| I'll Take You Down The Only Road I've Ever Been Down... |
[entries|friends|calendar] |
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| Boy, Interrupted. |
[07 Nov 2008|09:18pm] |
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"And while I missed Lisa... life was easier without her."
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| The Halloween Tree. |
[31 Oct 2008|12:01am] |
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This scene still gives me chills...
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| ...Or Maybe It Is. |
[03 Aug 2008|05:18pm] |
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Carolina Liar - "I'm Not Over" |
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| Finally. |
[20 Jul 2008|05:47pm] |
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Sigur Ros - "Hoppipolla" |
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Somebody up there must like me! Just when I was starting to get down about all the mediocre movies coming out this year (minus a couple, like Iron Man, for instance), I suddenly see a string of films that put a smile on my face!
In theaters, I saw Wanted and Wall-E. Remember that moment in Pulp Fiction when Uma Thurman's chest gets pumped full of adrenaline? I'd like to imagine that Wanted, an exciting, non-stop thrill ride of a movie, is what flashed before her eyes. And while I loved Wall-E - I mean, how can you not? - I don't think it's quite as excellent as the reviews and strong word-of-mouth would have you believe. (The beginning and middle sections are so fascinating, so full of ideas, that there's nothing left to ponder by the end. The final scenes, in my opinion, lacked a sense of wonder. And vision. I wish the filmmakers had been courageous enough to go a little further - a little darker, a little deeper - and not just give it a "Disney" ending.) But I digress!
I also rented a couple movies I missed in theaters: Definitely, Maybe (a surprisingly smart and fresh romantic-comedy), Penelope (a fun and breezy modern fairy tale that deserved more attention and acclaim) and Stop-Loss (which I didn't necessarily enjoy, but it was a powerful story with honest performances nonetheless.)
So, while all that is well and good, I couldn't help but wonder: Am I going to have to wait until December to see something I truly love?
Thankfully, the answer is no.
I saw The Dark Knight this weekend and all I have to say is: Finally! Finally, a 2008 film I’ve actually been anxiously awaiting and, hey, it's actually good!
Strike that – it's spectacular. And to be perfectly honest? All the early buzz, followed by Heath Ledger's sudden and tragic death and, finally, the rave reviews... it’s all made me wary more than anything else. Could The Dark Knight really be THAT good?
I still kinda prefer Tim Burton's perspective on Gotham City – Batman Returns, with its gloomy atmosphere and clever script (penned by Daniel Waters, the writer of Heathers), plus Michelle Pfeiffer's ferociously sexy performance as Catwoman, remains my personal favorite. On the other hand, I also believe that The Dark Knight is now the best Batman movie in existence. Why? There's always been something missing in the series - between both Burton's first two films and Joel Schumacher's latter two - something I can't quite put into words. I thought I'd love Batman Begins because it took the origin story and fleshed it out, probing into the caped crusader's dark, complicated soul. But wasn't that film a little dreary and boring? Just saying! With The Dark Knight, I finally get it. I get Batman as a human being, as a superhero and as an idea. Of course, I still can't quite put it all into words.
What's remarkable about Christopher Nolan's second outing with the franchise is that the film is equal parts an entertaining summer superhero blockbuster, as well as a brilliant, gritty crime saga. Say what? An exciting, action-packed extravaganza and a creepy, twisted psychological thriller all in one? I don't know how it works - they seem like completely conflicting genres - but it just does. And in every way. Oh, and can you even imagine a better cast? Christian Bale is a perfect fit for the title role (even if I still kinda prefer Michael Keaton and his knotty forehead) and Aaron Eckhart, who excels at playing both ends of the moral spectrum (he's just as believable in Erin Brockovich as he is in Thank You For Smoking), is therefore ideal to play Harvey "Two-Face" Dent. And what about Maggie Gyllenhaal? I actually think Katie Holmes is a talented actress, but I have to agree with my friend's opinion: "Maggie Gyllenhaal's first words - something like, 'Hi, Bruce' - deserve more praise than Katie Holmes' entire performance the first time around." 'Nuff said!
Okay, obviously I cannot heap enough praise on this film. But as impressive as it is overall, Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker is better. The actor creates this mad, maniacal demon that, ironically, sees the big picture with more clarity than any of his opponents. A psychotic freak? Maybe. But he's not stupid. And Ledger's bizarre but effective vocal inflections, facial tics, character backstory (or lack thereof), everything... it's just extraordinary to watch. And you gotta realize, while any actor probably dreams of playing this kind of warped character, it's also a character many actors would ruin by overacting. But Heath Ledger, a versatile artist, was too smart for that. I can't even remember the last time I saw an actor disappear so deep into a role... which is not to suggest that Ledger doesn't have any fun with The Joker - as a matter of fact, the script affords him some really delicious dialogue. But in general, Ledger keeps the madman's motivations fairly simple - no childhood memories being repressed here! Hey, that'd be letting the audience off the hook too easily. Instead, the actor presents us with enough freaky material to chew on, but keeps the nightmare alive by not allowing the character to be fully figured out. Kinda genius, right?
