hulk...the incredible type

I watched the reboot of the Hulk franchise a couple weeks ago, but didn't want to report it until I watch the bonus features (of which I really liked what Marvel did with the Iron Man 2nd disc.) First off, it comes as no stretch to realise that I dig Edward Norton, actor, writer, director, producer, auteur. When he signed on for the movie, whoa, my eyes rolled, especially when he was JUST an actor. There were tons of media reports about clashes - of which I read the first few and didn't bother (one had to do with a writing credit.) How can you possibly hire an actor who normally does just about everything and expect that he's going to keep his mouth shut...especially when it's Edward Norton.

All in all, I really liked what they did with the film. CG was amazing, every film seems to be creating new soft/hard ware to really expand the field. Louis Leterrier was right in there, his camera antics were established in Transporter and Hulk definitely solidified that title. I was really skeptical about Tim "Honeybunny" Roth pulling off any type of action figure, but he was mean. His kids can be proud when he drops them off at school, for sure. Liv Tyler eyes couldn't become more expressive, she's really cornered the market, hasn't she?

After watching the deleted scenes - whoa, this could have been a totally different movie. If that's why there was a fall out, I can totally see it. Marvel streamlined the Betty plot by cutting out all the boyfriend scenes, some of which really show the heart, the emotion, the conflict inside Banner. I really like the final edit, however, I'd love to see an alternate edit done. The Norton clips made it seem like there was no rumble...

silk

Silk was on my radar but somehow fell off...until it showed up on Signature tonight. I was pretty pleased with my 100plus minutes. Michael Pitt has grown up so much, he really was able to convey the sadness that we, as humans, can only learn by heartache. There was a stellar supporting cast: Keira Knightley, beautiful in plain provincial period clothing, like only she can; Alfred Molina, whom I love in pretty much every thing he does. The establishing landscape shots, whether in France or a snowy Japan were gorgeous in every sense of the word.

end of volume three

"There is good and there is evil, right and wrong, heroes and villains. And if we're blessed with wisdom, then there are glimpses between the cracks of each where light streams through. We wait in silence for these times when sense can be made, when meaningless existence comes into focus and our purpose presents itself. And if we have the strength to be honest, then what we find there, staring back at us, is our own reflection, bearing witness to the duality of life: that each one of us is capable of both the dark and the light, the good and evil of either, of both. And destiny, while marching ever in our direction, can be re-routed by the choices we make, by the love we hold onto and the promises we keep."

klimt

I thought I knew enough about Klimt to actually get this biopic...yeah, it's an interesting character study, but it very much about time period and art as a byproduct. The turn of the century Vienna, at least in the eyes of Klimt, was certainly sexually charged, decadent, libertine. The women are gorgeous (especially Saffron Burrows). Loved the costumes and set design. It was totally biopic and not biographic. Can't say I learned anything about Klimt that I didn't really know, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Art for art's sake.

BTW, John Malkovich is just John Malkovich. I don't buy into his talent, he's okay. I hate his voice.

I'M Definately Bored

Yeah, I know all this six degrees of separation shit I do here is mind boggling. Granted, I've got an insane memory, especially when it comes to films, actors, directors, musicians, producers, etc, but this girl's best friend is the internet...and especially little gems like imdb.com. Helps keep me on my toes. Any time I think I remember an actor from another film - voila! the answer is at my fingertips. It also makes me look really smart, not that I need any help in that department.

I was at my friend Erin's the other week, talking to her brother about 300 (whoa, just keep stringing these thoughts along). He hadn't seen the film but knew about the intense workouts the cast went through. I explained to him that it was like having a hard on for two hours, of course, I'm referring to all the testosterone pumping through my veins, via the screen! :) Needless to say, I think the glaze came over his face as I started talking about the color saturation and how Zach Snyder brought Frank Miller's graphic novel to life and the casting of...he just was lost. I have that effect on people, it's really a gift.

train - spotting scottish stars

I don't think I've really watched Trainspotting in it's entirety since I graduated college, which means a long time. It's one of those films which you turn on 2/3 of the way through and still want to watch the end. I caught it at the beginning tonight and was so happy to have watched it through. MAN! The Scottish brigade was out in full force; so many great actors are in this. Gerard Butler wasn't, but I just saw a Men's Vogue piece where the journalist handed him the "It's shite being Scottish" rant. Hand in hand the things I see and read, no small coincidences in this world.

Ewan McGregor, it doesn't take a genius to know he can eat crackers in my bed any old day. He can sing, dance and wield a lightsaber. How can a girl not gush? Stay is one of my favorite films, he can literally rock a period piece (as a dashing poet or Iggy Pop wannabe), pull off a great 60s and turn of the century London look - the whole Long Way Round brings him full cycle for me, ha!

Kelly MacDonald! I totally forgot about her turn as the little teenage slut! She can do a west Texas accent better than the real thing. She's so adorable!
Spud - that dude has been in some great films! Woody Allen, Julien Donkey Boy, Snatch...total past blog - he was the crazy comb guy in the Lost Room.

I really like Danny Boyle, cannot wait to see Slumgod Millionaire.

p.s. another chic flix

If I didn't already admit to watching everything, I mean damn near every mainstream and as many art films as possible, I wouldn't wretch at the concept of P.S. I Love You. The book has been sitting on my to read shelf for a couple years, cute little pink of a pulp. It was on last night, so why not. What surprised me was that I didn't even know Harry Connick, Jr was is it - he never got proper billing, it was all about Hilary Swank. I still don't get why people love her - I really don't see her as an Oscar caliber actress. She's skinny with horse teeth and boobs. Maybe that's very superficial of me, but that's what I see, not some amazing artist.

Casting - see the forward where I gush about the men. But the women? Who could possibly see Lisa Kudrow a best friend of a women who is just turning 30? Love Lisa, she's funny as shit, but she's too old for the part. Gina Gershon? I was just waiting for her to turn diver on her gal pals.

I must confess, in all the girliness of the movie, I thought it was very heartfelt. There were way too many cute moments, great first kisses. I wish me a man who thought enough about me to plan out how I'd get through the next year after he died. I know no one reads this, it's really a log for me to list what I'm watching, reading, listening, ie. my consumption, so I can admit this. When the girls are stuck in the boat, Gina lets it slip she's preggers and Lisa says she's getting married - the look on "Holly's" face, the sadness in her eyes, I know that, I feel that. It's the feeling of being left behind, that you no longer belong, you can't keep up with the Joneses, what the fuck have I done to deserve where I am in my life...I've been there for some time. I don't really have many single or childless girlfriends anymore. I'm stuck in this odd place, not yet a spinster, certainly not an old maid, but I feel the air turning to pea soup around me. Haven't spoken to her since the twins were born. Sometimes I feel like the one who really wants to get pregnant can't feel as if it's fair to talk about it with me. She's planning a wedding and my offers to help are brushed aside as maybe I just don't get it. My life took a left turn before Albuquerque and I'm not on level playing field. I find it hard to relate - I find that they are finding it harder to relate to me. Not knowing what to say. Not wanting to hurt my feelings. I know that look - and although I don't think Ms. Swank is all that, she pulled off that look like she owned it...it takes one to know one.

