Life of Pi

 

Why did I always believe this book, and now the movie, was about mathematics? CA is a math teacher. I thought he'd read this math book years ago. Nope. He was as oblivious as me.

 

We totally enjoyed so much of this movie--storyline, cinematography, actors, animals, relationships. All of it. I want to watch it again with subtitles turned on. There were a few nuances of dialogue that escaped us. Usually one of us catches the low-talker's phrase. Why do we usually miss the last sentence of those particular lines of dialogue? There are some French-Indian-British accents in-play.

 

Rent, download, stream. Whatever... Life of Pi.

 

Lemonade Stand

Lemonade Stand from Olive Us on Vimeo.

 

Well, for obvious reasons--my visual love for all things lemon--I am delighted by this particular video, as well as the entire Olive Us series by Design Mom.

The Blair family intrigues and entertains me. So glad they didn't live next door when I was raising my kids. Too much pressure. We'd never measure up. Love being the fly-on-the-wall now, though. I have the utmost respect for their parenting and creativity. I regularly share Gabrielle's posts with my daughter and daughter-in-law.

 

 

Picture Paris

Picture Paris
29 minutes



HBO short film by Brad Hall, starring his wife, Julia Louis Dreyfus.

Love it. Charming. Heartbreak. Paris. Food. Paris. New and enduring love. Paris. Twisted...

The Way

This movie poster truly disappoints me.

Hello? Spain? Fantastic scenery.

This was the best you could do?

Budget must have been tight.

This one is not much better.

CA and I had our current NetFlix selection gathering dust all week, or longer. We do stream, but we're (CA, that is) still hanging on to the old-school: mail one back; receive the next movie in the que.

Anyway, we started this during dinner... I know. How truly civilized of us! But, it's Sunday night and we deserve to break all the rules tonight. Why? Just 'cuz.

Loved this movie. Of course, President Bartlett is a fantastic actor. Apparently Emilio Estevez wrote the screenplay based on a book by Jack Hitt, and EE directed and also stars (mostly as a prodigal son dead guy).

It's always good when CA and I find a movie/show that we can enjoy together.

It is really true that Europeans absolutely distrust all Romanians (gypsies). This film makes an effort to dispel that prejudice.

See what I mean?! And, this is just one frame from lovely cinematography.

THE WAY is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an irascible American doctor who comes to France to deal with the tragic loss of his son (played by Emilio Estevez). Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage "The Way of St. James" to honor his son's desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn't plan on is the profound impact this trip will have on him. Through unexpected and oftentimes amusing experiences along "The Way," Tom discovers the difference between "the life we live and the life we choose.”Read More
taken from here

 

DEADLY HONEYMOON

Sometimes the perfect antidote to a lingering head cold-virus is a Lifetime movie. A really bad Lifetime movie--Deadly Honeymoon.

MONDAY, MONDAY: Omaha Version

Jones Brothers for lunch.

The Trifecta

an odd angle, I know...

JA and LE need an outing, so JA and I decide we'll go to Mangelsen's--a local version of Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

This is a big deal because they have free popcorn and balloons. We spend a bit of time deciding on what color of balloons--JA, of course needs blue and LE wants pink. But, there are decisions to make-- green for daddy, undecided on mommy's.

Halloween is big at Magelsen's. Very big and very scary. LE shrinks back from the flying bat, but wants to go into the monster room--admiring the Linda Blair Exorcist-like spinning head girl.

There are no free balloons because there's a shortage of helium. That's right, a shortage and hospitals get the current supply. We don't mind buying the balloons. Blue for JA, pink for LE, green for MA, purple for JE, and we remember baby LC needs one,too, so JA decides to get him a blue one, too. Just a darker shade than his own.

I negotiate with LE-- if she goes potty, I'll take them into the monster room. However, we're a bit too late for success, so we do some adjustments and head for the reward. Right inside the monster room door there's a red monster with blood dripping from his mouth eating life-sized rubber babies. We quickly departed before the two little ones saw.

It's time for lunch and I'm ready to take the kids home, but JL still wants to shop so I'll come back for her in about an hour.

Eventually we drive to Jones Brothers for lunch and cupcakes. The free cupcake today is pink and with a hint we're able to name it, bubble gum, so we each get a free one--which I eat immediately! Really good! Really. Better than you can imagine, it being bubble gum and all.

We have a wonderful lunch; JL has the trifecta--1/2 BLT, cup of soup, and a mini red velvet cupcake. I'm captivated by the Cobb salad. I'm craving veggies, and this is a great salad.

After a short spin through Wolner's (gourmet grocery goodies) for some cheeses and sour dough bread, we go across the street to check movie times for tonight and decide to stay for the 1:50pm viewing of I Don't Know How She Does It with Sarah Jessica Parker and Greg Kinnear. Far better than the critics claim. We really enjoy it. Predictable, but cute and entertaining. You gotta love SJP.

One more stop for groceries at HyVee--we're making salsa with D+HS's garden tomatoes. Nothing better! After cheese, bread, salsa, and chips we all decide we'll save the bacon-sirloin sliders for tomorrow. JL and I won't be around so there'll be more for the Smiths.

