No - not on this blog. Yet. Although I totally understand why you're thinking that...
Either way, I thought I would re-visit this blog and post on a different, but related, subject - giving up on a TV show. I don't really do this readily (as evidenced by my continued viewing of all facets of "The Bachelor" franchise), but sometimes, man, things just get too hard to watch. Now I'm not really talking about shows you sort of end up sliding in and out of, with no real thought as to why you started or stopped in the first place, but shows where you make a conscious decision to quit. For good.
The first show I purposely quit watching was "Nip/Tuck." My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I devoured the first season. It was excessive, silly, over-the-top, icky, and just fun to watch. Once we got our hands on the second season our interest and tolerance waned quickly. I lost my patience for the epic rounds of bad decisions and the terrible way the characters treated each other. Were there no redeeming people left on this show after 1.5 seasons? Apparently not. As we were slogging through this second season, the final season of "Six Feet Under" came out on DVD. We watched the whole thing in one weekend and never picked up "Nip/Tuck" again - I felt like that action kind of said it all. And to be honest, I haven't even thought much about the show since.
More recently, though, we made the decision to stop watching "Glee." I know a lot of people thought "Glee" became unwatchable during the second season (or that it wasn't watchable in the first place), but I didn't have that problem. I even continued to enjoy it even through the third season (thanks, in large part, to Brittany S. Pierce). But Rachel Berry just got to be such a laborious character and especially once she and Kurt moved to NYC in the fourth season, I realized I could not CARE LESS about her or most of the storylines (involving new or old characters). The episodes were either too heavy-handed or too saccharine and I hated the high production value of the musical numbers. They were too over-produced and the kids just can't act and lip sync well enough to make it all believable. Some of them can sing very well, but I felt like it was hidden with auto-tune and instrumentation. But more than anything, it wasn't fun to watch the show any more. I didn't look forward to the next episodes. It felt like a chore, like an hour I had to get through once a week. I don't think that's what television is about, folks.
A few weeks ago I realized that I had stopped watching "Grey's Anatomy." I used to DVR it, but since I'm the only one in my household that watches it, I started cancelling it to free up that precious Thursday night space. No worries, I could just watch it on demand. I kept up with that pretty well until a 2 or 3 month spot when I didn't have time to watch anything on my own and then all of a sudden I had missed episodes that were no longer on demand. I quickly came to the realization that I hadn't really missed it at all. It was a fun time-waster to watch on my own, but I didn't care about it that much and again, some times the plots were just too labored. Just like that - I don't watch any Shonda Rhimes shows any more. Who knew it was possible?!
What about you? Have you quit any shows? Have you quit any of these shows? Do you think I should make up with one of these shows? I would love to know!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Monday, October 15, 2012
ACL 2012
Well, reader(s), I thought I'd fire up the ol' blog for my musings on the Austin City Limits Music Festival for 2012 - mostly so I can remember them in 2 weeks. I'm getting old, y'all!
Friday
First Aid Kit - Two Swedish sisters with sweet, lovely music. Such a great way to start out the weekend. Definitely look into them, key track - "Emmylou"
Delta Spirit - Excellent rocking roots/rock band. They have both a soulful and an upbeat vibe - so fun!! The lead singer climbed the scaffolding towards the end of their performance, it was impressive/scary. They were having so much fun, you couldn't help but join in! I'm glad my husband was so insistent on making it to their set.
Alabama Shakes - Only caught about 3 songs of theirs. They played at the Barton Springs stage which is such a nightmare to get in front of and to find a spot where you can hear. They sounded great from what little we could hear, but not a good enough experience all the way around to try to fight to enjoy it.
Weezer - Loved it! They cranked through the hits and were unapologetic about it. We caught about 45 minutes of their 1 hour set and I think we heard at least one song off of every one of their albums. I felt like I was in high school again, playing pool in my friend's rec room, and singing along to "The Blue Album."
Florence + the Machine - Left Weezer early to catch the end of Florence's set. She sounds great live, but seemed to take the show a little too seriously. I know she was having a great time, but referring the "the festival" over and over just isn't very Austin-y (I guess I like to think we're the only town with a festival and we do our own stuff, thank you very much - spoken like a true Austinite). Upside is she saved her 2 singles for last - so I got to hear those.
M. Ward - Still the coolest guy in music. He just plays honest, timeless stuff and sounds great doing it. Loved chilling out a little bit at a smaller stage.
The Black Keys - The Black Keys closed Friday night and it was perfect. They were high energy and really seemed to be in their element. We were able to get up pretty close, so it was great to be around people who were as into it as we were. They even played some stuff just the 2 of them. Excellent, excellent way to end the night.
Saturday
Civil Twilight - Caught about the last 3 songs of their set. My husband wanted to see them. I thought they were fine, they sound a little Coldplay/U2-ish to me, so they don't do much for me. It was enjoyable, though.
Rufus Wainwright - As I told my mother, Rufus was transcendent. He was my main draw for this year. He came out in this crazy, stripe/swirl, silk suit and sang his entire 1st song a capella and we were totally eating out of the palm of his hand for the rest of the set. He played "April Fool's" off of "Poses" and played a bunch of stuff from his newest album. He also paid tribute to both of his parents by doing one song by each of them (downside was his back-up singer sang "I Don't Know" by Kate McGarrigle and his pianist played for her - for an hour set, I would have liked for him to stay on stage). He also did a Judy song and overall just killed it. So glad I knew nothing about his live performance before Saturday, it was just incredible.
Metric - This set was really interesting because it was a slow, ethereal build. It was good, but chill, but then about 30 minutes in they really broke out with the fun, dancy stuff. The last song mellowed back out, but was a tribute to choosing a rock & roll lifestyle called "Gimme Sympathy." Can't wait to get more into them.
Punch Brothers - This was a ridiculous/awesome display of bluegrass/musical talent led by Chris Thile (formerly of Nickel Creek). All impeccably dressed with impeccable harmonies and a multitude of solo's. If you're into this new-ish folk/bluegrass movement - check them out.
The Shins - Caught the second half of their set, it was pretty chill, but enjoyable.
Jack White - We got to see him with his all-female backing band, The Peacocks (I may be biased, but I'm glad we got them rather than his all-male band). They were all incredible musicians and I think I'm in love with his back-up singer. He played some stuff off of his new solo album, but also included songs from The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather. The set moved really quickly and unfortunately ended 15 minutes early.
Sunday
Stars - This is, I think, the 3rd time we've seen Stars. They are a really interesting band in that their songs cover the gamut of moods and a lot of them were about death. Either way, I like them enough to keep seeking them out. Definitely worth a listen.
The Devil Makes Three - This 3-piece is a tour-de-force in bluegrass/folk/drummer-less bands. They have a singer/guitarist, stand-up bass player/back-up singer, and a multi-instrumentalist (mostly banjo)/back-up vocalist. They were so good that we ended up blowing off the other act we were going to catch after watching them for 20 minutes or so. I will be seeking out their music and their shows from here on out.
The Civil Wars - Even though they were on a main stage in front of thousands of people, this duo kept the subtle-ness and intimacy they are known for. Even though their songs are kind of downers, you could tell they were really enjoying the experience. Plus they did a pretty cool cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."
The Lumineers - I guess you could say we heard The Lumineers. We, at least, certainly tried to. Due to some poor planning/forecasting on C3's part it was a total cluster to get to this stage, but from what I heard - I wished I could have heard more and seen it.
Old 97's - Don't worry, the Austin Ventures stage cleared out in enough time for me to get pretty close for one of my favorite bands ever! They are currently on a 10th-anniversary tour for their album "Too Far to Care" and they played a bunch of those and songs off of most of their albums (nothing off of "Satellite Rides," my fave, though). Such a great live band, live show, whatever - go see them and buy all of their albums.
Avett Brothers - Again, caught the 2nd half of their set. I had no idea they would be so high-energy! They really relished the huge crowd and played the hell out of their instruments. It felt like a much more intimate show than it should have. They brought out Chad Smith (the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers) to drum for one song - so that was awesome. They did an encore and played "I and Love and You" and it killed me all over again just like the first time I heard it - so earnest. My biggest scheduling complaint for the weekend was putting them against the Old 97's. I wish I could have seen both complete sets.
Childish Gambino - This is Don Glover's (from "Community") rap persona. I was under the impression that it was going to be funny, although I never really looked into it at all. He had great word-play and rhythm and the energy was high high high. I guess I was expecting it to stand out a little more, though.
Well, that's that. 2012's in the books, as they say.
Friday
First Aid Kit - Two Swedish sisters with sweet, lovely music. Such a great way to start out the weekend. Definitely look into them, key track - "Emmylou"
Delta Spirit - Excellent rocking roots/rock band. They have both a soulful and an upbeat vibe - so fun!! The lead singer climbed the scaffolding towards the end of their performance, it was impressive/scary. They were having so much fun, you couldn't help but join in! I'm glad my husband was so insistent on making it to their set.
Alabama Shakes - Only caught about 3 songs of theirs. They played at the Barton Springs stage which is such a nightmare to get in front of and to find a spot where you can hear. They sounded great from what little we could hear, but not a good enough experience all the way around to try to fight to enjoy it.
Weezer - Loved it! They cranked through the hits and were unapologetic about it. We caught about 45 minutes of their 1 hour set and I think we heard at least one song off of every one of their albums. I felt like I was in high school again, playing pool in my friend's rec room, and singing along to "The Blue Album."
Florence + the Machine - Left Weezer early to catch the end of Florence's set. She sounds great live, but seemed to take the show a little too seriously. I know she was having a great time, but referring the "the festival" over and over just isn't very Austin-y (I guess I like to think we're the only town with a festival and we do our own stuff, thank you very much - spoken like a true Austinite). Upside is she saved her 2 singles for last - so I got to hear those.
M. Ward - Still the coolest guy in music. He just plays honest, timeless stuff and sounds great doing it. Loved chilling out a little bit at a smaller stage.
The Black Keys - The Black Keys closed Friday night and it was perfect. They were high energy and really seemed to be in their element. We were able to get up pretty close, so it was great to be around people who were as into it as we were. They even played some stuff just the 2 of them. Excellent, excellent way to end the night.
Saturday
Civil Twilight - Caught about the last 3 songs of their set. My husband wanted to see them. I thought they were fine, they sound a little Coldplay/U2-ish to me, so they don't do much for me. It was enjoyable, though.
Rufus Wainwright - As I told my mother, Rufus was transcendent. He was my main draw for this year. He came out in this crazy, stripe/swirl, silk suit and sang his entire 1st song a capella and we were totally eating out of the palm of his hand for the rest of the set. He played "April Fool's" off of "Poses" and played a bunch of stuff from his newest album. He also paid tribute to both of his parents by doing one song by each of them (downside was his back-up singer sang "I Don't Know" by Kate McGarrigle and his pianist played for her - for an hour set, I would have liked for him to stay on stage). He also did a Judy song and overall just killed it. So glad I knew nothing about his live performance before Saturday, it was just incredible.
Metric - This set was really interesting because it was a slow, ethereal build. It was good, but chill, but then about 30 minutes in they really broke out with the fun, dancy stuff. The last song mellowed back out, but was a tribute to choosing a rock & roll lifestyle called "Gimme Sympathy." Can't wait to get more into them.
Punch Brothers - This was a ridiculous/awesome display of bluegrass/musical talent led by Chris Thile (formerly of Nickel Creek). All impeccably dressed with impeccable harmonies and a multitude of solo's. If you're into this new-ish folk/bluegrass movement - check them out.
The Shins - Caught the second half of their set, it was pretty chill, but enjoyable.
Jack White - We got to see him with his all-female backing band, The Peacocks (I may be biased, but I'm glad we got them rather than his all-male band). They were all incredible musicians and I think I'm in love with his back-up singer. He played some stuff off of his new solo album, but also included songs from The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather. The set moved really quickly and unfortunately ended 15 minutes early.
Sunday
Stars - This is, I think, the 3rd time we've seen Stars. They are a really interesting band in that their songs cover the gamut of moods and a lot of them were about death. Either way, I like them enough to keep seeking them out. Definitely worth a listen.
