Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Friday, January 2, 2015
Steve Jobs
Never knew Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple, was such a dbag. I watched the movie, 'Jobs' last night on Netflix. Ashton Kutcher displayed some solid acting as Steve Jobs, all the way down to his walk. I will be reading the book in February once I get through 2 books I have in my queue. If you have Netflix, check the movie out on Netflix Instant.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Halloween Flicks
Since I am too much of a scaredy cat to have ever enjoyed horror movies, my go-to Halloween entertainment is of a tamer variety. I have watched three of the following four movies in the last few weeks. One more to go by Friday.
Real Talk: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is not that great. Blasphemy, I know. I watch it every October and am reminded annually that this is far inferior to "A Charlie Brown Christmas." A good chunk of this special is devoted to Snoopy's imagined World War I flying ace adventures and I have been rendered bored during those parts since I was a toddler. But I am nothing if not a slave to tradition, so I will continue to watch Linus get boned by The Great Pumpkin each autumn.
E.T. was the first movie I saw in the cinema and it holds a special place in my heart. It was also the first VHS movie we owned. I have long questioned the sanity of Elliott's mother as she is easily tricked into believing a squat alien with giant feet is Drew Barrymore dressed as a ghost for Halloween. Lay off the sauce, Elliott's mom!
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| Michael, "Gertie"/E.T., and Elliott heading out for tricks and treats. |
Ryan and I went through a phase in the late '80s during which we watched Beetlejuice A LOT. Our mum recorded it for us and we probably wore out the tape watching the two Harry Belafonte dance sequences over and over. I had not watched this movie in its entirety in easily over a decade until I caught it on TV this past weekend. I had forgotten that Ryan used to do impressions of Michael Keaton's titular character. This was around the time that he was also honing his Pee Wee Herman impersonation. Weird times at 8 Victor.
I saw The Addams Family at the movie theater with a group of friends in sixth grade. I think it was the first movie I ever saw at the cinema without an adult chaperone. When this flick came out on video, we bought the VHS as McDonald's. Buying a movie and dining at McDonald's were life events back then, so I remember that night well. My current Addams-Family-related life goal is to adopt a female black cat and name her Wednesday. Too bad I'm at maximum feline capacity or that dream would become a reality by All Hallows' Eve.
Happy Halloween!
Monday, October 27, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Baby Rhino
One of our uncles used to call Ryan "Baby Rhino" so it appropriate that this video of a baby rhino trying to prance like a lamb has amused us both today.
I have watched and giggled at the video multiple times this morning. When I sent it to Ryan, I got the following response:
"Oh God, I haven't LOL'd that much at an animal video since 1995's Babe the pig fell off the stoop."
Remembering 13-year-old Ryan dying laughing at the little pig falling off a ramp in the trailer for "Babe" made me laugh. So this one is for you, Bro:
I have watched and giggled at the video multiple times this morning. When I sent it to Ryan, I got the following response:
"Oh God, I haven't LOL'd that much at an animal video since 1995's Babe the pig fell off the stoop."
Remembering 13-year-old Ryan dying laughing at the little pig falling off a ramp in the trailer for "Babe" made me laugh. So this one is for you, Bro:
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
I'm So Scared Right Now
Even though it freaked me out, I watched The NeverEnding Story frequently in the '80s. Dum's "On & On" music video might be the source of a new wave of nightmares for me. Thirty years after the movie was released, and with the addition of superimposed creepy faces, Artax still bites it in the Swamps of Sadness. I didn't realize when I was a kid that the horse was succumbing to depression. That is dark, but then SO IS THE NOTHING.
There are two positive things that I took away from my repeated viewings of The NeverEnding Story. One is that even though I am a full-fledged cat lady, I would still like a puppy that resembles the Luck Dragon Falcor. The second is that my family and I somehow find ways to insert the phrase, "It's my scientific speciality" into conversations.
There are two positive things that I took away from my repeated viewings of The NeverEnding Story. One is that even though I am a full-fledged cat lady, I would still like a puppy that resembles the Luck Dragon Falcor. The second is that my family and I somehow find ways to insert the phrase, "It's my scientific speciality" into conversations.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Movies with Brits
In the last 24 hours I have watched, 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'The World's End'. I had high expectations for both movies, especially hoping for a handful of chuckles at the Pegg/Frost movie ('The World's End'), but both movies were mediocre at best. I rated both a 3 out of 5 on Netflix and saved myself from wasting a mailed DVD rental on them. Thank you,Skinemax Cinemax.
Monday, June 23, 2014
The New Roof Is Here! The New Roof Is Here!
Call me The Jerk because I am beyond jazzed about the impending arrival of my brand-spanking-new roof. The roofers start tomorrow. I borrowed towels from Ryan and USteve months ago when a waterfall became an unwanted feature in my home. Even though the leaking tapered off after having some repair work done, I did not dare to give back the towels as I was sure returning them would be a jinx that would lead to another flood from above. So as summer officially began this past Saturday, Ryan and USteve continued to live sans beach towels. The good news is that they will have their towels back very soon, and they won't be forced to drip dry next month at Journey's End. Happy news all around!
For those who do not care about roof updates, I have this solid gold article for you:
"Quack, Quack, Quack: An Oral History of the Mighty Ducks Trilogy"
For my taste, this article doesn't feature enough cast commentary. Interviewed Ducks include Spazway/Charlie Conway, Averman, Fulton Reed, Guy Germaine, Connie Moreau, and Cake Eater/Adam Banks. Emilio Estevez declined to comment! WHAT THE?! Also no Greg Goldberg or any of the new additions from D2. Still, Ryan and I were fully obsessed with these movies so I enjoyed the article. And I am kind of dying to watch the beginning to D2 right now where they roller blade around Minneapolis reassembling the team. I'm busting out that DVD tonight. And in the mean time-- Youtube is a wonderful thing.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
The Reviews Are In
I missed a couple days of work this week due to a light touch of the plague. On the plus side, I sped my way through Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in a day. I suspect that this book may have been written just for me, as it is a teen romance with a chubby, redheaded protagonist. (Will I ever grow out of the teen romance genre? Magic 8-Ball says, "Very doubtful".) I enjoyed this book and I think I would have loved it if I had read it half a lifetime ago.
Last week I read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. (Another redheaded protagonist. Also, this book takes place, in part, in Maine and includes a shout out to Marden's.) I really liked Orphan Train and found it especially fascinating because, like the character of Vivian, my great-grandfather was an Irish immigrant who was adopted around the age of 9. Unlike Vivian, he did not ride an orphan train, but he and his siblings were split up and adopted by different families throughout Massachusetts. I can't imagine how scary that was, particularly in an era when children were not sent to therapy to cope with such a massive change. My family still doesn't know why he and his siblings, save the baby, were taken out of their home. The murky details of my great-grandfather's adoption made it more credible that Vivian had kept so much of her past to herself throughout her life. In the book, Vivian's story parallels that of Molly, a teenager of Native American heritage who is currently in the foster system. Orphan Train was a very good book; I recommend it.
And while I'm tossing out super brief reviews, here are the last few movies I watched:
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continue
I really like the original Anchorman, but this sequel was godawful. 2 out of 5
Girl Most Likely
I caught this Kristen Wiig movie on TV at my parents' house and was pleasantly surprised by how quirky and funny it was. 4 out of 5
Gravity
Two things hurt this movie. 1) I did not see it on a big screen at the theater. 2) My expectations were raised. I thought Gravity was overrated. 3 out of 5
Saving Mr. Banks
Mary Poppins is my favorite movie, so of course I enjoyed this movie about the making of Mary Poppins. I love Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. However, Mary Poppins is a joyful film and Saving Mr. Banks is at best bittersweet. It pretty much just made me want to watch Mary Poppins again. 3 out of 5
Last week I read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. (Another redheaded protagonist. Also, this book takes place, in part, in Maine and includes a shout out to Marden's.) I really liked Orphan Train and found it especially fascinating because, like the character of Vivian, my great-grandfather was an Irish immigrant who was adopted around the age of 9. Unlike Vivian, he did not ride an orphan train, but he and his siblings were split up and adopted by different families throughout Massachusetts. I can't imagine how scary that was, particularly in an era when children were not sent to therapy to cope with such a massive change. My family still doesn't know why he and his siblings, save the baby, were taken out of their home. The murky details of my great-grandfather's adoption made it more credible that Vivian had kept so much of her past to herself throughout her life. In the book, Vivian's story parallels that of Molly, a teenager of Native American heritage who is currently in the foster system. Orphan Train was a very good book; I recommend it.
And while I'm tossing out super brief reviews, here are the last few movies I watched:
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continue
I really like the original Anchorman, but this sequel was godawful. 2 out of 5
Girl Most Likely
I caught this Kristen Wiig movie on TV at my parents' house and was pleasantly surprised by how quirky and funny it was. 4 out of 5
Gravity
Two things hurt this movie. 1) I did not see it on a big screen at the theater. 2) My expectations were raised. I thought Gravity was overrated. 3 out of 5
Saving Mr. Banks
Mary Poppins is my favorite movie, so of course I enjoyed this movie about the making of Mary Poppins. I love Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. However, Mary Poppins is a joyful film and Saving Mr. Banks is at best bittersweet. It pretty much just made me want to watch Mary Poppins again. 3 out of 5
Monday, April 14, 2014
Again with the Boombox
I had an intense obsession with '80s teen movies during the mid-90s to early 2000s. I have seen the six John Hughes high school movies (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Some Kind of Wonderful) eleventy-seven times each. Although there are other stellar teen movies from the '80s, the one that earned a spot in my heart and on my door room wall along with Hughes' movies is Cameron Crowe's Say Anything.
I came across an article today that reminded me how very much I loved Lloyd Dobler:
"Say Anything Turns 25: 15 Life Lessons from Lloyd Dobler"
I can't be the only gal who, after twenty-five years, is still convinced that Diane Court did not deserve Lloyd. He gave her his heart and she gave him a PEN! Regardless of Diane's worthiness, the movie is pretty terrific, with a phenomenal performance by John Cusack, extremely quotable dialog, and Peter Gabriel's super romantical "In Your Eyes". . . . blasted from a silver boombox.
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"Say Anything Turns 25: 15 Life Lessons from Lloyd Dobler"
I can't be the only gal who, after twenty-five years, is still convinced that Diane Court did not deserve Lloyd. He gave her his heart and she gave him a PEN! Regardless of Diane's worthiness, the movie is pretty terrific, with a phenomenal performance by John Cusack, extremely quotable dialog, and Peter Gabriel's super romantical "In Your Eyes". . . . blasted from a silver boombox.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Recent Accomplishments
I had a four-movie weekend. It was quite a success-- there is a me-shaped impression in the couch cushions.
