Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
June Movies
My June movies were "Wild Bill" and "East Side, West Side".
"Wild Bill" (1995, directed by Walter Hill) was not an intentional viewing, but Bogie was watching it and I'd never seen it, so it counts! It was an interesting take on the Hickock story. Nothing spectacular, but very well done and keeps your interest for the entire duration. I kept expecting Jeff Bridges to morph into his Rooster Cogburn character, so that was a little distracting but it was my own fault. It was also hard to take David Arquette seriously in his role. Don't get me wrong, he did a very good job, but the last thing I saw him in was an episode of Friends (The One with all the Jam) so I kept having to remind myself that he wasn't Malcolm in this film! Overall, it was a well done film and maybe if I watch it again I can get rid of my actor biases and enjoy the film for what it is. Watch for Christina Applegate and Diane Lane!
"East Side, West Side" (1949, directed by Mervyn LeRoy) was extremely well done! I can't say I loved the film because the whole story and plot are kind of sad and I like happy endings, but it's a solid film with excellent acting. It tackles some common marriage issues head on, with the actors all delivering emotional, believable performances that keep you rooted in the plot and invested in the characters. Barbara Stanwyck and James Mason are a married couple working through the complications of an affair (his), with Ava Gardner as the former mistress and Van Heflin as the shoulder-to-cry-on-who-wants-to-be-more for Stanwyck. It would have been more emotionally grueling (not to mention realistic) if they had made Mason's character more likeable, they made him easy to dislike so that there was a clear bad guy. Stanwyck was excellent in the role of a head-over-heels-in-love wife who lives on pins and needles for fear her husband will cheat again. There's a very heartwrenching scene between her and her close friend where she pours her heart out in what I imagine is every cheated-on spouse's fear. There is also an excellent scene between Mason and Gardner (his mistress), where he tries to tell her it's over, she tries to prove that it's not, and he is clearly in denial while she is in full control because she's the only one speaking the truth.
Keep an eye out for Cyd Charisse in a non-dancing role (I didn't recognize her!), there's a nice scene where she gets to tell Mason exactly what she thinks of him "If I were your wife, I'd cut your heart out!"
A well done film, I'll probably watch it again to make sure my initial reaction stays the same and that I still like it.
"Wild Bill" (1995, directed by Walter Hill) was not an intentional viewing, but Bogie was watching it and I'd never seen it, so it counts! It was an interesting take on the Hickock story. Nothing spectacular, but very well done and keeps your interest for the entire duration. I kept expecting Jeff Bridges to morph into his Rooster Cogburn character, so that was a little distracting but it was my own fault. It was also hard to take David Arquette seriously in his role. Don't get me wrong, he did a very good job, but the last thing I saw him in was an episode of Friends (The One with all the Jam) so I kept having to remind myself that he wasn't Malcolm in this film! Overall, it was a well done film and maybe if I watch it again I can get rid of my actor biases and enjoy the film for what it is. Watch for Christina Applegate and Diane Lane!"East Side, West Side" (1949, directed by Mervyn LeRoy) was extremely well done! I can't say I loved the film because the whole story and plot are kind of sad and I like happy endings, but it's a solid film with excellent acting. It tackles some common marriage issues head on, with the actors all delivering emotional, believable performances that keep you rooted in the plot and invested in the characters. Barbara Stanwyck and James Mason are a married couple working through the complications of an affair (his), with Ava Gardner as the former mistress and Van Heflin as the shoulder-to-cry-on-who-wants-to-be-more for Stanwyck. It would have been more emotionally grueling (not to mention realistic) if they had made Mason's character more likeable, they made him easy to dislike so that there was a clear bad guy. Stanwyck was excellent in the role of a head-over-heels-in-love wife who lives on pins and needles for fear her husband will cheat again. There's a very heartwrenching scene between her and her close friend where she pours her heart out in what I imagine is every cheated-on spouse's fear. There is also an excellent scene between Mason and Gardner (his mistress), where he tries to tell her it's over, she tries to prove that it's not, and he is clearly in denial while she is in full control because she's the only one speaking the truth.Keep an eye out for Cyd Charisse in a non-dancing role (I didn't recognize her!), there's a nice scene where she gets to tell Mason exactly what she thinks of him "If I were your wife, I'd cut your heart out!"
A well done film, I'll probably watch it again to make sure my initial reaction stays the same and that I still like it.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Five Things I love Friday
1. Mommy's Day Off. I am currently sitting in a Panera Bread with music jamming in my headphones (current song: Mumford & Sons "after the storm"), uploading photos, journaling, tweeting, emailing, and people watching. And before I was here I was book browsing at Barnes & Noble, and before THAT I was at my lovely cousin Jen's house to drop off an air mattress, and she served me yummy coffee and homemade peach muffins!
