Something many people know about me is that I pretty much hate all celebrities younger than me. They just make me feel so unaccomplished. I also am disdainful toward celebrities who try to do more than one thing, such as singing and acting, or acting and designing clothes, etc. People like Jennifer Love Hewitt or Jennifer Lopez. I don’t like them.
Like the younger celebrity thing, I’m sure this has something to do with my own feelings of failure about what I’ve done, for when I was a small child I daydreamed about being both a child actress and a child singer. My acting was going to be on the television show “Silver Spoons” as well as a series of sports-themed movies that were going to have some hilarious escapades! I wrote them in my head when I was supposed to be playing real sports. And my singing career was going to be sort of a Jimmy Buffett/Mariah Carey hybrid thing. Today I don’t consider myself as having so many skills that I could have a hyphenate career. I’m pretty much only good at judging people and writing about my judgments.
But anyways, the only person I think that I will tolerate having a crossover career is Zooey Deschanel (Luckily, she’s a few years older than me so I don’t have to hate her for her youth). She is an actress whose most notable role is probably as the love interest in the movie “Elf” though she’s been good in other things as well. And lately she has also been a singer, collaborating with M. Ward under the name She & Him. It’s kinda folky country pop if I may be so vague.
I went to see She & Him in concert last night. It was a packed house. I got worried as soon as I walked in because it looked like a lot of young kids who had probably seen “Elf” 600 times. And sure enough, when Zooey walked onstage some girl yelled out “Elf! Elf! Elf!” which just made me mortified on behalf of my city. Because if you’ve ever seen Zooey Deschanel on a talk show, then you know that she is far too cool to want to put up with people yelling out the name of a Will Ferrell movie from five years ago, no matter how good you were in it.
I won’t get into all the other things that the high school kids did that annoyed me. Perhaps I was preordained to be cranky as I’ve had an ogre sitting on my sinuses for the past few days. Or maybe I’m getting old and curmudgeonly; indeed, starting a blog entry with how much you hate young celebrities does give me a sort of Mr. Wilson/”those darn kids” vibe. But it was one of those nights where I kind of wished I had a communicable disease that I could give to all of the people standing around me. But overall it was okay because I was able to focus most of my mental energy into wishing I was Zooey Deschanel, spending my summer touring with M. Ward singing the songs I wrote and being adorable and whatnot.
I was going to write more but while I was whipping this entry up I somehow got sucked into an episode of Living Lohan. Obviously this is everything I hate: people who are younger than me, people who have more than one career, and another category that I haven’t even addressed yet—people who are famous for no good reason who let cameras follow them around. And yet I am already drawn in and I feel like I need to focus my attention as I have a lot to learn from these people. This trait of getting easily distracted may be one reason why I didn’t have more than one career when I was a pre-teen.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
tabbouleh, patchouli
So far the Great Food Court Project has involved more burgers, hot dogs and french fries than I would care to think about right now. That's why today when I headed off to eat at the food court I decided that would try to eat as healthily as possible. With this goal, I felt I only had two real options: Subway or Hovan Mediterranean.
The evidence for Subway being healthy is that guy Jared, who ate Subway all the time, halved his size, and can now never gain a pound lest he lose his livelihood. The evidence for Hovan being healthy was the word "Mediterranean" in the title, and I thought I remembered a lot of women's magazines telling me that Mediterranean diets were good. Since the evidence for the Mediterranean place was admittedly a little shaky, I initially decided to go to Subway. But the line for Subway was really long, and I didn't think that I'd be able to stand in a line so long without getting a chocolate chip cookie and thus defeating the purpose. So I decided to go with Hovan after all.
At Hovan, I ordered a veggie wrap that came with hummus, tabbouleh, lettuce and tomato. The meal kinda failed as a wrap but made a delicious salad after it fell apart. However, it tasted very salty to me, which makes me doubt if there was truly any healthful impact.
As for the restaurant, Hovan joins a long list of places in this food court with a hard-to-read and confusing menu. Things were all over the place and I do not like ordering without knowing if I've fully considered all the options. Food court stalls make it particularly hard to consider a scattered menu without annoying all the people behind you, and food court personnel can be aggressive about getting you to order when you're in close proximity. And yet close proximity is necessary to see the whole menu! Perhaps it is a marketing technique.
