Exploring Food and Movies

Wednesday: Unstoppable (2024)      This is based on a true story. Anthony was born with only one leg. He lives with his mom, step-dad, and step-siblings. His step-dad is abusive. Anthony is a wrestler. He is one of the top members of his high school team. In his senior year he wants to be recruited by Iowa State. When he doesn't get it he has to decide between a full ride to an east coast university or a walk on at Arizona State (near where he lives). His decision is made for him and he goes to Arizona State. Anthony has to work extra hard for a place on the team. He hopes to win at the national championship. I thought this movie was alright. It's amazing what he did. Not just because he only has one leg, but because of his home life.  Thursday: Time Cut (2024)       Lucy's older sister, Summer, was killed by a serial killer in 2003 when Summer was in high school. Lucy has lived her whole life in the shadow of her sister. On the anniversary of Summer's...

     Sunday I had lunch at The Turning Peel. It is on SE Division. It seems like it was once a small house. There are lots of plants in front with vines growing along the edge of the roof. Inside is very cozy. There is lots of art decorating the darkly painted walls. Other walls are covered in wallpaper. One wall has shelves and a fireplace, which is what makes me think it was once a house. The chairs are mix matched. There is a covered outdoor patio. You scan a QR code, then order and pay on your phone. They will bring the food and drinks to you.  This restaurant is known for their sourdough Neapolitan pizza. I got the fennel sausage pizza, which may have been a special for that day. I didn't realize it would have fresh fennel in it. Which is almost like a celery or a leek. It is served on your own little pizza pan with a small metal rack in it. The pizza was good. I don't think I've had Neapolitan pizza before. I'm not a big fan of the big and partially burnt crust...

 Tuesday: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)     Walter is a publisher at a pulp fiction publishing firm. He is often daydreaming about a more exciting life. In real life he is under appreciated at work, has a controlling mother, and a fiancee who isn't that interested in him. One day on the train he encounters a young woman, Rosalind, who looks just like the woman in all his daydreams. She uses him to get away from someone following her. Walter takes a liking to her. After another encounter he ends up with her little black book. Next thing he knew he was in the middle of a spy ring trying to get the information in the black book. He has to find a way to get it where it belongs. I thought this movie was alright. Friday: Better Man (2025)     This is the true story of British pop star Robbie Williams. Robbie grew up never quite fitting in. He loved singers like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin because his father loved them. Then his father leaves to pursue his s...

 Tuesday: Powwow Highway (1988)     Buddy is a Native American man living in the Cheyenne reservation in Montana. He gets a call from his sister in New Mexico. She has been arrested based on planted evidence. He needs to come bail her out. Buddy needs to find someone to drive him. Philbert, a simple minded man, has just traded for a junker car. He agrees to drive Buddy. Philbert tests Buddy's patience. Especially with his constant stops at spiritual landmarks. Buddy learns to go with the flow and they eventually make it to New Mexico. They just have to figure out how to get Buddy's sister out of jail and why she was targeted in the first place. I thought this movie was good. I learned it's one of the first movies about Native Americans just living their life. Not a Western where they are just stereotypes. Also they filmed in Santa Fe. I was excited I recognized a street they filmed on. Friday: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)     A dangerous hedgehog, Shadow, br...

 Thursday: A Complete Unknown (2024)       This is based on a true story. Bob Dylan was only 19 when he came to NYC. He met Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie when Woody was in the hospital. They could both see he had a lot of talent as a folk singer. Pete took Bob under his wing. Bob started getting gigs and met Joan Baez. He also met a young woman named Sylvie who he hit it off with. As time went on his music became popular and he became famous. He hated the fame and all the expectations that came with it. Bob wanted his music to evolve and not be strictly folk anymore. Many people didn't like that. Especially other folk musicians like Pete. Bob didn't care and did it anyways. I thought this movie was good.  Friday: The Outrun (2024)      Rona is a young biology student. Her father's bipolar disorder and stresses of life drive her to alcohol. She develops a really bad drinking problem that starts to destroy her life. Screwing up her education and rel...

 Friday: Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)       While Simba and Nala are away Rafiki tell their daughter Kiara about her grandfather. When Mufasa was a cub he got separated from his parents in a flood. The river carried him far away. A young lion cub, Taka, finds him and helps him out of the river. Taka's father, Obasi, is reluctant to let an outsider into their pride. His mate, Eshe, convinces him. Mufasa can stay but he has to be with the females. Over the years Mufasa becomes great hunter and like a brother to Taka. After an altercation with another pride, Taka's pride becomes a target. Obasi wants his bloodline to continue. So he sends Taka away and sends Mufasa to protect him. They are on the run. They are trying to find a safe place to live. Along the way they meet other outcasts that join their group. A lioness named Sarabi and her gaurd, a hornbill named Zazu. They also encounter a strange but wise mandrill, Rafiki. The group of outcasts make their way to a new h...

 Wednesday: Gloria (1980)       Gloria is a tough woman with ties to the mob. She is doing her best to distance herself from them. Then one day her neighbors are targets for gangsters. They intrust her with their son, Phil, and an important book. The gangsters are desperate for the information in the book. Phil's family are killed. Gloria and Phil go on the run. They do their best to stay hidden. Gloria wants nothing to do with it and tries to ditch the boy. Yet she knows he has no one else. I thought this movie was alright. Friday: Lee (2024)        This is based on a true story. Lee was a fashion model who became a photographer. She was able to get a job at the British Vogue. When WWII started she became a war correspondent for them. Lee didn't feel like she was doing her part just being in London. So she worked out a way to go to the war zones. Her photographs  were some of the best that actually captured what it was like. Especially in th...