directed by Lawrence Kasdan (1981)

I was a little surprised to learn that the neo-noir Body Heat was not adapted from a 1940’s novel by Block or Woolrich but an original story written by director Lawrence Kasdan, who has in the middle of a career high with Raiders of the Lost Ark and Empire Strikes Back behind him and The Big Chill and Return of the Jedi about to come. The story is a pitch perfect steamy noir set in foggy, sweaty Florida with a charming ladies man lawyer and a sultry femme fatale as the players, with just one pesky husband in the way.

Also perfect is the cast. You may not know it if all you’re familiar with is her early morning cursing, but Turner has the kind of womanly venom of a bad girl with a great body that is hard to find in actresses today. She eats men alive, makes them thank her for it and think it was all their idea in the first place. One of her best lines in the film is “You’re not too smart are you? I like that in a man.” Which, as a side note, is what my friend Bill used to say fit my choice in Junior High School boyfriends.

William Hurt, who again if you’re only familiar with the past couple years of roles as concerned Presidents (Vantage Point) or some father figure in the other Hulk movie no one saw, might surprise you with his sexual affability and greasy charisma. In lesser roles, it’s nice to see Ted Danson and Mickey Rourke round things out.

This is a steamy affair with tons of sex scenes and Chandler-esque dialogue. Perfect for one of these heat wave nights and available from netflix instant.

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by Dengue Fever (2003)

We’re big fans of the psychedelic Cambodian pop band Dengue Fever and I have previously recommended their slightly more modern release Venus on Earth. Their exploration of authentic classic Cambodian pop – the fun, danceable and energetic tracks make this debut album, Dengue Fever remarkably enjoyable. Not only are Los Angelians Zac and Ethan Holtzman bringing a genre that was sadly demolished with the rise of Pol Pot back to audiences, the incomparable Chhom Nimol (aside from giving Jim hot pants) brings the classic songs to vivid life. I love when songs from this album come up randomly on my ipod, they add a bit of the 1960’s cinematics to your day. Many of the songs make me feel like I should be in a wild set piece for a Seijun Suzuki movie (which is a great way to feel). They are also pretty spectacular to see live and do so in California often for those that live on the West Coast.

372 Graham Avenue

I think most of us grew up on Americanized versions of ethnic cuisines. Not to say that what many of us think of as “Mexican” is necessarily a bad thing (I still sneak away to Taco Bell now and then) but it takes restaurants like Mesa Coyoacan to open ones eyes to a whole other side of authentic flavors. Chef/owner Ivan Garcia grew up in Mexico City and says he’s brought the recipes of his grandparents with him.

I started my first visit with beef and avocado tacos and sampled Jim’s smoked pork chop tacos. Both were truly excellent and worth ordering again, though with a menu that offers so many intriguing options, I’ll probably prefer to try them all first. They offered a refreshing Jamaica agua fresca, which I was just introduced to last week but the special jalapeno infused margarita was screaming out for me (the baby in my belly won out though and I stuck to the juice).

It was too dim to take any decent photos, which is a shame because they would have made your mouth water. It’s worth noting that this will cost you more than your average Mexican joint (though with good reason) and the exterior is a little off putting but don’t be discouraged.

546 Broadway

Take note bold men of fashion: Uniqlo is currently selling the most adorable bright, sometimes neon sock and I think you should get some. Four pairs for ten dollars, how can you resist? Especially since it’s always tough to add a touch of color to men’s outfits in a great way.

on AMC

Many television shows lately are called “hard hitting” and “relentless” but Breaking Bad, which is far from the Weeds-like drug dealing comedy one might expect truly deserves these descriptors. I am shocked then, that no one really talks about how, well, crazy this show is. I’ve heard it’s good, but without a mention of melting human bodies and an extremely depressing subplot about dying from cancer.

That all the severe tension and heavy stuff mixed with totally gruesome events can result in anything called entertainment is impressive, but Breaking Bad does one better and offers high quality entertainment due in no small part to the cast and the writing. It took me a couple episodes to be on board, but it’s strangely compelling once you’re into it.

