Stealing Art Often a Battle of Wills

The Art of the Steal

Despite its growing popularity over the last ten years, it is still tough to convince people to watch documentaries. Unless they are nominated for Academy Awards, the majority of the population will not go out of their way to find theatres that offer documentary films. Hopefully this will change soon as there are a bunch of great docs that are being released these days. One example of this is The Art of the Steal which opens at the IFC Center in the United States this weekend. While expansion information has not been released yet, chances are good that most will either be able to see it at local independent cinemas, or on DVD, in the coming months.

Dr. Albert Barnes held the largest collection of post-impressionist and early modernist art in the world. Despite the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s best efforts to acquire the pieces, Barnes snubbed the museum and Philadelphia’s downtown elite and housed the collection in suburb of Merion. Barnes wanted the collection to remain an educational tool for serious students of art and not the casual tourist. Before his death in 1951, Barnes made a Will to ensure that the collection stayed out of the hands of the Museum and others who wished to profit from it. While Barnes was able to hold off the dollar hungry vultures when he was alive, things drastically changed once he passed away. The Art of the Steal reveals that even iron clad Wills, such as Barnes’, can start to show cracks if the right amount of pressure is applied.

Don Argott’s documentary was easily one of my favourite films at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The story unfolds like a murder mystery complete with a full list of suspects. Argott details, step by step, how money rules the bottom line of everything. Profit is the catalyst that forced many Philadelphian politicians, and corporations, to team up in order to orchestrate, what Argott views as, the greatest heist in recent year.

The Art of the Steal questions what say do any of us really have in our lives? If something as strong as a person’s last Will and Testament can be violated at all levels, what hope is there for any of us? The most startling aspect of this documentary is how matter-of-fact some people, such as the Governor and the Attorney General, are when discussion how they blackmailed institutions, such as Lincon University, to give up their shares of the Barnes Foundation. The chilling thing about the revelation is the fact that both men act like it was just business as usual.

The stealing of the Barnes collection was as epic as major corporate mergers. Many of the players involved not only hide key information from the public, but also used public money to commit the crime. It is truly fascinating to see how the Barnes’ collection has ended up becoming everything Barnes objected to when he was alive. The Art of the Steal will make you look at art, politics, education, and the law in a whole new light. Keep an eye out for this in your local theatres and/or video stores. It is one of the year’s best films.

Another Thumbs Up!

I got to see ANOTHER movie this week...wow, I am really on the go, huh? :-) This movie made me laugh out loud and I loved it! Lots of great people in it, too!

Well, and I think I love Ashton Kutcher.

I enjoyed it with two friends, P and S. P is a rather new friend, well, a friend of S's, but now I get to sometimes be her friend too, by way of my friend, S! We had a nice evening of laughter! Thanks to them for a night out!

Oh, and I am pretty sure I love Ashton Kutcher.

Perfection

Our society has us struggling to be perfect while other societies simply struggle for food and shelter. We have so much, that we can pick and choose what is and isn't perfect - and discard the rest.

Surfing around the bloggy world, we encounter women struggling for the perfect home, -either via decor or via the provisions of freshly baked muffins- to be the perfect mom, to have the perfect outfit or perfect body.

Is this what we are meant to seek?

When I was a small girl, I recall asking my mom about heaven. I think it was shortly after my Grandpa died. He'd been in wheelchair at least as long as I had been alive.

Mom told me, "When you get to heaven you will be perfect. No one has any flaws, no sickness or disease in Heaven."

She was trying to tell me that Grandpa wouldn't be 'crippled' in heaven (we used that word back then.) But my young mind didn't quite get it. My thoughts wrestled with the idea and I wondered if heaven wouldn't be a bit boring if everyone looked like Cheryl Tiegs and Tom Selleck. How would I even find my grandpa in a crowd of Cheryls and Toms?

Because even then, as a seven year old - I knew what the earthly world I lived in, held as perfection and those two beautiful stars represented it!

This is one of my favorite photos of myself. Taken back when I really loved my thin, muscular little body - and immersed in God's glorious creation! Yes, it's dark due to back-lighting but I can still see the deep rocky canyon and the rushing waterfall in my mind's eye. (September 1999)

Lately, I've been beating myself up over my appearance. My friend sent me pictures he took of us just before Valentine's day - we went to a charity dance and I wore my favorite little black dress. A dress that I trust to look fantastic on me.

In the pictures though, it is obvious that I have lost the majority of any of the muscle tone I once had. The beautiful dress is just hanging off of me. I am ashamed that I have let God's gift of my body waste away. In my younger years, I photographed beautifully because I was strong and firm. These days even my face is suffering the effects of gravity. Must get back in shape!

I have also allowed a stranger to confirm my worst fears, if only for a minute or two.
I signed up on a free dating website this weekend and started searching for Catholic men. I am encouraged to say that I found more than I expected! I sent a quick e-mail to one very cute Catholic guy who listed sleep as one of his 'interests'. I thought it was really funny and titled my e-mail with, "man after my own heart!" thinking he might be amused.

When I went back to check correspondence, I saw that he had deleted my email unread. My first thought was, "RUDE". Then I reasoned that he checked my profile before reading the email and decided that I wasn't pretty.

Fortunately, God intervened in my pity party and told me - "Good riddance."
Indeed. Who wants to spend time with a man who doesn't even care what I have to say?

God doesn't ask us to be perfect. Only that we seek perfection.
And that doesn't mean a hot body, or hot muffins in the kitchen. He wants us to seek Him - and to strive to be like Him.
I want to get back into shape, to look better - Yes. I'm scouting for men again, and if I get to wear a wedding dress some day, I want to look good. But I'm going to focus on doing what I can with this body God gave me - to glorify Him!!

A couple years ago, my bible study class went over Genesis and the story of Creation. Through our discussion I realized that our goal is to reach the utopia that was Eden… the world God created for us and before our original sin fouled it all up.


Here on Earth it easy to think that nothing is enough. Because it isn't. We are too far from God to be whole. Not being enough right now is nothing to be discouraged about.

Perfection in Heaven doesn’t mean that we will all turn into Claudia Schiffer.

What a beautiful realization to understand that when you and I reach perfection – we’ll look just like you and just like TRS – the difference is, it will be enough!

Saying Goodbye

You remember how much I loved my Blackberry?

I had written about it at some point, but at this time, I cannot locate my post. But, I did love it. It did everything I hoped it would do, and more. It became my constant companion. My husband began to tease me about being like a teenager with my phone (by the way he now has a blackbery curve). Well, mine was a blackberry pearl.

