Son of Rambow

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 we watched Son of Rambow (2008) and made Vietnamese food off the kiddie menu: Sloppy Baos (Vietnamese sandwich with spicy curry beef and mango)

Given that I waited until the last possible second to write this post, my memory might fail me as to the details of this particular film. I will try my best.

The film is a story about two unlikely friends. Will Proudfoot is growing up with "the Brethren" a religious group with restricted involvement with the outside world (no tv!). Lee Carter is a problem child with a knack for getting into trouble and whose parents leave him in the charge of a bully of a bigger brother most of the time. (One of my favorite scenes occurs in the first few minutes of the film where Lee Carter finds a ball and delinquintly whips it at an unknowing neighbor's head just because they were there.)

As much as Will Proudfoot tries to avoid it, he meets Lee Carter and is swiftly dragged into a series of bad deeds eventually leading to his viewing First Blood: Rambo. Obsessed (as any boy who had never seen any television before would be with the savagery of this film) Will and Lee Carter decide to make their own film that combines Lee Carter's taste for violence with Will Proudfoot's vivid imagination that he usually reveals through drawing. Eventually the whole school wants to join in (including Didier the incredibly popular French exchange student who dresses like Michael Jackson) and Will rises to the top of the popularity charts eventually leaving his only friend behind. In the end, the two friends finish the film and reconcile their friendship-awe!!

The film had some amazing visuals from dramatically exaggerated stunts to a mix of reality and drawings. Very Cool.

The dinner was super duper delicious. Nothing else to say except you must make this recipe.

Ratings: Movie = 3.5, Dinner = 4.75

Ordinary People

Thursday, June 11, 2009 we watched Ordinary People (1980) and had Ordinary Pea-Pasta.

In a year with tough competition from the likes of Raging Bull and Coal Miner's Daughter, Robert Redford's directorial debut won four Academy Awards including Best Picture. Phenomenal acting throughout gives the film an edge none of us had experienced before.

Mary Tyler Moore and Donald Sutherland take on the roles of mother and father in a family which has suffered the tragedy of losing their oldest son. Younger (and now only) son Conrad (Timothy Hutton) battles feelings of depression, anger and guilt, helped by psychiatrist Dr. Berger. A memorable quote by Dr. Berger: "A little advice about feeling, kid. Don't expect it always to tickle." Conrad battles pressure from his swim coach and eventually finds solace in Jeanine Pratt (Elizabeth McGovern), who helps bring him back to life.

The only unrealistic moment in the movie was when the parents flew to Houston from Illinois in a 747, which Eric said would never happen.

Our pasta dinner was good, but not amazing. The search for pea tendrils led us to a grocery store in Chinatown--the Asian Supermarket--underground on 11th St. between Arch and Race. Pig spleen, anyone? Unfortunately, we struck out and ended up with baby spinach as a substitute. The fresh mint in the dish clashed rather than melding nicely, I'd leave that out next time or maybe use another fresh herb instead.

In attendance: Barb, Lindsey and Eric

Ratings: Movie = 4.25, Dinner = 3.75

First Blood

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 we watched First Blood (1982)—the first in the Rambo series and made Pho Bo (pronounced 'Fuh').

The Movie:
John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is a guy you just don't mess with. Unfortunately for Sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy) and the other cops of a small Oregon town, this was a lesson they would learn the hard way. An ex-Green Beret, Vietnam vet, and lost, lonely soul, Rambo hitchhikes into a small town and is shooed away by the town Sheriff. Assaulted by the cops and plagued by thoughts of his Vietnamese imprisonment, the unstable Rambo lashes out and starts an epic war of 1 versus 200 in the jungles of Oregon.

We learned some great survival techniques watching this movie:
1) A shirt fashioned out of a found piece of canvas always comes in handy when making torches (this garment is commonly referred to as a "Jesus unit."
2) When falling from a cliff it is always best to fall into a tree and not onto a rock.
3) Always carry a needle and thread (preferably in the handle of your 'Jimmy Lile-designed' knife)

Memorable Quotes:
"[Rambo] smells like an animal"
"We ain't huntin' him, he's huntin' us"
"Don't forget one thing: a good supply of body bags"
"It's a real war outside your front door"—lyrics from the song "It's A Long Road"

We loved the action scenes-the cliff hanger, the mine full of rats, and the small town showdown. In the end, the good guy 'wins' and inevitably (as Barb so aptly predicted), someone fell through the skylight that was so perfectly placed on the roof of the small town police station. 'Cause why else would they have a large skylight?

The dinner:

Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef and Noodle soup)

6 c. beef broth
1-1" piece of ginger sliced in half vertically
1/4 c. onions sliced into wedges
1 cinnamon stick, some coriander, cardamom, and cloves
1/2 lb. boneless beef sirloin, trimmed of fat, and sliced across the grain into very thin strips (freezing the meat for 15 minutes makes it easier to slice)
3 oz. dried flat rice noodles
1/4 c. Asian fish sauce
ground pepper
1 c. fresh bean sprouts
1/8 c. minced scallions
1/4 c. fresh cilantro
1 small thin fresh red or green Asian chili
1/2 c. fresh basil leaves
lime wedges for garnish

Place ginger and onions under the broiler until golden-set aside.

In a saucepan bring broth, ginger, onions, cinnamon, and spices to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

In a large bowl soak noodles in hot water for 15 minutes, or until soft.

While noodles are soaking, bring a saucepan of salted water to boil for the noodles. Drain noodles and then cook them in the boiling water for 45 seconds. Drain and set aside.

Strain the broth into saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in fish sauce, salt, and pepper. Add sirloin and sprouts-cook for 30-45 seconds, or until meat changes color.

To serve, divide noodles into bowls, ladle soup and sprinkle with scallions, cilantro, chilies, and basil. Serve with lime.

The dinner was pho-nominal!! we highly recommend this one.

In attendance: Barb and Lindsey

Ratings: Movie = 4.125, Dinner = 5!!