This biographic and historical documentary about the life’s work of Norman Lear is a joy to watch. And why not, it recaps a remarkable career of a iconic television producer whose vision of television entertainment literally changed the American culture.
Better yet, this is a truly likable man, with vision, compassion, forward thinking and deep family values. At first though, some of the early clips from All in the Family and The Jeffersons seem harsh and bigoted by today’s standards but upon reflection of the time and place of those shows were bold and groundbreaking. They used humor to drive home tough topics.
Directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady skillfully navigate the complex subject matters with a keen focus on Lear as a change agent and ultimately an extraordinary family patriarch. Do see this film. It is a joyful reminder of another era and a remarkable man.
Rating
Don’t Think Twice
This fast paced peek at a small Improv dramedy troop in New York and the challenge they face to grow, compete and thrive. There is a fair amount of time devoted to showing how they remain creative, inspired and relevant to themselves and their craft.
It is both entertaining, exhausting and heartbreaking at moments. It is clear these folks rely on one another with close bonds and inter-dependency. Their creativity is inspiring. But their competitive tendencies come at a price.
You might love this film if you are a comedy or entertainment industry fan. The run time is only 90 minutes, but it feel longer. Not because it isn’t good. It is only because the material comes fast and there is a lot to absorb.
Written and starring, Mike Birbiglia. All talented Keegan-Micheal Key, Gillian Jacobs, Chris Gethard, Kate Micucci and Tami Sagher round out the troop.
Rating
Indignation
Set in the 1951 under the cloud of the Korean war, a college bound Jewish son of a butcher from Newark, N.J. goes to the conservative Wineburg College, in Ohio. It is a Christian school with only one Jewish fraternity on campus.
The young man Marcus, played by Logan Lerman, is intelligent, articulate, a loner and an atheist. He is captivated by the alluring coed, Olivia, played by Sarah Gidon. Finally there is a date and a bit more.
There are lots of twists and turns, plenty of social and period commentary but the films stays focused on this young mans journey. Sad and satisfying at the same time.
Rating
Suicide Squad
Oh my! Where to begin. We were not going to see this movie, it just looked ridiculous at first. Then we started to hear good things, so we decided give it a look. Now remember this is based on a 1980s DC comic book.
We have 10 bizzare imprisioned criminals each with a unique “superpower” who are recruited by the government to fight evil spirits threatening our destruction.
Yes, it is goofy, crazy, absurd, but on closer look it is inventive, truly unique, and playful in a goofy, crazy, absurd sort of way. At first thought: What is this? By the end, pretty clever. Be assured you have never seen anything quite like this.
It has a nice cast: Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Will Smith, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman and, drum roll… Viola Davis!
If you like Superhero/Comicbook films, this may be interesting. If not, maybe pass on this one. I liked it much more that John and we are rarely on different pages.
After a recent post on the Wines of France, several subscribers asked about wine produced in Italy, especially since that was one of our most recent travel destinations.
It only took a moment to consider the idea. So after a little research, here is an Italian wine summary by region along with a note on each region’s cuisine.
I cannot think of a better way to explore this list than to seek out a few good wine shops and sample the various regional wines first hand. Although I like the idea of an extended stay in Italy to “research” the wines in person. Something to contemplate no doubt…
Cheers! Enjoy!!
Piedmont
Main Cities: Alba, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Turin
Cuisine: The Piedmont Region is the most French of the Italian regions. Lots of butter, cream and dairy products. This is a cheese lovers heaven, where gorgonzola is a favorite. This is also white truffle country. Common ingredients include: rice, polenta, potato gnocchi, agnolotti (little ravioli) and simple flavorful broths. Sweet red peppers, mushrooms, hazelnut and chestnuts round out local favorites. The locals love their breadsticks, mixed fried meats and intense condiments.
Wine Regions: Langhe, Monferrato
Reds wine: Barbaresco, Barbera, Barolo, Dolcetto lead the pack.
White wines: Asti Spumante, Chardonnay, Cortese di Gavi, Moscato d’Asti are among the most popular.
Aosta Valley
Main Cities: Aosta, Cogne
Cuisine: This is a mountainous region that produces a hearty variety of dishes using rice, chestnuts, polenta, potatoes, cabbage and apples. Cured meats are popular. Salted beef and smoked pork (speck) are favorites along with a hearty rye bread and fontina cheese.
Wines: Local wine production is limited. There are excellent Chardonnays and Syrahs from the Les Crete area.
Lombardy
Jim on roof of the Duomo, Milan 1988
Main Cities: Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Mantua, Milan, Pavia
Cuisine: Similar to the Piedmont region, small stuffed pasta is popular as is pizzoccheri, a buckwheat and wheat noodle often layered with potatoes, leeks or cabbage and cheese. Meat lovers will like ossobuco or breaded veal chops, beef roasted or slowly braised. There are several cow’s milk cheeses including gorgonzola, grana padano, marscarpone and taleggio. Popular spices are clove, nutmeg, white pepper and cinnamon along with saffron and gremolata (a mix of garlic, parsley and lemon zest).