On the positive side, the people working at Hovan today were extremely nice. One lady had a jolly British accent. It was possibly the best customer service I've experienced in the Great Food Court Project so far. My recommendation to Hovan, though, in addition to working on the menu situation, is to start offering mints to their customers. After my meal was over I was extremely glad that I am in the habit of carrying gum on my person.
The evidence for Subway being healthy is that guy Jared, who ate Subway all the time, halved his size, and can now never gain a pound lest he lose his livelihood. The evidence for Hovan being healthy was the word "Mediterranean" in the title, and I thought I remembered a lot of women's magazines telling me that Mediterranean diets were good. Since the evidence for the Mediterranean place was admittedly a little shaky, I initially decided to go to Subway. But the line for Subway was really long, and I didn't think that I'd be able to stand in a line so long without getting a chocolate chip cookie and thus defeating the purpose. So I decided to go with Hovan after all.
At Hovan, I ordered a veggie wrap that came with hummus, tabbouleh, lettuce and tomato. The meal kinda failed as a wrap but made a delicious salad after it fell apart. However, it tasted very salty to me, which makes me doubt if there was truly any healthful impact.
As for the restaurant, Hovan joins a long list of places in this food court with a hard-to-read and confusing menu. Things were all over the place and I do not like ordering without knowing if I've fully considered all the options. Food court stalls make it particularly hard to consider a scattered menu without annoying all the people behind you, and food court personnel can be aggressive about getting you to order when you're in close proximity. And yet close proximity is necessary to see the whole menu! Perhaps it is a marketing technique.
On the positive side, the people working at Hovan today were extremely nice. One lady had a jolly British accent. It was possibly the best customer service I've experienced in the Great Food Court Project so far. My recommendation to Hovan, though, in addition to working on the menu situation, is to start offering mints to their customers. After my meal was over I was extremely glad that I am in the habit of carrying gum on my person.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I finished up all your beer, now I'm starting on your gin
Last night I headed out to see the Old 97’s in concert. On a scale from one to rocktastic, I would say they were rockin’. For those of you unfamiliar with the group, they are alt-country or countryish rock or whatever the kids call that kind of music these days. The lead singer looks like Ken, as in Barbie and Ken, but if Ken had a Jim Morrison complex. I don’t mean that a diss. It’s fun to watch. But the guy probably spends more on one haircut than I have ever spent on all haircuts in my life combined (I don’t get my haircut very much). Also, he had the best-fitting pair of jeans I’ve ever seen on a person, male or female. Also, he had no hair on his forearms. I don’t know if that’s a guitar player thing, the way swimmers shave their legs, but I really do wonder how he does it. Nair? I just googled a combination of words related to the guy’s name and arms and arm hair, but no one else seems to have been too bothered by it.
But enough of the band. I have observations to make about all the people around me. First off, I might have been standing directly behind acclaimed actor John Malkovich. If it was indeed John Malkovich, then he has an iPhone, is going to Lollapalooza soon and is way into the Old 97’s. It looked a hell of a lot like John Malkovich.
The girl next to me seemed extremely excited just to be out of the house, which she demonstrated by squealing at odd times both when bands were playing and in the times in between. She was with a man who was either her father or her boyfriend, a determination I just couldn’t quite make despite stealing many a glance at them. If they were father/daughter, I found them unnaturally affectionate, but if they were boyfriend/girlfriend, then, well, he’s old enough to be her father.
This girl was very excited to see one of the opening bands, and sang along to them in the kind of way that people sing along when they don’t actually know all the words. Whenever she and her boyfriend/father sang along to a particularly long passage, they would jump up and down and high-five each other, I guess to celebrate knowing that many words in a row. Then the girl would do some squealing and clapping. Look, girly, there are only a few appropriate times to squeal at a show. I have identified them here for you:
1-when the band comes out
2-when the band starts playing a song you really like (but an exception to this rule is if it’s a band with one hit playing their one hit. Everyone expects them to play that song so you don’t have to show your appreciation for it. Show your appreciation for some obscure song that they’re doing you a favor by playing. In my humble opinion)
3-after a particularly impressive instrumental solo
4-after a particularly meaningful line in the song, so as to show the impact of that line on you
5-after the song
This girl wasn’t squealing at any of those points, and the frequency of her jumping made me wonder if there was something Wrong With Her. But she calmed down once the Old 97’s came out, and if I were to have to pick a person to stand next to at a show, I would rather have her than the stereotypical hippie chick with long dreadlocks who wants to free-flow dance around to the music and whip her dreadlocks in everyone’s face girl. Cause I have stood next to that girl, and I’d rather stand next to an intermittent squealer.
