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Colder than a Wit-....
Jan. 7th, 2015 09:10 pmWell, you know. It got colder today- six degrees F outside when we both got home. We've not been out since.
Last night, we watched a remarkable film, directed by Mike Nichols in 2001 but with an amazing near-solo performance by Emma Thompson. She's been in a few films we've seen recently and rather didn't like, including Saving Mr. Banks and Love, Actually, but this HBO film titled Wit was a bit rough but worth every minute.
Thompson plays an English professor at Unspecified University who, in the first scene, is delivered a Stage Four cancer diagnosis, by Christopher Lloyd, of all people. The rest is her fight to regain her health, her dignity, and by the end, her idea of what life is (as opposed to the doctors' idea). With one exception, the "bedside manner" in the film is appalling- it's apparently screened in medical schools as an illustration of what NOT to do- but the exception makes up for it. Audra McDonald (I knew I recognised the name, but from our CD collection rather than a previous film) is the nurse who is the only medical professional at UU Hospital who treats her patient like a human being. Their scenes are touching and tearful.
The cast also includes flashbacks to the character as a child, with Harold Pinter playing her father and Hugh Laurie's daughter playing her younger self. And the final moments include an early screen credit for David Zayas, one of the future mainstays of Dexter.
Tonight's been a Not Movie Night- reading, checking in with Emily (good things, mostly). I will see them Friday after a day of court in Buffalo and lunch/client meeting in Rochester. Then next week is filling up busy, as well.
Last night, we watched a remarkable film, directed by Mike Nichols in 2001 but with an amazing near-solo performance by Emma Thompson. She's been in a few films we've seen recently and rather didn't like, including Saving Mr. Banks and Love, Actually, but this HBO film titled Wit was a bit rough but worth every minute.
Thompson plays an English professor at Unspecified University who, in the first scene, is delivered a Stage Four cancer diagnosis, by Christopher Lloyd, of all people. The rest is her fight to regain her health, her dignity, and by the end, her idea of what life is (as opposed to the doctors' idea). With one exception, the "bedside manner" in the film is appalling- it's apparently screened in medical schools as an illustration of what NOT to do- but the exception makes up for it. Audra McDonald (I knew I recognised the name, but from our CD collection rather than a previous film) is the nurse who is the only medical professional at UU Hospital who treats her patient like a human being. Their scenes are touching and tearful.
The cast also includes flashbacks to the character as a child, with Harold Pinter playing her father and Hugh Laurie's daughter playing her younger self. And the final moments include an early screen credit for David Zayas, one of the future mainstays of Dexter.
Tonight's been a Not Movie Night- reading, checking in with Emily (good things, mostly). I will see them Friday after a day of court in Buffalo and lunch/client meeting in Rochester. Then next week is filling up busy, as well.