Movie Review: The Adjustment Bureau

What if you met someone randomly, but after a moment knew that you were destined to be with them forever? What if the world were designed so that you could never be together, despite what you know in your heart? The Adjustment Bureau asks these questions while offering a sincerely romantic look at what it means to pursue your destiny.

Confession: I've never read a Philip K. Dick story. Not one. I didn't even know who he was until I started hearing about this movie. When I did hear of him, I heard that he was a noted sci-fi author, and based on that info, and the previews, I thought the Adjustment Bureau looked like something from that genre, with a little romance thrown in (did I ever tell you how my mom tried to convince me Under Siege was a romance so I would watch it with her?). I'm not normally one for major Sci-Fi-ish movies, but here is what lured me in about The Adjustment Bureau:
* Matt Damon
* Love
* Weird premise of people being "adjusted"
* Matt Damon
* Emily Blunt being so beautiful in the previews
* It looked kind of action-y
* Matt Damon
So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard from multiple sources (my parents, and the three hands) that this story was way more romance than sci fi.

The Adjustment Bureau follows Senate hopeful David Norris as he meets, loses, meets again, loses again, and  maybe meets again his possible true love, Elise. At each step of the way, there are enigmatic men wearing fedoras who are talking with each other, watching the happenings and seemingly interested in the happenings for some reason. The role these be-capped men play in the lives of Emily and David, and ostensibly almost everyone in the world, is soon revealed and our hearts are broken along with our Hero's as we learn that following hard after love involves making sacrifices.

That's all I'm going to say about the story for now, because I want you to go into it without knowing too much. Its the themes I really want to talk about.

First, the theme that we don't have free will (or rather that we sort of have free will on the little things, but not the big things). This made me think a lot about the tensions between free will and predestination. In the movie, the plan is constantly changing - but the bible teaches us that we have a God who is outside of time and who knows the end from the beginning. So is the plan really changing? or are all these adjustments part of the fabric of it all?

Second, the theme that love is worth pursuing for against all. Agree. Wholeheartedly agree, and biblically speaking, I think this is verified. God pursues us to the ends of the earth. When we pursue him back, that is even better. True also in human love - as imperfect as it can be - mutual pursual is awesome and to know that someone made life choices based on their hopeless (because they may never see you again) love for you is pretty amazing.

Finally, the theme that we write our own story. I've been talking about this lately with a new friend, and I like that throughout this movie there are moments where Matt Damon's character refuses to believe that the story written for him is his story. He sees a different story, and sets out to write it for himself and for his love. While I believe fully in the providence and authority of God, I think that he also wants us to be walking out in faith and writing our story. He's like the ghostwriter, shaping it, guiding it, directing it, but in our day to day lives, as we seek to love him and serve others, we are writing our story.
Example: God tells us to love the downtrodden. There are a lot of ways I can do that. But for my story, one of the ways I want to do it is to know the homeless people in my neighborhood. I want to know their names and visit with them when I am on the way to the bus in the morning. In writing my own story of who I will be, I want to be the women who loves the downtrodden by acknowledging their humanity, by treating them like a person, like a friend. Somehow in those moments, I am both fulfilling God's perfect plan for me and being an author of my life.

Check out the Adjustment Bureau, for sure. I give it five spilled coffees out of five and think that it may end up on my Stranger than Fiction shelf as a go-to romantic favorite.

Disclosure one: My friends over at The Three Hands in the Popcorn Bag site also reviewed this movie - and frankly reviewed it really well. Check it out if you want more info: http://www.thethreehands.com/?p=1256.

Disclosure two: I saw this movie on a date with my new fella, and so I was probably predisposed to enjoy the romantic nature of the movie, but the fact is, I would have loved it anyway. I think we all want to be pursued, and we all want a love that is worth pursuing, so this movie was going to win me over no matter what.

