Thursday, February 12, 2009

Lars and the Real Girl...



If you want to see this movie... Don't read my review as I give away many plot points and spoilers. Most people didn't see this film based completely on the title and the marketing. I saw it based on a recommendation and I finally did. Here is my review.

I had heard about this movie a lot. That being said, I wasn't expecting, what I got. A side note to start. This is an adult film that should be watched with other adults. This is not a film for kids or immature adults. This is an adult film with adult themes, like Marley and Me. I don't know what the category is for that kind of film, but this falls directly in that wheelhouse.

It is a film in which all the actors did an amazing job. There should be no doubt that Gosling did an excellent job acting in this movie. Second side note, it really goes to show that the academy really does cater to the studio and not the independent film or independent studio. Third side note, you can also see that the studio's marketing had no idea how to market this film. They should have been consulted before it was made.

In the utopia where this film takes place, it was interesting to watch how the writer took you on the journey of mental illness. I say utopia because we all know that there were many scenes and situations that in the real world would not have rung true. (i.e., the mall, the funeral, election to the school board, the hospital) There was too little resistance from his fellow workers, and church goers, to be realistic.

That being said, I did enjoy the film, although I don't think that most people gave this movie a chance. I would call this film a character study. The story is just there to move the characters along.

I did enjoy how they were able to use the pregnancy and the weather to show time. We know by these small details how this film is progressing and a tribute to the writer.

We really got to see Lars at the beginning of the film, where he is terrified of personal contact. When he is given the "real" flower and told to give it to someone special, he panics and throws away the "real" flower. We start to see his world spin apart. The viewer of this tragedy doesn't understand the context of him flinging the flower, but the clues are all there. In the middle of the film at the church, a friend gives Bianca "fake" flowers and he says that they can't die. At this point his mind is accepting of his plastic girlfriend, but his mind is on a journey. The pregnancy is moving towards a conclusion and so hopefully is his delusions. At the funeral we see Lars again with a "real" flower, and we get to see he has come into the home stretch of accepting life. I would have liked to see the third act of post pregnancy. How does Lars accept this new life? Does this pull him around to complete his circle or does this drive him back into delusions?

As for his budding relationship, this is a film and not reality. Margo and Lars might marry, but would never have children, and there relationship would always be superficial because of his mental illness.

A powerful film but watching mental illness is really hard. Once again all the actors did a great job. I t is a good film, but not for kids or most adults to watch. I can see why different people liked it and recommended it.

Waiting Room - A short film

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Short Film...

A THOUSAND WORDS

Really

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Chipotle Challenge

November 24th, 2006
Luke accepts the challenge.
The rules were as follows: 25 minutes to eat 4 Chipotle Burritos, 2 chicken and 2 steak.
Run a mile on the track in under 7 minutes and 30 seconds at the end of the 25 minute eating period.



‘There is in this world no such force as the force of a man determined to rise to a food challange.’

Quotes of the Week:

The shortest distance between two points is ... under construction. - Noelie Altito

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. - Walter Bagehot

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. - Elbert Hubbard

What some people mistake for the high cost of living is really the cost of high living. - Doug Larson

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run. - Henry David Thoreau

If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us, we'd all be millionaires. - Abigail Van Buren

Monday, February 9, 2009

What News Anchors Do During Commercial Breaks w/sound

Tootie's on Lowry


It is Tuesday Evening and I am content. I have eaten a wonderful meal at Tootie’s on Lowry and NCIS is on TV tonight.

Tonight I ate a wonderful meal of Meatloaf. Now, I know what you are saying, “how could meatloaf be a wonderful meal”? Let’s start with the “Where”. Tootie’s is a North Minneapolis institution. It has been there for years and years. It was one of the reasons that I bought my house where I did. It is family run and they are all their pitching in. The Bar has character. Not quite the same as Nye’s but it has its own distinct character.

Tootie’s is well known for their burgers. They have wonderful tasty burgers that I would be remiss if I didn’t mention. Tootie’s has one of the top ten burgers in the Twin Cities. (I will write about Twin Cities burger’s some day.) Meanwhile, back at the ranch, let’s get back to the story… On Tuesday, Tootie’s has a Meatloaf dinner special, Thursday is a wonderful Turkey dinner and Friday is a tasty Fish dinner. The meatloaf is what I am going to write about.

When you first enter Tootie’s you will do so through the bar. Keep going and you will enter the seating area of the restaurant. I have always been served promptly. I avoid the water as it has a unique “Minneapolis” taste that I do not enjoy. There is the perfect amount of seating. You are far enough away from the next table so you don’t have to listen to them, but close enough to ask for more salt if you need it. There are tables for two and there are tables for ten. There is a game room, but I have never seen anyone playing any of the games. As for the restrooms, I live close enough so I try to avoid them.

The main reason I am writing this is to write about the food. I like comfort food. The food that you know and trust and brings you back to that place in life that you love and trust. One of my favorite comfort foods is Meatloaf. My dad makes a very good meatloaf that he has no recipe for. He makes it from memory and he never makes it the same way twice. It is wonderful. I like meatloaf. It reminds me of home and that comfort that only my parents can bring.

The meatloaf meal at Tootie’s starts with coleslaw. My grandma made coleslaw from scratch. It is what I judge all coleslaw against. She used food fresh from the garden that she grew. Tootie’s has fine coleslaw. It is a good start to the meal. When the meal comes it will come in one of two ways, one big piece or two pieces. It just depends on who is in the kitchen that day. You also get a great big dollop of mashed potatoes and gravy. Now I haven’t figured this next part out yet, you get toast with this meal. Sometimes I get two pieces, sometimes three or four. There is just never any consistence with the toast. OK, the meatloaf, it is always moist and tasty. I have never had a dry piece here. The meat is juicy but never greasy. The gravy is yummy and never lumpy. The mashed potatoes are smooth but sometimes a little lumpy, which I like. I think there is a time and place for instant potatoes. This isn’t one of them. They serve real potatoes here.

You will get your beverage refilled constantly throughout the meal. Tootie’s has a wide selection of beer and other beverages, but I usually only have a Coke.

Tootie’s also has a well lit parking lot. They also have a camera pointed out there so I always park where the camera is pointed. Tootie’s is located at 2706 Lowry Avenue North, which is just a few blocks from North Memorial in Robinsdale.