Movies and Books

The Descendants is good.  Clooney is fantastic in this unbelievable tale of wondering just how much more this guy can take from life.  Loved it.  Not all roses and butterflies.....so be prepared.......it's a unique movie.

This one had my head spinning.  I'm still trying to put all of the pieces together.  Great acting and a beautifully made movie.......but I need to see it about 12 more times to follow the entire plot.

That being said, I wish I had seen The Artist instead.  Lots of awards at the Golden Globes.  Looks like fun.

This looks awesome.

Any others I'm missing?  I didn't see New Year's Eve.  Looked like Valentine's Day re-written into a new holiday script. Yes?  I did love Valentine's Day.  But, not sure I need to see it translated.

On to books......

I'm currently in love with Jonathan Franzen. 

Have yall read Freedom?

Same guy.

Caroline gave me 3 of his books for Christmas last year.  Loved Freedom. Couldn't get through Strong Motion.  Loving The Corrections.  I'll give Strong Motion another try after loving the other 2.  Might have just been my mood at the time.

Any favorites lately that I need to read?

I've seen this trailer and it's made me want to read the book.  I don't often do that.....but the story looks quite interesting.

Sometimes I think there's not enough time in one's life for all the books that should be read.

Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Foreign Films

I think you're supposed to call them that....."films".......instead of movies. Sounds cooler, anyway.

I saw one this evening. I try to work in some culture here and there......only so many Nicholas Sparks movies that I can stomach. (No offense to anyone.....I read his early books and still love The Notebook.)

Anyway, I saw, The Secret In Their Eyes. Awesome. Purely awesome.



Crime, romance, betrayal, insanity.....it had it all. The plot was overlapped and complicated, but easy to follow. I loved it.

A favorite line that has stayed with me:

"Memories are eventually all we're left with. Be careful in choosing the right ones to keep."

Others I've loved over the years (all in subtitles, like this one):







Just recently saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and loved it, too. I see all of these alone, of course. Blake and I have been married for 10 years and have seen, I think, 2 movies together. One was Superbad. He was laughing like a 14 year old boy during the entire thing. No chance I'll get him to one with subtitles.

How about you? Do you see foreign films? Favorites?

Question Of The Weekend (Huh?)

Just back from seeing The Joneses. Great movie.....dark and thought provoking. Check it out.

Yall know I love movies. Some clips.....

One of my favorite scenes:


Cannot wait for this (!!!!!):


Another fantastic movie and a wicked smart story line:


I absolutely loved this:

And, even more so because it brought us this:


What are your favorites?

Movie Reviews

OK, it's been a while! Time for some reviews. I'm leaving out plenty, I'm sure.....since I haven't posted in a while.


Crazy Heart - My favorite in a long, long time. Loved it so much, I insisted Blake saw it....this week......during my usual movie night. I know. I'm so giving.

He enjoyed it, too. Upon returning home, I asked him if he noticed Coco (Maggie Gyllenhaal) was in the movie. "Yeah, it haunted me the whole time." Nice.

***I'll let Blake comment on his opinion of my Tuesday Night at the movies routine. (it should be noted that he took my popcorn bowl in, too)

I totally recommend this movie for music lovers. Jeff Bridges plays and sings all of it himself. Fantastic.


The Blind Side - Lots of hype for this one and I it lived up to it. A true story and it was beautifully played out on screen. Really enjoyed Sandra Bullock, too.


Dear John - Very much a Nicholas Sparks story. I read many of his books after falling in love with The Notebook years ago. Not exactly my taste anymore. But, you'll love it if you love him.


It's Complicated - Really enjoyed this one. I do believe I could watch Meryl Streep do just about anything......she's so wonderful.....and the men were great, too.


Up in the Air - Very smart movie. George Clooney can do no wrong in my opinion.


Valentine's Day - Half way through I thought I was going to agree with the reviews....and I still do in some respects.....but it was fun overall. Not ground breaking.....but a good date movie. (To which, I went alone, of course.) Be sure to stay until the end and watch the credits for a nod to Pretty Woman, a la Julia Roberts. Cute.


When In Rome - Pass. She's precious. Weak movie.


Fantastic Mr. Fox - Cannot say enough good about this movie. Totally weird. Not for everyone. If you have a kooky sense of humor like me, you'll absolutely adore it.

Trailer.......if you don't get this......you won't get the movie.



The Men Who Stare At Goats - Another movie not for everyone. Enjoyed it.

Cannot wait for Shutter Island. Maybe tonight!

What am I missing? Any must-sees?

Movie Reviews

I must report on the movie theater I've been frequenting before we get started. The word seems to have spread and my favorite low key theater has become quite popular. Remember....Tuesday nights = BYOB (bring your own bowl) for free popcorn.

I know. Cool, right?

Well, it's drawing quite the crowd and some interesting bowls, too. For a while, movie goers had no discretion at all and would bring in plastic shopping bags to fill up. Seriously? Pay the $5 and hold onto your dignity, people.

Finally, the theater wised up and insisted customers bring in actual bowls (or similar hard plastic like containers). Good move. I've been waiting for someone take his hat off and tell them to fill it up.

Since then, I've witnessed a faux wood ice bucket from the 1970's and a crock pot bowl. Not the cooker part with the plug hanging down.....but nearly as ridiculous. Seeing what people are bringing in to fill has rivaled some of the movies I've seen in regards to entertainment factor alone. I might just skip the movie one day and hang out in the lobby.

OK, review time. No judgment on the movies I see. Remember, I have no standards. I paid to see The Orphan not too long ago.


Zombieland - Bad. Love Woody Harrelson. The movie was weak. And, pointless. I disagree with the critics. And, by "critics", I mean http://www.rottentomatoes.com/.

Law Abiding Citizen - I don't fawn all over Gerard Butler like most women. It was nice to see him in this role because it differed from the dreamy persona he's taken on in so many others. The movie had good meaning behind it.....a man takes on the judicial system and punishes many innocent people for the lack of sentence imposed on the murderers of his slain family. Lots of gore, though.

The Invention of Lying - Has anyone seen this? I was thoroughly confused. Not by the story line, but by the amount of boom mics I saw. Over a dozen.....hanging from the top of the screen.....it became hard to focus on the movie. Otherwise, the plot was interesting, but it failed on many levels to come together.

Amelia - Not good. These are the kind of movies I love.....historical recreation.....typically emotion-filled and moving. It wasn't successful on any front. I thought it also portrayed Amelia as quite selfish and single minded.

The Box - LOVED it. A simple plot......1970's.....an American couple in financial distress is given a choice. A box contains a single button. If pushed, the couple receives a million dollars.....but someone, somewhere will die. 24 hours to decide. A great lesson on choices and consequences. Weird and dark and filled with suspense. Stanley Kubrick-esque.......artsy and cool. I liked it more than the critics did. Recommend.

Can't wait for:

The Men Who Stare At Goats
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Michael Jackson's This Is It
Chris Rock's Good Hair
Capitalism - A Love Story
Precious
A Serious Man
Pirate Radio

Movie Reviews

You ready? Let's go!


The Informant - loved this movie. Matt Damon is fantastic as a nerdy corporate "spy". He is a total spaz and I enjoyed seeing him in this role.....quite unlike his others. True story. Lots of fun.


Couples Retreat - had low expectations and even with that in mind, I left disappointed. It was choppy and didn't flow well....and at times, completely unbelievable. The girls were darling. Vince Vaughn (hush, Blake) and my new love, Jason Bateman, did not disappoint.


Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - very cute. I took Carter last week to see this one and I enjoyed listening to him giggle at it as much as I did the movie. "Gummy Bears!" is a non-stop laugh now in this house. Visual effects were fun and it had a good story behind it. Definitely one to take the kids to.


Whip It - absolutely loved it. Drew Barrymore's directorial debut....I was so hoping she'd do well....and I'm happy to say it was a total hit. Ellen Page is possibly the cutest actress ever......every bit as lovable as she was in Juno.....can't get enough of her.

It was set in Austin, so I enjoyed seeing our old spots....the Waterloo, for example. A whole lotta Texas pride in this movie, too, but not in the usual annoying way (sorry, girls!). Seriously, though....it was filled with lots of love for Austin and it made me proud to be a native Texan.

Oh, and I loved it so much, I insist you watch the trailer. How cute is the Lollipop song?

Movie Reviews

OK, here we go.


Taking Woodstock - (Demtri Martin); Any movie "based on a true story" immediately draws my attention. Like most people, I know this story already. I am a huge fan of the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and other late hippies, so the music alone drew me in. It wasn't a great movie, but I enjoyed it. I loved learning more details about how it all came together.....the best concert in history.....still upset I missed it. Oh, wait. I wasn't born yet.

Did see the Grateful Dead's second to last show in St. Louis in '95. Nothing in the world like it. Makes me giddy with excitement in anticipation for my neuvo-hippie fest in October....Widespread Panic and the Allman Brothers! I can almost smell the patchouli.

Extract - Had high hopes since Mike Judge has created a few good movies (Office Space) and TV shows (King of the Hill). It didn't measure up. I love Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck, but the movie was pretty slow and the characters were not strong.

500 Days of Summer - One of my favorites of the year so far. Precious cast, creative plot, edgy feel and lots of good music. I could watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) sing karaoke and dance through the park over and over again. Zooey Deschanel was intoxicating. The movie had an artsy direction, but not too much to turn off standard audiences. Highly recommend it.

All About Steve - When you have low expectations, it's hard to walk away disappointed. Go into it with that in mind, and you'll be fine. Sandra Bullock used to really annoy me and recently, I've grown to like her. Her quirky character was tolerable and Bradley Cooper can do no wrong (minus choosing scripts), but overall, it was weak.

Halloween 2 - Save it. Y'all know I'm a freak about Halloween.

