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

Monday Movies: Moonrise Kingdom, The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man

I thought I'd do a little post on the movies I've seen in theaters lately! Because they were all good and I like them and you should see them too!

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Moonrise Kingdom

I saw this with Claire and Nathalie while they were visiting for a few days around the fourth of July. Another quirky, smart, stylistic Wes Anderson movie. It was pretty cute. A little bit dark. Bruce Willis is old. Everyone is getting old. 

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The Dark Knight Rises
TDKR. Kyle and I went to see this on my birthday a couple weeks ago. We were pretty excited and even more excited after seeing the movie. It was really good. It was long, but needed the time to tell the story and develop the new characters and I'm glad it didn't rush things. It was fun seeing Pittsburgh and Heinz Field- Kyle and I have been to several games there; it would have been awesome to have been there for the open extras casting call when they shot the football scenes. I really want to see the movie again (IMAX would be amazing), but it may not happen until it comes out on dvd. Also: Tom Hardy is a beast and I may have a deep-seeded thing for Joseph Gordon Levitt. 3rd Rock From the Sun, anyone?

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The Amazing Spider-Man

We saw this this past weekend. Kyle and I both really liked this as well! I think it was cast well, and looking back, everyone was way less annoying than the Tobey Maguire trilogy actors/characters. It was definitely updated, made more sense, and I love Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone together. I'm looking forward to the sequel they set up for.

What have you seen and liked/disliked lately?

-Mrs. M

Movie Suggestions

I have not done a Monday Movie post in a while, due to being super busy and not having time to watch movies. I don't think I will pick it back up with any sort of regularity, but I wanted to share a few movie suggestions from what I've watched lately. They're all really different and all quite good, so depending on what you're in the mood for, you can't go wrong with these choices.

Midnight in Paris

Kyle and I watched this last night. It seems we have a pattern for Sundays of watching football in the afternoon and settling in with a movie of my choice in the evening. :) I had heard this was a really awesome movie though I didn't know much else about it (but clearly that was enough to add it to my Netflix cue straight away. also I love Paris). Ever since Marley and Me, I've looked at Owen Wilson in a different light. He's not just the goofy guy from Wedding Crashers or Zoolander, but a more versatile actor than you might think. Kyle said the movie was succinct (it's as long as a Disney movie). I think it was subtle.

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Tucker and Dale vs Evil
Kyle and I are both Alan Tudyk fans. Kyle saw this movie while deployed and thought I would enjoy it. I really did. It is hilarious hijinks. And bloody. And makes fun of college kids.

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Super 8
I already wrote and raved about this back when I saw it in theaters. I got it for Christmas and Kyle and I watched it together. I just love it. It makes me happy.

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Friends with Benefits
Yess I got Kyle to watch this with me. And you know what? He laughed. He laughed a lot. Even more than I did (it is inevitable that us ladies just don't get a good penis joke like the guys do). It's, you know, your typical romantic comedy, all while poking fun at the genre. I secretly (not so secretly?) love anything Justin Timberlake does, and while I prefer his music to his acting, he was good on screen too. Kyle kept hoping for a secret twist to be revealed, that the two were actually brother and sister (oh no!), but I knew that was a level of serious that the filmmakers wouldn't want to explore in a Justin Timberlake film.

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There you have it! My four choices for a good movie night. Pick one and pop some popcorn. The couch is calling...

{or for a funny read, check out Mindy Kaling's guide to women in the movies.}

- From the TV screen of Mrs. M

Monday Movie: The Kids are All Right

In The Kids are All Right, the children of two moms seek out their sperm donor father, who starts to become more and more a part of the family's life, causing friction and whatnot. It was a pleasant movie (I guess pleasantly troubled), good for a Sunday afternoon while multitasking. The actors and characters they played were quite good; it was a nice look at what a family is. Though maybe it is because I watched Mad Men a little while ago (but let's not get started on the reasons why I mostly hate Mad Men), but the story line where spouse cheats on the other spouse is kind of old and haven't we learned the lesson yet that bad things come of it? The humor kept it from being too depressing with all the self destruction, though I don't know that I believe things would fall apart so quickly. Maybe? It was a predictable movie and probably ended at the right time though I wanted it to go on a bit more.

