Determined To Succeed

I know this is going to come as a shock to no one but eating is a very social thing. Conversely, weight loss goals are a very solitary thing. I never really thought about it in those terms before until just this morning.

You see, yesterday, after writing this hopefully-soon-to-be-award-winning, Hollywood-will-take-notice-and-make-a-movie-about-me-too-called-”Bill-&-Billia” blog I went to work out in the gym. After spending Friday at my second mixed martial arts lesson I was determined to get going to the gym and stuff so I did. I went, I did my half-hour on the elliptical, I did those incredibly hard but really cool reverse push-ups (which I do want to do every day to get used to them) and even practiced what is called a Turkish Get-Up (seated in a typical legs-crossed position, getting up by swinging a leg out and ending in a neutral stance). O.K. I know I’d have to show it to you for you to get it (hmmmmmm, maybe I will one day) but the point is I was working out and setting my mind to be all in a  “I’m going to be good today” mode.

That is the solitary part – and the part that sort-of flew out the window.

While I was mostly good with the food I ate for a “light” lunch, it was my dinner that killed me. And why? Because I was having a good time with good people and I went from solitary “I’m going to be good” Bill to “Oh, I’ll just have one or three more cookies” Bill.

Later on in the day I went to someones house for a wonderful get-together. There were great people and, moreover, there was food. Lots and lots of food. Meatballs, pulled pork, pasta, potato salad, bread, chips, dips, hummus, pita, soda…the whole bit. I found myself loading up lots on my plate. And why? Because it was part of the social thing going on. It was part of the laughing, story telling and bonding, that almost blind eating-without-thinking part.  That is the social part of it.

You guys know me by now. I love me some food. I also avoid buffets not because I don’t like them but because I like them too much and eating at someone’s house can be just like that. Ugh. Why did I eat so much.

I know it was just one day and I will work it off (especially Wednesdays and Fridays in martial arts) but that’s not the point. I’m a bit miffed I decided to let the solitary go in favor of the social…the personal goal in favor of the food, folks and fun. It may be only one day but I really do have to be smarter than that. It really is mind over matter, sometimes, and while I laughed up a storm and enjoyed myself immensely getting on the scale this morning was no laughing matter.

OK, I won’t be too hard on myself but I need to be hard enough to know better. I might be hungry going into a situation like that but that’s no reason to attack food like I’m going to war.  I may be going to something cool and social but that’s no reason to forget what I say to myself in my solitary moments…

…that I will be better today, eat right and do my best.

Deep breath. Again. OK, I’m a little better now…

…and a new, hopefully better eating day begins.

Did you watch the Oscars last night? I know I did. It is my holiday. It is my Superbowl. It is my World Series. It is my Wimbledon, Daytona 500 and Masters all rolled into one golden eight-and-a-half pound statue made in my sweet home Chicago.

But I was sick yesterday and as I night wore on I regressed. Maybe I pushed myself too hard in staying up so late. I don’t know but for whatever reason this cold has embedded itself in my chest like “Alien” (although I wish I could cough it all out and finally feel better).

As I hunkered down on the sofa watching Hollywood’s big night I had a wonderful (and healthy) beef barley soup (soup IS good food, especially for the sick). In-between bowls I thought about these Oscars. Were there many surprises? Not in my book. I was involved in two Oscar pools and except for the documentary (short and long-form), animated short and the surprise of “Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Saphire” winning Best Adapted Screenplay and that weird, overbearing woman doing a Kanye and just taking over the damn microphone from the guy when Best Documentary Short was announced, I have to say the Oscars were very, very predictable this year.

How does this equate to food? Well, I started thinking about Oscar foods. No, not the kind made by a certain Wolfgang Puck for the various parties in La-La-Land. I mean the kinds of potluck dishes people can make next year for their own Oscar parties.

