The Entertainer, Volume 12

Title: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

Author: David Sedaris

Why?: Because David Sedaris is awesome.

Thoughts: Not my favorite of his books, but at the same time, it was different from most of them, so I don't know if a comparison is fair. The stories were shorter, and more like fables...fables with a very dark comedic twist. I'd recommend it if you are a fan of his work, but if not, or if this would be your first of his books, try a different one instead.

Title: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Notable Actors: John Candy, my beloved Steve Martin

Why?: Because I love Steve Martin. And this kept showing up in holiday movie lists in November, and I realized I had never seen it.

Thoughts: A classic 80s comedy, a classic holiday comedy, a classic everything. A few of the things are a bit dated - pay phones, not being sure if you have a credit card (or better, carrying a Diner's Club card), etc. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a lot of fun, and that it deserves to be put on all of the "Best Thanksgiving Movie" lists that it's on.

Title: Red

Notable Actors: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker

Why?: Because it got nominated for a Golden Globe. And because it either looked like it would be good, or laughably bad.

Thoughts: Verdict = good. Not nearly as much of a retirement farm movie as I had feared (in which studios trot out old actors and make them do stupid and/or contrived roles in order to make money). Mary-Louise Parker was a very welcome addition...she makes anything she's in better. Funny in parts, and the action moved enough that it didn't drag. I'm glad I didn't pay to see it in the theater, but it's well worth the addition to any Netflix queue.

Title: Animal Kingdom

Notable Actors: A bunch of Australian people who you probably haven't heard of, but should.

Why?: One of the actresses was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. And, it got a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Thoughts: See, you guys? This. This is why I try to watch as many Oscar-nominated movies as I can. Because without that, I never would've found this one, and it was awesome. Jacki Weaver's character actually reminded me a bit of Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate, and if you know me, you know that is high praise. You should definitely add this one to your Netflix queue.

Title: Toddlers and Tiaras, Season One

Notable Actors: A bunch of little kids and nutjob parents

Why?: Because it's like a train wreck...you can't look away.

Thoughts: I am kind of a little bit in love with this show. And it's everywhere, too - I thought it was just crazy southern people, but then they showed a pageant in Pittsburgh and also one in New York. Also, it meshes well with the Real Housewives franchise...if you're a fan of those, you should definitely hunt this one down :-).

Title: You Again

Notable Actors: Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Betty White, Victor Garber, and the chick who is married to the guy who plays Justin in Brothers and Sisters.

Why?: Because I like Veronica Mars. And Kristin Chenoweth. And I liked Betty White before it was trendy.

Thoughts: This was exactly what you'd expect out of a romantic comedy, but on the good side of it. Funny, albeit over the top at times, and with a good cast. These actors save the plot from itself.

The Entertainer, Volume 11

Title: Charlie St. Cloud

Notable Actors: Zac Efron, Jessica AlBiel

Why?: Because I have an age-inappropriate crush on Zac Efron

Thoughts: You guys know the story of how Sarah and I laughed all through The Notebook and the crying ladies around us were glaring at us? That was what it would've been like if I'd seen this one in the theater. Melodramatic, overacted, trying to be romantic and just coming off as creepy and cheesy...that was this one. Actually, that movie poster pretty much sums it up - comically bad. That being said, Zac Efron? Pretty. So pretty. And if that makes me a dirty old lady, then so be it.

Title: The King's Speech

Notable Actors: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Bellatrix LaStrange, Wormtail, Dumbledore the Second, and a bunch of super cute corgis

Why?: See: Colin Firth

Thoughts: I absolutely loved it - the story was just the right depth, balanced by brevity and of course spectacular acting. I will say this, though, at the risk of sounding like an idiot - it is disturbing when big-name British actors who have been in Harry Potter films do other, more serious things. It's freaky enough when it's good guys like Dumbledore, or people who have been in lots of other things to balance the bad guy she plays, like Helena Bonham-Carter. But whoever cast Wormtail as Churchill must've been high. Even if I didn't spend half the movie expecting him to turn into a rat, I still didn't quite think the actor was the right fit for the role. (But do not let this discourage you - this charming film is one of my favorites of the year.)

