The Entertainer, Volume 16

Title: Love and Other Drugs

Notable Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Hank Azaria

Why?: I like Anne Hathaway. And I like drugs. (Not like that.)

Thoughts: I...really enjoyed this. I have very little patience for insipid romantic comedies, and less patience for movies where the womanizing man-whore is won over by some pretty girl who must have some magical powers or whatever. That being said, this one was still pretty endearing. Part of that is my great love for Anne Hathaway, and the fact that the plot was related to the pharmaceutical industry helped. I'd be interested to read the book upon which this one was based, too, because apparently it's more about the drugs and less about the romance.

Title: Fair Game

Notable Actors: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts

Why?: Because I saw a commercial for it and remembered that it existed, and it was at the top of my Netflix queue because it had just come out.

Thoughts: This one is an interesting spy story, based on what happened to Valerie Plame Wilson. Both actors do a good job, although I kind of thought Naomi Watts was a bit too delicate to believe as a CIA agent. The plot is easy enough to follow, and the film's not too long, which means it doesn't have the problems I've encoutered in similar films. Interesting, and the fact that it's true makes it that much more so. I'm going to try to hunt down her book, so stay tuned for a report on that (although if you've seen the size of The Stack in my living room, it may be awhile before I get to it).

Title: Hot Fuzz

Notable Actors: Half of England

Why?: It'd been on my Netflix queue for awhile, but a gentleman friend is a fan of the film and was appalled that I hadn't seen it, so that helped get it seen sooner.

Thoughts: Rather enjoyable, as long as you're a fan of British comedy. The characters were amusing, as was the plot, and while the ending dragged a bit, it was still pretty awesome. Definitely worth watching. (And it's fun to play place-the-British-actor-in-the-British-movie while you watch!)

Title: Due Date

Notable Actors: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis

Why?: Because Downey and Galifianakis are awesome.

Thoughts: Pretty awesome...not the best I've seen from either, but definitely a good representation of the genre. I wouldn't recommend it if you're not a fan of the R-rated male-focused comedy, but if you are, this one's worth it. Definitely funny, and while ridiculous at times, it doesn't stray too far from the plot or become too stupid. At least, in my opinion...like I said, if you're not into the genre, you may disagree. (That being said, every time I watch Downey in a comedy, it just makes me want to watch Tropic Thunder again. I maintain that if Heath Ledger hadn't died, that Oscar race that year would've been a lot closer.)

Title: To Be Or Not To Be

Notable Actors: Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft

Why?: Because Mel Brooks = awesome. We were discussing our favorite Mel Brooks films the other day at work, and a coworker mentioned this one and I'd never seen it and felt like a failure.

Thoughts: A good representation of his work, set against the backdrop of World War Two. Which was even more fun given that one of my favorite Brooks films is The Producers, and there were numerous references and repeated/similar lines throughout this one. Don't be stupid, be a smarty, and add this to your Netflix queue.

Title: Vanity Fair's Tales of Hollywood

Author: Lots of people

Why?: I saw it advertised in Vanity Fair a year or two ago, and it finally made its way to the top of my Paperback Swap wishlist.

Thoughts: This is a collection of Vanity Fair articles discussing specific films between the early 1940s and mid 1980s. They hit some of my favorites (The Graduate, specifically), as well as a few that I'd not seen but will be adding to my Netflix queue (The Magnificent Ambersons and The Sweet Smell of Success). Definitely an interesting book if you're a movie nerd like me, although I have a sneaking suspicion that you could find most of the articles archived online somewhere.

The Entertainer, Volume 15

Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Why?: Because I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie and wanted to read the book first. The fact that the movie comes out soon, and that numerous friends have read and enjoyed it, moved this book to the top of The Stack.

Thoughts: I blew through this thing in under three hours. To be fair, I was on an airplane for the vast majority of it, so it had my undivided attention. But I didn't even drink, and for a book to distract me from airplane drinking, it must be good! Then, of course, I finished it before my flight was over, and all of my other books were in my checked luggage, so I turned into that chick who's watching stupid movies on her laptop and drinking airplane wine.

