Year in Reviews 2012: Movie Editon - Part One

Well apparently my 12 Days of Criticismas was a touch ambitious.  Thanks to a pretty bad stretch of The Plague running through my household this month, coupled with a couple of my guest writers not being able to squeeze a post into their own busy schedules, our 12 days ended up being A Week's Worth of Criticismas.  Oh well, even Santa drops the ball every once in a while.  I mean, you have seen the holiday classic Santa Claus:  The Movie haven't you?  Dudley Moore was never better.  We'll give it another shot next year.  I would like to thank Rhett Paro, Josh Carrillo and Peter Brown for their efforts and hopefully they'll be back reviewing bad TV specials, food, and weather phenomena again soon.

Critical Errors isn't the sort of review blog where you're going to get run-downs on all the latest offerings in movies, music, TV, food, products, what have you.  Anyone who's surfed through this humble corner of the Internet at all would know that.  How many reviews of the Ox-Bow Incident written post-1943 do you think are floating around the Interwebs?  My guess is not many, and yet you'll find one on Critical Errors, proudly.  However, I don't spend all my time only watching western morality plays from the war years.  So, I figured I'd do a look back at--nearly--everything I watched in 2012 and would give either a brief two-cents take or a just a link to the review I already wrote for it just in case you had the mis(?)fortune of missing it the first time around.  These are movies I either watched for the first time ever, or first time in a long time, presented in no particular order whatsoever.

Lincoln (2012 - Steven Spielberg) - As popular and successful as he has been for nearly 40 years, Spielberg gets flack from a lot of artsy cinefile types for being too populist and often pulling his punches in service of the happy, or at least happiest possible, ending.  Among other things, these folks will concede his talents as a filmmaker capable of entertaining with the best, but lacking the bravery of a true artist.  Now, my formal film education may only consist of a single community college course, but to those accusations I say, haters gonna hate.  They don't come much braver than Lincoln.  To make a movie about the passing of a piece of legislation, even concerning perhaps the most important piece of legislation in our nations history, in this case the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, and with as compelling a historical figure as there may be, in this case Abraham Lincoln, and have not one minute of its 150 minute running time feel like history class, is a herculean task only a handful of directors could have pulled off.  Lincoln is a masterpiece and Daniel Day-Lewis channels Honest Abe himself.  Even though I have obviously never seen Lincoln walk or move or heard his voice, somehow DDL manages to perfectly capture what I always imagined he would move and sound like, based on whatever still images I have seen over the years.  It's a virtuoso performance to add to DDL's ever growing list of virtuoso performances.  The movie is chock full of other recognizable faces, like David Straighairn, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levit and pretty much every character actor ever.  Lincoln is a great movie, and to the haters that would say otherwise I have a message for you:  shut up.

The Shootist (1976 - Don Siegal) - Great character piece starring John Wayne as a dying gunslinger.  Read my full review here.

Army of Crime (L'armee du Crime - 2009 - Robert Guedeguian) - A French movie about the French resistance in Paris during WWII.  Based on actual events, while a goodly portion of the French people and French police collaborated with the Nazi's, in many cases without much convincing needed, many of the French resistance groups were actually made up of immigrants; in this case foreign Jews, Spainards, Italians, and Armenians.  The army of crime is a rag tag group of resistance fighters with little to no training, harassing and killing Nazi's in the streets of Paris, some questioning the morality of what they're doing, some enjoying it a little too much.  A pretty interesting, and at times upsetting and at times uplifting, look at an often overlooked portion of history.

Four Christmases (2008 - Seth Gordon) - Don't think this one will be making the yearly Christmas movie rotation.  Simple premise:  couple Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon attempt to spend Christmas day with all four of their divorced parents.  Hijinx ensue.  A scenario that should be ripe for comedy gold.  The best this one achieves is bronze...plated.  There's a few decent slapstick moments, especially with the pair visiting Vaughn's blue collar dad Robert Duvall and his idiot brothers, redneck Tim McGraw (irony!) and ultimate fighter wannabe Jon Favreau.  There's also a pretty amusingly awkward sequence when they visit Vince's mom, Sissy Spacek, who happens to be dating Vince's ex-best friend.  Pretty gross, but also kinda funny.  The biggest problem is Vince Vaughn though.  He just won't shut up!  I guess that's what he does, but it gets seriously annoying.  A far cry from his days scoping out the babies in LA diners.

And speaking of The Ox-Bow Incident (1943 - William Wellman) - here's my 102 word review of the western morality play starring Henry Fonda.

Stay tuned for Part Two of the Year in Reviews 2012:  Movie Edition.

Ugly Holiday Sweater/T-Shirt

We live in an age of irony and not even something as pure as Christmas can escape it's reach.  The once popular, then maligned, and now popular again because it was so maligned seems to apply in just about every aspect of our lives.  The hipsters are running wild with their horn-rimmed glasses, fedoras, vintage camera apps that (according to some) "ruin" perfectly good digital photos, and a fear of sincerely actually liking pretty much anything.  I have to admit, I am not immune to the rise of this wanna-beatnik culture.  I love my camera filters, I often where non-baseball type hate--though in my defense I was doing that before it was cool to be uncool--and I listen to Mumford & Sons on a regular basis.

As I mentioned in my opening line, even Christmas, a time of sincerity and earnestness, is not immune.  After it's decline in the late 20th Century, we have in recent years been witness to the return of what was once a Christmas party staple:  the ugly holiday sweater.  You know the kind I mean.  Loud, garish cable-knits with giants snowflakes or Christmas trees or snowmen embroidered on them.  Something your grandmother made for you in the late 70's or early 80's and you did your best to hide your extreme disappointment after opening the package Christmas morning.  I remember a having a couple of these as a kid and was never a fan.  Not only is it not the coolest thing to be seen wearing homemade clothes, even as a seven year old, but they never fit right, made you itch like you've got fleas, and transformed you into an uncomfortable sweaty mess while sitting in a packed church for a Christmas Eve service.

But in recent years the ugly holiday sweater has returned with a vengeance, even spawning their own social gatherings.  Its' not uncommon in this hipster age to get an invite to an Ugly Holiday Sweater party, each party goer trying to out ugly their friends.  Despite not being a huge wearer of sweaters generally, and for the reasons mentioned, holiday sweaters in particular, the hipster in me could not be suppressed and I told my wife I wanted to get myself a knitted bit of holiday cheer.

However, thanks to the good folks at Woot!, I found an even better option.  The ugly holiday sweater t-shirt!  All of the ugliness, none of the itch!  And what better way to be even more ironic then with an ironic take on an ironic classic.  Yay irony!

Woot! has a number of colors and designs to choose from, featuring most of the iconic holiday images from the sweaters of old.  I went with a stylish navy blue bearing the faux-stitched likeness of a couple of reindeer and the ubiquitous snowflake emblazoned in the center.  Available in both long and short sleeved, I went with the long sleeved, as its more of a winter item and to make it seem more sweater-like.

So if you're inner-hipster is crying out for some holiday fashion that will still be acceptable to all your handlebar mustache wearing cronies down at the coffee shop, but would rather skip the inevitable hives breakout from a woolen fleece, the ugly holiday sweater t-shirt is the choice for you.  Check 'em out.

