“Bottle Shock” -
Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Dennis Farina

While I enjoy the French, there is nothing more fun than trumping them at the wine game and that’s was this is all about. I loved it! First, I’m a big Pullman fan even if he did look a bit worse for the wear (yikes, he’s my generation so tough to see myself getting older.) Rickman is always bloody brilliant with his arrogance and yet ridiculousness. Chris Pine was adequate, I kept wanting to comb and cut his hair and dye his eyebrows, I would never have made it through the sixties (I was not even a tween yet!) Farina is quintessential American in Paris, embarrassing in the plaid leisure suit but perfect for the time and place.

This was a captivating lesson in the history of winemaking a la California, the value of passion and persistence, and the price of perfection. It doesn’t get any better in film and this is a rare gem, sure it will be compared to Sideways, entirely different but equally wonderful, more so in this fans opinion.

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” -
Scarlett Johannsson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson

I have to confess that I do enjoy Woody Allen and he has gotten mellower but more sexually overt in his advanced film making. He is also (possibly forced) using overseas settings a lot more often since he created such a debacle in his personal life some years ago. This has a very unique cast, rather like Scarlett is his new Mia and Rebecca his new Diane. I couldn’t take my eyes off Bardem. The last movie I saw him in was No Country for Old Men and he was just as riveting but in grotesque and frightening way, this time I simply wanted his clothes off! HOT.

Two best friends on opposite sides of life and love spend a summer in Barcelona both falling for the same man who is in turn hopelessly and virtually fatalistically captivated by his ex-wife Penelope Cruz. Their relationship only works when a third is in it. This gives new meaning to ménage a trois and the delight it can bring.

Of course it wouldn’t be Woody Allen without poignancy and tragedy to balance the comedic moments. Patricia Clarkson does a brilliant job as the trapped housewife, no longer in love, but too terrified of life and herself to leave her husband. One of those, glad-I-haven’t-yet-married moments for this viewer. The ending sort of fizzled, predictable and not terribly original, felt like Woody got bored and left.

Tucked amongst a handful of evening hot spots, this has a NY brownstone feeling in atmosphere, darkened walls, wine displays, and low light to set the mood. An extensive array of wines by the glass, the taste, and the bottle, this is much like an independent version of The Grape with half as much food. Tapas menu is limited but creative and designed for sharing and small bites. Be sure to embrace the exceptional beef carpaccio with sage aioli or the Prince Edward Island mussels in white wine-garlic broth. The tuna tartare with soy-ginger dressing on wonton crisps is a light treat. For something a little more filling, try the homestyle meat loaf with sweet tomato fondue and shoestring potatoes.

The Burgundy Room
641 N High St
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 464-9463

“27 Dresses” -
Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns

Totally not my scenario having never even been a bridesmaid, I couldn’t imagine loving a “job” so much! (Heigl) Jane clearly does as proven by evenings she juggles two weddings with complete changes in the back of a taxi. Such devotion is truly rare, but clearly she has mastered the art of it. Her world comes to an abrupt stop when her younger sister (Akerman) steps in (Cameron Diaz like) and taps Jane’s boss to be her groom. Suddenly Jane’s closet feelings of true love for George (her boss, played by Edward Burns) surface and she is faced with realizing she may not always want to be a bridesmaid at all, but instead rejoice in being a bride. Marsden plays Kevin, the newspaper reporter responsible for the bridal announcements and tracks Jane and her incredible 27 weddings as a bridesmaid story. Okay from here it is a little predictable, but still fun. Boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. . . .

The dresses alone, as most bridesmaid gowns prove, are quite entertaining. And each tells its own story of culture, custom and sometimes downright bad taste. Heigl pulls it all off with aplomb but this did feel like a second tier movie, not an A-lister.

“Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” -
Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Ciarán Hinds, Shirley Henderson

Can you get a life and discover love, all in one day? This was kind of strange. I love McDormand but honestly putting her as an out of work governess was a stretch even for me. She has so much more depth than this opportunity allowed and she truly carried the movie or what there was of it. The only other one who really captivated my interest was Hinds as the dapper Joe who is smitten by McDormand’s Pettigrew. He is a charismatic Irish bloke who somehow dazzles. The rest of the players were fluff and nonsense, quite silly in character and ability. Felt like I was watching a high school musical on some level. Fun on the set and costume side, wonderful period pieces from 1936 and beyond.

