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The Real Story (and the movie versions) of ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’

Posted on December 5, 2011 at 2:28 pm

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the story of the hunt for a mole at the highest levels of British intelligence, began as a 1974 novel written by spy-turned novelist David John Moore Cornwell, who writes under the pen name John le Carré.  The dense, opaque story became the first of a trilogy about the ironically named George Smiley that is ranked with the very best of fiction in any genre.  It became an equally lauded British miniseries starring Alec Guiness.  I’ve watched it at least four times and get more out of it with every viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILYP9YnCZUs

Le Carré was inspired by the biggest spy scandal in British history involving double agents known as the Cambridge Five.  The revelation that five distinguished, upper-class Cambridge graduates, one a prominent art historian and adviser to the Queen Mother were giving UK and American secrets to the Soviet Union shattered deeply embedded cultural assumptions in the UK.  The story has inspired non-fiction books as well including The Great Betrayal and Deceiving the Deceivers. It also inspired dramatic re-enactments like the BBC’s Philby, Burgess, and Maclean, Cambridge Spies, and the intriguing An Englishman Abroad, written by Alan Bennett about actress Coral Browne’s encounter with Cambridge Five traitor Guy Burgess, who defected to the USSR after he was uncovered.  She was appearing in a British production of “Hamlet” and he asked her to help him order a suit from his London tailor.Browne plays herself and Alan Bates plays Burgess.

Next week a theatrical version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is being released, starring Colin Firth and Gary Oldman.  Watch for the review next Thursday evening.

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Books The Real Story

Washington Area Film Critics Pick ‘The Artist,’ Scorsese, Clooney, Williams

Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:38 am

The Washington Area Film Critics announced our awards for 2011 this morning:
Best Film:
The Artist
Best Director:
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

Best Actor:
George Clooney (The Descendants)

Best Actress:
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Best Supporting Actor:
Albert Brooks (Drive)

Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer (The Help)

Best Acting Ensemble:
Bridesmaids

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash (The Descendants)

Best Original Screenplay:
Will Reiser (50/50)

Best Animated Feature:
Rango

Best Documentary:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Best Foreign Language Film:
The Skin I Live In

Best Art Direction:
Dante Ferretti, Production Designer, and Francesca Lo Schiavo, Set Decorator (Hugo)

Best Cinematography:
Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)

Best Score:
Ludovic Bource (The Artist)

(more…)

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Awards

One Second of Beauty — from Montblanc

Posted on December 4, 2011 at 1:51 pm

Montblanc, maker of some of the world’s most magnificent pens (I am a pen nut and adore lovely fountain pens), has invited everyone to submit short films about beauty.  Really short — just one second.  There are two ways to win their competition.  First, you can submit your own film.  Or, you can view the submissions and create your own playlist.  Renowned director Wim Wenders will select the best.  Even if you do not want to enter, it is worth checking out the submissions so far to be inspired by the beauty our wonderful world has to offer and — just as important — the capacity of us as humans to appreciate it.

What does beauty mean to you?

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Contests and Giveaways Shorts
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Babar and Father Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2011 at 10:08 am

Babar and Father Christmas is a new DVD with a charming holiday story.  The children of Babar and Celeste write to Father Christmas to invite him to their home town.  But the letter is stolen by wicked Rataxes the Rhinoceros, who wants all of Father Christmas’ toys for himself.  Newly digitally restored and remastered from the 1986 television special, the DVD also includes two other stories, “A Child in the Snow” and “The Gift” and a coloring book as well.

I have one copy to give away!  Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with Babar in the subject line and don’t forget your address!  I’ll pick a winner on December 6.  Good luck!

 

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Animation Based on a book Contests and Giveaways Fantasy For the Whole Family Holidays Series/Sequel Talking animals

Britney Turns 30

Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:33 am

Happy 30th birthday, Britney Spears, and I hope the next decade is less volatile than the last.  Remember when she was a Mouseketeer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDOPN_5w0u0

And remember this?

It is good to see her find some stability and return to performing, and I look forward to seeing where her new confidence takes her.

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