For a great movie soundtrack, sharp wit, and the screwball comedy genius of George Clooney, look no further than this week’s film O Brother, Where Art Thou? (DVD/Download). One of the top films in the Coen Bros. canon, the plot is loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey. Except here we have a hair tonic-obsessed Clooney standing in for Ulysses. He’s a Dapper Dan man, dammit!
Upon its release, the bluegrass-inspired soundtrack sold like gangbusters, even surpassing the film’s box office. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this film perfectly captures the look and sound of the Mississippi Delta. Of course, it wasn’t all banjo riffs and sepia tinted landscapes. Chain gangs and KKK rallies also find their way into the journey of Ulysses Everett McGill and his two prison buddies. It’s an epic tale that must be seen (and heard) to be believed.
One of my favorite scenes involves a group of beautiful sirens calling to the three travelers along the banks of a stream. They feed the men moonshine and lure them into a trap. I’m not advocating getting black-out drunk (there are still a lot of good scenes to watch!) but moonshine can be a fun spirit to experiment with. While watching O Brother, Where Art Thou?, I recommend drinking a Siren Song.
Siren Song
1 ½ oz white moonshine
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz pineapple juice
½ oz honey syrup (1 part honey, 1 part water, boiled)
1 dash angostura bitters
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Strain and serve in a mason jar filled with shaved ice. Garnish with lemon peel, if desired.
The big hit song from this film is “Man of Constant Sorrow”, but there are also so many other great examples of Appalachian music. With this flawless soundtrack, and the silver screen charm of Clooney, it’s no wonder that O Brother became an instant classic. To me, it will always be bona fide. Cheers!
And now for a bit of the old Ultra-Violence. This week’s classic film A Clockwork Orange (DVD/Download) is not for the faint of heart. Believe me- I watched it on a random Tuesday night and felt like calling in sick to work the next day. It’s a film that stays with you, for better or worse.
Adapted from the novel by Anthony Burgess, this is touted as Stanley Kubrick’s most faithful adaptation of literary source material. It’s hard to believe it was made 45 years ago, although I suppose the comparison of 1970’s fresh-faced, long-haired Malcolm McDowell to today’s grumpy old man Malcolm McDowell proves that point. Set in a futuristic, dystopian version of the UK, A Clockwork Orange chronicles narrator Alex and his violent crimes against society. Of course it’ll always be remembered for the horrifying scene with Alex strapped to a chair, his eyelids ratcheted open, being forced to watch violent images in a reverse-conditioning experiment. However, as someone who has actually experienced the dreaded eyelid speculum during various retina procedures, seeing it on screen doesn’t bother me so much. I’m really more troubled by the sick, twisted appropriation of the title song from Singin’ In the Rain. I worry I’ll never be able to watch Gene Kelly twirl his umbrella without thinking of Malcolm McDowell and his fake phallic nose. *Shudder*.
Alex and his merry band of Droogs like to hang out at the Korova Milk Bar, a black-walled mod watering hole decorated with surplus mannequins from Hustler. They drink something called Milk-Plus, a concoction of milk and some additive ingredient that gets them hyped up for violent acts. I’m not sure that I really want to be lacing my cocktails with PCP, so while watching A Clockwork Orange, I recommend drinking a classic Brandy Alexander.
Brandy Alexander
1 oz fresh cream
1 oz Brandy or Cognac
1 oz Dark Crème de Cacao
Nutmeg
Shake chilled ingredients together and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg.
If you’ve never seen A Clockwork Orange before, it’s truly a film not one to be missed. Strange and haunting, this is Kubrick at his peak. From the Moog synthetizers to the old Ludwig van, the music pulls you in and never lets go. Which is sort of what happened to Alex, in the end. He was cured, all right. Cheers!
Every year, April 8th rolls around and I kick myself for not having come up with a celebratory cocktail. What is April 8th, you ask? None other than REX MANNING DAY!!!!! I’m posting this a few days in advance to give you time to dust off your Gin Blossoms CDs and prepare yourself for a sugary cocktail. Maybe take the day off work, banish yourself to the couch. Or just the cushion.
