Friday Night - Toute Seule - Movie Recommendation

My hard drive is FULL!  So until I transfer photos to the external I can't upload my latest photos and thus... upload my latest blog post...

I am burned out on sewing for the evening... I have about 4 more hours to go to put the final touches on my skirt and the girls' two (adorable) dresses...

 I have the "big announcement" for January 1st and a ton of work to do for that, but I'm a bit burned out on that too...

Tonight I needed a little entertainment and so for the first time in weeks I watched a movie..

I have seen every Ewan (my heart, my heart) McGregor movie there is (except the Jim Carry one from last year - not happening... that would just kill it for me!)  anywhoo... some of his early stuff... well, I would NEVER recommend it but about a decade ago I was on this kick and plowed thru all of them...  

Moulin Rouge is still my fav, followed by Trainspotting and of course, Little Voice.

Well, tonight I got to enjoy "Perfect Sense"...

LOVED IT!

So beautiful.  So sensual.  Made you wanna go grab your hubby and just "make out" in case you wouldn't get the chance to tomorrow.  Lovely coloring, lovely music... can you tell I loved it?

That's it - that's all I've got to say tonight... until I have room to upload the photos from my latest shenanigans!  Of which - I can't wait to share...

Bon Weekend Mes Amies!

Top Romantic Movies For the Weekend!

Nothing like a little romance...

Here are my top Ten (13) pics for Romantic Recommendations for the weekend....

I love St. Valentines Day...

Bright Star

This movie... in a word... SUBLIME.

I'd give a big, ewy, gewy review of this gorgeous movie but I will leave it at: SUBLIME.

Trust me.

The Notebook

Just in case you are stubborn like me and won't watch this movie because of all of the blubbering hype... well, I was so wrong and so are you.  Watch it.  

A Room with a View

I love this movie so much I think I have even hosted viewings of it on the website.  I LOVE THIS MOVIE!  It is perfection, the sound track simply must be on your IPod and it has THE BEST on screen kiss EVER!!!!!  Never mind it was Princess Diana's favorite movie - the only rival it has as mine is Gone with the Wind....

Because you can't have a Romantic Movie list without it...

Gone with the Wind

When was the last time you really watched it?... not caught part of it on TV but really, snuggled in and swooned.  I can recite the whole movie... I wish I was kidding.   Scarlett is one of the characters I identify most with in any movie I have ever seen.  Not the total nasty B---- part of her (Well, OK Sometimes) What a fool she is for not loving Rhett body and soul! But I love that stubborn, fightin' side... it's why I have always joked that "I am no lady".  When Rhett says, "And you Ma'am are no lady."  I LOVE IT!  You bet I'd rip the green portieres off the windows and strut in to town proud as you please if it meant saving the family farm!  As God as my witness...

French Kiss

Um, because it's funny as you know what.

Really, talk about having a movie memorized.  I don't really like Romatic Comedies because they almost ALWAYS hit this horrible lull after "boy loses girl" that lasts WAY too long... it's always the point I just say "forget it" and go to bed.  Not so with French Kiss, or the next two movies listed... The little things in this movie just about kill me, the stupid facial expressions, the french accents.

  Have you noticed that once Meg played this role she seemed to loose all ability to act and she has been "Kate" in every romantic comedy she has done since?  Shame.  Full of HILARIOUS one liners this is a cult classic in this house.  And so is...

Return to Me

This is another one the I stubbornly would not watch for years.  But...

What's not to love?  

Even if you are a fan of "Swiss Water" you are going to LOVE this movie. (You know I got sick on Swiss Water once.)  It's warm, tender, hilarious and has nostalgic Chicago pegged to a T!~

The one liners are priceless,

"Your ass is ringing"

"Matchy, matchy."

"I'm trying to put Mommy to bed."

but our favorite is:

"You had a sex dream about me?" - we are such dorks we laugh every time.  If you haven't seen it, prepare to fall in love with Return to Me.

The Proposal

I am popping this one in the minute I am done with this post - it's an instant view on Netflix!  

SO FRICKEN FUNNY!  Sandra as a rock hard, Christian Louboutin shoe wearing, ball buster blackmails her admin into marrying her then they take off to Alaska to meet his family?  It has a slight Rom Com lull but it's not TOO long and it gets funny again so it redeems itself.  The scene with Sandra dancing around the ghetto blaster to "Get Low" by "Lil John" ... well, be sure you have your Depends on.  

Super sweet, super romantic.

Bridgette Jones Diary

Look, this movie is just hilarious and dreamy at the same time.  It's sooooo funny with that British humor and though I have never been desperately single, surly this movie captures the desperate side.  It's worth it just to see Colin (my heart, my heart) Firth reprise his role of Mr. Darcy... Just as he is.

If you aren't laughing during the opening credits when she sings into her wine bottle mic, "All by Myself" then maybe you need to drop a few quarters.  Speaking of Mr. Darcy...

Pride and Prejudice

I like the old BBC version the best but the newer one was beautifully shot.  Do I have to begin to tell you why Jane Austen is romantic?  I didn't think so.  Never watched a Jane Austen movie?  You should cut your teeth on....

Sense and Sensibility

Very witty.  Very gentle... sometimes love takes time.  It's not always fireworks... sometimes we, ourselves get in the way.  Acted to perfection, gorgeous music and the epitome of what a Jane Austen story is all about.  Class, rank, stubbornness, silly sisters, twittering Mothers and heroes of the first order.

Sweet Land

If you have been reading PF for the last couple years you know this is one of my all time favorites.  In my little world, it just might be the best movie ever.  The love of a man and a woman and the love of the land.  Oh my...

OK, that was Romantic... now I have to add two more categories  "Hot" and "Foreign"  This ones very romantic but in a sexy, money, power kind of way.  Let's just call it 

"Hot."  

Another fantastic soundtrack and wardrobe?...  Oh my gosh... try NOT to covet the clothing... and no lusting girls... :)

The Thomas Crown Affair

and... for Foreign... if you have been under a rock for the last decade and still haven't seen Amélie... shame on you.  

Trés romantique... trés français.

I know I have lots of Momma readers and I would not watch Thomas Crown or Amélie with my preteen or teen daughters if you know what I mean. :)

I am still not 100%...

If I don't get to posting before Monday... a Happy St. Valentines Day to you!  Forget Hallmark and corny stuffed animals... just be romantic and kind.

Bisous!

The Book of Ruth ...The Movie?

So, I was/am reading Ruth.  

Ruth, the little book in the Bible.  

Yeah, that one.

And I got to thinking what in incredible movie it would make.  

I am a movie junkie.  

When I am on the computer, if I am not blogging or watching a sermon I am probably watching a movie. (Don't get me wrong, I read all the time too.)

 Hubby works nights and we don't watch/have T.V.... - cut me some slack.  

The problem is I have to hunt, search and scour for a good movie.  There are so few.  

A mon avis.

Ruth is an AMAZING story. 

 And I got this vision for what a gorgeous movie it could make!  Subtle, raw, gritty, and trés romantique.  Now, some of you are dusting off the ole' family Bible to see what the heck I am talking about.  A simple read through might not do your imagination justice, especially if you are not a Believer so may I recommend the four part series on Ruth found here... to really unpack it in a way that will register and really mean something to you...

But picture it, sweeping landscapes, famine, harvest and dusty roads...

 Family, marriage, death and the struggle of two widows in an ancient culture... 

Friendship...

 "Where you go, I will go, your people will be my people and your God my God."

Namoi played by someone gritty and passionate.  Who can project wisdom and horrific angst... someone like a Shohreh Aghdashloo... 

she is one of my all time favorites, I could watch her all day.  (If you can stomach it, I highly recommend the Stoning of Soraya M.)  I can just hear her as Naomi, with that gorgeous scratchy voice pleading with her friends to no longer call her Noami, explaining to them that the LORD has forsaken her...her life full of death and pain...

