Quick, fun read: "The Divorce Party" - Laura Dave

This story is one that unfolds over the course of one day and is told to us from two female character's perspectives: Gwyn Huntington is the said host of the divorce party as she and her husband, Thomas, are divorcing after thirty-five years. They are a wealthy couple who lives in Montauk and have two adult children, Nate and Georgia. Through Gwyn's voice, we hear what she is going through as she plans a fete that is both celebrating the success and demise of her long marriage...one whose ending is not of her choosing. As one reads Gwyn's narrative, you're intrigued as you get the feeling that something else may be brewing...

The other voice through which we hear the events of this fateful day is Maggie, who is soon to be Gwyn's daughter-in-law as she is engaged to Nate. While Gwyn is at an ending, thirty-year old Maggie is only beginning her life with Nate...which had seemed very simple and uncomplicated. Until they make the four-hour journey from their home in Brooklyn and somehow get swept up in some of the family issues playing out, causing Maggie to question some of the things that she had felt were solid in her relationship with Nate.

The author uses the two voices well and alternates the use of each every chapter. Additionally, her lyrical descriptions of Montauk make this beautiful place a character in of itself as it functions as much more than just a backdrop or setting.

This was one I read in two days and was disappointed to have finished it since it was such a good read. I'm happy to report that Ms. Dave is at work on her third novel - set in Big Sur, California - and has a first novel "London is the Best City in America" that you can be sure I will be reading soon!

For all you book-to-movie fans: Jennifer Aniston's new film production company, Echo Films (which she owns with Kristin Hahn, has already purchased the movie rights for "The Divorce Party". In my opinion, Patricia Clarkson would make a fantastic choice for Gwyn!

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. is one of the best actors of his generation. And yet, he's almost blown it on numerous occasions--he has been given more second chances than most people get - even by Hollywood standards. This, of course, must be attributed to his immense talent...who hasn't wanted to see him make a comeback when his chips, in the past, have been down? And, comeback kid he's been over the past few years with brilliant performances in blockbuster successes like "Iron Man" and "Tropic Thunder".

Here's hoping we continue to see more great work from him for many, many years - he's such an interesting actor that his performance alone can make a mediocre film watchable.

Take a look here at his highs and lows over the years.

Good Day to "The Merry Gentleman"

Ah, I shipped this one back to Netflix, sight unseen, having never even taken the disc out of its sleeve after having it for several weeks. I had wanted to see it but I just hadn't been in the mood lately for what looked like it would be a slowmoving drama with content that might even be a little depressing. Oh, well.

On its way will be one for Sean - maybe "District 9" or "Inglorious Basterds". If it's the latter, I'll certainly tune in and will report back if it's one you should check out.

The Movies: A Decade in Review

Hello readers,

Sorry posts have been few and far between this month! Like everyone else, it's been a busy month with the holidays swiftly approaching. You should begin to see more again next week.

In the meantime, here's a great slide show review (with commentary) of this decade at the movies. There will be some you'll shake your head at - how could THAT be included?! - and others you'll find list-worthy. Still others that you may want to add to your list of ones to add to your Netflix queue, rent at your local Blockbuster or even borrow from your local library (***If you haven't been to your local library lately, do yourself a favor and GO!! Most branches now have terrific AV collections, many branches get 'new release' films the same day they go to Blockbuster. And, it's free!) particularly with the kind of winter we may have in store--good moviewatching and reading weather :)

So, catch up on the decade that was known as the 'aught's' and take a look back at some of the best films, directors and other trends that happened onscreen in the 00's (can you believe the decade is almost over?!?) and click here

Any favorites jump out at you? Or, any listworthy films/actors/directors that didn't make the cut?

For me, one film that the reviewer trashed is "A Perfect Storm" with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg - whereas I absolutely loved it!! Popcorn movie with great cast, good story and a lot of heart - what could be better??

Opening this Friday: "Up in the Air"

I haven't written that much lately about current offerings at the movies and that's been for a reason - there hasn't been too much to get excited about, which is unusual for the fall when studios typically roll out their best in hopes of snagging a contender for Oscar season.

That looks like it will change this weekend with the opening of "Up in the Air" starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga which is directed by Jason Reitman, who directed both "Juno" (absolutely loved!!) and "Thank You For Not Smoking" (really liked). Not to mention what sounds like an amazing soundtrack - it's playing in the background right now on my Mac. Click here to check it out.

If you like your romance & comedy just a little bit offbeat, this film may be for you. Viewing the movie's website while having the soundtrack on in the background, I couldn't help but be reminded of "Garden State". Except in this case, it's for the slightly older set not just the Gen Y hipsters.

I'm hoping I'll be able to see it sometime in the next week, will report back with what I hope will be a glowing review!

Readers' Choice: What are you watching & reading?

C'mon...I know you're out there and I'd love to hear from you!

Let us know what books or tomes you're reading, especially if they are page-turners!!

As for what you're watching - have you seen any movies lately, at the theatre or on DVD? What about on TV - any new favorites now that the fall season is under way?

Drop a quick note in the comments section so we know what's on your radar right now. Thanks!!

"The Answer Man" doesn't have all the answers. Nor does the movie.

I'm an unabashed rom-com fan. There - it's out there :)

For me, it's not that I think life is perfect or that I have unrealistic romantic expectations - it's simply that I like the stories in all their cheesy glory. It's a foregone conclusion that you will almost always have a happy ending...and that this 'sail into the sunset' usually can be called only a few minutes into the movie...sometimes even just from watching the trailer! They are known for being predictable, sometimes to a fault. People generally don't watch these for a sense of mystery or to determine 'whodunnit' (there are plenty of movies for that and I'll be sure to recommend any good ones since I love a good thriller or an involved and intricate mystery) - women tune in to romantic comedies because it's like comfort food on film--you can be reasonably assured you'll like it and it's an escape from the demands of real life, even if only for ninety minutes.

"The Answer Man", however, falls short....particularly in the first half-hour (which is where you want to hook your viewer not have their hand hovering above the 'Eject' button!): the tone is choppy and uneven and the movie struggles to find its groove. For those that hang in there - as I did - there are some sweet moments (one that comes to mind is between supporting actor Lou Taylor Pucci , a young man just out of rehab, and his on-screen alcoholic father) as well as some genuinely funny ones. Just not enough for me to strongly recommend this movie. As I've noted in an earlier post, Jeff Daniels is a fine actor and his talents aren't truly showcased in this vehicle. Lauren Graham's character - a single mom who has recently embarked upon a new career as a chiropractor - is a bit too saccharine and the chemistry between her & Daniels seems a stretch.

For those of you who enjoy knowing where the movie was shot, this was filmed in Philadelphia and the city itself makes for a great character in this otherwise mostly forgettable film.

On The Tube: "Modern Family" and "The Good Wife"

Do you need a good laugh? Add "Modern Family" to your lineup and you'll laugh throughout the show!

I think its one that fans of the late, great "Arrested Development" will like. Sean, after he watched, noted a similar style to "The Office", a show which we both love.

And, don't worry if you're behind - just jump in, I promise you won't be disappointed! (Generally you can do this with comedies whereas a show like "Flashforward" or "Lost" you do need to start from the beginning...that is, if the beginning is even the beginning - they like to keep you guessing!)

Meanwhile ABC has a new hit with "The Good Wife" starring Julianna Marguiles, Josh Charles, Chris Noth, Christine Baranski, etc. I mentioned this show earlier in the blog and have been faithfully tuning in each week. Good legal show with a nice amount of characters' backstories mixed in. Here's hoping that we will see more of Chris Noth's character, Peter Florrick (the fictional Eliot Spitzer) as well as Christine Baranski's character - she's one of the senior partners at the firm where Marguiles' character, Alicia Florrick, now works following her husband's meteoric fall from grace. Archie Panjabi was an actress I was not familiar with until this show and she is terrific as the law firm's investigator...a recent storyline hinted that she may have a backstory with Peter...juicy!

If you ever liked "The Practice", this should be one you add to your viewing!

Quick book review: "Best Friends Forever"

I finished Jennifer Weiner's "Best Friends Forever" and, while it wasn't her strongest title, it was definitely enjoyable...a good one to read before bed as you're winding down for the night.

Clean Sweep

Now and again, I'll have movies out from Netflix that I've/we've wanted to see but they sit...and sit, collecting dust atop their little red envelopes. For whatever reason, nothing motivates either me or Sean to remove them from their sleeve to actually make it to the DVD player.

And so - clean sweep. All three were sent back yesterday, two never watched - "The Brothers Bloom" and "Away We Go" - and one, "The Shipping News", was half-watched--I got about forty-five minutes in one night a few weeks ago. I will say - it was shaping up to be an excellent movie between the caliber of acting talent - Judi Dench, Gordon Pinsent, Pete Posthelwaite, Kevin Spacey - however I succumbed to tiredness that one evening and...haven't returned to it since. I'll probably wind up watching it again from the beginning sometime soon, it really was a beautiful movie...just will need to wait for the mood to strike me. Same goes for "The Brothers Bloom" (starring Mark Ruffalo, who I adore, and Rachel Weisz) and "Away We Go".