For awhile between bands, the girl tried flirting with the boy who was in front of her, a young man with the greasiest hair I’ve seen in a while and that unfortunate smattering of facial hair that comes when you’re not quite through puberty yet. This further complicated the issue of whether Squealy Girl was with a paramour or a padre for me, but the situation with Greasy Head burned out quickly as the boy seemed to realize that girls, particularly ones that squeal and wear sparkly tanktops, freak him out and he turned back around. I don’t blame him.
On the other side of me was another girl who possibly peed her pants because she didn’t want to lose her spot near the stage. I missed part of that conversation so I don’t know if that was a joke or if it was for real. Maybe she spilled water on herself. Apparently there was definitely some moisture. At one point she turned around to the guy that was with her, and remarked, “I read your blog today. You’re right, we haven’t had sex in awhile.” Which immediately made me wonder what search terms I could use to try to find this guy’s blog, because that might have resolved the question of whether she peed her pants or not. The guy obviously shares a lot of personal information on his blog. The girl seemed remarkably unconcerned with this information about her being out in the blogosphere, so I don’t feel too bad about repeating it here.
But enough of the band. I have observations to make about all the people around me. First off, I might have been standing directly behind acclaimed actor John Malkovich. If it was indeed John Malkovich, then he has an iPhone, is going to Lollapalooza soon and is way into the Old 97’s. It looked a hell of a lot like John Malkovich.
The girl next to me seemed extremely excited just to be out of the house, which she demonstrated by squealing at odd times both when bands were playing and in the times in between. She was with a man who was either her father or her boyfriend, a determination I just couldn’t quite make despite stealing many a glance at them. If they were father/daughter, I found them unnaturally affectionate, but if they were boyfriend/girlfriend, then, well, he’s old enough to be her father.
This girl was very excited to see one of the opening bands, and sang along to them in the kind of way that people sing along when they don’t actually know all the words. Whenever she and her boyfriend/father sang along to a particularly long passage, they would jump up and down and high-five each other, I guess to celebrate knowing that many words in a row. Then the girl would do some squealing and clapping. Look, girly, there are only a few appropriate times to squeal at a show. I have identified them here for you:
1-when the band comes out
2-when the band starts playing a song you really like (but an exception to this rule is if it’s a band with one hit playing their one hit. Everyone expects them to play that song so you don’t have to show your appreciation for it. Show your appreciation for some obscure song that they’re doing you a favor by playing. In my humble opinion)
3-after a particularly impressive instrumental solo
4-after a particularly meaningful line in the song, so as to show the impact of that line on you
5-after the song
This girl wasn’t squealing at any of those points, and the frequency of her jumping made me wonder if there was something Wrong With Her. But she calmed down once the Old 97’s came out, and if I were to have to pick a person to stand next to at a show, I would rather have her than the stereotypical hippie chick with long dreadlocks who wants to free-flow dance around to the music and whip her dreadlocks in everyone’s face girl. Cause I have stood next to that girl, and I’d rather stand next to an intermittent squealer.
For awhile between bands, the girl tried flirting with the boy who was in front of her, a young man with the greasiest hair I’ve seen in a while and that unfortunate smattering of facial hair that comes when you’re not quite through puberty yet. This further complicated the issue of whether Squealy Girl was with a paramour or a padre for me, but the situation with Greasy Head burned out quickly as the boy seemed to realize that girls, particularly ones that squeal and wear sparkly tanktops, freak him out and he turned back around. I don’t blame him.