Let’s take some of the winners and turn them into yummy foods, desserts and drinks:

You could offer from “Inglorious Custards” a Christoph Meat-Baltz (I mean really. Who doesn’t love a good meatball as an appetizer or sandwich. There’s also “The Blind Side Dishes” dessert somewhere featuring “Candy” Bullock or from “Glazy Tarts,”  Jeff (potato) Ridges.

This one’s a tie. A toss up between “The Yo-Gurt Locker” or “The Hurt Meat Locker” (whether you go with a healthier dessert theme or an anti-pasta you can’t really blow this – HA!)

For those who are thirsty you could have “The Beery Kind (especially since Jeff Bridges was loaded most of the time in “Crazy Heart”) or plain old 7-”Up” (although that one’s almost too easy).

“The Young Pigtoria” (everything tastes better with bacon and maybe scallops wrapped in bacon would be a good way to honor this Oscar winner for Costume Design)

And finally, the biggest box-office champ of all-time – “AVATAR.” These might sound bad but you could try “Caviartar” (if your party is REALLY high-end and you like fish eggs on crackers from Russia), or if not a food you could post a sign on your bathroom calling it the “Lavatar” for the night (that one even made me chuckle a bit).

Whatever kind of event gets you going (NASCAR, golf, tennis, baseball or football), if you’re gonna have fattening foods at these things make them fun but remember to have them in moderation, planning for them both before the event and after. In the meantime we have another year of movies to see, places to go and snacks to eat.  Just try to cut back on the popcorn (it’s horrible for you) and sneak in your own healthier food instead.

Shhhhhh. Don’t tell ‘em I said that. Enjoy the movies.

Hooray for Hollywood. Yesterday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced their nominees for this year’s Academy Awards. As a huge movie fan this is my time of year. Some people love the Grammys. Some people love the Tonys. Some love the Golden Globes. And while I watch all of those I love the Oscars. And as such I try to at least see all the best picture nominees in any given year.

This year, the Academy went back to what it used to do and nominated ten films for Best Picture. Yikes! Don’t they know how much buttered popcorn, Raisinettes and Twizzler packs that amounts to? For a food-a-holic like me it can be a dangerous time especially when I have so many movies to see before this year’s award ceremony.

For example, last night I saw Kathryn Bigelow’s brilliant “The Hurt Locker.” And just like smoking can be a situational thing for some people when they go out with friends I always get the munchies when I watch movies. Usually I go for Twizzlers or Raisinettes. But on rare occasions I go for the most delicious movie food around – popcorn.

But hold onto your Avatars before you order another popcorn. Just one popcorn-and-soda combo can match the calorie-and-saturated-fat count of three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders and 12 pats of butter, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) review of popcorn sold at three national movie chains.

According to Jayne Hurley, nutritionist for the Washington-based group, the high saturated fat count can be blamed on the coconut oil used to pop the corn at theaters run by Regal Entertainment Group and AMC Entertainment Inc., which have a combined 852 theaters nationwide.

CSPI found that the 20-cup tub of popcorn at Regal theaters packs 1,200 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat, which Hurley said accounts for three days worth of saturated fat. An 11-cup (small) bucket has 670 calories and 34 grams of saturated fat. And those numbers don’t account for the “buttery” topping, every tablespoon of which adds another 130 calories. A 16-cup bucket sold at AMC theaters (including the one right next door to yours truly in Cherry Hill) contains 1,030 calories and 57 grams of fat, according to CSPI.

A third theater chain, Texas-based Cinemark, had far lower saturated fat counts because they pop in heart-healthy canola oil. Seventeen-cup buckets at Cinemark have 910 calories and 4 grams of saturated fat.

OK, so let’s do some math. So far I have seen eight of the ten nominees for Best Picture (only need to see “An Education” and “A Serious Man”). If I had a medium-sized popcorn each time I saw one of those eight I packed on – get ready – 10,000 calories! 8,240 of which from the popcorn alone and 1,760 from all the buttery topping I get.

