Oh my.
I've been lazy again.
All my friends patiently waiting for news from Howdyville?
OK - you win.
Back from Florida - had a great time seeing my mom and my brother and my niece and nephew and playing on the beach and in the hotel pool.
Ear infection is gone. Hearing still isn't all the way back though. Hopefully the hearing loss isn't permanent.
Weekend trip to Washington D.C. was also really good. An old friend was there for a conference and we hadn't seen one another in probably several years. We managed to squeeze in a few drinks, some dinner and a trip to the International Spy Museum. It was good to re-connect with her.
The rest of my time has been occupied by the Philly Film Fest which just ended. Two weeks of multi-movie nights, along with opening and closing night parties, and a few additional parties in between. So I've been chronically sleep-deprived. Some people I met actually take their vacation time during the fest so they can see up to 5 films a day for two weeks. I don't think I'll ever be that hard-core!
Here's the list of films I saw - in order of how well I enjoyed them. For more info, go to the link above and search by title - or try IMDb.
From best to worst (in my always humble opinion)
After the Wedding (in national release now - go see it)
City in Heat (from Argentina - with a plot similar to "The Big Chill" but much funnier and with better music - I saw it twice)
Just Sex and Nothing Else (romantic comedy from Hungary - very clever and funny and a stunningly hot and talented Judith Schell in a leading role)
Beauty in Trouble (from Czech director Jan Hrebejk - whose film "Up and Down" is also fantastic)
Wicked Flowers (Japanese film that feels like a blend of David Lynch and Monty Python - I loved it)
End of the Line (low-budget thriller where a Christian cult tries to "save" non-believers by slashing them to death - good clean irreverent fun)
The Ten (speaking of irreverent - comedic skits featuring each of the ten commandments - with Winona Ryder and Jessica Alba in supporting roles)
Waitress (Keri Russell tries to juggle a controlling husband, an affair and an unwanted pregnancy - all the while baking the best pies for miles around - a nice supporting role for Andy Griffith too)
Fay Grimm (odd but funny spoof of an espionage thriller - with Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum)
Big Dreams Little Tokyo (an American in Japan, trying to make ends meet as an author, translator, language instructor and general "businessman" - along with his roommate who's trying to become a sumo wrestler - love and laughter blossom)
Wholetrain (German "documentary" following the lives of a multi-ethnic group of graffiti artists - directed by a formerly infamous graffiti "writer" - engrossing and wonderfully shot)
Eagle vs Shark (quirky but sweet film from New Zealand about two young misfits tring to find love and a direction in life)
12:08 East of Buchurest (deadpan humor on the topic of whether or not the revolution really ever happened in a small town - from Romania)
You are Here (beautiful young party people dealing with relationships and a convoluted but fun plot)
Princess (animated and somewhat disturbing look at a vendetta against the porn industry)
Slumming (practical joke played by two Austrian slackers on a homeless man has unintended consequences)
Red Road (winner of the festival jury prize - but not what I would've voted for - about obsession, revenge and surveillance set in Glasgow)
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (rambling plotless film from Asia - not my cup of tea at all)
I've been lazy again.
All my friends patiently waiting for news from Howdyville?
OK - you win.
Back from Florida - had a great time seeing my mom and my brother and my niece and nephew and playing on the beach and in the hotel pool.
Ear infection is gone. Hearing still isn't all the way back though. Hopefully the hearing loss isn't permanent.
Weekend trip to Washington D.C. was also really good. An old friend was there for a conference and we hadn't seen one another in probably several years. We managed to squeeze in a few drinks, some dinner and a trip to the International Spy Museum. It was good to re-connect with her.
The rest of my time has been occupied by the Philly Film Fest which just ended. Two weeks of multi-movie nights, along with opening and closing night parties, and a few additional parties in between. So I've been chronically sleep-deprived. Some people I met actually take their vacation time during the fest so they can see up to 5 films a day for two weeks. I don't think I'll ever be that hard-core!
Here's the list of films I saw - in order of how well I enjoyed them. For more info, go to the link above and search by title - or try IMDb.
From best to worst (in my always humble opinion)
After the Wedding (in national release now - go see it)
City in Heat (from Argentina - with a plot similar to "The Big Chill" but much funnier and with better music - I saw it twice)
Just Sex and Nothing Else (romantic comedy from Hungary - very clever and funny and a stunningly hot and talented Judith Schell in a leading role)
Beauty in Trouble (from Czech director Jan Hrebejk - whose film "Up and Down" is also fantastic)
Wicked Flowers (Japanese film that feels like a blend of David Lynch and Monty Python - I loved it)
End of the Line (low-budget thriller where a Christian cult tries to "save" non-believers by slashing them to death - good clean irreverent fun)
The Ten (speaking of irreverent - comedic skits featuring each of the ten commandments - with Winona Ryder and Jessica Alba in supporting roles)
Waitress (Keri Russell tries to juggle a controlling husband, an affair and an unwanted pregnancy - all the while baking the best pies for miles around - a nice supporting role for Andy Griffith too)
Fay Grimm (odd but funny spoof of an espionage thriller - with Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum)
Big Dreams Little Tokyo (an American in Japan, trying to make ends meet as an author, translator, language instructor and general "businessman" - along with his roommate who's trying to become a sumo wrestler - love and laughter blossom)
Wholetrain (German "documentary" following the lives of a multi-ethnic group of graffiti artists - directed by a formerly infamous graffiti "writer" - engrossing and wonderfully shot)
Eagle vs Shark (quirky but sweet film from New Zealand about two young misfits tring to find love and a direction in life)
12:08 East of Buchurest (deadpan humor on the topic of whether or not the revolution really ever happened in a small town - from Romania)
You are Here (beautiful young party people dealing with relationships and a convoluted but fun plot)
Princess (animated and somewhat disturbing look at a vendetta against the porn industry)
Slumming (practical joke played by two Austrian slackers on a homeless man has unintended consequences)
Red Road (winner of the festival jury prize - but not what I would've voted for - about obsession, revenge and surveillance set in Glasgow)
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (rambling plotless film from Asia - not my cup of tea at all)
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
=) Hugs*