Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 191
October 28, 2012
Cloud Atlas
The moment I saw the first Cloud Atlas trailer, I knew I would have to see this film. I haven't read the David Mitchell novel of the same name, but I've heard a lot about it and have it on my to-read list. The interwoven narratives that span time and place attracted me, as did the film's look. When I learned that Andy and Lana Wachowski were in charge of half the film, I understood why so many of the shots were so gorgeous. I knew I would go.
I wasn't at all sure, though, whether I'd walk out of the theater happy. My nervousness grew when I learned the film ran just eight minutes short of three hours; Wachowskis can be self-indulgent.
I'm happy to report that my fears were for nought; I loved it. I was never bored, never squirmed in my seat, and despite drinking a rather large Coke Zero in the course of it, never left for the bathroom. I wouldn't have cut any of it. More, if they were to issue a four-hour Director's Cut, I'd preorder it.
That said, if you're not comfortable with six different stories that jump around in place and time, or if you have trouble following disjointed narratives, this movie is not for you. I loved all of the narrative devices. Each story alone engaged me, and unlike some critics, I felt the endings of each brought them all together nicely.
I particularly enjoyed all the main actors playing multiple roles, though there were times when the prosthetics necessary to turn some of the actors into Asians were too obvious and, in a few moments, wince-worthy. Tom Hanks and Halle Berry delivered the goods in all of their different characters. Jim Broadbent was wild-eyed and charming throughout--even when he was an unlikable ship's captain. Hugo Weaving took every opportunity to chew the scenery--which is, I have to assume, exactly why they hired him.
I do have some minor criticisms, but they'd also act as spoilers, so I'll withhold them. Cloud Atlas may not wind up being the very best movie of the year, but even this far in advance of the Christmas Oscar-contender releases I'm going to guess that it will belong in any good Top 5 list.
Don't miss this one.
I wasn't at all sure, though, whether I'd walk out of the theater happy. My nervousness grew when I learned the film ran just eight minutes short of three hours; Wachowskis can be self-indulgent.
I'm happy to report that my fears were for nought; I loved it. I was never bored, never squirmed in my seat, and despite drinking a rather large Coke Zero in the course of it, never left for the bathroom. I wouldn't have cut any of it. More, if they were to issue a four-hour Director's Cut, I'd preorder it.
That said, if you're not comfortable with six different stories that jump around in place and time, or if you have trouble following disjointed narratives, this movie is not for you. I loved all of the narrative devices. Each story alone engaged me, and unlike some critics, I felt the endings of each brought them all together nicely.
I particularly enjoyed all the main actors playing multiple roles, though there were times when the prosthetics necessary to turn some of the actors into Asians were too obvious and, in a few moments, wince-worthy. Tom Hanks and Halle Berry delivered the goods in all of their different characters. Jim Broadbent was wild-eyed and charming throughout--even when he was an unlikable ship's captain. Hugo Weaving took every opportunity to chew the scenery--which is, I have to assume, exactly why they hired him.
I do have some minor criticisms, but they'd also act as spoilers, so I'll withhold them. Cloud Atlas may not wind up being the very best movie of the year, but even this far in advance of the Christmas Oscar-contender releases I'm going to guess that it will belong in any good Top 5 list.
Don't miss this one.
October 27, 2012
Cameron Crazie for a day
Thanks to the combination of Parents Weekend at Duke and a friend and housemate of Sarah's, we found ourselves this afternoon sitting with Sarah on the narrow benches of Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium and watching a Duke basketball game.
The game was an exhibition event, one that would not count against either team's record. The opponent was Western Washington University, a Division II team, so the outcome was never really in doubt.
None of that mattered a whit to me. I had a wonderful time! I've always wanted to see a game in this famous venue, so it was great to finally get to do that. It was cool to see a kid playing whom I knew, a guy who went to school with Sarah. Most of all, though, it was just great to get to see a basketball game! I had forgotten how much I love this sport. I was tense and completely engaged the whole time, cheering at each good play and wincing at every terrible one.
With children in two local schools, I do my best to remain steadfastly neutral in college basketball season, but for a few hours today, I was definitely a Cameron Crazie. (The spelling is not mine; if you don't believe me, check here.) I can't wait to attend another game there!
The game was an exhibition event, one that would not count against either team's record. The opponent was Western Washington University, a Division II team, so the outcome was never really in doubt.
None of that mattered a whit to me. I had a wonderful time! I've always wanted to see a game in this famous venue, so it was great to finally get to do that. It was cool to see a kid playing whom I knew, a guy who went to school with Sarah. Most of all, though, it was just great to get to see a basketball game! I had forgotten how much I love this sport. I was tense and completely engaged the whole time, cheering at each good play and wincing at every terrible one.
With children in two local schools, I do my best to remain steadfastly neutral in college basketball season, but for a few hours today, I was definitely a Cameron Crazie. (The spelling is not mine; if you don't believe me, check here.) I can't wait to attend another game there!
October 26, 2012
On the road again: Austin, day 5
I'm home after a long day of traveling. I spent a couple of hours of it in planes fighting turbulent weather, so it wasn't the best trip I've had, but I'm here, so I can't complain.
Austin's airport has to be one of the best anywhere, because it has both an Amy's Ice Creams shop and a Salt Lick BBQ, both of which are terrible for my health but amazing for my mood. Thanks to the Salt Lick, I was able to enjoy this sausage and brisket combo for lunch.
As always, click on the image for a larger version.
I couldn't finish it, but all that I ate was delicious.
After the meat, we had more time before our delayed flight, so we enjoyed the smallest scoop of ice cream that Amy's would sell us; mine was cinnamon.
I felt guilty about tormenting family and blog readers with my Amy's desserts, so I might also have brought home six pints of Amy's.
Hmm. Yeah, I think I did.
In the process, I learned that when you carry a box of ice cream onto a plane that's sitting on the tarmac for a while, you suddenly find yourself friends with pretty much everyone who saw you put it overhead. Friends, that is, as long as the plane doesn't sit there too long. Fortunately, today's didn't, but had we been out there another half hour, things might have turned ugly.
Fortunately, the ice cream survived and is now safely in our freezer.
And I am safely home...but not in the freezer. They hardly ever lock me in there anymore. Hardly ever.
I'm just kidding. Our freezer is nowhere near big enough to hold me.
Austin's airport has to be one of the best anywhere, because it has both an Amy's Ice Creams shop and a Salt Lick BBQ, both of which are terrible for my health but amazing for my mood. Thanks to the Salt Lick, I was able to enjoy this sausage and brisket combo for lunch.
As always, click on the image for a larger version.I couldn't finish it, but all that I ate was delicious.
After the meat, we had more time before our delayed flight, so we enjoyed the smallest scoop of ice cream that Amy's would sell us; mine was cinnamon.
I felt guilty about tormenting family and blog readers with my Amy's desserts, so I might also have brought home six pints of Amy's.
Hmm. Yeah, I think I did.
In the process, I learned that when you carry a box of ice cream onto a plane that's sitting on the tarmac for a while, you suddenly find yourself friends with pretty much everyone who saw you put it overhead. Friends, that is, as long as the plane doesn't sit there too long. Fortunately, today's didn't, but had we been out there another half hour, things might have turned ugly.
Fortunately, the ice cream survived and is now safely in our freezer.
And I am safely home...but not in the freezer. They hardly ever lock me in there anymore. Hardly ever.
I'm just kidding. Our freezer is nowhere near big enough to hold me.
October 25, 2012
On the road again: Austin, day 4
Another day, another round of (great) meetings. Visiting with clients is a truly good thing, but it does leave me with very little I can blog.
In a break right before a visit to a client near an Amy's, our little group by consensus chose to grab a mid-afternoon ice cream snack. Damn, it was good. The Amy's franchise will miss me after this trip.
Dinner was at a new (to me) place, the Salty Sow. I will definitely go back. Everything we sampled was delicious.
Sunday night, I watched the fine film, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. I quite liked it. Over the beginning of the end credits, the following song played. I fell hard for the song. I hope you enjoy it, too.
I definitely must get their album.
In a break right before a visit to a client near an Amy's, our little group by consensus chose to grab a mid-afternoon ice cream snack. Damn, it was good. The Amy's franchise will miss me after this trip.
Dinner was at a new (to me) place, the Salty Sow. I will definitely go back. Everything we sampled was delicious.
Sunday night, I watched the fine film, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. I quite liked it. Over the beginning of the end credits, the following song played. I fell hard for the song. I hope you enjoy it, too.
I definitely must get their album.