Let me put it to you another way – given my size and weight I should be eating roughly 2,000 calories a day. So those eight trips to the concession counter equals FIVE DAYS OF FOOD! Breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Look, I know I’m human and I will, from time to seriously occasional time, get the popcorn because it is good. But think seriously about these stats the next time you go. Also, think seriously about sneaking in your own healthier snacks which could be lower in calories and lower in fat.

I just want to make sure we are all around to see many more movies in years to come.

It’s Not Complicated to Like “It’s Complicated” – Three Buckets of Popcorn out of Four

Have you ever wandered through an art gallery and wondered why beautiful works of art can sometimes have such generic and silly names. Like “fruit in bowl,” or something like that. Well, the same is true in Hollywood when it comes time to name their “works of art,” the movies.

I want the job at studios to come up with these generic, middle-of-the-road but resonant titles for films. Take for example the ones that pop immediately into my brain:

“Something’s Gotta Give”

“As Good As It Gets”

“Anywhere But Here”

“Nobody’s Fool”

“Where The Heart Is”

All of these are examples of titles ripped from the headlines of life, clichés and catch phrases we use around the water-cooler. Hence why they are called upon to be movie titles. Easy recognition of the basic plot (or feel) of the film.

Now we have “It’s Complicated,” a film that is way better than its title-us genericus.

During her son’s college graduation, Jane (Meryl Streep) hooks up with her ex-husband, Jake (the hilarious Alec Baldwin), who’s married to a younger, yet higher-maintenance woman (Lake Bell). During the process of being her ex’s mistress Jane also finds herself attracted to her architect, Adam (Steve Martin).

Movies like this are so easy. You know what you’re getting as soon as you see the previews. Hell, even the poster alludes to the hilarity that ensues during Streep’s relationship with Baldwin (who is sure to be Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor in this role). But any film that knows what it is and doesn’t try to be more is OK in my book, no matter what genre it rests. This movie is no exception. Light-hearted romantic comedy – check. Likeable, attractive stars – check. Obligatory set-ups for hilarious situations – check. Mid-point conflict – check. Resolution – check.

See, no surprises. The charm of this film lies in its cast. Streep is so easy to like and she is radiant in the role of Jane. Baldwin is awesome and Jake and Steve Martin in this film reminds me why I like him as a performer. He has a great ability to be way over the top or as low key/forgettable as he needs to be – a sign of a good actor. And he is very charming as a divorced man getting his dating legs back with Jane. But the one who almost steals the movie is “The Office’s” John Krasinski as Streep’s son-in-law. His delivery of lines and looks given the actions around him is priceless.

Is this film high art? No. It’s cheesy Hollywood-y “rom-com” but it’s actually worth the price of admission, especially for a light break on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

And like I said sometimes bland titles lead to some pretty enjoyable works of art.

Rated R for some drug content and sexuality

Runtime: 120 min

Meryl Streep     …         Jane

Steve Martin     …         Adam

Alec Baldwin    …         Jake

John Krasinski   …         Harley

Lake Bell          …         Agness

Mary Kay Place            …         Joanne

Rita Wilson       …         Trisha

“AVATAR” – Two-and-a-Half Buckets of Popcorn out of Four

Oh man. When am I going to stop buying into the hype generated by Hollywood over films supposed to herald the next great age of filmmaking? I fell for it once with George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace,” a film that patted itself so heartedly on the back for its ground-breaking special effects but so lacked story I don’t care of I ever see it again.

And I am one of the biggest “Star Wars” fans I know (the original, non-Special Edition trilogy, please and thank you).

Now here comes James Cameron’s “Avatar,” a film that visually is everything “Phantom Menace” wanted to be but sits right along side it as a movie so devoid of real characterization, compassion and humanity I can say now that I’ve seen it I don’t ever need to see it again.

