All I keep telling myself is 3 more days until I will never work in a restaurant again. I officially gave my 2 weeks. I am in the works of a volunteering opportunity I am very excited about...
Also, it's funny how some people surprise you in a way that is so refreshing, and reminds you that although you are an independent woman in your mid-twenties, a compliment from a guy can make you feel like a 16 year old high-school girl again...
I love stories like this one: a woman lost her house to the bank after losing her job in the recession we're currently going through. So to get it back at auction, she's baking and selling cornbread.
This is the American spirit. If you see something you need/want, figure out a way to get it. Somehow that's been lost along the way. I hope she makes it.
I donated at her site (here) and encourage those of you who can to do the same. We get through life with each other, even if we never learn other people's names.
This book cover sold me on the story. Little did I know that I'd find a straight to ebook publisher in the process. Ebooks are getting huge. Check out Carina Press here. This is a division of Harlequin Books and works differently than the main publisher. They provide editing and covers, and I really like this one.
Lesson #5 You really can never have too many purses.
OOOHHHHHH, come on, you all know this is true. I didn't have a red one. Not real red, maybe a burgundy one..but not red. I saw this, and it was just perfect!
Lesson #6 European size 38 shoes are NOT size 8.5 or 9. (This lesson actually affected Chrissy more than me).
Chrissy found her perfect pair of shoes at Aldo Shoes. Bone, open toed. They were cute, and felt good.
They were a bit pricey, so when she asked about them, I suggested we look around first, and then come back if she wanted them. (Old mom is a cheapskate, huh?) Just trying to give out good advice, you know...
So we looked around and found NOTHING that was even close, so on Saturday the girls ran back in to get them. Chrissy said I need a size 8.5. The clerk brought out some shoes and, in European sizes, they were 38. She tried them on and said they were kinda tight. The gal assured her they were the same size she had tried on, that they would "stretch" and be fine. So she got them and wore them to supper. Before we even got to the restaurant, she was HURTING. They hurt her feet really, really bad. I said, maybe they gave you the wrong size. (I was joking, of course). But they are CUTE, I told her! Well, we googled European sizes. The google search told us that the 38 was an American 7.5. That would be a lot of stretching to a 9? She wears an 8.5, but would obviously need a 9 if they don't have half sizes. That clerk must have really wanted a sale. Here is the European size chart:
Ladies shoe sizes
British
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
European
34
35
35.5
36
37
37.5
38
38.5
39
39.5
40
41
42
American
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
Japanese (cm)
21.5
22
22.5
23
23
23.5
24
24
24.5
25
25.5
26
26.5
Well, Chrissy tried to lodge a complaint, but got nowhere. Aldo told them their 38 is an 8?
She is going to put stretchers in them and hope for the best. Darn it anyway!!!
Although TIFF (aka. The Toronto International Film Festival) offered a glimpse into some of the big films they will be showing this September, I would like to highlight another festival announcement that came out this week. The Toronto After Dark Film Festival unveiled its full lineup of cult-tastic films yesterday. Running from August 13 -20, Toronto After Dark features a wide array of over-the-top comedies, blood curdling horror, genre mashing science fiction and all things in between. I recently became aware of the festival thanks to James at Toronto Screen Shots and Bob of Eternal Sunshine of the Logical Mind. While at this month's Toronto Bloggers Pub Night, they were both sharing their experiences at the last year’s festival. I was officially sold on the idea of checking it out this year once I heard a few simple words: “they screened Black Dynamite last year!” That was all I needed to hear to grasp what type of films the festival would be showing. After scanning the complete list of films, this year’s festival seems to be even crazier than I could have ever anticipated. If descriptions like “Killer Tire Horror”, “Cult Stoner Comedy (staring Adrian Brody)”, “Brutal Roman Action”, do not scream cult goodness then maybe some of the following trailers below will get your cult juices going:
Please note some of the following trailers contain strong language and graphic violence.
Lesson #4 Follow the Spray Tanning Instructions fully...
Late Saturday night, we went to a 24 hour Tanning Place to treat ourselves to spray tans. Chrissy has had one before, but it was not the booth type, and neither Tina or I had. (I had tried the at home spray tans before, but they were pretty disastrous....that's a whole another story, though...)
I was very reminiscent of the Friends episode where Ross went to get a spray tan:
I did pretty good, but once the voice started, I panicked, thinking, "WHERE ARE THE NOZZLES?" Ugh!!! But, it went well. I got it done and got the four positions in, and thought I did well.
You are given "blocker" so you don't tan your fingertips, inbetween fingers and toes, palms and bottoms of your feet. I put some on the bottom of my feet, but then it felt slick and I thought I would fall when I walked across the room. I patted my feet a bit on the towel ... well, this is the result:
I didn't really think it would tan there. :-) But, who really sees the bottom of my feet? Well, now ... all of you just did!!!!
Just a quick post today as I need to do some prep work for a function I am attending tomorrow. As some of you already know, I occasionally do two features for The LAMB. One of them is the LAMB Acting School 101 in which a different actor or actress is highlighted each month. Basically it is a way for people to see what bloggers think about a particular actor's/actress' canon of work. Plus the LAMB Acting School 101 also offers bloggers a free forum to promote their blogs as well. Next week the feature will be focusing on the works of Julianne Moore! So if you are a blogger, or know of a blogger, who has written a review, posted a commentary, recorded a podcast about Julianne Moore (or her films) be sure to forward it along to the email address below.
Here are the type of things I am looking for:
Articles on her best performances
Articles on her worst performances
General thoughts on the actress
Reviews of the films she has starred in
Send the link of the blog post to bigthoughtssmallmind@hotmail.com. Please note that multiple submissions are encouraged. The deadline for submissions is Monday August 2, 2010.
I can't wait for this new comic and for the new movie coming next year. John Carter remains one of my dearest and most cherished heroes. He was a warrior and an honorable man who was totally confounded by women. I loved these books and lately read the first one to Chandler, my twelve year old, and he totally got the whole thing.
One of the most memorable lines in the book is when Dejah Thoris tells John Carter that she can't tell where his heart truly lies, and he tells her, "There at your feet where it has lain since the day I laid eyes upon you." Or words to that effect.
My wife was lying in bed with us while I was reading to Chandler. She made fun of both of us. Girls!
I have to admit that I'm a big fan of B-horror movies that are so bad you laugh till you cry. I love the campiness and the weak special effects, the cardboard characters and the cheesy dialogue. There's just something about those movies that get me every time.
Of course, I also love a good horror flick that leaves you with your hair on end and checking your bed and closet before you lay down.
Cassandra Petersen is another love. She played Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and was hostess to a lot of B-horror movies. She had an acerbic wit, cutting commentary that was dead on and didn't pull any punches or talk down to her fans, and she is gorgeous to look at.
I just found out she's going to be hosting again, and I'm really looking forward to that as well. She's gonna be on the THIS! Television channel starting September 25th.
One of the things I always intended to get but never did was one of those Elvira stand-up posters for Coors Light. I wonder if they're still around...
Lesson #3 Being pampered can be a lot of work! We arrived at the salon about 9 am. First on the list was a facial. I have never had one before (yea, yea, I live a sheltered life). It was awesome. I loved it. Not so sure about the moisturizer and sunscreen, my skin felt kinda sticky for a while, but it was great! Especially enjoyed the hot towels parts! My esthetician said "well, you can do that at home, just get your towel damp and microwave it and have someone fetch it for you". Hmmm....just don't think anyone at my house is gonna be fetching a towel from the microwave for me...
Then it was manicure/pedicure time. I didn't get a manicure because I actually do treat myself to get my nails done. Surprise!! Well, anyway, it was my first pedicure ever! I was leery about having someone touch my feet. I also think my feet are ugly. Icky. You know...just feet. But, it was good. I'd do it again sometime! Loved the sugar scrub and hot towels. Maybe I just like hot towels? :-) Here's my pretty pink toes in their fun disposable flip flops!
We had met our Lisa there and she had joined us in our fun day...she is a facial esthetician. After lunch, we were treated to a makeup session, where we learned tips and got pretty! She did an awesome job!
It took most of the day and we were tired, and maybe too relaxed from all the hot towels or something, but not sure we could be very high maintenance kinds of gals. :-) But, it was great....
Of all the SCTV alumni I find it odd that Rick Moranis is not prominent in front of the camera anymore. Heck, Eugene Levy is still managing to mix his big budget works with all those straight-to-DVD American Pie movies. Could Rick Moranis not do the same? The latter part of Rick Moranis’ career has consisted of family friendly movies. He has consistently shown that his comedic timing can provide good laughs to even the weakest feature. I think it would be hilarious to see Moranis in a comedy where he plays against type. Maybe a foulmouthed role is exactly what Rick Moranis needs to break his squeaky clean image. I could see Moranis making a splash in a raunchy Todd Phillips Hangover-style comedy; or even reteaming with Steve Martin for an adult skewed comedy.
