Pollock (2000)

Image found here

Pollock (2000) tells American painter Jackson Pollock's story during his rise to fame as one of the defining artists of the Abstract Expressionist movement. His gigantic, loudly colorful, flowing canvases transformed and transfixed the art world in the 1940s and beyond. 

If people would just look at the paintings, I don't think they would have any trouble enjoying them. It's like looking at a bed of flowers, you don't tear your hair out over what it means. 

—Jackson Pollock

Here, Ed Harris stars in an Oscar-nominated role as the famous American painter. Marcia Gay Harden (who won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role) plays opposite Harris as Lee Krasner, a fellow painter who becomes Pollock's champion and eventual wife. Seeing unpublished images of the artist and couple, it's clear that the actors nailed it. The movie also introduces us to Peggy Guggenheim, (played by Amy Madigan of Uncle Buck fame!), Willem DeKooning (Val Kilmer), and Ruth Kligman (Jennifer Connelly), Pollock's mistress later in life.

Seeing Pollock's technique in action—starting early on when paint was applied to the canvas straight from the tube in a painting that looks darn close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Male and Female (1942–43, shown below), and moving through the discovery and development of the drip/splatter effect—was definitely a highlight.

Practically in tandem with Movie Night, Design*Sponge featured Living In: Pollock—a very cool feature on their blog, and worth checking out, since I made special note of some set/costume highlights during the film: the toaster in Lee and Jackson's apartment, juice tumblers with a pink diamond pattern, and Ruth Kligman's fabulous black one-piece bathing suit.

Movie Rating

Plot: 4

Cinematography: 3.625

Acting: 3.75

Average: 3.8

For dinner, we each transformed a humble plate of nachos into individual works of art. (And we learned a homemade recipe for nacho cheese, to boot!) 

It turns out there was quite a bit of eating and food throughout the movie, as well. Scrambled eggs, coffee, a standard "meat and potatoes" dinner, orange juice, toast, poached eggs, sandwiches, watermelon, clams—a Long Island tradition, Corn Flakes, potatoes, milk, bread, Schlitz beer, and green beans all show up. Thanskgiving dinner is prepared but never gets eaten. Some additional dinner ideas include Pollock (a white fish, who knew?!), and anything titled (or made to be titled) "drunken". Critics even compare Pollock's work to baked macaroni, so dig out your favorite recipe and see how if there's a resemblance!

"Painted" Nachos

Serves 4 as a hearty main meal or up to 8 as a snack

INGREDIENTS

For the homemade nacho cheese:

2 TB butter

3 TB flour

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (we used Monterey Jack)

4 oz. can chopped green chiles

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

handful of cilantro, minced

1/2 cup red salsa

For the sour cream sauce:

1/2 cup sour cream

juice of 1 lime

For assembly:

1 bag of tortilla chips (we used—and love—Tostitos bite size)

1 rotisserie chicken

2 tomatoes, diced

1 avocado, diced

3 scallions, diced

handful of cilantro, chopped

remainder of the jar of red salsa

1 jar of salsa verde

lime wedges

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Disassemble the chicken, discarding the skin, and shred the meat. I froze the carcass for making chicken stock.

To make the nacho cheese sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour to create a roux. Whisk in the milk, being careful to break up any clumps of flour. Reduce heat to medium and allow the mixture to thicken, about 5-7 minutes. Add the shredded cheese to the thickened sauce and reduce heat to low. Once the cheese has melted, stir in the can of green chiles, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, and salsa. Continue to heat until everything is nice and warm.

Meanwhile, make the sour cream sauce by simply mixing the lime juice and sour cream together until smooth.

When the cheese is ready, assemble your masterpiece: layer tortilla chips, chicken, and cheese sauce (and anything else you'd like warm; I chose to add tomatoes and scallions at this stage) on a baking sheet or oven-safe plate and place in the heated oven for 10 minutes. 

Once warmed through, add the remaining ingredients (tomatoes, avocado, scallions, cilantro) and top with finishing touches from your "palette": more nacho cheese, traditional salsa, sour cream sauce, and salsa verde. Squeeze fresh lime wedges over everything and dig in!

A jaunt through the Whole Foods bakery for dessert yielded these perfectly drizzled and filled donuts (caramel and chocolate). Boy, were they a treat!

