Nurse Jackie and Twilight

Showtime's new series Nurse Jackie is entertaining in a weird, cable sort of way. I love how their shows are twisted. Give me some Dexter and Weeds and I'm in Netflix heaven.

The main character is played by Edie Falco who played Carmella on HBO's The Sopranos. In a way, I can imagine Carmella living in a parallel universe where she's not the faithful wife and mother and doles out her own sort of justice.

Aside from the main character, viewers will recognize Peter Facinella who plays Dr. Cooper. Whether or not "Coop" just might be a decent doctor is still up for grabs. The doc himself is one who grabs. His character claims he has a sort of syndrome where he acts out in sexually inappropriate way when he's nervous. He claims he's "uninsurable" as he cups Nurse Jackie during a tense conversation.

Who is this actor? None other than the same man who plays the honorable, vegetarian vampire Dr. Carlisle Cullen in Twilight. One is a possible incompetent and one is a respected, if bloodthirsty, professional. Interesting casting, don't you think?

Movies

National Treasure: Book of Secrets
G's opinion: 3 of 5 stars. It was entertaining but not really much substance to it.
B's opinion: 1 of 5 stars. A dumb American's Da Vinci Code. I felt the first one was pretty lame and can't believe I wasted time on the second. And who out there will watch the third? Granted, I'm not fully qualified to give it a rating because I couldn't bring myself to finish it. After recognizing no fewer than four rip-offs from better movies and acknowledging that there was no real motivation for many of the characters' actions, I couldn't bear it. Of course, the next morning, I asked Garrett how it ended and was unimpressed to learn it was just as I expected, so I might as well claim I've seen the whole thing.

Miss Potter
G's opinion:4 of 5 stars. A very interesting representation of an author I knew little about. From everything I read online, it was factually done.
B's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. I loved it. Renee Zellweger was a convincing and quirky Beatrix Potter. I don't remember the stories much from childhood, but I love the art. And they cleverly animate it at times so that the audience sees the characters as Miss Potter does--adorable and full of life.

W.
G's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. I learned an interesting perspective on the president's life. It wasn't a negative portrayal, as I expected, but it seemed to be more of an accurate one. They tried to show the good and the bad. At times you'd think he wasn't a bad guy and other times you'd think, what an idiot.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. It wasn't another Saturday Night Live skit. For the most part, it wasn't a skit with outlandish caricatures...except maybe one. The person who should really be upset about character assassination is Condoleezza Rice. They made her seem no more than a female, bobble-headed, Rain Man. Colin Powell was steady and level-headed, a man of conviction. Dick Cheney came across as the real "brain" behind all the mistakes as well as being a major jerk. For the most part, everyone was played as the media always depicts them. However, George W. is shown as a man living in the shadow of his father, never feeling that he can live up to his expectations. The movie parallels the biblical Father and Son with those two, at least that's how W. sees it. My favorite line from the movie: I'll never be out-Texanned or out-Christianned again.

Paparazzi strikes again

This photo is another one courtesy of Uncle Brett. It's obviously from Max's younger days. I guess he was sneaking out of the house when we finally fell asleep around here. He was edited out of the Star Wars movies. I've seen them with Yoda, but not Max here.

I later learned that Yoda's quote of "Do or do not. There is no try" was actually stolen from Max who said, "Doo doo or doo doo not. There is no try."

Yep. Words to live by.

Influences In Utero

I've been thinking.

And worrying.

My friend Alison has a thing for sharks. Her mother watched Jaws and went into labor.

I am rather fond of snakes. I mean, I don't want them hiding in my pillowcase or anything, but I don't freak out the way many people do. Before I was born, my family was fishing and either my brother or dad reeled in a snake. They claim that's when my mom went into labor with me.

So...I'm a bit concerned.

I avoid scary movies, books, etc. They give me horrible nightmares. For some reason, though, I am consumed with my affection for the television show Dexter. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the protagonist is a serial killer--who only murders bad guys. (Perhaps this is why I can watch the show: I feel fairly safe from the killer.) We Netflix them and had a marathon going before Max was born.

What was I thinking?

How will this affect him?

