Mr. Holmes—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

Mr. Holmes. Released: July 2015. Runtime: 104 mins. Rated: PG for thematic elements, some disturbing images and incidental smoking.

The world just won't let Sherlock Holmes die. After Arthur Conan Doyle, who introduced the famed “consulting detective” in an 1887 novel (A Study in Scarlet), killed Holmes off in an 1893 story (“The Final Problem”), popular demand led the author to bring him back in 1901and feature him in stories written almost up to Conan Doyle's own death in 1930. Along the way plays and movies with the character began appearing, to be joined in time by radio and television shows. Many of these

 various iterations of Sherlock were “inspired by” rather than “based on” the canonical novels and stories of Conan Doyle. Recent years have seen a spate of hit films and TV series centered around Holmes.

Now in Mr. Holmes, which has a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher, from an original story by Mitch Cullin,

and is directed by Bill Condon, we have a Holmes (Ian McKellen) at age 93 in 1947. Holmes has come from London to his rural retreat near the spectacular White Cliffs of Dover to engage in his avocation of beekeeping and to write a more accurate account of his last case, from 25 or so years before, than was done by the now-dead Dr. Watson. The rural retreat is maintained by a lonely widow, Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney), and her adventurous young son, Roger (Milo Parker).

The film is not a “study in scarlet”--there is no bloodshed—but is instead a study in aging. Holmes is the hero here, not because of the way that he deploys his powers of deduction, but because of the courage and dignity that he displays in dealing with the decline of his powers. The film is also a master class in acting, for Ian McKellen is superb in his portrayal of the great detective in his “final phase.” Laura Linney and the very promising Milo Parker provide worthy support to this great actor.

The mystery addressed in the movie is not “whodunit” but the mystery of life itself. What makes people who they are, and what makes them do what they do? Sherlock is not too old to learn some lessons about life. Sometimes a case (like his last one) is best seen, not as a “case” to be solved by deduction, but as a human condition to be understood by empathy.

Empathy joined to observation helps Sherlock move closer to understanding such things as a mother's feelings for her dead child—as in that case from the 1920s—and the stresses on a woman (such as Mrs. Munro) whose husband is dead and who has to raise her child alone and a son's need to know the truth about his missing father (a subplot that takes Holmes to Occupied Japan) and a fatherless boy's (Roger's) coming of age while his mentor (Holmes) ages. But the film in its conclusion also allows Sherlock Holmes an opportunity to be the polymath that we traditionally think of him as being when he puts his knowledge of the difference between bees and wasps to very good use!

“Footnote” to the film: There are many allusions in Mr. Holmes to various works in the Sherlockian universe. An example: At one point Holmes goes to see a movie based on a story about him. In this supposed 1940s movie within the 2015 film, the actor playing Holmes is actually Nicholas Rowe, who played Holmes in Steven Spielberg's 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes. There are also non-Sherlockian allusions, including a Shakespearean one. Seeing an aged man wandering around near the White Cliffs of Dover brings to mind a famous scene from King Lear in which the elderly monarch plans to commit suicide by leaping from the cliffs. Ian McKellen has given notable performances as Lear.       

Avoiding Falls: Making Your Home Safe if You Have Limited Mobility

People of any age can have trouble getting around the house – a teenager recovering from a sports injury, a baby boomer in rehab from a heart attack or surgery, an elderly person with arthritis or balance problems. Whether your limited mobility is temporary or permanent, there are many things you can do to make your home safer and your life easier. 

Modifying your home can be as simple as rearranging some furniture or putting in a few handrails in strategic locations. This room-by-room guide focuses on simple solutions to creating a safe haven. But it also includes more substantial measures that can be worthwhile if you have long-term mobility issues.

Preventing Falls: Make a Smooth Entrance

Building entrances can be safety hazards, especially in bad weather. And when it’s difficult to get around, even a step or two can seem like a mountain. Make sure the path from the street to your front door is well lit and clear of objects.

If you have stairs, make sure there’s a sturdy handrail -- on both sides, if that helps. “Adding a second banister on the other side can make a huge difference, especially if one side of the body is more impaired than the other,” says Carla A. Chase, EdD, assistant professor of occupational therapy at the Western Michigan University College of Health and Human Services in Kalamazoo. 

Even if there’s just one step that is difficult to negotiate at the front door, consider installing a grab bar. You can also rent a ramp for walkers and wheelchairs if you need a temporary solution. Click here to continue reading

Happy birthday! World's oldest woman turns 116

(CNN)Attributing her longevity to "sleep," clean living and positive energy, the world's oldest living person celebrated her 116th birthday Monday.

