Fables is an amazing comic book series that has been going on for a number of years. The basic premise is that all the fairy tale characters in all the lands of the earth are real. Years ago many of these characters were forced to flee from their lands when a mysterious entity known as “the Adversary” and his goblin horde invaded the homelands of various fables. Those who escaped fled through various magical gateways into our world. They occupy a portion of New York City and, for those non-human fables, a farm in New York. Both are enchanted so that humans don’t recognize them as anything but normal people. They have lived among us for a long time and they are marshalling their forces in hopes of eventually taking back their homelands.

Fables is a unique and complex story and the twists and turns the story has taken have been extremely interesting. 1001 Nights of Snowfall is an original graphic novel telling, in Arabian Nights fashion, some of the history of various fables and their forced exile by the minions of the adversary. Writer Bill Willingham chose several artists to illustrate various tales and the results are fantastic. Friday Favorites Tara McPherson(scroll down) and James Jean are but two of the artists included. As he does in the regular series, artist James Jean also did the cover art for this book. Charles Vess and Jill Thompson are also artists whose work I have admired for years and their work in the book is predictably fantastic. The book is wonderfully put together with raised lettering on the dust jacket and embossed art on the actual hardcover itself. I highly recommend both the regular series and this new volume.
_________________________

(Sorry, this is the best picture I could find)

Over the weekend Mary and I decided to watch this film that her brother lent us. With a cast composed of Minnie Driver, Rufus Sewell, and Nigel Hawthorne we figured it might be worth a viewing. I am so glad that we did as we have discovered another treasure that we have fell in love with. If you’ve read my movie reviews over the years then it is no secret that Mary and I, and even our daughter Tori, really enjoy quirky little films. Dear Frankie, Mostly Martha, Greenfingers, On a Clear Day, and Chungking Express are just a few examples of this type of film. The common denominator is simply interesting, quirky, whimsical characters. Uncorked is no different. It was released in 1998 so the look of both the actors and the film is remarkably up to date. While the title of the film would lead one to believe this is a movie about wine the fact is that wine has very little to do with the film. The connotations of mental instability associated with the word uncorked is more in keeping with the flavor of this film.

This is a bizarre little film, don’t get me wrong. It takes some time to get used to the weirdness of both the characters and the way the film is presented, but once it hits its stride Uncorked is quite an enjoyable movie. Writer-director John Huddles describes Uncorked as “a modern-day fable about what happens when your worldly ambition collides with the love of your life.” Ross (Rufus Sewell) is part of a family of transplanted Brits living on a lush, sprawling California farm and has a history of failed attempts at making something of himself. His girlfriend Kendal (Minnie Driver) is a successful business woman who, along with several other characters in the film, are enlisted by Ross’ eccentric uncle Cullen (Nigel Hawthorne) to help get Ross back on the right track.

The beauty of a movie like this is the attachment that is formed between the audience and the characters in the film. They are fun and funny yet each has a humanity that we can identify with. This film is about love and family and disgarded ambitions and second chances. It was a delight to watch. In addition to being an enjoyable script, the way in which it was shot is very interesting and the soundtrack is fantastic. Both the instrumental pieces, which are available on the Uncorked soundtrack, and the songs by Toad The Wet Sprocket, The Wild Strawberries, Grant Lee Buffalo, Tara MacLean, Barenaked Ladies, and Sarah McLachlan which sadly aren’t included on the soundtrack, are wonderful.

If you haven’t seen this film, which was released in Europe as At Sachem Farm and Tradewinds and has been on cable in the United States as Higher Love and Uncorked, then I recommend a viewing.
_________________________

And to finish up my Tuesday ramblings I want to give each and every one of you a hug today. To do so you need to go here and click on ‘free hugs’ in the post to get it. It is work safe and frankly feels like a real hug. Enjoy your Tuesday everyone!