I’m giving The Lookout a B.
Why tell you that up front?
Because sometimes, to know where you’re going, it helps to know the ending.
That’s just one of the lessons learned from writer/director Scott Frank’s film about a promising young athlete whose life takes a tragic turn when he’s involved in a car crash, and then takes another turn when he’s involved in a bank robbery. Continue reading
True story: In 1971, author Clifford Irving pulled the wool over publisher McGraw-Hill’s eyes when he told them he was collaborating with the reclusive Howard Hughes on his autobiography. The new film The Hoax tells the story of Irving’s lie, and does so in convincing fashion. Hughes’ life, of course, was the subject of Martin Scorsese’s long and overrated The Aviator, and it’s fun to see a different perspective on that subject.
The Hoax boasts a top-notch cast, including Richard Gere and Alfred Molina as the author and his researcher partner. Both are very good. It’s especially enjoyable to watch as Gere keeps cooking up new stories on the fly. The story moves at a good pace, and director Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape) keeps it all grounded in reality, with archival footage peppered in for period effect. Of course, given that the movie is based on Irving’s own memoir about the experience, it doesn’t really dwell much on how the publishers themselves fell for Irving’s hoax. It’s hard to believe it could be as easy as it’s portrayed, even if it was 1971, in the days before the Internets and the mass media. Nevertheless, this is a true story about an untrue one, and as I’m trying to get across here, it’s a good one. I give The Hoax a B+.
At the risk of saying the wrong thing, let me ask this question, with tongue firmly in cheek: Isn’t every Friday good?
When you get right down to it, Passover really isn’t such a bad holiday.
But it’s one of the greatest ironies that while we celebrate our freedom from slavery, we do so by being slaves to food. You can’t eat anything with wheat or flour — essentially, no carbs — and if you’re observant like me, you only eat stuff that says “Kosher for Passover” on it and you don’t go out to eat. (Yes, this is the one week of the year when I’m Jewish by practice, as opposed to the other 51 where I’m more a Jew by identity.) Continue reading
Since I enjoyed it so much last year, I’ll be taking part in March of Dimes’ annual WalkAmerica again later this month. As was the case last year, I’m going to be fundraising and walking, but because I’m not a fan of charity solicitations, I’m not going to be sending out mass emails asking for donations. Instead, I’m posting this appeal, and there’s a link on the right side of this blog. I might also chime in every now and then with an update on my “training,” but that’s it. No hard sell, no guilt trip from me.
Last year I walked largely to support my company’s efforts to support our client, Continental Airlines, which is the official airline of the March of Dimes’ National Ambassador program and of WalkAmerica. It was a really worthwhile and successful day for both me and my coworkers, so I’m more than happy to support the cause again. And a worthy cause it is: if you don’t know, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
I hope you will choose to help me either with your donation, your words of support, or even with your participation — the Walk is on April 29 at the Hatch Shell, and we make a six-mile loop around the Charles. Come on out and walk with us! The more the merrier.
Thank you in advance for your contributions and support.
Have you seen this clip from Zach Braff’s new movie, The Ex, yet? In his intro, Braff says, “Vote for Sanjaya.” Given how Braff turned the world onto the Shins, I wonder if he’ll be equally as persuasive with his Idol pick. Ha ha ha … Anyway, the Sanjaya plug is funnier than the clip itself, so check it out.
Two words: Woo Hoo!
Actually, I thought Gina was pretty good this week. And I knew Phil wouldn’t go home because it’s gotta be boy-girl-boy-girl. But because of that fact, I’m pretty confident that Haley’s going to be with us for not one, but two more weeks. Especially because next week is Latin week (with J.Lo) and let’s face it, if any of the guys is going to have a problem with that, it’s Phil (not including Sanjaya, of course). And I’m sure the Latin thing is gonna work well with Haley’s hot look. So, I’ll get two bonus weeks with my favorite Idol contestant. (And if you want to hear my real prediction, I think she’s with us for at least three weeks if the week after Latin is Country music. That’s when LaKisha’s going home.) Woo hoo!
Great. I go and get a high-speed Internets connection with Comcast that costs me way too much money each month, and now, just three months later, Google announces its own Internets service — and it’s absolutely free. According to the site, Google believes that “all users deserve free, fast and sanitary online access.” To that end, the service has a 10-times higher flow rate than basic DSL, it’s vaccuum-sealed to prevent water damage, and it uses “discreet DNA sequencing of your personal bodily output to display online ads that are contextually relevant to your culinary preferences, current health status and likelihood of developing particular medical conditions going forward.” Wait a second. What was that again? Yes, this was Google’s April Fools joke. And I didn’t learn about it until today (thanks, Jason). Still, I thought it was pretty funny, so I figured I’d post a belated link.
I’m not going to lie: there’s an uneasy feeling in Martinworld today because tonight may just be Haley Scarnato‘s final performance on American Idol. I fear that no matter how well she sings and no matter how hot she looks, she’s a goner this week. After all, if the pattern of boy-girl-boy-girl elimination holds, then tomorrow it’s either going to be Haley or Gina, and I think Gina’s safe for another couple weeks, unfortunately. So yeah, although I hope I’m wrong, I’m resigning myself to the fact that Haley and I will have to part ways after Wedenesday night’s episode. She’s going back to her fiancee, and I’m stuck with Sanjaya. Life is cruel. At least I’ll always have my People magazine spread and my happy memories of our time together. I’ll miss you, Haley. Good luck tonight!
In these last few hours before Passover begins, I just wanted to recall the good old days when I loved Finagle a Bagel. I used to go to the Chestnut Hill location most every Saturday for lunch, and I’d usually get the same thing: a smoked turkey sandwich on an egg bagel. And before I let my recollections run wild, I’ll just say I remember it being a usually pleasant and not too expensive experience. When it was announced that Finagle was opening a location in Coolidge Corner, I was pretty excited. After all, when your only other bagel option (on a Saturday, at least) is Bruegger’s, a Finagle store is like manna from heaven.
But what a waste this store has been. When I stopped in yesterday, I was reminded of why I’ve largely stayed away from the store since its opening a couple years ago. For one thing, it’s too small, by half. That’s the biggest complaint I have. Whether you sit down to eat or you’re simply on line to order, if there’s a crowd, you can’t help but feel cramped. Also, the service is slow. All I had was a bagel with cream cheese. Took about 10 minutes to get that after I ordered. I suppose I can’t complain about the cream cheese slapped on the bagel, but other times I’ve been to Finagle the sandwich making was shoddy (something I’ve complained about before). And finally, a bagel with cream cheese, a medium soda, and a cookie cost me about $6.50. I don’t want to quibble about something like price, but when did such a minor meal become so expensive (relatively speaking, of course)? Used to be you could get a bagel sandwich with turkey or something similarly substantial and a soda for that amount. And it came with chips or a “seasonal accompaniment” like cantaloupe for free. I mean, at Bruegger’s, I get a bagel with cream cheese, a soda and a muffin or something (no comments about my poor eating habits, please), and it only costs about $5.50. A turkey sandwich at Finagle now costs close to $6 on its own, and that’s without the accompaniment. Of course, the price thing is not specific to the Coolidge Corner location, but it’s one more reason why I have begun to really dislike Finagle. How times have changed. Ah well. At least the bagels themselves are still good.
Martin's Musings 