Pollyanna Rainbow Sunshine and the Needles of Doom

Lyda here. No knitting or quilting progress to report. It’s been a hell of a week, ya’ll are so glad you don’t know more. So, today we have more movie reviews! Ya’ll are excited. 

Yes, the gorgeous men of the post title are all on film. Another reason to be excited. But in a different way.

Please note: There are no plot spoilers in my post (’cause, don’t ya’ll just hate that?! I do), but the links may contain plot spoilers. Or even the whole plot. Be warned.

I  hadn’t seen it yet, so on the Resident Sith Master’s recommendation (yes, he sees movies without me sometimes), we rented “Gladiator” (2000) with Russell Crowe. Big battle scenes, lots of swordplay and blood, even tigers! This movie isn’t historically accurate but who cares? Did you see the poster? Plus - Tigers!

I love this film won the Oscar for Best Costume Design (oh yeah, and four other Oscars, including Best Picture). It must have been a challenge to come up with variations on the toga and almost-naked gladiator togs. And when it comes to gladiators, the less costume the better. I don’t think I’m alone this, am I?

Costumes = Fiber content. Kinda… Okay, moving on…

Richard Harris is great as the aging emperor. Oliver Reed turned in a nuanced final performance as the freed gladiator turned trader (sadly, he died during filming.)

And Russell Crowe - uh, oh yeah, baby. His acting was good too. Yes, I did notice his huge… acting talent.

This film owes a lot (as so many films do) to two classic Roman epics:

“Sparticus” (1960) starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, and Peter Ustonov - and directed by Stanley Kubrick, did ya’ll know that? This film also won a Best Costume Oscar. Toga, toga, toga!

and the 1959 “Ben Hur” with Charlton Heston and a cast of thousands! And lions. Even if you haven’t seen this film, you have certainly seen clips of the famous chariot race. There’s some religious content in this one. Hey, it wasn’t all chariot races and swordfights in ancient Rome, ya’ll.

Both are still worth another viewing if you are in a Roman mood.

Or you could go for “Roman Holiday” (1953), with a luminous Audrey Hepburn and a dashing Gregory Peck, for a completely different Roman mood. Roman-tic comedy. Heh.

“And now for something completely different…”

Since I’d heard so much about it (and hello, George Clooney!), we rented “Michael Clayton” (2007). Definitely worth it. Intricate plot, with plenty of twists and turns. George Clooney gives a subtle performance as a man both honorable and tarnished. We both really enjoyed this action thriller. And so did the critics. Tom Wilkinson was brilliant, and Tilda Swinton definitely earned her Oscar. Plus, horses!

And, hello, George Clooney!

I don’t know why I’m telling ya’ll about the animal appearances in these films. I guess it’s a kind of cinematic pig-licking.