When A Problem Comes Along

It's months away and I'm already excited about this movie! I've watched the trailer 3 times today!

Music Tuesday - 10/7/08

Last weekend I saw Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. I loved this movie. It was so simple and happy. It wasn't an over-the-top story that could never happen in real life. It seemed like something I could have lived in high school if I had lived in the New York area and been vastly cooler. I only went to one concert in high school and that was the Indigo Girls. I did buy tickets to REM and INXS but my mom wouldn't let me go. I liked the main actors...Who doesn't like George-Michael Bluth? And Kat Dennings was just as good if not better than she was in Charlie Bartlett. The movie was all about a love of music and mix tapes. Here are a few songs from the movie:

Ottoman (mp3) - Vampire Weekend
Middle Management (mp3) - Bishop Allen
Very Loud (mp3) - Shout Out Louds
After Hours (mp3) - We Are Scientists
Xavia (mp3) - The Submarines
Riot Radio (mp3) - The Dead 60's

Pilates Suggestions?

I had a Pilates video I liked but now haven't done in forever.  I'm looking to join this century and get a DVD. I could just buy the same one but wanted to try something new.  Do any of you have one you love? Preferably not to tough, I'm basically starting over and it would also be great if it lasted about 15-20 minutes so I can have time to do other cardio stuff too.  Doesn't have to be Pilates, just something for core-strengthening. Any suggestions?

Last Knight

Last night I...

• Had one of the best BLTs ever at Gotham Tavern (the bread was a perfect balance of toasty but not mouth-shredding)
  
• Saw lots of previews, the best of which was The Mummy 3 (how sad!)
  
• Spent almost 3 hours watching the new Batman (currently rated #3 of all time at IMDB, perhaps a little too high, but it was really good)
  
• Mourned Heath Ledger (again!)
  
• Apologized to the poor guy next to me when I laughed way too much at the Joker looking for hand sanitizer (not a spoiler, I promise)
  
• Was reminded of how much I like William Fitchner (can't think of anything parenthetical for this one but didn't want to break the trend)
  
• Couldn't decide between Aaron Eckhart and Christian Bale (sadly neither of them was asking me to choose)
  

Higitus Figitus!

Guess what comes out on DVD today! My favorite Disney film ever, Sword in the Stone. I know it's not the most popular one and it's so old but that's kind of what I love about it. I love the scratchy pencil drawing animation. I love the humor of it. When Wart is a fish and a squirrel, Archimedes and his hrummmph and grumpiness, Merlin's scatterbrained professorness, but most of all, I love the wizard's duel.

Top 5: Suck You In Movies

You know what I mean - You get up on a day off with plans to get out, enjoy the sun, visit the farmer's market, run some errands, whatever. You make a chocolate soy milk/banana smoothie and some toast. You sit down to eat it and make your fatal mistake, you turn on the TV, just to see what's on. Next thing you know, it's 2 hours later because one of those movies you can't resist, even though you've seen it 15 times, is on. I wish I could say my list included Koyaanisqatsi, Metropolis, An Inconvenient Truth, Roger and Me, and Citizen Kane. But alas, it's a bit fluffier than that. I'm sure I have lots more of these than this, but in keeping with the theme, here are 5.

1) The Goonies - The movie that did it to me yesterday. Set on the Oregon coast and Haystack rock plays an integral role. This one is just a fun movie from my childhood and may be the first thing that made me think I wanted to live in Oregon. It's such a caper (what a great word), and so fun to see the kids figure out the treasure map and save the day.

2) Sixteen Candles - I could probably quote this whole movie so I could play it in my head whenever I want but still it has very high Saturday-ruining potential. And it's by John Hughes and stars Molly Ringwald so it has street cred. Just hearing Jake Ryan on the steps of the church say, "Yeah you" or the song "If You Were Here" makes me swoon. Memorable moments include Molly Ringwald's scream after her friend says her brother paid $1 to see her underwear, Joan Cusack's dance while wearing a neck brace, any scene with Farmer Ted the geek, and of course, the kiss over the birthday cake at the end. But the line I love the most is when Grandpa calls the police when Long Duk Dong is missing, and describes his outfit, "What was he wearing? Well, uh, let's see, he was wearing a red argyle sweater, and tan trousers, and red shoes... (pause for the police to say something we don't hear) No, he's not retarded." I think of this line almost every time I wear something a little unusual - is it daring or would someone have to defend my mental abilities? And watching it on TV provides even more laughs when you know it well enough to know how they edited the dialogue for TV.

