Delayed Due to Heatwave: Splendor in The Grass

Timing: Visiting Tallgrass National Prairie Preserve

Close Encounters of The Third Kind

Entree: Cornbread muffins (shaped like stars) topped with mashed potatoes, gravy & fried chicken.

Dessert: Milky Ways

Timing: Visiting Powell Observatory

Movie:
The promotional posters for this movie are better than the movie itself which is sad because it had so much potential.  For example:

1. It was made in the 70's.
2. The subject matter was aliens.
3. It was directed by Steven Spielberg.

How can you go wrong?  Well the plot was underdeveloped. For instance what happened to the family that Roy left high & dry?  Also it was so cliche that the aliens represented a, "we come in peace," utopia.  Additional cheese factors include but by no means are limited to:

1. The aliens resembled a human form.  Look around, life can take on any form.
2. The aliens bothered to contact us when space is infinite.
3. The main encounter consisted of exchanging trombone melodies when in real life we'd try to blow each other up.

In conclusion, yeah it's a sci-fi film but we sci-fi fans should not be so desperate for relative material that we let just anyone into the club.

Mel's Rating: 66%
On a scale of 100.

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

Bridges of Madison County

Entree: Meatball Grinders

Dessert: Scotcheroos 

Timing: Old Shawnee Days

Movie:
I'm glad to say that this film has stood the test of time since it premiered over over twenty years ago.  Meryl Streep brings grace & modesty to a character that everyone could just as easily dislike for lack of those very same traits.  Clint Eastwood of course hits it out of the park with his acting but what really stands out here is his directing.  Another highlight is the cinema photography with it's sweeping views of what first appears to be a lonely & barren land but is transformed into a land of subtle beauty & distinctive character. All of this in addition to the wardrobe, set design & music score come together to create a love story where a happy ending was just never possible.  In conclusion despite the film's thoroughness we are pleasantly left with questions to consider such as...

• During the rain scene is Robert yielding to the green light or is he waiting for Francesca?
• Why did the Illinois fair take so long?
• Is the overall message of the film to sacrifice your own happiness for the ones you love or carpe diem?

Mel's Rating: 93%
On a scale of 100.

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

Little Women

Drink: Hot Cider
Appetizer: Roasted Cranberry Crostini
Entree: Mini Beef Wellingtons with Sauteed Green Beans
Timing: Christmas

Movie:
There is no need to watch any other version of Little Women other than this one.  The cast includes
multitudes of talent which is exactly what works such as Little Women deserve.  Starting with the
obvious Winona Ryder. Her natural beauty makes her always a perfect fit for a period piece & even though she was the "it" girl in the 90's she overcomes her own presence & fully becomes Jo. The rest of the roster brings an abundant of life to characters all literary fans know so well such as Beth (Claire Danes), John Brooke (Eric Stoltz), Mrs. March (Susan Sarandon) & Laurie (Christian Bale).  Outside of the cast every detail including the wardrobe & set design are intricate & provide us with the sense that the story has actually come to life. Additionally shots are consistently artistically framed & well thought out which allows you to appreciate the art of film as its own medium.

Mel's Rating: 94%
On a scale of 100.

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

American Sniper

Timing: Memorial Day

Movie:
This is a very sad true story of one of our bravest U.S. Navy SEALS.  I was surprised to hear that many people were embittered by how this film ends but just as in real life the conclusion is not always ideal & clean cut.

As for the movie itself Bradley Cooper did an O.K. job however his Texas accent needs work.  The remainder of the acting was average but where the film really lacked was a cohesive screen play.  For example the article I read in the New Yorker prior to watching this film was better than the film.  With that said the lack of a screen play has many consequences to movie making such as...

• Character Development - Despite the fact that this is a deeply moving story there is no connection formed with the characters.  I don't think the source of this issue is due to casting or acting.  Everyone seemed to have done what was asked of them so that leaves me to think that it is just not good writing.
• Plot - One reason this is an interesting story is because it is about something that is going on in our world as we speak, something unfiltered because it is too current, unchartted territory that has not yet been granted 20/20 hindsight. Therefore precision & details such as dates & locations are key.  In this case Clint really should have taken some points from Homeland. This series does an earrily good job on covering current events.
• Hollywood Touches - 
• Special Effects - A slow motion bullet is not necessary neither is a fake baby. And since we are watching this in HD the prosthetic baby bump needs a touch up. Also the CGI needs to look like it is from 2014 & not a PS3.
• Some will see this as a little ruthless but you get a sense that there is an underlying agenda of gun control. Otherwise why was left wing Hollywood so excited about a film that honors a fallen soldier & is really was not that great? 

