1) Whenever Seinfeld happens to be on my screen and Kramer shows up I say "N.igger" at the screen. I know. It's crazy. I can't help myself. I never liked or "got" that show and his screaming rant a few years back made me what some would probably consider hostile. I know what "Jewish classmate" would say (he hates when I call him that on the blog which is why I do it), "Yeah, it's unfortunate. You should really give the show a chance." Nope. No more chances. I won't yell at Rashan if he stays on it for a few seconds, which he does frequently, but I'll pass.
2) At my old gym the people who worked at the desk used to eat fries all the time. THAT IS WRONG!! They should be banned from eating the bad food while we're there trying to refrain!!!!!! I mean come on! I love fries and you torture me w/them!? Hmph! That's why I used to get fries AND a beer after leaving the gym.
3) Someone at the farmer's market last week was apparently making goat stew for millions. Why do you need 8 pounds of goat meat? I know it's only about $2.39/lb. (I know... makes me wish I knew what to do w/goat meat or what it even tasted like... no, I don't know anything about any Caribbean roots in the fam) but really? Stock up for the next year ON A SUNDAY with a huge line? And while you're at it get your lamb kidney and liver? WHAT ARE YOU MAKING!?!? I try not to be that kind of food snob but... I must say, to my American-food-only raised eyes that are becoming more and more open... it looks disgusting. LIVER? Ick.
4) That being said... after hearing about sweetbreads for years on Top Chef (and never having heard of them before), I knew they weren't really very sweet, or breads, and cooked poorly would be disgusting as they were some sort of indiscriminate animal product. I decided to go for it at this Gainesville restaurant I'd heard nothing but good things about still not knowing what they were! GOOD CHOICE! They were great!! (And they're the thymus and pancreas glands of lamb, beef or pork.)
5) I've been watching a lot of crazy movies lately which is prompting a lot of crazy dreams. I'm a several times nightly dreamer, as in I usually have multiple dreams a night. I have been working very hard to forget all of them as soon as I wake up. All I know is they make me uncomfortable and I wake up extraordinarily grateful they are not my reality.
6) GQ's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. It's part savvy, fashion-forward businessman, part silly frat boy and everything in between. The fashion is on point but the articles range a wide gamut from Newsweek-esque to curse-strewn diatribes. From what I can gather from the 6 months I've been a subscriber, it's target audience is the 25-year-old former frat boy who is now playing house but loves to reminisce on the good ole days nigh on 3 years past. I prefer the part that caters to the adult (duh). But how about one of my friend CC's friends is absolutely in that target. I forgot self-absorbed as a descriptor for the GQ reader and that one SO applies.
7) When Rashan's sister was here last weekend I kept laughing loudly at Rashan and I was thinking, "I know she's like, he is not that funny." Because that's exactly what I would say about any woman laughing like that at my brother. Except my brother really is hilarious... but still.
8) I LOVE how my voice sounds when it's hoarse. I think it's so hot! That being said, right now, after screaming the lyrics to lots of songs over the weekend with Stace, Bran and CC at Bran's daddy's birthday party, I'm pretty hoarse. Ah yeah! I don't like the accompanying sore throat but I know it's only in passing so I don't complain.
9) I'm tired of driving!! I don't want to drive anywhere for like a year!! And me, my mom and Stace are going to visit my family in Mississippi next week...
10) I'm getting to the point where I miss Rashan after a couple of days apart. I know... sickening, right? Lol.
11) The best friends of 2 guys I dated in college were staying in the same house as me when I went down to Brunswick for the party... umm... potentially awkward (and really mostly in theory) but turned out to not matter at all.
12) Rashan met one of my aunts, who also happens to be my fave. One aunt/uncle down, 11 to go. Lol.
13) I love the song "Halle Berry" because it makes me laugh. Especially after seeing her dance to it on Ellen which was actually the first time I"d heard the song. Anyway I wondered what "let's get ratchet" means so in true old person fashion (Lord... I'm out of the loop at 26... but let's be real. I was rarely up on slang. Doggone suburban upbringing.), I relied on someone's little sister... Adei's sis says it means let's get wild. So there you go. I guess urban dictionary could've helped too. This was easier.
14) Why did me and Rah see 3 guys sitting outside Starbucks wearing long-sleeved tee-shirts, and drinking coffee in 95 degree weather!?!?!
6.22.2009
6.21.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 21
June 14-20, 2009
I was having too much fun this weekend to watch movies. I have a lot of catching up to do next week.
336. The Woman in the Window. Classic thriller about a professor who gets ensnared in a murder with a beautiful model. I couldn't believe how bumbling they were. The end killed this movie for me. Cop out. 2.8/5 stars.
337. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. Documentary about the director's childhood friend who was murdered just after he fathered a son. His plan was to have the baby's father's many friends tell stories so he could get to know him. It took an extremely unexpected turn a little over halfway through. There were some parts of the film I felt moved too quickly which I attribute to the filmmaker's experience primarily with feature films. Still, overall an excellent film. 4.8/5 stars.
338. Ira and Abby. Funny movie about a neurotic guy who marries a free-spirited woman a week after they meet and how their lives change and in some ways unravel together. This film moved really nicely. I wanted to see more from the scriptwriter and the director, whoever they are. I wasn't in love with part of the ending (multiple story lines) but I really liked some of it. 4.2/5 stars
339. Why Do Fools Fall in Love. I hope you guys have stopped being shocked by all the movies I haven't seen. Lots of B actors in this film about a doo-wop star who married 3 women who didn't know he was married to all of them simultaneously and after his death fought in court over his estate. Mildly interesting but dragged on too long. Larenz Tate never looked like he was actually singing. 3/5 stars.
340. Two Days in April. Documentary follows 4 players trying to get selected in the 2006 NFL draft. It's an inside look at how they prepare themselves to get selected. I was appalled by the weigh-in. All these black men with their shirts off. Umm... reminiscent of the slave trade anyone!!?!? It was more emotional than I expected. Toward the end it dragged on unnecessarily. The film ramped up drama where it already existed but still a pretty good showing. 3.8/5 stars.
341. Victor/Victoria. Julie Andrews stars as a down and out soprano who can only secure work by posing as a female impersonator. Excellent acting in this 7-time Academy Award-nominated musical. Julie Andrews rocks. I could listen to her sing all day. This was more than a little long at 2hr9m but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only real issue with this film is that it was allegedly set in the 1930s in Paris and some of the dialogue was markedly un-1930s and some of the handling of the issues (h.omosexuality primarily) seemed anachronistic. Plus it's always strange when a movie set in France has no French and very few accents. 4.2 stars.
342. Nine Queens. Argentinean film about a rare sheet of stamps two swindlers are trying to sell and the issues that arise surrounding them. Interesting story line, moved swiftly. 4/5 stars.
343. Surfwise. Documentary about a surfing family of 9 children living in a 24-foot trailer traveling constantly, surfing, and never going to school. Hmmm... obviously a very interesting family and a film which actually got all 11 immediate family members to participate but somehow it never really all came together. I was absolutely intrigued, but some of the things that came to light in large ways throughout the film would have been more effective if they'd been alluded to earlier on. In a way because of that lack of cohesion in multiple story lines, it felt like 2 or 3 very different films. It was trying to show the totality of one man's impact on his children and the world and it just needed one scene or something to tie it all together. 3.5/5 stars.
345. American Gangster. Denzel Washington plays notorious NY drug lord Frank Lucas who involved most of his family. Although the movie was interesting, I get tired of seeing black criminals. And at 2 hours and 30 minutes, it took me about a week to watch this. Though the movie was well done, I just couldn't get into it. 3.5/5 stars.
I was having too much fun this weekend to watch movies. I have a lot of catching up to do next week.
336. The Woman in the Window. Classic thriller about a professor who gets ensnared in a murder with a beautiful model. I couldn't believe how bumbling they were. The end killed this movie for me. Cop out. 2.8/5 stars.
337. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. Documentary about the director's childhood friend who was murdered just after he fathered a son. His plan was to have the baby's father's many friends tell stories so he could get to know him. It took an extremely unexpected turn a little over halfway through. There were some parts of the film I felt moved too quickly which I attribute to the filmmaker's experience primarily with feature films. Still, overall an excellent film. 4.8/5 stars.
338. Ira and Abby. Funny movie about a neurotic guy who marries a free-spirited woman a week after they meet and how their lives change and in some ways unravel together. This film moved really nicely. I wanted to see more from the scriptwriter and the director, whoever they are. I wasn't in love with part of the ending (multiple story lines) but I really liked some of it. 4.2/5 stars
339. Why Do Fools Fall in Love. I hope you guys have stopped being shocked by all the movies I haven't seen. Lots of B actors in this film about a doo-wop star who married 3 women who didn't know he was married to all of them simultaneously and after his death fought in court over his estate. Mildly interesting but dragged on too long. Larenz Tate never looked like he was actually singing. 3/5 stars.
340. Two Days in April. Documentary follows 4 players trying to get selected in the 2006 NFL draft. It's an inside look at how they prepare themselves to get selected. I was appalled by the weigh-in. All these black men with their shirts off. Umm... reminiscent of the slave trade anyone!!?!? It was more emotional than I expected. Toward the end it dragged on unnecessarily. The film ramped up drama where it already existed but still a pretty good showing. 3.8/5 stars.
341. Victor/Victoria. Julie Andrews stars as a down and out soprano who can only secure work by posing as a female impersonator. Excellent acting in this 7-time Academy Award-nominated musical. Julie Andrews rocks. I could listen to her sing all day. This was more than a little long at 2hr9m but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only real issue with this film is that it was allegedly set in the 1930s in Paris and some of the dialogue was markedly un-1930s and some of the handling of the issues (h.omosexuality primarily) seemed anachronistic. Plus it's always strange when a movie set in France has no French and very few accents. 4.2 stars.
342. Nine Queens. Argentinean film about a rare sheet of stamps two swindlers are trying to sell and the issues that arise surrounding them. Interesting story line, moved swiftly. 4/5 stars.
343. Surfwise. Documentary about a surfing family of 9 children living in a 24-foot trailer traveling constantly, surfing, and never going to school. Hmmm... obviously a very interesting family and a film which actually got all 11 immediate family members to participate but somehow it never really all came together. I was absolutely intrigued, but some of the things that came to light in large ways throughout the film would have been more effective if they'd been alluded to earlier on. In a way because of that lack of cohesion in multiple story lines, it felt like 2 or 3 very different films. It was trying to show the totality of one man's impact on his children and the world and it just needed one scene or something to tie it all together. 3.5/5 stars.
345. American Gangster. Denzel Washington plays notorious NY drug lord Frank Lucas who involved most of his family. Although the movie was interesting, I get tired of seeing black criminals. And at 2 hours and 30 minutes, it took me about a week to watch this. Though the movie was well done, I just couldn't get into it. 3.5/5 stars.
6.17.2009
Adventures with M Pt. III
I got new phones for my mom and myself while I was at home and my goal was since it took about a million steps on the Tmobile website to upgrade phones, to go to the store right up the street from my house, walk in, upgrade and walk out with my first new phone in 3 years. I don't like phones. I love talking on them and the convenience of phones (see: the 7hr+ convos Rah and I have several times a week) but I don't see any reason why I need my phone to do anything other than look nice, dial in and out, tell me the time and be my alarm clock. I don't text, get on the internet and I'm a bit too much of a snob to want that little crappy 1.3mp camera.
Anyway, I ask the guy what phone I should get for my mom and he says, "A lot of older people like this one." Why when I got home did I slip and tell her this? LOL!! She said, "I'm not old! He doesn't know me!" I said laughing, "He didn't mean like elderly! I told him it was for my mom!" I didn't tell her he also said, "Because the numbers are big." HAHAHAHAHA!! She really would've been mad then! What? You wear glasses! I told her, "Well, if you don't like your phone, you have 14 days to take it back." (I knew there was no way she was taking that phone back. She doesn't do additional steps and hates returns except at Harris Teeter where if something's wrong you get double your money back.)
When after a protracted week of issues I won't even get into, I finally got my phone she says, "Yours is cute! I want a pewter phone!" I said, "Well good luck. You can go wrangle for your own phone." Stank, I know. She said, "I thought you were going to trade with me." So I can have the elderly phone? Lololol. "Yeah right." She said, "This one looks like too much to learn, anyway." Sigh. I know. Look at all that crap on it. I loved it the second I had it in my hand but I don't want to be bothered with learning it.
Rashan had to look up the alarm for me because it was this ridiculously convoluted process. Last Samsung phone it was directly under settings. This time? Under fun and apps, then organizer THEN alarm. What in the bloody blue blazes? And why is the screen ORANGE when I dial out and I can't figure out how to change that fuglyness? I hate orange. I figured out wallpaper but that crap? Ugh. The girl with 2 blogs (3 if you count the one I don't update, LinkedIn, facebook, twitter, utterli (formerly utterz, which Stace and I are bringing back now that twitter is so overexposed), and myspace (never checked anymore) can't figure out how to change the dial out screen on her phone. Figures. I did discover the whisper mode, though. So cool! It magnifies your voice so you could answer, put the phone on whisper mode and proceed sotto voce to tell them "I can't talk, I'm in church!!" Lol. How about you just don't answer the phone! I HATE when my mom answers the phone to tell me she can't talk!!! Just call me back!!!! Lololol.
Anyway, I ask the guy what phone I should get for my mom and he says, "A lot of older people like this one." Why when I got home did I slip and tell her this? LOL!! She said, "I'm not old! He doesn't know me!" I said laughing, "He didn't mean like elderly! I told him it was for my mom!" I didn't tell her he also said, "Because the numbers are big." HAHAHAHAHA!! She really would've been mad then! What? You wear glasses! I told her, "Well, if you don't like your phone, you have 14 days to take it back." (I knew there was no way she was taking that phone back. She doesn't do additional steps and hates returns except at Harris Teeter where if something's wrong you get double your money back.)
When after a protracted week of issues I won't even get into, I finally got my phone she says, "Yours is cute! I want a pewter phone!" I said, "Well good luck. You can go wrangle for your own phone." Stank, I know. She said, "I thought you were going to trade with me." So I can have the elderly phone? Lololol. "Yeah right." She said, "This one looks like too much to learn, anyway." Sigh. I know. Look at all that crap on it. I loved it the second I had it in my hand but I don't want to be bothered with learning it.
Rashan had to look up the alarm for me because it was this ridiculously convoluted process. Last Samsung phone it was directly under settings. This time? Under fun and apps, then organizer THEN alarm. What in the bloody blue blazes? And why is the screen ORANGE when I dial out and I can't figure out how to change that fuglyness? I hate orange. I figured out wallpaper but that crap? Ugh. The girl with 2 blogs (3 if you count the one I don't update, LinkedIn, facebook, twitter, utterli (formerly utterz, which Stace and I are bringing back now that twitter is so overexposed), and myspace (never checked anymore) can't figure out how to change the dial out screen on her phone. Figures. I did discover the whisper mode, though. So cool! It magnifies your voice so you could answer, put the phone on whisper mode and proceed sotto voce to tell them "I can't talk, I'm in church!!" Lol. How about you just don't answer the phone! I HATE when my mom answers the phone to tell me she can't talk!!! Just call me back!!!! Lololol.
6.16.2009
Done with Donna
From a recent NYTimes article:
Except you... Burn. This article was all about how those in the fashion industry tried to prop themselves up at their annual awards show despite the recession's effects on them. Was not that first response snarky? Did not it deserve the burn? Methinks it did.Asked if she was pleased to see the new talent being recognized, DonnaKaran said, “Thanks for telling me, I hadn’t noticed.” No, really, she said, the industry has collectively made efforts to welcome new businesses in fashion, promoting mentoring and networking programs through the council in recognition of the need for fresh talent.
“We’re all young,” Ms. Karan said, “In fashion, nobody grows old.”
Oh but this is not the first from Ms. DKNY. What really sparked this vitriol from me is her comments with others from the fashion
Excuse you? That is a GROWN woman. Not a child who will just "outgrow" her fashion choices. She can AND WILL wear what she wants and look good doing it. At least DK tinged her comment with some hope and (
And the least relevant? VeraWang, "I love seeing young designers and their vision and how they grow... On the other hand, I wish she would consider some of us, because I think we also have contributions to make." Have you seen your clothes? I wouldn't wear them, either. You should really stick to wedding dresses. AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE THOSE.
But really, tell me, why do you think this will work? Do you really think by "shaming" her she'll cave to your demands and wear your clothes? You must not know black women. Create something wearable or at least relevant and you wouldn't have to beg for her business. She didn't ask for that job, but guess what? She's pretty good at it and looks good doing it. Don't talk about my first lady!!! I hope she never wears any of your clothes, ESPECIALLY YOU OSCAR!! I know I won't. (Maybe Oscar...)
6.15.2009
Monday Mindspacing Vol. III
1) I used to only like my sandwiches cut on the diagonal. This is from 2nd grade until just now. I could never explain why, either. I'm starting to come around. Maybe. I haven't actually tried one of these vertical-cut sandwiches but in my head I'm starting to think, what's the big deal?
2) I don't like pb&j. Yuck. Doesn't matter the jelly. I like peanut butter. I like jelly. But not together.
3) I don't like white bread either, never have. The first time I had wheat bread I felt like I learned what real bread is supposed to taste like. My favorite bread, though, is focaccia.
4) Victoria's Secret has pissed me off with their apparent shift away from cotton outside of its Pink line. Pink is the one that's mostly collegiate with neon colors, skulls, hearts, stars, rainbow stripes, catch my drift? Seriously? Ugh. They are about to be off my must-see list. AND they send me daily sales emails.
5) Steve Madden sends too many emails, too. Again: I don't need a daily email about sales. If I'm interested I'm not going to forget your sale ends in 3 days, 2 days, 1 DAY!!!!!!! Thanks. I have cut both down to once a week. Why is that required? If they don't get it together they will be cut out together.
6) I've had way too much bad restaurant food lately. It's horrid! I can't stand it! Why do I have to pay for this food and it's not up to par? But I hate restaurant confrontations.