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I watched the movie while enjoying some Dunkin' Donuts pumpkin spice coffee (and the kittens a little bit too), and a maple donut. Fall has officially started for me. Get ready to hear about it a lot on here.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movie: There Will Be Blood

I finally watched this in between and around work some days ago. That movie was crazy. It was very good. That's all I've got.

from Wikipedia

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movie: Lions for Lambs

I watched Lions for Lambs as per Kyle's request and suggestion. It sat on the table for about a week after it arrived from Netflix, until I got time and enough focus to watch it Saturday night after work. With a husband in the military, I have learned to become instantly shut off when there's a movie or TV show about what goes on over there during deployment; even seeing commercials for that TLC show about troops returning to surprise their loved ones; no thank you! Though news articles on the topic I sort of crave. I'm not sure it makes sense. I thought this movie was very good, filled with good actors living up to their status. I cringed and thought I might not make it through (I was also very tired, but it is also quite short), but it jumps between a few different settings, so it wasn't all watching two troops make a last stand in wintry Afghanistan (but watching that was not fun). It made me think about the bigger picture of this war beyond myself and my unexpected connection to it, which is probably something I should keep in mind more often. I'll probably expand more on this in the future, I was kind of thinking about it before watching the movie as well. For more of a review, you should read Kyle's post on the movie. 

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Have a nice Labor Day, everybody! I'm pretty tired from working all the time and the kittens waking me up at 4 or 5 am regularly. If the weather doesn't turn too terrible, I'm going to go take pictures of the General Potter Farm, and then I have work 4:30 to 10:30. I hope your celebrations are more exciting. 

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- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movie: The Change-Up

I saw The Change-Up a couple weeks ago with my good  friend Emma. It stars Jason Bateman. Of course I had to see it (I should do an Arrested Development post one of these days, huh). In the talk show circuits, both leads (the other being Ryan Reynolds) have poked fun at the movie's less than original plot of body swapping, stating however, that never has a rated R version been done, and this is a very very rated R version. So I went to see it expecting it to be quite crude and aiming to please with poop jokes. While there was certainly poop, cringing, and more breasts than Emma and I were expecting, it also had a heartfelt side, which was obviously that the two leads wanted their own lives back (for the right reasons, not just the initial panic early on of waking up in your best friends body) and realized things about themselves that could use some work. I'd say it was a pretty successful "remake" of switcheroo movies of the past, though it's not a movie I need to see again any time soon.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movie: The Cove (plus a few others)

If you like whales and dolphins, this post is for you! I wasn't planning on including four movies for this post, but one got me thinking about another, and it just kind of happened. I am a sucker for cetaceans. 

Last fall I think it was, I watched the documentary The Cove twice in a row on Netflix instant view. I vaguely remembered hearing about it around academy award time in the last few years, but I decided to watch it because I love dolphins and whales (little known fact about me: I kind of want to move to the Northwest coast because it is really pretty there and they have whales). Obviously I really enjoyed the film. It was so sad and interesting, a real life spy movie. It reminded me of my childhood dream of being a dolphin trainer (oops). It's a really great film. You should watch it. It might make you a little sick to your stomach.




I thought of The Cove for Monday Movie this week because I stumbled upon an upcoming film, The Whale.

"Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, The Whale is the true story of a young killer whale, an orca nicknamed Luna, who makes friends with people after he gets separated from his family on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. As rambunctious and surprising as a visitor from another planet, Luna endears himself to humans with his determination to make contact, which leads to laughter, conflict and unexpected consequences."

 And that also got me thinking about Whale Rider, which I watched and enjoyed this past spring. 

And I ended up of course thinking about Free Willy and that Michael Jackson song, which, not gonna lie, I still love (except for the part at the end where he talks). I may have just danced around the apartment with a kitten on my shoulder. Maybe.

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

This was definitely the best, or least bad, of all of the eight movies. I think maybe because there was less talking and more doing? I enjoyed the action and the music, the build up and the drama. Daniel Radcliffe is not the best Harry (he is the weakest of all the characters in my opinion; not good, especially when you're playing the title role), but I enjoyed the movie for the most part. The epilogue was kinda terrible and looked really bad, though; I had to laugh. But they tried.

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

A twist on Monday Movie

Sorry- no review this week. I did see the new/last Harry Potter late Sunday night, but I don't feel like writing the review yet (look for it next Monday). I do have an upcoming movie to tell you about, however! I really want to see 30 Minutes or Less, coming to theaters August 12. I quite like both Jesse Eisenberg (I had a dream where we were good friends) and Aziz Ansari (from my new favorite NBC comedy Parks and Recreation), so I hope it is as entertaining as it looks like it could be. 

Welcome, August! It is Shark Week. Enjoy!

