Month: February 2008

Es tiempo para… Javier Bardem!

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Yeah, it’s time for Javier Bardem!  The multi-talented Spanish actor just won Best Supporting Actor Oscar!  Let’s hope this leads to more great projects (esp. here in US).  

This interview shows his way w/ words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awAcynlNsy0

 Though I didn’t see No Country For Old Men, I absolutely LOVED Javier in Before Night Falls, The Dancer Upstairs and The Sea Inside.   It’s AMAZING how he transforms himself from one film to the next, but always keeps his relatable charm and ease.  He is a REAL actor- you can’t “see” the acting b/c he IS the character.  It’s difficult to even speak TWO languages, but great acting is rare.  As an added bonus, Javier Bardem is a v. gorgeous guy w/ that striking profile, big brown eyes, and BEST of all… his megawatt smile!

P&P lines (Part 3: The End)

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darcy_liz.jpg

“Oh, Jane, do not you see that more things have been ruined by this than Lydia’s reputation?” –Lizzie laments to Jane after they learn of Lydia’s elopement w/ Mr. Wickham

  

“We cannot be too guarded in our behavior toward those of the opposite sex who are… undeserving.”

–Mary to her sisters after Lydia’s elopement

  

“Too bad I couldn’t take all my sisters to Brighton- I could’ve got husbands for you all!” –Lydia exclaims after her marriage to Mr. W. 

“I don’t particularly like your way of getting husbands.” –Lizzie retorts

  

“Perhaps if I am very lucky… I will one day meet with another Mr. Collins!” –Lizzie jokes with Jane after Jane’s engagement to Mr. Bingley

  

“…he [Mr. Darcy] is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter. We are equals!” –Lizzie exclaims to Lady Catherine (Darcy’s aunt)

  

“But what else do we live for but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?” –Mr. Bennett to Lizzie

  

“He [Mr. Darcy] is truly the best man I have ever known.” –Lizzie says to Mr. B.

  

P&P lines cont’d…

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Back to P&P currently showing on PBS… 

Jane is quietly coping w/o Bingley around.  Poor Mr. Darcy is (obviously) suffering from love, but it- alas- refused.  Lizzie learns re: Mr. Wickham’s true character.  We see that Charlotte is coping w/ Mr. Collins (lord bless her!)  Lydia goes off to Brighton w/ the Fosters- we know where that will lead!  The Gardiners and Lizzie check out Pemberley (Mr. Darcy’s estate), and unexpectedly run into Darcy himself. 

Sidenote: Colin Firth’s legs look v. good in the costumes IMHO.  The long coats he wears are cool, too!  

Below are some more quotes I like from the mini…

 “I remember a time when I liked a red coat well enough.” -Mrs. Bennett recalls before the younger daughters dissolve into giggles

 “She must know she’s marrying one of the stupidest men in England!” -Lizzie exclaims to Jane (after hearing of Charlotte’s engagement to Mr. Collins)  “But everyone is not the same!” Jane exclaims after Lizzie expresses her shock re: her friend’s choice

“I am not romantic- I never was.  I want only a comfortable home.” -Charlotte Lucas to Lizzie re: her decision to marry Mr. Collins

“The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.” -Lizzie confesses to Jane 

“…it often happens that a whole day passes in which we have not spent more than a few minutes in each other’s company. I find that I can bear the solitude very cheerfully. I find myself… quite content with my situation Lizzie.” -Charlotte re: her marriage 

“Do not worry yourself about your appearance, cousin Elizabeth.  Lady Catherine likes to see rank preserved.”  -Mr. Collins

“What!?  All out at once?  The younger ones before the older are married?” -Lady Catherine asks Lizzie re: her sisters being “out” in society

“Beauty is not the only virtue, Maria. She [Mary King] has just inherited a fortune of ten thousand pounds, I understand.” -Charlotte points out to her lil sis.  “Now that is a definite virtue.” -Mrs. Gardiner adds slyly. 