My Thoughts on Oscar Nominees

Part of me wants to write full reviews of "The King's Speech" and "The Fighter" - not to mention "The Social Network," "Inception," "The Kids are Alright," and "Toy Story 3" (my review of True Grit is below) - but the Oscars are tomorrow and I have to work on some school work at some point today.

What I will do, though is provide you with brief blurbs on each of the movies listed above, and give you my apologies that I did not attempt to see Black Swan, Winter's Bone, or 127 hours before Feb 27th. Some of those movies just seemed to dark for me, and for the other, I just ran out of time. Forgive me?

I will ALSO provide you with my votes for the main Oscar races. Oh yeah, baby, now you're about to increase your chances of winning your office Oscar pool by about 7.6%. (Or you would have been, had I submitted this prior to the weekend)

The King's Speech: I thought this movie was phenomenal. I loved so much about it, for more reasons even just that Collin Firth was in it. This was a chance for him to not play a buffoon, but instead to come to the screen with gravitas and heart - and he brought it!. Similar to last year's "A Single Man" - for which Firth received his first best actor nod - Firth is allowed to express his emotion and really stretch himself. I also loved the relationship between Bertie and his wife (the terrifically poised Helena Bonham Carter), and between him and Lionel, his speech therapist. I learned about England and WWII, and enjoyed watching someone overcome a limitation. Five microphones out of five.

The Fighter: Standout performances from Christian Bale and Melissa Leo make this movie for me. I thought the story was great  - the tension that Micky Ward feels as he tries to become his own man, torn between his love for his brother and his family and the love and support of a woman. I also loved that this story (like King's Speech) was based on a true story. Watching the Ecklund and Ward family come apart and then come together was exciting and moving, and I was surprised at how little I minded the boxing aspect, even though sometimes I had to close my eyes. Five half-shirts and shots of scotch out of 5.

The Social Network: If this is how it all really happened, then wow. The problem is, because it is based on "real events" it makes people think that this IS really how it all happened - rather than one perspective on the cah-ray-ziness that is the Facebook story. I thought that the supporting cast in this movie was particularly strong. I don't much care for Jesse Eisenberg, because I felt like he was so wooden in the movie and I think that doesn't ring true for me. However, as a whole, great film, worth watching, and will get you thinking about your use of the web in general, and facebook for sure. Three friend requests out of five.

Inception: Loved it. Memento is one of my favorite suspense movies, and Inception was like it for the way that Christopher Nolan bent time and space to create alternate realities. I enjoyed this movie a lot, but in my mind it does not reach the heights overall of The Fighter or The King's Speech. Leonardo DiCaprio continues to be enjoyable as an actor and a friend of mine and I were saying that he is becoming so versatile that we think his real acclaim (in terms of awards etc) won't be until later in life. He is like a Henry Fonda or a Robert DeNiro, great and notable in their youth, but outstanding in their adulthood (Little Fockers not withstanding). Very entertaining and for sure worth your $$ at the Redbox. Four levels out of five.

The Kids are Alright: Outstanding acting and a dramatic and interesting plot elevated this movie to an Oscar nomination. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore were really excellent as a married couple, and I think portrayed a very realistic view of what marriage can be, in all the ups and downs. Their fights, in particular, we so realistic that by the time we got to them, and to the subsequent slow reconciliation, I was right there along with them. I didn't love the adultery theme/aspect of the movie. I think it would have been equally as strong without it, with just the tension of the sperm dad in the family, but then again, I could do will less adultery in movies in general. Four bottles of wine out of five.

Toy Story 3: It was a sweet movie that managed somehow to both capture the imagination while also providing closure for anyone who is going through a transition that involves leaving something/someone dear behind. I can't say it was my favorite movie of the year (or the best picture winner) but it was delightful and I loved it. 3-D didn't add much for me, but it was used appropriately. Four big babies out of five.

And now on to my pics to "win it all" - acknowledging that I have not seen all the movies/performances nominated - - - these are just my opinions, based on what I did see. Oh, and only for the categories for which I really understand the meaning (i.e. I don't know what art direction is, so I'm not listing a prediction here).