The Holiday Eater's Guide to the Christmas Shmorgasboard

Blogger's Note:  In this installment of our 12 Days of Criticismas, my very good buddy Josh Carrillo will be sharing his tips on stuffing your face for Christmas.  Josh, a youth pastor, food enthusiast, and all-around good guy, is especially qualified to share his foody thoughts, as he once had his picture taken with Alton Brown.  And I've seen him eat 20 McNuggets, a quarter-pounder, large fries, and a coke all in one sitting, with room left for an apple pie afterward.  Of course, that was many years ago and his tastes have matured some.  So without further adieu, Josh!

As most of you who are reading this know, the holidays are generally a joyous time of gathering with family, friends, fun, and food to be thankful for what God has done in particularly sending His Son Jesus Christ to live, die, and rise in our place so we would be rescued from all our nastiness. Each one of you has holiday traditions that you look forward to and memories that will last your entire lifetime. If you are anything like me, one of the greatest parts of the holidays is the food. From turkey to Christmas cookies it is a month long expedition of partaking of some tasty goodness.

It is that goodness that we will focus on. It is the goal of this post to help you maximize your holiday eating. With that, here is this holiday eaters guide to a spartaculous Christmas eating extravaganza.

Appetizers: If you really want to wow the crowd with your appetizers, make sure they involve salt, meat, and cheese. Great ideas would be Wavy potato chips with onion dip, salami and cheese platters as well as some froofy cheese and crackers (you know, stuff you find at Oliver's Market, Trader Joe's, or whatever specialty market is in your town). An underrated appetizer would be salsa poured over cream cheese. It sounds weird, but it is delectable!

Drinks: No Christmas party can be complete without some Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider and some Egg Nog. I know what most of you are thinking about the holiday nog. You either love it or hate it. I personally enjoy it. It is rich, creamy and full of fatty awesomeness.

Main Dish: I understand that a lot of peeps partake of ham and turkey on Christmas. While I am down with these dishes, to me Turkey is reserved Thanksgiving and Ham for Easter, but that could be the traditionalist in me. If you really want to bring out the big guns, you must go with... wait for it.... PRIME RIB... BOOM! It is this man's opinion that a great prime rib destroys any other cut of steak. It is juicy, succulent, and full of flavor. If you really want to go over the top with it, serve it with some horse radish sauce. You will be the talk of your neighborhood.

Side Dishes: There a bevy of side dishes that you could choose from, but for this guy the greatest compliment to a good prime rib is... potatoes au gratin, creamed spinach, and some homemade mac and cheese with bacon. These side dishes are so booyawesome that you might be tempted to not get seconds on the Prime Rib. In other words, these dishes are the bomb.com.

Dessert: So many options, so little room in your stomach. If you are going for fancy, a nice peach raspberry or apple pie with crumb topping and ice cream on top would be great. If you are going a little more finger foody for your dessert, may I suggest the candy cane JoJos from Trader Joe's (Oreo-esque cookies filled with candy cane cream filling. Need I say more?). In addition, cream puffs and cheesecake bites would be a great compliment here.

One more thing. Make sure after you partake of all this goodness, that you spend part of January detoxing on smoothies filled with fruit and spinach. They will really cleanse you. Also, a little gym time or running never hurts. Just think of it as preparing yourself to be able to eat for the next holiday season. That my friends is your guide to a great holiday eating time!!

The Best of the Worst Christmas Specials: The Star Wars Holiday Special

Blogger's Note:  I am pleased to present our second guest post in our 12 Days of Criticismas.  This one comes from my buddy Rhett Paro, a lover of movies, particularly of the 1980's "coming of age" variety.  John Huges is his wheelhouse.  But today he shares his thoughts on possibly the worst filmed production of all time, in virtually every respect, the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.  Enjoy!

Who doesn’t love to see Jimmy Stewart receive the answer to his existential question “What if I had never been born?” It is so overwhelming no matter how many times it is on TV, all of America gets choked up. Or who can’t relate to little Kevin, though he is such a disease, defending his home and finding his family truly is important? Or who refuses to giggle as Bill Murray is confronted by the three spirits of Christmas? These are only some of the classic Christmas cinema gems (or change the word cinema, but it should be plural) we enjoy. Now set those aside.

This Christmas I want to invite you to enjoy the best of the worst. Call your friends, pop some corn, grab a beverage, and be prepared for the best worst experience of the season. The Star Wars Holiday Special will not disappoint if your desire is to sit in stunned silence, broken only by a friend’s wise crack and laughter. Read on and you will discover why it is the worst...and the best for your holiday viewing.

Why It’s the Worst

This holiday special is so bad it is hard to know where to begin. The premise: Chewbacca must get back to his family to celebrate Life Day (yeah that’s it), and now you know as much about Life Day as when you finish the movie. How can that be? Not sure, but the fact that you have Wookies speaking in their native tongue for a straight 6 to 10 minutes UNTRANSLATED will not aid your comprehension. This happens several times!

That aside, what else is excruciating? The foreshadowing of what Star Wars would become. A great idea which is now a cash cow for someone we thought was cool. Is this really the guy who also gave the world Raiders of the Lost Ark? Do salt and fresh water flow from the same spring? It is clear to me now: Mrs. Lucas was a huge influence on the original Star Wars Trilogy. It makes sense they divorced in 1983…hmmm. The truth is George didn’t change when he wrote episodes 1, 2, and 3 - just the writer did!

Why It’s the Best

This movie has some of the best worst but very quotable lines. Who doesn’t want to hear lines like, “Look here a pocket sized aquarium, you can take it with you anywhere” or “You could say she did it by Hand…Solo. I know you know what I mean…You do know what I mean don’t you?” Classic!

Don't overlook the mockability factor. Everything from the story line to character names (Chewy’s dad is named Itchy) to hilarious late 70’s graphics, it is all good – for mocking! Make sure whoever you invite is very sarcastic and able to apply a thick coat of satire as you view. Other movies might be cliche or tired, but few present such an awesome opportunity for unbridled lampooning.

What truly makes Star Wars Holiday the best, is the time you will spend with family and friends. When else will your mom tell you to lose a few pounds? Or where else can you see your uncle Eddie have a few too many eggnog and brandies?

So get cozy with your friends and family, and though you might be the family screw up just remember, you're not responsible for what you're about to see.

From the Editor:  Here's part one of the Holiday Special for your "enjoyment."  If you dare, search YouTube for parts two through seven.

ESPN 30 For 30: Broke

Starting in 2010, it's 30th anniversary, ESPN started producing documentary films based on happenings in the sports world during the sports network's lifetime.  They enlisted some very prestigious filmmakers and turned out a pretty impressive batch of films chronicling everything from the short lived life of the USFL, to the origins of fantasy sports, to Muhammad Ali's last fight, to the rise of Colombian soccer as seen through the rise and fall of slain soccer star Andres Escobar and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.  I've seen quite a few of them, and have been impressed every time.  The films have been such a success in fact, that ESPN has continued producing them under the 30 For 30 moniker for the last three years.