On the other side of me was another girl who possibly peed her pants because she didn’t want to lose her spot near the stage. I missed part of that conversation so I don’t know if that was a joke or if it was for real. Maybe she spilled water on herself. Apparently there was definitely some moisture. At one point she turned around to the guy that was with her, and remarked, “I read your blog today. You’re right, we haven’t had sex in awhile.” Which immediately made me wonder what search terms I could use to try to find this guy’s blog, because that might have resolved the question of whether she peed her pants or not. The guy obviously shares a lot of personal information on his blog. The girl seemed remarkably unconcerned with this information about her being out in the blogosphere, so I don’t feel too bad about repeating it here.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
penguins are so sensitive
This morning I saw this story on CNN:
But I guess I was kinda tired because I read it as "Pope meets koala, texts PENGUINS."
When I realized my error, the article became A LOT less interesting to me.
But I guess I was kinda tired because I read it as "Pope meets koala, texts PENGUINS."
When I realized my error, the article became A LOT less interesting to me.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Book #6: On Chesil Beach
The book: On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
What is this book about: Edward and Florence are on their honeymoon in 1962. They love each either but are both nervous about how the process of consummating the marriage is going to go.
Why did I read this book: Well, it was fairly critically acclaimed, and it was also fairly short. My books-read count for the year is low. I mean, one of the books was War and Peace but I’d still like a respectable number by the end of the year. So don’t be surprised if I start reading all really short books around October.
What did I think of this book: I don’t really know what I think of this book. I was sort of underwhelmed when I read it, and then I read what a bunch of people online were saying about it. What was weird was I agreed with the people who reviewed the book favorably, but then I also agreed with some of the bad reviews. I guess I could go either way on it.
And I’ve only read two Ian McEwan books now, but they had kinda the same characters and themes, but they’re so well-written that you feel like a schmuck criticizing them. Or saying anything that might reveal that you didn’t “get” it, whatever deep thing you were supposed to get. This may not make any sense. Ian McEwan I am not, and this paragraph is now almost as long as one chapter of On Chesil Beach.
What was my favorite part of this book: I don’t know if I had a favorite part.
What did I learn from this book: England is so crazy!
What grade do I give this book: a passing one.
What is this book about: Edward and Florence are on their honeymoon in 1962. They love each either but are both nervous about how the process of consummating the marriage is going to go.
Why did I read this book: Well, it was fairly critically acclaimed, and it was also fairly short. My books-read count for the year is low. I mean, one of the books was War and Peace but I’d still like a respectable number by the end of the year. So don’t be surprised if I start reading all really short books around October.
What did I think of this book: I don’t really know what I think of this book. I was sort of underwhelmed when I read it, and then I read what a bunch of people online were saying about it. What was weird was I agreed with the people who reviewed the book favorably, but then I also agreed with some of the bad reviews. I guess I could go either way on it.
And I’ve only read two Ian McEwan books now, but they had kinda the same characters and themes, but they’re so well-written that you feel like a schmuck criticizing them. Or saying anything that might reveal that you didn’t “get” it, whatever deep thing you were supposed to get. This may not make any sense. Ian McEwan I am not, and this paragraph is now almost as long as one chapter of On Chesil Beach.
What was my favorite part of this book: I don’t know if I had a favorite part.
What did I learn from this book: England is so crazy!
What grade do I give this book: a passing one.
Monday, July 7, 2008
what a country
Well, I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July holiday weekend. I spent my long weekend in North Carolina eating meat. It’s all I ate. Here is a list of the meat products I consumed: hot dogs, cold cuts (turkey and roast beef), a turkey burger, a Boston butt that the men of my family smoked out in the smoker, and a delicious chicken that had a beer can stuck up its butt by my brother. It’s called a beer can chicken and it looks creepy! Then I ate more cold cuts. Also, I watched some minor league baseball and saw some fireworks.
But one of the true highlights of my weekend was seeing the item I am about to describe to you. It’s a ceramic cookie jar, in the shape of Noah’s ark. Then, to confirm that it’s Noah’s ark, there are all sorts of animals hanging out two-by-two. Some of them are up on the top deck, and some are leaning out the windows. But if you look closer at the windows, you see that all the windowsills are decked out for Christmas with wreaths. And right in the center of all those animals…it’s not Noah, but SANTA.
It’s a Noah’s ark cookie jar that removes Noah and substitutes Santa Claus.
