This is a quiet, slow-paced, pleasant movie about the changes that occur in the life of a paralyzed man because of his new attendant.
The wheelchair occupant is wealthy and awfully restrained and emotionless. The attendant is handsome, brash, aggressively direct, charming, talkative and forgive my french, full of joie de vivre. One of my favorite parts to the film is seeing the 2 of them listening to an orchestra that has been hired as part of the rich guys birthday celebration. The orchestra is playing classical music and the attendant's comments and facial expressions are funny. After the performance is through, he puts a CD on of Earth, Wind and Fire and starts dancing (as does the rest of the old white people crowd) and seeing this orderly dance was worth sitting through the rest of the edgy boring film.
Nothing happened. there was no tension or explanation into either of the 2 main character's background or motivation or personality. The paralyzed man basically amusedly smiled at the antics of his assistant. Plus he didn't even act paralyzed; he was supposed to be a quad but he had too much use of his head, neck and shoulders.
I gave it a 6 (cuz of the dancing and my entranced attraction to the tall and goodlooking and rashly glib attendant) and Bill gave it a 5. Its out on video.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
LAVERNA'S COFFEE SHOP - TUCSON, AZ
I really want to like this restaurant and put it on my list of favorite breakfast/lunch spots. but that may not be possible. I'll eat here again trying some of their lunch items hoping that the food will taste better- well, really have any taste at all.
Laverna's is on 220 S. Plumer in a great sort of hidden neighborhood off Broadway near Tucson. I like the feel of the place, the decorations, the number of tables, the friendly service (our blunt and sweet waitress used to work at one of my favorite bakeries), the portion size and the prices.
Now let's get to the food: i ordered a veggie omelette with crispy home fries and a biscuit. The omelette was a 4-egg'er; too much egg - thick slabs of egg which surrounded almost nothing; a few pcs. of tomatoes and mushrooms, i never did taste any onion. and the eggs themselves had no taste even with salt.
Likewise for the home fries, no flavor. Now the biscuit was nice and warm and was as tall as a 2 story townhome. It wasn't fluffy but was a dense nest for my multiple almost invisible in size "cups" of butter. So i think i enjoyed that because of the butter taste.
Jean had french fries and a grilled cheese sandwich with green chilies. I could hardly see the cheese but oh, the amount of chilies was ridiculous. and jean also said there was no flavor.
Another attempt at Laverna's will be upcoming.
Laverna's is on 220 S. Plumer in a great sort of hidden neighborhood off Broadway near Tucson. I like the feel of the place, the decorations, the number of tables, the friendly service (our blunt and sweet waitress used to work at one of my favorite bakeries), the portion size and the prices.
Now let's get to the food: i ordered a veggie omelette with crispy home fries and a biscuit. The omelette was a 4-egg'er; too much egg - thick slabs of egg which surrounded almost nothing; a few pcs. of tomatoes and mushrooms, i never did taste any onion. and the eggs themselves had no taste even with salt.
Likewise for the home fries, no flavor. Now the biscuit was nice and warm and was as tall as a 2 story townhome. It wasn't fluffy but was a dense nest for my multiple almost invisible in size "cups" of butter. So i think i enjoyed that because of the butter taste.
Jean had french fries and a grilled cheese sandwich with green chilies. I could hardly see the cheese but oh, the amount of chilies was ridiculous. and jean also said there was no flavor.
Another attempt at Laverna's will be upcoming.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
NATIVE NEW YORKER - TUCSON, AZ
We ate here only because we had a 1/2 off coupon because i knew that they served the same type of food (salads, sandwiches, burgers) that some of our favorite restaurants have for a lot cheaper price. Native New Yorker also has pizza's, calzones, wings, pasta dishes and fish entrees. The menu telling you of all these choices is about as heavy as the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Bill had a burger and fries. He liked the burger but the fries were a disaster; hot but limp with a too thick sprinkle of spicy pepper and salt. I had chicken pot pie which was fairly tasty; nice and creamy with a decent amount of vegetables; sort of slim with the chicken pieces and there were several that had gristle but all in all i was satisfied.
