Stepping Out

We stepped out in the snow...for a little while...it will all be gone by tomorrow!!

This little adventure took place on Valentine's Day and the girlz were supposed to be posing in their "heart" neclaces. Well...that didn't happen as they are hardly visible in these pictures.

We decided to check out the movie, The Vow, with Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams We sure did LOVE it and highly recommend it! I just love both lead characters and they both did a terrific job! If you get a chance to go see it, GO!

Salt! Highly Recommended!!

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1236141849/
Salt...

The Movie!!

Check it out...it is REALLY good!!  I mean seriously GOOD!!

As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who Is Salt?"

Honestly....Most of the time I do not agree with the critics.  I have to see a particular movie and choose for myself whether or not I like it.  I do not know how the critics could have given this movie a 6.5 out of 10.

Personally....I thought it was awesome!!  


Thank you REDBOX!!

Lost Mojo, Retail Therapy AND the SATC2 Movie Review

I have a bunch of things on my mind today...I've been feeling a little like I've lost my creative mojo lately...no idea why, but I NEED to get it back.  It's here somewhere....just have to FIND it!!!

So...I did what I usually do...

I went to TARGET!!  I just love Target!!!  It's one of my HAPPY Places!!

Do YOU have a Happy Place?

Where / What is it??

And guess what I found at my Happy Place aka Target????

SHOES!

Cool New Sandals!!!

Super Cool New Sandals that are sure to help me get my MOJO back!!

And oh by the way...

Don't waste your time going to the new SATC 2 movie....

As much as I REALLY, REALLY wanted to see it and looked forward to seeing it for like two years...

It is NOT worth it.  I will not be purchasing this movie for my collection.  Yes, I did enjoy seeing "the girls" again and I loved all the fashion and the scenery and the AIDEN!!!

The script was AWFUL.  Terrible!!! 

Don't go see it.  OK.....well.....maybe check it out on DVD...RedBox!

Thankful Thursday

I am truly thankful for DATE Nights!!

Each week we decide on an activity...which sometimes is a Movie Night...if there is something interesting playing at our local theatre. We have a small neighborhood theatre here in town which is a bit less expensive...not much, but a little less than the larger theatre complexes. The best part of it is that it is only about ten minutes from the house!

When my daughter was over on Monday, we decided to check out the Back Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez. Ok, so maybe it was a little rom-com...but one of those is good once in awhile! Just go and have fun and forget about all your troubles! We loved it!! Of course, we are both fans of Jennifer and have been for a very long time!

So....

Tonight my husband came up with the idea of visiting the Finger Lakes Casino

We've been meaning to check out their buffet dinner forever, but we just never got around to it. Until tonight!

Well...let me tell you...it is FABULOUS!!! One gets to experience a Tuscan atmosphere at the "All You Can Eat" Vineyard Buffet! It is a 10,000-square foot buffet which features the tastes of the Mediterranean, the Southwest, regional favorites, All-American, fresh carved selections, seafood, and the finest salad and dessert bars you’ll find anywhere in the region!

Holy Moly! It was great...and we highly recommend it!!

Then we checked out the slot machines...which are always a kick!!

Playing the penny slots, I actually won 27 bucks!

What a great time we had!!

I just love Date Nights!!

Do you have any fun activities that you and your friends and/or spouse do???

Tell me! Tell me!!

Always lookin' for ideas!!

Movie Review....Old Dogs

I liked it! I really liked it!! So many people said this movie was awful. The critics rated it a big thumbs-down. I never believe the critics and prefer to make up my own mind. I pay money to be entertained. And entertained we were. I also adore both Robin Williams and John Travolta...along with Kelly Preston and Rita Wilson!

Robin Williams and John Travolta are a great comedy team throughout this movie.

This movie will teach you some things:

* The value of a lifelong friendship
* The weird situations friends will sometimes get you in to
* Friends will stand by you ... no questions asked!
* Do not make a promise to a child unless you can actually make it happen
* Though you may not be a terrific parent in the beginning, you will get the hang of it eventually!

