BOOKS:
(Literary) CONVERSATIONS AT CURLOW CREEK – David Malouf. A conversation between a man about to be hanged at dawn and the officer in charge of the hanging. Just cracked this open and I’m already engrossed. Malouf has this way of immediately quieting the reader into a trance. How does he do it?
(Young Adult) MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD – Francisco X. Stork. This book was a wonderful surprise. I rooted for Marcelo and his big heart. When the book ended I wanted to keep in touch with Marcelo, he’d become so real to me. I wasn’t sure about the book at first, I thought, young adult without swords or dragons to slay? No mazes? Well, maybe the maze of the Real World and office cubicles.
Here’s the premise from School Library Journal: Marcelo Sandoval is a high-functioning, extremely self-aware teenager with Asperger's syndrome. He has an empathetic mother and a father, Arturo, who appears to be less empathetic as he pushes Marcelo to live in the "real world”.
BRANDO:
THE PACIFIC (Mini-series) – by director Stephen Spielberg debuted last night on HBO! Covers the Pacific Theater during WWII. Catch it if you can. It starts with Guadalcanal but if the previews are correct it will span the Philippines and the Malay Peninsula. The story and casting are tight and a must see for WWII buffs.
TREME – Fans of David Simon’s THE WIRE will be looking for this new up and coming drama series debuting on April 11, 2010. The series will focus on the people of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina struggling to rebuild the city and retain their unique culture. Looks like it stars a couple of THE WIRE cast.
TEMPLE GRANDIN (HBO) – A biopic by Director Mick Jackson about Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of top scientists in humane livestock handling. Claire Danes’ performance is terrific.
INDIE RENTALS: Prisoner of the Mountains Directed by Sergei Bodrov, starring his son Sergei Bodrov Jr. Based upon a short story by Leo Tolstoy, two Russian soldiers, Sacha and Vania, are ambushed in the Caucasus by Muslim rebels and taken prisoner. Luck for them the village leader, might want to make a trade. But will he? It's about brotherhood, war, and the smaller yet important stories between two vastly different cultures.
SCARY RENTAL: Let the Right One In Swedish Director Tomas Aldfredson’s, Frightening in its quiet realism, vampire movie. Although there’s an eerily hilarious scene with the owner’s dog, be forewarned there’s one (or a couple) of disturbing scenes. You’ve been warned. This movie is exactly the opposite of any vampire lore except maybe two. The WSJ raved about the cinematography saying there was much to study for any filmmaker. I had a funny experience with this one I was anticipating TWILIGHT and my father in-law said the new vampire movie was getting great reviews and so I rushed to get the paper only to be lured into this one. Ack!
BURGERS:
El Castillito (Mission, SF) – Excellent carne asada tacos.
Truly Mediterranean (Mission, SF) - The best chicken schwarma’s.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
TWEAKED, ECLIPSE & MANKA'S
BOOKS: TWEAKED by Nic Sheff. A young man’s memoir about growing up addicted to methamphetamines, abusing alcohol and drugs, and working through his recovery. Poignant, honest, raw, & well written. This memoir brought to mind an edgier Holden Caulfield, Sheff’s tender but frightening renderings had me turning the pages.
BRANDO: So are they going to make a fourth Twilight movie or what? What’s the hold up? It can’t be the so called ‘bloody’ portions of Book 4. They’re not all that bad. I mean it is a vampire movie folks. Right? Right? I just read that they’re deliberating on whether to break it into one or two movies. Okay. Cool. I can't wait. Of course there's also ECLIPSE coming soon! Right? Right.
The other day I caught Robert Pattinson on THE VIEW working the publicity circuit for his latest movie, Remember Me. I felt bad for Emilie de Ravin (his co-star and LOST regular). She got like two questions to Rob’s 30.