Career Highlights: Strange Brew (1983); Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989); Ghostbusters (1984); Spaceballs (1987); Ghostbusters II (1989); Little Shop of Horrors (1986); Brewster’s Millions (2005); Parenthood (1989); Splitting Heirs (1993); Little Giants (1994);
Low Points: Honey I Blew Up the Kids (1992); Big Bully (1996); The Flintstones (1994); My Blue Heaven (1990); Brother Bear (2003)
Last Seen On The Big Screen: Brother Bear (2003)
Where You Will See Him Next?: Since bringing back the Bob & Doug McKenzie characters, yet again, for Canadian television, Moranis has been fairly quiet on the acting front. It seems he is spending most of his time on the production side of things.
As I was growing up, I read a lot of old pulps that were reissued as paperbacks. Some of these were about the Rio Kid, featured above. Others were about the Masked Rider (kind of a Lone Ranger character) and his faithful Indian companion, Blue Hawk.
I didn't really know what pulps were back then, but I loved the action-oriented stories and larger-than-life characters. And I enjoyed the cowboy adventures. Of course, after I discovered Louis L'Amour's books and the authenticity he brought to the genre, I mostly read those. Interestingly enough, L'Amour was one of the big pulp writers too.
Today's kids don't quite grasp the concept of the cowboy hero, but the stories aren't far removed from many of the fantasy novels they read these days. Fantasy focuses on magic sometimes, but you always have the two-fisted adventurer like Conan that refuses to die out. And Conan wasn't that far removed from the wandering saddletramp riding for the brand.
Is it blasphemous that I consider Sidney Lumet merely a good director opposed to a great one? This question has crossed my mind recently as this week marks a retrospective on Lumet career as part of The LAMB's wonderful series, LAMBs in the Director’s Chair. Before you run out and grab your pitchforks and axes, let me preface this by stating that a lot of my views toward Lumet stem from the fact that I have experienced more of his later works rather than his “classics”.
My earliest encounter with Sidney Lumet’s films was The Wiz when I was younger. I remember watching it one summer on television with a few family members. It was a big event that evening mainly because the all black cast featured both Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Fast forward to present day and The Wiz still holds a special spot in my heart. It is not a great film by any means; in fact the unevenness of the film is more glaring now with than it when I first watched it over twenty years ago. I even had a tough time explaining my fondness for the film to my wife last week when we happened upon it on television. It is hard to point out the film’s strengths when giant trash bins, with oversized teeth, are gumming Michael Jackson’s arms on screen…believe me I have tried.
Many will cite Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon as examples of Lumet’s exceptional works and I would not disagree. I would even throw Running on Empty into the list as well. Those would be my top three selections, based on what I have see, of Lumet’s canon of work. All three films were stellar examinations of characters struggling with issues of loyalty. Whether it was the cop being true to his code of ethics in the face of corruption; the misguided criminal doing whatever he can to help the one he loves; or simply the young man who loves his family but must wants to be his own man; each one of those pictures left an undeniable mark on the world of film.
Loyalty is a theme that is constantly in all of Lumet’s films, although more often than not, it is never quiet executed as well as in the three films mentioned above. Just look at some of the films that people conveniently overlook when reminiscing about Lumet. Films like Guilty as Sin, which tried hard to be a sexy thriller but ended up being a sloppy mess. Don Johnson’s overacting matched with Rebecca De Mornay’s poorly written attorney was a recipe for disaster from the start. Halfway through the film you really could care less about De Mornay’s conflict of wanting to prove Johnson’s guilt while still having to represent him as her client. Or how about the generational comedy, and I use the term “comedy” loosely, Family Business. While some may have enjoyed seeing Dustin Hoffman, Sean Connery, and Matthew Broderick stumble around like buffoons, I could not help but think that the actors had signed up for the film script unseen. Let us also not forget the gangster’s girl with a heart of gold story, Gloria, in which Sharon Stone attempts to show off her softer side. One of the most shocking things about Gloria was that the formulaic story came from a John Cassavetes script.
Even decent films such as Night Falls on Manhattan, Q&A, Strip Search, and A Stranger Among Us fail to muster up anything more than a “well it was not a bad way to kill two hours” type of response. If I had to pick the one that stood out the most it would probably be the made for television feature Strip Search as I really loved the segment between Ken Leung, a vastly underrated actor, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. I like how the tension builds in the scene and the resolution is as equally unsettling as the interrogation.