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Away We Go

This week I'm sharing one of my all-time favorite movies, Away We Go (2009). The movie stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, as an early thirties couple who are expecting their first child and recently released from any home ties, so they set off on a trip to figure out where they want to start their new family. I think it is a funny, sad, thoughtful, lovely movie. It is both uplifting and a little bit depressing, usually leaving me with a smile and a tear. Krasinski and Rudolph are wonderful together. The relationship between the two leads is something to be admired. Critics have taken issue with them, stating that Burt and Verona are "smug, superior, and condescending," that their relationship is "implausibly ideal." But you know what? They do have a superior relationship. To me it is kind of the ideal. The two fully acknowledge their imperfections and worries, but they exude so much confidence in their love for one another. We see them in contrast to their odd, broken, self-absorbed friends and family that they visit on their journey, played by a great supporting cast. The soundtrack, primarily featuring singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch, suits the movie perfectly. For me this is a comfort film, but it makes me miss Kyle so I can't actually watch it very often. Kyle enjoys the movie too, and we watched it the day we got married. Maybe we kind of like to see ourselves in Verona and Burt. Anyway, I love this movie; perhaps it will be an anniversary tradition (along with brunch at Ihop).

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Horrible Bosses

I had to see this because it looked amusing, I love Jason Bateman, and I unlike the rest of the world did not want to see Harry Potter opening weekend (people really think the opening of the last HP movie signals the end of our childhood? But the movies are not even good. And we already know what happens. Remember, from the book that came out years ago? I don't get it). Anyway, when the movie started I was confused for a split second and thought I was watching I Love You, Man, because they use the same song near the beginning of the film (as anyone who has watched I Love You, Man as many times as I have would immediately recognize). I feel like sometimes comedians and comedy films swear a lot because they feel they have to to be edgy or something but it just comes off unnatural and awkward, and the start of Horrible Bosses kind of felt like it was trying too hard. But once the three disgruntled employees decided for sure they were going to kill their bosses, the movie really picked up and seemed a bit more natural and appropriately ridiculous. Charlie Day, of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and kitten mittens, did not disappoint and probably provided the most laughs. I don't much care for Sudeikis anyway, and his character was the least interesting to me. Bateman did what he usually does, and to me it will never get old and always amuse me. Overall it was pretty funny, perhaps a little more crude than I was expecting for some reason, and not a film I would rush back to see again.

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Happythankyoumoreplease

I'm not entirely sure why I decided to watch this movie in the first place. I guess I was mostly curious to see what else Ted (Josh Radnor) from How I Met Your Mother could do. Apparently a lot- he wrote, directed and starred in Happythankyoumoreplease (2011). I bet he's also the one who decided that the title shouldn't have spaces between the words (zing!). The movie starts out as a "guy has a bad day amid what seems to be a less than spectacular life and also an apparently homeless/familyless small child latches on to him on the subway" sort of movie. You know the type. I've seen reviews compare it to Garden State, describing it as "a small film about a group of twentysomethings at life's crossroads with an indie soundtrack." Aside from those few traits I don't think it was especially similar. Seven characters share the lead (sort of); the movie goes into their individual/couple story lines. Relationships, friends, life, troubles, New York. It's a more-romantic-than-not, sorta serious comedy. A fun surprise was discovering that Tony Hale (of Arrested Development fame) was in the film. I liked the movie, it was sweet. The characters, though somewhat familiar in the romcom genre, still brought something new. It had a lot of "movie" lines, though, things people say that just sound like they belong in/came from a movie ("You're a mess!" "What, you don't need a project?" "I'm a mess too, trust me." "So let's...let's clean each other up" and "You're a good man Sam Wexler. Go get yourself loved."). Ted did a good job for a first attempt. 

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: The Social Network

My latest Netflix arrival was The Social Network (2010), a movie I had no particular feelings toward but figured I should see. I also kind of like both Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake. I can't comment on the accuracy of the movies portrayal of real events and people, but that's not really what I look for in a movie anyway (I mean, it's a movie. Adapted from a book.). The first word I can think of to sum up the movie is simply "cool." It got going right from the start, and it ended when I was not expecting it. Considering you still see stories in the news about the legal battles surrounding the start up of Facebook, I suppose knowing where they were going to end the film should have been somewhat unpredictable. I liked it. The movie felt subtle, also like it was very well crafted and carefully planned, from the shots to the script. It was artfully done, reflecting their portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg as a quick, well-spoken, overly (in)sensitive character I suppose. The soundtrack was noteworthy; it fit in really well and the movie wouldn't have been the same with anything different playing in the background. The Social Network was a good movie; not something I would expect myself to like as much as I did.

Happy 4th of July everyone! It's a pretty amazing, odd, messed-up, impressive and wonderful country we live in!

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Marley & Me

I've run out of newly released movies to review; it was unusual for me to see so many movies in such a short time.

