Exploring Food and Movies

 Monday: Monsieur Verdoux (1947)           Henri worked at a bank for 30 years before he was let go. To support his wife and child he found a new way to make money. He marries rich women and then once he has their money he kills them. At any one time he could have several wives. When he is in a pinch for money he just has to pay them a visit, get their money and kill them. The stock market crash causes him to be more careless. Two women disrupt his otherwise perfect system. He knows he will soon get caught. I thought this movie was ok. Charlie Chaplin plays Henri. He also wrote and directed it. It is a dark comedy. This was controversial at the time because the story is based on a real serial killer, or bluebeard as they were called then.  I suppose it would be controversial now as well. Tuesday: Convicts 4 (1962)          John was on death row for killing a innocent man by accident. On the night of his execution he is commuted...

           On Friday I went to a food cart called La Arepa. The one I went to is on SE Foster. I have never been to that part of Portland. It has a Midwest/Southern feel to it. Some of the buildings look western still. This cart is part of the Portland Mercado. It is made up of Hispanic food trucks. There are a lot of bright colors. There is a building at one end. It has a pretty mural on it. There is a parking lot. La Arepa is in the corner apart from the other carts. They make Venezuelan food. The cart is decorated in the colors of the flag. To order the food you use an ipad like thing. You choose what you want and pay. Then wait for your food. I don't know if this is because of COVID or they always had it. You don't really talk to anyone until the end when you choose your salsas. I got a shredded beef arepa and tostones (fried green plantains) with a mild avocado salsa. The tostones were good but they really need salt or the salsa. The arepa was good. Th...

 Monday: Ball of Fire (1941)         Bertram is a linguist professor working with a group of professors on writing an encyclopedia. One day the trash man comes in to ask them questions for a quiz show. He uses slang that none of the professors have every heard of. Bertram is currently writing an article on slang. He knows he has to go out and gather more information on this new slang. He gathers a varied group of people to meet and talk about slang. One of them is a singer named Sugarpuss. She is dating a mobster. After Bertram visits her she finds out that her boyfriend is suspected of murder. The police could use her to give evidence that would land him in jail. So she needs to hide. She realizes that hiding with Bertram and the other professors would be perfect. Bertram is reluctant to let her stay, but the other professors convince him. They all like her. Much to his annoyance Bertram starts to fall for her. Sugarpuss's boyfriend comes up with a plan to marr...

   Yay to 100 blog entries! I can't believe I've done that many. I can't wait till it's fully safe to go to restaurants again and I can start working through my list. Monday: All of Me (1984)          Roger is a Jazz playing lawyer who want to become partner. His latest task is finalizing the will of a dying millionaire named Edwina. She has been sick her whole life and is dying young. Her last wish is that her soul will be transferred into the body of a young woman. The young woman is the horse caretaker's daughter. When Roger finds out about this he has had enough. He is done dealing with crazy rich people. He wants to work real cases. Later as his boss meets with Edwina to finalize the will, he tells them as much. After he storms out Edwina dies. The ritual is performed and the young woman is ready to take the soul. But something happens and her soul ends up in Roger. His soul is still there. They have to work together to get her soul in the right b...

 Tuesday: Enter Laughing (1967)             David is an aspiring actor. He works at a machinist shop. His parents don't approve of his career choice and want him to become a pharmacist. One day he lucks out at an audition and gets the part in a play. The theater is run down and is barely making any money. David has to pay them to be in the play. He is a horrible actor. The director soon loses patience with him. But with no other options he keeps him in the play. David is determined to be in the play, no matter what anyone else wants from him. I thought this movie was ok. The mom was really annoying.  Friday: Double Feature- Soul (2020) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)           Soul is the latest film by Pixar. Joe wants to be a famous jazz piano player. He has struggled his whole life to make his dream come true. To make ends meet he works as a middle-school band teacher. On the day he gets a promotion he also has an audition...

 Monday: Mr. Love (1985)              Donald is a quiet and kind gardner. He dreams of great romance. He didn't find it with his wife. After talking with his friend, a homeless man named Theo, he decides to start his quest for great romance. Along the way he meets several women. Donald befriends the adult daughter of the local prostitute. He babysits for the daughter and falls in love with the little girl. A mutual friend convinces him to work at the local movie theater a couple days a week. There be befriends the quirky projectionist who dreams of being an actress. His dream woman is a quiet woman who is wealthy. He becomes a legendary lover. I thought this movie was ok. Tuesday: Arthur (1981)          Arthur is a wealthy playboy who is often drunk. He has no responsibilities. His butler, Hobson, takes care of him like a father. Arthur's actual father wants him to marry a woman named Susan. Arthur has been dragging his fe...

 Monday: The Boston Strangler (1968)          Women in Boston are being strangled and raped. The police realize that it is the same person doing the killings. They do all they can to catch him. The police bring in anyone who has committed a sex related crime no matter how small. John Bottomly is a lawyer who works for the state attorney general. He is tasked with working on the case. He combines all the districts investigations so they can share info and not miss anything. A woman survives an attack by the killer. With her help and luck they are able to find the now named Boston Strangler. There is more to him then they imagined. Even thought it's based on a true story I don't want to give that away. I will say that is an interesting revelation, and without knowing anything about the case I guessed it. I thought the movie was alright. Very 60s in the way they filmed it with the split screens and everything. Wednesday: Tea and Sympathy (1956)     ...