February 2008: Culture Shock Report

Film:
Dan in Real Life - This is the second time I saw this movie. I was happy to see it programmed on our flight home from California. When we saw Sondre Lerche perform last year, he told an anecdote about teaching Steve Carrell how to play the guitar right before Carrell had to shoot a scene where he plays the guitar and sings. That is the scene that makes me all snuffly. I tried very hard to be stoic and cry quietly as  I watched squeezed in so tight next to a stranger. For some reason, this film didn't catch much attention in the theater. I liked it a lot. I hope you'll find a place for it in your Netflix queue soon.I love the line "Love is an ability."

The Jane Austen Book Club  - Another in flight viewing. I really wanted to see this in the theater but missed it. This turned out not to be as great as I anticipated. Emily Blunt played my favorite character. She really shines no matter what she's in really.

King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters -  This doc takes you into the weird and sometimes cutthroat arena of professional video gaming as you follow regular Joe, Steve Wiebe, attempt to claim the world record for highest score in Donkey Kong. With a rival  reminiscent of Snidely Whiplash, it's a fun flick watching the battle over who is the best. Wiebe's got my vote.

Two Days in Paris -  Part of my February French Fest. I was hoping for a peek into how Parisians really live from this film. What really struck me was how their outlook on fidelity and sexuality differs from Americans.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - This is evidently something of a 80's cult classic. Not for the faint of heart but no where near as off the hook as something sprouted from the mind of my boy Quentin Tarantino. This movie came out before Jeffrey Dahmer made America suck in it's breath in disgust. I found it to be an interesting little character study. Bear in mind, I loved No Country for Old Men, too.

Take the Lead - Yes, this hits almost every cliche from other films about a teacher in a tough urban school.  And there are heavy handed references to Romeo and Juliet. But I couldn't resist the dancing. Sweets groaned and retreated to the bedroom to do a crossword puzzle while I happily watched the fancy footwork.

Paris, Je T'aime - Part of my February French Fest. This film reminds me of being at a party with passed appetizers. By the time you fill up on the samples of amuse bouche you are no longer hungry for an entree. It struck me that these vignettes all shot in the city of love more often than not featured people that were lacking in the love department.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - Part of my February French Fest. Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect here. Especially when I realized it was a musical. It was awesome, really. See it just for the wallpaper alone! And the clothes. And the bicycles. Ooh, and the umbrellas and the gas station attendant jumpsuits. Oh, and that score that won't leave your head for days and days. Made over 40 years ago, it still feels fresh and remarkably topical with Guy being shipped off to fight a war in Algiers. Out of all my French Fest films, I think this one gave me the best sense of how the French live.

The Triplets of Belleville - Part of my February French Fest. Perfect fare for the afternoon I stayed home sick from work. Virtually subtitle-less, which was good for my feverish state. If you've already seen Ratatouille and want to see more of France in an animated film, give this one a try. I think little boys would especially enjoy it.

TV:

Project Runway - Duh. Is there anything else to watch? Now that the strike is over there will be but until then I am happy to crow over all of Christian's accomplishments. I do admit that I was impressed with Jillian's collection when she showed it to Tim. But I'm still on team Fer-osh, just so y'all know. Didn't you think Chris human hair as trim was sickly fantastic? Well, I did.

Jamie at Home - I'm beginning to find the turning pages of the notebook a wit bit annoying. But I'm not mad, Jamie. Sweets has started to want to watch episodes with me.  I think he's getting better knife skills after watching a few episodes. I've been lazy and haven't figured out the conversions for the measurements he uses like kilos and grams vs pounds and cups here in the U.S. Must do that pronto! We went on a special shopping trip in search for rhubarb after watching one episode devoted to it. It's a little early here in the season for it here so we'll have to pick it up when it becomes available.

Both of the Democratic presidential candidate debates this month.

Real Time with Bill Maher - I was laughing so hard while watching the last episode, I was afraid I was going to be sick. Now that his writers are back the show is absolutely rollicking.

Listening:
Vampire Weekend self titled record. Um, yes, now that the cd is in my hands, I am really upset we missed those shows in San Francisco. Luckily, they are local so we'll see them soon enough, I'd wager. This record is really flippin' good. That elusive every song is good kind of good. I have a big crush on the tracks "Campus" and "Oxford Comma" (which I nerdily had to look up and I work in a newsroom. We don't use em in our paper.) Give a listen on their music page or their Myspace.

Growing Pains by Mary J. Blige- Sweets picked this up for me as a Valentine's Day present. I am car dancing to it on the way to work. I love me some, Mary! The first three tracks are great and then it tapers off to more mellow fare. 

The Reminder by Feist- I liked her Grammy performance so I took the record out of the library. I'm feeling the tracks "Brandy Alexander" and "1234" This record is growing on me more day by day.
 

Reading: All French related selections for the February French Fest

Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee - I greedily gobbled up this book over the course of three days. Tasty recipes are paired with her tastefully told story which certainly could have been a tawdry tell all in the hands of a less accomplished writer. For some reason, some of the commentary I've seen about her book isn't positive. I couldn't disagree more. She tells her story honestly without shielding the reader from knowing her own faults and demons.

Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen by Clotilde Dusoulier  - I've had knowledge of her blog for a few years but for some dumb reason I've never visited. Clothilde's writing style is absolutely charming. I've not had a chance to try any of the recipes yet but I will. Right now it's hanging out on my nightstand in case I need a virtual midnight snack.

All You Need to be Impossibly French by Helena Frith Powell -  A quick and breezy  fun read by a Brit transplanted in France trying to navigate the strange new world of French women in their natural habitat. Half way through, I found myself modifying my own beauty routine to incorporate some of her tips. Alas, I have a far way to go before I get fashionable enough to be mistaken for a French girl.

Magazines- New York, NJ Monthly, Us Weekly ( something compelled me to pick up the Heath Ledger funeral issue off the mag rack at work I know, I'm disgusting but I'm not so gross I'd pay for US Weekly)

Comments

[joan]

hello girlfriend!

Just want to say that when I say Chritian's collection come down the runway at Bryant Park I actually cried.

I have never seen such gorgeous silhouettes as his black pieces in my ENTIRE life.

I'm with Posh... I loved them all, want them all.

These are the clothes I dream of seeing every single time I open a fashion magazine...
'FIERCE' is not even a remotely good enough adjective... and only 21 years old, sigh.

How glorious.
xoxo