Movies Blog : hbo

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency premiere HBO Mar. 29

this.is.not.here@evpl — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:02:00 GMT

Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is yet another example of movies based on books. African born McCall Smith is the author of this mystery series featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe as the proprietor of the one and only Ladie's Detective Agency in Botswana. HBO is premiering this delightful new series based on the bestselling novels.

Precious makes redbush tea and helps her customers track down cheating spouses, and find missing children. I have listened to this book and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing this new series.

You can check out the library's selection of McCall Smith novels at any branch.

Grey Gardens

this.is.not.here@evpl — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:35:00 GMT

While waiting for Flight of the Conchords to come on I chanced upon a preview of the April 18 premiere of the HBO cable network film Grey Gardens starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. I was familiar with the story having seen Grey Gardens, a 1975 documentary directed by the Maysles Brothers and found it quite fascinating. It depicted the story of two women, Big Edie Beale, real name Edith Bouvier Beale, the aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and her daughter, "Little Edie", Jackie's cousin. Their story is told through narative remembrances of the two women who in their heyday were well-to-do and affluent living in the magnificent 28 room mansion in East Hampton. They are filmed living in the house now in complete disrepair with raccoons and a plethora of cats in filth and squalor.

As the story unfolds we are introduced to "Little Edie" the "fashion designer"(she has a thing for designing her own unique clothes especially turbans). Edie could have been a famous Broadway star but she had to return home to care for her reclusive invalid mother. Their matter-of-fact attitude toward their unsanitary living conditions is strangely mesmerizing to watch. Due to the world's fascination with this eccentric mother and daughter there is even a Broadway Musical called Grey Gardens, a new musical. Evpl has the soundtrack. What little I saw looked like it was very well done. The flashbacks of Drew as Little Edie as a fresh faced beautiful young debutante are paired with current views of her at 56. Her mother, Big Edie, Jessica Lange, needs her and she abandons her singing career to return to Grey Gardens. The roles become reversed as they struggle to keep their home from being condemned. The library has copies of the original Grey Gardens.

"John Adams": HBO miniseries

MediaPhile@evpl — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:56:00 GMT

If you didn't watch this absolutely wonderful series when it was on HBO, do so now!

I just spent 8 glorious hours in the bosom of the Adams family -- from the early 1770s until John's death on July 4, 1826. (In case you didn't remember, John Adams and his good friend/enemy and co-founding father, Thomas Jefferson, died on the same day -- July 4, 1826 -- the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence).

These are my impressions:

My knowledge of Adams is exponentially increased, since I knew little of the man before. Perhaps Adams' constant lament that history would give all the credit to Jefferson and Washington proved somewhat true.
Paul Giamatti as John and Laura Linney as Abigail were fabulous! And Tom Wilkinson WAS Benjamin Franklin! I never did get used to David Morse as George Washington, but then I still remember him as an intern on "Saint Elsewhere." (Also, is playing Washington almost like playing God -- impossible?)
Author David McCullough is now on my short list. I can't believe I haven't read all of his books!
23 Emmy Award nominations and 13 wins makes perfect sense. Awards included Best Miniseries, Best Actor in a Miniseries, Best Actress in a Miniseries, and Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries (Wilkinson).
Being important doesn't spare one hardship and tragedy -- or boredom, for that matter.
Service to one's country is not necessarily lucrative.
The Presidency in the early days of our country was a rather thankless job. One wonders how much better it is now...

Love Flight of the Conchords

this.is.not.here@evpl — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:34:00 GMT

It's about time we had a decent, fresh, original funny show to watch on tv. HBO has done it again. I was really happy to find that the first season is available on DVD. The writing is clever and the lampooning of the big "80's" songs are hillarious. And Brett and Jemaine are really cute. Anyone who hasn't seen this ---treat yourself. I do have a question though, Is there a season 2 yet? Funniest scenes for me are when Murray (the band manager) calls the band meetings to order in his day job office, and calls the roll, (all two of the members) and himself and insists that they all say "here" or "present."

Rome: Seasons 1 & 2

MediaPhile@evpl — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:06:00 GMT

I just finished a Rome marathon -- loved it! I don't subscribe to HBO but had heard great stuff about the Rome series and noticed it on the shelf and the rest is history. My son Eric says that it was the most expensive TV production ever, which probably contributed to its demise after two seasons. The plot was intricate, the characters funny and intriguing, the history believable if somewhat sketchy, lots of battles and "love" scenes, etc.

Best nonstop viewing experience since the final season of The Sopranos. Almost makes me want to give up books and watch all the TV series I've never watched (24, Lost, Deadwood, etc.) until I become a TV zombie and get so sick of it that I can no longer stand to touch a remote.