2. People Watching. So far today I have observed:
3 people try to push open the wrong side of the door, and almost do a faceplant in the process
1 (what I'm fairly certain was a) blind date
1 woman walk facefirst into the glass wall next to the door (yes, I had a very hard time not laughing. I couldn't hear her over my music but I'm pretty sure she was swearing as she held her forehead)
2 dresses and 3 shirts that were absolutely adorable and I'd love to have
1 very pregnant lady
6 different men hold the door for whomever was in front of/behind them
3. Bagels. I didn't get one today, but I'm seriously contemplating getting some for breakfast tomorrow because Panera bagels are amazing! They're the only plain bagels I can eat without putting something on it, they're that good! They also have this cinnamon crunch bagel that's ummmmmm (that's a yummy noise with closed lips so you don't drool on yourself)
4. Journals. I will confess, I have a problem. I like journals. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to them. I know for a fact I have at least 1 completely blank one at home, and 3 others that are partially started, and I just bought another one today. Now in my defense, the ones back home are the cheaper kind with an elastic strap that goes around it, or even just a cute spiral bound notebook that's small enough to fit in your purse. Today's purchase was a legit journal, real leather with hand-tooled flowers and leaves on the cover. It smells amazing and I'm actually going to journal in this one (as in personal thoughts and dreams and not just sermon notes and funny quotes). My first action was to write my name in the front, and then the following quote:
"...though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
2. People Watching. So far today I have observed:
3 people try to push open the wrong side of the door, and almost do a faceplant in the process
1 (what I'm fairly certain was a) blind date
1 woman walk facefirst into the glass wall next to the door (yes, I had a very hard time not laughing. I couldn't hear her over my music but I'm pretty sure she was swearing as she held her forehead)
2 dresses and 3 shirts that were absolutely adorable and I'd love to have
1 very pregnant lady
6 different men hold the door for whomever was in front of/behind them
3. Bagels. I didn't get one today, but I'm seriously contemplating getting some for breakfast tomorrow because Panera bagels are amazing! They're the only plain bagels I can eat without putting something on it, they're that good! They also have this cinnamon crunch bagel that's ummmmmm (that's a yummy noise with closed lips so you don't drool on yourself)
4. Journals. I will confess, I have a problem. I like journals. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to them. I know for a fact I have at least 1 completely blank one at home, and 3 others that are partially started, and I just bought another one today. Now in my defense, the ones back home are the cheaper kind with an elastic strap that goes around it, or even just a cute spiral bound notebook that's small enough to fit in your purse. Today's purchase was a legit journal, real leather with hand-tooled flowers and leaves on the cover. It smells amazing and I'm actually going to journal in this one (as in personal thoughts and dreams and not just sermon notes and funny quotes). My first action was to write my name in the front, and then the following quote:
"...though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
Sarah Williams, The Old Astronomer to His Pupil
5. Bathrooms. For the very simple reason that I have to use one right now. I mean, think about it. How awesome is indoor plumbing and a private Loo? No squatting in the woods with a (hopefully non-poisonous) leaf to wipe with. And on that note, I'm going to go pee before I head back home to my husband and babies.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Five Things I love Friday
I know it's saturday morning, but I started this last night so it counts!
1. Sisters. I love my own more than anything, but I also have some very dear women in my family (who are all somebody's sister), and I love them too! (excuse the quality, it's a cell phone photo.)
My sister was in town for a few days, so we had girls' night out with all the aunties and girl cousins who live in this area. Girl talk was had, photos were taken, homemade mini-pizzas were consumed, and then a walk downtown for one of my favorite desserts, which brings me to number 2!
2. Ice cream. especially the homemade kind. or handmade, whichever you call it. Made right there on location from yummy fresh ingredients! I had Heathbar Crunch in a waffle cone. droooooooooooool.
3. the aforementioned Girl Talk. I love that close girl friends can launch into intimate conversations at the drop of a (cute little) shoe. Food, hair, relationships, shoes, decorating schemes, hobbies, jobs...we covered all these topics and more and I love it.
4. Adventuring. My sister and I visited several different places while she was here, little out of the way local shops that she discovered on her iphone. I've done more touristy stuff in the last 2 days than I have since I moved here after graduating college! A cheese farm, a pottery store, a flea market, 10,000 Villages (if you've never been to one, find it and go!!)
5. Coffee. The nectar of sleep-deprived mothers everywhere. I was given a bag by my aunt, so I have coffee again! Nobody else in this house drinks it, so I've been trying to make do with cappuccino mixes and teas, but it's not the same. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm caffeine.
1. Sisters. I love my own more than anything, but I also have some very dear women in my family (who are all somebody's sister), and I love them too! (excuse the quality, it's a cell phone photo.)
2. Ice cream. especially the homemade kind. or handmade, whichever you call it. Made right there on location from yummy fresh ingredients! I had Heathbar Crunch in a waffle cone. droooooooooooool.
3. the aforementioned Girl Talk. I love that close girl friends can launch into intimate conversations at the drop of a (cute little) shoe. Food, hair, relationships, shoes, decorating schemes, hobbies, jobs...we covered all these topics and more and I love it.
4. Adventuring. My sister and I visited several different places while she was here, little out of the way local shops that she discovered on her iphone. I've done more touristy stuff in the last 2 days than I have since I moved here after graduating college! A cheese farm, a pottery store, a flea market, 10,000 Villages (if you've never been to one, find it and go!!)
5. Coffee. The nectar of sleep-deprived mothers everywhere. I was given a bag by my aunt, so I have coffee again! Nobody else in this house drinks it, so I've been trying to make do with cappuccino mixes and teas, but it's not the same. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm caffeine.
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