The Oscars are this Sunday night and G. and I are on a mission – watch as many Oscar-nominated movies as we can before the awards show.
This idea was prompted after seeing The Artist. G. and I loved the movie. L. thought it was "OK." But truth be told, G. took a film history class this past fall that focused on silent movies and then "talkies" during the 30s and 40s. I enjoyed watching the old Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, etc. movies with her during that school quarter and we had many discussions about them. G. also made her own silent movie with many of the classic elements that helped her understand this particular movie genre. There is something to be said for having a different level of appreciation when you've tried to do it yourself. G. used animals and music in her own silent film so she paid careful attention to those elements in The Artist. We also both made note of the guy's hair in the movie. If you watch with a keen eye you'll see that the man's hair reflects his mood and/or foreshadows what's to come. A very minor element in a series of clever ones we liked in that film.
I could ramble on about different aspects of The Artist but I'll spare you. G. and I think it's still our favorite for winning Best Picture.
This is however tempered by the fact that we've only seen a handful of Oscar-nominees so far.
G. saw Hugo in 3D with a friend and really liked it. And again, she appreciated knowing the silent films referenced in that movie (it's a silent movie Oscar year). I saw Hugo with L. without the 3D and liked it, but not nearly as much as G. I don't like 3D because it is a blurry picture to me (I believe my astigmatism prevents me from fully appreciating the effect). But I've been told that the 3D effects in Hugo are what make it especially compelling.
Last night G. and I rented The Help. Both of us really enjoyed the movie and thought Octavia Spencer was our first choice for Best Supporting Actor. Although we both agreed Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids was great so we could root for her to win as well. And just for the record, I am well-aware that Bridesmaids was not likely my best movie-watching decision for my 15-year-old. Yet it prompted some interesting (and oh yes, uncomfortable) conversations at our house after that viewing! But I don't regret it because it sure did bring to light the issue of bogus boyfriends. That movie was hilarious and I was happy to see Melissa McCarthy get a nod for an Oscar. She made that movie oh so much better with her character.
Anyhoo, G. and I have looked through a bunch of other nominees. We actually would love to see Jane Eyre since it's up for a Costume Design award. We didn't think Hugo, or The Artist for that matter, was really all that great in this category. But based on the trailer, Jane Eyre looks more to our liking. But alas, we can't seem to find a rental of the movie online and can't get it at our local Redbox as of yesterday. But our search will continue at Videoport tomorrow.
We've watched trailers for The Tree of Life and it looks like a snooze. A couple of people have told us they either (1) thought it was horribly slow and/or (2) "didn't get it." Based on the comments we're going to skip the $3.99 rental on that title. We kind of felt the same way about "Moneyball" but it is in the queue for us to decide for sure either way tomorrow night.
The Descendants is playing at the Nick this weekend. I dislike depressing suck-the-life-out-of-you movies so I'm still on the fence about seeing that one. Although a friend just emailed and said it was good and not overly depressing. There is also Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to consider as well but to be honest, neither jumped out at me as being movies I'd normally seek out. So, we're still making up our minds about spending the steeper price for a movie theater ticket.
Tonight G. and I are jazzed about our plan to watch Midnight in Paris. Several friends have told me - in the context of "not being a big Woody Allen fan" - how much they liked that particular movie. We think this will likely be the last of Oscar-nominated movies we'll really enjoy.
We won't be seeing every movie nominated (obviously). Yet this year's Oscar season is particularly enjoyable because I can share in the experience with my 15-year-old. Teens can be fickle creatures but when you can find a genuine interest and common ground... boy they sure are fun to have around!
Here's the trailer of Jane Eyre we saw that is prompting us to seek it out for rental to gauge its costuming....
And in case you want to see how accurate you are will predicting who will win the Oscars, you can participate in the Press Herald's Oscar poll. But hurry, the poll ends at 5 p.m. tonight.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Kid Tracks Column: Wonderful winter hiking, light snow, false starts and all
There are a lot of variables to consider when hiking with kids. This
is true of hiking with a dog as well. But there is one thing you can
count on with both – a bathroom break will be needed within the first
dozen steps of hitting the trail. Never in all the years I've been
hiking with kids, and the few occasions I've taken a dog, have I avoided
a false start.
So I found myself amused when my 15-year-old bemoaned her
foster dog's need to poop within the first few steps of getting to the
trail head at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport.
She had packed a couple of disposable bags for just such an occurrence but had hoped for a bit more time before having to deal with the smelly bag factor. But it worked out that it happened early.
She managed to remove the waste and dispose of it within minutes (hello car), despite the winter conditions and fewer trash barrels available at the park this time of year.
While the dog's business was being picked up, my 14-year-old decided maybe she needed to use the bathroom, too.
