Fargo

I loved Fargo when I first saw it in the theatre years ago, I loved it when I bought it on VHS (was one of about 3 films that I owned instead of renting) and I loved watching it last night w E, who had never seen it.

The clearly Midwestern tone, the hilarious Minnesota accents, the dark, sick humor and the fabulous acting.

The movie was just as good this time as my memory, even if the element of surprise was missing, and I enjoyed sharing it w E. Made us both want to watch more Coen brothers movies in the future.

It also reminded me of the snowglobe I got with the Fargo VHS tape years ago -- it came with a crazily original and sick snowglobe that had both white for snow and red for blood and featured the woodchopper scene.

L'Enfant Sauvage

We watched the 1970 François Truffaut movie L'Enfant Sauvage as a family the other night.

Apparently it's based on a real story, one that most French people have heard about (A had learned of it in school, and he's only 8). The child actor was really good, as was Truffaut himself, and the film was enjoyable although not a masterpiece either for the story/script nor for the cinematography. It didn't have the originality and daring of some other Truffaut films, but it was a good movie and it's nice to start being able to see films together that aren't action movies or real kid stuff.

The Big Sky

We watched this Howard Hawks western this week - The Big Sky, a nice distraction at a time when I needed one. The movie starred a very young (and good looking) Kirk Douglas, and had all the Western classics - horses, Indians, bad guys, shootings, etc. plus beautiful Western scenery.

I wouldn't put the movie on a top-10 list but it was amusing and we liked it. I keep liking Westerns the more I see them. They are not usually very complex but are often pretty amusing.

Terracotta Soliders

We were looking for a good family outing and found this, the "Soldats de l'eternite". At the end of summer there aren't too many expos in play, and I'd seen most of what I wanted to see, so this seemed like a good choice, mixing art (for me) and history (for E) while staying short and manageable for all, friends included.

The works themselves were interesting but the layout was a pain and the ratio of really good stuff to filler was pretty poor. The Pinacotheque is not one of my favorite spots, and this expo did nothing to change that impression.

We also took in the gardens at the Musee Rodin (but not the actual museum) and that left more of an impression on me - he was just masterful, and the gardens are lovely, even on a crowded sunny Saturday.

La Vie Est Une Longue Fleuve Tranquile

We watched La vie est une longue fleuve tranquile. It was clever, amusing and a good, relaxing movie. There were many moments that were thought to be hilarious to the French, some of which went over my head, some of which I understood but didn't find nearly as funny as E did. Humor is cultural.

Reds

My mom bought E Reds as a gift a year or two ago, but we'd never had the courage to attack such a long movie until now. We did watch it in 3 parts, something we do fairly often with longer movies.

I had a good memory from when I was young and had seen it in the theatre, but obviously my memory was fuzzy. It was nice to see it w E, who did like it too. The story, the acting, were really good.

Peter Doig - at MAM

This was the same exhibition I saw in London at the Tate, this time here in Paris at the MAM. I had really loved discovering him and his work, and was thrilled to see the same exhibit coming here. I liked the presentation at the Tate much better, but it was great to see the paintings again. I also had more time to linger and listen to the video, last time we were in a rush to catch our train back.

Bridget Riley @ MAM

I'd been really looking forward to this exhibit of Bridget Riley, because I've always liked her work and always loved the space at the Museum of Modern Art of the Ville de Paris. The exhibit was cool, although I found her work a bit uneven. I really liked the wall installation she did of circles in the place, and a lot of her early work. The variations of colors w Egypt and other themes I found less compelling, but I did appreciate the comment I'd read that she is best classified as one of the last post-impressionists rather than an op-art artist.

Regarde les Hommes Tomber

We watched Regarde les hommes tomber, a Jacques Audiard film.

It was good, but not great. The story was interesting but a bit slow and kind of bizarre, but always seemed just a bit off and I never got completely into the film.

1000 Years of Good Prayers

Seeing this movie was a happy gamble. I was trying to kill time before meeting my husband and seeing a movie was just the ticket, if there was something playing starting when I arrived. Only one thing was - A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Wayne Wang.

I figured my chances were considerably better than all the summer junk I'd missed by a few minutes, and was thankful my French is up to watching a movie with a Chinese soundtrack shown w French subtitles (I have memories of 2 foreign films I saw in my first year here when that was hard).

This movie was touching, sad, and felt very personal and intimate. A very good movie. It fit my mood very well, and fit the timing needs perfectly.

PS I Love You

Can you say "Chick Flick"? I watch this type of movie so very rarely nowdays that it took me a few minutes to recognize the genre of PS I Love You, and it really wasn't hard to identify, since it was a textbook-perfect example.

I did, however, fall for all of it. Crying, smiling, over-the-top sentimentality. There is still a part of me that loves this kind of movie, even if it is mind candy. Sometimes candy hits the spot.

Napoleon Dynamite

Everyone talks about Napoleon Dynamite, a movie that came out after I'd moved to France. I finally bought it on DVD but hadn't watched it until now.

I LOVED IT!

All the best of what I love in independent film.

Great acting, great story, hugely original and very very funny.

Be Cool

Get Shorty was a great movie - original, funny, well-done. This sequel, Be Cool, was not.

It was, however, a good movie to watch on my iPod while trying to distract myself on the train back to Paris. And I always like to watch Travolta and Uma Thurman if they are not in the roles of their lives...

Half Assed - Jennette Fulda

I've been following Jennette Fulda's blog "Half of Me" for some time now. When she wrote a book I decided to buy it to support her.

It was a funny and amusing memoir, more complete than looking at a few blog posts on her current events. And of course her story of losing about 200 pounds is pretty amazing.

Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut

Finally, a book that made me want to read a lot more by the author! I picked this up just after Vonnegut died, and realized when reading it that he was really a very original mind.

I'd first read Vonnegut in high school - Farenheit 451, introduced by a great teacher, Mrs Braverman. That book has always stuck with me.

I'm hoping to add more Vonnegut in the future.

This one was funny and quick and original and really made you think and laugh.

l'Occupation - Annie Ernaux

This was a quick read, and for once, in French.

It's about a woman who is left by her lover and all her thoughts around the lover and his new woman.

Sad, intimate, and touching.

The Fourth Bear, Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde's The Fourth Bear is yet another book from the Waterstone's "books that will change your life" list.

I actually struggled with this book - tried reading it several weeks before and ended up ditching it, but took it with us on vacation anyway.

It's one of those books that has a clever premise that I find a bit too clever (like Wicked, which I read last year).

When I finally read it through I found it kind of amusing but it seemed like the humor was over-thought and trying too hard.

I'd have to read really really positive reviews before reading another book of this type.

The Eye of the Needle

We watched this early-80's movie based on the Ken Follett novel, Eye of the Needle.

Donald Sutherland was terrific and the movie was captivating and well-done. A very enjoyable movie, even if watching it on the computer did attract tons of bugs towards us in the summer house.

The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks

This has to be one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I was immediately drawn in and captivated by the horrible and fascinating world of Frank. To be up close to someone so very disturbed and yet logical-sounding was creepy, and yet the tone of the book was positive and hopeful.

I really enjoyed it.

Wall-E

We went to see Wall-E in the middle of a hot day. In the US this is a sure-fire way to beat the heat by ducking into an air-conditioned movie theatre. In France, not so much. No air conditioning. It was cooler than being in the sun I guess.

Luckily the movie was fun and we all liked it - I think I laughed more than A even, and he's 8. It wasn't so bad to see it in French, since it's animated it's much better than watching a dubbed live action movie.