SNMR 5.12: "Fools Rush In"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Fools Rush In" (1997, PG-13, 109 minutes), starring Salma Hayek and Matthew Perry. The film was directed by Andy Tennant.

PLOT SUMMARY: New York architect Alex Whitman (Perry) travels to Las Vegas to oversee a major construction project for his company. When he meets Isabel Fuentes (Hayek) at a rest stop, romantic sparks fly for a night. Then life gets complicated for them both when, three months later, she finds him to inform him that she's carrying their baby...

MY OPINION: This is one of these DVD's that I kept on looking at in the store and at the library, wanting to see it but always losing out to something better or something I wanted to see more urgently. This is also a movie that I would have enjoyed better sometime in between when it came out and my recent "FRIENDS" kick earlier this year. For you see, it took me until about ¾^ths of the way through this film to stop thinking of Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing and get with him as Alex Whitman, his character in this film. I must say that I can see some of scribe-o-rama-lama-ding-dong's attraction to Latina women through this film, as Salma Hayek is a knockout in the hotness department, despite this film being made 11 years ago. Did I mention that she's a pretty darn good actress, too...

Having said that, I did enjoy this movie for what it is, a simple romantic comedy that takes an interesting look at the possibilities and difficulties when cultures and nationalities clash when two people of very different backgrounds decide to get married. Not so much for the couple but for their families.

I've enjoyed other films that Andy Tennant has directed, so I didn't figure that I'd have any major issues with that aspect of the film. The script is decent, despite the worn to death plot of boy meets girl, instant one-night stand attraction and voila! The girl gets knocked up then months later comes looking for the guy who is responsible.

Ultimately I did end up purchasing the DVD for my collection when I found it in the bargain bin at my local 'evil empire' (aka Wal-Mart) location.

***¼ out of *****

BB10 - week seven update

Here's what you missed this week:

Episode 21
Episode 20
Episode 19

This was a double elimination night tonight.

The regular eviction for week seven: Michelle (voted out 3-1)

This evicted house guest becomes the third juror who will ultimately have a say in who will win BB10.

My impressions of week seven:

Dan's HOH deal with Ollie was unprecedented. He offered an unrealistic deal to Ollie and I'm not surprised he broke the third part of it. Ollie should have expected something from the start. Dan's replacement nominee roulette was a bit too much and may hurt him in the end, especially with the jurors now in the jury house (Michelle, Ollie, April and Libra). At least three of them probably won't vote for him.

Michelle does nothing for me but the way she got back-doored was cheap. I suppose any time you get blind sided like that it's pretty cheap.

Despite Ollie's blow up at being worked over by Dan, I still have no problem with him, even if he threw a little temper tantrum. He was justified in being upset.

Memphis, Dan Rennie and Keesha are a strong alliance that will need to be broken up soon out of necessity, since we're running out of house guests.

HOH: Keesha

Keesha nominated Jerry and Ollie which was no surprise considering the others are her alliance. Dan won the power of veto easily and not surprisingly did not upset Keesha's nominations.

I think Ollie will be evicted next, though I wouldn't mind seeing Jerry get evicted either.

The next evicted house guest becomes the fourth juror who will ultimately have a say in who will win BB10.

Double eviction victim: Ollie (voted out 3-0). I was right!

Ollie did conduct himself with class in his post eviction interview. I suppose the good thing for Ollie is that he will get to see April sooner than he thought he would.

My prediction for the final two is still good (Dan and Keesha). We'll see how long it lasts.

Host Julie Chen revealed that the final show for BB10 will air September 16^th.

last regular season visit to Yankee Stadium

Yes, the house that Ruth built, the one that was lavishly refurbished in the 1970's is closing it's doors and making way for the new Yankee Stadium to open in 2009.

So it's with a certain amount of sadness that these next three games will be the last of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry to be played at the old ball yard in the Bronx.

So far in 2008, the season series is tied 6-6. Twelve down and six to go. Red Sox-Yankees is good fun and always great drama.

