Movie Monday - 2/11/2019

Christian Bale does an excellent job portraying Dick Chaney in Vice. Amy Adams plays his wife Lynne. The film fills in the background about Chaney's life up to and including being chosen to become W's running mate. Sam Rockwell does a great job with his characterization of the 43rd president. Steve Carell, Allison Pill, Lilly Rabe and Tyler Perry are among the other fine actors in this film.

 

If Beale Street Could Talk is the adaptation of James Baldwin's novel of the same name. It's set in early 1970s Harlem and follows the tragic love story of two long-time friends, Tish and Fonny. Fonny is convicted of a rape he didn't commit and Tish does her best to get him out. It's a heartrending story about issues that still exist today. 

I have two more films to watch before the Academy Awards. 

In other news, I may not get to watch the actual show.

I know.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 2/4/2019

Clint Eastwood, Dianne Wiest and Bradley Cooper are among the great actors starring in The Mule. It's based on the true story of an 80-year old man who transported cocaine through Illinois for the Sinaloa Cartel. It was good.

The Upside is a remake of the foreign film The Intouchables. Both are based on the true story of a paraplegic and his unlikely caregiver. Bryan Cranston, Kevin Hart and Nicole Kidman star. It was very good.

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 1/30/2019

So far, 2019 is shaping up to be a sweater year. I've got two baby gift cardis and two pullovers for me OTN, and plans to make at least three more pullovers for me.

Today, I am concentrating on this sweet little cardi for a special girl set to arrive in the next week or so.

I would also like to finish the other baby cardi this week.

After I finish those and one or two other things, I've got this yummy yarn by Candy Skein from West 7th Wool on deck to make a Spector pullover sweater. The pattern is by the very talented Joji Locatelli. I won the skein in the middle. It's called West 7 Layer Cake, named after the shop.

I'm trying to knit happy. Hope you are too.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 1/28/2019

Roma examines the class and social strife of 1970s Mexico. Cleo is a live-in maid who works for a well-to-do family. Both Cleo and the lady of the house experience man problems. It was very good.

Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz star in The Favourite. Queen Anne (Colman) is a bit frail. Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough and her younger cousin, Abigail Hill vie for the Queen's favour and attention employing cut-throat tactics. It was definitely a dark comedy and it was good.

In Black Panther, the Marvel Comic super hero known as The Black Panther, aims to stop a black market arms dealer from selling a precious substance that would threaten to expose the Wakandan society's true existence. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan,  Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Bassett skater. It was good, but it's a weak nomination for Best Picture in my book.

Glenn Close gives a knockout performance in The Wife. Her husband has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, but we come to learn she is more deserving of the prize than he is. It was very good. Close should win the Oscar.

MK out.

FO Friday - 1/25/2019

Finally, finally, I blocked this sweater that I finished in September and had started in April 2015.

Pattern: Penny Candy Tee by Jenjoyce Design
Yarn: Cascade Heritage Sock in white, grey and China blue
Comments: It's a cute sweater. I'm not sure if I like the fit on me, because I started this sweater in my "I don't block the swatch" days. My main problem is that the zipper/button closure on the pants poke out on thin, close fitting sweaters. It may be fine with flat-fronted capris. We shall see.

MK out.

FO Friday - 1/18/2019

I finished this shawl last month.

Pattern: The Girl from the Grocery Store by Joji Locatelli
Yarn: The Plucky Knitter Plucky Single in Loch and Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Conference Call.
Comments:  I love it. I love the colorway. I love the yarn. Thank you to my Grocery Girls Spring Swap from 2017 swap partner Danielle for the gorgeous merino and silk blend yarn. It's the onlyPlucky Knitter yarn I've ever owned. The colorway I chose on TML, one of my all time faves, looks great with it. I enjoyed knitting the pattern. Thank you Joji!

Can you tell I like this project very much?

MK out.

Movie Monday - 1/14/2018

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women tells the backstory of the man who created the Wonder Woman comics. WW had a rather kinky start. There was a little art imitating life going on since her author, his wife and their research assistant were engaged in a polyamorous affair. Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall and Bella Heathcote star in the film. It was interesting.

Steve Carell, Timothee Chalamet, Maura Tierney and Amy Ryan star in Beautiful Boy. The film is based on the true story of a father and his drug addicted son. It was sad, but very good.

Naomi Watts and Sarah Silverman, an unlikely pairing as they play co-workers and quasi friends, star in The Book of Henry. Naomi's oldest son is convinced that the neighbor is abusing his step-daughter who is a classmate of his. He tries to convince his mom that they need to help. There were moments that I really had to suspend a little belief, but in the end, it turned out really good.

MK out.