The 28-year-old was considered an odd choice for the role, but that's also what makes him so right for it. He is an odd choice. He gives The Joker plenty of demented traits, but refuses to make him anything less than a human being. And this, in a way, gives the character – as well as what is now, sadly, Heath Ledger's final film performance – a bit of grace.
Bravo.
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| 2008: The Midway Mark. |
[22 Jun 2008|12:47am] |
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Cut Copy - "Lights & Music" |
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Tragic.
Everybody tryin' to hide all of those habits...
it's kinda bizarre, when it's who you are.
I was REALLY looking forward to seeing a buncha great movies this year, and I guess I still am, but why has everything pretty much sucked so far? Disappointing!
Iron Man is probably my favorite film of 2008... so far. I didn't have a real desire to see it, went in with no expectations and wound up loving it completely. Kinda rare, right? Superhero movies (with the exception of Batman, of course) don't even interest me that much! But everything about Iron Man was pretty perfect and you can't argue with that.
The Other Boleyn Girl was also surprisingly good. I love naughty period pieces (see Dangerous Liaisons, people!) and this hypnotic historical drama slash soap opera left me wanting more. Besides, I adore Natalie Portman, and her fierce, wicked performance - particularly an intense breakdown scene near the end - alone made the movie worthwhile.
Cloverfield managed to be an excitingly original scare picture... despite the fact that the basic concept is a rip-off of The Blair Witch Project. But whatever, I liked it. The story was fun, insightful and cleverly affecting.
Then there was The Strangers - an effective nail-biter that could've plunged deeper psychological depths, but didn't - and Sex and the City: The Movie. Now, I love the SatC TV show, and my initial reaction to the film was, in a word, fabulous. But in retrospect, it was only okay. The creators did a good job, but I find it hard to ignore the fact that the movie only met my expectations. That's not a bad thing; I thoroughly enjoyed it! But the series was groundbreaking. So, was a big-screen version really necessary?
Additionally, there were plenty of films that either fell short of my expectations or just barely met them (Smart People, Baby Mama and Get Smart, to name a few). On the other hand, I also enjoyed a guilty pleasure or two (yes, I'm talking about Prom Night - deal with it).
All and all, it's been a letdown at the theater this year... again, so far. But I can't wait to see The Dark Knight, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road and the latest Harry Potter flick!
I did catch a couple of 2007 movies I missed, though - including Dan in Real Life and The Savages - and liked each of them in one way or another. My favorite has to be No Reservations. Random, I know, but every element was executed flawlessly. It was a kinda downbeat romantic dramedy, but it was also an honest, skillful character study with superb acting, effortless tonal changes and a remarkable accuracy of subtlety and detail. Well done!
Now hold onto me,
pretty baby...
if you wanna fly.
In other news, summer has begun, I recently moved into my own place... and I feel rejuvenated. Which is nice. Cheers!
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| A Good Man Is Hard To Find. |
[26 Mar 2008|10:59pm] |
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Junior Boys - "High Come Down" |
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Pretend
is a city bigger than
New York,
bigger than
all the cities
at once.
Why is it so hard to find someone that's right for you?
I crush on people easily. Sometimes I even end up liking someone. And hey, there are people that like me back. Furthermore, I think I'm a generally attractive person (not counting the mornings, of course) with a good sense of humor and decent personality. In turn, a majority of the people that like me are also attractive, amusing and "good" overall.
But somehow, the two halves of any possible whole fail to come together. Or at least, they don't stay together very long. Why? I suppose in an age of short attention spans, relationship life spans are bound to diminish as well. It's easy to complain about how things "just don't work out," but I think it's more useful to try and understand why. Frustrating circumstances, bad timing, conflicting perspectives, an inability to see beyond a person's flaws or, of course, an inability to change... but are these real reasons or just real good excuses? I still believe that, deep down, people are good and love is real. So is fear.
Personally, I've grown okay to things not always "working out." Why? I've had too many happy times - now happy memories - with people that I find it impossible to dismiss such happiness as some figment of my imagination. There are times when I've perhaps pretended to like someone more than I truly did, and vice versa I'm sure. I wish some relationships lasted longer, others I wish had ended sooner. Regardless, I've learned so much from my experiences - about myself and about others. What's there to regret?
It's not as if New York City
burnt down to the ground
once you drove away,
It's not as if the sun won't shine
when clouds up above
wash the blues away...
Do we have to go back and figure out our past before we can figure out our future? Maybe. I know I say that I want a serious relationship, that I just want to settle down... but do I? I'm a serial dater. I enjoy looking around because I don't really know what I want yet. I will someday, though. Someday I'll be ready.
So why do I still get sad that I haven't found "the one" when, A.) I don't know who/what "the one" is yet, and B.) I don't even want "the one" yet! Well, because you can't argue with emotion; it always wins because it's always true... at least for me.
Recently I've been listening to a lot of music. Different kinds of music. This includes Vampire Weekend, M.I.A., Kate Nash, Janet Jackson, Rooney... anything and everything. It helps me sort out my thoughts. That and writing.
It's 2008. (Or is that 200GREAT?) I feel very grown up, very changed. I can't remember ever feeling this way before and I know there's no turning back.
Blow out your candles, Laura.
"The one who tells you he has dreams about you...
that's who you want to be with."
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| 2007: The Year In Movies. |
[30 Jan 2008|11:47pm] |
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Kylie Minogue - "Speakerphone" |
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Come on, come on, come on
get through it,
Come on, come on, come on...
love's the greatest thing.
I don't really know why I write in this journal anymore at all - I rarely check it and rarely post. Yet for some reason, I feel the need to write about my yearly film favorites. Maybe this'll just become a movie journal? Who knows!
Anyway, I already wrote a 2007 Midway entry for the first half of the year, but the list below includes everything I've deemed worthy from the past twelve months. If you still read this, enjoy!
1. ZODIAC
Still my favorite! Read more here.
2. ATONEMENT
This dazzling masterpiece of a motion picture is the richest, most complete work of the year. Thrillingly hypnotic, intensely sensual and gorgeously filmed, Atonement is an unforgettable movie-going experience. Don’t be fooled by the familiar period piece setting; it is only a decoy to examine an array of darker themes (jealousy, cruelty and betrayal, to name a few) lurking underneath. Echoing such modern classics as Dangerous Liaisons and The Age of Innocence – not to mention any Tennessee Williams play – this stunning love story begins excitingly, with a young girl punching keys on a typewriter, and continues to be utterly enthralling until its reflective conclusion... a conclusion that delivers an unexpected emotional wallop. Never has such an elegant, skillfully orchestrated film been so intimately affecting.
Everything about Atonement fits together perfectly. The plot is masterfully crafted – especially the first half, which has a tantalizingly rhythmic quality. Watching this complicated tale unfold is like listening to an opera or reading poetry. Rarely have so many characters’ emotional arcs been portrayed so vividly on the silver screen. And while there is no real twist in the story, the film is nonetheless chock-full of revealing insights and surprises. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Atonement is simply the fact that no element overshadows another. From the acting and directing, the music (which is spellbinding) and cinematography, the script and overall tone... each piece of the puzzle is equally extraordinary, and that’s fairly rare. Something usually tends to stand out but, in this case, the film stands on its own as a whole.
What’s even more intriguing is that this is not just an epic romance. The story is also about childhood, imagination, regret, redemption... and storytelling itself. What more could a movie lover ask for? A sensational film, Atonement might just be my favorite of the year. (Well, second-favorite!)
3. EASTERN PROMISES
Midwife Naomi Watts encounters a corrupt family with a history of violence in Eastern Promises, a wicked black comedy disguised as a gangster movie. This provocative meditation on good and evil, directed by David Cronenberg, is a sheer masterpiece of subtlety, suspense and originality. There’s something about the director’s recent films – whose ideas are always evolving – that fascinate me. A History of Violence was impressive, but I thought its themes were more intriguing than the actual story. This time around, however, Cronenberg truly delivers. Promises is a highly intelligent, albeit morally ambiguous, mood piece that possesses one of the year’s finest performances. Viggo Mortensen’s electrifying portrayal of a Russian mob family’s calm but cynical driver is positively flawless. The actor has always been solid, but his turn here is award-worthy. Watch for an astonishing bathhouse fight scene late in the story; brutal without being gratuitous, the sequence quite simply sets a benchmark for fight scenes to come. Overall, this descent into the underworld cuts to the core of human nature. How it manages to emerge from the dark depths of human scum with even a shred of honest hope, I’ll never know. But I do know it’s one of the best films 2007 has yet to offer.
4. GRINDHOUSE
See here...
5. RATATOUILLE
Pixar continues to prove its excellence with Ratatouille, a savory blend of deliciously exquisite ingredients – puns intended. This is a fantastic film, wonderfully wondrous in all ways. It’s difficult to pinpoint what’s most impressive: the superbly detailed animation, the witty humor, the intelligent, heartfelt story (thankfully without any unnecessary “edginess”)... everything works! Definitely one of the year’s best.
6. LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
Both funny and serious in all the right places, Lars and the Real Girl is a sweet, tender film with a perfectly nuanced script and featuring the best performance Ryan Gosling has ever given... yet. Totally engaging and plausible throughout – and not just in a cute, charming way, but also a realistic way – this is an absolute treasure of a motion picture. I miss small movies like this, about regular people dealing with regular things. There are no games in Lars, no easy cruelty; the story is very sincere, straightforward and refreshing. I loved it with all my heart.
7. JUNO
Juno is honest proof that a film is only as good as its screenplay. This brave, inspired work, written by newcomer Diablo Cody, showcases a tricky, prickly story (that never once rings false) crackling with whip-smart dialogue and spirited performances. Aside from the dynamite script, sassy star Ellen Page is the real find. She is the movie, playing the title role with fierce gusto. While her character is blessed with compassion, vigor and a stinging wit, Page the actress sparkles with sweet sincerity, maintaining an astonishingly credible amount of composure despite her impromptu situation. Brava to her! And bravo to director Jason Reitman for making yet another refreshingly perceptive film. Jennifer Garner also deserves special notice in a tender supporting role.
In terms of its breakout lead performance, I’m reminded of Reese Witherspoon in Election. Also, the film feels like the younger sister of “Knocked Up” – and I mean that in a good way.
8. KNOCKED UP
Here...
9. HAIRSPRAY
A squeaky clean musical that knows how – and when – to get down and dirty, Hairspray is pure pleasure. Perfectly cast, choreographed and paced, the film succeeds on all levels. (Even the original songs are catchy and clever... rare for movie musicals, in my opinion.) So if you love dancing or FUN, then you’ll love Hairspray!
10. PARIS, JE T'AIME
And here!
11. A MIGHTY HEART
Oh, and here... again.
12. SOUTHLAND TALES
Richard Kelly’s long-awaited follow up to cult favorite Donnie Darko is finally here... and what a motion picture! Spectacularly audacious, messy and magical, Southland Tales is a futuristic pop sci-fi extravaganza of epic proportions. Crazy, outrageous and, above all, weird, this sublime mishmash of ideas – it pays homage to various inspirational sources, ranging from directors like David Lynch, Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick, to writers like Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut and even Karl Marx – explodes with vibrant energy (and creativity) in its depiction of end-of-the-world apocalypse. Is there really any way to explain the plot? No. Is it all incredibly self-indulgent? A little. But it’s also extremely engrossing, and Kelly remains assured throughout – you trust him as a storyteller, and he manages to pull everything (well, mostly everything) together by the end. Imagine a breezier, dreamier version of Fight Club with more political satirizing and less grim philosophizing, and you pretty much have Southland Tales. Kelly’s story, in fact, seems to be most concerned with evoking a frenzied sense of contemporary American life while also trying to be fun and playful about its serious subject matter. Overall, this strange hybrid is successful. The whole thing isn’t as personally affecting as Donnie Darko – it’s a bigger, broader story, so it shouldn’t be – but it’s just as memorable, albeit in a very different way.
Richard Kelly claims that Southland, like Darko, was still him “experimenting” as a filmmaker. I have no doubt he’ll make better, more mature films in the future. It’ll be sad, however, if the bright young kid responsible for these two visionary works is forced to grow up completely.
( Bored yet? )
Happy '08, Everyone!
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| Roses Are Red. |
[20 Dec 2007|10:01am] |
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Remember how I want to be a writer/director? Well, this is a short film I did a while back and uploaded. (Ignore the poor video quality.) Cool, huh?
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| And You Learn. |
[27 Oct 2007|02:18pm] |
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Daft Punk - "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" |
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After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn't mean possession and company doesn't mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises. And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build your roads today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans, and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much, so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong, and you really do have worth. And you learn, and you learn... and you learn.
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| Lindsay 4-Eva. |
[31 Jul 2007|08:18pm] |
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Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position" |
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Listen up, haters.
While I am extremely troubled by Lindsay Lohan’s recent behavior – she’s truly testing the loyalty of her most ardent fans – I am even more troubled by the backlash she’s getting. Paris Hilton is the very definition of a talentless, useless "celebrity," and even though she has been involved in just as much (if not more) legal drama as Lohan, people still rooted for her! So, where’s the love? Lindsay actually has talent... not to mention a personality!
Here’s the thing: I don’t typically like people that are "easy" to like. (There are some exceptions, of course. Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman, for instance.) But overall I mean, celebrity idols that are smart, sophisticated and always turning up in good movies? BORING. Of course everyone loves them, it’s a no-brainer! Me? I like a challenge. Someone who should be a star, has real talent and true beauty, but just can’t seem to get it – and keep it – together? THAT’S what I find intriguing. Someone like that catches my eye and holds my interest.
Having said that, LiLo is a mess right now. No question about it! Drunk driving? Cocaine? Car chases? The girl’s got problems! Still, I’m rooting for her. Why? Because that’s what FRIENDS do. Besides, it’s not like she has any supportive, trustworthy people in her life. Her dad is crazy, her mom’s a media whore and everyone else in her family – and circle of friends – wants a piece of her. This doesn’t excuse her actions, but it does warrant sympathy.
And then there’s the new movie. I Know Who Killed Me (or I Know Who Killed My Career, as it’s also being called) opened last weekend to awful reviews and poor box office numbers... and I wasn’t surprised. Even I wasn’t planning to praise what looked like drivel. Still, I saw it (duh), and you know what? It’s not that bad AT ALL. I can confidently say – as I always have – that Lohan has more raw, natural talent than most actresses of any age. This isn’t her best performance, but it’s another great one on a list of many. (At first I was confused as to why she’s been choosing such flawed scripts, but now I understand: She’d rather play a fascinating character in a mediocre movie than a boring character in a good one. I love that; it’s gutsy.) And while the film itself is imperfect – with that muddled plot, lurid tone and highly implausible third act twist – it does have its merits... the crafty direction and gorgeous cinematography, for example. All those reds and blues pervading nearly every frame have a cumulative effect; the story thrives on dream logic and, for the most part, it works. Contrary to popular belief, I Know Who Killed Me is more similar to David Lynch’s feverish Blue Velvet than something like Basic Instinct. It’s all a bit too dark and murky overall, yes, but there are also too many magnificent moments (including a beautifully acted scene between Lohan and Julia Ormond, who plays her mother) and elements (the meaning behind the red vs. blue symbolism is especially intriguing) to write the whole movie off as bad. If only the filmmakers had a smarter secret up their sleeve for the big finale – and the setup wasn’t as clumsily put together – critics might’ve been less harsh. (The idea also feels like it’d work better as an intense short story than a full-length film.) In regard to Lindsay Lohan specifically, would reviews of her performance be stronger if she had less personal drama going on? I have to believe so – what other reason could there be? She’s a terrific actress, even when surrounded by grimy perverseness. Or did the character just remind critics of what they don’t like about Lohan herself? Maybe, but if so, that’s both lame and sad. I’m so sick of everyone hating on her! Honestly. Say what you will about the 21-year-old, but she took on a difficult, challenging role here and handled it with gusto.
And as far as the actress/singer/model/socialite/vixen/partier/drug doer/car crasher/celebrity idol’s real life goes, let’s just hope that, one day, she can keep it together.
Man, I really need to start a Lindsay Lohan-only blog! The girl seriously gives me enough daily material to do so.
On another note, I can't get "You Can't Stop The Beat" - the theme from Hairspray - out of my head. Loves it!
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| The Rebellion Has Begun. |
[12 Jul 2007|07:47pm] |
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Hellogoodbye - "All Of Your Love" |
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"You were good, kid. Real good. But as long as I'm around, you'll always be second best, see?"
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| AMAZE. |
[08 Jul 2007|10:27pm] |
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Lindsay Lohan - "Fastlane" |
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Clandestine Avarice Aurora Sky Lapis lazuli Phantasmagoria Reverie Velocity Phoenix Macabre Lynx Lily Fly Tiger Razor Chaos Helter skelter Paradigm Hurly burly Aquamarine Raspberry Dangerous Wonderland Irreverent Disturbing Shiloh Eternal Mockingbird Crawling Blink Present Tense Malice Memory Wrinkle Wicked Midnight Dandelion Marigold Smoke Mirrors Desire Destiny Vanilla Forever Glitter Glamour Glitz Sparkle Sizzle December October Sunset Crush Crave Electric Edge Extraordinary
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| 2007: The Midway Mark. |
[02 Jul 2007|06:07pm] |
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Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse, The Zutons - "Valerie" |
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July is finally here after a very intriguing month (in more ways than one), and I’ve decided to do a mid-year roundup of the films that have – so far, at least – garnered my attention and earned my respect. (Also, I need a brief break from dissecting celebrity gossip every day.) Okay, here we go!
ZODIAC
Long without being boring, detailed without being tedious, this tale of obsession achieves complete and utter brilliance simply because it never exploits its serial killer subject matter. Instead, the film handles the topic with patience and subtlety, covering an astonishing amount of information in the process. In a bizarre way, Zodiac has almost invented a new genre of suspense movies. It’s not really about these detectives’ fixation with the Zodiac killings; rather, it’s about America’s fascination with serial killers in general. Directing his most accomplished piece of work, David Fincher wisely holds back on his trademark visuals in favor of the plot. And when the anxiety has reached a boiling point and those “scary moments” do arrive, boy, are they effective! Most refreshingly, the true facts of the case don’t seem to have been compacted or Hollywood-ized as in other contemporary thrillers. Overall, Zodiac is a hauntingly hypnotic, intellectually chilling masterpiece about obsession, frustration and, of course, the very nature of fear.
GRINDHOUSE
Disturbing and hilarious, gruesome yet playful, what can I say about this double feature extravaganza? The astoundingly creative Robert Rodriguez gives us Planet Terror, a crazily violent zombie movie highlighted by a sultry Rose McGowan – with a machine gun leg – and the underrated Marley Shelton as a nurse who knows her needles. And then there’s Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. While both flicks are unique, adrenaline-fueled examples of “great trash,” Planet Terror is undoubtedly the better picture. The first half of Death Proof drags on and on for no apparent reason. There’s something teasingly provocative about both sets of girls – the first bunch is more submissive, the second more aggressive, I get it! – but their pointless, never-ending banter is a lame excuse for alleged “character development.” Thank god for that spectacular car chase finale! Still, the best part of Grindhouse just might be its fake trailers, Don’t being especially awesome. All in all, this is slick exploitation cinema at its finest! (By the way, I’m very disappointed it bombed in theaters AND that Tarantino’s contribution got the better reviews. People suck.)
A MIGHTY HEART
This is a tough one to sit through, but absolutely worth it. Taking a documentary-like approach to the story of Daniel and Mariane Pearl, A Mighty Heart thrusts the viewer into its chaotic world immediately. The momentum of the film never slows because the actual events never slow – I can’t imagine the real Mariane even had one moment to stop and breathe. Angelina Jolie portrays – or better yet, inhabits – the resilient woman convincingly. She is not the best actress, but since the performance is based primarily on a series of reactions, it doesn’t matter. Jolie somehow manages to be both the internationally mythic star that she is while disappearing into the role at the same time... and it works. Credit director Michael Winterbottom for making sure she didn’t overwhelm the film with her presence (and also for his gritty approach to the material). The character of Mariane remains contained until, after the tragic fate of her husband is ultimately revealed, her emotions simply explode. I can’t say I “enjoyed” A Mighty Heart; it made me antsy and uncomfortable. (I remember Jolie dropping her cell phone during a tense moment and I literally jumped.) And I wanted to learn more about Mariane and Daniel’s relationship and the reasons behind his capture, although the latter might be impossible. Nevertheless, the message behind this worthy film is basically that life is precious – an important point, indeed. Even more relevant is the strong scene near the end where Jolie’s Mariane declares that the terrorists have not won. She says something to the effect of: “A terrorist’s job is to terrorize people. I am not terrorized.” And you know what? Even after all she had been through, I believed her.
PARIS, JE T'AIME
Watching this film – a series of vignettes all taking place in Paris, each one revolving around the theme of love – is like opening a bottle of bubbly champagne. It’s all about moments and emotions, characters and ideas. There’s comedy, drama, romance and passion... and most of the time it works, but sometimes it doesn’t. In the end, though, I honestly enjoyed the experience. A few of the various directors’ stories resonate more than others, but that’s not really the point. You’ll either delight in this exploration of the senses or not. Personally, I was enchanted. The film manages to capture true humanity, and how often do we see (or feel) that?
KNOCKED UP
“Hilarious and heartwarming” is a pretty popular term critics use in their reviews. But more often than not, the movie doesn’t live up to the phrase. Knocked Up, however, is a very funny movie with a very big heart. In fact, it’s the funniest movie I’ve seen in a while. Writer-director Judd Apatow is quite simply one of the smartest people working in film (and TV) today, and he’s assembled yet another perfect cast for this kind of material. Stars Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl work wonderfully together, with Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd contributing extraordinary supporting performances. Nearly every scene has a terrific one-liner, but don’t be fooled: the story works because it’s honest and believable. This may not be hailed a tour de force, but its characters are just as vivid and realistic as the ones in any reputable drama. Destined to become a classic.
BLACK SNAKE MOAN
It doesn’t get much hotter than this. Christina Ricci – from The Addams Family movies to The Opposite of Sex and Buffalo ‘66 – has always been an impressive, distinct actress, but here she’s startlingly fierce and electric. (And hell if she doesn’t look fucking fantastic.) The whole concept of taming a “wild woman” stretches credibility and the steamy, sweaty atmosphere might be overripe, but so what? I’ve never seen an addiction movie with this much grit and willpower before. The boldly irreverent Craig Brewer is particularly relentless in his resolve to keep his characters struggling for self-improvement, which is not easy. He knows that overcoming addiction, in any form, is an ongoing effort. The final scene between Rae and Ronnie proves that they’ll have to keep on battling their demons every day... just like ordinary people have to do in real life.
BREACH
Chris Cooper is a tremendous actor. Evoking intelligence and class in almost every performance, he's again quietly extraordinary in Breach – a smart, suspenseful film from the writer-director of Shattered Glass. Quite the improvement over last year's disastrously inferior The Good Shepherd, this adept psychological portrait of an FBI spy is an extremely subtle, successful thriller. It works because of Cooper's graceful handling of the character – Ryan Phillippe does a (surprisingly) decent job too – but also because of the complexities of the story's true-life case and criminal. Agent Robert Hanssen didn't sell secrets for money... so why? Well, according to Breach, the “why” doesn't really matter.
( Do you want some more? )
All right, enough about movies. Back to work slash life!
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| I'm Already Obsessed... |
[27 Jun 2007|03:57pm] |
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mood |
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 giddy |
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"It's hard, I think, to find people in the world you love more than your family."
-- MARGOT AT THE WEDDING
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| Infinity. |
[24 Jun 2007|07:27pm] |
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mood |
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 hot |
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music |
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Feist - "La Meme Histoire" |
] |
(Please Press Play.)
Her name was Lola.
Dance with me across the ocean floor,
Sail away to Heaven's open door.
Everybody's gonna love today.
Straight up, now tell me... do you really wanna love me forever?
Why do all good things come to an end?
Walking back to you
is the hardest thing
that I can do.
(Stop, Rewind And Play Again.)
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| I Love... |
[06 Jun 2007|08:18pm] |
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mood |
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 loved |
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music |
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Fall Out Boy - "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" |
] |
"We'll all grow up one day. We might as well know what we want."
I love writing about celebrities.
I love getting paid to write about celebrities.
I love knowing gossip before anyone else... not to mention the dirty inside stuff no one dares to print.
I love knowing more and more about how Hollywood – and, to a greater extent, L.A. – works.
I love that I'm going to be on Entertainment Tonight.
I love(d) Sarah Silverman's Paris Hilton joke at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards. (Prison Bars + Penises = Hilarity!)
I (also) loved the raunchy kiss between Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen.
I love Johnny Depp and George Clooney, still.
I love you know who.
I love fun.
I love being dramatic. (And, sometimes, being depressed.)
I love home.
I love food, sex and travel.
I love(d) Zodiac, Knocked Up, Grindhouse and Black Snake Moan (in that order) this year. That's all so far!
I love the Bratz movie trailer. (Whatever, you know you love it, too.)
I love the music of Joy Electric. I also love Maggie Gyllenhaal's songs, especially "I Can't Wait," in Happy Endings. Oh, and Mika, still.
I love Avril Lavigne's "Hot" – which reminds me, I love my friends. And my parents.
I love Kathy Griffin and her Bravo reality show, still.
I love (and miss) Winona Ryder.
I love that the way I feel right now might completely change in hardly any time at all... for whatever reason.
I love not knowing.
I love infinity.
I think it's better to try and focus on what we love as opposed to what we hate.
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| "I Want Some More..." |
[29 May 2007|10:27pm] |
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mood |
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Jupiter Rising - "Electropop" |
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Quite the Memorial Day weekend! Not only am I employed once again, the third installment of the Pirates franchise was released and underwhelmed slightly at the box office - but still greatly entertained me - and, most importantly, a trio of spoiled starlets crashed... in more ways than one.
I love you, Lindsay, but it's getting harder and harder to defend you. See what I mean?
Don't look at me that way, Lohan. I don't have any bleach for you to snort.
With Paris Hilton a week away from going to jail, you'd think the paparazzi-plagued girls of Hollywood might learn from the sad socialite's mistakes. But what happens? Lindsay continues her downward spiral of disaster, drives drunk into a curb, or whatever, and gets caught with drugs. DRUGS. It's totally okay to do a few lines in the privacy of your own crack den, but not, like, EVERYWHERE. Then Mischa Barton, desperate for attention, overdoses at Nicole Richie's party and freaks out about dying? I'm sure Nicole totally laughed. But not for long - Ms. Richie soon got into a car accident of her own.
Dude, y'all are making Britney Spears look completely SANE and that is definitely not a good thing.
Lindsay, Mischa... is this really what you want? To be one of those non-famous famous people, famous for not having ANY kind of talent? Even Paris is staying inside and pretending to be religious. Lindsay, you have a natural gift for acting - use it. And Mischa, you can't really act, but you could seriously be a model. Pull it together and stop trailing this one around:
Yeah, I see you, Mischa. You follower. Now that Lindsay's checked herself into rehab (for the second time before turning 21), the least you could do is ditch anorexic freaks like this.
By the way, did I mention I'm strangely obsessed with Nicole Richie? How's that for, uh, irony.
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| What View? |
[23 May 2007|04:18pm] |
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mood |
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Screaming bitches! |
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I was originally going to post the Angelina Jolie interview from The Today Show but - aside from interviewer Ann Curry being TOTALLY annoying and weird - it was oddly boring. Jolie always feels more like a real human being in comparison to most celebrities, and therefore deserves stronger questions.
So, where better to find a fun cat fight than The View? Below is the long-ass clip from today's hilariously bitchy battle between Rosie, Ms. "I'm loud AND controversial," and hot Republican Elisabeth... who I'm actually beginning to like more. She's getting surprisingly smarter - with both her facts and in how she handles Rosie's obnoxious game-playing.
