WIN WIN

A great movie about relationships and parenting and high school sport competition and priorities in life. This film is one of those hidden gems that isn't promoted or advertised and i'm glad i stumbled upon a review of it.

It stars Paul Giamatti as Mike, a struggling attorney whose practice is not financially solvent. He is married to Jackie excellently acted by Amy Ryan. Because Mike gets panicy about money, he decides to petition the court for guardianship of one of his elderly demented clients. He then puts the man in an assisted living facility even though he told the judge he wanted to be the guardian so the elderly man could stay in his own home. Mike then pockets the $1500 per month allowance for guardianship service.

This is working out "well" until Kyle, the old man's grandson, who he has never seen, shows up, having run away from his drug addicted, neglectful mom. This starts a whole cascade of events which get especially stressful for Mike as Kyle turns out to be an excellent wrestler and someone who Mike wants on the high school wrestling team he coaches. Another 'ratchet up the tension' moment comes when Kyle's mom appears on the scene having completed her rehab and wanting to take over guardianship of her dad because she wants the monthly payment.

No scene or line of dialogue is unrealistic; every consequence of the original dishonesty by Mike is totally believable and i liked all the characters. Both Bill and I rated it a 10.

MILLIE'S PANCAKE HAUS - TUCSON, AZ

This restaurant on Tanque Verde (opposite the miniature golf course) has been around since the early 80's. Given the name, i sort of knew how it would be decorated; german tiny village with lots of pottery on the walls and gingerbread trim and checks and doilies; very cute homey place. The service was excellent. This restaurant is the type where the waitresses have been there for more than 20 years and treat you like their children.

The menu wasn't as big as i had thought it would be but they certainly had an adequate choice of breakfast stuff and lunch sandwiches and salads. I had a veggie omelet with wonderfully thin and crispy home fries and then instead of toast (which is from homemade bread; but i'm spoiled since Bill still makes all our bread.) i had a potato pancake with applesauce. It was thin and flavored just right.

I will be back.

SUPER 8

A very delightful and highly entertaining and fast paced movie accompanied by great 1970's tunes (yes, there were a few great songs scattered in between disco).

This movie was a cross between Stand by Me (a group of kids - boys plus one girl who is played by Elle Fanning, Dakota's sister - witness a train explosion caused by a pickup truck driving on the tracks right in the trains' path. They see this while they are filming their own movie and this story line flows along with the main plot and it also contributes to a great ending while the credits are rolling - so don't leave the theater early.)

so where was i? oh, yes, a cross between Stand by Me and helping E.T. to get home; only in this case its a metal alien.

There's a pre-teen budding romance, and of course, the big bad military who are hiding the secret of the train wreck, and great dialogue especially among the boys, and a nice thread of parent - child relations and wonderful explosions and tension as the boys go about solving the mystery.

I gave the movie an 8 and Bill gave it a 9.

MOLINA'S MIDWAY RESTAURANT - TUCSON, AZ

We first ate at this Mexican restaurant when Debbie visited us in mid-May. It was delicious then and still delicious now. Set off in a neighborhood and it has been around for more than 50 years.

The service is excellent.

Both Bill and I had the special; a ground beef enchilada and a spicy chicken enchilada with rice and beans and a pile of lettuce shreds. We also ordered a small side of guacamole. The enchiladas were filled from the tip of each end. there was no eating of a tortilla with nothing inside and the flavor was great.

The beans and rice are nothing special and the salsa is a little too hot for me but the chips are warm and fresh and lightly salted. When we were here with Debbie i think i ordered charro beans instead of re-fried and the charro are much better. There's something about most refried beans that resembles mush food that seniors would be fed when they've lost all their teeth and can't afford dentures cuz they had to give up all their assets to get a Medicaid bed in a gothic-ly dark and neglected and dank nursing home AKA warehouse.

WINGS & RICE - TUCSON, AZ

What a delightful find. We've passed this restaurant many times. The back of the building faces the busy street so i've never been really sure if they are open or not. Plus just the name made me unsure about the mix of oriental food and bar snacks. However, i went on their website to look at their menu and it sounded intriguing enough to check out.

The place is plain but large; lots of seating and very clean (including the bathroom). You order at the counter. The prices are a tad high but the food was very good. it's a quality restaurant in a fast food type setting.