On to the new: slated to arrive tomorrow are "Prison Break: The Final Break" (faithful readers will remember that Sean & I were diehard fans of this Fox show...well, until the last season which was just comical) and "The Answer Man" with Lauren Graham (of the wonderful "Gilmore Girls") and Jeff Daniels, a great actor who is not the typical Hollywood actor--he continues to live in his home state of Michigan and does a lot for the state to promote their business & economy. Daniels also gave back to his community by founding a theatre there in 1991; the Purple Rose Theatre Company named for the Woody Allen vehicle in which he starred in back in 1985, "The Purple Rose of Cairo".

While "The Answer Man" didn't fare well at theatres, it was well received at Sundance and is one I've wanted to see for a while.

So stay tuned, reviews for both of these flicks should follow shortly as they're both ones I'm excited to see at the moment.

New show: "Modern Family"

In the TV world, best new TV comedy that you may not be watching (I know I wasn't) is "Modern Family", which just started a few weeks ago and airs Wednesday nights at 9pm. Don't despair - if you have TiVo or DVR, start recording for tomorrow and then use Hulu to catch up...you've only missed three or four episodes and they're very short w/o commercials - 20 or 21 minutes/episode. I've only watched a few minutes of the pilot and, trust me, it is funny! Starring Ed O'Neill (of "Married with Children" fame or notoriety - that's your call, lol), Sofia Vergara (of the cancelled-too-early "Knights of Prosperity", a quirky comedy that only lasted a few episodes), Julie Bowen ("Ed", though here Bowen's character not as sunny with a sarcastic streak), and a few other talented cast that round out the ensemble.

Don't believe me? Click here for an article from Movieline which discusses how this show is already resonating with viewers.

It's easy for me to add this to our TV lineup as we've finally bid "Gary Unmarried" goodbye -- Jay Mohr as Gary is very funny - as is his character's brother, Mitch, played by Rob Riggle, funnyman formerly with "The Daily Show" - but I don't think there's anything really innovative that they can do with the storyline: saw the recent development brewing the moment they introduced the new character.

"Slumdog Millionaire"

For anyone who hasn't yet seen the sleeper turned blockbuster that dominated this year's Academy Awards with eight wins, it's on HBO tonight at 8pm with other showings throughout the week.

I know what you're thinking--who HASN'T seen it?? Surprise, surprise - Porter's Picks, that's who! I had heard all the accolades about the film even before it became as huge as it did...just didn't get around to it. (See the last post for how this can happen.) Needless to say, our DVR is set to record it tonight...looking forward to watching it sometime soon.

To Do List

I don't know about you but for as many books as I've read and movies as I've watched, there are still SO many classics, cult sensations and pop icons that I've missed.

Here are a few on my 'to do' list - don't judge! ;)

"The Bicycle Thief"

"Das Boot"

"Chariots of Fire"

"Taxi Driver"

"Apocalypse Now"

"Rabbit, Run" - John Updike

"Chinatown" (I know!! Double gulp!)

"Sophie's Choice"
"The Big Lebowski" ('The Dude' would not be pleased...)

These are just a few on my 'to do' list - what's on yours? Please share anything you feel you've missed in the comments section!

(See, this is much cooler than the normal 'to do' list where entries may include the more mundane 'do laundry', 'pick up dry cleaning', 'go grocery shopping', 'mail package', etc.)

I will say that the few listed above aren't as glaring as some omissions that I didn't see until recently (and by recent, in this instance, I'm speaking in broad strokes...as in last five years): "Caddyshack" (let's put it this way...my dad gently mocked me for not having seen!); "Animal House" (ditto - in fact, I believe when I finally saw this comedic classic in '05, it was with my parents. Yep, they're pretty hip!); "Ordinary People" (my mom had recommended this to me for years. And years. When I finally got around to it - I absolutely adored it. It is now one of my all-time favorites, though not one to be watched if you're you're a little down. And, have a box - or two - of tissues handy.); "Kramer vs. Kramer" - these were just a few of the 'blanks' I filled in.

"My Life in Ruins"

"My Life in Ruins": Not a great movie...not even very good. However, I did like "My Life in Ruins" in spite of all that. (That said, I'm sure I feel this way because this was a NF rental...I doubt I would have been quite as pleased if I'd seen this at the theatre.)

It's corny, it's cheesy, it's beyond predictable. Then again, isn't that why we occasionally tune in to romantic comedies? The first quarter of the movie was rough...so much so that I almost gave up on it. But, there are laughs - from supporting cast like Richard Dreyfuss - and Nia Vardalos, in the lead as Georgia, eventually finds her groove or 'kefi', in Greek.

I loved "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" but make no mistake these two movies have little in common other than a Greek theme and Nia Vardalos in a lead role. Which may have been part of the problem - where she shined in the former movie, here she felt wooden. Not sure if that's the script or...if she's just not really a good actress - sorry, Nia (though I also liked her a lot in her pairing with Toni Collette in "Connie and Carla"...if you want laughs, fun and high jinx - there's your movie!!).

At the Movies

"Couples Retreat"

This moviegoer is going to pass on this one, in spite of a good cast: Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn, Kristin Davis, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, etc. It may be a future Netflix viewing but I'm not even sure if I'd watch then.

Why? Because even the trailer doesn't seem all that funny...not good when your movie is billed as a comedy.

The movie seems like it's a mix of Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married" - which turns out to be an 'unofficial' couples' retreat of sorts when college friends, now married, all go to Colorado for a long winter weekend - and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (which I LOVED!).

Instead, check out either "The Damned United", starring Michael Sheen and Jim Broadbent, or "An Education" (Carey Mulligan, Emma Thompson, Peter Saarsgard) - both look like good bets!

Food for thought

Just a few nuggets to pass on...

"Flashforward": Thursdays at 8pm

"FF" is the best new show on TV. It debuted last week
and was riveting!! Following the show's premiere, I immediately had a
flashforward of my own...showing me regularly tuning in on Thursday nights ;)

"Her Fearful Symmetry" - Audrey Niffenegger

Author of "Time Traveler's Wife" has just released her follow-up book. If you liked "TTW", it may be worth checking out...

thirtysomething: Season 1 (DVD)

I'm almost done with the first season of thirtysomething and I am a
big fan! Great ensemble cast with richly drawn characters...and it's
interesting to see the group dynamics among them as well as some of
the individual relationships - some characters get closer, while some characters' relationships are fraying.
Overall, I've been careful to not read articles about the show as the
few I've read have had huge spoilers (understandably since the show is
22 years old). One thing I did see is some mild criticism from some
fortysomethings and fiftysomethings re-watching the show, who now find
some/all of the characters to be whiny.

You're right - but wasn't Rachel a little whiny (or, a lot - depending on the episode) on "Friends"? Diane of the late, great "Cheers" may have perfected whiny...you just may not have noticed it in the
constant barrage of her high-brow vocabulary, that was often over the head of all but Frasier. And Michael Scott's ("The Office") whiny extends far beyond any whiny Hope ("thirtysomething") could muster...in fact he may be more of a child than her daughter, Janey.

And maybe - just maybe - this part of the post could be construed as whining? ;)

You get the picture. Sure - there are actually times when some of the characters might be prone to whine...but I don't think it takes away from the show.

I think the only drawback with the show is the decision - a rights one, I'm sure - to release one season every six months. After twenty-two years, that's how you reward old fans?? Not to mention new ones--don't you run the risk of alienating new viewers who decide they can't/won't wait to pick up the adventures of Hope, Michael, Nancy, Elliot, Gary, Melissa and Ellen because they aren't able to do this until February 2010?? Baffling.

More "Flashforward"...

More to suggest some sort of "Lost" connection - check out the billboard ad for OCEANIC AIRLINES...ooh, creepy!!!

See for yourself at TV Fanatic!

New Show to Watch: Flashforward

I'm tired so this will be brief - if you add one new show to your viewing, TiVo or DVR queue this season, it sounds like "FlashForward" may be the one to make the cut.

Starring Joseph Fiennes, Dominic Monaghan and Sonya Walger (Monaghan and Walger, both of "Lost", Charlie and Penny, respectively), the show is actually being compared to "Lost" and will use similar time slices: the entire world blacks out for two minutes, seventeen seconds; during this time, they experience 'flash forwards' six months into their future.

The show debuts this Thursday, September 24th. You can check out an extended preview here, courtesy of TV Guide:

Where Are They Now: Updated Whereabouts for the cast of "Prison Break"

Thanks to Digital Spy for updating "Prison Break" fans as to where their favorite fictional cons have landed, following the cancellation of the show earlier this year.

You can tell the writer was a fan...the character synopses are dead on, particularly Sucre's 'whiny pining for Maricruz' (yes...he was my favorite...even over Michael!)

Not to mention the clever moniker the writer gives the motley crew...the 'Breaky Bunch' - love it!!!