The Devil Makes Three - This 3-piece is a tour-de-force in bluegrass/folk/drummer-less bands. They have a singer/guitarist, stand-up bass player/back-up singer, and a multi-instrumentalist (mostly banjo)/back-up vocalist. They were so good that we ended up blowing off the other act we were going to catch after watching them for 20 minutes or so. I will be seeking out their music and their shows from here on out.
The Civil Wars - Even though they were on a main stage in front of thousands of people, this duo kept the subtle-ness and intimacy they are known for. Even though their songs are kind of downers, you could tell they were really enjoying the experience. Plus they did a pretty cool cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."
The Lumineers - I guess you could say we heard The Lumineers. We, at least, certainly tried to. Due to some poor planning/forecasting on C3's part it was a total cluster to get to this stage, but from what I heard - I wished I could have heard more and seen it.
Old 97's - Don't worry, the Austin Ventures stage cleared out in enough time for me to get pretty close for one of my favorite bands ever! They are currently on a 10th-anniversary tour for their album "Too Far to Care" and they played a bunch of those and songs off of most of their albums (nothing off of "Satellite Rides," my fave, though). Such a great live band, live show, whatever - go see them and buy all of their albums.
Avett Brothers - Again, caught the 2nd half of their set. I had no idea they would be so high-energy! They really relished the huge crowd and played the hell out of their instruments. It felt like a much more intimate show than it should have. They brought out Chad Smith (the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers) to drum for one song - so that was awesome. They did an encore and played "I and Love and You" and it killed me all over again just like the first time I heard it - so earnest. My biggest scheduling complaint for the weekend was putting them against the Old 97's. I wish I could have seen both complete sets.
Childish Gambino - This is Don Glover's (from "Community") rap persona. I was under the impression that it was going to be funny, although I never really looked into it at all. He had great word-play and rhythm and the energy was high high high. I guess I was expecting it to stand out a little more, though.
Well, that's that. 2012's in the books, as they say.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Not too shabby...
I did actually squeeze in some viewing (movie and otherwise) over the long weekend, although I bet none of it will end up being Oscar-worthy. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that!
On Sunday we spent like $100 to see 30 Minutes or Less (I am including one medium drink and one medium popcorn in that price). This movie stars Jesse Eisenberg as a slacker, pizza delivery boy. He is kidnapped on a delivery run and then armed with bomb vest and tasked to steal $100k from a local bank and convinces his estranged best friend (Aziz Ansari) to go a long for the ride. His kidnappers are played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson (I know, best idea ever). Our friend who read some reviews before the movie read one that said something along the lines of, "if you like to laugh at funny things, then watch this movie." The movie is super-fun and ridiculous and has a lot of funny things at which to laugh. I was not disappointed at all and I was very entertained. What else can you ask for?
We then continued our Danny McBride Love Fest by watching the first season of Eastbound & Down. See above review. Super-raunchy, ridiculous, and just entertaining from start to finish. However, there is still meaningful character development for Kenny Powers and his brother (played by John Hawkes of Winter's Bone) as well as his sister-in-law. I hear the second season is currently streaming on Netflix.
And since we hadn't ingested enough just ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous media - we also took in Hot Tub Time Machine. This movie stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Chevy Chase, and Crispin Glover. It is about a hot tub that is a time machine, taking some of these men from some sort of present time to the '80's. Really fun, really clever, and I absolutely LOVED Clark Duke as Jacob/the voice of reason and normalcy. Or somewhat normal.
Overall, if you like laughing at funny, stupid, silly things - then you will like all of these things.
On Sunday we spent like $100 to see 30 Minutes or Less (I am including one medium drink and one medium popcorn in that price). This movie stars Jesse Eisenberg as a slacker, pizza delivery boy. He is kidnapped on a delivery run and then armed with bomb vest and tasked to steal $100k from a local bank and convinces his estranged best friend (Aziz Ansari) to go a long for the ride. His kidnappers are played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson (I know, best idea ever). Our friend who read some reviews before the movie read one that said something along the lines of, "if you like to laugh at funny things, then watch this movie." The movie is super-fun and ridiculous and has a lot of funny things at which to laugh. I was not disappointed at all and I was very entertained. What else can you ask for?
We then continued our Danny McBride Love Fest by watching the first season of Eastbound & Down. See above review. Super-raunchy, ridiculous, and just entertaining from start to finish. However, there is still meaningful character development for Kenny Powers and his brother (played by John Hawkes of Winter's Bone) as well as his sister-in-law. I hear the second season is currently streaming on Netflix.
And since we hadn't ingested enough just ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous media - we also took in Hot Tub Time Machine. This movie stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Chevy Chase, and Crispin Glover. It is about a hot tub that is a time machine, taking some of these men from some sort of present time to the '80's. Really fun, really clever, and I absolutely LOVED Clark Duke as Jacob/the voice of reason and normalcy. Or somewhat normal.
Overall, if you like laughing at funny, stupid, silly things - then you will like all of these things.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Droppin' some knowledge...
While perusing one of my favorite blogs this morning (Pop Candy) and reading my favorite daily post, The Early Buzz (a round-up of pop culture-related links), I stumbled upon this: "12 Oscar Contenders to Watch for" - just a little something to whet your appetite for the fall and the eventual awards season.
One movie not mentioned (I guess because it's not making the festival circuit) is Warrior. To me it seems like this year's The Wrestler or The Fighter. It stars Tom Hardy (who you'll remember from Inception and will also be taking a turn as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises) and Joel Edgerton (the best character in Animal Kingdom) as brothers who end up MMA-fighting each other. Nick Nolte stars as their father. I think it looks good.
Otherwise, I haven't been to the movies in about a hundred years. The husband and I did go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 and people (person?), let me tell you - it is good. It's beautiful and so respectful of the world J.K. Rowling created over 7-ish books. I really recommend it if you love Harry Potter. Totally excellent ending.
So what's the plan going forward now that I appear to never go to the movies ever? Well, hopefully to see one over the long weekend, even if it's some good, long weekend fluff.
What are you planning to see next?
One movie not mentioned (I guess because it's not making the festival circuit) is Warrior. To me it seems like this year's The Wrestler or The Fighter. It stars Tom Hardy (who you'll remember from Inception and will also be taking a turn as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises) and Joel Edgerton (the best character in Animal Kingdom) as brothers who end up MMA-fighting each other. Nick Nolte stars as their father. I think it looks good.
Otherwise, I haven't been to the movies in about a hundred years. The husband and I did go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 and people (person?), let me tell you - it is good. It's beautiful and so respectful of the world J.K. Rowling created over 7-ish books. I really recommend it if you love Harry Potter. Totally excellent ending.
So what's the plan going forward now that I appear to never go to the movies ever? Well, hopefully to see one over the long weekend, even if it's some good, long weekend fluff.
What are you planning to see next?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
X-Men: First Class (b a b y day?)
Get excited! My lovely husband graciously accepted my offer to blog about his most recent movie-going experience. This week he attended Baby Day at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek with our niece (ok, and her parents) while I was slaving away at work, supporting his lifestyle. Such sacrifice!! Anyways...onward!
"So, prior to yesterday, I was still fuzzy on some of my history facts. I am a schoolteacher, but I don’t teach history, so bits and pieces have gone by the wayside. That’s okay, though because I went to go see X-Men: First Class, a, from what I can tell, completely historically accurate retelling of world history (I’m pretty sure Sarah Palin was fact-checker on the side), but that’s beside the point.
Yes, I had checked out http://www.imdb.com/ and looked into the newest movie in the X-Men franchise and tried to do a little sneak peeking to see what Marvel would be bringing me/the world. And, I guess I didn’t pay enough attention (see back to the history lessons I also didn’t pay attention to) to cast members/mutants that would grace the silver screen, because I was still in for some surprises.
As far as major plot points go, this film (I’ll throw that word around) basically sets up the world of X-Men that we knew about from the year 2000 (picture Conan O’Brien singing that without getting sued by a major network) when the first X-Men movie fed our superhero-needing senses. For most people that I know that were excited for the first movie 11 years ago, my fellow nerds and I had a pretty firm grasp on who the main characters were, what a lot of their non-mutant aliases were, etc. I was excited to see X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and even X-Men Origins: Wolverine (I personally feel that Hugh Jackman is a fantastic embodiment of the Wolverine character). With some slight, okay pretty glaring, graphical shortcomings in the Wolverine movie, I started to feel less excited about the prospect of a future X-Men movie (unless it centered around Ryan Reynolds’ character, Dead Pool). However, my brother-in-law and I had seen several of these movies together and decided that we would go to see X-Men:First Class together in the theaters.
I’m glad that I did see it in theaters, the action scenes were pretty great, and the graphics were much better than X-Men Origins:Wolverine. My only real complaint about the graphics in this new movie were with ships in the open ocean – I’m fairly certain that with the money Marvel has made on all of these movies that they could have afforded to at least make a scale model of a ship and have it float in an ocean made for a sound stage so that the wake and sides of the ship would look like somewhat realistic, and not like I was messing around with PhotoShop and putting a 3-D mockup of a boat into an actual picture of the ocean. Otherwise, though, the graphics and action were pretty great.
My biggest surprise (which IMDB had no thoughts about hiding, I’m just slow on the uptake, and not big on reading) was Kevin Bacon! He was phenomenal from start to finish. I assumed he was just a cameo in the beginning, maybe a long-time fan getting in touch with Matthew Vaughn, director, or one of the four collaborating writers for a bit part, but no, he was the real deal, and he owned his character. My wife and I had seen Winter’s Bone earlier in the year (or the end of last year), so it was nice to see Jennifer Lawrence acting in a very different role and showing that she can in fact pull off all blue body paint (very important fact to know about yourself). James McAvoy, you had big shoes (or a big wheelchair seat) to fill as Charles Xavier – since this movie is the beginning, a roll that would “later” be played by Patrick Stewart. There was good writing with little one-liners that foreshadow things that happen to the Professor X character. Aside from Kevin Bacon stealing the show, I think Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) was played to a T by Michael Fassbender (who you may remember from Band of Brothers or Inglourious Basterds). Fassbender took the painful rise of Magneto and played it straight and almost had me rooting for the bad guy I know he, spoiler alert, turns out to be.
So, it’s hard for me to give this movie 5 out of 5 stars, but I could give it a solid 4 with the quality of acting, the good mutant character development, and unreal historical accuracy.
-Guest blogger (the husband)"
"So, prior to yesterday, I was still fuzzy on some of my history facts. I am a schoolteacher, but I don’t teach history, so bits and pieces have gone by the wayside. That’s okay, though because I went to go see X-Men: First Class, a, from what I can tell, completely historically accurate retelling of world history (I’m pretty sure Sarah Palin was fact-checker on the side), but that’s beside the point.
Yes, I had checked out http://www.imdb.com/ and looked into the newest movie in the X-Men franchise and tried to do a little sneak peeking to see what Marvel would be bringing me/the world. And, I guess I didn’t pay enough attention (see back to the history lessons I also didn’t pay attention to) to cast members/mutants that would grace the silver screen, because I was still in for some surprises.
As far as major plot points go, this film (I’ll throw that word around) basically sets up the world of X-Men that we knew about from the year 2000 (picture Conan O’Brien singing that without getting sued by a major network) when the first X-Men movie fed our superhero-needing senses. For most people that I know that were excited for the first movie 11 years ago, my fellow nerds and I had a pretty firm grasp on who the main characters were, what a lot of their non-mutant aliases were, etc. I was excited to see X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and even X-Men Origins: Wolverine (I personally feel that Hugh Jackman is a fantastic embodiment of the Wolverine character). With some slight, okay pretty glaring, graphical shortcomings in the Wolverine movie, I started to feel less excited about the prospect of a future X-Men movie (unless it centered around Ryan Reynolds’ character, Dead Pool). However, my brother-in-law and I had seen several of these movies together and decided that we would go to see X-Men:First Class together in the theaters.