Thankfully there is a winter bathroom option near the parking lot for human visitors who prefer to be a bit more discriminating than our canine friend. (Note: The regular bathroom building is closed in winter and the remaining outhouse option is chilly.)
Once all the business was done, we were on our way (again). And I have to admit that even though my kids are getting older, I am amused some things don't appear to ever change.
At this time of year I usually write about all our fun adventures on the cross country ski trails. We pack our lunches and have a ton of fun flying down hills on our skinny skis and scoping out a nice spot to sit in the snow for a picnic.
Not so this winter. The snow has come and gone more quickly than a New York minute and it's been rare that a snowy day coincides with one of my days off from the office.
But if we can't ski right now, a winter walk by the ocean is a nice second choice.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park offers great winter hiking options. It is a well-visited trail system, so the packed snow makes walking fairly easy. It's also well lined with trees to keep the stiff winter breezes from hitting you while you enjoy a view of the ocean.
There are several miles of looping trails around the park and plenty of animal tracks in the light snow covering to keep kids interested, and guessing, what creatures live in the area. We didn't see many feathered friends flying in the sky, but we did hear quite a few songs in the trees.
We are never alone on the trails when we visit Wolfe's Neck Woods regardless of the weather and time of year. On the day we visited the park there were a dozen cars – and plenty of people with canine hiking companions -- taking advantage of the park. These were not nearly the number of visitors we typically see during the warmer months. So, a quiet hike on the popular trails is a real treat.
If you haven't ventured out for a winter hike yet, do it. The cold days of winter, when dressed properly, can be a great way to enjoy the Maine State Park system with your family (humans and canines). And during this particular winter, no special gear beyond a comfortable pair of snow boots is required.
Warmer winter also means the inevitable bathroom break is a little more tolerable, too.
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram February 12, 2012
She had packed a couple of disposable bags for just such an occurrence but had hoped for a bit more time before having to deal with the smelly bag factor. But it worked out that it happened early.
She managed to remove the waste and dispose of it within minutes (hello car), despite the winter conditions and fewer trash barrels available at the park this time of year.
While the dog's business was being picked up, my 14-year-old decided maybe she needed to use the bathroom, too.
Thankfully there is a winter bathroom option near the parking lot for human visitors who prefer to be a bit more discriminating than our canine friend. (Note: The regular bathroom building is closed in winter and the remaining outhouse option is chilly.)
Once all the business was done, we were on our way (again). And I have to admit that even though my kids are getting older, I am amused some things don't appear to ever change.
At this time of year I usually write about all our fun adventures on the cross country ski trails. We pack our lunches and have a ton of fun flying down hills on our skinny skis and scoping out a nice spot to sit in the snow for a picnic.
Not so this winter. The snow has come and gone more quickly than a New York minute and it's been rare that a snowy day coincides with one of my days off from the office.
But if we can't ski right now, a winter walk by the ocean is a nice second choice.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park offers great winter hiking options. It is a well-visited trail system, so the packed snow makes walking fairly easy. It's also well lined with trees to keep the stiff winter breezes from hitting you while you enjoy a view of the ocean.
There are several miles of looping trails around the park and plenty of animal tracks in the light snow covering to keep kids interested, and guessing, what creatures live in the area. We didn't see many feathered friends flying in the sky, but we did hear quite a few songs in the trees.
We are never alone on the trails when we visit Wolfe's Neck Woods regardless of the weather and time of year. On the day we visited the park there were a dozen cars – and plenty of people with canine hiking companions -- taking advantage of the park. These were not nearly the number of visitors we typically see during the warmer months. So, a quiet hike on the popular trails is a real treat.
If you haven't ventured out for a winter hike yet, do it. The cold days of winter, when dressed properly, can be a great way to enjoy the Maine State Park system with your family (humans and canines). And during this particular winter, no special gear beyond a comfortable pair of snow boots is required.
Warmer winter also means the inevitable bathroom break is a little more tolerable, too.
TRAILS
WHAT: Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
WHERE: 426 Wolfe's Neck Road, Freeport; 865-4465
BATHROOM: An outhouse
TRAIL USE: Hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing; looping trails range in distance from 0.4 to 1.8 miles, with linking trails to extend mileage
DOG FRIENDLY: Yes, on a leash
FEE: Adult residents, $3; Children 5 to 11, $1; under 5 are free
WHAT: Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
WHERE: 426 Wolfe's Neck Road, Freeport; 865-4465
BATHROOM: An outhouse
TRAIL USE: Hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing; looping trails range in distance from 0.4 to 1.8 miles, with linking trails to extend mileage
DOG FRIENDLY: Yes, on a leash
FEE: Adult residents, $3; Children 5 to 11, $1; under 5 are free
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram February 12, 2012
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