It has started to die a slow death.... a slow and painful death. I have three other "peeps" that have or have had them, with similar problems. Well, it is to the point that it doesn't ring, or will just shut off whenever it feels like it amongst other problems. So, I was thinking of replacing it with a blackberry curve. They seem to have better luck. I wanted a Droid, but with having no way to upgrade a contract yet (way too far away), had been looking for a curve on ebay. So, the other night, I am bidding on a curve. Meanwhile, hubby bids on a droid. It was three days old (only used three days) and in great shape. Whomever was selling it said it was too much, they just wanted a basic phone. Anyway, I was telling him "retract your bid". He didn't. Good thing I didn't win the curve. I will soon be using the "Droid". I can't wait for it to arrive, and learn how to use it. Good thing he got a good deal and I think I will love it!

Lieutenant’s Bad Habits Good for Caged Prisoner

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

In my brief time on this earth, I have seen 43 films starring, featuring, or directed by Nicolas Cage. I am not bragging, in fact, I am ashamed to admit this. The majority of those 43 films have been infuriatingly bad, yet I always find myself going back for one more round of Cage. If this was a marriage, it would surely be an abusive one. After 43 films, and thanks in part to The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, I think I have finally figured him out.

Nicolas Cage, similar to Hollywood stars such as Halle Berry, needs an outstanding director to work with, one who knows how to navigate his rocky terrain in order to find gold. Left in the hands of anyone else, the results can be disastrous beyond belief. When I look back at all of Nicolas Cage’s finest performances, the thing which standouts most about those films is who was behind the lens. If you can overlook Michael Bay’s inclusion on the list, ten of Cage’s top eleven works were directed by the likes of: John Dahl, The Coen Brothers, David Lynch, Mike Figgis, Norman Jewison, Martin Scorsese, Spike Jonze, Ridley Scott, John Woo and Werner Herzog.

Although Werner Herzog has been working for years, I was first introduced to his films through Grizzly Man. I was not too fond of the film, but I absolutely loved Herzog’s film Encounters at the End of the World which he made a few years later. In many ways, the sly, and at times absurd, wit that Herzog displays in Encounters is good preparation for the craziness that he throws at the audience in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Loosely based on the 1992 film, Bad Lieutenant, directed by Abel Ferrara and staring Harvey Keitel, Port of Call New Orleans looks at the year in the life of corrupt detective, Terrence McDounaugh (Nicolas Cage). Pill-popping Terrence is trying to solve a homicide case, but keeps getting distracted by his many vices. When he is not hanging out with his prostitute girlfriend, Frank (Eva Mendes), he spends his days stealing drugs from club goers and avoiding his bookie persistent whom he owes a lot of money. As Terrence spirals out of control, the line between good and evil become increasingly blurred. Soon Terrence finds himself partnering up with drug kingpin Baby Fate (Xzibit), who happens to be the lead suspect in the murder case McDounaugh is investigating.

Although similar in theme to the original Bad Lieutenant, Werner Herzog’s version is different in practically every way. I found that Herzog’s version was much lighter in tone, almost boarding on farce in several occasions. The off-kilter humour, coupled with Nicolas Cage’s wildly creative performance, makes for an oddly entertaining film. Herzog really does a great job of not only bring you into Terrence’s drug hazed world, but making it all seem natural.

While not quite as strong as Bad Lieutenant, Port of Call has its own unique charm that allows it to co-exist nicely with the 1992 film. The film tends to lag in a few parts, but really, it is not that noticeable. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is one wild ride that was far more entertaining than it really should be.

Memories AND Happy Birthday Dad!

My sister reminded me of a memory in an email and I wanted to share it with you all. It made me misty, and I longed for the days of childhood once again, to be able to just be the little girl and enjoy the wonder of it all...

My Sister:
It was so beautiful this morning with the snow/ice on all the trees. It reminded me of when we were growing up and all those trees were around our yard. When the snow/ice was on all those trees it was a shield from the rest of the world and we were in our own little winter wonderland........BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Me:
Awww, that brought tears. You are so right!

My Sister:
Oh how I wish we could just have one of those days again and go play in the yard.

Don't you ever want to have a day where you could be the child once again?
I LOVE YOU SIS!!!

AND....Drum roll please...

Happy Birthday today to my dad! He is the best! I could never want for a better dad, and I miss him, especially today!

I LOVE YOU DAD!!!

"The Sun’ll Come Out Gomorrah, Bet Your Bottom Dollar..."

Gomorrah (Gomorra)

As much as I enjoy films like The Godfather and Goodfellas, I admit that they have skewed my image of the Mafia. Those films have glamorized the mafia lifestyle to a point where it is easy to forget the average folks who end up suffering the most. Which is why a film like Matteo Garrone’s Golden Globe nominated work, Gomorrah, is so refreshing. It is a startling reminder of how so many innocent, and at times misguided, lives are destroyed by organized crime.

Gomorrah is a film that looks at five individual stories and how they are all intertwined with the Camorra, the ruling Mafia in Naples, Italy. There is the tale of Don Ciro (Gianfelice Imparato), a middleman, who distributes money to the families of imprisoned Camorra members. Totò (Nicolo Manta) a 13-year-old grocery delivery boy who wishes to initiated into the gang. Marco (Marco Macor) and Ciro (Ciro Petrone), two cocky low rent thugs who steal weapons from the Camorra’s secret stash. Pasquale (Salvatore Cantalupo) a haute couture tailor who is offered money to train Chinese garment workers at a rival factory. And finally, Roberto (Carmine Paternoster), a graduate who discovers that the toxic waste management company he works for may not be as upstanding as he initially thought.

The film is based on Roberto Saviano tell all book about the Camorra. Saviano himself was forced to go into hiding after the book was published and, after seeing Gomorrah, I understand why. The Camorra have killed more people than any other organization over the last 30 years. They literally has its hands in every aspect of society. There is nothing that they do not own, and there is not a place where they cannot find you. The fascinating, and equally unsettling, thing about the Camorra is that they essentially are a high powered corporation. Besides dealing in the drug and weapons trade, they own various companies, in numerous industries, that do business with upstanding companies on a daily basis.

This fact is highlighted in the two most compelling stories in Gomorrah, the ones revolving around Pasquale and Roberto. Both men are good natured individuals looking to make an honest name for themselves. Yet they realize, the hard way, just how far the arms of the Camorra reach. Pasquale's arc is by far the saddest of the two, especially when you see how it plays out. The scene in the car with the Chinese, and the bittersweet truck stop moment, stayed with me for a while after the film. Same goes for the scene where Roberto watches the kids driving the trucks filled with toxic waste. While these scenes are not flashy, okay, maybe the car scene, they are shocking and subtly heartbreaking.

Compelling, without being excessively violent, Gomorrah offers much needed realism to an often romanticized gangster genre. Considering how well executed this film is, I am surprised that Gomorrah did not get an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language, especially after receiving nominations at both this year's Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards. Regardless, Gomorrah is a film that should be on your "must see" short list the next time you visit your local DVD store.

Thumbs Up...

I had a movie date with my daughter on Sunday afternoon. We ventured out in the winter wonderland to see "Dear John". I hadn't read the book, but have read several Nicholas Sparks books, and liked them.