The waiters and waitresses were saucily hip and cool with moussed hair and tattoos and rings and swishy hips. The restaurant is on Speedway and Country Club.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
MOTHER HUBBARD'S CAFE - TUCSON, AZ
So this restaurant located at Stone and Grant advertises itself as serving "contemporary native american comfort food". i have no idea what that means but i do know i was NOT comforted by my recent lunch.
I ate breakfast here several years ago and was disappointed at the lack of flavor. but this time, i left hungry and upset at paying for a totally unsatisfactory entree that i passively did not complain about to the waiter. Speaking up about food quality is one of the ways a restaurant improves (or not) - and in this i did not participate but another way is to not go back and to inform friends and foes of my experience.
The breakfast menu is vast and the lunch menu is sparse. I ordered a BLT with roasted pepper and chipotle mayo accompanied by sweet potato fries. The fries were the worst i've ever attempted to eat. They were overfried with burnt edges and they were cold. and the sandwich contained 2 large pieces of thick cut bacon which was not thoroughly cooked in all areas and which were also cold. This was layered on light rye bread with limp lettuce and a huge daddy sized roasted green pepper which totally overwhelmed the sandwich which i couldn't eat anyway.
The restaurant's service was very prompt and friendly and the atmosphere was neat and homey with a lot of Day of the Dead decorations. I won't be back.
I ate breakfast here several years ago and was disappointed at the lack of flavor. but this time, i left hungry and upset at paying for a totally unsatisfactory entree that i passively did not complain about to the waiter. Speaking up about food quality is one of the ways a restaurant improves (or not) - and in this i did not participate but another way is to not go back and to inform friends and foes of my experience.
The breakfast menu is vast and the lunch menu is sparse. I ordered a BLT with roasted pepper and chipotle mayo accompanied by sweet potato fries. The fries were the worst i've ever attempted to eat. They were overfried with burnt edges and they were cold. and the sandwich contained 2 large pieces of thick cut bacon which was not thoroughly cooked in all areas and which were also cold. This was layered on light rye bread with limp lettuce and a huge daddy sized roasted green pepper which totally overwhelmed the sandwich which i couldn't eat anyway.
The restaurant's service was very prompt and friendly and the atmosphere was neat and homey with a lot of Day of the Dead decorations. I won't be back.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
SNITCH
We were surprisingly surprised with this movie. Wasn't expecting much but it exceeded those low expectations.
It stars Dwayne Johnson (the ROCK; looking handsome as ever with perfect facial features and almond magical eyes and because he didn't take his shirt off he played the role of an 'ordinary' dad instead of an action hero really well. of course, none of the fathers of my friends have ever looked as fetching as the Rock.) as John Matthews whose son Jason foolishly accepts delivery of a pkg. of drugs from his friend.
Jason gets caught and because of the minimum federal sentencing laws, he got 10 years. John could not accept this, especially as time went on, Jason, who was sort of a pretty boy quiet and shy kid, was getting hit on and beat up. So John (this story is based on true events) offers his services to the federal prosecutor (Susan Sarandon). That he will get connections to drug traffickers and get her some arrests. The government had tried to get Jason to do that - telling him his sentence would be reduced- but he was not interested.
So John fairly easily gets involved in transporting huge amounts of drugs and then cash in one of his semi's. John owns a construction business.
The movie was exciting throughout; not too long; there was action all the time; it kept me interested (Oh, Omar from The Wire was in it; its a shame that he has been typecast as a drug dealer because i think he could do so much more.); all the characters were likable and the acting was good. The Rock showed some real performance potential.
We gave it a 7. This film does not bear close scrutiny to many of the plot twists and action lines. Stay superficially involved and you'll like it.
It stars Dwayne Johnson (the ROCK; looking handsome as ever with perfect facial features and almond magical eyes and because he didn't take his shirt off he played the role of an 'ordinary' dad instead of an action hero really well. of course, none of the fathers of my friends have ever looked as fetching as the Rock.) as John Matthews whose son Jason foolishly accepts delivery of a pkg. of drugs from his friend.
