the oscars are coming!

This morning, the Oscar nominations were announced. I am thrilled to repeat that Kate Winslet was nominated in the leading actress category for her stunning performance in LITTLE CHILDREN. I also want to say how exciting it was to see LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE nominated for best picture. That is great news! I will do my official predictions a little closer to the event itself, but hope you too will make it a mission to see the many wonderful nominated films.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

mama

I love this picture of the baby. Taken by my roomie....here is the baby girl in her new favorite place to sleep.

the bell tolls...and dark monday arrives

After a stress-filled, anxiety-packed couple of weeks, this Monday, I am heading back to work. Yes people...I have been offered a job. I am heading to a major University here in the city, and will work a normal 9-5 job. I have incredible benefits (including free classes!), health insurance, and a 15-minute commute. I am thrilled that things have seemingly worked out so well. Sadly, this brings my Tuesday day-trip to the movies to an end....and I will have to get up before 11am. Sigh. Oh well...at least I will have a paycheck again and can plan my long-term movie-going strategies.

Please think of me this Monday as I rejoin the world of the living.

photo credit: www.best-of-web.com

fun facts

I thought that it could be fun (it might, in fact, not be) to share some little facts about myself...in an effort to bring the world that little bit closer.

*I can't sleep if the sheet/blanket is tucked under the end of the bed. In fact, I sleep best if my feet are exposed.
*At 5'10", I am the shortest person in my family with both of my parents at about 6' and my brother clocking in at 5'11".
*I carry an umbrella with me everywhere that I go....whether it is supposed to rain or not.
*I wear my running shoes probably 325 days out of the year. I recommend New Balance. They are the best.
*I don't floss, and I feel incredibly guilty about it every day.
*I love Keanu Reeve movies.
*I thought DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? was hilarious...and I own it on VHS.
*The movie CRUEL INTENTIONS inspired how I write in my journal....with pictures.
*I tend to compulsively lie when I meet celebrities. I met Ralph Macchio after a performance of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING and told him I owned all of the KARATE KID films...and I don't. (Why would I lie about that?)
*My favorite word is plethora.

Well...that was a plethora of fun facts. I promise...the next entry will be better!

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

lovely

Although she didn't win last night, Kate Winslet looked stunning last night at the Golden Globes. The show was okay last night....I was very excited to see Jennifer Hudson win for DREAMGIRLS, and UGLY BETTY won best comedy as well as best actress. Oh, and Meryl Streep gave a lovely speech as she won best comedic actress for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

Happy movies!

photo credit: www.people.com

so lucky

The last couple of days, as I count down to going back to work, I have been watching my DVD copy of SEAQUEST DSV Season one. I adored this show. It is so funny. And of course, I had such a crush on Jonathan Brandis. I mean, I think I still have his action figure from the show. Anyway, it got me thinking about when I went to meet Jonathan Brandis at a car show. My brother found out about it, and volunteered to drive me there. I don't know if he did it because he knew how much it would mean to me....or if he just wanted to see the cars....or maybe he just wanted to use his sparkly new driver's license. All I know is that he took me, and for a moment, I got to meet the boy that I honestly thought I might marry someday. I think about that so often now. The things that are small in the big scheme of life, but that someone did for you that meant the world. When Jonathan Brandis sadly committed suicide a couple of years ago, my brother actually called me to tell me, and check if I had heard about it. What kind of big brother does that? Honestly...the best kind.
I remember when I was younger, I had a neighbor named Rachel who was my BFF at the time. Her father always used to take us for ice cream cones at McDonalds and then take us "cruising" which consisted of driving around with the music up, and driving through these tunnels by the airport. I always used to ask my dad to take us...and he would always say no. One day, when he was driving Rachel and I home from somewhere, he started to drive around. It was all wrong....it wasn't how we usually "cruised"....but he did it without me asking. I love that moment. It was my dad doing something just because he knew it meant something to me...even if it wasn't perfect. Another tiny, perfect moment in the giant scheme of life.
I hope that you are lucky enough to have these tiny moments in your life. And hopefully we will each remember to give these moments to someone else.

photo credit: www.search.com

never!

We will never speak of the National Championship game of last night between my beloved Buckeyes, and the stinky Gators.

Never.

the pain of love

As I grapple with some big decisions, I decided that I must escape to the cinema today to let my mind focus on someone else's drama for a few hours. I made my way to the Indie theatre and took in the much-anticipated THE PAINTED VEIL. It was a spectacular film....and truthfully not at all what I needed. Edward Norton was, as always, wonderful in this film. With wisdom and simplicity, he took on a new character, and was moving as he did it. I don't really consider myself a Naomi Watts fan. By that, I mean, I don't go out of my way to see all of her films, and have actually not seen 21 GRAMS or MULHOLLAND DRIVE. She was so exquisite in this. Her character marries Mr. Norton's to escape her mother (ha! Don't we all?), and not because she loves him. She finds herself in a torrid affair with Liev Schreiber. Mr. Norton finds out, and they set out to a small Chinese village in the midst of a cholera outbreak. There, in between this epidemic, and angry Chinese Nationalists, they begin a proper courting. The scenery is so gorgeous, and the ravages of the illness so horrible to see. I am a hopeless romantic, and this story spoke to me. It is so well executed and moving.....a true love story with pain, jealousy, and of course romance. With two such accomplished actors, it is an effective look at a realistic connection between two people.

