Newspaper Page Text
February 18, 2009
iReporter
PAGE 5A
Around the Bend
Pass the popcorn
A lright, hand over
the remote. I sat
patiently for 17
hours of pre-
Agame Super
Bowl coverage and the
game- which turned out to
be pretty good although the
commercials were lacking. I
endured a rain-
soaked Daytona
500 with no com
plaints.
Now, it's my
turn.
The biggest
night on televi
sion for me is
this Sunday
night....
the Oscars.
I love the
Oscars... the glamor, the
anticipation, the film clips.
And Hugh Jackman is
hosting this year, so that's
a bonus.
Larry has been working
out of town and the kids
lead their own lives these
days, so I am left with con
siderable more free time
than usual. Free time to go
to the movies. I have seen
4 of the 5 best picture
nominees. I am off on
Tuesday and I have every
intention of seeing
“Frost/Nixon” ... if I can
find it playing anywhere. I
have learned one thing. If
you want to see Oscar
nominated movies, some
times you have to be will
ing to drive. The more
obscure the film, the more
of a chance it's only play
ing in Buckhead or
Midtown Atlanta. Like
“Rachel Getting Married,”
for which Ann Hathaway is
nominated for best actress.
I never even heard of
before the nominations.
I have been a movie fan
for as long as I can remem
ber. I love, love, love going
to the movies. I often rent
the DVD, but I prefer sit
ting in a dark theater on
seats of questionable clean
liness, in a room full of
strangers and a 12 foot
screen. Some people fish,
some folks bike or hike or
do crossword puzzles. I
watch movies.
I printed out my list
promptly at 8 a.m. on Jan.
22 when the nomi
nations were
announced and
began plotting my
course. My goal is
always to see all
the best picture
nominees and hope
fully all the films
with act
ing nomi
nations.
This year
that meant seeing over a
dozen movies in a month's
time.
I missed a few, but not for
lack of trying.
I saw "Milk," a true story
about Harvey Milk, the
country's first openly-gay
man to be elected to a
major office ... San
Francisco city supervisor
or something. I am as tol
erant as the next guy, but
quite frankly, the gayness
distracted me too much to
really enjoy this movie.
“The Reader” is an
intensely erotic film where
Kate Winslet and her
young friend get naked
every chance they can. The
actual plot of the movie is
intense, especially when
Winslet's character was on
trial. If you haven't seen it,
I won't spoil it for you, but
I figured out the "twist"
very early on. That kind of
ruined for me. But, it is
still a good movie.
This is Winslet's sixth
Oscar nod. She has yet to
win. Insiders say this could
be her year. I am cheering
for her. She should have
won in 2001 for her role as
the young Iris Murdock in
the film Iris .. one of my
all-time favorite movies.
... if s showtime
Although Meryl Streep
could take it. She was pret
ty convincing as a wound-
way-too-tight nun in
“Doubt.”
I also saw “The Wrestler”
last week. Mickey Rourke,
making his comeback, is
nominated for a best-actor
award for playing a
washed-up wrestler. Also
nominated, Marissa Tormei
plays a stripper and
wrestler’s girlfriend. This
movie is very realistic. OK,
I never really got into
wrestlin', but it's not really
about wrestlin'. It's about
choices and regrets and
human beings being stuck
for years in a life based on
decisions they made at a
young age. I never was a
big Rourke fan, but it’s
nice to see him doing well.
He’s a shoe-in for the gold
statue.
But the best picture of
the year is “Slumdog
Millionaire.” If you can
only go see one Oscar nom
inated film this week
before the big show... go
see “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Even if you couldn't care
less about the Academy
Awards, go see “Slumdog
Millionaire.” It's a weird
title and a weird premise,
but I promise the movie is
fantastic.
I watch a lot of movies
and I am not easily
amused. This movie kept
me on the edge of my seat.
I never checked my watch-
not even once. Rated R, it's
not for kids, but there is no
gratuitous sex or violence.