Ruth could be played by someone dark, exotic and gorgeous.  Quiet, pure and determined.  She's not my favorite but perhaps someone like a Penelope Cruiz... maybe a hint of her character in Captain Corelli... or since Ruth was not really young, having been married for ten years as the story opens perhaps a Sophie Marceau.  I can picture that vulnerable scene when Ruth curls up at Boaz's feet for the night, not knowing how he will react, played by either.

Boaz of COURSE would have to be Russell Crowe.  I would accept no one else.  As is anyone else could capture a character with SUCH honor, so few words, such manliness and dignity.  

I think he would be perfect.

I have in my mind gorgeous direction like that of Ang Lee (if you are caught up on Brokeback, scratch that and think Sense and Sensibility) and a sweeping, romantic soundtrack by... well, I haven't thought this one thru too much but maybe a John Berry (Dances with Wolves)?

Don't get hung up on every one's beauty, picture lots of dust, dirt, threshing floor type scenes... like the slow mo one in the barn in my favorite movie "Sweetland."  Hey, while thinking of that movie, that soundtrack composer might work well for "Ruth" too!

Hollywood is so stupid.  The Bible is full of good stories... this one actually happens to be more on the "pure" side but they could have a hay-day with all the killing, Abraham passing off his wife to Pharaoh, Queen Esther and the whole harem, plan to destroy the Jews bit (and don't tell me about "One night with the King"  wasn't that about Esther?  It sucked, forgive me, it was just dreadful,  I turned it off after 15 minutes).  

But... I can just picture Ruth... can't you?

If I had the first inkling how to write a screenplay I swear I would... in the meantime I'll get my fix with the gorgeous intro's to the sermon I mentioned above and hope that Hollywood get's a clue.

A Room with a View - Part I

No, this is not another design post.

It's rainy, 34 degrees and in a word: horrible.

Time to take a hot bath, wear our pajamas for the day, dump Chanel No. 5 head to toe and feel romantic and cozy.

There are very few movies as romantic as the "old" Merchant Ivory film, "A Room with a View." ...aside from Rhett (my heart, my heart) Butler it contains the most romantic on screen kiss...

Winter is coming and I do hate it so...I thought, what fun to watch some movies ...through out the next couple months I will try to find some on You Tube so we can watch them together. So break open a Bordeaux (or perhaps more apropos with this film a big, red Montelpuciano ) and enjoy this subtle look at falling in love.

I will be hosting this film in segments but, it really belongs on any Parisienne Farmgirl follower's movie shelf. I fell in love with this movie as a teen, my Dad bought it for me as it was Princess Diana's favorite movie.

Like a book club, we will comment on each segment....

Et Voila...

A Room with a View, Part's One, (Two and Three too!)

Easy Virtue!

I don't feel like removing the feature just yet so scroll all the way to the bottom to push pause on the music. Merci.

Boy oh Boy do I have a movie recommendation for you!

First, my disclaimer: When we search for a movies on the shelves of Blockbuster we very rarely pick your big Hollywood films. We are often drawn to foreign films and anything with those little "laurel wreath" award thingys catches our eyes. Our tastes compliment each other as I enjoy many "guy movies" like James Bond and Hubby enjoys a good subtitled flick and he might not want you to know this but Sense and Sensibility is one of his favorite films!!!

I sent Joel out the other night and held my breath - we are 99% on the same page with movies but the problem is there are so few good ones out there I did not want him to come home with something lame or too "blow 'em up".

