Thursday, August 28, 2014

MOVIE WEEKEND: LABOR DAY

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I'm so glad I can present an appropriately titled movie that I like very much. It's Labor Day (2013, PG-13, Available On DVD).


Adele (Kate Winslet) is depressed. Her husband left her because he couldn't stand to be around her sadness anymore (poor him). She lives alone with their son Henry (Gattlin Griffith), who I think is about twelve years old. Adele seldom leaves the house, but once a month she and Henry shop for supplies. During a shopping trip on the Thursday before Labor Day, a man approaches Henry, who is looking at comic books. Frank (Josh Brolin) requires assistance. He is wounded and bleeding some. With his hand on Henry's neck in a possessive manner, Frank insists on going home with Adele and Henry. Frank (Josh Brolin) has escaped from prison.

Is Frank a threat, or is he Adele and Henry's salvation?

I didn't know much about Labor Day. As I watched the opening credits and discovered it was based on a novel by Joyce Maynard, I took it as a good sign. I'll add the novel to my Amazon wish list because the screenplay is so good.

I'm impressed by Josh Brolin's performance because he's tender, yet frightening. He keeps the audience guessing about Frank's true intentions. He's also smoldering. I don't think I've seen him sexier, and I did not think Josh Brolin could be sexier. Kate Winslet is excellent, as always. Adele is needy, off-kilter, but strong enough to confront a challenge. I like a character that grows and changes, as Adele does.

I read on the Internet Movie Database that quite a few people don't like this movie because they think Adele is stupid and weak for doing as Frank tells her. Rather, I say she's confused and frightened, but willing to do what she thinks is necessary to protect Henry.

Labor Day earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest Approval with The Gold Star for Sexy and a Blue Ribbon for Poignant.

Please pardon my blogging absence of late. I wanted to read a particular book with particular care. I'll review this particular book tomorrow (Friday) for The Cephalapod Coffeehouse blogfest. Prepare for my review because this book makes my brain sizzle, kinda like when I stood in the puddle of water and touched the back of the leaking refrigerator, which you can read about HERE just in case you missed that particular adventure.

I have also been taking advantage of my Affordable Care Act health insurance (thank you, President Obama; I love you). I lost my colonoscopy virginity on Monday. I don't know why the preparatory drink is called Golytely when it should be called Goshityerbrainsout, but drinking the stuff and having a colonoscopy is better than finding blood in your poop and learning you have late stage colon cancer. I apologize for being so graphic. You really don't want colon cancer, though, and if you have it, it's better to find out as soon as possible. The colonoscopy itself was nothing. Apparently, I have quite the comely colon.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

46 comments:

  1. I remember being curious about Labor Day when it first came out, but then I forgot about it o_0. I'm glad you liked it, I wonder what my thoughts will be!

    High five on the comely colon! LOL

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    1. I enjoy it when people watch a movie I've recommended and then return to tell me what they think.

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  2. Is Kate Winslet "Rose" from Titanic? If it is, then yay, she's so talented! If not, I'm sorry, I don't remember what sleep is.

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    1. She is. And we saw her boobies.
      Okay, so I'm shallow that way.

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    2. Kate Winslet has no problem with showing her boobs. Among other movies, she showed her boobs in The Reader, for which she won The Academy Award for Best Actress.

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    3. Ah... we're on the topic of boobies again. Although I shamelessly call them tits in the name of gender equality. You may have noticed.

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    4. I prefer boobs to boobies. Tits? Okay.

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  3. Riveting review for Labor Day! Now I really want to see the "smoldering" Josh Brolin!

    Glad everything turned out fine with your colonoscopy. I agree that the prep is the worst part. Hope you celebrated with a nice meal afterward.

    Julie

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    1. I enjoy a man who smolders. Speaking of men who smolder, Willy Dunne Wooters took me out for a good breakfast right after the colonoscopy. Never have scrambled eggs and bacon tasted so good.

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  4. Hi Janie - I'm glad the colonoscopy is working for you and you seem to be 'happy' with it - as you say it's better than other alternatives.

    Thanks for the review of Labor Day - I've never seen it ... but it sounds an interesting film with a tantalising plot ...

    Looking forward to the review .. and hope you have a fun and happy Labor Day weekend ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you, my dear Hilary. I was happy to learn that I am in the clear colon-wise.

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  5. Wow, this post took a drastic and graphic turn into the toilet. There is no way I could have predicted a review for Labor Day (which, until I read your review, was another in Garry Marshal's line of holiday-themed movies), would go into an in-depth discussion of your bowel's inner-workings.

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    1. I wouldn't call one paragraph in-depth. Perhaps I'll write an entire post about all the pooping I did before the colonoscopy and all the farting I did afterwards.

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  6. Oh, also, "Comely Colon" is my new favorite drag queen name.

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  7. This movie has been on my watch-list since it came out but somehow I've managed to avoid watching it... Now reading this is bringing me closer to finally doing it!

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  8. Thanks for the review, dear Janie! I plan to include this flick in my movie marathon this weekend:

    * Knocked Up
    * Labor Day
    * Look Who's Talking

    (BA-DUM-BUMP)

    Seriously, Labor Day is my kind of movie because I like to be kept guessing as long as there's a plausible resolution.