Red wines: Erbusco, Franciacorta, and Oltrepo Pavese.
White wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Resling
Historical note: Compari, a mildly bitter rose scarlet beverage was first marketed in Milan in the nineteenth century.
Trentino and Alto Adige
Main Cities: Bolzano, Trento
Cuisine: This is a cold mountainous region in Northern Italy where the cuisine is a hearty mix of Lombardy and the Veneto. Polenta, buckwheat, barley, dumplings, cabbage, mushrooms, game, sausages and dark bread are highlights. Spices include cumin, poppy and caraway seeds. Olive oils tend to be lite and cheeses are made in the alpine huts.
White wines: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Red Wine: Cabernet, Lagrein, Marzemino, Merlot, Terldego.
Veneto
John, the Grand Canal, Venice 1988
Main Cities: Padua, Venice, Verona, Vicenza
Cuisine: It is all about seafood! Fish and shellfish, crab, scampi, cuttlefish (not a personal favorite), salt cod, octopus, eel. Meats include turkey, duck, squab and other game birds. White polenta, rice, beans, artichokes, asparagus, radicchio. Pine nuts, raisins, pomegranate, cinnamon, and cloves. Cheese include asiago, Monte Veronese, and ricotta.
White wines: Bianco di Custoza, Cortese di Gavi, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, Soave, Tocai
Red wines: Amarone, Bardolino, Breganze, Cabernet, Corvina, Merlot, Valpolicella.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Main Cities: Gorizia, Trieste, Udine
Cuisine: Influenced by the Slavic table, sauerkraut, sausages, game. Tyrolean and Austrian ingredients: speck, poppy seeds, gulasch, dumplings, paprika, cumin, horseradish, mustard, as well as Venetian foods. This area is famous for its prosciutto, crisp cheese fritters, gnocchi, stuffed cabbage, cured meats, pork dishes and seafood stews.
Red wines: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Refosco, Schioppettino
Liguria
J&J Portofino, Italy 2009
Main Cities: Genoa, Camogli, Imperia, La Spezia, Lerici, Rapello, San Remo, Savona
Cuisine: Ligurian diet is defined by its narrow mountainous coastline. Most meals are seafood oriented. Fish stews and soups, salt cod, calamari, pizza with anchovies. Focaccia, rice, polenta, gnocchi and ravioli with walnut sauce. Creamy ricotta, fruity olive oils, and lots of fresh herbs are common with most dishes.
White wine: Bianco della Cinque Terre, Pigato, Trebbiano, and Vermentino.
Red wines: Cilegolo, Ormeasco, Rossese di Dolceacqua, and Sciacchetra.
Emilia-Romagna
Main Cities: Bologna, Cremona, Ferrara, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia, Rimini
Cuisine: The “big three” foods are Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, prosciutto di Parma and balsamic vinegar. Cured meats including pork rump, mortadella, and sausages are popular. Butter, cream and braised meats fill many menus.
Several egg based pastas include pappardelle, fettuccine, tortellini, and tortelloni. Polenta, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and a creamy mascarpone are considered staples.
White wines: Albana, Pignoletto, Trebbiano
Red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Lambrusco, Sangiovese di Romagna
Tuscany
J&J Pisa 1988
Main Cities: Cortona, Florence, Livorno, Lucca, Pisa, Siena
Cuisine: Simple and straight forward. Lots of beans in the soups, salads and side dishes. A saltless bread is used to thicken soups or in “bread salads”. Game is popular, especially wild boar, hare, pigeon and rabbit. Bistecca alla fiorrentina is a trademark dish, typically a large thick marbled steak with bone in grilled over an open flame.
Porchetta (roast pig) is another mainstay dish, typically served with wild mushrooms, tomatoes, artichokes, fennel or kale. Calamari and tuna are seafood options. Most towns make their own peppery olive oil and pecorino toscano cheeses.
White wines: Trebbiano, Vermentino, Vernaccia
Red wines: Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the “Super Tuscans”, Cepparello, Fontalloro, Grattamacco, Luce, Saffredi, Sassicaia, Solaia, Summus, and Tignanello.
Desert Wine: Vin Santo
Umbria
Gourmet foods, Norcia, Umbria 2009
Main Cities: Assisi, Foligno, Norcia, Orvieto, Perugia, Spoleto
Cuisine: Known for its black truffles, wild mushrooms and a variety of beans. But Pork eclipses all other foods in this region. Porchetta is pig roasted with fennel, rosemary and other fresh herbs. Cured pork products of all kinds are right in line behind. Roasted birds are next in line, pheasants, squab, duck, and guinea fowl are favorites.
The olive oils are a deep green and the most cheeses are produced from sheep’s milk.
White wines: Chardonnay, Grecchetto, Orvieto, Trebbiano
Red wines: Rosso di Montefalco, Sagrantino di Montefalco, Sangiovese, and Toriano.