Now after that pity party, I really must talk about the men. I realised that I truly do have a thing for facial hair. Gerald Butler is hot, well, with facial hair. I wasn't all into him in this film, clean shaven. He just looked like he was missing something. Maybe because I will now always see him as Frank Miller's Leonidas. Then again, I have really dug him in other films. Then there's the Scottish thing (which I'll hit on in my next entry.) I'm not sure when it happened, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan (whoa, another Zach Snyder alum - can't wait for Watchmen). My tastes really have changed. Everytime I see him, I just want to engulf that smile, suck him up like a sponge. What's up with him playing dead guys?? Oh yeah, I've always loved Harry. Always. I think I was 17 when I first saw him on stage. One person who I truly missed meeting when I was in NOLA.

aimee/rudolph/harvey's schlong

Lots to pack in today. XPN aired Aimee Mann's X-mas extravaganza as recorded at the Mann in Phila. All in all, I thought it was horrible. Terribly corny, especially with the addition of Nelly McCay. She totally sang a "don't cut down and kill another tree, you don't need to kill an animal to have a good holiday dinner" rant. It was retched. I think Aimee Mann is a brilliant song writer, but I have to say that I would definitely not see her live. Her voice is so fragile; it border lined on staying in key, I don't think she knows where her diaphragm is (well, the truly biological one.)

As I was decorating - mind you, I decided not to pull out and put up a big tree this year. My sis in law thinks it's so grinchy of me, but I'm not going to have any company, just me. No need to do more than my little tree. Although, that little tree took me two hours and I didn't put lights on it this year. I put on Rudolph and Frosty for a little holiday spirit, then just before going to bed, The Piano was on Stars. I couldn't not watch it - the script is so beautiful, Holly Hunter shines, using every ounce of her body to speak for her as she is mute.

Granted, I love the movie, but going from Rankin Bass (Rudolph contains some of my favorite songs of all time) to seeing Harvey's manhood? WOW, that was not a great transition to bedtime.

miser bros.

I'm a huge Rankin Bass fan, once you could buy the Xmas shows, I owned them. Have the DVD collection. Granted, not everyone can be Rudolph. The Donkey? Come on. I think that was the creative low. Some may poo-poo it, but I love A Year Without A Santa Claus, if anything, for the Heat/Snow Miser songs. Yes, the gooshy songs get me teared up, but the trombone and bass? Man, that gets my kitchen cookie dance on (yes, I have one of those. look out.) Snowy's jangle is my sweet tooth.

Maybe I need to try the Heat Meiser updo for xmas eve mass?

Some like it hot, but I like it really hot.

I'm too much.

tunage

Elvis Costello - Momofuko
Aimee Mann - Smilers
Snow Patrol - Thousand Shining Suns? Sounds all the same. blah.
MGMT, Bad Religion, Ray LaMontagne, Afghan Whigs, YRockonXPN

neverwhere

Again, the brain I'd most like to fuck - Neil Gaiman. I picked up Neverwhere and couldn't put it down, although sleep made it pretty tough to finish, you know, the eyes closed thing.

Not his best, but it was his first official novel. I loved the characters - wish that I was Tube friendly, but trying to read and digest the map weren't super easy. Maybe I'll make a trip to London and bring my book along, eh?

There are a few more NG books on my shelf, but I'm trying to get through the 900 pages of 2666, which is undeniably fascinating. It's just one hell of a book, super dense, small font. I'm about this close to the half way point.

As I'm going through my habit to link items, I've noticed that it's been made into a movie! Oh goody!

up up up

Vegas took the piss out of me, so I haven't been able to catch up on my consumption...soon, I will finish the monstrosity of a post on Australia, which I saw too long ago and haven't finished. Although, I've seen about every interview Hugh's done about it.

australia

There are just some films you must see on the big screen, an epic like Baz's Australia certainly fits that bill. Truth be told, I dug it, but I really feel like I've got to see it again to get the entirety of the 2hr40odd min. Not that I didn't "get it", I might have to watch it five or six times to catch what I feel are the nuances of a Baz film. I'm really tempted to take another 3 hours out of my life to head to the cinema...plus, seeing a soaped up Hugh Jackman on a huge screen really does clear your head.



My feeling is that Baz took on too much. Australia is part Gone With The Wind, African Queen; part romance, part high comedy, part...well part everything. The thread throughout is that of the Stolen Generation. He could have made three separate films with the material he's tackling, all of which would have been fabulous. The acting was great - Hugh, well, other than how amazing he looked on screen, the only thing he could have done to make his performance any better would be to sing. Nicole was certainly far from her The Hours glory, but she just radiates on screen. The kid, WHOA, the kid stops everyone in their tracks. Brandon Walters never acted before, never had been in a small town before - it's told that Baz had to go on a walkabout with his family before they would agree to Brandon's participation. He has this glimmer in his eyes, glimmer of curiosity, devilishness, spirit and of love. Seeing as he is Australian, he won't be squashed by the Hollywood system and might just have a go at being a real actor, not just a kid actor.



There were the typical Baz gags: the trip to FarAway Downs is classic. In an overstuffed worn out truck, the big glasses, overstated hat, the lighting...the kangaroos. But you didn't feel Baz throughout the entire piece, I can't really explain why. The Drover is the archetypal Aussie - closed off, stone faced, wearing it all like a badge of honor. Lady Fancypants is over the top control freak, from her clothes to her tackle anything attitude. They play off one another well, knowing damn well in any good film, opposites will and do attract. Although, they didn't attract enough. Lots of kissing, but with two gorgeous people with amazing bodies, we really did deserve a good sex scene, or the makings of something other than the Drover speeding up the path everytime he comes home from a run. I'm a fan of the hot, dirty, scruffy Hugh, which we see alot of (man can he ride a horse.) We also get to see a total Casablanca white dinner jacket, clean shaven moment at the ball. They do make a hot couple.



Will I spend the money to see it again? I haven't seen a movie twice in the theatre since...I really have to think about this one. Buy the DVD? For sure. Baz has been quoted that he filmed three endings, didn't have the final cut until right before it's premiere, that day. Rumor has it, there were SIX filmed. 161 day shoot, I'm sure that the bonus DVD will be completely worth it.

CA + sex

By now, Californication has lost the "they didn't just do that", at least when it comes to fucked up sex moments. I certainly have my favorite moment, who couldn't love the opening scene on the pilot where Hank is getting a hummer from a nun? I truly, honestly, from the bottom of my heart, believe the week was the best episode from the series. It's still got some of the "no way" moments, all believable in my world. What they finally did was tap into the core of this show - Hank and Karen's love story.

We've seen what a wreck he makes of his life when they're not together, and while it's very interesting and full of cardio, he's a shell of a man. When they are together on screen, while not a couple, we get a glimpse of two people who's timing has shifted, they argue like any other couple, granted, not everyone makes the mistake of going down on a stranger, but we see the constant struggle that defines a real relationship.

This story line of this episode parallels the beginning of their relationship, which gives us the perfect opportunity to see into their past. Shocker, they sound the same at the beginning, even Hank. In the present, he pines for Karen, drowns his sorrow in pussy and too much booze, but not a minute goes by that you don't know that he's incomplete. Yes, he does talk about it, but his heart is never fully exposed - until you see the past and their start.

The letter he wrote to Karen, which I kept trying to pause on and read (I gave up hoping that they'd finally reveal it or I'd do an extensive search online for some obsessed fan who did a screen capture), bares Hank's true heart. As his letter was read as a voice over with a montage of pre-Becca moments, I found myself hearing the words my heart has spoken many a time. This letter captures the essence of Californication - relationships are difficult, they are hard, nothing happens with great timing, but we can work through it. Having a gut instinct and making the leap of faith and trusting it will work. The feeling of finding a home.

sandler not playing to his audience

When I asked my brother and sis-in-law what they'd like to watch over Thanksgiving, they both said any new Adam Sandler movies. You Don't Mess With The Zohan was the newest. Honestly, I hadn't read any reviews and only knew the premise. Chris and Dana are huge Sandler fans, know so many movies back and forth. They were completely alienated from Zohan, didn't get it at all, no clue. I snickered throughout the entire movie, but I understand world politics, culture, etc. This had to be a personal project for Sandler and co. because I believe it didn't play to his normal audience. C&D hated it, only because they didn't understand the jokes, the premise, really nothing about it. They don't watch the news, maybe glance through the Sunday paper, but when I mentioned that this movie more or less spoke about the fight over land, peace in the Middle East, blank stares were all I got.

