Just thought I would pop in.....

Well. Here I am. I can't complain TOO much about a lack of material for my readers, I did spend a nice long weekend (not this past one, just before) in Sarasota, Florida, visiting my sister. In my defense though, that was total R&R, so probably not very exciting.

It is lovely down there though, I recommend a visit to any who have time, particularly if you live up north and are looking to escape the weather. It was sunny and 80 everyday I was there.

That still leaves me empty handed. Hopefully I will have something interesting in the coming days, but until then, remain patient, please.

You may want to check this out though, those of you already feeling nostalgic for 2012:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/12/the-top-global-stories-of-2012/266034/

Cheers.

Four Corners' Holiday Special: Dinner and a Movie

Saved big on a tablet from Best Buy? Not interested. Shoved aside women and small children to get all those great buys at Wal-Mart on Black Friday? Bush-league. Why?  Because you couldn't possibly find a holiday deal better than this one! A Four Corners' Dinner and a Movie Special!

I'll start it out with the dinner. Many of you may remember my last restaurant review (already a month ago...I know, poor form), done on a place called A Taste of Cambodia (AToC). Well, AToC used to occupy a space on Bleecker Street (the de facto epicenter of Utica's ethnic restaurants) until it moved in July to its current location. Well, the vacated space didn't remain empty long, with a Thai restaurant (the only specialist Thai place in the area) taking over in August, to little fanfare (yeah, it wouldn't make sense for our brilliant local media to make news of something like that). Luckily, we happened upon it a couple of weeks ago while in the neighborhood. The newest edition to Utica's ethnic scene goes under the name KF TomYum.

And it was there my parents and I found ourselves this past Saturday evening. The ownership may want to lighten up the exterior a bit, there are some rather weak Christmas lights up in honor of the holidays, but otherwise I wasn't sure it was open, save the small, flashing "open" sign. The inside is tastefully done, not austere, but not really flashy either. They may still be in the process of putting up more paintings and wall decorations. Its a little more spacious than your average hole-in-the-wall, with four four-seaters lining each wall, and two, long, eight-seater tables occupying the middle of the room. A massive picture window gives a view out onto the street (though the "Bueno Barbership" across the way is the only visible thing really).

The menu is a bit thin, featuring appetizers, noodle dishes, soups, salads, and "single dishes" (a kind of box meal, only meant for one, and not to be shared). There are no deserts. A bit of an odd feature, and perhaps  because they haven't really found their feet yet, the front of the menu features three "smiley" faces, each a different color to indicate the spiciness of the various dishes. Unfortunately, these icons don't appear again anywhere in the menu, still leaving it up to the diner to ask about the spice content. An oversight for sure, but I found it kind of funny.

I kicked us off with an appetizer of pork balls. Which, I don't think you need much of an imagination here: steamed balls of pork stuck on skewers (four skewers, four balls each). The dish comes with that ubiquitous orange sauce that seems to come with every appetizer in an Asian restaurant. The pork balls were tasty, but didn't really rock our world. For the main course, we went with three dishes to share: a broccoli stir-fry (done with your choice of meat-we went with beef-with carrots mixed in as well), Pad Thai (I mean, you gotta. Also with choice of meat. We chose chicken), and Singapore noodles (angel-hair type noodles mixed with bean sprouts, other veggies, pork, beef, chicken, and shrimp, all done in a mildly spicy brown sauce).

Ummmm...Fantastic? Awesome? Crazy good? Out-of-this-World? I'll let you decide the superlatives, but KF TomYum's food is REALLY good. Now, for those keeping track, I have yet to give a bad rating to any of the area restaurants, but all three of us decided that our meal on Saturday night was our favorite. I don't even really know how to describe the individual dishes, they were just....delicious. It was the kind of food that you really didn't want to see disappear, but rather just keep on eating until you passed out or your body otherwise shut down. The Pad Thai wasn't as peanut-ty (I know, made up adjective) as some of its counterparts, but still had just the right taste. The stir-fry broccoli is a simple dish but the cooks out back hit it out of the park anyway. The Singapore noodles were a hit as well with the three of us. The sauce has only got a slight kick to it, so the faint of heart should have no issue. The thin noodles are piled on the plate, and its nice to get a mix of all the various meats. Again, no description is really necessary. KF TomYum does it right.

