Movies are good for us.  They help to enhance our Age Esteem.

• Movies allow us to dream,
• To visit far away places,
• To meet new people and join in rare experiences.
• Movies tickle our emotions,
• Challenge our listening skills and enlarge our vocabulary.
• They teach us, train us and entertain us.
• They create social occasions for us to catch a film with friends.
• And they keep us up with new trends.

Why not enjoy a good movie today?

Bonnie Au Cinema, Entertainment & Fun, Happiness at Every Age age-esteem, dream, emotions, good movies, listening skills, new trends, rare experiences, social occasions

WORTH YOUR WHILE

When you’re Strange ***1/2   Narrated by Johnny Depp, this illuminating documentary by Tom DiCillo (the cool director of such films as Johnny Suede and Living in Oblivion) once again opens up the world of the Doors and their charismatic lead singer Jim Morrison, who played so hard with life, music, women and drugs that he was dead by age 27. It’s as though he wanted to reach for immortality through fame cut-short, like Dean, Hendrix and Joplin. Moving and exhilarating.

Copacabana *** (vo French)    Isabelle Huppert often plays cold, twisted characters, but here she is terribly human and simply fun-loving. A caring but basically irresponsible mother who realizes that she has to change to gain back her daughter’s respect, she decides to take a job up in Belgium, selling apartments in a god-forsaken coastal town. Amusing and touching, Huppert is at her most vulnerable in years in this tongue-in-cheek film by Marc Fitoussi.

Frontier Blues *** (vo Farsi)   This languid, strangely poetic film from Iran features various characters living in the northern Turkman region of that country. With very little dialogue, we encounter an uncle who runs a deserted boutique and his weird nephew who loves a donkey. There’s a photographer from Tehran who has come to capture the mood of area through a local musician and his entourage of four kids. And there’s also a young man who works on a poultry farm and is learning English so he can leave to the city, maybe with the pretty girl he desires but has not yet spoken to nor convinced to marry him. Slow, contemplative and quite hypnotic, Babak Jalali’s film pulls you into this lonely, Jim Jarmusch-like universe with gentle humor. But you must have patience to savor it fully.

Knight and Day **1/2   If you like action, thrills and charm, you can’t miss with this wild and funny ride starring Tom Cruise as a super spy on the run and Cameron Diaz as his unwilling but talented sidekick, directed by James Mangold of Walk the Line. Don’t listen to the sour critics who may still be negative about Cruise – the man has talent, presence and charisma. And these two make an exciting pair.

Inception **1/2   “Pure creation” is what Ellen Page’s character calls these illusions of dreams and reality mixed in various layers. Leonardo DiCaprio, playing an expert at invading others’ dreams – whether planting an idea or stealing one – is on a mission to instill a germ of an idea in a magnate’s mind. But he and his crew may have misjudged the many dream levels and the dangers of descending too deeply into this strange limbo of possibilities… Are you following this? Director Christopher Nolan makes smart, intricate films (such as Memento, in which the story goes backwards, or the powerful Dark Knight) but this one is too convoluted for its own good.  It gets lost in mind-bending special effects which serve no purpose but to inflate the director’s ego and often lose the audience in the process. Do we really need the lengthy James Bond-like snow chases and all those blown-up grocery stores or foldable buildings in Paris? Give me clever mind games rather than exaggerated pyrotechnics any day.

Neptune Ingwersen

Bonnie Au Cinema, Entertainment & Fun Cameron Diaz, Christopher Nolan, Copacabana, Frontier Blues, Isabelle Huppert, James Mangold, Jim Morrison, Johnny Depp, Knight and Day, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marc Fitoussi, Tom Cruise, Tom DiCillo, When You're Strange, worthwhile movies

****  Superb    *** Very Good ** Good    *  Mediocre     – Forget it

Do Not Miss These.

The Tree (l’Arbre) ****     When the husband and father of a large, happy family dies suddenly at the base of a huge tree adjoining their home, the tree becomes a symbol of their love and their memory of him. Based in northern Australia, this film by French director Julie Bertuccelli (who made the sublime Since Otar Left and has been assistant director to such greats as K. Kieslowski and Bertrand Tavernier) stars the always moving Charlotte Gainsbourg as the widow, and a slew of brilliant little actors as the children. It’s a must-see, for its depth, simplicity and honest look at love, fidelity and family. It will stay with you for quite awhile.