    I'm so happy to learn that losing your colonoscopy virginity was not the terrible ordeal many people think it is. I agree that the worst part occurs the day before when you are required to consume mass quantities of Janitor in a Drum.

    Have a great day, dearie, and don't forget to visit our friend Cherdo who's also dishing the poop today!

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    1. How could I forget Cherdo? I have to read her posts and comment on them so I can see if my comment disappears. I like your marathon list.

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  9. I saw the trailer for this movie and it looked good. I'll add to queue. Although I think Netflix calls it a list now.

    Lost my virginity before you, BTW.

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    1. It's a list for the movies you can watch on streaming. It's still a queue for the movies you have to get on DVD.

      You always have to beat me to the fun stuff. Show off.

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  10. Thanks for the tip on the movie, Janie....I'll try to rent it to view this weekend!

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    1. I hope you like it. If you get to watch it, please let me know what you think.

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  11. Congrats on finding a good movie, a good book and a happy colon!

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  12. Congratulations on your comely colon. I've had two colonoscopies and they keep getting easier.

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    1. Hmmmm . . . I thought it would be worse the second time because I know I have to drink that crap, but it probably will be easier because I know what to expect and I know I can get it down with the assistance of a few prescription anti-nausea pills.

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  13. It would be quite a challenge to play a character who is tender yet frightening. Kudos to Josh for pulling it off.

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    1. Josh Brolin is quite an impressive actor. I've had my eye on him since No Country For Old Men.

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  14. I was intrigued by that movie. It's my list of films to see. Thanks!

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    1. It's your list of films to see? One movie makes up your entire list, Penwusser? How many times will you watch it?

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  15. We saw this on Red Box a while back. I did like it, but I don't know if I bought the "ultimate" ending. That's a long time to wait. :)

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    1. Maybe it doesn't bother me because it took so long to find Willy Dunne Wooters.

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  16. I actually saw that movie (and yes, I do sound surprised because I rarely have time to enjoy movies, especially at the movie theater). I thought it was okay, and had no idea what it was about prior to going to it. Actually, I didn't even know what movie I was going to see . . . friends invited me, I was free and needed a girls' night out, and that was that. I thought there were some clichéd moments, but liked it overall, especially the end.

    Congrats on a clean colon. Now there's a blog comment I never thought I'd make.

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    1. Thanks! I'm feeling pretty darn proud of my colon. I think it's getting as much attention as the movie review. I'm impressed that you went on a girls' night out. First time in about twenty years?

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  17. Congrats on the colonoscopy, Janie! You are correct, the worst part is the fasting part.
    Maybe I will check out that movie this weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Jim. I hope you have a nice weekend. Has Labor Day leaked over into Canada?

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  18. good graphic detail. it's worth it to get tested. i have insurance for the first time in more than 9 years and finally saw the skin doctor. i just had a conversation with someone in which i explained how so many like me for years made too much to qualify for medi-cal and too little to afford private insurance. it didn't matter; he hated obama. i feel sorry for these people who are so closed minded they can't muster up compassion or even logic.

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    1. Well said, Ed. I could afford decent insurance, but got turned down every time I applied because of pre-existing conditions. Not many people don't have some sort of pre-existing condition. I keep telling people who are opposed to the Health Care Act that they are trying to keep ME from having insurance. I'm not a bum or a welfare queen or an illegal alien or any of the other "stereotypes" they are so afraid will benefit from insurance. A lot of us are regular people who couldn't get insurance. We need universal healthcare in this country. It's cheaper than sending someone with a sore throat to the ER because the hospitals don't turn away people. And how about those death squads that Obamacare is supposed to have? Invented by Sarah Palin. Now there's someone without compassion or logic. I benefited from "the death squad" recently when my new doctor was easily able to get the results of my blood work from my previous doctor rather than start all over again. The truth behind the death squads is that doctors can share information that help them make better-informed decisions, and it saves money. The death squads do not exist.

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  19. I really enjoyed this movie. I thought Adele was just trusting her gut feelings. I didn't think her weak at all. Interesting. I thought she was brave to see past the surface and to stick her neck out like she did. And, yes--Frank was smoldering. ;)
    Glad you got all cleaned out and examined thoroughly. LOL!

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    1. I'm glad you liked it, Rita. You know I respect your opinion. I kept thinking about you while I was drinking "the stuff." I'll have to tell you why in an email.

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  20. I remember seeing the promos for this click, but I am glad to see you gave it the thumbs up, lest I waste my time on watching something else that might be bleh. I like Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet, so that alone would draw me to it.

    I'm glad that your poop shoot is a tube of envy and I wish you many stellar colonoscopic investigations in the future. Welcome to the post colonoscopic world.

    Where did all your posts go? They were on my blog this morning...

    I'm fibbing. I blog glued them.

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    1. Oh, how you do tease me, Ms. Cherdo. I hope you don't find this movie bleh.

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    2. BWAHAHAHAHAHA...I love Janie. (What's is with me and typos lately? "Click" was supposed to be "flick"...

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  21. I sometimes wonder, Janie... is it really possible for someone to be someone else's salvation?

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    1. Well, Christ is our salvation (for Christians). Is the idea of a man as a woman's salvation (and her as his) just a romantic notion? Maybe so, but the right person can sure help us improve our lives. Sometimes I want to give Willy Dunne Wooters a good smack, but he sure makes me happy and he's encouraged me to find happiness in myself.

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