Tortilla Soup

No, not a recipe.  It's a movie.  I am finding there are many good flics available if you take a look.  Tortilla Soup is a remake of Ang Lee's Eat Drink Man Woman.  It features Hector Elizondo (that fact alone makes it watchable for me!) as Martin Naranjo, a retired Mexican American master chef.  Martin has three daughters who watch out for him. He doesn't need to be watched out for, but their concern is nice to see.  He is widowed and has not chosen to get back in the dating game.  His kids do not want him to be alone.
Now, the girls have their own set of issues to either deal or live with, which makes for a "soupy" (pun intended!) life with the four of them!  Enter Raquel Welch as Hortensia, the mother of the next door neighbor.  Wow! She would like Martin's affections to be toward her.  Well, no, she would like to capture Martin, actually!  Yes, she pretty aggressive.  Add to this his friends he still has at the restaurant and his life is pretty full.  He does, however have someone in mind that he would like to spend time with---not telling you who.  This movie is a blend of real life circumstances and imagined situations that gives it a good realistic feel.  Everything in this flick could happen in real-life and does.
I found it totally absorbing.  It is well acted by the whole cast.  Hector Elizondo does a great job as the main character.  His daughters, played by Elizabeth Pena, Jacqueline Obradors and Tamra Mello suit the parts and support his performance very well.  The additional cast is more than just additional.  They add their own talent which rounds out the story line.
I thoroughly enjoyed this.  Another escape for me into some great entertainment.  It has it's own endearing charm and the well played script is quite believable; making it a must watch!  I loved it. IMDb gives it 3.5 stars out of five.  Rotten Tomatoes scores it a 74%.  I include these figures for you because I liked it so much, I cannot be objective.  I give it five stars! 
It's a good movie.  You should watch it.  Disclaimer: I say that because all genres are not for all movie lovers.  If you are stuck on Sci-Fi, Action flics, Murder Mysteries, then you may not care for this.  If you like well done movies with family drama/comedy you will like this movie a lot.  Released in 2001, I streamed this movie from Amazon Prime.  You can also get it on Netflix and HuluPlus.  Also, check your local library if you watch on DVD.  The flicks available at the library are increasing all the time.

I'll See You in My Dreams

Blythe Danner, Sam Elliott, Rhea Perlman, Mary K Place; how could I not watch this movie?  I mean, these are some of my favorite contemporary classic actors.  So, of course I decided to watch it.
  I watched this just yesterday and found myself thinking I should tell my friends/people how good I think it is.  "OH!  I should review it on my blog!"  Imagine that.  So, here I am and here are my thoughts on this delicious film, which actually about sums it up. 
But I will tell you more.  On the film rating sites, it was given high marks.  Rotten Tomatoes gave it 93%.  Metacritic came up with 75%, still a good rating.  These are the two most used sites for judging quality in a movie.
Carol Peterson (Blythe Danner) is the main character.  She has a group of close friends and an almost daily game of bridge at the Senior Community clubhouse to fill up part of her time.  These chicks are no "Golden Oldies."  They live life like they are single and like it.  Her three closest friends all live at the "Village" and think she needs to live there too.  She remains in her house and prefers it.  She used to sing in a band but quit that when her husband passed away 20 years earlier.  She has not dated since then. She became a school teacher and did that the rest of her working years. Her days are full enough and she keeps busy with activities that interest her.  But, she feels a sense of her life not having the sparkle that it once had. 
Add to this the perfect comedic timing of Rhea Perlman and Mary Kay Place and you have a movie sure to please.  With Sam Elliott as Blythe's love interest then Oh My Goodness, it becomes a definite "must watch."  Oh, and the speed dating session that takes place at the clubhouse is an absolute hoot!  There were several scenes/situations that really gave me a belly busting howl of a laugh!
The well written script explores the nuances of aging in a way that does not patronize.  Their lives are lived much as people decades younger live theirs.  If you are over 50 years old you will relate to this film.  If you are a senior citizen, you will embrace the films message and love the experience.
I'll See You In My Dreams is so well made that I felt like I was there with her, living her life with her.  I almost forgot I was watching a movie. Blythe always brings such understated class and dry wit to any role she plays.  She does not disappoint in this film. 
The same goes with the rest of the ensemble cast.  They are all good and this movie is all good!  I give it five stars.  This film is rated PG13 by the Motion Picture Association of America. 
I streamed this free from Amazon Prime.  I am sure you can get it on Netflix, as well, if you don't have Amazon.  It is also available on DVD.  It was a limited theatrical release in 2015.