7) I have to get in the NYTimes. I'm obsessed with this paper. It must be done.
8) I get REALLY mad when people treat my friends badly.
9) I saw the most awesomely bad show on television last night. "G.od M.iracles in Action." It's allegedly a C.hristian talent show. MESS!!! A woman in 1980s outfits walks a runway to elevator music or something else amazingly horrid. There is no talent required but to show yours, just call the number on your screen. Wooooow!! youtube is failing me for the first time ever and I'm sad about that!!!
10) I am cooking up a storm again this week! I'll be posting on me & Stace's food & fashion blog, the Record Dish. First up: lime margarita cupcakes. For the other recipes so far this summer, see this post from a couple of days ago.
2) I don't like pb&j. Yuck. Doesn't matter the jelly. I like peanut butter. I like jelly. But not together.
3) I don't like white bread either, never have. The first time I had wheat bread I felt like I learned what real bread is supposed to taste like. My favorite bread, though, is focaccia.
4) Victoria's Secret has pissed me off with their apparent shift away from cotton outside of its Pink line. Pink is the one that's mostly collegiate with neon colors, skulls, hearts, stars, rainbow stripes, catch my drift? Seriously? Ugh. They are about to be off my must-see list. AND they send me daily sales emails.
5) Steve Madden sends too many emails, too. Again: I don't need a daily email about sales. If I'm interested I'm not going to forget your sale ends in 3 days, 2 days, 1 DAY!!!!!!! Thanks. I have cut both down to once a week. Why is that required? If they don't get it together they will be cut out together.
6) I've had way too much bad restaurant food lately. It's horrid! I can't stand it! Why do I have to pay for this food and it's not up to par? But I hate restaurant confrontations.
7) I have to get in the NYTimes. I'm obsessed with this paper. It must be done.
8) I get REALLY mad when people treat my friends badly.
9) I saw the most awesomely bad show on television last night. "G.od M.iracles in Action." It's allegedly a C.hristian talent show. MESS!!! A woman in 1980s outfits walks a runway to elevator music or something else amazingly horrid. There is no talent required but to show yours, just call the number on your screen. Wooooow!! youtube is failing me for the first time ever and I'm sad about that!!!
10) I am cooking up a storm again this week! I'll be posting on me & Stace's food & fashion blog, the Record Dish. First up: lime margarita cupcakes. For the other recipes so far this summer, see this post from a couple of days ago.
6.14.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 21
June 7- 13, 2009
By the beginning of this week I was behind on my movie watching due to my resistance to watching films. Instead of being 5 films ahead like I was when I left Charlotte I was only 3 films ahead. Okay so not behind but I wanted to step up the movie watching this summer.
324. Jungle Fever. Wesley Snipes movie by Spike Lee about a married, professional black man who has an affair with an Italian woman and the havoc their affair wreaks on their communities. Very political. Interesting like all Spike Lee joints. I liked it and couldn't remember if I'd seen it before... odd. Anyway I'd never rated it and remembered much of the film. Kind of like "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka." 4/5 stars.
325. The Seventh Sign. Demi Moore movie about the 7 signs of the apocalypse which she single-handedly tries to stop. High drama factor but I think I didn't like it because it wasn't well explained early enough. When it got to explanation I didn't believe it. Also probably didn't help that Mrs. Ashton is supposed to save the world... I was really bored most of this movie. 2/5 stars.
326. Half Past Autumn. Documentary on legendary photographer/cinematographer/filmographer Gordon Parks. I didn't understand why this film was narrated as Mr. Parks still alive and in it to tell his own story. I was also confused by how the film was organized. It didn't seem to be chronological or topical or thematic instead bouncing around. Maybe it was a loose combination of all three but throughout the film I found myself trying to mentally organize. 3/5 stars.
327. West Side Story. 1960s musical based on Romeo and Juliet. Instead there are rival gangs in NYC in the 1950s. At the beginning I couldn't stop laughing at the plie-dropping, arabesque-ing gangsters. Lol. So funny. This film won 10 Academy Awards and I can see why. I liked it and already knew a couple of the songs. 4.2/5 stars.
328. Miami Vice. Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx about an undercover operation to bust drug smugglers. There was some strange camera work going on, especially in one of the shootouts which where a marked departure from the very cinematic style of the rest of the movie and thus quite jarring and out of place. This also occurred in the opening scene in the club. At more than 2 hours, it was also too long. Overall a pretty good script until the end. It wrapped up way too neatly which brought it down to 3.5 stars.
329. I Think I Love My Wife. Chris Rock movie about a man who thinks he loves his wife until his friend's old flame pops up (Kerry Washington) to seduce him. Men are stupid. I used to think there was no way they could be that oblivious but I've seen to much evidence to the contrary in the last 5 years. They may not be dumb in everything but when it comes to bewitching women? Dumb. Adulterers make me want to go off. This movie was pretty interesting though I was SMH most of the time. The last scene had me cracking up. 3.5/5 stars.
330. House Calls. Walter Mathau film about a widower who decides to be a Casanova before he meets a beguiling divorcee. Amusing if the script was a bit slow but I laughed out loud. 4 stars.
331. Junebug. Amy Adams plays a hilarious pregnant woman about to give birth and meeting her sister-in-law for the first time. This sister-in-law is well-traveled while Adams and her husband's family, who they live with, seem to have never left NC. Of course I didn't like how hickish they were but Adams was very funny until the film took an unexpected and shockingly sad turn. I really liked the film, though. 4/5 stars.
332. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Awesome classic with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford where a former vaudeville star now tortures the star actress sister she crippled decades earlier. I was shocked by this film and actually felt sorry for Crawford, something I'd thought not possible after watching "Mommy Dearest." Lol. 4.4 stars.
333. Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer. Follow-up from British documentarian who did an expose'-style film about the people who tried to make money off of Florida's female serial killer hitchhiking prostitute. Very slanted. Not a fan of the slant or how little Aileen talked though he had access. This was more about the filmmaker hoping to show I guess how she got to be a serial killer (the sympathy angle) but in her final year or so, she wasn't interested in that and just wanted to die. I liked the fiction film, "Monster" much more. 2/5 stars.
334. The Legend of Leigh Bowery. Strange documentary about an Australian man fancied as part fashion designer, part musician, part art exhibit. He made a life of shocking people. This man was naked far too much of this movie. I don't need to see his man parts. Even though he's dead, I wanted to hear from him more considering he was such a presence rather than have people telling me about him over pictures. It was almost like this was their memory of him collected which made it less interesting for other people who didn't know him. 2.9/5 stars.
335. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. French Audrey Tatou movie about love gone awry. She plays a student in love with a married man whose wife is pregnant. It unravels from there. At first I was appalled, then amazed, then shocked, then kind of blah and decided the end would make or break this movie. Made it! 4.2/5 stars.
By the beginning of this week I was behind on my movie watching due to my resistance to watching films. Instead of being 5 films ahead like I was when I left Charlotte I was only 3 films ahead. Okay so not behind but I wanted to step up the movie watching this summer.
324. Jungle Fever. Wesley Snipes movie by Spike Lee about a married, professional black man who has an affair with an Italian woman and the havoc their affair wreaks on their communities. Very political. Interesting like all Spike Lee joints. I liked it and couldn't remember if I'd seen it before... odd. Anyway I'd never rated it and remembered much of the film. Kind of like "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka." 4/5 stars.
325. The Seventh Sign. Demi Moore movie about the 7 signs of the apocalypse which she single-handedly tries to stop. High drama factor but I think I didn't like it because it wasn't well explained early enough. When it got to explanation I didn't believe it. Also probably didn't help that Mrs. Ashton is supposed to save the world... I was really bored most of this movie. 2/5 stars.
326. Half Past Autumn. Documentary on legendary photographer/cinematographer/filmographer Gordon Parks. I didn't understand why this film was narrated as Mr. Parks still alive and in it to tell his own story. I was also confused by how the film was organized. It didn't seem to be chronological or topical or thematic instead bouncing around. Maybe it was a loose combination of all three but throughout the film I found myself trying to mentally organize. 3/5 stars.
327. West Side Story. 1960s musical based on Romeo and Juliet. Instead there are rival gangs in NYC in the 1950s. At the beginning I couldn't stop laughing at the plie-dropping, arabesque-ing gangsters. Lol. So funny. This film won 10 Academy Awards and I can see why. I liked it and already knew a couple of the songs. 4.2/5 stars.
328. Miami Vice. Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx about an undercover operation to bust drug smugglers. There was some strange camera work going on, especially in one of the shootouts which where a marked departure from the very cinematic style of the rest of the movie and thus quite jarring and out of place. This also occurred in the opening scene in the club. At more than 2 hours, it was also too long. Overall a pretty good script until the end. It wrapped up way too neatly which brought it down to 3.5 stars.
329. I Think I Love My Wife. Chris Rock movie about a man who thinks he loves his wife until his friend's old flame pops up (Kerry Washington) to seduce him. Men are stupid. I used to think there was no way they could be that oblivious but I've seen to much evidence to the contrary in the last 5 years. They may not be dumb in everything but when it comes to bewitching women? Dumb. Adulterers make me want to go off. This movie was pretty interesting though I was SMH most of the time. The last scene had me cracking up. 3.5/5 stars.
330. House Calls. Walter Mathau film about a widower who decides to be a Casanova before he meets a beguiling divorcee. Amusing if the script was a bit slow but I laughed out loud. 4 stars.
331. Junebug. Amy Adams plays a hilarious pregnant woman about to give birth and meeting her sister-in-law for the first time. This sister-in-law is well-traveled while Adams and her husband's family, who they live with, seem to have never left NC. Of course I didn't like how hickish they were but Adams was very funny until the film took an unexpected and shockingly sad turn. I really liked the film, though. 4/5 stars.
332. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Awesome classic with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford where a former vaudeville star now tortures the star actress sister she crippled decades earlier. I was shocked by this film and actually felt sorry for Crawford, something I'd thought not possible after watching "Mommy Dearest." Lol. 4.4 stars.
333. Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer. Follow-up from British documentarian who did an expose'-style film about the people who tried to make money off of Florida's female serial killer hitchhiking prostitute. Very slanted. Not a fan of the slant or how little Aileen talked though he had access. This was more about the filmmaker hoping to show I guess how she got to be a serial killer (the sympathy angle) but in her final year or so, she wasn't interested in that and just wanted to die. I liked the fiction film, "Monster" much more. 2/5 stars.
334. The Legend of Leigh Bowery. Strange documentary about an Australian man fancied as part fashion designer, part musician, part art exhibit. He made a life of shocking people. This man was naked far too much of this movie. I don't need to see his man parts. Even though he's dead, I wanted to hear from him more considering he was such a presence rather than have people telling me about him over pictures. It was almost like this was their memory of him collected which made it less interesting for other people who didn't know him. 2.9/5 stars.
335. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. French Audrey Tatou movie about love gone awry. She plays a student in love with a married man whose wife is pregnant. It unravels from there. At first I was appalled, then amazed, then shocked, then kind of blah and decided the end would make or break this movie. Made it! 4.2/5 stars.
6.12.2009
I Roll Fatly
I know this will not surprise any of you who read this blog even semi-regularly but...
I'M HUNGRY!!
Like all the time.
Sometimes (okay MOST of the time) while eating one meal, I'm thinking about the next. It's bad. My mom said as much as I talk about food I should be two tons of fun. I can't help myself! And this summer I've been cooking up a storm which is absolutely exacerbating the problem.
BTW isn't this like the best! picture! ever!? I walked into Rashan's room where I was meal-planning and it struck me that I had 4 Rachael Ray mags and 3 books and I should TOTALLY take a picture of that! So awesome! (And that's just the tip of my Rach iceberg). I also got unnecessarily excited when I saw Rachael Ray chicken stock in the grocery store-- I even used the recipe on the box for the chicken in meal number 3 below. My mom gets kind of jealous of my Rach love because she taught me stuff about food first. It's kind of funny in an incredulous kind of way. Hey mom... chill out. Lol. Nevertheless, meal-planning for one day almost always makes me hungry immediately no matter how recent my last meal. As I write this post, shortly after thinking about eggs over-medium just worked me up into a near-frenzy, I'm starving! But I think that's an illusion because when I thought that Monday night I went downstairs and whipped up some eggs with potatoes and salmon already cooked and went to town. After the first couple of bites I was satiated.
And don't let me have worked out and have an excuse to think fatly. It is hilarious to me that fatly is a word. As in, "I was fatly planning meals, you know, Paula Deen-style with lots of butter and mayonnaise and bacon, preferably in the same dish..." Kidding. I would never say that. I don't like mayo very much and a butter and bacon combo sounds disgusting to me. As if bacon doesn't work fatly enough. *snicker* (Don't get me started on the pitifulness of turkey bacon *shudder* and don't tell me about your turkey bacon either because it is nowhere near the taste of the thick-cut applewood smoked bacon at the Dekalb Farmers Market aka Jameil Heaven. That is some of the best bacon I've ever had in my LIFE. Right up there with the Cracker Barrel bacon. MMM!!)
Some of my meals so far this summer:
1) Ground turkey (with cumin, poblano peppers (pretty mild but a nice pepper flavor), cumin, salt, pepper, cilantro), oven frites, corn and black beans (drained & rinsed, add s&p, cilantro, cumin, lime juice) with homemade guacamole (avocado smashed, add garlic (optional), cilantro, lime, s&p, onion).
2) "Casablanca" lamb burgers with fried potatoes. (pictured right)
3) Chili lime salmon (twist on the recipe from the frozen salmon bag-- baste the salmon with garlic, poblanos, s&p, cumin, lime juice (notice a theme?) and EVOO-- extra virgin olive oil-- broil at 400 for 6-7 mins on each side, basting when you turn) with poblano creamed corn and cumin thyme black beans (twist on the recipe on the bean can).
4) Chicken breast with a mustard gravy (from the Rach-brand chicken stock), broccoli and a quinoa-orzo-baby garbanzo bean-couscous mix (from Trader Joe's but using a Rach recipe for quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah")).
5) Peruvian chicken (I used a whole chicken which means you need to make sure to season the cavity well) with sauteed spinach and cheddar broccoli rice (right out of one of those flavored bag rices-- not my normal route but Rah had it in the cabinet so I snatched it right out).
6) Don't-kiss-me garlic and Adirondacker burgers (yes, 2 burgers in one night-- we each had 1/2 of a different burger) with oven steamed zucchini (garlic, onions, zucchini coins in a foil packet on 350-- twist on an Aida recipe) and sour cream smashed yukon gold potatoes.
7) Gaucho burger with charred pico de gallo and homemade guacamole and tortilla chips.
We weren't fans of the charred pico in this one so if I made it again (because the burger was delish otherwise) I would just make a regular pico.
8) Eggplant mushroom parmigiana. For this one I used a Mario Batalli recipe (plus mushrooms) with a homemade marinara recipe he provided. AMAZING! I liked this a lot and it's less fat(ly... lol, yes, I know that is grammatically incorrect) than the regular fried eggplant version.
This is in the last month (4 in the last week), along with trying several new restaurants and some old faves, which may not be much for some of you but is a small miracle for me. I am admittedly a Food Network nut and love burgers as much as/more than I love Mexican and eggs. I can't decide AND WON'T!! If I could have all 3 in a meal it would probably be too much! I've combined 2 on several occasions. Hmmm.... I'm thinking a mexican burger topped with a fried egg. Oh YES!! See what I mean? Just fat!! Internally fat!! That was a completely unplanned tangent.
Anyway almost all of these recipes were Rachael Ray. Yes, Rashan and my mom have been LOVING ME!! Lol. And there are more to come because the more I cook unfamiliar foods (many of these recipes were my first time trying either the method or one or more of the ingredients; all except number 1 were my first time trying the recipe. 1 was a mix of my fave ingredients which I would usually add tortillas to), the more confident I become about cooking (even better when they clean the kitchen) and the more willing I am to try lots of stuff. Wheeeee!
I'M HUNGRY!!
Like all the time.
Sometimes (okay MOST of the time) while eating one meal, I'm thinking about the next. It's bad. My mom said as much as I talk about food I should be two tons of fun. I can't help myself! And this summer I've been cooking up a storm which is absolutely exacerbating the problem.
BTW isn't this like the best! picture! ever!? I walked into Rashan's room where I was meal-planning and it struck me that I had 4 Rachael Ray mags and 3 books and I should TOTALLY take a picture of that! So awesome! (And that's just the tip of my Rach iceberg). I also got unnecessarily excited when I saw Rachael Ray chicken stock in the grocery store-- I even used the recipe on the box for the chicken in meal number 3 below. My mom gets kind of jealous of my Rach love because she taught me stuff about food first. It's kind of funny in an incredulous kind of way. Hey mom... chill out. Lol. Nevertheless, meal-planning for one day almost always makes me hungry immediately no matter how recent my last meal. As I write this post, shortly after thinking about eggs over-medium just worked me up into a near-frenzy, I'm starving! But I think that's an illusion because when I thought that Monday night I went downstairs and whipped up some eggs with potatoes and salmon already cooked and went to town. After the first couple of bites I was satiated.And don't let me have worked out and have an excuse to think fatly. It is hilarious to me that fatly is a word. As in, "I was fatly planning meals, you know, Paula Deen-style with lots of butter and mayonnaise and bacon, preferably in the same dish..." Kidding. I would never say that. I don't like mayo very much and a butter and bacon combo sounds disgusting to me. As if bacon doesn't work fatly enough. *snicker* (Don't get me started on the pitifulness of turkey bacon *shudder* and don't tell me about your turkey bacon either because it is nowhere near the taste of the thick-cut applewood smoked bacon at the Dekalb Farmers Market aka Jameil Heaven. That is some of the best bacon I've ever had in my LIFE. Right up there with the Cracker Barrel bacon. MMM!!)
Some of my meals so far this summer:
1) Ground turkey (with cumin, poblano peppers (pretty mild but a nice pepper flavor), cumin, salt, pepper, cilantro), oven frites, corn and black beans (drained & rinsed, add s&p, cilantro, cumin, lime juice) with homemade guacamole (avocado smashed, add garlic (optional), cilantro, lime, s&p, onion).
2) "Casablanca" lamb burgers with fried potatoes. (pictured right)
3) Chili lime salmon (twist on the recipe from the frozen salmon bag-- baste the salmon with garlic, poblanos, s&p, cumin, lime juice (notice a theme?) and EVOO-- extra virgin olive oil-- broil at 400 for 6-7 mins on each side, basting when you turn) with poblano creamed corn and cumin thyme black beans (twist on the recipe on the bean can).
4) Chicken breast with a mustard gravy (from the Rach-brand chicken stock), broccoli and a quinoa-orzo-baby garbanzo bean-couscous mix (from Trader Joe's but using a Rach recipe for quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah")).
5) Peruvian chicken (I used a whole chicken which means you need to make sure to season the cavity well) with sauteed spinach and cheddar broccoli rice (right out of one of those flavored bag rices-- not my normal route but Rah had it in the cabinet so I snatched it right out).
6) Don't-kiss-me garlic and Adirondacker burgers (yes, 2 burgers in one night-- we each had 1/2 of a different burger) with oven steamed zucchini (garlic, onions, zucchini coins in a foil packet on 350-- twist on an Aida recipe) and sour cream smashed yukon gold potatoes.
7) Gaucho burger with charred pico de gallo and homemade guacamole and tortilla chips.
We weren't fans of the charred pico in this one so if I made it again (because the burger was delish otherwise) I would just make a regular pico.8) Eggplant mushroom parmigiana. For this one I used a Mario Batalli recipe (plus mushrooms) with a homemade marinara recipe he provided. AMAZING! I liked this a lot and it's less fat(ly... lol, yes, I know that is grammatically incorrect) than the regular fried eggplant version.
This is in the last month (4 in the last week), along with trying several new restaurants and some old faves, which may not be much for some of you but is a small miracle for me. I am admittedly a Food Network nut and love burgers as much as/more than I love Mexican and eggs. I can't decide AND WON'T!! If I could have all 3 in a meal it would probably be too much! I've combined 2 on several occasions. Hmmm.... I'm thinking a mexican burger topped with a fried egg. Oh YES!! See what I mean? Just fat!! Internally fat!! That was a completely unplanned tangent.
Anyway almost all of these recipes were Rachael Ray. Yes, Rashan and my mom have been LOVING ME!! Lol. And there are more to come because the more I cook unfamiliar foods (many of these recipes were my first time trying either the method or one or more of the ingredients; all except number 1 were my first time trying the recipe. 1 was a mix of my fave ingredients which I would usually add tortillas to), the more confident I become about cooking (even better when they clean the kitchen) and the more willing I am to try lots of stuff. Wheeeee!
6.10.2009
Adventures With M Pt. I
My mom (or M as I call her) is so funny. We have an awesome relationship. Last night while I was cooking, she came home and said she was sleepy and could she just go to bed. Now she KNOWS better than to ask me if she should do something. I'm bossy by nature. When that song came out almost everyone who knew me well proclaimed it my theme song. Haters. Lol. I know everyone was claiming it as their theme song but I didn't b/c I knew it would be thrust upon me. I LOVED the song though! That beat was tight!
Anyway, I said, "Ugh! No! I wish you'd told me you were sleepy before I started cooking because I sure didn't feel like cooking tonight." I only did because I had previously told her I would cook. "And anyway it's 7:00. It's way to early for you to go to sleep right now. You're not going to sleep until 6 a.m." She says petulantly, "Uh huh! I'll wake up at 12 then go right back to sleep." "Mmmhmm. You're not going to sleep."
She sucks her teeth, "So bossy!" Then, "Ooh! I'm missing Jeopardy!" I'm thinking, "Good. Something to entertain her." Like a child. Lol. Later she says, "I heard when you get sleepy that means you're dehydrated. Can I have some water?" Hilarious!! "Where did you hear this???" Of course she couldn't remember. I give her some water anyway. Around 7:35 the complaints start again. For the love... I say, "Why don't you put in a movie? Then it can watch you." (She always falls asleep to movies.) She says, "I'm just gonna go upstairs for a minute." Immediately suspicious, I say, "For what?" Sheepishly, "To take a nap." LOLOLOL!!! "No!" Whining, "I just need 30 minutes." "Mom! Put on a movie!... Drink some water!" *snicker* "I tried that! It didn't work!" Lolol!!! Why would water make you less sleepy???? So bizarre! What a funny lady. She managed to take a couple of cat naps while I finished dinner but she made it and even finished the movie with me before going to her room around 9:30... then I yelled a conversation upstairs to her for about 10 minutes. Lol.
Anyway, I said, "Ugh! No! I wish you'd told me you were sleepy before I started cooking because I sure didn't feel like cooking tonight." I only did because I had previously told her I would cook. "And anyway it's 7:00. It's way to early for you to go to sleep right now. You're not going to sleep until 6 a.m." She says petulantly, "Uh huh! I'll wake up at 12 then go right back to sleep." "Mmmhmm. You're not going to sleep."
She sucks her teeth, "So bossy!" Then, "Ooh! I'm missing Jeopardy!" I'm thinking, "Good. Something to entertain her." Like a child. Lol. Later she says, "I heard when you get sleepy that means you're dehydrated. Can I have some water?" Hilarious!! "Where did you hear this???" Of course she couldn't remember. I give her some water anyway. Around 7:35 the complaints start again. For the love... I say, "Why don't you put in a movie? Then it can watch you." (She always falls asleep to movies.) She says, "I'm just gonna go upstairs for a minute." Immediately suspicious, I say, "For what?" Sheepishly, "To take a nap." LOLOLOL!!! "No!" Whining, "I just need 30 minutes." "Mom! Put on a movie!... Drink some water!" *snicker* "I tried that! It didn't work!" Lolol!!! Why would water make you less sleepy???? So bizarre! What a funny lady. She managed to take a couple of cat naps while I finished dinner but she made it and even finished the movie with me before going to her room around 9:30... then I yelled a conversation upstairs to her for about 10 minutes. Lol.
6.08.2009
Monday Mindspacing Vol. II
1) Gluten allergies are weird to me. They seem fake. Like something created by the organic industry to scare already crazed parents into buy a $9 loaf of bread. How is it that in elementary school I knew a girl who was allergic to air... okay maybe not air but the list was outrageous: dairy, eggs, peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts, soybeans, broccoli, grass and on and on it went. That's not the exact list but even in my pre-food obsessed young years I remember staring open-mouthed and frightened for her asking, "What do you eat????" I guess at that point my mother should've known it was the beginning of the end.
2) I've never been a picky eater. That was my sister (and still is). I'm more aware of food possibilities now which makes me not want to waste them i.e. if I know I don't like scallops or iceberg lettuce, why bother continuing to eat them? That's a gross misuse of valuable stomach space that shouldn't be tolerated.
3) I am very bad at the summer vacation thing. Yes, I can be lazy with the rest of them and the best of them, but after a few days I'm ready for actual accomplishments and goal fulfillment. Summer is not hooking me up with that at all.
4) I used to love it but I now find magazine reading to be way too time consuming. If my GQ subscription wasn't free, I would cancel it like I did with InStyle. Rachael Ray's mag will never go as it helps me with cooking. I could do without the non-food-related stuff, but I love the recipe bonanza inside. Did you know she writes several recipes A DAY!?! WOW!! Even as a Rach lover that sounds crazy to me! Lol. But I wondered b/c though she doesn't come up with all the recipes in her mag, she has 30-minute meals and her talk show for which to also create content... better you than me and thank you so much!
5) Pretty sure the mag annoyance thing is securely centered around the fact that as much as I love reading books I haven't completed one in months. This is tantamount to treason for me. I feel book naked. I haven't had time between school and watching more than 300 movies in the last 6 months... yes that looks as crazy to me as it does to you.
6) As soon as I watch a movie everyone's seen I feel good about what I'm doing. It swings back around and slaps me in the face when I realize how many more fall into that category that I haven't seen and that so many more remain. I can't wait until I've watched 750 movies. This is like Blog365 but for aspiring filmmakers. I'm starting to hit a wall. The good thing is I'm quite far ahead so I can take a couple of days off if I want. I don't want to in a way though because I know next semester will get hectic. What a stupid conundrum. Lol.
7) I know this is a downer but one of the saddest sights is a pregnant girl in the trailer park. I hope her child has the best but it seems unlikely.
8) I hate when people give me unsolicited advice on how to manage my time. I write lists. I know what I need to accomplish for the day and when I want to accomplish it. I can be rigid about this-- my timeline. I'm sure you don't need to go back too far to find examples of this, likely the last time I was home. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. We've had this conversation too many times for comfort which just increases my frustration when you do it anyway. Stop it. Stop saying, "Shouldn't you be doing this? I know you hate when I manage your time, but when are you going to do this? Don't forget you have to do this." STOP IT!!! I know you're trying to be helpful but if I don't ask you for it, for the nth time, please let me run my own life.
9) I react badly when I have to repeat myself. See the previous number. I feel myself getting increasingly enraged when I tell people something about myself multiple times and they continue to do whatever it is I've asked them not to do. It's not like these people are my enemies or subordinates. These are people I love. Can we work together on this? Ugh. I'm getting irritated just writing about this.
10) Real Simple. The magazine has some interesting things in it but some of the tips and articles are utterly boring to me and unnecessary. I want to like it more than I actually do. Maybe like Stace says, there are just TOO many tips. Across too many different topics. Oh well. Not like I really have time to take on a new magazine anyway. Mags feel so tedious to me now. I bought this one for organizing tips.
11) It's strange when you grow up and people you've known most of your life suddenly don't know how to act around you. It's mostly the men because they don't want to seem like pervs. I guess the 15-year gap in time since we last saw each other doesn't help, either.
12) O.D.T.A.U.T. That's the acronym I came up with for the kids I saw standing outside at JCSmith University's campus when I went to watch my sister's step practice. Overly Dedicated to a Useless Task. Dog. It's POURING rain out here and has been all day and you're steady out here watching the 4 cars on campus roll by. Stop it.
13) I don't like step shows. Ugh. I really really don't like them. I've been to too many. And once you've seen 5, you've seen them all. But I was forced to go this weekend b/c my sister was stepping.
2) I've never been a picky eater. That was my sister (and still is). I'm more aware of food possibilities now which makes me not want to waste them i.e. if I know I don't like scallops or iceberg lettuce, why bother continuing to eat them? That's a gross misuse of valuable stomach space that shouldn't be tolerated.
3) I am very bad at the summer vacation thing. Yes, I can be lazy with the rest of them and the best of them, but after a few days I'm ready for actual accomplishments and goal fulfillment. Summer is not hooking me up with that at all.
4) I used to love it but I now find magazine reading to be way too time consuming. If my GQ subscription wasn't free, I would cancel it like I did with InStyle. Rachael Ray's mag will never go as it helps me with cooking. I could do without the non-food-related stuff, but I love the recipe bonanza inside. Did you know she writes several recipes A DAY!?! WOW!! Even as a Rach lover that sounds crazy to me! Lol. But I wondered b/c though she doesn't come up with all the recipes in her mag, she has 30-minute meals and her talk show for which to also create content... better you than me and thank you so much!
5) Pretty sure the mag annoyance thing is securely centered around the fact that as much as I love reading books I haven't completed one in months. This is tantamount to treason for me. I feel book naked. I haven't had time between school and watching more than 300 movies in the last 6 months... yes that looks as crazy to me as it does to you.
6) As soon as I watch a movie everyone's seen I feel good about what I'm doing. It swings back around and slaps me in the face when I realize how many more fall into that category that I haven't seen and that so many more remain. I can't wait until I've watched 750 movies. This is like Blog365 but for aspiring filmmakers. I'm starting to hit a wall. The good thing is I'm quite far ahead so I can take a couple of days off if I want. I don't want to in a way though because I know next semester will get hectic. What a stupid conundrum. Lol.
7) I know this is a downer but one of the saddest sights is a pregnant girl in the trailer park. I hope her child has the best but it seems unlikely.
8) I hate when people give me unsolicited advice on how to manage my time. I write lists. I know what I need to accomplish for the day and when I want to accomplish it. I can be rigid about this-- my timeline. I'm sure you don't need to go back too far to find examples of this, likely the last time I was home. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. We've had this conversation too many times for comfort which just increases my frustration when you do it anyway. Stop it. Stop saying, "Shouldn't you be doing this? I know you hate when I manage your time, but when are you going to do this? Don't forget you have to do this." STOP IT!!! I know you're trying to be helpful but if I don't ask you for it, for the nth time, please let me run my own life.
9) I react badly when I have to repeat myself. See the previous number. I feel myself getting increasingly enraged when I tell people something about myself multiple times and they continue to do whatever it is I've asked them not to do. It's not like these people are my enemies or subordinates. These are people I love. Can we work together on this? Ugh. I'm getting irritated just writing about this.
10) Real Simple. The magazine has some interesting things in it but some of the tips and articles are utterly boring to me and unnecessary. I want to like it more than I actually do. Maybe like Stace says, there are just TOO many tips. Across too many different topics. Oh well. Not like I really have time to take on a new magazine anyway. Mags feel so tedious to me now. I bought this one for organizing tips.
11) It's strange when you grow up and people you've known most of your life suddenly don't know how to act around you. It's mostly the men because they don't want to seem like pervs. I guess the 15-year gap in time since we last saw each other doesn't help, either.
12) O.D.T.A.U.T. That's the acronym I came up with for the kids I saw standing outside at JCSmith University's campus when I went to watch my sister's step practice. Overly Dedicated to a Useless Task. Dog. It's POURING rain out here and has been all day and you're steady out here watching the 4 cars on campus roll by. Stop it.
13) I don't like step shows. Ugh. I really really don't like them. I've been to too many. And once you've seen 5, you've seen them all. But I was forced to go this weekend b/c my sister was stepping.
6.07.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 20
May 31- June 7, 2009
Wow! 20 weeks already! I didn't watch enough docs again this week and I have been indulging my desire to read more. Much slower pace this week than last week. Last week was nearly frenetic! Lol.
312. Cinderella Man. Leisurely pace with heavy investment into Russell Crowe's character as a down and out former Golden Gloves champ. You know I like my biopics and though I don't like the blood and the sound of the pain but boxing movies are pretty thrilling and high intensity. I have to admit I like them. But this one was grueling and I felt sympathy rib pains which means laying off the boxing movies for a while. This was looong at 2hr25m. Still 4.6/5 stars.
313. Changing Lanes. Fast-paced (for the most part) thriller about two men (Ben Affleck & Samuel L (side note: why is it the latter always plays an unstable person?)) whose lives collide when one of them leaves the scene of a traffic accident, creating chaos in their lives. The ending was a bit of a cop out but the rest of the movie was pretty good. 3.9/5 stars.
314. Love Story. Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal as a young couple who fall in love regardless of their opposite backgrounds and have to face tragedy. Pretty good despite the repetitive score which I will likely have in my head for the next 5 years. 4/5 stars.
315. The Great Debaters. Great film based on a true story about a black debate team at Wiley College in 1935 that competed against the top white debate team of the time (Harvard in the film, USC in actuality). There were some historical things that threw me off but overall, I really enjoyed this film. And I'm going to need every last one of the hats Jurnee Smollet wore. Especially the black one before she got on the train to Boston. HAWT!! 4/5 stars.
316. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in a classic movie about an interracial couple in the 1960s. A little too obvious and preachy for my tastes at times. Why was KH teary-eyed this entire film? Very strange. Also the ages of KH and ST (who died 17 days after filming ended) were so creepy and odd since their daughter is supposed to be 23 and they look 70. It's amazing to me that almost 50 years later things are so different and yet still so similar, the opposition by some to interracial relationships. 3.8/5 stars.
317. Music and Lyrics. I was really surprised to like the first 1/3 of this movie. Then it really started to drag. The premise is Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore meet by chance and compose a song together in less 2 days which may make the 80s has-been (Grant) a star again. The plot was predictable, as you would expect from this movie, but after the first 1/3 I really hoped it would be less predictable. But Grant has great comedic timing. He cracks me up. So thanks also to whatever writer put those words in his mouth. 3.3/5 stars.
318. Kiss the Girls. Wow... really good serial abductor/killer thriller with Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman as a woman who escapes and the forensic psychologist who tries to help her find her abductor before he kills again. The only thing I couldn't get with was a serial anything who goes with all white girls except one. Come on. That's not how they operate. Nevertheless 4.8/5 stars.
319. Blame it on Fidel. French film from the perspective of a little girl whose parents decide to join the revolution on the side of the communists, much to her chagrin. Cute. I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the film. It began to drag in the last 20 minutes or so almost as if the screenwriter didn't know where to end. 3.9/5 stars.
320. Walk, Don't Run. Cary Grant movie set in Tokyo during the Olympics (his last film). The hijinks you would expect from one of his films were present if not overplayed in one or two scenes. The film had some drawn out sections but still overall quite amusing. I approve. Lol. 4/5 stars.
321. Real Women Have Curves. America Ferrera as a recent high school grad who has to decide whether to apply for college against her immigrant mother's wishes. Bizarre to have to fight to go to college, huh? Very slow plot and some bad acting despite the rather interesting concept. 3/5 stars.
322. The Ladykillers. Slow-moving classic (one of Peter Sellers' early major roles) about 5 robbers who try to kill an old lady when she finds out about their scheme. It was kind of boring for the first 80 minutes. Interesting enough that I didn't necessarily want to turn away but not riveting until the last 10 minutes. Then it was riveting and hilarious. The end saved the film. 4/5 stars.
323. Breakfast at Tiffany's. Another Audrey Hepburn classic. This one about essentially a fabulously-dressed gold digger with a mysterious past. Her jail visiting hat? NEED! NEED NEED NEED!! Wow! I see why people go crazy over the fashion in this film. So fab. The plot was just okay for me. It was interesting enough but over the top in some respects. The fashion gets 4.8 stars, but the film gets 3.4/5.
