Pizza and a Movie: The Intern

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Capers
Italian Sausage
Portobellos

Movie:

The Intern

Before choosing this movie, I looked over some of the reviews. Some people liked it, and some didn’t think it was that great. But when I read a little about the story, and saw that someone said it was a funny, enjoyable film and “even my husband liked it,” I knew we had to go.

We both liked this movie, and we laughed out loud a lot. No silliness or crude humor here – just wit, funny situations, and poignant moments. It was an entertaining film, and you really can’t go wrong with Robert De Niro, at any age.

The “intern” – De Niro – is determined to learn (and keep up with) technology and other changes in today’s working world. My husband and I related to more than a few things about his character, “Ben Whittaker.” One was the number of throw pillows on his bed (“I was married for a really long time,” he said). Another was the age that Ben and his wife had met. My husband and I met at the same age.

Which brings me to the pizza we ordered. My husband wanted to choose capers as one of the toppings. “We’ve only had them once, since I’ve been keeping track,” he said.

“Okay,” I said, then selected the other two toppings, to which he quickly agreed. Then I brought up a subject we’ve discussed countless times: the things we never did, had, or experienced when we were growing up.

“I don’t think I ever had capers when I was a kid,” I said. “In fact, I know I didn’t.”

“Me, neither,” he said.

“Did anybody? I mean, could you order them on a pizza back then?”

“Probably not,” he said. Then, being the chef in the family, he added, “I don’t think I had them until I ordered Chicken Picata at an Italian restaurant. And that was after we were married.”

“That was another thing we never had, growing up,” I said.

Then we chatted about some of the many things we didn’t have (because they didn’t exist), yet never missed. Cell phones. Smartphones. Answering machines. Voicemail. Computers. The Internet. Email. Texting. Google. GPS. Social Media. Internships.

Like Ben in The Intern, we did have other things that today’s young adults neither miss nor want. Rotary phones. Phone Booths. Phone BOOKS. * Ashtrays. Encyclopedias. Handwritten letters, sent in the mail. Paper maps. Typewriters.

Because, when you meet as young as we did – and stay together as long as we have – you see a lot of changes.

* something Ben has lots of experience with in the film

October 3, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Black Mass

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Chicken
Red Onions
Spinach

Movie:

Black Mass

Johnny Depp is another one of my favorite actors, and this was a compelling film. I like Johnny best in movies like this; another one I liked him in was Blow. This film was solid, and the account of real events was incredible. “Stranger than fiction,” as they say. I found the story fascinating, and in one scene having to do with James “Whitey” Bulger’s family, I was moved to tears.

The Pizza:

My husband wanted one of the toppings to be chicken. We’d only had chicken once before (I think), and he asked me to choose the other two toppings.

“What if I select the two we’ve already had with chicken?” I asked, knowing that he’s keeping track of our topping combinations, and that he doesn’t want to repeat one that we’ve already had.

“I don’t think you will,” he said. Then, ever the mathematician/statistician/probability/keeper-tracker, he added, “What are the chances?”

“Maybe there are only certain other toppings that I would even think of, to have with chicken,” I protested. “I mean, it’s not like I’m going to choose italian sausage and pepperoni with it.”

“Good point,” he said.

[Actually, we had the second half of this conversation (starting with, “Maybe there are only…”) the next day, but I’m using artistic license in telling it this way, here. Instead of replying when he asked, “What are the chances?”, the truth is, I merely tossed my head and chose the other two toppings, fully confident that, if we’d already had that exact same combination, he would veto it immediately.]

The pizza was good; chicken goes well with spinach, and the onions added a bite.

Back to truth and fiction, and artistic license. One thing I remember from grade school (and remember marveling at, when I fully understood it) was the principle (?) of “willing suspension of disbelief.” In Black Mass, though you knew the film was based on a true story, you almost had to do that – willingly suspend your disbelief. As an author, when I write fiction, it’s what I want you to do, as the reader. It’s what I’ve done, countless times, as a reader.

It makes everything so much more real.