By far the most touching part of the film is when they used actual footage from the funeral procession.  Perhaps more of the actual footage was needed or maybe at least shoot it in a documentary style which generally allows for choppier screen plays.  Regardless it is a nice tribute & as they say it is the thought that counts. However in order to really do the story justice a quality film still needs to be made.

Mel's Rating: 69%
On a scale of 100.

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

James Bond: From Russia With Love

Drink: Martini
Entree: Stroganoff
Dessert: Russian Tea Cakes

Movie:
The Cold War, tailored suits, wreckless driving & a very bad cat all come together to make this one of the best Bond films.  Being only the second installment of the series much of the brand was still being established but you can tell they are just about to hit their stride. For example many elements that we expect to see in every Bond film such as an original score, elaborate secret gadgets & an expensive lengthy chase scene first made their appearances here.  Also while viewing consider how the subject matter & the timing of the release was impeccable since it was the post-Cuban Missile Crises JFK era.  All of this made fiction & real life world events collide into a relevant edgy modern film that equals classic Bond.

Mel's Rating: 83%
On a scale of 100.

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

Notorious

Appetizer: Hearts of Palm Bacon Bites
Entree: Coconut Curried Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice

Movie:
This film is mystifying because it actually received good reviews.  Sure Ingrid Bergman & Cary Grant are a classic duo but we've seen over & over again that you can't base the entire weight of a film on the popularity of the actors.  Plus the plot is wrapped up well before the ending which makes the last ten minutes seem like an eternity.  All in all aside from a couple of interesting shots the lack of story development makes you realize that this is a young Hitchcock film.

Mel's Rating: 57%
On a scale of 100.

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

L.A. Confidential

Drink: Irish Coffee

Entree: Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwiches

Movie:

L.A. Confidential gives us a gritty glimpse at police corruption, old Hollywood & organized crime in the otherwise squeaky clean sock hop 1950's.  Though the film feels campy at times it based on a solid story so make sure to follow it until the end to see what all the hype is about.  Additionally keep in mind when this premiered in theaters...1997.  This is after the world was exposed to LAPD's handling of Rodney King, the riots & the O.J. trial so to say the least public trust in their credibility was at an all time low which is a main element of the film's plot...based in the 50's.  With that said in a round about way it shows us how the corruption that ran L.A. for so long finally brewed over in the 90's.

Mel's Rating: 76%

On a scale of 100.   

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

On a scale of 10.

Interview with The Vampire

Drink: Bloody Mary
Entree: Shrimp Po Boy
Dessert: Praline Brownies

Movie:
Clocking in at just over two hours this film takes you through a 200 year time frame of one vampire's everlasting & grueling existence.  It provides an artistic look at the vampire genre which is rare but leads Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt helped with the prestige factor.  In addition Christian Slater does some of his best work as the reporter versus his traditional role as corny heart throb.  Plus you get to see Kirsten Dunst at a very young age in her first big role give an impressive performance. Take note of the costumes which are intricate if not accurate to the period.  Also as with most Anne Rice story lines it is based in Louisiana so the scenery is beautiful & even includes a shot at the famous Oak Alley Plantation.

As you can imagine it's is easy to distracted by all the big name actors, costumes & settings but pay attention to the story because it is very interesting in its own right.  In fact in the end it questions if mortality is a gift or a curse we all must face.  If given the choice which path would you take?

