It’s Tuesday, and I try to always blog on Tuesdays.  And usually I blog about something related to writing, because…uh, because I really have no life.  Seriously.  I write, I take care of my kids, I work at the library from time to time, I spend some time with Mr. Dare, and I try to keep the laundry pile from growing large enough to develop sentience.  That’s about it.

But wow – this week, I had a social life!  I went to a movie.  I went to a wine-tasting party on Saturday, and then a Super Bowl party on Sunday.  Whee!!

The movie I saw was Slumdog Millionaire.  And if you only see one movie this year (says the girl who only sees one movie a year), I suggest you make it this one.  Wow.  So gutwrenching and so heartwarming, so awful and wonderful, all at once.  It reminded me of that oft-repeated writing advice:  Make your characters suffer.  (Oops, I’m blogging about writing after all.  Oh, well.)  The protagonist, a Mumbai orphan named Jamal, has to go through so much crap (literally and figuratively) in this movie, by the last half-hour I just wanted to find director Danny Boyle and wring his guts until they felt as knotted as mine did.  But oh, how deeply it made me care.  And ah, how sweet the ending was, after all that pain.  As I left the theater, I felt resolved to put my characters through hell in this next book–and I immediately had this sinking feeling, because I knew just what I’d have to do… *sob*  I don’t wanna!  But I know I should…

‘Tis the season for award-winning, thought-provoking movies!  Any recommendations?  If I see two movies this year, which should I make my next one?


8 comments to “In which Tessa gets a life…”

  1. Elyssa Papa
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    · February 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 am · Link

    Hey, as long as you don’t kill off a lion or a secondary character, I think you’ll be fine. LOL. But, yeah, put your characters through Hell and then some.

    I’ve heard great things about Slumdog Millionaire. That’s one movie I’ll definitely be looking out for on DVD. I also heard really good things about both Kate Winslet’s movies, but they look *too* depressing. Depressing is good and all, but not every single time.

    Hmmm, what about the new Harry Potter movie that’s coming out this summer? And I think that–finally–The Lovely Bones is releasing Dec. ’09, which will be a guaranteed heartwrencher and also has a fabulous cast.

    You know what I would love? A really smart, funny, and new romantic comedy. But I haven’t come across one of those in a long while.



  2. Tiffany
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    · February 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 am · Link

    I have heard how great this movie is too. Revolutionary Road is supposed to be amazing too! One other movie…. hmmmm… Last one I watched (rented) that I really loved was Lust, Caution. Don’t watch that one around the kiddywinks though.

    We did take the kids to see the new underworld movie. I loved that movie so much. Though my five year old cried and cried when the girl died, sobbing cries. I forgot to tell her the princess didn’t get her HEA. She’s a wee romance lover in the making.

    I love torturing characters. Do your worst to yours 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you come up with.



  3. Kim
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    · February 3rd, 2009 at 4:12 pm · Link

    I’m really looking forward to Taken. And Kevin Smith’s Zac and Miri Make a Porno. *G*

    How was your SuperBowl party? I hate football but got talked into going to a party. blah.



  4. Janga
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    · February 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm · Link

    Since the DVD rentals by mail started, I almost never go to the movies. The Harry Potter movie and one or more of the children’s movies (the new Ice Age, Where the Wild Things Are, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, The Princess and the Frog) are probably the only movies I’ll go to the theater to see this year. There are others I want to see: Confessions of a Shopaholic and Julie and Julia and a couple of romantic comedies that sound cute (The Accidental Husband with Colin Firth and The Proposal), but I’ll wait for those on DVD. This week I hope to watch two I waited for–The Secret Life of Bees and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.



  5. Lori Brighton
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    · February 4th, 2009 at 7:51 am · Link

    Ah, the good old days when we had time to see movies!
    I haven’t seen anything in a long while. But I would like to see He’s Just Not that Into You. Sadly, i’ll probably have to wait until the DVD.



  6. Antonia Girmacea
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    · February 4th, 2009 at 1:14 pm · Link

    You should watch “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” It is an amazing movie. It can make you laugh and cry. It also has romance, which is always a plus. 🙂



  7. Tessa
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    · February 4th, 2009 at 9:59 pm · Link

    Ely, I’m thinking the same thing about Kate Winslet’s two. I’ve just lost my patience for depressing movies, since I only get to see a few every year. I think after ATONEMENT, I was just like – that’s it. I’ve had it with this sad ending stuff. But I’ll probably check them out on DVD, esp. The Reader.

    Tiff, I must say you are very good at torturing characters! I’ll keep that as inspiration. Will have to add Lust, Caution to the late-night DVD queue. 🙂

    Kim, the SuperBowl party was fun, thanks! I made some yummy chili, and the kids had lots of friends to play with. Good times. Just the clips of that Taken movie give me the creeps…! but Liam Neeson looks awesome. I saw the commercials for that Zack and Miri movie, and it did look pretty funny – when you watch it, let me know what you think!

    Janga, any movie with Colin Firth is a Must-See-Eventually, even if I have to wait for DVD. We are huge Netflix patrons. And thanks for reminding me to add Nick and Norah to our queue!

    Lori, I just saw the ad for that one the other night, with Jennifer Aniston, right? Looks cute!

    Antonia, I’ve heard great things about Ben Button. The last movie I’d been to see was Burn Before Reading, and Brad Pitt was hilarious in it – his performance was definitely the best thing about the whole film.

    Two movies I’m dying to see right now for the stud factor alone, that I know will just have to wait for DVD, are Australia (Hugh) and The International (Clive). *sigh*



  8. Antonia Girmacea
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    · February 5th, 2009 at 8:09 am · Link

    I saw “Burn After Reading” too and I loved Brad Pitt’s performance. Wall-E was another movie I enjoyed. I haven’t seen Australia yet, but I might just for Hugh Jackman.