I’m glad that I did see it in theaters, the action scenes were pretty great, and the graphics were much better than X-Men Origins:Wolverine. My only real complaint about the graphics in this new movie were with ships in the open ocean – I’m fairly certain that with the money Marvel has made on all of these movies that they could have afforded to at least make a scale model of a ship and have it float in an ocean made for a sound stage so that the wake and sides of the ship would look like somewhat realistic, and not like I was messing around with PhotoShop and putting a 3-D mockup of a boat into an actual picture of the ocean. Otherwise, though, the graphics and action were pretty great.
My biggest surprise (which IMDB had no thoughts about hiding, I’m just slow on the uptake, and not big on reading) was Kevin Bacon! He was phenomenal from start to finish. I assumed he was just a cameo in the beginning, maybe a long-time fan getting in touch with Matthew Vaughn, director, or one of the four collaborating writers for a bit part, but no, he was the real deal, and he owned his character. My wife and I had seen Winter’s Bone earlier in the year (or the end of last year), so it was nice to see Jennifer Lawrence acting in a very different role and showing that she can in fact pull off all blue body paint (very important fact to know about yourself). James McAvoy, you had big shoes (or a big wheelchair seat) to fill as Charles Xavier – since this movie is the beginning, a roll that would “later” be played by Patrick Stewart. There was good writing with little one-liners that foreshadow things that happen to the Professor X character. Aside from Kevin Bacon stealing the show, I think Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) was played to a T by Michael Fassbender (who you may remember from Band of Brothers or Inglourious Basterds). Fassbender took the painful rise of Magneto and played it straight and almost had me rooting for the bad guy I know he, spoiler alert, turns out to be.
So, it’s hard for me to give this movie 5 out of 5 stars, but I could give it a solid 4 with the quality of acting, the good mutant character development, and unreal historical accuracy.
-Guest blogger (the husband)"
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Just popping back in...
I have been negligent, but I wanted to pop in and pass along this article I came across today discussing changes in Oscar categories for next year. The most significant change? The Best Picture category will have from 5-10 nominees. Films that receive 5% or higher of the votes on the initial AMPAS ballot will receive a nomination (in past years this would have meant a field of 5-9 nominees). Thank goodness!!
1=28101&mpc=2">http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=653063>1=28101&mpc=2
Nominations will be announced January 24, 2012 - mark your calendars!!
1=28101&mpc=2">http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=653063>1=28101&mpc=2
Nominations will be announced January 24, 2012 - mark your calendars!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Round-up!!!
Generally the husband and I are able to at least round out the Best Actor and Actress categories each year, but this year we came up short. The week and weekend of the Oscar's was busy busy busy for us, but we were able to grab a couple more of the movies at home. The first was Animal Kingdom. This is an Australian film up for Best Supporting Actress for Jacki Weaver. Interesting tidbit - this film was nominated for 18 Australian Film Institute Awards (Australia's Oscar's) which is the most any movie has ever been nominated. It won almost everything with the exception of the Acting categories where more than one cast member was nominated (only one could win). Jacki Weaver plays the matriarch of an organized crime family. She has 5 sons and 1 daughter and when the daughter dies (of an overdose), Smurf (Jacki Weaver) takes in her grandson. The movie is a look at their family through his eyes. It is gritty and sometimes hard-to-watch, but it is interesting and it is good and Jacki Weaver just embodies the role. Definitely worth seeing.
Saturday night we watched Alice in Wonderland. I was eagerly anticipating this movie while it was being made because I love Tim Burton's eye, but then the reviews were pretty rough. The story meanders and feels a little disjointed - it takes elements from both books and the Disney cartoon, but is also a return to Underland for Alice - I didn't really get the framing. Either way, it does look GOOD. Colleen Atwood definitely deserved her nomination (and win) for Best Costume - I mean I wanted to wear every single thing Alice wore. But as far as this movie being something interesting or different in the Alice pantheon, I just kind of say, "meh."
SO the Oscars...I loved loved loved the idea of Anne Hathaway and James Franco co-hosting and I still think it could have been great, but somehow it just didn't quite pan out. I thought James Franco was super-stiff (and possibly high) and Anne Hathaway did her best to compensate, but it was just a bit off. I know a lot of people thought Kirk Douglas was super-charming and hilarious, but for me it was one segment that just drug on forever. His presentation coupled with Melissa Leo's long acceptance speech - I think 30 minutes ended up being dedicated to that award. I was disappointed that there were no real surprises in the winners. I really enjoyed both The King's Speech and The Social Network, but I was really hoping that by Oscar time everyone would have gotten over that and Black Swan and Darren Aronofsky could just be given their due. I was/am so happy for Natalie Portman and her win - the clip they showed from the movie made me emotional, so you can imagine I was even more so during her acceptance speech. Yay Natalie! I still think 10 Best Picture nominees is too much, but it was nice to see how spread out those films are across genre and appeal. Don't worry, Academy, I'll be back next year.
What's next now that the Academy Awards have passed? Well, Salt still arrived via Netflix, so at least one of us will watch that. Paul also opens in a few weeks and the cast is just irresistable (Seth Rogan, Simon Pegg, Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman - and those are just in the commercials I've seen).
Also - what did you think of the Academy Awards - show and winners?
Saturday night we watched Alice in Wonderland. I was eagerly anticipating this movie while it was being made because I love Tim Burton's eye, but then the reviews were pretty rough. The story meanders and feels a little disjointed - it takes elements from both books and the Disney cartoon, but is also a return to Underland for Alice - I didn't really get the framing. Either way, it does look GOOD. Colleen Atwood definitely deserved her nomination (and win) for Best Costume - I mean I wanted to wear every single thing Alice wore. But as far as this movie being something interesting or different in the Alice pantheon, I just kind of say, "meh."
SO the Oscars...I loved loved loved the idea of Anne Hathaway and James Franco co-hosting and I still think it could have been great, but somehow it just didn't quite pan out. I thought James Franco was super-stiff (and possibly high) and Anne Hathaway did her best to compensate, but it was just a bit off. I know a lot of people thought Kirk Douglas was super-charming and hilarious, but for me it was one segment that just drug on forever. His presentation coupled with Melissa Leo's long acceptance speech - I think 30 minutes ended up being dedicated to that award. I was disappointed that there were no real surprises in the winners. I really enjoyed both The King's Speech and The Social Network, but I was really hoping that by Oscar time everyone would have gotten over that and Black Swan and Darren Aronofsky could just be given their due. I was/am so happy for Natalie Portman and her win - the clip they showed from the movie made me emotional, so you can imagine I was even more so during her acceptance speech. Yay Natalie! I still think 10 Best Picture nominees is too much, but it was nice to see how spread out those films are across genre and appeal. Don't worry, Academy, I'll be back next year.
What's next now that the Academy Awards have passed? Well, Salt still arrived via Netflix, so at least one of us will watch that. Paul also opens in a few weeks and the cast is just irresistable (Seth Rogan, Simon Pegg, Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman - and those are just in the commercials I've seen).
Also - what did you think of the Academy Awards - show and winners?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Serious case of catch-up!
Well, the nominations have been announced and I am proud to say my husband and I ended up seeing all 10 of the Best Picture nominees! But goodness am I behind in telling you about them! And not to mention the other nominees we've seen.
The Fighter - Once again, annoyed by noisy patrons at the Arbor. What is the deal, people?! Anyways, I really liked the movie. Great acting performances and a really interesting story. I don't really follow any kind of fighting, so the plot was all new to me (it's the story of "Irish" Micky Ward). Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor) certainly deserves the win and I was disappointed Mark Wahlberg didn't make the nomination cut. I read somewhere recently that Melissa Leo's (Best Supporting Actress) performance is kind of like, "Give me an Oscar!" and I do agree with that assessment. She's incredible, but she showed much more range and depth in Frozen River (her first Academy Award nomination). The sisters are as great as everyone says and Amy Adams (Best Supporting Actress) really holds her own as well. Good movie, but we'll get to my favorite movie set in Massachusetts in a minute.
The Kids Are All Right - Super interesting movie. To me, the movie was really about the difficulties of a committed relationship, regardless of your gender or orientation. Of course, it is complicated by the fact there is a third unknown figure (the sperm donor) that doesn't exist in all relationships. It was kind of comforting (to me) to see the similarities in romantic relationships, rather than the overt ones that the movie addresses on the surface. I don't really think Mark Ruffalo should have been nominated for Best Actor - he's good, of course - but he doesn't really cover any new ground in this role. Annette Bening (Best Actress) and Julianne Moore are believable and I really commend this movie for its boldness. Definitely one to see.
How to Train Your Dragon - Super cute, nominated for Best Animated Film and Best Original Score. Very fun to watch, great message, but doesn't really hold a candle to Toy Story 3.
The Town - Now this is my favorite movie set in Massachusetts and in my opinion, the biggest snub by the Academy. Jeremy Renner, of course, deserves his nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but this film deserves so much more. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay - you name it. We finished it and I wanted to watch it again. Really interesting action/crime/drama, but much less complicated than The Departed. Do yourself a favor and Netflix this one ASAP.
Biutiful - Thankfully, not disrupted by loud Arbor patrons! This is nominated for Best Foreign Film and Best Actor (Javier Bardem). Bardem portrays a criminal who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and sets about his life to make things right. I really don't want to give away too much and while my short summary is dismal, this movie really is good. The imagery is subtle, yet lovely, and you continue to root for Javier Bardem's character. There are some difficult scenes, but the beauty really does outweigh those. Keep an eye out for when you feel like watching a heavy, subtitle, yet rewarding movie.
Coming up? Turns out our life is pretty busy between now and the big show. Our current Netflix movie is Animal Kingdom (Best Supporting Actress - Jacki Weaver) and we have I am Love (Best Costume Design), Restrepo (Best Documentary-Long Subject), and Exit Through the Gift Shop (Best Documentary-Long Subject) all on streaming. Unfortunately, we missed Rabbit Hole (Best Actress - Nicole Kidman) in the theaters, so if we make it back to our dear Arbor it will be to see either Blue Valentine (Best Actress - Michelle Williams) or The Illusionist (Best Animated Film) - or both!
What are you seeing next?
The Fighter - Once again, annoyed by noisy patrons at the Arbor. What is the deal, people?! Anyways, I really liked the movie. Great acting performances and a really interesting story. I don't really follow any kind of fighting, so the plot was all new to me (it's the story of "Irish" Micky Ward). Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor) certainly deserves the win and I was disappointed Mark Wahlberg didn't make the nomination cut. I read somewhere recently that Melissa Leo's (Best Supporting Actress) performance is kind of like, "Give me an Oscar!" and I do agree with that assessment. She's incredible, but she showed much more range and depth in Frozen River (her first Academy Award nomination). The sisters are as great as everyone says and Amy Adams (Best Supporting Actress) really holds her own as well. Good movie, but we'll get to my favorite movie set in Massachusetts in a minute.
The Kids Are All Right - Super interesting movie. To me, the movie was really about the difficulties of a committed relationship, regardless of your gender or orientation. Of course, it is complicated by the fact there is a third unknown figure (the sperm donor) that doesn't exist in all relationships. It was kind of comforting (to me) to see the similarities in romantic relationships, rather than the overt ones that the movie addresses on the surface. I don't really think Mark Ruffalo should have been nominated for Best Actor - he's good, of course - but he doesn't really cover any new ground in this role. Annette Bening (Best Actress) and Julianne Moore are believable and I really commend this movie for its boldness. Definitely one to see.
How to Train Your Dragon - Super cute, nominated for Best Animated Film and Best Original Score. Very fun to watch, great message, but doesn't really hold a candle to Toy Story 3.
The Town - Now this is my favorite movie set in Massachusetts and in my opinion, the biggest snub by the Academy. Jeremy Renner, of course, deserves his nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but this film deserves so much more. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay - you name it. We finished it and I wanted to watch it again. Really interesting action/crime/drama, but much less complicated than The Departed. Do yourself a favor and Netflix this one ASAP.
Biutiful - Thankfully, not disrupted by loud Arbor patrons! This is nominated for Best Foreign Film and Best Actor (Javier Bardem). Bardem portrays a criminal who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and sets about his life to make things right. I really don't want to give away too much and while my short summary is dismal, this movie really is good. The imagery is subtle, yet lovely, and you continue to root for Javier Bardem's character. There are some difficult scenes, but the beauty really does outweigh those. Keep an eye out for when you feel like watching a heavy, subtitle, yet rewarding movie.