They do it right on the prices as well. I thought the pork balls were a bit steep at $4.99, but, from what I could tell, most of the dishes on the menu clocked in under 8 bucks. With the appetizer and three dishes, the bill came to $32 dollars, minus tip. The wait staff, (and by that I mean the small girl that runs back and forth) is kind and attentive, though their English is still in the learning stages (a request for lemon with our hot tea-which is free-seemed to evade her). I am happy to announce too that, though we were the only ones there when we arrived, the place eventually filled up! Chapeau Utica, there may be hope for you after all.

The menu could be a bit beefier, and no deserts is disappointing, but I really have to give a shout out to KF TomYum. They really hit the spot.

Verdict: Definitely check it out. Grade: 5/5

Movie Review: Lebanon (Israel)

What better way to follow-up a Thai meal than an Israeli war film? Beats me. Saturday night I sat down to "Lebanon", a 2009 film directed by Samuel Moaz. Based upon Moaz's experience as a conscript in the Israeli army, "Lebanon" is the story of a four-man tank crew during the early hours of Israel's incursion into southern Lebanon in 1982. In a unique twist, the film takes place entirely within the confines of the tank, with the only shots of the outside coming through the tank's gun-sight, with the cross-hairs imposed over the camera, and a hydraulic whir accompanying each movement of the camera.

As you can imagine, "Lebanon" is an odd film. The main idea appears to be witnessing the four-man crew (driver, gunner, ammunition-loader (lack of a better term), and commander) being brought to wit's end as they deal with the cramped, hot, stinking interior of their vehicle, while navigating through hostile towns. This is done to good effect, but it makes for some surreal scenes, as well as dialogue, a Hebrew version of some of Colonel Kurtz's scenes in "Apocalypse Now", if you will. I am not really into this kind of thing. At times it makes one wonder what is really going on, and leaves the viewer (at least it did me) a bit uncomfortable. There isn't a whole lot of action, but there are some very intense sequences, including some shots that are likely to make some feel ill at ease. I understand Moaz was probably going for a realistic portrayal of the horrors of war (as well as the banality of it-there are several shots of dead animals-perhaps some symbolism there that was lost on me) but there are some parts where he could have eased up without detriment to his film.

The acting seems solid enough, the four main characters appeared to have a good handle on what they were supposed to do. It's a war film, so don't expect anything groundbreaking from the dialogue. The most drawn out conversation that takes place between the characters is a rather disturbing story told by the gunner...one I am sure Moaz heard while serving. Given the setting of the film, there really isn't much to say by the way of choreography. I must say though, restricting the film to the inside of a tank has an interesting affect on the viewer. After a while, I really did begin to feel claustrophobic, and when they open the hatch in the very final scene, you almost feel like exhaling.

"Lebanon" probably provides a realistic view into modern-day conflict, and the human toll that comes with it, but I'm not sure this makes for good viewing. I couldn't really get into the film. Again, several scenes make you shift in your seat, and you just really want them to end. The actual physical affect of being in a tank the whole time is pretty unsettling too, but I give credit to the director for that, as odd as that sounds. Overall, I think it is a good film, but a tough one to recommend, you certainly have to be in the mood for it, and those new to darker films are advised to shy away.

Verdict: To most, I'll say skip it. Those looking for a hyper-realistic, uncomfortable war movie experience, may want to take a look. Grade: B-

If you liked this movie you might also like: Though the stories are radically different, "Apocalypse Now" seems an appropriate comparison.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMRD3z_mTqI

Screenshots:
This was a rental folks, I can't copy any images from my computer. Check out the IMDB site for some stills:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483831/

Tough Times

Well FC fans, looks like I again owe an apology. The winter doldrums are in full swing here in upstate New York, and have hit your humble correspondent some kind of fierce. Hopefully many of you have been busy putting yourself into food comas over Thanksgiving dinner, or trampling the weak and hurtling the dead on your way to some awesome Black Friday deals.