I caught one of the newer ones this morning called, Broke directed by Billy Corben.  We hear stories in the news all the time about professional athletes filing for bankruptcy and think, "How is that possible when you make millions of dollars a year?"  Well, Broke breaks it down.  It's not all white tigers and diamond studded gold chains--though that's certainly a big part of it.

Put yourself in this scenario for a second:  You're 20 years old and come from a poor neighborhood.  All your life you've never had anything really nice and just putting food on the table was a struggle for your parents.  Well, parents if you're lucky.  More likely, parent.  Suddenly someone says they are going to pay you $50 million to play football.  With no experience of how to handle extra money of any amount, you now have it coming out of your ears.  You've never had a bank account, don't know how to write--or cash!--a check, and have no idea how to make a budget, but now, overnight, you've got a multi-million dollar fortune to manage.  You want to do right by your mom, so you buy her a nice house and car.  Your uncle needs help with that business he's starting, so you throw a few thousand his way.  After all, he's family.  A few of the old buddies from the neighborhood need just a little something to help them out of a jam, and besides, they'll pay you back when they can.  You've known them since grade school, so you figure they're good for it.  One of these buddies says he knows a guy that can help you invest your money and would be happy to be your financial adviser.  For a small fee of course.

You're on your own now, so you'll need your own place to stay.  You lived most of your life in a two room apartment, so you'll want some space.  That 10 room mansion should do.  You'll need a car...or two, or three, or four.  Hey, you're only young once, right?  And besides, you've got the money.  And since you are young, a few youthful indiscretions are to be expected, like perhaps that diamond encrusted medallion with your jersey number on it and maybe an exotic pet or two.  You know what ladies like?  Baby animals.  Get yourself a tiger cub.

And speaking of ladies...  You weren't exactly hurting for dates in high school and college since you were a stud on the football team, but just like everything else in the pros, these girls are on a another level.  Tipped off on where you're clubbing that night by sites like Balleralert.com, they show up in short dresses ready to party.  Hoping to catch a star by the heartstrings, and if his wallet should come along for the ride, so be it.  So, before you know it your entourage which has grown to include 10 of your closest "friends" is now doubled, because all your boys now have a lady friend.  You were already paying all of your entourage homies for one thing or another, and that they've got girlfriends, guess what, that doesn't mean they'll want less money.

Uh oh, bad news.  You blew out your knee in training camp.  Career ending.  Well, at least you're set for life with that $50 million contract you signed, right?  Oh, well this is the NFL, so your contract isn't guaranteed.  You're left with "only" your $4 million signing bonus.  But that's still plenty to live off of for a long time.  Hold on there, all-star!  Once Uncle Sam and your agent takes their cuts, you're down to about $2 million.  A quick call to my financial "advisor" to get some advice.  After all, that's what you're paying the guy for.  What?  What's that?  Those investments you said were sure things didn't pan out?  I'm out how much??  And when can I send your fee?!  Well, I've still got my family and friends.  I helped them out, now they'll help me out, right?  Hmmmm, no one seems to be returning my calls.  How'm I supposed to buy food for this tiger cub???

The thing is, this scenario is not all that far-fetched.  Very young kids who are just leaving home are ill-equipped to handle the amount of money thrown at them so fast.  They make poor decisions, trust the wrong people, are sought out by grifters and swindlers, and don't think about the future.  Without a doubt many of these athletes money troubles are due to their extremely poor spending habits, but that is a problem hardly exclusive to professional athletes.  A $10,000 credit card bill may as well to $10,000,000 for someone without the resources to ever pay it off.  I found myself more sympathetic to the athletes than I expected, partially because the deck is, in many ways, stacked against them.  NCAA schools make billions of dollars off of aspiring professional athletes, and offer little to no preparation in terms of financial management.  Once the money starts rolling in sycophants of every stripe come out of the woodwork.  Family, friends, "advisers," and women, all with a hand out.

Kudos to the athletes who agreed to be interviewed for this documentary.  Athletes are a proud bunch, and facing up to a camera to talk about how you mismanaged your millions cannot be an easy thing to do.  Props to them for stepping up.  Among others the filmmakers interviewed Andre Rison, Cliff Floyd, Leon Searcy, Homer Bush, Bernie Kosar, Curt Schilling, Keith McKants, Jamaal Mashburn, and Reggie Wilkes who is now a successful financial adviser.

In the grand scheme of things, there are bigger problems in the world than financially struggling professional athletes, but it was interesting to see how quickly and easily you can go from goal line to bread line.

Will There Be Snow For Christmas?

Blogger's Note:  Critical Errors is very proud to present our first guest post of our 12 Days of Criticismas.  The illustrious Peter Brown of the Internet sensation Kludge Spot blog gives us his review of...snow.  The white stuff that falls from the sky.  Not this guy.  Enjoy!

The Eskimos have over one thousand words for snow. Did you know that? It's not true. I just made that number up. I think it's more like twenty or maybe just nine. Okay, here's the truth; I'm not really positive. You know what? Who cares how many flipping ways an Eskimo can say ‘snow.' The point is, they seem to know a thing or two about the white stuff that falls from the sky and by the end of this, you will too.

This post is brought to you by a coastal California native who has never lived in an area that snowed. I've never shoveled snow off my driveway, been in a snowball fight or ridden a shovel down a snowy embankment in a 1946 Frank Capra film. Still that might be the reason that it interests me so much.

It seems that in films, Irvin Berlin hits, T.V. specials or even Lexus car commercials, you cannot have Christmas without snow. The two just seem to go together.

Hugh Grant Movie:

Awkward boy meets beautiful girl.

They become romantically involved.

They have a misunderstanding regarding pasta and bus schedules.

She vows to never speak to him again.

He proposes on Christmas Eve.

It begins to snow.

She falls in love.

Lifetime Christmas Special:

Solider leaves to war.

Wife holds it together for the kids for months.

One night, siblings begin to fight.

Mom begins to cry.

Young Klye bawls, “I miss my Daddy!”

It begins to snow.

Solider walks up the steps.

Therefore as a youngster I logically concluded that snow had magical properties. What was I suppose to think? I know as a kid in LA, I would ask my mom about it.

“When will it snow?”

“It doesn't snow here.”

“How can I make a snowman like Calvin & Hobbes?”

“You can't.”

“What?! How can I have a snowball fight? Build an igloo, go sledding, have a snow day, go tobogganing, eat a snow-cone, lick an icicle on a dare, catch snowflakes on my tongue, make snow angels or have a snow fort?”

“Sorry, no snow. That's one of the great things about living here.”

“It doesn't feel like Christmas.”

And that was true. LA in December didn't feel like Christmas to a kid. It was sunny with a side of smog. Not exactly the NBC expectation of a winter wonderland being pumped into that little kid brain of mine. Garfield had snow. The Grinch had snow. Frosty was made of snow, and every movie in New York City was covered in snow. Why couldn't we get a little in California?!

