Summer 'Reading'
Last night, being our first Friday home in a few weeks, we were able to catch up with the local news from some of our Friday Night Irregulars. One of the topics of conversation that held our attention concerned the movie now playing in Long Beach at the Neptune Theater – “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” It stars Judi Dench and Maggie Smith and other actors ‘of a certain age.’ It sounds like a must-see to us.
One of our distractions on the long trip from Oysterville to L.A. was listening to books on our car’s spiffy new cd player. We had to listen very diligently to be distracted from our non-working air conditioner and it just happened to be Judi Dench who was trying to claim our attention. She did so very well indeed with her recent memoir, “And Furthermore.”
It’s a biography (though Dench refuses to call it that) which is an addendum to the 1998 book by her long-time friend John Miller, “Judi Dench: With a Crack in Her Voice,” and was compiled from transcripts of taped conversations they have had over the years. I loved it even though it focused mainly on British theater and a world I know precious little about.
Mostly, I was transfixed by Dench’s forthright personality, her energy, and her amazing accomplishments. She is just a year older than I, a fact that was only apparent around the edges. Her occasional comments about world affairs or prevailing points of view put it all in context with my own life and were reminders that we are contemporaries in the greater scheme of things. Nice to know.
Nyel and I definitely plan to see the movie. Our friends Gordon and Kaye and Les say it’s definitely aimed at the geriatric set. That would be us. But I’m eager to try to view it, if possible, with non-elderly eyes. After all, I loved “On Golden Pond” when it came out more than thirty years ago and I was still feeling my young, whipper-snapper oats then. And what about “Harold and Maude” a decade before that?
No matter the theme, I am confident that Judi Dench and Maggie Smith and the others will transcend any age barriers. It’s what makes them great at what they do. And furthermore… I think it’s another summer serendipity that the movie is here waiting for our return home. Synchronicity, even.
YES! YES1YES1….You may or may not realize that your Cali friends from Healdsburg have seen many, many movies during the past few years. Following reading, Sitting in the theater is one of our favorite use of discretionary time sSeveral weeks ago, with huge anticipation, we saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. We loved every aspect of the film. Had you and Nyel turned down any of our ideas for last Tuesday, we would have taken you to see the film. It is now playing in “the burg” and we do plan to see it again. Let’s plan to have a phone conversation after you see the film.
I adobre Judi Dench and the Marigold Hotel had been recommended by my Brit friend Lorraine so when Dave mentioned that it was at the theater in Prescott, where he is for way too long, I told him he ought to go. He loved it. I cannot hardly wait to see it and only have to schedule some time!
How can you go wrong with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith? I have long enjoyed both of their bodies of work. “Tea with Musselini (I can never remember how to spell it)” was wonderful. I even enjoy the sitcom, “As Time Goes By”, which featured Judi Dench. She is thoroughly enjoyable. Maggie Smith is also a favorite. She is perfect as Professor McGonnagle in the Harry Potter movies. Can’t wiat to see “the Marigold Hotel”.