You may have heard that it snowed last night. I’ve read that it was as high as 35″. Lots of shovelling. That’s disappointing.
However once I got to work, things began to brighten. At times the sky was so grey that the snow was actually brighter than the sky, then the sun came out, then the blue of the sky came out.
Here’s a couple shots out of my window at work. I’m so lucky to have a window. My boss understands that I’m a plant. I turn to the sun.
So, lately, as I sleep in my little Dr Seuss bed, my arms hang out and my hands fall asleep [Can your hands fall asleep while you're sleeping? Well that's what happens to me.]
This year I’ve already filed my taxes and received my refund.
I bought a bed. More correctly I bought a new mattress and box spring. I have a larger (full) bed frame but no mattress. Today it was supposed to be delivered.
Its snowing. A lot!
Surprisingly the delivery happens anyway. A little early but hey. The problem is my new box spring won’t fit up my little staircase in my tiny little “Arts and Crafts” house. I can take off the banister or have them take back my new bed. I kept the mattress.
I still plan on being as nice to my “little Arts and Crafts” house as possible. I’ve solicited some help with the banister. I don’t want to wreck the house.
The other day I carried a computer. Not a heavy computer. Not really far, but too far. All this week my back has ached. Boy was I looking forward to the new bed.
What little snow shoveling I did, just made things worse for my back.
And now its really snowing. Supposed to snow until March. Maybe I’ll get a good nights rest then. Right now its frustrating to see those bed pieces filling my small living room, wrapped in plastic, driving the cats nuts – all while I have a back ache.
Sunday night the USA played Canada in what was undoubtedly the most important hockey game in Canada in many years. The USA won.
This is not as big for the USA as the “miracle on ice” game of 1980. No American team filled with professional players can ever capture what was done then, when the USA college kids beat the Soviet Army team, which had already beaten 3 NHL teams and trounced the Americans earlier that year, all against a background of Cold War tensions.
But hockey is HUGE in Canada. Losing to the US, even if it is pro’s against pro’s, is unacceptable for Canadians, most of whom, tend to like America anyway.
But this is hockey.
The NHL stops it’s season for two weeks so that the pro’s can play. And NBC has the contract with the NHL to broadcast NHL games.
So why does NBC put USA vs Canada on the secondary channel, in favor of Ice Dancing?
The Canadians are so unhappy their pulling their best goalie ever in the history of the world, for the next game!
But people told me about it so I checked out the uniforms (uniforms?) of the ice dancers people were saying are inappropriate because they are imitative of? Reflective of? Inspired by? Aboriginal dress.
Reading crib notes off her hand has finished what was left of Sarah Palin’s political hopes. Even the conservatives think she’s incapable as evidenced by this segment of an article from Politico.
From Politico:
Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas Republican who ran a quixotic bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, was the top vote-getter Saturday in the Conservative Political Action Conference’s straw poll, capturing the support of 31 percent of those who participated in the contest.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who had won the CPAC straw poll for three consecutive years, took 22 percent of the vote. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won 7 percent, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty garnered 6 percent. Pawlenty attended the conference; Palin did not.
I missed last night’s Olympic show. My sister called me before Lindsay Vonn made her run. My sister hung up at 11:46. I had skiing on with the volume down till I had to tether myself to the wall because the battery was dead! As I watched these women fall down the hill at 80 mph I was thinking oooh, aowwwa, eeeach and that’s gotta hurt.
Jon and Scott of the Total Talk Nonsense podcast have an expression they use in evaluating movies. The call them “quality kills”.
“Taken” is all about quality kills. And possibly making Liam Neessn an action star. Tightly edited fight scenes helped with this and Liam Neeson definitely pulled it off, though scenes of him running down the street made him look a bit the the older dad that he was playing.
The story is simple. He will rescue his kidnapped daughter. As a former CIA agent he has “a unique set of skills” that make this just possible.
The enemies are vile and numerous. But he’s a Dad. He’s skilled. He’s determined.
If you like quality kills. You must see “Taken”. If you like deep characterization and complex plot development. Watch something else. I liked it. But its not an academy award winner.
