Movie Review--The Commuter

by Peter J. O’Connell        

The Commuter. Released Jan. 2018. Runtime: 105 mins. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some intense action/violence and for language.

Lately, train rides in movies have been getting as dangerous as stagecoach rides through Indian country used to be in movies back in the day. In 2016 Emily Blunt’s character in The Girl on the Train becomes drawn into a mystery involving adultery, a disappearance, and murder, based on something she sees while riding the train. In 2017 Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) and his mustache become involved in attempting to solve the eponymous crime on the eponymous mode of transportation in Murder on the Orient Express. Now in The Commuter, Liam Neeson, Hollywood’s favorite senior citizen action hero, is sucked into a murderous conspiracy that turns a usually placid choo-choo ride into an hour-and-a-half life and death struggle. 

Neeson is Mike MacCauley, a former top profiler for the NYPD, who has been working for ten years as an insurance salesman in NYC in order to improve his family’s somewhat shaky financial situation. Mac lives in a northern Westchester County suburb and rides the train to and from the city each workday. At the beginning of the film, a barrage of brief scenes from different times of the year establishes that though the weather and Mac’s clothing may change, his daily journeys are pretty much always the same. Chat briefly with wife (Elizabeth McGovern) and son (Dean-Charles Chapman); ride to Grand Central reading one of the books that son is studying at school and chat with fellow commuter, Matt (Jonathan Banks); go to office—repeat in reverse.

One day, however, becomes dramatically different from the routine. Mac loses his insurance job and fears that at age 60, he will not be able to get another good one. After drinking with a cop (Patrick Wilson) who used to be his partner on the force, Mac begins his train ride home. A flirty femme fatale with a silkily suspicious manner (Vera Farmiga, perfect) sits with him and offers him $100,000 to find, before the last stop, a

person on the train who is using the alias “Prynne” so that person can be killed. If Mac doesn’t do this, it develops that his own family will be killed.

The movie then unfolds in just about the amount of time that it takes to reach the last stop. Mac desperately prowls the cars trying to find Prynne--but to save that person from murder rather than to set him/her up, and yet somehow save the MacCauley family, too. He suspects first one then another of the diverse passengers on the train of being Prynne. Some turn out to be buddies, some good guys/gals. Mac engages in fierce struggles with the baddies and sometimes is helped by the good guys/gals—but the identity of Prynne remains elusive.

The cinematography depicting Mac’s prowling, fights, and some spectacular events at the climax is impressive. Liam Neeson has played the role of aging hero frequently in recent years, and he is always effective at it. The movie is interesting, too, for casting “overqualified” actors in minor roles: Jonathan Banks, Elizabeth McGovern, Sam Neill, Florence Pugh. Hitchcockian allisions abound, from The Lady Vanishes, to Shadow of a Doubt, to (of course) Strangers on a Train, to Rear Window, to Vertigo, to North by Northwest, to Torn Curtain. The allusions, however, lack Hitchcockian psychological depth and nuance. There is also a surprising borrowing from Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus!

The Commuter provides a thrill ride, but its plot is a train wreck. Or, perhaps, a Rube Goldberg machine. You know, one of those fascinatingly complicated devices constructed to carry out a simple task. With the movie’s complex conspiracy as with a Rube Goldberg machine, one gains some pleasure from watching it in operation but has to ask: “If you wanted to do that, why didn’t you just . . .?”  

Something Green in Your Artichoke Dip

Spinach and artichoke dip is a classic appetizer-time offering; you can even acquire it ready-made. It’s an appealing alternative to beany, cheesy, burger-filled, scoop-worthy goo found on the Big Game Day snack table. Not, mind you, that this dip with its hearty portions of cream, cheddar cheese, and sour cream will qualify as a serving of vegetables even if you eat it all.

So here comes February, and we are enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of our summer labor stashed in the freezer. Somehow, we always manage to eat all the spinach we grow fresh from the garden, so there is never any for the freezer. The cut and come again, and again, and again chard, on the other hand kept spurting new deep green leaves and gloriously colored stalks. The variety called Bright Lights is a favorite of mine. I plant it in April, and it is one of the last things to give up the ghost in October, and it is beautiful all the time.