You know I love Bryan Cranston and even more so now with his demented adventures and bald head. I am also glad to see he is type cast as an extremely horny man with plenty of sex scenes with his wife who is played by the uptight school teaching wife of Bullock on Deadwood (her name). Also stolen from Deadwood? the nearly identical theme song making the short lived foul mouthed show possibly the least watched by viewers and most revered by casting agents and producers.

I’ve only seen the first season and look forward to the rest, which fans say only get better.

Click here for the rest of Breaking Bad

Puffy Pancake

Puffy and slightly custardy, my friend Shaun bakes a mean Dutch Baby, a breakfast treat that we concluded must be simply called “Our Children” in Holland. While Shaun’s recipe is his own, you could probably safely start with this Alton Brown one then add in any fruits you desire – we had fresh blueberries.

by Bret Easton Ellis (2005)

I can kind of understand why some Bret Easton Ellis fans told me not to bother with Lunar Park. It’s a love it or leave it (The Boston Globe said it may be the worst novel I’ve ever read) book that really depends on how much you’re willing to go with him on a journey, not fueled by sexy young things, drugs and privilege (well, OK there is a bit of that) but on a journey that most closely resembles Poltergeist meets faux self loathing. Yes, Ellis has pretty much created a straight up horror summer reading book with loads of meta meta meta.

The main character is Bret Easton Ellis, and while most of his life story and persona are true, the skyrocketing fame and parties of the real Ellis are well known, much of the biography of this “Bret Easton Ellis” is purely made up. (I was one of the clueless who looked up the book version of Bret Easton Ellis’ girlfriend, Jayne Dennis to see if she was real – she’s as real as Dorsia – which I also looked up). He is a world famous, controversial author now living the suburban life with his wife, her daughter, and his estranged son while reluctantly teaching at his alma mater and trying to carry on affairs with his students.

There’s cocaine, there’s alcohol, there’s clever cynicism.. even Jay McInerney shows up – but the book takes on something entirely new for Ellis when the McMansion he lives in starts to show signs of being possessed. Lights begin to flicker, footsteps burn themselves into the carpeting, a Furby like doll turns animals inside out, and a hairy creature crawls up the stairs. Patrick Bateman , the serial killer from American Psycho also makes an appearance – killing locals based on the novel and young neighborhood boys are (willfully?) disappearing. I’m not surprised that he says the book was an homage to Stephen King because it shares much more with those genre books than I think most fans were interested in.

It’s sometimes complicated, sometimes melodramatic, often cinematic (you can easily see many of the scenes played out in a movie) and definitely surreal but it’s mostly about the pain of bad father and son relationships. Well, that and violent ghosts.

Best to enter this one without expectations and a love for the horror book genre.

Tragic Hollywood Star

The incredibly handsome Montgomery Clift was nothing if not tragic. His gradual decline after a face altering accident was called “the longest suicide in Hollywood history” which was fueled by alcohol, bisexual affairs, and drug abuse. Certainly not the most sunny life, but his career included some searing performances which he brought an element of internal turmoil to. I have always loved the movie A Place in the Sun and his performance (along with the amazing Shelley Winters and Elizabeth Taylor) is spectacular and quietly intense. Other stand outs are Suddenly, Last Summer and Judgement at Nuremberg and he was supposed to play the lead in Sunset Boulevard (the role went to William Holden due to scheduling conflicts).

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Unique Beauty and Renaissance Woman

Isabella Rossellini is so inspiring in her fierce individuality. She does the projects she wants to do and always with grace and humor. Whether starring in a David Lynch film, making short films about animal mating habits, or guest starring as the Arby’s roast beef loving ex of Jack on 30 Rock, Rossellini is constantly entertaining and one of our most interesting beauties – a woman who puts the rail thin vacant eyed stars of current young Hollywood to shame.

Most recently she’s been lending her eye to a line of Bvlgari handbags that are lined with her own snail print design. While I can not dream of affording the simple but slightly funky bags, I love that she’s making them and keeping her career interesting.

If you want to have a mini Isabella festival I recommend Blue Velvet, The Saddest Music in the World, and her Green Porno series and go ahead and throw in one of my favorites of her mother, Ingmar Bergman’s filmography, Gaslight.

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