In keeping with holiday tradition...

I watched a movie on Christmas Eve.  Yes, I know - I was going to watch the misadventures of Ralphie in A Christmas Story - which I practically know by heart - but instead I opted to watch what is sure to become a new classic: Cowboys & Aliens.  Go ahead and laugh, but it was actually pretty good.  It was like Rio Grande meets War of the Worlds meets Independence Day - sort of.  Amazingly, Daniel Craig can do Old West gunslinger as well as he does Bond, James Bond.  Harrison Ford excels at hard-shelled crochety old man with a soft, squishy inside.  Mining the desert for gold, the aliens are ugly and vicious and pretty tough to kill; they fly around in these oddball contraptions that allow them to snatch unwitting townsfolk from the ground in one fall swoop.  Outlaw Jake Lonergan (Craig) manages to escape with no memory of his abduction other than a woman named Alice and a strange restraint on his left arm - which turns out to be the aliens' undoing.  Ella (Olivia Wilde) is looking for help fighting the aliens to she can "find her people."  After Colonel Dollarhyde's (Ford) ne'er-do-well son is snatched by the invading aliens, the outlaw, townspeople and the rancher join forces to rescue their loved ones.  Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption) does an admirable job playing the preacher who patches Jake up a bit when he first comes to town.  He has a few memorable lines, like "God doesn't care who you were, son - He cares who you are now."  Oddly enough, this screen adaptation of a story that started out as a comic book (I guess they call them graphic novels now) is a tale not just of love and loss, but also sacrifice and redemption.  I'd watch it again.

Maybe next Christmas.  Tradition, after all.

Wouldn't you love to live in St. Mary Mead?

I would simply adore having Miss Marple as a neighbor - imagine solving crimes over tea and cake!  While Agatha Christie's spinster super sleuth has been portrayed by many fine actresses, including Angela Lansbury, my favorite is Joan Hickson.  I just finished watching 4:50 from Paddington for about the tenth time.  It's such a great story and I notice new clues every time I watch it - Aggie's namesake is the master of the red herring.  My favorite Miss Marple story is Murder at the Vicarage, where she makes her debut - but all of the stories are great.  If you've never read a Marple mystery, pick one up - you won't be sorry.  And if you're in the mood for a great mystery movie, choose one of the BBC adaptations with Joan Hickson - excellent every time!  I think I'll head on back to St. Mary Mead and see who the latest victim is...

Monday, Monday...

Can't trust that day...  I mean, have you ever tried to sing this song?  Which part do you sing?  Or do you, like most of the free world, try to sing both parts?  I watched this crazy Craig Ferguson movie last night called The Big Tease.  He's a Scottish hairdresser - in a kilt, no less - who receives a letter that he mistakenly believes is an invitation to compete in the world championship hair show in Los Angeles.  A British filmmaker decides to document his adventure and the hilarious story goes from there.  At one point, he's singing California Dreamin' (equally difficult for one person to sing) and then he sings Monday, Monday - just like I do - trying to sing all the parts at once, or together, or sequentially - I don't know how to describe it - but it surely isn't pretty.  What about you?  How does your personal rendition of the Mamas and the Papas Greatest Hits sound?

Entry level...

is something we've all experienced at one time or another.  It's especially excruciating right after college graduation when you are seemingly ready to take on the world only to be told that you have no experience and aren't even qualified for an entry-level position.  Talk about having your bubble burst.  Been there, done that.  Maybe that's why the title of this movie caught my eye on Netflix the other night - or maybe it's because it has both D.B. Sweeney and Kurtwood Smith in it.  At any rate, it was pretty good.  Sweeney plays a chef whose restaurant closes due to circumstances beyond his control and he is forced back into the job market.  He has made up his mind that he wants nothing more to do with being a chef or the restaurant business and his unemployment counselor (hilarious!) promptly informs him that he is not qualified for anything else in the job market other than an entry-level position.  Predictably, he goes on about a million job interviews, but along the way he makes friends with a group of people who are in the same boat.  Smith plays a homeless gourmand living on a park bench near Sweeney's soon-to-close restaurant; Sweeney feeds him leftovers.  After the restaurant closes, Sweeney continues to feed Smith (and the rest of his new found friends) a variety of his gourmet sandwiches.  I don't want to give any more of this delightful movie away - but if there's a feel good movie about being unemployed and eventually finding a job you love, this is it.  Aggie & I give Entry Level four kernels of popcorn - no hankies necessary.