Best Picture: The King's Speech
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Firth (esp. after last year's nom, I think they'll give it to him)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Christian Bale
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Annette Bening (though I suspect there could be upsets here)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Melissa Leo (though I want Hailee Steinfeld to win)
Cinematography: Inception (though I would have nominated The Fighter)
Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland
Director: Tom Hooper for the King's Speech (going with it, though David O.Russell (the fighter) is my close second
Editing: The Fighter
Music (original score): Inception
Writing (adapted screenplay): Social Network by Aaron Sorkin (that dialogue was wicked good)
Writing (original screenplay): The King's Speech by David Seidler

There ya have it friends! What are your pics for the awards? What did you think of the movies above?

A Tribute to: Adam Baldwin

Adam Baldwin has been in a number of movies over the span of my lifetime. But I'll be honest, I've kind of loved him since he starred with Matt Dillon in "My Bodyguard" in 1980. In case you've never seen this movie (and shame on you...) http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3216966937/. 

"Tiffani, you were six," you might be thinking, and OK, you're right, I didn't see it in the theater - but I remember it vividly from TV in my elementary/middle-school-ish years. And thus I fell in love. Baldwin's character was the strong silent type, wounded, holding onto a secret.

He has had a productive career since then, gotten lots of work throughout the years. My particular favorites are small roles in Independence Day, and cameos on shows like Bones and NCIS. He's one of those actors that I see in little places and think, "Golly, I wish he'd get some regular work." Meanwhile, I apparently wasn't watching any Josh Whedon TV programs, since had recurring roles in both Angel and Firefly.

He's been on Chuck (the story of a regular guy who becomes a spy) since its beginning about 3+ yrs ago. He plays Commander Casey, a former army soldier who now is a spy for the CIA. As Casey, Baldwin is gruff, funny, tough, and soft. He plays the role with just the right amount of comedic gravitas and tough guy power. Its like My Bodyguard all over again.

Don't get me wrong, I think Zac Levi, as Chuck, is adorable, goofy and good-natured - and if I got the chance to hang out with him, I think he'd be a pretty cool, regular dude. But everytime Baldwin gets a chance to be on camera, I go back to my childhood and fall in love again.

If you haven't done so yet, check out Chuck on NBC on Mondays. Even more - if you haven't seen it, queue up My Bodyguard on Netflix and enjoy a great story and Adam Baldwin doing what he does best - right at the beginning of when he was doing it.

(Oh, and in case you were wondering, no, he's no relation to those other Baldwins)

True Grit (Movie Review)

Last night my parents and I headed up over to the Cine Capri in Scottsdale to see True Grit. My mom remembered the original fondly, and was convinced that my dad and I would like it (despite neither of us having seen the original).

The story is that a man is killed by a drifter, and the man's 14yr old daughter, Maddy, decides that it is her responsibility to see the man caught and brought to justice - since no one else seems to care. She hires a drunken US Marshal, named Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), to search for the killer. She says that he's the one she chooses because he has "true grit." Along the way, they team up with and spar with a Texas Ranger named Le Beouf (Matt Damon).

The dictionary defines grit as "indomitable spirit or pluck" - which ironically, is the thing that the young woman has in spades and that by her sheer presence others develop or display. In some ways, this young woman reminds me of Anne Shirley (of Green Gables fame) whose very outlook on life causes others to reconsider how they've been living. While Maddy does not have Anne's happy outlook on life, she does have a courageous sense of justice and stubborn opinion about how justice should be pursued. When others balk at her resolve or question her decision to find the killer, she fixes them with a steely-eyed gaze that shames them into going along with her plan. Along the way, she grows up a bit, and melts the hearts of the hardened men along the road.