But I digress. This book was delightful - just indepth enough, and a story just engaging enough, to drive you through it quickly but not so much that it's forgettable. Don't worry if you think circuses are creepy - I do, and yet, I loved this book. I'd recommend it. And stay tuned for my movie review at the end of April.

Title: Winter's Bone

Notable Actors: No one, really, except maybe Jennifer Lawrence, who got an Oscar nomination

Why?: A coworker had told me it was good, so it was already on my Netflix queue when it got its Best Picture nomination. The nomination is what moved it to the top (although I did fall short on my goal of seeing all ten before the awards. But I knew neither True Grit nor James Franco Cuts Off His Arm had a prayer of winning, so I wasn't really stressing about it either).

Thoughts: Coworker was correct - it was definitely good, and Lawrence's performance is laudable. I found the characterization and cinematography to be very accurate and effective, at least from the perspective of this girl who's never set foot in the Ozarks. That being said, it was extremely depressing, although I do suppose it has a happy ending. I'd highly recommend it, but be prepared.

Title: Cedar Rapids

Notable Actors: Ed Helms, my beloved John C. Reilly

Why?: John C. Reilly. Whyever not?

Thoughts: This one? Pretty good. I'll have to rewatch to determine just how quotable it is, but after one viewing, I approve. It didn't have as much of the zaniness that, say, The Hangover had, but the characters were decently developed and the plot fairly self-contained. I'd recommend it.

Title: Big Love: Season Five

Notable Actors: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin

Why?: Because it takes a lot for me to break up with a show once I'm this far in, even if it did annoy me as much as the fourth season of this one did.

Thoughts: It just kept right on going with the annoying...going into the series finale, I could count on one hand how many characters were left who I didn't want to punch in the face. That being said, I really enjoyed that final episode. There were a number of nostalgic and/or poingnant moments, and while it didn't redeem most of the characters, it did remind me why I didn't always want to punch them. And then the last two scenes wrapped everything up really nicely. And that is all I will say about that because I don't want to ruin it for everyone. Just don't break up with it when it gets bad unless you, at the very least, skip ahead to the finale.

Title: Dinner for Schmucks

Notable Actors: Paul Rudd and Steve Carell, both of whom are so, so much better than this swill and who I hope got paid very handsomely.

Why?: Honestly, I don't even know. I might've been blinded by my love of Paul Rudd.

Thoughts: I watched half of this on a Wednesday, and it sat in my DVD player unfinished until I got home from Happy Hour on Friday. You would think the residual alcohol would help me enjoy the last half. You would be wrong. This was just...stupid. And not in a good way. Just look at Carell's expression on that poster and you'll see what I mean. Oh, and Paul Rudd's expression is pretty much how I feel. That being said, I've heard the French film upon which this was based is excellent. Stay tuned to see if I ever wind up watching it.

That's What She Said, Installment 6

This isn't a That's What She Said so much as it is just an unfortunate arrangement, but either way, this is not suitable for the children's decor aisle at Target. They might just have some baby stuffed turtles running around soon...

Would You Like To Take A Survey?

As you all probably know, I like to read other people's blogs. A lot of these are written by strangers, so I don't comment and don't follow them publicly or list them in that pretty sidebar over there called "My Friends' Blogs". Everyone listed there is someone I know personally, ranging from my brother who never updates, to one of my oldest family friends whose blog about living in Italy makes me jealous every time I read it, to about a million different friends from college. (And if you have a blog and don't see it listed, tell me and I'll add it!)

Anyway, one of those blogs belongs to Ali, a classmate of mine from Hood. Her roommate was Tricia's little sis, and they both lived in the same dorm I did. Ali writes a spectacular blog about healthy eating. As you all know, I am a big giant carnivore, but if ever there was something to make me want to eat vegetables, it would be Ali's blog. Today, she had a fun survey posted in addition to talking about food. And now, I am stealing said survey, because surveys are fun and I have decided that I need to post more than just a million installments of The Entertainer. That, and this allows me to quote a movie and talk about zoo animals. So, here we go.

A. Age: 29

B. Bed size: Queen, although the full-sized one in the guest room is more comfortable

C. Chore you dislike: Most of them. I really hate dusting, as evidenced by the condition of the bookshelves in my living room. And, strangely, I really like doing dishes as long as no one tries to help me.