Wow! 20 weeks already! I didn't watch enough docs again this week and I have been indulging my desire to read more. Much slower pace this week than last week. Last week was nearly frenetic! Lol.
312. Cinderella Man. Leisurely pace with heavy investment into Russell Crowe's character as a down and out former Golden Gloves champ. You know I like my biopics and though I don't like the blood and the sound of the pain but boxing movies are pretty thrilling and high intensity. I have to admit I like them. But this one was grueling and I felt sympathy rib pains which means laying off the boxing movies for a while. This was looong at 2hr25m. Still 4.6/5 stars.
313. Changing Lanes. Fast-paced (for the most part) thriller about two men (Ben Affleck & Samuel L (side note: why is it the latter always plays an unstable person?)) whose lives collide when one of them leaves the scene of a traffic accident, creating chaos in their lives. The ending was a bit of a cop out but the rest of the movie was pretty good. 3.9/5 stars.
314. Love Story. Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal as a young couple who fall in love regardless of their opposite backgrounds and have to face tragedy. Pretty good despite the repetitive score which I will likely have in my head for the next 5 years. 4/5 stars.
315. The Great Debaters. Great film based on a true story about a black debate team at Wiley College in 1935 that competed against the top white debate team of the time (Harvard in the film, USC in actuality). There were some historical things that threw me off but overall, I really enjoyed this film. And I'm going to need every last one of the hats Jurnee Smollet wore. Especially the black one before she got on the train to Boston. HAWT!! 4/5 stars.
316. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in a classic movie about an interracial couple in the 1960s. A little too obvious and preachy for my tastes at times. Why was KH teary-eyed this entire film? Very strange. Also the ages of KH and ST (who died 17 days after filming ended) were so creepy and odd since their daughter is supposed to be 23 and they look 70. It's amazing to me that almost 50 years later things are so different and yet still so similar, the opposition by some to interracial relationships. 3.8/5 stars.
317. Music and Lyrics. I was really surprised to like the first 1/3 of this movie. Then it really started to drag. The premise is Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore meet by chance and compose a song together in less 2 days which may make the 80s has-been (Grant) a star again. The plot was predictable, as you would expect from this movie, but after the first 1/3 I really hoped it would be less predictable. But Grant has great comedic timing. He cracks me up. So thanks also to whatever writer put those words in his mouth. 3.3/5 stars.
318. Kiss the Girls. Wow... really good serial abductor/killer thriller with Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman as a woman who escapes and the forensic psychologist who tries to help her find her abductor before he kills again. The only thing I couldn't get with was a serial anything who goes with all white girls except one. Come on. That's not how they operate. Nevertheless 4.8/5 stars.
319. Blame it on Fidel. French film from the perspective of a little girl whose parents decide to join the revolution on the side of the communists, much to her chagrin. Cute. I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the film. It began to drag in the last 20 minutes or so almost as if the screenwriter didn't know where to end. 3.9/5 stars.
320. Walk, Don't Run. Cary Grant movie set in Tokyo during the Olympics (his last film). The hijinks you would expect from one of his films were present if not overplayed in one or two scenes. The film had some drawn out sections but still overall quite amusing. I approve. Lol. 4/5 stars.
321. Real Women Have Curves. America Ferrera as a recent high school grad who has to decide whether to apply for college against her immigrant mother's wishes. Bizarre to have to fight to go to college, huh? Very slow plot and some bad acting despite the rather interesting concept. 3/5 stars.
322. The Ladykillers. Slow-moving classic (one of Peter Sellers' early major roles) about 5 robbers who try to kill an old lady when she finds out about their scheme. It was kind of boring for the first 80 minutes. Interesting enough that I didn't necessarily want to turn away but not riveting until the last 10 minutes. Then it was riveting and hilarious. The end saved the film. 4/5 stars.
323. Breakfast at Tiffany's. Another Audrey Hepburn classic. This one about essentially a fabulously-dressed gold digger with a mysterious past. Her jail visiting hat? NEED! NEED NEED NEED!! Wow! I see why people go crazy over the fashion in this film. So fab. The plot was just okay for me. It was interesting enough but over the top in some respects. The fashion gets 4.8 stars, but the film gets 3.4/5.
6.03.2009
Stop the Madness!!
I almost had to fight my sister earlier this week. Tuesday morning I wasn't awakened by my body or the phone or any of the normal culprits, but by the sound of her loudly proclaiming, "Wooooow." I look at the clock and it's 8:35 AM!!! NO!!! What happened to you???? Who are you???? This stranger who has loud, GUFFAWING conversations at 8:30 in the morning, until she leaves at 9:15 with me now wide awake after trying to sleep for 45 minutes? Ugh. I don't know but I can't stand you.
I don't ever want to be up at 8:30 in the morning and have nowhere to go. I really don't want to be up that early with somewhere to go unless it's a well-paying and fulfilling job. I would prefer if it started later in the day, though. My last job had the worst hours I never want to work again in my life. 1am-10am OR 11pm-10am. SUCKTASTIC!! Hated it. I was always AT WORK for my favorite bedtime (3 am) and can't even do something normal on my off days because it RUINS me for the rest of the week. I had the least interesting life (outside of the gym... lol) while in Pittsburgh, but that's part of the reason I started this blog so I guess something good came of it.
In case it's not yet clear, I never have been and don't think I ever will be a morning person. I was a "night owl" as my parents call me, even as a baby. My mom said when my dad was in town (he traveled a lot for work) he would stay up with me. I would wake up at 11 and not go back to bed until 3 or 4. A baby g! Lol. I can't stand morning. This is why I need cities that have stuff happening 24 hours. Not even parties. I just need to be able to conduct business all day. Also a reason why I love the internet. I can find some company in the middle of the night. AND Rashan is a night owl, too! Hootie hoo!
I don't ever want to be up at 8:30 in the morning and have nowhere to go. I really don't want to be up that early with somewhere to go unless it's a well-paying and fulfilling job. I would prefer if it started later in the day, though. My last job had the worst hours I never want to work again in my life. 1am-10am OR 11pm-10am. SUCKTASTIC!! Hated it. I was always AT WORK for my favorite bedtime (3 am) and can't even do something normal on my off days because it RUINS me for the rest of the week. I had the least interesting life (outside of the gym... lol) while in Pittsburgh, but that's part of the reason I started this blog so I guess something good came of it.
In case it's not yet clear, I never have been and don't think I ever will be a morning person. I was a "night owl" as my parents call me, even as a baby. My mom said when my dad was in town (he traveled a lot for work) he would stay up with me. I would wake up at 11 and not go back to bed until 3 or 4. A baby g! Lol. I can't stand morning. This is why I need cities that have stuff happening 24 hours. Not even parties. I just need to be able to conduct business all day. Also a reason why I love the internet. I can find some company in the middle of the night. AND Rashan is a night owl, too! Hootie hoo!
6.01.2009
Monday Mindspacing Vol. I
I've decided to do a new weekly series called Monday Mindspacing where I just let loose on the things on my mind but not long enough to warrant a blog post.
1) I can see the difference between Luke and Owen Wilson but I can never remember which name belongs to who and who was in what movie.
2) My 25-year-old sister asked me to be her personal assistant this summer. Really?
3) I'm appalled by the DVD collection in my mom's house. It's full of movies no one should see more than once if ever. When I suggest docs they (my mom and sister) both look at me like, "Is she serious?" It's not like they're uncultured. They just like really bad, predictable movies.
4) Stacey cracks me up with her answering machine rants about whatever is irritating her at the moment. Hilarity! We like to leave outrageously long, one-sided conversations, usually with some sort of song, on each other's phones, up to 5 minutes.
5) I've been really pissed off by the barbeque I've had lately. Bah. I want some really good food.
6) I used to be a fast food fiend (partly because my mom never let us have it growing up) but that desire is leaving me more and more daily (mostly because it's so hit or miss-- mostly miss).
7) I was waaaaay too excited when I learned that both of the grocery stores within 5 minutes of my mom's house are 24 hours.
8) I can't WAIT to go to the library! I love the library! Love of my life!
9) At the Hampton Alumni Charlotte cookout Saturday, a woman asked me if I went to Latin... as in Charlotte Latin... high school. Even better? Before I went to the cookout, I said to myself, "Cute! Now let's hope people don't think I'm a student." Got what I wished for. Not a student at Hampton, in high school. I know that's supposed to be a good thing but really? 10 years younger? Le sigh. That one hadn't even crossed my mind. But then when I went to buy wine, the girl waved away my i.d. I guess I magically aged over 3 hours.
10) I love that my friends ask about each other. My closest friends are a mix of middle school and college and they ask about each other even though some of them have never met. I love that! It's so cute!
11) Favorite clothing line name I recently spotted in Nordstrom: Not Your Daughters Jeans. Hilarity.
12) I just gave up my InStyle subscription. It's increasingly skewed toward celebs. Drives me insane. Talking about their clothes? Great, sure, whatever. All that other crap-- the parties, lunches, causes-- I DON'T CARE!! This is supposed to be a fashion magazine!! I felt a little remorseful when I saw the ONE MORE ISSUE paper over my latest mag until I opened it and it was, true to form, even more celeb-obsessed than the last. SAVE IT FOR PEOPLE OR US WEEKLY!! Stick with your niche! Lord knows we don't need another celeb gossip rag. Ugh. Good riddance.
1) I can see the difference between Luke and Owen Wilson but I can never remember which name belongs to who and who was in what movie.
2) My 25-year-old sister asked me to be her personal assistant this summer. Really?
3) I'm appalled by the DVD collection in my mom's house. It's full of movies no one should see more than once if ever. When I suggest docs they (my mom and sister) both look at me like, "Is she serious?" It's not like they're uncultured. They just like really bad, predictable movies.
4) Stacey cracks me up with her answering machine rants about whatever is irritating her at the moment. Hilarity! We like to leave outrageously long, one-sided conversations, usually with some sort of song, on each other's phones, up to 5 minutes.
5) I've been really pissed off by the barbeque I've had lately. Bah. I want some really good food.
6) I used to be a fast food fiend (partly because my mom never let us have it growing up) but that desire is leaving me more and more daily (mostly because it's so hit or miss-- mostly miss).
7) I was waaaaay too excited when I learned that both of the grocery stores within 5 minutes of my mom's house are 24 hours.
8) I can't WAIT to go to the library! I love the library! Love of my life!
9) At the Hampton Alumni Charlotte cookout Saturday, a woman asked me if I went to Latin... as in Charlotte Latin... high school. Even better? Before I went to the cookout, I said to myself, "Cute! Now let's hope people don't think I'm a student." Got what I wished for. Not a student at Hampton, in high school. I know that's supposed to be a good thing but really? 10 years younger? Le sigh. That one hadn't even crossed my mind. But then when I went to buy wine, the girl waved away my i.d. I guess I magically aged over 3 hours.
10) I love that my friends ask about each other. My closest friends are a mix of middle school and college and they ask about each other even though some of them have never met. I love that! It's so cute!
11) Favorite clothing line name I recently spotted in Nordstrom: Not Your Daughters Jeans. Hilarity.
12) I just gave up my InStyle subscription. It's increasingly skewed toward celebs. Drives me insane. Talking about their clothes? Great, sure, whatever. All that other crap-- the parties, lunches, causes-- I DON'T CARE!! This is supposed to be a fashion magazine!! I felt a little remorseful when I saw the ONE MORE ISSUE paper over my latest mag until I opened it and it was, true to form, even more celeb-obsessed than the last. SAVE IT FOR PEOPLE OR US WEEKLY!! Stick with your niche! Lord knows we don't need another celeb gossip rag. Ugh. Good riddance.
5.31.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 19
May 24- 30, 2009
296. The Sugarland Express. Steven Spielberg directs Goldie Hawn as a woman who breaks her husband out of jail to go get their child out of foster care once she got out of jail. Based on a true story in Texas. There was a really cool shoot-out. Apparently it wasn't supposed to be as amusing as I found it. Lol. 4/5 stars.
297. The Lives of Others. German film (that won best foreign film Oscar in 2007) about the Stasi spying on an artist in East Berlin before the fall of the wall. It was pretty interesting despite the leisurely pace. 3.5/5 stars.
298. Kramer vs. Kramer. Dustin Hoffman & my girl Meryl Streep won Oscars for this film where they play divorced parents fighting for custody of their son. I liked it a lot. Something felt a little off to me but I'm not sure what it was. 3.5 stars.
299. The Gathering. Laughably bad Christina Ricci "horror" movie. Wow... it's about the alleged curse on the people who stood around watching Jesus get crucified, forced to watch horrible things for eternity. Predictable most of the way around and when it wasn't being predictable it was being funny for the antics i.e. melodramatics. I like Christina for her Wednesday Adams days but her roles... wow... I have to give this movie 2 stars instead of one because at least it made me laugh-- particularly the last scene.
300. Love in the Afternoon. Audrey Hepburn film about a playboy (old man) bachelor who has his life saved by a young woman whose father is a private investigator and becomes smitten with him. Cute classic. 4 stars.
301. Get Smart. Hmmm... that was supposed to be a funny take on the classic tv show, right? Pass. Anne Hathaway and Steve Carrell weren't as funny as I hoped. I knew where it was going and didn't care 34 minutes in and I had 1hr20 left. Saaaaave meeeee. I forgive classics their ridiculous love stories because it was a requirement of the times. If Get Smart had been made back then it might have scored higher. Alas. 2/5.
302. How to Steal A Million. Audrey Hepburn stars in this classic as a woman who must steal her millionaire father's forgery of a famous statue from a museum to keep him from jail. Cute classic with awesome fashion. 4/5.
303. Nothing But the Truth. Great film inspired by the Valerie P.lame leak. I LOVE films based on history. This one was well done all around and made me SO indignant for the rights of journalists to maintain the integrity of their sources. Great twist which I was delighted to figure out well before it was revealed. Lol. 4.5 stars.
304. Shadow of the Thin Man. One of a serial of classic movies about the thin man-- a detective. The coon role of the black maid pissed me off. God forbid the maid not run around saying stupid things. You can't be a quiet, efficient servant if you can't be a smart one? Thanks classic Hollywood screenwriters. Pretty boring film with an unnecessarily long buildup to the climax. Probably wasn't annoying in its day, though so 3/5 stars.
305. I Could Never Be Your Woman. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the older woman trying to avoid dating Paul Rudd's character because of their age differences. I had seriously (insert SNL skit song) lowered expectations for this film and it actually made me laugh a lot. The show the pair was working on, "You Go Girl" was very annoying but Paul Rudd was definitely a scene-stealer throughout the film. 3.5/5 stars.
306. Last Resort. Film about a woman who leaves Russia for England to meet her fiancee who doesn't show up forcing her to claim political asylum. I didn't care what happened to her, then I really did, then I didn't again. All in 73 minutes. Hm. 2.5 stars.
307. Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq. Documentary about Iraq war veterans who almost died-- the alive day is the day they almost died. Really poignant. The music overdramatized this film in a cheap way. It doesn't need that. The topic is dramatic on a basic level. The interviewing was done by James G.andolfini and was at times overly intrusive. The home video was used amazingly to impress what they lost. 3.7/5 stars.
308. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Adam Sandler, Ving Rhames, Kevin James and Jessica Biel in a movie about 2 firefighters who pretend they're gay to get benefits. Wow gay joke overload. Still some laugh out loud moments but almost 2 hours? Stop the madness. I didn't hate it but I have no reason to ever watch it again. Cheap laughs. The preachy courtroom scene definitely dragged this movie down. 2.9/5 stars.
309. The Secret Life of Bees. Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson in the story of sisters caring for bees and selling their honey in the 1960s who take in a runaway white child. I originally wanted to see this movie because my book club read the book it's based on. The differences were mostly not bothersome. There were some horribly slipping southern accents which of course irritated me because I noticed them. The best actress was actually Dakota Fanning with additional great work from Sophie Okonedo, who played one of the sisters. Parts of the film were contrived, but some parts were very moving. 3.5 stars.
310. Last Holiday. Movie where Queen Latifah learns she only has a month left to live so she decides to blow her savings on a trip to the Czech Republic on her dream holiday. Really? CZ? Come on. Anyway. As predictable as you thought it would be. Let's just leave it at that. My mom has a lot of movies I shouldn't be watching and wouldn't if I had other options right now... (no internet).
311. Adaptation. This movie does way too much time-traveling for my taste in the first 19 minutes. At least 8 times. Really? It looks like one of those weird movies Rashan loves already in those same first 19 minutes. Nicolas Cage does a nice job but aww man. It started badly for me then picked up, never boring, but the ending killed it for me and it was on the way to being a 3.9. I liked this film about a screenwriter struggling to adapt a book to film but a seminar said don't have a deus ex machina. And yet it did. Bah. This guy (the director) always has like 3 or 4 different scripts within the script. Very odd. Down to 3.3/5 stars.
296. The Sugarland Express. Steven Spielberg directs Goldie Hawn as a woman who breaks her husband out of jail to go get their child out of foster care once she got out of jail. Based on a true story in Texas. There was a really cool shoot-out. Apparently it wasn't supposed to be as amusing as I found it. Lol. 4/5 stars.
297. The Lives of Others. German film (that won best foreign film Oscar in 2007) about the Stasi spying on an artist in East Berlin before the fall of the wall. It was pretty interesting despite the leisurely pace. 3.5/5 stars.
298. Kramer vs. Kramer. Dustin Hoffman & my girl Meryl Streep won Oscars for this film where they play divorced parents fighting for custody of their son. I liked it a lot. Something felt a little off to me but I'm not sure what it was. 3.5 stars.
299. The Gathering. Laughably bad Christina Ricci "horror" movie. Wow... it's about the alleged curse on the people who stood around watching Jesus get crucified, forced to watch horrible things for eternity. Predictable most of the way around and when it wasn't being predictable it was being funny for the antics i.e. melodramatics. I like Christina for her Wednesday Adams days but her roles... wow... I have to give this movie 2 stars instead of one because at least it made me laugh-- particularly the last scene.