Instead he picked the funniest movie we have seen in a long time; Easy Virtue. HILARIOUS! Especially if you love Brits and their wicked humor. The entire movie if you pay attention is a jab at them from the outdoor sportsman activities to the over- cooked unrecognizable vegetables. Did I mention it is HILARIOUS? At one point we were grabbing each others forearms with tears streaming down our faces in laughter. (Again, my disclaimer is my sense of humor is...well...not mainstream). Anyhoo - Here is the trailer and even if you find it dreadful the costumes worn by Jessic Beal are TO DIE FOR and have convinced me yet again that I was born in the wrong decade (what would I give to wear my red lips every day with a head full of pin curls????) and, well, let's face it...can a girl get enough Colin Firth?

Positively NOT.

Expelled!

Alors, I calmed down about the salsa after a call from Blogger and friend Farm Girl Cyn - I added lots of lemon juice and now my little teeny canning cellar (read: shelf) hosts 6 quarts of Joel's homemade, ring-of-fire, if you catch my drift, salsa.

(Lot's of links for you in this posting!  All underlined and in bold!)

Now onto the really good stuff.   I know I have not updated the "In my DVD" player part of my sidebar in well, almost a year.  And for good reason.  I truly felt that aside from 

Sophie Sholl

, Sweet Land was the best movie that I watched in 2007.  And remember, I was pregnant and miserable so I watched a lot of movies.

Now it's the end of 2008 and I have enjoyed yet another jaw dropping movie - I'm a little late as this movie's been out awhile but I never get to the show and Blockbuster only bought 8 copies so for 10 days I called 3 times a day until one was returned.

Expelled. 

I am - freaking out.  This movie confirmed all my worst suspicions about Academia. ( Christian readers - did you know that 3 out of 4 Christian kids that go to college leave questioning their faith?)  I am, in no way saying don't go to college, (though it's something I won't force my kids to do) but I am saying that the days of real learning and honest inquiry seem to be over.  It appears that learning like so many other institutions in the this country carries the same mantra - "Don't question", "Go with the flow", "God is dead", "We have all the answers while you still believe in fairy tales" etc.  

Remember a long time ago when I wrote about scientists who don't believe in Global Warming loosing their, or being denied grant money?  Turns out bullying like that is the tip of the iceberg!  Mention "Intelligent Design" or question Charles Darwin and poof!  You're outta there - Tenure or not!

This movie examines the claims of these ousted scientist and then fleshes out the entire idea of evolution what happens when Academia and then society decides that God does not exist.  The parallels between and ties to liberal politics, abortion, and Hitler are undeniable and incredible.  You will even see exact footage that was used in that anti-abortion/racism post I did a few weeks back.

As the credits rolled I found myself wanting to scream - "Doesn't anyone care that this is happening???"  "Doesn't anyone see what is happening to this country, the road we are headed down?  The lies we are believing?"

It was amazing.  And yes, I do love politics but even if you don't love it as I do or say, you're burned out my the last 9 months of the great and powerful "O", don't, I say, don't let it stop you from watching Expelled and telling anyone about it!  

Anyone, anyone, anyone...

Long Live the Queen...

Awhile back I mentioned I had seen "Marie Antoinette" and did not, at the time have the time to "blog" about it...
Et voila - here I am.

I LOVED IT!!!

If there is an ounce of estrogen coursing thru your veins then what is NOT to love? Visually this film was a spectacle but of course it took place at Versailles...spectacle of all spectacles! Jewels and colors, frocks and ridiculously towering hairdos ruled the day along with this misunderstood queen. You only have to dip your toe into the history of what "court life" was like at Versailles to see that this poor thing did not stand a chance fitting in...oddly like another princess so near to my heart...