Note: This is our favorite region in Italy. While we adore Rome, Florence, Venice and Sicily, Umbria feels like home. The good news is it is less expensive and less crowded than most of the popular destinations in Italy. J&J
The Marches
Main Cities: Ancona, Macerata, Pesaro, Urbino
Cuisine: Look to the sea, saffron fish stews, baked sardines, and raw fish. Rabbit, pig, poultry and game follow right behind. Primary seasonings include garlic, rosemary and fennel. Pastas are often stuffed. Olives are also stuffed and fried. Black truffles are popular as are prosciutto and sheep’s milk cheeses or part cow’s milk and part sheep’s milk cheese.
White wines: Trebbiano, Verdicchio
Red Wines: Lacrima, Montepulciano, Rosso Conero, Rosso Piceno
Lazio
John, Old Quarter, Central Rome 2016
Main Cities: Frosinone, Rieti, Rome, Viterbo
Cuisine: Primarily a pastoral pallet including sheep, lamb, and pork. Pasta sauces range from tomato based with spices all’amatriciana, egg and cream alla carbonara, cheese and pepper cacio e pepe. Artichokes, peas, asparagus, favas, chicory and celery are the most common vegetables. Antipasti range from fried rice balls filled with mozzarella, toasted bread with olive oil and garlic often followed by grilled meats, cheese and prosciutto.
White wines: Colli Albani, Est, Frascati, Malvasia, Trebbiano
Red wine: Mostly imported from other regions.
Abruzzo and Molise
Main Cities: Avezzano, Chieti, L’Aquila, Pescara, Sulmona, Teramo
Cuisine: Similar to Lazio but also adding lamb stews and lamb pasta. Pecorino cheese is made here. Mozzarella is popular as well. Cured meats and sausages are prolific. Semolina pasta is dominant in this region. Potatoes, sweet red bell peppers and celery are common vegetables. Local saffron is excellent. Clams and fish stew are popular. Soups and stews typically will include lentils, dried beans or farro.
White wines: Trebbiano
Red Wines: Cerasuolo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Campania
Main Cities: Benevento, Capri, Caserta, Naples
Cuisine: With its long coast, seafood stews and salads are common. Steamed clams and mussels are popular. World famous mozzarella di bufala and San Marzano tomatoes are prized ingredients. Some of Italy’s best pasta comes from this region. Stuffed vegetables are a staple. Pizza was born in Naples. Lemoncello is both an apertif and an after dinner drink as lemons are abundant.
White wines: Fiano d’Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Lacrima Christi
Red wines: Aglianico, Falerno, Taurasi
Calabria and Basilicata
Main Cities: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Matera, Potenza, Reggio
Cuisine: Calabrian seafood is bountiful here. Fish Stews, tuna, swordfish. Basilicata is mountainous where pork and pork sausages, lamb stews, soups and pastas include beans and vegetables. Eggplant with tomatoes and mozzarella and double crusted pizzas are common dishes. Burrata, mozzarella and provolone cheeses are the most popular. Garlic, oregano and chiles are added to broccoli and other green vegetables
White wines: imported from other regions.
Red wines: Aglianico del Vulture
Apulia
Main Cities: Altamura, Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Otranto, Librandi
Cuisine: This is wheat country. No surprise the crusty breads from Altamura, olive bread and pretzel crackers are known throughout Italy. A variety of pastas and abundant vegetables are served together. Seafood is also served raw, in stews and steamed or grilled. Lamb and pork are common and cheeses like aged ricotta, burrata and provolone are served most with meals.
White wines: Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, Verdeca
Red wines: Aleatico di Puglia, Malvasia Nera, Negroamaro, Primitivo, Salice Salentino
Sicily
Overlooking the vineyards, Sicily, Italy 2016
Main Cities: Agrigento, Catania, Messina, Palermo, Syracuse, Taormina
Cuisine: Close to Africa, the Arabic influence shapes much of Sicilian cooking. Vegetables are central to the diet. Fennel, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, eggplant are seasoned with spices and onions, garlic, pine nuts and raisins. Surrounded by the sea, swordfish, tuna, sardines, octopus, sea urchins, mussels and clams can show up in any number of preparations. A variety of olives, citrus fruits, and nuts are paired with local cheeses from cows and sheep.
White wines: Chardonnay, Catarratto, and Inzolia blends
Red wines: Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Nerello, Nero d’Avola
Fortified and Desert wines: Malvasia di Pantelleria, Marsala, Moscato di Pantelleria
Sardinia
Sardinia 2009
Main Cities: Cagliari, Nuoro, Olbia, Sassari
Cuisine: Sun-dried tomatoes, mint, saffron, fennel and bay leaves are the main flavors added to pastas, seafoods, lamb and pork dishes. A crisp flat bread is a staple for most meals. Sheep’s milk cheeses include ricotta and pecorino. Almonds and honey are common ingredients in deserts.
White wines: Vermentino di Gallura, Vermentino di Sardegna, Vernaccia di Oristano.
What a fascinating film. It is focused mainly on three women and a baby. All but the baby are tormented in one way or another. The poor baby is just there for the ride, sometimes bumpy and tumultuous.
The production is beautifully told and well acted. Tallulah is played by Ellen Page, arguable in her best roll since Juno. Allison Janney is the boyfriend’s mother with emotional baggage. Her performance is brilliant. Tammy Blanchard plays the baby’s Mom whose marriage with the father is deeply strained.
There are lots of sub plots and just enough angst and tension to hold your attention. There were some scenes that left the viewer wondering what happened or how did they get to that moment. Overall though, an excellent film but not perfect.
Rating
Jason Bourne
I was a bit disappointed to hear the first reviews of the new Bourne movie were less than favorable. I’m not sure what they were watching but the first Jason Bourne film in 10 years that we saw was awesome.
The older Matt Damon character looked a bit heavier, weary and weathered, by design I’m guessing. Who wouldn’t after 10 years living off the grid? But the character is also older and wiser.
The technology has gotten better making it more challenging to escape scrutiny. Humm, is there a message there?! In any event, the action, the energy, the twists and turns are all upgraded and classic Bourne. It was the box office leader this weekend pulling in over $50 million. If you are a fan of the franchise, don’t miss this one.
Special Note: We were in Las Vegas earlier this year with some dear friends and stayed at the Aria Hotel while they were filming this movie. Certain parts of the hotel were closed to the public but it was a blast to see the shots in the movie where we saw some of the film sets. What fun that was!
Rating
Nerve
It was interesting to go see this movie, especially given all the brew ha ha with Pokemon Go of late. Add to that, we were clearly the oldest ones in the theater that day. Once again we are reminded we are no longer among most market demographics.
The film is intended to attract teens and 20 somethings for a romp through a real time “game” where the on screen audience is divided into “players” who win money if they succeed and “watchers” who pay to watch. The lead characters, Vee, played by Emma Roberts and team mate, Dave Franco accept challenge after challenge if only always just barely. It’s a clever concept that turns dark quickly.
There are lots of twists and turns and the ending is quite powerful but no leaks here. It’s worth a look on pay per view or a long plane ride. If your family includes the target audience, it is worth a debriefing just for some insightful learning.
Rating
The Kind Words
This Israeli film is an intriguing peek into a seemingly average Israeli family and the many modern challenges they face together. (There are also yummy peeks at Jerusalem, Paris and Marseille.)
There is lots of drama and trauma, anguish and conflict but through it all, this family truly loves each other and remain committed to each other.
The story is somewhat complicated, perhaps a bit challenging for some audiences because the thought processes and cultural values are unique. But these characters are very likable and you feel what they are feeling. The ending is ambiguous but ultimately satisfying.
Hebrew and French with English subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes.
This Woody Allen film is all about the ins and outs of the 1930s Hollywood movie industry. It is mostly focused on the happenings of the successful agent (Steve Carell) and uncle to want-to-be-successful (Jesse Eisenberg) nephew from the Bronx.
First, it is beautifully filmed and generally well acted. It was intriguing to watch as it hops from character to over indulgence, one after another. It’s not perfect. Jesse Eisenberg’s initial dialog is a rapid fire scrabble of words. The script, no doubt, a cathartic effort by Woody Allen. That said, there is a great cast of characters in interesting roles.
That said, it is not boring. It is a wild romp from Hollywood to New York City with a little bit of glam, romance, and a glimpse or two of the underbelly of the time. We are not generally Woody Allen fans, but this film is worthy of a look.
Rating:
Star Trek
It is hard to believe this is the 13th movie in the franchise! It is intelligent, highly entertaining, respectful to its legacy, and fresh in its storytelling.
It is set far enough in the future to play with new film making technology and dazzle audiences visually. The new plot and characters are consistent with the franchise creator Gene Roddenberry originally created depicting a unified “federation of planets” challenged by some really evil life forms.
It was a fun movie to watch. See it on a big screen. Skip the 3D, it is not worth the extra cost. (For some of us wearing glasses, the 3D glasses are actually more annoying than enhancing.)
Rating:
Absolutely Fabulous
Based on the hugely popular BBC America TV sitcom of 1992 to 2012, the movie picks up where the series left off. Not having watched the series, we were put off by the slap stick humor at first.
Eddy Monsoon, played be the show’s writer, Jennifer Saunders, and sidekick Pasty Stone, played by Jane Horrocks, are inseperable pals. In the movie, the trademark jokes and constant flow of booze and drugs felt a bit tired. However, the huge cast of characters giving cameo appearances breathed life into the production and make this movie “absolutely” worth the time.
Be advised, this film will not appeal to everyone. Yes, it’s absurd. Yes, it’s a slap at fashion and excessive wealth. But it became funnier the more outrageous it became. Think Lucy and Ethel on steroids, add a modern Laugh In with a heavy dose of Vodka and Champagne.