To freeze it, I usually separate the green leafy part from the stems, which I cut into two to three inch lengths, blanch and freeze. The leaves I chop coarsely and barely wilt before packing in zip-closing bags. Depending on what I am making for supper, the stems and leaves may reunite (as in soup) or go their separate ways as in this dip for which I used chard in place of spinach. I suppose you could use tender kale or any dark green leafy vegetable you like in this recipe.

If you use frozen spinach, make sure to squeeze as much liquid out of it as you can before adding it to the dip, or plan on cooking it until very little liquid runs out. If you start with fresh spinach or other greens you will have to cook them dry as well. It is kind to your family and guests if you chop the greens quite small. Nobody will appreciate tendrils of spinach or chard trailing from their chip or cracker.

Your best artichoke choice is the canned one without oil or dressing. But use what you have; drain them well if they have an oil and vinegar dressing, and chop them well, too. Click here to continue reading.

Movie Review—All the Money in the World

All the Money in the World
Theatrical release poster

by Peter J. O'Connell              

All the Money in the World. Released: Dec. 2017. Runtime: 132 mins. MPAA Rating: R for language, some violence, disturbing images and brief drug content. 

It was said that oil magnate J. Paul Getty (1892-1976) was not just the richest living man but the richest man who had ever lived. He was also notoriously frugal. He even had a pay telephone booth installed in his mansion for guests to use in calling out. Getty's frugality, however, did not preclude him from being a great collector of art and antiques. Yet, apparently, it did preclude him from paying ransom for his favorite grandchild (out ofr 14), John Paul, when 16-year-old Paul, as he was known, was kidnapped in Italy in 1973. Director Ridley Scott tells the story of this kidnapping in All the Money in the World. 

Paul (Charlie Plummer) is seized off a Rome street by a scruffy band of thugs affiliated with Calabria's version of the Mafia and taken to a hideout in a rural area. A $17 million ransom is then demanded from the Getty family. J. Paul (Christopher Plummer) refuses to pay, saying that paying would simply expose his other grandchildren to possible abduction. An argument can, of course, be made in favor of Getty's stated position. (The U.S. government, for example, says that it will not pay ransom to terrorists who kidnap Americans.) However, Christopher Plummer's canny portrayal of Getty in the film suggests that the tycoon's motivation was either simple miserliness or, perhaps, an attachment to “the art of the deal” greater than familial attachment.

But young Paul's devoted, strong-willed mother, Gail Harris (Michelle Williams), has a history of choosing children over fortune. Through flashbacks we learn that she and Paul's father, who is drug addled, are divorced and that she rejected any alimony in exchange for full custody of her children in the divorce settlement. The wrenching irony in her devotion to her children, however, is that in the kidnap crisis she lacks the means to pay her son's ransom. 

Gail desperately attempts to persuade J. Paul to pay the ransom before time runs out as the kidnappers become increasingly more determined, brutal, and volatile. But the old man will not be moved. As the advertising tagline for the film puts it: “J. Paul Getty had a fortune. Everyone else paid the price.” Gail “pays the price” by being excoriated in the media, with many believing Gail to be rich herself and blaming her for the refusal to pay the ransom. 

After a while J. Paul does ask Chase (Mark Wahlberg), a former CIA operative who has become a Getty oil negotiator, to involve himself in the case by attempting to locate Paul's whereabouts and secure his release—and also to keep an eye on Gail to see that she does not get too much “out of control.” As it develops, however, Chase finds himself allied with Gail as he ascertains where Paul is being held. A police raid there does not, however, free Paul. The youth has been sold to a new, more brutal, and more organized element of organized crime. 

The new group lowers the ransom demand to $4 million. J. Paul finally decides to contribute to the ransom, but only $1 million—the maximum amount that he can claim as tax deductible. But when the kidnappers cut off one of young Paul's ears and mail it to the media, old Getty finally relents and gives the full ransom money to Gail and Chase. The two follow the kidnappers' instructions about the money, but a suspenseful situation results, ironically, when Paul, not knowing what is going on, escapes from the kidnappers after being passive for most of his captivity and is pursued by them with the intention of killing him. 

