Kirsten's musings...

Friday pix

SIFF 2009 - Week 1 Reviews

The Adventures of Robin Hood
It's hard (for me, at least) to appreciate an old movie, especially since I'm so familiar with the storyline and subsequent incarnations.  Somehow I expect to see something 'new' in what was one of the first movies about Robin Hood.  Plus Jim's comparison to "The Princess Bride" had me looking for comparable characters.  Still I'm glad we saw it, and had a good time.

Paper Heart
I gave this movie a '4' on my ballot, but I'm still not completely sure I liked it.  Seeing in the description that it's a "psuedo-documentary" helped my appreciation for it a little bit, but I did find Charlyne Yi's approach to love pretty annoying.  Then again, if she was exaggerating her stance for the movie, it's not so bad.  There were some very funny bits and the ending was really cute, which probably influenced my vote.

I'm No Dummy
Very well done.  It answered all of the questions you might ask about ventriloquism, and featured several well-known ventriloquists, from Paul Winchell to Ronn Lucas to Jeff Dunham.  After the movie three ventriloquists, along with the film's director, were on hand to answer questions from the audience.  I enjoyed it quite a bit, and gave it a '5'.

Answer Man  (AKA Arlen Faber)
A story of redemption wrapped up inside a romantic comedy, this was quite enjoyable.  There were parts that made me laugh, parts that made me tear-up a little, and parts that made me think.  I really wanted to give this movie a 5 but it didn't quite make it, so it gets a high 4.  According to IMDb it will go into limited theatrical release this summer.

Friday pix

In honor of Memorial Day:

SIFF 2009

It's that time again!  The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Guide is out so it's time for Jim and me to check out the movies and buy some tickets.  Here's my schedule for the next few weeks.

Week 1:
May 23 The Adventures of Robin Hood
In his most iconic screen performance, Errol Flynn, as Robin Hood, leads his band of Merry Men against the vile usurper to England’s throne Prince John, while simultaneously wooing the lovely Maid Marian and engaging in some impressive feats of archery and swordplay.

May 23 Paper Heart
Despite professing a belief that she's incapable of love, comedian and actress Charlyne Yi finds herself falling for Michael Cera in this utterly charming and intoxicating mix of documentary, improvisation, and romance.

May 24 I'm No Dummy
Informative, engaging, and funny, this insightful documentary explores the world of ventriloquism. Dissecting the history of “venting” through archival footage, photos, and interviews with legendary performers, the film allows a rare glimpse into the complex creative process that sustains this seemingly magical art.

May 26 Answer Man
Twenty years ago Arlen Faber wrote a best-selling spirituality guide, Me and God. Now a cantankerous recluse, his perfect, lonely life changes when he meets his new chiropractor Elizabeth and a recovering alcoholic named Kris—both of whom seek the answers that neither he nor God knows.

Week 2:
June 6 Baby Formula
A lesbian couple uses an experimental process to impregnate themselves with “female sperm” created from each others’ stem cells, but not everybody in their families is keen on the idea. Shot in a mockumentary style, this mildly funny, improvisational film celebrates love, acceptance and life in all its forms.

June 7 Finding Bliss
Jody needs a place to shoot her movies but all she can find is a porn studio. She starts to secretly film there but is discovered and forced to collaborate with an adult film director. Filmed in Spokane, this fun romantic comedy borrows plot lines from director Julie Davis’ own start in the industry.

June 8 (500) Days of Summer
Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn’t. Unusual in its outcome, (500) Days of Summer is a charming postmodern reflection on crushing unrequited love. The comedic tone, vigorous shots, nuanced performances, and effervescent music keep (500) Days light in the most satisfying way.

Week 3:
June 11 Home
Marthe and Michel live with their kids on the edge of a near-completed freeway. When the road is suddenly opened up to traffic, the noise and pollution threatens to destroy the family unit. Ursula Meier's absurd comedy—a “road movie in reverse”—redefines what “home” means.

June 12 Wonderful World
Joshua Goldin’s directorial debut stars Matthew Broderick as Ben Singer, a pot-smoking proofreader, failed children’s singer, lackluster weekend dad, and card-carrying pessimist. But when Ben’s roommate’s sister comes to visit, his usual misanthropy starts to give way as he realizes that inspiration can be found in the most unlikely places.

June 12 Swimsuit Issue
In the wake of a wild bachelor party, Fredrik discovers his passion for synchronized swimming. Convincing his floorball teammates to join him as Sweden’s only all-male team, they set their sights on the world championships in this oddball, comedic tale of courage, triumph and gender role reversal.

June 13 Every Little Step
“Dancing with the Stars” may be all the rage, but what of those who dance their little hearts out in obscurity? This documentary shines a light on that world as 3000 dancers audition for a Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line.”

June 14 Hachiko: A Dog's Story
The cherished, true story of a legendary Japanese akita comes to America in this modern reinvention by Lasse Hallström. Hachiko demonstrates the profound bond between man and canine with his unrelenting loyalty in this story of love, unwavering devotion, and the resounding impact one dog’s affection can make.