For all of the above reasons, both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Robin Williams and John Travolta are both going through very difficult times in their private lives. To see the two of them...along with John's wife...Kelly Preston and daughter...Ella Bleu...was a joy! In my opinion, they really shined in this movie made by Disney. We laughed our heads off and came out of the movie smiling!! It's a feel-good kind of movie that doesn't require deep thought. Just good old-fashioned comedy. Sure, some of the scenes were a bit corny...but we laughed all the same. It was a very enjoyable evening for us!

I must also mention that Bernie Mac made his last appearance in this film. He was such a terrific comedian and will be forever missed by all who loved him.

Overall, I recommend this movie for what it is...just a good time! A FUN Comedy!!

Change of Plans...Love Does Matter

As it turned out, the movie we were going to see...Julie and Julia...my sister had already seen while I was out of town. So, I quickly went online to check what else was playing as we were down to the wire and ready to drive to the theatre. First of all, I adore Jennifer Aniston and any movie she is in...in my opinion...is worth seeing!

So, I saw that Love Matters was playing at the movie theatre that's a bit of a drive...but we could still make the early show.

If you are looking for lots of adventure and activity...then you should really pick another movie! This movie is not one of those stereo-typed quick paced sappy romantic comedies.

You have to pay attention in the beginning of the movie...really listen and watch! I think it was a well written story and told very well. This movie will make you think twice about what is important in life and what isn't.

I found the movie to be very entertaining...and that's the reason I go to the movies in the first place.

Bottom line....I thought it was a good, solid movie with a little humor and alot of truth thrown in!

Confessions of a Shopaholic...My Take!

It is a pretty well known fact that I love chick flicks. S*x and the City and the whole Carrie Bradshaw phenomenon....I'm a huge fan! Read all the books, own all the seasons on DVD. I have read all of the Confessions of a Shopaholic books.

I go to the movies to be entertained. I'm just looking for a laugh! No, "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is not "deep", but it does have a storyline!

I absolutely loved this film. I think Isla Fisher was the perfect actress for this movie. I am not very familiar with Hugh Dancy but I thought he played his part very well.

It is a difficult time for the American economy. Don't go into this movie with that in mind. Take your mind on vacation...break away from reality for a while!

The clothing was a bit over the top...but what do you expect from the one and only, Patricia Field...who dressed Carrie for all those years!! Fashion is a huge part of this movie and who better than Patricia?? She ROCKS!

Both my sister and I enjoyed this movie alot...it was entertaining! I recommend it... provided you are a fan of fashion and a fan of labels! If you "speak Prada"...you'll love this film!!

He's Just Not That Into You...My Take

"He's Just Not That Into You" has the right combination for a romantic comedy: a top of the line cast including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johanssen and lots of other recognizable characters! The film portrays many different love stories, and a whole lot of mis-communicating going on!

It's different than your average romantic comedy. In fact, it has kind of a weird mix of being a little bit documentary and a little bit poking fun at the way men and women obsess over trying to figure out each other's codes. A little of the Men are from Mars...Women are from Venus thing.

"He's Just Not That Into You" has a bunch of different story lines between couples. One woman wants her longtime boyfriend to propose to her. One woman tries to look for a guy who will call back immediately after the first date. Another sideline is a guy torn between his wife and a beautiful woman he meets in the supermarket.

This film explores the minds of men and women and their relationships. I would not say that it is on par with "When Harry Met Sally". It shows a reality of how men and women try to figure out what the other is trying to communicate... what the guy REALLY means when he says "it was nice to meet you".

There are alot of experienced actors and actresses in this movie, which I think, helps the movie to succeed. One character, for example, is that one guy-crazy, slightly pathetic friend who analyzes everything. This character portrays just the right amount of sweetness for us to like her even though she has slight stalker-like tendencies.

All of these little storylines are woven together in some way. Each character has a distinct personality but for some reason, it still felt choppy to me. Not connected.....I didn't feel like the movie flowed very well.

I WANTED to like this movie. I guess I did enjoy it. But not as much as I thought I would. I was looking for more laughter....more substance....it just didn't do it for me. I absolutely, positively adore Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck, but I didn't believe that the chemistry was there.

New in Town...The Review!