I just can’t stop thinking about this cookie jar. Who do you think the target audience is? It has to be someone who is religious enough to want a cookie jar modeled on a Bible story, but someone who’s not so religious that they’d be offended that one of the major biblical heroes is replaced by a symbol of the commercialization of the holiday marking Christ’s birth. Do these people exist? Am I one of them? After all, if that cookie jar hadn’t been $20, but more like $5, I probably would have bought it. But I would have bought it cause it was tacky and it would have been a goofy thing to show off. I wouldn’t have bought it for cookie storage purposes.
People who read this, I need your help. Stop everyone you see over the next few days and ask them if they would buy a Noah’s ark cookie jar but with Santa instead of Noah. I need to know if there’s a market for this item.
I took some pictures but I’m not sure they fully capture the gloriousness of this item:
But one of the true highlights of my weekend was seeing the item I am about to describe to you. It’s a ceramic cookie jar, in the shape of Noah’s ark. Then, to confirm that it’s Noah’s ark, there are all sorts of animals hanging out two-by-two. Some of them are up on the top deck, and some are leaning out the windows. But if you look closer at the windows, you see that all the windowsills are decked out for Christmas with wreaths. And right in the center of all those animals…it’s not Noah, but SANTA.
It’s a Noah’s ark cookie jar that removes Noah and substitutes Santa Claus.
I just can’t stop thinking about this cookie jar. Who do you think the target audience is? It has to be someone who is religious enough to want a cookie jar modeled on a Bible story, but someone who’s not so religious that they’d be offended that one of the major biblical heroes is replaced by a symbol of the commercialization of the holiday marking Christ’s birth. Do these people exist? Am I one of them? After all, if that cookie jar hadn’t been $20, but more like $5, I probably would have bought it. But I would have bought it cause it was tacky and it would have been a goofy thing to show off. I wouldn’t have bought it for cookie storage purposes.
People who read this, I need your help. Stop everyone you see over the next few days and ask them if they would buy a Noah’s ark cookie jar but with Santa instead of Noah. I need to know if there’s a market for this item.
I took some pictures but I’m not sure they fully capture the gloriousness of this item:
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Book #5: The Grapes of Wrath
The book: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
What is this book about: The Joad family is forced off their land in Oklahoma, so they head out along the migrant road toward California. They’ve heard there’s a lot of work in California, but their hopes start to fade because the journey is rough and it seems everyone along the road is counting on the work in California. When the family works together with the other kind souls they meet, they can get by, but they learn the hard way that there are far too many who would take pleasure in crushing their souls and their decency.
Why did I read this book: When I was in California last year I went to that John Steinbeck wax museum and bought a John Steinbeck t-shirt, which you might remember from its appearance at my Oscar party. Well, I kinda felt like a fraud walking around in a John Steinbeck t-shirt without having read the Grapes of Wrath.
What did I think of this book: Well, it turns out that this book is one of the best books of all-time, so I got pretty upset that no one made me read it earlier. I was kinda surprised by how easy it was to read, but I guess everyone else read it in high school so maybe that shouldn’t have been surprising to me.
What was my favorite part of this book: It feels wrong to pick a favorite part when so many characters are so miserable for so much of this book. Obviously the times when people came together for the common good were heartening, or the individual glimpses of humanity, such as a truckstop waitress who told a man that nickel candy was really two for a penny after giving him a hard time about a loaf of bread.
Also, I must have read this passage about 5 times. I guess it sums up the whole book and most of what I’ve already said:
“And here’s a story you can hardly believe, but it’s true, and it’s funny and it’s beautiful. There was a family of twelve and they were forced off the land. They had no car. They built a trailer out of junk and loaded it with their possessions. They pulled it to the side of 66 and waited. And pretty soon a sedan picked them up. Five of them rode in the sedan and seven on the trailer, and a dog on the trailer. They got to California in two jumps. The man who pulled them fed them. And that’s true. But how can such courage be, and such faith in their own species? Very few things would teach such faith.
The people in flight from the terror behind – strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refined forever.”
(Please don’t sue me, John Steinbeck’s estate. I bought a t-shirt.)
What did I learn from this book: Sometimes you have to keep on keepin’ on. Don’t let the man get you down. Dignity is the most important possession.