Ever wondered...

just how companies really market their goods to an unsuspecting America?  It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they do it just like stealth marketing is depicted in The Joneses.  While I am not a big Demi Moore fan, I do like David Duchovny and I kept seeing this movie pop up on my Netflix suggestions because apparently I do like the occasional dark comedy.  Doesn't everyone?  Anyhow, I finally watched it (Richard also recommended the film) and I thought it was pretty good.  Darkly funny - with a little bit of sadness thrown in - but isn't that always the way?  Glenne Headly turned in a great performance as a pseudo-MaryKay type; Gary Cole was good as her husband who really did try to keep up with the Joneses.  Unfortunately, it didn't end well for him, but someone always has to meet their end in one of these dark comedies.  Lauren Hutton was nearly unrecognizable as the head of the marketing company - her supermodeling heyday was a really long time ago, it would appear.  At any rate, the movie is worth watching if for no other reason than to see exactly how we've been enticed to buy those things we really didn't need but thought we couldn't live without.  Aggie and I give it four kernels of popcorn and one hanky.

Grown-ups...

Say what you will about Adam Sandler – but I love his movies.  For the most part, they’re about friendship, family and taking care of one another.  The only one I ever saw that I didn’t like was Zohan – and while I was mildly shocked by some of the content and language, even worse was that I lent it to my friend, Long,  before I had watched it and he promptly went back and put it on the DVD player in his salon for the old ladies to watch while they were having their nails done.   When he told me about how risque it was, I was mortified and I am sure that my embarrassment influenced my opinion of the movie after I watched the thing.  But I am happy to report that Grown-Ups is a much better, family-friendly movie and I really liked it.  Sure, it had lots of bodily function / guy humor, and yes, that obnoxious idiot David Spade is in it, but all in all, it’s a very funny film.  How can you go wrong with Adam Sandler and Kevin James in the same movie?  Most of the usual suspects made an appearance as well.  If you haven't seen it, and you need a good wholesome laugh, you can find it streaming on NetFlix.  Aggie & I give it three and a half bags of popcorn.  No hankies required.

Don't judge a book by its movie...

As I am sure I've said before, I’m not a big Brad Pitt fan.  I mean, he has grown on me a bit over the years – particularly when he stopped taking himself so seriously and got in touch with his inner idiot in the Ocean’s movies.  A big change from the Look-at-me-I’m-Brad-Pitt in Legends of the Fall, when we all knew the real star of that film was Anthony Hopkins.  But I digress…  I took a break last night and watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  All three long hours of it.  Long, long hours.  To say it was based on Fitzgerald’s short story of the same name is like saying that the world is flat.  Anyone who has ever read Tales of the Jazz Age, a collection of  Fitzgerald’s short stories, would recognize only the title and Benjamin’s odd aging disease, if you could even call it that.  There is no Daisy, no daughter, no old folks’ home – and he was not abandoned by his father.  Yes, Dad owned a button factory and Benjamin ended up working with him.  The original story is not nearly as far-fetched as the movie – and infinitely more believable.  Why does Hollywood take a perfectly good story and think they can improve on it?  The next thing we know, Hollywood will remake Jane Eyre, in which Jane discovers that Mr. Rochester has been hiding an alien life form in the attic – who ate Mr. Rochester’s wife – and she helps said alien escape to his hidden spacecraft in the woods.  Should she stay with Mr. Rochester or leave the solar system with the alien?  Coming soon to a theatre near you.

Groundhog Day...

and a holiday movie night tradition at our house!  For years now, we have watched Groundhog Day on February 2 - whether Punxatawney Phil sees his shadow or not.  Like most movies that Tim and I have seen a multitude of times, I can recite most of the dialogue along with the characters.  I love when Phil Connors is accosted by insurance salesman Ned Ryerson - "I sure as heckfire remember you!"  And the alarm going off at 6:00 am to the strains of Sonny & Cher singing I've Got You, Babe.  The only thing that would have made this movie perfect is Carol Kane suddenly appearing as the angel from Scrooged - and hitting this guy in the head with a toaster.  Okay, I'm weird.