Alec Baldwin dreams big...Beatle-big!

"30 Rock" may be one of the funniest shows ever on network TV - to say the humor is outrageous would be a great understatement and is constantly upping the ante. Tina Fey, woman of many talents, writes/directs/stars in her comedy and the all-star cast features Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and other fine comedic actors who have gained fame through this show's repeated Emmy wins and four seasons on the air.

Are the folks over at "30 Rock" satisfied with their success?? Nope, they continue to push the envelope with Alec Baldwin talking to Extra about his 'dream team' for the show.

Can't wait for the new season to start (I've heard October 15 is the season premiere) to see if any of the dream-teamers are put on the roster!!

Failed Flan: Why You Do Not Need To See "Julie and Julia"

A friend and I went to see "Julie & Julia" recently and we were both disappointed with this movie.

The good? Meryl Streep, who I don't think has ever turned in a poor performance in her career, which now spans more than thirty years. Her impression of Julia Child was pitch-perfect (I'm taking this on word of said friend and critics as my knowledge of the great Julia Child is limited). I also liked Stanley Tucci's performance as Child's loving husband, Paul.

The bad? Way too long!! At two hours, fifteen minutes the movie felt tedious; part of the problem was shifting between the two narratives: NYC/Queens circa 2002 - featuring blogger Julie Powell (Amy Adams) and husband, Eric (Chris Messina) - and the 1940's showcasing the Childs, primarily set in France. I'm not sure what could have been done differently - after all, director Nora Ephron did need to provide enough detail to both stories - however someone needed to take a red pen to this screenplay--it was easily thirty minutes too long!

Amy Adams is a talented actress and her performance here was limited by the adaptation of the Julie Powell character; in the book, she was edgier...not as cute...and funnier. Her cooking meltdowns, as depicted on screen, were not nearly as monumental or as messy.

While a fun night out, this one is a skip, in my opinion...especially since the Bronxville movie theatre DID have other options that night...Renee Zellweger's "My One and Only" - has anyone seen this one?

Happiness is...

an afternoon at the bookstore :)

Thanks to a recently found Barnes & Noble gift card, I had the opportunity to wander the aisles yesterday, bringing a little joy to an otherwise very somber day.

I went there with a few authors/books in mind - Liz Rosenberg, Claire Cook, "Beach House" by Georgia Bockhoven - and didn't purchase any of them!! Of course, I do still want to read these authors but it's nice to have some time to browse...see what finds might present themselves. I cannot resist the siren call of a well laid-out display table of books...ah, book nirvana!

I purchased four new books-- including two by author Julie Buxbaum, "After You" and "The Opposite of Love".

I've already started "After You" and it's a pageturner so far - I'm about seventy pages in. Ellie is a married woman in her mid-30's living in Boston when a tragedy summons her to London: her best friend has been murdered. Ellie doesn't think twice about dropping everything to go and stay with Lucy's husband, Greg, and Lucy's eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, who is Ellie's goddaughter. You may have noticed that Ellie's husband, Phillip, hasn't been mentioned and that is because he doesn't join her in London, which says volumes about the current state of their union.

Will keep you posted as I read more and let you know if this one is worth adding to YOUR reading list :)

Spend your commute with a good book!

Riding the subway - good people watching and could be browsing grounds for your next read! We've all done it - snuck a peek at what the rider across the aisle is reading...thanks to the New York Times, now we're talking about it!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/nyregion/06reading.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=reading%20on%20the%20subway&st=cse

For more info on what gems riders are reading, check out The Subway Book Club, a blog mentioned in the above article - what a great idea!! I especially love the title of the most recent post, 'Book as Accessory'.

So, dear readers, what book(s) are you toting around in your shoulder bag or purse?

All the world's a stage: "State of Play"

If you count "All the President's Men" among one of your favorite films, then you will like "State of Play". A lot.

"State of Play" is a deft political thriller showcasing the vital role journalism can play in unraveling a scandal buried deep on Capitol Hill whose culprits extend beyond the members of Congress. Starring Russell Crowe, as the weathered veteran reporter, and Rachel McAdams, as the cub reporter just starting out, the film also illustrates a current 'state of play' in journalism, namely the war between print journalism and online journalism. Crowe's character, Cal McCaffrey, typifies the old school journalist with his 1990 Saab doubling as a second office on wheels as he tracks down sources and leads, the car littered with crumpled papers and Cheetos bags, steno notebook in hand. Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) embodies the new school as a blogger for their paper (the fictional Washington Globe)--she is churning out copy every hour, constantly writing and updating readers via the newspaper's online blog. Although McCaffrey initially regards Frye as a hack - simply because of the medium she embraces - he comes to begrudgingly respect her and they work together on the expose at the center of the movie.

It is a good movie and it makes the case that a good journalist is comparable to a good cop in the way he or she goes about doing their job: this point is made in the smallest of details - seven minutes into the film, they zoom in on McCaffrey's cluttered desk...lingering for just a moment on a copy of the book, "Blue Blood" by Edward Conlon...a Harvard grad turned Bronx cop who wrote a bestseller about his experiences as a cop...very nice detail for any book nerds familiar with Conlon as a way to show the manner in which McCaffrey approaches his reporting as patrolling a local beat - to entire scenes: one that comes to mind is about 45-50 minutes into the film and is a showdown between the lead reporters & EIC and the local police.

Crowe is excellent, which is no surprise; McAdams is very, very good. I liked the pairing of these two actors (initially I was a little bit unsure of McAdams in this role, even though I like her tremendously) and the dynamic between them. The film features other big names in supporting parts: Helen Mirren, Ben Affleck, Robin Wright Penn, Jeff Daniels, and Jason Bateman. Of this acting 'who's who', they were all good - particularly Penn & Affleck - however I slightly objected to Bateman's casting for his role. No bones with Bateman or his acting...just would have liked to see someone slightly smarmier in that role...I just don't know that the choice of Bateman was believable.

See this one!

P.S. Point of disclosure: This film is based upon the British miniseries of the same name which aired in 2003 and is supposed to be excellent. Will update you if/when I watch it to see how the two compare.

One more...

"24" meets "The Office. My only question: where's Chloe?!

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/05/24-office-parody.html

"Mad Men" spoof

For all you "Mad Men" fans, here's a little laugh for your Wednesday:

http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/television/mad_men_explained_in_60_seconds_130481.asp?c=rss

Thanks to Media Bistro for posting this and a shout out to Sean for sending it on to me :)

Reading the user comments, apparently there's a similar spoof for "24" meets "The Office"...this I gotta see!

"Damnit, Dwight, that sales call was really an attempt to infiltrate Dunder Mifflin's internal ops!! Where's Jack...Chile's again??!?"

Thirtysomething: first review

It's official - I'm hooked on "thirtysomething".

Each night, I'm watching an episode and a half (or so)...until I finally have to give in to sleep.

I really liked that the first episode (the pilot) just jumped right in to the thick of their lives...there wasn't a lot of lay-up or lengthy introductions. As a result, I did get two characters' names confused but it was otherwise easy to follow. The dialogue is quick, the banter witty and much of what they're saying still seems relevant, even though this show first aired twenty-two years ago; we may be wearing different styles in 2009 (which, thankfully do not include shoulder pads!) yet trying to juggle it all - parenthood, careers, friendships - is still something most people contend with, whether their jeans are Sassoon or True Religion.

Stay tuned...

Great article from New York: "The Best Novels You've Never Read"

In the event anyone needs any more reading ideas - look no further!

I only have a moment right now so I won't be giving you my commentary today, just wanted to share this link:

http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/2007/32390/?f=most-viewed-24h10

Yes...it's from 2007 however I still think it's good mining grounds for those looking for new titles and/or new authors to curl up on the couch with.

Reading on the Vineyard...

or, President Obama's summer reading list:

* "Lush Life" - Richard Price
* "Plainsong" - Kent Haruf
* "The Way Home" - George Pelecanos
* "Hot, Flat and Crowded" - Thomas Friedman
* "John Adams" - David McCullough

Two of the five - "Lush Life" and "Plainsong" - are books I regularly pick up as I wander the bookstore in search of the next great read....will this be the impetus I need to read either one?

McCullough may sound familiar:the Pulitzer Prize winning author's book was adapted to TV as the very successful mini-series of the same name, starring Paul Giamatti & Laura Linney.

I'm a fan of crime novels so George Pelecanos' name rings a bell however I don't know if I've ever read any of his work. This endorsement from the Washington Post makes a compelling case for me to try his style - and soon: "His books will burn into your brain like no others". Powerful.

As for Friedman, here's a primer on his title far better than what I would give you, courtesy of his employer, The NY Times: http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/the-world-is-flat

Thanks to the Daily News for sharing Obama's ambitious reading list; I'm sure chain and local bookstores are changing their display tables even as I type!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/08/24/2009-08-24_on_marthas_vineyard_president_obamas_summer_reading_includes_few_beach_reads.html

Tweet, tweet: not just for the birds

Earlier this year many high-profile celebs embraced Twitter: Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and...the woman who only needs to be identified by one name...OP-RAH!! (And yes, I was typing this while having Oprah's introductory cadence in mind!)