Coming up? Turns out our life is pretty busy between now and the big show. Our current Netflix movie is Animal Kingdom (Best Supporting Actress - Jacki Weaver) and we have I am Love (Best Costume Design), Restrepo (Best Documentary-Long Subject), and Exit Through the Gift Shop (Best Documentary-Long Subject) all on streaming. Unfortunately, we missed Rabbit Hole (Best Actress - Nicole Kidman) in the theaters, so if we make it back to our dear Arbor it will be to see either Blue Valentine (Best Actress - Michelle Williams) or The Illusionist (Best Animated Film) - or both!
What are you seeing next?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Boys of Summer
So...I was driving to work this morning and since 101X insists on playing Red Hot Chili Peppers all of the time, I flipped over to KGSR and the aforementioned song was playing. It was the original, by Don Henley. I like this song. I think it's a great song. My parents were into Don Henley when I was younger, so I've been with this song for a long time.
However, as most girls my age, I got into the Atari's around the end of high school. They are your basic post-punk, pop-rock band. On their album, "So Long, Astoria" they included their version of this song. I loved it, America loved it (it is still their highest charting single). They updated it a little - their version is a little more rockin' and they reference Black Flag rather than the Grateful Dead. All in all, great cover.
So back to me in my car this morning. I'm waiting to turn left and having sort of a low-key jam to Don Henley when I found myself wanting a little more to the song. And I realized, I really like the Atari's version a lot better than Don Henley's original. I feel like the later version of the song has more emotion, and more than that, more desperation. Kris Roe's vocals really capture the nostalgia and the urgency of this regret about a time has drifted away. Don Henley just kind of sounds like he's cruising, you know?
So there, I said it. I admitted it. I like the cover better than the original. Sorry, Don Henley, but thank you so much for playing it with the Eagles at ACL Fest last year!
Funny side story - when my husband and I were first dating, he made me a mix cd for my birthday (which was about 3 weeks after we started dating). So he calls me the next day to ask how I liked it and all that business. As I was praising his excellent mix cd skills he asked, "Did you like how I threw down the original 'Boys of Summer'?" I did my best, but ended up busting up laughing. The cd had the version by DJ Sammy. He assumed that the Ataris had covered a DJ Sammy song. Hilarious. He is still that adorable. Maybe that's why I like this song so much...
However, as most girls my age, I got into the Atari's around the end of high school. They are your basic post-punk, pop-rock band. On their album, "So Long, Astoria" they included their version of this song. I loved it, America loved it (it is still their highest charting single). They updated it a little - their version is a little more rockin' and they reference Black Flag rather than the Grateful Dead. All in all, great cover.
So back to me in my car this morning. I'm waiting to turn left and having sort of a low-key jam to Don Henley when I found myself wanting a little more to the song. And I realized, I really like the Atari's version a lot better than Don Henley's original. I feel like the later version of the song has more emotion, and more than that, more desperation. Kris Roe's vocals really capture the nostalgia and the urgency of this regret about a time has drifted away. Don Henley just kind of sounds like he's cruising, you know?
So there, I said it. I admitted it. I like the cover better than the original. Sorry, Don Henley, but thank you so much for playing it with the Eagles at ACL Fest last year!
Funny side story - when my husband and I were first dating, he made me a mix cd for my birthday (which was about 3 weeks after we started dating). So he calls me the next day to ask how I liked it and all that business. As I was praising his excellent mix cd skills he asked, "Did you like how I threw down the original 'Boys of Summer'?" I did my best, but ended up busting up laughing. The cd had the version by DJ Sammy. He assumed that the Ataris had covered a DJ Sammy song. Hilarious. He is still that adorable. Maybe that's why I like this song so much...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Survival
This weekend brought 2 more Golden Globe-nominated, Oscar-hopeful movies. When I was thinking about blogging about these 2 movies together, their common thread dawned on me: survival - in 2 very different ways. The movies also have stellar performances and a real grittiness in common.
Friday night found my husband and I at the Arbor and as ready as we would ever be to see 127 Hours. While it was nice to be in a mostly empty theatre for a change, there were 2 LOUD women over my left shoulder. Listen, I gasped out loud a time or two and my husband and I whisper to each other, but this was like prolonged exclamations and repetitive conversations. If only I could have raised an order flag to alert my server. Alas...
Anyways - 127 Hours chronicles the 127 hours hiker Aron Ralston spent with his hand trapped between a boulder and a canyon wall in Bluejohn Canyon in Utah. I actually saw him on Letterman shortly after his ordeal, so I was really intrigued that they were making a movie about it. I was even more intrigued when I learned Danny Boyle was directing it. So basically Aron spends his weekends hiking and climbing and this particular weekend (seemingly due to his own sense of invincibility) did not let anyone know where he was going. Cut to mid-day Saturday and he is at the bottom of a canyon with his hand stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place (also the name of his book). If you don't know how this story ends - SPOILER ALERT. After some minor hallucinations and struggling to free his hand from the rock, Ralston decides to take fate into his own hands and frees himself - by cutting his arm off a few inches below the elbow. He then wanders for about 8 more hours, rappels down a cliff (WITH ONE ARM!), and is rescued by a Swedish family.
I heard this movie described as basically an acting master class by James Franco. This description is dead-on. He commits to this carefree character and really spirals into the depression, grief, and mania that this man went through. One particularly interesting scene is when Aron is interviewing himself as if on a radio show for hikers, Franco captures both charm and disdain in this exchange with himself. But even outside of Franco's performance, the movie is exceptionally crafted with an uplifting score by A.R. Rahman. Yes, the amputation scene is gruesome, but you get a really cathartic ending that is made all the better by the fact that this a true tale of survival and really coming out on the other side. He chose physiological survival and gained his life back.
On Saturday we finally watched our Netflix movie - Winter's Bone. This story is set in the backwoods of the Ozarks and follows Ree Dolly. Ree is a 17-year-old who is primarily responsible for her younger brother and sister and her mother that has been pushed psychologically over-the-edge. The family barely has enough to make it day-to-day anyways, but then a police officer informs Ree that her crank-cooking father has put up their land and house for his bond and they lose it if he doesn't show up for court the next week. Ree must strike out on her own to track him down. She has to confront his family and rival "families," all the while caring for her own. Jennifer Lawrence (as Ree Dolly) gives a powerful and unapologetic performance in this "country noir" film. I ended up liking the movie although it was a little hard to follow due to the authentic accents and dialects. I also liked seeing the resilience of a teenager and her prevailing love for her family. Ree didn't pity herself or the hand she was dealt and that part of her character pushed her to take care of her family at all costs. Survival again!!
Coming Attractions - I'm hoping to see The Fighter this weekend and we'll finally get a new Netflix movie in the mail - The Kids Are All Right.
Friday night found my husband and I at the Arbor and as ready as we would ever be to see 127 Hours. While it was nice to be in a mostly empty theatre for a change, there were 2 LOUD women over my left shoulder. Listen, I gasped out loud a time or two and my husband and I whisper to each other, but this was like prolonged exclamations and repetitive conversations. If only I could have raised an order flag to alert my server. Alas...
Anyways - 127 Hours chronicles the 127 hours hiker Aron Ralston spent with his hand trapped between a boulder and a canyon wall in Bluejohn Canyon in Utah. I actually saw him on Letterman shortly after his ordeal, so I was really intrigued that they were making a movie about it. I was even more intrigued when I learned Danny Boyle was directing it. So basically Aron spends his weekends hiking and climbing and this particular weekend (seemingly due to his own sense of invincibility) did not let anyone know where he was going. Cut to mid-day Saturday and he is at the bottom of a canyon with his hand stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place (also the name of his book). If you don't know how this story ends - SPOILER ALERT. After some minor hallucinations and struggling to free his hand from the rock, Ralston decides to take fate into his own hands and frees himself - by cutting his arm off a few inches below the elbow. He then wanders for about 8 more hours, rappels down a cliff (WITH ONE ARM!), and is rescued by a Swedish family.
I heard this movie described as basically an acting master class by James Franco. This description is dead-on. He commits to this carefree character and really spirals into the depression, grief, and mania that this man went through. One particularly interesting scene is when Aron is interviewing himself as if on a radio show for hikers, Franco captures both charm and disdain in this exchange with himself. But even outside of Franco's performance, the movie is exceptionally crafted with an uplifting score by A.R. Rahman. Yes, the amputation scene is gruesome, but you get a really cathartic ending that is made all the better by the fact that this a true tale of survival and really coming out on the other side. He chose physiological survival and gained his life back.
On Saturday we finally watched our Netflix movie - Winter's Bone. This story is set in the backwoods of the Ozarks and follows Ree Dolly. Ree is a 17-year-old who is primarily responsible for her younger brother and sister and her mother that has been pushed psychologically over-the-edge. The family barely has enough to make it day-to-day anyways, but then a police officer informs Ree that her crank-cooking father has put up their land and house for his bond and they lose it if he doesn't show up for court the next week. Ree must strike out on her own to track him down. She has to confront his family and rival "families," all the while caring for her own. Jennifer Lawrence (as Ree Dolly) gives a powerful and unapologetic performance in this "country noir" film. I ended up liking the movie although it was a little hard to follow due to the authentic accents and dialects. I also liked seeing the resilience of a teenager and her prevailing love for her family. Ree didn't pity herself or the hand she was dealt and that part of her character pushed her to take care of her family at all costs. Survival again!!
Coming Attractions - I'm hoping to see The Fighter this weekend and we'll finally get a new Netflix movie in the mail - The Kids Are All Right.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Good Start to a New Year
Somehow we made it to 2 movies in the first 2 days of 2011. We have since dropped off.
After a scrumptious day of football and New Year's food (...and mimosas), we made our way to the Alamo Drafthouse Village for a late showing of True Grit. Now I (nor anyone in my party, I believe) haven't seen the original or read the book that each movie is based on - just wanted to get that out there. That being said, I really enjoyed it. As expected all of the principal actors gave inspired performances and it was shot very beautifully by the Coen's (again, as per usual). I personally really enjoyed seeing the movie in a room full of Texans as Matt Damon's character is a Texas Ranger and plays that part as you expect. A little braggadocio and a lot of drawl. Fortunately we all found it humorous, but I did wonder what people in the rest of the country thought about that sort of portrayal and Texans in general. It probably just perpetuated the over-the-top, horse-riding, boots and hat-wearing stereotype - but at least he was charming, right? I also really loved the continuity of the musical theme of the hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." I'm not really sure why they chose Iris DeMent's version as their jumping off point, but she appears to be successful for some reason. Incidentally the composer's reliance on old hymns is what disqualified this film from being eligible for Best Original Score. Certainly deserves a nomination for Best Picture, don't know if it deserves to win.
The next day we traveled down to Alamo South Lamar for a lunch showing of The King's Speech. Great performances again - although I was most impressed with Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter as the once and future King and Queen. Colin Firth was a family and company man, but still likable and really displayed the true struggle that King George VI endured his whole life long. I have remarked to more than one person that it was so lovely to see Helena Bonham Carter not play a crazy-face. She was prim and proper and sweet and really added a great, supportive asset to the film. I also liked how the film explored Bertie's (Colin Firth) brother's abdication of the throne and the family issues that posed - not just overcoming a stammer. All in all a very interesting and good movie. The friend we saw the movie with asked us to rank this movie with others we've seen recently and it was hard because it really is a great movie, but it's not anything like Black Swan or even True Grit. Like how would you even compare? It's a great period peace that is impeccably crafted, but I wouldn't say it broke any new ground.
This afternoon I'm hoping to get out to see either 127 Hours or The Fighter. Don't worry - I'll check back and let you know what I think.