A very good day with the fun kids and the cuddly little guy. We need to hit the road first thing tomorrow as GJ is expecting JL for supper and my mother-in-law will be watching for me.

LES DESTINÉES

2000

Responsibility versus happiness. Jean Barnery is a young Protestant cleric in Barbazac in 1900 when he divorces his severe wife after falling in love with Pauline, the independent-minded niece of an upper-crust parishioner. Jean's also an heir to a high-end prcelain factory in Limoges. He gives his fortune to his wife to assuage his guilt over the divorce. He pursues Pauline; they marry and live idyllically in Switzerland. Then, duty calls: his family asks him to come to Limoges to run the business. He accepts, ignoring Pauline's wishes. His new responsibilities, as well as his fighting in the Great War, change him and his relationship with Pauline.

written by: jhailey@hotmail.com (from imbd.com)

Beautiful film. Very long: 180 minutes. Some might call the pace too slow, but I love it. Emmanuelle Beart is particularly lovely as Jean's second wife--the absolute love of his life. Her character is multi-layered and fascinating.

The tragic story line is of Jean's daughter, Aline, whom he abandons from a very young age, with much regret. The grown-up Aline is a gorgeous Mia Hansen-Love. Tragic, but take heart, she doesn't die... Her life takes a different turn as she grows up without her father--not know of her father's great love for her. His inability to express his adoration of her does frustrate.

THE HELP

I've obviously got a lot to say today.

JE and I do a movie night--another early birthday celebration. Can't remember the last time we saw a movie together, but we'd both read the book and have been looking forward to the movie.

Lovely film, The Help. Very true to the novel, which doesn't often happen. Noticed in the credits that Nate Berkus was one of the executive producers. Not sure what that's about. I digress. Often. The topic of black/white relationships in the 1960s is a serious subject and was treated with due respect; there were also a good many laughs.

Emma Stone with Allison Janney

Brice Dallas Howard, Sissy Spacek, and Octavia Spencer

This is a very well-done movie. Classy, informative, heart-rendering and heart-warming. Emma Stone cannot be any cuter than she is in this film. She is well-cast, as are many of the familiar faces appearing in this movie. Hilly is dead-on. Brice Dallas Howard (Ron's daughter) is superb. Sissy Spacek as Hilly's mom is a riot. She has great lines, and hams it up brilliantly as the slightly doddering, dementia addled mom.

Minnie did some serious southern cooking, and halfway through I started craving fried chicken. JE and I actually did a Popeye's drive-through on the way home. She didn't partake, but I managed to lure MA into some chicken tenders. We'll save the beans and rice for tomorrow, but the buttery biscuit never even made it all the way home.

DATE NIGHT

Nah! We really don't call it that. We're too old school, I guess.

Anyway, we decide to break loose and go out tonight. Dinner at an upscale steak place and then a movie--Hereafter with Matt Damon, (CA has a coupon! I hate coupons, but they do work.) Only thing, on our way there I note that the coupon has expired. CA is incredulous. He read it wrong

THE LAST SEPTEMBER

The Last September

1999

103 minutes

In 1920s Ireland, an elderly couple reside over a tired country estate. Living with them are their high-spirited niece, their Oxford student nephew, and married house guests, who are trying to cover up that they are presently homeless. The niece enjoys romantic frolics with a soldier and a hidden guerrilla fighter. All of the principals are thrown into turmoil when one more guest arrives with considerable wit and unwanted advice.


Keeley Hawes is gorgeous as the innocent Lois. A very British film of the struggles with Ireland amongst the British-Irish. The end of an era. The end of innocence. Fiona Shaw as Marda is just the right mix of nostalgia, irony, and manipulation. A fading beauty ready to settle for less than she expected; this visit her last remaining bit of romantic possibility.

Cinematographer Slawomir Idziak does an exceedingly fine job of capturing mood, location, era.

BROKEN ENGLISH

Inadvertenly another French film, kind of... No subtitles to make me feel smart.

BROKEN ENGLISH
2007

The film is set in New York City where a woman in her late thirties (Nora Wilder, played by Parker Posey has little luck finding love until she meets Julien (very cute Melvil Poupaud), a quirky Frenchman, who sweeps her off her feet and opens her eyes to a lot more than love.


The film screened at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and ultimately garnered five award nominations, among them the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.

A lot more entertaining that The Kids are All Right, which I saw in a theater earlier in the day. Not sure about Parker Posey... She got the angst of the unmarried NY career (?) woman right, but she's not a favorite.
 

I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG, A French Film

I've Loved You So Long
(Il y a longtemps que je t'aime)

2008
PG-13
117 minutes

After more than a decade apart, estranged sisters Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) try to rebuild their fractured relationship. But the task is hardly easy, considering Juliette's past: She's been in jail for 15 years -- for killing someone. As she settles into small-town life with Lea's family, the locals can't help but talk. Writer-director Philippe Claudel's feature film debut garnered him a Golden Globe nomination.

