A perfectly wonderful movie. All 4 of us (ron and julie and me and bill) rated it a 10.
Its the story of two 14 year old boys in Arkansas near the Mississippi River who are friends and fellow adventurers. Their explorations lead to the discovery of a boat in a tree; washed and marooned there during a recent flood. Ellis is a dreamer and romantic little kid who trusts others implicitly and who always sees the best in people. His friend, Neckbone, is a very practical and pragmatic and plainspoken realist who tempers Ellis's fantasies and flights of fancy. However, they both agree on one thing - they want to get that boat down.
The boys discover that someone is living in the area and wants to also get the boat down from the trees. This is Mud, played by Matthew mcConaughey (he is absolutely awesome and is an actor who is continually expanding the types of roles he can successfully play). Mud is a drifter and is currently in the area because - he tells the boys - after he gets the boat down he'll go into town and get his girlfriend who is waiting for him and they will leave Arkansas and begin a life of their own.
As the kids help Mud get the boat down and communicate with him more, a lot of other details come to life; about his girlfriend and their relationship, about Mud's past, about other people who might want to find Mud before he leaves the area. and also about the homelife of Ellis and Neckbone. And all these facts slowly and inexorably come together in a psychological and physical confrontation which culminates in a perfect ending.
The entire movie is firmly and superbly anchored by the acting of McConaughey and his friendship with the boys and the sterling acting of Ellis and Neckbone who captured exquisitely all the nuances of being 14 and friendship at that age in life. well, at least when you're a boy. I had to rely on Bill and Ron for that.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
I am so glad we saw this movie even though the theater viewing times were a tad early for us. Depending on the theater, it was anywhere from 3:30 to 3:55. we like the late afternoon showings that are closer to 5pm.
Bill rated this film a 10 and i gave it a 9 only because there were a few scenes that seemed not reasonable to me and that the situation could not have occurred that way in 'real' life - whatever THAT is.
The movie really has 3 separate parts as far as character development goes. Ryan Gosling (who i am back to admiring after my turnoff with his part in that horrid movie The Gangster Squad) is Luke, a drifter and goal-less individual who does trick motorcycle riding in carnivals. He discovers he has a son and in order to support his new found family (he goes off into a fantasy story where he becomes the faithful husband and dad with a loving son and eternal happiness; this is of course not based in any facts, since the mother of this son has already fallen in love with another man and is not interested in Luke's involvement at all.) decides to rob banks.
There are some great great scenes of his generally inept but ultimately financially successful robberies aided by his friend, Robin. this activity puts him into the orbit of Bradley Cooper (Avery Cross) who is a cop. The chase scene that takes place with Avery and Luke is wonderful; since its just like a real chase scene in busy neighborhood streets would go; no elements of Mission Impossible or Bruce Willis chase scenes where the physically impossible occurs with regularity.
I don't want to say anymore about Luke or his run-in with Avery since what happens is NOT what i thought was going to happen. In fact, this occurred during the entire movie; and its not like there were plot twists or that the direction of the movie changed but that, just like in real life, what you thought a character would do wasn't done in quite the way you had imagined.
the 'last' part of the film develops the story of Jason, Luke's son and Avery's son 15 years in the future. and once again, their interaction along with what happens to and with Avery is unexpected.
A wonderfully acted and inventive film. so nice to see a movie with an interesting and innovative story.
Bill rated this film a 10 and i gave it a 9 only because there were a few scenes that seemed not reasonable to me and that the situation could not have occurred that way in 'real' life - whatever THAT is.
The movie really has 3 separate parts as far as character development goes. Ryan Gosling (who i am back to admiring after my turnoff with his part in that horrid movie The Gangster Squad) is Luke, a drifter and goal-less individual who does trick motorcycle riding in carnivals. He discovers he has a son and in order to support his new found family (he goes off into a fantasy story where he becomes the faithful husband and dad with a loving son and eternal happiness; this is of course not based in any facts, since the mother of this son has already fallen in love with another man and is not interested in Luke's involvement at all.) decides to rob banks.
