Pizza and a Movie: Room

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Capers
Feta Cheese
Pepperoni

Movie:

Room

The first thing I wanted to know after seeing this film was: Is it a true story?

The answer is no, but it will remind you of more than a few true stories. If you’re interested in seeing it, you probably already know the storyline: A woman and her son are kept in a small room for several years, and when they come out of it, the world is a brand new place, surreal, and almost unbelievable to her 5 year old son.*

I won’t tell you how they get out, or what life is like for them before or after they do. You have to see the movie to find all that out, and I recommend that you do. But be prepared for something that’s intense and unpredictable. The movie has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, and it deserves the nomination – and maybe even the award. I was riveted by the story, and it was refreshing to note that I didn’t recognize any of the actors, sauf one – and he’s not a huge star.

The pizza was yummy, and we were hungry. I’ve always been a fan of feta cheese, he wanted capers (don’t ask), and pepperoni was a mutual, quick decision. Très bon!

*By the way, the little boy captured my heart, maybe in part because his name is Jack – the same name as my son, whose journey with cancer I write about in ALL THE ABOVE.

January 30, 2016 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: 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: 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