FILM: The Blind Side



I realize it has been a while since I have reviewed anything. To be more specific, I have only reviewed one other thing since my excellent piece on fast food french fries in early 2008. Some people might call me a slacker. I like to say that I have been doing research. Of course, I haven't been doing any research unless changing diapers, playing shows, eating and bowling count as research. But should I let my slacking reviewer skills keep me from reviewing something ever again? No way. So the Gully rating system is back - for now.

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from Redbox with a code for a free DVD rental. Jill sent me to Walgreen's to pick out a good movie for us to watch after the kids went to bed. She mentioned something about the Time Traveler's Wife. First of all, that has the word "wife" in the title which means it is all about a girl. Secondly, there is the picture of a couple hugging on the front of the DVD. I might be forced to watch these kind of movies but I am definitely not going to be the one caught renting it from Redbox. Precious was another option - but knowing a little about that movie, I want to see it but it just never seems like a good time for me to ruin our moods for a night. I considered getting Crazy Heart but I think we needed to watch something that had nothing to do with music. Then I saw The Blind Side.

I already knew a good bit about the movie because it had a lot of press around it. I know Sandra Bullock won the best actress Oscar for it. Jill made me watch some of Oprah's interview with the family the movie was about. In addition to this, I heard from many, many people that I needed to see this movie - "it was really good". I called Jill and ran the movie by her (no - I can't even make one movie decision on my own) and she didn't sound very excited. "It is going to be that kind of movie," she said. I knew exactly what she meant - but I was still holding out hope that it would exceed my expectations.

One of the most nerve-racking experiences is being the person to pick out a movie - especially when the other person watching it with you is hesitant about it. In this case, Jill wasn't opposed to the movie but it was clear that she reserved the right to say "I told you so" if it wasn't so good. So that left me as the proponent for a movie that I was not so sure about myself. She asked me what rating it got on rottentomatoes.com. I said, "Around 70%". It actually got 66%. Normally I trust the ratings on this site but here I found myself rounding a percentage up to 70 to make it sound more appealing. I was in a bad position.

Anyways - on to the movie. It only took a few minutes of this movie before I knew Jill was politely keeping her mouth shut and looking at me out of the corner of her eye to see my reactions to some bad lines and awkward acting moments. And it didn't get much better. It was only 10 minutes or so before I was openly mocking scenes that had just passed in the film. It took 45 minutes for Jill to say "I told you it would be that kind of film". I had to resist the urge to be offended and just agree with her. The rest of the movie was actually quite enjoyable because we were able to openly mock the awkward moments together.

I am not saying this is a bad movie. I know many of you liked this movie. It is a great story. Sandra Bullock does a good job (I guess). I am not trying to dissuade you from seeing it if you haven't already. It is inspirational. But for my taste, I thought the movie was a bit formulaic. I think of it as a late 90's Garth Brooks concert - what it lacks in depth it makes up in manipulative pulls at the heartstrings. One of the things I look for most in a movie is a script that sounds like a believable conversation. So many lines and conversations in this movie just felt to me like a parody or caricature of what a normal one would have been. Rich ladies at the country club discussing poor people. Family calling to ask about the big black boy in the Christmas picture. I guess it is possible that people actually talk like the people in this movie - but if that is true, I don't want to go back to Memphis, TN.

If you are headed out to rent a movie and want something quasi-inspirational that you don't have to think about, this might be the movie for you. If you like seeing college football coaches attempt acting, this is definitely the movie for you. But if you want to see some excellent writing, you might want to consider your other options.

Rating: 2 Gullys

I don't know if I have posted this on here before, but here are a few ways to keep up with what is going on in my world (other than checking this website that I happen to update whenever I feel like it).

Facebook
I resisted joining facebook because I already felt like MySpace was an anvil chained around my neck. But I finally gave in as I am prone to do and I am glad I did. FB has been a great way for me to keep in touch with family, friends, and friends I don't quite know yet. I think I have an "artist" page somewhere that you can join - but also just come to my regular page and be my regular friend. I am not afraid of you.

Twitter
For those of you in the Twitterverse, you can keep up with me here. This is where my most up to date information starts (it also feeds into Facebook).
www.twitter.com/andygullahorn

Mailing List
I occasionally get my act together and send emails out to my mailing list. You can join it here. Make sure to put in your ZIP code because I sometimes send out messages to folks in the areas close to upcoming shows.


Square Peg Alliance
I am in an alliance of songwriters here in Nashville called the Square Peg Alliance. We started doing free monthly Square Peg House Show & Potluck events. They are tons of fun but are limited to about 50 people - so the RSVPs go quickly. I you want to be up to date on events like this, you can follow the SPA here:

Square Peg Alliance Facebook Page
or
www.twitter.com/squarepegmusic
or
you can join the SPA mailing list here

Had ice cream post-lunch
Then again after dinner
This is my job, folks

Yes I write pretty much everything on this site.

Yes I wrote the title to this post.

Yes that means I talked about myself in the 3rd person.
It sounds more official.


I went to Kerrville, TX last weekend to participate in the New Folk Competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival. This festival has a 39 year history of celebrating songwriters and I was honored to be part of a competition that has included such artists in the past as Lyle Lovett, John Gorka, Pierce Pettis, David Wilcox, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen and Nanci Griffith.


Thanks to the many bribes I gave the judges before my performance, I was named one of the winners out of the 32 finalists performing. I am not exactly sure what that means, but I was hoping it meant that I would win a brand new tour bus. Apparently that isn't the case. At any rate, it was an amazing experience where I got to make new friends with songwriters across the country (and a few that live within a couple of miles from me here in Nashville). I hope to be back next year. I also hope it is abnormally cold there next summer.

Just like summer camp
The heat, sweat, music, friends and
Sadness in leaving

A new note to self:
Before you play make sure the
Battery still works

Baylor faculty
I don't read books but thanks for
Accepting me still

Vespers in the dark
I play instrumental songs
Of the Black Eyed Peas
(and nobody notices)

Stare at exit signs
That is the norm, but tonight
Stare at kids in back

Made it five long months
Without a fast-food burger
Time to start over

Many food options
Bacon wrapped jalapenos
Are real hard to beat

No coincidence
First: electric guitar. Then
Autograph table

While I was playing some shows with my wife, Jill, in the Northwest, Nashville was getting some record rainfall. I got a call early on a Sunday morning from my neighbor that water was surrounding my house and they were going in my house to try to save what they could. Luckily, the water never made it into the main level of our house - but we did get a good 7' of water in our basement. Thanks to everyone who came to help us get our house back in order and offered food, hospitality and prayers. We are getting everything back to normal now - and the hardest part is figuring out what normal was.

Here is a picture of our indoor swimming pool.

Tried hard to block out
The fact our house was flooding
I was successful

Beautiful house show
But way back home in Nashville
The creek is rising

Run a few miles
Then get a bag of jerky
At farmer's market

Ride back to airport
Includes iPod sharing
With southern gospel

Celebrate post-show
The birth of James Gregory
With lesson on scotch

Drive up from Midway
Play at a favorite venue
Drive back to Midway

My poor guitar stand
Don't hate me for forgetting
To bring you back home