Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Stones, Scorsese team up for Imaximum exposure.

Shine a Light: We love the Rolling Stones, as much for their longevity as for the great albums they made in the ’60s and ’70s.

The material never seems stale in this startlingly close-up concert film from director Martin Scorsese. He’s a Stones fan, too, as anyone who knows “Mean Streets” or “GoodFellas” can tell. Now in their 60s, Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie haven’t lost a lick of stage presence or musical power. Scorsese’s cameras get right in the guys’ wrinkled but joyous faces, and you really ought to catch this flick on an Imax screen, both for the visual detail and the kick-ass sound system.

If you aren’t a fan, you probably shouldn’t bother. If you are, this is a guaranteed delight, a mix of hits and surprises that never lets up.

We give it a B+

More movies, movies, and movies at bobrossmovies.com

An “Island” only young children can love

Nim’s Island: Oh, Lord, please make Abigail Breslin grow up before she has another chance to play an insufferably precocious, spoiled child.

After her splendid, unaffected work in “Little Miss Sunshine,” she did the cloying, cute-kid bit in “Definitely, Maybe” and now she’s starring in a juvenile fantasy-adventure that insults the intelligence of even its youngest potential patrons.

Breslin plays Nim, the spoiled daughter of a widowed marine biologist (Gerard Butler of “300″ fame). These two live on one of those impossibly well-appointed uncharted islands, where their house is an exotic treetop structure and the food is as friendly as the local creatures. A pelican and sea lion are Nim’s best friends, and when her dad is missing while off on a scientific study, Nim is understandably worried.

This is the kind of movie where a sudden storm can tear up the house but in the next scene all is dry and tidy. It’s a fairy tale for adventurous little girls — girls so young that they won’t look for logic and they’ll be surprised by the most obvious of twists.

My question is this: What is Jodie Foster doing in this simplistic tale? She plays Nim’s favorite novelist, creator of a grand action hero (also portrayed by Butler) whose character is the exact opposite of his author. The writer, we soon learn, is an agoraphobic weirdo who never goes out. But of course she winds up headed for Nim’s island before the story slogs to its finish. This one’s fine for the very youngest (it’s rated PG), but grownups will find their patience strained.

It gets a C-.

As always, find lots of movie reviews by Bob Ross at bobrossmovies.com

Prison-camp drama raises tough questions about actual event.

The Counterfeiters: Just when you think you’ve seen every Holocaust story possible, along comes “The Counterfeiters,” this year’s Oscar-winning foreign-language film.

Yes, it’s in German and set largely in a concentration camp, but this drama — based on the memoir of a Jewish survivor — raises issues that the other World War II stories don’t. That’s because instead of pure black-and-white good-and-evil, we get disturbing shades of gray.

Specifically, we get a cynical, selfish forger named Salomon (Karl Markovics) who gets caught and imprisoned — and then gets a better deal from his captors when he agrees to help the Nazis attack the Allies in a unique fashion.

The German commanders think they can destroy the English and American economies if they can flood both lands with fake currency. Salomon becomes a sort of captive team leader, with his crew getting special privileges — you know, like edible food — and we get to see how an ill-equipped genius can improvise clever counterfeits. But one of the fellow prisoners tries to sabotage the effort: He would rather be hanged than help the Nazis get ahead in a war they are losing (this part of the story is set in 1944-45).

Is he right? What would you do? It’s the sort of question that explains the film’s Oscar and makes the movie more than just another atrocity tale.

We give it a B+

As always, find lots of movie reviews by Bob Ross at bobrossmovies.com

Awhile back, a PR rep for a major chain began to email me. She would send me recipes and ask for me to try them out. I would just kind-of look them over and quickly move them to my recipe box (I get a lot of recipes).
I finally emailed her back and asked (in a very polite manner) what was she trying to get out of all the recipe emails.

She responded:

“Sure…we recently began doing some digital monitoring to identify local foodies with blogs who often post recipes, reviews, etc, so we can send them some of the recipes we often send out to the media. We thought this would be a great way to reach real people and engage them with the brand, especially since we give away our recipes quite frequently….We believe in complete transparency – we hope that those foodies…will share their honest opinions – good, bad, anything! That way, we can learn about real perceptions and improve our company!”

Wait, a chain restaurant that is taking a proactive approach to bettering themselves by throwing themselves to the wolves (true foodies don’t do chains)? I’m intrigued.

I was honest with her. “I don’t do chains, sorry, but thank you.”