It was a typical Sandler movie, with potty humor and dick gags, so you don't expect cinematic greatness. However, the stunts were great, funny, very fitting. After watching the bonus features, it was great to know that a microcosm of peace was attained. The Palestinians/Arabs and Israeli/Jews really were able to get along and see past the hatred and fighting. They learned to see one another as human beings.

If it is possible for you to get past the Sandler-ness of this film, it's really making a great social statement.

driving

I was super happy that I was able to keep an All Things Considered signal all the way to my brother's the night before Thanksgiving. This is generally a good time to listen to the old iPod, but I always give in to good news.

Real music on the way home...

Damien Rice, O. This is a magnificent album, haunting, beautiful, just gorgeous. I can't see one flaw to the entire piece.

Donna Summers. I needed a little pick me up and energy. Bad Girls and Hot Stuff are a great example of catching lightning in a bottle. My mom and dad were total disco nuts - they were young and completely in the scene. We lived down the road from the drive-in; I believe mom said we sat and watched Saturday Night Fever thirteen times off the road, with no music, so that she could learn the moves to teach my dad at home. Disco is such a big part of good memories as a kid - I know there aren't many of us out there.

Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline. I just love this album. Nothing more.

bad things

Jace Everett - Bad Things. Really great acoustic version on his site. I can't link it because it's Flash. Go to main site, click on music, choose Bad Things from the top player.

vampires, dogs and sookie

It's taken until the season finale for me to talk about that which is True Blood. I haven't read the Southern Vampire Series, but people who have say it's quick, easy and you don't want to stop, although, they said the characters haven't been 100% true...again, with any adaptation - you've heard my spiel before.

I really dig this, it's Alan Ball, so it's hard NOT to like it. Let's face it, he has the absolute best title sequences. Six Feet Under was amazing and the branding outstanding. The images protrayed in True Blood and powerful and evocative...and the theme song. WHOA. It bobs and weaves through my gray matter too often it's soooo good. The writing isn't fabulous, the acting is okay, but the story is great. I love Bill as a complete and utter gentleman, considering that he is a vampire who kills - well, in his case, he's mainstreaming, which puts him on the bottle. Sam plays loyal, even if he's sniffing out someone in heat. Tara is a speeding train trying desperately to stay on the tracks despite the fact that sways side to side at a breakneck pace. Lafayette, well shit, he's just the best thing since sliced bread. I'll be sad to see it was his polished tootsies hanging out of Detective Bellefleur's back seat. Jason is a hot mess, too much energy and picks interesting women in which to channel it. Sookie, she's just Sookie. Cute, sweet, she doesn't swear; almost the picture of Southern Virginity if she didn't have that pesky ability.

Why are cable series so damn short? I know that so much goes into production of each episode, like a mini-movie. If Heroes can do it on a weekly basis with all the high end production, why can't HBO, Showtime, AMC, etc do it as well? I'm sick and tired of this 12 episode season, having to wait until next year to see those polished toes. At least I'll be satiated with some Big Love. Even Call Girl is coming back early. Can't they adopt the goofy "trimester" schedule that some colleges do? That would be much more exciting!

nph is horrible

As if a Monday night doesn't already rock my tv, I decided to top it off with Horrible. If you haven't watched it, do your self a favor and skip on down to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. It's like Broadway squeezed into a 43 minutes comic book. Billy and Penny are so idealistic (in their own ways) and sweet...and horrible and evil!!

Neil Patrick Harris is a hot commodity, seriously, he's finally shed the Doogie tag. I'm glad his careers taking a nice big commercial turn. Plus, he does a killer Regis.

"I'm not a henchman. I'm Dr. Horrible. I have a PhD in Horribleness."
"Is that the new catch phrase?"

robin lays an egg...

Again, Jimmy Smits is amazing on Dexter. Then again, as always, Michael C. Hall is amazing, even if his face leans toward the hairy end of the simian line every once in a while. Last week, I described Miguel as Robin to Dex's Batman. Pow! Wham! Look the fuck out, Miguel is playing a game he can't win. Only three episodes left and I'm biting my nails! We know what must happen, it does every season. Dex takes down his foe (or his psycho girlfriend blows them up). Either way, I can't wait to see how Miguel bites the dust. The worst part, past actions and logic proceed, I won't be seeing Jimmy Smits in Miami anymore ;(

Next week's promo shows Dex cool as a cucumber as Miguel blows hard. Some good stuff on my tv next weekend. Although, I'd really like makeup to do something about those black eyes!

brilliant!

Sometimes, I'm really foul. I went to get a trim and color Friday and Mike asked me if I wanted a mag - not me, I carry a book all the time. He handed Anansi Boys out of my bag, commented on the great cover graphic and asked if "he" was a good author. My mouth opened before I could think about it, "If I had a dick, I'd skull fuck him." Granted, that's about the biggest compliment I can think of, to be so turned on my someone's brain I'd want to fuck it. I totally have a geek crush on Neil Gaiman...and truth be told, I'd take his gray matter to town.

i love hugh

Now that I'm feeling the bonds of mono loosening...I went shopping today. What else does a girl who's done nothing but sleep every minute she's not working do when she finally feels well? Shopping, of course! At the market, I was reminded that I did not post Oklahoma!; I cannot believe that I sat through three hours, at the theatre is one thing -the singing was good but a London cast trying to do the dust bowl? The accents made me cringe. The reason I rented it was for one sexy reason - Hugh Jackman, who was was pretty damn good, total old school Hollywood triple threat. These days, actors who "try" to sing get slammed for it - who's to say they weren't going to be a musical theatre genius (hello, Zooey Deschanel).

I remember taking my boss' nine year old son to see X-Men on opening night in 2000. I felt down right perverted thinking what I was thinking while sitting next to a little boy, gasp! I do have a thing for "charming" men with stellar smiles and he does have chops (professionally and physically). Won a Tony for a gay songwriter (goes without saying he was married to Liza)? Got it. Plays a bad boy with a chip on his shoulder? Pulls it off (again?) Period pieces? Don't get me started on The Prestige - Christoper Nolan's version was fabulous and the book - wow! Not everyone can tackle Darren Aronofsky (I wrote something great about that!) Oscar caliber? We'll see what Baz and holiday film season does. I'm not embarrassed to say I've seen everything, post OK; let's face it, I watch everything as a rule. I like him scruffy and suited up, drawn and drawn on, Memphis and Curly. It's interesting to see him pull off Wolverine then do a stint on Broadway. I think that's why I dig him so much, he's not your typical, run of the mill, Hollywood A-lister. Actually, I don't know if he'll really make the big-dick-A list until he stops singing and dancing. MEN who pay to see real MEN in movies still think that's a little gay.

Wow, I think I have a hard on. If only he was 160+, inked and lived down my street. Hell, let's face it, 140 IQ would be just fine. Someone who has the ability to throw his kid in the surf and wave his freak flag is the man for me. That is so wrong. Seriously, if he comes out, I will say, well...and I'll cry. You must watch this-no flash in the pan. SJP is adorable!

jimmy smits

Is anyone else eating up Jimmy Smits in Dexter? I'm totally digging the Robin he's become to Dexter's Batman. Although, will Harry be correct and this all snowball? Dexter should never have friends...

mrs. winterbourne

I can't believe I actually sat through the entire movie...Ricki Lake? Yeah, she was great in Hairspray, but give me a break. I'm a sucker for Brendan Fraser, I rarely change the channel if I see his charming grin. When can you not watch Shirley MacLaine? (I love Irma la Douce! Who doesn't love Jack Lemmon, really?!) Mrs. Winterbourne wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been...this is what happens when you are stuck at home with mono - you watch movies you never would ever bother with.

same actors!!!