Growing up in the 90’s, Empire Records (DVD/Download) was the movie of my people. You know the types- the weird kids from your art class who watched John Waters films and listened to bands nobody’s ever heard of? They may or may not have worn pleated skirts, combat boots, and/or vintage t-shirts. They probably didn’t have a body like Liv Tyler, but then again, nobody did. This little gem of a movie about one day at a suburban record store quickly became my compass for everything cool. Vintage furniture, quarters glued to the floor, funky buttons with weird slogans- I was obsessed. Featuring a who’s who of future stars like Renee Zellweger, Liv Tyler, Robin Tunney, and Ethan Embry, Empire Records was like an alt-rock version of Dazed and Confused, with the added bonus of fading pop star Rex Manning and his ooo-la-la. In a word- superb.
Renee Zellweger got a lot of press for singing in the musical Chicago, but clearly people forgot her triumphant rooftop performance in this film seven years earlier. Sugar plays a big part in fueling the teen drama, so my cocktail this week is on the sweet side. Plus, I’m still in the throes of leftover Easter candy. While watching Empire Records, I recommend drinking a SugarHigh.
SugarHigh
2 oz Svedka Strawberry-Lemonade vodka
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz pineapple juice
2 oz Prosecco
Lemon sugar
To prepare glass, wet the rim then dip in lemon sugar. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously, then strain into prepared glass. Top with Prosecco.
Even now, any time I get stressed out with work/blogging/writing/managing a household, I still remind myself of that famous Corey line from this film, “There are 24 usable hours in every day.” Granted, she was chowing down speed to keep up with her calculus homework and cupcake baking, but still, it’s true. And like Corey, sometimes you just have to let go of all that control and give in to having fun. With that, I shall say no more, mon amor. Cheers!
My latest television obsession, HBO’s Vinyl, has gotten me thinking of all the great Andy Warhol portrayals in cinema. John Cameron Mitchell plays him on the TV show (unfortunately not very well), but throughout the years there have been some fantastic, creepy, and just plain weird versions of the eccentric pop artist. This week, I’m highlighting the Top 5 Andy Warhols, in ranking order.
I like to think of this as “Whimsical Warhol”. Bowie seems slightly stoned, like the looney old man down the street who wandered out without his nurse.
The upcoming David Bowie tribute concert at Carnegie Hall has me waxing nostalgic about the Starman’s long and eclectic career. While he’s more often associated with the fantasy classic Labyrinth, for me one of his best roles was Nikola Tesla in this week’s film The Prestige (DVD/Download). With this character, Bowie manages to blend science, magic, and faith in a commanding performance that makes us wonder- Edison who?
Tesla is actually a minor part in this fantastic Christopher Nolan film about turn of the century illusionists. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who go to extreme lengths to outdo one another with their Disappearing Man acts. Christian Bale’s character Alfred seems to possess a true magic, while Hugh Jackman’s character Angier follows a path of science, eventually leading him to Tesla’s lab in Colorado Springs. This film demands repeat viewings in order to fully understand all the plot twists and turns. Truly, the script itself is a work of magic, making us feel like we’re participating in a grand act of illusion.
One of the more popular magic tricks of the Victorian era was the Bullet Catch (the magician appears to catch a bullet out of thin air). As with any magic trick, it’s quite interesting once you understand the science behind it, and Angier uses it for devious purposes. While watching The Prestige, I recommend drinking a Bulleit Catch.
Bulleit Catch
1.5 oz Bulleit™ Bourbon
Dash of bitters
1 teaspoon sugar
Splash of water
1 lemon slice
1 orange twist
1 maraschino cherry
In a rocks glass, muddle sugar and bitters. Add the bourbon, splash of water and a large ice cube. Twist the lemon slice over the glass, then drop in the orange twist and maraschino cherry.
Like the art of illusion, mixology is heavily based on science. I love knowing that I can add seemingly random ingredients together and somehow, due to flavor profiles and molecular structures and all the things I stopped paying attention to halfway through chemistry class, the drink just works. Is it magic? No. Is there even such a thing as magic? After watching this film, I still don’t have the answer. But I’m inclined to say yes. Cheers!
If you haven’t watched the new Netflix movie Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday yet- what are you waiting for?? While I thought it was tons of fun, and definitely satisfied my craving for silly jokes and Rube Goldberg machines, I’ll always hold a special fondness for the original cult classic Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (DVD/Download).
An epic road movie about the search for a missing bicycle, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is Pee-Wee Herman at his finest. Directed by Tim Burton, the film takes the wacky children’s TV show and essentially releases it out into the wild. From this, we got Texas jokes galore – THE STARS AT NIGHT, ARE BIG AND BRIGHT!!!- as well as everybody’s favorite truck-drivin’ ghost Large Marge. Quite frankly, I don’t blame Pee-Wee for embarking on his cross-country quest to recover the stolen bike. Have you seen the bike?? Bad Ass. Getting another one would be as easy as taking a stroll through the basement of the Alamo.
Because Pee-Wee represents the silly child in all of us, I have to assume he’d be drinking perhaps the silliest-named cocktail I’ve ever encountered- The Swizzle. Like his intricate and ingenious contraptions, this drink has endless variations, but I’m using tequila as the base spirit in a nod to his famous biker bar scene. While watching Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, I recommend drinking a Tequila Swizzle. (*Side Note: If you’re watching Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, stick with an adult root beer such as Not Your Father’s Root Beer® ).
Tequila Swizzle
1 tablespoons sugar
1/2 oz lime juice
2 oz Gold Tequila
Orange Bitters
Club Soda
Muddle sugar and lime juice in the bottom of a glass. Add tequila, and fill the glass with shaved ice. Top with club soda, and 5 dashes orange bitters. Garnish with a straw and any other fun stir rods you might have. And maybe a light-up ice cube :-).
To be honest I’m getting a little overwhelmed by all the reboots of movies/TV shows from my childhood. However, I can’t deny my excitement over a new Pee-Wee Herman film. The man knows how to make me giggle. But to all the Hollywood executives out there- pretty please, let the Ernest movies rest in peace. Cheers!
I’ve received several requests on Cinema Sips to feature The Big Lebowski, to which I always say, what’s the point? We can all quote it endlessly and drink White Russians without my advocating it. To satisfy the stoner-noir fans out there, I’d rather talk about a movie that is a little more bizarre, and a little less well-known. Like Lebowski, Inherent Vice (DVD/Download) is a movie that demands repeat viewing, almost as much as it demands viewing with a cocktail.
Adapted from the novel by Thomas Pynchon, Paul Thomas Anderson’s hilarious take on the 1970’s Los Angeles underworld was a bit of a mystery upon its release. Critics didn’t seem to know whether to love it or hate it. The consensus was- nobody really got it. Do I fully understand all the twists and turns of a plot centered on a Gordita Beach private investigator, played by Joaquin Phoenix in all his mutton-chop glory? No. Do I care? No. The movie is just cool as hell. Featuring Martin Short as a purple-velour suited dentist, Owen Wilson as a heroin-addicted jazz musician, and Reese Witherspoon playing, well Reese Witherspoon, with all this crazy I just can’t look away. Yes the plot meanders, but it’s so well-acted and so funny, that you just get sucked into the lunacy of it all.
I’m not going to say that the movie needs alcohol or marijuana to be more enjoyable, but it certainly helps. If you happen to live in a non-progressive state (like I do), and can’t get legal access to weed, then certainly the next best thing is a strong cocktail. I’ve come up with this zombie-beach bum hybrid to maximize your viewing pleasure. While watching Inherent Vice, I recommend drinking a Golden Fang.
Golden Fang
1 oz lime juice
1 oz pineapple juice
1 oz orange juice
1.5 oz dark rum
1 part apricot brandy
1.5 oz light rum
Splash of lemon-lime soda
Maraschino cherry and citrus fruit for garnish
Build drink over ice in a highball glass, stirring gently to combine. Garnish with a cherry and citrus fruit slice.
