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Movie: In The Cut (2003)
Is it a horror movie, soft porn, or a film noir? It seems to go for all three, and it really succeeds artfully in each genre. I’m not sure how good a combination it is, but the film is certainly intense and packed with symbols, beautiful cinematography, and even poetry. It’s also so thoroughly bloodsoaked…
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Book: Empire Falls / Richard Russo
I can’t remember the last time I got so involved in a story where not much happens. Russo has some method of exploring a setting and the characters in it that kept me turning pages without really knowing or caring why. In the process he offers plenty of observations about the characters that we might…
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Town Ride
We manage a 26-mile loop around Fort Collins on bike lanes and paths in completely blissful weather today.
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Movie: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
A gratifying first feature-length film for Wallace and Gromit, as well as the first vegetarian horror film (not the same sort of vegetarian as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, at least). While the animation is as jaw-dropping as I’ve come to expect from Nick Park, what I really appreciate is the quirky, creative, good-hearted humor.…
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Vedauwoo Hike
Ann wants to hike in Vedauwoo today – she says it’s been calling her. I can’t help suggesting other activities in the area – skiing, showshoeing, etc, and Ann can’t settle on a plan. Our poor friend Sean gets caught in the middle, literally, as we eat breakfast at the window bar at La Luz.…
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Movie: Junebug (2005)
An insightful, original character piece. It has a unique style, and is very observant without being at all preachy. The central theme of marrying into a family you know nothing about reminds me that Ann will meet much of my Mom’s family for the first time this summer… Certified fresh by Rotten Tomatoes
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Peak 11408 near Montgomery Pass
Despite reports of cold and wind in the high country, Alan, Sarada, Jezze, and I head up toward Cameron Pass for some snowshoeing. Conditions look nice when we get there – greybird, warm, and calm. The avalanche danger is low all around today, so we try the trail up to Montgomery Pass. It’s a nice…
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Horsetooth Bike Ride
It felt great to get outside on the bikes today. The sun was shining, but the air temperature was cold. We’d get hot pumping up the hills on the hogback below Horsetooth Reservoir, then get blasted numb by the cold air on the downhills. The reservoir was frozen over, which made the ride feel exotic…
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Dark Star (1974)
A satire that is still great 30 years after it’s made is rare enough, but a low budget sci-fi satire that survives that long is truly remarkable. John Carpenter hit one of his few home runs with this hilarious parody of Star Trek and 2001. What happened to him after that? I never heard about…
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Movie: Dandelion (2005)
This was a little too much downer following The Neon Bible, but shared the quality of being beautifully made. The story takes a few too many liberties, but it’s supported by brilliant cinematography that balances things out. It’s a contemplation of growing up in a rural prarie town that struck some chords with my adolescence…