The film's story is fascinating and the performances by the leads, backed up by a solid Italian supporting cast, are both compelling and nuanced. For some reason, however, Ridley Scott has chosen to have the film shot mostly in a kind of murky palette, with muted colors just this side of black-and-white but lacking strong contrast. Perhaps the idea is to convey a sense of moral ambiguity. In any case, All the Money in the World is well worth the price of admission.

“Footnotes” to the film: (1) After initially considering Christopher Plummer, Jack Nicholson, and Gary Oldman for the role of J. Paul Getty, Ridley Scott chose Kevin Spacey. However, when a sexual harassment scandal involving Spacey arose shortly before the film's release date, Scott (age 80) decided to rebuild sets and reshoot all 22 scenes in which Spacey (age 58) appeared, replacing him with Christopher Plummer (age 88). Astonishingly, the reshooting was accomplished in only nine days. (2) Surprisingly, Christopher Plummer and Charlie Plummer are not related. (3) Ransom! (1956), starring Glenn Ford, and its remake, Ransom (1996), starring Mel Gibson, are films in which a family head refuses to pay a ransom but instead offers the amount of it as a bounty for information about the kidnappers if the victim is not returned alive and well. The two are interesting attempts to get out of the dilemma postulated by J. Paul Getty when he refuses to pay the ransom demanded for his grandson.     

Neil Diamond and Coping with Parkinson’s Disease

Fans of Neil Diamond grieved this week to learn that the longtime pop singer has canceled the remainder of his 50th anniversary tour following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

“Very sad news,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “My brother and I listened to Neil Diamond in the back of the family station wagon growing up. So many wonderful memories with his music. Need a cure for Parkinson’s.”

The creator of such classics as Sweet Caroline, Song Sung Blue and Cracklin’ Rosie said in a statement on his website that his doctor recommended the move.

“It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years.” The remaining shows were scheduled for New Zealand and Australia beginning in March.

What Is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder, meaning it progressively causes nerve cells to lose function and die. Those cells produce dopamine, which coordinates movement. Parkinson’s affects about 1 million Americans.

Symptoms vary, but often include:

• Resting tremor, which can worsen with stress
• Slowness of movements
• Problems with balance
• A shuffling gait
• Limb stiffness
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Cramped handwriting
• Speech changes
• Apathy and depression
• Constipation
• Sleep problems
• Loss of sense of smell

Many people with Parkinson’s may also develop dementia or signs of cognitive impairment. “As Parkinson’s brain changes gradually spread, they often begin to affect mental functions, including memory and the ability to pay attention, make sound judgments and plan the steps needed to complete a task,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Click here to continue reading.

What Will Senior Housing Look Like in 2028?

The first of the boomers — the population born between 1946 and 1964 — turned 65 in 2011, and the last will turn 65 in 2029. By 2030, boomers over 65 will make up 20 percent of the U.S. population, numbering around 60 million people, according to a report from the U.S Census Bureau.

“Significant changes are coming as we move out of the World War II generation to the baby boomer generation,” says Steve Maag, director, residential communities, at LeadingAge, a national association dedicated to advocacy, education and research on aging. That’s because boomers have higher expectations as consumers and a history of having those expectations met, Maag says.

Senior Housing in 2028

With that in mind, what will senior housing look like in 10 years? A Place for Mom checked with experts on aging, senior living communities and technology to find out.

Here are some significant changes you’re likely to see by 2028 and beyond:

Boomer Consumers Transform Senior Housing

The baby boomer generation has never been one to accept the status quo, and that won’t change when it comes to senior living communities, says Maag.

“Historically, we’ve had a pretty trusted delivery system because customers of the past accepted it and weren’t as demanding,” says Maag. “Customers of the future are going to push to do things more the way they want to do it.”

According to Maag, retirement and senior living communities will have to respond to consumer demand by providing greater diversification of services that include:

• Dining options and restaurant-menu meal variety with more choices, including gluten-free, vegetarian and even Japanese, Thai and other culturally diverse foods
• Greater emphasis on lifestyle and wellness programs
• More choices in apartment fixtures, designs and furnishings
• More variety in payment structures

“Baby boomers want to have a voice in decisions in things like financial structure and payment systems and will push back and be assertive if they have questions and concerns,” says Maag. Click here to continue reading.

