Nora Ephron RIP

Nora Ephon past away yesterday and I feel I've lost a friend who always gave me great advice.

When I was just a teenager Nora Ephron was teaching me about being a strong woman. First in Silkwood where Meryl Streep stands up to the man. Then in Heartburn where Meryl Streep stands up to a man. Both films taught me that doing the hard thing is often the right thing, and hey if you can hit your cheating husband in the face with a pie on your way out the door, so much the better.

Since then there have been so many great Ephron films. They taught me about love, and love in the movies, and why they're not the same, but that it's ok to want love to look like it does in the movies, because sometimes Mr. Right DOES meet you on top of the Empire State building.

In the end she left me with one last Meryl Streep film Julie and Julia. Where once again I watched as Ephron showed me to follow my bliss even if  it seems like it is for naught.

Simply put and in her words "it was magic"

RIP Nora Ephron

Disney's California Adventure

This past weekend Disney California Adventure invited my family to come experience all the exciting new lands and rides. I have to say I adore the new entrance into the park. The first thing you see is the replica entrance of the Pan Pacific Auditorium. Once through those gates you find yourself on Buena Vista Street, filled with classic Hollywood landmarks and characters.

Carthay Circle Theatre is a replica of the Theatre that Snow White premiered at and has a wonderful restaurant inside. It is a bit pricey but the interior is gorgeous, the food is delicious, and if you order the the full meal (including starter, entree, and dessert) you get VIP passes to the viewing of World of Color. Reservations are recommended for the Carthay Circle Restaurant

Next we found ourselves in A Bug's Land. This land has been open for a while. But is one of our family favorites. If you have bug lovers in your family, I'm sure they'll enjoy pretending to be a bug in the giant grass and clover forest, not to mention the bumper cars pictured above.

 Probably my little Dare Devils favorite ride at either Disneyland or California Adventure is California Screamin'. This Roller coaster has everything speed, loop, and huge drops. I spend a lot of time waiting on a bench while my family rides this one. They're lucky if they can get me on the ferris wheel.

Finally of course there was the piece des resistance CARS LAND! I can't believe how incredibly awesome this is. My 3 year old god son is going to lose his mind when he sees this place. It really is like walking through Radiator Springs.

There's so much great stuff to do I can't list it all here. But possibly the most important thing I want you to know is how great the food is and not just in the fancy Carthay Circle restaurant, Cars land has fun food in cones and a great restaurant, and there is some super food in Paradise Pier too.  But just a word to the wise if you're going to ride California Screamin', eat after.

Enjoy the park!

The Closer's Final Six Episodes

I'm so sad The Closer is starting it's final six episodes July 9th on TNT. I love this show.  I suppose 7 years is a good run. I'll be glued to these last few. Hope they find a good ending for our leading lady.

Still the show isn't totally gone. Because practically the entire cast will continue on a new show called Major Crimes beginning August 13th . We'll be trading Krya Sedgewick for the amazing Mary McDonnell. 


So a little good news with the bad.

My top 5 movies of 1991

I was just over reading The Cinementals site, which I highly recommend, and they had a great post on movies of 1991 and why they should be considered classic. If you are as old as I am or even older it's a bit painful to think that 1991 was more than 20 years ago...OUCH! Anyway they have a list of their 5 top movies of 1991. Which made me curious what came out that year, and it's incredible how many amazing films were released. It's like the 1939 of the 90's.

Here is my top 5 list, excluding those that the Cinementals listed, all of which I loved with the exception of Slackers. That movie just never clikcked with me, and trust me I was slacking with the best of 'em back then.

Now for my list in alphebetical order:

Fried Green Tomatoes has a phenomenal female ensemble cast, that tells the stories of 4 women. Two in the 1930's and two in 1990's. The main gyst is women's empowerment but it comes wrap in a great story.

Grand Canyon also has an amazing ensemble cast. It focus' on mid life crisis and LA city living. Complete with car jackings, affairs, and teaching your kid to drive.The older I get the better this movie gets.

I love this movie about the love affair between George Sands and Chopin. The supporting cast is a who's who. Such a fun movie.

Jungle Fever, Spike Lee's follow up to Do The Right Thing explores interracial relationships. I don't know if anyone ever even blinks at them anymore but back then a young black man was killed in a New York neighborhood when residents thought he was dating a girl of another the race. The film is dedicated to him.

Thelma & Louise is THE quintessential women's road movie. Saradon and Davis are amazing and this film launched a shirtless Brad Pitt on America. The message is dark but the film is joyful.

I'm loving going through all these movies. I think I may have to pick another year next week and pick favorite movie.

The Newsroom on HBO

The Newsroom premieres this Sunday, June 24th on HBO. If you feel the way I do about writer/producer Aaron Sorkin, you have been waiting, not to patiently, for this. With a cast that includes Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, and Jane Fonda, it's a guaranteed home run. Ooh did I mention, my not so secret girl crush, Olivia Munn is in it too?

The premise is a popular newscaster who is no longer able to hold his tongue and starts reporting the news without network filtering. It's the 24 hour news cycle turned on it's ear. I think it's going to make newscasters around the country VERY uncomfortable and me VERY happy. I'm sure it will be full of insanely sharp rapid fire dialogue, and commentary on current events.

I can't wait!!! See you Sunday, until then here's the trailer to whet your viewing appetite.

Season 1 Trailer - A Changed Man