D. Dogs: Holly Bug. Who is mine even if she does live with my parents. And I want one to live with me.

E. Essential start to your day: Diet Coke. Breakfast of champions. I can also make a case for hot tea, because that's what I am - a hotty.

F. Favorite color: Green. Preferably hunter or kelly.

G. Gold or silver: Yellow gold. But silver jewelry's cheaper, so I wear a fair amount of that too. But my Hood ring is yellow gold, and it wins.

H. Height: 5'8". Which can go up to 6 feet depending upon which shoes I choose.

I. Instruments you play(ed): Cello, for five years voluntarily and two more involuntarily.

J. Job title: Regulatory Associate III. And according to my resume, also Aquatics Specialist, which is what Don let me call myself back when it was just him and me running the pool. I never updated it after I stopped doing everything except teaching.

K. Kids: Nope. I have a million of 'em at the pool, though.

L. Live: Frederick.

M. Mom’s name: Terri. Or Therese if you want to be fancy. But not Theresa. Unless you want to make her mad and get a lecture about St. Therese.

N. Nicknames: Le. Pronounced with a long E. Also LeahGia. And the wretched little beasts at the pool where I guarded in high school called me LeahTard, which was actually pretty clever, although I never would've told them that.

O. Overnight hospital stays: None.

P. Pet peeves: People who get in my way - especially at airports, on the highway, or in the aisles at Target - and then aren't considerate enough to realize and get out of my way. People who use improper grammar and/or spelling.

Q. Quote from a movie: “If you can’t laugh at yourself, life is going to seem a lot longer than you’d like,” from Natalie Portman’s character in Garden State. And I'm cheating and including my absolute favorite quote of all time, from my beloved Elaine Benes in Seinfeld: "Here's to those who wish us well, and those who don't can go to Hell." A good motto for all.

R. Righty or lefty: Left-handed people are the best handed people. Although I hate the words "righty" and "lefty."

S. Siblings: David, the aforementioned brother who never updates his blog. (Apologies for the sideways video.)

T. Time you wake up: 6:30.

U. Underwear: Victoria's Secret. And that's all I'm telling you.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Bell peppers. I loathe bell peppers. And also celery, which is the stalk of the devil. Other than that, I'm not picky about them. Roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite things in the world.

W. What makes you run late: When Charlie Sheen's spewing crazy all over the Today Show and I want to watch but I have to go to work.

X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth. And I think I've had a chest x-ray before.

Y. Yummy food you make: See above about the roasted cauliflower. Also, cupcakes. Many, many cupcakes. (I also hate the word "yummy," for what it's worth, but it fits with this letter, so it shall stay.)

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Prairie dogs. And otters, if they're swimming around and not just laying there tanning like The Situation.

So, there you go. And, fun for you! Steal the list and play with yourself! (That's what she said.) And, stealing from Ali's idea again - if you're bored but not so bored to do the whole survey, just post here with your favorite movie quote, because that will make me happy :-).

The Entertainer, Volume 14

Title: Never Let Me Go

Notable Actors: Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightly, Andrew Garfield, a Weasley (which I correctly predicted as such based upon the fact that he is British and has red hair)

Why?: Because I read the book and loved it.

Thoughts: Creepy little story. But ultimately so sad. An excellent representation of the book, if you've read it and are worried about that. Actually, seeing the movie made me kind of like the book more - it was easier to picture everyone, and the plot was closely matched enough that it wasn't troublesome. And also, you guys, I'm kind of in love with Andrew Garfield now. Lots of people were surprised that he didn't get an Oscar nomination for his performance in The Social Network, but now, I'm more surprised that he didn't get any recognition for this - he was heartbreaking. And he used his real accent, so that gives him a bonus point in my book ;-).

Title: Big Love: The Complete Fourth Season

Notable Actors: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin

Why?: Because I watched the first three seasons, and I'm not about to break up with it now.

Thoughts: Wow...I was exceedingly annoyed with so, so much about this season. Ana. Margene and Ben (and I usually love Margene). JJ. And that stupid Senate plot. I'll keep watching, because I can't really call things bad until I see where the writers are going, but my expectations for the fifth and final season are not high. Oh, and the new opening sequence sucks. I miss The Beach Boys. (This all being said, the first three seasons are great; I'd highly recommend them.)