I honestly had not seen a horror movie since I was a teen, I believe. Today's version of "horror" is quite different than what I knew in the likes of Poltergeist and Children of the Corn, way back when scary movies were suspenseful and psychologically thrilling. But, I was intrigued. After the 15th slaying, you kind of grow numb to the gore. Rob Zombie directed it, so it had a different feel. The funky cinematography reminded me of old Trent Reznor videos. Overall, it was horrific, but I didn't walk away despising it as much as I expected.

Looking forward to:

The Informant! - (Matt Damon); Based on a true story about the highest ranking corporate whistle blower in U.S. history....who appears completely ignorant to the penalties facing him as a result of his "spy" work....looks like all sorts of fun.

Love Happens - (Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart); Let's pause a moment first and ponder the title...hmmmm.....that took some soul searching. Another low expectation (no brainer), I'm sure. Jenny is so darn cute, though. I'll be there.

Fame - (doesn't matter); A classic remade. Excited about it.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself - (not familiar with the cast); Love Tyler Perry movies.

Capitalism, A Love Story - (Michael Moore); Have never seen one of his films. Catchy trailer caught my interest......likely will be a hit due to the economy's current state.

Under Our Skin - Documentary on Lyme disease. I know! Invite your friends and sneak in some popcorn. But, seriously, I'm curious about this subject and anxious to learn more.

Lo Mejor De Mi - (translation...The Best of Me); Latin American love story.

****Note - Take 5 minutes to research theaters in your area and you'll be surprised what great deals are out there right now. Two huge theaters in our town offer Monday-Thursday movies at $5 each, regardless of time. One sells all-you-can-eat popcorn and coke for $5. Another has BYOB on Tuesdays (bring your own bowl for free popcorn).

Our Fine Arts Theater (shows mainly independent movies) has free popcorn on Wednesdays for members of the Film League, which I will be joining soon. A nerdy club for movie lovers, t-shirt and early screenings? Don't mind if I do!

Movie Reviews

Still escaping at least once a week for some toddler-free time at the movies. Cheapest therapy around. Give it a try. My sister, Ceason, loves to tease me because I go alone....and now prefer to go alone. Best way, I promise!

Inglourious Basterds - Fantastic. Gory and a few too many scalpings for my comfort level, but very clever and very Tarantino-esque. I thought my love died for him with Reservoir Dogs (still one of the best soundtracks ever), but no. I loved it.

And, Brad Pitt? He was adorable. Blake loves to tease me about him being a celeb crush and he's not.

Benecio del Toro? Yes.

Brad Pitt? No.

I married a pretty boy. Why would I need a crush on Brad, too?

Orphan - Knew the twist. Not impressed. Weird and not in a good way. I like weird. I didn't like this.

The Time Traveler's Wife - I really wanted to like this movie and I, unfortunately, did not. Have heard great things about the book and I adore Rachel Adams. But, it didn't play out well....it was confusing.....and didn't make a lot of sense to me. Maybe if I had some prior knowledge of the story, it would have helped.

I really wanted to see 500 Days of Summer, but have heard it's terrible. Anyone?

Movie Reviews

After 9 non-stop hours of toddler potty training.....which went much better than expected, I might add.....I ran screaming from the house and into the direction of AMC Theaters. Well, it wasn't quite that dramatic, but I did leave for a bit once Blake arrived home. He took over like the good daddy he is and gave me a break. I think I'll keep him.

A few recent movies, reviewed by yours truly.


Public Enemies - well done, Mr. Depp. The perfect combination....quite a bit of eye candy for the ladies and a lot of guns and destruction for the men. Loved it. History, great actors, and a fantastic story. Sign me up anytime.

Funny People - disappointed.....more dramatic than funny and not at all what I was expecting. Loved the cast; didn't care for the movie.

The Ugly Truth - this is what I like to call a "no brainer". Entertaining, but I'll forget the plot in a matter of months. Worth the $5 ticket fee (Monday-Thursday at our theater!), but not much more. Don't get me wrong.....I love movies like this.....but I enjoy them for what they are. Fluff and fun.

Julie & Julia - my dear, Meryl Streep. She just can't lose. LOVE HER. And, I'm really loving Amy Adams, as well. It's about two of my favorite things.....cooking and blogging. How could they go wrong? And, it's a Nora Ephron movie (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle)....sweet and touching......your basic chick flick, but with some substance. I really enjoyed it. It had some flaws, but overall, I recommend it.

Thoughts? Other reviews?

Movie Review

Easily one of the funniest movies I have seen in years. Laugh-out-loud funny. So very, very wrong in many ways......but if you can get past that, you will thoroughly enjoy it. The guy from The Office was fantastic. And, Bradley Cooper was, well....easy on the eyes. Favorite part - when the bearded guy asks if the guys are ready to let the dogs out. "You know? Who let the dogs out? Who? Who?" I crack up just thinking about it.

Go see it tonight. But, don't judge me when you see the raunchy parts. I closed my eyes.

Movie Review

So cute. So fun.

Ginnifer Goodwin might be my new favorite actress.

It will make you want to fall in love! (or stay in love for old folks like me)