The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Scandinavian mysteries have become quite the phenomenon. We've had Wallander on PBS, and now the late Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest in bookstores and movie theaters. With the exception of one thing, I loved the books and the first movie. The novels were well written thrillers, with a decidedly Euro-flair, since they were translated from Swedish. I'm not really familiar with Sweden, except for meatballs, Volvo's and Ingmar Bergman. I thought the books did have a little Bergman feel to them. With that said, here's what I thought of the first of the three movies...

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the Swedish version, released on DVD, July 14. Starring Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist.

They couldn't have cast a more perfect actress than Noomi Rapace. She was Lisbeth, from her pierced eyebrow to her platform boots, she was exactly as I pictured her, while reading the books. She's very androgynous, and extremely Goth. She also had the character down cold, lots of attitude and contempt, but also confusion and vulnerability. Lisbeth is one of those rare characters that is totally victimized, but never thinks of herself as a victim. She doesn't crawl away, she gets spectacularly even. I really loved that about her.

The actor who portrayed Blomkvist, the reporter, was also very good, in a shrugging Euro way. One thing that was so surprising, is the age of Nyqvist and the rest of the supporting cast. I admit, I haven't been watching a lot of European films in the last few years, so I don't know if this is a trend, but they used a lot of middle aged actors for this film, that really looked middle aged. I would say none of them looked good for their age. Really. I know that sounds awful, I guess I'm used to the nipped, tucked, agelessness of American actors. The plot does deal with a forty year old crime, but these actors looked like they lived hard, I'm talking rock star hard.

The one thing I didn't like about the first book or the movie is the graphic rape scene. I know it was an important event. It factors into all three books. I just didn't have to be beaten over the head with it. I didn't want to read the details, nor did I want to see them. I like to think that if Stieg Larsson lived, he might have toned it down a bit. This one scene has turned off a lot of female readers. I can honestly say there is nothing like it in the other two books. I know the original title of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was Men Who Hate Women, so I understand why the scene is there. I just don't think graphic rape is a form of entertainment, in any medium. Suffice to say, my DVD player has fast forward and I used it through that scene. Although, what happens to the rapist is Epic Karma.

Of course, the Americans have garnered their own film rights to the books. It's said that Daniel Craig of 007 fame will play Blomqvist, and every young actress in the world wants to portray Lisbeth. Personally, if they can't get Noomi Rapace, they should go with an unknown. Look what we did with La Femme Nikita. I always thought Bridget Fonda was a little too perky for that role. I can see it now, Dakota Fanning in Goth makeup or Keira Knightly in a punk hairdo.

I would recommend this movie for a rent or buy. The Girl Who Played With Fire is in theaters now. If I can get the husband over to the fashionable part of town to see it, I will. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest will be in theaters October 15.

Of Coolness

At a recent family get together, my 29 year old nephew said something quite shocking. We were talking about my recent brush with a computer virus, he said that's why I should get an Apple, I said I'm not cool enough for an Apple. Then he then said something that just stopped me in my tracks, "You're my cool aunt, you've always been cool."

Wow, I've always thought I was kind of weird. My husband says I'm a little eccentric and my best friend says I spin in a different orbit from anyone else. See, I think those are just nice ways of saying weird.

What is coolness? Well, Steve McQueen was super cool, so was James Dean. However, they were movie stars and most of them look or seem pretty cool. I think it's more than that, I think it's more about being, your true self. My mother always said, "don't follow the beat of a different drummer, follow your own beat". Mom was a big believer in individuality.

Maybe that's the secret, just be your own weird self and someone will think you're cool.

Purple Pots

I can hardly stand it... Le Creuset has come out with purple pots!!! I am obsessed with enamel over cast iron cookware. Combine that with my love of purple and this could be a serious situation.

Now, I had a hard time convincing my DH to get my made in China cast iron Dutch oven. However, he did change his tune when he tasted the artisan bread and the beef bourguignon that came out of it, so maybe... but $200 for a glorified frying pan, or excusez moi, a Braiser, I think would be stretching it. I have a better chance of going to Paris for the weekend.

