Last weekend, we went to the movies -- like, in the actual theater -- for just the third time this year, to see "Up in the Air" (the other two of 2009 were "Revolutionary Road" and "The Hangover", an odd couple to say the least). I thought this film was really well done; that Vera Farmiga really brings something new and resonant and meaningful to the table, doesn't she? And George Clooney delivered a subtle, human performance that rather surprised me. Not that he's a bad actor, but oftentimes I feel like he does a lot of winking at the audience, like on some level he's going, "Can you believe they pay me millions of bucks for this?" I mean, the "Ocean's Eleven" series is basically an extended inside joke between him and Brad Pitt; they're movie stars capering about, having a jolly good time, but they're not really acting. So this was on another level, and it was timely, relevant and engrossing. Recommended!
That evening, we ended up with a Netflix selection that somehow coerced us into watching "He's Just Not That into You." I think Sarah Brown said it best when she described it as being roughly 80 hours long and making me wish I was dead. I mean, it's not like I had high expectations, but it managed to be worse than I could have imagined. It wasn't utterly unwatchable, since there was so much to make sarcastic comments about, but on the whole it was quite awful. The film managed to portray both men and women in such a negative light that if you didn't know better, you'd end up with an awfully bleak view of humanity -- men cheat and/or refuse to commit! women bow and scrape to get men to pay attention to them! men treat women abysmally because they like them! and women will FALL FOR IT, so desperate are they for the male gaze. HURL.
Poor Ginnifer Goodwin, who is positively luminous on-screen, had to play this pathetic, insecure MESS of a girl, who continually threw herself at guys who wanted nothing to do with her, yet she could not read the head-bludgeoningly obvious signs that they weren't interested. OH, it was painful. And we were supposed to believe that Jennifer Aniston was the old maid out of three sisters? Please. Spare me. Uh, NOT recommended.
Then, this weekend, we watched "Julie & Julia", which was cute enough even though there were long stretches during which nothing much seemed to happen; if nothing else, it was worthwhile just to see Meryl Streep in action as Julia Child. I wish Meryl Streep were, like, my godmother or something. She seems so deliciously charming and, durr, obviously she's crazy talented. Anyway, I like Amy Adams a great deal, so I have to believe that her blantant Meg Ryan mimicry was the result of Nora Ephron's direction. I suppose there are only so many ways to be perky when you're pretending to type on a laptop, but every time she blogged, she went right into "You've Got Mail" mode, and in the cooking scenes it was Meg Ryan 101.
Speaking of which, I caught a few horrific minutes of "The Women" on cable a few weeks ago, and GOOD LORD, what has Meg Ryan DONE to her FACE? I knew it was bad; she's had the fish-mouth and the joker-smile going on for a while, but MAN, this is so much worse than I realized. The movie had zero redeeming qualities as it was, but even so I couldn't stand to watch because every time she entered the frame I had to wonder if she has any IDEA how badly she's been butchered. Let her face be a lesson to all of us.
Moving on!
This year, I've had some trouble coming up with good gift ideas, so every time someone posts a gift guide or a wish list, I experience a rush of excitement and hope. I don't have really brilliant, unique ideas to share, but I thought I'd share with y'all some of the things that I've asked for, and some of the things I've bought myself while shopping for other people, this holiday season in case anyone else out there has been coming up totally empty in the inspiration department.
Joe and I got each other/ourselves a set of Lighthouse Luggage from Land's End (currently on sale, like $50-75 off!). For years, we've been dragging around these daggy Samsonite rollaboards that I got on Overstock.com, even though one of the bags had a giant dent in the side that reduced the interior space by about half and the zipper pulls fell off about the second time we used them. We bought two 27-inch Lighthouse bags and one 24-incher (in bright red!), and they are very sturdy and roomy, plus the ergonomic handle seems like it won't twist your arm off when your bag gets unbalanced and tips over as you're charging through an airport, which happened with our old set about every TWO MINUTES.
When we ordered the luggage, I decided to throw in some cotton/bamboo towels for us, which turned out to be super soft and absorbent. Almost cuddly, even. I got the Cajun Blue and it's really pretty. The bath towels are UNDER $20 right now. Go!
