Movie Monday - 11/25/2024

I had a good week of movie watching!

In Anora, exotic dancer Ani meets Ivan, a young Russian who is attending school in the US. They start spending time together. He even buys her favors for a week, during which time they get married. The news spreads to Russia and Momma is not happy. Plans to have the marriage annulled are set in motion. The lead actress, Mikey Madison did a good job. It was good, except too much naked for my taste. I can use my imagination just fine.

 

I hate to say it, but I became a little bored watching A Real Pain. Two cousins set out to take a Holocaust tour in Poland and a visit to their grandmother’s childhood home as a way to honor her. There is too much dialogue or something. Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin play the cousins. Jennifer Grey is also in the movie. It was alright.

 

Based on true events, Woman of the Hour tells the story of when serial killer Rodney Alcala appeared on The Dating Game. Anna Kendrick (who also directed the film) and Daniel Zovatto star. It was good.

 

Recent Streamers:

Frasier (Reboot) Season 2 – Paramount

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 – Hulu

MK out.

 

Movie Monday - 11/19/2024

I made it to the theater again last week.

 

In Small Things Like These, there’s a convent in a small Irish town that is harboring secrets. A man finds a girl locked in the coal room when he comes to deliver coal to the convent, but the nuns brush off the incident. The more he observes around him, the more uneasy he becomes. Memories of his past begin to haunt him as well. Google Magdalene Laundries and you will have the historical context. Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson and Eileen Walsh star in this well-acted film. I liked it.

 

I had never seen Beetlejuice, and it’s old, Y’all. I noticed it was playing on one of the movie channels. I watched it because I wanted to see the sequel that is out now. A couple who has recently died haunt the new owners of their house in order to make them leave. Gina Davis, Alex Baldwin, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Rider and Michael Keaton (plus more) star. It was mostly corny, but also pretty funny in spots.

 

That’s it for the past week.

 

MK out.

 

 

Movie Monday - 11/11/2024

Don’t faint - I saw another movie, again in an actual theater.

 

Here, starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, follows the inhabitants of a particular house through the years. It was different from what I had imagined. It took me a while to warm to it. It was good, but not as good as I thought it would be.

 

I hope I’ll get to see more movies this week. There are several good ones out there.

 

MK out.

Book Chat - 11/07/2024

Here are the September reads:

 

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

A woman checks herself into a nice hotel and finds herself right smack in the middle of a wedding for which she was not invited. It was good.

 

Summer on Lover’s Island by Donna Alward

An incident at the hospital caused a trauma physician to take a break. She visits her pregnant friend and is convinced to take over her friend’s practice while she is on maternity leave. Just when her life can’t get any more complicated, she finds herself having thoughts about her new boss. I liked it.

 

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

The last of Elin’s Nantucket books did not disappoint, but I’m sad I won’t be reading about new exploits of my favorite characters. This one has a bit of a mystery. A new couple comes to town and their parties are the hot ticket. One night, they are throwing a fabulous party on their yacht when they are alerted that their house is on fire. Then, it’s discovered that their assistant is missing. It was so good.

 

Let’s Pretend This Will Work by Maddie Dawson

A woman is invited to move to the town where her brand, new fiancé’s ex-wife lives while he returns to the house to care for her following a horrific accident. But, why won’t he let her help? It takes awhile, but she finally figures out what her next steps should be. It was alright.

 

The Reunion by Kayla Olsen

Two love interests on a popular teen series come back for a reunion movie. It was pretty good..

 

The Anti-Heroes by Jen Lancaster

An odd collection of characters witness the attempted robbery of their coffee shop. The unlikely hero informs them her bravery came from classes at Fearless, Inc. They decide to take classes themselves. It was very cute.

 

MK out.

 

 

Movie Monday - 11/4/2024

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m really tired of this election cycle. I am especially tired of politicians not looking past getting elected, then getting elected and still not getting helpful legislation passed. I thought going to the movies (yes, in an actual theater) to watch a film would take my mind off it all. I went to see Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. The pope has died, and the cardinals have gathered to elect a new one. Guess what? There’s politics at the Vatican. It was entertaining and the ending was surprising. It was good.

  

Recent Streamers:

Kevin Can F Himself, Seasons 1 and 2 - Netflix

 

MK out.

 

 

 

Book Chat - 10/24/2024

Coming in late, but better than never are the books I read in August.

