenomenally well done. Mostly because the soundtrack took me back to my own high school days.
“Death at a Funeral” – which sounds dreadful, but it the funniest movie I’ve seen in a long time.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Another +1 for Lars and the Real Girl
June 19th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I also LOVED Young at Heart. Got choked up about half way through and was crying out loud by the end. It is a beautiful reflection on a time of life that is not celebrated nearly enough in western culture.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Oh yes! I was thrilled Marion Cotillard (sp?) won the Oscar for it.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I was worried it was going to be cheap humour, but it wasn’t. It was so sweet and everyone was so supportive of him. I highly recommend it.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I’ll second that. It was a fabulous movie. I’m still haunted by it.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:01 am
“10 Questions to Ask the Dali Llama”. Such a poignant and beautiful documentary. This film will endure forever. His presence and wise advice will be useful for years to come.
*****************************************
I *LOVED* The Girl in the Cafe! It is one of my favorite movies. So beautifully written, Bill Nighy is such a brilliant actor and the girl is fabulous too. I would add to the list of genres, it does have a bit of a political element as well that is placed perfectly among the rest of the themes.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Iron Man.
It’s so good to see Robert Downey Jr back at it.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
“A Previous Engagement”is a poignant,touching,and at times, laugh out loud funny, romantic tale of a middle aged woman who goes to Malta to meet a lover from twenty five years ago. She comes with baggage – a husband and two daughters – and she must decide where she is going in her life. Five stars!
June 19th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
“The Fountain” with Hugh Jackman; part sci-fi and part romance; exquisite.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
My two faves of last year are polar opposites: THE DEPARTED and DEVIL WEARS PRADA.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
The Kite Runner.
Beautiful yet heart-wrenching.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
The Jane Austin Book Club. It was delightful, better than I expected and my husband loved it too. The women were complex and interesting and the men in their lives were sweet, honest, confused and loving. I watched it a second time with the director’s commentary. I loved hearing how the first time director, a woman in her early 50’s I’d surmise, made such conscious, thoughful choices to realize her creative vision.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Gwyneth, did you read the book as well? I LOVED the book so I’m not sure if I should see the movie as well….you know how that sometimes goes….
June 19th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
The guiltiest of pleasures: You Don’t Mess w/the Zohan. Admittedly I’m not usually into physical or prop comedy and this movie can get pretty disgusting. But Zohan made me laugh my cranky pants off and I left the theater giggling to myself for the rest of the day.
I loved how Sandler delivers such a hot topic of Isreali/Palestine relations to a generation, who might just know more about the Lohan/Ronson hook up then the Gaza cease fire. Then he actually has the balls to sexualize women over 50! Regular woman, who’ve actually grown old and aren’t a size 2 w/implants? Yes @ the beginning of the film it gets the gross laugh, but at some point I think there is a shift.
Oh and Judd Aptow is one of the writers, so not only is it gross, but he hits those sentimental moments bang on.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I loved it, too! It was so sweet to see a community come together and support someone different and unexpected. A real treat to watch.
June 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I heard this was wonderful- so glad to hear it from another source- now i must see it!
June 19th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I hate to say I loved it, too, and have been embarrassed to admit to it to the general public. I admire your courage!
June 19th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Enchanted April. i loved it in the theater years ago, but seeing it again having found an import copy that plays on my region free player ( a must have by the way- as these players have come down so dramatically in price!) the story of women who follow a dream to rent a castle in italy during a dreary spring. the experience there transforms their loves and their sense of what love means. absolutely gorgeous. how can i not adore something that refers to a place as “a tub of love”?
June 19th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I agree – I don’t think there is another film which has affected me as much as that one… everytime I listen to Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack I am moved again and often to tears if I’m feeling tender.
I think your English is superb!
June 19th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Thank you very much Lyda!
I’ll agree with you about Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack. It’s very dramatic and an emotionnal soundtrack. The soundtrack of this film is like an actor itself.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I saw this movie too, incredibly fascinating, but very hard to stomach. It wasn’t as bad as the book, I assure you.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I too loved Iron Man. It was light and fun, yet visually stunning. RDJ was perfect for this role. I love the concept of a flawed, human heroes. It makes me believe that there’s is a little bit of a hero in everyone.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Oh yeah – Once is amazing!! Two other great ’sleepers’…Expiration Date and The Station Agent.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
ditto. Loved it.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
this was a guilty pleasure for me. I thought Carrie’s final decision about Big was a huge step backwards for woman kind. He could have worked a whole lot harder to make up for being such a cowardly goof.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
cute…I thought he was downright hot…cheesey goatee ‘n all.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Loved the Perfume movie. Dustin Hoffman has a bizarre accent…but it’s striking film.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Do you know about Ken Wilber’s work? Very up this alley. And while you’re at it — check out http://www.IntegralNaked.com
June 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
okay — I’m going…secretly have been wanting to see this — my hubby will be THRILLED.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I went out and bought the soundtrack!
June 19th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
A stunning film in every way. The soundtrack is on my wish list.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Thanks, these are going on my list!
June 19th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Loved The Station Agent…. another good one is Mostly Martha (the film that No Reservations tried pathetically to copy)..
June 20th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Hey Laura…I did the same thing…watched it twice with the director’s commentary on..and I too was struck more by the director’s story of finally making ‘her’ movie than the movie itself. It was so encouraging for me, a youngish 30 to learn of a woman in her 50s finally coming into her creative being.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
One of my favourite movies from last year was Michael Clayton. It just sucked you in from the very first scene. Loved it.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:41 am
I rented ‘LA Story’. I’m on a SJP pre-SATC movie kick right now and one line from this movie really resonated with me: “Let your mind go and your body will follow.”. I tend to let my head rule my heart, and I think I need to let me mind go more often so my body can follow.
June 21st, 2008 at 10:57 am
Sex and The City. I laughed, I cried, I laughed, I cried. It made me examine some things in my own life that I want and need to change and pay more attention to. I love the fact that in the end, love conquered all even in the mist of the mess.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
War Inc.!!! DR. Strangelove for the Iraq War. Funny, truthful and telling. A must see.