What grade do I give this book: A+
Now please go to YouTube and enjoy the fine song “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” by Bruce Springsteen, from the album of the same name. http://youtube.com/watch?v=1DEtA5fhk4k
I’d embed it, but embedding was disabled by request, and when the request is made by the Boss, you gotta obey.
What is this book about: The Joad family is forced off their land in Oklahoma, so they head out along the migrant road toward California. They’ve heard there’s a lot of work in California, but their hopes start to fade because the journey is rough and it seems everyone along the road is counting on the work in California. When the family works together with the other kind souls they meet, they can get by, but they learn the hard way that there are far too many who would take pleasure in crushing their souls and their decency.
Why did I read this book: When I was in California last year I went to that John Steinbeck wax museum and bought a John Steinbeck t-shirt, which you might remember from its appearance at my Oscar party. Well, I kinda felt like a fraud walking around in a John Steinbeck t-shirt without having read the Grapes of Wrath.
What did I think of this book: Well, it turns out that this book is one of the best books of all-time, so I got pretty upset that no one made me read it earlier. I was kinda surprised by how easy it was to read, but I guess everyone else read it in high school so maybe that shouldn’t have been surprising to me.
What was my favorite part of this book: It feels wrong to pick a favorite part when so many characters are so miserable for so much of this book. Obviously the times when people came together for the common good were heartening, or the individual glimpses of humanity, such as a truckstop waitress who told a man that nickel candy was really two for a penny after giving him a hard time about a loaf of bread.
Also, I must have read this passage about 5 times. I guess it sums up the whole book and most of what I’ve already said:
“And here’s a story you can hardly believe, but it’s true, and it’s funny and it’s beautiful. There was a family of twelve and they were forced off the land. They had no car. They built a trailer out of junk and loaded it with their possessions. They pulled it to the side of 66 and waited. And pretty soon a sedan picked them up. Five of them rode in the sedan and seven on the trailer, and a dog on the trailer. They got to California in two jumps. The man who pulled them fed them. And that’s true. But how can such courage be, and such faith in their own species? Very few things would teach such faith.
The people in flight from the terror behind – strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refined forever.”
(Please don’t sue me, John Steinbeck’s estate. I bought a t-shirt.)
What did I learn from this book: Sometimes you have to keep on keepin’ on. Don’t let the man get you down. Dignity is the most important possession.
What grade do I give this book: A+
Now please go to YouTube and enjoy the fine song “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” by Bruce Springsteen, from the album of the same name. http://youtube.com/watch?v=1DEtA5fhk4k
I’d embed it, but embedding was disabled by request, and when the request is made by the Boss, you gotta obey.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
let's all go to the movies
Well, 2008 is half over. I’m sure that you have been counting down the days to this halfway point of the year, knowing that every six months I post the reviews of the movies I’ve seen in the previous half year. As always, the rule is movies I saw for the first time. I watched an average of 1.04 movies a week. That sounds pretty reasonable, but I guess I did watch a fair amount of TV on DVD in the first two quarters of 2008. But that doesn’t factor into this list.
1. Superbad
I watched it with my dad. He loved it. It was kinda disturbing actually how much he laughed at some parts of it.
2. 27 Dresses
I watched it with my mom. We both liked it. It’s predictable but enjoyable.
3. Juno
Probably my favorite movie of the year so far.
4. Year of the Dog
It’s kind of hard for me to relate to people who feel this strongly about animals. But I like that Peter Sarsgaard. I hope he got rid of all those SARS-Guards.
5. Away from Her
It seemed moving at the time but now all I seem to remember are all the accolades Julie Christie got.
6. Shine
Do you remember that band Collective Soul? And their mega-hit “Shine”? What if this movie was about the making of that song, and not about pianist David Helfgott? Would you find this movie more or less awesome?
7. Kicking and Screaming
This may not be very politically correct to point out, but I loved that little midget Asian kid. Byong Sun!
8. The Contract
This is a movie with John Cusack and Morgan Freeman that I think might have gone directly to DVD. It is hard for me to understand why. What was interesting about this movie to me at least is that the movie takes place in Washington State (albeit with fictionalized names, with one real-life exception…that was weird). If this movie was filmed in Washington State and John Cusack and I were in the SAME STATE and NO ONE TOLD ME, then I will not be very happy at all. I’m not even going to look it up because I don’t want to know. It would depress me just too much.
