It’s been over a year since I revisited this topic. But the opening of two different movies in the same week, neither of which are going to be playing anywhere around here has prompted me to bitch discuss the problem of the poor choices being made at the local People’s Center for Approved Media.
Tolkien
TOLKIEN explores the formative years of the renowned author’s life as he finds friendship, courage and inspiration among a fellow group of writers and artists at school. Their brotherhood strengthens as they grow up and weather love and loss together, including Tolkien’s tumultuous courtship of his beloved Edith Bratt, until the outbreak of the First World War which threatens to tear their fellowship apart. All of these experiences would later inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.
“Tolkien” is even putting TV ads out. But no local theaters are going to play it. It’s a movie I would very much like to see. Probably on Hulu.
The Professor and the Madman
Based on the worldwide best-selling novel by Simon Winchester, THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN is an extraordinary true tale of madness, genius, and obsession about two remarkable men who created history with the writing of the Oxford English Dictionary. The compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary began in 1857 and was one of the most ambitious, and revolutionary projects ever undertaken. Professor James Murray (Mel Gibson) took on the challenge of creating the most comprehensive dictionary ever compiled, but knew that it would take him and his team over a century to compile all known definitions. However, by “crowd sourcing” the work, that is, by enlisting definitions from people all over the world, the dictionary could be compiled in mere decades. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W.C. Minor (Sean Penn), had submitted more than ten thousand words. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was a convicted murderer and being held at an asylum for the criminally insane.
The book was extraordinary (I wonder where my copy is?), an amazing story combining history, scholarship, unique and interesting persons that really existed, murder, mystery and tragedy. But with the 2D, 3D, and smell-o-vision versions of “Avengers: End Game” playing at every screen, everywhere; no room at the inn for this story.
On the North River 
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