Never fear though, I should have a dinner and a movie special coming up very soon, with a restaurant review and a film review both on deck.

So, I should have something for everyone by the close of the weekend. Until then, stay warm (or, if you are already in a warm climate, spare a thought for those of us that aren't), and hopefully some travel will soon come our way (speaking of which...I go to Florida this Thursday to visit my lovely sister....should have something there to talk about).

Be back soon.

Movie Review: The Intouchables (France)

In case any of you were worried, I wasn't on a hiatus or anything......just lack of material to share with you. No travel as of late (miserable, I know), no movies in the past week-and-a-half, and no chance to hit up an area ethnic restaurant (though I did find out a Thai restaurant has recently opened up in downtown Utica). Throw on top of all that  Central New York's dip into cold, dark, depressing winter weather, and, yep, you've got FC in a total funk.

What better way  to pick up the spirits around here than watch "The Intouchables", the uplifting drama/comedy that is France's official submission to the next Academy Awards? Well, there are probably several other better methods (a nice trip to somewhere in Southeast Asia is a top choice), but this wasn't a bad back-up.

For the uninformed, I'm somewhat known for my penchant for dark/heavy/depressing films (see: Biutiful, Babel, Children of Men, etc), so "The Intouchables" is a bit of a departure for me. But I'm glad I went for a change of type, because it is a very good film.

"The Intouchables", based upon true events, is the story of Phillipe (played by Francois Cluzet), a middle-aged, Paris-based Plutocrat, who is also confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down after a hang-gliding accident, and his unlikely round-the-clock assistant, Driss (Omar Sy-my first time ever watching him, but he is a very entertaining actor). The film begins with Phillipe interviewing suitors in his palatial mansion for the trying task of being his 24-hour caretaker. Driss, an immigrant from Senegal living in Paris' infamously rough suburbs, shows up for the interview solely to obtain a signature, evidence that he has tried and failed at obtaining a job, so he can claim welfare. Phillipe refuses to do so, and goads him to try and do the work. Driss takes the challenge, and the story sets off from there.

Now, that all sounds like a very cliche story-line, and in some sense it is, but there is something about "The Intouchables" that makes it unique, and worth watching. At least in this instance, there is no "angry, life-hating millionaire and the humble but insightful servant" set-up. Rather, this time around, the rich person's caregiver initially isn't even interested in taking the job. It is simply a story of friendship, and how two individuals from radically different levels of the social ladder can form a bond. There is lots of good humor in it, I believe it is a comedy at heart, and includes some real laugh-out-loud moments. I though both of the main actors were great in their roles, and the supporting cast isn't too shabby either. It touches on serious subjects as well, primarily the living conditions of those on the periphery of French society. Overall though it's a captivating movie in its own way, and I found myself wanting it not to end. Do be warned though, it could jerk a few tears from those with weaker constitutions.

Verdict: See it. Grade: A

If you liked this movie you might also like: "Driving Miss Daisy" sounds an obvious choice.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4O1VAAezxg

Screenshots:

Driss failing at feeding.

Trying to understand art. 

Movie Review: Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Turkey)

Geez, I see that it's been 10 days already since my last post. Well, time flies when you are having fun (or, more to the point, plotting ways to make your escape from small-town New York). Anyway, with Hurricane Sandy about to make a fabulous entrance (congratulations, you live in Whitesboro, AND you get to deal with gale-force winds, sheets of rain, and maybe some snow mixed in), I figured I'd  better get this one up before we lose power and the whole Northeast goes dark for a few days.