300. Love in the Afternoon. Audrey Hepburn film about a playboy (old man) bachelor who has his life saved by a young woman whose father is a private investigator and becomes smitten with him. Cute classic. 4 stars.
301. Get Smart. Hmmm... that was supposed to be a funny take on the classic tv show, right? Pass. Anne Hathaway and Steve Carrell weren't as funny as I hoped. I knew where it was going and didn't care 34 minutes in and I had 1hr20 left. Saaaaave meeeee. I forgive classics their ridiculous love stories because it was a requirement of the times. If Get Smart had been made back then it might have scored higher. Alas. 2/5.
302. How to Steal A Million. Audrey Hepburn stars in this classic as a woman who must steal her millionaire father's forgery of a famous statue from a museum to keep him from jail. Cute classic with awesome fashion. 4/5.
303. Nothing But the Truth. Great film inspired by the Valerie P.lame leak. I LOVE films based on history. This one was well done all around and made me SO indignant for the rights of journalists to maintain the integrity of their sources. Great twist which I was delighted to figure out well before it was revealed. Lol. 4.5 stars.
304. Shadow of the Thin Man. One of a serial of classic movies about the thin man-- a detective. The coon role of the black maid pissed me off. God forbid the maid not run around saying stupid things. You can't be a quiet, efficient servant if you can't be a smart one? Thanks classic Hollywood screenwriters. Pretty boring film with an unnecessarily long buildup to the climax. Probably wasn't annoying in its day, though so 3/5 stars.
305. I Could Never Be Your Woman. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the older woman trying to avoid dating Paul Rudd's character because of their age differences. I had seriously (insert SNL skit song) lowered expectations for this film and it actually made me laugh a lot. The show the pair was working on, "You Go Girl" was very annoying but Paul Rudd was definitely a scene-stealer throughout the film. 3.5/5 stars.
306. Last Resort. Film about a woman who leaves Russia for England to meet her fiancee who doesn't show up forcing her to claim political asylum. I didn't care what happened to her, then I really did, then I didn't again. All in 73 minutes. Hm. 2.5 stars.
307. Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq. Documentary about Iraq war veterans who almost died-- the alive day is the day they almost died. Really poignant. The music overdramatized this film in a cheap way. It doesn't need that. The topic is dramatic on a basic level. The interviewing was done by James G.andolfini and was at times overly intrusive. The home video was used amazingly to impress what they lost. 3.7/5 stars.
308. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Adam Sandler, Ving Rhames, Kevin James and Jessica Biel in a movie about 2 firefighters who pretend they're gay to get benefits. Wow gay joke overload. Still some laugh out loud moments but almost 2 hours? Stop the madness. I didn't hate it but I have no reason to ever watch it again. Cheap laughs. The preachy courtroom scene definitely dragged this movie down. 2.9/5 stars.
309. The Secret Life of Bees. Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson in the story of sisters caring for bees and selling their honey in the 1960s who take in a runaway white child. I originally wanted to see this movie because my book club read the book it's based on. The differences were mostly not bothersome. There were some horribly slipping southern accents which of course irritated me because I noticed them. The best actress was actually Dakota Fanning with additional great work from Sophie Okonedo, who played one of the sisters. Parts of the film were contrived, but some parts were very moving. 3.5 stars.
310. Last Holiday. Movie where Queen Latifah learns she only has a month left to live so she decides to blow her savings on a trip to the Czech Republic on her dream holiday. Really? CZ? Come on. Anyway. As predictable as you thought it would be. Let's just leave it at that. My mom has a lot of movies I shouldn't be watching and wouldn't if I had other options right now... (no internet).
311. Adaptation. This movie does way too much time-traveling for my taste in the first 19 minutes. At least 8 times. Really? It looks like one of those weird movies Rashan loves already in those same first 19 minutes. Nicolas Cage does a nice job but aww man. It started badly for me then picked up, never boring, but the ending killed it for me and it was on the way to being a 3.9. I liked this film about a screenwriter struggling to adapt a book to film but a seminar said don't have a deus ex machina. And yet it did. Bah. This guy (the director) always has like 3 or 4 different scripts within the script. Very odd. Down to 3.3/5 stars.
5.28.2009
Thursday 13: Mindspacing
Man! It's been a loooooong time since I let you guys wander through my mindspace so here it is!
1) Why DVD sleep screens have butterflies on them?
2) I'm frightened by weddings with giant parties. You really like 42 people that much? I'm not buyin it.
3) I secretlynot so secretly for Rah and Stace want to go to Hampton JUST to get their Pink line since it's still the ONLY one not available online. KILLS ME!!
4) I want to go on Dear Food Network to meet Rachael Ray AND I really, really want to get published in her mag. ARGH!! What must I do?!?!
5) I want to win a contest. Stace wins stuff all the time.That ho. Once she won 2 trips to the Bahamas... two weeks in a row. And didn't like either one. Can't stand her.
6) I'm going to Charlotte primarily for the HU Alumni picnic but I really really don't want to leave Atlanta. Rah and I have only gotten on each other's nerves once in more than 2 weeks. The time we were together 9 days we got on each other's nerves at least 5 times.
7) I got my mom's birthday present a month early... and my line sister's, too. I'm so awesome it hurts. Ouch.
8) I have been cooking my FACE OFF this weekend
9) I hate when people say North Cackalacky. If it must be anything it's North Cack or North Cackalack. I'm from there. Stop it. It's always from some condescending yankee, too who thinks Charlotte is in SC. UGH!!! PET PEEVE!!!! There is nearly no other way to make me crazier than thinking that. AAAAAARRRGHHHHHH!! Ol backwards state.
10) Ha! That reminds me. I think it's funny when yankees get mad when southerners call them that. What? Funny joke? A yankee is a northerner who comes down. A durn yankee is one who comes and stays. Lololol. I have no problems with most yankees. I do give the face to the ones who come down and talk about how much wherever they're from is better. GO BACK!! My mom is even more stank about this than I am. Lol. This guy I had a crush on in college (in retrospect he was SUCH a crybaby) got all uppity and said to me (he was from Seattle), "You know one of your fellow southerners called me a yankee?" I said, "You are." He stared at me incredulously. Lololol. It's not the south, you're a yankee. Hilarity.
11) I don't like the term pulled pork but it's the only way people understand that's what we consider bbq. We don't call it pulled pork. We call it barbeque. Man I need some when I go home. I'm such a bbq snob.
12) I had forgotten how much I missed Food Network and Style since I've been gone. But why does the latter play Clean House 15 hours a day? Give it a rest!
13) I want to ride in a helicopter and go white water rafting as long as neither activity requires me camping.
1) Why DVD sleep screens have butterflies on them?
2) I'm frightened by weddings with giant parties. You really like 42 people that much? I'm not buyin it.
3) I secretly
4) I want to go on Dear Food Network to meet Rachael Ray AND I really, really want to get published in her mag. ARGH!! What must I do?!?!
5) I want to win a contest. Stace wins stuff all the time.
6) I'm going to Charlotte primarily for the HU Alumni picnic but I really really don't want to leave Atlanta. Rah and I have only gotten on each other's nerves once in more than 2 weeks. The time we were together 9 days we got on each other's nerves at least 5 times.
7) I got my mom's birthday present a month early... and my line sister's, too. I'm so awesome it hurts. Ouch.
8) I have been cooking my FACE OFF this weekend
9) I hate when people say North Cackalacky. If it must be anything it's North Cack or North Cackalack. I'm from there. Stop it. It's always from some condescending yankee, too who thinks Charlotte is in SC. UGH!!! PET PEEVE!!!! There is nearly no other way to make me crazier than thinking that. AAAAAARRRGHHHHHH!! Ol backwards state.
10) Ha! That reminds me. I think it's funny when yankees get mad when southerners call them that. What? Funny joke? A yankee is a northerner who comes down. A durn yankee is one who comes and stays. Lololol. I have no problems with most yankees. I do give the face to the ones who come down and talk about how much wherever they're from is better. GO BACK!! My mom is even more stank about this than I am. Lol. This guy I had a crush on in college (in retrospect he was SUCH a crybaby) got all uppity and said to me (he was from Seattle), "You know one of your fellow southerners called me a yankee?" I said, "You are." He stared at me incredulously. Lololol. It's not the south, you're a yankee. Hilarity.
11) I don't like the term pulled pork but it's the only way people understand that's what we consider bbq. We don't call it pulled pork. We call it barbeque. Man I need some when I go home. I'm such a bbq snob.
12) I had forgotten how much I missed Food Network and Style since I've been gone. But why does the latter play Clean House 15 hours a day? Give it a rest!
13) I want to ride in a helicopter and go white water rafting as long as neither activity requires me camping.
5.26.2009
Fashion Show
It can't wait any longer. Living without cable for the last 10 months (WOW) meant before I went to Palm Beach (wow... I'm really behind on that recap...) I didn't even know this Project Runway wannabe existed. Of course as a PR fiend I entered viewing very cautiously but with a mind as open as I could manage. Basically they have to create a fashion show and show their pieces to industry people every week, creating collections rather than single pieces so basically they always have to work together but always get to create their own design.
Judge Fern: That (outfit) would would get some phone number written on a piece of paper.
Fern, honey. You don't bother me too much because you, too are non-descript to me. You don't offer a whole lot of opinion, which is probably good because of Isaac. Someone needs to be the sometimes voice of reason and at least you have a reputable fashion voice. But really? A phone number on a piece of paper? No, ma'am. Me and my friends have been playing dudes in the club trying to use paper and pen for at least 5 years. Sir. Get a cell phone.
Most of the characters are just meh as if they know they're on the Bravo reject show (which they do) and are embarassed they couldn't have made it on PR [most of them couldn't but some are really good i.e. strange small Asian man, Reco the black queen, strange hat guy and Anna the boring (It's so weird that she is so non-descript but I love the things she comes up with.)]. These people who can't sew are so WEIRD. WEIRD!!! This is why this show is the Project Runway reject. I want to like it. I really do. But... more on that to come. First some whining.
Bravo is a much better home than Lifetime (LIFETIME!?!? NO! HATE!) for Project Runway. Much more fashion forward, edgy, modern,un-crybaby, there really are a plethora of nearly limitless reasons to describe why I'm so beyond unenthused about the move to Lifetime. WHY did Bravo do this!?!? Who was the exec who said this show is expendable?!?! What's next, Top Chef? BITE YOUR TONGUE, GIRL!! But Fashion Show? This is a bad, bad substitute. They should have worked longer on a replacement.
Let me talk for a minute about another issue with this show. The most vocal one: Kelly Rowland. Le sigh. Clearly you don't belong on this show. Your contributions are unnecessary. You're sweet and you're cute and I like your clothes but I don't ever hear anything groundbreaking or non-common sensical coming out of your mouth. Probably the worst? Her forced "catchphrase." After the loser is sent packing, she says to the almost loser, "You're still in, but you're hanging by a thread." Stop.
The best thing about this show and the reason I can't stop watching? If you know anything about me/have been reading my blog for more than 2 years, you already know the answer: ISAAC MIZRAHI!!!! I LOVE HIM!! He's the reason behind my most recent purchase. He once said, "If you find a dress you like and it fits, buy it. There's always a reason to have another dress." Oh Isaac. I LOVED his show. My fave ever! Perfect fashion stuff! From December 2006, I said, ""Wow! WOW! That's like fashion as religion! That's like... that's like... televangefashilism." --Isaac Mizrahi about Finola Hughes traveling 8 hours in a car to go to H&M. Lolololol. He CRACKS me up! I almost poked my eye out on the credenza because I was literally, LITERALLY convulsing with laughter!! Lololol!! There's no way you can't find it funny. He's so ridiculous!" My first Isaac love was in 2005 though. Still love him and he keeps me watching this show.
The worst thing? They had a show where they had to design a $40 outfit. They sell a version of the winning outfit online and this one they marked up to $194!!! Are you CRAZY!?!?! Foolishness. That pissed me off so much Isaac may or may not be enough for me to continue watching. Do I think anyone else should watch? If you're not an Isaac fan, don't bother. Just pray Lifetime doesn't ruin PR for us.
Judge Fern: That (outfit) would would get some phone number written on a piece of paper.
Fern, honey. You don't bother me too much because you, too are non-descript to me. You don't offer a whole lot of opinion, which is probably good because of Isaac. Someone needs to be the sometimes voice of reason and at least you have a reputable fashion voice. But really? A phone number on a piece of paper? No, ma'am. Me and my friends have been playing dudes in the club trying to use paper and pen for at least 5 years. Sir. Get a cell phone.
Most of the characters are just meh as if they know they're on the Bravo reject show (which they do) and are embarassed they couldn't have made it on PR [most of them couldn't but some are really good i.e. strange small Asian man, Reco the black queen, strange hat guy and Anna the boring (It's so weird that she is so non-descript but I love the things she comes up with.)]. These people who can't sew are so WEIRD. WEIRD!!! This is why this show is the Project Runway reject. I want to like it. I really do. But... more on that to come. First some whining.
Bravo is a much better home than Lifetime (LIFETIME!?!? NO! HATE!) for Project Runway. Much more fashion forward, edgy, modern,
Let me talk for a minute about another issue with this show. The most vocal one: Kelly Rowland. Le sigh. Clearly you don't belong on this show. Your contributions are unnecessary. You're sweet and you're cute and I like your clothes but I don't ever hear anything groundbreaking or non-common sensical coming out of your mouth. Probably the worst? Her forced "catchphrase." After the loser is sent packing, she says to the almost loser, "You're still in, but you're hanging by a thread." Stop.
The best thing about this show and the reason I can't stop watching? If you know anything about me/have been reading my blog for more than 2 years, you already know the answer: ISAAC MIZRAHI!!!! I LOVE HIM!! He's the reason behind my most recent purchase. He once said, "If you find a dress you like and it fits, buy it. There's always a reason to have another dress." Oh Isaac. I LOVED his show. My fave ever! Perfect fashion stuff! From December 2006, I said, ""Wow! WOW! That's like fashion as religion! That's like... that's like... televangefashilism." --Isaac Mizrahi about Finola Hughes traveling 8 hours in a car to go to H&M. Lolololol. He CRACKS me up! I almost poked my eye out on the credenza because I was literally, LITERALLY convulsing with laughter!! Lololol!! There's no way you can't find it funny. He's so ridiculous!" My first Isaac love was in 2005 though. Still love him and he keeps me watching this show.
The worst thing? They had a show where they had to design a $40 outfit. They sell a version of the winning outfit online and this one they marked up to $194!!! Are you CRAZY!?!?! Foolishness. That pissed me off so much Isaac may or may not be enough for me to continue watching. Do I think anyone else should watch? If you're not an Isaac fan, don't bother. Just pray Lifetime doesn't ruin PR for us.
5.25.2009
Telephone Day!
I don't even know how to say this concisely but a year ago today marked the first day Rashan and I started talking on the phone every single day and we haven't missed a day yet. We'd talked on the phone pretty regularly for at least a month before that and exchanged emails for months before that, but we have spoken on the phone or in person every single day for the last year! Yay! We're having a good time together in Atlanta and making lots of plans for the summer. Good times! How about a few pictures to celebrate!?
Also, today Liz runs her first marathon! I'm so excited for her!!
Also, today Liz runs her first marathon! I'm so excited for her!!
5.24.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 18
May 17- 23, 2009
I'm caught up on my movies! Yessss! Back on target and ahead by 2 after watching 5 movies in one day. This was a mixed week. I saw no 5 star movies but saw at least 3 movies I couldn't stand and don't even want to see outtakes of ever again. Yeah... like that. That's a disappointing music week to me.
277. Volver. Penelope Cruz movie about a dead woman reconciling with her children and fixing things she couldn't in life. Good movie. Engaging and funny. 4/5 stars.
278. City of Angels. I wasn't expecting this to be a sappy movie... hmmm... I didn't dislike it but I wasn't in the mood for it. I might like it better at another time in my life. I got kind of bored. 3/5 stars.
279. Blazing Saddles. This is supposed to be funny? Maybe it's because they lost me after the 15th nigger. No, that's not it, either. It just wasn't funny. 2/5 stars.
280. My Man Godfrey. 1936 version of the film about a rich man posing as a butler for a crazy family. Not as interesting as I wanted it to be. Nice start, a really pedantic scene toward the end and amusing-ish ending. It could have been better. 3/5 stars.
281. Sweeney Todd. Crazy film starring Johhny Depp as a man out for revenge after his wife and daughter are taken from him. I could have done without the musical numbers but a good film overall. A bit gory. The last scene was jaw-dropping. Tim Burton has a crazy mind. I always wonder how people think of these things. 4/5 stars.
282. King of California. Sundance film about a girl (Evan Rachael Wood-- I like her for some reason) whose mentally ill father (Michael Douglas) decides he knows where buried treasure lies and decides to find it. Cute movie, well written. 4/5 stars.
283. Gone Baby Gone. Overall, a good movie about a 4-year-old who goes missing from her drug-addicted mother. There was one preachy soliloquy I could've done without but I didn't expect the twists and turns which made me like this movie a lot. I'm always looking to be surprised. I want to see the unexpected and I did. 4/5 stars.
284. Baby Mama. Tina Fey's character hires Amy Poehler's character to be her surrogate with some guest appearances from Steve Martin. I wanted it to be funnier than it was and it was predictable which was sad for me. 3/5 stars.
285. Run Fat Boy Run. This script needed to be tightened. Great concept and really funny when it wasn't meandering so crazily. The script issues pushed it down to 3/5, though.
286. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Crazy Robert Downey, Jr. movie where he narrates the story of what happened to him last Christmas when he went to L.A. to screen test for his first film and got pulled into a murder investigation. RD, Jr. is HILARIOUS. So funny. 4/5 stars.
287. Redemption. I bought this movie a few years ago because Jamie Foxx was in it but had never watched it because the reviews were so bad... I see why. The style of the film would have worked better as a documentary. As a feature about C.rips co-founder T.ookie Williams it was actually boring which is bizarre considering he's a gang member who tried to turn his life around in prison and was eventually nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. It has everything it needs for a great story, including Lynn Whitfield as the lead actress, but falls short. 2/5.
