Pretty good film; way more enjoyable than i thought it would be. In my opinion (well, that's what this blog is, isn't it? MY opinion.) the Coen Brothers can put out some fairly dull and goofy stuff.
This movie was a satire on the old Hollywood studio days. Josh Brolin has the main part as the head of production; Tilda Swinton plays 2 - yes, 2 - gossip columnists; George Clooney is a very popular heart throb leading actor; Scarlet Johansson is the lead in all the Esther Williams type swimming extravaganzas. She is unmarried and pregnant and a husband has to be found quick. Ralph Fiennes is a director of staid British parlor type movies. Anyway, there are a lot of actors in this one; some like Frances McDormand has barely any screen time but add to the mayhem of the studio/making movies/keeping the stars in line plot.
The movie was way funnier in the beginning but it did have scenes throughout that were either witty or out loud laughing humorous. One of my favorite ones (and i was pounding the arm of the seat and thumping the floor with my leg and i couldn't catch my breath for awhile) was Ralph Fiennes trying to direct an actor who only had appeared in cowboy movies and didn't have to talk hardly at all except to say "giddyup" and "whoa" and ride horses all the time; an entrance and then some lines talking to his sweetheart in the movie. The line was staidly British-old England "may i thwart my love who hither and yon was not forgoing pithily." (this is not an exact rendition of the words.)
They rapidly went back and forth with the cowboy actor continually screwing up his pronunciation and the order of the words and it just got funnier and funnier; the whole audience was roaring.
So the film rated a 6.5; entertaining but not consistently so.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Sunday, February 7, 2016
CASA DEL RIO
What a delicious find! This Mexican restaurant was recommended by my friend Jacki who is also my hair stylist and the lady who is going to add some pizazz color to my hair. Its located on the NW corner of 22nd and Pantano.
The place had a great atmosphere with lots of booths in the main room and tables in an adjoining room. Good service. The chips and salsa and water were brought to the table within a minute. Not much decoration but I was more interested in the food.
The chips were wonderful; very thin and crispy and flavorful and the salsa had just a very mild zing. Bill had a tamale and rice and I had a combo: tamale and cheese enchilada and a machaca taco. I saved the tamale for lunch today; just couldn't finish it. Bill loved his tamale; the masa was good and it was stuffed end to end with tender beef and the sauce wasn't too spicy. and i was super satisfied with my entree. The taco had lots of meat in it and was covered with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.
The only thing i wish had been different was no cheddar cheese and instead queso fresca.
Very happy well fed full belly's on sat. night.
The place had a great atmosphere with lots of booths in the main room and tables in an adjoining room. Good service. The chips and salsa and water were brought to the table within a minute. Not much decoration but I was more interested in the food.
The chips were wonderful; very thin and crispy and flavorful and the salsa had just a very mild zing. Bill had a tamale and rice and I had a combo: tamale and cheese enchilada and a machaca taco. I saved the tamale for lunch today; just couldn't finish it. Bill loved his tamale; the masa was good and it was stuffed end to end with tender beef and the sauce wasn't too spicy. and i was super satisfied with my entree. The taco had lots of meat in it and was covered with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.
The only thing i wish had been different was no cheddar cheese and instead queso fresca.
Very happy well fed full belly's on sat. night.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
FRESH SUSHI PHO
Located on the NE corner of Kolb and Broadway; near DSW. Its open every day except Sunday till 9pm.
I didn't really like anything we ordered but we will come back anyway because i loved the atmosphere of the place and the portions are generous and the prices low and there's many other items on the menu that appeal to me.
Lots of bamboo and fans and "coolie" hats and wood frames and mirrors shaped like a zen sand garden and the sushi area looked like a tea house. The service was good.
No booths and i think 4 of the tables, maybe 5 had those high chair/stool seats which i don't like at all.
So we ordered spring rolls because i got confused and thought i was getting egg rolls. the rolls were fresh and big (2 of them) and the sauce was tasty - a hoisin based sauce but i don't like spring rolls; too much rawness; like eating a salad in a cigar.
We also ordered a chicken ban mi; traditional Vietnamese sandwich. Unfortunately, this one lacked; the amount of chicken and pickled vegetables and the clear fish sauce and the bread which was a French baguette was a tad stale and way too crusty.
On to the main entree; a bun dish which was really a pho; it was listed under pho so i don't know why i expected something different. The broth was good and the vegetables (carrots and sweet and white potatoes and bean sprouts and cilantro) were cooked perfectly. There was lots of tofu which i didn't eat. But the vegetable and dumpling soup at Ha Long Bay is WAY WAY WAY better plus having a lot of different veggies.
I think the next time i will order egg rolls and one of their chicken and rice dishes.
I didn't really like anything we ordered but we will come back anyway because i loved the atmosphere of the place and the portions are generous and the prices low and there's many other items on the menu that appeal to me.
Lots of bamboo and fans and "coolie" hats and wood frames and mirrors shaped like a zen sand garden and the sushi area looked like a tea house. The service was good.
No booths and i think 4 of the tables, maybe 5 had those high chair/stool seats which i don't like at all.
So we ordered spring rolls because i got confused and thought i was getting egg rolls. the rolls were fresh and big (2 of them) and the sauce was tasty - a hoisin based sauce but i don't like spring rolls; too much rawness; like eating a salad in a cigar.
We also ordered a chicken ban mi; traditional Vietnamese sandwich. Unfortunately, this one lacked; the amount of chicken and pickled vegetables and the clear fish sauce and the bread which was a French baguette was a tad stale and way too crusty.
On to the main entree; a bun dish which was really a pho; it was listed under pho so i don't know why i expected something different. The broth was good and the vegetables (carrots and sweet and white potatoes and bean sprouts and cilantro) were cooked perfectly. There was lots of tofu which i didn't eat. But the vegetable and dumpling soup at Ha Long Bay is WAY WAY WAY better plus having a lot of different veggies.
I think the next time i will order egg rolls and one of their chicken and rice dishes.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
GRANDMA
Elle (Tomlin) helps Sage by visiting several friends - past and current - and lovers and the father of Sage's baby (irresponsibly clueless) and also Sage's mom.
The dialogue was marvelous; snappy and hilarious and witty and honest. The scenes at the abortion clinic and when Elle visits her former flame (played by Sam Elliott who is referred to in the film as a Biblical patriarch; wow; he is handsome.) were so believable. Nothing was forced or overboard emotionally.
And the ending was perfect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)