After a scrumptious day of football and New Year's food (...and mimosas), we made our way to the Alamo Drafthouse Village for a late showing of True Grit. Now I (nor anyone in my party, I believe) haven't seen the original or read the book that each movie is based on - just wanted to get that out there. That being said, I really enjoyed it. As expected all of the principal actors gave inspired performances and it was shot very beautifully by the Coen's (again, as per usual). I personally really enjoyed seeing the movie in a room full of Texans as Matt Damon's character is a Texas Ranger and plays that part as you expect. A little braggadocio and a lot of drawl. Fortunately we all found it humorous, but I did wonder what people in the rest of the country thought about that sort of portrayal and Texans in general. It probably just perpetuated the over-the-top, horse-riding, boots and hat-wearing stereotype - but at least he was charming, right? I also really loved the continuity of the musical theme of the hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." I'm not really sure why they chose Iris DeMent's version as their jumping off point, but she appears to be successful for some reason. Incidentally the composer's reliance on old hymns is what disqualified this film from being eligible for Best Original Score. Certainly deserves a nomination for Best Picture, don't know if it deserves to win.
The next day we traveled down to Alamo South Lamar for a lunch showing of The King's Speech. Great performances again - although I was most impressed with Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter as the once and future King and Queen. Colin Firth was a family and company man, but still likable and really displayed the true struggle that King George VI endured his whole life long. I have remarked to more than one person that it was so lovely to see Helena Bonham Carter not play a crazy-face. She was prim and proper and sweet and really added a great, supportive asset to the film. I also liked how the film explored Bertie's (Colin Firth) brother's abdication of the throne and the family issues that posed - not just overcoming a stammer. All in all a very interesting and good movie. The friend we saw the movie with asked us to rank this movie with others we've seen recently and it was hard because it really is a great movie, but it's not anything like Black Swan or even True Grit. Like how would you even compare? It's a great period peace that is impeccably crafted, but I wouldn't say it broke any new ground.
This afternoon I'm hoping to get out to see either 127 Hours or The Fighter. Don't worry - I'll check back and let you know what I think.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Black and Deathly
With the onslaught of movies opening in our fair city, the husband and I are trying to ease back into our crazy movie-viewing rhythm. Christmas somehow consumed all of December, so it's been slow going.
Against my better judgment, my husband convinced me that we should just screw it and go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I had laundry to do, birthdays to shop for, soup to cook - but somehow was swayed to spend at least 2.5 hours at the movies instead. Guess what, people? Totally worth it. I really liked the movie. I even liked that the money-grubbing powers that be decided to split the book into 2 movies. I think this decision will really do this final tale justice. The plot clicked along a little faster than in the book (but that's pretty necessary), but even so it was able to show the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are blossoming adults, yet still awkward kids. These actors have really grown professionally and it's beautiful to see that as well. I was also very impressed with the cinematography - the wilderness scenes really achieve the desolation and isolation that the characters are feeling. They aren't just gorgeous settings in the UK. My favorite scene may have been the one in Godric's Hollow - it looked and felt just how I imagined it when I read it!!! Super eerie, yet weighted with fate and importance. It was kind of like when I saw the first movie and you came upon Hogwarts for the first time. Very exciting. I know one general criticisms of these movies is their disjointed nature for the viewers who have not read the books (like they plot doesn't connect well enough for them to really be stand-alone movies). But my husband hadn't read this book yet and he felt like he could follow it pretty well. I am anxiously awaiting Part 2! I know a few people are holding out on seeing Part 1 until the second part comes out so they don't have to wait for the end (a la The Lord of the Rings). While I understand that viewpoint, I was just too excited to see this one!
Once our 10-day Christmas celebration ended on the 26th, we dropped the dog off at home and raced over to the Arbor to see Black Swan. I was definitely nervous about being disappointed because there has been so much hype. The film is really a slow build, so for the first 30 minutes I was kind of like, "damn, over-hyped." But then, it kind of snuck up on me and I was right there in it. Flawless performances all around and really interesting through and through. It is much more than a dance movie and more than a thriller. It's one of those that you discuss at length with each person you encounter who has seen it as well. There are tons of nooks and crannies and possibilities to explore. And yes, the lesbian scene is pretty hot.
We also attempted to see The King's Speech this week, but it was sold out. Attempt #2 is on Sunday. I'm also hoping to make it out for one more this week - True Grit, The Fighter, 127 Hours, who knows?
Against my better judgment, my husband convinced me that we should just screw it and go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I had laundry to do, birthdays to shop for, soup to cook - but somehow was swayed to spend at least 2.5 hours at the movies instead. Guess what, people? Totally worth it. I really liked the movie. I even liked that the money-grubbing powers that be decided to split the book into 2 movies. I think this decision will really do this final tale justice. The plot clicked along a little faster than in the book (but that's pretty necessary), but even so it was able to show the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are blossoming adults, yet still awkward kids. These actors have really grown professionally and it's beautiful to see that as well. I was also very impressed with the cinematography - the wilderness scenes really achieve the desolation and isolation that the characters are feeling. They aren't just gorgeous settings in the UK. My favorite scene may have been the one in Godric's Hollow - it looked and felt just how I imagined it when I read it!!! Super eerie, yet weighted with fate and importance. It was kind of like when I saw the first movie and you came upon Hogwarts for the first time. Very exciting. I know one general criticisms of these movies is their disjointed nature for the viewers who have not read the books (like they plot doesn't connect well enough for them to really be stand-alone movies). But my husband hadn't read this book yet and he felt like he could follow it pretty well. I am anxiously awaiting Part 2! I know a few people are holding out on seeing Part 1 until the second part comes out so they don't have to wait for the end (a la The Lord of the Rings). While I understand that viewpoint, I was just too excited to see this one!
Once our 10-day Christmas celebration ended on the 26th, we dropped the dog off at home and raced over to the Arbor to see Black Swan. I was definitely nervous about being disappointed because there has been so much hype. The film is really a slow build, so for the first 30 minutes I was kind of like, "damn, over-hyped." But then, it kind of snuck up on me and I was right there in it. Flawless performances all around and really interesting through and through. It is much more than a dance movie and more than a thriller. It's one of those that you discuss at length with each person you encounter who has seen it as well. There are tons of nooks and crannies and possibilities to explore. And yes, the lesbian scene is pretty hot.
We also attempted to see The King's Speech this week, but it was sold out. Attempt #2 is on Sunday. I'm also hoping to make it out for one more this week - True Grit, The Fighter, 127 Hours, who knows?
Friday, November 19, 2010
"If they invented facebook, they would have invented facebook!"
I was watching Conan last night and Jesse Eisenberg was one of the guests. This reminded me that I never posted a review of The Social Network.
My husband and I saw it at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek about a month ago and I remember really enjoying it start to finish. However, in the days and weeks since, it's been kind of clanging around in my head. But not in an interesting, let's-think-about-it way like Inception, more like it wasn't super-memorable. I've been wondering why. I know you're thinking it was the glass of wine or whatever I had during my dinner-and-a-movie, but my husband and I split a bucket of beer at Inception, and I remember a whole hell of a lot more about that movie.
Seeing Jesse Eisenberg on Conan was a great refresher. Jesse Eisenberg (and Justin Timberlake) is what made the movie so great. The movie, if you don't know, is about the beginning of facebook. How it came together at Harvard at the beginning of the decade and how it almost fell apart upon the business's move to California. Of course, it follows Mark Zuckerberg as well, as the two seem more and more inseparable as the movie rolls on. It's an interesting story of relationships and status (to be honest), and what else is facebook about really?
However, Jesse Eisenberg, though his character (Mark Zuckerberg) is somewhat unassuming, commands your attention throughout the entire movie. He is in such control of himself, his emotions, his speech, that you are really interested by this character/person. After watching it, though, I was kind of like, "yeah, he was good, but isn't he just like that?" He is not - is what I found out on Conan last night. He is awkward, unsure, and self-deprecating. And loves cats (he fosters cats, isn't that so nice?!). He seemed like such a nice guy, but not necessarily at all like the cocky programmer he portrayed on screen. The Oscar buzz for his performance is still strong, so you may want to head out and catch this one if you still can. It also features great support performances from Justin Timberlake (as Sean Parker), Andrew Garfield (the new Spider-Man), and this guy who plays the Winkelvoss twins. It's interesting for anyone who uses facebook, which is everyone (except my mom, thank God). At the very least watch the trailer, which may be one of my favorite trailers of all time.
On a related note, are you watching Conan? I am, and DVR-ing it as well. I really like it and I don't want to let Conan down like I did with the The Tonight Show (I only watched his first and last episodes, but to be fair, I go to bed at the time that show comes on; how my parents watch so much of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson - I will never understand). I'm ready for the show (so glad Andy Richter is back!) to get into a groove and get some recurring bits, but I'm sticking with it for now (I kind of miss watching Family Guy, though).
My husband and I saw it at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek about a month ago and I remember really enjoying it start to finish. However, in the days and weeks since, it's been kind of clanging around in my head. But not in an interesting, let's-think-about-it way like Inception, more like it wasn't super-memorable. I've been wondering why. I know you're thinking it was the glass of wine or whatever I had during my dinner-and-a-movie, but my husband and I split a bucket of beer at Inception, and I remember a whole hell of a lot more about that movie.
Seeing Jesse Eisenberg on Conan was a great refresher. Jesse Eisenberg (and Justin Timberlake) is what made the movie so great. The movie, if you don't know, is about the beginning of facebook. How it came together at Harvard at the beginning of the decade and how it almost fell apart upon the business's move to California. Of course, it follows Mark Zuckerberg as well, as the two seem more and more inseparable as the movie rolls on. It's an interesting story of relationships and status (to be honest), and what else is facebook about really?
However, Jesse Eisenberg, though his character (Mark Zuckerberg) is somewhat unassuming, commands your attention throughout the entire movie. He is in such control of himself, his emotions, his speech, that you are really interested by this character/person. After watching it, though, I was kind of like, "yeah, he was good, but isn't he just like that?" He is not - is what I found out on Conan last night. He is awkward, unsure, and self-deprecating. And loves cats (he fosters cats, isn't that so nice?!). He seemed like such a nice guy, but not necessarily at all like the cocky programmer he portrayed on screen. The Oscar buzz for his performance is still strong, so you may want to head out and catch this one if you still can. It also features great support performances from Justin Timberlake (as Sean Parker), Andrew Garfield (the new Spider-Man), and this guy who plays the Winkelvoss twins. It's interesting for anyone who uses facebook, which is everyone (except my mom, thank God). At the very least watch the trailer, which may be one of my favorite trailers of all time.
On a related note, are you watching Conan? I am, and DVR-ing it as well. I really like it and I don't want to let Conan down like I did with the The Tonight Show (I only watched his first and last episodes, but to be fair, I go to bed at the time that show comes on; how my parents watch so much of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson - I will never understand). I'm ready for the show (so glad Andy Richter is back!) to get into a groove and get some recurring bits, but I'm sticking with it for now (I kind of miss watching Family Guy, though).
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Pandora
No, not that Pandora, I already reviewed that one. By the way - did anyone see the "Avatar" re-release? All I ever really heard about it was that they extended the "sex" scene. Meh.
Anyways - I was listening to Pandora (internet radio station you build) at my little desk yesterday. The radio station selected was my Rilo Kiley one with Ben Folds thrown in. So...I'm scanning along in my little hole and "Question" by the Old 97's comes on. I immediately switch back to my browser window so I can click on "Like" as fast as possible - and it's already been selected. Good ear, Pandora.
The thing about this song is - it just makes me feel right. And like everything in the world is right for 2 minutes. As soon as the opening riff started I gasped out loud and just drifted away for a moment to the scene where I imagine this song taking place. It's simple, just guitar and vocals, verse-chorus-verse-chorus, but it packs an emotional, sentimental punch. This song is just perfection.
Here's the chorus (I'll sing it to you any time you like):
Someday somebody's gonna ask you
A question that you should say 'yes' to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight
I've got a question for you
Pair this with the tall drink of water that is Rhett Miller and the way he sways his hips when he plays guitar and I am done.
Other Old 97's faves:
* "Rollerskate Skinny" (my fave)
* "Great Barrier Reef" (my husband's fave)
* "Nineteen"
* "Firefly" (inspiration for my myspace and absolutepunk names - haha! so punk, right?!)
UPDATE - I wandered over to their website after I initially posted this entry and discovered they have a new album coming out on October 12th. Can't wait! Mr. Ken Bethea does a great, quick breakdown on all of the songs on their homepage (and Rhett Miller has a videoblog from the offices of Dunder-Mifflin! That's right, MB, I said it.).