Again I am not saying Sidney Lumet is a bad director, I just do not see him in the same light that many others do. Besides a handful of exceptional films the majority of Lumet’s body of work, based on what I have seen, is good but not necessarily great.
I just read about Scottish brewery BrewDog and couldn't believe it. I'd thought at my age I just couldn't be shocked by anything STRANGE again. People hurting people still shocks me, but this is different.
A cozy made from a squirrel's body? And it sells for $750 a bottle? It's supposed to be 55 percent alcohol, so I suppose you could get a buzz from it, but still...
Squirrels just want to be free, to ride Harleys and explore the wide open roads. They don't want to be cozies.
One day soon squirrels are going to get angry over this treatment. They're tough little critters. Keep it up and one day a dead one will slither right on up the bottle you're drinking and bite your lips off!
This past weekend, my two oldest daughters and I took a three day "Girls Weekend" in Denver. We had a great time...(I will post about it this week) Meanwhile, I wanted to share some moments as well, of things I learned...
Number 1:
Most people do not enter the hotel hot tub by falling in head first and completely emerging themselves underwater (even though I did). This can also tend to embarrass your two grown daughters and slightly (I hope only slightly) amuse the group of strangers sitting around and in the hot tub. The only saving grace was that I didn't hurt anyone.
Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to catch a film at the 2010 Shinsedai Cinema Festival. Curated by Chris MaGee, of Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow, and Jasper Sharp, of Midnight Eye, Shinsedai showcases the best of Japanese independent cinema. Shinsedai is now in its second year but this was my first at the festival. Though time constraints of the weekend hindered me from seeing more than one film, Naito Takatsugu’s The Dark Harbour, Shinsedai has definitely wet my appetite to see more of what Japanese cinema has to offer.
The Dark Harbour is a quirky blend of comedy and drama that tells the tale of a lonely fisherman, Manzo (Shinya Kote), who is desperate in desperate need of a companion. The problem is Manzo is rather clueless in regards to how exactly to get a date. Manzo spends so much time trying to look cool that he is oblivious to the opportunities that present themselves. When a local company sets up a video dating night for city women and fishermen, Manzo jumps at the chance to final fill the void in his life. Though the chance for happiness may be closer than he ever imagined. Unbeknownst to Manzo, a young woman, Mitsuko (Yuko Miyamoto), and her son, Masao (Kazuki Hirooka) are secretly living inside Manzo’s closet.
While the premise may sound odd on paper, The Dark Harbour is one of those films that will ultimately have you leaving the theatre smiling. Even in the more downbeat moments there is a charm that never lets you go. A large part of the films appeal is the work of the three leads. Kote is wonderful as Manzo, although we are only with him for a short time you feel like you have known him forever. You cannot help but want him to obtain that happiness he so desperately craves. Both Miyamoto and Hirooka complement Kote’s performance nicely. They really help to sell the whole makeshift family aspect of the film.
If there is one aspect the film could have improved on is the overall pacing of the script. There are times when the film veers off the central Manzo/Mitsuko arc in order to have random comedic moments featuring some of the other fisherman in town. While amusing, the scenes do very little to further the overall plot of the film. Speaking of plot, The Dark Harbour would have also been better served with a little more focus on the character of Mitsuko. Naito Takatsugu establishes early on that Mitsuko has had trouble with men in the past though it is never elaborated on. Although the arrival of “the sufer” in the restaurant triggers a passion with Mitsuko; Takatsugu never clarifies what is it exactly about “the sufer” that causes Mitsuko to make the choices she makes? Even Masao does not seem to comprehend Mitsuko’s choice of action in the last act.
Despite the fact that Mitsuko may not be a character as fully realized as Manzo is, Takatsugu’s The Dark Harbour still manages to succeed on many levels. The film proves that, in a roundabout way, life’s true reward is having someone to share it with.
B
Jellyfish Boy
Prior to the to the screening of The Dark Harbour the audience was treated to a short by director Shoh Kataoka entitled Jellyfish Boy. The short examines the friendship between Kotaro (Ren Yasuda) and his best friend, who he calls Jellyfish Boy (Daiki Gunji). Over the course of the day we see the two boys play and discuss heavy issues such as independence and marriage. Although the subjects of discussion may be deeper than one would expect from children of such a young age, the childlike innocence in regards to how they see the world is always present. Jellyfish Boy is a heart-warming film that will have the viewer longing for the return of their own childlike innocence.
