Scoop, Wordplay and Mel Gibson

Greetings, fellow film lovers...

Sorry I haven't written for awhile.... I hate to confess that I haven't seen any films lately well until last week. The weather was so hot and I was tired .... yadda yadda and I have to get over my phobia of going to films alone... :)

Last week I saw Scoop which is the latest fare by Woody Allen. It stars Allen, Scarlett Johanssen and Hugh Jackman. It is very cute and you could go to the theatre to watch it - it's worth the ticket price. Scoop reminded quite a bit of Mahattan Murder Mystery. Instead of being married to Diane Keaton - Allen plays the psuedo father to Scarlett Johanssen and they really do have excellent chemistry. Hugh Jackman holds his own when he shares a scene with the two of them. All in all it is a great little summer movie.

Next I saw the documentary, "Wordplay" which is all about crossword puzzles. The filmmakers interview Will Shortz who is the editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle section. He admits that the best part of his job is reading the letters he is sent by various people either praising or damning his crossword puzzles. Donna and I would have a few nasty words to say to him of that I am sure. Even if you don't like crossword puzzles this is a charming little film. The film itself centers on a crossword competition that is held in Stanford, Connecticut every year that was started by Will Shortz. People all across the US go every year to compete and have done for the past 30 years or so. The film also focuses on some of the top contenders and winners from years past leading up to the competition. Wordplay also interviews famous crossworders (is that a word?) including the Indigo Girls, Ken Burns and Bill Clinton. It is a fun little documentary.

I still want to go see the Pirates of the Caribean Part II and You, Me and Dupree.... there is no hope for me :)

As for Mel Gibson, it would appear that timing is everything when making comments about Jews. It is never a good idea to make anti-Semetic comments when you are the leader of a middle east country or when you are being pulled over for speeding and for being DUI. It is ok to make comments about Jews when you are Woody Allen and are discussing musical instruments. One line of Scoop that was quite entertaining was "What instrument do you play? Oh, I play the Bruce Harp. The Bruce Harp? I've never heard of it. Oh they used to call it a Jew's Harp but you know how those Jews are!"

FYI - a Bruce Harp is one of those instruments that you hold up to your mouth and pluck on the strings - very small - think of those instruments played by hillbillies in those old Bugs Bunny cartoons.