Anyways - I was listening to Pandora (internet radio station you build) at my little desk yesterday. The radio station selected was my Rilo Kiley one with Ben Folds thrown in. So...I'm scanning along in my little hole and "Question" by the Old 97's comes on. I immediately switch back to my browser window so I can click on "Like" as fast as possible - and it's already been selected. Good ear, Pandora.
The thing about this song is - it just makes me feel right. And like everything in the world is right for 2 minutes. As soon as the opening riff started I gasped out loud and just drifted away for a moment to the scene where I imagine this song taking place. It's simple, just guitar and vocals, verse-chorus-verse-chorus, but it packs an emotional, sentimental punch. This song is just perfection.
Here's the chorus (I'll sing it to you any time you like):
Someday somebody's gonna ask you
A question that you should say 'yes' to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight
I've got a question for you
Pair this with the tall drink of water that is Rhett Miller and the way he sways his hips when he plays guitar and I am done.
Other Old 97's faves:
* "Rollerskate Skinny" (my fave)
* "Great Barrier Reef" (my husband's fave)
* "Nineteen"
* "Firefly" (inspiration for my myspace and absolutepunk names - haha! so punk, right?!)
UPDATE - I wandered over to their website after I initially posted this entry and discovered they have a new album coming out on October 12th. Can't wait! Mr. Ken Bethea does a great, quick breakdown on all of the songs on their homepage (and Rhett Miller has a videoblog from the offices of Dunder-Mifflin! That's right, MB, I said it.).
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Catfish
My husband and I found ourselves in the luxurious position of having no plans this past Friday night. So...we began discussing possibilities and I mentioned casually maybe we could go to the movies and there's this cool-looking movie showing at the Alamo South Lamar...and my husband exclaimed, "I saw that on News 8 this morning and I want to see it, too!" We are just too adorable like that. Fortunately I bought tickets that afternoon online because it was sold out by the time we got there.
The aforementioned film is a documentary entitled "Catfish." The film reviewer on News 8 posed it as one of the 2 movies about facebook coming out this fall - but it is much more than that. The documentary follows Nev Schulman as he is being filmed by his brother, Rel, and Henry Joost (the 2 filmmakers and Nev share an office space in NYC). They decide to film Nev as he embarks on a relationship that begins on facebook and proceeds to mail, phone, gchat, and eventually a face-to-face meeting. Again, as the reviewer mentioned, this is one of those cases where "truth is stranger than fiction." He even went so far as to say that it's more of a reality-documentary - meaning it's more free-form and less agenda-driven than most documentaries.
My husband and I both enjoyed the film immensely. It unfolds in such a dramatic way and really tries to remain honest while pointing out some obvious flaws in social networking in the internet age. It was also laugh-out-loud funny, shocking in a jaw-dropping sort of way, and emotional. Somehow I felt it all in the span of 90 or so minutes. Kudos to Nev for laying it all out there for us.
There has also been some controversy surrounding "Catfish" - other viewers (famously Morgan Spurlock and Zach Galifianakis) have called its authenticity into question. However, the 3 of them claim that everything happened as it played out on screen - no script, no actors, none of it (unlike "I'm Still Here," Casey Affleck's 'documentary' about Joaquin Phoenix - is anyone going to see that?). I wouldn't suggest seeking out articles on the controversy if you haven't seen the documentary yet as it may spoil the big reveal.
I say - get out and see this one if it shows up near you. I thought about it all weekend and am really glad we were able to see it.
Also - I had one of the specials at Alamo South Lamar at the urging of our waitress. It was spaghetti squash, zucchini, tomato sauce, and parmesan cheese with garlic bread and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Check out the specials if you can, is what I learned on Friday.
The aforementioned film is a documentary entitled "Catfish." The film reviewer on News 8 posed it as one of the 2 movies about facebook coming out this fall - but it is much more than that. The documentary follows Nev Schulman as he is being filmed by his brother, Rel, and Henry Joost (the 2 filmmakers and Nev share an office space in NYC). They decide to film Nev as he embarks on a relationship that begins on facebook and proceeds to mail, phone, gchat, and eventually a face-to-face meeting. Again, as the reviewer mentioned, this is one of those cases where "truth is stranger than fiction." He even went so far as to say that it's more of a reality-documentary - meaning it's more free-form and less agenda-driven than most documentaries.
My husband and I both enjoyed the film immensely. It unfolds in such a dramatic way and really tries to remain honest while pointing out some obvious flaws in social networking in the internet age. It was also laugh-out-loud funny, shocking in a jaw-dropping sort of way, and emotional. Somehow I felt it all in the span of 90 or so minutes. Kudos to Nev for laying it all out there for us.
There has also been some controversy surrounding "Catfish" - other viewers (famously Morgan Spurlock and Zach Galifianakis) have called its authenticity into question. However, the 3 of them claim that everything happened as it played out on screen - no script, no actors, none of it (unlike "I'm Still Here," Casey Affleck's 'documentary' about Joaquin Phoenix - is anyone going to see that?). I wouldn't suggest seeking out articles on the controversy if you haven't seen the documentary yet as it may spoil the big reveal.
I say - get out and see this one if it shows up near you. I thought about it all weekend and am really glad we were able to see it.
Also - I had one of the specials at Alamo South Lamar at the urging of our waitress. It was spaghetti squash, zucchini, tomato sauce, and parmesan cheese with garlic bread and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Check out the specials if you can, is what I learned on Friday.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Re-invigorated?
I stumbled upon an article on msnbc.com last week about the dearth of "Oscar movies" so far this year. While reading the article I felt inspired to make an appearance on my long-neglected blog and regale you, my faithful readers (reader? singular?), with my thoughts. I was so inspired I even made a little trip over to my tried-and-true Oscar-watch blog, "Little Gold Men" on vanityfair.com to uncover some more possibilities for you. Alas - no Oscar bait over there yet. So we'll press onward with this little nugget.
Of the films mentioned - I've seen two. Oops! I need to continue to hang out at the Arbor after the first week in March, I suppose. Instead I (along with my husband and parents) made my way to the 4-screen theater in Bastrop (where my parents live) on a steamy July day to see Toy Story 3. Unfortunately, I missed the beginning of the short because at this particular theater I HAVE to get a refreshment from the concession stand. Why, do you ask? Because they serve Red Flash (Coca-Cola's answer to Big Red - I'll drink either). Anyways, once the children in the theatre settled down and I settled in (and stopped freaking out about the number of children in the theater), the movie swept me away. What a sweet, bittersweet, honest ending to a wonderful franchise. It was appropriate and fun and still had a great message. While I didn't get to see it in 3D (see aforementioned theater), I don't know that that could have made it any better. The article discussed that this may be another Pixar Best Picture contender now that the ban on animated films being nominated in that category has been lifted.
Towards the end of the summer, my husband and I began taking advantage of his summer off and my Friday afternoons off by catching a matinee movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Village. It was a really fun thing to do together. The film that started this date ball rolling was Inception, the psychological thriller by Christopher Nolan. I know the hipster thing to do is bash this movie, but I don't care. I loved it. I loved that my husband and I spent the whole weekend discussing it and turning it over and basically just thinking about it. I loved being able to suspend my disbelief for a few hours to enter Nolan's dreamworld, literally. The acting performances are excellent and include a well-rounded ensemble cast of characters from across the board. I definitely see the blu-ray of this movie sitting on our shelf in the near future.
The other films mentioned were The Kids Are All Right, Restrepo, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Winter's Bone, The Social Network, True Grit (filmed in and around Austin!), and Hereafter. I'll be honest with you, I've only even heard of half of them and I definitely missed The Kids Are All Right in the theaters. I have a feeling we'll get there, though.
Outside of these films, the one we watched most recently was The Ghost Writer. This is a film directed by Roman Polanski starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, and Kim Cattrall (and her dreadful British accent). The film is based on a book by Robert Harris and is a thinly veiled criticism of Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister (so thin that I even picked up on it and I know precious little about international politics). It is a stark, muted movie set on the stormy Massachusetts coast and follows a ghost-writer (Ewan McGregor) working on the former British Prime Minister's (Pierce Brosnan) memoirs. As the writer stumbles on his predecessor's (recently deceased under suspicious circumstances) research into the underbelly of this politician's life, he discovers more than he bargains for and begins to fear for his life. It is a very interesting movie, albeit a slow build, but one worth watching. The scuttlebutt is that while some of the performances may get nominations for Academy Awards, no one would dare nominate Polanski or this film in their respective categories due to his recent troubles.
The other movie popping up around Austin with Oscar buzz is one called Get Low. This movie stars Robert Duvall and Bill Murray and involves a crochety old man (Duvall) planning his funeral to be staged before he dies. Some say there's a nomination in it for Duvall. I say, maybe it's time to head out to the Arbor...
Of the films mentioned - I've seen two. Oops! I need to continue to hang out at the Arbor after the first week in March, I suppose. Instead I (along with my husband and parents) made my way to the 4-screen theater in Bastrop (where my parents live) on a steamy July day to see Toy Story 3. Unfortunately, I missed the beginning of the short because at this particular theater I HAVE to get a refreshment from the concession stand. Why, do you ask? Because they serve Red Flash (Coca-Cola's answer to Big Red - I'll drink either). Anyways, once the children in the theatre settled down and I settled in (and stopped freaking out about the number of children in the theater), the movie swept me away. What a sweet, bittersweet, honest ending to a wonderful franchise. It was appropriate and fun and still had a great message. While I didn't get to see it in 3D (see aforementioned theater), I don't know that that could have made it any better. The article discussed that this may be another Pixar Best Picture contender now that the ban on animated films being nominated in that category has been lifted.
Towards the end of the summer, my husband and I began taking advantage of his summer off and my Friday afternoons off by catching a matinee movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Village. It was a really fun thing to do together. The film that started this date ball rolling was Inception, the psychological thriller by Christopher Nolan. I know the hipster thing to do is bash this movie, but I don't care. I loved it. I loved that my husband and I spent the whole weekend discussing it and turning it over and basically just thinking about it. I loved being able to suspend my disbelief for a few hours to enter Nolan's dreamworld, literally. The acting performances are excellent and include a well-rounded ensemble cast of characters from across the board. I definitely see the blu-ray of this movie sitting on our shelf in the near future.
The other films mentioned were The Kids Are All Right, Restrepo, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Winter's Bone, The Social Network, True Grit (filmed in and around Austin!), and Hereafter. I'll be honest with you, I've only even heard of half of them and I definitely missed The Kids Are All Right in the theaters. I have a feeling we'll get there, though.
Outside of these films, the one we watched most recently was The Ghost Writer. This is a film directed by Roman Polanski starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, and Kim Cattrall (and her dreadful British accent). The film is based on a book by Robert Harris and is a thinly veiled criticism of Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister (so thin that I even picked up on it and I know precious little about international politics). It is a stark, muted movie set on the stormy Massachusetts coast and follows a ghost-writer (Ewan McGregor) working on the former British Prime Minister's (Pierce Brosnan) memoirs. As the writer stumbles on his predecessor's (recently deceased under suspicious circumstances) research into the underbelly of this politician's life, he discovers more than he bargains for and begins to fear for his life. It is a very interesting movie, albeit a slow build, but one worth watching. The scuttlebutt is that while some of the performances may get nominations for Academy Awards, no one would dare nominate Polanski or this film in their respective categories due to his recent troubles.
The other movie popping up around Austin with Oscar buzz is one called Get Low. This movie stars Robert Duvall and Bill Murray and involves a crochety old man (Duvall) planning his funeral to be staged before he dies. Some say there's a nomination in it for Duvall. I say, maybe it's time to head out to the Arbor...
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Hmm...
Life has greatly slowed down our movie-watching lately. In between gigs for my husband's band and the Olympics, not to mention our regular schedule, our dvd players and movie tickets have been oh-so-lonely.
I don't think we will make it as far along through as many Oscar-nominated films as possible this year for a few reasons. #1 - We have been BUSY (see above)! #2 - It seemed that a smaller volume of the films came out on dvd before the award show. The last 2 years that has really allowed us to get a large chunk of them watched. #3 - If previous award shows and predictions are accurate, we've seen all of the winners. I think this is really what has kept my motivation low. We busted to see all of the Best Picture nominees and those that had already won acting awards, but last year we actually saw EVERY movie nominated for an acting award. This year I bet we've seen 30% or so? So speaking of Best Picture nominees...we finally saw the last one last night...
Netflix sent us A Serious Man at least a week ago. It's been sitting out neglected and alone (although protected from our cats and that is no easy feat). Yes, we're busy, but see my aforementioned statement concerning motivation. I hadn't heard anything that glowing about this film when it was in theatres (and Austin loves the Coen brothers), so I just haven't been too pumped about it (much more pumped about A Single Man - Best Actor nomination for Colin Firth, but alas, that was it's only nomination and down on the list you go).
I wouldn't say I'm pumped about it now after our viewing.
The film opens in turn-of-the-century Eastern Europe on a Jewish couple. This scene is spoken entirely in Yiddish and is a folk tale. FYI - it has nothing to do with the movie and merely "sets the tone," as the Coens put it. I wouldn't say it was as beautifully or lovingly done as the first scene in Inglourious Basterds, but it is neat (looking back) as a stand-alone vignette. This was how it was intended, so now you know (as I didn't) that it is not an integral plot device.
Someone I discussed this film with before I saw it put it this way, this is the Coen Bros.' "religious movie." They grew up Jewish in the Midwest in the '60's and this movie is about a Jewish man/father/husband/brother/professor in the Midwest in the '60's. In one sense, it is a re-telling of Job - but in a way it's not. And that may be what has left me so unsatisfied. Job is studied as a wisdom book in the Old Testament. Job is a most faithful servant of God and through a wager with Lucifer, an angel (widely believed to be the devil), God decides to test Job. God believes that no matter what Lucifer brings upon Job, Job will not turn away from the Lord. So Lucifer does just that. While Job becomes angry, he does not stray or blame God. At the end of the book (spoiler alert!), all of his life and luxuries come back and yay for Job!
While Larry (the focal character) is tested and tested and does not blame Hashem (God), Larry was never really that good in the first place. Not like Job is described to be. He is a physics professor, he owns a house, he has a wife and 2 kids, they go to temple - but there is nothing remarkable about Larry. He can't stand up for himself, he can't help his family. His defense for his troubles is: "I didn't do anything!" And that is precisely the problem - he has never done anything. He has just rolled with life without making a splash or being significant - to anything or anyone. I wish the Coen's would have explored that aspect, but except for the repitition it was left largely unexplored.
This movie definitely has its moments, but I am not sure why it is nominated for Best Picture. The main thing I got from this movie is - the Coens can pretty much make what ever they want at this point. That could be a good thing, but I remember feeling like this after seeing No Country for Old Men. Kind of like, how did we end up here? And where are we going?
Will we see anything else before Oscar night? I don't know. We may have time to grab a movie out over the weekend, or maybe we'll just make time watch Bright Star, the next film on our queue.
Any thoughts for an Oscar night menu?
I don't think we will make it as far along through as many Oscar-nominated films as possible this year for a few reasons. #1 - We have been BUSY (see above)! #2 - It seemed that a smaller volume of the films came out on dvd before the award show. The last 2 years that has really allowed us to get a large chunk of them watched. #3 - If previous award shows and predictions are accurate, we've seen all of the winners. I think this is really what has kept my motivation low. We busted to see all of the Best Picture nominees and those that had already won acting awards, but last year we actually saw EVERY movie nominated for an acting award. This year I bet we've seen 30% or so? So speaking of Best Picture nominees...we finally saw the last one last night...
Netflix sent us A Serious Man at least a week ago. It's been sitting out neglected and alone (although protected from our cats and that is no easy feat). Yes, we're busy, but see my aforementioned statement concerning motivation. I hadn't heard anything that glowing about this film when it was in theatres (and Austin loves the Coen brothers), so I just haven't been too pumped about it (much more pumped about A Single Man - Best Actor nomination for Colin Firth, but alas, that was it's only nomination and down on the list you go).
I wouldn't say I'm pumped about it now after our viewing.
The film opens in turn-of-the-century Eastern Europe on a Jewish couple. This scene is spoken entirely in Yiddish and is a folk tale. FYI - it has nothing to do with the movie and merely "sets the tone," as the Coens put it. I wouldn't say it was as beautifully or lovingly done as the first scene in Inglourious Basterds, but it is neat (looking back) as a stand-alone vignette. This was how it was intended, so now you know (as I didn't) that it is not an integral plot device.
Someone I discussed this film with before I saw it put it this way, this is the Coen Bros.' "religious movie." They grew up Jewish in the Midwest in the '60's and this movie is about a Jewish man/father/husband/brother/professor in the Midwest in the '60's. In one sense, it is a re-telling of Job - but in a way it's not. And that may be what has left me so unsatisfied. Job is studied as a wisdom book in the Old Testament. Job is a most faithful servant of God and through a wager with Lucifer, an angel (widely believed to be the devil), God decides to test Job. God believes that no matter what Lucifer brings upon Job, Job will not turn away from the Lord. So Lucifer does just that. While Job becomes angry, he does not stray or blame God. At the end of the book (spoiler alert!), all of his life and luxuries come back and yay for Job!
While Larry (the focal character) is tested and tested and does not blame Hashem (God), Larry was never really that good in the first place. Not like Job is described to be. He is a physics professor, he owns a house, he has a wife and 2 kids, they go to temple - but there is nothing remarkable about Larry. He can't stand up for himself, he can't help his family. His defense for his troubles is: "I didn't do anything!" And that is precisely the problem - he has never done anything. He has just rolled with life without making a splash or being significant - to anything or anyone. I wish the Coen's would have explored that aspect, but except for the repitition it was left largely unexplored.
This movie definitely has its moments, but I am not sure why it is nominated for Best Picture. The main thing I got from this movie is - the Coens can pretty much make what ever they want at this point. That could be a good thing, but I remember feeling like this after seeing No Country for Old Men. Kind of like, how did we end up here? And where are we going?
Will we see anything else before Oscar night? I don't know. We may have time to grab a movie out over the weekend, or maybe we'll just make time watch Bright Star, the next film on our queue.
Any thoughts for an Oscar night menu?
Friday, February 19, 2010
14 down...
The husband and I made it another double feature night at the Arbor last Friday. Can I just say again how much I LOVE the staff there?!
We started off with "An Education" in the late afternoon. This film stars Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard and is set in London in the early 1960's. The story follows Jenny, a prep-school student whose whole life is centered around getting into Oxford. The focus doesn't seem to bother Jenny as she looks forward to her time at Oxford as a time to escape her parents and eventually move to Paris and listen to French pop music. Her life is intersected by David (Peter Sarsgaard) a worldly gentleman with a penchant for showing young women the school of life. The movie (with screenplay adapted by Nick Hornby - !!!) is enjoyable and actually much funnier than I thought it would be. Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams, Cara Seymour, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, and Emma Thompson shine in their supporting roles and Carey Mulligan really treads the line between 16-yr-old schoolgirl and "young woman" very well. I don't think this is Best Picture, but Mulligan and Hornby's contributions are delightful and worthy of accolade.
We then moved on to "Crazy Heart" - Jeff Bridges' tour-de-force as an aging country singer-songwriter. Thank you, director, for opening the movie at a bowling alley - you know we all wanted it, thanks for delivering. Word of warning - this movie is INTENSE! Maybe not "Precious"-intense, but intense in its own way. I knew the film was about the redemption of this man, but I didn't know we were going to follow him all the way down to the bottom, and then lower than that. The music really takes center stage and I think that really added to the authenticity and credibility of the film - not to mention the actors doing their own vocal and instrumental performances. Who would've thought?! The cameos are so outstanding that I won't ruin them for you. Of the two from our double feature - I would recommend this one over "An Education." Can't wait to watch The Dude accept his Oscar. And Ryan Bingham (fellow Austinite!!! or former, at least).
I had Monday off in honor of President's Day, so I decided to catch up with my husband on our Oscar quest (he was 2 ahead of me!). So I headed down to South Austin to catch "The Blind Side" at the AMC at Barton Creek Square Mall. Foolish me forgot about "Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief" opening this past weekend - I just about had a heart attack standing in line to buy my ticket. No fear upon entering my theatre, just me and old people. Not gonna lie - I really enjoyed this movie. I thought Sandra Bullock was great as a tough, but soft Southern mom and I'm glad this story got told on the big screen. Some critics have branded this film as racist, and I do see that. But at the end of the day, isn't it just about reaching out and helping someone who is down-on-their-luck even though they're not like you? Again - not Best Picture, but a good movie about football and family.
So on Tuesday it was time to catch up on our neglected Netflix and watch "In The Loop" - nominated for Best Original Screenplay. This one is a government satire about miscommunication and power plays eventually leading to declaring war - all in about a week. It involves both British and American politicians and I just don't know if I got it. I would maybe want to watch or discuss it with someone who knows anything about the inner workings of politics (*cough*Will*cough*). It was pretty funny for the first half and then I just got really confused - and kind of ended up not liking any of the characters. Apparently the movie is spun off from a show on the BBC - sadly British humor does not always translate for me. But how awesome was it to see Anna Chlumsky again?!
The future holds "A Serious Man" - coming in our Netflix today. This is the last Best Picture nominee for us to view. Not sure what we'll see in the theatre next - "Nine" has the most nominations of any movie we haven't seen. But "Shutter Island" opens this weekend and I want to see that...who knows...
We started off with "An Education" in the late afternoon. This film stars Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard and is set in London in the early 1960's. The story follows Jenny, a prep-school student whose whole life is centered around getting into Oxford. The focus doesn't seem to bother Jenny as she looks forward to her time at Oxford as a time to escape her parents and eventually move to Paris and listen to French pop music. Her life is intersected by David (Peter Sarsgaard) a worldly gentleman with a penchant for showing young women the school of life. The movie (with screenplay adapted by Nick Hornby - !!!) is enjoyable and actually much funnier than I thought it would be. Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams, Cara Seymour, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, and Emma Thompson shine in their supporting roles and Carey Mulligan really treads the line between 16-yr-old schoolgirl and "young woman" very well. I don't think this is Best Picture, but Mulligan and Hornby's contributions are delightful and worthy of accolade.
We then moved on to "Crazy Heart" - Jeff Bridges' tour-de-force as an aging country singer-songwriter. Thank you, director, for opening the movie at a bowling alley - you know we all wanted it, thanks for delivering. Word of warning - this movie is INTENSE! Maybe not "Precious"-intense, but intense in its own way. I knew the film was about the redemption of this man, but I didn't know we were going to follow him all the way down to the bottom, and then lower than that. The music really takes center stage and I think that really added to the authenticity and credibility of the film - not to mention the actors doing their own vocal and instrumental performances. Who would've thought?! The cameos are so outstanding that I won't ruin them for you. Of the two from our double feature - I would recommend this one over "An Education." Can't wait to watch The Dude accept his Oscar. And Ryan Bingham (fellow Austinite!!! or former, at least).
I had Monday off in honor of President's Day, so I decided to catch up with my husband on our Oscar quest (he was 2 ahead of me!). So I headed down to South Austin to catch "The Blind Side" at the AMC at Barton Creek Square Mall. Foolish me forgot about "Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief" opening this past weekend - I just about had a heart attack standing in line to buy my ticket. No fear upon entering my theatre, just me and old people. Not gonna lie - I really enjoyed this movie. I thought Sandra Bullock was great as a tough, but soft Southern mom and I'm glad this story got told on the big screen. Some critics have branded this film as racist, and I do see that. But at the end of the day, isn't it just about reaching out and helping someone who is down-on-their-luck even though they're not like you? Again - not Best Picture, but a good movie about football and family.
So on Tuesday it was time to catch up on our neglected Netflix and watch "In The Loop" - nominated for Best Original Screenplay. This one is a government satire about miscommunication and power plays eventually leading to declaring war - all in about a week. It involves both British and American politicians and I just don't know if I got it. I would maybe want to watch or discuss it with someone who knows anything about the inner workings of politics (*cough*Will*cough*). It was pretty funny for the first half and then I just got really confused - and kind of ended up not liking any of the characters. Apparently the movie is spun off from a show on the BBC - sadly British humor does not always translate for me. But how awesome was it to see Anna Chlumsky again?!
The future holds "A Serious Man" - coming in our Netflix today. This is the last Best Picture nominee for us to view. Not sure what we'll see in the theatre next - "Nine" has the most nominations of any movie we haven't seen. But "Shutter Island" opens this weekend and I want to see that...who knows...
Monday, February 1, 2010
One fast move or I'm gone...
Life has been moving at breakneck speed in my world as of late, but in the midst of all of it, the husband and I made it out last Wednesday to a show at Antone's. I've only been to Antone's one other time (travesty, right?) and both times I have been impressed at HOW GOOD it sounds in there!!! It really must have the best acoustics of any club downtown. Everything is balanced and clear and not too loud. I really think almost anything (or anyone) can sound good at Antone's. When in Austin, I would recommend catching a show there - I hear they have great blues nights.
So what made us go out on a work night a mere 4 days before my brother's wedding? Ben Gibbard. You would, too. Over the past couple of years Ben (of Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service) has been working on a project with Jay Farrar (of Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo). The project was centered around creating a soundtrack for a film version of Jack Kerouac's "Big Sur" called "One Fast Move or I'm Gone." The process started in 2007 and the album came out late last year. Gibbard and Farrar didn't know each other when it all began and Farrar stated in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman that their early sessions really documented their getting-to-know-you process. By the end of it all, about 90% of the material came straight out of the book and an album was born.
The album in and of itself is very interesting because it is less a melding of 2 styles and more an instance of 2 styles co-existing side-by-side. Gibbard's songs are fun, easy pop and Farrar's have a country/blues bent. From what I know about the book/Kerouac, it seems to be an appropriate juxtaposition. The album starts out with the effortless "California Zephyr" (helmed by Gibbard) and ends with the melancholy "San Francisco" (conversely led by Farrar). In a nutshell, this is how Kerouac's trip to Big Sur went and I think the music captures that. If this was a great review, I would have read the book as well, but what can you do.
Willie Johnson (of Centro-Matic) opened and did a respectable job. It was just himself, his guitar, and a looping pedal. I got a little bored, but he was really sincere and had a nice presence. I know I'm old when I have little tolerance for opening acts. Let's just get to the act I paid to see! And so we did...
True to the album, Ben and Jay opened with "California Zephyr" and then ran like a well-oiled machine. They must have used 10 different guitars between the two of them. The hardest-working guy on stage was their guitar tech - he used each song to tune the next guitar and always got the right guitar to the right guy for the right song. The next hardest-working guy was their steel guitar player - he was out-of-control and pretty much the best I've seen/heard. The whole show was fun to see and experience - and I really felt like I was experiencing a unique moment in music, I wouldn't say I feel like that during a lot of the live music I see. Ben Gibbard got to rock a little more than he usually does with Death Cab (fan girl moment: I was like literally 7 feet away from him whenever he sat down at the piano! EEE!!!!!!) and looked like he really enjoyed that opportunity. Watching/listening to Jay Farrar made me want to get into Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo (my friend, Andrew, is out there rolling his eyes - he's been telling me about Son Volt for years). He plays harmonica like a lead guitar soloist - AMAZING. They played the whole album and some other songs that may have been covers, but I didn't know them. Two encores later, it was time to go and it was totally worth staying out past my bedtime.
Buy the cd, see the show, you'll enjoy it.
So what made us go out on a work night a mere 4 days before my brother's wedding? Ben Gibbard. You would, too. Over the past couple of years Ben (of Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service) has been working on a project with Jay Farrar (of Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo). The project was centered around creating a soundtrack for a film version of Jack Kerouac's "Big Sur" called "One Fast Move or I'm Gone." The process started in 2007 and the album came out late last year. Gibbard and Farrar didn't know each other when it all began and Farrar stated in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman that their early sessions really documented their getting-to-know-you process. By the end of it all, about 90% of the material came straight out of the book and an album was born.
The album in and of itself is very interesting because it is less a melding of 2 styles and more an instance of 2 styles co-existing side-by-side. Gibbard's songs are fun, easy pop and Farrar's have a country/blues bent. From what I know about the book/Kerouac, it seems to be an appropriate juxtaposition. The album starts out with the effortless "California Zephyr" (helmed by Gibbard) and ends with the melancholy "San Francisco" (conversely led by Farrar). In a nutshell, this is how Kerouac's trip to Big Sur went and I think the music captures that. If this was a great review, I would have read the book as well, but what can you do.
Willie Johnson (of Centro-Matic) opened and did a respectable job. It was just himself, his guitar, and a looping pedal. I got a little bored, but he was really sincere and had a nice presence. I know I'm old when I have little tolerance for opening acts. Let's just get to the act I paid to see! And so we did...
True to the album, Ben and Jay opened with "California Zephyr" and then ran like a well-oiled machine. They must have used 10 different guitars between the two of them. The hardest-working guy on stage was their guitar tech - he used each song to tune the next guitar and always got the right guitar to the right guy for the right song. The next hardest-working guy was their steel guitar player - he was out-of-control and pretty much the best I've seen/heard. The whole show was fun to see and experience - and I really felt like I was experiencing a unique moment in music, I wouldn't say I feel like that during a lot of the live music I see. Ben Gibbard got to rock a little more than he usually does with Death Cab (fan girl moment: I was like literally 7 feet away from him whenever he sat down at the piano! EEE!!!!!!) and looked like he really enjoyed that opportunity. Watching/listening to Jay Farrar made me want to get into Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo (my friend, Andrew, is out there rolling his eyes - he's been telling me about Son Volt for years). He plays harmonica like a lead guitar soloist - AMAZING. They played the whole album and some other songs that may have been covers, but I didn't know them. Two encores later, it was time to go and it was totally worth staying out past my bedtime.
Buy the cd, see the show, you'll enjoy it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Would I have seen these otherwise?
This past week or so, the husband and I covered a few more Oscar possibilities via Netflix and the Alamo Drafthouse Village. Let's see what I think...
"District 9" - I am pretty sure there is no way I would have ever chosen to see this movie. It ended up on the list because it was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay award at the Golden Globes. The movie is set in Johannesburg, South Africa (it took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to remember where Johannesburg is) and centers around a 'mother ship' that stalls and hovers over the city. Once agents break in, they discover a race of aliens that are malnourished and proceed to bring them down to Earth and set them up in a tent city deemed "District 9." The aliens, termed 'Prawns' in a derogatory fashion, are unable to leave and as the weeks, months, years progress the tent city slides into a clapboard slum and the Prawns wreak havoc on the human population. Once I figured out the movie was set in South Africa, I found the parallels between the alien treatment and apartheid very fascinating. The cast and crew are all South Africans and of course, the parallels were the point. I was also really fascinated by the idea of inter-planetary diplomacy (has any other alien movie addressed this possibility?) and the natural decision to house and care for these unknown creatures - and then once it becomes permanent there is a slippery slope. I really feel like that is acccurate as far as human nature is concerned. The movie is set up in a documentary style and follows a South African man who is an international agent dealing with District 9. The movie was a bit gruesome, but the writing/concept/acting/action were great. Recommended if you like aliens and stuff like that.
"Avatar" - I mean, I had to see this one, right? Yes yes, we saw it in 3-D. So I really did like the movie. It was entertaining the whole way through and it just looked cool. It was entirely in 3-D - not just for shock value (no snakes striking in your face, Thank God), and I really liked his idea for Pandora and the Na'vi. It should probably win all of the special effects awards. But at the end of the day, this movie is really just "Fern Gully" meets "The Matrix." - my mom threw "Dances With Wolves" in there, too, but I haven't seen that. The story was pretty basic - nothing new there, and the acting wasn't anything special - although the guy who played the main character did a good job. We saw it on Sunday night rather than watching the Golden Globes. The Globes were finishing up when we got home and we saw the last award - Best Picture, Drama. It went to "Avatar." Didn't really agree with that. "Inglourious Basterds" was much better. GO SEE THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW IN 3-D. It's totally worth the experience. Good movie, just not Best Picture great.
"The Hurt Locker" - I'm still really trying to process this movie. It is about the Iraq war and follows an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) unit during the last 40 days of their tour in 2004. The movie is a string of their disposal outings as well as a small look at day-to-day life on the base. What really struck me is how accurate that portrayal seemed. My husband's best friend has served two tours in Iraq as a Marine and after his 2nd tour he showed us about 4 rolls of film he took during his time there. It was mostly he and his buddies rough-housing, funny pictures of livestock, and photos of Iraqi citizens he got to know. I think the movie was good and bold and I think it's important to show that war is a drug for some people. Maybe I just didn't get it - but it's all still kind of ruminating up there wondering if I liked it or not. I thought Jeremy Renner was great and I find it very interesting that this movie was directed by a woman. Interesting little tidbit...Kathryn Bigelow (the director of this film) was briefly married to James Cameon. Nuts, right?!
So would I have sought any of these movies out on my own? Probably not - but I did end up enjoying these movies, so - good for me!
"District 9" - I am pretty sure there is no way I would have ever chosen to see this movie. It ended up on the list because it was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay award at the Golden Globes. The movie is set in Johannesburg, South Africa (it took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to remember where Johannesburg is) and centers around a 'mother ship' that stalls and hovers over the city. Once agents break in, they discover a race of aliens that are malnourished and proceed to bring them down to Earth and set them up in a tent city deemed "District 9." The aliens, termed 'Prawns' in a derogatory fashion, are unable to leave and as the weeks, months, years progress the tent city slides into a clapboard slum and the Prawns wreak havoc on the human population. Once I figured out the movie was set in South Africa, I found the parallels between the alien treatment and apartheid very fascinating. The cast and crew are all South Africans and of course, the parallels were the point. I was also really fascinated by the idea of inter-planetary diplomacy (has any other alien movie addressed this possibility?) and the natural decision to house and care for these unknown creatures - and then once it becomes permanent there is a slippery slope. I really feel like that is acccurate as far as human nature is concerned. The movie is set up in a documentary style and follows a South African man who is an international agent dealing with District 9. The movie was a bit gruesome, but the writing/concept/acting/action were great. Recommended if you like aliens and stuff like that.
"Avatar" - I mean, I had to see this one, right? Yes yes, we saw it in 3-D. So I really did like the movie. It was entertaining the whole way through and it just looked cool. It was entirely in 3-D - not just for shock value (no snakes striking in your face, Thank God), and I really liked his idea for Pandora and the Na'vi. It should probably win all of the special effects awards. But at the end of the day, this movie is really just "Fern Gully" meets "The Matrix." - my mom threw "Dances With Wolves" in there, too, but I haven't seen that. The story was pretty basic - nothing new there, and the acting wasn't anything special - although the guy who played the main character did a good job. We saw it on Sunday night rather than watching the Golden Globes. The Globes were finishing up when we got home and we saw the last award - Best Picture, Drama. It went to "Avatar." Didn't really agree with that. "Inglourious Basterds" was much better. GO SEE THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW IN 3-D. It's totally worth the experience. Good movie, just not Best Picture great.
"The Hurt Locker" - I'm still really trying to process this movie. It is about the Iraq war and follows an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) unit during the last 40 days of their tour in 2004. The movie is a string of their disposal outings as well as a small look at day-to-day life on the base. What really struck me is how accurate that portrayal seemed. My husband's best friend has served two tours in Iraq as a Marine and after his 2nd tour he showed us about 4 rolls of film he took during his time there. It was mostly he and his buddies rough-housing, funny pictures of livestock, and photos of Iraqi citizens he got to know. I think the movie was good and bold and I think it's important to show that war is a drug for some people. Maybe I just didn't get it - but it's all still kind of ruminating up there wondering if I liked it or not. I thought Jeremy Renner was great and I find it very interesting that this movie was directed by a woman. Interesting little tidbit...Kathryn Bigelow (the director of this film) was briefly married to James Cameon. Nuts, right?!
So would I have sought any of these movies out on my own? Probably not - but I did end up enjoying these movies, so - good for me!
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