To the ears "Marie Antoinette" was an dance party! This soundtrack rocks our house daily lately! How in the world Sophia Copolla had the genius to combine, sensual and angst filled music from the 80's with classically styled music (that I believe was made for the film) is beyond me. The music is truly a character in the film.
There are so many wonderful stories to be told it is about time that someone payed hommage to this queen (I believe the last film based on her life was made in 1923).
Ever the royalist I felt badly for her. She never said "let them eat cake" but the film kind of hints that she did - sadly it is what she is known best for so I suppose they caved to the pressure and added that scene. She did what many housewives in America do with inattentive husbands...spend their money. For that, they labeled her a whore and sent her to the guillotine. Of course her story is more detailed than that and I was grateful to the director for ending on a beautiful and moving note instead of her dignified expression on the way to her death.
For more on this amazing piece of history you might enjoy the French film: "Ridicule" This film, though not sympathetic to the queen it gives you and idea of the ridiculous nature of the propriety of the court at Versailles.
And for a more detailed account of her life may I suggest:
Queen of France by Castelot
and
Marie Antoinette by F. W. Kenyon both I believe are out of print but worth the hunt for a die hard Francophile!

How I Began my Day...Highly Recommended

Father God,
Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. Mat. 6:13
I will not let the devil take advantage of me and sift me as wheat. I Cor. 2:11, Luke 22:31
I trust in You alone to provide an escape from all temptations. I Cor. 10:13
My strength comes from the power of the Lord as I clothe myself with the whole armor of God Eph. 6:11-17

-THE BELT OF TRUTH - I will fill my innermost parts with Your truth
-THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTWOUSNESS - Your righteousness will protect my heart, for out of it flows the issues of life.
-THE READINESS OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE - Gives me the stability to proclaim the Gospel to those in my path today.
-THE SHIELD OF FAITH - I lift up the shield of faith which does not keep me from the battle, but protects me in the midst of it.
-THE HELMET OF SALVATION -I will shelter my mind from Satan's attacks of doubt, depression and discouragement with the helmet of salvation.
-THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS - I make a decision to praise You in all things today, no matter what.

I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

I am REDEEMED out of the hand of Satan. Ps 107:2
I am CLEANSED continually from all sins. I Jn 1:7
I am JUSTIFIED and made righteous through faith. Rm 5:9
I am SANCTIFIED, made holy and set apart to God. Heb. 13:12
I am FREE from the fear of hell and death. Rm 8:2, Gal. 3:13
I am HEALED of all sickness and disease. Is 53:5 and guilt Rm. 8:11
I am FORGIVEN Eph. 1:7 and all my sins are forgotten Is. 43:25

I know Satan is a bluff, a liar and a thief. Jn. 8:44, 10:10
Satan has no place, no power and no unsettled claims against me. Rm 8:33-34
On the Cross the battle was won and Satan was made a public display. Col. 2:14-15
I have authority over ALL the powers of darkness and I fear nothing. Lk. 10:19
Jesus and His power are the same yesterday, today and forever. Heb. 13:8
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
I overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony and I love not my life unto death. Rev. 12:11

Father, I ask that every carnal prayer, every negative statement and every curse spoken against me or by me be broken today in the name of Jesus. I aks that the harvest of negative seeds I have sown be cut short and the harvest of positive seeds be hastened, for I know that as I have sown so shall I reap. Gal. 6:7
Fill me with the knowledge of your will today in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so I amy walk in a manner worthy of You, to please You, bearing good fruit and increasing in the knowledge of You. Col. 1:9-10


I came across this prayer while cleaning the side of my fridge off yesterday. I love to pray with my own words but I love to pray with scripture too. I am longing to be in the "will" of God lately and there seemed to me, today, no better way to start my day than to align myself with His word. I hope this blesses you today as it blessed me.

Let's Go...Time's a Wastin'

All's I can say is that if a light-in-the-loafers cowboy wins over a real cowboy...well, I'm gonna be ticked enough to get time in Folsum.
And if Issac Mizzrahi, that Boy-Named-Sue ever reached out and grabbed MY boob he would Cry, Cry, Cry and find himself in a Burnin' Ring of Fire and there would be no Peace in the Valley.

I Won't Back Down and I will find myself Five Feet High and Risin if Paul what's-his-butt wins for his supporting role in Cinderella Man. I'll be writing you all a Tear Stained Letter on Monday if he looses.

In reality, none of this pop culture crap matters when you have Your Own Personal Jesus.