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself was kind enough to suggest that these shelves be fitted exactly as you see them there.” -Mr. Collins  “Shelves in the closet. Happy thought indeed.” -Lizzie replies

“I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers” -Mr. Darcy confesses to Lizzie when they meet at Rosings

“I had not known you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world whom I could ever marry!” -Lizzie to Mr. Darcy after his first proposal

“Disguise of any kind is my abhorrence.” -Mr. D. to Lizzie

“I’m afraid one has all the goodness, and the other all the apperance of it.” -Lizzie to Jane(comparing D. to Wickham) 

“I believe one would be willing to put up with a great deal to be mistress of Pemberley. ”

-Mrs. Gardiner, Lizzie’s aunt, says when they first see Pemberley

“I shall conquer this!  I shall!” -Mr. Darcy

My fave P&P lines: Part 1

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I’ve been watching The Complete Jane Austen (PBS) lately, and Pride and Prejudice (or P&P as we say on the web) is showing this month.  IMHO this version (from 1995 w/ Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle) is one of the BEST TV shows/films!  Jane Eyre (2006) is pretty awesome too…  BTW- I learned a while back that Jennifer Ehle is an American (from NC, no less!!!) but trained as an actress in UK (just like Christopher Reeve). 

Here are some of my favorite lines from P&P:

“A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” -Lizzie after the fam 1st hears of Mr. Bingley arriving in their ‘hood

“…just be careful to make sure the man you fall in love with is rich!” -Lizzie jokes w/ Jane

“…my dear, they [your nerves] have been my constant companion these 20 years at least.” -Mr. Bennett to wife after Mrs. Bennett complains that he has no sympathy for her nerves- LOL!

“No!  You shall go on Nellie!” -Mrs. B. tells Jane she shall ride their old mare to Netherfield after Bingley’s sis invites her to dinner; the weather looks gloomy though!

“We  neither of us are willing to speak unless we are sure to amaze the entire room.”

-Lizzie to Mr. Darcy during their 1st dance

“Until there are enough [dance] partners to be found, we shall have to be philosphers.”

-Lizzie to her serious, bookish lil sis (Mary) at Lucas Lodge ball

“I have determined that only the deepest love will induce me to marry!” -Lizzie to Jane

“As for pride… where there is a real superiority of mind…” -Mr. Darcy to Lizzie re: his character

“…they [Lizzie’s eyes] were brightened by the exercise.” -Mr. D. to Caroline Bingley after Lizzie’s very long walk (3 miles!!!) to see a sick Jane at Netherfield

“Oh lord-  for he has threatened to dance with us all!” -Kitty to Lizzie re: Mr. Collins

“But before I am run away with emotion… let me state my reasons for marrying.” -Mr. C. to Lizzie in the (hilarious) proposal scene

To be continued next wk…

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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I thought about writing this because February is considered Black History Month.  But, as Morgan Freeman pointed out: “Black history IS American history- there is no separation”

 

“The question to ask yourself is not ‘What will happen to me if I stop to help this man?’  The question is ‘What will happen to this man if I do stop to help him?’”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” 1968)

The lines quoted above are connected to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan that Dr. King spoke about in his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech in 1968. I listened to this speech recently via iTunes.  (Yes, I am crazy re: my iPod nano!!!)  The story, as he explained it, follows.  An injured Levite was laying on the road, a winding, dangerous road leading from Jericho to Jerusalem.  A priest came along that road and passed him by without doing anything.  Maybe he didn’t have time because he was on his way to a religious meeting.  Or maybe he was on his way to a road construction meeting.  Another Levite came by on the road later, but he did not stop to help the hurt man.  Finally, a man of a different race came to the same place in the road.  He dismounted from his animal and gave the injured Levite medical assistance.  Jesus pointed out to his disciples that this foreign man was the true man of God, because he was doing God’s will.

Dr. King used this story, as well as a few other related ones, to propel others to boycott big businesses that used unfair hiring practices.  He pointed out that black Americans had great economic power, and they could send a message by withdrawing their money from unfair banks, insurance agencies, etc.  Up until then, only the sanitation workers of Memphis, TN (where he was speaking that day) had been feeling the pain of boycott.  He said it was time “to spread the pain around” in the community.  “We are a poor people, but together we are more powerful than all the nations of the world except nine!”

Without the work of Dr. King and his disciples, we certainly would not have  affirmative action.  Legal immigration to the U.S. grew exponentially in the 1970s onwards, also because of his great legacy.  I was (a little) surprised when a professor pointed that out to me in college.  What other man in 20th century America has harnessed the influence of religion to do extraordinary things for our entire world?  Some of the “leaders” of today look very petty and insignificant when compared to Dr. King.  He sought to UNITE, while many today seek to divide people of different political parties, races, religions, social classes, etc.