Here's to women showing their claws!
"Some may call it a train wreck... we call it The View."
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| Unpopular Culture. |
[17 May 2007|12:57pm] |
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mood |
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Snow Patrol - "You're All I Have" |
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Well, I'm not surprised. Most American Idol followers expected Jordin to reach the finale - hell, I bet she'll (deservedly) win - but no one seemed sure who'd join her. The consistently excellent Melinda or the endlessly inventive Blake?
In a shocking turn of events, host Ryan Gaycrest was voted off. Yippee!
Whoops, that was only a dream. Melinda was voted off. And while I do honestly LOVE her, I'm not surprised. Even with the recent Blake backlash I'm not surprised. Melinda just never "popped." She was always great in the exact same way. Blake was only good, but good at different things. As for Jordin, she just has that special spark. Like, literally – it's her friggin' last name! I'm happy with the final two because they're both talented in unique ways. But in their choosing Blake over Melinda, it's clear what the American public wants in their American Idol.
And this has got me thinking.
Now, I'm not a big Idol fan. Still, there's no denying its influence in music, TV and popular culture. I mean, no one went to see American Dreamz arguably because it poked fun at something so embedded in the national bloodstream. (There's totally a college thesis somewhere in all this.) Regarding past contestants, I liked Katharine McPhee - mostly because she's gorgeous, even in person, and because of her beautiful cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - and Carrie Underwood. And then there's the original winner, Ms. Kelly Clarkson, who I like in a love/hate way. There are a few reasons to idolize her (she's not trendy skinny and sticks up for herself) and a few reasons not to idolize her (she's not trendy skinny and sticks up for herself). But are any of these people truly worth revering?
Who is there to idolize anymore? (Especially now that Jerry Falwell has died.) Even Bob Barker is gone! Well, gone from The Price Is Right, that is. Once he retires, who's my grandmother going to look up to? Maybe I'll send her George Clooney's headshot.
I decided to check out the online news world for some possible idol candidates. Unfortunately, this endeavor proved fruitless because - as opposed to concentrating on rising death tolls, environmental concerns and human rights - fallen pop stars (like Britney Spears) and convicted criminals (like Paris Hilton) have stolen the spotlight. I don't even need to click on the "Entertainment" link to find celebrity gossip anymore - it's already on every news site's main page, front and center. This must've started with Princess Diana's death. After all, when the most photographed person in the world is killed running from paparazzi in a high-speed car chase, you know it's gonna be discussed. But Anna Nicole Smith? Is she really on the same level as the "People's Princess?" Guess so!
I remember the good old days when sport athletes were kids' primary idols. And I don't mean hot athlete slash models like David Beckham, I mean real athletes like, uh, Shaquille O'Neal. (Yes, I used to worship him - don't ask me why.) I have no idea who or what kids idolize these days, but I certainly hope it's not either of the Olsen twins.
So who's left? Anyone in politics is out because, let's face it, they're all idiots. (At least that's what my relatives, some of whom used to be involved in politics, say.) Anyone on TV? Lisa Kudrow was idol-worthy on Friends and The Comeback - as was Jessica Walter as the manipulative matriarch on Arrested Development - but now those shows are over. I used to admire Jackie Warner on Bravo's Work Out. She really seemed to want to help people improve themselves, both body and mind. But then she abandoned her (admittedly challenging) relationship and became kinda slutty, which is okay at twenty, but not so much at forty. As far as other reality TV, who am I gonna idolize on Project Runway or Top Chef? Bitchy drama queens and people who eat a lot? Please.
The only thing left is the movies, and by the movies I mean Hollywood. Yeah, that's an admirable group - what a reason to celebrate! Kathy Griffin is the only amusing one because she tells it like it is. And I suppose there are still a few fresh apples out there. Reese Witherspoon is all strong and independent, fighting the good fight with her kids on one arm and her Oscar in the other. Finally, there's Paul Newman. The man is a God. A handsome and intelligent Good Samaritan, he's been married almost fifty years - a Hollywood record - and all of the money earned through his food company, Newman's Own, goes straight to charity. What more could you ask for in an idol? Scratch that: Hero.
Of course, there's always Oprah. Or - as Dlisted.com calls Lindsay Lohan's mom - "White Oprah." Which brings me to the quote of the week from that site's very own Michael K...
White Oprah seriously needs to be Mother of the Year. Lindsay could get caught in an orgy with animals while shooting up bleach and she would say, "Oh, she's a young girl, just having fun!"
In the meantime, I'll stick with myself. Instead of looking to other people for the answers, I'll try to figure stuff out on my own...
That is, until the new Harry Potter comes out. Who better to idolize than a wizard? Or better yet, J.K. Rowling. I'd almost rather be a billionaire than have magical powers. That way, people will idolize me. Why?
Because I'll OWN THEM.
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doppelgang18's journal
nostalgic