I thought Black Doves was terrific. All the killing was softened by the sardonic humor. And Keira Knightly was human looking and acting! I thought Lenny stole every scene she was in.
The Diplomat has become background for me while we watch it.
I loved your description of Love e Actually as a disappointing reunion with an ex-lover.
My antidote to the overwhelm of Hanukah is to listen to Adam Sandler's Hanukah song.
I’ve forgotten the Sandler song—will have to look on YouTube.
Totally agree about Lenny!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that actress before—but I suspect she’s been in a lot of roles in which she doesn’t look and act anything like she does in Black Doves. What a tour de force. That voice!!
I first saw Love Actually in theaters at age 16 with my mom and sister, and we still watch that scene with Emma Thompson and cry every single year 21 years later. It’s so heartbreakingly sad. And Keira Knightley’s smile really is radiant in that movie- we loved her in Pride and Prejudice but she was supposed to be somewhat plain to be Elizabeth so I understand why she wasn’t allowed to be as “beautiful.”
My husband loves Die Hard at Christmas, and I like Die Hard 1 and 2 actually- it’s goofy enough that it doesn’t feel as much like a normal action movie, and I love Bonnie Bedelia (Parenthood is a show I’ve watched over and over).
Maybe the fact that Keri Russell still looks so similar to Felicity is why I can’t get into The Americans- it just didn’t feel believable for me (I loved Felicity in middle school and used to watch it on syndication in college and on Hulu once that became a thing- Felicity holds up pretty well actually!)
Thank you for your thoughts on the movies. A personal note on Bonnie Bedelia: I once met her at Port Authority in NYC. I was so thrilled I almost fainted. She’s underrated, both as an actress and a beautiful woman.
I really enjoy watching Love Actually. It's a sweet movie, with a realistic look at love. it's messy, complicated, feel, good and at times heartbreaking. Now as far as the "fat shaming" if you noticed the chubby girl gets the most sought after bachelor in the UK. So not really fat shaming, more like "don't be so shallow, a*holes. "(BTW Keira was only 17 when she made that movie. It's easy to be radiant at that age.)
I enjoyed The Holiday, again it's a silly feel good happy movie. Yes, suspend all belief. It's really there just to be enjoyed. Again a romantic fantasy.
Haven't watch Die Hard in years and years. Don't like Alan Rickman (I don't like anti Israel activists- we see today what they really mean- and he always would try to jew wash his hatred of Israel ), and my heart breaks for Bruce Willis and his family.
Black Doves, I didn't watch. I tried, but just could not make it through more than a few minutes.
You’re right about the fat-shaming of the assistant actually being more like “don’t be so shallow, assholes.” But it’s all through the movie, not just about her, and Brigid Jones, too. In my experience, the Brits do have a thing about “fat.” But that’s another story.
I was never as radiant as Keira, not even when I was 17 and beautiful.
I only found out about Alan Rickman about a week ago. Kind of broke my heart, as i love him as an actor. And he’s far from the only one who I now have a love/hate relationship with, because of their “politics.”
I have to tell you, I never watched the Bridget Jones movies. But I do find it odd that they are fat phobic like this. I watch British mysteries and programs (I actually have several paid streaming services) they do these things so well. And the one thing I have noticed is that the actresses are allowed to age without surgery, botox or anything beyond being human. There are all ages, sizes shapes. It’s really quite refreshing (I noticed this when watching French shows too)
I always loved Rickman as an actor too. When he played the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood movie with Kevin Costner I thought he was wonderful in that as well. The older I get, I am finding it harder and harder to remove political leaning from watching movies, reading books, or listening to music.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah and a very Happy New Year.
The British are great when it comes to older “character” actresses coming in all sizes and shapes (whereas we insist that they all stay slim, or resign themselves to playing neurotic/depressed, etc.) But they are as bad, if not worse, than us, when it comes to what a “romantic” lead is supposed to look like. The French too.
I loved Black Doves and binged it yesterday and today, on what would have been my 19th anniversary (I’m a widow). I couldn’t have handled anything schlocky. Everything’s horrible and smile anyway is exactly my mood. I thought the relationship between Helen and Sam terrific and the whole thing was acted so brilliantly. And I was stuck by the naturalness, beauty, and expressivity in both Knightley’s and Whishaw’s no-longer-young faces.
I agree with everything you said about Black Doves, but I can’t agree that Keira Knightley has always been a good actress. She is a fine one now but I found her downright wooden in all her early films, even the delightful Bend It Like Beckham, and positively plank-like in all the Pirates of the Caribbean series. (In Love Actually, it’s not so obvious as she barely needed to act at all. But she was ONLY 17.) Every time she wanted to convey emotion, she did something weird with her teeth and stuck her jaw out. I used to call it “acting with her teeth.” The first film I saw her in where I thought she’d done a really good job was Misbehaviour, though I subsequently watched Colette and thought that was also a fine performance. KK in Black Doves was 💯% excellent and I feel she’s really coming to the height of her powers as an actress. (I will always watch Love Actually for Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman, for Laura Linney, and for the sequence where Hugh Grant dances around 10 Downing Street.)