Jason gets caught and because of the minimum federal sentencing laws, he got 10 years. John could not accept this, especially as time went on, Jason, who was sort of a pretty boy quiet and shy kid, was getting hit on and beat up. So John (this story is based on true events) offers his services to the federal prosecutor (Susan Sarandon). That he will get connections to drug traffickers and get her some arrests. The government had tried to get Jason to do that - telling him his sentence would be reduced- but he was not interested.
So John fairly easily gets involved in transporting huge amounts of drugs and then cash in one of his semi's. John owns a construction business.
The movie was exciting throughout; not too long; there was action all the time; it kept me interested (Oh, Omar from The Wire was in it; its a shame that he has been typecast as a drug dealer because i think he could do so much more.); all the characters were likable and the acting was good. The Rock showed some real performance potential.
We gave it a 7. This film does not bear close scrutiny to many of the plot twists and action lines. Stay superficially involved and you'll like it.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
FRANK'S - TUCSON, AZ
At night this restaurant is called Francisco's and serves delicious Mexican food. We've eaten dinner there a lot and we've always been very satisfied. But during the day (this was my first time) this place serves delicious american breakfasts and lunches till 2pm.
The atmosphere is totally different from the evening. when we've gone its quiet, with maybe 3 other tables filled. a lot of Spanish chatter and mariachi music but during the day - WOW. it is jammed; all the seats inside and the small narrow outside eating area were filled with a constantly changing set of buttocks. And there were 4 or 5 waitresses working and the place is not big at all but they were running around all the time. There was a lag and some space around 11:15 until the lunch crowd started arriving and the smells went from toast to grilled burgers.
I love the atmosphere (day or night);very friendly and big portions with super reasonable prices (weekdays, they have an early bird breakfast special for $1.75 which includes 2 eggs, potatoes and toast or biscuit.) Its a very 'hole in the wall' joint; old with curling and dirty at the edges linoleum on the floor and not much in the way of decoration. Its near the corner of Pima and Alvernon.
Anyway, i had a sausage and cheese (4 choices, i picked provolone which i wouldn't do again; it was too stringy when melted) with tomatoes omelette. This was absolutely delicious. The omelette had the cheese melted in the middle but the sausage and tomatoes were sprinkled on the top; sort of an inside out omelette. There was so much sausage it spilled all around the eggs. This was accompanied by a a platter sized portion of extra crispy hashed browns. (another mistake in my ordering; i'll be prepared next time. The extra crispy request rendered the potatoes into a thin pancake of crisp; and no potato.)
And i paid 25 cents extra to have raisin toast instead of regular bread and it was the best raisin bread i've ever had. i was picking up crumbs from the plate.
All of this cost $9 with tax.
Frank's rocks just like Francisco's.
The atmosphere is totally different from the evening. when we've gone its quiet, with maybe 3 other tables filled. a lot of Spanish chatter and mariachi music but during the day - WOW. it is jammed; all the seats inside and the small narrow outside eating area were filled with a constantly changing set of buttocks. And there were 4 or 5 waitresses working and the place is not big at all but they were running around all the time. There was a lag and some space around 11:15 until the lunch crowd started arriving and the smells went from toast to grilled burgers.
I love the atmosphere (day or night);very friendly and big portions with super reasonable prices (weekdays, they have an early bird breakfast special for $1.75 which includes 2 eggs, potatoes and toast or biscuit.) Its a very 'hole in the wall' joint; old with curling and dirty at the edges linoleum on the floor and not much in the way of decoration. Its near the corner of Pima and Alvernon.
Anyway, i had a sausage and cheese (4 choices, i picked provolone which i wouldn't do again; it was too stringy when melted) with tomatoes omelette. This was absolutely delicious. The omelette had the cheese melted in the middle but the sausage and tomatoes were sprinkled on the top; sort of an inside out omelette. There was so much sausage it spilled all around the eggs. This was accompanied by a a platter sized portion of extra crispy hashed browns. (another mistake in my ordering; i'll be prepared next time. The extra crispy request rendered the potatoes into a thin pancake of crisp; and no potato.)