Snow is an American symbol of the promise of Christmas. It is a contract for our happiness. To a child, a white Christmas isn't just a pretty imagine on a holiday card, it is a requirement for the fulfillment of dreams. It is Santa's pixie dust and another year without means that surely you just weren't good enough.

Fast forward about ten years. I was 16 and my family finally spent a Christmas with snow. We rented a cabin in Tahoe with our extended family the year my Grandmother passed away. We needed something different to help us get through what had been a hard year.

I still recall pulling up to that snow covered pine lodge in the middle of winter, and being totally amazed. We had a roaring fire, hot mugs of cider and all of our wet snow boots lined up against the wall. There was a thick blanket of snow on the ground, and pine trees with branches draped in all their winter whiteness. I remember thinking, “This is exactly what Christmas should looks like!”

I hated it.

I was cold, walking was a pain as I was always slipping on the ground or losing a boot in the thick pile of wintry carpet. All my clothes were constantly wet. Driving in it was miserable if not downright deadly. You couldn't go anywhere without gloves, and if they came off, then GOOD FREAKING LUCK getting them back on your numb frozen hands! This was nothing like what I expected and I was miserable.

I guess that's the real point. Contrary to the CBS specials, Christmas is not about snow. It's about family, friends and showing off your cool new set of gaudy winter socks. If that traditional gathering means a white Christmas to you and yours, then so be it. But for this Californian, you can keep the cold white stuff to yourself! I think I like it better on the screen, as an idea, than actually present in my life.

5 Things That Make A Christmas Story Timeless

As I mentioned in the last post, my wife and I watch pretty much the same Christmas movies every year.  We'll try a new one every once in a while, for instance we watched Four Christmases the other night.  Not sure that one will make the yearly rotation, though there were some amusing moments, but I can only take so much Vince Vaughn in any 12 month period.  One of our, as well as any other self-respecting Christmas movie aficionado's, favorite is A Christmas Story.  Based on Jean Shepherd's awesomely titled novel of his 1940's Indiana childhood In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, and directed by Bob Clark, A Christmas Story is a nostalgic look back at one boys longing for the perfect Christmas gift.  But why am I telling you this?  Everybody's seen it, right?  Right?!

One of the reasons its such a classic is that we can all identify with Ralphie and his covetous desire for the official Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time.  We've all wanted something so badly for Christmas--and not just as kids--that it consumed our entire being, penetrated every ywaking thought and dream, and rendered any alternative no matter how thoughtful and noteworthy, even a homemade pink bunny suit, utterly lacking.

Here are five things that make A Christmas Story so timeless....

1.  It's a great period piece

I first saw A Christmas Story in the mid '80's when I was probably eight or nine, and even though the movie was released only three or four years prior to that, for a long time I thought it had actually been made in the time and place it portrays, early 1940's Indiana.  A lot of period movies try too hard to look the part and as a result everything ends up looking too polished, too perfect.  Well, save for perhaps the "major award," nothing looks polished or perfect in A Christmas Story.  On the contrary, you can almost hear the creak in their wooden floors, or smell the "whiff of ozone" when the sparks fly from the Christmas tree lights.  The costumes and sets are all perfect because they aren't.  They look lived in and used.  You get a real feel for the era and what a cold Midwestern Christmas would've looked like and what a malfunctioning coal furnace would've smelled like.

2.  The Old Man

Peter Billingsley's Ralphie is the obvious protagonist, but Darrn McGavin as the Old Man really steals the show.  Whether he's battling the furnace or the Oldsmobile that would freeze up in the middle of winter on the equator, his tapestry of swearing is delivered with the perfect combination of righteous indignation and old school working man angst.  McGavin delivers in all his big scenes, from his pride at winning his indescribably beautiful major award, to his frustrated rage when he learns there is no glue, to his utter joy of watching Ralphie unwrap his BB gun.  I can't imagine any other actor playing that role better.

3.  The unwrapping

This scene is to me maybe the greatest scene in any Christmas movie ever.  Those two and a half minutes capture the essence of the joy in giving and receiving just about perfectly.  Ralphie trying to put on a brave face after all the presents are opened and not finding what he wanted.  Ralphie unwrapping the gift faster as he realizes what it is.  The Old Man's face as he watches the excitement on Ralphie's.  Mother's face as she is as surprised as Ralphie.  Just a pitch perfect scene.  Love it.

4.  The kids

Another detail the movie gets right is how the kids talk.  Unlike a lot of movies, the conversations Ralphie and his friends have sound a lot like how kids I knew in elementary school talked.  Some the vernacular is different, given that I wasn't in elementary school in 1940's Indiana, but the dialogue rings true.  Yes, sometimes young kids swear.  Yes, they dare each other to do stupid things.  Yes, they call each other names and throw each other under the bus when faced with punishment.  And yes, they still need their mommies when they've had a rough day at school.  Just another thing A Christmas Story gets right.

5.  Randy in the bathroom/red cabbage segue.

Ok, so maybe this doesn't belong on the timeless list, but I always found it hilarious.  Probably because I'm immature.  I couldn't find a clip of it anyway on the web, but next time you watch it look for this.  Right after Ralphie decodes the Little Orphan Annie message he leaves the bathroom and his little brother Randy enters.    Randy runs to the toilet, lifts the seat, pulls down his pants and starts to sit down.  Cut immediately to a big pot of red cabbage boiling on the stove that looks...less than appetizing.  That could not have been an accident.  Well played Stan Cole.  Well played.

Really, I could go on.  So many great and memorable scenes.  A classic tale of childhood nearly everyone can relate to and a must watch every season.

Why White Christmas is Awesome

Bloggers Note:  Full disclosure, a large portion of this post was featured at an earlier date on Life of Ando.  Just doing my part to be green and recycle.

My family and I watch the same slate of Christmas movies every year, and under the threat of actually having to eat figgy pudding, I'd probably say that White Christmas is my favorite.  Directed by Michael Curtiz--whose other director credits include Casablanca, Captain Blood, Yankee Doodle Dandy among many others--and with music penned by Irving Berlin, it's really the perfect blend of great music, good story, and 1950's camp.

Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, and Dean Jagger, it's the story (in case for some reason you don't know) of a couple of song-and-dance men who join forces after WWII to become a celebrated musical team.  They get romantically involved with a pair of singing sisters on the lam for allegedly burning a whole in their dressing room carpet and together the four of them try to save their old General's Vermont inn from closing down.  Musical hijinx ensue.

I could go on, but we've all seen it.  And if you haven't, then let me ask you why you hate Christmas so much.  But, there are a hundred little things that make it so great, many you probably wouldn't notice until you've seen it 20 or 30 times.  Which, fortunately for you, I have.  So here are a few of the reasons, some obvious some less so, that make White Christmas awesome.

-- Bing’s dulcet tones

-- Bing’s army issue camouflage ascot and front line loafers

 -- The background dancers in the Mandy (tragically, this is the only clip available on YouTube; its the dance number only set to a Beck song for some unexplained reason) and Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me  numbers; pure comedy.

-- Vera-Ellen’s inhuman waistline.  It’s about as big around as a cereal bowl!

-- Why doesn't anyone call out Emma the housekeeper for her meddling that almost cost them the show, not to mention three relationships (Bob & Betty, Phil & Judy, Betty & Judy)?

