NortonMANIA 2010

Edward Norton‘s birthday has come and gone, and you may have been surprised at the lack of Norton posts on our blog this year. Well, we did things a little differently. Our family/congregation took the entire month of August “off”. We didn’t host anything here, as far as I can remember. Hence, the NortonMANIA film festival was not open to the public. Because of this, we decided to try some new flicks this year. It went as follows:

• Sunday, August 15: NortonMANIA kick-off with Rounders (Miramax Films 1998, starring Edward Norton, Matt Damon, and John Malkovich; rated R).
• Monday, August 16: Keeping the Faith (Spyglass Entertainment 2000, starring Edward Norton, Ben Stiller, and Jenna Elfman; rated PG-13).
• Tuesday, August 17: The Italian Job (Paramount Pictures 2003, starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Edward Norton; rated PG-13).
• Thursday, August 19: The Incredible Hulk (Universal Pictures 2008, starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, and Tim Roth; rated PG-13).
• Friday, August 20: 25th Hour (25th Hour Productions 2002, starring Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Barry Pepper; rated R).

That’s two old and three new films for the year. We had only seen The Italian Job and The Incredible Hulk, so we got to see some different roles for Edward this time around. Unfortunately, we turned off Rounders after about 30 minutes. 25th Hour made it to about the 40-minute mark, but had to be turned off then as well. Rounders tanked on language and sleazy quality (the language was seeping through our TV Guardian – not good). 25th Hour was dark, depressing, and quiet. Plus, it looked like Edward Norton started ad-libbing some profanity into the script. Keeping the Faith, on the other hand, was absolutely hilarious, and I look forward to seeing it again. It was probably especially funny to us because we practice Judaism.

Special thanks to the Spurlock family for hosting a night of NortonMANIA in their home. We enjoyed seeing The Incredible Hulk, complete with movie snacks and a scary-looking green drink, to set the mood. Good times.

It seems Edward Norton’s films are either very good or very bad, much like the little girl with the curl. Here’s a snapshot of our take on Norton movies:

Favorites:
 - The Painted Veil
 - The Italian Job
 - The Incredible Hulk
 - The Score
 - The Illusionist
 - Keeping the Faith

Not Recommended:
 - Rounders
 - 25th Hour
 - Pride & Glory
 - Kingdom of Heaven
 - American History X
 - Fight Club
 - The People vs. Larry Flynt
 - Frida
[I'll be honest with you, though: we haven't actually seen American History X, Fight Club, The People vs. Larry Flynt or Frida - but I've heard unpleasant things about all of them.]

If you’re up for something really freaky, see Primal Fear, starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Edward Norton. It’s one of Norton’s most shocking roles.

We are so disappointed to hear that Edward Norton will not be returning as Bruce Banner in The Avengers. We thought he did a magnificent job playing Banner in The Incredible Hulk. However, we do still look forward to next year’s NortonMANIA, which may include Everbody Says I Love You, Red Dragon, The Invention of Lying, and Leaves of Grass.

Happy birthday, Ed. Thanks for the great films, and try not to swear so often, will you?

NortonMANIA 2009

by Julianna Squicciarini

It’s that time again! Edward Norton’s birthday is fast approaching. For the uninitiated, The Annual Norton Film Festival (TANFF) is an annual celebration surrounding actor Edward Norton’s birthday on August 18. We spend the week watching Norton flicks and enjoying his stellar onscreen performance. Some of the movies we are watching this year will be open to the public, and we would love to have you join us! Our schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, August 15: TANFF kick-off with a private viewing of The Painted Veil (2006, starring Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, and Edward Norton; rated PG-13). Sorry, this event is not open to the public.
• Sunday, August 16: No movie.
  
• Monday, August 17: Private viewing of Pride and Glory (2008, starring Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, and Edward Norton; rated R). Sorry, this event is not open to the public, as we have not yet seen this movie.
• Tuesday, August 18: Private commemoration of the Norton birthday to be held at The Residence. This event is by invitation only unless you are already present for other reasons.
  
• Wednesday, August 19: The Score (2001, starring Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, and Edward Norton; rated R). By invitation only – seating will be limited. Should you be privileged to receive one of our exclusive invitations, please be sure to bring your own favorite movie snack. We will provide the popcorn. The movie will begin promptly at 7:30pm.
• Thursday, August 20: Public viewing of The Illusionist (2006, starring Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, and Edward Norton; rated PG-13). This film will be shown theater-style and is open to the public. Please bring your favorite movie snack. As usual, we will provide the popcorn. The movie will begin promptly at 7:30pm, so we recommend arriving earlier to get a good seat.
• Friday, August 21: Private viewing of The Incredible Hulk (2008, starring Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and Edward Norton; rated PG-13). Sorry, this event is not open to the public.

If you have questions about TANFF or would like to reserve a place, please email norton@quo.cc.