And i paid 25 cents extra to have raisin toast instead of regular bread and it was the best raisin bread i've ever had. i was picking up crumbs from the plate.
All of this cost $9 with tax.
Frank's rocks just like Francisco's.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
THE SESSIONS
This is a superbly acted movie that deals with sexual activity when one is disabled. The story is about Mark O'Brien (a 'real' person; he wrote an article about having sex for the first time and this movie is based on that.) acted wondrously by John Hawkes. Hawkes does equally well playing a totally paralyzed polio victim as he does in this movie or a creepy and sinister cult leader or a redneck mountain man.
Mark has full sensation but can't move any muscles below his neck; he lives in an iron lung except for up to 3-4 hours of time outside with a portable respirator. Since he contracted polio when he was a young boy he's never had sex and figures that at age 38 when he's close to his "use by" date; he better forge ahead.
Mark is totally likeable and gentle and charming and engaging and smart and witty and self-deprecating. He hires a sex therapist to help him have intercourse. There is a lot in this movie just generally about how to have sex and enjoyment and orgasms when you're disabled. and the sex itself is handled in a straightforward and graphic way (scenes plus language) but also an unerotic way. Helen Hunt is the therapist and she is absolutely great.
Mark all through the film talks to a priest (he was brought up catholic so it bothers him that he has these desires since he was brought up to believe they are sinful and he'd go to hell). the priest is played by William Macy who initially acts Roman Catholic - like but then becomes a cigarette smoking and beer drinking and bandanna wearing liberal confidante. This portrayal is a movie fantasy one in my experience. But what is good about the use of Mark telling him about what is going on, is that we get to know that without the voice-overs which i find annoying.
I've never seen a movie like this and just felt uplifted at the end and sad too. Highly recommended; its out on video. We rated it a 10.
Mark has full sensation but can't move any muscles below his neck; he lives in an iron lung except for up to 3-4 hours of time outside with a portable respirator. Since he contracted polio when he was a young boy he's never had sex and figures that at age 38 when he's close to his "use by" date; he better forge ahead.
Mark is totally likeable and gentle and charming and engaging and smart and witty and self-deprecating. He hires a sex therapist to help him have intercourse. There is a lot in this movie just generally about how to have sex and enjoyment and orgasms when you're disabled. and the sex itself is handled in a straightforward and graphic way (scenes plus language) but also an unerotic way. Helen Hunt is the therapist and she is absolutely great.
Mark all through the film talks to a priest (he was brought up catholic so it bothers him that he has these desires since he was brought up to believe they are sinful and he'd go to hell). the priest is played by William Macy who initially acts Roman Catholic - like but then becomes a cigarette smoking and beer drinking and bandanna wearing liberal confidante. This portrayal is a movie fantasy one in my experience. But what is good about the use of Mark telling him about what is going on, is that we get to know that without the voice-overs which i find annoying.
I've never seen a movie like this and just felt uplifted at the end and sad too. Highly recommended; its out on video. We rated it a 10.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
CHAR'S THAI - TUCSON, AZ
We haven't been here in awhile; not sure why, because their food is really good and the atmosphere is brightly colored and warm, there are lots of booths, the service is good and the portions large.
But last night we didn't have one of our most memorable combo's. I usually order an egg roll (you can get just one for $1.25) which was delicious. Sometimes they are really dry but not last night. And i asked the waitress what noodle dish had the thin glass noodles and she said Pad Thai which we don't order very often but from my memory it does not have the noodles i wanted but I ordered it anyway. mistake. it had linguine sized pasta and not too many vegetables and no chopped peanuts on top.
As i was complaining and apologizing to Bill, he reminded me (too late!) that its the Vietnamese cuisine that has the thin noodles i wanted.
The other dish was red curry with chicken. It had a nice slightly spicy taste but only had bean sprouts and huge mega-chunks of green pepper and only 1 small piece of basil. I like the curries with more vegetables in addition to the meat. and the rice; it was one glutinous ball made more palatable by dousing it with the red curry sauce. Evidently they need lessons from me because my basmati rice is tender and light with each grain separate to appreciate its flavor. Luckily we have some of that rice left over from our grilled shrimp dinner and we'll use that with our leftovers.
