F Scott would be pleased

Years ago, I sat down and watched Gatsby.  I think I read the book (note:  I'm not a fiction reader, I prefer a textbook any day) but it's the movie I remember.  Robert Redford played Gatsby.


Yeah, him.


And now we have Leonardo:


Slightly believable.  Brad Pitt would have convinced me on looks, but I think Leo will play it best.  Well cast.




Then we had Mia Farrow playing Daisy



And now we have Carey Mulligan

I'm not sure I believe it yet.  But proof will be in her acting.




Then it was Sam Waterston who played Nick Carraway.

Yeah, Sam from Law & Order.



Now we have Tobey Maguire.

Completely seeing this character emerge already.


I'm not a fan of the movie theatre, but I could see myself going to see Gatsby.  How about you?  What's on your list to go see at the movies?

signed, the willow

And I've traced my tree back to Ragnar Lothbrok

Since our tree has been traced back to Thorsteinn the Red, a few clicks away on Wikipedia led me back to Ragnar Lothbrok.  The legend states that Thorsteinn would have been a contemporary of Ragnar, which makes many a historian wonder about the sagas.  Was Ragnar alive a century or so earlier?  Since my other ancestor (Snorri Sturlason) was a big influence, who knows?  A mystery to be solved in my lifetime.

signed, the willow

Addicted to Bad

Lately I have been watching deep dark dramas.  Finding my dark side is not necessarily a bad thing.  In fact, I've released a lot of negative energy when Walter White rids the world of a drug dealer, or Nancy Botwin marries a drug kingpin to avoid her own execution.

The beauty of tv is that it has evolved into binge watching on Netflix.

So, just what keeps me entertained these days?




Nancy Botwin and her cavalier attitude.  She seems to always manage to get by, or does she?

Weeds




When I first started watching Bryan Cranston in this role, I thought "How on earth?  What is going on?"  But through the first episode, I realized he could totally carry off the role and I was immediately hooked.  This show has to be one of the best ever to hit the tv screen.  Thank you Netflix!

Breaking Bad




Ok, so I watched this because it came recommended.  First Weeds, then Breaking Bad, followed by Homeland.  I had no interest in the war on terrorism.  It terrifies me.  But Claire Dane's character is hypnotising and you feel for her and at the same time you want to choke her.  At the essence of this series:  human.  We're all humans.  We are all taught to hate based on one incident.  Look deeper and you may find that oil, money, and politics really do rule the world.  Love this show.

Homeland




I was never a Kevin Bacon fan during his Footloose days.  But as Kevin matured, he became this demure guy with a secret.  His passion shows through in this show.  Still I struggle to get through the gory sick episodes, but I do it for Kevin.  (insert corny smirk here)

The Following





I told you yesterday that I had become just a wee bit addicted.  History Channel has done a fabulous job telling the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok.  A bit of a Robin Hood feel to it, makes you wonder if he really did exist?  I think he did and if he did, well he's my ancestor.  Or so the story goes.  (psst, so is Robin Hood)


and who could forget Vikings





and now for something light


Meet the Bluths.  Jason Bateman was the reason I started to watch.  Then Michael Cera's quirkiness caught my interest.  But Will Arnett?  And his chicken dance?  I'm a crazed fan now too.  And don't we all know families this dysfunctional?

Arrested Development



Hank Moody (David Duchovny) is a tad crazed, a tad calm, just overall filled with problems.  Yes, you want to bring him home for dinner and ask him all sorts of questions.  Like why?  why?  why?

Californication



What's on your watch list lately?


signed, the willow