So, it is only fitting that Oprah's book club's next pick will be rolled out via a tweet.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090825/ap_en_ot/us_books_oprah_winfrey

Good way to create buzz for her next pick, not to mention great marketing for Twitter. I've got to imagine that she'll still mention this hotly anticipated title via her broadcast as I don't think all her viewers are plugged in.

More Madness...

After some (okay - a lot) of viewing this weekend, we are now caught up on our "Mad Men"--we just watched the first two episodes of this season, which is the third season for the AMC hit show. So far, there are many questions this season and...few answers (I'm being purposely vague to avoid the dreaded spoilers!). However, my curiosity is piqued and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment on Sunday night.

At the Movies: New Releases this week, zzzzzz

As you'll see - there are very few movies opening this week and the pickings are slim: "Halloween II" and "The Final Destination". Not only will I not be seeing either of these at the movies, you won't find either in my Netflix queue.

The one film of interest - "Taking Woodstock", which tells the story of a young man whose family is about to lose their motel...until he stumbles upon pre-Woodstock revelers who agree to rent out the entire motel, paying in cash. With talented director Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "The Ice Storm") at the helm, I sense that he will capture the cultural zeitgeist as the Woodstock phenomenon descends upon upstate NY. On the fence, however, if this is theater-worthy or a solid Netflix viewing sometime this winter.

On the other hand, I'm super-excited about one of the new DVD offerings this week: the first season of "thirtysomething" comes out tomorrow!! It's at the top of my queue and I'm sure I'm not alone here. Another good new release: "Adventureland", a coming of age story for a young college grad whose summer plans are thwarted by his family's recent financial woes--trip to Europe cancelled and he instead winds up working for the summer at the amusement park, Adventureland (based on real-life park of the same name in Farmingdale, LI...going there is a rite of passage for Long Islanders, from visits with your parents when you're young to going with your friends when you're in your teens. As a former Adventureland-er, my one piece of advice: Stay away from Gravitron - if it's still there: you WILL throw up!). Thank you for indulging my trip down memory lane! Anyway, it seems like a movie that most will be able to relate to--working a job post-college that seems beneath you and that becomes enjoyable based upon the friends you make and the experiences you have. Jesse Eisenberg ("The Squid and the Whale") stars as the lead with Kristen Stewart of "Twilight" fame as his love interest.

Mad for "Mad Men"

"Mad Men" is the critically acclaimed darling that debuted on AMC in 2007. At the time, we watched an episode and liked it yet did not begin watching the show regularly. Flash forward to this summer, which like any summer is re-run central, and we ordered the first season of "Mad Men" through Netflix. The results: true love :)

We have zipped through Season 1 pretty quickly and are now awaiting our next installment that will detail the public & private lives of the staff at fictitious ad agency Sterling Cooper. Set in 1960, the show paints a picture of what the ad industry, which has always been known as Madison Ave, was like almost fifty years ago when it was predominantly a male industry. Women DID work in agencies but almost exclusively in support roles: switchboard operators and secretaries. In some ways, people were far more formal in the workplace than they are today - both with regard to attire as well as in the way they spoke - and yet alcohol flowed freely at the office and office trysts were a dime a dozen.

The show is well written and many of the lead and supporting actors are developed in detail, though this process is a slow one--characters like Don Draper, Betty Draper, Peggy Johnson, Pete Campbell are revealed to us over time, peeling back their true selves layer by layer. Allusions to future development are there - if you're watching closely - and double entendres abound, though again these don't always jump out at you.

Great writing and acting aside, the show is also noteworthy for its representation of the '60's as the attention to detail is terrific: from the fashion (particularly the women's wear) to the political climate (our nation on the cusp of its first Catholic president, a young Irish upstart by the name of JFK) to its depiction of these ad executives' home life - it allows us, in 2009, a way to be transported to 1960 Manhattan and the surrounding suburbs. Nice to visit, though I greatly prefer the current 2009 showing.

Anyway - if you're not watching this gem, what are you waiting for? When several friends heard I wasn't watching, they were surprised and said I'd love it. They were right.

And you build that wall....

Hint - it's not from a movie but a line from a song featured on a movie soundtrack.

Need another line: "Ooh, so typical / Love leads to isolation-nnnnn" (extra n's to hold the note!)

The year was 1985 and the movie was the beyond great "White Nights". I was 11 and saw it in the theatre: a Saturday matinee with a friend at the Huntington Shore (years & years before the renovation). It was, perhaps, light years over my head. And yet, I loved it. Something about it really moved me and it wasn't necessarily the dancing (which was, of course, magnificent): while I really like, even love, quite a few dance movies...I'm not one of those people that simply loves a movie BECAUSE it's a dance movie.

This movie has always stuck with me and I'm instantly nostalgic for it anytime I hear the theme song (quoted above), "Separate Lives", a duet by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin (don't know her? neither did I...have always remembered her great voice, never her name).

It FINALLY came to DVD - after all these years!! - last year. You're thinking that I got it right away...kept it for a while, watched and re-watched this old fave. Well, you would be wrong. Initially, "White Nights" did hold the top spot in my queue for a while before the release. But, I soon found myself bumping it lower and lower in favor of true, new releases. Part of it - I think - was that maybe, just maybe, I didn't want to revisit this cinematic favorite of mine that has lived in my memory for fear it would fall short...be just some cheesy 80's movie, in spite of the foreign setting, tough topics and the dancing. The love, the loss and the dancing. The dancing!

Well - I'm finally going to do revisit this old love (no need to worry, Sean!) very soon--in scrolling through the ol' queue (okay - QUEUES!) this eve...it jumped out at me. It's time. So, one day next week (once NF receives the slightly mediocre title I'm currently watching), I'll be reunited with Gregory Hines, Mikhail Baryshnikov and, of course, THE song (ahhh). Below is a link to the moving duet, courtesy of YouTube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF0scfQ7_so


And yes, I'm quite sure this will be one I watch on my own - I won't subject you to this, Sean. However, if any of you girls would like to join me...let me know!

Pointers on "Funny People"

Sean & saw "Funny People" last night. Sean loved it. I loved it - well, mostly.

"Funny People" had moments of sheer perfection...moments of random funniness...and, moments that were, well, just a little random. I agree with some reviews I've read - both by professionals and by regular folk - that the movie was just a wee bit too long...it could have benefited by being 20 minutes shorter. (Others think it could have been edited down even further - shaving off 40-60 minutes of plot.) That said, I'm able to overlook these minor details as it was Apatow's most ambitious project to date and moved him in a different direction than than previous work. (I won't be more specific here as one of my pet peeves are reviewers that inadvertently spoil key plot points.)

Here are a few pointers:

1. Eric Bana is not funny...he's hysterical!! Some of you may know this - Bana is Australian and they use this real-life trait to play up the Ozzie stereotype to the hilt in his character...footy and all. Crike!

2. To see this movie - I recommend that you love most/all of Apatow's previous movies; if not, his humor may not be for you.

3. If you've never seen an Apatow movie before...DON'T start with this one. Should you wish to try his brand of funniness...rent "The 40-Year Old Virgin". And, prepare to laugh very hard! (Warning: there could even be an unsolicited snort or two involved.)

4. The attention to detail in this work is incredible...and in these details will be many inside jokes for those of you that are Apatow regulars, provided you're watching closely.

5. All of the key players (Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzmann, Bana) are terrific...not to mention the 'funny people' cameos that appear throughout the film. Showcases some actors that may not be well known, yet - one that comes to mind is the actress that plays Daisy - small part but her work was good.



"Comedy is for funny people." This line is spoken towards the end of the film and it's one of those nuggets that jumped out of me - great way to slip your title into the dialogue...not to mention the many other ways that Apatow did this throughout the movie.

Comedy IS for funny people and Apatow is one of the funniest out there...cringe-worthy moments and all.

Foiled by Netflix? Maybe not...

Someone at Netflix does NOT want Sean & I to find out what happened to the former Fox River cons of the now defunct TV show, "Prison Break": I have kept it at the top of my queue since my excited post announcing it's release to DVD and...nothin'. NF is categorizing this as a "Long Wait" so instead I'm getting a rom-com "Chaos Theory" with Ryan Reynolds and Emily Mortimer. Ever heard of "Chaos Theory"? I'm guessing probably not...I don't think I would have either if I weren't such a movie geek. It's an '07 movie about Frank Allen (played by Reynolds), an efficiency expert whose world is governed adhering to his rigid planning and meticulous to-do lists. You can imagine that this world may be thrown in to a helter-skelter state when his precise & exact order are inadvertently compromised: his wife (Emily Mortimer) sets their clock back by ten minutes and...you guessed it...chaos ensues. Sounds cute and I figured I'd give it a whirl knowing how much I like Reynolds' comedic timing and how much I love to laugh :)

Will let you know if it's worth an add to YOUR queue!

