Seen any good movies lately?

Yes, as a matter of fact I have.

Late this afternoon I was at Penticton Art Gallery’s “Kitchen Stove” presentation of “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool”. This is one of Annette Benning’s best performances — the make-up artists should receive an award as they variously show her vivacious, beautiful, sick, old and each time it is believable. The acting in this film is very good, the story line is based on a true story (the actress Gloria Grahame who won a best supporting actress Oscar in 1952 and then kind of faded), and the cinematography is also excellent. I’m not going to tell you the story — I am simply telling you to see the movie.

On Tuesday (which is “seniors’ cheap ticket night” at the Penticton Landmark Theatre) I saw the incredible motion picture “Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri”. This is another film you should go to (although being a Presbyterian, I should forewarn you that there is a language warning). Again the acting is superb, the cinematography is exceptional, the story line is fascinating and there are a few twists that make it all so believable. This one better win a few Oscars — especially for the leading lady. She is remarkable.

Last week was the conclusion of the Oliver TIFF Film Series. The film was “The Divine Order” about the battle in Switzerland, of all places, for the right to vote for women. The story starts in the 1970’s believe it or not, and is a very compelling narrative. At times funny, most of the time uncomfortable — hard to imagine the Swiss being so chauvinistic. But again the acting keeps the story moving and nobody left the theatre until well after the closing credits. This is a film that should be shown in every high school in North America. It is gripping and it lingers.

Other than that, I have done a little more skiing (conditions are starting to improve again, after some real icy, eastern Canada style days that made it less than desirable to venture onto the hill) and also been working on sermons. Yes, I am back in the pulpit for three Sundays so the minister at St. Andrew’s Penticton can get a very much needed break to rest and restore. Maybe more on this in a forthcoming chapter — I’ll discuss some of the struggles I’ve had to face while trying to come up with worthwhile words to share at this pivotal time in the Christian year.

For now, I just thought it was important to get you to go to the movies again. Enjoy and we’ll talk soon…I do think I will go skiing tomorrow — partly because they’ve just installed Fibre-Optic into the house and it is not quite working yet…no Olympic watching this evening (oh, I almost forgot, I’m supposed to be working on a sermon for the first Sunday in Lent!!).

g.w.