A Tasty Treat

16 Jun

One of the major themes of Ratatouille is that anyone can cook. But watching the movie, it’s almost as if Disney and Pixar are saying, “Yeah, but not just anyone can make a good animated film.” And they’re right. There’s a reason those companies are the gold standard for animation. While films like Surf’s Up may be fun, they’re not as sophisticated as a Pixar movie. And Ratatouille ranks up there with their best.

The film tells the story of Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), a rat with a taste for good food and an uncanny ability to cook. Remy teams up with a young kid in a fancy restaurant and together, the two cook up some great dishes — which, of course, frustrates the head chef. Told with visual flair and featuring some great action-packed scenes, just like Brad Bird’s last Pixar film, The Incredibles, Ratatouille is not really a movie for kids. In fact, I’m sure they’ll be totally bored by it. That’s because the film really does focus on high-end food and doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator. It almost never takes the easy way to a laugh (although, a food critic with the last name Ego does seem a little obvious), and focuses as much on character and plot as it does on awesome animation. And yes, Paris does look great. But more impressive are the scene where Remy is sent down the sewers into Paris and the ones where he’s running through the kitchen. Also worth noting are the voice talent, which includes Brad Garrett and Peter O’Toole, and the score by Michael Giacchino (Lost, The Incredibles). And please stay through the credits for the final, stylized animation sequence. That is, if you’re not too hungry.

After last summer’s Cars, which I didn’t love, I thought maybe I had outgrown the Pixar films. Thankfully, that one was just a minor detour. In the right hands, they can still be magic. And that’s surely what Ratatouille is. I’m giving it an A–.

(p.s. As a testament to just how much Pixar films are beloved, when the trailer for their next release, Wall-E, came on, the place went absolutely silent. For a trailer.)

Moving Right Along. Or Maybe Not.

14 Jun

It’s been a long time since I’ve moved apartments — five and a half years to be exact — and I can’t say I missed the process. Sure, I still haven’t decided if I’m going to move or not, and that changes almost daily, but after making a few inquiries Thursday with some agents, I’m definitely erring on the not moving side.

Why is it that speaking with a real estate agent makes me feel like I’m 23, stuck in the herd, and just a quick buck? Probably because for at least two of those things, it’s true. Continue reading →

Hello Jeremy Fisher

11 Jun

How much do I love discovering great new artists? Only a smidge more than I love telling y’all about them. Most recently, I did it with Amy Winehouse, Jon McLaughlin, and James Morrison, but there have been others. And now I’ve got another one for you. On Monday I got an advance copy of Jeremy Fisher‘s debut CD, Goodbye Blue Monday, in the mail at work. Intrigued by the press materials, I loaded it up and was instantly captivated by the breezy hooks and Paul Simon–like sound. Jeremy’s a singer-songwriter whose music is an appealing mix of folk, soul, blues and pop — kind of like a cross between Van Morrison, early Bob Dylan and, yes, Paul Simon — which makes him something of a throwback to the ’60s folk revival sound. Whatever you call it, I really like the CD.

As it turns out, Goodbye Blue Monday is only Jeremy’s U.S. debut — he released his first CD in his native Canada in 2004, and Blue Monday was released up there in March. The video for Jeremy’s song “Cigarettes” has already been viewed on YouTube nearly two million times. Personally, I prefer the song “Scar That Never Heals,” and the video for that is below for you to sample. The song is like a cross between “Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and the Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun.” If you want to download those two tracks and three others, you can do so at this site. The full Blue Monday CD won’t be out stateside until August 28, so those five tracks should tide you over until then. Actually, I’m kind of surprised the CD isn’t being released sooner; “Scar That Never Heals” is a perfect summer song. It’s one of the catchiest tunes I’ve heard in a long time, particularly that tongue-twister of a chorus with all those “doo doo doos.” I expect to play it many times in the coming months. And maybe you’ll be doing the same.

Here’s the Beef

11 Jun

For months and months, I’ve been teased by the ad in the Improper Bostonian for Ruth’s Chris Steak House that features a perfectly cooked filet. (It’s the one to the left.)

Just seeing the thing practically makes my mouth water (so does writing a blog post about it).

I’ve been to Ruth’s Chris a handful of times (last one was December 2005), and have always loved it.

So this year there was only one place I wanted to go with my family to celebrate my birthday. And when my juicy filet mignon arrived in front of me Saturday night, I was practically in heaven.

Holy crap, it was so good. Continue reading →

Maybe She Needs to Be Schooled?

11 Jun

I was reading the letters to the editor in today’s Boston Globe about BC‘s move into Brighton, and residents’ resistance to it.

And this line in the letter by Maria Guadalupe Rodrigues struck me as particularly telling:

“Many residents of the neighborhood have links to the area that go back more then three generations.”

Hmmmm … it seems Maria made the common then/than switcheroo.

Perhaps having some academia closer to home might do her some good?

The Nose Plays. The Movie? Sorta

9 Jun

Let me get this out of the way right up top: Ocean’s Thirteen is not the best movie in the series; that would be Ocean’s Five, when Danny and Rusty broke out of prison together so they could steal a diamond from a billionaire real estate developer.

But it’s still better than Ocean’s Nine, undoubtedly the worst movie in the series.

But seriously … and that’s not exactly a bad way to begin … Ocean’s Thirteen is not the movie I was hoping for.

I happen to love the other two (Eleven more than Twelve), mostly because they’re so cool and breezy, and the chemistry between the whole group is so strong that watching the movies is like being one of the boys for two hours.

This latest film is a more serious affair. Continue reading →

I’m All Out of Love

7 Jun

Almost like a birthday present to myself, Thursday I finally finished reading Love Is a Mix Tape.

I say finally, but it only took me a month to read (which, believe it or not, is really quick for me).

As I’ve said before, I don’t read books. It’s not that I’m against the medium, but I just don’t seem to have the patience for anything longer than a typical magazine article. And maybe it’s because Mix Tape is written by Rob Sheffield, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, but damn if I couldn’t put this book down. Continue reading →

The Rhythm Came to Get Me

7 Jun

Thought I’d share what Andrew (he of the Miami bachelor party fame) and his fiancee did for me today. At around 10:30 this morning, I was told by our receptionist that I had a visitor, and when I went to the front desk there was a guy in a gorilla suit who proceeded to sing and dance his birthday wishes to me. Suffice it to say, it made an already happy birthday even happier — and it drew a lot of laughs from my coworkers. I said I wanted attention on my birthday, and Andrew sure made good on that. Nice work, my friend, but know that you’ve raised the stakes and one day I will reciprocate. The rhythm is gonna get you, too!

The Day of All Days

7 Jun

One day I’ll outgrow the idea of celebrating my birthday … but not yet.

Today, as I turn the big three-three, I still like making a big fuss about it.

And more than that, I like having other people make a big fuss about it. It’s the one day of the year when I get to act like a 7 year old (at least officially) when it comes to looking for attention. Continue reading →

Get Ready for the Big Bang

6 Jun

According to Wednesday’s New York Times, the meatball universe is expanding. It reminds me of that scene in Annie Hall, where Alvy Singer’s mother says to young Alvy (and I’m paraphrasing here, of course), “What has the universe got to do with it? You’re here in Brookline! Brookline is not expanding!” Still, I’m a bit worried about a meatball universe expanding. That just can’t be good.

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