Marky Mark is now a suburban dad & accountant

I saw The Lovely Bones today, and Mark Wahlberg was a revelation. He played the father who loses his oldest daughter and must solve her murder, must avenge her. It's not machismo that drives him, it's love ... and guilt that he couldn't protect Susie when she was alive. His devotion, confusion and grief are palpable and moving.

And unexpected. I have never been that impressed by his acting before. I thought he was appropriately ridiculous as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. He left little impression on me in The Departed -- to me, that movie was about Leo and Matt. But his performance in The Lovely Bones will stay with me.

Stanley Tucci is just as good as his opposite number, the monster who rapes and murders 14-year-old Susie. The scenes between Susie and her neighbor are genuinely harrowing, if not graphic.

I realize this film hasn't gotten very good reviews and I can see why. Peter Jackson's depiction of "In Between" and Heaven are both more visual than spiritual and struck me as superficial. Without a compelling and soulful search for serenity within Susie's heaven, the movie is overwhelmingly sad. And kinda pointless.

Except for the touching portrayal of a man who really loves his daughter.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Trivia About Me Meme

Opening…

Do you get regular massages? I try to get one every 30 to 60 days. My shoulders get soooooo tight from all the time I spend on the computer, and as I get older, I worry more and more about long-term damage to my shoulder/spine/ribs alignment.

Do you have an answering machine? Voicemail.

What cuss word do you use the most? Fuck. It's vulgar but it doesn't take the Lord's name in vain. Also, it's very flexible. (As in that old story about a sailor describing his unseaworthy ship by saying, "The fucking fucker's fucked.")

Are you underweight or overweight? I'm a tub of guts.

Can you see your veins? Yes. I hope to get the ones on my legs repaired a bit this spring.

Favorite…

Soap? Dove

Fruit? Banana

Kind of red meat? Ribeye steak

Fish? Salmon

Candy bar? It changes. Right now, Snickers

Have You Ever…

Eaten a whole bag of potato chips? Of course.

Eaten lobster? Yum. Yes.

Climbed a mountain? If climbing the half mile to the top of Hot Springs Mountain and then up the Observation Tower counts, then yes.

Been skydiving? No. But I may. Sounds fun.

Been water skiing? No. Sorry, but it doesn't interest me.

Do You…

Wish you could change something about your life? Goodness, yes! So many things.

Like your nose? Yes. It's turned up and cute.

Like salt and vinegar chips? No.

Eat salsa? No. I don't like spicy food.

Own a boat? No. They sound like a lot of work, but I wish I had a friend who had a boat.

What Is…

A small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences? Cell phones while driving

Your most macho trait? My high pain threshold
The longest relationship you’ve ever had? Almost 8 years

Your most embarrassing thoughts? No comment. Too embarrassing.

Your most shameful moment? I said something very cruel to someone because I was angry. I regretted it the moment it came out.

This/That…

Bath/Shower? Shower most mornings. Bath when I shave my legs.

Markers/Crayons? Wow! As a grown-up, I don't get much opportunity to use either anymore.

Pens/Pencils? Pencils. I change my mind a lot.

Jelly/Cream Cheese? Yes, please. I like them both.

Bagel/Toast? Yes, please. I like bagels and cream cheese and toast with jelly.

Finish…

My greatest weakness is… my lack of discipline

I wish I was… pretty.

Three things I wouldn’t do for a million dollars are… (1) Kill a person; (2) Kill a critter -- insects don't count; (3) Drink coffee every day -- I HATE COFFEE!

The oddest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth is… Judging by the looks I got from the vendor, catsup on my hotdog at the ballpark

Firsts…
Credit card you had? A Harris Bank Visa

Loan you got was for? I used a financing plan for a stereo to establish a credit history

Paycheck was for how much? $108.66

Time you had stitches? I had suspicious moles removed from my back when I was still in preschool. I remember the doctor let me bring my unsanitary but very dear plush Lassie dog with me for the procedure.

Time you went to the hospital for something? I fell down the stairs and broke my clavicle when I was about 6.

Lasts…

List everything you ate in the last 24 hours? Post Selects Great Grains cereal, Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets, cheeseburger and salted-in-the-shell peanuts (instead of fries)

Last thing you used a credit card for? The Amtrak ticket to my Tuesday morning meeting downstate

What was your job previous to the one you have now? Creative Director at a different advertising agency

Last thing you celebrated? Happy New Year!

Last time you were at a sports bar? Infield's, downstairs at Macy's State Street