The pitching match-ups for the three game series look like this (with results updated after completion of each game):

Tonight (Tuesday): Red Sox 7, @ Yankees 3
WP=Wakefield (8-8) LP=Pettite (13-10) SV=Papelbon (34)

Wednesday: Red Sox 11, @ Yankees 3
WP=Byrd (9-11) LP=Ponson (7-5)

Thursday: @ Yankees 3, Red Sox 2
WP=Rivera (5-5) LP=Masterson (4-4)

These two long-time rivals will meet at Fenway Park for three at the end of September to close out the regular season.

All eyes on Denver this week

The Democratic National Convention kicked off tonight from Denver. I'm watching some of it right now but won't watch all of it. I'll sporadically tune in throughout the week too, depending on who is scheduled to speak.

Conventions on the whole can be boring, especially if you're not a political junkie.

I'm not. Definitely not.



I think these conventions really are designed to help those people who have fence poles firmly wedged in uncomfortable places to try and help loosen them up. This is the opportunity to sell your party's message to the undecided folks and those who are on the other sidepeople . How effectively its done remains to be seen.

The big stories tonight are when will Ted Kennedy make his appearance and will he say anything. Or more appropriately, is he healthy enough to say something.

The featured speaker tonight is Michelle Obama.

---

Joe Biden was a safe pick for Obama's Vice Presidential running mate. In large part I think he was picked for the same reasons W picked Cheney in 2000. King George, when he was Texas governor, was seen as someone with limited experience on the international stage and Cheney's experience was supposed to give him that. Though I say it hasn't worked out quite that well, considering the current administration's failures in this area.

Hopefully Biden will be more help to Obama than Cheney has been for the Bushwhacker.

Does this put more pressure on McCain to choose a running mate as voracious as Biden will be?

SNMR 5.11: "An Ideal Husband"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "An Ideal Husband" (1999, PG-13, 98 minutes), starring Jeremy Northam, Rupert Everett, Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver and Julianne Moore. The film was directed by Oliver Parker and based on the play by Oscar Wilde.

PLOT SUMMARY: Sir Robert (Northam) is a rising politician in the British Parliament near the turn of the century. He's got a beautiful wife (Blanchett), a charming sister (Driver), a care-free best friend (Everett) and a well hidden dirty little secret. Or so he thinks, until Ms. Chevely (Moore) rolls into town threatening to give it away and ruin his marriage and career.

MY OPINION: I've never read the play on which this film is based, so I can't say how much it strays from the original material. Having never heard of this film before, I borrowed it from the library based solely on the appeal and star power of the cast, not quite knowing what to expect. What started out as a stuffy English period piece turned out to be a witty, clever romantic comedy type movie, with lots of juicy intrigue. You have love, lies, honor, deceit, greed, blackmail and what (in 1895 London) would pass for insider trading in today's world. All with the prim and properness of the late 19^th century. This film aptly shows that these elements of society were prevalent then, much as they are today.

Cate Blanchett is a wonderful and extremely versatile actress whose performance is up to her normal high standards. Rupert Everett is also excellent in his role as the "hero". I like Minnie Driver as an actress but her performance was a bit stiff here, as was Jeremy Northam's. I've never been a fan of Julianne Moore and don't think she's a very good actress at all.

The film itself runs at a crisp 98 minutes. While I would not add this movie to my own DVD library, it is a rather enjoyable film and worth your time to watch.

***1/2 out of *****

BB10 - Week six update

Here's what you missed this week:

Episode 18
Episode 17
Episode 16

Evicted week six: April (voted out 4-1)

My impressions of week six:

This week's evicted house guest becomes the second juror who will ultimately have a say in who will win BB10.

I still like Ollie, Memphis, Dan and Keesha. Michelle doesn't bother me but doesn't do anything for me. Rennie is acceptable as long as she doesn't unleash that shrill voice of hers. Jerry ought to have been evicted. He still gets on my nerves.

I think Ollie and April make a nice couple. I hope their relationship survives when BB10 is over.

