The One With Crime 101

 

 

Last night, we saw the Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry movie Crime 101. Overall, it was an interesting, methodical movie.

It tells the story of Chris Hemsworth's character, an unusual criminal who embarks on high price crimes along the 101 highway in California. His calling card is to rob from people who will be insured and make sure not to hurt anyone in the process.

Mark Ruffalo plays the detective trying to solve this puzzling case that his police force is trying to deny exists. Ruffalo is convinced that the crimes that have been committed all follow a pattern. He becomes so obsessed that it ruins his partnership, the faith the police force has in him, and his marriage.

 What unfolds is a slightly convoluted, but in the end, entertaining plot with these two characters intersect with Halle Berry in a series of events that actually helps all of them out while also hindering the people who are against them. 

Overall, I'd give it a B. Great acting and the return of Nick Nolte to a movie help propel a complicated plot.

The One Where Bri Makes Dean's List

 

We got a pleasant surprise this week. We found at that during her first semester, Bri made the Dean's List at college.

We were not surprised. She put in a ton of work and spent hours doing homework, as well as studying at the library. 

Congratulations Bri. Great work!!! 

 

 

 

The One With Ice Cream for Breakfast

 

 

 Ice Cream For Breakfast

Yet another Ice Cream for Breakfast arrived earlier today along with a snowstorm that was supposed to be minor but picked up a lot of moisture off the coast of the North Shore.

Once we found out that the event was still being held at Cherry Hill, Emmie and I dug out and then I headed to the creamery. And, unlike years where it has been bitter cold, or super windy, or we had Covid, snow definitely impacted the crowd. The lines were not humungous - they didn't even need people helping to guide the parking - which meant I was able to be served right away. Awesome.

 While I indulged in my favorite maple and bacon - always an amazing treat - I brought home pistachio for Emmie and black raspberry for Kiff - neither of whom wanted to standard breakfast faire.

And as usual, money always goes to a great cause. This year, they are providing funds to DECCA at DHS. 

The One Where the Patriots Go To the SuperBowl Again

 

 

 

The Patriots played the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. It was a hard fought, sloopy game in weather that quickly became cold, windy, and snowy in Denver....a true house of horrors for the Patriots in the past.

However the Patriots, down 7-0, found a way to comeback with a turnover followed by a touchdown and then a field goal before conditions turned awful.

In the end, they held on for a 10-7 win and their record 12th appearance in the Superbowl, where they will have a rematch with the Seahawks!!!

Go PATS!!! 

The One With Wicked for Good

 

 

Today, we went to see the movie Wicked for Good...a sequel to Wicked.

While I am a Wizard of Oz fan, I was not a huge fan of this movie. I would give it a B. However - because it has a connection to the original 1939 movie - there were definitely a whole host of plot flaws here. First, some of the events that happened in the OG Wizard were absent from this one, from the ruby slippers going to Dorothy to the events unfolding over a long period of time, and the notion that the Scarecrow seems intent on stopping the Witch.  

Absent the plot flows, it did not seem to have the pizazz of the first movie from last year as well. It was not quite of a showstopper and the ending, though creative, was also predictable.  

I will say the acting was a little on the sloppy side as well. While I typically am a Ariana Grande fan, this performance was - YIKES. Way over the top to the point that her acting distracted me.  

So, while I like the premise and am always a fan of the original book, this just did not do it for me.

 

The One With No Other Choice

 

 

Earlier tonight, Kiff and I made a voyage into the Coolidge Theater to see No Other Choice, a foreign movie with subtitles (my favorite) that Kiff wanted to see. I found the premise - a guy loses his job and will do everything he can to provide for his family - intriguing. So, I went along.

Overall, the movie was okay. I'd give it a B. The acting was solid and the lead's wife was amazing, trying to hold the family together. Part of the premise was a bit ludicrous - the lead was trying to eliminate any of his potential competition for a future job at a South Korean paper mill. And indeed, he does eliminate three. In the process, he sees a bit of himself in all of the victims.

Their is subtle humor that helps the viewer overcome the darkness of the movie, which helps during some of the disturbing parts. And, some of the visuals were stunning, including the opening sequence where the family is seated outside their house with red cherry blossoms falling down from trees. Exquisite!!!

The One with Six and Carmines

 

 

 

 

We went to NYC for what now seems to be an annual family visit. And, on the way, Emmie found a good deal on tickets for the musical SIX. I know Emmie had been interested in seeing it, so we decided to give it a go.

 And what a go it was. We went in knowing it was going to be about Henry VIII's six wives. However, instead of being about his wives, it was an upbeat, music pounding story about six women who happened to also be married to the king.

 While the musical starts as a competition for the audience to see who is the favorite queen, by the end, they make it clear that they should not be known as Henry's wives, but that they each have their own individual experiences and lives. And sure, two were divorced, one died, two were beheaded, and one survived....but they all share their individual stories so well. Not to mention, it was a short musical....about 80 minutes with no intermission.

After that, we went to Carmines, and actually sat upstairs. There we had the chicken parm and rigatoni with white sauce (garlic sauce), and talked about the musical and the movies we wanted to see. It was quite a night.