American Hustle (2013): This movie got a lot of attention during awards season because the four lead actors were nominated for Oscars. I enjoyed the disco-era costumes and the acting was top notch, but the movie itself felt a bit jumbled. I would give it a 3.5, but I'm feeling generous and rounding up to a 4.
Heir to an Execution (2004): This documentary by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's granddaughter Ivy Meeropol was interesting. I was very curious about the large extended family that shunned Julius, Ethel, and their sons but fifty years after the executions most relatives were still unwilling to talk to Ms. Meeropol. 3 out of 5
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011): I went on an "Inbetweeners" binge on Netflix, which I capped with this movie. I am a sucker for teen shows and for British shows, so this was a win. I need The Dude to watch this so we can throw random British phrases into conversations as we did after watching the original "Office," "Skins," "Shameless," etc. I have probably watched the dance sequence from the movie a dozen times. 3 out of 5
Thor: The Dark World (2013): The Dude covered this yesterday. We watched this together. It was not good. I liked the first Thor movie, but this was very heavy on special effects and lacked a story line. There were large chunks of this movie that didn't even contain dialog. 2 out of 5
American Hustle (2013): This movie got a lot of attention during awards season because the four lead actors were nominated for Oscars. I enjoyed the disco-era costumes and the acting was top notch, but the movie itself felt a bit jumbled. I would give it a 3.5, but I'm feeling generous and rounding up to a 4.
Heir to an Execution (2004): This documentary by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's granddaughter Ivy Meeropol was interesting. I was very curious about the large extended family that shunned Julius, Ethel, and their sons but fifty years after the executions most relatives were still unwilling to talk to Ms. Meeropol. 3 out of 5
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011): I went on an "Inbetweeners" binge on Netflix, which I capped with this movie. I am a sucker for teen shows and for British shows, so this was a win. I need The Dude to watch this so we can throw random British phrases into conversations as we did after watching the original "Office," "Skins," "Shameless," etc. I have probably watched the dance sequence from the movie a dozen times. 3 out of 5
Thor: The Dark World (2013): The Dude covered this yesterday. We watched this together. It was not good. I liked the first Thor movie, but this was very heavy on special effects and lacked a story line. There were large chunks of this movie that didn't even contain dialog. 2 out of 5
Monday, March 24, 2014
Mo' Movies (Mo' Problems)
About Time (2013): This movie was right up my alley-- a Richard Curtis romantic comedy starring an adorable Weasley and Rachel McAdams. The love story between the two leads was sweet, but I was more affected by the father/son love story. 4 out of 5
Captain Phillips (2013): Holy smokes was I tense during this movie. The acting was great and the directing of the action scenes was impressive. It was fascinating to see how a small boat manages to take over a large ship. Tom Hanks' performance at the end of the movie was so so good. 4 out of 5
The Golden Compass (2007): I recently read Phillip Pulman's The Golden Compass and am currently reading the sequel The Subtle Knife. The books are decent, but the movie was lacking. A lot of information was extracted and they chose to end the movie at an odd spot that was different from the book. 2 out of 5
How I Live Now (2013): I came across this sort of by accident, but found it to be entertaining enough. It was like watching two movies jammed together. The fist half is a fish-out-of-water teenage love story and then it turns into a war film that doesn't pull any punches. Some genuinely upsetting stuff in there that you would not expect half an hour into the movie. 3 out of 5
The Spectacular Now (2013): I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. The narration by main character Sutter Keely is entertaining and original, which nicely balances the pretty dark material. It is presented as a teen romance, which it is, but it also focuses very much on addiction and family issues. Movies almost never measure up to books, so it was no surprise that I preferred the book to the movie in this instance as well. I did think Miles Teller did a good job capturing the essence of Sutter. 3 out of 5
Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013): This won the Best Documentary Oscar earlier this month. I enjoyed it. Spoiler alert: Phil Specter is a douche. 3 out of 5
Captain Phillips (2013): Holy smokes was I tense during this movie. The acting was great and the directing of the action scenes was impressive. It was fascinating to see how a small boat manages to take over a large ship. Tom Hanks' performance at the end of the movie was so so good. 4 out of 5
The Golden Compass (2007): I recently read Phillip Pulman's The Golden Compass and am currently reading the sequel The Subtle Knife. The books are decent, but the movie was lacking. A lot of information was extracted and they chose to end the movie at an odd spot that was different from the book. 2 out of 5
How I Live Now (2013): I came across this sort of by accident, but found it to be entertaining enough. It was like watching two movies jammed together. The fist half is a fish-out-of-water teenage love story and then it turns into a war film that doesn't pull any punches. Some genuinely upsetting stuff in there that you would not expect half an hour into the movie. 3 out of 5
The Spectacular Now (2013): I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. The narration by main character Sutter Keely is entertaining and original, which nicely balances the pretty dark material. It is presented as a teen romance, which it is, but it also focuses very much on addiction and family issues. Movies almost never measure up to books, so it was no surprise that I preferred the book to the movie in this instance as well. I did think Miles Teller did a good job capturing the essence of Sutter. 3 out of 5
Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013): This won the Best Documentary Oscar earlier this month. I enjoyed it. Spoiler alert: Phil Specter is a douche. 3 out of 5
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Catching Up on Movies
Here's what I've watched since my last movie post:
Enchanted April (1991): I am a sucker for British costume dramas. Like season four of "Downton Abbey," Enchanted April focuses on a group of Brits in the 1920s. The difference is that I love Downton and found the writing and acting in this movie to be painful. For me to give this type of movie a "2", it must be pretty bad. In my opinion, it was.
