Three sentence movie reviews: Edward Scissorhands

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It was interesting to revisit this film 25 years after I first watched it.  Overall, I don’t think the narrative held up, though I think Edward Scissorhands is such an iconic character, that this movie can skate by even without a solid plot.  Diane Wiest remains my favorite “mom” from 1980s films.*

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home

*see: Footloose, Parenthood, this movie.  Also don’t forget her overwrought actress in Bullets Over Broadway.  “Don’t speak!”

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1990/edward_scissorhands_ver1.html

Walk to the Rugged Manic

Matt participated in the Rugged Maniac at Portland International Raceway.  As that location is close to our house, we walked.  Here are some things I saw.

Interstate Ave north of Argyle is experiencing road construction.  This here is a new sidewalk added to the viaduct. I was interested to note the random fencing that is nowhere else along this section of sidewalk.  My guess is that some sort of law says it has to be above rail road tracks, to keep shenanigans to a minimum.

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Along this walk is a junk place.  With some butterfly bush looking pretty.  Butterfly Bush is classified as invasive, but I do appreciate how pretty it is as it takes over.

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Cacophony of junk. IMG_3475

From one point on the sidewalk you can see two mountains.  Here is St. Helens, with a topper of electric wire.IMG_3477

And here is Mt. Hood with a swallow cooperating with me and agreeing to be in my picture.   It only took 10 or so tries.  IMG_3483

I always wondered what Trimet worker had that job.

IMG_3466Think about it.  Every stop in the metro area has at least a piece of paper saying what routes service the stop and the stop ID number.  Bigger stops have a full poster including bus schedules for all routes.  Train stops and some transit centers have multiple posters with schedules.  Who are the people who are always making sure these are up-to-date?  Today, I caught a picture of one of them.

Three sentence movie reviews: Love & Mercy

love_and_mercyWhile I would not have cast John Cusack as Brian Wilson (they seem to be two quite different people features-wise) I can say that after a while I stopped being distracted by his inability to look like Brian Wilson and eventually enjoyed his performance. The acting was first-rate here, with all the leads bringing their A-game to this back-and-forth biopic (Paul Dano plays the mid-60s Brian Wilson–he’s amazing–John Cusack plays the late-80s Brian Wilson).  And overall, this is an incredible film with lots to look at and be absorbed by.*

Cost:  Free due to Kelly’s Fandago gift card (given to her by regular commenter Jan) $10.17 worth of snacks were purchased also.  That was a pretzel for me and a soda for her.
Where watched:  Regal City Center 12, with the aformentioend Kelly.

*Slight downside.  You will have Beach Boys songs in your head for a very long time after seeing this movie. But it will be worth it.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/love_and_mercy.html

 

Three sentence movie reviews: The Sessions

sessionsI never saw this movie in the theater because I was somewhat “eh” on the subject matter.  However, it didn’t quite go the way I thought it would go and John Hawkes  was fascinating to watch.  Unfortunately, Helen Hunt chose to go the route of attempting the Boston accent and that nearly sank the entire picture.*

Cost: free from library (a “Why not?” selection)
Where watched: at home.

*Honestly, I think that accent is acting kryptonite.  Only people from Boston should attempt.  Oh, and John Hawks,  born and raised in rural Minnesota, who did it so well that  I didn’t notice he was attempting one until Helen Hunt’s attempt caused me to wince.

http://www.impawards.com/2012/sessions.html