MOVIE REVIEW: Hugo (2011)

Hugo is one of those rare films that comes along, because it's so unique in it's artistry. It's a children's film, but it deals with some uncharacteristic mature subject matter. It's directed by Martin Scorsese, and yet, instead of a gritty potboiler, he gives us a vibrant, storybook rendition of Paris, 1932. It's a tribute to silent films, to the advent of modern technology, to the escapist in all of us. While I unfortunately missed the film in theaters, due to school (and subsequently, a lack of interest from family and friends - I refused to go see it alone), I had the rare fortune of winning a Blu-Ray copy in an online sweepstakes. I kid you not. I usually write those things off as trite, but I guess fortune favors the bold. And boy, what good fortune it was!

Young orphan Hugo Cabret, wanders the streets of Paris, searching for parts to complete an automoton (a type of primative robot; a mechanical puppet, if you will) inherited from his late father. When he's caught by an elderly toymaker, who then takes his notebook, which contains building instructions for the automoton, he embarks on a quest to understand the toymaker's strange interest with the notebook. Fortunately aided by the toymaker's young goddaughter, Hugo discovers the unlikely working relationship his father had with the man, and how the automoton may be the key to reviving his once prestigious past.

While Hugo is on it's face, a slow film, due to the dominant use of dreamlike, visual storytelling that Scorsese handles so well, I was never once bored, because it meant I was getting a chance to immerse myself in such a lush and vibrant world. The director, being the genius that he is, captures each tangible and intellectual element of the story so masterfully, I felt like I was in the presence of greatness even once the opening title hit the screen. Even though I was only watching in 2D,  I didn't need 3D to be impressed by the sheer magnitude of the visuals (although, it must've been, undoubtedly more impressive). The acting, as anticipated, was also impressive. I expected nothing less from Asa Butterfield after seeing his outstanding performance in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Chloe Moretz is equally good as his precocious confidante; something the actress has characterstically embodied in most of the work I've seen her in.

Although only time will tell if Hugo stands to become a classic, it certainly is qualified by the strong critical acclaim and numerous honors (among them, 11 Academy Award nominations, with 5 wins) it garnered last year. I certainly hope so, as it was one of the more visually arresting and innovative films that 2011 had to offer.

And for anyone who may be interested, here is a complete copy of Georges Méliès A Trip to the Moon:

9/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Game Change (2012)

Hi everyone! Sorry for having been away for so long. Law school has consumed a better part of my life, and I'm finally on Spring Break for the next week or so. I plan on doing a re-cap of how my first year went, as soon as the time is right, because I feel like some bright-eyed, future student out there could use the advice. But more on that, later...

On my second night home, I watched Game Change, the HBO movie, based on the book about the 2008 US Presidential Election. Focused on the Republican Party's  John McCain campaign, the audience gets an inside, albeit dramatized look at the pressured campaign managers as they try to combat bad PR and tackle two "maverick" candidates.

Most of us lived through this little piece of history, but few are aware and perhaps uninterested as to what actually happened behind-the-scenes. Faced with deciding on a running mate for the presidential ticket, John McCain selects the hockey-mom Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, igniting a media firestorm from Palin's formidible celebrity presence to that of Democratic candidate Barack Obama. With her strong moral values, down-to-earth disposition, and close family ties, Palin becomes an overnight poster-child for the conservative movement. The rest of political America, however, is less than pleased, when it soon becomes apparent that her political acumen, and personal life are not up to snuff. We know how this ends, but what we didn't know, then, for Palin, it was just beginning.

While not my favorite story in the canon of political campaigns, there's a lot to like about Game Change. Even if you look at everyone who was involved in the production and understand most of them have strong liberal backgrounds, it's a better experience if that notion is dropped in favor of the enjoyment of good storytelling, which is exactly what the film features. This is a story best described as good intentions that didn't quite pan out as expected; a tragedy of errors. Not just because McCain's campain managers didn't realize the proverbial pandora's box they unleashed with Palin, but because her strong personality (or ego, if you will) was more than anything the McCain campaign was ready to deal with.

Amongst the star-studded cast, Julianne Moore's portrayal of Sarah Palin arguably outshines the rest. She really transforms into the role, but her portrayal is a much more subtle, realistic rendition of Palin then the Emmy-winning masterpiece Tina Fey offered in '08 (she makes two cameo appearances in SNL archive footage). Moore offers the audience to look into the mind of a fiercely independent woman, who refused to sacrifice her beliefs for the political game. Perhaps Palin is more misunderstood than we thought. In the end, one starts to think she was meant for something less obstrusive and more rewarding than politics, after we see the effects it has on her family and personal life.

Game Change, at times, is painfully like what I observed one reviewer say: "watching the A student trying to help the D student pass the final exam."  It is clear from the narrative that the McCain campaign managers feel the campaign is doomed once Palin enters the picture. I presume most of what I'm watching is taken from reliable sources within the campaign, although I did feel at times that Palin's "nervous breakdowns" and moments of morose catatonia reeked of melodrama, especially when the advisors begin to question her mental health. It certainly works in the field of drama, but something about it didn't sit right with me. Lastly, with the majority of the perspecitve fixated on Palin (who is, arguably, the more fascinating figure in this yarn), it would have been nice to see more of McCain's perspective too.

Despite my mild criticisms, Game Change is absolutely worth your time, even if for just the performances alone.

8/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

The Mission: Impossible series is interesting, in that in my opinion, it took the producers three tries to finally get the formula right. While the first film was decent, it was way too gadget-heavy for my taste, and the action somewhat underwhelming (heck, there were barely even any guns or martial arts to compensate); the best moment being Tom Cruise's rappeling down a ceiling to a high-security terminal. The second film I can't even remember well, other than the fact it dragged on with an overwhelming amount of car chases and a thin plot. The third film is my favorite because it successfully blends the action, plot, gadget use, and even a little drama, effectively making Ethan Hunt the American James Bond that he should be. So five years later, we get this: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

A botched data retrieval at the Kremlin in Moscow leads to a terrorist attack, and the dissolution of Ethan Hunt's IMF espionage group as the attack is framed on them. He regroups his team, taking along the chief analyst (played by Jeremy Renner) to track down the perpetrator. Their travels take them to Dubai and India in pursuit of a strategist in possession of launch codes for a nuclear missile, while the man's assassins keep the team at bay.

I can't really say if Ghost Protocol is the best of the series like many critics have been raving. If anything, it's second-best in my opinion, because the third set such a high standard for the new J.J. Abrams-helmed direction the series has been careening in. Ghost Protocol is pretty much business as usual; sure, there are plot twists, but the storyline with agents going rogue is nothing we haven't seen before in James Bond. Still, that doesn't stop the movie from being a fun trip. Tom Cruise is still Tom Cruise, but now that he's getting older (yeah, it's actually happening), his acting has taken a much more Clint Eastwood-esque approach. Should he step down as Ethan Hunt, Jeremy Renner has enough charisma and energy to helm the series as much as Cruise has, even if Cruise's days as Ethan Hunt are numbered. Although I didn't see this in IMAX, I can imagine the scene with Cruise scaling a high-rise Dubai hotel is exceptionally more vivid. It was hair-raising enough for the audience in plain-old 2D. Overall, it was a stellar action film; nothing groundbreaking, or remotely trailblazing for the series (aside from introducing Renner) but enjoyable enough and with enough action and plot to spare.

8/10

Peace,
- Jon

Food for Thought: "This-Has-Nothing-To-Do-With-Harry-Potter" Treacle Tart

Before finding out what it was, I was just vaguely familiar with this dessert that happens to be a favorite of J.K. Rowling's famous, fictional young wizard. Somehow, I stumbled upon a description of the treat while browsing for recipes and I thought "Wow! That looks good!" and "If I publish a recipe, people will think it has to do with Harry Potter, which I must avoid."

So I hope that clears up my intentions for you.


With that in mind, here's what you'll need:

- 1 pie crust

- 1 1/8 cup of golden syrup (I was told maple syrup is okay, but I tried it once before and it came out too "sticky." It's easy to make on your own if you follow another recipe)

- 1 heaped tablespoon of molasses

- zest and juice of 1 small lemon

- A drop of honey

- 4 eggs

- 1 cup of bread crumbs

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Beat the eggs and combine the syrup, molasses, and lemon juice/zest. Mix together with the eggs and add the bread crumbs.

Pour the mixture into the pie crust. Place in the oven and bake for about 30 mins or until the mixture is firm or the pie crust is golden brown.

And there you have it. Quite a tasty dish, sweet in a "pancakes-and-waffles" kinda-way due to the syrup. If that's something you enjoy, by all means, dig in.

Mangia!

- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: The Muppets (2011)

I'm not ashamed to admit I've been a Muppets fan as long as I can remember. Something about their endearingly warm, wackiy and (literally) fuzzy personalities brings out the inner-child in me, but doesn't condescend my intelligence. I actually remember a time when the Muppets were a presence on Sesame Street (before Disney bought them out). I also remember seeing The Muppet Christmas Carol in the movie theater nearly 20 years ago; it actually taught me a rudimentary understanding about death that was frank but safe enough for a child to understand (it was also the first Muppet project after Jim Henson passed on). So it was with great excitement and baited anticipation I embarked on seeing The Muppets.

The story opens with a puppet named Walter, all he wants to do with his life is fit in the human-dominated world he lives in with his human brother Gary. One day, Walter catches the premiere of The Muppet Show and becomes the troupe's #1 fan. Flash-forward 20-30 odd-some years later, and Walter and Gary are on their way to L.A. to visit the now-dilapidated Muppet Studios, taking Gary's earnest but oft-neglected girlfriend, Mary. After discovering a billionaire oil-magnate plans to tear down Muppet Studios and build an oil drill. Alarmed, Walter tracks down Kermit the Frog and convinces him to round up the rest of the gang for a reunion telethon in order to save Muppet Studios, musical-numbers, self-discovery, and hilarity ensue.

I think Jason Segal hit the nail right on the head in an interview I read where he expressed that the magic of the Muppets involves avoiding cynicism in humor by making people laugh without the humor occuring at someone else's expense. This was a welcome change from what I expected out of the usual Muppets fare, in that there is a slight dramatic element with the Muppet characters often expressing feelings of abandonment, and willingness to be accepted. The audience is virtually channeled through Walter; the Muppets' main cheerleader who wants nothing more than them to succede, and in the process, discovers his purpose in life. The message is timeless: follow your dreams and never give up in what you believe in. It's the sentimentality the film exuded that basically made it so enjoyable for me. On the other hand, the musical numbers are Oscar-worthy, and the slapstick, sight-gag-based humor is relatively fresh. Often times the plot became a little predictable, maybe even a little derivative of past Muppet-efforts, but that didn't stop me from enjoying what was a welcome face in the fall film scene.

8/10

Peace,
- Jon

Food for Thought: Kimchee Chicken Noodle Stew

Yes, that's right. I'm at it again with the new recipes, and it's quite a lot of fun. This latest entry in my Anglo-Italo-Asian cooking repertoire features kimchee, or what is otherwise known in Korea as pickled cabbage that's been fermented in chili oil. It's something that I've been meaning to try, and I wasn't disappointed by the results:

- 1 Box of rice noodles (or pasta)

- 1 jar of kimchee

- 2 chicken breasts (chopped and cooked with a drizzle of Sriracha chili sauce and some black pepper)

- 2 cups of chicken broth

- 1/2 an onion (chopped)

- A handful of chopped shiitake mushrooms

- 2 scallions (green onions)

- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce

- Olive oil

Cook the noodles according to the instructions. Coat the bottom of a large pot with the olive oil, cook the onion until it browns (this picture is actually of the chicken...)

Add the kimchee and reduce to a simmer. Add the chicken, chicken broth, and soy sauce, cook for about 10 minutes and let it simmer for another 20 minutes.

Toss with the noodles, garnish with the scallions, and serve.

This is a nice, savory dish that is accented by a nice, spicy bite at the end. Granted, it wasn't as hot as I'd expected it to be, but it was a nice variation on cuisine I had not tried before.

Mangia!
- Jon

Food for Thought: Arrabiata Sauce

Arrabiata, it's Italian for "angry style", and it's the spiciest sauce you'll find on their restaurant menus. This was another improvisation on an established dish that I came up with while the Republican Debate was on. Don't worry, those two things are not mutually exclusive!

Arrabiata traditionally uses red chili peppers, but unfortunately, my faithful supplier, Wegmans, ran out. So I used green chili peppers this time around. I guarantee, if you keep everything here as I've outlined, you'll be very satisfied.

- Prepare with the ingredients from my Pomodoro Sauce

- 2 Red chili peppers

- A generous dash of cayenne pepper

- A few drops of hot sauce

Chop the peppers and add them to the vegetables in the Pomodoro sauce. While the sauce is cooking, add the cayenne pepper and hot sauce.

Continue to cook as directed and serve with your favorite pasta.

Lately, for economic reasons, I've been on a bit of a pasta kick. But I'm not complaining in the least! It's one of my favorite foods, and there may be a few more sauces I'll post in the near future.

This sauce came out with what I'd describe as a "medium" level of heat/spicy. It's enough that it won't offend anyone who doesn't like spicy, but also strong enough for those like me who are addicted to it. It's ideal with penne, but obviously, I didn't feel it was necessary.

Mangia!
- Jon