It could be said that the film, New In Town, with Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr. is a romantic comedy...but I saw a little more substance in it. I was interested in the accents and the little innuendos that I had read about in the reviews. Yep, there were plenty of them. As my sister pointed out, I thought it was Sarah Palin talkin' there for a minute!!

Personally, I like Renee Zellweger and I think she did a good job in this movie. We laughed alot! It is not a deep movie that you will have any trouble understanding. It is entertaining!!! And that is the reason I go to the movies.

Filmed on location in Canada and not Minnesota, I thought it was quite realistic. Honestly, I can see where real Minnesotans COULD be offended....as they take the accent, the beer drinking, the flannel shirts....and the tapioca a bit far!

There are parts of the movie where it is a bit corny, but funny all the same. I did not see the chemistry between Connick and Zellweger that I saw between Cruise and Zellweger in "Jerry Maguire" but the movie was a warm, romantic comedy with a bit of reality thrown into the mix.

With layoffs and companies going out of business, this film provides a pleasant escape from the real world.

All in all, I thought it was a funny and entertaining flick and I'm glad we saw it!

I ran across an interesting interview that nj.com did with Renee while promoting the film...and the following is an excerpt:

"New in Town" is a restart for Renee Zellweger in the romantic comedy genre, bringing her back to Bridget Jones turf.

She stars as Lucy, a Miami careerist who finds herself stuck in sub-zero Minnesota, dispatched by her corporate bosses to oversee the downsizing of a manufacturing plant. While attempting to get organized and acclimated, she falls for Ted, a union leader portrayed by Harry Connick Jr. Icy pratfalls and tapioca pudding food fights ensue.

The 39-year-old Oscar winner says the role appealed to her as something light to offset her run of serious films like "Appaloosa," "Cinderella Man" and "Cold Mountain."

But with the deepening economic crisis, "New in Town" is topical. It depicts the toll of factory closures on middle America. While the narrative focuses on Lucy's romantic foibles with Ted, the backdrop is a community facing ruin as industrial jobs disappear.

The picture was shot in Winnipeg months before Wall Street faltered, and it has a fairy-tale ending that may not seem plausible in the midst of such a downturn.

During a phone interview, we asked Zellweger if she thinks audiences are ready for a recession comedy. She offered her thoughts on the cultural climate, along with tips on dealing with winter and paparazzi.

Q: After shooting this film in Winnipeg, do you have advice as far as staying warm in extreme temperatures?

A: You need sense of humor and a prayer. Three pairs of pantyhose simultaneously works nicely, too.

Q: Did you have any reservations about shooting this film in a place that's so cold?

A: I had no idea what was in front of us. I had no frame of reference. I'd been in 12-below temperatures. I didn't know what 55-below felt like. They give me a little "Prepare for Winnipeg" packet and I thought, "Okay, I'll wear long johns." I had no idea what that kind of cold meant.

Q: You need layers.

A: It's a whole other kind of thing. Things start to die after about one minute of exposure. It's unbelievable.

Q: Your character makes this real transformation from being a cosmopolitan person to being someone who's more at home in a rural area. Was that transformation part of the appeal of the script for you?

A: Really, I just wanted to laugh. I wanted to go to work and play. I wanted to play on set and I laughed out loud when I read this script. I laughed at the physical comedy. I loved the ridiculousness of the situation Lucy would find herself in and her failed attempts to be perfect in every respect. I found that so entertaining. I couldn't wait to put on those heels and skirts.

Q: The shoes are great.

A: Aren't they?

Q: I would love to wear shoes like that, but I am way too clumsy. It just comes naturally to some people, I guess. They're able to walk in these severe shoes.

A: I did plenty of teetering and they weren't particularly practical in Winnipeg.

Q: This film is suddenly very relevant because of what's going on with the economy.

A: Who could have known how timely it would be. Maybe there was something happening that was a precursor to what's happening now but the idea of this story, I really craved it for some reason.

Q: The fact that it pays tribute to the American workforce?

A: I like the idea of this community of eccentric, eclectic, deceptively not-so-simple people. I wanted to be immersed in that world for awhile.