Fruitvale Station (2013): Real talk-- I feel uncomfortable criticizing a movie about the final day of a young African-American man who was shot point-blank in a San Francisco subway station by a police officer while he was lying on the ground unarmed. I have loved Michael B. Jordan since he was Wallace in "The Wire" and Vince on "Friday Night Lights," but I didn't love this movie. 3 out of 5
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013): Catching Fire is my favorite of the Hunger Games books and I had heard that this movie was really good. It had a lot to live up to and totally delivered. It has been a few years since I read the books so I was surprised by a few characters and plot points I had forgotten. I am looking forward to watching this movie again. 4 out of 5 (a high 4)
In a World... (2013): This was a pleasant movie with a good cast. I enjoyed it. 4 out of 5
Mary and Max (2009): This strange animated movie is decidedly not for kids. It is the story of a sad Australian girl and her sad pen pal in New York City, a man with Asperger Syndrome. I don't know if I was more won over by the Australian accents or the bleak color palette and depressing lives of the characters. I think a lot of people would be put off by this movie, but I liked it. 3 out of 5
Now You See Me (2013): This was a decent thriller. I didn't feel like watching it was a waste of time, but I wouldn't be particularly tempted to tune in if I came across it in a few years on TV. 3 out of 5
Enchanted April (1991): I am a sucker for British costume dramas. Like season four of "Downton Abbey," Enchanted April focuses on a group of Brits in the 1920s. The difference is that I love Downton and found the writing and acting in this movie to be painful. For me to give this type of movie a "2", it must be pretty bad. In my opinion, it was.
Fruitvale Station (2013): Real talk-- I feel uncomfortable criticizing a movie about the final day of a young African-American man who was shot point-blank in a San Francisco subway station by a police officer while he was lying on the ground unarmed. I have loved Michael B. Jordan since he was Wallace in "The Wire" and Vince on "Friday Night Lights," but I didn't love this movie. 3 out of 5
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013): Catching Fire is my favorite of the Hunger Games books and I had heard that this movie was really good. It had a lot to live up to and totally delivered. It has been a few years since I read the books so I was surprised by a few characters and plot points I had forgotten. I am looking forward to watching this movie again. 4 out of 5 (a high 4)
In a World... (2013): This was a pleasant movie with a good cast. I enjoyed it. 4 out of 5
Mary and Max (2009): This strange animated movie is decidedly not for kids. It is the story of a sad Australian girl and her sad pen pal in New York City, a man with Asperger Syndrome. I don't know if I was more won over by the Australian accents or the bleak color palette and depressing lives of the characters. I think a lot of people would be put off by this movie, but I liked it. 3 out of 5
Now You See Me (2013): This was a decent thriller. I didn't feel like watching it was a waste of time, but I wouldn't be particularly tempted to tune in if I came across it in a few years on TV. 3 out of 5
Monday, February 24, 2014
So Long, Egon Spengler
Since The Dude returned to the blog, three of his four posts have been remembrances of recently deceased actors. I think Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of the greatest modern actors and I share fond memories of Sid Caesar in Grease, but a comment on The Dude's tribute posts seemed enough for me in those cases. In the case of Harold Ramis, I need to write my own brief post. Like any child of the '80s, I loved Ghost Busters. I also really enjoyed Stripes and I think Groundhog Days is kind of a masterpiece. My dad gave me a volume of The New Yorker a decade ago, pointing out an article on Harold Ramis that I should read. That article reinforced my affection for him and my long-standing crush on him. I strongly recommend any Ramis fan take the time to read it. He comes across as smart, funny, and interesting. I'm sorry that I won't have the opportunity to experience any more of his work. I'm also sorry that, as far as I know, he and Bill Murray never reconciled. Their collaborations were so darn good.
Edited to add:
1) I read that Bill Murray visited Harold Ramis before he passed, which warms my heart.
2) I should have included at least one classic Ramis clip.
3) Colbert on Harold Ramis. Dang if I don't have a type.
1) I read that Bill Murray visited Harold Ramis before he passed, which warms my heart.
2) I should have included at least one classic Ramis clip.
3) Colbert on Harold Ramis. Dang if I don't have a type.
Comedy Legend dies at the age of 69
Comedic genius, Harold Ramis, died today at the age of 69. I had no idea he was battling an autoimmune disease for the last 4 years.
Ramis was a great director, writer and actor who was involved in some of the funniest movies of all-time. Below is a quick insight into some of his many talents.
Director
Stripes is one of my all-time favorite movies and gave me some of the most quotable lines out there. Herself gave me a Harold Ramis DVD 3-pack that included "Stripes", "Ghostbusters" and "Groundhog Day". Might have to revisit those during some evenings this week.
RIP Harold Ramis - you were a funny guy. And that's a fact, Jack!
Ramis was a great director, writer and actor who was involved in some of the funniest movies of all-time. Below is a quick insight into some of his many talents.