288. The Other Boleyn Sister. Fascinating film about Henry VIII's most famous wife, Anne Boleyn and her sister, Mary with whom the king had an affair during the marriage which preceded his with Anne. I wouldn't have been as interested if it wasn't based in fact. This is why I love docs! We get the real story and hopefully from the horse's mouth! No such luck since this was in the 1500s but cool story. 4/5 stars.
289. Loot. HBO doc about two WWII veterans who use a used car salesman to help them find hidden treasure in Austria and the Philippines. The unfocused story line felt plotless which made this painful to watch.
290. King of Kong. As funny as it sounds, this is a documentary about the underdog in the video game King Kong. It's about an up and comer against the video game establishment aka the man. Full of game nerds I love to laugh at but also in a way admire for their dedication even if I do think they take it too far. I loved this movie. I would've given it 5 stars if it had been at least 10 minutes shorter. There was a GREAT scene of drumming combined with video game playing. One of the best scenes I've ever seen in a documentary. Excellent storytelling. At the end I actually cheered. Lol.
291. Singin'' in the Rain. Gene Kelly classic that has earned the moniker classic. It's not just old, it's a great musical film. Fab dancing!
292. 10 Questions for the D.alai L.ama. It is taking everything in me to be less negative about this personal documentary about an interview with the Dalai Lama. Too many vistas and people shots with nothing happening under the extremely boring, pointless, overly dramatized and at times repetitive narration. There goes my exasperation and harshness but an example. On B.uddha: "I have an image of him from eating in Thai restaurants." Seriously? Moving on. Way too heavy on history on personal information-- more than 30 minutes worth without so much as video of the current D.L. Get to the 10 questions before 38 minutes!! And let me hear the D.L.'s answers w/o your commentary and viewing the poor as happier than the rich. Stereotypical response to abject poverty the director witnessed in India. At least 30 minutes too long. Actually it would've been more interesting as a short. I think I was most pissed off by the title. If it had been called "Journey to the D.L." I would've felt less mislead. By the time the questions came, I barely cared. 1.5 stars.
293. The Big Lebowski. Rashan said, "I suspect John Goodman's character is my least favorite character in the history of movies. And I've seen movies about H.itler." LOL! This was a bad movie. It had absolutely no point. Horrible movie. 1/5 stars because you can't give 0.
294. Monster. Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning role as a prostitute turned serial killer. Interesting and jaw-dropping story which somehow didn't move as quickly as I wanted it to. She deserved her Oscar. 3 stars.
295. Wattstax. Documentary about the 1972 Watts Summer Festival with AWESOME music. LOVED IT! The music was great. The best sequence was a montage during the Shaft theme song performed by Isaac Hayes. I could've done without the Richard Pryor (un)comedy breaks. The commentary from Watts residents was great. 3.5 stars.
I'm caught up on my movies! Yessss! Back on target and ahead by 2 after watching 5 movies in one day. This was a mixed week. I saw no 5 star movies but saw at least 3 movies I couldn't stand and don't even want to see outtakes of ever again. Yeah... like that. That's a disappointing music week to me.
277. Volver. Penelope Cruz movie about a dead woman reconciling with her children and fixing things she couldn't in life. Good movie. Engaging and funny. 4/5 stars.
278. City of Angels. I wasn't expecting this to be a sappy movie... hmmm... I didn't dislike it but I wasn't in the mood for it. I might like it better at another time in my life. I got kind of bored. 3/5 stars.
279. Blazing Saddles. This is supposed to be funny? Maybe it's because they lost me after the 15th nigger. No, that's not it, either. It just wasn't funny. 2/5 stars.
280. My Man Godfrey. 1936 version of the film about a rich man posing as a butler for a crazy family. Not as interesting as I wanted it to be. Nice start, a really pedantic scene toward the end and amusing-ish ending. It could have been better. 3/5 stars.
281. Sweeney Todd. Crazy film starring Johhny Depp as a man out for revenge after his wife and daughter are taken from him. I could have done without the musical numbers but a good film overall. A bit gory. The last scene was jaw-dropping. Tim Burton has a crazy mind. I always wonder how people think of these things. 4/5 stars.
282. King of California. Sundance film about a girl (Evan Rachael Wood-- I like her for some reason) whose mentally ill father (Michael Douglas) decides he knows where buried treasure lies and decides to find it. Cute movie, well written. 4/5 stars.
283. Gone Baby Gone. Overall, a good movie about a 4-year-old who goes missing from her drug-addicted mother. There was one preachy soliloquy I could've done without but I didn't expect the twists and turns which made me like this movie a lot. I'm always looking to be surprised. I want to see the unexpected and I did. 4/5 stars.
284. Baby Mama. Tina Fey's character hires Amy Poehler's character to be her surrogate with some guest appearances from Steve Martin. I wanted it to be funnier than it was and it was predictable which was sad for me. 3/5 stars.
285. Run Fat Boy Run. This script needed to be tightened. Great concept and really funny when it wasn't meandering so crazily. The script issues pushed it down to 3/5, though.
286. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Crazy Robert Downey, Jr. movie where he narrates the story of what happened to him last Christmas when he went to L.A. to screen test for his first film and got pulled into a murder investigation. RD, Jr. is HILARIOUS. So funny. 4/5 stars.
287. Redemption. I bought this movie a few years ago because Jamie Foxx was in it but had never watched it because the reviews were so bad... I see why. The style of the film would have worked better as a documentary. As a feature about C.rips co-founder T.ookie Williams it was actually boring which is bizarre considering he's a gang member who tried to turn his life around in prison and was eventually nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. It has everything it needs for a great story, including Lynn Whitfield as the lead actress, but falls short. 2/5.
288. The Other Boleyn Sister. Fascinating film about Henry VIII's most famous wife, Anne Boleyn and her sister, Mary with whom the king had an affair during the marriage which preceded his with Anne. I wouldn't have been as interested if it wasn't based in fact. This is why I love docs! We get the real story and hopefully from the horse's mouth! No such luck since this was in the 1500s but cool story. 4/5 stars.
289. Loot. HBO doc about two WWII veterans who use a used car salesman to help them find hidden treasure in Austria and the Philippines. The unfocused story line felt plotless which made this painful to watch.
290. King of Kong. As funny as it sounds, this is a documentary about the underdog in the video game King Kong. It's about an up and comer against the video game establishment aka the man. Full of game nerds I love to laugh at but also in a way admire for their dedication even if I do think they take it too far. I loved this movie. I would've given it 5 stars if it had been at least 10 minutes shorter. There was a GREAT scene of drumming combined with video game playing. One of the best scenes I've ever seen in a documentary. Excellent storytelling. At the end I actually cheered. Lol.
291. Singin'' in the Rain. Gene Kelly classic that has earned the moniker classic. It's not just old, it's a great musical film. Fab dancing!
292. 10 Questions for the D.alai L.ama. It is taking everything in me to be less negative about this personal documentary about an interview with the Dalai Lama. Too many vistas and people shots with nothing happening under the extremely boring, pointless, overly dramatized and at times repetitive narration. There goes my exasperation and harshness but an example. On B.uddha: "I have an image of him from eating in Thai restaurants." Seriously? Moving on. Way too heavy on history on personal information-- more than 30 minutes worth without so much as video of the current D.L. Get to the 10 questions before 38 minutes!! And let me hear the D.L.'s answers w/o your commentary and viewing the poor as happier than the rich. Stereotypical response to abject poverty the director witnessed in India. At least 30 minutes too long. Actually it would've been more interesting as a short. I think I was most pissed off by the title. If it had been called "Journey to the D.L." I would've felt less mislead. By the time the questions came, I barely cared. 1.5 stars.
293. The Big Lebowski. Rashan said, "I suspect John Goodman's character is my least favorite character in the history of movies. And I've seen movies about H.itler." LOL! This was a bad movie. It had absolutely no point. Horrible movie. 1/5 stars because you can't give 0.
294. Monster. Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning role as a prostitute turned serial killer. Interesting and jaw-dropping story which somehow didn't move as quickly as I wanted it to. She deserved her Oscar. 3 stars.
295. Wattstax. Documentary about the 1972 Watts Summer Festival with AWESOME music. LOVED IT! The music was great. The best sequence was a montage during the Shaft theme song performed by Isaac Hayes. I could've done without the Richard Pryor (un)comedy breaks. The commentary from Watts residents was great. 3.5 stars.
5.18.2009
You Can Hate Me Now
Sorry it's been a while. My wireless connection has been HATING all week and blogger wasn't recognizing my most recent picture import so I was protesting! Anyway earlier this week I went shopping with my line sister (hey if you know of a job in the magazine field, she has a master's in magazine journalism, so hit me up!) and she got all geeked about going to Anthropologie. I was less than enthused. The first and only time I went in that store I saw the most beautiful dress at the front of the store. Price tag: $238. Or something outrageous like that. I was like wait, what? No. I turned right around and walked out of the store. This was at least 2 years ago. Well this day they happened to be having a sale. I'm thinking, "Ooh sale. Probably 10% off type sale." Umm...
How about I got an Anna Sui dress for $50. Yes THAT Anna Sui! Girl STOP! It will look great with another recent purchase: these ocean blue shoes. That deserves a photo shoot!!!
Ow! Oh and the dress was originally $198. I LOVE SALES!!!
How about I got an Anna Sui dress for $50. Yes THAT Anna Sui! Girl STOP! It will look great with another recent purchase: these ocean blue shoes. That deserves a photo shoot!!!
Ow! Oh and the dress was originally $198. I LOVE SALES!!!
5.17.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 17
May 10- 16, 2009
Summer vacation has put me just 2 movies off track where at the beginning the week I was 8 movies off, the week before that, 11. So by the end of the day I expect to be back on track, by the end of the week, at least 3 ahead. The more films I can squeeze into this summer, the more I learn about films and the more I can focus on making my own film in the fall.
257. The Times of Harvey Milk. Great documentary about the gay San Francisco supervisor killed by a former fellow supervisor alongside the then-mayor of the city. I liked the feature film, Milk, and I really liked that the documentary went beyond the feature, showing the trial of Dan White and the aftermath of the manslaughter guilty verdict. Like with all good films, I felt the need to see what happened next, which is how I found out after serving 5 years, White was released, then killed himself a year later. I'm curious to hear the other side: how his wife and 3 children, one of whom was an infant at the time of his death, have coped. I'm always curious about that.
258. Waitress. Keri Russell plays a waitress who makes great pies and unexpectedly gets pregnant by the husband she hates. Cute movie. I liked it and that at least part of the predictable ending didn't come. If it was completely unpredictable, I would've liked it even more.
259. A Letter to Three Wives. A movie about three women trying to figure out which of their husbands their friend ran away with when she sends them a letter. Good start, boring, meandering middle, utterly unfulfilling end. Do not want.
260. Friends With Money. Title is self-explanatory and yet I still felt like this movie had no idea what it wanted to be. Le sigh. What on earth is this about? It was really boring. Scratch that. Really, really boring. I know that was harsh and I wanted to like it but I didn't. For one of the first times in my life I agreed with Roger E.bert and I feel really weird about it. He said, "It seems to be more of an idea than a story." I was thinking the SAME THING 32 minutes into this, "What is this movie about?"
261. The Royal Tenenbaums. Odd movie about a self-described family of geniuses. They're really just a bunch of over-achievers. It's supposed to be witty but is mostly just weird.
262. Grey Gardens. The feature film version of the famous Maysles brothers' documentary. Great supplement to the documentary. I finally got biopics and films made from books after watching this. They're not supposed to be necessarily true to the original. If you can appreciate them for what they are, treat them as stand alones, then they are a success and in that manner, and for it's resemblance to the doc, this film is a success. I liked it.
263. The Holiday. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet switch homes and continents. Jack Black as a love interest? I'm sorry. No. I feel very meh about this movie. It was just there but it was absolutely too long. 2hr+ for a romantic comedy? Foolishness.
264. Run Granny Run. Documentary about a 94-year-old woman running for senate in New Hampshire. I was bored after 32 minutes and I still had about 45 minutes left. Ay. Too heavy on news reports for me. That was 5 years ago... she's still alive! Okay that makes her amazing but the film kind of fell flat.
265. Trouble the Water. This year's academy award nominated documentary starring a woman who started filming the day before the hurricane hit (Katrina, of course), and kept filming during the days she was stranded on her roof with her husband and 28 of their neighbors. Then it follows her in the weeks afterward as she tries to rebuild her life. Great footage but it became less interesting the longer it lasted unfortunately. I wanted more of her footage during the storm.
266. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Wow... somehow I'd managed to have seen all the good parts but none of the parts that advanced the plot in any way. Lol. Very odd but this movie was amusing to me.
267. Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty. Documentary about the black actress who starred in "Carmen Jones" and "Porgy and Bess" but died of (some say an intentional) prescription drug overdose at the age of 40. This film was narrated in an odd style with the guy who played the dad on "H.alf and Half" sometimes standing or sitting which made it resemble an infomercial. It appeared this film would break no new ground after about 15 minutes and since I read a book about her as a kid, I felt like it didn't. I look at docs as ways to learn things no one else knows. The people closest to her weren't even in this film, though some of them were obviously dead and others treated her horribly, it would've been nice to have interviews with people who knew her more intimately.
268. You Don't Mess With the Zohan. Can you believe I liked this silly movie where Adam Sandler plays a former "counter-t.errorist who wants to become a hairdresser? It made me laugh. Lol. It shouldn't have been almost 2 hours, though. Repeat after me: that is too long for a comedy.
269. Burn After Reading. Lol. Very strange dark comedy about how small events can suddenly snowball out of control. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton. Lots of people you've heard of acting up and acting out. Amusing. Rashan didn't want to see it but I think he would like it.
270. Bridesmaids. Sela Ward movie from the 80s WAY too Lifetime movie-like. I hate Lifetime. That should tell you I was less than enthused about this movie. I only picked it because it was short. I guess that's what I get.
271. Throw Momma From the Train. Danny Devito and Billy Crystal movie which riffs on a Hitchcock film. Amusing. There were a couple of false endings but overall I liked it.
272. How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It). Documentary about legendary black director Melvin Van Peebles, father of Mario, with the title taken from an article he wrote by the same name which was never published but captured his willingness to make people uncomfortable. Van Peebles was alternately inspiring, entertaining, bemusing and even a little annoying. Some really out of place music in some of the down moments which was distracting because it did not fit with the overall tone at all.
273. Marley and Me. This movie was so cute. There were some very strange parts like the neighbor and some other parts (to eliminate spoilers I'll just leave it at that) completely unrelated to the dog. I cried a little bit, because it made me think of Ebony, my dog of 14 years. I was surprised to have liked this movie as much as I did, but at almost 2 hours, they needed to cut at least 15 minutes. Aren't you shocked to hear me say that?
274. John Tucker Must Die. Not as bad as I thought it would be but Ashanti was. Burn. You know I don't like her. This film is absolutely what "Not Another Teen Movie" was making fun of... and really, rightfully so. I did laugh out loud on some parts but I don't need to see it ever again.
275. Lost in Translation. Hmm... I was pretty lost in this movie. It wandered like a dyslexic 3-year-old lost in a foreign country for me. I didn't dislike it. I just didn't understand the point of it.
276. Snatch. Jam good movie about myriad groups of thugs fighting over a stolen 84-carat diamond. I didn't know anything about this movie to know whether or not I would like it but I did.
Summer vacation has put me just 2 movies off track where at the beginning the week I was 8 movies off, the week before that, 11. So by the end of the day I expect to be back on track, by the end of the week, at least 3 ahead. The more films I can squeeze into this summer, the more I learn about films and the more I can focus on making my own film in the fall.
257. The Times of Harvey Milk. Great documentary about the gay San Francisco supervisor killed by a former fellow supervisor alongside the then-mayor of the city. I liked the feature film, Milk, and I really liked that the documentary went beyond the feature, showing the trial of Dan White and the aftermath of the manslaughter guilty verdict. Like with all good films, I felt the need to see what happened next, which is how I found out after serving 5 years, White was released, then killed himself a year later. I'm curious to hear the other side: how his wife and 3 children, one of whom was an infant at the time of his death, have coped. I'm always curious about that.
258. Waitress. Keri Russell plays a waitress who makes great pies and unexpectedly gets pregnant by the husband she hates. Cute movie. I liked it and that at least part of the predictable ending didn't come. If it was completely unpredictable, I would've liked it even more.
259. A Letter to Three Wives. A movie about three women trying to figure out which of their husbands their friend ran away with when she sends them a letter. Good start, boring, meandering middle, utterly unfulfilling end. Do not want.
260. Friends With Money. Title is self-explanatory and yet I still felt like this movie had no idea what it wanted to be. Le sigh. What on earth is this about? It was really boring. Scratch that. Really, really boring. I know that was harsh and I wanted to like it but I didn't. For one of the first times in my life I agreed with Roger E.bert and I feel really weird about it. He said, "It seems to be more of an idea than a story." I was thinking the SAME THING 32 minutes into this, "What is this movie about?"
261. The Royal Tenenbaums. Odd movie about a self-described family of geniuses. They're really just a bunch of over-achievers. It's supposed to be witty but is mostly just weird.
262. Grey Gardens. The feature film version of the famous Maysles brothers' documentary. Great supplement to the documentary. I finally got biopics and films made from books after watching this. They're not supposed to be necessarily true to the original. If you can appreciate them for what they are, treat them as stand alones, then they are a success and in that manner, and for it's resemblance to the doc, this film is a success. I liked it.
263. The Holiday. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet switch homes and continents. Jack Black as a love interest? I'm sorry. No. I feel very meh about this movie. It was just there but it was absolutely too long. 2hr+ for a romantic comedy? Foolishness.
264. Run Granny Run. Documentary about a 94-year-old woman running for senate in New Hampshire. I was bored after 32 minutes and I still had about 45 minutes left. Ay. Too heavy on news reports for me. That was 5 years ago... she's still alive! Okay that makes her amazing but the film kind of fell flat.