September 26, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Mistress America

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Artichoke Hearts
Bacon
Sun Dried Tomatoes

Movie:

Mistress America

These pizza toppings were a particularly good combination. The pizza was tangy, yummy, and semi-healthy.

Ahead of time, my husband and I had agreed on the Artichoke Hearts. We waited until the last second to choose the other two toppings. Looking over the menu, my eyes fell on Bacon and his fell on Sliced Tomatoes, and after a short discussion, we modified that to the Sun Dried version.

A few weeks ago, we walked into Corner Pizza with no preconceived notions of what toppings to select. As we were discussing the choices, a young couple sitting at the bar watched and listened, and once we made our decision, they told us we were “cute.”

I took it as a compliment.

As for this week’s movie…well, I can’t give it more than a C. I didn’t think it was particularly funny or witty, and both of us later decided that the older step-sister was bipolar. I walked away thankful that A, I don’t live in NYC or up north, and B, I’m not the age of the characters in this film.

It would just be too complicated for me.

Now, if you’re a northerner, please don’t take offense. I love visiting “the city” and have traveled up north a good bit – but mostly in the summer and fall. Once I went to New York in January, but lucked out with the weather. It was simply very cold (freezing by Atlanta standards) but not horrible or blizzard-y. In fact, the folks I spent time with who live up there thought it was “nice.” Another time, I visited the city in December, and it was even colder (and windy) but it didn’t snow, thank goodness.

In the movie, I liked the fact that one character was a writer. But a lot of the dialogue seemed, well, pretentious. On the other hand, that worked (and was very funny) in the Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine. I loved that movie, and laughed a lot while watching it.

Now, I don’t like all Woody Allen films (who does?) but I admire the fact that he’s always working on something. He keeps on “showing up.” It’s what I try to do, as a writer.

When you think about it, Mistress America sounds like it could have been the title of a Woody Allen movie. Right now, I’m struggling with a title for my next thriller. I’ve finished writing it, and it’s been edited and is ready to go, except for its name.

I may just have to figure it out at the last second.

September 12, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: No Escape

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Green Peppers
Pepperoni
Pineapple

Movie:

No Escape

Owen Wilson, who stars in this film, is one of my favorite actors.

It’s partly because of the way he talks, and partly because of his imperfect nose. He’s not a pretty boy. And whether the movie is decent, good, or great, I usually like his acting. This was the first one I’ve seen him in that wasn’t a comedy, and the first one where he played a dad. I was drawn into the story, and I liked the movie well enough; for most of it, I was on the edge of my seat. I didn’t even mind the slow motion parts, though I’d heard that some people did.

There was one dialogue scene between Owen Wilson’s character and the one played by Pierce Brosnan that I thought was unnecessary, or at least, badly done. At best, it was distracting, and it didn’t explain that much to me. If you see the film, you’ll know what I’m talking about, so let me know if you agree.

Now for the pizza. As Bill (of Corner Pizza) guessed, we I had decided on the toppings before we arrived. I was in the mood for pepperoni, and the other toppings are two of my favorites. My husband agreed, and everything melanged together nicely.

It was the perfect prelude to a fun weekend * – some of which I already wish I could replay, in slow motion.

* I appeared on the Thriller panel at the 10th annual Decatur Book Festival (my first time there as an author), and I moderated the Urban Fantasy panel, just after. I also signed books at the Atlanta Writers Club Booth, attended two presentations at the Romance Pavilion, and attended an interview with YA (Young Adult) author Sarah Dessen. I had hoped to meet her and talk about writing, books, UNC, and many other things, but before I got an opportunity, she had gone back home to Chapel Hill, NC.

September 7, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Man from Uncle

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Anchovies
Mushrooms
Shallots

Movie:

Man from Uncle

Because the weather this week in Atlanta was unbelievably beautiful (for August), my husband and I had our pizza on the patio.

Maybe you don’t like anchovies. We do. It’s an acquired taste, and we don’t choose them on our pizza very often; trust me, they taste better than they look. And you don’t need to add any salt to the pizza.

Now for the film. I watched Man from Uncle on television in the 1960s and loved it. This movie was well done, funny, and entertaining. The car chases were great, and one scene, while the characters were clothes shopping, was particularly good. If you never saw the TV series, I still think you’ll like this movie.

