A Trifecta for the Soul

There are few things I love more than movies and coffee. Hence why I started this blog. To help navigate and direct readers to the best varieties of both. However, these experiences serve another function in my life: escapism. Sometimes when the world seems to be knocking me around, I take myself to Starbucks, to the Lincoln Square Loews, and all seems right again. I have found this to beat the blues in a number of cities and circumstances. From India to Massachusetts, where there's a screen and a bean, there's a remedy.

This weekend amid atoning, I rallied some compadres to see some really excellent flicks.

Easy A - A throwback to the John Hughes generation with a bit more contemporary cynicism and technology, just a delightful teen comedy that doesn't pander to the lowest common denominator, but instead dazzles with a lot of spunk and terrific supporting performances (Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Lisa Kudrow). Emma Stone (a favorite from Zombieland) carries the film with grace and charm. She has what Lindsay Lohan promised and has since failed to deliver: the smart, the stunning, the resourceful, that suggests she will graduate to bigger things. Just fun.

Catfish - While I find escapism at the movies, others locate it on the internet. As revealed in this twisted, unsettling documentary about the relationship between a New York photographer and an admiring family in Michigan. I don't want to give anything away, but this statement: go see it. There are weirdos out there and a good defense is the best offense. I actually don't know what that means.

The Town -- When the trailer for this film premiered before Inception back in July, I flipped out. It was as if the casting director asked for my input. Ben Affleck!! Jon Hamm! Rebecca Hall! Chris Cooper! The SAME MOVIE! The brunette Departed! I die. Anyway, each poster and billboard filled me with more glee, though I was convinced (due to the September release date) that it was going to be a throwaway snoozefest. Opposite of true. Actually a compelling drama/thriller that at times feels like an Arthur Miller play. I found myself routing for Affleck's no good bank robber amid all of his wrongdoings (meanwhile thinking, Affleck has three movies under his belt where he works in construction: Armageddon, Good Will Hunting, and now this...must be his chiseled jaw line..drool). Like a Miller play, no character (well, maybe a few) was completely evil. Even Jeremy Renner and Blake Lively, a brother and sister on the wrong side of the law, give us something to think about. I admired the pacing of the film, a thoughtful blend of shoot-ups with story and thoughtful conversation. I only wish Jon Hamm had been given the smallest bit of backstory, beyond "cop out for blood." I was curious to know who he was outside of his professional proceedings, where he fit into the whole townie vs. tooney environment, and whether he would date me. No, fictional. I loved how much townie Affleck (in director not construction worker hat) explored Boston. It's odd that a film about a town full of criminals made me want to move there. It is just so lovely, with narrow streets, brownstone-style homes, and ocean views. I saw myself in Rebccca Hall's Banana Republic loafers padding around this community, weeding in the community garden, and eating pineapple pizza on sunny days in the middle of Cambridge. Will just watch out armed masked men. A solid sleeper hit for the fall season.

The Town

Movie Marathon Posting

When it rains, it pours. As we saw this week in Brooklyn and this weekend at the movies. You needed espresso to get through this monster marathon...preferably that found at 78th and Madison in a little French cafe with the best croissants.

But first, some oldies:

Predators -- Yeah, I saw this. Why? Peer pressure. Replace peer with parent and you understand my complicated relationship with my father, a diehard sci-fi fan with a special place in his heart for films receiving C minuses or lower or critical indexes. This is not worth your time. You might also question why talented thespians Adrian Brody and Lawrence Fishburne found themselves in this movie, let alone on this strange lost world island. That being said, you might find yourself on a plane one day, and there might be a screaming child kicking your seat, and you'll plug in your ear plugs and look overhead for respite. You might find on that puny screen Predators (unless you are flying Virgin where the choice will be yours) and you'll watch it. And you'll be fine.

The next two movies represent the new canon of "Find Yourself Femme Flicks." Society has long informed us what happens to men after they outgrow their first marriage, but what about to women? And what about these times call for these sorts of profiles? Women in similar positions to Patricia Clarkson and Julia Roberts' characters in the past would be found sulking in some suburb, rather than exploring their world and rekindling their passion for life and love. Whether this is owed to financial independence or changes in social stigma, there has been a bit of a liberation for the ladies. At least according to Hollywood.

Eat Pray Love -- the movie which takes America's sweetheart to Italy, India and Indonesia on a search to find her groove through carbs, karma and kisses. About 40 minutes too long to hold my attention, even through the gorgeous scenery. Disjointed and self-indulgent, EPL never took off. However, runaway performances by The Visitor's Richard Jenkins, Javier Bardem, and Naples pizza should be noted. Well done.

Cairo Time -- burnt out businesswoman Patricia Clarkson finds herself Lost in Translation in Egypt where she waits for her diplomat husband to walk the pyramids with her. While she hangs out, in lovely dresses and excellent lighting, she gets involved in a little middle east Sex and the City 2 activities with a handsome Egyptian coffee shop owner. A lush, delicate and engaging character portrait. Make time. For Cairo Time. Said in the voice of Bill Murray (Santori time).