Q: How was the tapioca pudding?

A: That tapioca pudding was not particularly appetizing after two days in a vat.

Q: Had you been a fan of Harry Connick Jr. as a musician before you were cast with him in this film?

A: Of course. There's no denying his talent. He's a natural entertainer.

Q: And he sings in the film, the Christmas song, when the whole town was singing around the tree.

A: Yeah.

Q: I was wondering why Lucy didn't sing along with everyone. That was something that I noticed.

A: I think it was the kind of thing where she was more taking it in. She was feeling a part of it and noticing that she was a part of it instead of feeling entitled to be a part of it.

Q: Do you think people are ready for a film about downsizing that's comedic in its approach?

A: I'm not sure. I can't see how something that's entertaining, that makes you laugh could be a bad thing right now, especially for anyone who can relate to those circumstances that are represented in the film.

Revolutionary Road....The Review!

Revolutionary Road is a beautifully directed film by Sam Mendes (Kate Winslet's husband). This movie will strike you right in the heart. It made me sad just thinking about what life must have been like for Frank and April Wheeler.

This movie is a heartfelt and emotional drama combining the careers of two of today's most talented people...Kate Winslet and Leo Dicaprio are so powerful together. The movie could not have been cast better. Kate gives a career defining performance. She is won of only a few actresses that can convey so much emotion and expression with just a look on her face.

The character that Kate Winslet plays ... April Wheeler is an extremely complicated character to understand. She is a very complex and emotional wife and mother. Kate deserves an Oscar for this performance....it is powerful! And Leonardo Dicaprio....this was his best performance ever in my opinion!! Leo's performance in this film is fantastic. Frank Wheeler is an extremely confused man, who loves his wife and hates her at the same time. So much turmoil in his life often leads to emotional breakdowns and poor moral judgement. Dicaprio nails this role. No one could have played it better.

Michael Shannon plays the mentally ill son of the realtor and his performance was just raw. Honest. Emotional. Flawless. Kathy Bates' character also deserves a mention here as she adds a bit of humor. Perfectly cast!

In my opinion, Revolutionary Road is a flawless piece of work and is absolutely one of the best films I've seen in years. It saddens me that so many of these extraordinary performances were not nominated for an Academy Award. This should have Best Picture!

Let me also add here though...that I think you have to be of a certain age to appreciate this movie. My daughter and her boyfriend...both in their twenties...hated the movie. Having gone through a divorce, I believe I could relate to many of the emotions shown in the film. Yes, it is dark. It WILL make you think. It IS sad. But it is REAL.

Nothing Like The Holidays!

Tuesday was movie night for my sister and I. This week....
"Nothing Like The Holidays"
with Debra Messing. I LOVED it! I'm swamped and will be back later with more of a thorough review.....sorry......just don't have the time or energy to write a review right now!

Bees and Their Secrets

Tuesday was movie night for my sister and I and we decided to see the movie, "The Secret Life of Bees". We had seen a few reviews of it and were hoping it would come to our little town's movie theatre and it did! So off we went...and it was WELL worth it. A very touching storyline. Not without a few alarming scenes to children though.

But...here's the general idea...Learning the proper etiquette for dealing with bees while attempting to harvest their honey becomes a metaphor for life in this movie that deals with civil rights issues, domestic abuse and forgiveness. The movie takes place in the sixties.

Fourteen-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) struggles with guilt over the loss of her mother, as well as an emotionally and physically abusive relationship with her father (Paul Bettany). The closest thing to love she has experienced in her young life is the kindness of Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), a colored woman hired to do domestic tasks. So when the housekeeper is beaten while attempting to register to vote, Lily is determined to rescue them both. Setting off toward freedom, they head for a small town in the south where Lily believes her Mom once lived.

With only a picture of a black Madonna and child as a clue, the pair are led to the home of three sisters living on a honey farm. August Boatwright (Queen Latifah) fulfills the role of matriarch for her sisters June (Alicia Keys) and psychologically challenged May (Sophie Okonedo). Her heart is as big as her smile, and she welcomes the strangers, even though she obviously thinks something is up. To earn their keep while they are staying there, Rosaleen is assigned to help in the kitchen while Lily begins learning the secrets of beekeeping to help with the family business.