Born on July 6, 1899, in Lowndes County, Alabama, Susannah Mushatt Jones has lived in parts of three centuries, according to Guinness World Records. Her father was a sharecropper who supported his family by picking cotton.

The Brooklyn, New York, woman has lived through 20 U.S. presidents, two world wars and the birth of the automobile, the airplane, TV and the Internet.

Guinness officially recognized Jones as the oldest recorded person on the planet last month after 116-year-old Jeralean Talley died in suburban Detroit. The oldest living person ever recorded was Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at 122. 

Jones attended the Calhoun Colored School in Calhoun, Alabama, where Booker T. Washington was an original member of the school's Board of Trustees, according to the New York City Housing Authority. 

In 1923, Jones moved north to New York, where she worked as a live-in housekeeper and child-care provider. 

Jones said she was determined to give the first-born girl in her family the gift of a college education. Despite her $50 weekly salary, she said she single-handedly put her first three nieces through college. Click here to continue reading

Do senior moments mean memory loss?

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that's why they call it the present."

Patrick Sapio, MSW, who works at Intermountain's LiVe Well Center and facilitates several support groups throughout the community, said Roosevelt's quote is among his favorites. He has a passion for life and feels that "senior moments" are simply a part of a busy life replete with thoughts, memories and ideas.

Senior moments do not necessarily indicate a memory problem. Instead they indicate a lack of focus on the present moment.

"No joke," said Sapio, "on my bathroom wall hangs a sign that says: 'Now what did I come in here for?' We all experience those split seconds when the thought that we had escapes us temporarily."

This happens to everyone, not just senior citizens.

"The key is not to get upset or agitated," counseled Sapio. "People these days have a lot to think about. If you draw a momentary blank, smile about it, forgive yourself, and soon you will remember and everything will go back to normal."

Sapio is referring to the absentmindedness of not knowing where the car keys are located or a coworker's name. Short-term memory loss such as not knowing what the keys are for or not being able to recognize a familiar person is cause for concern and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

"I want to challenge everyone to learn to live one second at a time," said Sapio. "If everyone was completely focused on each second, we would not have the temporary moments of memory loss that occur when we start thinking about other things."

Sapio explained that a lot of people feel guilty about the past and worry about the future and suggested people need to live in the present — one second at a time. He believes the world would be a better place if people focused on each moment or second.

"We all make mistakes," Sapio said. "Mistakes are in the past. The present second is the time to forgive and move forward. Each second of the day is an opportunity to become more aware of ourselves and others. It is empowering to think of time in seconds rather than hours."

It helps maintain focus.

"As we age, we have a tendency to want to be alone and sedentary," said Sapio. "I encourage people to face that issue and make daily efforts to connect with other people and get some exercise." Click here to continue reading

Self/less—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

Self/less. Released: July 2015. Runtime: 116 mins. Rated: PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language.

Damian Hale (Ben Kingsley), a rather cold New York real estate magnate in his 60s, lives in gold-leafed splendor but knows that he is dying of cancer. Albright (Matthew Goode), an oleaginous doctor who runs a secretive clinic in New Orleans, offers Damian, for several hundred million dollars, the opportunity to live on for at least a few more years by means of a radical procedure that will transfer Damian's consciousness into a new, younger body, which, Albright says, has been grown in the lab from tissue by means of a special process.

Damian opts to undergo the procedure. Among other things, he hopes that after it he will be able in some way to make up for his neglect of his now-grown daughter (Michelle Dockery). After undergoing the procedure, Damian finds himself in the body of a younger man, played by Ryan Reynolds. The “new Damian” has what Albright calls “hallucinations,” though they resemble the flashbacks of a combat vet with a wife and young daughter. Albright insists that new Damian must continue to take “shedding pills” so that he will not have the hallucinations.

The premise of Self/less has much promise for an interesting exploration of issues of identity and changing the nature of one's life. Unfortunately, the film does not fulfill this promise. After new Damian decides to stop taking the shedding pills and begins to investigate whether the visions that he is having are indeed hallucinations or instead memories from the past of a real living person, not lab-grown tissue, Self/less moves out of the realm of science-fiction/psychological thriller and into the well-worn world of action flicks.