As expected from the Coen brothers, the cinematography is great, and the script is very tight. There are beautiful landscapes of the plains, forests, and mountains. There are lots of moments of silence and staring, but  somehow it doesn't seem uncomfortable or awkward. Maddy is charming and watching it, you desperately want her to succeed on her quest. Rooster is hardened, but as in all good stories, has a soft heart. La Beouf is a braggart, but funny, and brave.

True Grit is definitely one of my favorites of 2010. I give it a solid 5 $10 ponies out of 5. See this one in the theater if you can!

Films of 2010

I've mentioned my friends over at The Three Hands (www.thethreehands.com) before - they have a great movie review website (as well as other reviews, including books etc). They are total movie lovers, like me, and even though they like more zombie-related fare than I do (read: any), I find that for the most part, our movie sensibilities line up and so if the crew over there likes a movie, there is a good chance I will, too.

At the end of each year, the crew puts up their best/worst of 2010 lists. Included in one of the lists was the video above, which is pretty stinkin' awesome. Its a sort of compilation of clips and bites from this year's movies. TOTALLY worth checking out. You will love it.

Seeing their list made me think of the new movies that I've seen this year and what I thought of them.
(movies are listed based on their release date to theaters, not in the order in which I saw them - some of them were not viewed in theaters but instead on my DVD-player, laptop, or on an airplane)

Leap Year: Totally cliche, but still Matthew Goode is hot and it made the flight back from London almost bearable (despite my annoying seat-neighbor).
The Book of Eli: I loved it. You can check out my review of it on the blog. Others did not like it. They are wrong.
When in Rome: Totally cliche also, but Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel make up for it because of their combined hotness. Frankly, this movie was ridiculous, but it made me laugh a lot as I winged my way across the atlantic toward London.
Valentine's Day: Disappointingly average on first viewing, improves marginally with second viewing. A better use of your time would be to re-watch Love Actually instead.
Bounty Hunter: Average, but also improves marginally with second viewing. There are some funny moments, but mostly Gerard Butler is not a very good comedic actor - I think its the way he has to super-enunciate to try to sound American.
Babies:  OMG. My mom and I just watched this movie and it was so stinking adorable and fascinating. Makes me want to adopt approximately 12 babies. Loved it.
Clash of the Titans: I thought it was alright - not as cheesy as the original, and included some fun elements. I saw it in 2D (on the plane, with annoying seat-neighbor interrupting me) and thought it was probably improved by being in 2D rather than remastered 3D (even though a friend of mine worked on the 3D conversion).
Last Song: Cheesy but sweet. I cried at the end, and not because the movie starred Miley Cyrus.
Date Night: I actually saw this movie on a first date. I enjoyed it a lot - except that my date kept trying to do weird things like feed me popcorn. Yes, seriously. Steve Carrell is not the most believable actor, but because he and Tina Fey will pretty much say or do anything for a laugh, I liked it and laughed a lot.
Iron Man 2: Not as good as the first, but still entertaining and exciting.
Sex and the City 2: I was forced to go to this movie by the girls in my bible study. Pretty much hated this movie more than any other movie I've seen in the last 10 years, and I saw "The Forgotten", so you know that I hated this movie. Don't see it, and if your wife/girlfriend/sister/mom/friend wants you to see it, turn and run.
The A-Team: I loved it. Don't hate on me, haters, I laughed, I was suspensed (is that a word), and some of those dudes are hot. I will totally see at least one more in this franchise if not all of them (but I will not see any of them in 3D if it comes to that).
Toy Story 3: A sweet romp through childhood. I won't buy these movies, probably, but I enjoyed seeing it a lot.
The Switch: Now this is a Jennifer Aniston movie that I could love. I love Jason Bateman, and this story - though predictable - was also just so sweet and funny.
Social Network: Mixed feelings here. This movie was brilliant, and the actors were incredible. The story was good and at the end, you are left with a lot of questions and suppositions. For me, at the end, I had a spiritual lesson on the price of Pride and trying to prove your worth to someone.
Life as We Know It: OK, yes, I know this cheesy Heigel/Duhamel flick didn't look that great, and yes, it was pretty predictable. But I got some good laughs, and thought that Heigel's grief scene in the beginning after she finds out her best friends have died was really terrific. (Duhamel's? Not so much)
Megamind: I had high hopes, they were dashed. There were a few funny moments, and a good message, but overall just average.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (p1): Was pleasantly surprised at how faithful this movie was to the book, and at how they managed to recover after leaving out key info from book/movie 6. Not my favorite movie of the series, but still very good.

2010 movies I will be seeing in theaters in the next two weeks:
True Grit
Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

There were also a lot of 2009 movies that I watched in 2010. The best of them are the following:

The Hurt Locker

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Whip It!

Precious

Crazy Heart

Movies I should have seen (or want to see) and which are already on my Netflix queue so that my errors can be rectified as soon as they are released on DVD: (or which I may see in theaters, should they still be around when I get my act together)
The Town
Despicable Me
Secretariat
Red
Inception
King's Speech
Unstoppable

"My name is ____ and I'm a ninth generation circus performer"

I struggled with even how to title this post. I didn't it to be just about clowns or my long-held desire to be a clown. But I didn't know a circus-y phrase that would capture the spirit of what I'm about to tell you about.

People - listen to this: There is a miniseries on PBS (6-1hr episodes) called "Circus"  - which documents the life in one year of the Big Apple Circus.

If you are like me, that sentence alone should be enough to make you want to check your local PBS listings and figure out how to carve 6 hours in order to watch this really fascinating show.

Just in case it isn't... here's a more elaborate review after having watched 2 gripping hours of this journey.

The Big Apple Circus is a "traditional one-ring European-style circus." This series is the story of all the people it takes to make a circus - from the talent who are the most obvious members of the circus troupe (trapeze artists, equestrian, clowns, jugglers, etc) to the producers and directors to the "ring crew" the people who really make the magic happen as the circus moves from town to town. You learn about their history, their lives, their performances, and how it all comes together. And its magical.

I'm not kidding - MAGICAL and fascinating. I wondered if watching this documentary would sort of ruin it for me. You know, that if I saw the "man behind the curtain" I would no longer believe in the Wizard. But if anything, it actually makes me love the circus MORE by seeing how it all comes together. The series gives you a glimpse into how the "circus people" live: the ring crew and staff live in basically "walk-in closets" (bunks and shelves, with no internal bathrooms) - food is provided for them by the circus; the producers/directors/performers live in RV's. The children attend school in a one-room schoolhouse (which is also a trailer). And people have real lives throughout the year, as you watch (one gets arrested, another becomes ill, etc). It gives you a glimpse into how the acts come together, how new people are trained, and how the show itself is shaped.

You can buy the series on PBS, if you know someone who would like it. Since PBS is in jeopardy around the country, it would be worth it to do so. But you can also watch full episodes online (as well as some exclusive web clips).

I give "Circus" five big tops out of five - for compelling drama, exciting athletics, and entertaining people. Check it out.

First - respond in the comments about what performer you'd like to be in a circus (if any) - or what your favorite part about the circus is!

Next - check out this clip, which is about clowns (because I've always wanted to be a clown and go to children's wards and cheer up kids):

Watch the full episode. See more Circus.

Finally, you can go to this website for more clips and full episodes.
http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/video/

When a problem comes along.... you must "Whip It"

Bliss Cavender is clearly a misfit. The movie begins with a beauty pageant appearance, where she walks out with accidental blue hair. She is sullen and unhappy and does not appear to want to live the life her parents want for her. Sound familiar?