Lohan failure to admit that I know this sound stupid, but honestly, I think if Lindsay went to jail, that the constant flood of fraud and save to crack daily updates about his life. I was wrong. Because even if you can not see the visual "pleasure", which is in a state of Lindsay on a daily basis, we still have some legal changes. And the news is not good for people to see, crazy, true love,
At one of the parks Sherry and Chandler visited, he found deer that would come up to him and eat out of his hand. He thought it was really cool.
Two of my favorite Chandler quotes:
When presented with an opportunity to go golfing (the day was really hot), Chandler said, "I don't want to go golfing. I can't do mini-golf on a cloudy day."
And when we got back to Moore, "I feel better about going to the correct McDonalds."
Happy Birth Day To You Jenni. Today is Jennifer Lopez’s 41st birthday!
The former A-lister once had the number-one movie and number-one album on the planet... at the same time! It's a feat that was never accomplished before and hasn't been since.
The singer and actress is currently spending some time in Los Cabos, Mexico, and spent yesterday jogging on the beach and spending time with her children and family.
Jennifer Lopez was born today in 1969. This fiery Leo is also a record producer, dancer, television producer, and fashion designer. Leo is the sign of creativity, after all. Adding to the fire is Mars in Sagittarius, which assures she has a fun-loving, gregarious side.
Still, it's not too late for Lopez to right her sexy ship. She's still a looker, still has talent and clearly has a sense of humor. (She's also still just Jenny from the Block, we've heard.) Send in your birthday wishes to Jennifer now and offer her tips for reviving her career.
In Life During Wartime director Todd Solondz revisits many of the characters that he brought to life so vividly in his films Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness, 15 and 12 years ago respectively. After once being married to a pedophile, Bill (Ciarán Hinds), Trish (Allison Janney) is happy that she has finally found herself a normal guy, Harvey (Michael Lerner). Trish and Harvey want to get married but their relationship becomes complicated when Bill is released from prison. Meanwhile, Trish’s sister Joy (Shirley Henderson) and her husband Allen (Michael K. Williams) are having problems of their own due to Allen’s habitual immoral habits. Joy decides to takes a solo trip to reconnect with her family but is haunted by the ghost of a past lover. Both Trish and Joy must figure out if it is better to forgive the past or to forget it all together.
Life During Wartime is like warmed over comfort food in many ways. You really do not need it but it satisfies for a brief time before you are ultimately hungry again. As a big fan of Solondz’s previous films I had no problem with the fact that he used a completely new cast to fill out each role. It did take me a while though to reconnect with the characters as it has been ages since I last saw either Welcome to the Dollhouse or Happiness.
I was pleased with the character interpretations that this new cast brought to the film. Janny, Henderson, Williams, Charlotte Rambling, and Paul Rubens are all quite good in their given roles. Yet I could not help but wonder what the actors from the original films would have done with this material? I think this is one of the main issues that hinders Life During Wartime overall. Instead of providing its own cinematic mark, Life During Wartime merely makes you want to revisit the dark beauty of Happiness all over again. Happiness was such a good movie that it really did not warrant a sequel. The same can be said, though to a slightly lesser extent, about Welcome to the Dollhouse. I felt like I knew everything I needed to know about these characters. I was never inclined to ponder “whatever happened to…?”
Todd Solondz trademark dark humor is still intact but somehow the film seems to play things much safer here than in his previous films. Solondz does raise some interesting questions on the lengths of human forgiveness; but this is a theme that he explored far better in his last film, Palindromes. At the end of the day, Life During Wartime serves as a nice reminder that I need to rent Happiness again more than anything else.
I'm sure most people are sick of it... but just after my final break-up with Mr. B - that Michael Buble song was just released.
I loved the catchy tune and the hopeful message that someone is just around around the corner - I Just Haven't Met You Yet. World's cutest video too BTW.
It was good for me. (Just like after the first break-up, Beyonce helped me out with Single Ladies!!)
I met McTwitchy pretty quickly after I was suddenly single and I was very surprised at how much I liked him. I even told him that I hadn't expected to like him. That of course was very confusing to him. Some things are better left unsaid!
As a girl, I sometimes look for meaning in things that really have no connection to anything. Can you relate? So, when every time I thought about McTwitchy - the Buble song came on (despite the reality that it was just horrendously over-played) I wondered if it meant that I had met the guy... or maybe he's NOT the guy for me and I haven't met him yet?!