There are some great great scenes of his generally inept but ultimately financially successful robberies aided by his friend, Robin. this activity puts him into the orbit of Bradley Cooper (Avery Cross) who is a cop. The chase scene that takes place with Avery and Luke is wonderful; since its just like a real chase scene in busy neighborhood streets would go; no elements of Mission Impossible or Bruce Willis chase scenes where the physically impossible occurs with regularity.
I don't want to say anymore about Luke or his run-in with Avery since what happens is NOT what i thought was going to happen. In fact, this occurred during the entire movie; and its not like there were plot twists or that the direction of the movie changed but that, just like in real life, what you thought a character would do wasn't done in quite the way you had imagined.
the 'last' part of the film develops the story of Jason, Luke's son and Avery's son 15 years in the future. and once again, their interaction along with what happens to and with Avery is unexpected.
A wonderfully acted and inventive film. so nice to see a movie with an interesting and innovative story.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
WINGS AND RICE - TUCSON, AZ
I usually get sesame teriyaki glazed shrimp (the shrimp are huge) with fried rice and their special hibachi sauce and a salad. This combo is about $11; oh, and i get a drink too. The serving size of the fried rice is incredible and the veggies are numerous and the rice is tender and actually has a flavor. Its very rich and i always have some left over for lunch for me AND bill.
However, I branched out and took a risk last night and ordered their philly cheesesteak sandwich with fries. It was quite good. The hoagie roll was fresh, lots of thinly cut and tender meat, sauteed onions (i told them to hold the green pepper) and the white american cheese was super melty. Now its not as good as Frankie's on Campbell but damn close. The fries, however, were not very tasty so i wouldn't order them again.
the next time i would order a side of their steamed vegetables instead of the fries and the vegetables are delicious and steamed in a ginger sesame sauce. Well, the NEXT time i'll probably go back to my usual shrimp order but the time AFTER that --- Oh, i love to plan my eating schedule.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
TRANCE
I am never seeing another movie with James McAvoy. He's not a good actor and his entire persona is that of a squishy, too soft, pubertal teenager. Even that wonderful movie about Idi Amin starring Forest Whittaker was ruined by McAvoy's presence.
I rated this 0.5 of a star or maybe a smidgen of coal. Bill gave it a 5 because it was "good enough" to get him out of his funk over an investment which was tanking.
McAvoy is an auctioneer who was involved in the theft of a picture but he was hit on the head during the robbery and forgot where he hid it. So Vincent Cassel (whose talents were totally wasted in this garbage of a film) hired a hypnotist to help McAvoy remember the hiding place. This set-up of the story was the only part that was mildly interesting. After this, the film devolved into memories versus reality and a lot of swirling colors to depict hypnotic states and way too loud and ponderous music and an ever increasing sense of ennui and lethargy on my part as my slight interest in where the artwork was hidden died a trancelike death.
And the ending was horrid; even worse than what went before. It was devoid of any rationality.
I rated this 0.5 of a star or maybe a smidgen of coal. Bill gave it a 5 because it was "good enough" to get him out of his funk over an investment which was tanking.
McAvoy is an auctioneer who was involved in the theft of a picture but he was hit on the head during the robbery and forgot where he hid it. So Vincent Cassel (whose talents were totally wasted in this garbage of a film) hired a hypnotist to help McAvoy remember the hiding place. This set-up of the story was the only part that was mildly interesting. After this, the film devolved into memories versus reality and a lot of swirling colors to depict hypnotic states and way too loud and ponderous music and an ever increasing sense of ennui and lethargy on my part as my slight interest in where the artwork was hidden died a trancelike death.
And the ending was horrid; even worse than what went before. It was devoid of any rationality.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
RELISH KITCHEN & WINE BAR - TUCSON, AZ
This restaurant is located in the old Create Cafe space on E. Camp Lowell and Swan. They still have a nice front patio area but the inside has been 'dehumanized' with a lot of metal and grey's and shiny black surfaces. It wasn't crowded at all; in fact, i think there were just 3 other tables of diners but if it was filled with people, i think it would be noisy because of the tile floors and the metal chairs. There were no booths.