Maybe he'll be interested in forensics. Okay, I can handle that possibility. Of course, I was actually trying to make breakfast when I went into labor. Maybe he'll be fascinated with food. Or maybe he'll combine the two and be a butcher.

Why couldn't I have been obsessed with something completely wholesome at this time?!

Fashion in Politics

I recorded the Democratic National Convention so that I could fast forward through all the political commentaries and just watch the speeches. I'll do the same with the Republican Convention. I believe it's important to draw my own conclusions before listening to all the media mumbo-jumbo.

During my marathon viewing session, one thing jumped out at me that I didn't expect.

Michelle Obama.

Remember how I commented on the fashion of Sex in the City? You may recall I predicted roses would be popular. Well, check out Mrs. Obama.

Obviously, brooches are a signature of hers. Did you notice, though, that each night those brooches were floral? Since some are comparing her classic style to Jackie-O, perhaps she's one to watch.

Movies

The Bucket List
G's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. The story was fantastic. Everyone needs to be reminded how short life life really is. They need to live for the moment because in a very short, few moments, their lives will be over. The only criticism I have of the movie is that the special effects, at times, seemed fake.
B's opinion: 3 1/2 of 5 stars. It compelled me in the same way a Nicholas Sparks' book does. I continue with the story even though I know how it ends, there are no surprises, and nothing is told in a new way. Still, the cast was terrific and there are some nice exchanges between Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Plus, it was nice to see the man who played Jack from Will and Grace in a different role. Oh, and I thought it was making a negative commentary on the rich vs. poor and sharing hospital rooms...but it actually showed it in a positive light. So, I guess that was one unexpected twist--although it was made pretty evident at the beginning of the movie.

The Other Boleyn Girl
G's opinion: 2 of 5 stars. Nothing worse than a historically inaccurate movie done poorly.
B's opinion: 1 of 5 stars. What a disappointment! The book--and history itself--was soooo much better. The film merely touched on the political, familial and religious strains of the times, leaving the film little more than a prettily costumed Hollywood love story. I hate that Anne and Henry were portrayed as so one dimensional. C'mon, Elizabeth I received her good genes from two strong leaders who followed the wrong motivations along the way. All three of them changed the world forever. I don't know if the fault lies in the screenplay adaptation or the actors themselves. It's a sad, sad day in cinema.

Movies

The Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
G's opinion: 3 of 5 stars. Depressing kids' movie.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. Excellent story that inspires imagination and friendship. It's based on a true story. I heard the author speak at SCBWI last year in NYC. She's a phenomenal storyteller.

Rambo
G's opinion:3 of 5 stars. Stallone looks good for his age, and how can you go wrong with people getting shot with a 50 caliber?
B's opinion:1 of 5 stars. An excuse to shoot a lot of people, show off Stallone's body, and film a gang rape of half-naked Asian women. Too violent and pointless for my taste. I mean, really, was there a frickin' point?

No Reservations
G's opinion:2 of 5 stars. Chick flick.
B's opinion: 3 of 5 stars. Interesting to see Catherine Zeta Jones not playing an overtly sexy character. All the food made me hungry. I'm glad there's not a sequel, and I was glad when it was over.

Happy Feet
G's opinion:4 of 5 stars. Amazing animation. Cute penguins. Great story.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. At times, alarmingly similar to that OTHER penguin movie. Still, it redeemed itself with various themes, great music, and adorable penguins. It reminded me of The Odyssey how they traveled to far off lands and encountered sea monsters.

Charlie Wilson's War
G's opinion:5 of 5 stars. Fantastic history lesson. Exceptional acting. A must-see.
B's opinion: 4 1/2 of 5 stars. Witty dialogue with Hoffman, Hanks, and Roberts makes it entertaining. The movie makes me fearful, though, when I think how we used others to fight our war against an enemy who had no business being in another country. Did one of our enemies learn that lesson better than we did?

Movies

Garrett and I have watched a few films lately. Some of them we'd seen before, others were old but we hadn't seen, and other were new. Here's our take.