 

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

The author writes about her nonconventional upbringing, in rural Texas, no less. She is a blogger with some degree of fame, allegedly. I read the whole thing, thinking cohesiveness might make an appearance, but it never did. It was bizarre, but her upbringing was bizarre. Meh.

 

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

This book is the first of four by Ferrante (which happens to be a pseudonym) about life in Naples, Italy. Set in the 1950s, the story follows the lives of two girls who are very close. The book was adapted into a series by HBO with four seasons, one for each of the books. The series is named after the first one. The plot structure is a little wonky. There are many characters of which to keep track. Overall, it was good.

 

The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine 

The delicious story of betrayal and justice continues, and although not quite as good as the first one, it is still an enjoyable read. I liked it.

 

Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand

I was able to read this new short story before I read the last book set on Nantucket Island. Sophia and her boyfriend are all set to go on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands together, until he bails at the last minute. It was good.

 

That’s all for now.

 MK out.

 

 

Movie Monday 10/14/2024

Hey, hey Peeps! Lots is always going on around here; so, movie watching hasn’t been a priority lately. I did watch one film this past week.

 

The Last of the Sea Women is a documentary about the Haenyeo divers on Jeju Island in South Korea who harvest seafood without diving gear – just their own breath. I talked about a novel here by Lisa See based on these women, The Island of Sea Women. The film explores how their livelihood is facing extinction. It’s a dangerous job and less people are willing to risk their lives to gather sea creatures. It was interesting.

MK out.

Book Chat - 10/3/2024

I promised y’all I would discuss the books I read in July a couple of years ago. Here they are:

 

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Two people, unlucky in love, make a pact to date for the summer and then move on to find their happily ever afters. If that sounds cryptic, read the book and it will make all kinds of sense. I don’t want to give too much away. It was pretty good.

 

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

This book is the sequel to It Ends with Us and picks up where the first one left off. Can Lily overcome her ex-husband’s hold? Will she be able to live the rest of her life fully and peacefully? It was very good.

 

The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine

A woman’s mother is found murdered. She reaches out to her estranged best friend for help. The two of them try to solve the mystery of who killed the mother. It was alright. I’ve enjoyed their other books more.

 

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger

This novel has nothing to do with music. The reference to green grass in the title has to do with appearances and perceptions. A man is arrested for attempting to buy his daughter admission into a prominent university. It was pretty good.

 

The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

I so enjoyed reading Elin’s next to last book set on Nantucket Island. I will be sad after I finish the last one. After her husband dies, a woman wants to gather her friends from different stages of her life to share a special weekend on Nantucket. It was so good.

 

I read four books in August. Stay tuned.

 

MK out.

 

 

 

Movies - 9/30/2024

How is everyone? I’ve been out and about, living the dash, celebrating the Birthday Season, but not watching all that many movies. My ADDness is better suited for streaming series these days. I have watched a couple of flicks recently, though.

 

Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story is about how an unlikely couple got together. It’s a mostly true version of how Mariette Hartley and her husband, Jerry Sroka came to be. It was cute.

 

In The Humans, a close family gathers for Thanksgiving. Of course, interesting dynamics tend to prevail at that time of year. Such fun. It was engrossing.

 

Will Ferrell goes on a road trip with long-time friend Harper Steele in Will and Harper. Will has known Harper for many years, but this adventure presented the opportunity for Will to get to know her better now as a trans woman. It was poignant and real. I like it.

 

Good Streamer Alert:

The Perfect Couple - Netlix

 

MK out.

Book Chat - 9/12/2024

I read these two books and a short story (besides the books I already told y’all about) in June.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

A young woman moves to Boston and starts her own business. She meets a handsome neurosurgeon who seems too good to be true. The two start dating and soon, his major flaw is revealed. This book has been adapted into a film. It was good.

Cut & Thirst by Margaret Atwood

Three women are bent on avenging the snub of their dear friend’s career by a group of male poets. This short story was very clever.

This Impossible Brightness by Jessica Bryant Klagman

A woman moves to an island to grieve the disappearance of her love. The community of Violette is quirky. They believe that they receive messages through their appliances coming from the radio tower, while the island is slowly being overtaken by the sea due to climate change. It was interesting.

I’ll try to tell you about the books I read in July next week.*

MK out.

*No promises have been made.