Movie: Away We Go

I LOVE Dave Eggers. I thoroughly believe his book "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" defined a generation. If you got it, you really found Eggers speaking your thoughts, even though his situation was probably nothing like yours. If you didn't get it, then you probably thought he was a whining idiot. I got it, and I've had a soft spot for him ever since. Mind you, it's been at least 10 years since I read the book, so who knows how I'd feel about it today.

I just heard about a new movie directed by Sam Mendes and co-written by...Dave Eggers! Away We Go, per the trailer, is reminiscent of Juno, but for adults. Funny, heart warming, soul searching...how do you handle getting your life ready when you've got a baby on the way. Maybe it's a movie that girls can relate to...especially those who've had a baby...and are me.

Eh, I don't know who the audience is, but I know that if we didn't have to pay $100 for movie tickets, a meal, and babysitter, we'd see this as soon as it hit theaters. Ah, parenthood.

Looking forward to the full feature via Netflix. In the meantime, the trailer.

Trailer: Away We Go

Movie: Julie & Julia

Oh, I have to see this movie. Per the trailer, it's about Julia Child and a woman named Julie, both of whom are searching for themselves at different points in time. Julia goes to cooking school, and Julie goes to cookbook school (she cooks from Julia's books).

The actress playing Julia Child: Meryl Streep. And she just NAILED IT!!

Due in August 2009.

Juno on Apple TV

Despite feeling very Juno these days, I haven't seen the movie yet.

I know, I know. Shocking.

The thing is, we got an Apple TV recently. It's a fun gadget, but it didn't come with a cable. So MetaDaddy hijacked the DVD player's cable, which now doesn't work as a result. And he's away for the next few days, so I can't watch DVDs. So much for Netflix. I can, however, rent a movie on iTunes. Excellent, Smithers.

And so, I did. It's $4, downloads in no time, and you have 30 days to start watching it. Once you start watching it, you have 24 hours to finish. You can pause, forward, rewind, etc. No extras, but honestly, I never watch the extras. Well, I seldom do.

Very convenient, easy, and spontaneous. Netflix is great, but there's nothing spontaneous about it. And given where I'm at these days, it's nice to feel spontaneous. Apple does need a bigger selection. It's minuscule. Perfect for us though because we haven't seen movies in years! Ah, the joys.

As for the movie, it was cute. Juno and I are nothing alike, and yet I found myself relating to her completely with regards to the "getting bigger" part. After all, we're about the same size...which means we're both planets (and cranky) once the 8-9 month thing comes around (clip). For the record, I'm almost 7 months.

Incidentally, the ultrasound technician in the movie is...well, I don't buy her 'tude. Every UT I've been to has been super sweet. I figure it's the nature of their job. All they see are women giddy to see their little blob with fingers, toes, and a paunchy little belly. And I've seen a lot, lot, lot of UTs. I've had 5 so far. I think I had about 7 or 8 with MetaToddler. My obstetrician is a bit of a control freak. More on that later ;-)

The soundtrack is pretty fun, too. I had to buy it when I sampled it because Boogie started dancing around. Any excuse to see him spin in circles to a beat. If only everything was this easy.

Le sigh.

Movie: Young At Heart, Once

Here's a cute-looking movie. Young At Heart tagline:

Prepare to be entertained by this New England senior citizens chorus that has delighted audiences worldwide with their covers of songs by everyone from The Clash to Coldplay.

The trailer

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We finally, finally, finally saw Once, and it was really cute. Just a sweet movie to watch. Needless to say, we loved the soundtrack.

The trailer

Oscar Spoiler

If you haven't seen the awards show and you don't want to spoil it for yourself, stop reading :-)

However, I'd like to share. I don't usually watch the show because I find it boring. The only way to watch it in my book involves Tivo. Then again, that's the only way to watch most things. And if I do watch, it's likely because I want to see something (e.g., a performance). This year, I wanted to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova perform music from the movie Once. And what did I forget to do? Tivo it. So when we got home two hours after it started, I raced to the TV to record it. And what did I find? The last few notes of their performance. Typical. Thank goodness for You Tube.



And then, they won!! Awesome. The acceptance speech was brief, and unfortunately Marketa was given the bum's rush when the music started playing just as she started speaking. But she lucked out...cuz Jon Stewart is a stand-up guy. He brought her back to give the speech of a lifetime. Very sweet. So if you want to hear both acceptance speeches, watch the whole three minutes.

Movie: Killer of Sheep

I accidentally caught the second half of the movie Killer of Sheep on TMC (Turner Classic Movies). While the name almost made me skip right past it, I bravely tuned in to see what it was about.

In 1977, Charles Burnett finished this film for $10K, which was destined to be lost but not forgotten for almost 30 years. Per the L.A. Times,

"A portrait of a working-class Watts neighborhood, "Killer of Sheep" is considered a landmark of American independent film. But it was never meant to be shown commercially and was shelved for years because Burnett never secured the music rights."

When it was finally released, the critics couldn't get enough.

"It was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress and named one of the "100 Essential Films" by the National Society of Film Critics."

It's a really interesting movie. A black & white look at a black family in poverty-stricken Watts. But that's where the synopsis ends. There is no storyline, per se. There is no plot. A Wikipedia quote describes it as "a collection of brief vignettes which are so loosely connected that it feels at times like you're watching a non-narrative film."

This movie is not for everyone. Nor is it appropriate at all times. In some respects it's like a silent or foreign film because you have to concentrate to get the penetrating effect of the imagery, and really appreciate the emotion behind each human interaction. The characters feel so real, it's hypnotic. There's relatively very little dialogue, but the music is touching; almost a character itself. It's a quiet film filled with the viewers' preconceived notions about life, struggles, and happiness. So don't get caught up in the praise people have thrust on the movie because it's very subjective. Go in with an open mind.

