Monday Movie: A Place at the Table.

"50 million Americans exist without enough to eat in a nation with more than enough food."

Today I'm bringing you the wonderful documentary about hunger in the USA, A Place at the Table. I rented it on iTunes this weekend as it's not showing anywhere near here, and hunger has kind of become my area of interest. I am trying to organize a viewing at Baylor for at least social work students, and hopefully beyond, with a discussion and maybe someone from THI to talk about hunger in Texas and answer any questions that may come up. My mind is running, and I hope to get others running, too.

While watching I took three pages of notes, of facts, quotes, and anything that stood out to me, answered questions I had had, or brought up new ones. I'll share some of that with you now, but I highly recommend you watch it for yourself. Here we go:

- 1 out of 6 people say they don't have enough to eat.

- Mississippi has the highest rate of food insecurity AND obesity. (Texas is #3 in food insecurity, by the way)

- 2.3 million people live in food deserts, and 75% of food deserts are urban

- Obama proposed $10 billion over 10 years to increase child nutrition programs, and the money would be taken from the least-justified payments to affluent land holders. That was shut down, and instead we ended up with the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act (2010), which allowed for a $4.5 billion increase over 10 years, coming out to an ONLY 6 cent increase per meal (for lunch/breakfast meals at schools for kiddos), most of which probably won't even go towards actual food but administrative, transportation and other costs. Oh, and over HALF of the bill was paid for by cutting Food Stamps. 

- "The great temptation in Washington is to always take something away from those who, frankly, can't defend themselves." Bill Shore (Share our Strength)

- "If another country was doing this to our kids we would be at war." Jeff Bridges

- "Charity is a great thing but it's not the way to end hunger. We don't fund our department of defense through charity."Jeff Bridges

- experts in the film addressed that we have no food policy, and there needs to be a way to make healthy food accessible, "widespread governmental programs that are focused on the human individual."

Just some things to think about...

If you're interested in finding out more or taking action, you might start here. Or ask me! :)

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movies: Oscar Edition

Also called, Monday Movies: Sunday Edition. I thought I'd do a recap of the Best Picture nominated films I've seen, offering few thoughts on each (short and sweet). I've seen six out of the nine, not bad for a busy lady like myself. I'm impressed I got this posted before the awards are given out tonight!

Zero Dark Thirty

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I was very captivated by this film. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was gripping, thoughtful, and well-paced. It was the only movie of the nine that portrayed "real" events that we have all been witness to from the outside, and so there was a heightened intrigue and fascination. I love how they shot and edited the film, and I'm happy for Jessica Chastain.

Lincoln

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I'm writing this one last, and trying to gather my thoughts on it, considering I saw it first of the bunch, and I was sleepy while watching it, unfortunately. This one made me feel a lot of feelings. I know very little about Lincoln as a living, breathing person, but I felt like I was watching the real president up on the screen. I loved the struggle and the story of what motivates political change, and the supporting cast.  Who doesn't love the 16th president (well, aside from the obvious)?

Django Unchained

Oh, this movie. It was, what, 70% comedy, in my opinion. Dark comedy, but still. It was not as bloody and unbearable as I had been prepared for, and I think that much blood, done in that way, was more ridiculously comical and made it seem not so disturbing. (Personally, not much gets to me in movies, except torture scenes). The music was great, as were all the actors. I don't understand the criticism it has received for it's time-appropriate language (rather I applaud it); I thought it was a very fun movie to watch.

Les Misérables

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Unfortunately, I didn't much care for Les Mis. It was the only film of this bunch that I didn't really enjoy watching. Try as I might, I never felt the emotion of it or got to the point where I really felt and cared for the characters, even though I'm familiar with the story and the struggle (is that why I didn't get into it?). I was not expecting every word would be sung, so that was a surprise I would not have preferred. I think that Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway overall did well. Russel Crowe annoyed me; I feel like his face was always the same and said "I'm acting!" and his death was...weird. This movie, above all, should have made me feel, and it did not.

Silver Linings Playbook

This movie was my favorite if going by pure emotion. I was so looking forward to it for a while, and I'm glad it did not disappoint. I loved Bradley Cooper's character. I loved how real it felt, and very personal, due in large part I believe to the style in which it was shot and the acting abilities of the entire cast. It touched on how mental health does not just touch an individual, but the groups and systems that individual is a part of. It portrayed a struggle, suffering, light and realization. And what an acting departure for Bradley Cooper! The only thing that bugged me was the lack of consistency with his necklace position; it was always switching from shot to shot from being under his clothes to out of his clothes, in front to in back, and I noticed it! I've started reading the book on my Kindle; I'm curious to see how it compares in message and tone.

Argo

Luckily this came out just a little while ago, and I rented it and watched it on iTunes yesterday (I almost did the same with Life of Pi, but I would feel guilty for not doing homework)! I don't have a lot to say about it, it was just lovely. What a story, eh? Well done.

Overall, I feel there is a lot of subtlety in these movies (except for Django. It's not so subtle, but even so...) that brings a great quality to them. They are quiet and thoughtful and bring the viewer in rather than push them away in amazement. Which has my vote to win? I think Lincoln or Argo. The pups on Jimmy Fallon chose Argo, kinda sorta. ;)


- From the desk of Mrs. M

Hobbit Day

Kyle and I are dorks, and as such, we (I) bought us tickets to a Saturday morning viewing of The Hobbit a week early (no way it would sell out, but still), and planned to go to Denny's before the film (they have that new "Hobbit-inspired" menu). The Denny's in town, however, was permanently closed on December 2nd, as we learned when we drove up, saw no cars there and read the sign on the door. So we went to IHOP instead, then sent some Christmas gifts off, and then arrived at the theater, nice and early. This was our first time at the new theater in Belton, and it is way, way better than the one at the Temple mall (that smells of urine in the hall and has screens too small for the movies they project). This theater has a full cafe with Starbucks beverages; the special of the week is tilapia. But anyway, the movie was really good. The music was perfect, as always, and I don't think the movie dragged at all, which I'd been hearing. I won't say any more for those who haven't seen the film and wish to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In light of recent events, this quote from the movie spoke loudly to me. 

The full quote I believe is: "Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps because I am afraid, and he gives me courage."

- From the desk of Mrs. M