The Band's Visit

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 we watched The Band's Visit (2007) and we made Egyptian Red Lentil Soup with Garam Masala meets Israeli Couscous salad.

The Band's Visit is a subtle, heartfelt, and humane work that goes a long way toward dissolving the incredibly complex cultural divide that continues to plague the Middle East. When the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra flies from Egypt to Israel to perform at the opening of an Arab culture center, they are left stranded at the airport. Their leader, Tewfiq (aka TOOTHPICK), and all eight members are left standing alone in a quiet desert town far from their intended destination with no way to get where they need to go. Tired, hungry, and confused, they find shelter at a restaurant run by the pretty but brash Dina. Over the course of the night, Tewfiq and Dina bond, Khaled helps a hapless local discover his inner Romeo, and the other band members find themselves caught up in a domestic situation that is less than perfect. Kolirin perfectly navigates his film's slice-of-life tone, blending comedy and drama and poignancy without ever succumbing to one completely. The Band's Visit is funny, lonely, inspiring, sad, and beautiful all at once.

The dinner, while wonderfully odorous, had that nasty blended lentil consistency that isn't very palatable. The Isreali couscous with shallots and parsley was definitely the hit of the night along with the scrumptous pita bread from Whole Foods.

All in all, it was a mediocre night. The movie was interesting and unique, but not a favorite. The same could be said of the dinner. You can't win 'em all!

In attendance: Barb and Lindsey

Ratings: Movie = 1.5, Dinner = 2

Awakenings

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 we watched Awakenings (1990) and had Coma-chiladas (Turkey Enchiladas)

The movie, one of Eric's mom's faves, is based on the true story. Medical researcher Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) attempts to treat a group of patients who've laid comatose in a Bronx hospital for 30 years. Sayer prescribes an experimental drug, and it works. Robert De Niro co-stars as a patient unconscious since adolescence who must come to terms with life as an adult.

Dinner was laborious but tasty! Definitely a two-person task. We slow cooked a boneless turkey breast all day and it turned out delicious as the basis of the stuffing for the enchiladas. This would be a great recipe for leftovers after a holiday too.

In attendance: Eric, Sarah, Lindsey, Barb

Ratings: Movie = 4, Dinner = 4

Australia

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 we were supposed to watch Witness for the Prosecution (1957), but after a long day I didn't have the patience so instead we watched the rediculous film: Australia (2008). We made Open-Face Proscuitto, Fresh Ricotta, and Red-Onion Marmalade Sandwiches.

Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) is a prim and proper Englishwoman who journeys to Australia in the years before World War II reached the country's shores. She is determined to have her estranged husband sell his cattle ranch to a monopoly-craving businessman named King Carney (Bryan Brown), but when she arrives, Lord Ashley is dead, and her plan to sell the ranch changes when she sees an employee named Fletcher (David Wenham) cheating her husband's business and mistreating a young boy named Nullah (Brandon Walters) because he is of mixed race. Urged on by both pride and a sense of justice, Lady Ashley wants to drive her herd of cattle to Darwin so she can sell them to the troops, but she'll require the help of an independent cowboy (fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman) to get them there.

Dinner (while having nothing to do with the movie) was delicious. We added a light salad of mixed greens, yellow tomato, and feta.

In attendance: Barb, Laurie, and Lindsey
Ratings: Movie = 2.25, Dinner = 3.75

The Visitor

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 we watched The Visitor (2007) and made/ate Falafel on Pita Bread.

Richard Jenkins was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as widowed professor Walter Vale. Vale discovers an immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira), squatting in his Manhattan flat and becomes wrapped up in their lives when Tarek is thrown into a detention center. A wonderful Hiam Abbass co-stars as Tarek's mother, who forges an unlikely connection with Walter. Thomas McCarthy won a Best Director Independent Spirit Award for his touching drama.

And the falafel actually turned out to be delicious! We added plain yogurt, cucumber slices, and fresh lemon juice as additional condiments. Mmm!

In attendance: Eric, Barb, Lindsey
Ratings: Movie = 3.5 Dinner = 3.5

The Last Picture Show

Wednesday, February 11, 2009, Southwest "Chili" Burgers with Avocado Crema and Lime-Marinated Slaw were on the grill outside (warm!) and The Last Picture Show (1971) was on the big screen.

Director Peter Bogdanovich (MASK, PAPER MOON) brings Larry McMurtry's bittersweet novel of life in a small, sleepy Texas town in the early 1950s to the big screen. This coming-of-age tale, shot in... This coming-of-age tale, shot in haunting black-and-white, focuses on best friends Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges) and their relationships. Duane is dating the beautiful but fickle Jacy Farrow (Cybill Shepherd), a good girl who is looking for a little excitement. Shy Sonny, meanwhile, is carrying on an illicit affair with a coach's wife, Ruth Popper (Cloris Leachman), a sad, plain woman whose only joy appears to be the stolen moments they share. By delving into the intertwining lives of the town's diverse residents, the film masterfully explores issues of love, loneliness, innocence lost, and disillusionment. The closing of the town's only cinema serves as both a physical and metaphoric backdrop to the characters' lives.

It was 65 degrees outside on this movie night in February! So we took full advantage with making burgers on the charcoal grill. Perfecto.

In attendance: Barb, Eric, and Lindsey
Ratings; Movie = 2.5, Dinner = 4.5

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 we watched Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and made Tin Foil Fish and Veggies.

In the film, members of an avaricious Southern clan scramble to curry favor with their dying, wealthy patriarch (Burl Ives) in this adaptation of playwright Tennessee Williams' sizzling drama. Paul Newman stars as alcoholic ex-football star Brick Pollitt, whose self-pity and drunken malice jeopardize not only his inheritance, but also his marriage to the seductive Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor). Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

We improvised on the recipe a bit, using cod, asparagus and cauliflower with lemon and fresh dill and parsley. It cooked well and was fresh and light!

In attendance: Lindsey and Barb
Ratings: Movie = 2.75, Dinner = 2.5

The Duchess

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 Barb and I watched the Oscar nominated film The Duchess (2008) and made poachies, bacon, and currant scones with "devonshire cream" (also know to us as Cool Whip)

With her marriage to the duke (Ralph Fiennes), Georgiana (Kiera Knightly), the duchess of Devonshite, achieves an impressive level of fame as Britons follow both her clothing style and her political advice. But even celebrity and wealth can't act as a salve in her marriage to the boring, boorish duke. When he begins to flaunt his affairs, Georgiana is tempted to return to a teenage crush, Charles Grey, to the anger of her husband and her mother. The Duchess focuses on the lack of power possessed by Georgiana and, in fact, all women of her time, and the duke is the primary agent of her suppression.

With the Whole Foods shelves empty of the crucial Marscapone cheese, I had to give in t using Cool Whip instead of making our Devonshire Cream! O alack and alas... But our scones, poached eggs, and bacon were all cooked to perfection.

In attendance: Barb and Lindsey (a good chic flick for Eric to miss!)
Ratings: Movie = 2.875, Dinner = 4