Toy Story 3 ***1/2   Pixar never fails to enchant the audience with their amazing animation, and they don’t miss this time, when it’s the moment to say goodbye to those boisterous toys that have been keeping Andy company throughout his childhood. But now he’s going off to college and they can’t imagine what will happen to them. This is about friendship, loyalty and growing up, and will have you laughing at Buzz Lightyear’s Spanish interlude yet will surely also bring a tear to your eye. I bet on it.

Benda Bilili ***1/2  (vo French)  Remember Wim Wenders’ Buena Vista Social Club from Cuba? Well this is an African version of that joyous celebration of the power of music to overcome misery. Here is a group of destitute, handicapped musicians – most of them in makeshift wheelchairs – in Kinshasa, Congo, who live for making music and becoming famous, someday. Thanks to Renaud Barret and Florent de la Tullaye, the directors of this astounding documentary, the group records their first album and goes on a European tour. They even had the Cannes film festival rocking this year. With this film, they can now reach the world through their contagious music and enthusiasm. Run to it!

Lola ***1/2  (vo Philippine-Tagalog)  Terribly tragic and so real, here is a tale of two Filipina grandmothers (Lolas) seeking justice, one whose grandson has been killed for his cellphone, and the other whose grandson was the killer. This excellent social commentary, done in almost documentary style by director Brillante Mendoza, is not so much about crime as about the social, economic and cultural structure of that country. The love of family and respect for elders is evident throughout as is the poverty, but also the resilience of these good people. Awe-inspiring.

Tamara Drewe ***   Sharp wit, well-drawn characters (from Posy Simmonds’ illustrated novel), perfect casting and acting, and of course the inimitable touch of Stephen Frears’ direction (My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen) make for joyous entertainment, as the British can do so well. In a small English hamlet, a peaceful writer’s retreat is turned on its head when a transformed and unrestrained Tamara comes back to town. Literary gatherings, teenage crushes, silly dog chasing cows, rock stars and infidelity are on the menu in this delightful, satisfying yarn.

The Switch ***   Here’s a rarity – a convincing romantic comedy – so it’s definitely in the Unmissables section.  Jennifer Aniston and an excellent Jason Bateman have real chemistry, though they’re only friends. She wants to have a baby by artificial insemination; he’s aghast. They meet again years later and they are now a threesome. The directing duo of Josh Gordon and Will Speck ensures crisp, refreshing dialogue and creates good vibes. The little kid will steal your heart and you’ll leave with a big smile on your face. What more would you want?

Neptune Ingwersen

Bonnie Au Cinema, Entertainment & Fun Benda Bilili, Brillante Mendoza, Cannes Film Festival, Floret de la Tullaye, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Josh Gordon, Julie Bertuccelli, Lola, movies, Renaud Barret, Stephen Frears, Tamara Drewe, The Switch, The Tree, Toy Story 3, Will Speck

Ah! that majestic gift of Mother Nature. – The rose, “La Grande Dame” as the French would say, probably the most feminine of all flowers.

The Rose, a symbol of love, has been around since antiquity.  Its fragrance is euphoric, the petals like velvet and the multitude of colors available are dazzling to the eye.  It is a  component of nearly all perfumes.  Inhaling its fragrance and beauty will lift your spirits and enhance your age esteem.

There is more to the rose than meets the eye. The rose  is very efficient in treating skin conditions:  improving wrinkles, treating eczema and acne and being used as a tonic in rose water to smooth and invigorate the face.  Stress is also alleviated with rose treatments by a massage, in a bath or just by spraying a lovely rose perfume on the body.  It has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties as well.

In the Middle East they use rose essence in puddings and ice cream, and rose petals may be scattered over a lovely salad to give a decorative appearance and may be eaten as well!

However, one must be careful when handling roses.  A prick from a rose thorn may be lethal when it cuts the skin.  Roses can carry a bacteria that is transmitted through the blood stream to the heart, lungs and brain.  Should you ever be pricked by a rose thorn go immediately for medical care if the area becomes red, swollen and seems to spread.  Antibiotics will be given to contain the disease.  This can be avoided by wearing gloves when gardening.

