Oscars 2013: Recap

Some random thoughts from last night's Oscars as written down on the back of my picks. (Of which, I got 11/24. That is pretty good for me.)

--I loved that the guy who accepted the award for "Brave" was wearing a kilt.
--Playing the "Jaws" theme to get people off of the stage was hilarious.
--Has there ever been a tie before? History in the making.
--The "Sound of Music" bit before Christopher Plummer came on stage.
--The "Sound of Music" bit before Christopher Plummer came on stage. (Yes, I will list it twice because it was the highlight for me.)
--The Academy museum sounds pretty cool.
--Loved the quote from Nora Ephron in the memorial montage: "The hardest thing about writing is writing."
--Daniel Day-Lewis had a great acceptance speech.
--Jennifer Lawrence is pretty awesome.
--Michelle Obama presenting best picture.
--Ben Affleck. (Written in all caps)

Also:
--I love Anne Hathaway's hair. Did not love the dress but the back was neat.
--We played Oscar bingo with cards from How About Orange, and it was super fun.
--Seth MacFarlane was not as bad as he could have been. He had some funny moments and also some really questionable jokes, but overall, I was surprised that is wasn't the worst hosting I've ever seen.

Oscars Week 2013: Movie Reviews & My Picks

For the conclusion to our Oscars week, I thought I would (finally!) focus on the movies that I've seen this Oscars season. I was actually surprised there were so few that I'd seen, as I had wanted to see a lot of them (Anna Karenina, Argo, Hitchcock, Les Miserables, Lincoln, and Wreck-It Ralph). But here they are:

Brave: I was surprised by "Brave," as I didn't think the preview accurately prepared me for what the movie was actually about. But aside from that, I was surprised by the message that it put out there, and really liked that message, even though I didn't love the plot as much as I thought I would.

Flight: I was also surprised by "Flight," even though I did know that it took a different focus than I expected, even after being warned. I thought the acting was the main strength of the movie, as it seemed to be a story that really moved forward based on the characters vs. the plot. I will say that I kind of never want to fly again now.

Silver Linings Playbook: When previews for this movie started coming out, I knew I had to see it. And when it started receiving all of its "Oscar Buzz," I knew it wouldn't disappoint me. And it didn't. It wasn't predictable, which it could have been, because I think the relationship in the movie are complicated and real and I liked that.

***

So. After reviewing books and movies for this year's Oscars, here's how I would decide the Oscars Sunday. These aren't all of the categories, just the ones I had a strong opinion on based on what I've seen and read.

Best Picture: Silver Linings Playbook

Actor In A Leading Role: Denzel Washington, Flight (This was tough for me, as I really thought Bradley Cooper was fantastic in "Silver Linings Playbook.")

Actress In A Leading Role: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Actor In A Supporting Role: Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook

Actress In A Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables (Even though I haven't seen it, I love her.)

Animated Feature Film: Brave

Visual Effects: Life of Pi

Writing, Adapted Screenplay: Lincoln

Oscars Week 2013: Argo

The books I chose to read for this year's Oscar week were chosen somewhat at random, but in the end it worked out to be almost a science. I wanted to read books that had movies that were nominated for best picture. Because I don't like to see a movie before reading the book, I wanted these to be movies that I hadn't actually seen. It also went by what I could find at at the library.

And while I normally try to avoid book covers with the movie image on them, it's appropriate for this week to show you that cover with my review.

 

image source

The Book: Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off The Most Audacious Rescue in History, by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio

Nominated For: Actor In a Supporting Role, Best Picture, Film Editing, Music (Original Score), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

 

Book Review: I think Argo was my favorite Oscar book I read for this week. It had less of a novel feel than the other two books. (I felt that Team of Rivals was a mix of novel and biography.) It was very straightforward and very interesting. I appreciated that there was some historial context in the beginning of the book to help frame the story, especially since I was not alive for the events that occurred in the book. I also liked that it seemed to me that I was getting an inside look at the CIA, like I was watching an episode of "Alias" maybe.

 

Book vs. Movie: I think everyone I know saw this movie except for me. I'm actually glad that I was able to read this book before the movie, as I think the context will help me enjoy the movie a little better. I was on the edge of my seat while reading the book, so I can only imagine how seeing these events unfold can be as impactful.

Oscars Week 2013: Team of Rivals

The books I chose to read for this year's Oscar week were chosen somewhat at random, but in the end it worked out to be almost a science. I wanted to read books that had movies that were nominated for best picture. Because I don't like to see a movie before reading the book, I wanted these to be movies that I hadn't actually seen. It also went by what I could find at at the library.

And while I normally try to avoid book covers with the movie image on them, it's appropriate for this week to show you that cover with my review.

 

image source

 

The Book: Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin

Nominated For: Actor In a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Actress In a Supporting Role, Best Picture, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Original Score), Production Design, Sound Mixing, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

 

Book Review: History is an interesting thing, and the point that Doris Kearns Goodwin best makes in Team of Rivals is that history relies on context, and we need that to understand the bigger picture. In the introduction to the book, she says, "Without the march of events that led to the Civil War, Lincoln still would have been a good man, but most likely would never have been publicly recognized as a great man. It was history that gave him the opportunity to manifest his greatness, providing the stage that allowed him to shape and transform our national life."

 

Yes. History gave him the opportunity to manifest his greatness. But this is something that we can't understand until there is context, and we can only see his greatness by looking at how this history, Abraham Lincoln's history, shaped his world and the world to come. When we look back at the decisions made by that generation, the lives they led, and the world they lived in, we have to look at everything to truly understand the history there. What I enjoyed about Team of Rivals was the amount of context Kearns provided, the details about all of the major players to help me understand more about this fascinating time in America's history, and the man behind it.

 

Book vs. Movie: "Lincoln" was one of the Oscar movies I wanted to see, and I can see how the movie would still be able to provide a lot of the context that Team of Rivals has, but in a visual way instead of a more biographical way. The movie would be able to show the time period and give us the context of history in a different way than the book does while still getting the same points across.

Oscars Week 2013: Life of Pi

The books I chose to read for this year's Oscar week were chosen somewhat at random, but in the end it worked out to be almost a science. I wanted to read books that had movies that were nominated for best picture. Because I don't like to see a movie before reading the book, I wanted these to be movies that I hadn't actually seen. It also went by what I could find at at the library.

 

And while I normally try to avoid book covers with the movie image on them, it's appropriate for this week to show you that cover with my review.

 

image source

The book: Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Nominated For: Best Picture, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound mixing, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Book Review: For no reason really, I have never picked this book up before now, even though it has been very well-received and I have seen it at the library often. I was glad that Oscar Week gave me the push I needed to check it out.

It took me a bit to get into the book, I will say, but only because the style and format was so different than what I normally read. However, I really enjoyed it once I got used to it, and I think that it is so applicable to the story, and the story wouldn't have been so engaging if it was written any other way. 

 

The best part of this book is the end's ambiguity. I love books that keep me up at night rereading, that make me want to ask people if they've read it so that we can talk about it, and that really keep me thinking long after the book is finished.

 

I also loved this quote, which I think perfectly summarizes the book:

 

"The world isn't just the way it is. It is how we understand it, no? And in understanding something, we bring something to it, no? Doesn't that make life a story?"

 

Book vs. Movie: I can definitely see advantages of a film adaptation for this book, as the story is so dependant on creating a visual world for the reader. (Though I did discover that there is an illustrated version of the book that I think I would really enjoy.) For people like me who don't have the best imagination, I think I would really enjoy seeing the scenes of the book; however, I will say that there are some scenes I'm not sure I'd be able to watch based on my reacation to reading them. 

 

I think that the advantage of seeing the ending vs. reading would help me understand the ending better, but I also wonder if if would take away something, as well.



Oscars Week 2013: The Nominees & Other Fancies

The Oscars are less than a week away, and I can hardly wait. So this week, I'll not only be talking about the movies, but the books behind some of the nominated films. If you need a primer on what's been nominated this year, here they are.

If you're anything like me, you're probably going to get distracted on that site for a while. My favorites:

Oscar Love Letters. "Gone With the Wind" and "The Sound of Music" in the same place? Yes.
Best Picture Oscar Statues. Love trying to guess what movie each statue represents.
Historical Timeline. Not only is it fun to go back in time, but I love that I can take the timeframe of my novel (1950s-1960s) and see what kind of movies and celebrities would be shaping pop culture then.
Oscar Questionnaires. It's not only fun to read the answers, but see who handwrote vs. typed and who had much to say and who didn't.

Now, that should hold you over for today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my first Oscar book review.

Staycation

Hello, and here I am, back again. Over Labor Day weekend, my parents came to visit, and then my mom and I spent the next week together--she had a Lincoln vacation and I had a staycation.

We had a LOT of fun while my dad was here. We got to watch the first Huskers game, shop for a door, put up some handrails so I don't potentially hurt myself when I fall up or down the stairs, and spend some time exploring Lincoln. We took the dogs (Macie the Newfoundland and Shelby, of course) to Branched Oak Lake and James Arthur Vineyard, Bread and Cup in the Haymarket, the stadium, and Pioneers Park. Everyone had a lot of fun, especially the dogs. Here they are swimming. Macie is a very experienced swimmer, and Shelby is the kind of swimmer that likes being in the water, but doesn't like everyone being all over the place. It's the herder in her.

 

During the week, my mom and I worked on embroidering a set of dish towels for my cousin's bridal shower and watching Netflix. Oh yes, and drinking wine. We went garage sale-ing on Friday and she found lots of good stuff, plus some stuff for me. Over the weekend we had two bridal showers: one for my friend Leah and then one for my cousin. On Monday, we went and saw "The Words," which I highly recommend, not just because it is about writing. She and Macie left Tuesday though, so it was back to real life for all of us. 

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

This weekend, Nathan and I (and the rest of the country, apparently) went to see "The Hunger Games." Now, normally we avoid going to movies on opening weekend if we can, but we'll be so busy the next few weeks and I didn't want to wait. Luckily, it was OK, aside from the semi-loud woman who was, of course, sitting right behind us.

Now, if you haven't seen the movie or read the books, STOP reading. Consider this a spoiler alert, because I'm going to talk about what I liked and didn't like about the movie. It will also contain some book spoilers. So stop. Now.

What I Liked:
*I actually liked all of the casting decisions. I didn't think I would like Katniss, but as the movie went on, she seemed like the right choice.
*I liked the music and sound effects they had throughout the movie (except for the ringing after the explosion, because I have actual ringing in my ears!). I thought it added a lot to the plot.
*Overall, I liked the adaptation--it's an already disturbing plot, and seeing it made it even more so. Nathan and I agreed that the scene at the cornucopia was very hard to watch.
*The costumes. Gorgeous.

What I Didn't LIke:
This section is more of a "what I wished they included" that I think made the movie less effective than the book.
*The girl from district 12 who works in the capitol.
*More on how she knew the berries were poisonous (or her mother)
*Her relationship with Rue.
*My sister pointed this out, but definitley more on her relationship with Gael. They hardly looked at this and it becomes pretty important. (Also, I always said Guy-al, thanks to that episode of How I Met Your Mother!)

So, those are my thoughts. What did everyone else think?

Oscar Week: Moneyball

Movie: Moneyball
Book: Moneyball, by Michael Lewis

Nominations: Actor In a Leading Role, Actor In a Supporting Role, Best Picture, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

My Thoughts: This is a book I don't think I would have picked up on my own. We did watch the movie last weekend, and while none of my other "reviews" have been about the movie, I think that the story that is Moneyball, at least for me, was easier to understand while watching the movie rather than reading the book. Of course, I think the book goes into a bit more detail, but because I am not especially familiar with baseball recuriting, the movie details were hard enough for me to grasp. My favorite part of the story overall was that it mixed in Billy Beane's history with baseball with the story of the Oakland A's. And as always with real-life stories, I wished I knew the rest of the story once the book/movie was over, and I have to admit I was searching google and wikipedia to see what has happened since then. So, if you love baseball, sports, statistics, etc., I recommend the book, but if you're like me and are better at "visually learning," the movie might be better. I know, I, too, can't believe I typed that.

Oscar Week: The Descendants

Movie: The Descendants
Book: The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
Nominations: Actor In a Leading Role, Best Picture, Directing, Film Editing, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

My Thoughts: This was the only book/movie I was not familiar with before starting it. It felt very different from the other books I’ve talked about so far, mainly because of the way it was written. It was not as descriptive and definitely focused more on the characters than the story. The main character, Matt, must deal with the circumstances surrounding his wife’s coma, and help his children deal with it, as well. The emotions make up a huge part of the story, especially since every character deals with this experience in a different way. Things become even more complicated, but I don’t want to give anything away. I would be interested in seeing what the movie adaptation would be like.

Oscar Week: The Help

Movie: The Help
Book: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

Nominations: Actress In a Leading Role, Actress In a Supporting Role (1), Actress In a Supporting Role (2), Best Picture

My Thoughts: This was a book I had actually read before the movie was made, and I loved it. I honestly think this is one of my favorite books. The time period is interesting, and Stockett does a fantastic job of painting a picture that seems so real. It is thought-provoking. The book also features an ensemble of characters, rather than one main character and many supporting characters—every character is so different in terms of their experiences, what drives them, what motivates them, and the decisions they make, and that is something that is unique. I also love that the book is a story of determination, just as the book is a product of Kathryn Stockett’s determination.

Oscar Week: Hugo

I really like the Oscars, even though I tend to think books are always superior to the movies they are adapted into. I always try to read the book before I see the movie (at least if it’s a book that is well-known before the movie is made). But there is something exciting and interesting about seeing books turned into movies and how the world that is created meshes with the world you created yourself. So, in celebration of Oscar Week, I checked out four books that are nominated for Best Picture (among other nominations) to experience the stories that are behind the nominations. And, if you’re wondering how I chose these four, it came down to what was available at the library. Today, we’ll start with the movie with the highest number of nominations.

Movie: Hugo
Book: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Nominations: Art Direction, Best Picture, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Original Score), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

My Thoughts: I was initially surprised when I picked up The Invention of Hugo Cabret from the library: For a children’s book, it seemed to be very long. But after starting the book, it was over too soon and not long enough. The other wonderful part of The Invetion of Hugo Cabret is that there are beautifully drawn pictures. The story is really interesting, and the pictures complement that very well. The characters are more complex than you usually find in children’s books, and I love that there is a boy character and a girl character for all kids to relate to. I can definitely see the desire for this to be a movie, as the visual effects of the books are wonderful and I can only imagine the movie makes them even better.

A Mouse In The House

This weekend, our peaceful movie night featuring Moneyball (which was really good), was interrupted by some rustling upstairs. However, it was not upstairs, but in the ceiling. Unfortunately, there had to be some kind of rodent living in our ductwork. It was way below freezing, after all, and the little guy was just trying to stay warm.

We set out some traps yesterday, but haven't heard another peep (aside from the squeak I heard yesterday while putting away the groceries). I'm hoping that said rodent decided to just leave now that it's warmed up and we won't have to use the traps, because they make me sad. But, we certainly don't want a mouse running around, either.

The whole incident reminded me of The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. After first reading the book when I was little, I really hoped the borrowers were real, and that maybe I would eventually find some. Unfortunately, I never did. Maybe the reason we haven't caught anything in our traps is because the intruder is not mice, but borrowers, and they were just extra loud on Saturday night because they were having a party.

Another movie version of The Borrowers comes out this Friday: The Secret World Of Arrietty, with voices by Will Arnett and Amy Poehler, among others. Maybe we'll have to check it out to learn some tips on living with them.

Movie Review: One Day

One Day was recommended to me by my friend Lisa, who started reading it and absolutely loved it. She got the book for me and I also couldn't put it down. The plot is a simple enough idea: looking at one day, the same day, every year over the course of many, and how relationships and lives change. The two main characters, Emma and Dexter, experience life's ups and downs, as does their relationship. While I wondered if so many big events happen on the same day, for the sake of the story, I think it works fantastically. And looking at one day also lets the author write about little moments, and how they can become the bigger moments down the road, which I think is a very realistic portrayal of life.

The movie version of One Day has Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. I really questioned Anne Hathaway as Emma, because while I love her, I was dubious of her English accent. But she was perfect, and while watching the movie, it was very accurate to the characters I had pictured in my head, and their interactions seemed to match book Dex and Emma just as I'd imagined them. I can see how this would be a hard movie to adapt, simply because of all of the different stories. The book obviously provides more context for each of the years, and the movie actually didn't show much of some of the years, obviously in the interest of time. In a sense, I thought the movie made things a bit easier to understand, because it seemed to flow between the years more clearly. And especially in the end, the movie had a lot more impact on me--it definitely impacted Nathan, too.

Library Love: DVDs

It seems like it's been forever since I've talked about what I've read/done a book review. Recently, I discovered that the local library keeps a record of everything you've checked out, a reading history. Just another reason to love them! This week, I'll go over what I've "checked out" lately (I believe this is since March), broken out into different categories. Today's category is the DVDs I've gotten from the library, because I think it's awesome how big of a selection is available. Once netflix charges us more for DVDs, we'll start having a "queue" at the library instead, because those are free...

I'd also like to note that the only one I requested was Modern Family. Everything else was an impulse grab. I was really surprised I was able to find all of these without requesting them! And most of these are probably from this summer, rather than since March, so even more impressive.

Coco before Chanel. 
Everybody's fine. 
Fool's gold. 
Remember me.
Salt. 
Black swan. 
The lovely bones. 
The kids are all right. 
Modern family : Season 1.
Toy story. 

Movie Review: Midnight In Paris

I love watching movies outside in the summertime. The local independent movie theater here does "Screen On The Green," where it shows old movies based on a certain "theme" every Thursday night from around the beginning of July to the end of August. I haven't gotten to go to many in the past, so I wanted to make sure I wouldn't miss them this year. I went over to the Web site, and while I didn't any info on "Screen On The Green," I DID find showtimes for "Midnight In Paris."

I had come across the movie when searching for a movie for the family to see when we were in Denver, and thought it sounded interesting. Here is the synopsis, taken from the IMDb page: A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.

And so, Nathan and I had an impropmtu movie night, and we both loved it.

The movie opened with Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson on Monet's bridge in Giverney, so I knew I would love it. The movie, while dealing with feelings of nostalgia for time period you're not in and confronting the concept of living in the past, is hilarious, especially to literary/classical art/music dorks like Nathan and I. Or should I say nerds? In fact, there were parts where, as usual, Nathan and I were the only people laughing. (This seems to happen in every movie we go to.)

It's also about writing, and how sometimes you need to let go in order to move forward, which also applies to life. And Owen Wilson is lucky enough to experience Paris in the 1920s to help him do that. If only we could all be so lucky, too!

And even if you're not a super nerd like us, it's not a typical romantic comedy--instead, it has some elements of love while dealing with a serious theme, creating intellectual humor, and giving a history lesson. I definitely suggest you check it out if you can. It's at the Ross until Thursday, and I'm sure other cities have more availability for it, if you aren't a Lincolnite.

Book (& Movie) Review: Something Borrowed

I discovered Emily Giffin the summer after my freshman year in college, and loved her books right away. The two that she had out at the time were Something Borrowed and Something Blue, and aside from catchy, awesome names and super fun cover designs (which she has carried over to the rest of her books, which someone with OCD-like tendencies with books appreciates), they are so well-written and relatable. Since then, I've bought (and read multiple times) the rest of her books, even taking the day off last year when her newest one came out. She is definitely one of my favorite authors.

With most chick lit, I really care about the story. Well, most books actually. I don't necessarily get really invested in the characters or spend my reading time thinking about the people who are actually invovled in the story, unlike some people (Nathan). But Emily Giffin's books basically force you into thinking about the characters because they're so well-developed and not perfect, stereotypes of people. If anything, they're more like real people because they have personalities, flaws, and depth.

Her storylines have depth, as well, in that the choices that the characters make and the situations they are put in aren't black-and-white in terms of what's right or wrong. For example, in Something Borrowed, Rachel falls in love with her best friend's fiance. But you find yourself understanding the circumstances surrounding the affiar. Her other books are the same, in that sense, but with different characters exploring different challenging topics, such as cheating, children, and questioning a marriage, all in the same world, meaning she does have characters from other books re-appear, which I love.

I think the characters vs. storyline really came into play in the movie adaptation. I have been so excited for Something Borrowed to come out, because I follow Emily Giffin on Facebook, and she has been talking about it from the very beginning. (This is another one of my favorite things about her--she is really excited about her fans and does lots of contests and giveaways and interacts with everyone often.) And I finally saw it Friday for girls' night. And, contrary to my normal "the book was way better and the movie sucked" reaction to most movies made from my favorite books, I really liked it, and thought it perfectly captured the spirit of the book.

There were actually few major changes in the movie, story-wise, and most of the changes seemed to be character-related. Ethan, played by Jim from the office, had a bigger role in the movie than the book, which I loved. Another character, Claire, was a little crazier but I thought it provided some good opportunities for humor. And while I didn't love the idea of Kate Hudson as Darcy, she did a great job. There were only two things I didn't love, and I can't go into them without ruining the movie.

Overall, I was very pleased, and I will definitely go again if anyone wants to go!

Movie Review: Stranger Than Ficion

I don't especially love Will Ferrell movies, but there are three that he's done that I absolutely love. One is "Elf," the second is "Curious George," and the third, which I'm going to review today, is "Stranger Than Fiction.

I saw this in the theaters with a friend when it came out in 2006, and loved it. It was about books, it was about writing, it was about life, and it made you think, about all of that and more. And so, when I found out Nathan hadn't seen it, I added it to our Netflix queue.

The second time watching it was no different. Well, except for the brief nap Shelby and I took, but that's expected during Sunday afternoon movies on a cold January day. But the plot, the events, and quote in particular still struck me. And the idea of someone writing and narrating your life and affecting your choices, deciding whether you're in a comedy or a tragedy, all fill the space of something bigger. How do we write our own stories? How do we go along with the choices that are written for us: Do we simply sit and wait for plot to happen to us or do we make the plot? And are our lives sometimes really stranger than the fiction we wrap ourselves up in?

Here's the quote that has stuck with me through today, and it's what I'll be thinking about today:

Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention . . .  an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause.