I Miss U all my Blog

For some reason Werner Herzog intrigues me as a director. I cannot quite put my finger on why though other than he’s a director that is very interested in not just documentaries but in historical narratives. When I heard he was doing Rescue Dawn with Christian Bale I was incredibly intrigued but I was never able to get to the theatre to check it out.

This movie is based on the true story of pilot Dieter Dengler and based on the documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly also by Herzog. I know that some liberties were inevitably taken to translate this story to film, such as there being seven captives in reality but only six in the film; however, as best I can tell Herzog stuck to his documentary form and tried to keep Rescue Dawn as close to the real events as he possibly could. This story is about Dieter and that was Herzog’s primary concern, that the audience understand Dieter.

What Herzog chose to include in the film is a heck of a story. It begins on Dieter’s ship, just before Dieter is sent off on his first mission over Laos. He is subsequently shot down and follows orders to get rid of his radio and anything else that the Viet Cong can use against his shipmates; as a result he is unable to signal the rescue crew when they fly over his location over the next few days. Eventually Dieter is captured and put through various tortures before finally being taken to a POW camp where he meets other prisoners. Together he helps hatch a plan for their eventual escape.

The driving force of this film is Christian Bale. The only thing I can say is that he is so dang infectious in the role, as an audience member you can’t help but to like him. From opening to end all Dieter wants to do is fly and is so dang loyal to America because they gave him his wings. Bale makes Dieter a man you would follow any where, through any plan because you believe him capable of anything. He is a red-blooded American pilot which is odd as Dieter was German born and Bale is Welsh. Talk about confusing.

However, the surprise factor goes to Steve Zahn as fellow prisoner Duane. Duane is the only other soldier in the camp (the other prisoners worked for Air America) and bonds closely with Dieter. I have never seen Zahn in a dramatic role and he hits it out of the park. Comedians can truly be some of the best dramatic actors and I cannot wait to see more drama out of Zahn.

As a director, one of the most fascinating things for me when I watched Rescue Dawn was knowing that this film was shot in reverse chronological order. Because Herzog knew that the actors had to lose a lot of weight for the roles, and weight is easier to gain than to lose he shot the film starting with the end, and moved back to the beginning so that the actors could lose all of the weight and slowly gain it back through the shoot. Part of why this is so shocking for this film is because this requires your actors to start emotionally with the end of the story which in this case is the most emotionally gut wrenching part, and move slowly backwards to the opening which is much lighter and more idealistic – how the actors managed this I have no idea, but it works so incredibly well.

Director & Writer: Werner Herzog
Dieter: Christian Bale
Duane: Steve Zahn
Gene: Jeremy Davies
Squad Leader: Zach Grenier

Dieter: When I was uhh... five or somethin', I was looking out the window, with my brother... and we see this fighter plane was coming right at us. I was not scared. I was mesmerized! Because for me, this pilot was this all-mighty being from the clouds. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be him. I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be a pilot.

This lovely tea set in their vintage china shop...

Then over to Tiny Doll House on 314 East 78th Street for something more managable...

I have loved DJ Caruso’s films since I was introduced to his debut feature film The Salton Sea when I was in college. I see a lot of talent in DJ Caruso and I have been waiting for another film to match the level of talent he showed in his debut feature film. Eagle Eye is not that film, but that does not mean it’s not an enjoyable film. Anything by DJ is worth watching at least once.

What I did love about Eagle Eye is that I finally got to see DJ do a straight out action film; they gave him a budget and let him blow up anything he wanted – and he does. The only problem with the film is kind of the problem with all action films nowadays, the cutting is so chaotic during the action bits that it becomes very muddled and hard to follow. More than once I thought the protagonists had their car crashed, shot or set on fire only to find out that was a different car. It was rather annoying, but most action films have been having this issue since the Jason Bourne series hit the cinemas. This film actually reminds me of very early Michael Bay films - you know, when he still had a plot to his movies.

To me Eagle Eye was a little predictable on one level, because when a certain piece of the plot was revealed I guessed a big chunk of what was going on – but I see more movies than most people so that’s kind of understandable. It felt a little to me like 2001 meets Patriot Games.

What does work is the actors. This is a conspiracy theory that does not have a lot of time to develop deep characters, so your actors have to have the right chemistry from scene one so you as an audience member can wait to learn about the characters as you go along with the story. Michelle Monaghan & Shia LaBeouf have chemistry. They bring a vivacity to the screen that shows one of DJ’s true talents – casting the right people in the right parts.

All in all, Eagle Eye is not a perfect film, but it is what an action movie should be: a smart, fun adrenaline rush that keeps you guessing and makes you want to see what is going to happen next. Just be prepared for the political commentary.

Director: DJ Caruso
Writers: John Glenn, Travis Wright, Hillary Seitz & Dan McDermott
Jerry Shaw: Shia LaBeouf
Rachel Holloman: Michelle Monaghan
Zoe Perez: Rosario Dawson
Defense Secretary Callister: Michael Chiklis
Agent Toby Grant: Ethan Embry
Agent Thomas Morgan: Billy Bob Thornton
William Shaw: William Sadler

You can find lots of French china with macarons all over Paris. I bought this cup at Lenotre...

And they now have their online shop here!

More French pastry mugs from Potiron...

For Ron..... This post made me think of something you would write about...


For all of you who LOVE a good fair... Have you ever stopped to look and stare at the CARNIES? They're the ones who travel with the fair, put up the rides and do all those fair games.. You know.. the Carnival Booths.. where they call you over and try to get you to toss a dime into an ashtray or a glass? How about the water pistol where you have to blow up/pop a balloon to win a prize? How about those HUGE life size stuffed animals? Why are Carnies soooo scary looking and missing lots of teeth? Good questions, eh? Anyhow.. they always scared me!!! And today, while I was daydreaming on the metro... I made a comparison in my brain... Carnie-Paris Street Vender!!! WOW... there's a fine line between the two... Anyhow, I found some pics of carnies but none of Paris street venders so use your imagination for the latter...
I pulled the pics of the web, they aren't mine... Enjoy!!!

Every time I get home late at night... I like to look around the yard for hedgies! Well, last night I found one right away and luckily I had my camera handy! Soooo cute!

Notre Dame on a beautiful sunny day!!




It's fall but it's still warm here in Paris!! It was around 71/72 F today and a GORGEOUS Sunday in the City of Lights!  Well, it was daytime, so ... the City of Sun!!! Here was part of my walk by Notre Dame, just so you can see some leaves starting to change colour!

I was dreaming about ice cream all week and talking about it all weekend while Justin was visiting... So, on my way back to the RER B, I stopped at the famous chain, Amarino near Place St. Michel and had a med. cone- mangue, chocolat et crème caramel!!! HEAVEN, I'm in HEAVEN!!! CREAMY ice cream.. not the watered down icy stuff you buy at the super market!!! 

Gotta love this little guy!

Paul Newman, the legendary actor whose steely blue eyes, good-humored charm and advocacy of worthy causes made him one of the most renowned figures in American arts, has died of cancer at his home in Westport, Connecticut. He was 83.

Photo from CNN

Or how many bloggers lives she would save?

Are these hydrangea/hortensia in this poster for the Paris exhibit?

Hydrangea seem to be everywhere like here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday...

Both of my parents had passionate green thumbs. My hands were always full of red-yellow-blue from finger painting, but the flower bug hit me late....