It is heart-wrenching (I
had to turn my head sever
al times because of the
realness of the pain) and
heart-warming (you will
cry and cheer) all at the
same time. My eyes were
misty a time or two. I
laughed out loud a time or
two. It is an original and
all-around good movie. Be
sure to stay all the way
through the end of the
credits for a treat.
If it doesn't win best pic
ture, it will prove to me
that the Oscars are as
rigged as NASCAR and I
may be reluctant to watch
the big show again.
But the favorite among
Oscar predictors is “The
Curious Case of Benjamin
Button.” It's a good movie,
but it's not great. It is too
long (165 minutes) and
lacks intensity. Despite an
original premise — a man
who is born old and grows
younger- it actually lacks
originality. The humor
seems contrived and there
is no real chemistry
between any of the charac
ters.
It should win some of the
technical categories. The
make up and filmography
are amazing. I actually
believed Brad Pitt was an
80 year old man the size of
a 7 year old. But, the per
formances were flat and
the whole feel of the movie
reminded me of Forest
Gump - minus the great
soundtrack, the humor and
genuine chemistry.
"Life is like a box of
chocolates," albeit over
used and silly, was a much
better "Momma said" line
than "You never know
what's coming for you."
Benjamin just wasn't as
likable as Forrest. There's
not a plot twist or any
thing all that extraordi
nary about this movie. The
30 minutes fell flat for me.
After he grew young, the
story kind of went
nowhere. It was still a good
movie, but they could have
shaved 30-45 minutes off.
It was too long. I looked at
my watch at least 4 times.
Jai-Ho and see you on the
red carpet!
Email Gina at
news@mymcr. net
MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD...
Cheney worried
When we get people who
are more concerned about
reading the rights to an Al
Qaeda terrorist than they
are with protecting the
United States against peo
ple who are absolutely com
mitted to do anything they
can to kill Americans, then I
worry...Protecting the coun
try’s security is a tough,
mean, dirty, nasty business.
These are evil people. And
we’re not going to win this
fight by turning the other
cheek.
- Former vice president
Dick Cheney
Forgive, but
don't elevate
Obama’s nominees still
don't understand that the
bordello madam should be
welcomed to a pew at the
back for the Sunday morn
ing service, but shouldn't
expect to teach a Sunday
school class.
- Wesley Pruden,
Washington Times,
Feb. 7
Think, or feel?
I think about the
stimulus as an econo
mist, but I feel it as a
father. Barack Obama is
destroying my daughter’s
future. It is like sitting there
watching my house ran
sacked by a gang of
thugs. That’s how I
feel. Now back to
how I think.
Economist Arnold
Kling, on Obama’s
economic plans.
Thatcher’s
wisdom
The problem with social
ism is that you eventually
run out of other people's
money.
- former British prime
minister Margaret
Thatcher
Ga. on right road
in education
Georgia is on the right
course to upgrade public
education. Even though I
fervently believe that par
ents should be able to take
the money that taxpayers
allocate for the education of
their children and buy the
schooling they think best,
the state still has to concen
trate on improving public
education. Georgia’s doing
that. Don’t go wimpy.
- Jim Wooten
Feb. 16, Atlanta Journal-
Constitution
Pregnancy
continued from the front
Monroe County's center has been
offering counseling and support to
pregnant women since 1989. Through
education and service, the center
aims to offer women positive alterna
tives for those facing problem preg
nancies.
Jennifer Presley, director of the
pregnancy center, said they are excit
ed about the opportunity to celebrate
this milestone with Monroe County.
Board member Movene Futch of
Forsyth was part of the group that
founded the pregnancy center 20
years ago. While conceding she won't
know all the rewards of volunteering
with the center until eternity, Futch
said it's a joy to see children alive
and playing knowing the center had
a part in making sure they were born
and not aborted.
She recalled the time she was help
ing with her church's Vacation Bible
School when a grandmother pointed
out her granddaughter taking part.
