All posts tagged with: Sarah Polley
Away From Her
November 12, 2007 | Filed Under Main | No Comments
Took Friday and Monday off for a long weekend of sitting on my butt and praying for my knee to miraculously heal. Because that is the extent of all the expert medical opinions I have received - mainly from the radiologist who actually looked at my MRI films. (Neither of my other doctors even bothered to take them out of the envelope. Makes you wonder why more people don’t seek out faith-healers.) Obviously the knee did not heal, but it does feel better not to walk so damn much.
However, I did have the opportunity to watch one of my dust-covered Netflix movies. Away From Her was written and directed by actress Sarah Polley. I think she is a wonderful actress and her last movie - My Life Without Me - had me in tears. But she is also an excellent director and I was in tears again - this time from a luminescent performance by the legendary Julie Christie. Christie and actor Gordon Pinsent play a couple who have been married for 44 years when she is suddenly stricken by Alzheimer’s. It is a tough movie, to be sure. There isn’t a false note or maudlin moment in the whole thing. It is well constructed - both visually and logistically - but the subject matter and the situations are painful. However, Julie Christie brings beauty, clarity, dignity and yes even sexuality to her character and it lights the whole film. She has always been a favorite of mine (McCabe & Mrs. Miller is one of my all-time favorite movies and Shampoo is right up there) and she is still as talented as ever.
I highly recommend the film (be sure you’re up for it) and say that if Ms. Christie is not nominated for an Academy Award then there is no justice in the world.