Did Phil see his shadow or not this year?

Why do I love movies...

about odd and dysfunctional families?  Probably because I had one and didn't even know it until years later.  Anyhow, I watched a very funny movie this afternoon with that lovely gentleman Andy Garcia in it.  It's called City Island and is the story of an island native named Tony Rizzo who works as a corrections officer but dreams of becoming an actor (his Brando imitation is not to be missed).  One fateful day,  Tony realizes that a new inmate is his long lost son from an ill-fated love affair prior to his marriage - a relationship (and child) that he never told his wife, Joyce, about.  She also doesn't know that he's taking an acting class; Joyce thinks he's playing poker with his buddies.  At any rate, Tony has his son released into his custody to serve out his parole and takes him home to City Island.  I won't ruin the plot for you - because this independent film is well worth watching.  The younger son is a hoot - and the daughter, played by Garcia's real-life daughter, has her own set of problems.  I'm not a big fan of Juliana Margulies (she was always so intense on ER) but she's not bad as the wife.  If you're a fan of quirky films with interesting family dynamics, then City Island is for you.  

Aggie and I give it two bags of popcorn.

10 Reasons to watch Tooth Fairy...

1.  The Rock

2.  Julie Andrews as the Head Tooth Fairy

3.  Hockey

4.  Billy Crystal's hilarious self

5.  It's a wholesome family movie

6.  Cool special effects

7. More hockey

8.  The Rock - did I already say that?

9.  Tracy the Training Fairy

10.  Hockey

More on the whole hockey thing tomorrow...

Another great movie...

I've always been a Robert Parker fan (the Spenser mysteries) and I was so glad when Tom Selleck started making the film adaptations of Parker's Jesse Stone series.  If you've never watched them, they are all CBS made-for-TV movies now available from Netflix.  Tom Selleck is the perfect Jesse Stone, just like Robert Urich was the perfect Spenser.  The latest, No Remorse, is excellent.  Jesse is on suspension from the Paradise Police Department and well, you have to watch it to find out what happens.  Great supporting cast with Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, William DeVane and Saul Rubinek.

Aggie and I give it five out of five kernels of popcorn.

Thank you!

to everyone for the birthday greetings and good wishes!  My dear friend, Carolyn, sent me this adorable card and doesn't it look like Monty?  I also got the cutest e-card from Cherry Chick with a ginger tabby who looked a lot like Petey.  I had a pretty nice day - Aggie dictated a brief arf history lesson to me and I renewed both my drivers' license and car tag.  We had a turkey sub from Publix for lunch - one of our favorite meals! - and then watched two Clint Eastwood movies: Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can.  I had forgotten how funny Clyde the orangutan was and I simply adore Ruth Gordon.  Now that's a feisty old lady!  I will have to admit that yes, Clint Eastwood can get in touch with his inner moron - case in point: kissing an ape.  My dad loved both those movies - and that made me enjoy them all the more this time around.  A good laugh is a good thing now and then.

Can't talk now...

We iz watchun The Dead Pool - the finul film in our Dirty Hairy Festavul...

We hold these truths to be self-evident...

A.  Not all movies are created equal.

2.  Just because a movie has John Cusack in it doesn't make it good.

d)  Hollywood loves the F-word and thinks people want to hear it over and over again.

7.  Hot Tub Time Machine is a stinker of epic proportions.

And that is all I have to say about that.

Don't let her kid you, Mom laughed at a few things.

Since I am partial to dorky men...

like Ray Romano, Vince Vaughan, Ben Stiller - you get the picture - in the movies and in real life,

it only  makes sense that I would enjoy

because Kevin James is about as dorky as they come.  And he's very endearing.  I used to watch The King of Queens even though my husband hated it and I really though Carrie was a terrible witch.  I loved Doug and Arthur.  Oh, and Spence and Danny.  Deacon's wife was almost as bad as Carrie!  Anyhow - if you haven't seen Paul Blart: Mall Cop - and if you love a lighthearted comedy with absolutely no redeeming social value, then this movie is for you.  No profanity, no nudity, nothing suggestive - just funny.  