And G-d Was Watching: Top 7 New Traditions of 2008

1. Dinner parties
Frequency: monthly
Started: January 2008
Details: the story of this tradition is like a match – it started off with an enthusiastic flame in January when we had the brilliant idea to have a different couple over for dinner each month, as a complete surprise to our parents, accompanied by incredibly gourmet food… and it worked out splendidly for the first two months!… but by March things had started to burn down a little, and it was kind of scorching our fingers, the way matches do when you have that one last candle to light but no matter how hard you try it’s just not going to happen… and by April the dying ember was officially out, leaving behind the stub of a used match and a wisp of smoke… reminding us of its former glory.
In other words, once the summer entertaining started, we lost track of the formal dinner parties. So this is a tradition which both started and ended in 2008.

<insert moment of silence>

<on to more cheerful thoughts>

2. Valentine’s Day Lunch
Frequency: annual
Started: February 2008
Details: Julianna hosted a girls luncheon at Maggiano’s in Southpark for Valentine’s Day, which received rave reviews from the young women in attendence. The luncheon featured three female speakers, each with a different perspective on “romance. ” She’s decided to repeat the event in 2009 with an unexpected twist… but I’m not allowed to give it away.

3. Spring Beach Trip
Frequency: annual
Started: Spring 2008
Details: this tradition might be the family favorite… get this: early in the year, before Passover starts all the spring holy days, instead of having a large Purim party like we ALWAYS do, we covertly left town and escaped to the beach. When the holiday arrived, instead of making a guest list, deciding on a menu, and cleaning the house, we were walking on the sand, lying in the sun… savoring a few days of complete peace and quiet. We justified our “desertion” as a well-deserved break from throwing parties all year long. So for Purim 2009, don’t expect to see us around. We’ll be at an undisclosed location… somewhere on the east coast.

4. A special addition to Pesach
Frequency: annual
Started: April 2008
Details: a new element was introduced to our seder this year… something heretofore never a part of our traditional meal… an innovative way to recall a familiar taste.

I know you’re dying of suspense.

We filled our seder table with bowls of wasabi peas…

(and then gleefully fed them to small children. :O ) It was a cool way to enjoy the distinctive horseradish flavor and we’re DEFINITELY having those again next time! 

5. EXCEL Reunion
Frequency: TBD, annual or biennial
Started: June 2008
Details: Team #1 from EXCEL 28 had our first reunion, at the DMC in Dallas TX… where it all started. We’re spread out all over the country, so it was fantastic to be back together again. Just thinking about EXCEL makes me feel like a stronger, more confident person. That place is not for the faint of heart. Seeing the other girls is like greeting distant relatives… as if we’re connected, on a “heart” level. <3

6. Nortonmania
Frequency: annual
Started: August 2008
Details: Although we aren’t (well, try not to be!) caught up in celebrity allure, it’s undeniable that as a family we appreciate movies. We could probably teach a course in film appreciation (starting with, what else, The Godfather, of course) based on what we’ve seen over the years. It wouldn’t be a comprehensive course because we’re not into horror films (too macabre) or slapstick physical comedies (too juvenile). But I digress… TANFF [The Annual Norton Film Festival] began as a tribute to one of our favorite actors, Edward Norton, by commemorating his birthday, and quickly developed from there into a week-long event filled with Norton trivia, quotes, and film commentary. Mark your calendars for TANFF 2009, beginning August 18.

7. ACES Bristol Trip
Frequency: annual
Started: December 2008
Details: for ten years, my sisters and I had a sleepover on Christmas Eve in our rec room. It was a big deal when we were little… that was the age when it’s actually 1) comfortable to sleep on the floor and 2) natural to wake up way too early in the morning. We loved this tradition… and it acquired Squicciarini lore over the years, rising in the hierarchy of family customs, attaining eminence and stature, until for us it was quite on par with, say, standing for the Hallelujah Chorus in Handel’s Messiah.

But…

This year, since we’re practically all “in our twenties” as my father indirectly referenced us the other day, (!) we found it was time to alter the accepted norm. As it turned out, we had the chance to spend a few days together by ourselves at a lovely home in Bristol VA, a serene retreat from the holiday bustle. Although we haven’t told the house owners yet, we plan to return there every December for the continuation of our new and improved ACES tradition.

Shouldn’t be a problem… grandparents are nice that way.

Nortonmania

Today, 18 August 2008, is Edward Norton’s 39th birthday. We are celebrating the occasion with a week-long festival, beginning tonight. Tuesday through Friday we will be showing a different Norton film each evening at the Residence. TANFF (The Annual Norton Film Festival) is open to the public; movies will begin promptly at 7.30pm. Below is a schedule and description of each event:

• Monday 18 August: TANFF opening ceremony, sponsored by Mysteries Al Fresco
• Tuesday 19 August: The Italian Job (2003) starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, and Edward Norton. Rated PG-13.
• Wednesday 20 August: The Painted Veil (2006) starring Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, and Edward Norton. Rated PG-13.
• Thursday 21 August: The Illusionist (2006) starring Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, and Edward Norton. Rated PG-13.
• Friday 22 August: The Score (2001) starring Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, and Edward Norton. Rated R.

Consider this your invitation to come watch Edward Norton shine onscreen throughout the week. Coffee included!

 

For Norton biography, trivia, quotes, filmography, and pictures, check out IMDb.