This Special Edition post highlights 10 great cities and some of the most famous film locations past and present. These are all great cities made even more enjoyable when connecting film making and discovery travel together.
New York, New York
NYC from the Harbor 2015
Take a Harbor Cruise or the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty like Funny Girl, Barbara Streisand.
Walk the streets of Little Italy and imagine the 1973 Mean Streets of Robert De Nero, Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Imagine King Kong hanging from the top of the Empire State Building, then window shop at Tiffany & Co. (5th Avenue and 58th Street).
On your way uptown, check out the tenements of West Side Story (West 109th Street).
Hollywood, California
Photo: history.com
Step into the footsteps of the stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.Better yet, catch a movie and check out the lavish interior.
Check out the Shrine Auditorium, home of the Oscars.
Stroll the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where Rudolph Valentino and many other early movie stars are buried. The cemetery doubles as a movie theater in the summer months.
Check out one of the many tours of the stars and the studios. And then rent the classic Sunset Boulevard.
Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah
Photo: pbase.com
This valley, now part of the Navajo tribal park was the set for numerous cowboy movies of the 20’s and 30’s. Stagecoach was filmed here.
Visit during sunrise and/or sunset for the shades of pink and orange off the cliffs and canyons.
Visit Goulding Trading Post, just west of the park. Its founder convinced John Ford to shoot movies here.
Mumbai, India
Above the Market Square 1989
The Center of Bollywood is in the Juhu district of Mumbai. Over 200 films are made here every year. Each includes the formula of song, dance and melodrama.
Tours/trips to one of the big studios, KR or Filmistan, will let you see the process first hand.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Harbor with Mt. Fuji 2015
Take a taxi to the Park Hyatt Hotel for incredible views of Tokyo and was the set for Lost in Translation with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson.
Make a reservation at Gonpachi (at Nishi-Azabu) for dinner like Uma Thurman in Terantino’s Kill Bill.
The New Otani Inn was SPECTRE Headquarters in Sean Connery’s You Only Live Twice.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Golden Bay, New Zealand 2004
Frodo (Elijah Wood), Gandolf (Ian McKellen) and Saruman (Christopher Lee) hailed from Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings series.
See the beauty of Lake Wakatipu, home of Galadriel, played by Cate Blanchett.
The Southern Alps where many of the scenes were shot for the much of the Lord of the Rings films.
Rome, Italy
Vatican, Rome 2016
The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo and St. Peter’s were featured in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code movies.
And who can forget Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck in Fellini’s Roma and Roman Holiday?
Paris, France
On the Bank of the River Seine, Paris 2007
The birth of the 1960s New Wave started when Jean-Paul Belmonde roamed the bars of St. Germain and the Champs Elysees in the film Breathless.
Nicole Kidman and Ewen McGregor fell in love at the Moulin Rouge, a favorite movie of ours.
You still can have coffee and a meal at the cafe made famous by Audrey Tautou in the now classic Amelie.
Prague, Czech Republic
Photo: tripadvisor.com
Wesley Snipes chased Vampires through the streets of old town in Blade II.
Tom Cruise watches a car explode from the Charles Bridge in Mission Impossible.
The same Charles Bridge was filmed during a rain storm with Barbra Streisand in Yentl.
Tom Hulce played Mozart, was wed and buried at the Church of Saint Giles in Amadeus.
London, U.K.
St. Paul’s from the Tate Modern 2016
Walk the street of Nothing Hill where Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant fell in love.
Grab a bite at the cafe or the excellent Restaurant at the Tate Modern like Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones Diary.
Cross the Thames to St. Barthomew-the-Great, Smithfield where Joseph Finnes prayed in Shakespeare in Love.
Harry Potter fans will want to visit the reptile house at the zoo and platform 9-3/4, filmed on real life platform 4 at the massive Kings Cross Station.
Note: We have visited all of these cites and most of these locations over the years. We rekindled many great memories while conducting research for this post. J&J
Here is another movie based on true events during the 1980’s. US Customs agent, Robert Mazur, brilliantly portrayed by Bryan Cranston, goes undercover and inside the Medellin Drug cartel.
It is a fast paced, high rolling story about money laundering, drug smuggling, violence, suspicion, coercion and deception.
There are more twists and turns than the best roller coasters. Stellar performances by Cranston, John Leguizamo, Diane Kruger, Juliet Aubrey and a spine tingling role by Yul Vazquez as a creepy money man and killer.
It is not always easy to watch. There are plenty of scenes that will make you cringe from tension or violence. It is quick paced and often very suspenseful. There may be some Oscar material here, just saying…
Rating:
Captain Fantastic
The father of six children sets up home in a remote “off the grid” wilderness where the children are home schooled, taught to think and reason at a sophistacted level well above the norm. They are each well rounded individuals, extremely physically fit, cultured and worldly even though their exposure to the outside world is quite sheltered.
The news their mother’s death sends shock waves through the family which ultimately leads to a road trip to the funeral, several states away in the self contained family bus.