In the future a paraplegic marine veteran, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), decides to take his deceased brother’s place on a mission to the distant world of Pandora is brought to Pandora, a planet inhabited by the Na’vi, a blue humanoid race with their own language and culture. Sully starts out as a military grunt whose mission it is to infiltrate the Na’vi to get them to relocate so that humans can get their hands on a precious material stupidly named “unobtanium”scattered throughout their rich woodland. However, after living among them, falling in love with one of them and learning of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge’s intentions of driving off the Na’vi by any means necessary including extermination, Jake decides to fight for the survival of not just the Na’vi but for Pandora, itself.

Sounds good, right? Meh. It is and it isn’t.

I place the blame for the film’s utter lack of heart on the film’s writer and director, James Cameron. As writer and director of some of the best futuristic/Action/Adventure films of all time (“Aliens,” “Terminator,” Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “True Lies,” and “Titanic”) he should know better. He may have created a new reason to see films on a big screen (and this one should be seen on the biggest, best screen you can if you go) but the reason I will watch his other films any day of the week with no arm twisting what-so-ever is because at the center of the action lay human stories and characters we care about. In other words, better writing and less dependency on special effects.

This film is two hours and forty-two minutes long but I wanted twenty more minutes. I wanted my backstory to explain the following:

1)      What happened to the Earth that was so horrible we needed this “unobtanium” so badly we were willing to kill for it?

2)      What the hell happened to any renewable sources of energy like solar power, or even human-made nuclear power? And why weren’t those options?

3)      How long had we tried to diplomatically negotiate with the Na’vi for their “unobtanium” and why wasn’t that working? Was it because Pandora somehow “needed” it’s minerals (a detail mentioned but never fully explored in the film)?

4)      What is the backstory of this horrible “company” that wants “unobtanium” so bad?

5)      Why did this company hire mercenaries to carry out the raids on the Na’vi? Did world governments not want official military action?

6)      And if we didn’t give a rat’s ass about the Na’vi people why not just nuke ‘em from space (ala Hicks/Ripley from “Aliens”) and just take it afterward?

Grrrrrr.

There has to come a point in every movie that filmmakers allow you to get on the train. It helps you enjoy the movie more, explain the movie more and make you feel more a part of the story and experience. There was no way in “Avatar” to understand how we got to what we have to accept as the beginning of the film. Cameron doesn’t stop the train to let us on. Instead he just throws you into his special effects-laden story and expects the visual effects slight of hand to distract you from what is missing – an actual movie you care about.

Shame on you, James Cameron. You are a better writer and filmmaker than that.

When I was in line to see “Avatar” I decided to have some fun. I approached the young kid selling tickets I asked for “The Empire Strikes Back.” Instead of a smirk he actually looked it up in his system and said “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t see that movie here.” I asked him how old he was and he answered 17. Moreover, he had never heard of “The Empire Strikes Back.” I was so shocked I turned to the people in line behind me and shouted “He’s never heard of ‘The Empire Strikes Back!’”

The reason I’m relaying this tale is because I weep for this kid, and his and future generations of movie goers, who do not know the beauty of films like the original “Star Wars” trilogy, “Aliens,” etc., which told stories and made us care no matter how many guns were blazing. Hell, Sigourney Weaver, who is also in “Avatar,” was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in 1986’s “Aliens.” What breaks my heart is that the mediocrity that is “Avatar” is all this 17-year-old kid has, and he will think it’s great.

And he would be wrong.

“Avatar” is great to look at. But afterward the film leaves the mind just as easily as you leave the theater. And why? Because it never visited your heart.

Sam Worthington…Jake Sully

Zoe Saldana…Neytiri

Sigourney Weaver…Dr. Grace Augustine

Stephen Lang…Colonel Miles Quaritch

Michelle Rodriguez…Trudy Chacon

Giovanni Ribisi…Parker Selfridge

Joel Moore…Norm Spellman (as Joel David Moore)

CCH Pounder…Moat

Wes Studi…Eytukan

Laz Alonso…Tsu’tey

Dileep Rao…Dr. Max Patel

Matt Gerald…Corporal Lyle Wainfleet

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.

Runtime: 162 min