Director Pierre Morel
Writers (WGA):
Luc Besson (written by) &
Robert Mark Kamen (written by)
Release Date:
30 January 2009 (USA) more
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)
Liam Neeson … Bryan Mills
Maggie Grace … Kim
Leland Orser … Sam
Jon Gries … Casey
David Warshofsky … Bernie
Holly Valance … Sheerah
Katie Cassidy … Amanda
Xander Berkeley … Stuart
Olivier Rabourdin … Jean-Claude
Gérard Watkins … St-Clair
Famke Janssen … Lenore
Is it just me or do the American mogul skiers uniforms look like pajamas?
Its extremely hard to find an image - a simple picture - of these olympics outside of the NBC site which has everything in montage active format. They seem to be controlling the images of the Olympics fairly well.
5 of 5 Big toothy grinning Smiling Maxes for 3:10 to Yuma. A love story.
Dan Evans (Christian Bale) fought for the North in the war between the states. Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) fights for himself as the fastest shootin’est bad guy in the west. Their lives are about to collide.
Evans took the almost $200 the Federal government gave him as compensation for the loss of his foot, and went out west with his family to try to build a life. His ranch is under pressure from drought and the railroad. People want to take things from Dan.
Ben Wade assembled a group of about 7 or 8 (“which is it, 7 or 8?”) lethal killing machines including a well developed lieutenant character who is a bit of a dandy and stone dead shot with either hand. Ben’s crew has a deadly long range sharp shooter in the troop which adds to the sense that death could come at any moment.
Early on we see this menacing bunch take on and easily destroy a Wells Fargo wagon made of steel and sporting a Gatling gun. This bunch is fearless and lethal.
Shortly after the incident with Wells Fargo Dan and his sons happen upon the result of the attack on the wagon. Dan Evans is facing a group that not only kills, but their leader Ben Wade just killed one of his own who was being held hostage by a wagon survivor.
Ben lets Dan go. Ben gets captured. Dan volunteers to assist in bringing him to the 3:10 train to Yuma for hangin’.
This is a buddy movie. This is a road movie. This is a war movie and a western. It is a morality play and it is a love story. As the story moves we learn that Ben and his crew are just soulless killers. Plain dangerous. Tension builds when Dan brings now prisoner Ben home to where his wife and kids sit down to dinner with this most dangerous man. The way Russell Crowe feels the fork in his hands, deadly quick hands, and right at the table with the rancher’s family forsadows more death at the hands of this most dangerous killer. The ride takes us through Indian country into Yuma and to the train. Dan Evans wants to save his farm with the money he’ll get from Wells Fargo. With the money he’ll get from turning in the man who spared his life.
Additionally Dan hopes to win the respect of his eldest son, a fourteen year old who has witness his father being pushed around by the railroads. The boy dreams of a life of adventure and danger. Does he prefer the adventure in evil Ben Wade to his family man father, who’s courage he questions.
And this story is about courage. We see Dan on the ground as the bad guys burn his barn at the outset. We see him riding tall in the saddle when the first confrontation happens with Ben Wade. Standing tall again in an exchange at the bar with Ben in town, knowing fully who Ben is, how dangerous he is, and how Ben spared Dan’s life, Dan Evans keeps pressing him for cash for his silence. After Ben Wade is captured Dan turns sides and offers to help bring Ben to trial – if Wells Fargo has the right offer.
The pace is modest but presses ever more dangerously increasing the tension the duo encounter continuing and the escalating danger. As Ben learns more about Dan his respect grows and fear never appears. He is as cool as the morning floor, as relaxed as the steel rail.
As any good movie will show, we see evolution in the characters of both Dan and Ben. Revealed as much in what they will not do, as what they must do, the two men draw closer together even as they oppose each other on the journey and their respect for each other grows.
The real life stories of both actors have been in the news. In real life both of these men have created unappealing images of themselves. Yet Russell Crowe seems so easy as Ben Wade his smile so lethal, that we forget Russell Crowe and see only Ben.
