Lost Loves

First, the good story of the day:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/06/at_age_15_portland_student_chr.html

Now the movie reviw. The official web site for the movie Letters To Juliet:

http://www.letterstojuliet-movie.com/

From that web site is this description of the movie: "Letters To Juliet is an enchanting love story -- a tale of encountering new sparks and rekindling old flames. When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, a young American, travels to Verona, Italy --the romantic city where Romeo first met Juliet -- she meets a group of volunteers who respond to letters written to Juliet seeking romantic advice. Sophie finds and answers a letter that has been lost for 50 years, and is stunned when its author Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) arrives in Italy with her handsome but overprotective grandson (Christopher Egan) to find the fiance she left decades before. Fascinated by Claire's quest, Sophie joins them on an adventure through the beautiful hills of Tuscany searching for Claire's long lost Lorenzo. The journey will change their lives forever, as they discover it's never too late to find true love."

The moved was expertly filmed with absolutely incredible scenery. The principal locations included the Relais Borgo Scopeto, a four-star luxury hotel a few miles north of Siena, and around the town of Montalcino and the Caparzo winery there. All are located in Tuscany. Filming was also conducted at the Casa di Giulietta in Verona. Some scenes were shot in New York in Bryant Park and on Elizabeth Street in the Bowery.

The movie is Directed by Gary Winick. Of course by far the best acting was done by Vanessa Redgrave. My next favorite performance was by Egan. Seyfried is not bad but not great. The women that played Juliet's secretaries also did OK but none of them really stood out, the were Lida Biondi, Milena Vukotic, Luisia Ranieri, and Marina Massironi.

I went to Letters To Juliet with my Mom and her caregiver. We should have left the caregiver at home so she could have used her cell phone in a more appropriate place. Mom enjoyed the movie and I have a "Mom factor" when reviewing movies. If Mom likes it and I get embarrassed less than five times during the movie it gets a better rating. The movie was your ultimate chick flick. Kind of sappy. Here is my rating: One star for the Mom factor, one star for the incredible scenery in Italy, and one star for Redgrave.

Did you know that people write to Juliet for romantic advise and they actually have secretaries that respond to the letters? I didn't. Do you have any lost loves that you would like to write to? I have one but I haven't really decided if I want to be that open and share it here. I did write about her as part of the book I'm. If I feel I want to expose myself you may read about that love here. Because of literary license it is about sixty-percent true. I just haven't decided yet if I won't to post an intimate part of my life.

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1922 in Ohio and died in 1965. I was raised by my Mom and my Mom's woman friend. I had one sister and we were Wonder Children and performed together.
Our act included singing, dancing, acrobatics, and skits. I met and married my husband while performing at the famous Cotton Club. I was nineteen when I got married. He was an atrocious husband, he carried on affairs and avoided spending time at home. My only daughter was brain damaged and I had to put her in someone else's care. I divorced the scumbag and pursued my career. I was the first black woman to perform at the Waldorf Astoria. Harry and I then starred in a movie together. Two years later I played Carmen. I was nominated for best actress for the role, the first black women so nominated. I found that despite my fame, it was hard finding work as a black actress. The forces of racism were too strong. I filed for bankruptcy after a failed second marriage a series of bad investments. I began to drink heavily and was found dead in my apartment of an overdose of Tofranil, an antidepressant that had been prescribed for me. Who Am I?