Oh my. What's a girl to do? I decided it didn't mean anything. After all the song is in heavy rotation to the point of ridiculous. I even said a prayer telling God that if He's trying to give me any signs... please don't do it through that song! I'm too confused.
Then McTwitchy and I went our separate ways ( decided maybe that was God's sign!) and I decided I still liked the song. Finally, it decreased in rotation. I only heard it about once a day instead of seven!
So I thought it was funny when I went out with McTwitchy after two months separation... and a couple hours into our date, I Just Haven't Met You Yet suddenly blared over the Pub speakers. It was my turn to talk - and I couldn't even concentrate because each lyric just rolled around in my head! It brought a huge smile to my face, which brought a smile to McTwitchy's face even though he didn't know why.
I'm not assigning any meaning to it. I just thought it was cute.
There was a time in the 80’s when you needed both interesting characters and a funny premise to have a successful buddy comedy. Think back to films like Trading Places and Planes Trains and Automobiles and you get my point. The 90’s saw the rise of City Slickers and folks who inhabited Wayne’s World and little by little the situations started to overshadow the characters. Now we have reached a point in buddy comedies where both the situation and the characters can be contrasted in matchbox size outline.
If you have seen the trailer for Hot Tub Time Machine then you already know everything you need to about the plot. There is very little left to explain story wise. Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson) and Lou (Rob Corddry) head back to their old 80’s party-stomping for the weekend in hopes of reliving their glory days one last time. With Adam’s nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) in tow, the four men decide to drink their individual sorrows away and end up having a wild night in the hot tub. When the men wake up the next morning they are shocked to discover that they have all been transported back to 1986.
When Craig Robinson breaks the fourth wall and declares directly to the audience that “it must be some sort of Hot Tub Time Machine” he is clearly telling the viewer to officially check their brains at the door and enjoy the ride. Unfortunately we have been on this type of ride so much lately that the film runs out of steam fast than expected. Hot Tub Time Machine is very much akin to films like Old School and The Hangover. It even has all the same character types as those films. There is the good looking lead with relationship issues, the married one whose wife may be unfaithful, the man-child that refuses to grow up, and the nerd/straight man who just needs to loosen up. It was as if the screenwriters were using a paint-by-numbers book when writing the script.
While Hot Tub Time Machine does not offer much in the way of original comedy, it does have a few good laughs scattered throughout. The majority of the humour is directly correlated to the numerous 80’s references. Yet the highlight of the film in my opinion is Crispin Glover’s character, Phil. When Phil is first introduced he is a disgruntle hotel porter who is missing an arm. When the film jumps back to 1986 we see a much happier version of Phil with both appendages in tack. How does Phil lose his arm? Well that is one of the running gags in the picture. Phil always finds himself in dangerous situations though you never quite sure when, or if, the arm will go.
Hot Tub Time Machine will not be remembered as a comedy classic by any means. I would be shocked if it is even remembered by the end of this year. Still, thanks to Crispin Glover and a few well placed 80’s references, Hot Tub Time Machine is still worth a rental. It is one of those films that will play well on a boozy Friday night; or as television background noise at a party.
Upon walking out of the theatre after seeing Inception I turned to my wife and said “I would definitely see that again in theaters!” It then dawned on me that despite seeing a fair number of films over the course of my life. There are only a handful of films that I have actually seen more than once in the theaters:
The Matrix - I remember seeing this with a friend while home from university one weekend. After being blown away by the special effects I could not stop thinking about the film. I ended up seeing it again a few days later with some of my university pals when I got back in town.
Magnolia – I saw this film as part of a double bill with the Talented Mr. Ripley over the Christmas holidays in 1999. It was only playing in one cinema in Toronto, The Paramount, at the time before it expanded wide a week or so later. After spending over 5 ½ hours in total in the theatre many were surprised that I would be willing to endure another 3 hours of Magnolia a mere week later. Yet that is exactly what I did, again with some university friends, once I returned to school. As I have mentioned before Magnolia is one of my all-time favourite movies so I would still see it again in the cinema if it is ever rereleased in the future.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones– I am not a big fan of this film, though I think it works if you eliminated all the love scenes. The film would only be a half an hour but I digress. The main reason that George Lucas was able to suck more money out of my pockets was because I wanted to see the differences between the digital projection of the film compared to the regular version that I originally watched.
