* "My Mom knows things about things... about houses" -The funniest thing said to me today care of "word-of-the-day" Jen. Who is she, Fletch?
*On the mother front: My mother asked me if I went home barefoot the other day because I had left my socks at their house. I wonder if she knew the definition of those words. Why would the absence of socks make me immediately bare foot? Is it impossible to wear shoes without socks? It made me giggle.
* My name is neither "facetious" not "sarcastic".
* Sunday's "What's up, Netflix?" is appearing today to make room for a new addition (to be revealed tomorrow respectively):
Whip It- 4 stars- This movie got a really bad rap when it came out. As far as first pictures go, this one is pretty good. Sure, there are moments where Barrymore showed indecision and naïveté; that's par for the course on a director's first film. The pacing could be tighter, but honestly, if you cut what needed to be cut, you'd have a MUCH shorter movie. Instead, I think it's best to focus on all the positives. The script is smart, without falling into the post-"Juno" (which is actually post-"Dawson's Creek") style of flowery/faux-smart writing. The camera also works well, taking you inside the track and skating right along with the derby girls. I wish some of the supporting cast had a bigger part, particularly Zoe Bell, Eve, and Alia Shawkat (who's watching Arrested Development reruns on IFC?). They really shined whenever they were on screen. Also nice, was Ellen Page coming out of her awkward shoulder slump long enough for us to believe she might actually be good at derby. You've got to understand- I love derby. I grew up watching it on TV and going to bouts. Is this a perfect representation? Hell no (no one checked IDs at try-outs? No one's asking for insurance cards?), but it tries real hard, and that's the point of the whole movie anyway.
Adam- 4 stars- This movie stars Hugh Dancy as a young man with Asperger's faced with living alone for the first time. Rose Byrne (TV's "Damages"- nowhere near as annoying here) moves in next door and "meet cute". I was worried this was going to be a made for Lifetime style movie and was pleasantly surprised when it turned into a thoughtful, yet funny and enjoyable, piece on life, growing up, and being different. We can identify with both characters- Dancy's socially awkward and shy, overtly honest young man finally growing up, and Byrne's optimistic romantic who finally meets the man who fills all of her perceived requirements only to wonder what she actually requires in the first place. Lovely. St. Trinian's- 2 stars- The only reason this got two stars instead of one was for Rupert Everett in drag and I kinda think I know what they meant. Having not grown up in the U.K., I was unfamiliar with the St. Trinian's stories. Apparently it's a recurring story of misfit girls at boarding school that has cropped up on TV and the movies since the late '40's. The concept is stellar- what happens when you group together all the girls that have been expelled from every other school into a school run by a lazy, half-drunk headmistress? Chaos and comedy of course! Unfortunately, this movie took the concept from satire to farce, with none of the humor left in. It did very well in England (they're working on a sequel as we speak), but it just makes me sad to think about that. They lost me at distilling/bootlegging booze to Russell Brand; I turned it off half way through.
Little Ashes- 1 star- I didn't even finish this movie, and that's saying a lot! How anyone could take three of Spain's most interesting and influential artists and make it BORING (oh so boring), is beyond me. The reviewer who compared this to a poor Merchant-Ivory rip off is the most correct, though I think he was being generous with 3 stars. Can we finally be over Robert Pattinson? I can't say he's done well in any other role besides "Twilight" and that only requires what I call the "Keanu" school of acting. If this doesn't seal the nail in the coffin...
* And finally,
- Getting the final Jeopardy question correct (Seriously, how did all three contestants not know the answer to this: Category- 19th Century Literature. Answer: Chapter two of this novel begins, "My eyes were not to be deceived. I was indeed awake and among the Carpathians")
Paranormal Activity - 5 stars- Uh... This movie scared the bejesus out of me. Why did I decide to watch this in the middle of the night? How does my vintage apartment know exactly when to settle, throwing open my wardrobe doors? How do my neighbors know to exit the loud and cranky gates of our shared courtyard whenever a door opens on screen? Freaked. Me. Out. PS- I like the original ending, but understand why they choose what they did. Nerd Fact #2056: They (i.e. bad idea makers) are working on a sequel they plan to ruin much the same way they ruined "Saw"- by not using the original writer/director. In a funny turn- The director will be "Saw V" director David Hackl which PA beat at the box office. What a bunch of losers.
Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past- 4 stars- No, that is not a typo. I watched this with the folks and we all laughed several times and thought it was adorable. Sure, it's another McConaughey man-child with obvious lady problems movie, but the supporting cast (particularly Jennifer Garner and Emma Stone) are excellent. The writing is clever, and at about 90 minutes, it's just long enough. Basically, the perfect guilty pleasure movie.
I've Loved You So Long- 5 stars- This Golden Globe best foreign language nominee and BAFTA winner stars Kristen Scott Thomas as a woman just released from prison who moves in with her estranged sister and her family. Thomas is utterly breathtaking in her plainness and perfect French. The key to the film lies in the crime she committed- murder, but of who and why? (I have to say, I figured it out a bit early, but was still riveted to see how it would/if it would, be revealed to others) I love, love, loved this movie. It's a French ode to early '00s Independent American Film making. A must for everyone.
When I was younger, there was only one movie that made me cry. Just watching the trailer made me hold me breath. "Heavy" is one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm not sure how it missed my "Best Movies You've Never Heard of List", perhaps I wanted to keep it to myself. It is the first movie by James Mangold (Girl, Interrupted, Copland, Identity)- one of my hero's. It's the story of a small town, or more specifically, a dive bar/diner run by mother and son (Pruitt Taylor Vince, who turns up in everything now). Vince is overweight and anti-social. He's in love with the new waitress (Liv Tyler), but can't bring himself to do anything about it. Flitting in and out is Deborah Harry (I KNOW!!) as the sassy, slutty, waitress who thinks she deserves to be in everyone business. When the mother dies (Shelley Winters), Vince has to learn to stand on his own two feet, even if that means creating a major SNAFU. I makes me cry every time, I can't help it. Perhaps it planted the seed way back in '95 that I was a real live girl.
I also saw "The Hurt Locker" last night. Wow. What a picture. Did you see "Generation Kill"? You like war movies that aren't "political"? Rent this immediately. You certainly need to check this movie out. Kathryn Bigelow, director, is nominated for a Golden Globe (only the 4th time in history) and stands a chance to win. Why? She made a "male" movie in a sea of "chick flicks". Bigelow has made a career out of this type of "against cast" movie making- "Near Dark", "Point Break", "K-19: The Widdowmaker". In a recent interview (I believe with Entertainment Weekly) she expressed a desire for the time when her work will be recognized for it's weight and talent, and not on the novelty of her being a woman. Here here! I too am not a big fan of "chick" movies. I hope Bigelow wins if for no other reason that it would be awesome (2nd time- go ladies!), but because it would help open doors for other female filmmakers who want to avoid cliche boy-meets-girl movies in favor of "boy-meets-war"/horror/sci-fi/awesome movies. She's certainly carving the way in stone for those who will come after her and I would love to see her get a little help in that arena.
