Everyday I wake up, wonder why
I'm alone when I know I'm a lovely guy
Birds come down from sky so blue
See all the beautiful things you do
Why can't I just get with you
Every night I carry out my plan
Pray to God that one day I could be your man
Birds come down from sky so blue
See all the beautiful things you do
Why can't I just get with
You'd be my only friend in the world
Well you could just be my girl
And if I do run away from this life
There won't be much for me in the afterlife
Although I know that you don't even care
I'd rather stay in a world where
Birds come down from sky so blue
See all the beautiful things you do
Why can't I just get with you
-"All the Beautiful Things" by Eels
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Meditations
I'm starting to feel like I've lost my respect for movies. (I do realize that many of you are scoffing at those opening words. If you've ever heard me talk about Away We Go or any number of films, you will think it's silly for me to say such a thing.)
But it is my feeling. And I believe it to be true. I pondered today on this. 2 years ago, I would see movies alone, dressed nicely (i.e. Jeans and a blazer) to show repsect for the power that I know film has. The medium has changed my life. But it has been a while since I've done a movie old-fashioned, and, in my opinion, the good way. So tonight, seeing as I had no plans, I did a movie; 2008 style. Suited up, got some Wendy's to sneak in, even listed to music I was crazy about then. I'm very glad to say, it worked out and I had a resplendant cinematic excursion.
The film on the docket was Eat Pray Love. Yes, I know the face you're making. However, I'd heard from sources, that I consider reliable, that I should check it out. It is based on the memior by Elizabeth Gilbert, who, after a nasty divorce and a follow-up fling, decides to take a hiatus. She's stuck on the end of a teeter-totter and needs to find some balance. So, she goes on a year long journey to Italy, India, and Bali where she literally learns how to Eat, Pray, and Love (crazy. That's the title.)
It ended up being a very personal experience for me (I won't bore you with the details), but I am very glad I saw it alone. I am a firm believer that your experience with a movie can easily change with an additional member in your party. For some movies, that is ok. Others, I like to see alone first. I end up liking more movies that way.
But it is my feeling. And I believe it to be true. I pondered today on this. 2 years ago, I would see movies alone, dressed nicely (i.e. Jeans and a blazer) to show repsect for the power that I know film has. The medium has changed my life. But it has been a while since I've done a movie old-fashioned, and, in my opinion, the good way. So tonight, seeing as I had no plans, I did a movie; 2008 style. Suited up, got some Wendy's to sneak in, even listed to music I was crazy about then. I'm very glad to say, it worked out and I had a resplendant cinematic excursion.
The film on the docket was Eat Pray Love. Yes, I know the face you're making. However, I'd heard from sources, that I consider reliable, that I should check it out. It is based on the memior by Elizabeth Gilbert, who, after a nasty divorce and a follow-up fling, decides to take a hiatus. She's stuck on the end of a teeter-totter and needs to find some balance. So, she goes on a year long journey to Italy, India, and Bali where she literally learns how to Eat, Pray, and Love (crazy. That's the title.)
It ended up being a very personal experience for me (I won't bore you with the details), but I am very glad I saw it alone. I am a firm believer that your experience with a movie can easily change with an additional member in your party. For some movies, that is ok. Others, I like to see alone first. I end up liking more movies that way.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Going Mad
I had been thinking about starting to watch the television show Mad Men for quite some time. I mean, it kinda seems like something I would watch. Its won critical as well as fan adoration. So, the other, day I downloaded the first season to my portable video machine and I'll just say it is an intruiging 47ish minutes of television.
It takes place in the 1960, as you could see by the dress code. The main man is Don Draper, the creative director of "Sterling/Cooper Advertising Agency" over on Madison Avenue. He, along with 2/3 of the rest of the male characters, are some of the most dispicable people I have encountered in all my years in TV land. They all have wives and they all have at least 1 mistress. To be fair, they do have issues of their own, but seeing a therapist is considered immasculation.
The poor messed up women in their lives. Betty Draper, (Don's wife) is played by January Jones, who is probably one of the most stikingly beautiful women I've ever seen. Betty got married too young, had kids too young, basically settled too young. She has issues. Christina Hendricks plays Joan Holloway, the head lady of the steno pool. She is a mistress. Everyone is in love with her. That must be hard. Did I mention she's a redhead? I have a thing for redheads.
Along with learning about these screwed up people (as well as seeing some of Nixon/Kennedy campaign footage), the show can be quite depressing as well is interesting. All of these people are drowning in lives they aren't happy with.
Maybe that why I like it. I feel like I'm drowning alot.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
What I wish I could say is,,,
Though I've tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Everytime that I come near her
I just lose my nerve
As I've done from the start
Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days since we first met
It's a big enough umbrella
But it's always me that ends up getting wet
I resolved to call her up a thousand times a day
And ask her if she'll marry me in some old fashioned way
But my silent fears have gripped me
Long before I reach the phone
Long before my tongue has tripped me
Must I always be alone
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she does just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Know I know my love for her goes on
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Everytime that I come near her
I just lose my nerve
As I've done from the start
Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days since we first met
It's a big enough umbrella
But it's always me that ends up getting wet
I resolved to call her up a thousand times a day
And ask her if she'll marry me in some old fashioned way
But my silent fears have gripped me
Long before I reach the phone
Long before my tongue has tripped me
Must I always be alone
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she does just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Know I know my love for her goes on
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Cinematin Weekend: Female Empowerment Edition (SPOLER ALERT)
Yes, alas another cinematic weekend has occurred. Again, I saw two very different movies aimed at two DIFFERENT sects of people. So...let's get to it.