"Whip It" is a classic coming of age story - a high school misfit trying to find her "place", a young girl on the verge of adulthood, and a town that is too backward to be believed. Bliss (Ellen Page in Juno-esque form) has been in the beauty pageant circuit at her mother's urging, even though in reality she's an alt-ingenue. She wears black tights and boots and oversized clothes and works at the local diner, The Oink Joint. Her best friend is focused on getting into a college a long way from Bodeen, Texas, but Bliss is sort of aimless. While on a trip to Austin with her mom, three girls skate into the store where Bliss and her mom are shopping (which turns out to be a headshop in a funny awkward moment). In slow motion we see them laughing and having fun, tatted up and with colored hair. Something about them appeals to Bliss and she picks up one of their roller derby flyers.

Even if you don't know anything about this movie, you are probably guessing what happens next. Well, I won't tell you the details, but it involves lying, skating, laughing, crying, and a bunch of people learning how to be humble.

Though the story is pretty formulaic, there is so much to like about it. I don't know much about direction, but Drew Barrymore (in her directorial debut) managed to catch the excitement and fun of roller derby while using interesting camera angles that really made me look differently at some of the scenes. The cast of the "Hurl Scouts" is terrific and includes Eve, Juliette Lewis, and Kristen Wiig in addition to the other marquee stars, Barrymore and Page. Bliss's interactions with the team, and the team members love for each other is really terrific without going into any side melodrama. And Bliss's parents are played really well by Daniel Stern and Marcia Gay Harden.

In fact, Bliss's parents alone are a reason to watch this movie. Their love for her despite her misfit-ness is authentic and real, and later in the movie there is a moment in the kitchen where Bliss's mom sits down with her on the floor and they have a real heart to heart in a way that makes your heart wish more parents "got it". I appreciate that her parents aren't pushovers, they are strong parents negotiating life with an almost-adult and all three are trying to figure out what that means for the future and for their relationships.

Ellen Page may be the only downside to this movie. Though she is fantastic when she is skating, and she is fun to watch with the team, for so much of this movie she is really a lot like she was in "Juno". Once you've seen both movies, feel free to correct me, and maybe I need to see Juno again, but I feel like she was a little typecast as the girl who mumbles, makes witty/dry remarks, is too cool for school, but deep down is looking for inspiration. Don't get me wrong, she plays that role well, but I think she has a lot of promise as an actress and I'd have liked to see it in the whole movie, not just in few brief flashes. All of that being said, I'm not sure there is another young actress working right now who could have played the role of Bliss Cavendar with the subtlety and grace that Ellen Page did, so in that respect, there is no downside at all.

People: Rent this movie. After watching, you will be thinking "that is a delightful little film" and "I wonder if I can go watch any roller derby around here?!" Whip It warrants 4 pink pigs out of 5 in my book.

Movie Review: The Book of Eli

I come by my love of apocalyptic movies honesty. My parents have seen every apocalyptic movie from Mad Max to 28 Day Later to 2012... and loved them all. (In fact, they would probably be appalled at the list I just wrote and would want me to amend it to include other obscure titles that were before my time.) They are super fans of science fiction. And while I really do love movies that chronicle what people do when the world around them is falling apart, and while that is clearly a genetic condition, I generally prefer the more "action-oriented" versions, e.g. Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012 are notable examples.

Seriously, don't roll your eyes at me, its just true - I like movies that give me just enough of cities being destroyed (or having been destroyed) without the content being too bleak. I do have Positivity as a strength, after all.

Well, my parents are in LA this weekend and mentioned they'd like to go see a movie while we were at Universal City/Studios - and since I love going to movies, and because we get a $7 rebate on Universal parking when you see a movie there, I was IN! They suggested we see "The Book of Eli" and I was game, though a little uneasy. But I don't want to be that girl that only sees comedies, romantic comedies, and action movies, so I agreed.

The Book of Eli takes place 30 years after a nuclear holocaust has decimated the world. The super-strength sun forces everyone to wear shades when outside and chapstick is at a minimum. Hijackers lurk to kill you, take your stuff, and BBQ your body, and the road you are walking on may end mid-bridge. It centers on a man, Denzel Washington, who is traveling west. In his possession is a book - one of the few left in the world. It just so happens that the book is a King James Bible - the only bible left in the world. The man runs into some trouble when encountering the leader of a town, who coincidentally is collecting books in search of..... yes, you are probably guessing it right now.