Wall-E
G's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. Superbly done. Very cute. Wall-E is cool.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. When did kids' movies get so darned depressing? It's like they rip your heart out, stomp on it, then give it back to you with a parting gift that is intended to make it all better. Aside from some of the sad parts, I liked the movie. Pixar knows how to tell a good tale. This little robot flick had a MAJOR environmental theme as well as some commentary on how our society is obsessed with technology with disregard to our health and relationships. Thank goodness it wasn't as depressing as that horrible penguin documentary. I still can't believe people think that's appropriate viewing for children.

American Beauty
G's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. An all time classic. A feel-good movie for every man.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. There's a reason this movie received so much hype. The first time I saw it was disturbing. True, the cinematography is beautiful--images linger long after the specific plot line vanish from one's memory. Until I watched it again, I never could understand why Garrett thought the movie was "uplifting." However, I do see that side now. The movie points out the frailty of human beings--weak, but beautiful like red roses--and how triumph can be achieved by overcoming our weaknesses. The scene where the trash floats around in the wind is an image that illuminates this meaning like poetry.

3:10 to Yuma (the remake)
G's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great violence and shooting. Superb acting.
B's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. Yes, that's right. It's a western, and I gave it five stars. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale are amazing. Their characters are completx and well developed. The entire cast is. I didn't know what to expect with this movie and put off watching it. I recommend you don't waste another day.

Dances With Wolves
G's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. Makes the white man look like a real douchebag. Stands With a Fist has horrible hair.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. Great movie. Classic. Too bad it gave Kevin Costner the belief that people want to watch 3 hour movies on a regular basis.

Breach
G's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. An extremely suspenseful, true story of espionage.
B's opinion: 5 of 5 stars. Ryan Phillipe does an amazing job of a newbie with the FBI. The scene with his father is poignant. The movie makes one realize that our nation truly is the product of human heroes and is a living thing--which is frightening when one realizes how easy it could be to weaken it.

Get Smart
G's opinion: Not seen it.
B's opinion: 2 1/2 of 5 stars. I may have liked it better if I'd not seen Breach the night before. Similar topic treated lightly. Steve Carrell, as usual, was funny. The Rock always improves things visually. However, although Anne Hathaway was the most beautiful I'd ever seen her, I just can't buy her as a humorist.

There Will Be Blood
G's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. I enjoyed the way passion and tyranny trump ignorance. Acting by Daniel Day Lewis was phenomenal.
B's opinion: 2 of 5 stars. Daniel Day Lewis earned his Academy Award. He was gritty and raw and believable. The movie must have been nominated on his merit alone. It lacked continuity. The characters often lacked motivation for their actions, giving no clues to the audience. Enormous time gaps weren't smooth. One day the child is a full grown man, the oilman has weathered hair, but the preacher still has a baby face. What's up with that? The only reason to watch this film is to marvel at the talent of Daniel Day Lewis. As a teenager, I repeatedly watched Last of the Mohicans to marvel at Daniel Day Lewis, but at least that movie was good.

Volver
G's opinion: 3 of 5 stars. I don't like reading my movies; however, Penelope Cruz made up for this. Broke away from the traditional formulaic American movie. It's European in nature.
B's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. The movie was funny, quirky, touching, and unpredictable. It managed to touch on many aspects of the human emotional spectrum--from the gruesome to the sweet.

Westwood, NJ

Since I'm growing less and less mobile these days, Garrett and I decided to explore a town nearby. It's 2-3 train stops away from Park Ridge depending on the schedule. Of course, we drove because we didn't really know where we were going. Next time, we'll take the train.

Why we'll return...

Bookstores! We visited an independent book store called Shaw's Book Shop. For such a small store they had a huge selection. Not only did they have many classics, but they also had lots of bestsellers. I was impressed with their expansive selection of YA books. We purchased a book about the Revolutionary War in Bergen County. Since we live here, we should know its history, right? There's also another shop I want to go to that's called Peace, Love & Serenity Book Shop. As the name indicates, it's a bit more earthy and touchy-feely. I'm guessing Garrett probably won't be interested.

Movie theater! The Pascack Theater shows new movies and it's much closer than any of the other theaters we know. Usually, we drive to the Palisades Mall in NY. It's nice to know we can catch a flick close to home.