This is not to say that the action is not well done under the direction of Tarsem Singh. It is. Particularly notable is a fierce fight in a farmhouse in which fists, feet, flamethrowers, and pretty much everything at hand, as well as guns, are used while the house burns down around the fighters. The requisite car chases and crashes are also handled in a realistic, though spectacular way. And the film's cinematography has a rather striking clarity and color delineation. The score is also good.

What the film does not have is a strong performance in the lead role of new Damian. Ryan Reynolds ain't no Ben Kingsley, in any way at any age. The contrast between the acting styles of the sharp-edged Kingsley and the bland Reynolds is a major factor in making Self/less much less than it could have been.

“Footnote” to the film: The closing credits let us know that Damian Hale's gold-leafed habitat is actually one of Donald Trump's venues.

Amazing Seniors

Seen recently in Mayo Clinic Health Letter

Astronaut John Glenn returned to space at age 77

Frank Lloyd Wright was still working at age 91.

Ronal Reagan was elected to his second term at age 73.

Dr. William Mayo founded the Mayo Clinic at age 70

On February 1, 2014 Robert Merchand set a new world record for his age group by bicycling nearly 17 miles in one hour.

Register now for senior center day trip

The Stamford Senior Center is offering the following day trips:

• Aug. 31: A guided tour of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., followed by lunch at one of the restaurants. Bus leaves the Stamford Government Center at 888 Washington Blvd. at 9 a.m. and returns by 4 p.m. Cost is $86 for center members, $96 for non- members.
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• Sept. 17: Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino. Bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. and returns by 6 p.m. Cost is $40 for members, $45 for non-members.
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• Oct. 22: Oktoberfest celebration at Platzl Brauhaus in Pomona N.Y. Price includes breakfast pastries, lunch, entertainment and round-trip transportation. Cost is $70 for members, $75 for non-members.
• Dec. 3:Radio City Christmas Spectacular followed by lunch at Pietra Santa Italian Ristorante. Book early and save $10. Price includes ticket to the Radio City Christmas Show, lunch and round-trip transporation. $105 for members if booked by Sept. 1, $115 for non members. After Sept. 1, price is $115 and $125 respectively.
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Register for any trip at www.stamfordseniorct.org or in person at the Stamford Senior Center, 888 Washington Blvd.

Oldest in Connecticut

Ever wonder which Connecticut restaurant has been around the longest, or what the oldest town is, or even which Connecticut couple has been married the longest? We've got the answers. Click through to freshen up on some Connecticut history. Click here to continue reading

Terminator Genisys—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

Terminator Genisys. Released: July 2015. Runtime: 126 mins. Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and gunplay throughout, partial nudity and brief strong language.

The fifth installment of the “Terminator saga” has arrived, Terminator Genisys. The saga involves the climactic battle in 2029 of the war between real humans and “machines,” robots capable of assuming human-like form, and the events that lead up to this armageddon.

These events involve time travel. A machine known as a “Terminator” is sent from the future, first to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, who, if she lives, will become the mother of John Connor, leader of the humans. Then in the 1990s, another Terminator is sent to kill young John Connor—Sarah having survived through the help of Kyle Reese, sent from 2029 by the humans. In the 1990s, however, young John Connor is helped not by Reese but by a “Guardian,” who is a reprogrammed version of the Terminator sent to kill Sarah in 1984.

Got all that? Head hurting yet? Well, it may if you try to follow all the convolutions that Terminator Genisys adds to the plot of the saga. You see, although in Genisys Kyle Reese (played by Jai Courtney) is sent back from 2029 to 1984, he finds himself in a radically different situation from that of the earlier installments of the saga. An “alternate timeline” is in effect! Also, who's good and who's villainous undergoes some morphing.

So maybe you should forget about trying to follow the plot too closely and just relax and enjoy the visual excitement of the CGI (computer-generated imagery) and the verbal amusement of some of the lines repeated from the classic first two films in the saga—The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)--and some lines original to Terminator Genisys. The best of the latter are “I'm old but not obsolete” and “You are a relic from a deleted timeline.”

Adding to either the confusion or the fun of Terminator Genisys, depending on your feeling about the installment, is the fact that two of the stars are Clarkes—but unrelated. Jason Clarke is adequate as John Connor. Emilia Clarke is beautiful and appealing as Sarah Connor but not as convincing in her weapons wielding as Linda Hamilton was in the role in the earlier installments. Byung-hun Lee, however, is as icy and relentless as Robert Patrick was as the Terminator in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, is probably the best thing about Terminator Genisys. The Terminator of the first installment and the Guardian of the succeeding ones, he brings a combination of wryness and ferocity to his role. Terminator Genisys is directed adequately by Alan Taylor. James Cameron, who directed the first two installments of the saga brilliantly, acted as a “consultant” on the film.