265. Trouble the Water. This year's academy award nominated documentary starring a woman who started filming the day before the hurricane hit (Katrina, of course), and kept filming during the days she was stranded on her roof with her husband and 28 of their neighbors. Then it follows her in the weeks afterward as she tries to rebuild her life. Great footage but it became less interesting the longer it lasted unfortunately. I wanted more of her footage during the storm.
266. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Wow... somehow I'd managed to have seen all the good parts but none of the parts that advanced the plot in any way. Lol. Very odd but this movie was amusing to me.
267. Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty. Documentary about the black actress who starred in "Carmen Jones" and "Porgy and Bess" but died of (some say an intentional) prescription drug overdose at the age of 40. This film was narrated in an odd style with the guy who played the dad on "H.alf and Half" sometimes standing or sitting which made it resemble an infomercial. It appeared this film would break no new ground after about 15 minutes and since I read a book about her as a kid, I felt like it didn't. I look at docs as ways to learn things no one else knows. The people closest to her weren't even in this film, though some of them were obviously dead and others treated her horribly, it would've been nice to have interviews with people who knew her more intimately.
268. You Don't Mess With the Zohan. Can you believe I liked this silly movie where Adam Sandler plays a former "counter-t.errorist who wants to become a hairdresser? It made me laugh. Lol. It shouldn't have been almost 2 hours, though. Repeat after me: that is too long for a comedy.
269. Burn After Reading. Lol. Very strange dark comedy about how small events can suddenly snowball out of control. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton. Lots of people you've heard of acting up and acting out. Amusing. Rashan didn't want to see it but I think he would like it.
270. Bridesmaids. Sela Ward movie from the 80s WAY too Lifetime movie-like. I hate Lifetime. That should tell you I was less than enthused about this movie. I only picked it because it was short. I guess that's what I get.
271. Throw Momma From the Train. Danny Devito and Billy Crystal movie which riffs on a Hitchcock film. Amusing. There were a couple of false endings but overall I liked it.
272. How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It). Documentary about legendary black director Melvin Van Peebles, father of Mario, with the title taken from an article he wrote by the same name which was never published but captured his willingness to make people uncomfortable. Van Peebles was alternately inspiring, entertaining, bemusing and even a little annoying. Some really out of place music in some of the down moments which was distracting because it did not fit with the overall tone at all.
273. Marley and Me. This movie was so cute. There were some very strange parts like the neighbor and some other parts (to eliminate spoilers I'll just leave it at that) completely unrelated to the dog. I cried a little bit, because it made me think of Ebony, my dog of 14 years. I was surprised to have liked this movie as much as I did, but at almost 2 hours, they needed to cut at least 15 minutes. Aren't you shocked to hear me say that?
274. John Tucker Must Die. Not as bad as I thought it would be but Ashanti was. Burn. You know I don't like her. This film is absolutely what "Not Another Teen Movie" was making fun of... and really, rightfully so. I did laugh out loud on some parts but I don't need to see it ever again.
275. Lost in Translation. Hmm... I was pretty lost in this movie. It wandered like a dyslexic 3-year-old lost in a foreign country for me. I didn't dislike it. I just didn't understand the point of it.
276. Snatch. Jam good movie about myriad groups of thugs fighting over a stolen 84-carat diamond. I didn't know anything about this movie to know whether or not I would like it but I did.
5.14.2009
Bullseye
Target is the bain of my existence.
Not for the usual reasons: you know, I spend too much money every time I walk into this place and I can't stay out of the clothing section... although I've managed to here lately because their prices are sometimes outrageous. I'm not paying $100 for ANY clothing item from that store. Even $50 is a stretch. And that better be a coat. Quit trippin, Target.
No, my issue is layout.
WHAT IN THE SAM HILL!?!?
Target. WHY does every.single.store have a completely different layout????????? DRIVES ME CRAZY!! Living in and visiting AT LEAST 7 different stores in the last 3 years, I feel disoriented every time! As soon as I get used to a Target, I go to one on the other side of town, move, or go visit someone. Wal-mart isn't like this! Get it together, Target! Help a sista out!
Not for the usual reasons: you know, I spend too much money every time I walk into this place and I can't stay out of the clothing section... although I've managed to here lately because their prices are sometimes outrageous. I'm not paying $100 for ANY clothing item from that store. Even $50 is a stretch. And that better be a coat. Quit trippin, Target.
No, my issue is layout.
WHAT IN THE SAM HILL!?!?
Target. WHY does every.single.store have a completely different layout????????? DRIVES ME CRAZY!! Living in and visiting AT LEAST 7 different stores in the last 3 years, I feel disoriented every time! As soon as I get used to a Target, I go to one on the other side of town, move, or go visit someone. Wal-mart isn't like this! Get it together, Target! Help a sista out!
5.13.2009
Irony
My Muslim classmate has swine flu. *snicker*
Okay maybe it's just the regular flu but she said, "What if I had swine flu?"
I said, "That would be AWESOME!!!"
Copious laughter from both of us.
"Since you already have the flu, I really, really hope it's swine flu."
Here is where she laughs so hard she chokes and coughs.
I was so serious, though! That would avenge all us pork eaters who thought when we first heard about this blasted illness people would start telling us to stop eating bacon and ham and RIBS, (NOT THE RIBS!!!!) and vegetarians would continue their "you really shouldn't eat meat because it makes me TOO superior to you" complexes but no mas!
Lololol. Hilarious. If she gets swine flu we'll be best buds. What a great trade!
Okay maybe it's just the regular flu but she said, "What if I had swine flu?"
I said, "That would be AWESOME!!!"
Copious laughter from both of us.
"Since you already have the flu, I really, really hope it's swine flu."
Here is where she laughs so hard she chokes and coughs.
I was so serious, though! That would avenge all us pork eaters who thought when we first heard about this blasted illness people would start telling us to stop eating bacon and ham and RIBS, (NOT THE RIBS!!!!) and vegetarians would continue their "you really shouldn't eat meat because it makes me TOO superior to you" complexes but no mas!
Lololol. Hilarious. If she gets swine flu we'll be best buds. What a great trade!
5.10.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 16
May 3- 9, 2009
Going to Palm Beach to celebrate Stace's birthday knocked me off pace even more. I watched 0 movies in 3 days. Ouch. Luckily I have all summer to catch up.
243. Charade. Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant in a film about widow being chased by crooks for his money. This film brings up a question I've been wondering about since I've been watching a lot of classics. Why, pray tell, is it that everyone in these films falls in love after a week? It's ridiculous and drives me crazy. I know you HAD to have a love story in those days but COME ON!! Can it at least be plausible? Foolywang.
244. Requiem for a Dream. Wow... movie about drug addicts. It was GREAT! I know no one expected me to like this and there were definitely some scenes I could do without, but I thought it was a good movie.
245. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Early(ish) Scorcese movie. Didn't really do it for me. I didn't dislike it but I wasn't terribly captivated by it either.
246. Good Night, and Good Luck. Film about journalist Edward R. Murrow's attack on Sen. Joseph McCarthy's witch hunt trials. Loved the music from Dianne Reeves. I don't know why I haven't been that into these movies but perhaps in the case of this one, I saw how heavily it borrowed from history because we watched a good portion of the actual footage in my doc history class, which was also in this film. I find I like historical and historical fiction films more when I'm not familiar with the ending or details. I like to learn new/obscure details and I guess I feel like I didn't with this film. I also didn't like the clarity of the black and white look in this film. It didn't look like true black and white. Odd thing to dislike, huh? Felt false.
247. Pocketful of Miracles. Frank Capra's last film as a director. He could have cut at LEAST 20 minutes from this 2h16m film. Seriously, Capra? The first hour was superfluous. Cut. it. out. Still a pretty good movie about a beggar woman who wants to impress her daughter who's engaged to a Spanish count and doesn't know her mother is broke.
248. Once Upon A Time in the West. Longest movie of my life. Western film clocking in at 2h44m. That's right. 2 HOURS and 44 MINUTES. It was good, though. Well-paced. Almost felt shorter than some of the 1h44m films I've seen.
249. Lars and the Real Girl. I wasn't expecting a movie about a man who falls in love with a life-sized s.ex doll to be cute but it was. The first 18 minutes I was straight faced and not amused and not for the reasons you think, but because he was delusional. Then I started dying laughing every few minutes. Then some of the film became a bit redundant but still cute.
250. The Postman Always Rings Twice. This is the original version of the film noir classic. It was okay. I was mildly intrigued but didn't completely care what happened to the characters.
251. North by Northwest. Hitchcock thriller. LOVED the last scenes and the suspense throughout the film though the false ending 30 minutes early annoyed me a bit. Overall, great film and definitely one of his best!
252. Silence of the Lambs. WOW. I don't have to describe this film but my adrenaline was pumping for the last 20 minutes. CRAZY!! Loved it!
253. Happy Feet. Really? An environmental musical starring animated penguins? I'm gonna have to pass. I didn't understand the length and I'm too old to be beat over the head with an environmental message. And for this movie. So that was my fault. And how stereotypical were the Hispanic characters. How about very. Not a fan and I was told you could like it if you weren't a kid.
254. Blind Spot: Murder by Women. Documentary in which the title is self-explanatory. Wow! The stories were AMAZING. The structure was boring, though. All of the interviews were of the women in jail against a stark background, which I really didn't have an issue with. But with a few re-enactments sprinkled in and very little archival material, one or two pictures of each murderer, watching the film became unnecessary. It was much more interesting just to listen to it. I spent much of this movie thinking about how I would have done it differently.
255. Last Chance Harvey. Dustin Hoffman plays a jingle writer who's on the verge of losing his job as he heads to London for his semi-estranged daughter's wedding. He meets Emma Thompson and gets all googly-eyed. Very leisurely pace but it worked. I liked this movie a lot. Very well-written.
256. A Very Long Engagement. Another leisurely-paced film but in a good way. Nice French movie w/my girl Audrey Tatou about a woman who doesn't believe her fiance' was killed in the war and makes it her mission to investigate and find out for sure.
Going to Palm Beach to celebrate Stace's birthday knocked me off pace even more. I watched 0 movies in 3 days. Ouch. Luckily I have all summer to catch up.
243. Charade. Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant in a film about widow being chased by crooks for his money. This film brings up a question I've been wondering about since I've been watching a lot of classics. Why, pray tell, is it that everyone in these films falls in love after a week? It's ridiculous and drives me crazy. I know you HAD to have a love story in those days but COME ON!! Can it at least be plausible? Foolywang.
244. Requiem for a Dream. Wow... movie about drug addicts. It was GREAT! I know no one expected me to like this and there were definitely some scenes I could do without, but I thought it was a good movie.
245. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Early(ish) Scorcese movie. Didn't really do it for me. I didn't dislike it but I wasn't terribly captivated by it either.
246. Good Night, and Good Luck. Film about journalist Edward R. Murrow's attack on Sen. Joseph McCarthy's witch hunt trials. Loved the music from Dianne Reeves. I don't know why I haven't been that into these movies but perhaps in the case of this one, I saw how heavily it borrowed from history because we watched a good portion of the actual footage in my doc history class, which was also in this film. I find I like historical and historical fiction films more when I'm not familiar with the ending or details. I like to learn new/obscure details and I guess I feel like I didn't with this film. I also didn't like the clarity of the black and white look in this film. It didn't look like true black and white. Odd thing to dislike, huh? Felt false.
247. Pocketful of Miracles. Frank Capra's last film as a director. He could have cut at LEAST 20 minutes from this 2h16m film. Seriously, Capra? The first hour was superfluous. Cut. it. out. Still a pretty good movie about a beggar woman who wants to impress her daughter who's engaged to a Spanish count and doesn't know her mother is broke.
248. Once Upon A Time in the West. Longest movie of my life. Western film clocking in at 2h44m. That's right. 2 HOURS and 44 MINUTES. It was good, though. Well-paced. Almost felt shorter than some of the 1h44m films I've seen.
249. Lars and the Real Girl. I wasn't expecting a movie about a man who falls in love with a life-sized s.ex doll to be cute but it was. The first 18 minutes I was straight faced and not amused and not for the reasons you think, but because he was delusional. Then I started dying laughing every few minutes. Then some of the film became a bit redundant but still cute.
250. The Postman Always Rings Twice. This is the original version of the film noir classic. It was okay. I was mildly intrigued but didn't completely care what happened to the characters.
251. North by Northwest. Hitchcock thriller. LOVED the last scenes and the suspense throughout the film though the false ending 30 minutes early annoyed me a bit. Overall, great film and definitely one of his best!
252. Silence of the Lambs. WOW. I don't have to describe this film but my adrenaline was pumping for the last 20 minutes. CRAZY!! Loved it!
253. Happy Feet. Really? An environmental musical starring animated penguins? I'm gonna have to pass. I didn't understand the length and I'm too old to be beat over the head with an environmental message. And for this movie. So that was my fault. And how stereotypical were the Hispanic characters. How about very. Not a fan and I was told you could like it if you weren't a kid.
254. Blind Spot: Murder by Women. Documentary in which the title is self-explanatory. Wow! The stories were AMAZING. The structure was boring, though. All of the interviews were of the women in jail against a stark background, which I really didn't have an issue with. But with a few re-enactments sprinkled in and very little archival material, one or two pictures of each murderer, watching the film became unnecessary. It was much more interesting just to listen to it. I spent much of this movie thinking about how I would have done it differently.
255. Last Chance Harvey. Dustin Hoffman plays a jingle writer who's on the verge of losing his job as he heads to London for his semi-estranged daughter's wedding. He meets Emma Thompson and gets all googly-eyed. Very leisurely pace but it worked. I liked this movie a lot. Very well-written.
256. A Very Long Engagement. Another leisurely-paced film but in a good way. Nice French movie w/my girl Audrey Tatou about a woman who doesn't believe her fiance' was killed in the war and makes it her mission to investigate and find out for sure.
5.07.2009
Guess Who's In South Florida??
MEEEEEE!! I surprised her!!! We are going to WRECK this place for Stace's birthday!! Woooooooooooooo!!! Party at the beach!!!
5.06.2009
One Year Later
Dani posed an interesting question on her blog, "Where were you last year (physically, mentally, emotionally)? Are you in the same place, a worse place, or a better place this year?"
That made me think of something I'd been working on for a Thursday 13 but might as well do now about how my life is different since July. This time last year I didn't know I would be going to UF getting my master's in documentary filmmaking. Here are some of the things that are different.
1) I haven't seen snow in more than a year!! THANK YOU JESUS!! I hope to keep that streak going for at least another 18 months. I will allow for snow IF it's somewhere where I don't have to live.
2) Physically I was in better shape last year because I had been working out 3xs a week for 18 months. Now I'm trying to get back in that mode. I have my mom and sister getting on a workout plan.
3) Spiritually I need to readjust as well.
4) Geographically, I LOVED this winter versus Pittsburgh's! Duh! See no. 1.
5) And I have Rashan who has been great in helping me adjust to living in a foreign city and foreign state, traveling here every two weeks.
6) 3.71 gpa thankyouverymuch!
Overall I am in a much better place. So AWESOME! Thanks God for giving me the will to follow my dream!
That made me think of something I'd been working on for a Thursday 13 but might as well do now about how my life is different since July. This time last year I didn't know I would be going to UF getting my master's in documentary filmmaking. Here are some of the things that are different.
1) I haven't seen snow in more than a year!! THANK YOU JESUS!! I hope to keep that streak going for at least another 18 months. I will allow for snow IF it's somewhere where I don't have to live.
2) Physically I was in better shape last year because I had been working out 3xs a week for 18 months. Now I'm trying to get back in that mode. I have my mom and sister getting on a workout plan.
3) Spiritually I need to readjust as well.
4) Geographically, I LOVED this winter versus Pittsburgh's! Duh! See no. 1.
5) And I have Rashan who has been great in helping me adjust to living in a foreign city and foreign state, traveling here every two weeks.
6) 3.71 gpa thankyouverymuch!
Overall I am in a much better place. So AWESOME! Thanks God for giving me the will to follow my dream!
5.04.2009
Nature's No Confidence Vote
Friday night after the 2nd years, soon to be graduates, in my program screened their thesis films, we all (or most) gathered to have one (to ten-- not me! I had considerably less than 10, but I'm quite sure some of them who were graduating were in that 10 range) more beer together and talk about our futurely defunct department (yes you can still sign the petition). We were outside from about 9:30 until 2:30. I was, anyway. Some were there considerably less time. That is probably the longest amount of time I've spent outdoors in literally years and I now understand why.
I came inside and sneezed or blew my nose for the good part of an hour to an hour and a half. OUTRAGEOUS!!! I don't like being the snotty girl at the party!! I sneezed 2-3 times while I was out there but, seriously? I have to come home to this? Becoming a mouth breather because my nose is too incapacitated? Not tasting food because I can't smell it? (Hands in the air if you thought this was my biggest issue...) NOT COOL, NATURE!! And then it hit me. THIS is the reason I don't like being outdoors. I haven't done it in so long that I couldn't remember the origin of the no nature rule I have. I thought it just applied to hiking because the thought of animals attacking is kind of a problem with me and when I was younger I didn't like to sweat. It turns out I don't like to go back to those days when I never sneezed without needing a tissue. It's not fun to have a tissue box attached to the hip because you WILL need it. To wake up like I did with rings of crust around my eyes from them trying to expel these foreign irritants. (Sounds like you won with me not coming this weekend, huh, Rah? LOL!! I'm a sexy beast!)
Side note: I had a dream about a lot of ladybugs Friday night (see what happens when you make me be in nature?) which is supposed to mean good luck and happiness in work but I was shooing them off this guy I didn't really know but was someone I thought I should know and he was creeped out. I thought they were cute until I kept shooing and shooing and shooing and more just kept appearing! Then I was like, "What is the deal???" He said, this happens to me a lot. It's because of my dandruff." Dude... you might want to fix that...