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

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

The Other Boleyn Girl

Entree: French Dip Sanwhiches with Au Jus

Side: French Fries

Dessert: French Macarons

Timing: Game of Thrones Premiere Viewing

Movie:

Poor easily manipulated Henry VIII & his six wives is a long saga rehashed over & over but never seems to get old.  The Other Boleyn Girl specifically shows us how the French educated Anne played by a stunning Natalie Portman was the first to maneuver her way onto the throne by any means possible but still ended up at the Tower of London. The film also focuses on the seriously disfunctional relationship between the two Boleyn sisters which we see is only tragically reconciled once Mary grows a spine & takes the future Queen Elizabeth I from the Tower after Anne is executed.  As for the film's details the costumes & setting are beautiful but something just did not click with parts of the cast.  For instance Kristin Scott Thomas' performance falls flat but we can't pin point why exactly.  On the other hand there are a number of talents yet to be discovered such as Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch & Juno Temple that if given the chance could have added a couple of interesting layers of their own.

In conclusion as insinuated above this story of women stepping all over each other for power via men unfortunately rings true today but maybe that's why we still find it so compelling.

Mel's Rating: 79%
On a scale of 100.

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

Frozen Planet: Spring

Appetizer: Edamame
Entree: Shrimp "Spring" Roll Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce
Timing: Annual Spring Picnic

Movie:
We usually like high def nature documentaries but this one borrowed too much footage from the other BBC installments many times resulting in, "I've seen this before," moments.  It's BBC milking the footage they already have but who can blame them as I'm sure it was extremely expensive to create. With that said hopefully some of the proceeds from this franchise were donated to a wildlife fund.

Mel's Rating: 67%
On a scale of 100.

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

Adaptation

Drink: Mojito

Entree: Cubans

Dessert: Pineapple Butter Cake

Timing: Making our first trip to the nursery in 2016.

Movie:

Adaptation is a witty dark comedy that takes you from the creative abyss that is L.A. to the no man's land in the Everglades.  Meryl Streep & Chris Cooper both do a brilliant job of portraying lost souls in search to find a passion in life again.  Surprisingly the always annoying Nicolas Cage is actually a good fit in his part as a writer riddled with social anxiety.  Parts that are particularly funny are the Being John Malkovich references & scenes with Robert McKee.  You really should watch Being John Malkovich before hand in order to enjoy & understand the humor behind its inclusion.  Overall this film shows us in a comical way how Hollywood sucks the creativity right out of projects & to gain real inspiration perhaps they should go outside of the political studio machine to get back in touch with life.

Mel's Rating: 92%

On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

On a scale of 10.

Dark Side of The Rainbow

Appetizer: Yellow Brick Road (Diced Cheddar Cheese)
Drink: Wine (Dorothy has had a long week.)
Entree: Emerald City Turkey Wraps with Witches Hats (Bugels)
Dessert: Mini Rainbow Fruit Pizzas
Timing: New Moon
Props: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon vinyl.

Movie:
While still till this day the band claims that the synchronization of Wizard of Oz with Dark Side of The Moon is a fluke we find this hard to believe.  There is also debate on when the movie & album should be started for the best sync.  Some insist that it's the third roar of the MGM lion while others are convinced that the second roar is correct.  Regardless keep in mind there is no plot with this film so it's more of an opportunity to listen to Pink Floyd at high volumes.  Additionally it is important to note that all in all there are about six additional Pink Floyd movie syncs but I would suggest just sticking to this one since it was the first to be "discovered" & the others feel like a stretch.

Mel's Rating: 74% - Not my favorite Pink Floyd album due the excessive radio play it receives.
On a scale of 100.

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

2001: A Space Odyssey

Drink: Space Dust IPA
Entrée: Rocket Dogs
Dessert: Galaxy Bark

Movie:
Don't adjust your TV this movie is just that weird.  Packed full of meaning that can be twisted in any which way 2,001 times we board a journey that explores origins, time travel & artificial intelligence.  Look for Kubrick's trademark panning one shot close ups & consider the following while on this wild ride that is 2001:

• These special effects were created in 1968.
• The score is famous & has been covered by many jam bands such as Phish.
• We did not walk on the moon until the following year & Kubrick is already envisioning living in space.
• The actual year of 2001 did not turn out like this at all...it would have to be more like 3001.

Mel's Rating: 96%
On a scale of 100.

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

James Bond: Live & Let Die

Drink: Martini
Entree: Jerk Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice

Movie:
The most hallmark element of this film is the theme song. Paul's voice echoing Live & Let Die will
definitely get stuck in your head afterwards.  However this particular installment brings a period
known as "blaxploitation" to the forefront which also explains that while the theme song is famous you don't hear much discussed about the actual film.  Bond films always try to stay true to the times since the franchise's image is that of a globe trotting womanizer with endless amounts of cash & luxury resources to blow through.  As awkward as it is to watch now it will always remain a product of pop culture history & one way to see how wrong we were is to observe it head on.