If I had to predict a final two right now, I'd guess Dan and Keesha. we'll see how I do as the weeks go by.

This week's HOH: endurance competition - winner was Dan.

Thanks, bluez for that update. Now I don't have to read the spoiler websites to find out who won and inadvertently see who he'll nominate. I'll just find out on the Sunday show. Honestly though, aside from Jerry, I have no idea who he might choose.

Next Thursday is a double live eviction. Two house guests will be leaving - but they won't know that it's happening until just before it happens. That will be interesting.

I'd like to see America get to vote someone back into the house. If I had a vote, I'd cast it for Angie. I think she got a raw deal when she was evicted.

One question I've been meaning to ask is, who is Gretchen Massey? Was she a house guest on an earlier edition of BB? How'd she get the job she has? What's her connection?

not surprised

That Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer broke up as a couple last week doesn't surprise me one bit.

What continues to amaze me is the comments I've read on several Hollywood dish type web sites the amount of hatred and venom spewed at them (and it seems especially at Aniston) in these comments.



Will we ever know who broke it off with whom?

Probably, knowing the media vultures and paparazzi that hound Hollywood and music stars these days.

Should we know?

Absolutely not.

Some things should just be left between two people and shouldn't be discussed in the public domain. If you just broke off with your boyfriend/girlfriend, would you want it bandied about in and trashed by the media? I really doubt it.

Seems to me that most Hollywood stars should find partners outside of that circle and try to stay out of the press for obvious reasons. No press is better than negative press in this observer's humble opinion. It's a rare couple that can stay together in the public eye or despite it and kudos to those that can.

Why do I think they split?

My opinion doesn't matter in the grand scheme, but I'll tell you what I think anyway.

Most of the articles I've read in the gossip mags say it's because she is 39 and wants to find a guy to start a family with while he is 30 and at the top of his career and not interested in the family thing right now. To me this is a logical reason. There are probably other reasons which, thankfully, have not been reported yet. After all, no one is perfect and everyone has skeletons in their closets.

What it comes down to is that relationships are hard enough as it is and if you're not on the same page from the get go, then you're better off not dating or splitting amicably then winding up getting into an even messier split/divorce (see Guy Ritchie/Madonna for another example.)

I don't know if you female readers will agree or disagree, but John Mayer looks kind of skanky to me. I think Jennifer Aniston can do better than him. Much better.

No rain out this time

The last time we tried to do this we had lousy weather. In fact they never got the tarp off of the field.

That was July 24^th when my dad, V, M and I tried to attend a Nashua Pride baseball game. That day torrential downpours, thunder and lightning were the order of the day.

Tonight the weather was about as opposite as you could possibly get. Blue sky, puffy clouds, bright sun and warm temperatures. Perfect baseball weather.

The Nashua Pride play in the Can-Am league, which is an eight team independent league that is not affiliated with any major league teams. Even though the Pride lost to the Sussex (NJ) Skyhawks 7-5, we had a good time. More importantly, V and M passed the test I had set for them - with flying colors.

That test, of course, was to see if they could handle sitting through a live baseball game. If they could, which they did, I told them I'd try to get ticketses for us to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park in 2009, which are much, much, much more expensive.

We got to the stadium about 10 minutes before the gates opened at 16:05. We knew from the last time that our seats would be in the front row, just to the left of home plate. Awesome seats. V and M brought their baseball gloves but because of where our seats were behind the screen, they would have no chance to catch a foul ball.

Before the game, which started at 17:05, we were walking around the stadium checking things out. Tori wanted to see if she could get someone to give her a baseball and she was able to talk to one of the bat girls about it. The bat girl told her that she would see if she could but wasn't sure. When the game ended, V asked again and was rewarded for being persistent. The best souvenir for me is happy kiddoes.

These minor league games are great because they give away promotional items as you come into the stadium before every game. The promotion/give-away for the rain out game was Delta Dental toothbrush night. Tonight was Pride backpack night. They also do things between innings, like have kids (and some adults) participate in contests, toss tee shirts into the stands and other stuff.

