Early December Entertainments
Books: Just finished reading License to Ensorcell by our own aberwyn (that would be fantasy author Katharine Kerr, with whom I had the good fortune to work with, lo, these many years ago). It's the story of Nola O'Grady, a psychic working for a secret government organization that deals with unusual cases. Based in San Francisco, territory the author knows well, the story takes off when Israeli Interpol agent Ari Nathan shows up to work with Nola on a case that may involve Al Qaeda but certainly involves Nola's brother Pat, who's gone missing. As the story unfolds, we meet Nola's family, with its extraordinary abilities, and discover dimensions of the City by the Bay that few--like Nola--can access. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it.
Movies: Took myself to see The Ides of March yesterday, the new political thriller with George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. I thought the trailer looked interesting, but I read a review somewhere that had a lot to say about Clooney and Gosling's scenes together and thought that maybe that might be fun to see. Clooney plays a liberal Democratic governor running for president; Gosling is his assistant campaign manager, good with the press, smart and intense, and fully committed to the cause. When he makes a cardinal error in judgment, things begin to unravel for him and his idealistic beliefs. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays his boss, a seasoned political operative who makes it work even when he disagrees with the candidate. And Paul Giamatti plays Hoffman's opposite number on the opponent's team, spinning his webs with a spider's skill. There's a subplot in here about an attractive intern played by Evan Rachel Wood that heightens the tension. Ultimately, this movie isn't about politics but, rather, about one man's loss of innocence, the requirements of loyalty, and the price of getting what you want. It's not extraordinary, but it's very good. It was clearly intended as a showcase for Gosling, whom I've rarely taken seriously as an actor. He makes a bid for the viewer's attention here, and while he won't win any awards, he works to earn it. And you know, two hours of watching Clooney--a good actor and easy on the eyes--is rarely wasted time in my opinion.
Local color: I joined varina8, e_bourne and markbourne last night to see the lighting of the holiday lights at the Volunteer Park Conservatory. The Conservatory is a Seattle landmark, a beautiful greenhouse that includes plants from all over he world, as well as seasonal plantings that keep the place fresh and always worth visiting. They've put up a special exhibit in the seasonal wing, festooning it with poinsettias, nutcrackers, and a lovely Christmas tree. Last night, they had a harpist in playing holiday music and served hot, spiced apple cider to guests. The entrance was illuminated with rows of classic luminaria, giving the outside of the place a soft, lovely glow until the lights on the building were lit. It was very pretty, and a nice initiation to the holiday season. Afterwards, we had dinner at the DeLuxe just a few blocks away, and ate very well. A very pleasant evening and a fine end to what had started out as a pretty miserable day.
Movies: Took myself to see The Ides of March yesterday, the new political thriller with George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. I thought the trailer looked interesting, but I read a review somewhere that had a lot to say about Clooney and Gosling's scenes together and thought that maybe that might be fun to see. Clooney plays a liberal Democratic governor running for president; Gosling is his assistant campaign manager, good with the press, smart and intense, and fully committed to the cause. When he makes a cardinal error in judgment, things begin to unravel for him and his idealistic beliefs. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays his boss, a seasoned political operative who makes it work even when he disagrees with the candidate. And Paul Giamatti plays Hoffman's opposite number on the opponent's team, spinning his webs with a spider's skill. There's a subplot in here about an attractive intern played by Evan Rachel Wood that heightens the tension. Ultimately, this movie isn't about politics but, rather, about one man's loss of innocence, the requirements of loyalty, and the price of getting what you want. It's not extraordinary, but it's very good. It was clearly intended as a showcase for Gosling, whom I've rarely taken seriously as an actor. He makes a bid for the viewer's attention here, and while he won't win any awards, he works to earn it. And you know, two hours of watching Clooney--a good actor and easy on the eyes--is rarely wasted time in my opinion.
Local color: I joined varina8, e_bourne and markbourne last night to see the lighting of the holiday lights at the Volunteer Park Conservatory. The Conservatory is a Seattle landmark, a beautiful greenhouse that includes plants from all over he world, as well as seasonal plantings that keep the place fresh and always worth visiting. They've put up a special exhibit in the seasonal wing, festooning it with poinsettias, nutcrackers, and a lovely Christmas tree. Last night, they had a harpist in playing holiday music and served hot, spiced apple cider to guests. The entrance was illuminated with rows of classic luminaria, giving the outside of the place a soft, lovely glow until the lights on the building were lit. It was very pretty, and a nice initiation to the holiday season. Afterwards, we had dinner at the DeLuxe just a few blocks away, and ate very well. A very pleasant evening and a fine end to what had started out as a pretty miserable day.