Tea house! Harmony Tea Room is not just a regular ol' tea house. It's a Victorian style tea house. They must be on vacation because they're closed temporarily until July 9. My mom visits in July, so I'm hoping to go there with her. Garrett certainly isn't thrilled with the prospect of having to attend with me.

Ice cream! I can't remember the names of them all, but there were several places. Not only did they have chains like Cold Stone Creamery, but they also had cute little boutique shops. Oh, yeah. I scream for ice cream.

Shopping! Specialty shops and chains were all around the few streets of this small town. Someone else wrote about the cute shops and things to do in Westwood, so here you go.

Sex and the City

The girls are back in town!

I saw Sex and the City in New York City yesterday. The movie was not a disappointment. On the contrary, I think I may even like it better than the tv show.

Yeah, I know, sacrilege.

Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you if you've not seen it yet, but it was refreshing how they picked up on the ladies' lives at the current time. It was interesting to see how they've changed--and stayed the same. Carrie's outfits are still too avant garde for me.

Just like the tv show, one thing stayed the same: eye candy for fashionistas. There is no doubt that fashion trends will soon follow. I'm not saying I like them all, but here is what I noticed...

Belts. Waist-cinchers were everywhere. Below is a pic with Miranda and Samantha in their nod to the 80's. Hmmm, SJP's little man suit is looking awfully 80's, too, actually. Charlotte, as ever, looked classy and divine throughout the film. I won't show more pictures of her because doing so may act as a spoiler if you've not seen the movie yet.

Feathers. They were in Carrie's hair. They were on runway models. They were even on a bag Charlotte carried. Expect to see them. Don't be shocked if they're blue.

Studs. Sure, a girl can always accessorize with a handsome fellow, but I'm talking about the kind worn in a gang fight in an old Michael Jackson music video. Again, a time-warp to the 80's but with a twist. Carrie wore this belt in a couple of scenes. Also, Samantha wore a dress with studs around her neck and along the shoulder. It was like she'd gone crazy with the Bedazzler.Pearls. Make it a long strand as seen above. Carrie wore these often. The other ladies wore long beads, too. However, Carrie even slept in hers.

Roses. These flowers were everywhere. They were in several scenes in expected places like tables--tightly clumped arrangements in gorgeous and interesting colors. However, they also appeared as a floral pattern in clothes as seen below. (Is it just me or is the line of that red dress part of what was wrong with 80's fashion?)I couldn't find a picture, but I loved the white jacket Carrie wore that consisted of white fabric roses.

Shoes. Certainly, the girls know how to rock a pair of shoes. In the movie, you'll notice they begin doing it in strange combinations. Chunky gladiators are worn with really girly dresses.

Metal. Whether it's an entire ensemble or only the accessories, these girls bring on the Midas touch. I'd also like to note here that I loved the Cinderella motif throughout the movie. Miranda seems to epitomize the idea of transformation through her style. She's never looked better. Again, see below for an example.

Let me know what you thought of the movie and what trends you predict!

movies

Since many tv shows are on hiatus for the season, we've caught up on movies.

27 Dresses
G's opinion:Thbbbt! 2 of 5 stars. Complete chick movie. Nothng in it for guys. Didn't hate it. I reserve 1 star for Romeo and Juliet.
B's opinion: 2 of 5 stars. Nothing new. Completely predictable. Didn't love any of the characters. Great concept many gals can identify with, though.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
G's opinion: 4 of 5 stars. Good, classic adventure. Over the top with Hollywood humor.
B's opinion: 4 1/2 stars. Exactly what I expected from the movie. Cornball jokes, fight scenes, unvelievable situations. I was content and joined the others who applauded the movie at the end. Unlike Transformers, this long awaited continunation of my childhood entertainment was smart enough to include the theme music. Satisfied nostalgia.

Dan in Real Life
G's opinion: 3 of 5 . Not a feel good movie. Mostly for the girls.
B's opinion: 4 of 5. Hilarious! I laughed out loud through most of the movie. Admittedly, it's a different sort of humor. If you liked Sideways, you'd like this one. Steve Carrell's subtle humor shows in his face and the situations with the family members are believable conflicts.

Superbad
G's opinion: 3 of 5. Childish humor but good escape movie.
B's opinion: 2 of 5. A 12 yr old boy's fantasy of filling a movie with phallic drawings and humor. Granted, some of the scenes were funny. Michael Cera always manages to be charming and funny, but Jonah Hill (and/or his character) got on my last nerve. Christopher Mintz-Plasse was pretty good and is an inspiration to dorks everywhere.

American Gangster
G's opinion: 4 of 5. Good violence. True story. Good stuff.
B's opinion: 4 of 5. Sent me to Wikipedia immediately following the movie because I wanted to see what happened to the characters. Learned that some of the situations weren't exactly the same, so know it's BASED on a true story, not a documentary. Still, it's a different angle on organized crime in the NYC area as well as an interesting angle on the rise of the drug scene in an historical perspective. Plus, with Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington, the acting is beyond reproach.

Memorial Day, May 26--Valley Forge

We started the day with a great breakfast from Morning Glory Diner. It was worth the wait.

We went to Valley Forge on our way home. We had just missed a parade, so we saw the boys coming home on horseback in their wool uniforms. We also saw other boys out and about in various uniforms. Some of them were so young. The movie Taps was filmed here. Remember the scene where the wall gets blown out? You can see where they bricked it back up. Ah, movie magic.

On the way home, Garrett and I also got to visit our first Whole Foods. Such an abundance of healthy food was exciting. Later, we went to Trader Joe's, which is similar. It's not far from our house, so we're thrilled. Plus, that non-alcoholic wine we've been searching for was there. We've not tried it yet...but we will.

Our Perfect Day

Yesterday was one of the reasons we moved here. It was one of our favorite days that we ever spent in New York City.

The day began in an exciting way as we watched in awe as Max moved around in my belly. We saw him shake me like an earthquake. At one point, he rolled over and we saw his rump then his shoulder slide along my tummy. Then again, we don't know exactly which parts they were, but I felt a definite kinship with the movie Alien.

We rode the train and arrived in time to catch lunch before the show. We went to Langan's, one of our favorite restaurants in the city. Not only is the food tasty, but also the waitresses speak with a charming Irish lilt. Both entice us into returning after all these years. We were in a bit of a time crunch, so we each ordered something less fancy than we usually do. Garrett enjoyed crab cakes while I had a traditional fish and chips. The best thing we've ever had there, though, was fish (snapper?) with carmelized cabbage. Yummy.

For my birthday, Garrett bought us tickets to see November. It's a political spoof on a presidential election. Nathan Lane plays an ultra-conservative president. See... it's funny already, isn't it? Laurie Metcalf is nominated for a Tony for her performance. Dylan Baker, Michael Nichols, and Ethan Phillips shared the stage to create a funny show. After having the picture taken above, we saw Metcalf signing autographs. We had incredible seats and were impressed with the beauty of the Barrymore theatre. It was built in 1928 and holds the glamour of the time. Afterward, we dropped by Starbuck's and spent a few hours in Central Park. From a bench, we watched the people, squirrels, and giant pigeons. We walked a bit before sitting on a rock to watch the children play in the enormous playground. Then we stood in line for the porto-potties--THAT's an experience I never want to repeat. Afterward, we watched a baseball game where the Randy's were kicking Los Cocos' butts, and the latter's catcher, Diablitos, was not a happy camper. Eventually, we moved to another bench and watched the cyclists and carriages and skateboarders.

We wandered to a nearby mall at Columbus Circle. Garrett said the building is where CNN tapes each morning. I was thrilled because they had an Aveda shop and I was able to purchase Rosemary and Mint shampoo and conditioner. I love the smell of that stuff!

Throughout the day, we popped into wine shops to ask them if they carried any non-alcoholic wine. I'd just seen an article about several brands. Really, the only craving I have during pregnancy is for a good red wine. The article seemed fortuitous. Sadly, most of the workers greeted my question with a look implying I was a silly girl who should just go find some grape juice.