Director
- Caddyshack
- National Lampoon's Vacation
- Groundhog Day
- Caddyshack
- Stripes
- Ghostbusters
- Groundhog Day
- Stripes
- Ghostbusters
- Ghostbusters II
- Knocked Up
Stripes is one of my all-time favorite movies and gave me some of the most quotable lines out there. Herself gave me a Harold Ramis DVD 3-pack that included "Stripes", "Ghostbusters" and "Groundhog Day". Might have to revisit those during some evenings this week.
RIP Harold Ramis - you were a funny guy. And that's a fact, Jack!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
The Last Five
Since I am not following the Olympics and most of my programs are on break during the games, I have cranked through a lot of movies in the past week.
42 (2013): This film about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in major league baseball was decent, but I tend to find biopics boring. In recent years, the biopics about Truman Capote, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles all left me cold. I would have preferred to watch a good documentary about each person. Even though I knew Robinson endured unbelievable racism, it was still startling to be reminded of the overt prejudice of that era. Harrison Ford stars as Branch Rickey, the Dodgers executive who signed Jackie Robinson, and I found his performance to be oddly distracting.
3 out of 5
Enough Said (2013): I appreciate that the characters in Nicole Holofcener movies tend to be flawed, but not horribly unpleasant. Sometimes movies that are trying to present "real" characters are tough to get through because I don't want to spend 90 minutes with a nasty or miserable person. The characters in Enough Said could be snobby or hurtful, but were also capable of being funny and kind. This was James Gandolfini's last movie and I enjoyed watching him embody a character so different from Tony Soprano.
3 out of 5-- but a high 3
He Got Game (1998): I decided to watch this Spike Lee joint during NBA All-Star Weekend since I was in the basketball zone. I always liked Ray Allen during his Celtic years, but man, I did not like this movie. It would have been nice if a single person in high-school-basketball-star Jesus Shuttleworth's life wasn't trying to take advantage of him. I understand how a kid growing up with no money and a bleak family life could be extremely manipulated by others who hoped to benefit from his success, but just one friend, family member, or coach who wasn't a greedy douche would have been a nice inclusion. Denzel Washington's portrayal of Jesus's convict father was super dickish, but I think that was intended.
2 out of 5
Salinger (2013): I just said I would prefer to watch a documentary about an interesting person rather than a biopic. Well, this documentary may be the exception to that rule. I think the fact that Salinger was such a private person and so few of the people close to him were interviewed kind of tanked this documentary. There was very little new or interesting information presented that a fourteen-year-old who loves Catcher in the Rye couldn't find on Wikipedia. (And to be clear, I loved Catcher in the Rye and Salinger's Glass stories when I was a young adult.) He was a recluse with a penchant for very young women. Nothing groundbreaking there.
3 out of 5-- but a low 3
Short Term 12 (2013): I listed these movies in alphabetic order, but that coincided with saving the best for last. Short Term 12 is a funny, sweet, and also heartbreaking movie about young adults in a residential home and the staff who work with them. The main character Grace was a mess, but a mess who excelled at a difficult job and had good reasons for her emotional messiness. I very much liked this movie.
4 out of 5
42 (2013): This film about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in major league baseball was decent, but I tend to find biopics boring. In recent years, the biopics about Truman Capote, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles all left me cold. I would have preferred to watch a good documentary about each person. Even though I knew Robinson endured unbelievable racism, it was still startling to be reminded of the overt prejudice of that era. Harrison Ford stars as Branch Rickey, the Dodgers executive who signed Jackie Robinson, and I found his performance to be oddly distracting.
3 out of 5
Enough Said (2013): I appreciate that the characters in Nicole Holofcener movies tend to be flawed, but not horribly unpleasant. Sometimes movies that are trying to present "real" characters are tough to get through because I don't want to spend 90 minutes with a nasty or miserable person. The characters in Enough Said could be snobby or hurtful, but were also capable of being funny and kind. This was James Gandolfini's last movie and I enjoyed watching him embody a character so different from Tony Soprano.
3 out of 5-- but a high 3
He Got Game (1998): I decided to watch this Spike Lee joint during NBA All-Star Weekend since I was in the basketball zone. I always liked Ray Allen during his Celtic years, but man, I did not like this movie. It would have been nice if a single person in high-school-basketball-star Jesus Shuttleworth's life wasn't trying to take advantage of him. I understand how a kid growing up with no money and a bleak family life could be extremely manipulated by others who hoped to benefit from his success, but just one friend, family member, or coach who wasn't a greedy douche would have been a nice inclusion. Denzel Washington's portrayal of Jesus's convict father was super dickish, but I think that was intended.
2 out of 5
Salinger (2013): I just said I would prefer to watch a documentary about an interesting person rather than a biopic. Well, this documentary may be the exception to that rule. I think the fact that Salinger was such a private person and so few of the people close to him were interviewed kind of tanked this documentary. There was very little new or interesting information presented that a fourteen-year-old who loves Catcher in the Rye couldn't find on Wikipedia. (And to be clear, I loved Catcher in the Rye and Salinger's Glass stories when I was a young adult.) He was a recluse with a penchant for very young women. Nothing groundbreaking there.
3 out of 5-- but a low 3
Short Term 12 (2013): I listed these movies in alphabetic order, but that coincided with saving the best for last. Short Term 12 is a funny, sweet, and also heartbreaking movie about young adults in a residential home and the staff who work with them. The main character Grace was a mess, but a mess who excelled at a difficult job and had good reasons for her emotional messiness. I very much liked this movie.