3) The Bourne Identity - I really like the rest of the trilogy too but this is currently the one most likely to be on a Saturday morning. This movie has it all, action, drama, mystery, suspense, a cute actor, a little romance, a great car chase, and it's set in Europe. And Jason Bourne is soooo smart which only makes him cuter. See, I do have my priorities in line.

4) 13 Going on 30 - I love Jennifer Garner. I loved Alias, I loved her on SNL doing the skit as a Walmart greeter and offering people maps of the store and rain gear because the store was so huge it had different weather systems. I think this movie is underrated. It is so funny and so well done. If it were possible for a 13 year old girl from the 80s to suddenly wake up and be 30 in the 2000s, this is how she would be. She would be more excited to have a signed photo from Madonna than Guiliani. She would dance to Thriller, she would waffle between plain and peanut when asked about Eminem. I also really like that the ending is done in a way that the other girl doesn't get dumped. And if that weren't enough, the guy is Mark Ruffalo.

5) About a Boy - I own this one and yet I sometimes catch myself watching it on TV, with commercials! Maybe I don't deserve a DVD player if I'm going to ignore it like that. I love Nick Hornby. I love Hugh Grant. I love Toni Collette. I love that kid's eyebrows. A friend of mine and I have both been unemployed and we totally related to the part about your day being divided into units of time and finding ways to fill the units. I love hearing Hugh Grant's thoughts and how we have all thought things like that. And ultimately, I love his change of heart.

Here are a few others I didn't have room for: Clueless, Never Been Kissed, Ocean's Eleven, Die Hard, Out of Sight, Room with a View, Pride and Prejudice (although this takes more than just a Saturday morning), The Parent Trap, and Grease. What about you? What did I forget?

Top 5: Movies About Music

Having recently seen High Fidelity, I was reminded of how much I liked the "top 5" thing he does throughout the movie. So here's my top 5 of movies about music (in no particular order).

1) High Fidelity - Duh, of course this had to make the list, it inspired the list. John Cusack back when I would have still wanted to date him. It takes place in a record store. It's a love story not only about his girlfriend but about music.

2) Almost Famous - I like the scene after Russell (Billy Crudup) went to the party and jumped off the roof and the whole band is back on the bus, mad at him. Tiny Dancer comes on and, one by one, they start singing and the anger fades away. I like when Elaine (Frances McDormand) has a breakdown in front of her class and says, "Rock stars have kidnapped my son!" I swear I don't really like Elton John all that much but this movie does include one of my favorite songs by him, "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." Overall, I like music from the 70s, it's what I grew up on. And I think Patrick Fugit is adorable.

3) Pretty in Pink - More of a teen drama than specifically about music but this was probably the first soundtrack that I loved. And it's still great. I remember I wore a pink satin Esprit shirt to see it and of course, all day, I was obnoxious saying I was Pretty in Pink. Favorite lines:
Blaine: "That's it, Stef. She thinks you're $h!t. And deep down, you know she's right."
Duckie: "His name is Blaine? Oh! That's a major appliance, that's not a name!

4) Singles - About people and how their love of music ties them all together. I once told a guy I would marry anyone who could play me Waterfall by Jimi Hendrix on guitar. I love the scene in the grocery store when Steve (Campbell Scott) is buying a pregnancy test, the cashier is Doug Hughley (Jeremy Piven) who recognizes Steve from his college radio show and starts mixing Public Enemy and Elvis Costello, "What's so funny about peace, peace, peace, love and understanding, death row, what does a brother know." And the cameos - Eric Stoltz as a mime, Eddie Vedder as a terrible musician "A compliment for us is a compliment for you", and the one scene with Chris Cornell. I remember before I saw this movie on a date, my friend, Christine, told me to sneeze and see what my date said. And after the movie, I still think of it every time I pull up someone's car door button. Remote power locks have ruined this display of love. And I'm pretty sure every girl anywhere near my age would love a boy to stop by their house and say, "I was just nowhere near your neighborhood." Favorite attempt at a pick-up line: "There is so much life in you and so much emotional larceny in these others."

5) Josie and the Pussycats - OK, I'm just kidding....

