If you’re as deeply involved in politics as is Seraphic Secret, if you’re a lover of Zion, as is Seraphic Secret, if you’re terrified of another four years of Obama, as is Seraphic Secret, well, you tend to walk around with a black cloud hovering over your head. But compiling a Ten Best List, wrestling with all the great choices, serves as a vivid reminder that the world is still filled with wondrous things.
Here are our choices—random but carefully considered—of the things that made 2011 sort of wonderful.
1. Best Fiction: “Matterhorn” by Karl Marlantes, a beautifully crafted novel of the Vietnam War. The author served as a Marine in Nam where he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts and ten air medals. A profoundly touching tribute to noble men under fire.
2. Best Non Fiction: “Civilization, The West and The Rest” by Niall Ferguson. I get up at five in the morning for my three mile walk. One of the reasons I actually look forward to this torture is because I've been listening to Ferguson's incredible book. Why did the West pull so far ahead in civilization in contrast to say, the Islamic world? Ferguson identifies five foundational apps that made our ascendancy possible. Will the West crumble like so many other great civilizations? Ferguson has a fertile mind and this spectacular volume is sure to make you think.
3. Best Hollywood Book: “Myrna Loy, The Only Good Girl in Hollywood” by Emily W. Leider. It's ironic that Myrna Loy, a farm girl from Montana, became Hollywood's image of the sophisticated, society girl. Starting in silent films, Loy was for years typecast as an Asian vamp, but eventually her genius for comedy was recognized. No one in Hollywood escapes tragedy and one of the saddest revelations in this first bio of Loy is an abortion that rendered her unable to bear children.
4. Best App: Flipboard. This is the definition of a killer app. It's a social magazine that collects great content from fashion to technology. You rip through the cyber pages by, um flipping with your finger. It's highly intuitive and believe me, if I can do it without calling one of my daughters in NY for a tutorial then you know it's well designed.
5. Best Footwear: The Red IDF Para Boot worn by the Nahal and Kfir Brigades. This year, an exceptionally brave young Israeli-Arab woman named Monalisa passed the grueling requirements and was accepted into one of Israel's elite combat units. When she went to the quartermaster to get her gear the red boots were not in the kit. Monalisa demanded the coveted boots and got them. Never argue with a an armed woman over footwear.
6. Best Fashion Moment: Kate Middleton's Wedding gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It cost over $400,000 but it was worth every penny. London is quickly turning into Londonistan and the dopey Archbishop of Canterbury seems more inclined towards Sharia than the Four Gospels. So when Kate Middleton appeared in this glorious fabrication, the world heaved a romantic sigh and once again Britain seemed kind of great.
7. Best Men: The troops who killed Bin Laden. Time Magazine disgraced America and journalism by proclaiming The Protestor as their Person of the Year. Pointedly, Time excluded the Tea Party. They also neglected to reveal that the Arab Spring is the vehicle for an ascendant radical Islam. And the OWS is nothing more than a record of rape, drugs, violence and businesses forced to shutter. Deleting Bin Laden was a mitzvah, and we pay tribute to all the troops involved in this complex and dangerous operation.
8. Best TV Show: “Downton Abbey.” You thought we were going to say “Homeland.” Well, so did we until the last episode poisoned the entire enterprise. “Downton” Abbey is a gorgeous British soap opera about an aristocratic family, their three unmarried daughters and, in the best BBC style, loyal and treacherous servants. This has got it all: a lavishly appointed castle, stunning wardrobes, and love starved women shedding whale-boned corsets, usually for the wrong men. Written by Julian Fellowes, this is screenwriting at its most elegant. We breathlessly await the second season.
9. Best Movie: “The Artist.” For years Seraphic Secret has sung the praises of silent movies. Lo and behold, a French director comes along and produces a charming ode to the silent era. “The Artist” is not a perfect movie. It's too long and the narrative doesn't have the proper velocity. But this tale of a silent movie star whose career is destroyed by sound is lovely and has one of the most effective love scenes ever filmed as a woman expresses her passion via an overcoat. No spoilers here. Silence is golden. Go see it for yourself.