Just think of the fantastic food that would come out of my Braiser. Delectable sauteed veggies, melt in your mouth short ribs, or even coq au vin. Ah yes, I can dream. C'est la vie.

Of Bread, Pots and Grandpas

I never thought I came from a family of bakers. Oh there were cakes, pies and the occasional biscuit and cookie but no hard core baking. Until I found out that one of my grandfather's many jobs during the Great Depression was baker. My aunt told me that when she was a girl, Grandpa would bake bread, cakes and pies for the coming week. I never knew this. He never said a word. He was many things, a coal miner, deep sea diver, (really), vintner, marksman, hunter and conservationist, but I would have never have pegged him as a baker. Although, he did have the arms for it. Have you ever noticed the biceps on a bread maker? Which is one of the reasons I've always used a bread machine.

Now a bread machine makes decent looking bread, and it's edible. However, if you want old fashioned crusty bread or artisian bread, you need a bread oven. I'm not really sure of the mechanics but I think it has to do with steam at some point. Anyway, I read about this new method called No Knead Bread and then I saw a show on Cooks Country about it called Almost No Knead Bread. That's the method I used. It calls for an enameled cast iron Dutch Oven, which I've always wanted and never could afford. LaCrusette/no Monet. Walmart just happened to have a really nice one on sale, it's made in China not France, I'll get over that. I won't include the recipe, because it's not mine and I didn't change it one bit. You can get it from the Cooks Country website.

I must admit this was really easy to make and look at the result. I've never made a prettier loaf of bread. I'd like to think my grandpa would be proud.

Of Spring and Asparagus Quiche

The snow is stopping, the bunnies are hopping, and the buds are popping.

Yes, on Saturday, March 20, at 12:32 pm CST, the Vernal Equinox will occur, As the sun sits vertically above the equator, ta da, it's SPRING.

To my Wiccan and Pagan friends, Happy Ostara, wish you could be at Stonehenge. Although with all the riffraff there, it's kind of like a vampire going out on Halloween, it's just not done. But I digress, as usual.

My favorite place to be in springtime is Tennessee. If I were there, I'd be looking forward to the red bud trees turning the hills magenta and pink, (see picture above). The dogwoods would be headed for a blaze of glory and the jonquils would be nodding in the breeze. Of course, I'd be sneezing my head off but I'd be enjoying the scenery and the company.

It's been quite nice up here in the Great White North. It was in the 60's yesterday; however, tonight it's supposed to snow. My grandpa called this pneumonia weather. To stave off any chill, I suggest an Asparagus Quiche, and I just happen to have a fabulous recipe. Seriously, if you are serving more than three people you'd better make two, it's that good.

Asparagus Deep Dish Quiche

10 bacon strips cut in 1/2 inch pieces, or 1 cup diced ham

3/4 cup chopped onion

1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into 1/2 to one inch pieces

1 and 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 Tablespoon flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 9 inch unbaked pie shell, I use Pillsbury, the kind that's rolled in a box.

3 eggs, I use jumbo but extra large will do

1/2 cup half and half, you can buy a little carton and use the rest for a treat in your coffee or cereal.

Place pie crust in a deep dish pie pan.

In a skillet cook bacon until crisp, or cook ham until it has a little color. Remove meat from skillet and drain on paper towel. If you used bacon reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings in skillet, if you used ham add 1 tablespoon butter, then add onions and cook till golden and translucent.

Cook the asparagus in a little boiling water until tender-crisp, then drain.

In a bowl toss together the meat, onions, asparagus, cheese, flour, salt and pepper. Pour this mixture onto the pie crust. Mix the eggs and half and half together and pour over the asparagus mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. It's done when it gets a little puffy and golden, also a knife inserted near the center will come out clean. Serve with a crisp salad made of spring greens and other salad goodies and your taste buds will applaud.

Alice in Wonderland

So, it's been thirty some odd years since I read Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. Which was a good thing then I couldn't nit pick the changes, which made the movie very enjoyable. Yes, enjoyable. I loved this movie. I found myself smiling through most of it, as a lot of it was just as I'd imagined.

It's true, Johnny Depp carries most of the movie, except where Helena Bonham Carter appears. The girl who portrayed Alice could have been anyone. Depp is deliciously psychotic as the Mad Hatter and Bonham Carter is fabulous as the Red Queen, big head and all. She has one of the best lines ever, "Off with his, her or their heads". Although, she seems a combination of the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts, two different people in the books. I also loved Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts. He always brings a certain weirdness to all his roles. I've decided I must have a Cheshire Cat, and a hookah smoking Caterpillar.

To 3D or not to 3D? Don't bother. I saw it in 2D and didn't have to wear those annoying glasses. I honestly couldn't see how it could be improved in 3D. Maybe the rabbit hole scene would have been cooler.

Now the nit pick. As far as I know, it's a Jabberwock, not a Jabberwocky. Jabberwocky is the name of the poem. "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch." The Queen of Hearts was in Adventures in Wonderland, which had a card theme and The Red Queen was in Through The Looking Glass, which had a chess theme. The Knave of Hearts stole the tarts, not some frog footman. And weren't they fish footmen? I can't remember. However, the changes really don't matter as these are such illogical stories anyway, I don't' think Lewis Carroll would mind a bit.

One thing this movie has made me want to do is reread the books.

Alice in Wonderland is a must see if you are a Depp or Burton fan. If you loved the books or if you are over the age of 10 you'll want to see it again.

The Hurt Locker and Oscar

I've been hearing all week that The Hurt Locker is going to win best picture and at the very least Katherine Bigelow will win for best director. Why?

I admitted in my last post that I fell asleep during this movie. Not because it was boring, I was just really tired. I like Jeremy Renner, he's a good actor and very sexy. Kind of like a really good looking Daniel Craig. The story was OK. However, we've seen it before and told much better. Maybe, the reason this movie is so popular is because it's about this generation's war and seeing it through their eyes. I feel kind of sorry for Hollywood, in that they have to take into account we have an all volunteer military, so there is no MASH or Apocalypse Now on the horizon of this war. These men and women want to be doing what they are doing, with nary an anti-hero in sight.

Katherine Bigelow is decent director. However, I think the other directors nominated made either a better movie or pulled a fantastic performance out of their actors. This movie has most likely made the most money of any of her films so far. I think her biggest movie before that was Point Break, and that movie is nearly 20 years old.

I think the real reason for all this hoopla over The Hurt Locker is guilt. Hollywood and the media in general have been extremely critical of our military endeavors since we invaded Iraq. The attitude of we hate the war but support our troops, is a little confusing, and I think that most soldiers think it's a load of b.s. How would you like it if someone told you: I hate everything you do and stand for; however, I'm behind you 100 percent? Talk about passive/aggressive. Yeah, they are supported so much most soldiers feel they need to take their lawyers into battle with them, so they don't infringe upon the enemy's rights.

Will The Hurt Locker win it all? Maybe. I don't know. So, I'm revising my list and doing what People Magazine did.

Who I think will win and who I think should win.

Best Picture
Think: The Hurt Locker. Should: Avatar, ground breaking, people will be talking about the effect of this movie for a long time.

Best Actor
Think: Jeff Bridges Should: Jeff Bridges, everyone loves a boozy country singer, me included.

Best Actress
Think: Sandra Bullock Should: Meryl Streep, a perfect Julia Child.

Best Supporting Actor
Think: Christoph Waltz Should: Christoph Waltz, chilling performance, you hated him right off.

Best Supporting Actress
Think: Mo'Nique Should: Mo'Nique, chilling performance, you hated her right off.

That's what I think. I'll be watching, even though I'm not Hollywood's target audience, nor is it a special thing to see the "stars", when they are everywhere ad-nauseum. No, I'll watch for those unscripted moments, I still remember that streaker and David Niven, and also to see what get-up Mickey Rourke will wear and also to see who's going to win.