October 24, 2012
On the road again: Austin, day 3
Another day, another slate of meetings I can't discuss, another run of hours of work after the meetings. Such is the glamor of my business travel.
Dinner was with a friend and client at the wonderful sushi place, Uchi. We all had the omakase, or chef's menu, and every course was delicious. Afterward, we retired to the nearest Amy's for our traditional ice-cream dessert. Three nights in town, and three ice cream selections from Amy's; not healthy, but very tasty.
Today's hotel-room rant concerns the phone. Why do hotel staffs always wrap the cord around the phone? When you lift the receiver, half the time you also lift the phone. What's wrong with just letting the cord dangle? I hate this particular affectation.
Now, it's time to hit the bed, grab a few hours of sleep, and do it all over again!
Dinner was with a friend and client at the wonderful sushi place, Uchi. We all had the omakase, or chef's menu, and every course was delicious. Afterward, we retired to the nearest Amy's for our traditional ice-cream dessert. Three nights in town, and three ice cream selections from Amy's; not healthy, but very tasty.
Today's hotel-room rant concerns the phone. Why do hotel staffs always wrap the cord around the phone? When you lift the receiver, half the time you also lift the phone. What's wrong with just letting the cord dangle? I hate this particular affectation.
Now, it's time to hit the bed, grab a few hours of sleep, and do it all over again!
October 23, 2012
On the road again: Austin, day 2
Almost all of today went to business meetings, and what didn't went mostly to work, so I can't say much about it.
Dinner was, due to a last-minute change in plans, at a Thai place I won't visit again, one where the food was neither bad nor good, just blah. A quick stop by Amy's for ice-cream dessert, however, saved the entire evening meal.
Like so many hotel rooms, mine has a closet opposite the bathroom. The door to the closet is mirrored, so if you're alone and don't close the bathroom door before a sit, you find yourself staring at your image in the mirror while you engage in that decidedly unglamorous activity. I've always wondered what kind of sadistic jerk is responsible for this troubling bit of room design; if I ever meet the man, I'm giving him a quick kick to the crotch.
Tomorrow, lots more meetings!
Dinner was, due to a last-minute change in plans, at a Thai place I won't visit again, one where the food was neither bad nor good, just blah. A quick stop by Amy's for ice-cream dessert, however, saved the entire evening meal.
Like so many hotel rooms, mine has a closet opposite the bathroom. The door to the closet is mirrored, so if you're alone and don't close the bathroom door before a sit, you find yourself staring at your image in the mirror while you engage in that decidedly unglamorous activity. I've always wondered what kind of sadistic jerk is responsible for this troubling bit of room design; if I ever meet the man, I'm giving him a quick kick to the crotch.
Tomorrow, lots more meetings!
October 22, 2012
On the road again: Austin, day 1
I'm spending the week in Austin for business meetings, so today was a travel day. I was fortunate enough to have exit-row seats on both legs and bandwidth on the first, so I was able to work a great deal of the time, but I didn't get any upgrades.
A trip to Austin usually involves a layover in DFW, and it did today. Fortunately, DFW has Red Mango and an Admiral's Club, both of which I enjoyed.
The drive from AUS to our hotel normally takes half an hour on the toll road; today, we spent 3X that much time on the road thanks to an accident that, in the brief time I saw it, looked to be a doozy. I hope no one was badly hurt.
Thought most of the day went to work, the highlight of this first Austin night was, as per my tradition, dinner at the County Line by the Lake and dessert at the nearby Amy's at the Arboretum. As you can see, the barbecue plate--beef ribs, sausage, and brisket--was huge and delicious.
For a larger version, click on the image.
No, I couldn't come anywhere close to finishing it. (Well, I didn't; ice cream was coming.)
The ice cream was equally but differently delicious. We ate it outside in the pleasantly cooling air, a lovely way to pass part of an autumn night in Austin.
A trip to Austin usually involves a layover in DFW, and it did today. Fortunately, DFW has Red Mango and an Admiral's Club, both of which I enjoyed.
The drive from AUS to our hotel normally takes half an hour on the toll road; today, we spent 3X that much time on the road thanks to an accident that, in the brief time I saw it, looked to be a doozy. I hope no one was badly hurt.