Final thoughts: I have to say....I didn't know exactly what cholera was - um - ew! There is some seriously unpleasant things when the medical crisis is at the forefront of the story. However, if you are a truly hopeless romantic, this story will feed your soul.

Photo credit: www.movieweb.com

i totally know who wrote that....

Rising early on Sunday to NOT attend church (sorry dad...), I instead headed down to an AMC before-noon cheap ticket movie. It was the film MISS POTTER starring Renee Zellweger and the lovely Ewan McGregor. What excites me most about this movie is that it was written by Richard Maltby, Jr., a Broadway lyricist and director with whom I worked as a PA on the Broadway show RING OF FIRE! I brought him lunch for two weeks, and because of that...I am now two degrees away from Ewan McGregor. That makes me super-happy in my soul. The film was very sweet. I like all of the actors, and it was an interesting story. Emily Watson is (as always) a great addition to the film. The story is of (obviously) Beatrix Potter, and focuses mainly on the publication of "Peter Rabbit" and the battle she has with her mother about being able to marry a man of trade. Ewan McGregor plays her publisher, and Ms. Watson his sister. There is gorgeous scenery in this film, most notably when the Potters retire to their summer home in Lake Country. Ah, to be able to summer in such a gorgeous locale. Did I mention I am now two degrees away from Ewan McGregor?

Final thoughts: A sweet romance, with lush views. You can probably put this one on your NetFlix list though.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

i heart clive owen

Last Friday, the roomie and I decided to have a night out on the town...well, we went to a movie actually (no surprise there I suppose.) Anyway, we went and took in Alfonso Cuaron's CHILDREN OF MEN starring the delicious a fabulous Clive Owen. This film was incredible. It is set in the future (2027), and the world has pretty much been destroyed except for Britain. For reasons unknown, humans are no longer able to have babies, and focuses on getting all illegal immigrants out of the country to save of themselves what they can. Julianne Moore, an activist and Mr. Owen's ex-wife, essentially kidnaps Mr. Owen and asks him to help escort the only known pregnant woman (the unique and interesting Clare-Hope Ashitey) out of Britain. The film is dark, depressing, violent, gory, uplifting, and incredibly beautiful. It is a riveting story, directed so well by Mr. Cuaron. A relentless, mono-chromatic, and painful look at what that world has become.

Final thoughts: Although it can be very disturbing, an ultimately beautiful look at the good that can be found in humanity....if you look hard enough.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

stunning

I always find it interesting when you see an imperfect film that is absolutely stunning. That is how I feel about DREAMGIRLS. Last week, I headed down to 68th Street AMC, with my shiny new gift card in hand, and took in a matinee of this movie musical. First of all, a star is born in Jennifer Hudson. Truth be told, I figured that she would do a nice job, never living up to the hype that has surrounded her. She is unbelievable. All of her songs, including the show stopper "And I am Telling You" are not only sung perfectly, but are exquisitely acted. A familiar entertainments story, this movie explodes because of Ms. Hudson, and also Eddie Murphy and Anika Noni Rose. Beyonce Knowles did an okay job, she didn't blow me away, seemingly only really letting go in her final song "Listen" at the end of the film. Sadly, Jamie Foxx doesn't make much of an impact, although, he is in a pretty thankless role. Stylistically, there were things about this movie that drove me crazy!! I have never seen the fade-out SO overused in my whole life. Also, I think there could have been some more trimming of the film for it to move at a more steady pace.

Final thoughts: Jennifer Hudson is stunning, and is worth the price of admission alone. If you love musicals, run to the theatre and check it out!!

Photo credit: www.movieweb.com

pound the crap out of....

My brother and I have actually very little in common. He is a salesman, I am an artist. He has huge beautiful eyes with killer eyelashes, and mine are squinty, rat-like, and close-together. What we do share is a love of Nintendo, college football, and action movies. On New Year's Eve, I stayed over with my brother, his tolerant wife, and the gorgeous baby, and we watched ROCKY V and some college ball. On New Year's day, we dumped the baby with my parents and went to check out ROCKY BALBOA. Sometimes, a movie is not change-the world brilliant, but it is exactly what it needs to be. ROCKY BALBOA is that kind of movie. Did I walk out of the theatre forever changed and deep in thought? Well, no. However, I walked out with a smile on my face, appreciating a good story, and belief that sometimes the underdog might win. Sylvester Stallone looks his age, and has kept the now-widowed Rocky as sweet as always. A special shout-out to the adorable Milo Ventiligmia as Rocky's son who is forever stuck in his father's HUGE shadow. (He is also fabulous on HEROES...my new favorite TV show.) If you are a Rocky fan, then you should go and check it out. It it sweet, funny, and of course there is a kick-a** fight in it. Could it be any other way?

Final thoughts: A great popcorn movie to share with your brother.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

a perfect view

Last Friday, the parents and I with my Godmother spent the morning at the beach. It was so beautiful. With an eighty degree background (I love it when the breeze is warm), we played in the salty water, sat and stared at the endless blue, and dug our toes into the sand. That evening, we brought in Chinese food and watched the sweet film LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. I had the perfect view...and here it is.