I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. Its not super fast-paced (though there are some very graphic fight scenes that I closed my eyes through completely), its shot with low color saturation so that while visually striking it is sort of one-note, the characters are somewhat charicatures, and sometimes the clothes people wear (Denzel in particular) don't look quite ratty enough.

Those all being said, I found this movie thought-provoking, entertaining, and encouraging.

Denzel (in interviews) says this movie is not about religion, its about good and evil. I think its about both. It reminded me how vital the ability to read the bible was to the spread of Christianity around the world (and in that way, how vital the printing press was to making the bible accessible). It reminded me how important it is to read the bible regularly, if you believe that it really is a book which should guide your life. It reminded me that in times of great distress, people are anxious for hope and telling them about God helps them. It reminded me that religion can be used to both bless and serve our communities but that it can also be used to control and manipulate the weak and powerless. And it reminded me that there will always be people who desire to manipulate and control the weak and powerless (especially using religion) and that I have to be willing to stand up against them.

Talking about the movie afterward with my parents, the whole plot seemed to light up with little foreshadowings and clues that we didn't recognize at the time. Some will disagree with me, but I think it's a smart movie if you are willing to let it rattle around in your brain a bit.

And for those of you who like action movies, occasionally Denzel uses a big, sharp knife to defend himself.

The Book of Eli rates 4 pairs of sunglasses out of 5 from me.

In honor of the upcoming holidays - some of my faves!

I am slowly working on a "Highlights of the Decade" list, but in the meantime, I'm posting some of my favorite holiday movies of all time - probably not a "top 10" (I'm sure I'll forget some) and not in any order (its too hard to put them in order).... But here goes. I look forward to your feedback and comments on YOUR faves!

The Family Man
* This is an old Riggers family favorite - and by that I mean my dad cries every time we watch it. Starring Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni, it is the story of a man who has everything... but feels completely empty. After running into Don Cheadle, however, he is suddenly in a different life... a life he could have had, "if only."
It's a sweet and funny reminder of why family matters. And the little girl in it is precious and really entertaining. I hope you'll consider checking it out!

All I Want for Christmas
* My senior year in high school, my volleyball team was awesome. But a series of events led to a loss in the district championship game and that meant the season was over one week earlier than we expected. So my boyfriend at the time planned this great date that included a trip to the Point Defiance Zoo (in Tacoma, Wa), followed by lunch out and a movie. Since it was late in the year, he took me to see "All I want for Christmas." It was just what I needed.
All little Haley wants for Christmas is for her parents to get married again, and since she still believes in Santa Claus, she of course travels to Macy's to ask Santa for this one small thing...; and her brother, Ethan, comes up with an elaborate scheme to make it happen. Its an entertaining and touching story that also has plenty of laughs thanks to the kids and Kevin Nealon as mom's new boyfriend.

White Christmas
* This is probably my favorite Christmas movie. I love the script, the music, and the dancing. I don't even know that I can say more than this: When "White Christmas" is on, I am smiling. If you like musicals even a teeny little bit, you will love this movie.

While You Were Sleeping
* I watch this movie year round, even though its set at Christmas and New Years - its just a terrific movie. Starring Sandra Bullock (so you can really not go wrong) and Bill Pullman (who is a totally believable love interest somehow), its the story of a woman who falls in love with a man she sees at work - and before she knows it is falling in love with his whole family.
I find it hard to believe that you haven't seen this one, readers, but just in case, that's all I'm gonna say. Its a classic.

Elf
* I love this movie. Its completely ridiculous, but hilarious and fun. Buddy the Elf finds out he's actually NOT an elf after all. Thus, he heads to New York City from the North Pole to find his father. Hilarity ensues, of course! Enjoy!