-- The fact that General Waverly asks not to be called General and everyone continuing to call him that for the rest of the movie. 

-- Of course he might have made it more difficult on himself by insisting on talking in military parlance all the time:

 To Betty at the train station, “I can’t help but think this is a tactical error.”

To everyone immediately after telling them to keep the general part quiet, “Excuse me everyone, I’m on KP.”

To Emma after she sent both his suits to the dry cleaners, “I’ll have you court marshaled!”

 -- The Bing-isms: 

“Whoa, whoa, time, time, cut!”

“It’s a little dangerous putting those knights up on those bleached chargers.”

“I’m starting to play a little trombone here m’self.”

“Grab the cow.”

-- Irving Berlin’s tremendous songs.

-- Wallace and Davis assisting the Haynes sisters skip town on a warrant for their arrest.  Apparently none of them plan on returning to Florida anytime soon.

-- “Mutual I’m sure!”

-- Danny Kaye’s “small internal muscular hemorrhage” or “small compound fracture.”

-- The foreshadowing of Rosemary Clooney’s future weight gain in the “Back in the Army” number.

-- The General leaving one of his soldiers hanging with a phantom handshake.

-- I could go on and on.  Best Christmas movie ever!

12 Days of Criticism

Christmas is coming and we here at Critical Errors have a very special gift to share with all our faithful readers.  All eight of you.  In the days between now and December 25th I will be--fingers crossed--posting a sort of 12 Days of Christmas series of reviews.  Twelve reviews between now and Christmas.  Pretty ambitious considering I've posted exactly 12 reviews since May, but we're going to make it happen.  And if not, I will personally show up at your house on Christmas morning dressed as Kris Kringle and will clean up all your discarded wrapping paper.  But no!  That won't be necessary, because it is going to happen. I'm enlisting the assistance of some guest bloggers to help bear the load and if they come through we'll get this thing done, no sweat.  Most will be Christmas related in nature, but not all.

Expect the first post, the partridge in a pear tree, if you will, in the next day or two, then one every couple of days thereafter.  By the time we're through, you'll be so overwhelmed by the steady stream of mind-blowing critiques you won't want to read another review all year!  Wait.  Strike that.  You won't want to read another review anywhere else all year!  Yeah, that sounds better.

So keep us open in a browser tab, be sure to Like Critical Errors on Facebook (you can do that at the top of the sidebar), check back regularly, and be sure to leave us a comment or three.  Agree, disagree, whatever.

In less exciting programming news, I am discontinuing the In 102 Words Exactly feature.  The original goal of 102 Words was to review something I didn't have time or energy to do a full review for, but still thought was noteworthy with a bit of brevity.  However, as it turns out, trying to cram your critical thoughts into exactly 102 words is more difficult and time consuming than you might think.  I'll bring this feature back in some format at some point.  Maybe In 102 Words More or Less, or something.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, the already written 102 posts will remain active and searchable by the 102 Words tag.  Because I just know you need them at your fingertips at a moments notice.

The Shootist

Its hard to imagine a more fitting final film for a well known movie star then director Don Siegel's The Shootist starring John Wayne.  It's 1901 and the West, for the most part, has already been won.  Many towns of the West now boast running water, electric lights, telephones, and, soon, electrified street cars.  The once Wild West is becoming increasingly tamed.

The Duke plays aging gunslinger J.B. Books, a legend from that bygone era rapidly fading away into history, when men settled their differences with hot lead.  To further underscore the transition from one epoch to another, both in the history portrayed in the movie and the history of movies, a series of clips from John Wayne westerns through the decades stands in as evidence of J.B. Books' exploits in the Old West.  Diagnosed with a cancer of an advanced nature, Books arrives in Carson City for a second opinion from a trusted friend, Doc Hostetler, played by Jimmy Stewart.  Hostetler not only confirms the original diagnosis, but paints a vivid and painful picture of what Brooks can expect in his few remaining weeks and insinuates that for a man of courage there are other, much less painful ways to die.

Brooks takes up residence in the boarding house of widow Bond Rogers, played by Laruen Bacall, and her hot headed son Gillom, played by Ron Howard.  Brooks hopes to live out his final days in peace, anonymously in Carson City.  No such luck.  Before long word gets around the legend has moved into town, much to the chagrin of both Rogers and the loquacious Sheriff Thibido, played by Harry Morgan, who both fear his presence will bring to town those who wish to settle old scores or take up new ones now that Brooks is wasting away with disease.  Their fears are not without merit, as Brooks encounters old enemies and makes new ones upon his arrival, and there is at least one attempt on his life at the boarding house.

Besides the assassins  Books is beset with fortune seekers of every kind.  Books encounters newspaper men, aspiring gunmen, even an old flame, all looking to make a name, and a dollar, for themselves by cashing in on Books' legend.

There are only a couple of scenes of gunplay, as the movie is really a character study of Brooks as he takes stock of what his life has been in his dying days.  This is arguably The Dukes best acting performance, right up there with his role as Ethan Edwards in The Searchers and his two turns as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit (1969) and Rooster Cogburn.   John Wayne isn't for everybody, but I've always liked him, and no one can deny his place as one of movies all time legends.  He's a more reflective sort in The Shootist, as I suppose dying men often are, and you have to think that given the circumstances John Wayne must have seen quite a bit of himself in J.B. Books and vice versa.  Yet, he is without a doubt still John Wayne, quick with a quip and a gun, taking no lip from anybody.

As Books lives out his final days, his relationship with Bond is contentious--she does not approve of his life of work--but as two lonely souls brought together in the face of death, they develop a mutual respect which may have become something more if not for Books' dire diagnosis.  Then again, maybe if he wasn't at death's door he wouldn't have softened enough for a respectable woman like Bond.  Books also forges a relationship with her son, Gillom, who idolizes the legend of Books and thinks he knows the sort of man Books is and wants to emulate him.  He discovers he might not have what it takes, or even the desire to acquire it, to be a man like Books.  And maybe Books isn't exactly what Gillom thought he was in the first place.

In the end, Books decides that Doc Hostetler was right, and there are other ways to meet his finality then his insides being eaten away, and he engineers the final act of his life to that end.

If a western can be heartfelt and still be a western, this is it.  Great performances all around and a fitting end to a legendary career in the movies.

Here's a trailer:

Ike's Place

When John Montagu the 4th Earl of Sandwich had his servants bring him a slab of meat squeezed between slices of bread to quickly satiate his hunger during marathon gambling sessions, he must have realized what he was onto.  Such a simple concept, yet it took until the mid 18th century for someone to figure it out.  But boy am I glad he did.

I love me a good sandwich.  It's something so simple, and yet difficult to master.  Any schmo can layer cold cuts between a couple of Wonder Bread slices, but that doesn't make it a good sandwich.  My uncles contend that my grandmother made the best sandwiches.  Using the exact same ingredients, could I not make an equally great sandwich?  The answer is no. I've had my grandmother's sandwiches.