Thought most of the day went to work, the highlight of this first Austin night was, as per my tradition, dinner at the County Line by the Lake and dessert at the nearby Amy's at the Arboretum. As you can see, the barbecue plate--beef ribs, sausage, and brisket--was huge and delicious.
For a larger version, click on the image.No, I couldn't come anywhere close to finishing it. (Well, I didn't; ice cream was coming.)
The ice cream was equally but differently delicious. We ate it outside in the pleasantly cooling air, a lovely way to pass part of an autumn night in Austin.
October 21, 2012
On my mind tonight for no particular reason
is the fabulous old group, The Yardbirds, and this particular tune.
I have no clue why.
I have no clue why.
October 20, 2012
The State Fair food report
A few days ago, we made our annual family trip to the North Carolina State Fair. We go to see the animals, make sure Sarah rides the swings, watch the fireworks, check out the enormous gourds and pumpkins, and, most of all, to try the weird food.
For some years, I would order a few of the weirder things, eat them, feel too full from overeating, and have to quit. This plan had two flaws: feeling too full, and not getting to taste enough of the Fair's offerings.
Last year, I devised a new plan: I'd eat one or two bites of each item, persuade others to try it, and thus get to try many more different foods. It worked well, so I repeated it this year.
My first taste was one bit of Sarah's delicious pretzel.
As always, click on any image to see a larger version of it.
As you can see, Sarah had enjoyed her first bite. It was indeed quite tasty, somehow the best pretzel bite of each year.
Next up was the fried mac and cheese.
These little rascals are flat out yummy. They should be available at all times to people feeling sad.
The fried pickle slices, on the other hand, seem to be a "you like it or you don't" sort of concoction.
I am, as you might guess, in the group that likes them.
Our first member of the food-on-a-stick family, an important dietary group, was the fried Hostess cupcake.
I have to be honest: it was hard to persuade people to try this one. With the resurgence of the cupcake as a foodie item, the thought of a Hostess was not enticing. One bite, though, was enough to change my mind. Yes, by deep frying a Hostess cupcake and smothering it in sugar, you definitely improve it.
Oreos, on the other hand, are a cookie that almost everyone likes. Time by progress, but the Oreo stands as an enduring treat. Deep-fry it, and, well...
it turns only more delicious! These little guys went fast.
Some controversy surrounded our next offering, the deep-fried pizza.
Basically, it was just pizza sauce and cheese on a funnel cake. I thought it was tasty, as did Sarah, but some felt it had not earned the name "pizza." I must disagree with them.
One of Scott's Fair traditions is to get the always yummy turkey leg.
He was kind enough to give me a bite of it, so it earned its spot in this list--and it was very tasty indeed.
Several of us shared a quarter-pound hot dog with cheese from the best local hot dog maker, whose name I have sadly forgotten, but I forgot to take a picture of it. So, as we walked back by the stand after seeing the chickens, I snapped this photo of some freshly grilled dogs.
Damn if that hot dog wasn't great!
Did I mention giant pumpkins?
Lest you think we ate every deep-fried item on sale at the Fair, check out just this one sign. We simply ran out of steam.
Before we did, though, we ate this ultimate bit of Fair badness, a heart attack on a stick.
Yes, that thing is a cinnamon sticky bun, deep-fried, coated with a maple-sugar second glaze, and then rolled in bacon bits.
Talk about your Louis CK glaze of shame! The coating that inevitably glistened from your chin after a bite of this amazing creation was a small price to pay for getting to taste something so yummy--and so amazingly bad for you.
Next up was a wait in line for the N.C. State ice cream. As always, I went with the cherry vanilla; for no particular reason, I have real weakness for cherries.
It was delicious, as always.
Readers gripe at me regularly about not putting up pictures of myself. I avoid those photos because I am a homely, fat, old guy. Still, to avoid the gripes, here's a portrait of the author as a Fair-goer.
You thought I was done eating. Oh, no! On the way out, I stopped for the final treat: the always wonderful pretzel dog!
It was indeed great!
Did I mention fireworks?
I do love me some fireworks, and this year's show was the best in recent years.
That's a wrap, folks.
For some years, I would order a few of the weirder things, eat them, feel too full from overeating, and have to quit. This plan had two flaws: feeling too full, and not getting to taste enough of the Fair's offerings.
Last year, I devised a new plan: I'd eat one or two bites of each item, persuade others to try it, and thus get to try many more different foods. It worked well, so I repeated it this year.