Next thing I know, there’s a Bahama Breeze gift card in my mailbox with a hand written note from the PR rep.

“Enjoy and let us know what you think.”

I sat there, head half tilted with a look of disbelief on my face. “Well, that was nice.” I thought. Fast forward.

After a menu-consulting meeting with a potentially new client (good vibes people, give me good vibes), Chef Hubby and I headed back home.

“Let’s get some lunch.” I said
“Okay, where would you like to go?” he responded
“Bahama Breeze.”

He nearly drove off the road.

(more…)

Football goes screwball in 1920s-set romantic comedy

Leatherheads: The idea and the ads are promising indeed.

In the mid-1920s, professional football was little more than a mud-caked joke, with sparse crowds and renegade players. I’m laughing already. Add George Clooney as an aging athlete, John Krasinski as a collegiate gridiron stud and Renee Zellweger as the cutie-pie reporter they both admire and it sounds like a cinch. Well, not so fast.

Sure, the trailer has a few good gags, but the rest of the movie seems to have a hard time sustaining that comic feel. Clooney, who also directed, obviously intends to emulate the classic screwball comedies of the ’30s, but writers Duncan Bradley and Rick Reilly can’t keep up that kind of pace, and we’re left with strained little quarrels and lackluster game sequences to fill the gaps.

Randy Newman’s ragtime score is a winner, and sporadic laughs are easily evident, but this effort is neither a grand romantic comedy nor a satisfying sports spoof.

We give it a C+

Get more reviews at bobrossmovies.com

It’s “Life,” but not as we know it.

Married Life: Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan star as best buds who fall for same hot young war widow (Rachel McAdams) in this richly detailed romantic drama set in 1949. Cooper’s character is a successful executive whose fondness for the young lady is complicated by his long, dull marriage. Patricia Clarkson plays the dutiful, frustrated spouse in a film that wavers from black comedy to melodramatic suspense. Brosnan’s bachelor character is almost as unlikeable as his repressed, selfish pal. I say “almost” because at least he doesn’t contemplate murder as an escape route.

The film scores strong points for style — I love those postwar cars and clothes — and its virtuoso cast. But director Ira Sachs can’t decide if he’s making a modern noir or a teaching a moral lesson, and the final result is less than satisfying.

We give it a B-.

Find more reviews from Bob Ross at bobrossmovies.com

Hard to tell cops from crooks among these “Kings”

Street Kings

Been craving a Keanu Reeves fix lately? Well, Mr. Personality is back in action with Street Kings, a rock-’em sock-’em cop-crime thriller that relies on gunplay and bloodletting to distract us from an absurdly cynical story. Co-written by James Ellroy of “L.A. Confidential” fame, this LA story lacks the savvy bite and observant dialogue of its predecessor. Instead, we get multiple murders and a never-ending game of Who Do You Trust.

Reeves plays a recently widowed LAPD detective whose sullen arrogance is tested sorely when he finds himself set up as a suspect in a cop-killing. It’s a complicated mess, and I spoil nothing by telling you that there’s corruption in the ranks and at pretty much every level. Forest Whitaker and Hugh Laurie play key authority figures, neither of whom seems to believe our man Keanu’s innocence. Innocence is a relative term here, and consistency isn’t part of the equation. Director David Ayer is all about suspense and action, logic be damned.

We are pleased to report, however, that none of these tough guys smokes cigarettes. Welcome to the newly correct Hollywood, where murderers have to set a good health example for kids.

The movie gets a C.

Find more film reviews at Bob Ross Movies.

Iraq veterans see more conflict after first tours are over.

Stop-Loss: The public hasn’t been swarming to see Iraq-war themed dramas, so it’s doubtful that director Kimberly Peirce (”Boys Don’t Cry”) is going to break that pattern with “Stop-Loss.” That’s a shame, because this intense, intimate small-town saga will hit home for anyone who knows a casualty, veteran or relative of this five-year-old conflict.

Ryan Philippe (Flags of Our Fathers, Breach) is stellar as a platoon leader who survives a harrowing, deadly skirmish just before his tour of duty ends and he returns to his tiny Texas hometown.

The film’s opening act depicts the traumatic ambush and its painful aftermath. Then comes another kick in the gut: The Army’s “stop-loss” policy means soldiers can be sent back to Iraq even after their contracted service is over. Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt match Philippe’s emotional levels as fellow veterans, each traumatized and conflicted in his own way.