What is it then?  Is it the meat to bread to cheese to condiment ratio?  That is of course part of it.  And then there is the quality of the ingredients themselves.  A sourdough roll is great, but if its too hard it'll cut the roof of your mouth and all the guts of the sandwich will squirt out the sides.  What's the best mustard; spicy brown, honey Dijon, or plain ol' French's yellow?  Which meat and cheese combinations are the best?  Lettuce or sprouts?  What is king of the meats:  turkey, salami, ham, bologna, olive loaf, head cheese?  The options are endless.

Whatever the secret to a great sandwich the folks at Ike's Place--namely Ike Shehadeh--have got it figured out.  There are several Ike's Place locations in the Bay Area and my family and I ate at one of the newest ones in Santa Rosa.  A couple buddies of mine, one of them a sandwich connoisseur such as myself, recommended it.  And now I have to kill him because the sandwiches are so good I may eat them too often and will soon sport an unsightly spare tire.  Or a slightly larger, more unsightly spare tire.

Ike's Place menu's vary by location, adapting themselves to the local culture.  For instance a sandwich featuring pastrami, bacon, and Swiss is called a Say Hey in San Francisco, but a Charles Schultz in Santa Rosa.  This particular sandwich--on a freshly made dutch crunch roll--was my first at Ike's and it blew my mind.

Like the stupendous dutch crunch roll I had--and have had several time hence---all of Ike's bread choices are freshly baked, with their super secret and delicious dirty sauce baked right in!  You can get bread without the baked in sauce, but why would you?  I have no idea what the dirty sauce is, or why its called dirty sauce, but I frankly don't care.  It's awesome.

Among others, I've also had the Jaymee Sirewich, named for Comcast Sports Network reporter Jaymee Sire.  Consisting of fried chicken, pepper jack cheese, Ike's yellow BBQ sauce, and ranch, its as spunky and sweet as Jaymee Sire herself!  I'm speculating there.  I have no idea if Jaymee Sire is spunky or sweet, but I figure the odds must be pretty good if she is the namesake of a sandwich this amazing.

I've also had the Jon Lum.  I have no idea who John Lum is--and am apparently too lazy to google him--but if he's got a ribeye and cheddar sandwich with onion rings named in his honor he must be one incredible individual.

Needless to say, I have yet to be disappointed by Ike's.  To me, they've lept to the top of the heap when it comes to chain restaurant sandwich making.  In this blogger's book the order goes like this:  Ike's, Togo's, Quizno's, and Subway and their lettucewiches a very, very, very distant fourth.

If you're in the Bay Area, chances are you can find an Ike's near by.  If you don't love whatever you get, I guarantee to reimburse you.
(Guarantee will not be honored)

Foyle's War

I've never been a huge fan of the murder mystery genre of television shows.  It seems they are either skewed to the elderly demographic (Murder She Wrote, Matlock, Agatha Christy for example) or so self-consciously quirky and quippy that they become blindingly irritating and absurd (Bones for example).  Also, the way they hold back information that the hero suddenly reveals at the end when he/she solves the mystery and the endless red herrings set up to distract us make me feel manipulated and cheated.  To a degree, this isn't entirely their fault, as it wouldn't be much of a mystery if the culprit was obvious from the get-go.  However, that element and the fact that once they do catch the perp he or she immediately feels compelled to confess everything is utter contrivance.  Apparently these ne'er do wells did not do well in civics class and are not aware of something called the 5th Amendment.  I guess that makes sense.  They're ne're do wells.  But, for these reason I've never really been able to get into this particular type of show.

However, I have found an exception, and while it does fall into some of those same traps, which, again are at least partially unavoidable given the genre, it manages to do so in a more accptable way.  The show is Foyle's War, a British series aired on PBS that my wife and I started watching thanks to the magic of Netflix Watch Instantly.

Foyle's War stars Michael Kitchen as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle--or as he always introduces himself, "My name is Foyle.  I'm a police officer."  It's 1940's war-time England and Foyle, too old for the draft and too valuable to the war-depleted police service to be transferred into some civilian war-time capacity, he man's the home front solving murders, sabotage, and the like.  He is assisted by his young female driver, the spunky and easger Samantha (Sam) Stewart of the MTCs and a serious wounded veteran of the botched British campaign in Norway, Sergeant Milner, who at times struggles with life back on the home front.

What makes the show unique is the backdrop of the war.  As a period piece it feels authentic and gives you an idea of what life was like on the British home front.  The war overshadowed everything, even murder investigations and more then once Foyle, though a supporter of the war effort and parent of an RAF flyer, finds himself at odds with some aspect of that very effort.  Whether it's arresting someone who may be a valuable war time official, or releasing a person of interest in a crime because it would benefit the cause, Foyle is faced with tough decisions.  He's a man of principal and takes his job very seriously, but he is not without compassion and humanity and is not adverse to being pragmatic. Kitchen plays the character superbly.  His quiet and unassuming manner belie an unflappable determination and most underestimate him at first meeting.  He can be cheeky and brilliantly British; understated and deadpan.  And like all good television gumshoes, he always gets his man.  At least so far, I've only watched the first three episodes.

The episodes are long, almost feature length at around an hour and a half, which allows plenty of time for the stories to develope and give the characters some depth.  It's not hip or clever and is a bit Masterpiece Theater-ish, but as a well acted whodunit with an interesting and original backdrop it works and is worth checking out.

The Big Year

If you had approached me yesterday and merely suggested that one of the most entertaining movies I would watch so far this year would star Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson as rival bird watchers, I would've punched you in the face for even proffering such a ridiculous scenario.  However, I would then have to pick you up, dust you off, and apologize because that ludicrous sounding suggestion just happens to be the truth.

The Big Year, directed by David Frankel, is the story of three bird enthusiasts, all in pursuit of a big year.  A big year is a competition amongst fans of the avian to spot as many species as you can in one calendar year in a particular geographic area.  If Wikipedia is to be trusted the real life record for the United States (excluding Hawaii) is 745 species, held by a Sandy Komito.  Our fictitious birding trio is played by the aforementioned Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson.

Owen Wilson is the brash and cocky record holder Kenny Bostick.  Kenny, a building contractor, is gunning--or binnocularing--for his second big year.  Staying true to his contractor's scruples, he will do darn near anything to get it, including leaving his expecting to soon be expecting wife mostly on her own to get the house ready for the baby for the year.

Steve Martin is successful CEO Stu Preissler, who has done most of his birding from high atop the New York skyrise that bears his name on the facade.  After one false start on retirement already, Stu is finally ready to get out of the office and give a big year a try but is incessantly pestered by his former staff to come back to the boardroom.

And then there is Jack Black.  Though, it's a lesser Jack Black than we're used to.  Or, maybe understated is a better word.  He's still Jack Black, just....quieter.  In a good way.  He plays the semi-loser Brad Harris.  Stuck in a job he doesn't like, divorced, and still living with his parents, Brad sees the big year as a chance to do something with his life.  His father, grumpily played by Brian Dennehy, thinks its all a big waste of time.

And so the three set out, seperately, to spot or hear as many fowl as possible.  Their paths inevitably cross and the competition intensifies as each suspects the other of doing a big year.  Apparently you try to keep that hush hush so as not to tip off other birders and further stoke the competitive fires of your rivals.