Title: Howl

Notable Actors: A bunch of cool kids - James Franco, Mary-Louise Parker, Bob Balaban, Treat Williams, David Strathairn, and my boyfriend Jon Hamm, among others

Why?: See the list of actors

Thoughts: I think I liked this one...I definitely liked the courtroom scenes, when they were trying to decide if Ginsberg's work was obscene. And the scenes with Franco as Ginsberg. And I respect what they were trying to do, interspersing the poetry reading and graphics with the more grounded biographical and courtroom storylines. But yeah...I don't like poetry. Try as I might, it bores and annoys me. And every time they diverted from the storylines to the poetry, I lost interest. That being said, I still think I liked it. Except for the poetry.

Title: The Town

Notable Actors: Ben Affleck, that guy from The Hurt Locker, once again my boyfriend Jon Hamm

Why?: A coworker recommended it. And again, Jon Hamm.

Thoughts: I liked this way more than I thought I was going to. I mean, I thought I'd like it, but I really liked it. An interesting twist on your standard action/bank robber-type film. And the Affleck doesn't hurt. Also, I seem to have developed a strange affection for movies set in Boston suburbs.

Title: Cyrus

Notable Actors: John C. Reilly, Catherine Keener, Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill

Why?: Because I like John C. Reilly. A lot.

Thoughts: I thought this one would be funnier. I mean, I knew it wasn't your standard John C. Reilly/Will Ferrell type comedy, but the reviews all called it a black comedy, and it really...wasn't that funny. Interesting, if strange at times, and difficult to figure out some of the characterization. I'm feeling rather mediocre about this one...when Netflix asks how I like it, I'm going to give it three stars out of five.

Title: Dead and Gone

Author: Charlaine Harris

Why?: Because I read all the others, and this one is next.

Thoughts: This one was just like all the other ones. Not that that's a bad thing - it moved the plot forward, and you learn more about the fairies, which was interesting and exciting. And that's all I say, for fear of ruining the plot for future readers. Just know that you should read this series and watch True Blood.

Title: How To Train Your Dragon

Notable Actors: Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, some other famous voices

Why?: I like dragons.

Thoughts: I really shouldn't have watched this film...I want a pet dragon of my very own now. This movie was very cute - I have no complaints. It's no Toy Story 3, but I'd classify this one as one you can take your kids to without wanting to stick things in your eye halfway through. And again, I like dragons. And Jay Baruchel.

Title: Country Strong

Notable Actors: Gwyneth Paltrow, Blair Waldorf (whose hair was as big as she was), Tim McGraw

Why?: Certainly not because I like country music. But I do like movies about music. And big hair.

Thoughts: This was...eh. It wasn't awful, and the actors all did a good job, especially Paltrow. But the plot and character development were lacking in certain ways. Also, it was quite a depressing little film, although that kind of helped save it rather than hurt it. I'd tentatively recommend it, as long as you don't go into it expecting a cinematic masterpiece.

Not Your Cheese

I had a frozen thing for lunch today. I mean, it wasn't frozen after I put it in the microwave, but it was when I bought it at the store. As I usually do when I eat one of these delicacies for lunch, I went to the snack machine in the hallway to get a bag of chips. If you know me, you know I love me some Doritos.

So, I go to the machine with my dollar. Yes, a bag of chips costs a dollar in our new machine. Which is a rip off, but also better than going out in the cold to go buy a bag at the store. And it's not like I could buy a big bag assuming it would last longer. While it is much more cost-effective, I will eat the entire freaking thing in less than an hour because I have the self control of a wombat* and the appetite of a velociraptor.

Anyway, I go to buy my Nacho Cheese Doritos. All is fine and dandy - unlike our old machine, this one rarely tries to keep your chips by getting them stuck on its innards, and for that, we usually get along well. The chips drop to the bottom, I retrieve them happily, and am about to go back to my desk to feast when I see the following:

Cool Ranch Doritos! And it's not that I didn't notice them in a different spot - they were lurking behind the Nacho Cheese ones where I couldn't see them. What the eff, Vending Machine Stocker Guy - who in their right mind puts a DIFFERENT flavor behind the other flavor? What if I wanted those instead? And, I did! If I had known they were there, I would've pestered coworkers until they went and bought the Nacho Cheese Doritos and got them out of my damn way, and I would've had those lovely Cool Ranch ones. Not that Nacho Cheese aren't great - they are one of the world's most perfect foods - but I wanted Cool Ranch. Damn you, Vending Machine Man! (And don't tell me I should've bought both - read above to see what happens when I am around large amounts of Doritos. It's much better for everyone if there is a definitive amount that I have access to.)