His early interviews in the first dawn of TWILIGHT were so charming and reminiscent of Gregory Peck. Pattinson deflected praise for his role and instead praised co-star Kristen Stewart as the best actress of their generation. I liked her in INTO THE WILD, and I can’t wait to watch her in SPEAK (I have the Netflix at home but my DVD player is on the fritz). What Pattinson did, showcasing her that way reminded me of what I’d once read about the gracious Gregory Peck (one of my all time favorite classic movie actors). Apparently for Roman Holiday he insisted they give the then unknown Audrey Hepburn equal billing and then on interview he is said to have praised her as the “star” of the movie, and she is. It’s one of my all time favorite movies. There are so many great moments:
“Is this the elevator?” “No, this is what’s laughingly known as my apartment.
And then that scene where, drugged on sleeping pills she’s just about to knock on the neighbor’s door and Gregory Peck reaches over for a hail Mary grab of her wrist, just before her knuckles come down.
Classic Movie reccomenation: ROMAN HOLIDAY of course.
Romantic Foreign Rental recommendation:
HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF (Le Hussard sur le Toit) –Olivier Martinez and Juliette Binoche (French subtitles ooh la la la). Directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau. Here’s the tag line: In a time of war a young officer tries to help a young woman find her husband. The scene opens up in Aix where I’ve been and where you must go. So beautiful…sigh.
I want to talk about Lars Von Triers trilogy of devastation and his new movie but I think that needs a separate Blog. Devastating but so well done. So well done but devastating. I’m talking about Dancer in the Dark and Bjork’s performance. Breaking the Waves and Emily Watson’s performance. But I can’t do it right now.
BURGERS: My friend K just took me to an amazing MANKA’S at Vladamir’s dinner benefit (http://www.mankas.com/) for Haiti in Inverness. It was held at the charming Czechoslovakian restaurant VLADAMIR’S. My gosh, the fried local oysters on lettuce with aoli! I was greedy again. I also, which is classic of me dumped a whole glass of STUBBS chardonnay on the floor. The bread pudding was exquisite! As was the beet soup with a dollop of yogurt. Goodness. The Owner’s of Devil’s Gulch Ranch http://www.devilsgulchranch.com/ were present and gave a great presentation. Vladamir’s grandson and daughter served. What a wonderful night. I’ll have to try Vladamir’s sometime it’s on YELP.
BRANDO: So are they going to make a fourth Twilight movie or what? What’s the hold up? It can’t be the so called ‘bloody’ portions of Book 4. They’re not all that bad. I mean it is a vampire movie folks. Right? Right? I just read that they’re deliberating on whether to break it into one or two movies. Okay. Cool. I can't wait. Of course there's also ECLIPSE coming soon! Right? Right.
The other day I caught Robert Pattinson on THE VIEW working the publicity circuit for his latest movie, Remember Me. I felt bad for Emilie de Ravin (his co-star and LOST regular). She got like two questions to Rob’s 30.
His early interviews in the first dawn of TWILIGHT were so charming and reminiscent of Gregory Peck. Pattinson deflected praise for his role and instead praised co-star Kristen Stewart as the best actress of their generation. I liked her in INTO THE WILD, and I can’t wait to watch her in SPEAK (I have the Netflix at home but my DVD player is on the fritz). What Pattinson did, showcasing her that way reminded me of what I’d once read about the gracious Gregory Peck (one of my all time favorite classic movie actors). Apparently for Roman Holiday he insisted they give the then unknown Audrey Hepburn equal billing and then on interview he is said to have praised her as the “star” of the movie, and she is. It’s one of my all time favorite movies. There are so many great moments:
“Is this the elevator?” “No, this is what’s laughingly known as my apartment.
And then that scene where, drugged on sleeping pills she’s just about to knock on the neighbor’s door and Gregory Peck reaches over for a hail Mary grab of her wrist, just before her knuckles come down.
Classic Movie reccomenation: ROMAN HOLIDAY of course.
Romantic Foreign Rental recommendation:
HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF (Le Hussard sur le Toit) –Olivier Martinez and Juliette Binoche (French subtitles ooh la la la). Directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau. Here’s the tag line: In a time of war a young officer tries to help a young woman find her husband. The scene opens up in Aix where I’ve been and where you must go. So beautiful…sigh.
I want to talk about Lars Von Triers trilogy of devastation and his new movie but I think that needs a separate Blog. Devastating but so well done. So well done but devastating. I’m talking about Dancer in the Dark and Bjork’s performance. Breaking the Waves and Emily Watson’s performance. But I can’t do it right now.
BURGERS: My friend K just took me to an amazing MANKA’S at Vladamir’s dinner benefit (http://www.mankas.com/) for Haiti in Inverness. It was held at the charming Czechoslovakian restaurant VLADAMIR’S. My gosh, the fried local oysters on lettuce with aoli! I was greedy again. I also, which is classic of me dumped a whole glass of STUBBS chardonnay on the floor. The bread pudding was exquisite! As was the beet soup with a dollop of yogurt. Goodness. The Owner’s of Devil’s Gulch Ranch http://www.devilsgulchranch.com/ were present and gave a great presentation. Vladamir’s grandson and daughter served. What a wonderful night. I’ll have to try Vladamir’s sometime it’s on YELP.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
BOOKS:
I want to read this Young Adult Book next: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (to be made into a movie---that’s the scoop).
I like this quote from memoirist Mary Karr. The word ‘memoir’ can easily be switched with plain old ‘My Novel’. And it epitomizes the writer’s struggle:
"The Memoir? It circles me like a gnat. I circle it like a dog staked to a pole. Years it's gone on that way."
BRANDO:
The movie I’m waiting to see if the rumors are true: Kazuo Ishiguro’s excellent, creepy, page turning NEVER LET ME GO with Carey Mulligan and Kiera Knightley by director Mark Romanek. It will be great to see Knightley and Mulligan together after Mulligan starred as the wonderfully-delirious-annoying Kitty to Knigtley’s Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. Especially after Mulligan’s Star rising turn in AN EDUCATION. By the way I’m liking those ads for Chanel with Kiera.
The Prophet – only I’m afraid & claustrophobic
Great Smart-scary rental ( in the vein of THE OTHERS) – Spanish Director Juan Anonio Bayona’s THE ORPHANAGE.
BURGERS:
Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream in the Mission. So the dessert that I had at Flour & Water was “Caramel Cream & Sea Salt” from Humphrey Slocombe. Only I’m on their website now and not seeing it…hmmm…..Maybe you need to visit the Fabulous Flour & Water, EAT a full on dinner, then order the dessert with LOCAL Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream to find out (wink wink).
I’m not sure what the rest of HS Ice Cream is like but I nearly went nuts eating this one scoop. It was a flavor explosion of subtle but seismic proportions. I guess it was supposed to be shared because that’s what my friend K and I ordered it for, but I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t share. She may think I shared but when she wasn’t looking I snuck a giant scoop. Which brings to mind a Wall Street Journal review on an author David Kessler’s THE END OF OVEREATING who writes about certain foods engineered to over-stimulate our senses. I don’t think this ice cream was engineered though. I think it was just plain good. Maybe I shouldn’t read the book till I’ve had my fill.
And since we’re on it. Anthony’s Cookies. Also in the Mission. I try to eat at all three places whenever I visit CALLIE & San Francisco.
I want to read this Young Adult Book next: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (to be made into a movie---that’s the scoop).
I like this quote from memoirist Mary Karr. The word ‘memoir’ can easily be switched with plain old ‘My Novel’. And it epitomizes the writer’s struggle:
"The Memoir? It circles me like a gnat. I circle it like a dog staked to a pole. Years it's gone on that way."