The wife’s parents defy the wishes of their daughter and then threaten to take the children away from their father because they object to how the children are being raised.
It is ultimately a story of adventure, family love, fulfillment, forgiveness and perserverence. It is a unique film, well acted and beautifully produced. It was our favorite of the week and one of the best films of 2016 so far.
Cast includes Vigo Mortensen, Annalise Basso, George MacKay, Frank Langella and Steve Zahn among others.
Rating:
Our Little Sister
This film is about three twenty-something sisters and the arrival of their half sister following the death of their father.
It is meticulously filmed, capturing the rhythm of life just outside of Tokyo and the life the sisters enjoy. It is a peek at a different society that most rarely have the opportunity to observe.
Sometimes funny, then sad, then surprising, even silly. Overall, it is charming and a slowly revealing look at these characters lives.
Note: We were in Japan last October and it brought back nice memories of small town Japanese life.
Japanese with English subtitles (sometimes very fast).
Rating:
Microbe and Gasoline
Two very different 14 year old misfit boys become friends through challenges at school and embark on an adventure after building a mini RV that looks like a playhouse, but powered by a tiny 2 stroke engine they salvaged from a junk yard.
With conflict at home, they decide to escape on a road trip dodging the cops, facing bullies and escape to the countryside. It is clever, charming, touching and inventive.
Microbes Mom is played by the talented Audrey Tautou (of Amelie and DaVinci Code fame). The boys are played by Ange Dargent as Daniel and Theophile Baquet as Theo.
This is not a unique plot nor a ground breaking production. But it is an authentic French production and perspective on a coming of age tale told through excellent performances of talented young actors.
In a perfect world, home made marinara should be made with vine ripened tomatoes picked at the peak of the season. But then there is the blanching and peeling all necessary before the cooking begins.
This recipe trims a few corners but I double the recipe (it takes the same amount of time) and freeze it in 1 cup freezer containers and draw on it for a simple pasta for two, or multiple cups for dishes like lasagna or stuffed shells.
Note: recipe below is a single batch. Double the recipe and use a good quality 8 quart pot.
Double batch ready for the Freezer.
2 Tbs.
Olive oil
2 Medium
Onions, chopped
3 Cloves
Garlic, finely chopped (I use more)
1 28 oz. can
Diced Tomatoes, preferably Italian brand
1 28 oz. can
Strained Tomatoes, preferably Italian brand
3 Tbs.
Tomato paste
1/2 bottle
Dry red wine (375 ml.) Good quality or better
2 Tsp. each
Dried: Oregano, Basil, Thyme
2 each
Bay Leaf
To Taste
Sea salt, black pepper, sugar
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and saute about 1 minute more. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, oregano, basil, thyme and bay leaf and simmer on a low heat until thick, stirring occasionally, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar before serving.
Notes:
You can serve immediately. Or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.
Serving suggestions: Use this sauce for pizza or serve over polenta with grated cheese of choice.
Mom’s Meat Balls
Mom and Jim, Sardinia 2009
John’s Mom is one of the best cooks ever. She has taught me so much about cooking, especially Italian cooking. Many of the family recipes have no portions, just a little of this or a pinch of that.
We love the recipe below because it can be used so many different ways. Added to any kind of pasta sauce, served as a side dish or with a crusty Italian roll or French baguette with a little spicy jardinere.
1 lb. Ground chuck (beef)
1 lb. Ground pork
1/4 cup (or less) Bread crumbs (to bind)
Garlic cloves to taste, finely chopped
1/4 cup (or less) Grated Romano or Parmasean cheese
1 egg, (2 eggs if you are adding 1/2 lb. or more meat to the base recipe.)
Fresh Parsley to taste, finely chopped. Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix all ingredients well in a large bowl until evenly mixed. Hand roll into balls of your choice, about 1-1/2 inch give or take to your personal preference. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a lipped tray and space the meatballs evenly apart.
Ready for the oven!
Roast in a 400 degree oven until brown, about 20 minutes (+/-). Cool, use immediately or freeze in plastic zip lock bags for up to 30 days.
A true story of survival and renewal is set in Warsaw 1945 in the aftermath of post WW2. A Polish nun seeks help from a French Red Cross doctor who refers the nun to the non-existent Polish Red Cross. Against orders the French doctor follows the nun back to her convent.
The doctor discovers many of the nuns had be raped and pregnant. The Mother Superior insists the nuns continue their monastic life of prayer and obedience.
This is a powerful film telling the relatively unheard of story. It is beautifully filmed and directed by Anne Fontaine. There are heartbreaking scenes of despair and emotional struggle.
There is also an uplifting moment at the end. Overall, it is an amazing movie that should be seen. You’ll need to seek this out as distribution is limited. Polish and French with English subtitles. 115 Minutes run time.
Rating:
Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates
Mike (Mike Strangle), and Dave (Zac Efron) are young party animals with a history of causing havoc at family gatherings. With their sister’s wedding on the horizon, the family demands they bring acceptable girlfriends to the planned Hawaii event.