We liked the movie! I may have to read the book now too! And it was nice to spend some time with my daughter!

Sammy Sighs

Wow, I jumped into this big drift today and almost got buried in snow! Here is a picture of Sissy looking where I jumped, and me down with my volley/soccer ball. It isn't very clear, but I hope you can see us! Silly Sissy has on a stupid coat, but I am so "stud"-ly that I don't need one.


Have a good day!

The Cheese Stands Alone

Just before Thanksgiving Mr. Burns and I discussed looking at rings.
We also discussed the inevitable merging of households if the whole ring thing stuck.

He wanted to keep his condo for a few more years, so that it might appreciate enough for us to have a better down payment on a house later on. Deep down I knew that was a smart plan, but I didn't like the idea of moving into his place instead of a new to us our place. (that's one reason he splurged on the new elfa closet system.)

Mainly, I didn't like the idea of living that far away from downtown.

I'm a downtown girl. My friends are downtown. When friends move to the suburbs, they have babies and disappear.

That's what bothered me most. I didn't want to disappear. I didn't want to be the type of married person who loses touch with my single friends. I shared this concern with a married friend of mine - who assured me it would happen. Even though it's just a 20 minute drive - no one would bother to make it. I would make new friends.

The crux is I don't want to abandon my old friends.

I hate it when someone you have been close to for years - gets married - has babies and then decides they don't have time for you - the single person - anymore.

I vow that if I ever get married, I will not neglect single people. I intend to invite them over for movie night or for meals. If I would blessed to have children, I want my single friends to be their Aunts and Uncles. I want all my friends to continue to be a part of my life - no matter their circumstances.

But maybe it's just not supposed to be that way. Maybe as people grow and move onto new stages of life - they're supposed to leave the past behind. Maybe. Because after all, the only people hurting in such a scenario are the single people.

My concern was proven when Mr. Burns and I broke up last month. It happened on a Friday night. As soon as he left my house, I texted one of my single girlfriends to see if she was working or not. She saw the urgency in my text, called me, asked what was wrong and came right over to console me.

The next morning, I wanted to share the news with my other friends. Voice mail. Five voice mails in a row. My other close friends are married and have kids - it was Saturday morning so it was family time. In a time of need - they weren't available. Not that I begrudge them time with their families. I was ALONE.

The first person to call me back was a single guy friend. Then my dear friend Kikr - who, while blissfully married, doesn't have kids - and knew that if I called at that hour (before 9am on a Saturday in her time zone) something was up.

Now, I do understand that the world doesn't have to be immediately available to me.
All I'm saying is - it made being alone sting all the more, because I'm the only one. I'm nobody's priority. I have missed the boat. I forgot to get married and have children. I waited too long. The world is justified in being indifferent to me.
The cheese stands alone.

FYI ~ my concerns about merging households was NOT the reason we broke up. Just want to clarify before someone decides to jump on me about that.

Weekend is Near

I am glad the weekend is near. I hope I have some down time to just relax and gather myself together and re-energize. I have been running on empty lately, physically and emotionally and just need some time to fill back up.

Do you ever get that way? Just needing the "fill up"? I have been fighting a cold, that hasn't gotten me completely down, but has run me down nonetheless, dealing with some stressful issues with my family, and been busy at my job, which has been good. However, I have dealt with some things that have been eating at me that I need to let go. I am no longer going to listen to people tell me what I can't do. If I set a goal and try to achieve it, and don't succeed, at least I have tried. Feeling sorry for myself because others doubt me is not the answer and it is not what I need to be doing. I also need to just do the best job I can, try to be the best person, friend, daughter, sister, mom and wife that I can be, and stop feeling like I am failing because I am disappointing someone or not "being enough". I can only be me. It wears me out trying to make everyone happy and worrying if I do this it'll bother someone, if I do that, it'll bother someone else. I am so good at worry and "being sorry" that it wears me down at times. I need to get back to where I was a couple months ago and be more positive, inside and out.

I am ready. I will do this. I can do this. Yay me.

Channeling Joan Holloway

If you've seen Mad Men, then you've been introduced to Joan Holloway. Although Mad Men is set in the early 1960's, a very male-driven time especially for women in high-power advertising offices.

Joan's character shakes her hips to a different drum. She is powerful, confident, quick on her feet, super intelligent and above all has every man in the office by the balls. She doesn't play the dumb, helpless, damsel in distress common in those days, she sees eye to eye with every man in the office. Instead of showing one ounce of self-doubt or falter, she barely flinches at chauvinistic comments and always fires back with something ten times more humiliating on their part.

Here's to Joan. May we all channel our inner Ms. Holloway not only at work but in our everyday lives.

Some Joan-isms from Mad Men:

"Unlike most girls I know, I succumb to male pressure only when I can get pleasure out of it. The boys around the office tend to feel a little threatened by that."

“Cultivate your curves - they may be dangerous but they won’t be avoided.”

"Although, sometimes when people get what they want they realize how limited their goals were."

"You won't be taken seriously until you start dressing like a woman. Stop dressing like a little girl."

Mustard Seed

Did you know that I found my soul mate?

Relax, that's not news. I've known her for almost ten years, and two years ago she married the most wonderful man who is so, SO good for her. I want to move to San Francisco and be their next door neighbor!

But the reason I bring it up - is because I want to tell you a little story she relayed to me today. (Bear with me - this story is scattered all over the place!)

For Valentine's day, Kikr's husband gave her a lovely little necklace. It's a circle of glass surrounded by silver and inside, it holds a mustard seed.

Some of you read that description and already have an idea what it symbolizes, and have probably left to search for a similar necklace for yourself! That's okay. I'll wait.

Okay, back? Let's move on.

Kikr visited her doctor today - it was only the second visit with this doctor but she really likes her. If you've ever found a doctor or any other health professional that just puts you at ease and seems to connect with you - you'll understand how happy she is to have found this doc.

She feels that this doctor understands her, they relate well. They're simpatico.

Then as doctor was examining my friend, Kikr's necklace caught her eye. Finally when she went to listen to her heart doc asked, "What is that?"

Kikr told her it was a mustard seed.
"A mustard seed? Why?!"
"It's a symbol of faith. It's a reminder that even the tiniest bit of faith can achieve great results." Luke 17:5-6, Matthew 17:20
"Oh."

Kikr says she felt in that instant that their connection was gone.
She felt that the doctor immediately changed her view of Kikr - suddenly Kikr was one of 'those' people.

"And you know what?" Kikr asked me, "It only happens to Christians. If you're a Buddhist, the response is, 'Oh that's great. You're so enlightened.' If your Jewish, that's cool. But if you are Christian, you're one of 'those' people. I am so tired of it."

