Happy May Day!

Wednesday night we watched Frozen River (2008). This was on my queue because it was nominated for Best Actress for Melissa Leo's performance and Best Original Screenplay. Basic story: Two single moms do what they need to do. Involves smuggling across the border on a Mohawk reservation crossing the New York/Quebec border. It was very good. Melissa Leo was excellent. In general I would say all the acting was great. It was a little slow and it is not a particularly happy movie. I would say that you should see it because it is interesting and the story and the acting is great. But I wouldnt tell anyone to run out and get it right away. And again, not a particularly happy movie.

Last night we went to see LA Theater Works' presentation of War of the Worlds and Lost World as part of Penn's Children's Festival. It was really really really well done. But it should not be part of the Children's Festival. Which I had suspected, you know, since it is a presentation of a radio show that actually convinced many (if not most) people who originally heard it that the planet was being invaded by Martians. War of the Worlds was done essentially like a staged reading. It was a staged version of the radio broadcast (as a real news broadcast), not the actual invasion, done in a bit of retrospect. Which was really interesting. The Lost World was less enthralling. It was more campy, like the original book may have been, I dont really know. It was more of a staging of the actual expedition and the newspaper that followed it. It was a bit on the racy side, though maybe kids wouldnt get that. And there are some definite 1912 era stereotypes that are . . . interesting to see played out. Overall I much prefered War of the Worlds. But I would say that if you can see either of them, go for it. The double feature is playing again tonight at 7:30 and The Lost World has shows tomorrow and Sunday afternoons. It is also playing in LA the 13th-17th if you are on the left coast. And I am not sure where else it is going to be. But keep your eyes out for it.

We also went to dinner last night for Dining Out For Life. We went to Lemon Grass here in University City. Good basic Thai food. Nothing spectacular, but perfectly serviceable. Good service, very fast. I would highly recommend for lunch. $8.95 for appetizer, soup and entree with a wide variety of vegetarian and meaty dishes.