Carrie and I watched Black Doves after you had mentioned it. Our draw was Sarah Lancashire, who we followed through Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley, and Julia. It was rough going. We just don’t have the ability to dissociate from carnage expected of viewers. But we stuck with it, especially because we wanted to finish it before your analysis dropped, but also because we really liked the characters. All of them. We also came to the conclusion that the real love in the film was between Helen and Sam. But Helen and Wallace had a workable relationship as well. This propelled us through the Christmas superficiality. Bottom line, this was the first Christmas movie or series that I was able to finish since Scrooge with Alistair Sim.
I enjoyed your piece! I found Black Doves intense but fun. There's so much in Love Actually to validly criticize. But I love it and watch it every year. Liked The Diplomat too. It's light but engaging. The addition of Allison Janney helps. You've made me want to watch Die Hard again after so long. Miss Alan Rickman! I'm reading Walter Isaacson's Elon Musk bio. I didn't know of his ties to Peter Thiel... thus JD Vance. Musk is scarier than Trump and cares for the country just as little. Thanks........Paul
Terrific essay on Black Doves, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kathryn Hunter, in that role, reminded me much of Tom Hardy playing similar roles. The casting for Black Doves was impeccable.
Susan, while it doesn’t change any of your analysis, including the ‘Christmas kinda making Hanukkah disappear this year’ thoughts, I just wanted to note that Hanukkah does not begin on Christmas Eve this year, it begins the night of Christmas Day. Happy Hanukkah to you and your family, and I look forward to continuing to read your thoughts.
Susan,
I thought Black Doves was terrific. All the killing was softened by the sardonic humor. And Keira Knightly was human looking and acting! I thought Lenny stole every scene she was in.
The Diplomat has become background for me while we watch it.
I loved your description of Love e Actually as a disappointing reunion with an ex-lover.
My antidote to the overwhelm of Hanukah is to listen to Adam Sandler's Hanukah song.
I’ve forgotten the Sandler song—will have to look on YouTube.
Totally agree about Lenny!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that actress before—but I suspect she’s been in a lot of roles in which she doesn’t look and act anything like she does in Black Doves. What a tour de force. That voice!!
I first saw Love Actually in theaters at age 16 with my mom and sister, and we still watch that scene with Emma Thompson and cry every single year 21 years later. It’s so heartbreakingly sad. And Keira Knightley’s smile really is radiant in that movie- we loved her in Pride and Prejudice but she was supposed to be somewhat plain to be Elizabeth so I understand why she wasn’t allowed to be as “beautiful.”
My husband loves Die Hard at Christmas, and I like Die Hard 1 and 2 actually- it’s goofy enough that it doesn’t feel as much like a normal action movie, and I love Bonnie Bedelia (Parenthood is a show I’ve watched over and over).
Maybe the fact that Keri Russell still looks so similar to Felicity is why I can’t get into The Americans- it just didn’t feel believable for me (I loved Felicity in middle school and used to watch it on syndication in college and on Hulu once that became a thing- Felicity holds up pretty well actually!)
Thank you for your thoughts on the movies. A personal note on Bonnie Bedelia: I once met her at Port Authority in NYC. I was so thrilled I almost fainted. She’s underrated, both as an actress and a beautiful woman.
Thank you for sharing- she’s an amazing actress!
Loved Black Doves. And I completely concur with your review of Die Hard.
Happy year’s end, Susan!
Keira as anti Keira — great short series.
This was the read I needed. Off to watch Black Doves on the strength of your recommendation. Happy Chanukah.
Binge watched all six parts. What a great load of fun! Thank you for bringing the series to my attention!
I really enjoy watching Love Actually. It's a sweet movie, with a realistic look at love. it's messy, complicated, feel, good and at times heartbreaking. Now as far as the "fat shaming" if you noticed the chubby girl gets the most sought after bachelor in the UK. So not really fat shaming, more like "don't be so shallow, a*holes. "(BTW Keira was only 17 when she made that movie. It's easy to be radiant at that age.)
I enjoyed The Holiday, again it's a silly feel good happy movie. Yes, suspend all belief. It's really there just to be enjoyed. Again a romantic fantasy.
Haven't watch Die Hard in years and years. Don't like Alan Rickman (I don't like anti Israel activists- we see today what they really mean- and he always would try to jew wash his hatred of Israel ), and my heart breaks for Bruce Willis and his family.