Again, is it just me?

There's a tree in our front yard that needs work that we cannot do on our own, so I called a local tree service company.  We scheduled to have them come out first thing Friday morning since I had the day off of work.  He said they'd be there about 8:30, so I made sure that I was up and dressed to deal with them.  About 9:15 he called to say that one of his guys was sick, so they'd need to reschedule.  Not great, but this needs to get done, so we settled on Saturday morning instead.

At 11:00 he called again to say that his other crew was probably going to finish their job early, so they could come to our house after lunch, about 1:00.  I went to the store and ran some errands and was back at the house in plenty of time.  Some time after 3:00 he called yet again to say that the other job had taken longer than expected so could we go back to Saturday morning.

At this point I mentioned that they weren't making a very good impression, but that I'd see them tomorrow morning.  He said that I wasn't making a very good impression, after all he can't control when people get sick or jobs run long, like that was my fault.  Then he said that maybe I should find a different company to handle the job.  Fine - they'll be out Monday to give us an estimate.

I've come to the conclusion that they never wanted the job in the first place.

Friday pix

$12.50

CD Review - Eli Young Band, Jet Black and Jealous

The Eli Young Band is new to country radio, although according to their website they've been together since 2000.  This CD marks their first appearances on country radio, and my introduction to their music.  Got the CD for my birthday, so it's CD Review time!

1.  When it Rains
A song about Seattle!  Just kidding.  The first single (I believe) from this CD, and what made me want to hear more music from this band.  Sometimes the weather totally matches your mood, and can even contribute to it.  His girl has left him, he's miserable, and glad that the weather isn't bright and sunny because he doesn't even want to pretend to be happy.

2.  Always the Love Songs
The second single from this CD which solidified my desire to get the CD.  Probably my overall favorite song on the CD, although some of the other songs have bits and pieces I like better.  I tend to be a sucker for the love songs, remembering them and connecting with them on a deeper level than other types of songs.

3.  Radio Waves
The connection with his girlfriend is starting to fall apart, so he's reaching out the only way he knows how.  He's broadcasting his feelings over the radio waves with the hope that she'll really hear how he feels and come back to him.

4.  Enough is Enough
I'm starting to realize that there's often one great lyric on a CD that catches my attenion, and this CD is no exception.  In this song about breaking off a bad relationship is this portion of the chorus:

"I can't lean on you 'cause I'd fall right over
Can't count on you 'cause it doesn't add up."

Wonderful imagery and a little arithmetic for the math geek in me.

5.  Famous
What a great premise for a song.  He wishes he were famous so she'd already know his name.  Unfortuantely he isn't, so he's trying to figure out how to approach her and see if a relationship is possible.

6.  Throw and Go
Sometimes you just need to throw some things in the car and head out of town.  Maybe you're coming back, maybe not, but a change in scenery does a person good.

7.  Guinevere
I don't usually have to go to the Internets to understand the meaning of a song, but this song sent me to Wikipedia.  (*checks*)  Hmm...she was the wife of King Arthur and had an affair with Sir Lancelot.  Doesn't help much.  It's about a woman who is full of conflicts in her life - not sure what to keep and what to unload, wants to leave but is still there, wants to go to heaven but wants to make life on Earth better.

8.  Get in the Car and Drive
In my opinion this song has the same meaning as Jessica Simpson's "Come On Over", it's just better.  He's telling his girlfriend that if she ever wants to be with him, she should just get in the car and drive over - she doesn't need to call and ask permission, that just wastes valuable time.

9.  Jet Black and Jealous
She left him feeling devastated and frustrated, jet black and jealous, but he'll be waiting for her if she decides to come back.

10. Mystery in the Making
Pondering the future, wondering what it holds, but also realizes that tomorrow is a mystery that he can't wait to unfold.

11. How Should I Know
The relationship seems strong, but comfortably unsettling.  He thinks that they're in love, but feels that somehow they're breaking each others' hearts and he's not sure how he would know one way or the other.

12. Home
There's your childhood home, your home on the road, but when you're with the right person home can be anywhere you want it to be.  Always a great line, "home is where you are."

I am enjoying this CD, although I found the review hard to write.  I love the songs on the CD, but they are difficult to describe.  A little more vague than I'm used to, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Friday pix

Congratulations to our friends Michael and Thom.  They're celebrating their 20th anniversary this weekend.

Is it just me?

I recently read an interview with a country music singer who said that she didn't like dessert because it wasn't good for her.  What?

Last night at spin class one of the other riders professed his love for spin class, because it was such a great workout.  Huh?

I LIVE for dessert and I despise spin class.  I try to be reasonable about my dessert intake since isn't really good for me, but I can't make the leap to disliking it.  Same goes for spin class - I go and work hard because it is a good workout, but I certainly don't like it.

My determination on whether I like something is based on my personal preferences, and not whether or not it's good for me.  Is that strange?  Or am I alone in this line of thinking?

Friday pix

This one seemed appropriate: