Meatball And A Movie

Pasta with basil pesto. Mmm, pesto. Thirteen Lives, 2022, directed by Ron Howard. I thought this was going to be Ron Howard's first slasher film, but it was about those dimwitted kids in Thailand who got stuck in a cave and then the whole world had to stop to rescue them. It's Ron Howard, it's big, it's exciting, a fine way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I want to plug another film while I have your attention: The Automat, a 2021 documentary directed by Lisa Hurwitz. Why would you want to watch a documentary about an automated cafeteria? Because it's an automated cafeteria. Also Hurwitz goes way beyond the nuts and bolts, and delves into Horn and Hardart's vision of restaurant democracy. 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, high praise. Caveat; Mel Brooks is in it, so if you hate Mel Brooks you probably don't want to watch this.

Ukrainian Edition Vareniki/Pierogi. The words mean the same thing, with vareniki being popular in Russia and Ukraine and pierogi used further west, like in Poland. My grandparents were from the Galicia region, which spans across the Ukrainian-Polish border. In their home, and subsequently in our home, we called these potato filled dumplings pierogi. Animal Kingdom, 2010, written and directed by David Michôd, starring Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, James Frecheville, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, and Sullivan Stapleton. Don't recognize those names? That's because it's an Australian movie. A tense, dark, unsettling crime drama. Very well done, but don't expect to walk away feeling warm fuzzies.

Lasagna with baguette (from Origins Bakery). At intermission, carrot cake and coffee. Pieces of April, 2003, written and directed by Peter Hedges, starring Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson and many other notable actors. The directorial debut for writer Hedges. Often I find these first efforts by directors to be something special. I'm not certain why, but I think it has something to do with not having gargantuan budgets.   

Pasta Bolognese, baguette. The Long Good Friday, 1980, directed by John Mackenzie, starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren.