Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

Since I am mostly free this summer, I am making a pact to myself to watch tons of movies. I'd like to make a pact with myself that involves more active hobbies: spelunking, rock climbing, dancing, rollerblading...but alas, I am not that type of girl.

I don't know how Julianne Moore does it- ever since she was in The Hours, she 's been on this "kick" of playing 1950s housewives...and she does it so well! Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio was excellent. Of COURSE, it is based on a real-life memoir...god forbid, screenwriters come up with their own ideas. The movie is about this 1950s housewife who is able to help support her family b/c she enters jingle/commercial contests and wins all sorts of prizes. Woody Harrelson plays Moore's husband in the movie... a complete drunk who wastes away all of the family's money so that in the end, Moore really is her family's breadwinner. Even crazier, is that the husband and wife have 10 kids!!!!

I have to give "housemoms" credit. I used to scoff at them...think to myself, "Damn, I'd like to do some dishes, some laundry, and then spend the rest of the day watching soap operas or going shopping." I have since changed my mind. I think I'd rather work a full-time job than be a stay-at-home mom--- b/c the full-time job would be easier. Of course, if I actually had kids, I would have a different point of view--- the idea of daycare centers frightens me.

I think I read somewhere that if stay-at-home moms were paid hourly wages for all of their work with the house and kids, that their annual salary would be something like $134, 000! I can't imagine being a mother at this stage in my life. I have co-workers who are my age and have babies... I can't imagine myself in that role.

But anyway...Julianne Moore was amazing in this movie... I'm not sure if she has won an Oscar yet, but her acting abilities make her deserving of one [I'm trying to put that cheesy comedy that she did with Hugh Grant, Nine Months, out of my mind].

also- I am so glad that I am not living in the 1950s.... the aprons, the dressing-up-to-go-food-shopping, the girdles...everything about it....agh!


Other "good movies" recently watched:

Gods and Monsters- Brendan Fraser is under-rated as an actor... I even thought he was good in Encino Man

Weatherman- Nicholas Cage- as long as he isn't in an action movie like National Treasure, I will watch him

Degrassi Junior High, season 1 [ok, not a movie, but still something I watched]- amazing! It brought me back to the late 80s. One of the characters is named Spike and wears a Smiths shirt...another character calls himself Joey Jeremiah, Esquire... and there's a band called Zit Remedy....a classic show...gotta love those Canadians!!!