When the game was over they had one final contest, which was to try and throw some foam baseballs into a small orange bucket at home plate (from the stands) to win a prize. I have no idea what the prize was but no one won it anyway. I did manage to "win" a great consolation prize. As I was walking past some seats on my way out, there was a real official Can-Am league baseball on the ground next to some of those foam balls, which I was able to handily grab and stash in my backpack.

SNMR 5.10: "The Spirit of St. Louis"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "The Spirit of St. Louis" (1957, NR, 138 minutes), starring James Stewart, Murray Hamilton, Bartlett Robinson and Arthur Space. The film was directed by Billy Wilder.

PLOT SUMMARY: This is the biopic of Charles A. Lindbergh's historic flight from New York to Paris in 1927. The screenplay was based on Lindbergh's own autobiography.

This is a role that Jimmy Stewart, himself a WWII pilot, wanted to play for a long time, as Lindbergh was one of his childhood heroes. People thought he was too old at 48, when he finally got the part.


MY OPINION: It's a good film, but I would say far from Stewart's best role or performance in a career filled with great performances. For a film that was released in 1957, the aerial photography is superb. The film is maddeningly slow at times and has no frills, which is what you would expect from a film of this kind. Director Billy Wilder did a good job of filling in back story from Lindbergh's life during the trans-Atlantic flight sequences.

*** out of *****

Big Brother 10 - Week five update

Here's what you missed this week:

Episode 15
Episode 14
Episode 13

Evicted week five: Libra (voted out 6-0)

My impressions of week five:

I'm surprised that Ollie and April voted for Libra to be evicted instead of Keesha, since April and Keesha despise each other.

This week's evicted house guest becomes the first juror who will ultimately have a say in who will win BB10.

Sorry Libra, Thanks for playing. It was nice knowing you. When you get home, take care of that family. Until then enjoy life in the jury house.

I still like April, Ollie, Memphis, Dan and Keesha. Rennie is acceptable as long as she doesn't unleash that shrill voice of hers. Jerry has gotten on my nerves lately.

The alliances in the house currently are Michelle, April, Ollie and Jerry against Memphis, Dan, Rennie and Keesha.

This week's HOH: Rennie.

Well, with Rennie as the new HOH, Keesha is definitely safe this week and probably Memphis and Dan. Rennie won't nominate the colonel. Look out April and Ollie. Both of you will likely be nominated this week. Which one of you will go home this week, provided neither of you wins POV??? I don't think Rennie has any issues with Michelle, so she's probably safe.

On Sunday, in the Boston area, Big Brother will be seen on channel 38 because of the Patriots game on CBS.

Movie Stuff

Found this on the scribester's blog a month ago and thought I'd give it a go myself.


1) One movie that made you laugh: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" will always crack me up.

2) One movie that made you cry: I always get teary-eyed at the end when I watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Mr. Holland's Opus." I'm sure there are other movies that have that effect on me but these two films do it every time.

3) One movie you loved as a child (and still do): Syrupy and sappy, but I don't care. That movie is "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." I love the music box scene near the end of the film.

4) One movie you have you seen more than once: I've seen lots and lots and lots of movies more than once. Let's just say that if I like a movie, I can watch it multiple times without getting tired of it.

5) One movie you are embarrassed to admit seeing: I'm usually not embarrassed to watch any movie. Heck, I made it through "The Notebook" and lived to tell about it, so I think I'm in good shape.

6) One movie you hated: I'll give you two, both I had to review for BIG SCREEN - "Apocalypse Now" and "Death Proof."

7) One movie that scared you: I don't get freaked out scared watching movies. I get more scared by certain movies that have a realistic edge to them. Right now I'd say "Arlington Road" with Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack and "Enemy of the State" with Will Smith and Gene Hackman are two films that left that kind of impression on me.

8) One movie that bored you: "In Her Shoes" with Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette.

