BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA — The full moon is upon us. I drove home last evening under a brilliantly clear desert sky and recalled my previous experiences (there have been only two) of seeing the full moon over San Francisco Bay. I’m in a funny space these days. They are those who track this sort of data and say that there are more tragic and unusual events that occur during the full moon. I’ll attribute my current restlessness to that phenomenon. There’s an awful lot going on these days. It’s no wonder I feel like baying at the moon and/or running off to visit the cool, clear climes of The City.
I was speaking with a friend today. We were laughing about Life in Hell (as summer in Phoenix can be). We were saying that we had no fear of hell because we’ve already been there and done that. Repeatedly. We’re in a searing heatwave. The Shea house closed on Thursday and I got to move the remaining garage items in 115-degree-weather. It was a special treat. No wonder I’m obsessing about the Bay.
BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA — In 1999, Cate Blanchett was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in the aptly titled film, ELIZABETH. On Friday, I saw the trailer for another film with much of the same cast and crew. The trailer was gorgeous. Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, and Geoffrey Rush fill the screen in costumes and settings that were stunningly beautiful. Elizabeth The Golden Age looks golden. I’m already anticipating Academy Award nominations for costumes, make-up, set design and, probably, performances.
I’ve always been interested in the whole Elizabethan period because of Shakespeare. So, I adored SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. In the film, the amazing Judi Dench earned a supporting actress Academy Award for her eleven-minute portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. After that I was all excited about the Showtime series THE TUDORS and I started watching all things Elizabethan from Netflix. I watched the Channel 4 mini-series on ELIZABETH I that featured Helen Mirren. Six hours of fantastic film that earned Mirren an Emmy and a BAFTA.
Recently, while I was on my Judi-Dench-Cate-Blanchett kick, I saw NOTES ON A SCANDAL. Judi Dench was positively evil in the film, Cate Blanchett was achingly vulnerable. I really enjoyed the film. My world would be perfect if they’d find a way to get Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench to work on something together.
Of course, I thought it would be wonderful to see EVENING because of all the incredible actresses in it. Glenn Close, Meryl Street, her daughter Mamie Gummer, Vanessa Redgrave, her daughter Natasha Richardson, Toni Colette, Claire Danes. I went opening day. In the end, all I can say is that I wanted it to be so much stronger than it was. I didn’t like the way it was edited and some of the dialogue was just too precious. I liked the idea so much better than the actual film.