Between the chores, the women come together to offer each other emotional, social and spiritual support -- things that will be needed in great supply!!

The characters try and distill every drop of hope and love they can from the difficult challenges that come their way.....just like the honey that they extract from the bees' hives! While the issues of civil rights and discrimination rage, the script turns its focus inward and offers interpersonal insights between the characters and examples of acceptance and forgiveness.

In my opinion, the performances of all of the actresses were solid...even award winning! Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keyes were amazing...as was Dakota Fanning! That girl is amazing beyond her years!! The film doesn't end all nicely wrapped up, but it definitely promotes positive examples of taking control of your life.

We both left the theatre with a satisfied feeling...it really was a feel-good kind of movie...although, like I said, there are some rough patches.

Meish Visit

Hi all! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!! Here's a couple of shots from last week when Meish was visiting....we took the dogs out for ice cream...which they LOVE!! Then we have Lady enjoying corn on the cob....who knew? She eats it just like a person!! And I was so excited to see my first dahlia coming up...it's the little things, right?? We also went to the movie, Mamma Mia. It was absolutely terrific!! I highly recommend it. Of course, I worship the ground Meryl Streep walks on...she really is one great actress.

Sometimes Arguments Are Not SOOOO Bad!!

Last night my daughter and her boyfriend had an "argument". She called and said she wanted to come home. It's always good that she has a place to come home to! So, she came over with Beemer. On her way over, she stopped at Starbucks for our favorite Raspberry Mocha Frappucinos AND at Blockbuster for two movies, The Flock with Richard Gere, and
Mad Money with Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes. WOOHOO!!! An UNEXPECTED Movie Night!!! As you all know, I love movies!!!

B and I had decided to have dinner in the RV....so we ordered Chinese Food and had dinner in our driveway! Nothing like doing something just a little bit unconventional. I like variety!! We had stayed home from the cottage this weekend so that we could get some work done here at the house. And work we did. Hard. All day. So, we took a break with some Chinese in the RV! Then, I got the call from Meish.

We decided to stay "camped out" in the RV...popped in the movies, put on some ambience lights, and had a real nice girls night! OK, the reviews aren't great on either one of those two movies. But. I loved them. Both of them. I mean....Diane Keaton / Queen Latifah in a comedy...what's NOT to like? Katie Holmes ROCKED that role! She played THE most adorable airhead!!! Very, very good!! The Flock was actually pretty scary. Got up a couple of times to check the deadbolt...LOL!! We even survived a WICKED thunder and lightning storm...it was raining SO hard that we couldn't even hear the TV!! I had the freakin' volume up to 50!!

So much for my unconventional Saturday night campout in my driveway!! We loved it!!! The dogs think I live in there now and keep wanting to go back in the RV instead of the house!!

I can't believe we didn't even take pictures. ~~~sigh~~~

SATC The Movie!!!

Yes!!! It IS all it was cracked up to be!!! I loved, loved, loved the SATC Movie...Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristen Davis, and Kim Cattrall....they feel like friends! After watching six years of them....I feel like I know them personally. I was so excited that my husband got free tickets! Called up my sister and off we went to Opening Night of this fabulous movie! I really loved it...can't say enough about it. The clothes, the fashion, the shoes, the city...it's all there!!! Good things happen, Bad things happen, but in the end....it's just plain right!! Go see it. It doesn't disappoint!! I am STILL doin' my Happy Dance!!

Movie Night: Made of Honor and What Happens in Vegas...

Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan

I must begin by stating that I am a huge fan of "chick flicks". Even the ones that everybody else hates. I liked this movie...and it was funny! Not hilarious, but funny.

I enjoyed the movie, but it was not an original idea. The movie was shown from the guy's perspective instead of the girl's...which makes it a bit different.

Patrick Dempsy's character is very popular with the women and his best friend (played by Michelle Monaghan) is a successful businesswoman. She goes to Scotland on business and Patrick's character realizes he has actually fallen in love with her now that she is gone.