Unimpressed by Bale as “Batman” and less impressed with his tirade which was all over the interwebtubes in “3:10 to Yuma” Christian Bale completely wins us over. A subtle modest performance, Bale is both constant as Dan Evans and still grows and stands up as Dan Evans until we admire him most of all, never forgetting the seeming hopelessness of his plight. In a word Bale is great. Award winning caliber acting in a classic story of two men growing and growing closer in the process. In a way, “3:10 to Yuma” is a love story, but unlike some love stories, this one does not end tragically.
Much violence, some of it personal, but the violence doesn’t interfere with the movie. The violence is however, necessary for one of the main themes which is courage and the cost of it. Its fair to say the movie contrasts courage and fearlessness, which are not the same thing.
Its not a movie for the kids. There’s no sexuality in the movie, though Gretchen Mol makes us sad that this should be the case.
This movie never loses focus, builds dramatic tension and ends at the perfect time, and in a manner we can defend.
Great story. Great characters. Great acting, especially Bale, though we should mention Logan Lerman as Dan’s eldest and Peter Fonda as the craggy old Wells Fargo man. Ben Foster as Charlie Prince deserves special mention. His “Prince” is both lethal and stylish something so rare it begs the question when, if ever have we seen a character like this in a western.
Overall 3:10 is a pressing great compelling film. And the relationship is so compelling – your wife will be glad she watched this film too.
Director:
James Mangold
Writers (WGA):
Halsted Welles (screenplay) and
Michael Brandt (screenplay) …
Release Date:
7 September 2007 (USA) more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 15 nominations more
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)
Russell Crowe … Ben Wade
Christian Bale … Dan Evans
Logan Lerman … William Evans
Dallas Roberts … Grayson Butterfield
Ben Foster … Charlie Prince
Peter Fonda … Byron McElroy
Vinessa Shaw … Emma Nelson
Alan Tudyk … Doc Potter
Luce Rains … Marshal Weathers
Gretchen Mol … Alice Evans
SO I’m sitting in the optomitrists office. Of course I’m shocked and disappointed that the wide screen tv in their waiting room is showing FOX News. Its always on there. This was not my first time in that waiting room.
I’m sitting at a small table waiting to be fitted for my glasses.
There’s a Fox News anchor type guy talking to a man standing out in the snow, with a mic wearing a just a polo shirt and jeans. Then anchor guy is talking to a different guy. Light blue polo. Different snow. And snow guy says “and where is Al Gore anyway?”
And most of the conversation I miss because I’m far away from the tv and there is conversation between us. But I get bits and pieces.
My first thought is who are these guys? Then, why should I take them seriously. They’re wearing T shirts for god’s sake.
5 o’clock the show changes. Glenn Beck. He’s showing a picture of a man near a plane and a limosine. I guess its supposed to be Al Gore. There’s no snow. It looks warm. Then Glen Beck says. “And where is Al Gore anyway!” And goes on about no one’s been able to find him.
I get it now. Its a game. Snow in Washington means Al Gore is wrong. Make a joke. Al Gore is hiding.
I go home and learn from Chris Matthews that 3 different Republican Senators made the same Al Gore joke today.
I’m thinking, “boy this is some weird weather we’re having”.
Almost drove by this guy. 1/2 a block from Dad’s house. A small bird like this just doesn’t jump out at you and say “Hawk!”. But this guy is a dynamic flier who says “Hawk!” to even smaller birds. An ornithologist I met said they typically are 150 grams and can turn at 90 degrees which seems hard to believe.
I like this shot. Pretty good focus. Good look from the bird.
4 of 5 Smiling Maxes. Rent it today. Unless you are passionate about your bible – then you’d better leave it alone.
One of the greatest concepts for a movie in a long time. Ok. Sort of the inverse of Liar Liar. Where Jim Carey can’t lie. Everyone in this world, and its the regular real world we all know, which of course couldn’t exist if nobody ever lied because people would beat each other up, most relationships wouldn’t have happened in the first place so there may not ever actually even be people and at the very least people’s feelings would be hurt pretty much all the time so nobody would be quite as sanguine as they are in this movie. But forget that and let’s just stipulate that it would be really really awkward if nobody ever lied.