It seems I keep seeing all the same actors lately. I can't say it's my taste because I'm all over the place. I think it's a testiment to the fact that it truly is a small business. Working in music or film, it's like living in a small town. Eventually, six degrees is obliterated and you can draw a direct line from A to Z.

I've seen Claire Daines, Brendan Frazer, Christian Slater, Nic Cage (ugh)...those are just the ones off the top of my head. There are so many great supporting actors that are all over the place if you just look.

I think the best example of this is the cable channel series. I was listening to the audio commentary of an episode of Deadwood and the actors were talking about working with this person on this show and that person on another movie and their first movie buddy, etc...

quiet man?

Christan Slater seems to be getting a reprise. Yeah, he's always been working, but far from an A-lister...

He Was A Quiet Man: unfortunately, I get him more than I'd like to. That hopelessness. Anything can be better. If you're going out, take out the asshole and do it in style...unless someone does it before you. A man becomes a hero when he should have been the villain. He reaps benefits, or is he duped? I loved the fish as a manifest of his subconscious. Liked the twist although I saw it coming a mile away...

bobby

Bobby: Showtime's expiration date made me sit and finally watch the whole thing from beginning to end. It fictionally examines the day of Bobby Kennedy's assassination as a seemingly "normal" day of the others who were also shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel. I think it doesn't just show us what was "normal" but maybe what mattered. A young girl willing to marry a boy she knew from high school so that he would only be sent to Germany rather than to the front lines in Vietnam; a wealthy New York couple caught up in meaningless words and activities trying to find one another again; two college volunteers who opt to drop and "create a relationship with God" rather than knock on doors; the hotel manager caught in a just-ended affair by his wife who believes they are so above this situation; a Mexican teenager stuck working a double shift in the kitchen who is dying to go to take his father to see his baseball hero make history; a celebrity caught in the downward spiral; two old men confronting their own mortality.

Just a ordinary day that changed the lives of the people in this nation. What would we be like had JFK not been assassinated? Or if he had and Bobby lived? Would we be talking about a historic election of an African American today?

Emilio Estevez blends television footage and personal film with his actors to give the most realistic portrayal of the events. Bobby Kennedy's voice over gives power to his words of social justice, makes us realise the ideals we lost in the second public death in the Kennedy family. Hearing his words brought me to tears, much like the day I spent at the Book Depository in Dallas about ten years ago. I cried for their family. I cried for our country. I cried for the hope people lost. I cried for what my life could have been like, what my country could have been like. I cried because I wish the feelings in my heart, the equality I wish for my peers, the love our world needs to heal may never come to pass.

EE took years to complete the project - the guest star cast is pretty impressive, yet not completely convincing. The movie isn't the greatest, I think it drips with nostalgia and some of the story lines push the edge, but the film made me feel, which I can't say happens very often these days.

Brazil (1985)

Some call Terry Gilliam a genius, I just dig him. Brazil has been on my "to watch" list for about a year, I tried watching it over several nights when I was out of town babysitting, but it just didn't take; this needed a bowl of popcorn and liquid in reserves so that I wouldn't walk away and lose track.

Set in an almost 40s throwback (clothes, billboard advertisements), it's a meaningless world filled with odd-ball machines that don't always seem to work and have complicated despite simple functions. It seems that people are more concerned with status and looks - Sam's content with the mediocrity of his job and life, yet, his mother tries to get him to move up the ladder through her high level friends while having several plastic surgery procedures (Katherine Helmond is hysterical!) Sam seems to hate the system he's a part of, where everyone just seems to be doing their job - his best friend tortures potential terrorists for the government but somehow manages to bring his daughter to work and act as if it's all just perfectly normal. His ultimate finger to the system comes when he meets the woman in his fantastic dreams - I think he sees their flight as his way beyond his mediocrity to happiness. The dream sequences are great - he's like the Archangel Michael saving his long tress-ed love from the tyranny of this giant Samurai made of mechanical pieces.

Really, an odd ball Gilliam film. Great, but watch it all at once! Great cast!

I assume it was a toss to the movie - the repair van in this week's episode of Chuck belonged to Tuttle!

mondays on nbc

Mondays on NBC: Can't live without them. When Chuck first premiered, I thought the premise was too outlandish to work. Low and behold, I can't go without watching it every week. Zachary Levi is equal parts credible dork and oh shucks cute. He's no Elijah Wood, but his eyes definitely convey the perfect "zoinks!" moment.


Heroes. I can't talk enough about the show. I know, it's gotten bashed for it's flaws, the writers taking us to boring places, adding extraneous characters, etc. But I'm sticking with it. Hiro in Feudal Japan? You hated it, I loved it. Suresh is whiny and always ends up joining with the bad guys no matter what he says when he started out. Sylar's gonna slash and absorb powers no matter what (well...) When you add the sum of it's parts, you've got a movie every week. The production quality is unbelievable and its costing NBC a pretty penny to get the effects, locations, etc. Yeah, it would be nice to get some new 'heroes' or explore more 'villains', but the best tv shows stuck with the core characters, fleshing them out to where viewers felt they really knew and loved them, flawed and beautiful. Bring on more of the cheerleader and her "three" families (remember that Flint is Meredith's brother, hence her uncle). Let Matt have another love. Where the hell is Molly? When is Suresh going to shed his nasty skin?


You can't see it stateside any more, but you can catch the BBC produced Hereos: Unmasked on YouTube.

journey...

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Damn Netflix! They hold out on you by not sending the 3D glasses! If I were ten years old, this would be my favorite movie of the year by far. Totally buying this for my nephew...and hoping it comes with more than one pair of 3D glasses! This will be a great Christmas night movie! Brendan Fraser is charming as usual, the dialogue is - well, a ten year old will love this film! I've never read Jules Verne; he's on the long list. I can only hope that I'll make it through that list before I die!

finnish film flop

One day, I'm going to track down the people who write Comcast's program descriptions. I'd lock them up in a room, pry open their eyeballs and force them to watch content they led me to believe sounded interesting. I thought Aki Kaurismaki was a Japanese name, so I turned on Lights in the Dusk...a Finnish film. Deemed "sparse" and "comically noir" I gave it a go - I'm not one to turn off something mid way, I like to give an author a chance. It's not like I'm going to look at only half of a painting or photo, or read three fourths of a book and not get to the ending. Unfortunately, I drag my mind through the mud too often for the sake of giving an artist a chance.

This is the first Finnish film I've seen and hope that it's no indication of the industry. This was painful. I wasn't sure if it was making fun of it's self, if the pacing was off or I didn't get it. As always, I'll give the guy another chance because after looking into it, he's supposedly "good"...

seals and naked kids

The Secret of Roan Inish is a unique story using the hopes of a child to share the selkie folklore. Those seamen have crazy stories of beasties and women, and selkies live up to that! I'm not trying to sully a cute story :) The Irish coast was lush and breathtaking in this cinematic tale. Some might find it hokey, but I love when adults have to give in to their logical nature when a child proves the existence of what adults gave up on.

blacks

The Black Keys and The Black Kids. Two of my favorite albums this year. I love that they follow one another in iTunes - if I have the time to draw out my bath and dressing for the day, I get a great eye opener sans caffeine.

camelot blahs

I walked away from the TV after watching The Ideal Husband to grab something from the kitchen to return to First Knight already having started. Granted, I would not have planned on watching this, but seeing as it had the spectacularly aging Sean Connery and I'm always interested on another take of Camelot, I had nothing better than to sit and watch.