10. Best Girls: Maayan Ariel and Lielle Meital.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives the best Shabbat of 2011.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
9 Comments
Jack Warner was a load of fun and made a lot of good pictures for decades. Actors u;nder studio contract often revolt. The claim is they want to make better pictures. Outside of All about Eve for Bette Davis (and that was a fluke) what is she remembered for that wasn’t done at Warnes. Bogart did get The Caine Mutiny, but the film he personally co-produced were below the films he did at the studio. Add Cagney to that list. There are people who developed, orat least participated int he development of their own careers. Silent ere, William S. Hart, Doug, Sr. Mary and Chaplin. There might be someone else in there. Sound era. Cary Grant trumps all. Paramount wasn’t doing it right, and he understood the definition of right. Clark Gable liked being at Metro. That makes him a smart guy. In 1985 I did a play with Cyd Charisse, and as I like doing now, then and at anytime, we started talking about the big studio days, which by the way, she liked. I mentioned Stewart Granger and how anxious he was to leave Metro. She siaid, “He ws wrong. The only reason he can make a living now is because of his time there.” Taht doesn’t mean Cyd was the arbiter of all things related to career building, but these people under contract who worked hard and earned the money, also got opportunity. Quite a gift.
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Robert,
First things first: Your granddaughters are precious.
I agree with you about the royal wedding dress.
I like the story about the boots.
I will check out your movie and book recommendations
And finally, the salads look delish!
Cheers.
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Robert – my hat’s off to you to still see good in a sea of troubles.
And it is there.
I have started to read the bio (really an autobiography_ of James Garner and while I am in just the beginning it is illuminating. His becoming an actor was almost serendipitous – have to go back to the page but there happened to be a woman pulling out of the only available parking space from an office with a sign of a friend he knew long ago . He was virtually flat broke and looking for any decent job.
Pointy is to this seemingly disparate observation is that while times may seem bad at the moment in the future one can look back and “connect all the dots” to see how we got to a better time.
I learned through you I believe the personality of Jack Warner – Garner is telling about him and I think he (Warner) was a real jackass.
He too quoted the “Schmucks with Underwoods” comment of his but the best, I believe, was when Madame Chiang Kai-shek is touring the country during WW2 to raise money. She is at a gala luncheon at the Warner Brothers Studio, finishes her speech and Warner gets up saying ‘That reminds me; I have to send in my laundry”
Anyway he seems like he transcended that difficult jump from “obnoxious” to “jackass”.
Garner was no fan of the studio system and I am learning about the seamier side of it.
Fascinating book.
Anyway I will have to look up Downton Abbey.
Happy New year to you, your family, and the extended Seraphic Secret family!
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I heartily agree with your choices, Robert. I will have to look for all 3 books, but you know I’ll read the Myra Loy bio first!
If I could make 2 minor additions to your list, I would add my own daughter to the list of Best Girls (in addition to your beautiful grand-daughters, of course!) and I would add Prince William to the Best Fashion Moment. Kate looked fabulous in her dress (or is it a wedding gown?), but with the Prince, in his regal red uniform, by her side she was absolutely stunning.
Hoping you and Karen have a wonderful and blessed Shabbat, and Happy New Year!
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I have Ferguson’s The Ascent of Money but have yet to read it. I’m on the waiting list for Civilization from the library and hope to have finished The Ascent of Money before I get it.
Hmmm, an Israeli-Arab female soldier. I bet the IDF let her in an elite unit to counter all the good press the Arab countries were receiving for allowing so many Jews to serve in their forces. Syria, Jordan, Egypt etc are so well known for their brave women and Jewish soldiers.
The SEALs Robert? Really? I thought all the stories about killing OBL were about how brave Obama was to make such a tough call. You’d have thought what Obama did was tougher than digging out the Chiliean miners by hand. Didn’t you see the worry lines on his face in that picture from the Situation Room? The Navy SEALs just had to carry out the brilliant plan Obama drew up. If the mission had failed it would have been blamed on GWB not spending the money on properly training for our special forces.
The above paragraph has been sponsored by MSNBC.
Middleton’s dress may have cost $400,000 but your granddaughters are proof that the women make the clothes. Those two have more beauty in their smiles than any Hollywood starlet with a million dollar wardrobe.
To you and your family, have a blessed and happy 2012.
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Robert -
Thanks for the recommendation on Ferguson’s book. I’d been wondering whether to pick it up or not, so I’ll use some of my Christmas cash to do it.
The Artist! Oh, heavens. I sent you an e-mail about it, but I absolutely adored it. I was crying and laughing throughout the whole thing. What a wonderful, wonderful movie. I hope it wins an Oscar.
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Robert – what beautiful little girls – may you get much nachas from them. We need to save the world for them…….
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Robert,
It’s been a long while since I last posted, but I just wanted to say that your granddaughters Maayan Ariel and Lielle Meital are so beautiful! May you and your family continue to be blessed by them endlessly
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rachel
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I share your anticipation for Downton Abbey. It’s a fascinating series. And as an embroiderer, I was happy to see the fabulous work of the Royal School of Needlework on Kate’s gown. You are spot on about the Seals!
Will have to get that book by Ferguson.
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