Mark Bellison is about to have a bad day. He’s going to get fired. But first he’s going out on a date with a woman who is way out of his league. He admits this as she admits that she was masturbating before he arrived and she wished that he had come later … uh … arrived later.
Imagine the possibilities for farce.
He says he is going to get fired the next day etc etc and this comes to pass. Its all pretty awkward but clever if not belly laugh funny.
This movie, this great concept could have gone in a million different directions.
In “The Invention Of Lying” Mark Bellison, (Ricky Gervais), has an epiphany just when his life seems to get worse over worse as he is evicted for non payment of the rent after he loses his job after Anna McDoogles ( Jennifer Garner) tells him she’ll never go out with him again because she’s out of his league. Which, of course, is true.
There’s a great scene in the bar as he tries to explain to his friends what he’s done when he lied to the bank. But the movie moves to full belly laughs when he brings the word of the “man in the sky” to the people waiting on his lawn.
At times he pace is fairly slow, and you get a bit of appreciation for this sad sack when he lies to his dying mother about what happens after you die.
Most writers and producers stick with the Jim Carey style gawking exaggerated faces and the slapstick surprises you might find with Jim Carey but “The Invention Of Lying” is a more intellectual subtle movie than traditional American comedy.
But if you don’t mind a send up of The Ten Commandments, Ricky Gervais’ delivering of the ten things people should know about the man in the sky is belly laugh hilarious. Albeit irreligious and potentially even blasphemous.
Its really funny.
Overall the movie is a modest movie with a slowish pace and a feeling you want more of the best of it. It focuses on the relationship between Gervais and Garner and while its quite smart its almost too even handed. But really really funny. Almost a great movie, a bit too vulgar for the kids but if you’re not too sensitive about religion, this movie is a must see.
Directors:
Ricky Gervais
Matthew Robinson
Writers (WGA):
Ricky Gervais (written by) &
Matthew Robinson (written by)
Release Date:
2 October 2009 (USA) more
Cast
Ricky Gervais … Mark Bellison
Jennifer Garner … Anna McDoogles
Jonah Hill … Frank
Louis C.K. … Greg
Jeffrey Tambor … Anthony
Fionnula Flanagan … Martha Bellison
Rob Lowe … Brad Kessler
Tina Fey … Shelley
I was a little disappointed. Now we have to keep track of two Jacks and two Kates and Two Sawyers and two time frames and Juliet is really dead and dead? And Jacob is really dead. (Really?) and Hurley is … is there one of them? Him? No there’s two and Awe Geeze I just wanted everyone to get together and be well and go figure out time travel and live happily ever after and now I have to pay attention.
You’re out with your guy, your man, your lover. You (plural) [What is it with English anyway?] went to the hockey game, on a nature walk, , maybe you went to the beach.
Maybe the theater and then a late dinner at Chez WowthisisreallyExpensive.
Back home, you open a bottle of wine, turn on Pandora radio (I love Pandora radio – don’t you? You can set up any channel you want – a little Cheryl Crow, or Barbra Streisand, or Barry White. Yeah, all Barry White. All night). You sit next to him on the sofa. Kick off your shoes. Gaze into each other’s eyes. You think he’s in love with you. He IS in love with you. You smooch. You kiss. He loves the little black dress. Yes, we know about the little black dress and it works. He wants it.
Well, no, he wants you out of it. “I love your skin he whispers so softly.” As you are kissing he’s reaching around and pulls down the zipper in the back. More passion. He really wants you. He peels down the strap of the little black dress revealing your sexiest black bra …
And there peeking out from your sexy black bra is that yellow round head and half the body of your new Tweety Bird tatoo! He pull’s back. What’s that? And why would you put him there! He kisses you again – but the mood’s gone. He’s thinking about Tweety bird. Men are pretty easily distracted you know. He’s praying he’ll never see Elmer Fudd!
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