Thursday, January 15, 2009

Mr. Byrne and Snowflakes That Stay on My Nose and Eyelashes

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It's supposed to dip down to seven degrees tonight and we have six
inches of snow on the ground! It's a perfect night to pull out one of
my favorite snowy films, Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997). (Doctor
Zhivago is my all time favorite snow movie, by the way.) Okay, I
admit, up front, this is a B movie; a schlocky thriller with an over
blown plot. But sometimes, I'm just in the mood for one of these
goodies. It does, however, have it's good moments and some very
intelligent lines. And besides, I have always had a bit of a crush on
the handsome and understated Gabriel Byrne. Based on a much
praised 1992 bestseller by Peter Hoeg, it's about a headstrong
woman (Julia Ormand) who uses her uncanny knowledge of ice and
snow to solve the mystery of her six year old neighbor's fall from a
snow covered roof in Copenhagen. The well rounded cast includes
Richard Harris, Jim Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson and Vanessa
Redgrave. This movie is very dark, atmospheric and most of all
cold! Make sure you have on your woolly socks and a blanket
nearby, because all the snow scenes are guaranteed to make you
shiver, if the plot doesn't.


Smilla: The number system is like human life. First you have the
natural numbers. The ones that are whole and positive. Like the
numbers of a small child. But human consciousness expands. The
child discovers longing. Do you know the mathematical expression
for longing? The negative numbers. The formalization of the feeling
that you're missing something.

The way you have a sense of God, I have a sense of snow.

54 comments:

  1. Very powerful movie trailer. Now I need to see that movie, and with Gabriel Byrne: oh my.

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  2. I've seen this one. I remember it was very blue...everything in the movie was tinged in shades of blue.

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  3. Yes, I think that is what added to the cold effect. Lots of blue!

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  4. Willow, did you ever see The Lady In White? It is one of my all time favorites - it has it all.

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  5. it is always such a pleasure to visit your blog - it feels like a serene, warm place - thank you!

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  6. It feels totally strange listening to snow stories when it is 40 degrees Celsius in my town today.Bizarre!

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  7. I haven't seen (or heard of) this film. But I do believe Julia Ormand was in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button!

    Netflix!

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  8. I'm embarrassed to say I have not seen this - since Byrne is my maiden name....not all that common and jumps off the page - for me, anyway. Stay warm!!

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  9. Enjoy your movie and snow, Willow! It's going to be gorgeous in the morning. Take some pictues for us. :-)

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  10. I read the book and really liked it. I've never seen the movie.

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  11. This is one of my favourite little-knowns too. And Gabriel Byrne is lovely. Did you see him as Prof. Behr in Little Women?

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  12. I have never seen this movie - have to put on my netflix list - and as usual, I'm behind here again - loved the poem in your last post - OMG!, maybe it was the post before your last one - I just have to run faster to keep up with you!

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  13. I had no idea they'd made a movie of this. The book has been sitting on my TBR pile for possibly years.

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  14. We're all permitted our little 'B movies' pecadilloes every now an dthen, especially when regular reporting has so much quality. I have not seen this 'snow' picture, but I will definitely give it a go. I have TCM back! Yes, and I watched 'A Day at the Races' the other night. I had already forgot about the lindy-hop choreography.

    Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  15. I love watching your movie tidbits! I should have popped some popcorn first:) Yeahh!

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  16. Never heard of this. Will have to search NF ; )

    I haven't looked yet, but it's supposed to be 20-30 below today and tomorrow ; (

    Thanks for stopping by last week too ; )

    CHeers!

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  17. I remember seeing this film quite a while ago, but the one thing that I remember about it was how cold and isolated it made me feel...good choice.

    s

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  18. A cold night and a howling wind always says, "Dr. Zhivago". Hope you enjoy your evening by the warm light of the television. Pappy

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  19. I'm intrigued! I will try to finf this film or the book! Thanks for sharing.

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  20. I loved the novel and will look out for movie.

    As you say, strong cast, Tom Wilkinson is a favourite of mine.

    Through no fault of his own, I often think his career lies in the shadow of Anthony Hopkins, but critic I am not!

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  21. I didn't see the movie but the book was great and love that movie poster - it's great.
    xo S & les Gang

    and ... speaking of tinged blue one of my favourite photographed films was Capote also filmed in a blue-ish and very dull manner and if you watch the DVD's extra's there's a fantastic little documentary about how the colour in the film (sets, scenery and costumes) is like another character- amazing.

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  22. I haven't seen the movie but with such a cast I will now. I especially like Tom Wilkinson (he has just won a Golden Globe) and Vanessa Redgrave, of course.

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  23. From your description, it doesn't sound like a B movie at all. It actually sounds smart. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  24. I liked the movie - liked the book even more. And yes by all means, tuck in and stay warm!!

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  25. Never heard of this movie, the trailer looks fascinating, thanks for sharing. How do you get these u-tube segments to your blog?

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  26. We are cold and buried in snow, too!

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  27. BPG, his role of Prof. Behr is where I first fell in love with him. He's marvelous in that role! :)

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  28. Wow! I never knew there was a movie of "Smilla's Sense of Snow" though I loved the book--and what a cast. Dr. Zhivago remains my all-time favorite winter movie. Oh, that palace of ice!

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  29. I read Smilla in novel form .. it was not an easy read having been translated and translations are often awkward .. but it was a far better thriller as a book than a movie .. and Dr Z is definitely the #1 snow film of all time .. tho I keep thinking there's another even snowier .. maybe Fargo .. gotta ask the Husband who in addition to being funny is also a major movie buff

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  30. It's always a visual treat to stop by The Manor.
    And thanks for visiting my newbie blog yesterday. It's not as elegant as yours. It is what it is! ;)

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  31. I have got to find that movie. It's one of those films I've always meant to see, but never got around to it!

    I love Gabriel Byrne, especially in The Usual Suspects.

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  32. Not heard of the movie before.

    So you are having snow on snow. So lots of snowy movies I guess!

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  33. Dr Zhivage is my favourite all-time snow movie too willow - can't get enough of it.

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  34. I adored this book, and liked the movie, too; am also in alignment with you on the subject of GB's charms. I want to see that sort of snow-whiteness that is almost blue! I'm tired of winter gray.

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  35. It's going to be freezing here tonight too. You have a good idea. And I'm with you about Gabriel Byrne AND Richard Harris! Stay warm and cozy!
    Catherine

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  36. Oh it has Gabriel Byrne...oh I do need to see it.

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  37. I remember loving the book and liking the movie - especially the scenery....but I remember little about the plot!...What does that say about my aging memory? Guess it is time to check out that book and movie again...

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  38. How about Insomnia (2002)?
    About Zhivago, I read that it was shot in Spain and that much of the snow was fake, including the wonderful ice bound dasha where, at last, they were together for such a short time. Bwah! I'm crying again already.

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  39. Oh yes, I remember seeing that movie. and I like the last line in that quote

    ~Lorna

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  40. Lovely to join your tea party! Can you tell me where to find the widget for Book CRossing as I belong and want to put it on my blog - thanks for having the kettle on!

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  41. Rambling Rose, I just took a picture from their site and added the link myself. So, it's a homemade "widget" of sorts.

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  42. Read the book. Not sure if I saw the movie so will put on my list. I saw Dr Zhivago BBC version recently due to your blog and await the Julie Christie versions arrival from Netflix afar.

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  43. Wow, what a suspenseful preview! And man, does that start scary at the beginning! my heart was racing! Looks intriguing and yes, very cold! Perfect for your winter's night. Enjoy, Willow.

    Oh and btw, I too love Doctor Zhivago.

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  44. I "discovered" Gabriel Byrne when I watched "Little Women" as a pre-teen. Still love him! (and I'm 22 :)

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  45. Sounds like a good plan, Willow. It's getting bitter cold here, too, but now snow. Gabriel Byrne is a big fave of mine--Joe and I both watched "In Treatment" on HBO and I told him--"time for our therapy" with Gabriel Byrne, every time it came on. I never did see this movie--I remember when it came out. We will have to get it from Netflix. Pop some popcorn, sprinkle it with parmesan cheese, get a big mug of something mulled, and enjoy. Stay warm!

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  46. I love that I can come here and find out about movies I've never experienced. I love Gabriel Byrne and Julia Ormond.

    Thank you!!

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  47. I read the book before watching the movie so I knew about the story being a little disappointing at the end but I love the movie for its interprets (and yes, Gabriel Byrne, completely) which are exactly as I had imagined them from reading the book, except for Julia Ormond, which I found too pretty.

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  48. I have not heard of this movie but I shall be on the lookout for it now. It sounds like my kind of film. Thanks for letting us know, Pen.

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  49. Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow is a better translation of the title, according to my Norwegian neighbor. The novel is truly a singular achievement with one of my favorite heroines of fiction. The film is good also, I loved the scenes on the ship.

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  50. ummm,
    so her wee boy dies and she still manages to get her leg over?!
    Good grief
    Ok so I'm getting that from the trailer I could be wrong....

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  51. No, no, it's not her own son that's killed. She investigates a neighbor boy's death.

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  52. Have you read the book?
    I loved it more than the movie.

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  53. the book is MUCH better than the movie, i can highly recommend it. although it's a murder mystery, it's really quite philosophical and a bit deep...

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