Futch remembers this was the child
of a couple she had counseled to keep
their baby.
Another time she encountered a
young mom who had once been a
very abortion minded client at the
center. She now joyfully expresses
thanks that the director had con
vinced her to not abort her adorable
son.
Those are just two lives saved by
the pregnancy center.
Futch said she's seen a picture in
the Reporter of another boy who won
the MVP for his sports team. But
when he was in the womb, his young
mother had come to the center for
counseling, also desperate and
scared. She, too, decided to give her
son life.
Then there's the grandmother who
called Futch to thank her for convinc
ing her to stop insisting that her
pregnant daughter get an abortion.
The grandmother lives with the guilt
of having three abortions of her own
and didn't want her daughter to
experience the same pain, said Futch.
The grandmother said experiencing
the love and joy of this new grand
daughter has helped ease the pain of
her own wounds.
Helping women choose life isn't the
center's only ministry. Futch and
other volunteers also teach a
"Choosing the Best" curriculum to all
public school eighth graders and sen
iors, encouraging them to protect
their virginity and find the right
mate for marriage.
Futch said when girls approach her
around town and thank her and tell
her they're still virgins, it brings her
great joy.
"It has been a great joy and bless
ing to share in the work at this very
meaningful place," said Futch,
"where lives are being saved and
young people are being taught to
make wise and healthy choices."
There are two ways local businesses
and churches can help prepare for
the pregnancy center's 20th birthday
celebration on April 23. First, they
can sponsor a table for six for $100.
Those include a full-course meal for
each ticket recipient.
Businesses and individuals are also
donating items for a silent auction to
raise money for the center before
hand. The donations are tax
deductible and patrons will be able to
bid on the items.
For more information call Monroe
County Pregnancy Center at 994-
3173.
How to- oontouct..
Rather than using direct email, U.S. lawmakers are
encouraging constituents to contact them by going
to www.house. gov or www.senate.gov, finding the
lawmakers’ website, and clicking contact.
IN WASHINGTON
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R)
120 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
o - (202) 224-3521
Saxby.chambliss@mail.senate.gov
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R)
120 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
o - (202) 224-3643
Johnny.lsakson@mail.senate.gov
Rep. Jim Marshall (D)
504 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
o-(202) 225-6531
Jim.Marshall@mail.house.gov
IN ATLANTA
State Sen. Cecil Staton (R)
303 Coverdell Office Building
18 Capitol Square, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
o - (404) 656-5039
h- (478)757-0983
cecil.staton@senate.ga.gov
State Sen. Ronnie Chance (R)
109 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
o- (404)651 - 7738
h - (770) 969-9155
ronnie.chance@senate.ga.gov
State Rep. Jim Cole (R)
Room 401
Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg.
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
o - (404) 656-0152
h- (478)994-8674
jim.cole@house.ga.gov
State Rep. Tony Sellier (R)
604 Coverdell Legislative Office
Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
o - 404.656.0265
h - 478.825.2888
reptonysellierl 36@msn.com
COMMISSIONERS
Chairman James Vaughn (D)
236 Vaughn Rd
Forsyth, GA 31029
o - 994-3830
h - 994-5543
chairman@monroecountygeorgia.com
Commissioner Larry Evans (I)
District 1
31 Marshall Road
Forsyth, GA31029
h - 994-9791
districtl @monroecountygeorgia.com
Commissioner Jim Ham (D)
District 2
805 Reedy Creek Raod
Forsyth, GA31029
h - 994-0589
district2@monroecountygeorgia.com
Commissioner Mike Bilderback (R)
District 3
251 Sleepy Creek Road
Macon, GA 31210
h - 476-8681
district3@monroecountygeorgia.com
Commissioner Jim Peters (R)
District 4
475 Blue Ridge School Road
Forsyth, GA 31029
h - 994-9689
district4@monroecountygeorgia.com
The Monroe County commissioners meet at 6 p.m.
on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the
county offices at 38 West Main Street.