My Favorite Actors

I have four favorite actors. These people are my absolute favorites! They are not what I would call "mainstream". Not that people don't know who they are, but they're not the ones plastered all over the tabloids. You don't hear people speculating if they are still married (which, all four of them are married), you don't see their mug shots from when they've been arrested for employing the services of a prostitute and you don't see them constantly spouting their political views as if being in a movie or two has now made them a political expert.

1. Matthew Macfayden: I first saw him in Joe Wright's version of Pride and Prejudice. I love that movie. He plays Darcy wonderfully, you can see his emotions in his eyes. Since I saw him in that, I have now seen him in several different movies and each one is a completely different role. In Death at a Funeral (a hilarious British comedy that came out years before the one with Chris Rock in it, but same story line) he was very funny. Seriously funny. It was great to watch his being funny and laughing, especially since Mr. Darcy, well, very rarely smiles. Most recently, he is the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood with Russell Crowe. He looks absolutely terrible in this movie. Stringy hair and just an all around terrible person. Its great to see him do so many things! Most of his career has been on stage or on the BBC, so some of his stuff is hard to come by in the US.

2. James Frain: I first saw him in Where the Heart Is with Natalie Portman. Who didn't cry when he was talking about his dead sister's funeral and he said, "I couldn't take her brown roses." I cry every time. Then I saw him in The Count of Monte Cristo a movie which I have watched many times. He plays Villefort, who is not a nice man at all and is responsible for making sure Edmond Dantes goes to prison. Frain plays it so believably and when the Count reveals his true identity to him, his reaction is so real. Its great. Frain is becoming a little more mainstream now because he is on True Blood and next will be seen on NBC's The Cape. I look forward to that.

3. Jim Caviezel: I first saw him in The Thin Red Line an amazing WW II movie with an impressive cast list. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and he was so good in it. Of course, most people saw him in The Passion of the Christ and he was so good in it. I cannot imagine what a huge undertaking that must have been for him and I know he was attacked for being in it. (By critics and by actually being struck by lightning while hanging on the cross - I still get shivers just thinking about it) But my favorite role of his is still Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo. His need for revenge can only be squelched by his love for Mercedes and the story is so moving. I loved the book and, therefore, loved this movie.

4. James McAvoy: (They're all named Jim or James! Not intentionally) I first saw him in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe as an adorable fawn named Mr. Tumnus. Who wouldn't fall in love with Mr. Tumnus? He almost cries several times in the movie and, once again, he was one of my favorie characters in the book, so, of course, he was endearing in the movie as well. Not to mention he is from Scotland and as a result has that amazing Scottish accent that I could listen to for hours! He was also in Atonement (one of my all time favorite movies - so good) The Last King of Scotland (good movie about Uganda) Wanted and Penelope. Now, I would not necessarily recommend anyone see Penelope which is a movie about a girl who is born with a pig nose. This is a result of a spell placed on a weathly, spoiled family and the only way to break the spell is for someone to love Penelope and believe in her. Long story short, Penelope (Christina Ricci) and Johnny Martin (James McAvoy) fall in love with each other, but in the end, it is Penelope's own love for herself and belief in herself that breaks the spell. The movie itself is actually pretty stupid, but Johnny Martin's love for Penelope shines through McAvoy's eyes in a way that would make any skeptic believe in the power of love.

There are my favorite actors. Some day I'll do a list of my favorite Broadway singers/actors. But, for now here is this list. :)

Football

Well, since I have had the opportunity to watch more football than any other time of the year, I thought I would post about it. I do love watching football. Seriously. I have always enjoyed it and it is even more fun now that I have learned more about the game and how its played. I really enjoy it. Now, before you get the idea that my football loving husband is the luckiest man in the world, you should know some things about how I watch football.

1. The feel good story that comes on before the game...you know, where they tell you all about the heart of the team that's about to play...that story is 100% for me. I am now a Middlebury College fan for life because for the last 50 years freshmen athletes have gone to pick up a man named Butch for every sporting event. You can see a video about it here. By the way, Middlebury College is in Vermont. I had to look it up, but I will always cheer for them just because of Butch.

2. I root for the Baltimore Ravens. Not because Ray Lewis is one of the best players of all time. But because the quarterback's name is Flacco, which reminds me of Falco, which was the name of Keanu Reeves character in the Replacements and who doesn't love Keanu Reeves, right?

3. I cry almost every time someone gets hurt. I realize that its football, but that 6'3" 350 pound pile of muscle is somebody's baby boy and she is probably sitting somewhere just praying that he's okay. I know they get paid lots of money and that is a risk you take when you play football, but I'm pretty sure that mother is not consoled by that as she waits to see if he moves his arms.

4. I tend to root for teams that are more...asthetically pleasing. If the coach and quarterback are "prettier" I usually root for them. I will always root for Tom Brady over Aaron Rodgers, especially when Tom's hair is long like it is now. It's probably wrong, but that' s just the way it is.

5. Same thing for the team colors. I will never be able to root for a team who wears bright orange and plays on a blue field. Sorry, Boise State, but it hurts my eyes. (Of course, Tennessee orange on a regular field is just fine) And, while we're on the subject, the throwback uniforms are never a good idea. Especially when you are Tampa Bay. When you changed the uniform from that hideous orange color, you started actually winning games. You should probably never wear those uniforms again. I'm just sayin'.

6. The last thing is that I sometimes want to call in and remind the commentators that, when they are commenting on these college bowl games, they are criticizing 18-22 year old kids. Actually, I felt that way this whole season for the Vols. A true freshman quarterback! Be nice to him! He's just a baby!

One last thing...Yes, I am a Tennessee fan. After that, I am an SEC fan. So, on January 10th, Go War Eagles! I mean, in what universe does a Duck bring fear? Go Auburn!