While the filmmaker clearly despises the stop-loss policy and the effects of post-traumatic stress, she doesn’t turn the film into an antiwar or anti-government diatribe. This is a more personal, passionate and thoughtful effort than that. We give it a B.

See more reviews at bobrossmovies.com

Big Apple Style Deli Rocks It In Carrollwood

There is nothing like a good deli sandwich. Piled high with whatever cold cut you want, slathered with condiments, dripping with plump tomatoes and chopped lettuce on good ole fashioned baked bread.

I crave this from time to time.

Tampa isn’t necessarily known for its delis. If you are looking for a Sandwich Shop, there are 1000 Cuban varieties to choose from. But what about those New York style delis. Ya know, where Rye bread sits right next to the sliced corn beef and aged Swiss cheese.

Wait, what’s that? Moxie’s, Moxie’s 2, Too Jay’s, and Carrollwood Café & Deli are just a hop, skip, and jump over Ray Jay. I’m there.

I’ll not lie. I’ve been going to Moxie’s on Kennedy Ave for a while and as long as you don’t mind waiting forever and possibly being scolded for too many (um, one) menu variations, you’ll have a good experience.

The sandwiches have always been good. Most are served on Cuban bread, which is not my idea of a NY style sandwich. (Yes, I get it, we are in Tampa, land of Cuban bread, but come on already.) Moxie’s will sub that Cuban bread for anything they have in house, but again, be weary of the scolding eyes and tones you will receive.

They offer creative sandwiches infusing Cuban, NY style, and New Orleans homage.

Then there is Moxie’s Two. I used to go to this location off Benjamin frequently. I’d always thought the same people as the Kennedy location owned it.

I think it’s been sold. It was nothing but new faces this time around.

My experience last week was bad. Bad, bad, bad. Yet, the people were very nice and happy to make any substitution I hoped for.

Perhaps, the Moxie’s of Tampa can get together and help each other in their personal deficiencies.

Too Jay’s at International Plaza was also a place I’d hop in from time to time. At first, I thought it was a chain and avoided it like the plague. I then found out it was a chain, but started in Palm Beach and can only be found in Florida. I can forgive a little if they are staying true to their roots. The food was always okay. Traditional New York style deli with 100 different chicken salads and every pastrami you can think of. But, that chain quality does shine through a bit. You can taste the manufactured-ness in the potato salad. If there were nothing else, Too Jay’s would do the trick.

That’s when I discovered Carrollwood Cafe & Deli.

JACKPOT!

Located in a little plaza on Dale Mabry at 11606, right next door to Outback Steakhouse, sits a genuine New York Style deli. Complete with homemade bread and every soda you could imagine.

The menu has everything from pastrami to tuna salad, all with catchy names like Wall Street Reuben and The Power House. I was in heaven.

I ordered the Deli Trio ($6.50), “the classic combination of kosher corned beef, New York pastrami, Swiss cheese piled high on freshly baked Jewish Rye bread.” My Hubby got the Wall Street Reuben ($6.50), “CC&D’s own cooked corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and 1000 island dressing on freshly baked Jewish Rye bread.” We finished the order with a All Natural Sarsaparilla Soda and an All Natural Black Cherry soda.

Can you say Yum!

My Deli Trio was a good 4 inches high and a good 5 inches in length. The corned beef was sliced perfectly (not too thin, not to thick) and super juicy. The pastrami was paper thin and delicious. There was a perfect ratio of corned beef and pastrami. The Swiss was a good aged Big Eye and sliced just think enough to make the back of your taste buds catch the age. Fresh tomatoes and lettuce garnished an already perfect sandwich. The Jewish Rye was the best Rye I have ever had in Florida. It was soft and flavorful. Perfect.

My Hubby’s Wall Street Reuben was equally as huge, if not bigger. He quickly slathered his with Beaver’s True Grain Mustard. There were a few mustards to choose from on every table. From Honey to Grain and all were really good brands not found in Florida. His corned beef was the same as mine, delicious and the sauerkraut had to have been homemade. The thousand island was a good mix of the old staple. This sandwich was worth way more than $6.50.
Made complete with a side of creamy homemade Cole slaw and a dill pickle spear, CC&D’s has been serving up these New York deli favorites for 10 years, right here in Tampa.

All of the people making this little deli run were very friendly. You could tell who the regulars were because their orders were already on the table before they took off their coats.

Go now! Just get up and go to Carrollwood Café & Deli. Forget about work or the kids or whatever menial task you are doing and go. Then, go back tonight and bring the whole family.