The Holiday
* When I first saw this movie, I both loved and hated it. I loved that the women ended up happy, I hated that they started lonely because they were single or their boyfriends were louses (either way or both) - and that the message of the movie is that you can meet and find your soul mate basically, between Christmas and New Year's Eve, and that you are not whole unless you are mated up. But despite my discomfort with those two themes (which are pretty much the hallmark of any rom-com), I fell in love with it. I love Kate Winslet and Jack Black and their funny encounters, I love Eli Wallach and how perfectly he was cast for that role. I love Jude Law and how he turns out to be a sweet and mushy, not debonair at all. And I think Cameron Diaz is delightful. So there. I like it. You will probably like it too.

Love Actually
* Maybe my second favorite Christmas-themed movie, it is both entertaining and funny, crass, and touching. Yes, there is some nudity (and let me tell you, it was awkward to watch it when I saw it in the theater with my parents and my two youngest aunts....) - but that is one of my favorite stories, since those characters, who are stand-ins for an NC-17 type movie, eventually - well just pay attention to their final lines in the airport - its sweet. The other stories are equally infuriating, sad, hopefull, and happy.... and what you take away is a reminder that no family is perfect but that love "is actually all around." Oh, and the soundtrack is tremendous.


Other good ones you might want to check out:
* Its a Wonderful Life
* Miracle on 34th St. (the original)
* Sleepless in Seattle
* You've Got Mail
* National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
* Muppet Christmas Carol
* Home Alone

Movie Review: Lars and the Real Girl

Tonight my friends Dave and Jenn came over. It was great to host people at my house, which is something I don't get to do often enough since I came to LA, but which I love doing. I made an appetizer with figs and gorgonzola (recipe coming to you soon, Candice!) and apple pecan pinwheels for dessert (outstanding). They brought the salad, pop, and ice cream and we ordered pizza. OK, yes, that sounds like a lot of food and it was!

Anyway, this post is really less about the food than it is about the movie we watched "Lars and the Real Girl."

When this movie came out in 2007, I wasn't really sure about the premise and if I wanted to see it. When my friend Laura visited in September she mentioned it to me and told me how it was a little bit odd, but that she loved it and thought I would too. At her recommendation, I cued it up in my Netflix and waited anxiously for it to arrive. Unfortunately, it arrived the afternoon I left for the conference in Vancouver, and so I didn't get a chance to watch it until tonight!
* special note... I just spoke with Laura today and she said it was NOT her who recommended that movie to me... so if you recommended it, and you read this blog, then speak up...otherwise, we'll pretend it was Laura for now.
* reference Sarah's comment below - it was totally Sarah that recommended it. Thanks for the rec, Sarah!

Its hard for me to know how much to share with you about the plot, so I'll try to give you a little bit without giving too much away. Essentially, Lars is lonely. He ends up buying a life-sized "Love Doll" over the internet and treats her as though she is his girlfriend. Bianca, his "girlfriend," becomes a part of the community and helps Lars make connections with his family and friends. Its a touching movie about love and loss.

So much about this movie really connected with me. Its no secret that since coming to LA, I have been exceedingly lonely and that the loneliness is sometimes intensified as I celebrate the marriages and pregancies of my friends. I long for connection with people that I don't really have here, and that's been hard. So as I watched Lars interact with Bianca as though she was real, I kind of understood. I could relate to wanting to have someone who listened and who you listened to. I could relate to wanting to have someone to do things with. And I could relate to how much better it is to have a date to take with you places like parties, than to go alone. I don't think I'm at a place of mental illness that I would actually take a mannequin or sex doll with me places, pretending he was real, but it made sense to me. Bianca becomes, for Lars, a gateway into all these other places of life - a way to help him gain courage and weirdly, acceptance.

This movie might end up being like "Stranger Than Fiction" in my movie collection - a slightly odd movie that speaks to bigger issues and touches my heart. I love movies that have glimpses of truth, and "Lars and the Real Girl" is one. Check it out if you get the chance!

Five "love dolls" out of five.