Salt is another empowered female character for Angelina Jolie to add to her arsenal. Evelyn Salt is a CIA agent accused of being a Russian sleeper agent. Of course, she runs. Because, in movies, you have to prove your innocence yourself rather than leave anything to the authorities. And its a good thing too, since a colleague is actually one of the various said sleeper agents. Angelina definitely pics a type and there is a reason. She's great at portraying those characters. Yes, they are all similar but she makes them different enough that you don't really mind seeing her shooting anything that is a noun, jumping from moving vehicle to moving vehicle, or perhaps, strangling someone with handcuffs.
Salt is your typical summer action blockbuster. However, what I liked most about the film was it went back to one of the most simple concepts in film making. It asked a question. Perhaps blatantly, as seen in the poster above, but it was nice to see a clear, simple question and have it answered. "Who is Salt?"
Was the movie a masterpiece? No. Was it fun and an escape from your bland, no-gun-totting, unrisk taking life? Hell yes!
B
Ok. So The Kids Are All Right is a movie I'd wanted to see for a few weeks. Its indie. Which normally signifies that I will enjoy it. Yeah...I was wrong.
It is a tale of a lesbian couple who's kids decide to meet their sperm donor father and how that decision affects all of their lives. Now, i consider myself pretty liberal for a boy raised in Mormonville, Utah. But I have to say, I felt like so much of the movie was so intensely pro-gay and even a little anti-straight.
That's not to say the movie wasn't well made. It really was (for the most part), well put together. But for a story that involves a marriage that overcomes infidelity, I couldn't see much reason to try and get past the mistake.
Annette Benning and Juliane Moore play Nic and Jules. Nic is a career woman who likes control and red wine. Jules is a trophy wife/house mom who never reached her full potential. From the minute the two share screen time, you know there is some tension. As the story continues (sometimes veering into the realm of unnecessary), you see that rather than being a couple, they are just two people, who it seems feel out of love some time ago. Its become a marriage of convenience rather than love. And while yes, there is something to be said for sticking together through tough times, when infidelity comes into play and the two are already disconnected...well, its hard to root for something like that.
Benning and Moore, both did a great job of crafting their characters. Its the union between them I have trouble buying. I don't really know who to blame for that. Actually I do. Director/Co-Writer Lisa Cholodenko.
I really wanted to like the movie. i was rooting for it. But one thing is evident to me.
The Kids Ain't All Right.
Salt is another empowered female character for Angelina Jolie to add to her arsenal. Evelyn Salt is a CIA agent accused of being a Russian sleeper agent. Of course, she runs. Because, in movies, you have to prove your innocence yourself rather than leave anything to the authorities. And its a good thing too, since a colleague is actually one of the various said sleeper agents. Angelina definitely pics a type and there is a reason. She's great at portraying those characters. Yes, they are all similar but she makes them different enough that you don't really mind seeing her shooting anything that is a noun, jumping from moving vehicle to moving vehicle, or perhaps, strangling someone with handcuffs.
Salt is your typical summer action blockbuster. However, what I liked most about the film was it went back to one of the most simple concepts in film making. It asked a question. Perhaps blatantly, as seen in the poster above, but it was nice to see a clear, simple question and have it answered. "Who is Salt?"
Was the movie a masterpiece? No. Was it fun and an escape from your bland, no-gun-totting, unrisk taking life? Hell yes!
B
Ok. So The Kids Are All Right is a movie I'd wanted to see for a few weeks. Its indie. Which normally signifies that I will enjoy it. Yeah...I was wrong.
It is a tale of a lesbian couple who's kids decide to meet their sperm donor father and how that decision affects all of their lives. Now, i consider myself pretty liberal for a boy raised in Mormonville, Utah. But I have to say, I felt like so much of the movie was so intensely pro-gay and even a little anti-straight.
That's not to say the movie wasn't well made. It really was (for the most part), well put together. But for a story that involves a marriage that overcomes infidelity, I couldn't see much reason to try and get past the mistake.
Annette Benning and Juliane Moore play Nic and Jules. Nic is a career woman who likes control and red wine. Jules is a trophy wife/house mom who never reached her full potential. From the minute the two share screen time, you know there is some tension. As the story continues (sometimes veering into the realm of unnecessary), you see that rather than being a couple, they are just two people, who it seems feel out of love some time ago. Its become a marriage of convenience rather than love. And while yes, there is something to be said for sticking together through tough times, when infidelity comes into play and the two are already disconnected...well, its hard to root for something like that.
Benning and Moore, both did a great job of crafting their characters. Its the union between them I have trouble buying. I don't really know who to blame for that. Actually I do. Director/Co-Writer Lisa Cholodenko.
I really wanted to like the movie. i was rooting for it. But one thing is evident to me.
The Kids Ain't All Right.
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