Love the Ladies

Ultimately, "Evening" achieves a kind of wisdom, though it's a strange and bitter wisdom.

Written by Minot and Michael Cunningham, the film arrives at a pessimistic and almost nihilistic view of life as something not very important -- and then invites us to take strength and comfort in the notion.

It's not what you'd expect, and it's certainly not the typical message. It might be most interesting thing about the picture. - Mick La Salle, SF Gate

What can I say, I loved Evening. And I might be the only one - the critics are panning it coast to coast. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what or why at this moment because I am still a little bit weepy (that's right, I cry at movies and spent most of this one sniffling) but suffice to say that Vanessa Redgrave is beautiful. Startlingly, heartbreakingly, amazingly, stunningly, wow.

And seeing all these intense, intelligent, older women with bags under their eyes (except for young and tasty Clare Danes) talking about love, loss, choices and death - well, that is my cup of tea and platter of hot buttered scones. Mmmm.

I walked to the movie chatting with my complex and fascinating sister who did not completely hate the film. Phew.

I come from a long line of strong, complicated ladies and I am so grateful for the presence of these people in my life. I hope they cuddle up with me on my deathbed like they did with Vanessa in Evening and talk me out of the mess of this world to the next.

Like Meryl Streep said after climbing into bed with Vanessa, "We're all such mysterious creatures. But in the end, what we do doesn't matter so much."

Because if life really is NOT about the mistakes you make, the doors that shut or the crappy choices you made, then it is ALL about the people that love you and the people that bring joy to your mundane moments.

People like your sister who used to babysit you even when you tried to steal the food money to spend it on candy, who built you a dollhouse from scratch and read aloud to you for most of your young life. Or your sister who used to do cheesy Weight Watcher ads but you love her all the same - check out Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave at the premiere of Evening below.