It's mostly a light hearted movie, though there are some moments of pathos when each of our protagonists weighs the costs of pursuing their passion.  Whether its Kenny disappointing his wife and putting his marriage on the line, or Stu's wrestling with letting go of the corporate life and the company he built from nothing, or Brad dealing with a disapproving father who doesn't understand his son's passion and has no real desire to do so.  All three are met with difficult choices along the way and must ask themselves what they are willing to sacrifice for what really amounts to just a hobby.  But as we all know, first hand or other wise, hobbies often become passions and those passions become dreams and dreams are what help to make our lives interesting and worth living.

But it's not all hard choices and pathos.  It's mostly funny.  It's not necessarily lolemutpot funny (for the uninformed that's laughing-out-loud-every-minute-until-the-point-of-tears), but there are several audible laughter moments and an overall vibe of fun.  Ok, I'm about to channel the elderly for a second, so bear with me, but so many comedies these days rely on over the top stunts and fart jokes for cheap laughs, that it was refreshing to watch a comedy that didn't have to go there.  That should tell you just how restrained Jack Black, one of the best physical comics out there, actually was.  I counted only one prat fall.  And it was funny.  Ok, I feel the Spirit of the Elderly leaving my body.  Wait...WHY CAN'T I GET TO THE INTERWEB ON MY CORDLESS PHONE DAGNABIT!  Ok, now it's gone.

Lastly, since our characters travel back and forth across this great nation in search of their birds we get to check out some pretty great parts of America's natural beauty.  Some lesser known, like Attu Island and the Ruby Mountains.  Some pretty cool bird footage too, though actually I wish there had been a little more.  It might have helped us non-birders appreciate what the big deal is a little better.

It's not a perfect movie, and dances dangerously close to sappy on a couple of occasions, but it was surprisingly enjoyable.  You know, because its about bird watching.  Which is probably why its already all but been forgotten about, and that's for the birds.

Contagion

I will never touch a doorknob, each peanuts out of a communal bowl, or shake hands with a Chinese chef ever again.  Thanks a lot Contagion!

Steven Soderbergh's medical thriller Contagion is a tautly spun tail of epidemic and panic, made all the more frightening by its realism that makes you think, "Wow, this could really happen!"  That realism--along with an exceptional ensemble cast and a creepy, ominous soundtrack--is that separates this movie from all other "disaster" flicks.  We all know the world isn't going to really end in 2012 and regardless of what you think about global warming you gotta admit an overnight northern hemispheric blizzard where you literally have to outrun temperature is pretty unlikely, not to mention California joining Hawaii as an island state (for the record, I love a bad disaster movie; always so full of wonderful cheese and you usually get to see a beloved landmark crushed/swallowed up/melted/toppled/imploded).

To be sure the scenario in Contagion is unlikely, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility, especially in light of the SARS, bird flu, H1N1, and swine flu scares over the last few years.

The story starts with a cough.  Seemingly innocent enough, but before long the cougher is overtaken with fever and seizures.  Similar symptoms soon appear in other corners of the world.  Medical officials the world over are stumped by this new virus and there is no known treatment.  As the CDC and it's counterparts around the world scramble to find the origin and research to develop a vaccine, the disease continues to spread rapidly, aided by the virtual closeness of our globalized world.  As the virus spreads, so does fear and becomes as, if not more dangerous, than the virus itself.  Rioters storm grocery stores and pharmacies, stocking up on canned goods and bottled water.  People live in fear of handshakes and the mere breath of neighbors.  Purported by a popular conspiracy theorist blogger to be a cure, a supposed homeopathic remedy becomes a valuable commodity with roving mobs willing to threaten and kill to get it.  Health officials are kidnapped and held hostage, their captors hoping they will be moved to the front of the line when a vaccine is finally discovered.  Meanwhile, the body count continues to rise.

Rather than follow one main character's thread through this nightmare, Soderbergh takes an ensemble approach, looking at the epidemic from different points a view.  The actors are all top notch and give good performances.  Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow are a husband and wife, one who is immune, one who is most certainly not; Lawernce Fishburne is the public face of the CDC both trying to help find a cure and trying to keep the public from going into full scale panic; Kate Winslet is a CDC researcher who is out in the field trying to track down the origin's putting herself in peril; Marion Cotillard is a WHO doctor working in Asia trying to track down the source; Jude Law is the conspiracy theory blogger, bent on exposing the government secrets he's sure are being covered up.  The cast is rounded out by Elliott Gould, Jennifer Ehle, John Hawkes, and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston.

The movie moves along at a good clip, not lingering on one character or story line too long, always keeping things fresh and interesting.  You witness the breakdown of society from every angle and watch the characters wrestle with difficult decisions:  should a government official tell his loved ones privledged information that would give them an advantage over the general populace?  If a cure is found, how can it be fairly distributed?  What's the balance between national health and national security?

Despite the obviously upsetting premise, the movie ends on a pretty positive note, though even that is still bittersweet.

Contagion is a solid movie all the way around, being both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.  Just be sure you wash your hands afterward.

Lake Almanor

I have a good reason for the extended gap between reviews this time.  Honest.  I've been lounging on the beautiful, alpine shores of Lake Almanor for the last week.  What's that you say?  You aren't familiar with this Lake Almanor?  Well let me enlighten you (what a a fortuitous opportunity to share my first Place review).

To be honest, I'm a little hesitant to enlighten you too much.  I feel like Lake Almanor is something of a well-kept secret.  I'm afraid after my massive audience reads this review it'll become another Lake Tahoe.  But I guess that's a risk I'm willing to take.

Lake Almanor is located in Plumas County in Northern California, according to Google Maps 81.6 miles east of Red Bluff and just south of Mt. Lassen.  Resting at about 4500 feet and nestled between the Plumas and Lassen National Forests, the setting is every bit as beautiful as Tahoe, but without the crowds and traffic. The lake itself isn't quite Tahoe's crystal blue, but it's a whole lot warmer and doesn't stop your heart when you jump in for a swim like Tahoe's frigid waters.  This is helpful for when you fall off your boat or jet ski, which there is plenty of space to do, with its 32000 acres of surface area and 52 miles of shoreline.  I've been going to Lake Almanor for over 20 years and there is still plenty of lake I've never seen, either from on the water or the shore.

The fishing is usually good, either in the lake itself or many of the streams in the area such as Hamilton Branch or Deer Creek.  This year was a little slow, with most of our catches consisting of smallish bass near the shore, but my cousin did land a pike which was probably seven or eight pounds.  Since we didn't have a scale handy, we couldn't get an official weight so my family record setting seven pound King Salmon in 1989 still stands!

Like I said, my family and I have been going to Lake Almanor since the mid-80's, and it's just about the perfect spot for a big family group.  We used to rent a house from a family acquaintance, but with all the kids getting bigger and having kids of their own, we outgrew those accommodations.  However, there are plenty of places to stay on or very near the lake.  Anything from rustic tent camping to RVing it to fancy lakeside resorts.  Ok, I don't know how fancy they really are--this isn't Tahoe after all--but there are some very nice places.  The last couple trips we've stayed at the Carson Chalets, which offer very comfortable and clean triangular domiciles just a brief walk from the private beach.