We then took a bumpy cab ride to Little Italy. It seems that they have a lot of festivals there in the summer, and we were not disappointed. We ate at Novella's and I still get happy when I think of how tasty it was. We dined alfresco, so we had a good view of everyone at the festival. We also were easy access for the nun who was collecting for St. Anthony. She made her rounds to all the diners. Maybe that was the purpose of the festival??? The tour busses rolled by on a regular basis, and Garrett smiled for the cameras. There were so many flashes, it was like a red carpet shindig. I think Garrett likes the idea of being in so many photo albums. We realized that we'd enjoyed our time past meeting the train, so we made our way to Port Authority Bus Terminal. We'd never caught the bus from NYC to NJ--and it was not easy! When I was almost in tears and had totally given up, Garrett pressed on. Eventually, the guide I'd printed off the internet gave us enough information to find our way. Believe me, we would have asked for help, but the information booths were closed with signs directing us to the other closed information booths.

When we got off the bus, we dodged a few raindrops. Once under the safety of our stoop, the skies unleashed the rain.

It was a good day.

March 7, 2008

Juno

It received all sorts of Oscar buzz. We'd been wanting to see it, and friends of ours had said even Garrett would enjoy it. So, we finally made it.

I cried. Then I laughed. Then I cried some more.

However, the film wasn't sad. It was touching. Similar to Little Miss Sunshine, it made me feel like everything could be okay no matter how messed up the world seems to get. In fact, aside from the hilarious dance scene in Little Miss, I thought this movie blew it out of the water.

Diablo Cody deserved recognition for the fine script she created with such a diverse group of characters. She managed to hint at bigger conflicts than those at hand. Insodoing, she enriched the story by making it feel as textured as real life.

Ellen Page's Juno was quirky, witty, and loveable--even if I did want to put my hand over her mouth sometimes and tell her to have some respect. She managed to be haughty in that way only naive teenagers can be, and she pulled it off oh-so-well.

The unsung performance was Jennifer Garner. She's the one who made me cry. Although her character was high strung and controlling, she managed to show why. Her yearning for a child was evident. The scene where she wanted to feel the baby kick was realistic. The painting of the nursery was haunting.

Since I'm still suffering with nausea and will have to cancel my beautiful gym membership due to difficulties, I was a bit annoyed that Juno so easily got knocked up and managed to skip through the pregnancy with little more than social problems while the seemingly ideal couple who had so much to offer couldn't manage to pull it off.

But I guess that's the point. It's not the problems you have. It's how you deal with them. And Juno was a great example.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Much to our disappointment, we did not go on any adventure this weekend. Why didn't anyone tell us that this pregnancy gig could cause bad side effects similar to a hangover? A 24 hour headache is not fun--especially without medication.

Instead of gallivanting around the countryside, we caught up on old movies:

The Postman--better than we expected
Lethal Weapon 1 & 2--"okay, okay, okay"--gotta love 'em
Cars--worse than we expected
The Wedding Singer--"Take off my Van Halen shirt or you'll jinx the band!"
Epic Movie--Why do we watch these and why do we laugh?

We also caught up on taped shows:
Friday Night Lights--Go Panthers!
Project Runway--Does anyone else hate Sweet P?
Eli Stone--It shows promise.

Writers' strike begone!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Fool's Gold

It's cold in Jersey. Not so in the movie theater.

Fool's Gold, set in the Caribbean, was filmed in Australia. The screen offered us beautiful views of sparkling blue ocean with an adorable Kate Hudson and barely clothed Matthew McConaughey. (The fact that he always looks like he smells doesn't matter when he's out of nose range and he offers the world such outstanding muscle definition and a striking semblance to Paul Newman.) What's to complain about? Also, Donald Sutherland repeats his eccentric, wealthy father routine he mastered in Pride and Prejudice and Dirty Sexy Money. The movie previews promised entertainment akin to Romancing the Stone and it delivered. It had underwater action scenes, slapstick humor, and star chemistry.

Don't expect to be able to brag to your friends that you saw some intellectual movie like when you forced yourself to endure Atonement. This one hasn't received the rave reviews and won't earn any Oscar nominations, but if you want to escape for a few silly hours on a tropical vacation, this movie is for you.

It's much cheaper than a cruise.