Get Low

Rented this movie at Hastings the other day thinking it would be a comedy. I mean come on - Bill Murray and Robert Duvall dressed like a hermit on the cover. How could that not be funny?? Note: I...was...so...wrong. Not funny at all except for a few funny comments made by Robert D. Okay movie, but it kind of drug on, and the end was kind of a let down. Seemed to keep building up to something that never really happened. Eh...rent it if you're bored and not really in the mood to laugh.

Conviction

Betty Ann Waters went through a very tough and trying, emotionally draining 18 years of school and investigation so she could prove her brother wasn't guilty of murder. Talk about unconditional love for your family. Wow. I was moved to tears, and I would definitely recommend this film to all. I'd watch it again, because the feeling you get when you know justice has been done really comes through the screen to the viewer. Excellent cast and acting by all. Just great!

Morning Glory

Predictable chick flick. Rachel McAdams sold herself as a neurotic executive producer, and I think she and Patrick Wilson make a good on-screen couple. Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton also made for a good duo. Rent it when you want a fun, comical and slightly touching no-brainer.

127 Hours

James Franco deserved his Oscar nomination for his moving portrayal of Aron, but major, major props go to the real Aron Ralston for his perseverance and strength. Way to go, Aron! You're amazing! I'm glad I watched this movie. I was inspired and got a little teary-eyed at the end. It was so wonderful to see the real Aron and his wife and son, and it's great that Aron still keeps up the adventures. Now I want to read his own account of what happened in his book Between a Rock and a Hard Place. I highly recommend the movie to all.

Deep Dish - (Audiobook) - Mary Kay Andrews

Light, fun and entertaining. I wasn't too keen on the idea of cooking show hosts battling it out as a premise for the story, but, once the romance steamed up the story, I was into it and loved it. As in her Savannah books, Andrews delivered the same feel-good southern atmosphere and another cast of lovable characters in this dish. I especially enjoyed Tate Moody's and Gina Foxton's rendezvous on the island during the storm. The part where she basically throws herself at him and gets on his lap is delish! Andrews certainly cooked up a fun and sexy romance.

One thing I really like about Andrews' stories, too, are the recipes or tidbits of recipes she throws in that just make your mouth water. I bet her dinner parties are fantastic.

Oh yes, and I just found out from a review I read on www.amazon.com that Andrews also writes under another name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck , so now I'll have to check out some of those books!

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

I've had extra time to read lately so I'm going through books pretty quickly. It's amazing how fast you can finish a book with just 30 minutes a day.

So I thought the other day that I'd seen Pride and Prejudice probably a million times. Different versions. Different actors. Watched with different friends. Heck - I watch it so many times at home that Josh knows if it's on the TV to just go ahead and leave it on that channel. He even knows the characters and can tell when another book or movie is copying off the Pride and Prejudice story line. I'm kind of proud of that actually. Anyways - I realized that I hadn't ever read the book Pride and Prejudice. Seems to be a crime of some sort so I picked up my copy (yes - I had a copy even though I've never read it), and I started reading.

The same familiar characters were there. The same romance. Same mishaps and confusion, but for some reason I didn't like as much as I thought I would. Maybe it's because I have the movies too ingrained in my brain to imagine them myself which, I think, is half the fun of reading. Or maybe the movies just play up the romance part and make Darcy smolder so much more?

It's still a great book. Don't get me wrong, but I was a bit disappointed in myself that I didn't like it more.

This leaves Persuasion as my top favorite Austen book to date. Mostly because of the wonderfully romantic letter.

Next Austen I'm reading is Lady Susan. I had never heard of it, but my aunt suggested I try it because it's her favorite so I will.