Favorite Flick Friday

Actors: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman

Rating: R

Year: 1994

Genre: Drama

The Scoop: I don't even know how to summarize this movie without giving anything away. There is so much depth to the story, the characters, everything. It takes place in the fifties. It's a heavy movie, but you just get so involved in all of it. It takes place in a prison and centralizes around two characters. You are given the impression that one of the characters, the "newcomer," is out of place and maybe doesn't even belong in prison. Andy is soft spoken and has a timid demeanor. He is also incredibly intelligent. Accused of murdering his wife and another man, it is obvious to everyone but the audience that he is guilty. But, interestingly enough, that is not even the focus of the movie. It's more the man himself. And his relationship with those around him.

Favorite Character: Andy. He's intriguing.

Favorite Line: Andy Dufresne: Yeah. The funny thing is - on the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook.


Why I Love This Movie: The story and the characters. It's just so interesting. And just plain good.

Favorite Flick Friday

This week's film has been on my list for Favorite Flick Friday for quite awhile and when a clip was used in this past Sunday's sermon, I thought it only appropriate to review it now. 

Actors: Michelle Pfeiffer, Bruce Willis

Rating: R.....this is definitely not a family movie. Has quite a bit of language, some crude conversations and mild nudity.

Year: 1999

Genre: Drama

The Scoop:  Marriage. Seriously. Married life. It's hard, no? Ben and Katie have been married awhile and have 2 children. When we are introduced to them, they are dropping their kids off at a summer camp and then going home to separate locations. The goal is to decide whether or not to stay together. Lots of flashbacks and background are given to the audience and we really get to understand how much this couple has struggled and how long they have tried to make it work. There is so much "meat" to this movie. It's real. It's messy. It's life.

Favorite Character: I actually don't think I have a favorite character for this one. Interesting. I don't know why....

Favorite Line: Unlike a favorite character...I have MANY favorite lines. I mean....making a movie about marriage.....you are bound to have a bunch of great quotes.

#1 Rachel: Marriage is the Jack Kevorkian of romance.

#2 Rachel: It is physically impossible to French-kiss a man who leaves the new roll of toilet paper resting on top of the empty cardboard roll. Does he not see it? DOES HE NOT *SEE* IT?


#3 Ben: Are you saying Chow Funs because you can't face telling the kids? Because if that's why you're saying Chow Funs, don't say Chow Funs


Katie: That's not why I'm saying Chow Funs. Funs, I'm saying Chow Funs because we're an us. There's a history here, and histories don't happen overnight. In Mesopotamia or Ancient Troy there are cities built on top of other cities, but I don't want another city, I like this city. I know what kind of mood your in when you wake up by which eyebrow is higher, and you know I'm a little quiet in the morning and compensate accordingly, that's a dance you perfect over time. And it's hard, it's much harder than I thought it would be, but there's more good than bad and you don't just give up! And it's not for the sake of the children, but God they're great kids aren't they? And we made them, I mean think about that! It's like there were no people there, and then there were people and they grew, and an an an I won't be able to say to some stranger Josh has your hands or remember how Erin threw up at the Lincoln Memorial And I'll try to relax, let's face it, anybody is going to have traits that get on your nerves, I mean, why shouldn't it be your annoying traits, and I know I'm no day at the beach, but I do have a good sense of direction so I can at least find the beach, which isn't a weakness of yours, it's a strength of mine. And God your a good friend and good friends are hard to find. Charlotte said that in Charlottes Web and I love how you read that to Erin and you take on the voice of Wilber the Pig with such dedication even when your bone tired. That speaks volumes about character! And ultimately, isn't that what it comes down too? What a person is made of? That girl in the pin helmet is still here 'bee boo bee boo' I didn't even know she existed until you and I'm afraid if you leave I may never see her again, even though I said at times you beat her out of me, isn't that the paradox? Haven't we hit the essential paradox? Give and take, push and pull, the yen the yang. The best of times, the worst of times!I think Dickens said it best, 'He could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean', but, doesn't really apply here does it? What I'm trying to say is, I'm saying Chow Funs because, I love you

Ben: Did you hear that kids? Mom wants to go to chow Funs!

Why I Love This Movie: There is something so encouraging about watching people having fights that you have had before. Or when someone snaps at their child. Makes you feel like you might not be so bad after all. Misery loves company. But, it's also encouraging to watch a couple fight for their marriage. Especially when it is so much easier to give up. So. Much. Easier. *sigh* Marriage is rough. There is also this really sweet montage towards the end of the movie that puts together highlights of their marriage; all the moments in life we look back on as "sweet." I really like this movie.

Momism

Sometimes when I get dressed in the morning, I look in the mirror and think, "Do these qualify as 'mom jeans'?" And then I wear them anyway. Because they are comfortable. And because I am mom.

"For real"

I have heard family members on multiple occasions tell my daughter to "smile for real." 

She usually pauses, looks quizzically at the person and then smiles "for real." It usually looks something like......

Then the family member kind of chuckles and usually asks again. And again. And again. Sometimes they try to mask their disappointment at not getting a "beautiful" picture of Miriam. And sometimes they roll their eyes and look at me as if I might be able to help them get my sweet daughter to pose.

But, you know what?

I don't care.

I like her "for real" smile.

I like her pretty smile.

I like her silly smile.

I like her cheesy smile.

I like her smile.

I am all too aware that there are only a certain number of these "for real" smiles.

They are numbered and far too few.

Pretty soon they will be replaced by scores of those posed pictures everyone so desperately wanted.

And all I'll want is a picture of her doing this.......

.........in her prom dress.

Experimenting

I can't find my "feel" for my blog.

Be patient with me.