Rio Gringa Recommends

I've been reading and watching a lot of movies lately, so rather than a bunch of reviews I'll just tell you that they get the stamp of approval.

Books:

• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz. Even if you don't know Spanglish or anything about the DR, this book will rip you to shreds and make you realize how blessed you are. Plus, it won a Pulitzer.
• The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollen. I don't recommend this book if you live in the US and enjoy food, because you will never look at food the same way again. As far as non-fiction goes, it's incredibly well-written and totally fascinating, though pretty horrifying.
• The Che Handbook, by Gareth Jenkins & Hilda Barrio. ANOTHER Che book, I know. But it has more amazing photos than I've ever seen, and some really interesting historical background and quotes.

Movies:

• The Bank Job: The best of all the (new) movies I've seen recently. It's about a bank robbery and it's based on a true story and it is Awesome.
• Freedom Writers: The wonderful, amazing true story of a high school teacher in East LA who changed the lives of her students. Bring lots of tissues.
• Billy Elliott: A poor English boy learns to love ballet. I've obviously seen this before, but it never gets old. It's just as wonderful the third or fourth time around, and it's going to be a musical on Broadway in October.
• Mamma Mia: Entertaining, but wait until it comes out on DVD, and bring cocktails.
• Bride & Prejudice: An Indian-American comedy, not to be taken too seriously. I happen to be a little obsessed with Indian culture (from India, that is), second to Latin American.

TV:

• Generation Kill: A new HBO TV series based on the true story of a Marines battalion in Iraq. Bring tissues and alcohol, because it's incredibly scary to see what really went on and is going on over there.
• The Daily Show: How I missed you so, Jon Stewart.

Comments

[Priyanka]

Ugh. Bride and Prejudice. Sorry I hate Aishwarya, she's way overrated. If you want a really star studded Bollywood movie, check out Om Shanti Om, which is a new movie, but a throwback to older Bollywood, or Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham. Both have pretty much everyone big in Bollywood right now.

[Trapped in NJ No Longer]

Hehehehe, yet sth. else we have in common...
When you have a chance check out these MI classics: "Shakespeare Wallah" and "Bombay Talkie". Have you read "The God Of Small Things?"