Dinner Rating

Movie Relevance: 4

Taste: 3.75

Average: 3.875

A Better Life

movie still found here

This movie title caught my attention when Demián Bichir was nominated for a 2012 Best Actor Oscar. His character in the film, Carlos Galindo, is an illegal Mexican immigrant looking for a better life for his son, Luis (played by José Julián), in L.A. Carlos has the most admiral of intentions and an honest moral code that he tries to instill in his son to keep him on the straight and narrow and away from gangs.

This country is a land of dreams. It can be a hard place, a cruel place. But it's where I work, and I dream of a better place for my son. – Carlos Galindo

This movie was a tear-jerker with a phenomenal lead acting performance by Bichir. It was a drama that kept me on the edge of my seat like an action flick until the end–with ups and downs all along the way.

Movie Rating: 

Plot: 4.25 stars

Cinematography: 3 stars

Acting: 4.5 stars 

Average: 4 stars   

Stuffed Poblanos
recipe found here

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes in puree
1 jalepeno chile (ribs and seeds removed) We added two for extra flavor, although we thought it could have been even spicier!
2 small onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves (2 whole, 1 minced)
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (19 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese We used a "salsa jack" cheese from Whole Foods which was very flavorful
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 large poblano peppers, halved lengthwise (stems left intact), ribs and seeds removed

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a blender, combine tomatoes in puree, jalapeno, half the onions, and 2 whole garlic cloves. Puree and then season with salt. Pour the sauce into a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine beans, cornmeal, 1/2 cup cheese, remaining onions, minced garlic, cumin, and 3/4 cup water. Season with salt and pepper.
Dividing evenly, stuff poblano halves with bean mixture; place on top of sauce in baking dish. Sprinkle poblanos with remaining 1/2 cup cheese; cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake until poblanos are tender, about 45 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until sauce is thickened slightly and cheese is browned., 10–15 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes.

Dinner Rating: 

Movie Relevance: 4.25 stars

Taste: 3.625 stars

Average: 4 stars

The Sugarland Express

     I just love these classic movie posters found here and here and here

Sugarland Express was the first full feature film by Steven Spielberg and stars Goldie Hawn as Lou-Jean the not-so-dumb-as-she-seems-mother trying to reclaim her child after a short stint in jail. After busting her husband Clovis out of a pre-release prison center in Texas, the two embark on a wild car chase to Sugar Land to retrieve their child from foster parents. Interesting fact: the center that Lou-Jean busts Clovis out of is the actual center where the true events took place. This movie has got some great car chases, but also lot of moments where we asked ourselves, REALLY cops? You REALLY need this many cops to chase down these two people? REALLY? You cops can REALLY can just abandon your posts for the fun pursuit of these two? REALLY? The cops are really pushing their car which is out of gas to the gas station and then proceed with the chase after they fill up? Still, it was a fun flick and here are our ratings:

Movie Rating: 

Plot: 3 stars

Cinematography: 3 stars

Acting: 3 stars 

Average: 3 stars   

We just made up our own simple recipe for Huevos Rancheros:

4 Corn Tortillas, warmed
+
1/2 cup Shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese, melted on the tortilla
+
1/2 can Refried Beans, warmed
+
4 Poached Eggs
+
1/2 cup Salsa

Next time i think I will layer this recipe with a tortilla on the bottom, topped with refried beans, topped with another tortilla, then the cheese, egg, and salsa. This would give it a more substantial base to cut into.

Here are some other fun twists on the classic:
The Budget Friendly Dinner
Eggs and Tortillas Marry
Mexican Breakfast Pizza

And for dessert: Sugar Cookies!
This from recipeMartha Stewart is simply the best!

Dinner Rating: 

Movie Relevance: 3.25 stars

Taste: 3.5 stars

Average: 3.375 stars

Moneyball (2011)

Moneyball (2011) is nominated for 6 Oscars this year, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Brad Pitt as Billy Beane), and Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill as Peter Brand). We were lucky to sneak it in this week before the winners are announced!

still found here

Other recognizable actors in the film include PSH (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Chris Pratt, from Parks and Rec. Oh, yes, and let's not forget Robin Wright, who played Jenny in Forrest Gump.

still found here

still found here

The movie, based on the true story of Billy Beane, tracks his moves as the Oakland A's general manager in 2002, as he attempts to field a winning team on a low budget, based on computer-generated stats rather than traditional scouting tactics. Beane and Peter Brand, a Yale grad, face abundant criticism and a rocky road as they work to change the way the game is played. The timing was perfect for a baseball movie, with spring training newly underway. It rekindled the excitement of the game, whether you're at the stadium, watching on tv or just listening on the radio. Now when's Phillies opening day?!

