Flick Buddies: Torn Curtain

It was only a matter of time before I missed one of my self-imposed Sunday deadlines. But I’m sneaky and backdating this post!

The Flick Buddies theme for July is Hitchcock. Bekki chose Turn Curtain.

I liked this movie a lot. In many ways, Torn Curtain is Alfred Hitchcock at his best. It was twisty and suspenseful and more than a little fun.

Paul Newman is a gorgeous man, and I enjoyed his performance here. Especially since he appeared shirtless quite a few times. Yum! But Julie Andrews was the true revelation for me. I know her as Maria from The Sound of Music or as Mary Poppins. Maria and Mary Poppins do not say, “Hell,” and they definitely don’t roll around in bed with a man who is not their husband – one has to wonder how much rolling around in bed former nun Maria would do even with her husband. They certainly do not defect to East Germany, no matter how hot Paul Newman is. Andrews was great here, as her character runs the gamut from happy and in love to doubt, mistrust and betrayal.

The character actors in the minor roles that the leads encounter along the way add so much to this movie. The nutty Polish countess looking for her sponsor to the United States, the vain ballerina who resents her stolen spotlight and of course, the gum-chewing former Brooklyn wise guy, now State Police member Hermann Gromek.

My favorite part of the film was the extended bus-ride scene where a motley crew of characters help the Professor and Sarah make their way back to Berlin. It’s suspenseful, but fun, and since it’s Hitchcock, you’re never really sure if you’re going to get a happy ending.

I definitely recommend this film if you haven’t seen it. Torn Curtain is my favorite Flick Buddies pick from July (so far – I still have two films to go)!

What’s Making Me Happy

I explained the genesis of this new blog feature last week. So let’s just jump right in!

1. Today is an awesome day! I got really good news at my post-op appointment this morning and I just got really, really good news from my manager and director at work this afternoon. For a Friday the 13th, it’s a great day.
2. The Pop Culture Happy Hour Podcast: If you’re not listening, you totally should. It really does make me happy!
3. Battlestar Galactica Season 3: I was not a fan of the “New Caprica” story line (sorry webisodes). Now that they’ve left that yuck planet behind, and the episodes have been more about human interaction than Cylon-human interaction, I’m really getting back into the show. And Starbuck’s hair is short again. Yay!
4. Flick Buddies! Kelly and Bekki have put up some great reviews and I know it’s just a matter of time before (slacker) Steve and new member John start doing the same. I’ve got Torn Curtain to watch this weekend, so look for my review on Sunday.
5. My son loves music! I wanted Album Club to make me love new music. It didn’t exactly work out that way. But my 8-year old son and I share an iTunes account and he has lately taking a real liking to our (faux) April selection Shangri-la by YACHT. I’m excited that he’s listening to real music and not some Kidz Bop crap that I can’t stand. I’m proud that my kid has good taste (even if I can’t really take the credit for it).