If you are looking for an original movie that hasn't been done before then this is not for you. But if you enjoy romantic comedies and want a good laugh this one is definitely worth seeing.

What Happens In Vegas...

Joy (Cameron Diaz) works on Wall Street and is quite successful. She is engaged to a very succesful man . But, he is an overbearing jerk on a power trip and she has struggled for years to please him. On the day that she throws him a surprise birthday party, he breaks off the engagement right where all of the hidden guests can hear! Joy is absolutely crushed and takes the advice given from her best friend, Tipper (Lake Bell) that they should head for Vegas, where troubles go away like rain. Jack (Ashton Kutcher), a talented cabinet-maker, works for his father (Treat Williams) but repeatedly goofs off on the job, causing his dad to finally fire him. He, too, heads to Vegas with his best friend, who also happens to be his lawyer, Hater (Rob Cordry). Of course, Joy and Jack, meet, get drunk together, and end up partying late into the night. And apparently somewhere along the way...they got married. When morning comes, both are appalled at the situation but, playing the slots for diversion, Jack hits a 3 million dollar jackpot, with Joy's quarter. Since they are married, things get complicated, especially when the tough as nails judge (Dennis Miller) will not grant them a quick divorce but insists that they embark on a trial marriage for six months. Joy moves into Jack's place, which is a complete dump and where each one of them is out to sabotage the other. Will they kill each other in the process? This is a movie built on star power, rather than a great script. Diaz and Kutcher are, well, superstar actors, with good reason. Each of them is gorgeous and very deft at comedy. Queen Latifah shows up as the court appointed marriage counselor to the young couple and she is also very good. The scenery is great, both in Vegas and NY. Diaz and Kutcher ROCK this film and the ending is very uplifting!!

I recommend both of these films!

Catch Up

Well, let's see. It's been so busy around here, I'm not quite sure whether I am coming or going. The last couple of weeks has seemed like constant packing and unpacking. Actually it WAS. Had a great weekend at the cottage as the weather was nothing short of perfect. Saturday night, we joined friends of ours for dinner at our favorite restaurant, Tin Pan Galley. Dinner was absolutely fabulous....Sea scallops pan seared, finished with a roasted red pepper sauce, served over lobster sweet potato cakes and my husband had the Bouillabaisse lobster, shrimp, clams & mussels in a traditional bouillabaisse served with grilled bread. Our appetizer was so good...our favorite Five spice calamari served with a Thai sweet chili sauce. It wasn't a particularly long dinner as we had to get back to the dogs. Our friends had a new puppy with them who had never been left alone, and we of course, had LadyBug...her first night at the cottage without us. So we went home and watched the most hilarious movie!! It was called Death at a Funeral. OMG, it was hysterical in a twisted British humor sort of way. What a terrific night!!

Movie night with my sister is tomorrow...we're going to see the new Tina Fey movie...let you know how it is!!

Movie Night

Tonight was a double movie night. The first one we saw was "Definitely, Maybe". It was a good romantic chick flick type movie. Right up my alley. In my mind...very entertaining...a feel good kind of film!

The second one we saw was "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins". I laughed and laughed til I almost fell out of my seat!! It was in a word. Hilarious!! Highly recommend it. Or maybe I just loved it because there was a small white dog in it that played a really cute part???

Oh...also watched "No Reservations" the other night on Movies on Demand. This is with Catherine Zeta Jones. I loved it!!

Catching Up

Let's backtrack for a minute....Last Friday was the Spa Day I was really looking forward to. It wasn't worth it. Not. At. All. I was not pleased with the service I received. The place is called Waterlily. Years ago, I used to be a regular customer. Well, probably about eight years ago now. I don't know if they have changed ownership, but the place is NOT the same. When I used to go, it was all about SERVICE, and the Customer. Now...it's all about SELLING, selling cosmetics. High priced cosmetics. The moisturizer I bought was $42. The lip smoother was $20. Now, I have nothing against high priced cosmetics. But they told me they were hypoallergenic when I made the appointment. They were NOT. My eyes were not the same for a couple of days! Itchy and red. NOT good. I felt rushed. I will not be going back.