P.S. Sean - I think you'd like this one, too. And, I promise to never tamper with your alarm clock...though if I were to tinker with it, I'd go with setting it ten minutes ahead, tee hee.

Rare for me to not finish a book...

For starters, wish I weren't still up at this hour...much as I love dishing on my latest read or movie viewing.

That said, I am awake - barely - so thought I'd write a quick post.

I'm sorry to say that yet another Elin Hilderbrand title has left me disappointed and I've made the decision to not finish it and return it to my local library. "Beach Club" started amiably enough as we get a quick sketch of each of the characters that populate the popular Nantucket beach club each summer, from the seasonal workers to the regular guests. I actually read part of it a few weeks ago on a local beach and thought, 'ah, this is the life'. And then the book stalled...and I realized that I just didn't care enough about the characters and their summer dramas to continue.

Was it as bad as "Nantucket Nights", the title I reviewed a few weeks ago? Absolutely not. However, coming off a bad title by the same author made me less inclined to want to finish, even though this book was more interesting. (I'm hoping this makes sense since my head may, in fact, be nodding as I type!)

I'm not writing her off the island - funny since her works are all centered around Nantucket Island, ha ha - but may need to take a break from this author for a bit. I do have one of her very recent books - thanks to my sis! - but I'll wait awhile before I jump in.

In the meantime, I'm reading a great espionage thriller but that will have to wait for another post...sleep is my very near future!!

Eric Bana DOES do funny!

This is a quick follow up to a post in the last week or two about upcoming "must-see movies" in which I was a little surprised by Eric Bana being a part of The Apatow's most recent movie, "Funny People", which opened this weekend. Many of the cast are Apatow regulars - Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann (also, his wife in real life).

Thanks to NPR on the way up to Oswego this weekend, I learned that Bana was a stand-up comedian in Australia for years before shifting to acting...go figure.

Just wanted to share this update with you, my loyal readers :)

Speaking of funny people...has anyone seen the movie yet?? If so - please share thoughts, either in comments or drop me an email. I had read a few mixed reviews and my excitement to see this film was beginning to waver until the ride home from Oz when I heard an interview with both Apatow and Rogen on the Stern show (yessss, you did read that correctly, lol).

We are just back from the three-day weekend with the fam so may not get to see it until next weekend...stay tuned...

Breaking news!

Straight to video: "Prison Break: The Final Break" came out on DVD today!!!

Thanks to the hubby for sharing this nugget - somehow this lil' gem was not on my radar!
(Tiff - I hope you're reading this...I think this is one you & Chris will want to rent...or add to your Netflix queue...no pressure! ;)

Sean & I had initially loved the show, watching the first two seasons by DVD...which is a fun way to view a show if you're behind. Not to mention if there was a cliffhanger, you don't have to wait until the following week...you can just choose to watch the next show immediately--instant TV gratification! Needless to say there were quite a few "Prison Break" marathons at our house :)

For those of you not familiar with the show, "Prison Break" aired from 2005-2009 and told the story of two brothers--Lincoln is behind bars and Michael is set on breaking his older brother out. It is definitely helpful that Michael is a structural engineer but it still a daunting feat he is taking on as Michael must be on the inside in order to break Lincoln out. No matter - Michael holds up a bank to get himself incarcerated in the same facility as Linc and then the real work begins--the arduous task of painstakingly putting his meticulously detailed plan in motion, brick by brick, cell block by cell block.

I know what you're thinking - hardly sounds like gripping television and how on earth did this show run for FOUR YEARS??!

Surprisingly, it was great television until this last season where the story arc became laughable - even to true fans like myself - and it made sense that Fox canceled the series...the show had run its course. Aside from this last season though - it was great!!! Good ensemble cast, many of whom had been unknown to me prior to this riveting show, and most of the characters were very well developed.

Which is why I'm excited about the movie - it covers the intervening years that occurred prior to the final moment of the show and will explain some crucial things that had happened to the characters that were just sloppily wrapped up for PB fans in the 2009 season since the writers did know the show had been canceled. According to the summary on Netflix's site, the movie will focus on Michael's "boldest breakout ever".

Looks like we may have one last Prison Break marathon after all :)

Must-See Movies opening soon!

I haven't seen anything new at the theatre recently though I can't wait to see the new Apatow movie -- "Funny People" features a great cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jason Schwartzmann, Jonah Hill and Eric Bana. Eric Bana - is anyone else surprised by this?!? I like him a lot (Bana starred in both "Munich" and "Troy", two movies I enjoyed) however I didn't know he did funny, particularly Apatow-funny.

Speaking of Bana...very excited to see him as the lead in "The Time Traveler's Wife", which opens in mid-August and co-stars the delightful Rachel McAdams ("The Notebook" and "Wedding Crashers" - two movies I highly recommend, although they are very different movies!). This is based on the book by Audrey Niffenberger and, originally, may have been an entirely different star vehicle: film rights were originally purchased by the production company, Plan B Entertainment, which was a joint venture of then-marrieds, Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston. At the time they purchased the rights, there was even talk that they would play the leads...however, this was all pre-break up so it's understandable why this version did not happen. Plan B, however, did remain involved and Brad Pitt was an Executive Producer for "The Time Traveler's Wife". When I did double-check my info on IMDB, I was surprised to find out how many great films Plan B has been involved with - "The Departed", "A Mighty Heart" and "Troy - along with some exciting future projects in the works: "Eat, Pray, Love" (another memoir our book club has tackled), "The Senator's Wife" (assuming this is an adaptation of the Sue Miller novel), along with many others in development.

Another must-see opening in early August: "Julie and Julia" starring the incomparable Meryl Streep (has she ever phoned in a performance??) and Amy Adams, who has built up an impressive body of work over the past few years showing her to have quite a range: "Sunshine Cleaning", "Enchanted", "Junebug" and "Doubt" in which she turns in a fantastic performance as a young, naive nun who is put in an impossible situation, wedged between her superior nun (Meryl Streep, again) and a well-liked priest (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), one that truly tests her beliefs & convictions about what is wrong and what is right....and, do we give someone the benefit of the doubt or do we let that doubt eat away at us? Doubt appears to be like a seed that, once planted, grows like a weed, taking on a life of its own.

The film is based upon a memoir by Julie Powell entitled: "Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously". Powell, played by Adams in the film, is a thirtysomething temp in a dead-end job who feels stuck and concocts a year-long project as an inspired solution: over the next 365 days, she will cook all of Julia Child's recipes from Child's classic cookbook and then blog about her efforts. There are successes and great dishes...there are failures, replaced by take-out...laughter, tears, fights...all with Powell's husband, Eric, by her side for this seemingly gargantuan endeavor (played by Chris Messina). Streep, of course, plays the much-revered cooking genius, Julia Child and her story is told to us as well - hard to imagine that this household name did not begin cooking until her thirties!

The icing on the cake (as if Streep & Adams weren't enough!) - "Julie and Julia" is directed by Nora Ephron...who wrote my all-time favorite movie, "When Harry Met Sally" (directed by Rob Reiner) and wrote/directed "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle"...not to mention countless other movies as well as her recent collection of essays, "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts About Being a Woman". Has anyone had a chance to read this? If so, please share your thoughts!

This seems to be the summer of high-profile book-to-movie adaptations: both "Julie & Julia" and "The Time Traveler's Wife" were books my book club had read. Another adaptation that opened earlier this summer is "My Sister's Keeper", starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Patric and Abigail Breslin. The book it's based on by the same title was written by the wonderful Jodi Picoult, who has written 12-15 novels and has a real knack for character development and showing her audience multiple points of view, rather than just being lodged in the narrator's head. This was another book our book club had read and it was a very moving read - whether you see the movie or read it, be sure to have tissues handy!

So, if you need to escape the heat with a good story on-screen...I don't think you'll go wrong with any/all of these picks! I'll be sure to update you with my reviews once I see them.


"My Sister's Keeper" - In theatres now
"Funny People" - Opens July 31
"Julie & Julia" - Opens August 7
"The Time Traveler's Wife" - Opens August 14

I knew better...sigh!

If you've been following one of the right hand columns recently, you may have noticed that 'Little Red Envelope', keeps a running tab as to what flicks I have at home courtesy of Netflix. If so - you may have an idea as to why I'm sighing...yup, I did it...I watched "Paul Blart: Mall Cop".

TOTAL SKIP.

I know, I know - I can hear a few of you yelling right now, "Whyyyyyyyyyy??!!??" Two reasons - Adam Sandler & Kevin James. Sandler produced and James starred/directed/produced. I adore Adam Sandler's goofy humor - from his SNL days to his string of 90's movie hits (all imminently quotable!) to his humor in the 00's, which has shown a slight maturation (a huge exception being "You Don't Mess With the Zohan"; nonetheless, I laughed uproariously through this movie...another story for another day) in his humor, though he's not afraid to revisit the antics that made him a household name. Kevin James is also someone whose brand of funny I generally like...he perfected his physical comedy over the nine-year run of "The King of Queens", which did inevitably run a year or two longer than it should have (as many other hit shows have done - see "Friends", "Seinfeld", etc.).

The plot is flimsy - Kevin James plays the title character, Paul Blart, a mall cop with bigger aspirations, a NJ state trooper, that may never be realized. He's a single dad who is unhappy with much in his life and finds solace in the food his mom makes for him, be it a Sloppy Joe or a great piece of pie. Blart's one true joy - his job as a mall cop...while it may not be working as an actual, armed police officer...Blart regards the mall's workers and the shoppers who keep the mall humming as his charge, seeing it as his duty to keep them safe. This is to the chagrin of his supervisor who regularly mocks his zeal for the job. In the course of his daily patrol, Blart finds something - or someone - who puts a little spring in his step when he meets , who runs a kiosk selling hair extensions. As you may guess, his flirtations are bumbling however she's not put off by this and seems to find his attentions endearing.

This is all building up to the big test of Blart's mall cop prowess when the mall is taken over by an inside job, seasonal workers who plan to steal $30 million from this NJ mall by accessing the internal codes. As it happens, Blart was taking a quick coffee break at the local arcade - rocking out to Guitar Hero - leaving our bumbling hero safely trapped inside the now locked mall.

Will he be able to outsmart the bad guys?? And, save his lady love?
(Please say that you hear my dripping sarcasm :)

Anyway, this was a wasted hour-and-a-half for me, proving once again that mega blockbuster does not necessarily translate into a good movie. (I'm still in awe that this flick grossed more than $180 million worldwide!! Very, very happy this was just a Netflix rental for me...which with our use of this wonderful subscription service probably cost about .59)

One last point - some critics called this movie 'family friendly' and I'm gonna disagree here. Umm, not sure who these families are but there is a level of violence in this PG-rated movie that I don't think would be appropriate for a seven-year old...even a nine-year old. Don't get me wrong - it's not at the "24"/Jack Bauer level of violence (there have been many scenes in this series where I've had to turn away!!) but many of the bad guys...don't live to hold up another mall. Ah, well...who am I to question the logic of the MPAA ;)

Anyway...you get the point...there's no need to see this one: SKIP

Future Reading

I'm always on the lookout for great reads, here are a few I'm excited about and hope to read sometime soon:

* "Real Life and Liars" - Kristina Riggle

* "The Art of Racing in the Rain" - Garth Stein

* "Home Repair" - Liz Rosenberg

* "The Embers" - Hyatt Bass

* "Best Friends Forever" - Jennifer Weiner

* "April & Oliver" - Tess Callahan

* "One Fifth Avenue" - Candace Bushnell

* "Knit Two" - Kate Jacobs (sequel to her great book, "The Friday Night Knitting Club")

* "Comfort Food" - Kate Jacobs

* "Finder" - Colin Harrison


Don't forget to fill me in on what YOU'RE reading!

More Summer Reading...

A quick update on what I've read and what I'm reading...

"Nantucket Nights" - Elin Hilderbrand
I strongly recommended Hilderbrand's "Barefoot" in an earlier post...it is a title I've recommended to a few friends, who also really liked the book. "Nantucket Nights", however, was a different story--I was really disappointed by this read.

There were twists and turns in the plot - enough so that I did stay with and finish the novel. However, I found the three main characters (Kayla, Antoinette & Val: middle-aged women whose only true common bond appears to be sharing an annual tradition started twenty years before as summer housemates in Nantucket) to be shallow and I didn't believe these three very different women would have sustained a friendship. Tough to really get into a book when you don't like the main characters; or, more accurately, just don't see these characters keeping company or find them at all believable. Their Labor Day tradition takes veers dangerously off course when Antoinette is swallowed up by the water. Did she drown? Did she disappear?

Having read it, I do know the answers...which is why I'm telling you to SKIP this one!


"American Wife" - Curtis Sittenfeld
This is our current book club pick and I'm enjoying it so far. It's loosely based on Laura Bush's life so I've learned a few things about our former First Lady that I hadn't known. Alice Lindgren is the main character purportedly inspired by Laura Bush and this is very definitely her story, charting her journey from small-town girl, whose part in a local tragedy forever changes her, to a pragmatic adult who has become a librarian, a career to which she is nicely suited. Her story's trajectory takes an unforeseen, life-altering turn when she meets and falls madly in love with Charlie Blackwell, a rising star in the Republican party who is backed by a powerful, connected family.

While I'm sure that there will be some parts to this story that modern-day readers may already be familiar with, having endured eight long years of George W. Bush's two terms in office, something tells me it won't matter as Sittenfeld unfolds an engaging story for us, regardless of what we may or may not know. Or, think we know...

Though I haven't finished this yet, I feel comfortable recommending it.

Movie Round-Up...

Much as I love writing, I know I can't always give a longer review on every movie I've seen so, from time to time, I'll just write a post that will be mini-reviews of several movies...even if it's simply 'See' or 'Skip'.

***I will be adding one more category to my rating system--'Sunday Afternoon': To me, this represents the random movie you've stumbled upon on cable on a weekend afternoon and watch. The 'Sunday Afternoon' flick might not be a four star movie but it's not an outright 'Skip', either. Phrased another way, you like it but it falls short of something you like a lot or one that you absolutely love. For example, on the Netflix five-star rating system - a 'Sunday Afternoon' would be a three-star rating.

Now that THAT'S covered...onto some reviews!

--------------------------

"New In Town": A romantic comedy that, for me, didn't quite cut it. I'm okay - in this genre - with not reinventing the wheel, few rom-coms do. But...for whatever reason, this one just didn't gel...felt like a lot was cribbed from "Fargo" (in terms of the community where the movie was set) and I kept thinking to myself that maybe a stronger female lead than Renee Zellweger (Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon, even Rachel McAdams) could have helped.) Criticism aside, there were some laughs and, oddly enough, this was one rom-com that a guy was able to sit through and tolerate...the guy in this instance being my brother-in-law, who has no qualms about walking away from a movie if it stinks.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON


-------------------------------------

"Kramer vs. Kramer": This was one of those films that my mom had recommended I see for years. And years. Close friends had also mentioned it. And yet...I didn't see it until this year...much like I didn't see "Ordinary People" for eons (another Mom pick) and absolutely adored it. Back to "K. vs. K" - starring acting legends Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep (how could you go wrong???) as Ted & Joanna Kramer, a married couple with a young son, played beautifully by Justin Henry. As the title might suggest, the bulk of the movie revolves around this marriage that has crumbled with workaholic Ted seemingly unaware how quickly things are unraveling until Joanna announces she is leaving him and their son. Remember - this film is 1979, pre-"Mr. Mom" and Ted must try and juggle everything as the full-time parent while maintaining his highly demanding job as a Madison Avenue ad man. It may seem dated now as there are plenty of dads nowadays who do just this but you know this was groundbreaking at the time.

You will laugh, you will cry, you will be moved. Justin Henry shines as the son in a performance that is as memorable as young Timothy Hutton's in "Ordinary People"...I'm just not sure - with the caliber of his acting here - why he didn't he didn't go on to become a gifted actor. Apparently, I'm not the only one to wonder this:

"After a dream start in the business, when he was chosen for a pivotal role in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) at the age of seven, without any acting experience, Justin Henry's career has stagnated. He was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Kramer vs. Kramer", becoming one of the youngest actors ever nominated"
(IMDB, mini biography of Justin Henry)


SEE, SEE, SEE!!! (Thanks, Mom!!)

S&S

Since this blog is very much a 'work in progress', I've just devised a way I'll end all movie reviews: See or Skip. Pretty straightforward but an easy way to wrap up.

I've already doubled back to previous posts and added 'See' or 'Skip' to them.

Stay tuned...

Paul Rudd + Elizabeth Banks + Jane Lynch...

All this adds up to - couldn't save the movie "Role Models".

I wanted to like it. And I did laugh - several times. All of the actors mentioned above were funny but there just were not enough of the laughs in this movie to elevate it beyond mediocre, at best. In spite of said laughs.

Jane Lynch is one of those comedic actors you know...but just don't know her name (I didn't, even though seeing her onscreen I knew what sort of style to expect from her). A few of her credits include her zany humor in Christopher Guest films like "A Mighty Wind" and "For Your Consideration"; mainstream audiences may know her from her hysterical performance as the store manager in "40 Year Old Virgin". (Speaking of "40...", both Rudd and Banks were also in this movie.)

Rudd & Banks - two great comedic actors who are both on a roll right now; the role they each played in this film being the exception. (Sorry! I had to :) In an earlier post, I mentioned how great Rudd was in "I Love You, Man" - if you want FUNNY, see this!!!

I'm not going to go into further detail since I'm strongly urging you to pass on this one...the few laughs, while funny, didn't warrant the hour-and-a-half commitment.


SKIP (redundant, perhaps, based on the previous paragraph, lol)

"Whatever Works"...works!

