Movie Review: The American

Even the movie poster makes you think
 it's going to be Bondish.
007 would be sorely disappointed.

As I alluded in yesterday's blog, The American was a disappointment. The trailer wisely edited together the best parts of the movie thinking you were going to see George Clooney in some sort of James Bond film. I didn't do any research on the movie before hand. I really wasn't sure what it was about, and figured it was some sort of action movie.

Hmmm... should have done my research on this one. While there were pieces of action, the movie was dreadfully slow. And, there was barely any conversation. I'm all for artistic expression, but when the dialogue in the movie makes Castaway seem like an endless manuscript of dialogue, you know something's missing.

To the director's credit, there is some gorgeous camera work. The artistry of depicting the Italian countryside is splendid. However, it just wasn't enough to keep me entertained. You can only see the main character speed down the Italian countryside (and I use the term "speed" very loosely as he drove an older sedan that didn't appear to be able to go above 45 mph without falling apart) so many times before you start to wonder what color the walls are behind the tapestries of the theatre you're sitting in.

George plays an assassin/arms dealer of sorts who decides he's giving up the life. He befriends a priest. He courts a prostitute (another awkward bought of filming - while I'm all for a good sex scene, really the camera doesn't need to focus on the lady's naked boobs for which seems like an eternity) and asks her to run away with him.

Things don't go according to his plan. I won't give away details, but know that it's a movie that requires you to think.

On the plus side, George gets more lickable with age. On the downside, it's only entertaining to watch him work out the first time, the following 2-3 scenes of him working out in dress slacks are somewhat stupid. Why would anyone, especially an assassin, not have a pair of proper work out clothes?

In case you haven't figured it out, I would give this movie a D-. I don't like to give F's, and I can appreciate the artistry of the movie. But, I truly could have been more entertained if I had taken a match to $20 and watched it burn to a crisp.

Me VS. The Weekend

The weekend went by too fast. But, with it's end I'm on the downhill side of the hubs being in Kentucky for work so I'm not going to complain. The weekend was fairly typical in the life of the Copic house. Soccer game, trip to the zoo, plenty of TV time. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

Saturday was our hectic day. J had his second soccer game of the season. He's on a pretty good team; however, the hubs is his coach. With Andre in KY until the 24th that meant a sub. Since this is a public forum and I don't know that they can't google and find me I will not go into details of my let down of the game. I will just say that we lost. A huge loss. It wasn't due to a lack of skill or because they were outplayed. It was because his team was not organized. And organization is the coach's responsibility. When the coach doesn't coach/mentor the kids, a breakdown happens. And that's exactly what we experienced Saturday. OH well, we have six more games this season, and not everyone wins 100% of the time. So, we'll pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and go back out there. in Wild Dogs vs. Wolverines, Wild Dogs won. But Wolverines learned how to be good sports even when they don't win. So, I'd say it was a moral victory.

J is a fairly good little goalie. Here he catches the ball before the opposition scores.
Me vs. the Weekend, take 1 - weekend wins.
But I'm claiming moral victory for kids learning how to be good sports when they loose.

We went home, relaxed a bit and decided that we'd take a family outing to the zoo. Sure, that doesn't sound difficult. But have you ever tried doing this alone with a passel of kids? I loaded up the car, stopped at Target for snacks and the four of us took off to the Denver Zoo.

It was a nice outing. The weather was gorgeous and most of the animals we wanted to see were out. J always bugs us for a train ride and we never want to wait in the line, but this time it wasn't too bad so me and the three kids piled on and rode around for a bit. The zoo has had quite a few babies born this year, and we saw the baby orangutan and mountain goats up close. The only complaint to be heard was from J because I don't do the reptile house, so he had to skip it. Oh well, his dad can take him in another time. We did catch the sea lion show and that was entertaining. Baby Man really could care less; however, and took a nap during the second half of our excursion.

Mama Orangutan with baby on her shoulder. I couldn't catch her up close.

J & H outside of the sea lion exhibit. Baby Man was sleeping by this point so he's not pictured.
Me vs. the Weekend, take 2 - I win.

That evening after the Baby went to sleep I escaped with the neighbors to grab a movie down the street. They wanted to see Devil. I don't do scary movies. I especially do not do scary movies when I'm alone. They joked that I would go home and put all three kids in bed with me. They didn't know that was probably true, and I'd sleep with every light in the house on. Instead of doing this we saw The American. Look for a movie review later. Don't be shocked when the review is not good. The plus side of The American is George Clooney is lickable. That's about it.

A brooding well toned George. Best thing about the movie.
Me vs. Weekend, take 3 - me because I didn't get up and leave, and I managed to stay awake.

Sunday was what I like to call a lazy day. We lounged around the house and watched movies. Letters to Juliet is adorable. And the premier of Broadway Empire came on last night. My kids managed to play nice and not kill each other. All and all it was a good day.

So, All told the final score was Beth - 2 (plus a moral victory), Weekend - 1. I'm saying that's a resounding defeat to the weekend!

Book Review: Whiter Than Snow

I enjoy reading, but few books touch me. With most books, I visualize everything and can see the characters - but Sandra Dallas has a unique way of enveloping me into her stories. Something very few authors are able to do when I read their works.

Whiter Than Snow is Dallas' ninth novel. I have read six of them. I have enjoyed each one, but none of them got into my head quite as much as this one. The book is set in a mining town in the Colorado Rockies (a Denverite, Dallas' novels are mostly set in the Midwest to Western states) in 1920. There is an avalanche, just after the school bell rings and nine children are buried under a massive amount of snow. Only four survive.

The book takes you through the history of parents and grandparents who are frantically hoping their children are found alive, and the aftermath of what happens to each family after the children are recovered.

In reading the words, I not only was able to visualize the settings, but I felt the cold of the mothers digging for their children with dishpans, I read more than a few pages through tears (of both happiness over the finding of survivors and sorrow of finding bodies) as none of the children were older than my middle child.

I don't think you have to be a parent to appreciate this book, as Dallas' themes of forgiveness, redemption, survival, faith and family are things everyone can relate to. It shows the human spirit in a familiar theme - how differences are set aside to help everyone affected - regardless of economic status, color or creed. In the end, the town is stronger in spite of the tragedy - and characters you wouldn't think would could ever become friends do. If you couldn't already tell, I give this book an A+. Find a copy today, you won't be sorry that you did.

What is Freedom?

Feedom can be many things to many people. My political view of the word freedom is:

Freedom is being able to express yourself, in any way you choose. Burning your bra, protesting ideas you feel are unfair, going (or not going) to a place of worship.

It's knowing that when you go to bed that night, you will not be woken up by strangers with guns who come looking for your children to draft them into mandatory military.

Freedom is knowing that you can look for work in whatever profession you want, even though you aren't guaranteed a job in that profession because the employers have the freedom to hire whom they choose.

It's the ability for me to stand up for what I believe in. And for you to tell me I'm an idiot. We disagree but we're still able to be friends at the end of the day.

Freedom is knowing we have to work hard, but the rewards can be great. Freedom requires hard work. Freedom isn't free.

However, my personal view of freedom is:

Freedom means not getting dressed today. Or, if I decide to get dressed it means the ability to go where I want, for as long as I want, with whomever I want.

Sure, that sounds simple... but to those of you who aren't stay at home moms you have no idea how difficult this is.

Freedom would be getting a pedicure more than once every three months - by a professional. Me giving myself pedicures or having some member of the family who is also going to paint my entire foot does not fit the proper description.

Freedom is not worrying about what's for dinner, and who won't eat what. It's ordering take out, or better yet going to the best place in town - you know, a place that actually has stars for ratings, not arches. The place of my choosing, not my kids' definition of "the best place in town." Freedom would be eating somewhere with real waiters and cloth napkins. Oh, and maybe wine or martini glasses!

Freedom is an endless shopping expense account. New shoes. Trendy clothes.

Freedom is who I used to be. But, it's also who I am now. Because inspite of all the negatives listed above, Freedom allowed me to choose to stay home. And in doing so, I had to give up some things- because Freedom is never truly free.