Because of Anderson’s superb directorial skill, Inherent Vice succeeds in immersing the viewer in the world of 1970s LA counterculture. Full of Manson paranoia and unfortunate facial hair, it was certainly a city on the edge. If you’re looking for an escape this week, there’s no better place than Gordita Beach. Cheers!
Sometimes you watch a movie, and a character feels so familiar that you fear the screenwriter has set up a secret camera monitoring your every move. This week’s film Young Adult (DVD/Download) is one such film for me. However, instead of shining a light on what my life is actually like, it shows me what my life would be like if I hadn’t made some vital good choices along the way. Essentially, Clarence the Angel paid me a visit, in the form of Diablo Cody.
The similarities between lead character Mavis Gary (played by Charlize Theron) and myself are almost too numerous to count. We’re both writers, we both share a passion for YA lit (oh how I devoured Sweet Valley High books as a teenager), the Kardashians are somehow always on in our homes as white noise, we both drive Mini Coopers (or at least I did at the time this film was released), and we both come from small towns populated by KenTacoHuts and big box stores. Oh, and of course there’s the drinking. The scenes of Charlize Theron viewing herself in the mirror after a night of heavy drinking? Been there. Luckily that’s where the similarities end. I don’t have a high school boyfriend I’m currently stalking and trying to woo away from his wife and baby, and I’m not having a strange, sad relationship with the former “Hate Crime Guy”. Though, I don’t blame her for that one because Patton Oswalt is pretty awesome in this. And he makes his own bourbon. Score!
Young Adult is a fantastic film for Cinema Sips because Mavis loves her bourbon, specifically Maker’s Mark. To go with her sour attitude on life, while watching Young Adult I recommend drinking a Maker’s Mark ® Sour (recipe from MakersMark.com).
Makers Mark® Sour
2 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 part simple syrup
½ part lemon juice
Lemon or Cherry for garnish
Shake Maker’s Mark ® Bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice and strain into a rock’s glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and/or cherry, and serve.
*Note: My drink includes an enormous ice ball that I made with these molds. Perfect for when you want a cocktail on the rocks that isn’t too watered down.
I don’t know what becomes of Mavis after the credits roll, but in my fantasy she and Dolce are still in the Minneapple, having upgraded to a penthouse apartment after she has written a bestselling YA vampire series. And maybe Patton Oswalt stops by with his small-batch bourbon from time to time. Cheers!
Because I had the foresight to know I’d still be recovering from Oscar-night libations, I’ve arranged a special treat this week. For the first time on Cinema Sips, I am happy to welcome a guest blogger! When the author of the Critic For All Seasons blog approached me about doing a post and cocktail pairing with the wonderful film Two for the Road (DVD/Download), I was thrilled (and not just because this was finally proof that someone other than my mother reads Cinema Sips). If you’ve been looking for more in-depth analyses of films, read on, and be sure to check out my guest’s blog at http://criticforallseasons.blogspot.com. Cheers!
Two for the Road, by A Critic for All Seasons
Two for the Road is a 1967 road trip romance starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. Directed by Stanley Donen of Charade and Singin’ in the Rain fame, this picture was billed as a comedy but honestly is a heartfelt drama by present day standards. The film follows the story of Mark and Joanna Wallace, an unhappily married couple traveling to the French Riviera trying to make their relationship work. We then see how the couple first met, cutting to them on a boat crossing the English Channel a decade earlier while the present day Wallaces cross by air. There then are several other cuts through time of similar vacations in France in no real chronological order. These are linked by visual cues, like landmarks or similar weather. The past melds with the present in such a way that each story feels central to the film, versus them being a montage of flashbacks. There are 4 main plots, the melancholic present, their cheerful courtship and two trips from earlier in their marriage. As you would guess, the vacations become more gloomy as time progresses. It’s exciting to see the collapse of their relationship out of order, as the contrast of immediate highs and lows puts everything into perspective.
Keeping track of the jumps in time may be difficult, as narration is used for the first few shifts in time but not after. Luckily, we have great visuals to show passage, specifically vehicles, attire and hair. When the Wallaces first meet they are poor, travel by hitchhiking and wear plain clothes. In the present they travel by their own car, a Mercedes Benz to put their wealth into perspective, and Audrey has beautiful ready to wear clothing. Albert Finney’s clothing also becomes more refined to match his career advances, but our eyes are drawn to Hepburn for obvious reasons. This cinematography of Two for the Road is very playful and aids the story. Besides stressing the bright colors of the environment, the camera shows everything from the perspective of the characters. Whenever there is dialogue, constant cuts happen so we always see the speaker from the person listening. This method of filming is really helpful in having the audience sympathize for Mark and Joanna, as we are put in their shoes whenever they argue, have fun or sulk.
The acting in Two for the Road is amazing and makes the film unique. This is one of the few times that Audrey Hepburn was able to shed her distinguished image and play a faulty character. The Nun’s Story and Breakfast at Tiffany’s have her in similar waters, but here we actually feel dislike for her. Joanna starts out a carefree soul, by the end she is disheartened and miserable most of the time. The joy she had earlier in life comes out only on brief occasions, before it is stifled by Finney. Stark changes in personality are hard to capture, but she managed to do it here and give the audience something to think about. Finney’s portrayal of Mark was pretty decent too, although his character always was harsh so there isn’t a major transformation we can look to. The only main supporting characters were a married couple played by William Daniels and Eleanor Bron. Both did a good job and provided some comic relief as friends of Finney’s character. Daniels was a nice treat since he looked nothing like himself, resulting in me questioning where I heard that voice until I looked up the cast. Overall, Two for the Road is a must see since it combines great acting, a great story and gorgeous images into one two hour block.
The cocktail pairing, like the film, has a French atmosphere, looks beautiful and is very strong. Called the Paris Cocktail, this is a mixture of 1 oz gin, 1 oz dry vermouth and 1 oz crème de cassis. Noilly Prat is recommended since it is made in Southern France, the final destination of the Wallaces in each of their trips. Combine and shake with ice and serve in a martini glass with a flamed lemon peel.
*If you are a blogger and interested in guest-blogging on Cinema Sips, please contact Liz Locke at cinemasips@gmail.com for more information.
So I know I already featured a Baz Luhrmann film on Cinema Sips this month….. and here’s another one! Because it’s still February and still romance month, I couldn’t resist watching Romeo + Juliet (DVD/Download). I adore the 1968 Zeffirelli version too, but for my money, Lurhmann does the best job of capturing the energy of the original play. The director has said in interviews that he wanted to make a film in the way that Shakespeare himself might have done it, and since William Shakespeare was the ultimate entertainer of his day, it stands to reason that by the time the mid-90’s rolled around, he would have incorporated an Ecstasy-fueled party and Mercutio in sparkly sequin drag costumes. Definitely.
Romeo + Juliet stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes in the title roles, and their chemistry is part what makes the film such a success. I love the constant motif of water, particularly how the big balcony scene was done in a swimming pool. The lighting and the turquoise radiance of pool turn it into a much more sensual scene than I ever could have imagined when reading the play. Because it’s Luhrmann there are so many visual treats, even becoming chaotic at times, but the use of the original Shakespearean dialogue helps to balance the frenzy out. Is it word for word Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? No. Does it draw me into the story and make me feel the passion and tragedy of these star-crossed lovers? Without a doubt.
The color of Juliet’s fake-death potion inspired my cocktail this week. Though not actually poisonous, it looks like it might be! While watching Romeo + Juliet, I recommend drinking a Mortal Drug. (Apologies in advance for having to ask for Kinky Blue at the liquor store, but it actually feeds the decades-long Jolly Rancher addiction I have in the best way).
Mortal Drug
2 oz Kinky Blue Liqueur
1 oz Blue Curaçao
¾ oz lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
Splash of club soda
Mix together Kinky Blue, Blue Curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then pour into a highball glass. Top with club soda.
While watching this film, be sure to look out for all the billboard slogans that are nods to Shakespearean quotes, and listen to the carefully curated pop songs. The version of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” is still one of my favorites. Just, try to look past Clare Danes’ ugly crying. ‘Tis not pretty. Cheers!
Cinema Sips 