The Wire

In 2010 I signed up for Netflix and have definitely enjoyed it. I have a pretty long list of movies that I want to see and the whole movie-in-the-mail concept works nicely for me. While I have not taken the utmost advantage of getting movies in a timely manner, I am getting better and am working my way through my list. Up right now is not necessarily a movie, but something that I have been wanting to watch for a while. The Wire has been recommended by pretty much every friend of mine who has seen it and so I am psyched to get going with Season 1. I watched the first episode the other night and have to say, I am a fan. Intense scenes and storylines and I am looking forward to seeing where things go with this season and the following ones.....

Blue Valentine

I went out with a couple of friends last night and saw the movie Blue Valentine. This story of a marriage and love disintegrating stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a husband and wife who are trying to figure out where things went wrong. It is a very well-written and amazingly acted movie, definitely one of the better ones I have seen in the past year. Although, just as a warning, this film is depressing. Michelle Williams is very good as a wife who seems lost and has fallen out of love with her husband. And Ryan Gosling plays Dean who is the husband who just wants things to work and have them be a family with their little daughter Frankie. The movie has a unique look and feel to it as the camera is a little herky jerky at times and there are a ton of close ups on the actors' faces. The scenes seem so real and life-like, it is almost as if the actors had an idea of what the scene should look like and no real script. It just seems so real. There are a few very emotional scenes and in the last one in particular, you really do forget that you are watching actors and not an actual couple who are having serious problems and trying to figure out if things will work. I think the whole movie is a credit to the writer and director Derek Cianfrance and his vision of what this movie should look and feel like. The actors chosen were perfect and their acting is so believable, you really think you are watching a true story. Hopefully Blue Valentine will get some good recognition at the Oscars, but it is such a small film with limited release that it might be tough. Both Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling deserve best actor nods and Derek Cianfance deserves a best director nod as well. Definitely go see this movie....

Stacey King! He's an announcer for Chicago!

For those who watch the Chicago Bulls on a pretty regular basis, you have probably become familiar with the announcing team of Neil Funk and Stacey King. Neil does the play by play while Stacey handles the color commentary for the Bulls. And we are all witnessing something special. Stacey King is unbelievably entertaining and by far and away is my most favorite commentator out there. He makes some of the most amazing calls and he even has a webpage dedicated to some of his best sayings. Listening to him makes the Bulls games entertaining enough, but the fact that D Rose is an MVP candidate has made the season just that much better. And the Bulls are really good this year. Please tune in and listen to Stacey and if you are lucky, you will see Stacey "posterize" someone during the game. Stacey King....."Too big, too strong, too fast, too good!!"

The Fighter only has True Grit when dressed as the Black Swan during The King's Speech

Recently over the past ten days I have seen The Fighter, True Grit, The King's Speech and Black Swan. I love seeing movies in the theatre and typically I tend to go see movies that I have researched and that I know I will like. And I was very pleased with all four of the above films. These movies were all reviewed quite well and also came out right around the holiday season which is usually a pretty good indication of the buzz surrounding the films. Needless to say, I would not be shocked that come Oscar time, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and Colin Firth all walked away with the award in their respective categories. I thought Jeff Bridges was good in True Grit, but not an Oscar winner for my money. As for winner of best picture, I can see Black Swan (which by the way, talk about a demented movie!) taking that one, but I do think The Social Network is going to be tough to beat in that category. We will find out more once the nominations come out and we will also have a better idea when the Golden Globes announces their awards....they are a good pre-cursor as well. Definitely if you get the chance, see all these movies, they are all equally good in their own right. If I had to pick just one for you to see, go see The Fighter. It really is a great movie, plus the sisters in the film are scary, crazy fun....

Cambodia...ing

It has been a while since since I have updated the blog and so I thought I would write a little bit about my recent travels. As I stated in my previous post, I was gearing up for a major trip to Cambodia at the end of November. And to say that it was an amazing trip, would be an understatement. I had the journey of a lifetime and it was an unreal adventure to a part of the world that I never imagined I would ever get to in all my life. I spent ten days in Cambodia visiting my good friend Daniela Papi, hanging out, sightseeing, and learning more about the PEPY Ride. Daniela truly is an exceptional person and all that she has done in the six years she has been there is truly remarkable. When you talk about making a difference and actually MAKING A DIFFERENCE, Daniela and PEPY is doing so. I absolutely loved Cambodia and everything about it.....from the people, the food, the culture, the history, the experiences. I really could not ask for a better trip and time spent away from the States. I have a lot to be thankful for in my life and an experience like travelling to Cambodia is one I will never forget. Thank you to Daniela, all the amazing people at PEPY, my new friends who live here and there, and to the country that is Cambodia....you will all always be in my heart.