5) This Is Spinal Tap - "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" and luckily this movie is on the right side of that line. From the many cameos including Paul Shaffer, Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, and Fran Drescher to the eternally quotable lines. This movie is the original and ultimate mockumentary. If you love Best in Show and A Mighty Wind but haven't seen this, see it tonight, it's the grandfather of all the others. And these guys actually toured and even had a reunion tour. Favorite lines: When Nigel freaks out about the small bread and large cold cuts and how he can't fold the bread.
And of course the classic:

Once

So I finally saw Once today. I really enjoyed it. I liked that it was basically a musical, the songs last much longer than in a non-musical. I liked the way their lives wove together through a chance meeting. I liked the lead "girl," Marketa, and how she encouraged their relationship just by being herself and by asking somewhat presumptuous questions like if this stranger could fix her vacuum. It was so real, nothing in it felt faked or just put in the movie because someone had a good idea for a specific moment that, in the completed movie, seems out of place. The movie feels like the perfect glimpse into these real and beautiful lives.

But why am I such an American? Why do I feel like a movie's not over till Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are together in the end?

You Don't Bring Me Flours Anymore

Earlier this week I saw Stranger Than Fiction instead of being outside in the cold and snow for Family Home Evening.

I loved this movie! I loved the premise, I loved Will Ferrell playing a different kind of character than usual, I loved all of the other characters, and I loved the attention to detail. Dustin Hoffman was hilarious as the Literature professor and I loved trying to figure out which novels he was mentioning as he questioned the events of Harold Crick's life. I love seeing Emma Thompson commit to her role of distracted, hermit author with all the idiosyncracies and affectations. I loved the architecture, color schemes, and the little details like when Harold is staying with his friend who loves space camp (Buster Bluth) the sleeping bag has the cosmos on it. I loved the play on words of flower/flour although it took me about 5 minutes to get the joke. But one of my favorite exchanges was this one...

Dr. Jules Hilbert: Hell Harold, you could just eat nothing but pancakes if you wanted.
Harold Crick: What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind, in a choice between pancakes and living, chooses pancakes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes.

And if you want that song that Harold plays, click here...

7 Down - 5 Letters - Big Screen Entertainment

I should be writing about my graduation yesterday and I will soon but I just found out about this movie, Wordplay. It's about crossword puzzles and competitions. It's a documentary with Will Shortz, the guy who creates the NYTimes puzzles and is also the puzzle master on NPR. Plus Jon Stewart. I have liked him for at least 10 years, especially after I heard he proposed to his wife in a crossword puzzle.

The movie opens next Friday, the same day as my graduation party. I've never semi-regretted having a party. So this is my new mantra, "I can wait for the movie..."

Hello, And Welcome To Moviefone!

Tonight I am going to see She's the Man with Jessica. Yep, that's right, the Amanda Bynes vehicle "based on" Twelfth Night.

That embarrassing admission aside, while looking on Fandango.com for theaters and times, I found something disturbing.

OK, one more admission - I read and liked The Da Vinci Code. It was over-hyped, poorly written, predictable in spots, and nonetheless was also enthralling. I remember wondering if I could read at red lights while driving, seriously.

I knew the movie would be huge, the book was huge, and it's starring Tom Hanks. Duh. But this is way over the top... The movie comes out on May 19... You can already buy tickets online. That just seems like more planning than any movie or other non life changing event deserves. Please tell me you don't consider this movie "life changing."

Dinner and a Movie...

Several months ago I thought it would be fun to have a dinner and a movie club, kinda like a book club, that gets together to watch a movie and have a potluck dinner where all the food somehow ties to the film.

Last night we watched All the President's Men. Several people brought food but did not yet have an idea how to tie it to the movie so here is what we came up with, some are admittedly quite a stretch:

Coconut shrimp - served at the Sundance restaurant, owned by Robert Redford, who plays Bob Woodward, one of the reporters

Hummus and pita bread - from the Middle East, the current cause of much political controversy over war.

Brushetta - sometimes made with rosemary. The first explanation about the missing 18 1/2 minutes of White House tape was that the secretary, Rose Mary Woods, had accidentally deleted it.

Caesar salad - Nixon and Caesar were both powerful would-be dictators who were both removed from power (although Nixon resigned just before impeachment).

Vietnamese chicken salad - one of the reasons Nixon bugged the DNC was over the anti-Vietnam war issues.

Tiramisu - mentioned in Sleepless in Seattle, which was written by Nora Ephron, who was married to Carl Bernstein, one of the reporters

Apple pie - all American

Chocolate chip cookies - yummy just like Robert Redford

Sparkling peach juice - Nixon's almost impeachment

I loved/was amazed by this movie. It was intriguing and kept my attention even though there were no chase scenes, no one was killed, and there was almost no music to intensify the stressful scenes. And it definitely echoes some of the political concerns of our times.

Any ideas for next time?