Movie Rating

Plot: 5

Cinematography: 4.25

Acting: 5

Average: 4.75

Dinner was "Moneyball" sandwiches, which were made with meatballs tinged green with a bunch of minced herbs. We added sharp provolone melted on the rolls and a side of marinara for dipping. Yum! We had mint chip ice cream for dessert—but sundaes with chocolate sauce and canned whipped cream would have been more appropriate. A couple other dinner ideas are "Beane" burritos, ballpark hot dogs (or maybe these, instead?), or Cup-o-noodles... for the super classy among us. Twinkies and cold cereal both make appearances as well.

Moneyball Sandwiches
Adapted from this recipe
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
4 cups fresh basil
1 cup fresh parsley
1 cup fresh chives
2 thin slices white bread
1/2 cup milk
1/2 lb ground lamb
1/2 lb ground sirloin
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 TB olive oil
4 bakery rolls, sliced
8 thin slices sharp provolone cheese
Your favorite marinara sauce, for serving

DIRECTIONS
Place all the herbs in a food processor to combine. Soak the bread in the milk for 5 minutes, then gently squeeze any excess milk from the bread; discard the milk. Combine the bread with the meat, the minced herbs, the salt and pepper to taste. Shape the mixture into 2-inch balls, you should get about 12.

Pour the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the meatballs in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Cook, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 10–12 minutes.

When the meatballs are nearly finished cooking, place the rolls under the broiler (or in a toaster oven) to toast lightly. Add two slices of cheese to each roll and broil another 2 minutes until cheese is melted. When meatballs are fully cooked, place three in each roll and serve with a side of marinara sauce.

Dinner Rating

Movie Relevance: 4.25

Taste: 3.875

Average: 4.0625

Warrior (2011)

movie still found here

Nick Nolte is nominated for an Oscar this year for his portrayal of recovering alcoholic father, Paddy Conlon. His two sons Brenden (Joel Edgerton) and Tommy (Tom Hardy) use their tumultuous childhood memories as fuel for the fire as they battle it out in the Ultimate Fighting Ring. Nick Nolte gave the best performance I have ever seen from him and the brothers were not so shabby themselves.

If you are like us, you will wonder where did these guys come from? What have I seen them in before? Its driving me crazy! So here it the low-down:

photo found here 

Joel Edgerton (handsome dude on the right in above picture) has appeared in: Animal Kindom (previously posted by MND2), Star Wars Episode II and III (Owen Lars), King Arthur and other films

photo found here

Tom Hardy (handsome dude on the left in the above picture): will be playing Bane in two upcoming Batman movies and has had a big year appearing in Warrior and Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy. He was also in Inception, Black Hawk Down, and others.

I look forward to catching their performances in these and upcoming films. As for Warrior, we would all recommend it to anyone-it had all the necessary components, great plot, action, superb acting, and lots of tugging on the heart-strings.

Movie Rating: 

Plot: 3.75 stars

Cinematography: 3.5 stars

Acting: 4.25 stars 

Average: 3.8 stars  

Black Eyed Pea Soup with Sage Sausage and Kale

adapted from this recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound bulk pork sausage with sage

1 stalk celery, diced

1/2 sweet red pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

4 cups chicken stock

1 package brown and wild rice seasoned mix (we used Seeds of Change Persia Seven Whole Grain Pilaf Blend)

2 cans black eyed peas, drained

2 cans diced tomatoes with liquid

1 cup water

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

6 ounces kale

parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Heat a large skillet on medium high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook until all traces of pink are gone. Add one cup chicken stock, celery, sweet red pepper, and onion. Stir well, scraping the bottom to release browned bits. Cook until vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile, in a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add the remaining 3 cups of chicken stock, the rice mix with seasoning packet and the black eyed peas. Bring to a boil.

Add in the sausage and vegetable mixture along with the tomatoes, water, salt and peper, and red pepper flakes. Bring back to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the rice is done. 

Add the kale and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Garnish with shaves parmesan cheese.

Dinner Rating: 

Movie Relevance: 4.8 stars

Taste: 4.8 stars

Average: 4.8 stars

Baked Oatmeal Recipe

I just needed to share this AMAZING recipe for baked oatmeal with you all. Barb's mom made it for us a few weekends ago and i just halved the recipe and made it for Ben and myself this past weekend. I can't get enough! I am looking for any excuse to make it for a movie night-might be great paired with Oliver! or Breakfast at Tiffany's...any other suggestions?

