Taking Woodstock

Dessert: Tie Dye Cheesecake
Timing: We turned in our mail order request for the Grateful Dead shows old school style.
Picture: Mail orders had to be sent in the old school way via snail mail for the shows.  Back in the day prior to the internet when we sent in these mail orders we would put stickers on the envelope with the hopes that it would get noticed & picked over others.  With this in mind the band held a contest for the best decorated envelope & the above was our entry...to be forever lost in the U.S. postal system.

Movie:
I was disappointed with this movie after the first few scenes because I thought it would be documentary instead of a scripted film however I gave it chance.  At the center of the plot is Elliot who is coming to terms with himself while simultaneously trying to save his parents from financial ruin.  It briefly touched on things synonymous with Woodstock such as mud sliding, tripping, music, VW vans, Vietnam & trash but in the most shallow sense.  In the end it just did not come together for me & I'm still confused about Liev Schreiber's character.

Mel's Rating: 50%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Easy Rider

  

Drink: Pimm's Cup
Entrée: Gumbo
Timing: Fourth of July

Movie:
Ok so Peter Fonda does have that sniveling jugdemental I've never worked a day rich kid look on his face but you have to get past that.  For those that don't know too much about his background this will work in your favor.  Regardless this is a culturally significant film that outlines the division within the country at the time that had grown bitter & challenges us to think how free are we really.  Even today how free are you with all of the obligations & bills to just exist?  The ending is abrupt & makes you feel like the dollars ran short but maybe that's all part of the movie's realism feel?  After all sometimes in life there are abrupt endings.

Mel's Rating: 90%
On a scale of 100%.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Drink: Goose Island 312

Entree: Chicago Dawgs

Timing:  Prior to our trip to go see the Grateful Dead Chicago shows.

Movie:

If you think about it Save Ferris was the first campaign to go viral which to say the least is an indication of a good movie.  That aside my personal favorites are any scenes including pre-Dirty Dancing & nose job Jennifer Grey as the Ferris' sibling rival Jeannie.  And of course we have to take note of the most iconic scene which is Cameron versus Georges-Pierre Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.  Enjoy Chicago as a main character in this film as well & next time you are in town schedule some of your stops around Ferris' old haunts.

Mel's Rating: 94%

On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

On a scale of 10.

James Bond: You Only Live Twice

Drink: Sake
Dinner: Japanese Takeout

Movie:
You can see why Sean Connery was burned out & ready for a change after watching this Bond story unfold flat on it's face.  The best part of this film is the villan which was inspiration for the first Austin Powers film.  Also take a look at the set inside the bad guy's layer it's comical & impressive at the same time.  

Mel's Rating: 65%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Rebel Without A Cause

Drink: Spiked Cherry Limeade

Dinner: Cheeseburger & Fries

Movie:
While this is the most iconic James Dean film it does not stand on it's own very well.  The most interesting aspects actually pertain to factors outside of the movie.  For example look at the correlation between the personal lives of Natalie Wood & Dean & the roles they play as fragile & disillusioned teens.  Also keep in mind this was groundbreaking for 1955 & supposedly struck a cord with teens at the time longing for a serious voice. 

Mel's Rating: 70%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Sunshine Daydream

Drink: Dancing Bears Martini (pictured above)
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Salad & Peace Sign Macaroni & Cheese
Dessert: Rainbow Swirl Sugar Cookies
Timing: Jerry Week (First week of August)

Movie:
The original "rockumentary."  Sunshine Daydream offers a very casual look into what was the counterculture scene during Grateful Dead circa the early 70's.  Take it all in & be "grateful" someone had the forethought to get this all on film.  At the end you'll find yourself asking, "what happened to all of these people?" 

Mel's Rating: 97%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Cold Mountain

Drink: Mint Julep
Dinner: Fried Chicken, Green Beans & Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Dessert: Dixie Pie
Timing: Dead of winter.  It's cold!

Movie:
Where do I start?  Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Donald Sutherland, Renee Zelweger, Jack White, Philip Seymour Hoffman & Natalie Portman all in a Civil War period piece.  The point of view is of ordinary people caught in the middle of a war in which even though they play a minute role are expected to pay the ultimate price.  Out of sheer ignorance the war that is romanticized & as we all know ends up being the most brutal in American history.  We see law & order disappear in rural Appalachia, the gruesome battlefront, slaves running for their lives & the bounty on so called deserters.

Mel's Rating: 98%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

The Graduate

Dessert: Limoncello Pound Cake
Timing: Graduation Season

Movie:
The Graduate is deeply rooted into our culture from inspiring a scene in Wayne's World & Mrs. Robinson being the original cougar to the enduring Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack.  At the root this film is about confusion in the wake of change.  If the characters make you feel uncomfortable they are doing their job...

• Benjamin - Remember that awful time between graduating college & entering the real world as a rookie?  You are not adult yet but neither a kid anymore.  You are not welcome at home or at school where you just spend 4+ years.  You just exist until the next stage.
• Mrs. Robinson - She is still attractive but past her prime in regards to the standards of the day.  Additionally she has no role to play next either since her only child is an adult woman in college. 
• Release Date 12/21/67 - Yes the release date practically a character!  Socially the world was different after the Summer of Love but people could not pin point how just yet.  It seemed innocent enough but going against the grain of tradition left people disoriented.  Little did they know how disillusioned the coming years would be with the Civil Rights movement & questions about Vietnam both coming to a head.

Mel's Rating: 95%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Pelican Brief

Drink: Abita Purple Haze
Entrée: Jambalaya
Dessert: King Cake
Timing: Mardi Gras Weekend

Movie:
This sophomore John Grisham movie delivers.  Julia Roberts does what she is best at which is playing a character that is vulnerable but not completely helpless.  Denzel somehow makes us forget about his dashing looks & focus on the actual story which is a feat in itself.  The plot does not disappoint either with twists & turns that the most experienced film critics will not see coming.  The underlining theme is consistent with Grisham:  The ordinary citizen that has stumbled upon news meant to be kept from the public eye.  Then successfully exposes the powerful & corrupt while simultaneously being pursued.
Plus along the way we get some cool glimpses of New Orleans. 

Mel's Rating: 91%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Days of Thunder

Drink: Miller Lite
Entrée: Pizza from a gas station, "famous for pizza."
Timing: Daytona 500 Weekend

Movie:
This film got a lot of attention from NASCAR fans when it came out because it helped validate racing as a sport.  With a big budget & names to go along it did capture the racing world but only in the most shallow sense.  Nicole Kidman is a newcomer still developing herself so she only eclipses Tom Cruise by her hair.  Robert Duval is perfect in his part as pit master & there's a good three wide racing scene. 

Mel's Rating: 72%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.