Especially if you were alive when there was an Iron Curtain.

The casting was great, too. The Russian was played by the same actor who played the twins in The Social Network, and the woman was in one of my favorite films, A Royal Affair. Both nailed their roles in this film, as did the other male lead.

Just like with anchovies on a pizza: Try it, you’ll like it.

August 29, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Best of Enemies

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Arugula
Ham
Sliced Tomatoes

Movie:

Best of Enemies

This was kind of like a ham and tomato and arugula sandwich, on a pizza – except that it was light on the ham, which was fine. My husband chose all the toppings, and they suited me. He also chose the film, which didn’t completely suit me.

I didn’t dislike it – I found it enlightening, witty, and entertaining. Later, I asked him if he thought people ate arugula back in 1968 (the year the events in the film, a documentary, took place).

“I’m sure they had it, but it probably wasn’t on anyone’s table in America,” he said.

We were children during the 1960s, and as the oldest of nine kids*, when his mother served a “salad” at dinner, it was sliced iceberg lettuce (only), with homemade “French” dressing (ketchup mixed with water, or, if mixed with mayonnaise, “Thousand Island”).

Salads at my house were a close cousin: either torn iceberg lettuce, or green leaf lettuce I was assigned to pick from our garden. Our dressing was oil and vinegar – I remember thinking you had to eat at a restaurant to have other options.

We did have tomatoes in our salads, if we had some in the garden. My dad used to pick them early and put them on a window sill to ripen. Other garden ingredients I recall are green onions and radishes.**

As for ham, I like it well enough, but my husband isn’t too fond of it, so I was surprised he chose it as a pizza topping. But I know, over time, he wants to order every conceivable topping combination (see PIZZA AND A MOVIE tab above), so I assumed that had something to do with it.

Back to the movie. If you like politics, culture, and (especially), debates, you should see it. The footage from 1968 alone was great, and I found myself marveling that it happened the year Nixon was elected, and just a few short years before he resigned and the Viet Nam war ended. Watching the two “enemies,” William F. Buckley, Jr. and Gore Vidal, go at each other was amazing; there were more than a few unexpected and unscripted moments.

And I bet each of them grew up in homes where arugula was served, occasionally.

* For more about my husband’s large family, read my latest book ALL THE ABOVE. Several people in the family (including his mother) appear in it.

** What ingredients were in your salads when you were growing up?

August 22, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: The Gift

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Italian Sausage
Pepperoni
Mushrooms
Bacon
Green Peppers
Onions
Garlic

Movie:

The Gift

Yes, that’s 7 toppings, not just 3; we went off the page (or, to the bottom of it) this time, and ordered a Specialty Pizza called “The Upper Crust.” It was very good – and colorful.

Then we went to see the film, a suspense that, at times, seemed to borrow from Hitchcock. I was on the edge of my seat (literally) during most of it, and was thankful I had someone’s arm to grab (my husband’s). It was so scary that once or twice I even had to remind myself, This is a movie! It’s not real!

Maybe I liked it because I write thrillers. Or maybe because it was super suspenseful, and was well done. Perhaps both. In any case, if you like that kind of thing, I think you’ll like this film. The bad guy was very bad, and in my opinion, he got what he deserved.

One thing that intrigued me was the title. There were several gifts in The Gift – I didn’t count them up, but like our pizza toppings that night, there were more than 3. Let me put it this way: every time someone opens up one of them, brace yourself.

And make sure you have somebody’s arm to grab.

August 16, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Ricki and the Flash

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Feta Cheese
Green Peppers
Mushrooms

Movie:

Ricki and the Flash

No matter what the film, I’ve always loved Meryl Streep.

The first one I remember seeing her in was Kramer vs. Kramer, and I saw it in France (with French subtitles) when I spent a year there in college. In that and every other movie I’ve seen her in, I was awed by her performance. In Ricki and the Flash, she’s wonderful, as usual. I loved the music in this film, too, and hearing her sing.

I won’t say this is the best movie I’ve ever seen – or ever seen her in – but it was good. There was one scene at a round table in a restaurant (near the beginning) that was very funny, and there were many other great moments. Near the end, as people danced at a wedding reception, I found myself wishing that my own had been as memorable, and as much fun.

Which brings me to the pizza pictured above. No, my husband and I didn’t have pizza at our wedding, but we did share this one. And no, we didn’t eat all of it – we saved a few slices and took them home.

I picked all the toppings this time. He agreed, with the caveat that one had to be Green Peppers, because (since he’s been keeping track of our toppings) it was the only one we hadn’t chosen yet. We both like them, so we didn’t know why we hadn’t had them yet; for some reason, we had forgotten to.

If you’re a fan of Meryl Streep, don’t forget to go see her in Ricki – especially if you like stories about the choices we make in life.

August 8, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Vacation

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Chicken
Poblano Peppers
Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Movie:

Vacation

UGH. Unless you’re a fan of crude, offensive, gross-out humor, RUN, don’t walk, away from this film!

After last week’s Trainwreck, I thought I could handle anything raunchy, but…Well, I hate to say anything bad or to criticize a movie that some people (might) like – I’m a “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” kind of person, when it comes to reviews of movies and books. So, I’ll tell you what (little) I DID like about Vacation:

There were a few genuinely funny moments/gags, if you can get past the silliness. One was a redux of a highway scene in the original Vacation (when a much younger Chevy Chase was driving); another was during a dialogue between Audrey (Chevy’s grown up daughter) and her husband, Stone, at their patio table in Plano, Texas *
I like Ed Helms from The Office in anything, most of the time; as Rusty Griswold, he did fine
Hmm… can’t think of anything else

I’m not a huge fan of Vacation or Christmas Vacation (though we have the latter, to watch during the holidays, and I do think it’s funny). As I sat through this Vacation, I thought of another, much better movie about a cross country road trip that was also pretty crude but was far funnier, much better done, and had another The Office actor (Steve Carrell) in it: Little Miss Sunshine.

[Let me add that, in Little Miss Sunshine, the purpose of the trip and its destination seemed much more important. Not only that, but in Vacation, they took detours that didn’t make sense, even from a plot standpoint.]

Plot? What plot? Oh, yeah…

Now for the Pizza:

Occasionally, my husband makes individual pizzas from scratch for dinner (he’s the family chef). The toppings we chose this time reminded me of those, because he uses ingredients we have in the fridge, like (leftover) chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and poblano peppers, among others. This pizza was just as good, and very tasty.

Going to the movies as often as we (currently) do, we’ve seen some bad films, some mediocre ones, and some really good ones. But our pizzas are almost always fantastic.

* I got married there, and I don’t think it looks anything like the Plano, Texas in this film!

August 2, 2015 0

Pizza and a Movie: Trainwreck

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Banana Peppers
Jalapeños/Extra Cheese *
Pepperoni

Movie:

Trainwreck

* For this week’s pizza, I agreed to moitié jalapeños, moitié extra cheese (that is, half and half), so my husband wouldn’t have to wait for years – or forever – to choose jalapeños.

I don’t really care for them, except in Mexican food – and even then, I’m not crazy about them. Why anyone would want them on a pizza, I don’t understand. But, to each his own.

As he was eating his second slice – and no, we don’t (necessarily) each eat half a pizza – I noticed his blue eyes getting watery. A minute later, well, it was like in that song by the Rolling Stones: [the jalapeños made] a grown man cry.

But he still claimed he likes them!

We had chosen to see Trainwreck because we heard it was funny, and good. I agree with that assessment, but my favorite scenes were the ones with LeBron James. He played himself, and he was fantastic. Super funny…awesome (and funny) in a scene playing basketball…and necessary in the plot. The only complaint I have about this film is that it’s just a little too long. But some of the dialogue and scenes in the movie had my husband and me still laughing, long after it was over.

I guess that’s just us. While we don’t agree on everything – or have everything in common – we do agree on many things (like Banana Peppers). We get each other’s sense of humor, and we laugh at the same things.

Which is pretty handy – and important – when a grown man cries. **

** Or woman

July 27, 2015 0