Here is the recipe! Enjoy!

Baked Oatmeal

In a large bowl, beat together 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil with 3 cups of sugar

Add 6 eggs

Add 2 tablespoons of baking powder

Add 3 teaspoons of salt

Add 8 cups quick oats

Add 3 cups of milk

Add raisins if you like

Pour mixture into a 9" x 13" pan and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean. [oil pan if non-stick] Serve with brown sugar, raisins, butter, milk, fresh fruit, etc. I LOVE to add bananas! 

 

50/50 (2011)

50/50, based on the real-life experience of the movie's writer, Will Resier, grapples with cancer and all the crap that comes with it. Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is diagnosed at 27 with a rare spinal cancer, and journeys through the treatment process with the support of his best friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen), therapist (Anna Kendrick), and mom (Anjelica Huston). The movie is both believable and funny, and we stayed awake!

Movie Rating

Plot: 5

Cinematography: 4.7

Acting: 4.8

Average: 4.8

For dinner, I was trying to come up with something made up of two different halves and landed on pizza. I had NO IDEA there would be so much pizza in the movie. Practically every time there was a food scene, pizza made an appearance.

Win-win-win! I picked up the dough from Luigi's Pizza Fresca near work, and we made up the "recipe" for both sides as we went with a few ingredients I wanted to feature. Each side turned out to be surprisingly delicious. A few other food options pulled from the movie: green tea, macaroons—extra points if they're laced with medical marijuana, anything shaved (parmesan? asparagus?), wheatgrass juice, pancakes.

50/50 (White/Red) Pizza

Makes 8 pieces

INGREDIENTS

1 ball of raw dough (next time, I might try this recipe and make it from scratch)

olive oil

flour

White Side:

3 oz. goat cheese

12 raw shrimp, peeled and cut in half lengthwise

1 red bell pepper

3 oz. baby arugula

2 TB olive oil

splash of balsamic vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

Red Side:

1 TB olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

15 oz. fire-roasted crushed tomatoes

salt to taste

1/4 lb. raw mild italian sausage, removed from casing

4 baby portobella mushrooms, sliced

8 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced

Seasonings:

crushed red pepper

pinch sugar

thyme

oregano

DIRECTIONS

Roast the red bell pepper: turn the broiler on and brush the pepper's skin with olive oil. Place the pepper under the broiler on a rack positioned a few inches away from the heat and rotate as each side is blackened (about 5-8 minutes per side). When the pepper is fully blackened, remove it and place in a bag for a few minutes to steam the skin off. Peel the pepper and slice the flesh into thin strips.

Meanwhile, adjust the oven heat to 500 degrees and place a pizza stone (if using) on a center rack.

Brown the sausage in a saute pan until fully cooked, crumbling into small pieces. Remove crumbled, cooked sausage to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

Wipe the saute pan clean and heat 1 TB olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic clove and saute for a few minutes. Add the can of tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Continue to cook for approx. 20 minutes.

While the sauce is simmering, arrange the dough on a work surface sprinkled lightly with flour. Toss, roll, stretch, etc. to fit the shape of your pizza stone or baking sheet.

When the oven and pizza stone are fully heated, place the dough on the stone with a bit of flour to pre-bake for about 8–10 minutes.

Remove the crust from the oven to arrange the toppings. (Our dough somehow picked up on the tumorous theme of the movie! We're terrible, we know.) On the white side, spread the goat cheese evenly over the crust. Evenly distribute the shrimp and strips of roasted red pepper atop the cheese.

On the red side, spoon the tomato sauce onto the crust and spread out. Sprinkle crumbled sausage over the sauce and top with mushroom slices. Finish this side off with slices of fresh mozzarella cheese. Season the whole pie to taste with a variety of seasonings. We used crushed red pepper, a light pinch of sugar, thyme, and oregano.

Place the pizza back in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the fresh mozzarella cheese has melted and begins to bubble. The crust should be a nice golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the pizza to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

While the pizza bakes, whisk 1 TB balsamic vinegar with 2 TB olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss the arugula in the vinaigrette. Top the white side of the pizza with the dressed arugula (easiest to do this after it's already been sliced).

Dinner Rating

Movie Relevance: 5

Taste: 4.8
Average: 4.9

We had a first-timer, my neighbor Nate, join us for Movie Night this week. He brought along dessert: a tasty, homemade, orange-cherry bread pudding with bourbon cream based on this recipe. Yum!