I haven't read the book, but Marley & Me (2008) has been playing on FX for a few nights and I've caught just about the whole thing. I was surprised that I quite enjoyed it. Maybe the surprise was that somehow Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson made what seem odd roles for them work. It was a touching story. It felt like a very complete look at thirteen or so years of a family's life even though of course it was made up of scenes sometimes years apart. I kept wondering how many times they had to shoot one scene and how many dogs they used for the whole thing. IMDB tells me 22 dogs. Another fun fact: In looking up the author of the book, John Grogan, I found that he is apparently a fan of Bill Bryson, probably my favorite all-around author. Nice. Anyway, it is one of those movies that will make you feel warm and happy inside, and really want a dog (but the kittens will suffice for now!).

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Thor

I don't have too much to say about Thor; it's been a while since I watched it. It was an alright movie- enjoyable enough and made me want to learn more about Norse mythology. I enjoyed the comedic aspects of the film- powerful god comes down to Earth still acting like a powerful god and the locals think he's crazy. I think it was well cast, though Anthony Hopkins as Odin was a little weird for some reason, and Natalie Portman was just a little bit irritating as always.

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Super 8

I wasn't sure that I especially wanted to see Super 8, but my curiosity got the best of me. I really wanted to know what the mystery creature/thing was and what was going on (don't worry, I wont say). The trailers definitely had an E.T. feel to them- the sparkling mystery music, the panning zoom-in-and-out shots, and the adventurous children taking the central focus (pretty easy to tell Spielberg is somewhere behind the film).

I was very pleasantly surprised. This movie made me really happy. I was just smiling throughout, thoroughly enjoying it. I liked the story, the filming, the acting; everything came together nicely. All the characters were great; the kids were impressive actors, hilarious and adorable. The story kept your interest from beginning to end and you never could quite tell what was going to happen next. There was humor, adventure, family drama, mystery, disaster, sadness, a little romance, and a lot of late 70s lingo. It carried a serious side story throughout (in addition to the main event) while never getting too serious, thanks to the kids comedic interactions and reactions to unfolding events. That's not to say you won't tear up at one point or another. It may occasionally get a little cheesy at times, and it may be a throwback to Spielberg movies of the past, however I found it to be fresh and fun.

A big event happens to a little town, but the event got much bigger and more out of control than I predicted. The logic and back story of the event are only partially there, but this is the kind of movie where you're supposed to take that as it is and focus on everything else going on. Maybe I got sucked in by the childlike wonder of it all, the twists, turns and effects, but I think it was a really great movie. When you see it, make sure you stay for the credits (they don't even make you wait until after the credits on this one, so you have no excuse not to).

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Wednesday Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Ok. So. It is Wednesday, not Monday. Oops. Kyle said that my readers, all five of you, would be disappointed since I forgot my movie review this Monday. Better late than never!

Kyle and I saw the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie back in Killeen a few weeks ago; we had some time to kill and there is not much to do around there. When it comes to the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise I am not a fan. I liked the first one, but the second and third were not enjoyable. There was too much going on, too many characters constantly switching sides, too much Kiera Knightly and Orlando Bloom. Right off the bat the fourth film is improved upon films 2 and 3 in regards to the latter issue. On Stranger Tides kept it a bit simpler. There were still a number of different parties partaking in the same treasure hunt (the Fountain of Youth, famously associated with Ponce de León), and the lines defining which side various characters were on were still a bit blurry and jumping around, but it was better; less excessively complicated. Captain Jack Sparrow pulls some wacky hijinks as usual, but we've all gotten used to his character and therefore his trickster, rum-loving, always-finds-a-way-out-of-trouble self does not seem as fun or original as he once did. I generally liked the addition of the new characters- they all, even the doe-eyed mermaid, had more depth than Will and Elizabeth (I really don't like them).  The movie wasn't great, but it was an improvement on the last two. They should probably stop making them now.

PS- I am bored of the blog design so I'll be working on changing it. In the meantime, enjoy these rainy mountains.

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson

Monday Movie: Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids is a highly talked about comedy with a cast of funny ladies known for their work in other comedy shows and movies (The Office, SNL, Reno 911, Away We Go, etc). Kyle and I went to see it with his family last weekend when they were visiting (that's not to say it is exactly a family movie). As Kyle wrote, it is definitely deserving of its R rating. It was more crude humor than I expected; at times I wasn't sure whether to be horrified or hysterically laughing, but it was an entertaining movie. I was at least a little familiar with most of the leading cast and it was interesting to see some of them in different roles (um. Sookie from Gilmore Girls whaat). From a wedding planning perspective, I can not relate one bit, but I also haven't gone past the "this would be nice..." stage of planning, and my bridesmaids all do not live near to me- closest Philadelphia and DC, furthest Qatar- and this not being a real wedding I'm not exactly sure what their roles are. But if they want to hand out puppies in berets at my bridal shower, I'd be OK with that.

Happy Memorial Day! Keep PFC McPherson in your thoughts!  

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson