From netflix - Rails and Ties

Rails and Ties was one of those dramas that was ok while you were watching it , but didn't challenge you in any way, or stick with you much once it was over. Completely forgettable except for one or two scenes...I didn't realize till after that this movie was the directorial debut of Alison Eastwood, Clint's daughter.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I read this for the May book club - and let me say that I loved this book. It is set in Germany during WWII, and upon starting the first chapter, I wondered if I really wanted to read this...but the more I read, the more I liked it...the characters were deep and beautiful, and the writing itself was wonderful and rich. It was a fantastic story of human relationships, of course a very serious and tragic story, but not depressing actually. This book has been on the NYT bestseller list, in the Young Adult category. I loved it, and although had an emotional meltdown of sobbing in the last chapters, did not feel sad at the end of the story. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

From netflix - Catch and Release

This was a pretty enjoyable drama - Jennifer Garner plays the main character, whose fiance dies, (the wedding day turns into the day of his funeral)- and follows her struggle as she finds out that she didn't really know him as well as she thought. I only know Jennifer Garner from 13 going on 30, so I wasn't sure what to think but she was pretty good in this role. There is a scene where she is sitting in her wedding dress and thinking about life...Juliette Lewis was also really good in this movie. The one character I didn't like was Kevin Smith - he was like a cartoonish buffoon - was it written that way or should he just stay Silent?

My Life in Ruins

Saw this last week at the Spectrum with M. It was like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" sort of, only "lite' style, and without the wedding... enjoyable enough, but completely forgettable. Nice to see Richard Dreyfuss in this film though, and I do like Nia Vardalos.

Whatever Works 7/3/09

This came out today, the new Woody Allen film with Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood. Saw it at the Spectrum with M and liked it a lot. Interesting perspective about the randomness of connecting and clicking, kind of like M and I. Coffee afterwards at the Ultraviolet.

From netflix - Waitress

I love this movie. I think it is so funny, sad, uplifting, heartbreaking, all in a little cute film. Here is the greatest line:


Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away. They don't look at your face. They don't try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight, without an ounce of selfishness in it.

The first time I saw this movie, that part just made me sob. I guess I was feeling unloved that day.

The Standard

Had dinner here out with the girls the other night. I loved the throwback decor, it was just like being in the 'rec room'. The drink menu is great, lots of delicious drinks, I had a 'lemon drop'...the food was good too, I had the scallops and risotto.

http://standardalbany.com/