The Nerdery Movie Night #271: The Outrun & Caramel Pistachio Popcorn with Sea Salt

Dave and I disagree on how familiarity with the book affects the viewing experience, but we both think Saoirse Ronan is incredible. Because she is.

Caramel Pistachio Popcorn with Sea Salt

Dave: I’m always ambivalent about going to see movies made of books that I love. No matter how good they are, they never seem to live up to the magical aura of the original. I was hoping The Outrun would be different since the Orkney Islands are such a presence in the original text and I was hopeful the gorgeous scenery and nature shots would lift the film to be at least on par with the book. Saoirse Ronan is magnetic as the protagonist, both in her pre-Orkney, alcohol-addled London days and as she discovers the Orkneys. But the back-and-forth, whisper-thin plot that the screenplay draws from the book just isn’t satisfying. I missed so much of the interior work happening in the book, and the slow exploration of nature on the Orkneys, which the movie mars with too many London flashbacks. It’s still a film worth seeing, and I might rate it higher if I hadn’t read the book first. (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

I was excited to find a Popcorn Board recipe that A) we hadn’t tried, B) actually looked like it would taste good, and C) didn’t involve outrageously expensive ingredients. Sure, the pistachios were a little expensive, but they did give me a little after work snack this evening in addition to the popcorn, so win-win! I had the ratios a little off, so the caramel didn’t coat the popcorn quite like it was supposed to, but the floral notes of the pistachios were brought out so well by the almond extract that a full caramel coating might have been too much. As it was, I think it was near-perfect, and I kept gobbling handfuls until the bowl was nearly empty. (️️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)

Joe: The Outrun was our book club* selection this past September, and it's truly one of the best memoirs I've ever read. It's unflinching, focusing very much on Amy Liptrot's interior journey. I was kind of surprised that they had managed to make a movie based on the memoir. Primarily driven by Saoirse Ronan's commanding performance, it is a quiet film that captures the memoir's intensity, tweaking a few moments in order to create tension. Like the book, the Orkney Islands are a character, and the director smartly manages to convey that with sweeping panoramas and framing decisions that emphasize the islands' stark beauty. It really is Ronan, though, that carries the film. I can't believe she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award. A largely faithful adaptation that is probably better enjoyed if you've read the book. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)

Pistachios are probably my favorite nut, and Dave has really perfected the art of making a caramel. His formidable skills were a rousing success: tonight's caramel was delicious, adding a depth of flavor to this popcorn. Notes of salt and sugar, butter and earth (I actually don't know how to describe what the pistachios brought to the experience, so "earth" will have to do). I wish I hadn't over-indulged a dinner because I might have gobbled up this entire bowl. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Popcorn: The Popcorn Board

The Outrun on IMDb