Borat– Technically I have seen this film two and a half times in theaters. I originally saw this at the midnight madness screening at TIFF in which Sacha Baron Cohen was in attendance in full Borat character. Unfortunately the film projector broke down about twenty minutes into the film and the screening was rescheduled for the following night. After laughing to the point of tears, it was my first experience with Cohen’s brand of humour, I was eager to see if I would still find the film funny when it opened officially in theatres a few months later.
Will Inception be added to this list? Possibly. It depends on how my schedule plays out over the next few weeks. But the question I have for you is...
What movie(s) have you seen more than once in the theater?
Back to the blogging grind, thanks to all for the well wishes. It was a great trip, good food, good people, etc.
Inception
In 2005 Christopher Nolan attempted to change the way most people viewed both summer blockbusters and comic books with his film Batman Begins. Nolan used that film to remind us that not all summer blockbusters had to be mindless affairs. It is possible to have a summer movie that offered both brains and explosions. Since then Christopher Nolan has continued his trend of making summer blockbusters for all those who prefer substance with their sugary treats. The Prestige and The Dark Knight both offered up much to think about while entertaining immensely. Now with his latest film, Inception, Christopher Nolan has raised the stakes in regards to how much thought, and attention, a viewer is required to put into a summer flick.
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an expert at extracting information from people’s subconscious while they dream. Unfortunately Cobb is also a wanted man in the United States, so he is forced to take his extracting job on the road. After Cobb’s ex-wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) sabotages his latest mission, Cobb and his right hand man Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are offered one final job by Saito (Ken Wantanabe), a powerful business man who has the ability to make Cobb’s problems in the United States disappear. The only catch is, instead of stealing information, Cobb and Arthur must place information in to the mind of Saito’s corporate rival Robert Fisher Jr. (Cillian Murphy). Cobb knows the art of inception is much more complex than removing secrets from a person’s mind, so he sets out to gather a team of experts to pull off this heist. In order for Cobb’s plan to work he will need the assistance of Ariadne (Ellen Page) the dream architect; Eames (Tom Hardy) the expert forger; and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) the chemist who can create a drug so potent that will keep them all in the dream state for 10 hours. If the team succeeds, it could be the perfect crime. Unfortunately none of them anticipate the deadly enemies that await them on the other side.
If Dark City and The Matrix were to ever have a love child, Inception would be that child. Inception offers up a fresh spin on the heist genre. Many elements standard to heist flicks are present: the ”one last job” motivation; each member of the team having a unique skill, etc. The major difference being that it is not about what is being stolen, but rather what is put in. Inception is an extremely smart film in which the audience does not need a PHD to decipher. Christopher Nolan spends the first half hour of the film establishing everything that we, the viewer, need to know about dreams and the subconscious. I loved how the film considers “the idea” to be the worst type of virus to inflict mankind. So, for example, if someone plants the notion in your head that you look fat in those jeans, that simple thought starts to eat away at you until you eventually discard those jeans. Even if you are unable to grasp all of the philosophical concepts talked about in the film, Nolan designs the narrative in a way that makes Inception accessible to all types of viewers.
The thing I really enjoyed about Inception is that the narrative plays by all the rules it sets up. Unlike other high concept films, such as Wanted, the film never states one thing and then proceeds to do another. Everything in Inception is plausible in relation to the world that this particular film establishes. The timelines in the three levels, four if you include limbo, of the dream world are clearly stated. Even though the van may be shown falling in slow motion we know that in reality it only takes ten seconds to hit the water in that level, which is twenty minutes in the next and so on.
Despite all of the jargon tossed around regarding dreams and the subconscious, Christopher Nolan never loses sight of the fact that Inception is an action-packed heist film. He ensures that every level of the dream world is filled with tense action sequences. The standout being the Arthur’s gravity defying fight with some henchmen in level two of the dream world. I really liked that Nolan opted to give the centerpiece action scene to Arthur instead of Cobb. Out of all the characters Arthur is the most straight laced. He clearly knows how to handle himself with a weapon but he is not as flashy as Eames. Yet when the balance of the mission is on the line, Arthur will do whatever it takes to keep himself and his team safe.
In many ways Arthur is the perfect contrast to Cobb. Arthur knows what the proper limits are for their particular line of work. Cobb, on the other hand, has gone so far past the limit that he continually puts his team in jeopardy for his own selfish needs. If 2010 has taught me anything it is that being married to Leonardo DiCaprio may not be as sweet as most women assume it would be. In both Inception and Shutter Island, DiCaprio’s characters are mentally damaged by events from a previous marriage. The character of Mal in Inceptions could have easily been played by Michelle Williams as they are almost identical in their construction. It is Cobb’s relationship with Mal that is at the core of everything in Inception, without it the film does not work at all. There will be those viewers that complain about the lack of character development for some of the supporting characters. Yet I honestly cannot see how the film could elaborate on them anymore without ruining the central Cobb arc.
For a summer that has been particularly dull in terms of the amount of movies that truly excite, Inception is truly a breath of fresh air. It is not only one for the best films of the summer but, in my opinion, it also one of the best films to come out this year.
As I am heading off on my honeymoon this weekend, there will be no new post on this blog for about a week or so. Luckily there are some fabulous blogs out there to keep you entertained until I return. Below is a schedule I made for your movie blog reading pleasure. Hopefully this will keep you occupied until my return.
Everyone deserves a second chance. A very rare few deserve a third.
It's not the first time this has happened. Not the first time that I've dated a guy and it ends, only to have the guy turn up later... usually within a month or two, asking to try again.
I actually counted on my fingers (because I am mathematically challenged) ... five times in the past 17 years of dating. (I'm not counting all of my years of dating - because I'm starting with the first time it happened)
First when I was about 23 or 24. It wasn't that we didn't like each other. It was more that we liked each other plenty and it was difficult to remain chaste. The nice Christian guy told me that he realized he didn't know what he had until I was gone. I was young and inexperienced at dating... and I couldn't get passed the idea that I had just spent a month or so conditioning myself not to like him. He didn't get a second chance. (My mom scolded me for that one.)
The next time I was 30. It was The Caveman (whose nick name comes from his outdoorsy, hunting nature and desire for solitude -NOT- any particular political ideas.). He was obviously a country mouse and I am a city mouse. He offered to change. I told him he shouldn't have to change. He should find someone who loves all those things about him. I'm quite certain he did.
Then came John-with-two-dogs. Our relationship never really got off the ground to begin with. He loved golf and his two dogs more than any woman. His call really did come from out of the blue. Could he try again? By this time I thought perhaps I made hasty decisions with the first two guys that asked for a second chance -- so John-with-two-dogs got a second chance. It ended awkwardly.
Then of course Mr. Burns.
Now McTwitchy.
So I wonder... does this suggest that I'm a good catch, a fun girl, who is hard to appreciate the first time around? Or does it suggest that I'm difficult to begin with? That I'm simply unforgettable? Who knows!?
I could learn from those past experiences and I believe I have. I could worry that it won't work with McTwitchy. But I have confidence in this one.
McTwitchy tells me he knew he couldn't spend the sort of time with me that I indicated I would like. He was going to be traveling frequently for one aspect of his work. In his words, "I can't date her if I'm not even going to be here."
Now that I know how much he actually was gone - he was right. I may have been very frustrated. I probably would have gotten fed up and given up on him.
So maybe it's good that we got the break. It was enough for him to know that he really did miss me. That he really does like me. And it was good for me to see that I actually like him for being McTwitchy ... and not just because he was a nice, Catholic guy whom I found attractive - immediately after the Mr. Burns Breakup Part II.
Now we both know and appreciate how comfortable our little relationship is. I knew it in May. He figured it out in July.
The BIG question is how this time/availability issue is going to work out. I'm smart enough to know I can't expect him to change. But being secure about how he feels about me - I can have more patience - and he can have more confidence.
realized that my amount of patience sometimes astonishes me,
concluded that although I have been in severe denial since 14 that I am NOT shy, I am extremely shy around guys I find attractive because they make me nervous,
worked out for the first time in two-weeks, realizing that I need to get my butt back in gear,
harmonized with Ray Lamontagne songs the whole car ride home from work,
craved bike rides in Colorado ending with an iced coffee from Cafe Ardour with raw sugar,
got nostalgic when I found a scarf I bought in Massachusetts, and remembered all the time I wore it to yoga at Kripalu,
decided to quit my waitress job and volunteer with people in crisis.
Today I feel full of emotions, possibilities and the alluring nature of the unknown.
Coming out this Friday, and I'm gonna have a ticket in my hot little hand. I've been looking forward to a chic thriller with a lethal lady, and Angelina Jolie looks like she's gonna deliver in this one.
Van Gogh.. Rhone.
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