It was horrid, at least it made me laugh! The fact that millions of American women flocked to their local movieplex to watch Richard Gere with wretched hair portray Lancelot without an English accent (one less atrocity to sit through) gets me everytime. Julia Ormond followed up with another role going from one man to another in a household.

Although, Connery's Arthur had a great line, "I take the good with the bad; I can't love people in slices."

affairs of state

Seems I've chosen two films with overlapping themes unbeknownst to me!

Most times, it pays to know what everyone else wants, who they owe and their debts before laying your own plans. I rather enjoy the historical/period fiction based on real events and people. The Affair of the Necklace plays on the actual court drama that helped to fuel the French growing distaste of Marie Antoinette. An Ideal Husband plays on the illusion of perfection and past misdeeds. I pulled it off the shelf to read (I've actually never read it!) this week. The cast is amazing, so many actors I'd put on my top shelf. Cate Blanchett, who I've gushed about before; Julianne Moore who is always so entrancing; Minnie Driver plays the saucy one (did you know how well she sings?); Jeremy Northam was a brilliant Sir Thomas More and Rupert Everett - well, he could do more with his talents...

evening

Evening: It should be old by now, but I love that mother/daughter Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson are in so many films together. Obviously, they make casting pretty easy, eh? I wonder if they have some pact where they must do x films together? Do they share a trailer? Claire Daines (movie #2 this week) is a vision as a young Vanessa. I've really come to enjoy seeing her on screen, having been one of the original Catalano fans :) It's an adaptation by the author and Michael Cunningham, of The Hours fame (both author and screenwriter, and another Daines film). This was an interesting way to weave a mother's history, mistakes, with those of her daughters' present.

caffeine

...gives me a morning boost, but Caffeine was a mere waste of an interesting young cast. I can think of better days in a hip London cafe, I really hope there are better days. Mena Suvari? I mean, man, I don't know why she showed up on the set. She could have phoned in that hair and horrid accent.

little women

Little Women: Another movie that somehow I managed not to see at the time. It was my freshman year and what little money went to beer and I waited five hours in line to see a little film called Pulp Fiction on opening night. With all it's wonderful cast, it was not really on my radar at the time :) I really wish that I could remember more than just the basic story points and characters, but I only read it once when I was about ten. I think I get a pass.

too much nic cage

For someone who doesn't like Nic Cage, I managed to watch three of his movies in the past 36 hours. The movies have gotten horrible, his acting is horrendous. Wish he could take a step back to Leaving Las Vegas. He lived in my neighborhood at the beach, was my girlfriend's next door neighbor. I never met him, but hung out with his live-in trainer. I know why he still looks so damn buff, but the hair, come on! Here's the two of them together. Nic Cage is as overrated as Derek Williams, can't wait to see his NFL payday.

National Treasure Book of Secrets: At least this story has something behind it and is interesting, not just blah action. The supporting cast is great, too bad it's got Cage in it. I think Justin Bartha is adorable and Helen Mirren - her stories are as great as her acting.

Windtalkers: I was really hoping John Woo could do something with the fabulous story of the Navajo in the Pacific. I was really wrong. Pretty sure it's the worst war film I've ever seen. It had the look of a Lifetime movie. With that kind of money, you've got to do something. This was filmed after Band of Brothers - couldn't you have gotten the hint from this? Or even Saving Private Ryan? I could have written the Christian Slater/Whitehorse story line from the moment he commented on how beautiful the flute sounded. That's got to be the most pathetic jam session on film.

Ghost Rider: Marvel was getting there with this movie...learning how to be a real studio. Does Peter Fonda have to be cast in every bike movie? Sam Elliott is type cast, too, but it's good to see him on screen.

this is england

This Is England: is a frightfully moving piece, completely deserving of it's BAFTA Best British film. (spoiler for sure) Knowing about the history of skinheads, how they originally were peaceful, a color blend of black and white, bonded over music and style (a mod breakaway), I sat and just waited to see where the split would happen. This film takes place in 1983, starting with a group of kids that appear to be united because of a social tie, looking alike, creating a separate family. The handmade tattoos were easily overlooked because the kids didn't act out to uphold an racist or Nationalist front. Then the shift came, which was painful.

So many hate groups are fueled by fear and ignorance. An eleven year old's pain from losing his father and not being old enough to understand the political conflict...and the lack of a father figure...is twisted, warped, molded into something ugly. The most painful thing is knowing where this will lead the poor boy and the fact that adults, blind to their own fears, willingly walk this boy down a mean road. At the climax, not only is the child broken from his newly unfounded hatred, but the man that lead him there realises the wrong he has done.

These are the things in life that scare me. Ignorance. Fear. Those who prey on the weak. Spoiled innocence. These are the true evils of our world. People who say they stand for something but when challenged, really have no idea what those principles truly are. Post-election, these are my fears for our President-Elect.

I watched this on Sundance even though it's been in my queue...I will most likely still get it for the making of feature.

xx/xy

XX/XY: not a great movie, however, a cautionary tale for those who are indecisive or unwilling to make decisions. Reminded me alot of my life in 94; wasn't that a year!? Mark Ruffalo showed too much skin and the ladies certainly were younger than the characters. 32 year olds do not have tits like that, bras have become a necessity at that age unless you've had a great boob job or are freaks of Hollywood nature. Although I thought she was quite the caricature in this, I loved Kathleen Robertson in Tin Man. She played the perfect hot and mean witch.

sweeney todd: all hail burton!

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as seen through Tim Burton's eyes becomes more sinister than Steven Sondheim could ever have intended for his little musical. I'm not going to be a purist - I understand that when Hollywood gets her grubby little hands on someone else's little girl, she's not going to look the same when she walks out the back door. There are some films I walk away from wishing that the filmmaker wouldn't have sullied a spectacular story. I have learned that it's best for me to go into the theatre (or my living room) without expectation or a subjective pad and paper to note all the mistakes. You must allow the story to breathe and another artist to show you his perspective. Also, remember Sweeney Todd has been an urban legend and his story retooled by many different artists.

Yeah, Burton pared away some great Sondheim moments, but he took something I always thought a little cheeky and gave it teeth. He drug Sondheim off Broadway and threw him into an Edward Gorey cartoon/Edvard Munch painting, and maybe threw in a little Saw IV while he was at it. It would be unlike me if I did not admit my favorite OMG moment was with the first kill, how the head bounced off the concrete; I didn't cringe, I laughed maniacally. If you are actually reading this, then not only do you have too much time but you already know that I'm a sick puppy alongside my "spread love and happiness" taglines.

The singing? Come on, this is more rock and roll than Broadway and the singing falls in line. I will not fault Depp or Bonham Carter - I think they really sell Burton's idea of a story line that's been told for over a hundred years, through Sondheim's lyrics. Alan Rickman? Who cares that I'd rather hear...well anything other than his voice...he embodies Turpin in all his sliminess. Plus, I've had a weird hard on for him for years. Bittersweet. Oxymoron. Can't ever figure it out because he can be really gross but an abundantly talented turn on. AH?

I would be remiss if I didn't mention "By The Sea". The rendition and it's accompanying visual was like a pure sugar rush. If you turned your head, you missed it and missed out (and how the color sneaks in and grows!) I'm not a real big HBC fan, so to send a nod her way, well, she's just a real smudgy dirty cute little doll in this vehicle. And Timothy Spall, he's plays the greatest little creeps.

Yes, I know it appears that I believe Burton can't go wrong. Wrong. He can. And has. I will always tip my hat in favor of such a unique artist, despite the fact that he took over the Anne Rice crown (she lost it quite a few years ago and I can't be the only one who's tossing my lunch over the whole "I want to use my talents to spread God's love and his word" bullshit. I met the woman, I'm not buying it.) I hated those little vampire kids that hung out on Decatur. What posers and phoneys...which really plagues and gives the goth crowd such a bad name.

