On Netflix:
Dallas Buyers Club - I was fortunate to get this DVD as soon as it was released as I wanted to see for myself the performances of both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. As most of you know, they won the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Supporting Actors respectively. The story is a touching one based on true events of Ron Woodroof who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986. The way he extends his life is not only brave and inspiring, but it forced the drug and medical establishment to look at drugs available elsewhere and changing dosage of AZT. Both actors do a very good job with their roles although McConaughey tends to mumble when he talks. Leto brings a poignancy to his role and breaks your heart. Jennifer Garner is a nice addition as the doctor who cares about her patients. Uplifting in a way, but sad as well.
About Time - The premise of this film is absurd, time travel. Starring Domhnall Glesson as Tim and Rachel McAdams as Mary his wife, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. He is able to manipulate situations and not others. It is poignant, but does not have any exciting climax. It is just sweet. Bill Nighy plays his father and is always a welcomed addition to anything he is in.
Frozen - This Disney award winning film is delightful for both children and adults. Some of the jokes and side comments will go over the heads of the little ones, but delight the adults watching with them. Abby knew all the words to every song and was mesmerized with it. I thought the large snowman would be a bit frightening, but was not. A sweet story about how love conquers all. Put it on your list, you won't be disappointed.
At Woolly Mammoth Theater:
Arguendo - First let me define the title Arguendo as it is a Latin term meaning "in arguing" or "for the sake of argument." This play contains the oral argument of an unusual case that reached the Supreme Court in 1991 - Barnes v. Glen Theater Inc. Two South Bend Indiana clubs, Glen Theatre and the Kitty Kat Lounge sued to allow nude dancing in their clubs. Indiana's public indecency law prohibited public nudity which required the dancers to at least wear G-strings and pasties. The summary sounded interesting and entertaining, but I forgot this was Woolly Mammouth and they do "interesting" things with their plays. The play was a verbatim reenactment of the lawyers' cases and the judges' questions and reactions. The first part was a bit boring due to the actor playing the role of the lawyer, the second part picked up as their was a very surprising element in it. After the show, there was a panel discussion with Marcia Coyle Chief Washington Correspondent for National Law Journal, Frank LoMonte, Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center and the moderator, Kevin Goldberg, a member of the law firm Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth who has expertise in First Amendment, Freedom of Information Act and intellectual property issues. They were most informative and shed light on the proceedings. If you are interested in the law and how the Supreme Court works, this is for you.
Restaurants in and around DC:
Friends introduced us to Thai Noy in Falls Church on Washington Street. We had a lovely evening, so we ate outside. The food is very good. My drunken noodles were a hit. In fact, Sy liked them better than his dish so we switched. The soups were interesting and for dessert we had sticky rice with coconut and mangoes which was yummy. It is a local restaurant. We had reservations, but I think you can get in without them.
The area around the theaters near Verizon center is really hopping, but has any wonderful restaurants. We did not have reservations, so the wait was quite long even though there were free tables on a recent Saturday evening. Restaurants either do not have sufficient help or hold their tables for those with reservations even if it is an hour off. We did end up in an interesting restaurant - Zengo. Their signature dish is blacken cod and our friends really enjoyed it. We had short ribs and salmon which were both tasty. The presentation is lovely and the location convenient to the theaters in the area. They do have one strange policy, dishes come out when they are ready so one person might get their dish 5 minutes before everyone else. I understand the policy, but not sure it is a good one.
Last week I had lunch with a friend at Matchbox which is in the Angelika Mosaic Center in Fairfax. The presentation our our lunches were lovely. I had a traditional salad, since I did not want to eat bread, which was good while my friend had their gyro which came with fried chick peas in the shape of french fries. She loved her dish. It is a chain and I know they have a place downtown. Worth a try.
Excellent Read:
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver - A well written story involving an unfilled woman who makes an incredible discovery and how life around her changes and she morphs into something else more beautiful just like her discovery. Although the discovery comes early in the novel, I won't give it away here. Read it, you will learn about the subject and issues facing our planet today.
As you can notice, I am not commenting on Dancing With The Stars. Although I am still watching it (not in real time!) I feel no attachment to any of the dancers.
Spring has finally arrive! Enjoy the beautiful weather.
Roberta
