Around the Bend (2005)

Life, Death, and Kentucky Fried Chicken

This is the story of four generations of Lair men: Michael Caine as the patriarch, Christopher Walken as his son, Josh Lucas as his grandson, and young Jonah Bobo as his great-grandson. It's a funny / tender / sad / poignant tale of cycles / rituals / obligations / family / life / death / KFC.

Can the Lairs relationships be salvaged after decades of poor communication and failed expectations?

Fabulous sound track with the talent of Warren Zevon, Tom Waits, Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Harry Nilsson and others.

Favorite line from the film: "Some of us are more broken than others."

Directed by Jordan Roberts.

Rated R for language.

My personal rating: B.

Rare Birds (2001)

When All Fails, Make Omelets

William Hurt is such an odd, brooding dude, but I've enjoyed him in so many different movies that I tried this one. Hurt plays Dave, a chef/restaurateur in a very isolated area on Newfoundland's coast.

Though Dave is not divorced, the marriage is as cragy as his own backyard and his wife (Vicky Hynes) has moved to Washington, DC.

His restaurant, The Auk, is failing badly -- so badly that he doesn't even bother to cook anything because he knows no one is coming anyhow.

His friend 'Phonse (Andy Jones) hatches a plan to boost business by claiming the sighting of a near extinct duck in the wild waters down rocky crags from the restaurant. One thing turns into another -- including a stash of cocaine, a recreational submarine, and a beguiling waitress (Molly Parker) -- and it gets pretty convoluted but still wryly funny.

Hurt remains brooding to the end but I mostly enjoyed this film.

Director: Sturla Gunnarsson. This Canadian film was shot in Newfoundland.

Rated R for language and drug use.

My June 2005 Viewings

Includes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.

Moonlighting 1&2:1 06/30/05 (B)
Six Feet Under 3:5 06/27/05 (B-)
One True Thing 06/27/05
State and Main 06/24/05 (C+)
Six Feet Under 3:4 06/21/05 (B-)
Outside Providence 06/20/05
Six Feet Under 3:3 06/14/05 (B-)
Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her 06/14/05
Beyond the Sea 06/13/05 (B)
CSI 4:1 06/07/05 (C+)
A Thousand Acres 06/06/05 (B-)
Hanging Up 06/06/05
The Life & Death of Peter Sellers 06/01/05 (C)
The Royal Tenenbaums 06/01/05 (B-)
Six Feet Under 3:2 06/01/05 (B-)