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (we'll refer to this one as OUTA from here-on in) is a Turkish film of much acclaim, enough so that it found its way onto FC's movie list. Like most foreign films I come across, neither the director nor any of the actors were previously known to me, so I didn't know what to expect. OUTA follows the journey of a diverse group of men: a police chief (Commissar Naci, normally referred to as Naci, or Boss, in the film), a doctor (Doctor Cemal, or just Doctor), a prosecutor from Ankara (the capital of Turkey, for the geographically-challenged) known as Prosecutor Nusret (though he's just referred to as Prosecutor), Naci's driver, Arap, and a ruffian known as Kenan. These are the main players, but several other guys, including a couple cops, two workers with shovels, and Kenan's friend, complete a supporting cast.

What is such a group of characters doing in each-other's company, you ask? Looking for a dead body, of course, in the rolling hills of eastern Turkey, the country's least developed region. Kenan and his friend (I never caught the name, the guy speaks about one line the whole film anyway) murdered another guy and buried him somewhere in the steppe, and now have to lead the police (headed by Naci) to the body. The doctor is on hand to provide an autopsy, and the prosecutor was needed for legal matters that were never made quite clear. You don't see the murder take place, nor the capture of the culprits, instead the movie begins with a convoy of vehicles driving in the dark, as Kenan tries to remember where they left their victim. He can't remember, of course, and that is what takes up the bulk of the film-the group's odyssey through the Turkish hinterlands in search of a dead guy.

I really don't know where to begin with this one, or even how to rate it. The first thing that stands out about OUTA is that it's a marathon: 2 hours and 40 minutes. It's a slow film too: lots of talking, with no action or excitement to speed things along. I actually had to watch it in installments. Now, don't confuse this with boring. I found quite a bit of the dialogue to be very intriguing, it's just.....slow. OK, at some points you wish things would hurry along, but I wouldn't label the film as being boring on the whole. There are a number of scenes that seem abnormally, and unnecessarily, drawn out. And I mean there is no dialogue or anything, just silence. For example, during a break from their search, the group stops in a village. During that sequence, at one point the doctor is sitting outside in the dark on his own, apparently thinking about something, while the wind swirls leaves around him and shakes the tree branches. This scene lasts for a few minutes, and I really couldn't tell to what end. I liked the plot-line, and the setting (rural Turkey has some pleasant scenery), but my main beef with OUTA is that, unfortunately, it  left me with the uneasy feeling that something went completely over my head, and I was missing some deeper meanings or methaphors. Several conversations take place, for example, primarily between the doctor and the prosecutor, that I just know had some deeper meaning that I failed to grasp. Overall though, I couldn't help but feel that I was dumber than the director had hoped.

There is still more that I liked about this film. I think the acting is very good, and the film also sheds light onto  some of the potential absurdities of the task at hand (upon finally finding the body, they realize they forgot a body bag, for instance) and there are even some humorous moments. Again, I also found much of the dialogue captivating. Unfortunately though, I'm not entirely sure I can recommend my readers go dive into a near 3-hour long film, particularly one that might leave them scratching their heads. This is by no means a bad film, quite to the contrary, I think is very well done, maybe even TOO well done. This is perhaps a tad too artsy-fartsy, a little too deep. Does this justify such a long run-time? I'm not so certain.

Verdict: I would say if you have the time, and the patience, OUTA is definitely worth a look, but I think there are more rewarding foreign flicks, for less time taken up.

Grade: B

If you like this movie you might also like: Once Upon a Time in the West, Once Upon a Time in America (disclaimer: never seen these films, but I know they are long, and they have Once Upon a Time in.....in the title)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJOFUsO_N20

Screenshots:

The lead car: Arap driving with Naci next to him, Kenan is squeezed between the doctor (behind Naci) and another officer. 

The group, bewildered by their fruitless efforts. The prosecutor is at center-front.

Restaurant Review: A Taste of Cambodia

And the march through central New York's ethnic restaurant's continues. Yesterday I treated my parents to A Taste of Cambodia which is a, uh, well, Cambodian restaurant.

AToC (that's my own acronym, but you can use it if you like) is located at 244 Roosevelt Drive in Utica, just across from where my grandfather use to earn his wages (well, its just an empty lot now, hopefully the city can find some use for it). Now, don't be confused here. The restaurant has only been at this location for a couple months. It used to be located on Bleecker Street, in the heart of downtown. Unfortunately, the proprietors haven't been very good about updating their Facebook page, so disregard that and be sure to visit the Roosevelt address.