9) One movie that made you happy: I agree with the Scribester. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was exactly what I was hoping for and had a strong feeling I would get.

10) One movie that made you miserable: What, me miserable watching a movie? Watching movies in general is fun. If I'm truly miserable watching a movie, I'll turn it off instead of suffering through it.

11) One move you were brave enough to see: Since I don't get freaked out scared watching movies, I don't consider this a legitimate question.

12) One movie character you fell in love with: Easy. As a young impressionable lad, Princess Leia from the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Sadly, Carrie Fisher has not aged well.

13) Last movie you saw on the big screen: Well, I'm going to see "The Dark Knight" tomorrow, so that will be it.

14) Next movie you want to see on the big screen: "Get Smart" because I liked the television show reruns and "Star Wars: Clone Wars" because, as a longtime fan of the series, I have to respect the powers that be Lucasfilm, Ltd.

BB10 - week four update

Here's what you missed this week:

Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12

My impressions of week four:

Evicted week four: Jessie (voted out 4-3)

Still don't like Libra.

I still like April, Ollie, Memphis, Dan, Jerry and Keesha. Rennie is acceptable as long as she doesn't unleash that shrill voice of hers.

This week's HOH: Michelle.

I loved it that the other house guests had enough balls to go against the HOH's wishes and evict Jessie instead of Memphis. Michelle's winning HOH spells doom for April, Keesha or Libra. I think it's a safe bet that she'll nominate two of the three this week.

I was laughing hard at all of the shrill cat fighting and yelling that went on this week. Highly amusing. Dan did a great job as America's Player and pocketed a cool $20K no matter how he does in the rest of the game.

I'm not sure if I like this cast or the cast of BB9 better. I can't say anything about the casts of BB1 - BB8 because I didn't watch those shows. Though I must say, watching this cast makes me think I could do very well at this game, if ever I were to become a houseguest.

When are auditions for BB11? LOL. ;>)

In Memoriam: Bernie Mac (1957-2008)

"The world just got a little less funnier tonight."

Once again another demonstration of the fact that life is fragile. When it's your time to go, it's your time to go. Fifty is way too young to die.

Rest in Peace Bernie Mac.

SNMR 5.9: "The Name of the Rose"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "The Name of the Rose" (1986, R, 118 minutes), starring Sir Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham and Christian Slater.

PLOT SUMMARY: Some say it's the work of the devil when a bizarre series of deaths strikes a 14^th century European monastery. Others find links between the deaths and the book of Revelation, but Brother William of Baskerville thinks otherwise. He intends to find a murderer by using fact and reason - the tools of heresy.

MY OPINION: Just as I remembered it. A decent movie but unmercifully slow.

Sir Sean Connery, as Brother William, gives his usual fine performance and we get to see a very young Christian Slater who plays Adso, a young aide to the sleuthing cleric who is on the verge of a sexual and intellectual awakening. F. Murray Abraham is arrogance incarnate as the Inquisitor. The supporting cast is otherwise good, but largely unknown. I've never read Umberto Eco's bestseller, so I can't say if this film is a compelling adaptation of the source novel or one that changes things for the sake of the big screen. I like that director Jean-Jacques Annaud filmed this moody mystery at an actual 12^th century monastery, which helps give the story a dark realistic atmosphere, instead of using sound stages. It's almost like the setting becomes an additional character.

This movie, while a fictional story, does a good job of underscoring the power of the medieval church, when the common man did not know how to read and were kept ignorant so the clergy could keep their power and corrupt the masses.

**½ out of *****

BB10 - week three update

Here's what you missed this week:

Episode 9
Episode 8
Episode 7

My impressions of week three:

CBS has moved eviction night from Wednesday to Thursday, still at 20:00.

Evicted week three: Angie (voted out 8-0)

Still don't like Jessie or Libra. My opinion of Renny is changing.

I still like April, Ollie, Memphis, Dan, Jerry and Keesha, despite a potty mouth (thanks Bluez for that update.)

This week's HOH: April.