I agree with my friend's observation.
I think that is a chief factor in politics right now... if you identify as a Christian you are lumped into a category that describes you as closed-minded, ignorant, and uneducated. Apparently educated people can only think the same way.

I'll even say it doesn't work the other way around. If we meet someone who is of a different faith, or of no faith - we respond with "Okay. I'd still like to understand you. I will walk with you."

Or do we?
I feel that I do. I have a friend who is an atheist, and while I don't agree with him - I embrace him. With him I have some of the most wonderful discussions about faith.

Maybe not all Christians behave the way my friend and I do. (now, I'm not saying we're superior.) Maybe others have encountered Christians who immediately tell them they are wrong to have no faith, or wrong for not believing in Christ. Maybe they tell them they are destined for hell.
I personally don't know any Christians like that, but maybe they are out there. And if they are - well - they are bad PR!

I will admit that will point out wrong.
My atheist friend who is the midst of a divorce, told me he had reconnected with his high school sweetheart - and that they were having an affair. She's still married (and his divorce isn't final) They both have children.

I was not shy about telling him that what he was doing was wrong. He didn't like to hear it, but he heard me out. And I could only tell him what I thought, and how strongly I believed it - because I am his friend. If I had dismissed him when I met him - told him he was sinner right then - he would not have stood for my lecture!
He's given up the affair - and we are still friends.

How do you present as a Christian? Do you feel tagged by some people, or always embraced?

Thoughts...

A Lenten Reflection
Give up complaining——focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism——become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry——trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement——be full of hope.
Give up bitterness——turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred——return good for evil.
Give up negativism——be positive.
Give up anger——be more patient.
Give up pettiness——become mature.
Give up gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy——pray for trust.
Give up gossiping——control your tongue.
Give up sin——turn to virtue.
Give up giving up——hang in there!

Dynamite Explodes With Laughter

Black Dynamite

If recent Hollywood "comedies", and I use that term loosely, such as Dance Flick and Disaster Movie has taught us anything; is that making a spoof movie is rather easy. The director already has the template of the film he/she is spoofing, so all that is left to do is add a few comical mishaps and the movie pretty much writes itself. Making an homage to a film, or genre, is something that is much harder to do. Many have tried to make a fitting homage but only a few, Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven for example, are actually successful. Upon first glance it is easy to dismiss Scott Saunder's film, Black Dynamite, as a mere spoof of the blaxploitation genre. Yet as you proceed through the film it quickly becomes apparent that Black Dynamite is not a spoof at all, but a true homage. It is a love letter to all that the blaxploitation genre has to offer.

After his brother is killed while working undercover, Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White), an Ex-Vietnam Vet/Ex-C.I.A. agent, vows to get revenge at all cost. Assisted by local pimps and black panther members, Dynamite declares war on all those who wish to infect his community with drugs. As the battle goes on, Black Dynamite soon realizes that a bigger conspiracy is afoot. One that could only be orchestrated by one truly dastardly villain..."The Man."

The great thing about Black Dynamite is that it appeals to a broad audience on two distinctive levels. On one level it is a fun screwball comedy that will entertain novices of the blaxploitation genre. On the other hand, for more seasoned fans of the genre, like myself, Dynamite has everything you have come to expect from a blaxploitation film...and I mean everything! It is tough to find a single aspect of the genre that is not covered in this film. One of my favourite moments in Pam Grier's Coffy, is when Coffy is walking into a building and the films' background music is detailing everything that has, and is about to, happen. A similar sequence is played out in Black Dynamite to great comedic effect. Dynamite is investigating his dead brother's apartment and the background music is warning that you never know who may still be hiding out in your dead brother's apartment. Sure enough, the bad guys are lurking around the corner and a shootout ensues.

It is obvious that Michael Jai White and Byron Mines, who plays Bullhorn in the film, spent a lot of time and care ensuring that all the unique elements of the blaxploitation genre were included in the film. You can see moments clearly influenced by films such as: Shaft, Coffy, Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song, Cotton Comes to Harlem, Dolemite, Willie Dynamite, etc. Yet White and Mines somehow find a way to give Black Dynamite its own unique feel. Similar to how Mike Myers was able to make Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery completely unique from the In Like Flint films it was paying homage to. Black Dynamite never feels like a carbon copy of other classic characters. You can easily picture Black Dynamite hanging out at a bar with Superfly and getting the same amount of respect as that character would.

The only real knock I have on Black Dynamite is that the final act goes on far longer than it needs to. By time the "island" sequence was over I had reached my fill of the film. Not to mention that the final battle with "The Man" is just downright silly. Especially when you consider who "The Man" actually is, and the "supernatural assist" that Black Dynamite gets while fighting this individual. Still, the fact that I have watched this film twice now, and laughed at all the same parts, shows that I am willing to overlook the absurd final act. While Black Dynamite works well on DVD, I wish that it had actually gotten a full theatrical release. I believe it would have done very well in theatres, not Austin Powers numbers, but decent enough. Oh well, at least on DVD Black Dynamite will be able to gain the cult following it deserves. Dynamite.........Dynamite....

Do You Believe in Love? Ooo ooo ooh ooo wee ooo

Just a strain of the old Huey Lewis & the News song was in a TV commercial yesterday - and I picked out the riff of the song.

Let's set aside the fact that songs from my teenage years are selling insurance and erectile dysfunction meds now --- cause that's not depressing.
Do You Believe in Love ~ Huey Lewis & the News
and let's further ignore that this has to be the creepiest music video - with the world's worst set design ever.

The song that was so catchy when I was crushing on boys in high school - today becomes a question. Do I believe in love?

I think I don't.

Of course I believe in the "Oh my dear sweet baby, I'd do anything to protect you my child." sort of love.
But the romantic, "Let's get married, I don't want to live without you." love - not so much.

Meeting someone and having them fall head over heels - never gonna happen.

At this point, I think love is a choice. You meet someone - you click. You agree on essentials like faith, family, the difference between right and wrong - and you think, "I could live with this person." If you both agree - that's what you do. Then love grows because you share your lives together.

That's exactly what I felt when I first met Mr. Burns. Finally, here is someone like me. Someone with the same values, same family upbringing, someone who 'got' my sense of humor (because that is a big get!) For the first time, I thought - "This could actually work." rather than - "Yeah, well - keep it movin' sonny."

Now that we broke up for the second time, I have trouble understanding why so many people can do this and I can't. I mean, there are complete morons out there - people with corrupt notions of what is right and wrong - people who really shouldn't have children - and they get married and make it work and are reasonably if not ecstatically happy.

Why can't I?
What is so intrinsically unlovable about me? What makes me so imperfect that I should be sentenced to a life alone?

Of course I know that is not the case.
I know that I am lovable. I know that I am a wonderful person, who frankly, any man should be thrilled to even imagine having by his side for the rest of his life.
But, this mortal world just isn't going to provide that.
In this mortal world, I think men don't even want to be married. I don't think they seek it.