4 out of 5
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Checking In
Because I actually have social (demented and sad, but social) plans tonight, I'm keeping this post brief. Inspired by The Dude's "Good Word" post, here's what is going on with this gal.
Currently Reading:
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy
This giant book is a birthday gift from The Dude that I am just getting around to reading because it is three books bound together and is heavier than a sack of bricks. On the plus side-- solid read, so far. I'm only about a third of the way through the first book, The Golden Compass. I'm hoping for good things since I love a series.
Currently Watching:
"Downton Abbey"
I am still fully on board with season four of this British program. Just as I love a series of books, I super love a British costume drama. I reported to my mum last night that Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess makes me laugh harder than any character on TV. Also, I think the ginger footman Alfred is secretly a muggle ancestor of the Weasleys.
Currently Listening To:
"Amber" by 311
On repeat ever since I posted yesterday. What can I say, The Dude has good taste.
Currently Snacking On:
Nothing right this moment, but I shall dine on roasted red pepper pizza tonight with my pals. Yum.
Currently Reading:
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy
This giant book is a birthday gift from The Dude that I am just getting around to reading because it is three books bound together and is heavier than a sack of bricks. On the plus side-- solid read, so far. I'm only about a third of the way through the first book, The Golden Compass. I'm hoping for good things since I love a series.
Currently Watching:
"Downton Abbey"
I am still fully on board with season four of this British program. Just as I love a series of books, I super love a British costume drama. I reported to my mum last night that Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess makes me laugh harder than any character on TV. Also, I think the ginger footman Alfred is secretly a muggle ancestor of the Weasleys.
Currently Listening To:
"Amber" by 311
On repeat ever since I posted yesterday. What can I say, The Dude has good taste.
Currently Snacking On:
Nothing right this moment, but I shall dine on roasted red pepper pizza tonight with my pals. Yum.
What's the good word?
I'm just sitting here at work cranking down a diet sierra mist (awful) and had a few updates to report. Boston Bruins hockey is on hold for 19 days due to the Winter Olympics. I attended their last game before the break in-person and enjoyed their butthole stomping of the Ottawa Senators live. With the Bruins on break, I literally save myself/free up an estimated 30 hours in the next 2 weeks with the lack of games, pre-game viewing, post-game viewing, analysis, etc. What I am doing to fill some of that free time, you ask? NOT EXERCISING!
Current Novel
Current Novel
- Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
- Great novel on the Vietnam war (courtesy of Herself) and the life of a Marine Battalion written by a Vietnam veteran. 600 page book that I'm dominating in an aggressive manner.
- True Detective on HBO
- Unreal thriller/drama starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Very intense and highly recommended.
- Our Lady Peace
- Solid Canadian alt-rock band from the 90s that are rumored to have a reunion tour coming up this summer. I saw them live in the summer of 2001 in Portland, ME and they put on a top 5 live concert.
- Triscuit Garden Herb crackers with sliced cheddar cheese and pepperoni
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Philip Seymour Hoffman - RIP
Didn't realize how much PSH meant to me until I did a bit more research on him after learning of his death today. PSH played an eclectic character, Brandt, in one of my favorite movies of all-time, "The Big Lebowski".
He dominated "Boogie Nights", which I just watched less than a week ago, randomly.
After some more research, I'd say my favorite quotes/acting by him was in "Along Came Polly" as Ben Stiller's buddy. His bball scene makes me laugh my nuts off:
He is also a star of the new "Hunger Games" movie, which I haven't seen. I've read all of the books, but bummed I haven't seen the new one and also will miss him in the movies going forward.
From a selfish perspective, not just one of the best actors of all-time, but the only guy who makes me feel/look young:
29 in Twister? Wow.
He dominated "Boogie Nights", which I just watched less than a week ago, randomly.
After some more research, I'd say my favorite quotes/acting by him was in "Along Came Polly" as Ben Stiller's buddy. His bball scene makes me laugh my nuts off:
He is also a star of the new "Hunger Games" movie, which I haven't seen. I've read all of the books, but bummed I haven't seen the new one and also will miss him in the movies going forward.
From a selfish perspective, not just one of the best actors of all-time, but the only guy who makes me feel/look young:
29 in Twister? Wow.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
It Must Be Easter Because This Blog Has Risen from the Dead
If ever there were a reason to post, it is the 20th anniversary of The Sandlot, the movie that inspired the name of our blog.
The Dude and I were genuinely obsessed with The Sandlot. It came out when I was in grade seven and The Dude was in grade five. We were already a year into our obsession with two movies released the previous year-- The Mighty Ducks and Newsies. The Sandlot and The Mighty Ducks go together nicely as an adolescent sports flick double feature, but I have to own up to our appreciation of Newsies. We love us some musicals. In the early '90s, we didn't own many movies. In fact, before saving up to purchase these three killer VHS tapes (and the two subsequent Duck sequels), I believe the only movies at 8 Victor Terrace were E.T. and The Addams Family. E.T. was the first movie I ever saw at the theater, and is an acknowledged classic. I am still contemplating naming my fake son Elliott in honor of that film. The Addams Family is a little tougher to explain. I did see it at the theater with a bunch of my grade six friends, but I'm not 100% sure why we felt compelled to scoop this for our collection. I can tell you with certainty that we bought it at McDonalds though-- right around the time when Micky D's was hosting "All You Can Eat Pizza Nights." Pizza at McDonalds. It didn't last, but damn if it wasn't delicious. Back me up, Dude.