Mel's Rating: 68%
On a scale of 100.

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

Midnight in The Garden of Good & Evil

Drink: Pineapple Ginger Mint Julep
Entrée: Fried Chicken, Coleslaw & Biscuits
Dessert: Banana Pudding

Movie:
Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil sweeps us away into the true story based in the delicate, genteel social society of Savannah in the 80's.  We ultimately see how Savannah is a smaller, cleaner version of New Orleans with a long history, voodoo & strong social divisions.  Thankfully with the direction of Clint Eastwood the film manages to gracefully encompass all of these themes while unveiling to us a man with dual lives that ultimately destroyed him.  I have to mention that the beginning of the film is intrinsically better than the latter half most of which is spent in a courtroom.  However make sure you stick to it until the end for a haunting reappearance of Danny. 

Mel's Rating: 85%
On a scale of 100.

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

Ben-Hur

Entrée: Curry Chicken, Rice & Lentil Beans
Dessert: Baklava
Timing: Easter

Movie:
To say this is a long movie is an understatement & as many times with movies of this length they inevitably become segmented.  Maybe it's an early example of bad time management or big studio ego?  Regardless the first half is expertly executed & shows us a rags to riches story as a result of Roman occupation.  The chariot race does live up to all the hype with sweeping well thought out views of the action from every angle.  Also it is worth noting how Esther played by Hara Harareet is able to gracefully hold her ground along side the majestic the Charlton Heston.  Despite all of this the quality of the last portion of the film is choppy.  The story of Jesus' life serves as a side note throughout the film however towards the end it's jutted to the forefront & feels forced. 

Mel's Rating: 80%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating:Part 1 gets an 8.  Part 2 gets a 2.
On a scale of 10.

Michael Collins

Drink: Boulevard Irish Ale
Entrée: Guinness Beef Pot Pie
Dessert: Grasshoppers
Timing: St. Patrick's Day

Movie:
We really struggled with this movie.  In fact we opted half way through to turn it off & watch the
NCAA basketball tournament.  However the next day I did some research online about Michael Collins & proceeded to watch the remainder of the film.  Since I was not familiar with this piece of history it turned out to be pretty interesting after I read up on it.  Liam Neeson does a pretty good job but he does over act in several scenes.  Julia Roberts does not leave an impression.  I don't feel like I knew her character much better afterwards which is strange because this part provided her an opportunity to do one of her classic "can't you see I'm having a breakdown" moments.  The rest of the cast is undeniably American or English with bad accents which makes you realize how much more sophisticated audiences are today.  Overall the most intriguing element of the plot is that you see how Northern Ireland was formed which leaves you with a snap shot of a very divided situation that still exists today.  Plus you are left wondering if Michael Collins is a hero, a sell out or was he simply set up for failure by his own people.

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

Brett's Rating: N/A - He did not finish the film.
On a scale of 10.

The Da Vinci Code

Drink: Limoncello Martini
Entrée: Italian Beef Sandwiches
Timing: Business trip to Italy & visiting Da Vinci exhibit.

Movie:
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code was a bestseller which translated into dollar signs for anyone who took on the chore of making it into a film.  Add on top of that the fact it stars Tom Hanks & is directed by Ron Howard which makes sound like a guaranteed formula for success right?  Well in an effort to include every detail for the avid readers the movie viewers suffered because it was entirely too long.  Cutting details are a necessary evil for movies & a delicate balance at that which is why you seldom here a good review of a book turned into film.  Regardless one of the last scenes where Langdon retraces the Rose Line back to the Louvre in Paris really wraps up the story in a great way however again it just took too long for viewers to get there.  If you have not read the book or if it has been a while I would suggest watching to the below video about the Da Vinci Code on YouTube first because without this background information you could get lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAtoP5nFhh4&list=PLrLdAi-IY3Ca5zizzE_Y8Lx-rHy29oVBd

Mel's Rating: 68%
On a scale of 100.

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