PX This.

Oh sure, you wanna complain about the heat. (Or your job that you hate. Or that dickhead customer last night. Or your stupid, cracked-out General Manager. Or…)

Well, have I got a better idea for you! Maybe you need a little pick-me-up. A little ray of hope. A story (or two) that will make you thankful for your blessed life again and restore your faith in the strength, resilience, and beauty of humankind. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

Do yourself a favor and watch both Rabbit-Proof Fence and The Great Match. And remind yourself how wonderful life is. (Then go out and celebrate— in a place with a really great air conditioner.)

:)

There seems to be a bit of controversy lately over our recent recommendation of La Esquina as the place at "the top of [the] list" to dine as a "hip and savvy local," should one happen to have a single night’s visit to NYC. It seems that the latest "changes" at La Esquina may not exactly be for the best (despite The NY Post’s rumination / elaboration-of-our-story over the speculative liability of "former" partner Serge Becker’s “incorrectly reported” involvement).

Whew! That was a mouthful!

In any case, while we ponder the significance of the ongoing developments at La Esquina and the prospect of updating our suggestions, might I suggest you watch Antoine Fuqua’s Brooklyn’s Finest. Sure, the plot may be a little tedious and slightly convoluted, but who wouldn’t want to behold La Esquina in all its fictional fabulosity? (Also, Wass Stevens is in it.)

Yeah, that’s the ticket.

On recommendation from a friend, I finally took a stab at Korean "revenge classic," Old Boy. And—

Oh boy.
What can I even possibly say? Was this the most riveting, eye-popping, "bugged out" movie I have ever seen in my life? Yes. Yes, it was.

Watch it. That is all. Thank you.

I don’t know about you, but with all the crap going on in the world today, I could really use a return to blessed innocence. To that end, my newest movie recommendation is Valentin, a boy who "believes his family has problems only he can solve."
Oh Valentin, if only you could so deftly solve the Gulf Coast oil spill, or the strife in Korea, or the violence in Jamaica, or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict…

Go ahead, do like I did— grab your favorite teddy bear and a bottle of vodka, turn off your brain cells and snuggle up to watch Valentin. It just may make you feel warm and hopeful again. At least for a minute…

Is it still Kiss Me, I’m Asian Month? Because that would be a great lead-in for my latest film recommendation. Not that I need an excuse, however, as The King of Masks is undoubtedly one of the best, most poignant movies I’ve ever seen in my life.

So, what more can I possibly say? You’ll be amazed.

Rarely has a restaurant-themed movie been as hilarious, moving and sagacious as Spain’s Fuera de Carta aka Chef’s Special. Watch it for the uproarious laughs— and to behold one of the most gorgeous commercial kitchens you’ve ever seen in your life! But, keep watching it to appreciate what happens to Xantarella, the movie’s Michelin-star-obsessed chic and sophisticated eatery, as protagonist "Maxi" strives to live happily ever after.

Brava, Fuera de Carta! As quoted from PX This – The Revised Edition: "You know your shit…" (Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if everyone did?)

So, I know it’s been a while since I recommended any movies with F&B related themes. Well, I just found one! OK, so it’s not exactly F&B "related," but the scenery contains some of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever seen. Some of the exterior scenes are stunning as well. On top of that, the story is warm, engaging, endearing and beautiful. And it’s funny, too!

What more could you possibly ask for?

Watch If You Are the One. This month, it’s this film that’s undoubtedly The One for me.

:)

You’re sagacious, contemplative and yet humorous, right? Of course you are; that’s why you appreciate PX This so much, right?!

Well, my latest Netflix recommendation will have you rolling in the aisles on your living room carpet. What better way to celebrate tolerate the farcical proficiency of our federal goverment than to roll on the floor streaming tears of frustration laughter?

Watch In the Loop. You’ll be aghast glad you did.

:)

Art vs Commerce is undoubtedly a prevalent and consistent underlying theme in PX This, the upcoming PX This Too and pxthis.com. But you already knew that, right? That’s one of the reasons you appreciate them so!

With that in mind, my next Netflix recommendation is My Kid Could Paint That. It will delight, amaze, and horrify you. What more could you want in a film?

Sin Nombre

Here’s another one dedicated to all the unsung heroes of the F&B/Hospitality industries… and our brutisher Y-chromosome fan club! Hooray!

I loved this film, and so will you.

:)

The Good Thief, Layer Cake, and L’Empire des Loups

Well! Who would have thought the "Netflix This" feature would have so many fans with such raging testosterone? After our last recommendation of Bad Influence, suddenly Y chromosomes started coming out of the woodwork. It seems most of our suggestions have had a decidedly "pussyish" "feminine" bent, but it certainly was never our intention to neglect the brutisher sex. Settle down there, boys! I got something for you, too:
The Good Thief, Layer Cake, and L’Empire des Loups (not necessarily in that order).

You will absolutely love them. Trust me. So call Domino’s, grab a six-pack, snuggle into your Lazy-Boy and enjoy!
But don’t forget to take out the trash first.

ha ahaa look! it’s john-gulager and diane-goldner. how awesome is this:

whoa time out wait a second, you haven’t seen Feast yet?! how is that possible? PX This and Feast are like totally cosmically connected. haven’t you been paying any attention at all? what are you even doing here? what kind of half assed koreshian cultist are you?

it’s time for you to sit down and watch Feast. yah, all three of them. have a marathon. just in time for the holidays! yay!

Earlier [archived]:

• "check it, it’s diane-goldner [john-gulager's wifey. remember them?] in her fierce geld-iaz dress!"

Remember Bad Influence?

No?!
Well, do you remember the ostentation and decadence of the 90’s? Do you remember when nightclubs used to be cool? Do you remember when parties were glamorous and fun? Do you remember how you once had a huge crush on Rob Lowe? Do you remember James Spader?

Watch Bad Influence again to reminisce about all those things. (Oh yeah, and the story is pretty enthralling, too, remember?)

I’m running out of great films to recommend! What to do, what to do… Oh, I know! I’ll just inquire of other people which films they’d recommend. And to keep it all in the spirit of PX This, I’ll ask some of the aficionados and arbiters in and around the F&B/Nightlife industry! Won’t that be fun? Here we go!

Hey, Serge Becker! How’s about a good Netflix recommendation?

“…Sometimes, the way being in the industry has made me feel lately, I’d say… watch The Lives of Others. Yeah, definitely watch that one.”

Thanks! OK, will do!

Yeah so I wracked my brain trying to think of a nice, warm-hearted, feel-good movie to recommend for the holiday, but LOL!— I couldn’t come up with a single one (you haven’t already seen). So perhaps try: The Valet.

It’s funny!
Ya know, just in case you don’t really feel like watching football or whatever this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gooble.

See you Monday! :)

Since it’s "scrappy liitle fucker" Filipino Appreciation Week here at PX This, my latest Netflix recommendation is Scratch. Originally suggested to me by an amazing "scrappy little fucker" Filipina friend, I marvelled at performances by ("scrappy little fucker" Filipino) Beastie Boys’ ‘Mike D,’ widely credited with inventing the "scratch" turntablism genre, and ("scrappy little fucker" Filipino) DJ Qbert, whom you will believe is using his art form to "communicate with aliens."

Belated congratulations to Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, who, last weekend, single-handedly elevated a nation’s faith and optimism in the wake of its prevalent devastating typhoons, pervasive poverty and political/theological turmoil.

Scratch is a testimony to the unconventional beauty and brilliance found in all aspects of life. Hopefully, its ebullience will inspire you, too.