It’s not very often that my husband and I watch a movie together – either at home or in a theater. Often times there isn’t much out there that entices us, but this last weekend was a rare occasion. We actually watched 2 movies?! We borrowed both of them – for free – from our local library.
Food, Inc. was the first show we watched. There is so much to be said about this eye-opening film, but I really don’t care to get into all of it right now.
However, I would like to say two quick things. As much as I support businesses being efficient, cost-effective and profitable, it makes me sad when they get so overly huge that they swallow up the little guys. What makes it even worse is when these giant corporations care more about their profits than the livelihood and well-being of fellow citizens who happen to be running a minuscule company that competes with them.
The second point I would like to make about this film is that I find it rather disturbing that politicians on both sides of the aisle will appoint former high-ranking employees of massive corporations to powerful jobs in the federal government. Does anyone else see a conflict of interest here?
The second movie we watched was much more lighthearted, Julie and Julia.
We didn’t have any expectations of this film, although we had heard several people say they enjoyed it. We found it refreshing and charming, especially since the movie wasn’t the typical chick flick where women either bash men or desperately pursue them. In fact, both of the main characters in this film had strong and happy marriages.
A few things I gleaned from this second movie are:
** It’s nice to know I am not the only adult who has meltdowns 
. (I could completely relate to the scene where Julie is crying uncontrollably on her kitchen floor while she sobs that she can’t follow through with anything.)
** It’s great to set a goal and work for it. It is even better to make yourself accountable for it. (Although, I know if I were to embark on cooking all 524 of Julia’s recipes, I would give myself more time than 365 days. But that is just me.)
** It is OK to discover and develop one of your passions in life after you become an adult, and do I dare say even after you have lived nearly half of your life!
That is incredibly refreshing in this day and age where at times you feel like you have to try to be good at everything before you finish high school. Not to mention how parents often feel pressured into teaching their child in uterus how to do long division and how to compose a magnificent symphony so they won’t be behind when they are born. This is all nonsense! We have become too embedded in the “I have to know and have everything now” mentality.
And since Rudy and I never know what to watch if we have a minute to sit down and relax, what movies would you recommend?
I love Julie and Julia
I really enjoyed Julie & Julia and I keep hearing about people watching Food, Inc. so I think I’ll have to take the time to watch it too.
I just sat down and watched The Blind Side this weekend. ($1 at RedBox — you have to find one by your house if you haven’t tried it yet!) I really enjoyed the movie and would highly recommend it.
Great post! I’m glad you are using facebook to give us all a heads up when you post on your blog. Great idea!
I loved both of those movies – others I would recommend are The Blind Side and Invictus. Loved both of them, too.
I loved Julie and Julia, though I have since found out that the movie did not accurately portray Julie – which has been somewhat of a let down.
The Blind Side was very good. As a Tennessean (and a Vols fan) I enjoyed the little jabs at UT – the reference by Kathy Bate’s character to the Body Farm was GREAT!
Lastly, my husband and I really enjoyed The Book of Eli a little while back.
That was a good post. My wife and I love watching dvds, but our tastes are a little old-fashioned for a lot of people. But, we really enjoyed the following:
Cranford (a really interesting mini-series done by the BBC). A costume drama with English accents.
All Creatures Great and Small–the TV series from the 80s–another BBC import. Not for everyone maybe, but we really got into them. Give it an episode or two.
Pride and Prejudice (the newest one with Keira Knightly)
Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow)
The Scarlet and the Black with Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer. Really fascinating WWII story of a cardinal at the vatican who helped Jews and Allied fighters escape occupied Rome.
I also liked Julie and Julia, but it’s partly because if Amy Adams. She’s adorable, and apparently the real life woman she portrayed isn’t nearly as likeable. I did a little reading and she published a second book about the disintegration of her marriage and her many affairs after the cooking book that got some pretty terrible reviews. But, I liked the movie.
We also just watched “The Proposal” with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, which was really cute.
I keep hearing about Food Inc…but I keep thinking that there are some things I just don’t want to know…maybe it’s time…
Julia & Julia was lovely…just as you said.
Honestly, it seems like a long time since we’ve watched any movie that was worth the time…so I’ll probably be checking comments too for suggestions.
I haven’t seen either movie, but I will now. I love your reviews.
We’ve been playing cable roulette lately and just watching whatever movie strikes our fancy on TV. It’s yielded some gems – Tombstone – and some failures, but it’s always interesting.
Jared and I just read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” for our book club, the book that this movie was based on. We watched the movie too.
So disturbing.
I of course, wanted to go over board and never eat again, but thankfully Jared is more level-headed and we have just started to put a few things into effect at a time.
I have a movie recommendation: ugh. I can’t remember the name. I will have to get back to you…
Julie and Julia is one of my favorite movies that I have seen in a very long time. I was so bugged that they used THAT word in it when it was so unnecessary. Loved, loved loved the movie for all the reasons you mentioned, plus because I am a passionate foodie and wannabe gourmet.
And you reminded me that I want to see Food, Inc. We really try to eat from the farmers’ market and our local CSA, but I succumb to the great enticements of chicken breasts on sale at Safeway or the huge bag of red delicious apples at Costco for $5.99. Tricky to find the balance when feeding a large family on a budget, but I know in my heart that if we were to give up all the processed foods in our pantry we could probably afford all local and organic.
Movie recommendation? Hmmm. Most out there are honestly junk. I like the classics like Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Have you seen Charade? Roman Holiday? The original Sabrina?