Friday, May 2, 2008

Oscar and Lucinda

If you enjoy beautiful time period films, then this one is a must see.
Oscar and Lucinda, masterfully directed by Gillian Armstrong, (Little
Women), is the story of Oscar, a priest (the amazing Ralph Fiennes)
who gambles discreetly and donates his winnings to help the poor.
Lucinda (the fabulous Cate Blanchett) an unconventional Australian
glass factory owner and also a gambling addict, who meets Oscar
over an innocent, yet life changing game of cards. Blanchett absolutely
sparkles in this role, which is one of her best performances and also
one of her first films. Ciaran Hinds, has a wonderful supporting actor
role, along with Tom Wilkinson, both among my personal favorites. I
happen to adore all kinds of glass and especially art glass, so I was in
heaven with the scenes pertaining to Lucinda's 19th century glass
factory. Breathtaking cinematography, gorgeous scenes of New South
Wales and excellent musical score add to the great features of this
story of chance and faith.

***vintage glass paperweight, Willow's collection

27 comments:

  1. I must tell you I loved seeing this beautiful paperweight on your desk about a year ago. I love aquariums and the ocean and I thought that little fish looked so lifelike! I searched on ebay and bought one...no fish in it, but it was a miniature, pretty one anyway. Well, when it came, it was not the color I had won and it was all scratched up on the surface. Ugh! One of the very few bad ebay experiences. Yours is just beautiful! I'll have to keep searching! :)

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  2. Two of my favorites...I've never seen anything with Cate Blanchette or Ralph Fiennes that I did not enjoy. I've not heard of this movie...but knowing your excellent taste in movies and books..I am going to seek out and find this one. I am quite anxious to see the art glass you have described as well... Gorgeous globe Willow...

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  3. I wonder what the significance of the 5 of hearts is?

    I also like art glass but seldom get to see it as there are not many places here that have it.

    You will be amazed at the difference in the United States Air Force Museum if you get back here to visit it. It has really changed. Prepare for an all day adventure at least.

    Thanks for you visits.

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  4. The five of hearts doesn't have any real significance in the film, but I have not yet read the book by Peter Carey. (it's on my must read list!)

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  5. Great movie and wonderful paperweight...Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett are two of my favorites. I was just thinking of this movie the other day....Did you see Ralph Fiennes in one of his first roles as Heathcliff( TNT's version of Wuthering Heights?" Juliette Binoche played Catherine ( She also played Hannah, the nurse, in "The English Patient" along with RF). It think they've been in three movies together.

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  6. Rebecca, yes, that version of Wuthering Heights is one of my very favorites! Juliette Binoche is magnificent in the role of Catherine. The scene where she gives her soliloquy at the window, looking out across the moor...oh...it is breathtaking!!!

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  7. Betsy, this was one of my best eBay finds! It is an unusually large one (four inches tall) and in pristine condition. $4. Yep.

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  8. I call these little jewels "bottom shelf-ers" They are the DVD rentals on the bottom shelf. They are dusty and are always clean when you open them. No little kids with peanut butter on their hands have scratched or blotched up the shiney finish on the disc. I have found very few that weren't good viewing.

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  9. Yes, Pappy, this one is definitely a clean, bottom shelfer! Perfect description...I like that.

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  10. another beautiful photograph ! I loved this book, love all his books and sigh ... our lilacs are yet to come ... we had snow yesterday - May 1st - here in Nova Scotia by the sea, big fat flakes as large as tiny birds whipping horizontally by my windows.

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  11. I wasn't going to be the first, but since no one else has commented - Nice profile pic.

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  12. Hi Willow...these old eyes were mistaken....beautiful paperweight :)

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  13. Thank you Pappy! I needed a little spring update. The mysterious new brunette with the Faberge egg did cause quite a stir back in the comments of my "Dream, Dream, Dream" post. :)

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  14. Thank you fot the tip, I am off to Netflix now :-)

    I am a big fan of period movies and have quite a collection

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  15. Yet another movie that must have been under my radar.....I can't say that the Fiennes fellow does anything for me, but I have liked Cate Blanchett ever since "The Talented Mr. Ripley" where she stole every scene she was in as the hapless heiress Meredith Logue.

    p.s. beautiful paperweight...Mr. Fishie is so cute..

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  16. Thanks, Willow, for this movie recommendation as I've never heard of it. I like Cate Blanchett very much! She's a wonderful actress.

    Beautiful paperweight!

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  17. You are Miss Discovery!!! How do you find these enticing films? I'm so jealous for two reasons. 1. Because you are sooo good at finding finds. 2. Because you found it before me. How could you do this to your old fuddy duddy uncle, anyway? Oh my goodness, this is a MUST for me to see. Thanks for sharing. Did you buy it on amazon?

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  18. I already added it to my Netflix queue. I am taking your word, you were right on in recommending The World of Henry Orient. Have you seen The Painted Veil? It was another one of those bottom shelf movies I think. I had never heard of it. I really enjoyed it.

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  19. Bachelor, I checked it out several times from the library and then ended up buying myself a copy...yes, on Amazon. WT likes, it, too. It is one we watch again and again.

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  20. Stevie, yes, I enjoyed The Painted Veil. Wasn't it from a Somerset Maugham novel? The scenes were amazing.

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  21. What wonderful actors. Cate Blanchett is one of my favourites, I'll see her in anything. I remember seeing this film when I was definitely not in the mood for it and it didn't leave much of an impression on me - that happens sometimes if I'm not in a mental frame of mind to see a certain film. It's time to see it again. And what a great paperweight, I've not seen anything like it before.

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  22. I am an avid Cate Blanchette fan. This week I re-watched the DVD of "Elizabeth", the first movie as there is now a sequel. That was after I had seen "The other Boleyn girl" with Scarlett Johannsen. Deeply into the horrible Henry and his unfortunate wives/mistresses at the moment. And loving "The ittle Locksmith".Have you read A three dog life by Agigail Thomas, also a memoir? Eleanor

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  23. Hi Eleanor! Glad you are enjoying The Little Locksmith. I am also really into that period of British history right now. The Tudors series is well done with a very hateable Henry, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Helen Mirren also does a fabulous job as Elizabeth I in the HBO 2005 production.

    I am not familiar with A Three Dog Life...thanks for the tip...I'll look it up!

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  24. It's based on the novel by dual Booker Prize winner Peter Carey - and as you say, the setting is amazing.

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  25. I didn't know there was a film! Is it new? I read the book about 5 years ago and loved it.

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  26. Yes, Jackie, you would love the film! It's a "must see"!!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)