Arrgh. I swear, lunch = ruined. All because of the Vending Machine Man's trickery.

*Wombats have very little self control. In case you were wondering.

The Entertainer, Volume 10

Title: Toy Story 3

Notable Actors: Tim Allen, Tom Hanks

Why?: Because I love the first two.

Three Thoughts: OMG, you guys. I watched this like two months ago, and I think it was in the time when I lost track of what I was reading and watching and forgot to blog about half of it. And I don't know how on earth I could've forgotten about this one, because it's seriously the best movie I've seen so far this year. Everything about this film is perfect - suspense, sadness and happiness without being sappy, nostalgia, the plot itself. You guys know how I have no soul and don't cry at movies? If ever there was a movie to break me, it would be this one. I don't care if it's about toys. It's just that fantastic. I can't elaborate without giving away plot points, but yeah. Watch this movie. Put it at the top of your Netflix queue, and do it now. (Here is a good review from a critic I really like and usually agree with, if you want to read more.)

Title: Star Island

Author: Carl Hiassen

Why?: Because my boss handed it to me and told me I'd really like it.

Three Thoughts: Hiassen's so much fun, and this book totally proves it. The crazy, south Florida world he creates fits perfectly with the organized chaos and hilarity of the story. I haven't read too many of his books, but this one is definitely one of my favorites.

Title: Inception

Notable Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy (who looks a heck of a lot like Tom Welling in this), Ellen Page

Why?: Because I'm trying to get a head start on seeing the Oscar Best Picture nominees, and I have a feeling this will be one of them.

Three Thoughts: This was quite the freaky little film...but I liked it better than Black Swan, which was the last freaky, critically praised one I saw. Very intricate, but I don't think overtly or gratuitously so. I'd recommend it, if you're willing to pay attention to it. (That being said, the number one thing I felt after watching it was how much I really wanted to rewatch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Now THERE is a kickass movie about dreams.)

Title: Dexter (Season 5)

Notable Actors: The same lot as the last time I talked about it, with the addition of some hot guys and Julia Stiles.

Why: Because I like it. And it takes a lot for me to break up with a show when we've been through so much together.

Three Thoughts: Much less frustrating than last season, which was nice. Although, can I just talk about how creepy it is when actors I like play serial killers? I mean, Michael C. Hall is bad enough, but at least he's the good guy. You've already made me afraid of John Lithgow, show. Must you make me be scared of Eli Stone, or that guy who went to my high school, or Morris from ER (who I always really liked, despite the fact that he was kind of supposed to be a jerk)?

Title: Daria (The Complete Animated Series)

Notable Actors: A bunch of cartoon characters

Why?: Because I used to watch it back when I hated MTV and this and music videos were the only thing I would watch

Three Thoughts: You know how sometimes, you go back to a show you watched as a kid, and you think "Wow...this is really stupid. I respect its place in my history, but yeah...this DVD is getting sold on eBay or swapadvd.com." Daria is not that show. It's even better from an adult perspective - hilarious, but not in a juvenile sense, and easy to watch but not mind-numbing. Go find it, especially if you used to watch the show back when it was on MTV. Five seconds of the theme song and you'll be right back there again.

Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Notable Actors: George Michael Bluth, Ann Veal, and some other people like Jason Schwartzman and Superman who are nowhere near as cool as they are

Why?: Because I like Michael Cera.

Three Thoughts: You know, I speak Nerd well enough that I can get by, but it's movies like this that show me where my knowledge is lacking. I enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun, but I wish I had more background before I watched it. That being said, I have friends who I think would really really like this one (who I believe read this blog...comment if you think I mean you ;-)

Title: Shrek Forever After

Notable Actors: The same lot of them that are in all of these movies. And, Jon Hamm! That was a nice surprise, even if we don't get to actually see him.

Why?: Because I like Shrek.

Three Thoughts: You know how Toy Story gets better with every sequel? Shrek, not so much. I mean, it didn't suck, but what was clever in the first one is pretty much just a repeat in this one. Apparently it was 3-D in the theaters, which probably would've made it a bit more exciting, but I have to tell you, 3-D doesn't really impress me. And it doesn't help one bit when you're watching it in your living room as procrastination for cleaning after putting away your Christmas decorations.