On Friday, the hubby & I kicked off the holiday weekend by taking in the new Woody Allen flick - how patriotic! ;)

Then again...maybe it was--this film marked Woody's return to US soil after several films set in overseas: three in London and one in Spain. I saw one of the three in London - name escapes me and I don't feel like IMDB'ing it - and it was decent but not great. Set in Barcelona, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", was quite good...although not necessarily typical Woody fare.

Set in NYC - familiar turf for Woody and, as always, a character in itself - Larry David stars in the lead role which would have been played by Woody himself 20-30 years ago. David plays Boris Yellinkoff, a Nobel Peace prize runner-up and self-declared genius, is also a jaded misanthrope whose world is turned upside-down when he meets the very young, very naive Melodie St. Ann Celestine who literally shows up on his doorstep seeking shelter. Boris takes in the Southern belle (played by Evan Rachel Wood) and, though he is extremely critical of her intellect and her worldviews...a transformation in Boris begins to occur - there is a spring in his step, even with his limp.

I don't think I'm revealing any spoiler to let you know that these two unlikely people do eventually find love - c'mon...it's Woody Allen...you saw this coming!! - but it may be some of the people that eventually insert themselves into their story that will provide big laughs. Features the great Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley, who is very good here (I'm normally not a big fan of Begley).

One criticism: Wood's Southern accent was pretty bad...which particularly stood out in scenes with Clarkson, who is a native hailing from New Orleans.

I think "Whatever Works" will work for Woody fans and Allen may have found a new muse in David (sorry, Scarlett!).


For Woody fans and NuYawkers (often one & the same!): SEE
Non-Woodyphiles: SKIP (or, wait for DVD)

"thirtysomething" - FINALLY coming to DVD!!!

This was too good not to share--Season 1 of "thirtysomething" is set to be released to DVD on August 25th!!

This much beloved show aired for four seasons, 1987-1990. Needless to say, I did not watch it back then as I was 13 when the show began...just a wee bit too young, lol. (I did have friends who watched the last season or two when we were 15 & 16...gotta wonder, though, what their grasp of the material was since the show focused on navigating the challenges of marriage, careers & parenthood).

It will be interesting to watch now that we're actually thirtysomethings ourselves with many of us married with kids while juggling work. It's also one of those shows that seems like it was truly groundbreaking television and may have been ahead of its time. I'm just hoping it doesn't seem dated. I already know I like at least two of the actors - real-life husband and wife, Ken Olin & Patricia Wettig. Olin & Wettig are just two of the stellar cast of "Brothers & Sisters", which regularly forces me to stay up far later than I'd like on a Sunday night since it starts at 10pm...it's that good!!

Guess we know what I'll be doing sometime on August 25th! : )

UPDATE: I just found out that esteemed director Paul Haggis ("Million Dollar Baby", "Crash") was a Producer for "thirtysomething". Thought I'd mention as I know a few of my readers are big Haggis fans...

"Tell No One"

Happy 4th!! Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend :) Maybe we'll actually get sunshine & temps above 70 degrees here in the Northeast. I know, I know - wishful thinking. Sigh...

Just finished the French thriller, "Tell No One", which was a film I'd been wanting to see for a while. It's based on a book by Harlan Coban, an author from the NY/NJ area who regularly churns out some great page turners that keep me reading long into the night.

The plot: Dr. Beck was once a suspect in his wife's murder. While he has tried to move on, everything comes crashing back when two dead bodies are found near his home and Beck is again a suspect. In the meantime, he begins to receives anonymous emails with photos that show his wife, Margot, to be alive and well yet clearly specify: "tell no one". Stars the wonderful Kristin Scott Thomas as Beck's sister-in-law.

Sounds great, right?

Perhaps I liked the book too much. Perhaps my expectations were too high. In any event - it was a decent movie that, overall, fell short for me. In this case, the acting was good but the story itself was too long...too much build-up to get to the suspenseful ending.

Now I understand why this film never got off the ground here in the States; apparently, several years ago, Keanu Reeves was to star as the doctor. (Though had it come to fruition...Keanu would NOT have been the guy to pull off this role...while he is good in certain roles...I don't think he has the range to have played this part.)

I will note - the film was well-received by critics and I have several good friends who really enjoyed it. Just wanted to mention this since I could be in the minority here--I do tend to be a harsher critic when I've already read and liked the book first.


SKIP

Summer Reading

As a high school student, these words struck fear into our hearts and translated into a daunting 8-12 book list of the classics we were to read over the summer as preparation for our honors' English class. Not an insurmountable task - had they been spread out over the 10 weeks of summer - but one that was typically crammed into the last week or two of summer...many days at the local library, running into fellow procrastinators, many nights reading into the wee hours.

As an adult - there's nothing I like better, since I'm the one choosing the books! Maybe as a result of those summers long ago, or maybe because of the high temperatures, I now generally choose lighter fare for my summer picks. A few chick lit titles, a few juicy, page-turning thrillers mixed in with a good police read or two - perfection!

Now that we've set the stage, here's an author I'd like to recommend for any ladies looking for a good beach read: Elin Hilderbrand. She's already written 5-8 books...many - if not all - are set in Nantucket/New England. I was introduced to this author last summer when I read "Barefoot" on a weekend getaway. The plot: three women arrive in Nantucket to spend the summer...two of the women are sisters (Vicki & Brenda) and the third, Melanie, is Vicki's friend from where she lives in Connecticut. Brenda is not thrilled by this third wheel addition of Melanie and each woman has baggage beyond her carry-on's that is weighing heavily on each of their minds. Their arrival to the island is not without notice, a young onlooker, Josh, who is a native of Nantucket and home from college for the summer, is immediately drawn to these thirtysomething women. Before too long, he is involved in the day-to-day fray of their lives and all of their stories begin to unfold. There is friendship, drama, romance and tears. Hilderbrand not only captures the essence of Nantucket beautifully, she truly and clearly defines each of her main characters and what they are going through.

As you can see, I quite enjoyed this book. Her most recent book is "Summer People" - which will be on MY summer reading list - and her new book, "The Castaways" is out July 7th....I suspect I will find room for that one as well.

Will keep you posted on other summer picks...

Say 'I Do' to "The Proposal"!

Saw "The Proposal" with friends earlier this week - loved it!! Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds as Margaret Tate and Andrew Paxton, the all-star cast also features Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White and Oscar Nunex ("The Office"). Andrew works for Margaret as her Executive Assistant, a thankless job as Margaret is a ruthless editor gunning for the editor-in-chief position, who will stop at nothing. Andrew has tolerated her for three long years, biding his time until he can be promoted into an editor job. The hitch? Margaret is Canadian has her visa has expired...and management at her publishing house has told her deportation is imminent. The solution? When Andrew interrupts this meeting, Margaret announces their engagement to their surprise and shock...and Andrew's. And then the games begin!

This is a romantic comedy that really delivers on both the laughs and the sweetness. While it can be predictable, you won't mind because you'll be laughing too hard. Or, watching Margaret's icy resolve thaw & melt as she becomes taken in by Andrew and his family's warm Alaskan ways.

Bullock & Reynolds are both very funny as they are both actors who have mastered physical comedy. However, the humor isn't just reserved for the leads - any scenes featuring Betty White and/or Oscar Nunez will have you in stitches.

It should be said - I really like rom-com's. However, knowing the cost of a movie ticket (a whopping $12.50 here in NYC), I try to be particular with what I choose to see at the theater. This was worth every penny and one I already know that I'll add to my DVD collection.


SEE!!!

Riding the 6 line with Travolta & Co.

First - apologies for hiatus. Have I been busy? Sure. Too busy to write? Well, no. But, I'm back so let's focus on that : )

Just saw the remake of "The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3" last night with a good friend and we both agreed - great flick! We were also surprised that some critics panned it as we felt it met the criteria of a good summer movie: action-packed, edge-of-your-seat, with great actors to take you along for the ride: Denzel, Travolta, James Gandolfini (really good as NYC's fictional mayor with Giuliani-esque traits), John Turturro, Luis Guzman...to name a few. Washington is excellent, as always - has he ever phoned in a performance?? - and he and Travolta had a good working chemistry. I'm talking in broad strokes as I don't want to be the person who spoils any plot points for anyone...

I liked the way the film was shot...fast-moving images of NYC in addition to momentary halts in the action to let you know the countdown to the deadline Travolta's character, Ryder, has set. For some, this may be distracting; I found the 'real time' countdown to be something that heightened the suspense level--will NYPD be able to meet Ryder's demands in time??

I will say I'm unable to compare how this fares with the original as I've never seen the 1974 original starring Walter Matthau, however I'm now very interested in seeing it. From what I've read about this film, it obviously portrays a different NYC - one from 35 years ago - and, while the pace may be slower than the '09 remake, it is apparently no less taut of a thriller.

I'll let you know once I see this one via Netflix, looking forward to it.


SEE!

