The Birthday Girl

Netflix is a wonderful thing. We're getting to see movies we might not get to. Today, we watched The Birthday Girl, with Nicole Kidman and Ben Chapman. It's an independentish film, set outside of London.

The story revolves around John(Ben Chapman), a lonely bank clerk, who works his status-quo job. He is steady, dependable, predictable. Living in the same small town all his life, he doesn't want, or have time, to find "the girl next door." So he sends off for a Russian bride.

Nicole Kidman plays the beautiful and vexing Nadia, who doesn't speak a word of English.
Being led to believe differently, John quickly wants to send her home. But Nadia plays to his darker sexual fantasies to win him over.

When two of Nadia's fellow country men show up in John's living room, it sets the stage to expose Nadia's dark secrets.

Kidman's onscreen persona is different than we've seen from her before. She did a wonderful job, cementing my opinion that she is a highly under-rated actress. Her mastery of the Russian, along with her ability for convincing accents bests Meryl Streep.

Ben Chapman's characterization of the meek, introverted clerk and Nicole Kidman's dark perfermance make this movie worth viewing.

I give it Three Paws Up!

The Apprentice

Ok, this is another one of my favorite shows. I like it because the viewer does learn a lot about business. I get kind of frustrated though, because even someone like me, who is business dumb, "gets it" when those guys don't.

Anyhow, I think Tana blew it. I think she's just a little too cocky. I was rooting for her at first, because she did seem pretty "with it" when it comes to business, she basically got along with everyone(tho she did her and Craig did sleep while the other girl did their task completely...and won, I might add). But I rooted for her because she was part of the street smart team, and I believe it doesn't take college to make you smart.

Sorry to say, I have momentarily forgot the other girl's name, but she flew through her task with little or no problems. Plus, she managed her team well, and wasn't snooty about it like Tana was.

So my prediction is that she wins(what is her name? argh, old age is catching up with me).

I think Trump is taking the next season off and Martha's "The Apprentice" is due this Oct. I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy watching Martha. I never did like her that much(and no, not because I'm jealous. I just think she is the fakest of fake).

The Amazing "Amazing Race"

The Amazing Race is one of my favorite shows. I get to travel the world from the comfort of my living room. It's not completely stress-free, because I always pull for one team or another and this installment was no different. I was rooting for anyone to win but Rob and Amber.

On a side note, I was glad to see the old couple go. That lady was driving me batty with her "oh my god, Merideth." If I had to listen to that "old mrs obvious" whine one more time, I was going to jump through the T.V. and strangle her myself(how does poor Merideth put up with that).

I've hated Rob since his Survivor days. I thought he was an idiot for taking Amber with him to the final two, because I knew no one would choose him, and they'd choose Amber instead. Of course, they did, only Rob asked Amber to marry him, insuring he'd get a portion of the Million Dollar prize.

So week after week, as I watched Rob and Amber come in first or second, I was convinced they were invincable, proving that, once again, good guys finish last and the rotten ones always rise to the top.

I sat tonight with hands clinched as I watched poor Uchena and Joyce beg for the cab fare. Personally, I would have told the guy, "look, if I make it first through these gates, I win a million dollars and I will gladly give you $1000 for your trouble." Luckily, it didn't come down to that, and the laid back couple were able to beg enough money to pay their cabby.

So congrats to Uchena and Joyce! It couldn't have happened to a nicer couple and you guys deserve it.

But most of all, thanks for stuffing Rob's large ass foot in his shit-for-brains mouth.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of Rob and Amber, as they've whored their wedding out to CBS. Atta way to put love before money, guys.

This is one girl who won't be watching.