American Graffiti

I haven't watched American Graffiti since one of my film classes about 12 years ago...man, the music! If I didn't think it was amazing listening to all those songs, while the credits rolled, all I could think about was the licensing to obtain the rights to one of the best soundtracks of all time! Granted, the pace is annoyingly slow, but the cars are HOT (and so is Mr. Ford.) As a huge fan of the two mighty Lucas creations, I know I should be spun on a pit for saying it will be nice to see him do something else (since he said he's ready to be over with them.)

soooo behind!

Wow, I didn't realise how behind I am in logging my media munch...


Listening to ALOT of Y Rock on XPN...

Amelie: This was the first time I have viewed this since the original theatrical release in 2001. Audrey Tautou is so adorable, I really must Netflix more of her films. I don't know how I could have forgotten just how cute this film was! I constantly remind my friends to find enjoyment in the little things. If you wait for the big things in life, you might be terribly disappointed.

Sweet Land: I hate it when a script has dialogue in another language and doesn't provide subtitles. If it's something that you can infer from gestures and the situation and it's just a little banter, that's fine. But the incessant Norwegian and German drove me nuts. I kept turning on the subtitles option only for the English dialogue to be regurgitated. It's a cute film, a great story at the center, based around Inge's vivid memory, spectacular for a low budget...I think this got added to my queue when I was on a WWII flick kick.

If you've never met my brother and you get the two of us together, people are astonished at how much we look alike, that we say some of the stupid things and that we are so not alike. He can't stand letterbox/widescreen and never, I mean never, watches Bonus Features. It is PAINFUL for me to watch stretched out and cropped hacked versions of a director's work and is it essential for me to watch everything extra a dvd can provide. I want to learn everything about a filming I can, I love the stupid details! The more I like a work, the more features I want to see! I am terribly disappointed when producers put out a dvd without features other than the commentary. Of all bonus materials, the commentaries are my least favorite. More often then not, I get through 5-7 minutes and turn off the commentary. What I really hate is when they have several players record separate audio tracks and edit them together - no interaction means it sucks. Some of my absolute favorite commentaries come from Deadwood - nothing better than have the actors of that series telling naughty stories and laughing hysterically.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Bonus Disc: Spielberg, Lucas and Co. do not let us down. They did a great job with extras on the first three Indy films, back at a time where they didn't need to have bonus content. There were over two hours of extras, which just adds to my "Cliffie/Cheers" persona.

guess who's coming...

...to the White House. I thought, that with the American choice of President-Elect Obama, I'd pull out a classic Hollywood race relations movie. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner meant something very different to me 12 years ago when I first saw it; that just shows how much I've grown as well as my view of our world. What shocked me today is the certainty that these reactions are still happening in our country. In fact, I know a family who's going through something eerily similar except they don't have that cinematic San Fran view. I'm the last one who wants to seem overly idealistic, but it would be nice to think that with the upcoming administration, people's hates and fears may start to melt away with the reality of how blind and unfounded these prejudices are.

On a side note, Katharine Hepburn, as always, was spectacular. She was glassy-eyed, brimming with tears during the entire shoot. One would say she embodied a mother; realising, acknowledging and sharing in the happiness of her daughter's love. What intensity she had to bring to the set everyday! Then, I thought about how the movie was financed. The production had trouble finding an insurance backer because Spencer Tracy was ill and really at the end of his life. She put up her salary against returns to have the movie made. Tracy died withinn two weeks of the wrap. Knowing the history of their affair, those tears might as well have been her knowledge that the love of her life was at the end of his. I'm sure if I look, I can find someone who's published those exact thoughts...

foreign farrellys.

Talk about polarizing choices today.

The Lives of Others: Totally get why it won the Foreign Language Oscar last year. East Berlin circa 1984, a top shelf art couple have full surveillance set up by the "Stasi". Low and behold, big brother finds their life so interesting that the line becomes very blurred. I was completely fascinated by the story line and characters. HGW XX/7 is truly heartbreaking.

The Heartbreak Kid: Love Ben Stiller, but his characters are so predictable. The Stiller comedic cadence...it is funny, but it gets old. His improvisation turns him into the same schlub every time. Be prepared for the kitty ring.

And as usual, the History Channel is the go to. I've got to get back in my bedroom. History International is calling. There is ALWAYS something good on 116.

henry selick

I couple days ago, I posted about Monkeybone. There are a million things I could be doing, but it just happened to be on HBO and I had to give in...which I'm SO glad that I did. It's directed by Henry Selick and made me wonder where production stands with his collaboration with Neil Gaiman, talent o my heart, and their project Coraline.

I cannot wait until February. Granted, I save so much by staying at home and getting my money's worth out of Netflix, but I don't think I can wait for this DVD release.

Normally, I embed interesting links, but this one I'm outing! There are several featurettes on this IGN page.

http://movies.ign.com/articles/924/924258p1.html

lost iron mice

the mice have kept me from my "normal" routine. Haven't really felt comfortable on the couch (which gets pulled up and looks like Stonehenge when I'm not on it) and there's no tv in the spare room. Although, I'm working my way through Monkey, which is well worth it!

The Lost Room: A Sci-Fi miniseries I caught part of when it was originally released. Really great five plus hours of story telling, it's just too bad that Sci Fi never picked it up as a series. I think that each of the objects have their own story to tell and would have had enough momentum to run two, three years. I doubt they would have been able to pay Peter Krause and Julianna Margulies their normal tv salaries, though. I didn't like the fact that it was supposed to be "based" in Pittsburgh. There wasn't anything Pittsburgh about it. Granted, they threw in little Easter Eggs like a flyer that has a Steelers ad and going to a Penn State game (I can't believe the university agreed!)

Speaking of Easter Eggs (DVD), Iron Man was spectacular. Casting Robert Downey, Jr was the smartest thing Marvel did (it opened up the audience and what I believe is the key to the returns.) I read in an promo article that Downey was so thoroughly excited that someone was casting him as someone he's most like - maybe more that he was cast as someone who would like the things he does. The guy is a martial arts nut, loves cars, etc, outside of the whole, "his acting is living, breathing art." Although, Jon Favreau at the helm - he's really doing well for himself, no doubt. ILM outdoes themselves on every movie, I thought the footage was truly seamless. The Deuce is in negotiations, despite the fact that it was announced literally after the first week's returns. It appears that Terrance was the first to sign onto the original project and his salary was immense in comparison to the other players. For reason Marvel cites and Howard's camp will not bite, they have chosen to replace him with Don Cheadle. I'm a huge fan, but can he bring the same soft spoken intensity to a military man? We've seen him pull big turns with characters, but is he Marvel material?

When you're watching Iron Man on DVD, in the Special Features menu, use the left arrow key to scroll - you'll find a logo in between the bottom feature and the main menu. It's a great throwback to Stan Lee's cameo. I like to go through and see if the producers throw anything in. I remember how excited I was when I found the flyers that were reported to be posted on college campuses for teaser Star Wars II websites. I should take time to see where those are posted online - the Easter Egg DVD links..

yes we can

c.h.a.n.g.e. It's still up to you.

Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em.

i hate mice

Mice are not cute, they are mean, mean little creatures.

I came home from working a long hard conference to find mice shit and piss in my bed, in between the mattresses, in the pillow cases, all over the throw rugs - then on the couch (I'm so happy I have a slip cover and there was no pee) and in my reading chair. They never touched the spare room, so I have a place to sleep. I spent about $75 at the laundromat and a good four hours. I've gone to every bedding place, Macy's, etc looking for new feather pillows because I can't disinfect them. I just bought FOUR new $100 pillows online. My renters' insurance doesn't cover all this, my landlord better come through with their promise.

My bed is my sanctuary. If I don't sleep properly and enough, I get crazy. I'm not talking fun crazy, I'm talking hallucinating crazy. Not fun at all. I spend ALOT of money on really good bedding because sleep is the most important thing I can do for myself.

I hate mice. I might go on a shopping killing spree with all the cute holiday mice items out there. The only good mouse is a dead one.

playing catch up

Since I was working a conference (and gave my first big workshop!), I kinda fell off the media grid - although, I did manage to catch up on football... Sunday was a big catchup!

Wristcutters: A Love Story: As a mental health advocate you'd think I might have issues with such a title and concept...but come on, it's me! I thought the premise was hysterical and the message well worth spreading this one around. Having a serious mental illness (some of you will place the proper emphasis on that one), I understand suicide. I'm obviously not embarrassed of the places my mind has taken me and I fight daily to break the stigma that surrounds my illness, but I'm also honest and know suicide something people don't understand..and I tell consumers day in and out that life is too damn beautiful. But that's not the point. Etgar Keret's short story Kneller's Happy Campers was wonderfully adapted and expanded. A world where everything's a little worse, that sounds like the place that you'd go. This is the DVD I pick this year to tell everyone about! Granted, with the holiday film rush, this might be the DVD of the year, so I don't want to ruin it. Gogol Bordello never got respect until this film - couldn't be a better touchstone. The soundtrack is fabulous. Tom Waits! You can't wait to see him and how good this film looks especially when you realize how truly DYIndie this is.

21 made me miss the time I worked in Vegas. Where these were college kids by the week and high rollers on the weekend, I felt as if I've walked in their shoes with my rock and roll life in school. I have been meaning to read the book, but hell, do I need to now? Jim Sturgess is racking up the hits - he is adorable as the Clark Kent of the story (maybe he'll be saving the day as Dr. Campbell.) Me thinks the boy sounds a bit like Ewan McGregor. Nothing exciting about this, just a little eye candy and a good heave-ho for the geeks!

Every time I see Clive Owen's tanned Cheshire grin as Sir Walter Raleigh, I gotta stop and watch a snippet of Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I certainly can NOT turn the channel once I get a glimpse of Cate Blanchett; she dazzles me every time. As much as I hate my cable bill, the eye candy of watching whomever a million times over in one week is pretty tasty.

I finally picked up Wu Cheng-En's Monkey. I know this will be the great chinese read I've been biting my fingernails waiting for it to come to me via Cumberland Co's library system.

Journey of Blockheads

No matter how many times I've seen it (going on maybe 28 or so?) the Charlie Brown holiday specials never get old. Actually, the Rankin/Bass don't either (come back in six weeks and I'll go on and on about Heat and Snow Meiser.) I called my nephew, Corbin, last night to wish him an early Halloween since I'll be working and my brother, Chris, and I got to talking about holiday specials. His wife, Dana, and I had discussed whether or not she thought Corbin was ready for Nightmare this year. I found out last night my brother never watched the whole thing. I assume it's because it's the new Goth kid bible (took the place of Anne Rice books), and he's so hates that scene that he'd dismiss it. I remember going to see it at the theater in 1993; my mom bought it on VHS for me as soon as it was released. My old roommate Smoothie and I watched it so many times that year between Halloween and Christmas, that his jock ass was running all over the house asking "What's This?" I was never and will never be Goth, I think Tim Burton is a genius (have seen everything he's released) and as for Danny Elfman, I can sing Oingo Bingo songs until you have a headache (doesn't take very long). Needless to say, I never miss the holiday specials, own most of them on dvd now, and find delight in sitting in front of the tv with a snack every year (the past three, I've worn my matching tshirts.)

Journey to the End of the Night. I'm almost ashamed to talk about it and one of my childhood favorites... There was just too much going on, felt like swiss cheese. I can't tell if Mos Def pulled this one off or just completely embarrased himself. Brendan Fraser, hell, I think he gets draws the short straw too often. Although, somehow, I felt he tapped into the same wife-stealing vibe from The Quiet American in Journey, the guy's got chops. Yeah, he rakes in the box office on action stuff, plays complete idiots in cartoon rehashings, but he can act. Haven't seen Gods & Monsters? Netflix it now; not only do you see a fabulous Ian McKellen, but BF shows he's not just a cave/jungle man. I know I may lose some of my kool points, but I do like watching Brendan Fraser, even in Monkeybone.

DT

Today marks the birth of Dylan Thomas. I could pontificate about his creative streak, but I would rather leave you with some of my favorite quotes. Quite frankly, I feel he and I would have been smashing friends...

"A born writer is born scrofulous; his career is an accident dictated by physical or circumstantial disabilities."

"Somebody's boring me. I think it's me."

"He who seeks rest finds boredom. He who seeks work finds rest."

"I hold a beast, an angel and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their subjugation and victory, downthrow and upheaval, and my effort is their self-expression."

"When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes."

"An alcoholic is someone you don't like who drinks as much as you do."

sunday nights

I love sunday nights...and monday nights. Good tv. I always switch it up - can't miss True Blood, Dexter and Californication. There are different time combos you can do...but the 11:37pm cable test always fucks me up. Whether I choose to watch sex with vampires or a serial killer, there's a 45 second blank and I end up screaming at the tv. How many weeks does this have to happen before I just break down and watch one of the shows via On Demand later in the week? NOOO!

Not me, I can never just wait. I was eating dinner, waiting to watch the PSU v OSU game last night and saw a commercial for the new Nightmare Before Christmas deluxe dvd set. It's 7:06pm; I do the math. How long it will take me to clean up, get in the car, head to Target (wait, grab milk and snack there, too!) and make sure I'm going to be home with at least ten minutes to spare before the broadcast so I can pour a milk stout and give it time to breathe before kick off?I had to watch it last night once the game was over. Didn't make a difference that I was super tired - I practically tore the shrink wrap off with my teeth - I was going to watch it before I went to bed...and whatever bonus features were on disc one. Thank god I passed on the commentary.

I always wonder how I look at the clock at 10pm the wonder how the hell I'm not in bed until after 1am. Somehow, if you tell me that you have a surprise for me, I have the patience of a saint. A new book comes out that I've got to have, there goes $17 at Barnes and Noble, whether I stay up all night reading it or it gets planted on the "new book shelf" which is now a total of three surfaces and four stacks on my coffee table.

How the hell is it 1am!?

WK-W

I love and hate Wong Kar-Wai, simultaneously. His films, they are art at its truest level. But the guy drives me bat shit crazy. He's a train wreck: he's insanely interesting and you've got to hear what he has to say and in the same breath, you realise he's the worst kind of artiste: self-absorbed, neurotic, knows just how talented he is and appears to be the biggest asshole on the planet. Granted, those are all attributes of great artists.

His style is very much his own - once you start watching his films, you get his repertoire of shots, music, color, the same actors, etc. Couldn't be further from Hollywood: his filming process is near legend. He has an idea he'd like to convey, but not a script. He writes as they film: extemporary is being polite. The idea he may have had when they picked a location and set up camp is generally very far from what you actually see. He'll shoot ten story lines for each character, which you don't realise until you've had the chance to watch one of the "making of" docs which are the length of a normal feature film. Happy Together is clearly a great example (which I finally watched this afternoon.) It's a great piece, but when you watch the making of, you feel like this guy doesn't have his shit together at all and wonder how in the hell he's able to find financing. He often works on more than one film at a time, even taking parts of a film he couldn't "finish" making them into another piece. The Hong Kong film industry is very different from Hollywood..and WKW is way out there even for them...My Blueberry Nights shifted production for him. He filmed it here in the states - the concept of breaks and meal penalties blew his mind. I really enjoyed it, but I have a hard time NOT enjoying time spend oogling over Jude Law on the screen (I didn't say he's superbly talented, he's incredibly hot.)