I usually get a new cookbook for Christmas, and this year I asked for The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I mean, of course, right? Ree and I were bloggie pals way back when, since we started our sites around the same time, and now she's like this one-woman media empire, which is simply awesome. And let's face it, her recipes are pretty drool-inducing. The book is also currently ELEVEN FIFTY on Amazon, more than HALF OFF. Last year, by the way, I got Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book, and I get a TON of use out of it.
On a related note, I requested an immersion blender for Christmas, because whenever I read a soup recipe that requires blending, I grow very tired and have to lie down for a while. I LOVE making soup, and being able to blend without having to DRAG OUT our blender and puree the ingredients in BATCHES will expand my recipe horizons by a power of ten. And again, as I'm writing this, that bad boy is almost half off. DEAL!
While out shopping for Christmas cards at Barnes & Noble, I picked up Meg Wolitzer's The Ten-Year Nap, and I proceeded to blaze through it in a week. It's insightful and funny and relevant, and if you follow that link, you'll find that Amazon is selling the hardcover for UNDER EIGHT DOLLARS. If you're giving/getting books, I would also recommend Elizabeth Berg's Katie Nash series (Durable Goods, Joy School and True to Form), anything by Curtis Sittenfeld, anything by Malcolm Gladwell, and maybe a 1950s angst set of Revolutionary Road and The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.
If you or someone you know is looking to discover an author you haven't read, might I suggest Leonard Chang, who recently released his sixth novel, Crossings, which explores the underworld of human trafficking in San Francisco's Koreatown. His early work, Dispatches from the Cold, is also gripping and suspenseful, and he has a modern-noir detective trilogy for the mystery lover.
For the bath and body product lover, I have been slathering my dry, stretchy, itchy belly with L'Occitane's 25% Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream for months, and it is the BEST. Not too scent-y, not too gloopy, it's luxury in a can for not a bad price. Their hair care products and shea butter hand cream are also well worth giving, and they have loads of nice-price gift sets.
I personally think you can't have too many throw blankets, and one I've given in the past to rave reviews is Restoration Hardware's plush throw (currently marked down by twenty bucks to $39). They also have really fun, retro toys, games and candy that make great gifts.
As another treat to myself, I got some new kitchen towels from Williams-Sonoma that are practically bath towel-sized and they really WORK. Last year, I also got Joe a set of wines from their Wine Club, and it was great, a nice selection of regions and varietals, with tasting notes and recipes included -- you can get one or multiple/scheduled shipments (I just did one).
Oh, a great go-to site for paper gifts is Sarah & Abraham, which has some of THE CUTEST stationery I've ever seen, all personalized and in adorable colors and fonts. They have these knockout gift tags and note cards where you can get a silhouette of your family, pets included, and I almost got a load of holiday stickers with a dad, a pregnant mom (!), a hound-looking doggie and a cat on them, except I realized that I'd already sent out my Christmas cards so I wouldn't really have anyplace to use them; I'd just have to stare lovingly at them, which didn't seem to justify the cost.
Well, those are a few ideas, anyway, and I hope maybe they will help the procrastinators among you. Feel free to share your own gift ideas and wish lists in the comments!
OH He's Just Not That Into You was AWFUL! It should have been called She's Just Not That Smart because seriously?! As for gift ideas, I'm giving several people Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless. Such yummy and easy recipes!
Posted by: Ris | December 13, 2009 at 08:43 PM
Pioneer Woman & Farm Chicks cook books are both on my list. Gotta have my comfort food for the winter months.
You need to throw in some gifts for baby. She needs a few things :-)
Posted by: Julie | December 14, 2009 at 01:38 PM
If you haven't already seen Sunshine Cleaning, I recommend it for any Amy Adams fan! (Bonus: Emily Blunt!)
Posted by: Laurie | December 14, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Ooh, thanks for doing the legwork for me. Will now make efforts to see that film, Up in the air.
Also L'Occitane hand cream = all gift dilemmas resolved, as far as I am concerned.
Posted by: Twangypearl | December 15, 2009 at 05:55 AM
Ooh! I'm planning to see Up In The Air next week when home for the holidays and it will be my first movie in a theater since April of 2006! (1 month before my firstborn's arrival when all theater-going came to a screeching halt.) Now I know it will be worth my time - thanks!
Posted by: Sarah | December 21, 2009 at 09:50 PM
You always give the best gift ideas! I should have read this post like, uh, 3 weeks ago? :)
Posted by: Danielle-Lee | December 21, 2009 at 09:54 PM