Grandma Nature

Bonnie Health Factors age-esteem, Grandma Nature, lift your spirits, rose essence, rose petals, rose water, roses, symbol of love, treating wrinkles

Friends at the 50th reunion reinforced studies I have read.  Those who were aging well were not necessarily the most physically fit and healthy.  Instead they were the ones with healthy attitudes.  Cancer, strokes, pain, paralysis and bankruptcy did not hold these healthy attitudes back.  Rather they were the ones we sought out first.  They exuded age esteem.

• We were drawn by their contagious laughter.
• They were genuinely interested in listening to the stories of others.
• They embraced the opportunity to play, to release their inner child.
• Their health was a minor event in their life story which was filled with family, friends,  accomplishments and contributions.
• They dwell on the positives of life.

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Health Factors, Secrets to AgeEsteem 50th reunion, age-esteem, aging well, Bonnie Fatio, contagious laughter, healthy attitudes, inner child, positives

“It’s cruel” Maggie said.  “No one has a name tag.”  But we soon discovered that name tags weren’t necessary.  Old friendships are too strong.  People we didn’t recognize rapidly were gracious in sharing their names and we were off into discussions about what life has brought them in the past 50 years.  There was too much to learn to be concerned about a forgotten name.

Old friends remain old friends.  Heaven knows that our paths have branched off into numerous avenues, but the journey that we began together has united us in some small way for life.  It is still easy to laugh and tease each other.  Only the topics of that laughter and ribbing have changed.  It is comforting to know that our common journey continues to bond us.

Renew and keep old friendships alive at every age.  Old friends are precious.

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie Life Stages - Ages 50th, bond, Bonnie Fatio, friendships, old friends

This is indeed a rare month of August.   August 2010 has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, and 5 Tuesdays, all in one month which happens only once in 823 years.

Bonnie Announcements August, August 2010, rare month

How we feel inside is what is really important.  So why do we give so much weight to outside appearance?

This morning Maggie and I had breakfast at the Grove City Main Street Diner.   As we looked around us we wondered if any of the people eating at nearby tables were here for our class reunion.  The guy behind us looked rather familiar, though seemed too old to be from our class.  Eventually Maggie asked him if he was here for the reunion.  “Nope”, he said.  When Maggie added that we wondered if he was from our class of 1960, he all but jumped out of his chair insisting, “Certainly not.  I graduated in 1969!”

Oops!  Will the classmates we meet for drinks this evening seem even older?.

Of course when Maggie and I look in the mirror, we see ourselves as dynamic, fun loving, relatively healthy and even sensuous.  Is that why we see others as older?  The older people we saw this morning probably think of themselves as dynamic and active too.

And that’s really all that matters! – How we feel on the inside.

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie Life Stages - Ages appearance, Bonnie Fatio, Class Reunion, dynamic, fun loving, healthy, look old, older people, sensuous

Jeannie Slaughter, 57, USA

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear Age Esteem is enthusiasm.  I’m fascinated by the title.  Age Esteem is natural for me.  It  follows in every ladder or level for me.  If you don’t have enthusiasm for whatever you do, then why do it?  As trite as that sounds.  Do what you love.

Jeannie’s tips:  Be introspective.  Think about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, if you’re doing it well.  Do you look in the mirror and like what you see?  Not just external, but internal.  It’s all part of being alive and being in the world and glad to be there.  Everyone should serve.  It’s not enough to be good, you need to love what you do and have that service aspect.  Yes, it’s important to be in a position to make someone else happy.

Bonnie Secrets to AgeEsteem age-esteem, be introspective, enthusiasm, Jeannie Slaughter, love what you do, secrets of age esteem, service aspect

My best friend Maggie Dull

As we age, best friends continue to hold their special place in our lives.  As children our best friend may have changed daily, but best friends from our teen years remain solid.  Even though we may have little else in common today, our “best friend” relationship continues to unite us.  Maggie, my best friend from High School, and I plan to spend the reunion time together.

Maggie was the Chief of Police’s daughter and I was the Methodist minister’s daughter – so together we could do no wrong.  Heaven knows we tried!  We wanted to be bad, but when we did do something stupid like knock the head off a snowman our guilt drove us to rebuild it almost before the head hit the ground.  Now, 50 years later we still laugh just at the joy of being together.

Contact your old “best friends” today and renew your relationship if you haven’t already done so.  Friends are precious at every age!

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie Happiness at Every Age, Life Stages - Ages best friends, Bonnie Fatio, every age, joy of being together, Maggie Dull, precious, relationship, reunion