When I think back to the number of times The Dude and I watched Newsies, The Mighty Ducks, and The Sandlot, I know it is a small miracle that we made good grades and grew to be quasi-successful adults. In 1994, D2 came out and we worked that into our rotation. (D3, released another two years later, was never a favorite, though we did buy it to complete the set.) I can remember the excitement of our mum driving us to Home Vision Video to buy these gems. We had to save up somewhere in the neighborhood of $15-$20 for each, but boy did we get our money's worth. The Dude and I got into a routine of watching these movies constantly for several years. We didn't have cable and I hadn't hit my John Hughes period yet, so we would easily crank through selections from the Newsies/Ducks/Sandlot collection every weekend. And sometimes we'd fit one in after school if we didn't have practice. My dad was not pleased with our consumption of these movies, but he did enjoy The Sandlot when he sat through it once. (He is not a repeat viewer. That comes directly from our mum's bloodline.)
The Sandlot holds up as the most quality of our mid-90s favorites. It is the story of Scotty Smalls, a pre-teen boy who moves to a new neighborhood in 1960s California. Although Smalls initially doesn't have any athletic or social skills, Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez takes him under his wing and Smalls joins the group of neighborhood boys who spend their summer vacation playing ball together at the sandlot. I related to the anxious, non-athletic Scotty Smalls. Benny, the most talented player and the leader of the group, always reminded me of what my dad might have been like as a kid in the '60s. (Don't burst my bubble if you knew my dad in the '60s and he was a can't-hack-it pantywaist who wore his mama's bra.) Michael "Squints" Palledorous slayed me with his giant grin after tricking Wendy Peffercorn into giving him artificial respiration, and his delivery of "for-ev-er" will be stuck in my head until the end of time. But the movie is stolen by red haired and pudgy (say hello to my future Match.com tagline) Hamilton "Ham" Porter. Holy smokes is Ham quotable. The article below references "You're killing me, Smalls" and I'm bummed that the director never happened to overhear me one of the approximately 11,000 times that I have uttered those words. Ham's description of himself "baking like a toasted cheeser" on a hot summer day clearly struck a cord with The Dude and me. Tropical weather is hard on husky gingers. And Ham's trash talking is priceless. Enjoy:
I can't believe two decades have passed since The Dude and I were in our Newsies/Ducks/Sandlot heyday. Four movies with pre-teen/teen male casts-- What more could a junior high gal (and her little brother) have wanted on any given Saturday afternoon in mid-90s Central Maine?
Check out this article about the 20th anniversary of The Sandlot. It includes a "Sandlot Kids: Then and Now" slideshow. Yes!
The Dude and I were genuinely obsessed with The Sandlot. It came out when I was in grade seven and The Dude was in grade five. We were already a year into our obsession with two movies released the previous year-- The Mighty Ducks and Newsies. The Sandlot and The Mighty Ducks go together nicely as an adolescent sports flick double feature, but I have to own up to our appreciation of Newsies. We love us some musicals. In the early '90s, we didn't own many movies. In fact, before saving up to purchase these three killer VHS tapes (and the two subsequent Duck sequels), I believe the only movies at 8 Victor Terrace were E.T. and The Addams Family. E.T. was the first movie I ever saw at the theater, and is an acknowledged classic. I am still contemplating naming my fake son Elliott in honor of that film. The Addams Family is a little tougher to explain. I did see it at the theater with a bunch of my grade six friends, but I'm not 100% sure why we felt compelled to scoop this for our collection. I can tell you with certainty that we bought it at McDonalds though-- right around the time when Micky D's was hosting "All You Can Eat Pizza Nights." Pizza at McDonalds. It didn't last, but damn if it wasn't delicious. Back me up, Dude.
When I think back to the number of times The Dude and I watched Newsies, The Mighty Ducks, and The Sandlot, I know it is a small miracle that we made good grades and grew to be quasi-successful adults. In 1994, D2 came out and we worked that into our rotation. (D3, released another two years later, was never a favorite, though we did buy it to complete the set.) I can remember the excitement of our mum driving us to Home Vision Video to buy these gems. We had to save up somewhere in the neighborhood of $15-$20 for each, but boy did we get our money's worth. The Dude and I got into a routine of watching these movies constantly for several years. We didn't have cable and I hadn't hit my John Hughes period yet, so we would easily crank through selections from the Newsies/Ducks/Sandlot collection every weekend. And sometimes we'd fit one in after school if we didn't have practice. My dad was not pleased with our consumption of these movies, but he did enjoy The Sandlot when he sat through it once. (He is not a repeat viewer. That comes directly from our mum's bloodline.)
The Sandlot holds up as the most quality of our mid-90s favorites. It is the story of Scotty Smalls, a pre-teen boy who moves to a new neighborhood in 1960s California. Although Smalls initially doesn't have any athletic or social skills, Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez takes him under his wing and Smalls joins the group of neighborhood boys who spend their summer vacation playing ball together at the sandlot. I related to the anxious, non-athletic Scotty Smalls. Benny, the most talented player and the leader of the group, always reminded me of what my dad might have been like as a kid in the '60s. (Don't burst my bubble if you knew my dad in the '60s and he was a can't-hack-it pantywaist who wore his mama's bra.) Michael "Squints" Palledorous slayed me with his giant grin after tricking Wendy Peffercorn into giving him artificial respiration, and his delivery of "for-ev-er" will be stuck in my head until the end of time. But the movie is stolen by red haired and pudgy (say hello to my future Match.com tagline) Hamilton "Ham" Porter. Holy smokes is Ham quotable. The article below references "You're killing me, Smalls" and I'm bummed that the director never happened to overhear me one of the approximately 11,000 times that I have uttered those words. Ham's description of himself "baking like a toasted cheeser" on a hot summer day clearly struck a cord with The Dude and me. Tropical weather is hard on husky gingers. And Ham's trash talking is priceless. Enjoy:
I can't believe two decades have passed since The Dude and I were in our Newsies/Ducks/Sandlot heyday. Four movies with pre-teen/teen male casts-- What more could a junior high gal (and her little brother) have wanted on any given Saturday afternoon in mid-90s Central Maine?