Black Doves, I didn't watch. I tried, but just could not make it through more than a few minutes.
You’re right about the fat-shaming of the assistant actually being more like “don’t be so shallow, assholes.” But it’s all through the movie, not just about her, and Brigid Jones, too. In my experience, the Brits do have a thing about “fat.” But that’s another story.
I was never as radiant as Keira, not even when I was 17 and beautiful.
I only found out about Alan Rickman about a week ago. Kind of broke my heart, as i love him as an actor. And he’s far from the only one who I now have a love/hate relationship with, because of their “politics.”
Hope you have a lovely Hanukkah!
I have to tell you, I never watched the Bridget Jones movies. But I do find it odd that they are fat phobic like this. I watch British mysteries and programs (I actually have several paid streaming services) they do these things so well. And the one thing I have noticed is that the actresses are allowed to age without surgery, botox or anything beyond being human. There are all ages, sizes shapes. It’s really quite refreshing (I noticed this when watching French shows too)
I always loved Rickman as an actor too. When he played the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood movie with Kevin Costner I thought he was wonderful in that as well. The older I get, I am finding it harder and harder to remove political leaning from watching movies, reading books, or listening to music.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah and a very Happy New Year.
The British are great when it comes to older “character” actresses coming in all sizes and shapes (whereas we insist that they all stay slim, or resign themselves to playing neurotic/depressed, etc.) But they are as bad, if not worse, than us, when it comes to what a “romantic” lead is supposed to look like. The French too.
I loved Black Doves and binged it yesterday and today, on what would have been my 19th anniversary (I’m a widow). I couldn’t have handled anything schlocky. Everything’s horrible and smile anyway is exactly my mood. I thought the relationship between Helen and Sam terrific and the whole thing was acted so brilliantly. And I was stuck by the naturalness, beauty, and expressivity in both Knightley’s and Whishaw’s no-longer-young faces.
I agree with everything you said about Black Doves, but I can’t agree that Keira Knightley has always been a good actress. She is a fine one now but I found her downright wooden in all her early films, even the delightful Bend It Like Beckham, and positively plank-like in all the Pirates of the Caribbean series. (In Love Actually, it’s not so obvious as she barely needed to act at all. But she was ONLY 17.) Every time she wanted to convey emotion, she did something weird with her teeth and stuck her jaw out. I used to call it “acting with her teeth.” The first film I saw her in where I thought she’d done a really good job was Misbehaviour, though I subsequently watched Colette and thought that was also a fine performance. KK in Black Doves was 💯% excellent and I feel she’s really coming to the height of her powers as an actress. (I will always watch Love Actually for Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman, for Laura Linney, and for the sequence where Hugh Grant dances around 10 Downing Street.)
Chag same’ach! I hope you and your family are having a wonder-filled eight nights of love and light.
Carrie and I watched Black Doves after you had mentioned it. Our draw was Sarah Lancashire, who we followed through Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley, and Julia. It was rough going. We just don’t have the ability to dissociate from carnage expected of viewers. But we stuck with it, especially because we wanted to finish it before your analysis dropped, but also because we really liked the characters. All of them. We also came to the conclusion that the real love in the film was between Helen and Sam. But Helen and Wallace had a workable relationship as well. This propelled us through the Christmas superficiality. Bottom line, this was the first Christmas movie or series that I was able to finish since Scrooge with Alistair Sim.
I forgot to mention your inimitable writing! Happy Hanukkah/Christmas!
I enjoyed your piece! I found Black Doves intense but fun. There's so much in Love Actually to validly criticize. But I love it and watch it every year. Liked The Diplomat too. It's light but engaging. The addition of Allison Janney helps. You've made me want to watch Die Hard again after so long. Miss Alan Rickman! I'm reading Walter Isaacson's Elon Musk bio. I didn't know of his ties to Peter Thiel... thus JD Vance. Musk is scarier than Trump and cares for the country just as little. Thanks........Paul
Thank you for your insights. I will watch Black Doves this week.
Happy Chanukkah and best wishes for a safe 4 years.
Terrific essay on Black Doves, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kathryn Hunter, in that role, reminded me much of Tom Hardy playing similar roles. The casting for Black Doves was impeccable.
Susan, while it doesn’t change any of your analysis, including the ‘Christmas kinda making Hanukkah disappear this year’ thoughts, I just wanted to note that Hanukkah does not begin on Christmas Eve this year, it begins the night of Christmas Day. Happy Hanukkah to you and your family, and I look forward to continuing to read your thoughts.
You mean Hanukkah begins tomorrow? How could I have gotten that so mixed up? Oy!!
I actually had to go to Chabad.org to check because I wasn’t even sure this year!