When memories are fleeting: caregiver solutions

A caregiver's guide to overcoming the stress of Alzheimer's

(BPT) - Think of your father. What is his favorite food? His favorite hobby? Where did he meet your mother? What is his proudest moment? Think of all these memorable moments in his life and ask another question: Does he have trouble remembering these moments?

For the nearly 2 million men currently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), this tragic memory loss is very real. And for the adult children transitioning from the role of fishing buddy or board game partner to caregiver, the stress can be considerable.

Many families are impacted in some way by Alzheimer's disease. Every 67 seconds, a loved one in the United States is diagnosed with AD, and this devastating condition affects not only the patients themselves, but all who love and care for them. Today, 60 percent of family members provide care for an aging parent.

In honor of Father's Day, here are some tips that caregivers can utilize to better manage their stress and provide the best possible care for their parents.

* Education is essential. It can make for difficult reading, but educating yourself about AD can help mitigate stress. By better understanding the condition as a whole, you'll feel better prepared for what may come next.

* Exercise every option. Make the most of medical visits with your parent's doctor. Use these visits to ask questions about symptom progression and learn about available treatment options.

* Remember that you are not alone. Serving as a caregiver for a parent can be a lonely task, but you are not alone. If you are serving as your parent's primary caregiver, seek the support of other family members, friends, or even a neighbor to come and spend time with your parent so you can enjoy some personal time. Just a few hours can do wonders to alleviate your stress.

There are numerous things you can do to improve the patient experience for your parent. Start by acting as a patient advocate and a compassionate caregiver. Your efforts will benefit your father every single day.

For strategies in caring for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's, please visit alzheimersunconditionallove.com.

Health trumps wealth in importance to retirees' well-being

(BPT) - Whoever said, "If you have your health, you have everything," must have been retired.

That's because retirees feel more financially secure when they're in good health according to new research. And when they feel financially secure, retirees also report they're enjoying retirement more, they feel fulfilled and are less likely to experience negative emotions.

The study, Health, Wealth and Happiness in Retirement (www.massmutual.com/healthwealth) is part of a larger research project conducted on behalf of MassMutual by Greenwald & Associates. The research split 905 retirees with at least $50,000 in assets into two subgroups: those who characterized their health as excellent or very good and those who characterized their health as good or poor.

"The message for both retirees and pre-retirees is that health has a major impact on satisfaction with life in retirement," says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual Retirement Services. "We need to focus on our health as much as possible so we can enjoy life to the fullest extent in our later years. While none of us can predict how healthy we will be in the future, we can help influence the outcome by making lifestyle choices that promote good health."

Seven out of 10 retirees in better health say they feel financially secure compared to 51 percent of retirees in poorer health, the study found.

Retirees in poorer health were twice as likely to feel anxious about their finances and lack a sense of purpose, and three times more likely to feel lonely, the research found. Also, four in 10 retirees overall say they spend more on health care than they expected before retiring, with 43 percent spending more than $5,000 annually and 14 percent spending more than $10,000.

If you're in retirement, or looking forward to retirement, maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be a goal to help you better enjoy your retirement years. An earlier study conducted by MassMutual and Greenwald & Associates, Hopes, Fears and Reality - What Workers Expect in Retirement and What Steps Help Them Achieve the Retirement They Want (www.massmutual.com/retire), found that nearly half of all retirees retired sooner than they anticipated. This may mean that they are retiring at a younger age, and looking forward to enjoying their retirement years as much as possible.

Studies show that good health allows retirees to get out and enjoy life. Playing golf or tennis, spending the afternoon on a boat, or meeting with friends and family for lunch or dinner are all enjoyable activities retirees may have time to do. However, when a person falls ill, they may not be able to get out and enjoy the retired life as much as someone who is healthy.

"Our study focused on people in the first 15 years of retirement," says Mathew Greenwald, president of Greenwald & Associates. "In many cases, serious medical issues arise after that, in older age. But even in the healthiest part of retirement, better health clearly has an impact on most people's ability to fully enjoy retirement. Many of these issues will only be exacerbated for retirees as they age, which puts an exclamation point on the importance of wellness."