Title: The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno, and the Network Battle for Late Night

Author: Bill Carter

Why?: Because TV fascinates me. And because I want to read Carter's book about the Conan/Leno battle, and this one had some valuable background information. And also, because I was twelve years old when this all went down and didn't have the internet to keep me informed.

Thoughts: I love TV gossip. Love. This whole Charlie Sheen thing is like crack to me, and not just the crazy, but also the whole feud and how it's affecting the show. And this is the same thing, minus a good bit of the crazy. The book was well-paced, with a ton of detail without seeming tedious. I can't wait to start the one about Conan. Despite the fact that there's a monstrous stack of books in my living room, waiting to be read, I went out and bought it yesterday and there is a very good chance that it's going to be my airplane book for this weekend :-).


Title: It's Kind Of A Funny Story

Notable Actors: Zach Galifianakis, Keir Gilchrist, Lauren Graham (who doesn't do that much but I love her so she's getting mentioned.)

Why?: Because I saw the trailer last year and wanted to see it, and it came out last week and I timed it correctly in returning a Netflix DVD so I got it right away.

Thoughts: I really liked this one - didn't love it, but liked it. It wasn't as quirky/indie as I thought it would based upon how animated the trailer was, but I'm OK with that. It was a nice story, if predictable, and all of the actors did a good job. I'd recommend it, as long as you're not expecting Galifinakis to act like he did in The Hangover
Title: Youth in Revolt

Notable Actors: Michael Cera, and also briefly Justin Long and Zach Galifianakis. I think my Netflix queue was on a Galifinakis kick.

Why?: Because a coworker recommended it.

Thoughts: This one pretty much comes down to your feelings for Michael Cera. If you like him, you will like this film. If you hate him, you will hate this film. If you're ambivalent, I think there's a decent chance you'll still like this one. It's not my favorite of his films, but I definitely watched the whole thing and enjoyed it. He did a nice job with role.

Let's Make A Deal!

So, you guys remember Let's Make A Deal? Specifically when Monty Hall would go into the audience and ask people for a specific item, and if they could furnish it from the depth of their pockets or purses, they'd win a prize? And it was usually some random item, like a lug wrench, or a stuffed chicken, or a dog leash. Well, I've been carrying the same bag for a couple of weeks now, and you all who know me know that is a long time. When I carry a bag for this long, especially one as big as this one, it tends to get a bit...full. Half of the reason I switch bags so often is to clean them out, and it's getting to be high time to do so with this one.

That being said, I feel like I'm all ready for Monty to approach me in the audience. I've got quite the menagerie going here:

-A half-empty box of Target-brand Sudafed

-A sparkly purple wallet

-Two bills that should've been mailed last Friday but got shoved to the bottom of the bag and forgotten about

-A pair of swim goggles

-Three books of checks

-An entire second purse, which I still haven't unloaded from a ski trip last weekend (and which contains its own collection of crap)

-Five tubes of chapstick/lip gloss, including one that lights up

-A pack of Airborne

-A GPS

-An iPod and two sets of earbuds

-Two gift cards and the cards they came in, as gifted by a couple of swim lesson kids

-Two packs of Kleenex

-About fifteen ponytail holders

-A bottle of hand lotion (which is supposed to smell like Stress Relief, according to Bath and Body Works)

-Three doses of DayQuil (the packages of which have pointy corners which poked me when I was digging through the bag)


-More tampons than I would ever use in one month

-At least three shopping lists, some crumpled and out of date

-Coupons

-A hairclip

-A camera

-Red Velvet Cupcake-scented hand sanitizer (which also has glitter in it. I forgot this fact when I let a coworker borrow it last week. A male coworker. It was a good day ;-)

-A shit ton of frequent flyer punch cards for area restaurants

-An energy drink

-Two packs of gum (one of which is bacon flavored)

-The jewelry I wore yesterday, which I took off when I got to the pool last night

-My car keys



And that's probably not even everything...I just pawed through the top few layers so you could get the idea. I really need to downsize again...I'm getting way too used to having this much room. But how could I choose between all of these things?!