BRANDO:
The movie I’m waiting to see if the rumors are true: Kazuo Ishiguro’s excellent, creepy, page turning NEVER LET ME GO with Carey Mulligan and Kiera Knightley by director Mark Romanek. It will be great to see Knightley and Mulligan together after Mulligan starred as the wonderfully-delirious-annoying Kitty to Knigtley’s Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. Especially after Mulligan’s Star rising turn in AN EDUCATION. By the way I’m liking those ads for Chanel with Kiera.
The Prophet – only I’m afraid & claustrophobic
Great Smart-scary rental ( in the vein of THE OTHERS) – Spanish Director Juan Anonio Bayona’s THE ORPHANAGE.
BURGERS:
Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream in the Mission. So the dessert that I had at Flour & Water was “Caramel Cream & Sea Salt” from Humphrey Slocombe. Only I’m on their website now and not seeing it…hmmm…..Maybe you need to visit the Fabulous Flour & Water, EAT a full on dinner, then order the dessert with LOCAL Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream to find out (wink wink).
I’m not sure what the rest of HS Ice Cream is like but I nearly went nuts eating this one scoop. It was a flavor explosion of subtle but seismic proportions. I guess it was supposed to be shared because that’s what my friend K and I ordered it for, but I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t share. She may think I shared but when she wasn’t looking I snuck a giant scoop. Which brings to mind a Wall Street Journal review on an author David Kessler’s THE END OF OVEREATING who writes about certain foods engineered to over-stimulate our senses. I don’t think this ice cream was engineered though. I think it was just plain good. Maybe I shouldn’t read the book till I’ve had my fill.
And since we’re on it. Anthony’s Cookies. Also in the Mission. I try to eat at all three places whenever I visit CALLIE & San Francisco.
Oh Romeo, I don't like thou....
So I caught this mini-documentary on West Side Story starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer over the weekend. And Natalie’s co-stars, all of them, were saying she was a sweet girl BUT---that the entire time they were filming, she never once spoke to her leading man!
Their guess is that she really wanted Warren Beatty to have the part. And I admit they were dynamite in Splendor in the Grass.
But I digress, so to watch the scenes again it’s incredible the chemistry that Maria and Tonio do have in West Side Story. Talk about great acting. How do you act like you’re in love when the girl acts like you don’t exist off-screen? Or maybe that helped the tension.
I wish they would do a remake of Arsenic and Old Lace with George Clooney in the Cary Grant part. Clooney has such great comedic timing in Oh Brother that I think he would be terrific in an Arsenic remake…now for the two old aunts….who shall we cast?
Their guess is that she really wanted Warren Beatty to have the part. And I admit they were dynamite in Splendor in the Grass.
But I digress, so to watch the scenes again it’s incredible the chemistry that Maria and Tonio do have in West Side Story. Talk about great acting. How do you act like you’re in love when the girl acts like you don’t exist off-screen? Or maybe that helped the tension.
I wish they would do a remake of Arsenic and Old Lace with George Clooney in the Cary Grant part. Clooney has such great comedic timing in Oh Brother that I think he would be terrific in an Arsenic remake…now for the two old aunts….who shall we cast?
Hello
Hi All,
So...Books Brando & Burgers. What can I say but that these are the things I love?
Books - Incarceron - Fisher, Ransom - David Malouf
Brando - Avatar, Avatar, Avatar go see it. How can you enjoy it at home later? Must be seen on the big screen. Oh, yeah and Hurt Locker. Wow.
Burgers - If you're in Vancouver for the Olympics...La Quercia- best pasta ever. Elysian Coffee. Aphrodite for breakfast.
More soon.
So...Books Brando & Burgers. What can I say but that these are the things I love?
Books - Incarceron - Fisher, Ransom - David Malouf
Brando - Avatar, Avatar, Avatar go see it. How can you enjoy it at home later? Must be seen on the big screen. Oh, yeah and Hurt Locker. Wow.
Burgers - If you're in Vancouver for the Olympics...La Quercia- best pasta ever. Elysian Coffee. Aphrodite for breakfast.
More soon.
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