I look at the people around me - couples everywhere - and I think they are either pretending.... or they just decided that life together is better than life apart and they did it.

How on this green earth do you get a man to just decide to do it? Mr. Burns couldn't. I always did think he was waiting for some bolt of lightning to signify that this was the 'right' one. And I don't think that's how it works. I think you gotta just go for it and then put your faith in God to make it work.

I can't figure it out. All I know is that I opened my heart and my life to this man and - nothing.

I don't think this love thing everyone is talking about is real.

Wanna tell me what you think? I'd love to know.

Pitch the LAMB: Kopera

The following is my submission for the Pitch the LAMB feature over at The Large Association of Movie Blogs site (aka. The LAMB). The theme for this month's Pitch the LAMB is Science Fiction and bloggers are encourage to come up with a movie ideas based on the genre.

KOPERA

Cast:

Agnes Kopera -Kerry Washington

Zigmund Cox - Brad Pitt

Jangois Velope - Johnny Depp

Stephanie Shibato - Tilda Swinton

Rick Urani - Ken Leung

Hilroy Vangaudrid - Josh Brolin

Jimmy Vesteeg - Diego Luna

The year is 2060 and the world is on the verge of its next big technological revolution. Agnes Kopera , 33, is a former drug addict who now works as a psychiatrist helping others overcome their addictions. One afternoon Kopera returns home to find a mysterious unmarked brown envelope mixed in with her bills; and two messages on her VangTube video phone system. The first message is from a telemarketer asking for donations for the Save A Child Organization. Images of homeless and hungry children flashed across the 60 inch screen. The second message is from a man who did not identify himself and spoke in a frantic tone. Kopera knew who person was without even looking up, Jimmy Vesteeg. Jimmy, a notorious celebrity cyber hacker, was an old friend from Agnes' drug hazed days. It had been years since she had seen Vesteeg but she could tell something was wrong. Jimmy looked flustered and was talking at a faster rate than usual. What Kopera could decipher was that Jimmy had found a way to hack into the ironclad Vangaudrid Incorporated security system and came across something disturbing in their database.

Founded by Hilroy Vangaudrid, Vangaudrid Incorporated is credited with changing the global market place in regards to electronic devices. The company's cutting edge "Vang" series of products has altered how people go about their daily lives. It is nearly impossible to find a home, or a person, that does not own at least one Vanguadrid product. Even the world of social networks has been influenced by Vangaudrid. The online network, The VangTrack, sees an average of 3 million users logging on a each day. Labelled a visionary by his peers, Hilroy Vangaudrid plans to unveil his company's latest invention, The VangCart, to the masses in mere days. Little is known about the device but consumer anticipation is already through the roof.

This insatiable curiosity about The VangCart is what led Jimmy to break into the company's network in the first place. Vesteeg did not go into detail about what he found though; Jimmy merely stated that Kopera's life was in grave danger and that the monkey was the key. Agnes Kopera then watched in horror as Jimmy abruptly shot himself. The image of Jimmy's dead body froze on screen for a few seconds before the message automatically timed out.

None of this made sense to Agnes, she was clearly in shock, and her mind struggled to absorb what she had just witnessed. The one thing she knew for sure was that Jimmy never did anything without having a backup plan ready first. Kopera quickly rips open the brown envelope and finds a holographic tattoo at the centre of the white page. The tattoo is of a cartoon monkey with three stars rapidly swirling over the character's head. Underneath the tattoo is a cryptic note from Jimmy stating "Will you bring destruction to mankind? Only if I am successful." Kopera did not understand what the phrase meant but she knew how these type of tattoos worked. Without hesitating Agnes touched the holographic image and felt a slight burning sensation on her right forearm. Within seconds the tattoo had transferred from page to her arm. Jimmy's cryptic note also disappeared and was replaced by three words: "They are coming!"

Kopera's life is soon turned upside down as she finds herself on the run from a sadistic bounty hunter, Jangois Velope, who will stop at nothing to get the information stored within Agnes' tattoo. Hired by Hilroy Vanguadrid himself, Jangois leaves a path of sorrow and pain whereever he goes and takes immense pride in that fact. If Jangois Velope was not enough to deal with, Kopera must also evade two hard-boiled federal agents, Stephanie Shibato and Rick Urani. Shibato and Urani are investigating Jimmy's suicide and his ties to an illegal underground commune known as The Nezzar.

Shibato believes that The Nezzar is a group of anarchist who may have terrorist ties. Fearing for her life, and with options running out, Kopera's only hope might be a mysterious recluse named Zigmund Cox. Zigmund used to work at Vanguadrid Incorporated before vanishing one day without a trace. Rumours of his alleged death have floated around for years, yet so have tales about Cox's association with The Nezzar. As Kopera's journey takes her deeper into the mystery of the monkey tattoo, she will not only learn more about Vangaudrid and The Nezzar, but about herself as well. Kopera will make a discovery about her past, one that she never knew she had, which will have horrific ramifications for both Kopera and the world in general.

Copyright 2010, bigthoughtsfromasmallmind.blogspot.com

The seasons have changed from the present to past

So beautiful, delicate, springtime rain showers, dew on my toes, unrequited love....


Feist - The Park

This song is my cellphone ring. I'm in love.

Thought for the Day....

My daughter put this on her facebook, and it is the perfect Monday morning thought:

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~Maria Robinson

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all have a great Valentines Day, whether you celebrate, relish memories, or just make a day for yourself!

Sammy Sighs

She's getting ready...
Sissy has her valentine's day attire on.


Do you??

In Which I Want to Crawl in a Hole and Disappear - and also some happy thoughts

I've had a very bad day.

This morning I was brought to tears by my bank balance - that which is whittling away as I wait for my first unemployment check, work a measly 15 hours a week at a part-time job (which I LOVE btw), and wait to hear if I get the promotion to full-time manager at said job, which they won't decide until April.

I've been in similar situations before, watching a waning account balance while unemployed... and the sweet Lord has always provided for me in amazing ways.

In my heart, I know I'll be okay through the grace of God - but I struggle with thoughts that I should be better at providing for myself. I did not lose my job on account of being a bad employee. I lost it because the city for which I worked had to make severe budget cuts. Still, it hurts my pride all the same.

Then, after drying my tears and struggling with fears of becoming homeless I got a message from my part-time job. Now I was faced with the decision of covering a 4-hour shift which would result in $40 being added to my account balance - or - staying home to apply for 5 jobs so that I qualify for this week's unemployment benefits equaling $150. Some choice... work to provide for myself - or - apply for jobs that don't even meet my qualifications.

I stayed home and wrote meaningless cover letters.

I don't know for certain how I am going to make ends meet. As I considered this, my thoughts strayed to the one thing that disappoints me about my Church. The one area where the Catholic church falls down in comparison to other denominations is helping those in need. Yes, the church funds Project Rachel, and supports food banks and homeless shelters. Catholic Charities handles most assistance needs, but it would be great if the people you worship with would extend a helping hand -or at least a comforting shoulder- to those sitting right in their midst who need help and support. (and let me tell you, my parish is filled with very wealthy folks. I think, the sort who would never imagine that someone 'just like them' by all appearances is in such a bad way.)

I have a friend at my church who is going through a very tough time - she has a small child and she's greatly pregnant and dealing with a huge personal crisis. Many people at church have an idea what she is going through. They know I am her friend and they ask me if she is okay and what they can do to help. (she is hiring help and has family flying in to help when the baby is born.)

The same people also know that I am unemployed for the second time in 2.5 years. But they don't ask me how they can help. I'm sure they are praying that I will find a suitable job - but that doesn't give me immediate help.

And I hate that I am even considering the idea of being a charity case - but it is getting that bad right now.

Oddly, my pregnant-personal-crisis-friend has great financial resources. She has asked me to help her with some projects - and I gladly do. Then before I leave she writes me a check to 'pay' me. I don't want her money -- but today I appreciate the fact that we are helping one another in the ways that we each need to be helped. In ways we are each capable of helping.

I guess I am just saying that we should all try to be aware of what those around us are going through - and offer to help. Even it's just taking that person out to lunch - or slip them a gift card to the grocery store. (I checked - I don't seem to qualify for food stamps - though I don't understand how they came to that conclusion)

On a more uplifting note - I have a bloggy award!
Stacey at Stacey's Thoughts on Infertility seems to LIKE me! I am so thrilled for her right now - as she is finally, cautiously embarking on that nine month journey to a real live miracle - child to love!!

To me she has bestowed the Sugar Doll Award.
I am not sure of the criteria - but I do graciously accept!The rules are simply to copy the award to your own blog, tell your readers 10 things about yourself, and pass it along!

So, 10 things about me:

1. I can’t think of any single thing that would inspire me to run. Including impending death.

2. I don’t wear pink. Not no way, not no how.

3. I love the sound of a helicopter flying over my roof. Hard to explain. It’s some sort of thrill. I have lived near hospitals and under the Police Chopper flight path in my last four apartments (3 cities) – so the sound makes me feel at home now.

4. I don’t cook. I don’t enjoy it – it’s a chore. Many friends assume this means I can’t cook. Silly. I can follow directions just like anyone else. When I do cook – it’s very good. I’d just rather make food for 20 people than for one. It makes it worth the effort expended.

5. If sleeping soundly were an Olympic event, I’d be Michael Phelps. If a burning house and four fire trucks outside my window can’t wake me – what confidence can I place in three alarm clocks?

6. I’m so not afraid of heights that it’s dangerous. I love heights. Particularly precarious heights. I once stood atop each presidential head on Mount Rushmore. At one point I was so close to the precipice of Jefferson’s forehead that a Park Ranger tied a rope around me.

7. I really thought I’d be married and have kids by now. Like 7 years ago. I’m sort of pissed that I don’t get what everyone else gets in life. Not for lack of trying.

8. I was completely distraught when, in treatment of hip pain, my chiropractor suggested that I wear only flat shoes for a few months. MONTHS?!

9. I kind of enjoy losing control while driving on ice, because I get a little thrill from recovering. No fun if you crash.

10. Animals personified make me laugh every time. Always. A dog in a hat. An animated animal reading the newspaper or wearing an apron… hilarious. The catch is, I am now so accustomed to Brian/Family Guy being personified, that I crack up when he does something canine.

I'd like to give this award to some bloggy friends who charm the heck out of me!

Have a Cute Day - so inspirational!
The Nester - I'd like to steal her house!
Jennifer at Conversion Diary - she's a former atheist who has converted to Catholicism. Blessed with incredible writing skills she has the ability to inspire cradle Catholics like myself to believe and serve better!
Genevra at Conversations with Myself - someone I want to know IRL!
and speaking of wanting to know In Real Life - I'm dying to meet Erin Ann especially once she's back from Haiti!

These are the folks that help me entertain my unemployed mind with all this time off!! Can I also blame them for me being internet addicted and out of shape?

Eli's Book A Satisfying Read

The Book of Eli

As a general rule I try to avoid reading reviews for films I am interested in until after I have seen the film for myself. Once and a while, as was the case with The Hughes Brothers latest film, The Book of Eli, I will scan a few reviews to see what the general consensus is. Unfortunately, The Book of Eli has been scoring very poorly with both critics and bloggers. I am not sure why the reviews are so harsh? Personally, I found The Book of Eli to be far more engaging than most give it credit.

At some point in the future a war is fought and it serves as the catalyst for the apocalypse. The who and how are not important, all you need to know is that a "white light" engulf the world and everything collapses into a anarchic state. Eli (Denzel Washington) is one of the few people on earth who remembers what life was like before the "big flash." He has spent the last 30 years walking west scrounging for food while trying to avoid both hijackers and cannibals along the way. Eli’s travels take him to a town in where a man named Carnegie (Gary Oldman) rules with an iron fist. Carnegie owns everything in the town including his blind lover Claudia (Jennifer Beals) and her daughter, Solara (Mila Kunis).

Despite being as wealthy as a person can be in a post-apocalypse world, Carnegie knows that he can be overthrown at any minute. So he desperately searches for the one thing that can secure his reign…the Bible. During the war, all copies of the Bible were burned as a strategic measure to ensure that no one would be inspired to rise up against the new world order. Carnegie knows, that by using the Bible, he will able to come up with the rhetoric he needs to give his people hope. Not hope in God mind you, but hope in the God that Carnegie sees himself as being. Once Carnegie realize that Eli has the last known copy of the Bible in his possession, Carnegie is determined to get his hands on it by any means necessary, even if this means prostituting Solara, to get it.

The Book of Eli is an even mix of action and religious discourse. While the stylized action sequences offer many enjoyable moments, it the film’s approach to religion that keeps the film interesting. The Book of Eli is not a preachy movie, but it does not shy away from the topic either. Although the religious symbolism is not subtle, especially towards the end, it is never hinders the tale. Mainly because a lot of the things mention in the film are relevant today. Mankind's obsession with technology and excess superseeding our faith in a higher being or each other for that matter. If you really think about it, having the Bible as the ultimate source of strength in a devastated world is not far fetch at all. Just look at the coverage of the earthquake in Haiti for example, a lot of the things currently going on in Haiti echo some of the stuff in this film. Yet unwavering religious faith has given many of the Haitian people the strength they need to go on despite the awful circumstances.

One of the questions that the film poses is whether the Bible can be used for evil just as easy as it can beckon for good? Carnegie knows the power of the Bible's words and formulates how to use it for his advantage. The majority of Carnegie’s men, including right-hand man Redridge (Ray Stevenson), constantly question why all the fuss over a mere book. Yet in a land where the majority of the population cannot read or write, knowledge of words is far more valuable a tool than anything else Carnegie can offer. The idea of the Bible as a weapon, let alone an evil one, is an interesting idea to ponder.

I suspect the aspect of the film that will really divide audiences is the twist towards the end. It is not really necessary but, when you look at the film as a whole, you are subtly prepped for it the entire way through. The Hughes Brothers are constantly proving clues in both the quite scenes (such as the mouse eating cat meat) and in the action sequences (being able to smell the hijackers).

Speaking of the action sequences, there are a number of good fight scenes along with one really great shootout sequence. In the shootout scene, The Hughes Brothers have the camera track some of the bullets as they go back and forth between the house and Carnegie’s crew. It is a visual treat to watch, extremely over-the-top, but fun nonetheless. The Book of Eli may not be the best movie to come out this year, but it is better than the reviews it has been receiving so far. The film has enough entertaining, and at time thought provoking, moments to at least warrant a viewing.

Thursday Thoughts

Hey, did any of you catch "The Good Wife" on Tuesday? It was a good episode! I am really liking that show still!

I watched "Criminal Minds" last night while working on my laptop. It is another fav.

Exercise class was canceled this week. That sucks...but probably best for me with my cold....I am still sniffling around. My nose is getting red and chapped. Pretty.

I am to teach parents how to use our school website tonight. Wonder if any will show up? I am not a teacher, so I hope that I do ok.

Can You Dig It?: EZ's Box Office Challenge Spring 2010 Edition!

A new session of one of the most addictive movie games on the net, EZ's Box Office Challenge (Spring 2010 Edition) is about to begin!

Register your FREE studio now for your chance to win cash prizes. The game is simple, create a fictional studio and select which movies (e.g. Shutter Island, etc.) you think will be big hits. The spring Box Office Challenge features the ability to bet on the Best Picture Oscar as well as the addition of the Spring Breaker (Z) and Recycled (R) categories. The Recycled category contains all sequels and remakes, while the Spring Breaker category contains all titles that could make or break your spring studio. You are only allowed three from each category though, which will you choose?

Recycled
02/12 The Wolfman
02/26 The Crazies
04/02 Clash of the Titans
04/02 Why Did I Get Married Too
04/16 Death at a Funeral
04/23 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
04/30 A Nightmare on Elm Street Spring Breaker
02/12 Valentine's Day
02/19 Shutter Island
03/05 Alice in Wonderland
03/12 Green Zone
03/26 How to Train Your Dragon
04/09 Date Night

Spring Breaker
02/12 Valentine's Day
02/19 Shutter Island
03/05 Alice in Wonderland
03/12 Green Zone
03/26 How to Train Your Dragon
04/09 Date Night

If you can put together the best movie studio lineup this spring you will win the grand prize.

Wicked Wednesday

This is me.
This is how I feel.

I don't think I look quite this bad yet, and hopefully won't!

On a good note, bye bye to Little Miss Red Shirt (Melissa) on Biggest Loser. I won't miss you.

Resolutions I Can Stick To!

I have a history of Epic Fail when it comes to New Years Resolutions. So mostly I just don't.
Actually, I make the typical goals of exercising more, getting back in shape, eating better and being kinder - but those are just goals; no point making it a resolution - I should be doing it anyway.

So I find that I'm opting for a friendlier, more fun form of resolution. The kind I can stick to - and can still consider self-improvement because it makes me look and feel better even if I'm not getting into better shape!

It started last year when a quick inventory of my closet revealed this:Oh yes, that's a lot of clothes. I was initially impressed with the variety until I realized every single thing is Grey, White, Cream, Black or Brown!!! A closet full of neutrals! Oh the shame!

I did some introspection and realized that I tend toward neutrals because I want everything to go with everything. But a closet full of neutrals doesn't really work. It's pretty boring. (please note: the two striped items are new additions - to be explained later. and yes I realize they are grey and white and black and white!) Bah!

So for 2009 my goal was to infuse color into my closet. I don't know why every time I find something that is just adorable - it's always grey or black! Why is that?!
A year later - here are my additions:
The reds were already there, as were the green and teal blue sweaters.

From Blah to Bright
For 2010 my goal is to explore patterns and accessories. I'm getting inspired by fashion bloggers like Clothed Much, Have a Cute Day and Infinite Whimsy. I really need to jazz things up!

You see, I'm a little afraid of patterns and prints. I think because I'm fairly tiny ~ and because I feel my face doesn't have strong features... I'm afraid I'll disappear in a pattern or print. (My friends assure me this is crazy, but still it's how I feel. )

So that's how I ended up with one striped t-shirt and one striped cardigan - My first print purchases of 2010!!! Really branching out there.

Accessories are another story.
My parents taught me to be frugal and so I've viewed accessories as unnecessary. When you limit your clothing purchases to under $20 an item - belts and jewelry often double the cost of an outfit - so I never bothered to get any.

I have 5 new belts now - and I know another reason why I didn't buy any for most of my life... THEY NEVER FIT!! I've taken 3 belts to the tailor to shorten from the buckle end... and they still don't fit right. Basically you have to decide if it's a belt you are going to wear at the waist or below your waist. One belt cannot do both jobs. That's not very versatile, therefore I just skip it!

Even my shoes are a little too practical. I want them to go with everything so I don't stray too far from the mainstream. Smart - but a bit boring. My personality is NOT this tame. One of the best compliments I ever got was a co-worker's wife who said my outfits were always so cute... "If you had any money, you'd be fabulous!"

Here are some of my new outfits combining old standbys - new punches of color - and accessories!!
White tuxedo ruffle T - from the Gap
Yellow Cardigan - TJMaxx
Grey Skirt - Target
Belt - TJMaxx
Black boots - TJMaxx

Tweed Jacket - $7 at Dillards 4 years ago
Green turtleneck - Tweeds $19 at TJMaxx
Black Skirt - Shade Clothing
Belt - ditto
Boots - ditto

White button down - had for ages
Teal sweater - Charlotte Russe
Brown pants - Candies from Kohls
Belt - purchased in my college years (1990)
Brown Boots - years old from Ross

Let's see what happens this year! I'll post updates - feel free to critique some of my choices. (praise preferred!)

Stay away from these...

Oh, my gosh, these were to die for good. This is not a true picture, as I couldn't get one on my phone, and I forgot I had my camera. But, my friend, S, and I shared a dessert at Carlos O'Kelly's in Kearney on Sunday night....Cheesecake Empanadas! The empanadas (3 of them) surround some vanilla ice cream with caramel drizzled all over everything. I am glad they don't have their nutrition information online, as I wouldn't even want to know. But, let me tell you, they were absolutely delish! And, yep, I went and walked on the treadmill a while later that evening.

The Blind Side of Racism

The Blind Side


The one question that kept running through my head when I was watching The Blind Side was whose story is this film really telling?

The Blind Side is based on the true-life story of Michael Oher's (Quinton Aaron) journey from homeless teen to professional NFL player. Hailing from the Memphis projects, Michael spent a good portion of his time moving from foster home to foster home after the state took him away from his crack addicted mother. It is only when Michael is accepted into a Christian private high school, mainly on the basis that his size may help the school's sports teams, that his life begins to change for the better. Michael he meets Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw), a wealthy Republican couple who offers him a place to stay. Over time, the relationship between Michael and Tuohys proves mutually beneficial. Michael's grades improve and the chances of getting a college football scholarship become a reality; while the Tuohys, by embracing Michael, realize that they should not take their life for granted.

The Tuohys should be commended for their act of generosity. It is heartwarming to know that there are still people in this world who genuinely go out of their way to help those in need. Unfortunately, the way that the story is portrayed on film is just downright insulting to all parties involved.

The Blind Side should really be about Michael's rise to the top with the assistance of the Tuohy family. Instead the film is about Tuohy family opening their doors to Michael. What is the difference you ask? Well it is all in the details. Let us use another Oscar nominated movie, Precious, as an example. What is the most compelling aspect of that film? Precious' life or the teacher who helps Precious see her potential? Obviously that film would not have had the same impact it did if director Lee Daniel's had approached the story from the teachers point of view. Which is exactly why The Blind Side is so offensive.

In The Blind Side, Michael's story is only told in spurts. We get brief flashbacks to the most traumatic event in Michael's life but it is not truly explained until near the end of the picture. Come to think of if, every aspect of Michael's life prior to meeting the Tuohys is reduced to mere footnotes. Let's see... Mother? A drug addict. Siblings? Out there somewhere. Kid who got accepted at private school along with Michael? Gang member. Etc. Heck, we do not even get Michael's perspective on the Tuohy family themselves. The only thing The Blind Side director, John Lee Hancock, offers up from Michael is a few lines such as "I thought I was already part of the family." Though we hear a lot in the film about what the family thinks of Michael.

This is further evident when you think about the adjustment Michael would have had to make. We are rarely shown what Michael had to endure living in an all white community. We see brief scenes of Michael sitting by himself in study hall, and racist remarks being hurled at the football game, but at no point does Michael comment on any of it, or express how he copes on a daily basis. Instead we must watch Leigh Anne's plight as the members of her country club start to question her actions. Even when the film takes a turn at the end, and Michael's future is in jeopardy, we are still shown the Tuohy's discussing the issue rather than Michael.

Not only is Oher's life story secondary to Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family's but, to add further insult, Michael is portrayed as borderline autistic for the majority of the film. Yes Michael may not have the best reading skills but, as Ms. Boswell (Kim Dickens) points out on numerous occasions, Michael is smarter than everyone thinks he is. Not only is he a writer but he can retain a ton of information that is given to him orally. Yet, despite all of this, we are shown scenes of Michael being mesmerized by balloons in the sky, the Forrest Gump-like scenes where he only stopped running once the whistle was blown, etc. Heck, there is even a scene where Leigh Anne needs to point out the art of buying clothes...as if Michael has never been in a store before! The kid may be poor, but he is not the simple-minded Neanderthal that the film makes him out to be.

I cannot help but wonder if Michael would have been portrayed the same way if the racial lines were reversed? Would Michael's history be told in brief flashbacks had he been white and taken in by a well-to-do black family? Would the actor still portray Michael as borderline autistic? Would the film even be told from the families point of view? Or would it be an underdog rag-to-riches tale like Eminem's 8 Mile?

I know some, my fiancée included, thought that Tuohy's tale was worthy of being on film. Again, I have nothing against what Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family did. As I mentioned above, I think they did a wonderful thing. I might have been a little easier on the film had both sides of the story been told in an even manner. Yet, as it stands, I found The Blind Side, as a movie, to be both insulting and extremely offensive.

Ajami's Hard Streets Hurt Soul

Ajami


Now that the Academy Award nominations have been announced there is a lot of debate over whether Avatar or The Hurt Locker will come out on top. Instead of weighing in on that discussion I want to focus on the one nomination that brought me the most joy Tuesday...Ajami’s nomination for Best Foreign Film. The film was released in New York on Wednesday and is expanding to Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Hopefully the Academy Award nomination will help to expand its theatrical run to an even wider release before it hits DVD.

I was fortunate enough to catch Ajami at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. After reviewing my initial selections, I decided I needed to add a few more foreign films into the mix. So I traded in my ticket for Drew Barrymore’s Whip It and took a chance on Ajami. Needless to say it was one of the smartest moves I made in since I started attending the festival back in 2001. The decision almost made up for me passing on tickets to films such as Whale Rider and Brokeback Mountain a few years back…almost. Hey, sometimes it is tough to tell what films will be a good if you simple go by the brief write up in the festival’s program book…but I digress.

Ajami is co-directed by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, one is of Palestinian decent while the other is an Israeli Jew, and their vastly different backgrounds offer a very unique feel to the film. The conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians have been widely documented on a global scale but rarely do we see what goes on daily in average neighborhoods. Ajami looks at how the lives of seemingly separate individuals are intertwined. There is the story of a family who is doomed to pay for one uncle’s heroic act. Another story looks at an Arab who wants to live in Israel. There is also the tale of a cop who is desperate to find his missing brother. To give any more of the plot away would be a great disservice to the film.

Ajami is a film very much in the same vein as City of God. The majority of the film is set in Jaffa the crime ridden section of Ajami. There are corrupt Jewish police officers, organized gangs, Palestinians working illegally, etc. The fascinating thing about the people living in Jaffa is, despite their profession and/or social class, how deep their faith runs. In fact, one of the most shocking things about the film is how much religion factors into everyone’s daily life. Every action is said to be in Allah’s name. Allah name is often used to justify a lot of the criminal activity in Jaffa. This makes for a fascinating contrast in many of the characters that inhabit the film.

The majority of the cast consist amateur performers from the area where the film is set. The non-professionals do a really good job drawing the audience into their world. The film's non-linear storyline also help to enhance the overall impact of certain characters. Ajami does not make any grand political statements nor does it choose sides. Instead it provides a fascinating, and at times heartbreaking, look at how corruption and violence can ruin communities no matter where in the world you are.

A secret romantic

I act on the outside that I rather have a guy take me camping and cook me grill food than on a romantic nonsensical extravagant evening out, to compare two extremes, but deep down I am a romantic and I secretly love the nonsensical side of romance. Maybe I am more of an unconventional romantic who likes to be surprised over a cheesy romantic gesture, who knows.

Hence, I am risking my life through the blizzard to see Dear John today to live vicariously through Amanda Seyfried and channel my inner romantic.

Also, the song from the movie pulls at my heart a little



How many different kinds of romantic types are there?