Movie Review—Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Theatrical release poster

by Peter J. O'Connell             

Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Released: Dec. 2017. Runtime: 152 mins. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Episode VIII of the uber-popular sci-fi epic, an epic whose first appearance on movie screens was in 1977, has a central situation as old as that of The Iliad. In the ancient Greek epic, Achilles, the great heroic warrior, is in his tent refusing to rejoin the war against Troy. In The Last Jedi, written and directed by Rian Johnson, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the great Jedi knight, lives alone on a rugged island on an oceanic planet, absenting himself from the struggle of the Resistance fighters of the New Republic against the tyrannical First Order, which has arisen after the fall of the Galactic Empire. 

Far from Luke's island, things look grim for the Resistance. Despite a gallant effort by Resistance craft, a First Order space fleet incapacitates General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and necessitates planning for an evacuation of the Resistance base, now under the command of Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern). Discontented with Holdo's passive strategy, fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) instigates a mutiny and travels with several companions to a casino on Canto Bight in order to acquire the help of DJ (Benicio del Toro), a hacker who can disable a tracking device used by the First Order to follow the Resistance in its moves.

In the meantime, Rey (Daisy Ridley), a spunky young warrior, arrives on Luke Skywalker's island and attempts to persuade him to aid the Resistance. Disillusioned by failures of the Jedi order and under a self-imposed exile from the magical, mystical The Force, Luke at first refuses but then agrees to teach Rey the ways of The Force. But unknown to Luke, Rey begins to communicate telepathically with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), son of the heroic Han Solo (now dead) and Leia Organa. Kylo has aligned himself with Snoke (Andy Serkis), Supreme Leader of the First Order. Believing that she can redeem Kylo, Rey leaves the island alone, but carrying Jedi books. The ghost of Jedi Grandmaster Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) then appears to Luke, declares that Rey has all that she needs to learn, and encourages Luke to reevaluate his outlook.

The long movie's complicated plot continues to get more complicated as Poe's group and Rey both infiltrate Snoke's ship. Poe's group is captured, but a rescue effort gets under way. Rey and Kylo become both allies and enemies. A mutiny ensues against Snoke, just as one did against Leia, but with much gore, which that earlier one did not have. Eventually, matters reach a spectacular climax on the salt flats of the planet Chait. First Order “Walker” war machines (a memorable feature of Star Wars' 1980 episode The Empire Strikes Back) and other First Order uber-high-tech weapons are deployed in battle against the Resistance. The First Order seems destined to prevail until . . . . 

The Last Jedi has the expected noteworthy computer-generated imagery pioneered by the epic, particularly in battle scenes, and wonderful locations. (Luke's island is Skellig Michael off Ireland, and the planet Chait is in Bolivia.) All the performances are competent, and some more than that. Mark Hamill covers the range from jaded to intense, and Daisy Ridley is quite appealing. (But does anyone in Hollywood have a longer neck than Laura Dern in this movie?) The film has an appropriately mixed tone, both elegiac and forward-looking, and it's sprinkled with allusions to past Star Wars episodes and to classic films, particularly ones dealing with World War II. So, you might say, The Force is definitely with The Last Jedi.              

What to eat to prevent Alzheimer’s

If you’re misplacing your keys, forgetting names and struggling to concentrate, it might already be too late, says Dr. Steven Masley.

That’s why Masley, author of the new book “The Better Brain Solution” (Knopf), recommends changing your diet to improve your cognition now, well before the symptoms of memory loss start.

After spending the better part of his 30-year career helping patients overcome heart disease and other age-related conditions, the St. Petersburg, Fla., physician began studying the brain — specifically, the connection between memory loss and insulin, the hormone that tells your body how to store energy.

When everything works properly, insulin helps convert food into glucose, which in turn powers your cells. But when cells are flooded with sugar day after day, they become insulin resistant, meaning they can’t absorb glucose anymore. This can lead to Type 2 diabetes, an epidemic illness in this country. According to Masley’s research, insulin resistance is also a key risk factor for developing dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease.

And the typical American diet is heavy in sugar and simple carbohydrates, which can cause insulin resistance and leave you feeling less than sharp.

“If you have brain fog and you’re sputtering through the day,” Masley says, “you’ve had enough danishes.”

So put down the pastries and eat this brain food instead. Click here to continue reading.