Bill had a burger basket which he liked. I ordered 5 buffalo shrimp (for $6) and i had my choice of 25 sauces that the shrimp (or wings) are tossed in after being very lightly breaded and fried. I tried the sesame teriyaki and it was absolutely delicious with just the right amount of zip. The shrimp were fresh and firm. I was afraid (as i often am) that i would still be hungry but i wasn't. I also got a side of seasoned fries and they were the best i've ever eaten. A huge basket and just spicy enough to tingle my lips.

They also have different sandwiches, and chicken or pork katsu and teriyaki rice bowls. I saw their hibachi rice which accompanies a lot of their dishes and it was a steaming mound of rice with vegetables and a special soy sauce.

We have already planned our next meal there. They are on the corner of Craycroft and Pima and are open 7 days a week till 9pm except on Sunday till 8pm.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

bill and I gave this movie a 7. I was disappointed because i thought that it would be close to a 9 since that's how i rated the other X-men films.

the story line was weak and involved CIA and bombs and 3rd world wars and it was linked (aided by old news clips) with the Cuban missile crisis when Kennedy was in office. There was a subplot which was exciting and that was Magneto's revenge against the Nazi (played wonderfully by Kevin Bacon) who killed his mother in the concentration camp.

Hugh Jackman did a cameo which was inspired and funny though way too short. I really missed him in this film.

I can't really put my finger on any one thing that led to my general sense of ennui and lassitude during the movie. Just didn't get engaged with any of the characters. However, Magneto, Raven and Kevin Bacon were great. On the other hand, James McAvoy as Charles (later Professor X - acted superbly by Patrick Stewart) was horribly miscast. He looked years younger than the other mutants especially Magneto and he was always lecturing and bossing people around and screwing up his eyes and tilting his head in a weird way when he was reading people's minds. He has absolutely no stage presence or magnetism.

and January Jones was in this film too; fortunately, for only brief spells of time. I guess her agent figures if she appears in enough movies she'll learn to act.!

Bill and I were the oldest people in the theater by about 35 years!!!!!!

INDIA OVEN - TUCSON, AZ

I've eaten here during Tucson #1 but only for lunch and their buffet. My memory of the place was that it was dark and dingy looking and not very decorated but my memory was wrong. It is a bright restaurant (2 rooms with the first one being smaller and feeling a tad cramped; probably because it is near the front door.) with lots of bright sequined and sparkly pictures on the wall. Each table had a centerpiece made up of colored sparkler looking wands; very festive.

The food is way spicier than Gandhi's and i wasn't prepared for it. so after my first bite - i lost my voice for about 10 minutes. As the food cooled it got less spicy and also i was getting used to it but taking smaller bites. I also ordered a side of yoghurt to cool my palate. The portions were big and we have lunch for both of us.

We split 2 entrees; Chicken bhuna (cooked with onion and garlic) and chicken biryani which was like a rice casserole with tender chicken and saffron and nuts. Lots of flavor. Bill said that he wished we had gotten dishes that were different in texture but i think that's a 'hallmark' of indian food; meat with lots of spices in sauces of varying flavors; in other words, 'wet' foods - not crunchy or crispy.

The service was good. however, the owner stood over us as we looked at the check (which was a combination of separate checks and one check! making it difficult to divide - we ate here with Michelle and Rob) and figured out our financial portions and the tip. It was a tad disconcerting since she didn't move even during our muted discussions about the amount of the tip.

I would go here again. But probably the next time, head back to Gandhi. The food there isn't quite as hot (though still excellent), i have 15% off coupons, and they bring to the table when you sit down some good pappadum (fried lentil wafers) with a bunch of different chutney's.

BOBO'S RESTAURANT - TUCSON, AZ

I've eaten here before with my friend, Chris, for breakfast. Until several months ago, they were only open for breakfast and lunch but now stay open till 9pm for dinner. The menu remains the same (salads, sandwiches and burgers) except for a few dinner specials (meatloaf, bbq'd chicken) and they serve breakfast all day.

Which is what i had; an omelet as big as a Size 14 shoe. It was more like a crepe which i liked and stuffed end to end with veggies and a light coating of sour cream instead of cheese. This came with wonderfully crispy home fries (brought home for bill's lunch) and toast. All for $7.

Bill had a chopped sirloin steak with grilled onions, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. His dinner was also $7 and the portions were huge.

The atmosphere of this restaurant is dated (its been around for 30 years), a tired-looking plain ole' diner but the food is good for the price and quantity. Service was great.