I'll admit I cheated to find out that she won the HOH, since it was an endurance comp and went on long after the CBS show ended. I'm amazed that a muscle bound guy couldn't beat a woman in an endurance competition like that. It'll be interesting to see what happened when they summarize it on tonight's show.

I have no idea who she'll nominate this week. Perhaps Jessie and Jerry or Memphis. Just a guess, though. I'm not going to cheat and find out.

An opportunity missed this week in not evicting Jessie, which could come back to haunt the house guests. I know Keesha wanted Angie out but I thought that the way Jessie was acting that he might get tossed instead of Angie. I'm surprised how unified the house guests are in voting the way the HOH wants. I thought it would be a much closer vote to evict, say 5-3 or 5-4 (with Keesha breaking the tie).


I'll post a similar update every week, which works for me.

SNMR 5.8: "Being John Malkovich"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Being John Malkovich" (1999, R, 112 minutes), starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich and Orson Bean. The film was directed by Spike Jonze.

PLOT SUMMARY: Have you ever wanted to be someone else? Now you can.... at $200 bucks a pop.

Out of work puppeteer Craig Schwartz (Cusack) gets a filing job on the 7 1/2^th floor of a Manhattan office building. He discovers a portal there that for fifteen minutes allows him to see through someone else's eyes. Specifically, John Malkovich's eyes. When he allows his wife Lotte (Diaz) to enter the portal, she becomes obsessed with being John Malkovich, and falls in love with Craig's co-worker Maxine (Keener) in the process.

MY OPINION: Bizarre. This has got to be one of the weirdest movies I've watched in a long time. The script is definitely original and Jonze does a great job directing. I've never been a huge John Malkovich fan, but I certainly gained a new respect for the man through this film. It really is hard to parody yourself so shamelessly but Malkovich does so very convincingly and with much enthusiasm. His performance makes this film even better. John Cusack gives his usual excellent performance. Cameron Diaz and Catherine Keener? Well I'm not so sure. They could have been better. Because it is so deep, I think this is the kind of film that gets better with repeated viewings.

***½ out of *****

Technical Difficulties

You may not be experiencing technical difficulties in viewing this blog, but I am.

For some reason I keep getting an error message which says that this computer cannot display my blog and keeps kicking me off of Internet explorer. This has happened on two different computers, one is my laptop with an Internet card and the other a regular desktop PC with the regular broadband Internet connection.

Yet I can go behind the scenes and write posts and edit my template, as I have done and am doing now.

Weirdness.

Apparently the error has to do with html code for a sitemeter. Blogger help suggested that the code be removed. So I did and now I can view my blog with no problem.

It was no big deal really because my sitemeter was at the bottom of the page and I never see it and forgot I actually had such a thing on my blog.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Books of the Month - August 2008

I had a hard time this month trying to choose which books to recommend for you this month. So I decided to suggest two selections from one of my favorite authors, John MacArthur. You'll find that MacArthur writes with a graceful, easy to read style which you will appreciate. I own many of his books and always enjoy reading them.

Tonight's first selection is:

"These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." -Matthew 10:2-4

Who were these guys and what were they like? Of all the people in Israel, why did Jesus choose them? What does the Bible actually say about them? John MacArthur digs deep into the New Testament to discover more about these people who have a lot in common with you and me.

Purchase your copy here and here.

Not to be outdone, and certainly worthy of fair treatment:





In the companion volume, John MacArthur examines the lives of a dozen significant women form the Bible. They are Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Anna, The Samaritan Woman, Martha and Mary, Mary Magdalene and Lydia.

MacArthur writes that "The faithfulness of these women is their true, lasting legacy. I hope as you meet them in Scripture and get to know more about their lives and characters, they will challenge you, motivate you, encourage you, and inspire you with love for the God whom they trusted and served. May your heart be set ablaze with the very same faith, may your life be characterized by a similar faithfulness, and may your soul be overwhelmed with love for the extraordinary God they worshiped."


Purchase your copy here and here.

Or buy them both as a set.