French Twist

Dizzie: Boss, there's a Citroen convertible parked in front of Frank's house.

Lilly Faye: A what?

Dizzie: It's a French automobile. Don't you watch Top Gear, Boss?

Lilly Faye: Oh, no! Those French Bulldog sisters must be back. You remember, Diz, they made a play for Frank back in March.

Meanwhile, next door...

Mattie: Frank, as soon as we heard about your new Snack Shack on Woofer, my sister and I knew we had to pay you another visit.

Zoe: It was worth the trip! What a delicacy. We haven't had escargots prepared this well since we were in the South of France.

Mattie: Where do you source your escargots, Frank?

Mr. Frank: In the back garden, underneath the geraniums.

Zoe: You're not only hot, Frank, you're resourceful. I like that.

Ceecee: Did you girls also hear that Frank is engaged to be married?

Mattie: But there's still time to sow a few wild oats, right, Frank?

Mr. Frank: Gulp!

The Chef Is Always Right

Dizzie: What's going on, Boss?

Lilly Faye: Frank is selling snacks out of his bedroom window.

Mr. Frank: It's a walk-up restaurant. It's just for the summer.

Dizzie: Cool!

Mr. Frank: What can I get you?

Dizzie: Have you got anything with avocados? I love avocados.

Mr. Frank: I've got a whole-grain toast with wasabi mayonnaise, sliced avocado, and crumbled bacon.

Dizzie: Great. I'll take one of those, but with plain mayo. I can't stand wasabi.

Lilly Faye: It's true. We found that out the hard way.

Mr. Frank: No adjustments or substitutions. As a gourmet chef, I can't compromise my artistic culinary vision.

Dizzie: Haven't you heard, the customer is always right?

Mr. Frank: That'll be twelve dollars.

Dizzie: Twelve dollars! What kind of restaurant is this?

Lilly Faye: An expensive one.

Mr. Frank's New Business Venture

Mr. Frank: Welcome to Frankie's Snack Shack.

Lilly Faye: You're running a drive-thru restaurant out of your bedroom window now, Frank?

Mr. Frank: It's a walk-up, not a drive-thru. It's just for the summer. What'll you have, Doll?

Lilly Faye: I guess it is rather convenient, since you're located right next door. I'll have a vanilla soft serve in a cone, please.

Mr. Frank: I'm a gourmet chef, I don't do plain vanilla cones. I've got Watermelon Pistachio, Jalapeno Lime, or Carrot Cardamon in a dish.

Lilly Faye: Oh. Well, I guess I'll take Watermelon Pistachio, then.

Mr. Frank: That'll be twelve dollars.

Lilly Faye: Twelve dollars! That's highway robbery! I'm your fiancee, shouldn't I get a break?

Mr. Frank: Sorry, Doll. If we're gonna get married, I've gotta earn some extra cash.

Lilly Faye: Grrrr....

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Still Alice, starring Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, and Alec Baldwin

Dear Readers,

In Still Alice, Julianne Moore plays a professor of linguistics diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease at age 50. Still Alice does a good job of showing the progression and the devastating effects of the disease from both the patient's and the family's point of view. Of course, no movie can fully portray the prolonged heartbreak the disease causes in real life.

The movie is based on the novel, Still Alice, written by Lisa Genova, who has a Ph.D in Neuroscience.

Julianne Moore has won many awards for her performance in this movie, including a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Academy Award.

Dizzie: She did an excellent job, but the role was well within her capabilities. I don't think it was a big stretch for her, Boss.

Lilly Faye: That's what happens with an actor as good as Julianne Moore, Diz. She makes it look effortless. I thought she gave a moving and sensitive performance.

The real surprise was Kristen Stewart, who plays Alice's youngest daughter. This was her best performance, by far. Maybe she learned a thing or two from working with Julianne Moore.

Frank, please tell everyone what you made for dinner.

Mr. Frank: Pan-fried sockeye salmon sauced with brown butter, capers, and slivered almonds. I served it with new potatoes, and a wedge salad consisting of iceberg lettuce, avocado, and dried cranberries, topped with blue cheese dressing.

Dizzie: I'm sorry, Frank. I don't get the excitement over wedge salad. It's just a big chunk of iceberg lettuce.

Mr. Frank: It's a mid-century classic that's back in style. Huff.

Alfie Cat: I loved the salmon, and the whipped cream on the fresh berry parfait.

Dizzie: I missed my chips. Why can't we have chips every night?

Lilly Faye: I loved every bite of the entire meal, Frank.

Mr. Frank: Thanks, Doll.

Lilly Faye: You can watch the trailer for the movie by clicking here:  Still Alice.

Time to rate the movie, boys!

Dizzie: I give it One and a Half Paws Up!

Mr. Frank: Two Paws Up! I liked that many of the scenes revolved around food.

Alfie Cat: Two Paws Up! I stuck around for it, so it must be good.

Lilly Faye: Two Paws Up! The acting was excellent all around.

Dear Readers,

Still Alice is very well done, and definitely worth seeing if you're a teenager or an adult. I don't think younger children would get much out of it.

While it isn't an uplifting film due to its subject matter, Still Alice isn't nearly as grim as I expected it to be, either.

Love,

Lilly Faye

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Big Eyes, starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz

Dear Readers,

Big Eyes is the true story of artist Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), and her second husband, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz). Walter was a consummate salesman who took public credit for Margaret's work.

Margaret's paintings of sad waifs with oversized eyes were a cultural phenomenon in the 1960s. Big Eyes is about Margaret's journey from a meek, shy woman dominated by Walter, to a self-confident woman who finally stands up for herself, laying claim to her life's work and reputation. I won't give away how Margaret does that, but it's my favorite scene in the movie!

Big Eyes is directed by Tim Burton, who has long been a collector of Margaret Keane's work.

Dizzie: In addition to her famous waifs, Margaret Keane also painted many portraits of cats and dogs, Boss!

Lilly Faye: That's right, Diz. Also, there's a pretty Toy Poodle in the movie.

You can watch the trailer for the movie here:  Big Eyes

Amy Adams won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Margaret, and Christoph Waltz was nominated for his portrayal of Walter.

Lana Del Rey also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. You can hear it here: Lana Del Rey--Big Eyes

Lilly Faye: Frank, tell everybody what you made for our movie night dinner.

Mr. Frank: Shrimp and Orzo with fresh tomatoes and basil, lemon broccoli, and garlic bread.

Alfie Cat: What did that have to do with the movie?

Mr. Frank: Nothing. But I got a good deal on the shrimp.

Lilly Faye: For anyone wondering how closely the movie hews to the truth, here is an excellent October 2014 interview with Margaret Keane in The Guardian newspaper:  The big-eyed children: the extraordinary story of an epic art fraud

Lilly Faye: I can't imagine letting anyone else take credit for writing the blog. It's the expression of my own creativity, and I pour my heart and soul into it.

Time to rate the movie, boys!

Dizzie: Two Paws Up! It made me want to find out more about the truth behind the movie.

Mr. Frank: Two Paws Up! As both a chef and a tuba player, I like stories about the artist's struggle.

Alfie: I'm abstaining. I left the room as soon as the shrimp was gone.

Lilly Faye: Two Paws Up! The actors did a great job, and I loved the 1950s and '60s fashions. I only wish I'd tried out for the role of Margaret's Toy Poodle.

Dear Readers,

Big Eyes is a fascinating look at the true story behind a cultural phenomenon, and a heartening story of a woman learning to stand up for herself. I recommend it.

Love,

Lilly Faye