What you get is a juvenile script, with over acted scenes, predicable slapstick, crude humor, characters you don’t really ever care about and just about every other corny cliche you’ve ever heard.
We didn’t care for the trailers when they first came out but one of the best Bay Area critics “raved” saying EVERY SINGLE SCENE was perfect and hilarious. Total opposite was true. It was horrific! Your time is worthy of so much more.
Rating:
The Secret Life of Pets
The much anticipated Secret Life of Pets was finally released last Friday. The movie was well made with interesting characteristics incorporated into most of the critters. And there were a lot of critters. Good ones and, well, not so good.
It was good solid animated entertainment, often funny, sometimes madcap, sometimes a bit belabored.
It is already a box office sweetheart generating more than a $100 million in revenues during its opening weekend.
We thought it dragged a bit too long too many times to deserve a score any higher. The preceding Minion short film was a pleasant surprise though. Overall, good, but not great.
Rating:
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
This movie from New Zealand is fresh, unique, family friendly, visually satisfying, and just quirky enough for high marks all around.
The talented director, Taika Waititi, tilts this story line to a child’s point of view. That is not easy to do considering the depth of adult topics and situations encountered by the welfare child in the lead role and his would be adopted Dad hiding in the wilds for months from Child Services authorities.
Sam Neill plays the Dad character, arguably his best role in years. His performance alone is worth the time and ticket. But this story is so well developed, with so many surprises and subtle messages, it is not to be missed.
There are many ways to roast a chicken. My favorite after 35 years produces a moist meat and crisp skin without basting.
Serve with mashed, baked or roast potatoes and a salad or veggie of your choice.
Ready for carving
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
1 whole chicken, the higher quality the better, giblets and excess fat removed.
1 medium onion, quartered
1 lemon, quartered (optional but recommended)
Garlic to taste, halved or smashed with the flat side of a knife.
Salt and pepper to taste for the cavity and skin.
Olive oil and or butter for the skin (I like both but either or works)
4 to 6 cups (or more) low sodium good quality chicken stock.
Kitchen string
Wash and dry the chicken inside and out. Salt and pepper the cavity. Add onion, lemon and garlic, add fresh herbs if you have them (thyme, rosemary, etc. but not required). Truss the chicken into a compact “package”.
Slather the skin with olive oil and or butter. Place on its side on a v-rack. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Add two cups (or more)of stock to the bottom of the pan. Reduce oven to 400 degrees. Roast for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and flip the chicken to the other side. Return to the oven and roast for another 30 minutes. Replenish the stock to the pan.
Remove from the oven and flip the chicken to the breast side up. Return to the oven and roast for another 30 minutes. Replenish the stock to the pan if needed.
Remove from the oven and place on a carving plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm and allow to rest for another 30 minutes before carving/serving.
Notes:
Juices and stock will make a great GRAVY. Limit salt in the cooking process to keep gravy from becoming salty.
Deglaze the pan with white wine over low temperature heat.
Add and melt 3 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons flour. Mix with flat wisk.
Slowly add stock in portions to incorporate. Season to taste.
Monday: Lhasa to Chengdu to Chongqing and aboard Victoria Cruise Lines
It was a painfully early 4:15 AM wake up call. I was feeling poorly. Many in our group had fallen victim to a stomach bug. (Yak burger perhaps?!)
We boarded our frozen bus for the long dark ride to the airport. We are convinced there is no heating in Tibet, anywhere! We knew it would be chilly but we completely under estimated the lack of interior heat. Hot food would turn cold almost immediately from the cold air and cold plates. Most interior spaces would turn cold as soon as the sun set.
No heat in the hotel (although very heavy yak wool blankets helped), no heat in the restaurants, and no heat on the bus! I discovered a hole in the floorboard beneath my seat. I was certain I would be frostbitten.
We stumbled onto the plane with hopes of thicker air at a lower elevation and warmth to thaw our shivering bodies. Luckily I found an empty row of seats and I laid down strategically between two bathrooms just in case I got sick. By now I was feeling terrible and was dreading the long day of travel ahead of us.
We arrive at Chengdu. They served fish on the plane! I thought I was going to lose it. The polluted air hit me like a brick. I needed rest. I skipped lunch and slept as much as I could on the bus. It was a five hour ride to Chongqing.
Upon our arrival, John gave me some medication and I went directly to bed. Eleven hours later, I awoke hungry and feeling human again.
Tuesday: Victoria Cruise Line, Fengdu
NOTE: Please see Archives:Favorite Water Journeys, Part 1, posted December 17, 2015. Category: Travel for more information on Victoria Cruise Lines.
After breakfast, we boarded Victoria 1, a US/China joint venture (at the time), our home for the next three nights. We would be cruising down the river the next three days. Finally our daily pace would slow a bit and we could recover from the breakneck pace our tour seemed to demand.
Our stateroom.
We wondered if the Chinese government preferred travelers to be busy every minute of every day save they get into mischief or something more sinister.