Well done. Kristin Scott Thomas may have been a risky choice in this French film. She does introspective, distant, and secretive well.

MY BEST FRIEND, A French Film

2007

PG-13
94 minutes

So single-minded is antiques dealer François Coste (Daniel Auteuil) that he's failed to make a single friend over the years -- a point his business partner (Julie Gayet) is willing to wager on. With a prized Greek vase at stake, Coste must find a best pal in 10 days or pay up. The arrogant Parisian turns to a gregarious, lowbrow taxi driver (Dany Boon) to teach him how to make friends in this buddy movie (without the buddy) from Patrice Leconte.

Love it! The antiques dealer, François is clueless as to why he has no friends, and how to make friends. Probably Aspegers! Anyway, it's all very French and very hapless. You can't resist François, no matter what his acquaintances/associates say!

SHALL WE KISS?

A story within a story that encapsulates another small story. Clever; sweet. Beautiful French women.

ENTERTAINING, Summer's Best

JL arrived yesterday--2 or 3 days after we first expected her. She's been caught up in Ground Hog Day, the baby version, and couldn't break free from her time warp.

We've talked and eaten and shopped and read and talked and eaten and shopped and now we're cooking. steak tacos, again. Her first sampling. CA has already grilled the steaks which we purchased at Caputo's and aged a bit with kosher salt before hitting the fire. We did the NY Strip steaks this way the last time we had steak, and mama mia! The ration is 1/2 Kosher salt to 1 lb. of meat, then you cover the meat lightly and refrigerate 24 to 48 hours.

We'll eat on the screened porch and wile away the evening, lingering over food, drink, and conversation. The plan has been to slow things down and focus on adult time--conversations and activities, with a healthy dose of sleep, of which JL has been deprived lately.

To continue the movie references... JL is reading Prince of Tides and we've decided to watch the video tonight. Always reminds me of the revelation that my brother's dog was called Prince, although years after I was told it was actually Prints. A non sequitur, for which I'm known.

For KT's enlightening, in case you're reading...

non sequitur:
 It is a comment which, because of its apparent lack of meaning relative to

what it follows, seems absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing

Fun quote:

It seems we never had time to get things done because our days were filled to the brim with lingering. Breakfast became a longer and longer linger.

p. 95

Living in a Foreign Language

Michael Tucker

EARLY BIRD

For the second Friday in a row, I go to Yoga at 6:00am! The only way I make it is accountability--my friend BR meets me to walk at 7:00am. Jayson is one of the best Yoga instructors around here, so it's almost worth the sacrifice of sleep.

I have plans to hit an estate sale in the neighborhood and then get to Tuesday Morning when they open at 10:00am, but I succumb to the z-z-z-z's and sleep until after noon! I skip the estate sale and the pink and wooden play kitchens are still available when I arrive at Tuesday Morning. I have a great time shopping the sales--all clearance items are 50% off the clearance price.

RISING WITH THE BIRDS

Carey Mulligan

We've had An Education from Netflix for about three weeks, even took it along on vacation but never watched it. Our loss. It's a great movie. Nick Hornby's screenplay of a memoir by Lynn Barber. This actually happened to a 16 year old girl. Beautifully executed--London and Paris. Should have been more disturbing than it was--probably because all the sin was wrapped so prettily. That happens. You get seduced and eventually compromised... Whatever, I loved the movie and plan to read the book.

MARCHING ON

House and Garden magazine

via http://brabournefarm.blogspot.com/

This is were I would love to be. Somewhere in Provence with sunshine and wonderful food.

But, I'm here. Finally well and striving to find the right balance in daily living.

EASY VIRTUE

A good winter night movie choice, and NetFlix lets you watch it on-line for free!

Colin Firth, Kristen Scott Thomas, Jessica Biel... A period piece set in the roaring 20s in the English countryside. A clash of cultures and wills.

Great cinematography and styling. Jessica Biel surprised me, and Colin Firth raised the bar on my normal opinion of him.

GIGANTIC: The movie

Not a great movie, but certainly worth viewing on a cold and snowy Saturday night.

THE STORY
Brian Weathersby (PAUL DANO) is a 28 year-old salesman at a high-end Swedish mattress company. The afterthought child to elderly parents (ED ASNER, JANE ALEXANDER), and the youngest son in a trio of successful brothers, a shady oil man (IAN ROBERTS), a surgeon (ROBERT STANTON), Brian is searching for his place in the world. Unfulfilled by his work he spends a good portion of his day pursuing his goal of someday adopting a baby from China. He gets swept up in a romance with the lovely but misguided Harriet Lolly (ZOOEY DESCHANEL) when she comes in to his store one day and falls asleep on one of the beds. To win her over, he must compete with her bear of a father, Al Lolly, (JOHN GOODMAN) an art-collecting loudmouth with a bad back and deep pockets. GIGANTIC is a funny, surreal love story about the anxiety that comes when two people with crazy families collide unexpectedly and fall for each other.



Best line I've heard in awhile, delivered by Ed Asner while holding his new Chinese granddaughter (and sniffing her diaper area), "Brian, there's a deuce loose in her caboose."