Aggie and I give it five kernels of popcorn.

Happy Independence Day!

I'm re-using an image from last year of a patriotic vignette at my office.  It was so cute - and some of the stuff found its way home with me - I'll post a photo of that tomorrow.  I need to dust!

We're watching Independence Day - thanks for reminding me, Linda!  We've watched it every year since 1996 when we saw it on the big screen - it never gets old!  It's sad when you've seen a movie so many times you can repeat the dialogue. 

Ain't I been sayin' it?  For ten damn years...

So I didn't do the housework...

I watched the new Jason Lee pilot on TNT called Memphis Beat.  It was good - I loved My Name is Earl and I was really sad when Earl met an early demise. My favorite character on the show was Darnell - I think it was the hair and the secret agent thing - but Jason Lee has a certain something.  His new show is worth watching; his co-stars include Alfre Woodard and Abraham Benrubi.  I think it's on TNT on Tuesday or Wednesday nights, but if you are cable-free like me, you can watch full episodes at TNT online the following week.

  Oh, and did I mention that Jason Lee can sing?

I didn't break out the fava beans or the chianti, but we just spent a lovely couple of hours with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.  Shortcut to Happiness is based on Stephen Vincent Benet's short story, The Devil and Daniel Webster.  While I am not a big fan of any of the Baldwin brothers, the eldest acquitted himself quite nicely as Jabez Stone who sells his soul for success as a writer.  He gets success all right but cannot write for crap because as Mr. Hopkins' Daniel Webster points out, "He cannot write because he has lost his soul."  Jennifer Love Hewitt makes a passable devil and there are lots of cameos by real-life writers.  I enjoyed it - but it's hard to go wrong with Anthony Hopkins.

I'm just saying. 

An old movie...

to start the month off right...  Well, a short old movie anyway.  I haven't seen it in years - but I have always fondly remembered this film as a work of cinematic brilliance.  Now, mind you, I saw it for the first time in high school in an American lit class - just before reading the short story upon which it is based, so take that into consideration.  An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a great example of the stream-of-consciousness device in both fiction and film.  Didn't that sound scholarly?  I guess that means I still haven't lost it - that $32,000 piece of paper in my closet is still worth something.  Ambrose Bierce, famed Civil War era reporter and curmudgeon, wrote the story some time before he took up with Pancho Villa and joined the Mexican Revolution only to disappear into Mexico never to be heard from again.  (You can see a fictionalized version of Bierce's last days in Old Gringo.)  Anyhow, without giving the film or the story away, the action of the piece takes place in the main character's mind.  (Another good example of this style of writing is The Jilting of Granny Weatherall by Katherine Anne Porter.  A bizarre example is James Joyce's Ulysses - but I don't even want to go there.  Ever again.)  My seventeen year old mind was mesmerized by the film's ending and I never forgot it; I saw it again years later as an episode of the Twilight Zone.  I'd been wondering if it was available on DVD ever since I'd watched Old Gringo and sure enough, Netflix had it.   One click and a couple of days later, it was in my hands.  I have to say that I enjoyed watching An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge as much tonight as I did over thirty years ago. 

I am a sick woman...

I confess that I found Silence of the Lambs to be an extremely amusing movie.  And then in Hannibal, where Dr. Lecter is sauteeing Ray Liotta's brain and that smiling idiot chirps, "Smells great!" - well, I nearly fell out of my seat laughing.  After that, my husband was a little leery of any movie detailing the exploits of Hannibal Lecter.  In fact, we watched Red Dragon on DVD - but there weren't any really funny scenes anyway.  So there.  I also have to confess that I have never actually eaten a fava bean.  I wouldn't know one if it crawled up my leg and bit me.  I did, however, once buy a big bag of fresh cherries at WalMart, and when I got home I discovered that instead of having rung up my beautiful cherries at $2.99 per pound, the cashier had charged me for fava beans at $.98 per pound.  I admit (guiltily) that we really enjoyed those cheap, cherry-flavored fava beans.  As I recall, Tim went back to buy more but his cashier was able to distinguish a cherry from a bean.

Looking for a recipe...

for something that goes well with some fava beans

 and a nice chianti. We've invited Anthony Hopkins for dinner.

Just kidding.