This afternoon we stop at Fengdu, the ghost city. What a surprise to find 700,000 people living there. We take the rickety skyway to the top of the Temple of Hell.
We discovered the ghosts are underworld characters, 18 different types, followed by judges and gods who determine if you are worthy to continue to heaven. A Chinese limbo or purgatory if you will.
The punishments for offenses like cheating or stealing would be grotesque and horrific. Who do you suppose thought up not paying your taxes as a humanitarian crime? The visit was okay but with too much silly superstitions and kitch.
Dinner again, more food. We are growing tired of Chinese food. The lack of variety and fresh fruit and veggies is frustrating. There was evening entertainment of some sort. We pass. Time to recharge our energy for the next few days.
Wednesday, The Lesser Gorges and 2 larger gorges.
We are up early to catch a glimpse of the first gorge. The morning is thick with fog. We can barely make out the shoreline. Soon there is a dim outline of the steep walls of the gorge and vague peaks at the top. It is chilly with a biting wind. Before long, however, we are rewarded with stunning views through the mist and early dawn light.
Limestone cliffs tower above us, vegetation and peculiar formations cling to the near vertical walls. Suddenly we are through the first gorge and everyone on deck scurries below for coffee and breakfast.
Soon we disembark to explore the Lesser Gorges. We wonder why we can’t go by ship until we arrive at some docks and realize the Lesser Gorges are clustered around a rocky narrow river far too small for our ship.
We board smaller flat bottom boats with the roofs retracted and off we go. It looks like an army of little boats jockeying to get away from the rest of the boats. It is a comical caravan of tourists. Some tourists but mostly Chinese locals. Away we go up the shallow river for our four hour journey.
As we enter the first of the three Lesser Gorges, the fog lifts and the sun breaks through. What a welcomed sight, a break from the foggy blanket we have experienced in most of our Chinese journey. The green foliage is rich green and bright in the morning sun. Rice terraces and vegetable fields glisten. The late autumn air has turned some trees red, others yellow and still others have lost their leaves altogether. Some not at all.
The narrow gorges reveal their treasures more intimately than the larger gorges. Everything is close, the limestone formations, the odd shaped caves, the towering overhangs and the peaks more than 2000 feet straight up.
The gaps between the gorges are filled with farmland and small villages. The water runs clear and clean. Seemingly rare in China. There are fish and birds everywhere. Monkeys warm themselves in the morning sun.
Box Lunch on the beach, Lesser Gorges
The second gorge is more beautiful than the first. Once we reach the third gorge, we stop for lunch on a large pebble beach. We munch on a box lunch prepared on our ship while local peddlers try to distract us with their trinkets for sale.
After lunch, we continue up the river to the third gorge. It is nice but merely impressive. After a short look, time demands we reverse course and retrace our trail and return to the ship.
Going downstream goes fast and is comparatively quiet. The boatmen busy polling and measuring the waters depth going upstream are now manning the bow oar to steer the boat through the rapids. It turned out to be a wonderful excursion. We enjoyed ourselves completely.
After docking, it’s back on the bus and zigzagging our way through the narrow streets of Wushan, most of which will be submerged with the completion of the massive Three Gorges Dam. New cities are already being built above the new water line.
Back on the ship, we immediately find ourselves approaching the second of the larger gorges. What it lacks in intimacy it more than make up for in sheer beauty. It conjures up images of the Swiss lake region or the Norwegian fjords if it were not for the brown murky water.
Tonight’s dinner included a rare pasta dish. We ignore the other offerings and indulge in something other than Chinese fare. The food overall has been quite good. After dinner, we were lured to another folk music and dance. We left after three performances having enough of such cultural displays.
Thursday, Thanksgiving. The construction site of the Three Gorges Dam
We skipped the early morning viewing of another small gorge and relished the extra time in bed. Today we visited the massive construction site of the Three Gorges Dam. The purpose and controversy aside, the scope and scale is beyond expansive. It will, no doubt, alter the face of China. The achievement is the source of much national pride.
Construction at Three Gorges Dam
The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the last hours of our river cruise. The gorge slowly yields to farmland, cities grow larger, industry hugging the banks. Water commerce increases, so does the pollution again.
Our farewell dinner was excellent tonight. Each dish unique and unlike any other meals on the trip. An excellent fish was followed by an equally excellent duck. Each dish matched with a sauce, one slightly sweet and sour, the other rich and savory.
The crew provided a round of light entertainment to finish the evening.
Friday, disembark in Wuhan and connecting flights back to the US.
It got cold and foggy overnight. The morning was at leisure and we enjoyed the extra free time to relax and leisurely pack. The final breakfast was especially good. This was the final sailing of the season and the crew was eager to “wrap up” their tour of duty. We arrive early in Wuhan, catch our transfer to the airport for our long journey, via Hong Kong, back to the US.
It was an amazing trip. It was life altering is many ways. Travels like this make the world smaller, more connected if only one person at a time.