If you're interested in catching it, it's on Netflix, though you might also check your library for copies. You can buy the box set on Amazon, though some reviewers don't think much of the packaging. If you're lucky, maybe you can catch a local screening. And for kicks, here's a trailer to inspire you.

Things That Annoy Me: Week in Review

1. A woman on a non-crowded street coughed on me.
   
   
2. I saw what looked like the uneaten remains of a cat's dinner.
   
   
3. We went to the park and MetaBaby touched sand. He looked at his hands in shock and wonder, as if to say "what is this odd substance on my hands and why won't it come off?" Obvious next step: he licked his hand.
   
   
4. Netflix says there's a "short wait" on Ratatouille. Don't know if this bothers me that much after seeing #2 (above).
   
   
5. Between making dinner and leftovers, I couldn't justify eating out at all this week. Le sigh.
   
   
6. No more dinners at Joe's Restaurant in Venice after their Michelin star.

The Politics of Movies

I'm not here to get political. Other people are much better at it, and some of them even get paid for their banter. However, when I come across good dialogue, I feel compelled to share it, even if it seems political.

That said, read the following from the November 1st Democratic presidential debate while remembering Jack Nicholson's character Col. Nathan R. Jessep in A Few Good Men.

WILLIAMS: Now we turn to our lightning round in which each of the candidates will have 3.75 seconds to spout pandering clichés that demonstrate how the campaigning process has reduced their minds to pabulum. Senator Clinton, which issue would you like to obfuscate next?

CLINTON: Obfuscate? Son, let me tell you the truth, because you can’t handle the truth. We live in a world with enemies. We fight elections where people play rough. Who’s going to do it? These two pretty boys? The left-wing nutjobs in our party who sit around watching Bill Maher?

I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, leads to victory. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about in Santa Monica dinner parties, you want me at that podium. You need me at that podium. And I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to the self-righteous liberals who rise and sleep under the blanket of the very victory I provide! I wish you’d just said thanks and went on your way. In any case, I don’t give a damn what answers you think you’re entitled to!

Morrissey as Music

I will never, ever enjoy the whiney musings of Morrissey.

Glen Hansard on Morning Becomes Eclectic

We love the Irish band The Frames, so when we heard the lead singer Glen Hansard was in a movie, we were curious. Once is a musical of sorts in which the stars, Glen and Marketa Irglova, wander the streets of Dublin in what sounds like a believable, if quirky, love story. It's won a few awards, including an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

Praise and description about the soundtrack on the Washington Post: GLEN HANSARD/ MARKETA IRGLOVA "Once"



We haven't seen it yet, but it's definitely on our list.

In the meantime, I heard a live performance of a few songs written by Glen and performed by him and Markets on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. We've seen The Frames live, and in addition to Glen's amusing Dublin accent, he's just a funny guy. I only remember one thing from the concert that was oh so long ago (or maybe it just feels like a lifetime ago?). In explaining a song, he was telling the audience that a kid had named the dog in question Deefer. That's "D" fer Dog.

So if you're hankering for some good music or a really Irish accent, have a listen to (or watch) the live recording from 7/31/07.

Ratatouille: The Movie vs the Food

Given my pleasure I derive from movies and from cooking, I was pretty excited about Ratatouille (pronounced rat-a-too-wee), a cute Pixar movie about a rat who wants to be a chef. We saw a few minutes advertised on our Tivo, and it was great. However, I'm having a hard time getting past the whole "rat touching my food" thing. I'm sure the rat has washed it's little rat hands and is the model of cleanliness, but it's still hard to reconcile. So while I wish we could go see it, I'm also slightly glad that we can't. Of course, we'll get it on DVD eventually, but at least I can close my eyes or forward easier than if we were at a theatre.

The movie does seem very meticulous. I heard an interview on KCRW's The Treatment with director Brad Bird, and he said the animators actually worked at Thomas Keller's legendary French Laundry in order to learn the nuances and shortcuts taken by professional chefs (e.g., efficiency via minimal movements). Mr. Keller designed the movie's stylized ratatouille, and even appears in a cameo role as the voice of a patron at Gusteau's, per IMDB.

That said, every time I see an ad for the movie, the thing I want the most...is ratatouille. It makes me hungry. My husband makes a delicious version, and it's so easy.

Ratatouille
The prep time is minimal since nothing is chopped up finely. I prefer small eggplant because you want to leave skin on each cube to avoid having it dissolve to mush. Besides that, we're pretty loose with the ingredients. If you don't like zucchini, use more squash. Add some more color with different bell peppers. Whatever you do, make a lot because it's great for leftovers and freezing.

Olive Oil
salt
2 onions, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 summer squash, cubed
2 bell peppers, cut into thin strips,
2 small or 1 large eggplant, cubed
2 zucchini, cubed
2 cans of diced tomatoes
Italian seasoning (optional)
1 tablespoon tomato paste

Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the diced onions with a pinch of salt and sweat for about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Add all of the vegetables at once, followed by the tomatoes and the tomato paste. If the diced tomatoes are not seasoned, add the seasoning and salt to taste. Don't stir, just let everything steam on low heat for about 20 minutes (or until the vegetables are to your liking). Longer than that might result in overcooked (aka mushy) vegetables.

Save time - Read a Movie Spoiler

This is so exciting to me. I love movies, but we just haven't been able to see any lately. I can explain it away by reminding myself that I'll get to see them eventually, but eventually may never come because there just isn't always enough time. If I only get to see so many movies, I want the ones I see to be good. The Movie Spoiler is great because I get to feel like I saw a movie that I might have seen before, but probably won't get to see now.