We will be back though because the food disappointment was my fault and not any decrease in quality of the kitchen.
The restaurant is on 5th and Rosemont; close to the kosher jewish deli.
But last night we didn't have one of our most memorable combo's. I usually order an egg roll (you can get just one for $1.25) which was delicious. Sometimes they are really dry but not last night. And i asked the waitress what noodle dish had the thin glass noodles and she said Pad Thai which we don't order very often but from my memory it does not have the noodles i wanted but I ordered it anyway. mistake. it had linguine sized pasta and not too many vegetables and no chopped peanuts on top.
As i was complaining and apologizing to Bill, he reminded me (too late!) that its the Vietnamese cuisine that has the thin noodles i wanted.
The other dish was red curry with chicken. It had a nice slightly spicy taste but only had bean sprouts and huge mega-chunks of green pepper and only 1 small piece of basil. I like the curries with more vegetables in addition to the meat. and the rice; it was one glutinous ball made more palatable by dousing it with the red curry sauce. Evidently they need lessons from me because my basmati rice is tender and light with each grain separate to appreciate its flavor. Luckily we have some of that rice left over from our grilled shrimp dinner and we'll use that with our leftovers.
We will be back though because the food disappointment was my fault and not any decrease in quality of the kitchen.
The restaurant is on 5th and Rosemont; close to the kosher jewish deli.
Monday, March 11, 2013
A LATE QUARTET
a terrifically acted film about a string quartet that has been playing together for 25 years and what happens when the senior member (Peter, played by a mild and gentle and lovable Christopher Walken) develops Parkinson's disease. The other members are Robert (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who is 2nd violin but believes he can play first chair and is filled with suppressed jealousy and discontent. Daniel (Mark Ivanir) is first violin and he is a rigid and dictatorial personality and musician. Juliette (Catherine Keener) is Robert's wife. they are the parents of a budding violinist who is starting to keenly feel the effects of being brought up by a mom and dad who traveled constantly and whose music came before her needs as a child.
There was a lot of string quartet music and I also learned quite a bit about how a group like this learns to play together. And it was a constantly entertaining story to see how Peter's imminent departure from the quartet affected every other member in ALL areas of their lives; not just the touring and performing part.
Bill gave it a 7.5 and i gave it an 8. And the ending was good; it didn't dissolve into cotton candy bliss with all problems solved. oh, and i don't even like symphony type music and i still really enjoyed this film.
There was a lot of string quartet music and I also learned quite a bit about how a group like this learns to play together. And it was a constantly entertaining story to see how Peter's imminent departure from the quartet affected every other member in ALL areas of their lives; not just the touring and performing part.
Bill gave it a 7.5 and i gave it an 8. And the ending was good; it didn't dissolve into cotton candy bliss with all problems solved. oh, and i don't even like symphony type music and i still really enjoyed this film.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
CHEF ALISAH'S - TUCSON, AZ
And the son has been there on all our other visits too and there has always been some sort of 'issue' with his service. But last night was the most pleasant interaction with him. He's young and usually acts as if serving food and taking orders in the restaurant is the LAST thing he wants to be doing. but perhaps he had a date set up for after the place closed since he was in a smiling and friendly mood and took our orders promptly and correctly. So the only negative i could note was the state of his sweatshirt which was old and wrinkled and oh, so dirty. We were hoping the plates would not come anywhere close to that clothing.
The restaurant is small but the tables are not cramped together and the color theme is purple. Each time we've been there, the chef-owner has always smilingly come over and checked on us.
We got 10 of their sausages which come in the middle of this special spongy bread and accompanied by a wonderful garlic/yoghurt sauce and chopped onions. And the other entree was their goulash which is magnificent. lots of tender beef in this tasty and spicy tomato based sauce and this came with a big bowl of coleslaw in this vinegary dressing and 2 'balls' of the tenderest and most butteriest (i know that's not a word) rice i've ever eaten.
And again, as always, we had lots of both dishes left for a lunch. The tab came to $25 and this included tax and a tip. The restaurant is located on Oracle and Rudasill.
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