After toiling away at work until 3:00, I decided to take a break so I could watch the Oscar-nominated film Finding Neverland and eat some Cheesy Potato Quesadillas. Both the movie and the food were spectacular.
Finding Neverland is a shockingly good film of brilliant imagination that showcases just how amazing an actor Johnny Depp has become. His performance is the epitome of subtlety and nuance that few others can match. It's been a long road since 21 Jump Street...
Depp portrays J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, and the film shows the real-life inspirations that led him to write about the little boy who would never grow up. Of equal brilliance is the supporting cast which includes Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman, and four boys who are beyond gifted. I always marvel at how child actors can manage to pull it together, and this movie features some of the best I've seen in quite some time. Highly recommended.
Dave's Cheesy Potato Quesadillas.
Heat 1/3 cup of cooking oil in a skillet and then add one pound (1/2 bag, if frozen) of Southern-Style (Small Cubed) Potatoes. Sprinkle with Taco Seasoning to taste. Cook until crispy and golden brown, then drain the oil and set aside over low heat.
Take a Large Flour Tortilla and lightly butter one side. Place into large skillet over medium heat (butter-side down). Sprinkle with potatoes and plenty of cheese, then add a spoonful of salsa with green onions and black olives to taste. Cook until cheese is starting to melt (don't over-cook!). Fold tortilla over in half with a spatula, then continue to cook until both sides are a nice golden brown.
Cut into thirds, then serve with Sour Cream and Salsa (if desired). Delicious!
After Finding Neverland, I took a look at Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which was moderately entertaining. I've never read the books, but it seems as though they must all be the same story... Orphans get taken in by some freaky unknown fringe relative, then the evil Count Olaf comes along in disguise and tries to get them back so he can kill them and inherit the family fortune. I guess it's a formula that works, since the books are wildly successful, but it all seems a bit redundant to me.
Back to work...
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I loved Jim Carrey in that. Excellent, excellent work.
Violet Baudelaire: Dinner?
Count Olaf: It’s the French word for the evening meal.
I also enjoy the books as well.
Hey! I followed the link to read about comments being more interesting than some entries and totally ruined Veronica Mars for myself. Some of us were “forced” to move to Europe for work halfway through the season and have to wait for the DVDs to come out. And now, some of that fun will be spolied. I can’t believe they kissed!
I thought Finding Neverland was okay but it took me a while to get into it – I wasn’t so keen on the first half an hour or so. Depp was good though and I hope his performance as Willy Wonka is of the same standard.
The first five books in the “Unforunate Events” series roughly follow that formula. Kids in an “unfortunate” situation – Count Olaf disguises as someone – adults don’t believe the kids – Olaf almost gets them – they get away.
Though later on they are at large on the land. Accused of a murder they didn’t commit etc. It’s a quick and enjoyable read. Pick them up. You might enjoy them.
I, too, enjoyed “Finding Neverland” replete with teary eyes…Freddie Highmore was just so wonderful…get more of this young man’s excellent acting skills in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in the role of “Charlie”.
He’s just fantastic. And so is the formidable Mr. Depp.
Oh! and thanks for the quesadilla recipe…anything involving tortillas = yum. and potatoes? double yums!