I enjoyed an afternoon with "Mr. Wonderful"

Here, anyway, I'm speaking of the movie and not Sean ;)

This was actually something I watched a few weeks ago...something that had languished on my TiVo queue for a while...for one of those days when I was in the mood for what looked to be a predictable rom-com. Well, that day came and I was not disappointed--it was a good movie with a great cast. One thing I liked - the movie wasn't trying too hard...you knew what you were in for and even had a pretty good idea how the movie would end. This is not always a bad thing particularly when the story is told by actors like Matt Dillon, Annabella Sciorra, Mary-Louise Parker and William Hurt with good turns from a pre-Law & Order Vincent D'Onofrio and James Gandolfini years before his career-defining Tony Soprano role--these two just look so young here! (Film was released in '93 but these two, and William Hurt, look like kids).

The premise in this film is that Gus (Matt Dillon, as a Con Ed electrician) wants to go in with his friends and buy and restore a rundown bowling alley but, in order to contribute his share, he needs to find his ex-wife, Lee (Annabella Sciorra), a new husband so he can stop paying alimony. So, with her eventual permission, he sets about finding her a "Mr. Wonderful". The one problem? There is still some chemistry, or electricity, between the former spouses....who knows what will happen? ;)

As I said...nothing remarkable here...no big twist...just good storytelling with a great cast...not a surprise when you find out that this was directed by the late Anthony Minghella. An easy one to get into and all the actors I mentioned are just terrific, particularly Mary-Louise Parker as Gus's girlfriend. And, good use of NYC as a character. I also liked the music, too - struck me as the type of soundtrack that really had an 80's feel to it.

Perfect flick for a relaxing Saturday or Sunday afternoon.


SEE

Netfly

You ask? Well, the plural of Netflix, of course :) I figure it's gotta be like syllabus with the plural being syllabi as opposed to syllabuses (though this is accepted, even preferred by some). Same here - Netflixes just seems awkward to say.

Anyway...I'm excited that I have some new ones shipping today. En route are "Bride Wars", "Frost/Nixon" and "Marley & Me". I'm know Sean will have no interest whatsoever in the first flick although I'm actually not sure what my interest level will be--between the reviews I had read and what I had heard from friends...the word on this one is not great - hackneyed, a waste of talent (particularly with regard to Anne Hathaway, after her brilliant turn in "Rachel Getting Married", and Candice Bergen), and just shallow. Still, I did want to see it since I generally like Kate Hudson in comedies and having just gotten married in the fall thought it might be fun to see some of the wedding couture. As you see, not necessarily holding out high hopes for this one, but maybe it will surprise me.

In the event that "Bride Wars" is a bomb, I think the other two selections should hold their own. I've heard from several people that "Marley & Me" with Jennifer Aniston & Owen Wilson is funny & endearing. And, "Frost/Nixon" sounds like it will be a winner - it's directed by Ron Howard, whose efforts I generally like, and Frank Langella's performance as Nixon is purported to be brilliant.

I will keep you updated as to which, if any, of these Netflix are truly Netfly! ;)

"Respect the Process" and See "I Love You, Man"!!

I'm not even sure where in the movie the 'Respect the process' line is from...but it doesn't matter; what I am sure of is this--you will LOVE this movie!! My only condition to this recommendation - you must already like the comedy of Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, etc. In the event you don't find their silly, slightly immature, often raunchy, brilliant humor uproariously, fall-out-of-your seat funny then you just saved yourself $8-12 on a ticket (depending on your location).

Great comedic pairing of Jason Segel & Paul Rudd in the leads. Peter (Paul Rudd) has just become engaged to Zooey (Rashida Jones, formerly of "The Office") and it becomes painfully obvious that while she is easily able to gather eight of her closest friends to be bridesmaids, Peter has no one to stand up as his best man. As his family explains, 'he's always been more of a girlfriend guy'. So, he sets out to find a best friend. He receives some help along the way from his gay brother, Robbie (a very funny Andy Samberg) as well as from his mother (the wonderful Jane Curtin). Peter eventually meets Sydney (Jason Segel) and it's love at first sight. Sydney is everything that Peter is not - casual, cool, goes with the flow - and he seems to have a confidence in himself that Peter is missing. It's a great pairing and these two actors are two of my comedic favorites--I loved Rudd's work for years - "40 Year Old Virgin", "Anchorman" - and Segel is great as part of the ensemble cast of "How I Met Your Mother" and really carried the lead in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", another great comedy with so many funny supporting cast (including Kenneth from "30 Rock"!). "I Love You, Man" also includes Jon Favreau & Jamie Pressly in smaller roles - both are funny and make the most of their material, particularly Favreau. Finally - as an added bonus - if you've ever liked Rush (or known people who have!)...well, they're featured in this movie as well.

I think an IMDB user summed up "I Love You, Man" best by saying - 'I loved it, man'. Me, too.


SEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

New Angelina flick filming in Albany...

Speaking of intrigue...parts of Albany will be closed to traffic for the filming of a new spy flick, "Salt" starring Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor (British actor, you'd know him from movies like "Children of Men", "American Gangster", "Talk To Me", etc.). See below link for the scoop:

http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2009/04/21/angelina-jolie-to-stop-traffic-in-downtown-albany

Thanks to my hubby for sending on the link!

Book pick

I probably won't have time to write any lengthy posts over the next few days. What you may see, instead, is quick nuggets as they hit me.

Here's one - just read a blurb on a book I'd like to read, thought I'd share it with you: David Cristofano's "The Girl She Used to Be". I don't know that I've read anything by the author before but the premise sounds intriguing: a girl, Melody, who was forced to enter witness protection at a young age when she and her family witnessed a violent act. As a result, their lives are altered--Melody & her family are continually moving to new towns & taking on new names. Flash forward 20 years to her encounter with a man who refers to her as Melody, telling her she's just a pawn in the government's war against the Mafioso family to which he belongs. Ooh! This one may have just jumped to the top of the list : )

What are you all reading right now? Please use comments to post about any good or great reads! Or, any ones to steer clear of...

Hmmm...

Happy Saturday! What a beautiful day here in NY, definitely not movie-watching weather : )

Last night, following a great birthday dinner with my hubby, Sean, I popped in one of my waiting Netflix. Since Sean was home, it was safe for me to watch a 'scary' movie - even if it he wasn't going to be watching with me. As some of you may know - and I've mentioned before - I am a jump-out-of-your-seat kind of viewer for any sort of thriller or horror movie. And, with my overactive imagination...I've now learned - at the ripe old age of 35 - to not watch such content if no one is home as the aftermath is just not worth it...every little creak in a floorboard has me on edge, lol.

So.

I watched a British thriller, "The Broken". You may not have heard of it. And, not quite sure if I'd recommend it. Then again, I wouldn't NOT recommend it either - if that makes any sense. It was one of those films with a lot of set-up (not something I necessarily mind) however the a-ha didn't really come until the last 20 minutes. Even then, I was left with some questions. The story: a woman, Gina, senses that another woman who looks eerily like her is shadowing her moves and Gina becomes fixated on this mirror image who seems to be everywhere. This obsessive pursuit derails her daily life.

The acting was good - Richard Jenkins (most recently received acclaim from the Academy with his Best Oscar nom for "The Visitor" - which was excellent!) was great, as always, and Lena Headley was very good as the lead. No real qualms with those actors or the rest of the cast....maybe it was just the style...maybe the ending...I'm not 100% sure. I did read a post on Netflix where the person posting had similar reservations and, on a second viewing, found the film to be brilliant. (This reviewer in particular mentions an Edgar Allan Poe quote that opens the movie that, in retrospect, provides a framework for the story that follows) I'd like to say I'd give it a second shot, but...with the queue (okay, Sean - queues!!) overflowing...not sure if that will be anytime soon.

I'll leave you with this - I was sufficiently scared/on edge. Also really liked the use of London as a character, some great cinematography of the city.


SKIP

What I'm Watching...

Returning after a 1.5 year hiatus...I'm back!!

Then again, perhaps no one knew I was gone since my readership was zero. Here's hoping that changes this go-around :)

Let's start with what I'm watching...just recently started viewing Season 1 of "In Treatment" through Netflix. I am really enjoying it so far. Gabriel Byrne stars as the therapist and each episode is structured as a session; during the course of the season, the progress of therapy is charted for several patients, one couple in joint couples' therapy, and Byrne's character, Paul, himself--he meets once a week with former colleague, Gina, played by Dianne Wiest.

Why I like it: for starters, I'm almost always a fan of shows/movies that have several storylines running concurrently provided it's done in a cohesive fashion, which this is. I also like the 'talky' quality to it - a true shock for anyone who knows me, lol - and actually being able to see things transpiring and unfolding. Finally, the cast is great - patients include talented actors like Hope Davis, John Mahoney, and Blair Underwood (Underwood appears in Season 1 while Davis & Mahoney are featured in Season 2).

Check it out for yourself!

Coming soon: Spending an afternoon at the bookstore; or, books I'm excited to read.


SEE