Sunday night was the Oscars. Which I love. They were good. But not as good as usual. I missed some of my old favorites...Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon...there were many people I had never heard of. One of them being the one who won Best Actress. She was a French actress. I was surprised the movie, "Away From Her" didn't do better. From the site, Rotten Tomatoes...here's the Synopsis:
Canadian actress Sarah Polley makes an impressive directorial debut with AWAY FROM HER, a film adapted from the Alice Munro story "The Bear Came Over The Mountain." The plot concerns the way in which the 50-year marriage of Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Julie Christie) deteriorates with... [More]
Canadian actress Sarah Polley makes an impressive directorial debut with AWAY FROM HER, a film adapted from the Alice Munro story "The Bear Came Over The Mountain." The plot concerns the way in which the 50-year marriage of Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Julie Christie) deteriorates with the progression of Fiona’s Alzheimer’s disease. Rich scenery, intimate cinematography, and familiar songs like Neil Young’s "Helpless" create a private world of two people enviably in love. Fiona and Grant have carved out a piece of the world for themselves, and have lived together happily in their later years until Fiona’s memory started to wane. The harmony in their lives is lost when Fiona decides she’s reached the point of no return and enters a retirement home in order to take the burden off Grant, though he can think of nothing worse than being away from her. After dropping Fiona off, Grant is forced to not visit for 30 days, which, as he fears, ends up feeling much longer in the mind of a person who is losing her memory. AWAY FROM HER features stunning performances from its leads as well as from Michael Murphy as Aubrey (a patient Fiona forms a close bond with), Olympia Dukakis as Aubrey’s wife, and Kristen Thomson as a nurse at the facility. Instead of treating old age as the winding down of life, this film portrays it as a potentially rich, enjoyable period. Grant and Fiona never yearn for the days of their youth, but rather for the later years when their intimacy had reached a higher peak. While so many films portray older characters in a one-dimensional way, Polley’s film portrays its characters as multifaceted people filled with wisdom and true beauty, thanks to their age and not in spite of it. In my opinion, the disease was portrayed very well and Julie Christie deserves an award for that performance. I couldn't believe "Juno" didn't win! It was such a great movie and to be honest, I think the lead character of that movie should have won! So glad that Diablo Cody won for her writing skills!! She is a terrific writer and deserved that Oscar.

I enjoyed watching the show, and I love watching the Red Carpet Arrivals. My daughter and I spent time yesterday checking out all the Best and Worst Dressed, the fashion faux pas. Fun!!

I Forgot...

I think my age is catching up to me. Seeing as I'll be hitting the big 5-0 this year, I guess that is my excuse for not retaining all the information my brain should be able to hold. I have so many appointments this week that I actually forgot about Fun Monday....the assignment to go out and take pics of the signs around town. Ah well. Happy Monday anyway!! I'm happy because my daughter and I are going to the mall for some good old retail therapy! Sure cures the blues for us!! And I'm going by Michaels as they had an extra 50% off coupon in yesterday's paper. Woo Hoo....I love that store!!! As if I haven't had enough retail therapy lately...was at the mall yesterday for the Clinique Bonus and went by BJ's for a bunch of things. Came home last night and watched "The Heartbreak Kid" with Ben Stiller. Funny Movie! I am NOT, NOT, NOT looking forward to Tuesday. Tuesday is my dreaded Dentist appointment. I HATE dentist appointments as I'm sure you've heard me mention before. I need to get this first two hour appointment over with so I can get the next appt overwith...that's in two weeks. Then I have an appointment for Chloe's grooming and my Spa Day...which is Friday. Cannot wait for that!! Do not know yet if we are doing Movie Night on Tuesday or not...depends on the dentist appointment and how numb I am!! Because I suffer from CFS - Can't Remember Shit - I don't know if I mentioned that Fool's Gold was not quite as funny as I thought it was going to be. Funny....yes...slow at times...but the scenery was to DIE for!!! Filmed mostly around Key West (one of my favorite places on earth) and the Bahamas - another favorite!! Hope y'all have a great Monday and I'll try to catch up on my reading of blogs as I haven't done a very good job at it today!!