Guest Post: Ana Jorda on Lincoln and Les Mis

Today we have a guest with us, a certain Ana Jorda. I have known Ana at a distance for years; she is the mother of one of my dearest friends. Recently, I happened upon her new blog, sunsettling, and I immediately fell in love with her writing style. Terse and poetic, slightly reminiscent of Nicole Krauss, it's the style I would choose to write myself, if such things were left up to the individual and not to God. Without further ado:

Hadn't been in a movie theatre for a year. Just saw two films in one week. Lincoln and Les Miserables. Two different impacts.

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Lincoln. Coolest intensity. Different shades of grays. Plus lots of white and black. Tremendous acting. Main and secondary actors surpassing one another. Close ups. Unapologetic ageing faces. Ode to Age. To Wrinkles. Life's maps. Some might say a man's movie. Mostly male actors. War plus the politics of war. Although Lincoln's wife made herself noticed. Yelling, crying. Strong, bossy witty. Force of nature. This a film for men and women. Abolition of slavery linked to the end of civil war a story for all. Lots of dialogue. Chaos, battles on the field and off. Surprise, humor, intelligence, stength, frailty, tenderness. Someone knows what to do with a camera, script, actors. With a team that put together a story fit to be told. Century's spiritual state of the country. Hollywood still able to deliver. When it wants to.

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Les Miserables a.k.a as Les Mis. Americans abbreviate French word that only French can pronounce to catchy cool nickname. Les Mis another impact. Different. Explosion. Of color. Passion. Heart wrenching intensity. More close ups. Top actors. Young, beautiful. But miserable. Ode to Misery. To the Poor. And they can sing. Captivating song after song. Telling compelling story. Bravo to all. Lovestruck girl with tiniest waist. Fantines's devastating disillusionment. Inspector's inner torture. Bravo to actors-singers. No easy feat. Brutal aesthetics in more ways than one. Not for the faint of heart. Last but not least, a spiritual film. No fear here calling God by name. Portraying priest compassionate imitator of Christ. Setting tone for storyline. Thief turned mayor main spiritual character throughout - good looking man of God. Bravo Hollywood for being true to V. Hugo.

Thought most films today not worth seeing.
These two proved me wrong.
New Year surprise.
Still the right stuff out there.

Happy New Year. Go see them!

About Ana: Spanish/English teacher interpreter-translator, author, poet, mom, nana as in Ananana, daughter, friend, occasional piano player and photographer, early bird who lived in different countries-cultures, traveled, learned four languages and can't wait to see what happens next.