Random Recommendations

Happy Weekend! I thought I would share some of my recommendations for fun things. If you want to see a funny movie.  (And I mean really funny.  So funny we still laughed the next day).  Go see Hit & Run. Dax Shepard wrote and starred in this film. I didn't really know who he was until he was on Conan telling us what a kick a$$ movie this is. So, the next night...I had to go. It also stars his fiance, Kristen Bell.  And, oh, Tom Arnold KILLS! Don't read any reviews. Try not to see any trailers. Just go into this movie completely cold and you will come out so happy.  **I hope you tell me if you liked it.**

If you are in the mood for serious espionage and conspiracy theories, I also recommend The Bourne Legacy. Jeremy Renner is excellent. And Rachel Weisz is also great. If you like any of the Bourne movies, you will like this one too. My favorite Bourne movie, with Matt Damon, is the first one. I loved that the mystery unfolded for him as well as the viewer. Similar unfolding happens in this move. Well worth the price of a movie ticket. 

If you would prefer to read a book, I have one to recommend as well. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

My Sister (the one that had the 4th of July gathering) was reading this book and mentioned it. She said she was completely into it. It's a mystery. It starts with a missing wife. Sissy said it didn't look too good for the husband... but that's all she had. I wanted to borrow it, but Sissy was horrified because Sis # 2 said something about reading the last few pages before starting the book.  --I've done that before too....but not if I'm into the book. So, I read the book chronologically and it was hard to put down. {Thanks Sissy.}

And television? Yep, I have some recommendations there as well.  Actually, TV is so much better without commercials. So, what Hubs and I have been doing is NOT watching TV in real time. Instead, we download from Netflix or buy the DVDs after the season is over. The cool thing about that is you can watch one episode right after another. LOVE IT.  We recently finished all three seasons of Justified. Timothy Olyphant plays Raylan Givens a modern-day U.S. Marshall. As a sort of punishment, he must work in the Lexington KY office to continue to be a marshal. He grew up in KY and is constantly dealing with both boyhood friends or rivals on the "shady side" of the law. Raylan reacts to the small town (small time?) criminals with a roll of the eye and a deep breath to say "do we really have to do this? Favorite line so far: Raylan always wears his Stetson and he has the confidence to pull it off. Getting onto an elevator with a stranger, the stranger remarks:  "Ain't much call for cowboys these days." Rayland doesn't miss a beat and says, "You'd be surprised."  When we had run out of Justified episodes we were left looking for good TV. We found it in Downton Abbey. The first season is a true lark. The second season is still good but has an overall tone of sadness. I love Maggie Smith in this. She has is so witty. You can't help but like her. Even when she is so comfortable being unlikable.

The last set of shows we've been watching is HBO's The News Room with Jeff Daniels. It's a good, witty, smart TV. Created by Aaron Sorkin, who created The West Wing similar topical current event discussion (dissection?) ensues.  I have to say, there is a little too much high volume passion (shouting) of "It is so important what we do here"...But overall, Jeff Daniels is likable (even when he doesn't want to be) and funny. And, of course, there are a few love stories intertwined. Hope you are also enjoying good television (or a movie or a book).