Painted tin ceiling, marble floors and a zinc-topped bar infuse this hot spot with just a certain “je ne sais quoi.” Cozy like a French café, this gives the illusion of a busy Parisienne bistro. Lunch and dinner offerings include onion soup gratineed with a rich broth, grilled chicken Russel (with whipped potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted mushrooms), and ravioli Florentine filled with spinach and ricotta cheese. Traditional dishes also abound: vichysoisse, pan banat (baguette with tuna, egg and vegetables), salad nicoise, boef stroganoff, chicken cordon bleu and crepes. Go “ooh la la!” over desserts such as creme brulee, profiteroles (chocolate topped, ice cream-filled pastry puffs), chocolate mousse and more. Service was a bit slow at the onset, but once they caught up to the large group we’d reserved tables for, all was charming.

Bon Vie Bistro & Bar
4089 the Strand E
Columbus, OH 43219
614-416-0463

“21″ -
Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo

This was brilliant and Spacey and Sturgess are well matched as the upstart mathematical genius and his OCD college professor with a pricey gambling habit. Fishburne seems to be doing a cameo here and that doesn’t fit his larger than life abilities, he definitely needed more meat than this skimpy bit. Spacey is edgy, angry, and arrogant and pushes all the right buttons. Sturgess leads his fellow MITers on a wild ride of gambling success, teasing the law, and hustling with the cards. He learns lessons in love and friendship and earns his tuition. Money or the love and need for it can give some priceless experiences. This is even better as it is based on a true story. Truth is always stranger than fiction. Harnessing genius when hormones are at play can be dangerous work. Vegas never looked better!

One of those see-and-be seen kind of places that every city has. This one is auspiciously located on the corner across from the Convention Center. An entertaining array of cocktails and wines coupled with appetizer pizzas including one version with prosciutto, fontina and caramelized onion, smeared with creamy mascarpone. The grilled Gorgonzola polenta is topped with wild mushroom ragout. Their chicken and pasta was large enough to be family style and more of a safely seasoned than anything to write home about.

This is ideal for large gatherings as evidenced by our group and several others. Service was quick and they handled us with ease and grace. We did get condensed to one table from two when we hung out too long and the next big group came in, but since we’d already enjoyed cocktails, wine and entrees, we didn’t mind too much.

Martini Italian Bistro - Downtown
445 N High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2071
Phone: (614) 224-8259

“Fool’s Gold” -
Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Donald Sutherland, Ewen Bremner, Alexis Dziena

Okay, party movie! Yes, they all had a good time making this one. Seems this is what McConaughey fills his spare time with because it certainly doesn’t belie the depth of his talent. Hudson is always good at light comedy so this is a fit for her. Sutherland seemed a bit out of place as the tired billionaire with the daughter who doesn’t love daddy but uses him for his money. I am disappointed these days to see so many of the genuine talents of my age being relegated to barely supporting roles when they are capable of so much more. I know they are in it for the love of the art, but it still seems beneath them.

Typical boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. The theme is a swashbuckling tale of sunken treasure, modern day pirates, and mild torture. No big surprises, likely a better late night TV view, than bothering in the theatre. I caught this on a hotel stay.

McConaughey is always easy on the eyes, but ever since I heard he doesn’t wear deodorant, the charm has really worn off!

“Juno” -
Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons

When a teenage girl is faced with an unexpected pregnancy, she enlists the aid of her best friend in finding the unborn child a suitable home in this coming-of-age comedy drama.I don’t get what all the fuss was about? Yes, this was engaging but it certainly didn’t rock my world. I think the idea that a first time writer crafted this is really where the hype came in. In this day and age, unfortunately, unwed mother’s in high school are simply not as rare as all that. Her parent’s being as understanding as they were was rare, it felt a bit like a Valley Girl remake, though Deborah never got pregnant, her folks were very “groovy.”

To see Jason Bateman grown up was kind of a shock, I’m sure he’s been all over TV but I’ve missed him as that isn’t my medium of choice. I wasn’t surprised when he and Garner as the happy couple turned out all too quickly to be the couple headed for divorce. Garner has an intensity that is palpable and almost painful to watch. They were clearly a mismatch and then adding Juno into that mix kind of makes you squirm.

Yes, betting there are lessons to be learned here, but more for filmmakers and writers than for the audience in this viewers opinion. I actually kind of wanted this one to get over with, it wasn’t happy, but it wasn’t sad either and I just didn’t love it.