Check out this article about the 20th anniversary of The Sandlot. It includes a "Sandlot Kids: Then and Now" slideshow. Yes!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Last Five
I've been on a bit of a documentary kick lately. I watched Searching for Sugar Man the day that it won the Oscar for Best Documentary, so yeah, my finger is on the pulse of. . . the only documentaries of which average folks are aware.
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011)
I am currently reading Joan Didion's A Year of Magical Thinking and 80% of the names mentioned in the book go right over my head. If I weren't such an uncivilized numb nut, I would probably be blown away by the literary superstars that the author references. It could be that Diana Vreeland and Joan Didion have absolutely nothing in common, but part of what I took away from The Eye Has to Travel and A Year of Magical Thinking is that Vreeland and Didion were talented, respected, and lived lives that are crazy foreign to me. As a gal with no interest in fashion, I was not the target demo for this movie about a fashion editor. It was fine, but it didn't stick with me like the best documentaries do. 3 out of 5
How to Survive a Plague (2012)
When my parents or The Dude call me and ask what I'm doing and I respond with, "I'm watching a documentary about AIDS" (this is the second one I've watched in a year), they wonder about my leisure time choices. This was a powerful movie, but I liked We Were Here (2011) more. How to Survive a Plague focused on the activism and political work of groups such as Act Up and was mostly based in New York. We Were Here was based in San Francisco and felt a little more personal. I would give the first a 3 and the second a 4.
Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
The mystery part of this documentary was engaging and the musician himself, Rodriguez, was an interesting character. After I watched this I had a lot of questions and when I did a little internet sleuthing, I started to think that the information in this movie had been tweaked a bit for maximum impact. That was a bit of a bummer. 4 out of 5
A Small Act (2010)
This was flat-out inspiring. I really liked A Small Act a lot. (Thanks for the recommendation, Netflix.) A teacher in Sweden decides to sponsor the education of a child in Kenya. The child grows up to attend Harvard and work as a Human Rights Commissioner at the U.N. The background of his Swedish sponsor, a stranger to him until he sought her out as an adult, and the ripple effects that one person can have on the world were genuinely amazing. I gave it a 4 after watching it, but a month later it may be creeping toward a 5.
The Queen of Versailles (2012)
This was pure entertainment. A billionaire businessman and his pageant wife are in the middle of building the largest home in the United States when the market collapses. The beauty queen wife, Jackie, is fun to watch. Although the Siegels are beyond loaded, I was able to relate to them better than I was Ms. Vreeland. 4 out of 5
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011)
I am currently reading Joan Didion's A Year of Magical Thinking and 80% of the names mentioned in the book go right over my head. If I weren't such an uncivilized numb nut, I would probably be blown away by the literary superstars that the author references. It could be that Diana Vreeland and Joan Didion have absolutely nothing in common, but part of what I took away from The Eye Has to Travel and A Year of Magical Thinking is that Vreeland and Didion were talented, respected, and lived lives that are crazy foreign to me. As a gal with no interest in fashion, I was not the target demo for this movie about a fashion editor. It was fine, but it didn't stick with me like the best documentaries do. 3 out of 5
How to Survive a Plague (2012)
When my parents or The Dude call me and ask what I'm doing and I respond with, "I'm watching a documentary about AIDS" (this is the second one I've watched in a year), they wonder about my leisure time choices. This was a powerful movie, but I liked We Were Here (2011) more. How to Survive a Plague focused on the activism and political work of groups such as Act Up and was mostly based in New York. We Were Here was based in San Francisco and felt a little more personal. I would give the first a 3 and the second a 4.
Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
The mystery part of this documentary was engaging and the musician himself, Rodriguez, was an interesting character. After I watched this I had a lot of questions and when I did a little internet sleuthing, I started to think that the information in this movie had been tweaked a bit for maximum impact. That was a bit of a bummer. 4 out of 5
A Small Act (2010)
This was flat-out inspiring. I really liked A Small Act a lot. (Thanks for the recommendation, Netflix.) A teacher in Sweden decides to sponsor the education of a child in Kenya. The child grows up to attend Harvard and work as a Human Rights Commissioner at the U.N. The background of his Swedish sponsor, a stranger to him until he sought her out as an adult, and the ripple effects that one person can have on the world were genuinely amazing. I gave it a 4 after watching it, but a month later it may be creeping toward a 5.
The Queen of Versailles (2012)
This was pure entertainment. A billionaire businessman and his pageant wife are in the middle of building the largest home in the United States when the market collapses. The beauty queen wife, Jackie, is fun to watch. Although the Siegels are beyond loaded, I was able to relate to them better than I was Ms. Vreeland. 4 out of 5
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