My first taste was one bit of Sarah's delicious pretzel.
As always, click on any image to see a larger version of it.As you can see, Sarah had enjoyed her first bite. It was indeed quite tasty, somehow the best pretzel bite of each year.
Next up was the fried mac and cheese.
These little rascals are flat out yummy. They should be available at all times to people feeling sad.
The fried pickle slices, on the other hand, seem to be a "you like it or you don't" sort of concoction.
I am, as you might guess, in the group that likes them.
Our first member of the food-on-a-stick family, an important dietary group, was the fried Hostess cupcake.
I have to be honest: it was hard to persuade people to try this one. With the resurgence of the cupcake as a foodie item, the thought of a Hostess was not enticing. One bite, though, was enough to change my mind. Yes, by deep frying a Hostess cupcake and smothering it in sugar, you definitely improve it.
Oreos, on the other hand, are a cookie that almost everyone likes. Time by progress, but the Oreo stands as an enduring treat. Deep-fry it, and, well...
it turns only more delicious! These little guys went fast.
Some controversy surrounded our next offering, the deep-fried pizza.
Basically, it was just pizza sauce and cheese on a funnel cake. I thought it was tasty, as did Sarah, but some felt it had not earned the name "pizza." I must disagree with them.
One of Scott's Fair traditions is to get the always yummy turkey leg.
He was kind enough to give me a bite of it, so it earned its spot in this list--and it was very tasty indeed.
Several of us shared a quarter-pound hot dog with cheese from the best local hot dog maker, whose name I have sadly forgotten, but I forgot to take a picture of it. So, as we walked back by the stand after seeing the chickens, I snapped this photo of some freshly grilled dogs.
Damn if that hot dog wasn't great!
Did I mention giant pumpkins?
Lest you think we ate every deep-fried item on sale at the Fair, check out just this one sign. We simply ran out of steam.
Before we did, though, we ate this ultimate bit of Fair badness, a heart attack on a stick.
Yes, that thing is a cinnamon sticky bun, deep-fried, coated with a maple-sugar second glaze, and then rolled in bacon bits.
Talk about your Louis CK glaze of shame! The coating that inevitably glistened from your chin after a bite of this amazing creation was a small price to pay for getting to taste something so yummy--and so amazingly bad for you.
Next up was a wait in line for the N.C. State ice cream. As always, I went with the cherry vanilla; for no particular reason, I have real weakness for cherries.
It was delicious, as always.
Readers gripe at me regularly about not putting up pictures of myself. I avoid those photos because I am a homely, fat, old guy. Still, to avoid the gripes, here's a portrait of the author as a Fair-goer.
You thought I was done eating. Oh, no! On the way out, I stopped for the final treat: the always wonderful pretzel dog!
It was indeed great!
Did I mention fireworks?
I do love me some fireworks, and this year's show was the best in recent years.
That's a wrap, folks.
October 19, 2012
Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher?
I'm a stone fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels. They're reliably fun and often more, their pacing is relentless, and Child is a very entertaining writer. The books frequently have little to do with reality, but that's okay; he sells the departures well enough. Reacher himself is a huge presence, both as a fictional character among mystery fans and in stature: six-foot-five and anywhere from 220 to 240 pounds of muscle.
Every single Reacher fan I know thus said (at best) "Huh?" when the news broke that Tom Cruise would star in the Jack Reacher film due this Christmas. After all, Reacher is nearly a foot taller and vastly larger than Cruise.
At cons, I've heard Child defend the casting on the grounds that Cruise has the presence to carry it off.
Though I will, of course, go see the movie, I've been convinced Child was wrong.
This trailer, though, gave me some hope that the movie could be good. (Thanks to Steve for pointing me to it.)
Some hope. I'm not convinced, but I am more hopeful now than I was before.
Every single Reacher fan I know thus said (at best) "Huh?" when the news broke that Tom Cruise would star in the Jack Reacher film due this Christmas. After all, Reacher is nearly a foot taller and vastly larger than Cruise.
At cons, I've heard Child defend the casting on the grounds that Cruise has the presence to carry it off.
Though I will, of course, go see the movie, I've been convinced Child was wrong.
This trailer, though, gave me some hope that the movie could be good. (Thanks to Steve for pointing me to it.)
Some hope. I'm not convinced, but I am more hopeful now than I was before.