If just sitting in or boating on the lake isn't all you would like to do, there are lots of other outdoorsy activities close at hand.  Mt Lassen and its National Park is nearby, with plenty of hiking trails, waterfalls, and Bumpass Hell, a festering, bubbling canyon full of sulfur pots.  Pretty stinky, but worth checking out.  Here's an overly dramatic video describing the area:

Ok, thanks for that.

If you're up for a bit of a drive through the mountains--though on surprisingly straight roads--Burney Falls State Park is about an hour and a half away.  It's a beautiful drive and the destination is absolutely worth it.  Burney Falls are (or is it "is"?) one of the coolest looking falls anywhere and the hike to the base takes all of about 10 minutes, so you get maximum reward for very little effort.  Here's a video of the falls...just mute the audio.  Very annoying music.

The nearest town of any size, which really isn't, is the hamlet of Chester.  You'll find your standard grocery store and a couple of sporting goods stores there to stock up on supplies.  There are a couple of decent eateries, like the Kopper Kettle for breakfast (I recommend the biscuits and gravy) and either the Pine Shack or the Lassen Gifts soda fountain for milkshakes.  The Pine Shack has over 30 flavors!

But if you're more interested in sticking close to your campsite/cabin/chalet at the lake, you certainly will not be disappointed.  Lake Almanor is Lake Tahoe without the crowds, heart palpitations, and gambling.  Right, so if you like gambling go to Tahoe.  If not go to Almanor.  Wait!  No, don't.  Bah...too late.  Now it'll be overrun with Critical Errors fans.  Just when you see me soaking up some sun while fishing for The Big One, don't all rush up for your autograph at once.

The Intellectual Devotional: American History Edition

I'm something of a trivia junkie.  I DVR Jeopardy every day.  I've even taken the contestant test a few times (still waiting for my call).  I'm the All-Star cleanup hitter in the annual New Year's Eve Trivial Pursuit my wife and I play with friends every year.  Give me a movie, and I can tell you who's in it.  Give me a song, I can tell you who sang it.  Give me a war, a book, a country, I can tell you who fought it, who wrote it, and what the capital city is.  Most of this information, I have no idea how I know it.  It just floated through space one day and my specially tuned magnetic brain plucked it out of the air.  None of this information is very useful, however, except in trivia games.  I was hardly a brainiac in school, and straight As were never on my report card.

The one subject I did always do well in however, was history.  Maybe that's because with all its names, facts and dates to memorize it fit naturally into my intellectual wheelhouse.  Whatever the case, I've always loved it.  That's also probably why I love the book my family gave me for Father's Day, The Intellectual Devotional:  American History.  It combines my love history with my love of factoids into one concise volume, perfect for a quick glance while drinking your morning coffee or for a longer look while retiring to the lavatory to consider more personal matters.

The Intellectual Devotional series of readers--there are five editions--are modeled after their spiritual counterparts, but instead of a passage of scripture and a brief ecclesiastical thought for the day, they devote a page every day of the year to one fact and an explanation of it.  In the case of the edition I received, American History.

The book covers topics in seven "fields of knowledge":  politics and leadership, war and peace, rights and reform, business, building America, literature, and the arts.  Within each topic, which are spread throughout the book, are the subjects of the one page synopses on everything from Jamestown to Mark Twain to the Smithsonian to the Panic of 1853 to Bob Dylan.  There are of course the well known people and things you'd expect to find, like George Washington and the Civil War, but also things you probably were supposed to learn in school but forgot about, like Brown v. the board of education and the Lend-Lease Act, to things you probably never heard about like Jacob Riis and the Utopians.

Now, it's a pretty good trick to be able to boil something as complex as the Civil War down to a one page capsule, but the authors David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheimer do a pretty good job of hitting the high marks for each topic.  This obviously is not intended to be an exhaustive look at each of these aspects of American history, but it serves as a good jumping off point for further study on something maybe you weren't aware of.

Whether you're an aspiring Jeopardy contestant like me or want to brush up on your knowledge of the USA (or are looking for something to read in the bathroom) this is a book you should checkout.  I know I'll be purchasing the other editions at some point in preparation for next year's Jeopardy test.

The Adjustment Bureau

Men without hats.

The Adjustment Bureau is a fine little movie if you find yourself at home on a Tuesday night and all the other HBO On Demand selections are things you've already seen or look even more tedious.  Such was the situation for the wife and I this last Tuesday.  There isn't anything particularly egregiously bad about The Adjustment Bureau, but neither is there anything worth writing home or on your blog about.  Unless you're desperate for content...

George Nolfi directs Matt Damon as David Norris, rogue blue-collar congressman from the Bronx with a bright future, but also a penchant for forgetting he's a public figure and doing really stupid things.  So, not unlike a real life congressman.  Thus far his tomfollery has not cost him politically, but that's about to change.  During his race for the Senate seat, word gets out of some frat boy stunt and Norris finds himself in hot water.  One things leads to another, and the next thing he knows he's in a hotel men's room kissing a ballerina who is on the lam from hotel security.  Which as it turns out, is not nearly as tawdry as it sounds.

Norris is mesmerized by the security-dodging ballerina Elsie Sellas, played by Emily Blunt, and the two attempt to strike up a romance.  I say attempt  because a shadowy group of men in hats are determined to keep them apart.  Yes, you read that right.

The hatted gentleman are members of the--you guessed it--Adjustment Bureau.  Employed by someone called The Chairman, it's their job to keep things going according to plan and to make, ahem, adjustments when things start to go off course.  Who or what they are and who exactly The Chairman is is hinted at, and sorta kinda nebulous, but they are equipped with a few special skills to accomplish their task.  Like the hats, for instance.  And some really spiffy notebooks.  However, they are not all powerful and have rules they must follow as well.

The bulk of the movie is Norris' quest to discover why the Adjustment Bureau has it in for him and why he and Elsie aren't supposed to be together.

The movie is based on Philip K. Dick story The Adjustment Team.  I've never read any Philip K. Dick, but the movies I've seen based on his works (Minority Report and Blade Runner) deal a lot with free will and if  it really exists or not, and this one has themes along those same lines.  It's sorta Matrix-y in that way.

The performances are fine.  Damon and Blunt are fine as the leads, and though I found Blunt's character to be a little annoying and not someone I would want to spend a lot of time with, Damon's attraction to her was believable enough.  The Adjustment Bureau squad members include Anthony Mackie, Terrance Stamp, and Mad Men's John Slattery, who apparently can only take roles where he wears finely tailored suits.  In their roles, all three are just...fine.

Fine.  That about sums it all up.  It's a fine caper-ish mix of sci-fi and thriller, with a dash of romance.  The ending left me a little flat, leaving some lose ends to the imagination, but not in a really satisfying way.  But, it's a fine little movie, especially if you're a fan of millinery, as I am, and find yourself with nothing better to do on a Tuesday night.