Watching him speak is nearly unbearable. Everytime there is footage of him speaking at a festival, I cringe, but ultimately force myself to watch it. I want to turn it off a hundred times and somehow still manage to read the credits. Part of me would love to work for him, although, I might find myself wanting to pick up a blunt object, a very heavy one. Oxymoron by definition. In fact, open Merriam-Webster and you'll see his crooked half assed smile (and great glasses.)

If you dig film not as pure entertainment but as art, do yourself a favor and watch his films. Sometimes the plot doesn't follow a straight line (I charge you to find one that does), but always worth the time. You can skip the extras if you'd like to just put him on a pedestal. In The Mood for Love and 2046 are amongst my favorite films.

On a side note, the best things to come from WKW are his collaborators: Christopher Doyle (DP/cinematography), Tony Leung Chiu Wai (little Tony), Maggie Cheung, Chen Chang and so many others.

I cannot walk past a tree with a visible hole; I simply must put my hands on the bark, lean in and share a secret...

got milk stout?

This is a Greaze delite! Maggie & Drew are running behind giving me the perfect opportunity to enjoy a few handcrafted beers. I first became enamoured with Lancaster Brewing Co when I was at Penn State. I had already started ordering two Guinness pints at a time so that the second was my preferred temp (or Yuengling Porter is it was on tap.) Milk Stout was on tap at Cafe and I think I might have been the only one drinking it. That summer, I produced a beer fest at Tussey and became intimately aware of the LBC. I went home with multiple cases and a dumbfounded love for the coffee and chocolate blessed creation (along with what became a well worn tshirt). Fast forward to me moving back to PA a decade plus. I couldn't be happier to go home with a growler of the JUST completed (today!) seasonal and eat a beautiful piece of salmon wrapped in proscutio, broiled to perfection and garnished with sage butter with a side of red skinned mashed potatoes.

Bless the brewers in Lancaster Co! So much for the A-mish and shoo-fly-pie!

slim pickins...

Johnny Cash's America on Biography: If there was one musician that I wish I would have met, it would be the Man in Black; my celebrity repertoire mourns that Johnny was not a memorized verse. I came down stairs to finish up some work, decided to listen to the shades of black...and DUDE, something is wrong with iTunes. Hall & Oates, Lou Reed, Spoon, MGMT, The Raconteurs, Depeche Mode have all taken his place. Something is afoot at the Circle K and I'm not diggin it.

Washington Irving - Phillip of Pokanoket from The Sketch-Book of Geoffery Crayon, Gent: Sleepy Hollow is next. I'm afraid it's not going to live up to my recollections. There's nothing more degrading to your existence when a cherished memory is nothing but a pot of wet noodles.

Tuna Salad a la dnale: Solid white albacore, freshly grated colby jack, sweet relish, just enough mayo to hold it together. Chill. Best eaten with Wegman's Blue Corn Tortilla Chips.

You really have to wonder what's wrong with this country when Laura Ingalls is brought into a law suit.

today's consumption...

Kathleen Edwards Asking for Flowers
The Ting Tings We Started Nothing
The Killers Hot Fuss

Be Kind, Rewind: Not nearly as bad as the reviews claimed, it's just not the feel-good movie of the norm. Do yourself a favor and watch the (only) extra "Passaic Mosaic" and see how the community was impacted by the film.

I'm Not There: I'm not a Dylan fan. That doesn't mean I don't like Dylan; I've only listened to about 1/7 of Dylan's recordings. I'd be a big poser if I claimed to be. But I know ABOUT Dylan, his story, the ups, downs, relationships, accidents. The film perfectly wove the whole multiple persona of Robert Zimmerman, trickster, poet, rocker, isolated hermit. Beautifully filmed.

Various Entertainment Weekly reviews.
Ginger Gold apples and peanutbutter.

McCain Hopes He Has Friends In Pennsylvania :)

From the farm...

First day to really wear a real coat. Pulled the $8.74 tag off as I lifted it off the jacket hook - it has been there since I moved into the house in May. Guess it should have been in a closet because it's sunbleached, but not in a good way. In the car, pulling out at the light by the house...and a stink bug crawls out of the sleeve and into my palm. Chalk a big save down for me; I only slightly freaked out and managed to miss the SUV who thought a yield sign didn't apply to him and didn't smash the nasty trilobite lookin critter.

Cloyd, the old guy that cuts my two acres of grass, finally trimmed the branches of the HUGE maple that hang on the back porch. Didn't realize that it's now a much clearer view of the shower. Guess I'll have to hang a blind here, anyhow. Then again, what peeping tom is going to hang out on the vast wasteland hoping to see my nakedness?

The frost killed the great orange and yellow happy flowers that graced the front of the house. What's crazy is the fancy marigolds I planted - the ones that lost their petals in the first week from the wind - decided to bloom last week. THEY have managed to make it through the frost. What kind of punishment is that? These big green blotches that I refused to dig up (flowers are expensive) were a blight all summer only to pop out in October. Maybe it's just the climate crisis.

Oh yeah! I got all the heat working properly. Granted, I think I will perpetually live in wool sweaters and clogs all winter so that I don't have to pay for the expensive black sludge needed to fire up the boiler. Sixty degrees isn't so bad, is it?

"Christ died for our sins. Dare we make his martyrdom meaningless by not committing them?"
- Jules Feiffer

like a lemming...

It’s Oct 2008 and I am just starting a blog. A little behind the times, eh? Come on, now. I don’t have kids, I’m single, live alone, no pets. That means I have few photos to share and no cute stories. I live in an old farm house and stay at home. I don’t tour anymore, so I don’t have crazy stories (then again, define crazy…)

Expect daily musings on what I'm watching, reading, listening, eating; see if I have anything interesting to say. Then again, I seem to think everything I say is interesting.

neverwhere bbc style - reposted

reposting...with the whole text. somehow, my palm entry didn't make the cut...

I've always hated watching pretty much anything produced by the BBC-the production quality is shite, it all looks the same. I learned why all because I watch bonus features. First off, we're talking about Neverwhere as filmed by the BBC. I just read the Neil Gaiman novel but no where did it state that this was the actual screenplay, doctored, for the series. The series came first-as they start filming, day one, he decided he needed to convert this to prose in order to get the whole story across. It was filmed 95 percent on location, meaning in the literal underground and tube tunnels in London. I watched all the commentaries because Gaiman is my autuer du jour-you never know what you're going to learn about how that brilliant (entirely fuckable) brain works.

Before I really run with this-the BBC agreed to this project with the caviet that it must be filmed on video then converted to film. It was lit for film, but the BBC reniged and didn't convert. It gave London below a very different look, for sure. He said that those folks with fourth generation videos purchased via ebay probably think it looks great! Again, this explains the shite quality to the BBC productions-if you shoot on video, its gonna look horrible. Do BBC viewers realize how truly horrible their broadcast content is? Shouldn't they demand more? Do they watch an American production like Heroes, which is broadcast on the BBC, and think its rubbish because it doesn't look anything like their own shows? British film directors seem to have it going on-is that because they've watched so many Hollywood productions as their 'education' demands?

Back to Neverwhere. It's amazing when you hear someone trash their own project. Gaiman states that its been about 5-7 years since he last watched it. Talked shit the whole time, about huge chunks of budget going toward the beast, which, in his opinion, didn't come close to his vision.

It was interesting to see on screen, however, it truely was rubbish. I don't know whether its being followed through, but he mentioned a feature length being planned. Also, possibly writing a short about how tje Marquis got his coat back and a sequel as Richard, the warrior, returns to London below.