The menu was fairly small with some entrees being available in 1/2 portions. The food was good but nothing really special. I'd go back here again in a social double-date situation but its not going to be on our list of just-bill-and-i dinner places.
We shared relish salad which was tasty; lots of spring mix and veggies and some marinated onion rings. No bread was served which struck me as unusual. then we also split 2 different sandwiches; a pulled pork and a chicken-avocado club. Both sandwiches came with a vinegary coleslaw which was good; the waitress kept referring to it as a kraut slaw. the bread was way too thick on both sandwiches. I think their menu said it was brioche which in my opinion is breakfast bread toasted with butter and jelly not to be used to anchor a sandwich filling.
The pork was marinated in this sweet sauce which was flavorful but too sweet and the chicken sandwich was sort of tasteless and i think one of the reasons could have been the thickness of the bread which just overpowered the entree.
The music coming from the partitioned with a couch wine bar area was way too loud; at a volume more consistent with a dance hall or sports bar.
The menu was fairly small with some entrees being available in 1/2 portions. The food was good but nothing really special. I'd go back here again in a social double-date situation but its not going to be on our list of just-bill-and-i dinner places.
We shared relish salad which was tasty; lots of spring mix and veggies and some marinated onion rings. No bread was served which struck me as unusual. then we also split 2 different sandwiches; a pulled pork and a chicken-avocado club. Both sandwiches came with a vinegary coleslaw which was good; the waitress kept referring to it as a kraut slaw. the bread was way too thick on both sandwiches. I think their menu said it was brioche which in my opinion is breakfast bread toasted with butter and jelly not to be used to anchor a sandwich filling.
The pork was marinated in this sweet sauce which was flavorful but too sweet and the chicken sandwich was sort of tasteless and i think one of the reasons could have been the thickness of the bread which just overpowered the entree.
The music coming from the partitioned with a couch wine bar area was way too loud; at a volume more consistent with a dance hall or sports bar.
Friday, April 12, 2013
SMASHBURGER - TUCSON, AZ
And the fries we get are their smash fries which are shoestring size and crispy and tossed with olive oil and fresh rosemary. Doubly wonderful. The fry portion is a good size, too.
I've never gotten and probably will not get anything except a burger but i have ordered their sweet potato fries and i wasn't impressed. They also have milkshakes made from Haagen Daz ice cream which we will treat ourselves to in the near future.
And another plus is that our 2 burgers and large order of fries with tax is always just about $10. This is because after every visit i fill out a short online survey and this gives me a code which entitles me to a free order of fries on our next visit.
Super wonderful.
Its located in the Crossroads shopping center on Grant and Swan.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
THE HOST
I rated this a 2 and Bill gave this poorly executed sci-fi movie a 7. I gave it such a 'high' rating because i did not have to take refuge in the hallway; i was able to grit my teeth and stay in my seat.
The story was about alien beings taking over the bodies of humans and you would know when this happened because their eyes would be a milky blue. However, sometimes (as with the main female characters) the human host doesn't get swallowed up by the invasion of the alien and you know when this happens because you can hear the human voice talk back to the alien in an annoyingly cute sassy manner.
There was a lot of teenage necking scenes benevolently tolerated by William Hurt (he must have been fulfilling a contract to have appeared to agree in this drivel nonsense), the leader of an underground unit of humans who had not been hosted.
The story was about alien beings taking over the bodies of humans and you would know when this happened because their eyes would be a milky blue. However, sometimes (as with the main female characters) the human host doesn't get swallowed up by the invasion of the alien and you know when this happens because you can hear the human voice talk back to the alien in an annoyingly cute sassy manner.
There was a lot of teenage necking scenes benevolently tolerated by William Hurt (he must have been fulfilling a contract to have appeared to agree in this drivel nonsense), the leader of an underground unit of humans who had not been hosted.
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