It's a really quaint place, with only about 8-10 four-seater tables in a small room, but it has a classier feel than some of Utica's other Asian joints, and there is some nice decor related to Cambodia, including an awesome painting of Angkor Wat. Like most of the ethnic places around here, there was only one waitress on hand to serve us. No worries though....we were the only ones there.

Now, I have never been to Cambodia (THAT has got to be changed, tout de suite), nor have I ever had Cambodian food, so this was unfamiliar territory for me. Luckily, the menus give lengthy, detailed descriptions of each item, so the unfamiliar customer need not worry about ordering something blindly and then having a live duck put in front of them or something like that. Now, the menus are a bit limited. There is only one sheet, front and back, with appetizers, soups, noodle dishes, specialties, and desserts. Bear in mind though that this was the dinner menu, and the lunch menu is most likely different. I will probably have to visit again to get an idea of that.

We started out with an appetizer of pork dumplings (a serving comes with four). Though coming at a pricey $6, they were obviously freshly made (they didn't come out right away) and not bad on the taste buds either. Some might find them a tad on the salty side, but it didn't bother any of us three. Cilantro is mixed in with the pork, boosting the dumplings on the health scale.

So then came the main event. You can accuse me of being a bit boring, but I was in the mood, and went for the Jungle Pad Thai ($9, in the noodles section) (at least I am making a fist of comparing all the Pad Thais in the area). That price is actually a steal for what you get: A massive mound of delectable noodles and bean sprouts, basically buried in peanuts. I can usually house my Asian dishes no issue, but there was so much on the plate I struggled to finish. Mom decided on the Curried Stir Fry ($11, under specialties), which can be beef, chicken, or tofu (she went with chicken, which was of course all-white, breast meat), mixed with peppers, onions, and holy basil, all on a bed of rice. She couldn't stop raving about it, and, after trying a few bites, I would have to agree it was pretty stellar. The curry taste was a bit heavy, but not overpowering. Curry fans should definitely give it a shout. And then of course, there was Dad, ever the adventurer, who chose the Cambodian Crepes ($11, under specialties). You get about 3 large, thin crepe-style pancakes, made out of rice flour, each filled with minced pork and chicken, bean sprouts, onion, some coconut, and topped with lettuce and cucumber. It also comes with a peanut sauce for dipping. Yeah, that one was a winner. The crepes, sweet but not too sweet, mixed it with all the rest of the stuff were just delicious. Mom, no fan of coconut, also approved (the coconut is barely noticeable).

After literally leaving nothing on our plates, Mom declared that, out of the places I have taken them, this was the best. Hard to argue with. Absolutely no complaints about the food, the hygiene, nor the service. The service is a bit slow, but realize that everything is being freshly made, and I found out that the kitchen staff is literally comprised of one Cambodian lady just running around back there. Its maybe a little bit longer a wait than in an American joint, but its worth it. Regarding desserts, we passed. First off, we were stuffed, and second, the desserts all had some amount of coconut, so Mom wasn't interested. AToC is a little bit pricier than its counterparts, but not by much, and again, the quality meets the price. Thumbs up, all round.

Grade: 5/5.

Also, if anyone in the Utica area is peeping this review, or will be in the area at some point (I don't know why you would, but, still) go give AToC and the other ethnic restaurants I have reviewed some business! Its shameful to see a place like AToC  so empty, even on a Thursday evening. I'm tired of seeing a line snaking around Little Caeser's, when we have places offering up fairly-priced, authentic, and, above all, awesome tasting ethnic food. It also worth noting that these restaurants have all been run by no-kidding immigrants, so you might get a cultural experience, and learn a thing or two.

Best Ethnic Neighborhoods in the US

Great article from the BBC...be sure to hit these places up next time you are in the area!

http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20121015-americas-best-neighbourhoods-for-authentic-ethnic-food