Homogeny-Ain't It Grand?

Sometimes I really dislike living here.

We couldn't get The Constant Gardener* (which, btw, I saw elsewhere) into theaters, but Mobsters and Mormons has been playing for weeks.

There is a whole genre of LD$ films out there that no one outside of Idaho, Utah, and Arizona knows exists. They typically parody their own culture and "good-naturedly" play off of the stereotypes of the world, but the films are didactic and filled with vernacular and inside references familiar only to themselves. It takes living here for several years for the religious colloquialisms to be understood ("Ward"- the congregation you are assigned to according to your geographical location. You can still attend where you wish, but it is discouraged and rarely done. "Singles Ward"- the wards usually in the vicinity of colleges and universities provided for all the unmarried people to attend, thus providing them with opportunities to meet other unmarrieds and find a mate).

What was the point of this post? Oh. Yes. I miss diversity.

It's all about profit. I know.

*I stand corrected. Two weeks after its premiere, it is now showing in a city south of here.

Give Him a Bit of Cheese, Please

Oh no! Fire destroyed the warehouse in which the props and sets from Wallace and Gromit films are stored! I love those guys. The girls and I have been looking forward to The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (we're going this weekend).

Nick Park is quite the thoughtful gentleman:

"Wallace and Gromit's creator, Nick Park, said the earthquake in South Asia helped put the loss into perspective.

'Even though it is a precious and nostalgic collection and valuable to the company, in light of other tragedies, today isn't a big deal,' he said." (via CNN.com)

Opera Length, please.

I see that Shopgirl, the novella by Steve Martin, has been made into a film. I already gave my personal thoughts on both of the recently published books by Steve. I am interested in seeing the movie because I believe Claire Danes to be quite talented, and the book actually seemed more like a screenplay.

I can't help but wonder how much of the neurosis in his novels in autobiographical.

(P.S. The music from the soundtrack sounds decent, too).

Make Mine Dark

It has before been confessed here that A's first love is Roald Dahl. Being the second of four girls has either predetermined her to a perpetual feeling of inequality, or we have truly been remiss as parents. Or perhaps there is another factor, one that just finds A drawn to the humor that typically repulses other girls (and most parents who have turned to pirates) her age.

Margaret Talbot has a very poignant and humorous piece on Mr. Dahl in The New Yorker this week. I was sitting in an airport while I reading it, and picked-up my cell to call A at home to tell her about the article, and read a few bits to her. I promised her full perusal upon my return (she is soaking in my tub and reading it right now; like mother...). I am sure it is no coincidence that The New Yorker ran it the week the film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp, premiered.

After grabbing my girls from their descent down the mountain after a week of camp, and allowing for a quick change of clothes, we went to the earliest matinee on Friday. I wasn't sure if I was watching much more than Johnny's Jacko impersonation. He was perfectly creepy, glove(s), pale skin, issues with a controlling father and all. Only this Jacko made me laugh, occasionally, more than I cringed. My girls aren't aware of the existence of Michael Jackson, and I'm not sure they have a reason to be, or that I want to introduce them. They enjoyed it other than the added subplot casting a bit of light onto Wonka's obsession with candy and idiosyncrasies. Johnny's Charlie also completely coalesced with Burton's typical noire style

Freddie Highmore (Charlie) is absolutely incredible. He could do a film with no words and communicate more than a Tolstoy novel. Freddie is no McCaulay Culkin. That is, he hasn't landed in film just because he has big, blue eyes and bee-stung lips. Word is that Mr. Depp was so taken with his depth as a young actor, that he specifically requested young Freddie for the Chocolate Factory project. He is not disappointing and neither is the film.

Delicious and Fragrant

Ahhhh, Bread and Tulips.