December 2008

"Marley & Me"

Rated PG Directed by David Frankel Starring Owen Wilson, Jennifer Anniston, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, Haley Bennett Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 4 Word of Warning: Dog lovers should bring tissue.   Most people read this book months, if not years ago.   I, however, had barely finished it when the movie adoption arrived in theaters last weekend, so unlike most, the “real” story was fresh in my mind.   Read the

My favorite Christmas movies

I think a lot of Christmas movies are corny.   I avoid any “Made of Television – Hallmark”  holiday movie.  However, there are a few Christmas movies I watch every year, and some I don’t watch annually, but are still on  my favorites list. “A Christmas Story” (1983) – I’ve been watching this movie every Christmas for years now,  and it’s easily my all-time favorite Christmas movie. Set in the

Troy Cook, local man of mystery

Article originally published in the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, December 3, 2008. By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer As a former resident of the Tinsletown, Troy Cook worked as a child actor and eventually went to work as a cameraman and then movie director. He wrote and directed movies for fifteen years and his work took him all over the world, including crime-ridden Russia. Loveland, Colorado is a long way from the bright lights

"The Day the Earth Stood Still"

Rated PG13 Directed by Scott Derrickson Starring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Jaden Christopher Smith Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 1 Word of Warning: Run, don’t walk away from the theater.   This movie represents a modern day twist on the original “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951). In the first version, an alien visits earth to warn the humans about their impending doom if they cannot abandon

Movie Review of "Australia" - Where's the real beef?

Rated PG13 Directed by Baz Lurhmann Starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 2.5 Word of Warning: This is a really long movie and it feels really long.   “Australia” is a big movie, about a big country, with a big history. It strives to be a love story, an historical drama, a war movie, an epic – unfortunately, these attempts at grandeur

Meet author Troy Cook

I recently had the opportunity to interview mystery writer, Troy Cook. His first book, “47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers,” has been nominated for numerous awards and  the film rights to the book  were recently bought by FilmColony. Cook’s  second book, “The One Minute Assassin” is in bookstores now.   His  third book, “The Criminal  Next Door,”  is due out  next summer.   Read my entire article on Cook,

Put a party in your stocking!

 It’s finally here!   In stores now –  perhaps one of the best stocking stuffers ever – at least for my group of friends!   Want a signed copy?   Meet author Michael Guerriero at the following book signings: Saturday, Dec. 13th, from 4pm to 7pm, Centerra  Mall  (Barnes & Noble) Sunday, Dec. 14th, from 1pm to 4pm, Foothills Mall (B. Daulton) Saturday, Jan. 10th, from 2pm to 5pm, Fort