Anyway, I'm now realizing from the nature fail that I knew a long time ago that nature = kiss of death for me and avoid it at all costs. At least it gives me a much better excuse for not going camping that doesn't sound like I'm a big girly baby. So nature, it's official, from me, you have the no confidence vote. One time for Dave Chappelle, "Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate." Don't we all feel better now? I would... but I still have a nose full.
I came inside and sneezed or blew my nose for the good part of an hour to an hour and a half. OUTRAGEOUS!!! I don't like being the snotty girl at the party!! I sneezed 2-3 times while I was out there but, seriously? I have to come home to this? Becoming a mouth breather because my nose is too incapacitated? Not tasting food because I can't smell it? (Hands in the air if you thought this was my biggest issue...) NOT COOL, NATURE!! And then it hit me. THIS is the reason I don't like being outdoors. I haven't done it in so long that I couldn't remember the origin of the no nature rule I have. I thought it just applied to hiking because the thought of animals attacking is kind of a problem with me and when I was younger I didn't like to sweat. It turns out I don't like to go back to those days when I never sneezed without needing a tissue. It's not fun to have a tissue box attached to the hip because you WILL need it. To wake up like I did with rings of crust around my eyes from them trying to expel these foreign irritants. (Sounds like you won with me not coming this weekend, huh, Rah? LOL!! I'm a sexy beast!)
Side note: I had a dream about a lot of ladybugs Friday night (see what happens when you make me be in nature?) which is supposed to mean good luck and happiness in work but I was shooing them off this guy I didn't really know but was someone I thought I should know and he was creeped out. I thought they were cute until I kept shooing and shooing and shooing and more just kept appearing! Then I was like, "What is the deal???" He said, this happens to me a lot. It's because of my dandruff." Dude... you might want to fix that...
Anyway, I'm now realizing from the nature fail that I knew a long time ago that nature = kiss of death for me and avoid it at all costs. At least it gives me a much better excuse for not going camping that doesn't sound like I'm a big girly baby. So nature, it's official, from me, you have the no confidence vote. One time for Dave Chappelle, "Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate." Don't we all feel better now? I would... but I still have a nose full.
5.03.2009
Crazy Movie Lady 15
April 26- May 2, 2009
Thank GOD for student screenings this week!! I'm now MUCH closer to where I'm supposed to be. Instead of being 11 movies behind, I'm only about 8 behind. Baby steps. I should easily make that up this week as I have NO obligations. Ah life. So grand as a person between semesters for a SUMMER! Loves it.
225. Gates of Heaven. Early documentary by Errol Morris about pet cemeteries. Included exactly the weird pet owners you thought it would with some activities from the weird cemetery workers. Very amusing at times and at others completely perplexing. Something of a meandering plot. After 25 minutes I wondered, how long can I listen to chatter about pet cemeteries? Obviously the entire 83 minutes, but I didn't want to.
226. Blackmail. Hitchcock film about a woman trying to keep her part in a murder a secret. I liked it mostly because of the ending. 4 out of 5 stars.
227. Say Anything. Awwwww!! SUCH a cute 80s teen movie! I loved it! I know I technically shouldn't have but I gave it 5 stars. Lol. It was too cute! Right up there with how I feel about "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles" and "Pretty in Pink." How did I miss this film?? Does this not come on network tv like the rest??
228. The Queen. My ignorance of this film can be wholly blamed on my general disdain for reading synopses. I knew it was Helen Mirren's Oscar-winning role and that she amazingly resembled the queen, but I didn't know this particular role surrounded the death of Princess Diana and I felt blindsided by emotions! A nice film but something was missing for me. Still 4 out of 5 stars. I guess because it was set in my lifetime about people I've had peripheral knowledge of, I spent a lot of time wondering how true these things were to their personalities and what actually happened.
229. Deep Water. Wow. Great documentary about the race to be the first to sail the world alone and the men who kept logs of their journeys. Loved it.
230. Juno and the Paycock. So very un-Hitchcock and so very boring. Very little suspense and by the time they got to any I didn't care.
231. The Stranger. Orson Welles film about the search for an escaped Nazi war criminal. I liked it! The ending made it a really good movie. Very unexpected! I love unexpected endings!
232. You Can't Take It With You. Jimmy Stewart movie directed by Frank Capra. Overly long. You don't need a 2hr and 5 minute comedy. It lost my undivided attention after a while. I really couldn't stand the shucking and jiving parts for the black actors. A black servant (of course!!) walked into a jail cell and said, "Home again." Unacceptable. Automatic drop in the rating. I read on IMDB that the female lead turned down the lead in It's A Wonderful Life b/c she didn't want to work w/Stewart again. Wow... good move. *sarcasm* And she also has quotes about not wanting to do interviews, etc. Famous people who don't want to be famous or only want to act exasperate me. I'm not saying you should love the paparazzi or in any way insinuating the paparazzi has any sorts of rights, but don't give me that I don't want to be famous stuff. Then go act on Broadway or off Broadway and you'll be paparazzi-free and only known by a select few if all you want to do is act. You know it (fame) comes with the territory. Suck it up.
233. How About You. Indie comedy about 4 evil old people who try to overtake an old folks home. It was amusing but did some overly predictable and eventually irritating things with music loops. 3/5 stars.
234. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired. Documentary about the acclaimed director's life mishaps. Though he's still alive, the directors obviously were unable to get him to participate, understandably, as he doesn't want any more publicity on this case, and instead had to rely on a wealth of archival footage. The filmmakers also had to rely heavily on text which was somewhat of a hindrance to me liking this movie more. I wish it had been screened before people who weren't intimate with the details of any of his life and could have told them where there was confusion. I would have been one of those people and left this film with a lot of questions. It was interesting to a point but you also knew he wasn't going to be a participant in this film and so in some ways would be disappointed with whatever the outcome would be without him to weigh in.
235. Happy-Go-Lucky. British film about a happy go lucky woman and the not so happy people she encounters. A bit of a downer and her personality was too much. She won a Globe for it, though. One of the first few scenes was misleading about her relationships and the ending was disturbing. This film meandered a bit too much for my taste.
236. Life After Tomorrow. Documentary about the girls who played roles in Annie on Broadway or on the national tour. Pretty depressing how many of them feel like they peaked at 10 because it was the greatest experience of their lives and their parents finally loved them and when it was all over so was the best part of them. Makes you understand even more why so many stars who have been in the business for so long are so jacked up. But the biggest issue with this film is that it was one continuous, 72-minute string of complaining and/or wistfulness. A million interviews. People watching films are looking for someone to connect with and when there are 20 Annies and 20 orphans, your head starts spinning. I imagine the filmmaker, herself an Annie kid was trying to show how many of these kids have the same experience of surviving after the show but it just became too much after a very short period of time.
237. A Walk to Beautiful. Documentary about Ethiopian women with obstetric fistulas-- after days of labor, they become incontinent. Difficult to watch at times but an important story to tell. I wish there had been more explanation early on. In a 51-minute doc, it was at least 16 minutes before I felt like I had some kind of clue what was wrong with these women. That's a problem.
238. Chasing Health. Student doc from my program about the growing medical tourism industry for elective and necessary surgeries. It's amazing to see people's films improve from the first rough draft to the last one.
239. The Man Behind the Curtain. Student doc from my program about an artificial intelligence researcher who killed himself. Very interesting.
240. Lessons Learned. Student documentary from my program about a charter middle school in trouble.
241. Better Bones and Gardens. Super cute student documentary about a man who builds really nice homes out of things that would have been sent to the landfill and a man who creates food gardens in his neighbors' gardens.
242. Postcards from the Edge. Hmmm. I wanted to like this Shirley Maclaine and Meryl Streep movie about a movie star and her movie star mom more than I did. Meryl's my girl and Shirley's funny but it just didn't really happen for me.
243. Afro-Punk. Documentary about black punk people. I kind of liked the movie and the feel in some ways but was confused by the people who felt like outsiders in punk and felt like outsiders in the black community. So you left one unaccepting community for another? AWESOME. I was really appalled by the young woman who had all these awful ideas about black people like, "I'm not a typical black girl, I don't wear slutty clothes because I respect myself" and "My mom told me not to marry a black man because he probably wouldn't be able to pay the rent and wouldn't have a decent job." WHAT IN THE BLUE BLAZES?!!? And had the nerve to say she didn't hate herself. Honey there is some self-hatred if the only ideas you have of black people are negative ones. You need to expand your horizons. She blew me away. I needed her to get her life together. I was most interested in the people who drew parallels between afrocentricity and punk. I was interested in what many of the people were saying, but again, a continuous string of interviews, with very few breaks, even for music, is a tiring thing to watch. At some point you want something else to happen. And in this film it never did.
242. Saving Grace. UK film written, directed by & starring Craig Ferguson (yes, that one) about a widow who starts growing pot to pay off her dead husband's outstanding debt. Mildly amusing.
Thank GOD for student screenings this week!! I'm now MUCH closer to where I'm supposed to be. Instead of being 11 movies behind, I'm only about 8 behind. Baby steps. I should easily make that up this week as I have NO obligations. Ah life. So grand as a person between semesters for a SUMMER! Loves it.
225. Gates of Heaven. Early documentary by Errol Morris about pet cemeteries. Included exactly the weird pet owners you thought it would with some activities from the weird cemetery workers. Very amusing at times and at others completely perplexing. Something of a meandering plot. After 25 minutes I wondered, how long can I listen to chatter about pet cemeteries? Obviously the entire 83 minutes, but I didn't want to.
226. Blackmail. Hitchcock film about a woman trying to keep her part in a murder a secret. I liked it mostly because of the ending. 4 out of 5 stars.
227. Say Anything. Awwwww!! SUCH a cute 80s teen movie! I loved it! I know I technically shouldn't have but I gave it 5 stars. Lol. It was too cute! Right up there with how I feel about "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles" and "Pretty in Pink." How did I miss this film?? Does this not come on network tv like the rest??
228. The Queen. My ignorance of this film can be wholly blamed on my general disdain for reading synopses. I knew it was Helen Mirren's Oscar-winning role and that she amazingly resembled the queen, but I didn't know this particular role surrounded the death of Princess Diana and I felt blindsided by emotions! A nice film but something was missing for me. Still 4 out of 5 stars. I guess because it was set in my lifetime about people I've had peripheral knowledge of, I spent a lot of time wondering how true these things were to their personalities and what actually happened.
229. Deep Water. Wow. Great documentary about the race to be the first to sail the world alone and the men who kept logs of their journeys. Loved it.
230. Juno and the Paycock. So very un-Hitchcock and so very boring. Very little suspense and by the time they got to any I didn't care.
231. The Stranger. Orson Welles film about the search for an escaped Nazi war criminal. I liked it! The ending made it a really good movie. Very unexpected! I love unexpected endings!
232. You Can't Take It With You. Jimmy Stewart movie directed by Frank Capra. Overly long. You don't need a 2hr and 5 minute comedy. It lost my undivided attention after a while. I really couldn't stand the shucking and jiving parts for the black actors. A black servant (of course!!) walked into a jail cell and said, "Home again." Unacceptable. Automatic drop in the rating. I read on IMDB that the female lead turned down the lead in It's A Wonderful Life b/c she didn't want to work w/Stewart again. Wow... good move. *sarcasm* And she also has quotes about not wanting to do interviews, etc. Famous people who don't want to be famous or only want to act exasperate me. I'm not saying you should love the paparazzi or in any way insinuating the paparazzi has any sorts of rights, but don't give me that I don't want to be famous stuff. Then go act on Broadway or off Broadway and you'll be paparazzi-free and only known by a select few if all you want to do is act. You know it (fame) comes with the territory. Suck it up.
233. How About You. Indie comedy about 4 evil old people who try to overtake an old folks home. It was amusing but did some overly predictable and eventually irritating things with music loops. 3/5 stars.
234. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired. Documentary about the acclaimed director's life mishaps. Though he's still alive, the directors obviously were unable to get him to participate, understandably, as he doesn't want any more publicity on this case, and instead had to rely on a wealth of archival footage. The filmmakers also had to rely heavily on text which was somewhat of a hindrance to me liking this movie more. I wish it had been screened before people who weren't intimate with the details of any of his life and could have told them where there was confusion. I would have been one of those people and left this film with a lot of questions. It was interesting to a point but you also knew he wasn't going to be a participant in this film and so in some ways would be disappointed with whatever the outcome would be without him to weigh in.
235. Happy-Go-Lucky. British film about a happy go lucky woman and the not so happy people she encounters. A bit of a downer and her personality was too much. She won a Globe for it, though. One of the first few scenes was misleading about her relationships and the ending was disturbing. This film meandered a bit too much for my taste.
236. Life After Tomorrow. Documentary about the girls who played roles in Annie on Broadway or on the national tour. Pretty depressing how many of them feel like they peaked at 10 because it was the greatest experience of their lives and their parents finally loved them and when it was all over so was the best part of them. Makes you understand even more why so many stars who have been in the business for so long are so jacked up. But the biggest issue with this film is that it was one continuous, 72-minute string of complaining and/or wistfulness. A million interviews. People watching films are looking for someone to connect with and when there are 20 Annies and 20 orphans, your head starts spinning. I imagine the filmmaker, herself an Annie kid was trying to show how many of these kids have the same experience of surviving after the show but it just became too much after a very short period of time.
237. A Walk to Beautiful. Documentary about Ethiopian women with obstetric fistulas-- after days of labor, they become incontinent. Difficult to watch at times but an important story to tell. I wish there had been more explanation early on. In a 51-minute doc, it was at least 16 minutes before I felt like I had some kind of clue what was wrong with these women. That's a problem.
238. Chasing Health. Student doc from my program about the growing medical tourism industry for elective and necessary surgeries. It's amazing to see people's films improve from the first rough draft to the last one.
239. The Man Behind the Curtain. Student doc from my program about an artificial intelligence researcher who killed himself. Very interesting.
240. Lessons Learned. Student documentary from my program about a charter middle school in trouble.
241. Better Bones and Gardens. Super cute student documentary about a man who builds really nice homes out of things that would have been sent to the landfill and a man who creates food gardens in his neighbors' gardens.
242. Postcards from the Edge. Hmmm. I wanted to like this Shirley Maclaine and Meryl Streep movie about a movie star and her movie star mom more than I did. Meryl's my girl and Shirley's funny but it just didn't really happen for me.
243. Afro-Punk. Documentary about black punk people. I kind of liked the movie and the feel in some ways but was confused by the people who felt like outsiders in punk and felt like outsiders in the black community. So you left one unaccepting community for another? AWESOME. I was really appalled by the young woman who had all these awful ideas about black people like, "I'm not a typical black girl, I don't wear slutty clothes because I respect myself" and "My mom told me not to marry a black man because he probably wouldn't be able to pay the rent and wouldn't have a decent job." WHAT IN THE BLUE BLAZES?!!? And had the nerve to say she didn't hate herself. Honey there is some self-hatred if the only ideas you have of black people are negative ones. You need to expand your horizons. She blew me away. I needed her to get her life together. I was most interested in the people who drew parallels between afrocentricity and punk. I was interested in what many of the people were saying, but again, a continuous string of interviews, with very few breaks, even for music, is a tiring thing to watch. At some point you want something else to happen. And in this film it never did.
242. Saving Grace. UK film written, directed by & starring Craig Ferguson (yes, that one) about a widow who starts growing pot to pay off her dead husband's outstanding debt. Mildly amusing.
5.01.2009
Yum, Yum Eat 'Em Up!
Before we get into the topic of this blog, I saw a stork on campus the other day. Remember the last time? Very random but I had my camera so I took a pic.
Back to the matter at hand. I love food. I've been cooking my face off lately. I just ate my last chicken burger for breakfast (topped with salsa and with a side of eggs) without taking a picture. Sorry, kids. I used ground chicken, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, garlic and onion. Topped with mustard and cheddar cheese? DEEELISH!!
Here's another side note. I was looking for the post about the last time I saw a stork and found a post from last year when I was bored out of my mind from working and I said to PCD in the comments, "You're a pretty well-documented hater." HILARITY! Oh blog la familia. I wish you would postmore ever.
Last night my classmates and I got together for a year-end dinner. I made green beans, potato salad, meatloaf and chicken provencal. Yes! Got the chicken recipe from my Tyler Florence book and was quite please with how it came out. I wanted to use chicken stock for the beans but there was a vegetarian in the midst so I just used water with onion, s&p, and a chopped clove of garlic. No butter since I also didn't know if she ate butter. It's so PESKY being thoughtful!!
One of my favorite breakfasts is huevos rancheros. Eggs (over medium, please), black beans, salsa, how can you go wrong??? That's right, you can't. I made this a while ago but forgot to share.
I had a tortilla and some rice and ground turkey with the beans, too. I like to mix it up, kids.
I think I'll make spaghetti and meatballs in the near future. Like in the next few days. What's the best thing you've cooked lately?
Back to the matter at hand. I love food. I've been cooking my face off lately. I just ate my last chicken burger for breakfast (topped with salsa and with a side of eggs) without taking a picture. Sorry, kids. I used ground chicken, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, garlic and onion. Topped with mustard and cheddar cheese? DEEELISH!!
Here's another side note. I was looking for the post about the last time I saw a stork and found a post from last year when I was bored out of my mind from working and I said to PCD in the comments, "You're a pretty well-documented hater." HILARITY! Oh blog la familia. I wish you would post
Last night my classmates and I got together for a year-end dinner. I made green beans, potato salad, meatloaf and chicken provencal. Yes! Got the chicken recipe from my Tyler Florence book and was quite please with how it came out. I wanted to use chicken stock for the beans but there was a vegetarian in the midst so I just used water with onion, s&p, and a chopped clove of garlic. No butter since I also didn't know if she ate butter. It's so PESKY being thoughtful!!
One of my favorite breakfasts is huevos rancheros. Eggs (over medium, please), black beans, salsa, how can you go wrong??? That's right, you can't. I made this a while ago but forgot to share.
I had a tortilla and some rice and ground turkey with the beans, too. I like to mix it up, kids.
I think I'll make spaghetti and meatballs in the near future. Like in the next few days. What's the best thing you've cooked lately?
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