9. Hard Candy
I was investigating Ellen Page’s earlier, edgier roots. It’s not a very easy movie to watch.
10. Michael Clayton
I don’t think I understood the end of this movie, and I haven’t talked to anyone who could satisfactorily explain it to me.
11. Across the Universe
It was too long. I personally would cut about 55 minutes, and I would start with cutting the lines that make it really obvious that a certain song is about to be sung (for example, when the guy is all like, “blah blah blah revolution” and it’s like, how long will it take them to break into “Revolution”?)
12. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
This movie is so adorable and it has the guy from “Pushing Daisies” in it, walking around and being charming.
13. About a Son
I was ambivalent about this movie. It was about Kurt Cobain. He was in a band called Nirvana.
14. La Vie en Rose
After I watched this movie, I felt bad for picking Julie Christie over Marion Cotillard in my Oscar pool. Particularly because I would have won more points if I’d picked Marion Cotillard. But on a side note, I don’t think we need to scramble the chronological order of movies just to be edgy.
15. Alvin and the Chipmunks
Look, I know I’m not supposed to like it, because I am mature and squeaky chipmunks are for little kids. But I just laughed and laughed at those little chipmunks. Especially when they sang their little ditties. For anyone who is wondering, my fish Alvin is still alive and he is doing fine!
16. Dan in Real Life
Look, I enjoy Steve Carell as much as the next person. But what I really love is the song “Let My Love Open the Door.” And I’m getting really sick of movies using this song to manipulate my emotions. The only exception is Grosse Pointe Blank.
17. Walk Hard
Look, I just noticed how much I’m starting sentences by saying “Look.” I know if you’re reading this blog you’re probably already looking. And I am not really starved for attention. So I am sorry. I generally liked this movie, especially the scene with the Beatles.
18. Enchanted
I like that Amy Adams. This movie was a little hard to watch, though, because my Netflix copy of it broke during the big climactic song and I had to request a new one and what should have been a quick 90 minutes of my life turned into a four-day endeavor. But I guess it was worth it. Does everyone know the story of how I saw Patrick Dempsey in real life? If not, let me know.
19. Lars and the Real Girl
I loved it.
20. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
It was a non-stop action ride. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll have a great time (that is also true for the movie below). My only disappointment? I couldn’t live blog it as I did the first three Indiana Jones movies.
21. Sex and the City
Anyone who didn’t like it can kiss my ass. What did you expect? For Sex and the City to suddenly become Citizen Kane? Personally I never wanted it to end.
22. Reservation Road
Some of the emotional trajectories of the characters confused me a bit, but I’d watch Joaquin Phoenix do just about anything.
23. Once
I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, but perhaps I just waited too long to see it. But some of the songs are great.
24. Be Kind Rewind
I know the reviews told me not to get my hopes up, but I got my hopes up anyway. Then I was disappointed. I can only be glad of the small blessing that Jack Black didn’t look too much like my brother in this one, to the point of distraction.
25. Happiness
Let’s say that you don’t feel very well. You just kinda need to lay on the couch and watch a movie to take your mind off feeling sick. But you don’t know this movie is about pedophiles and sorts of depravities? Well, then you’re not in for a very good night.
26. Clerks
I wonder what kind of movie I could churn out for $28,000. Someone give me the money and we’ll find out. I’ll even give you a part in the movie.
27. Grace is Gone
So as I watched this movie last evening, the sky got grey and dark. Lightning flickered across the sky. When the movie ended, the sky was all yellow and golden. I went out on my balcony to investigate and saw a rainbow. Do I think John Cusack sent me this rainbow as a sign of our unending love? Yes. Yes I do.
1. Superbad
I watched it with my dad. He loved it. It was kinda disturbing actually how much he laughed at some parts of it.
2. 27 Dresses
I watched it with my mom. We both liked it. It’s predictable but enjoyable.
3. Juno
Probably my favorite movie of the year so far.
4. Year of the Dog
It’s kind of hard for me to relate to people who feel this strongly about animals. But I like that Peter Sarsgaard. I hope he got rid of all those SARS-Guards.
5. Away from Her
It seemed moving at the time but now all I seem to remember are all the accolades Julie Christie got.
6. Shine
Do you remember that band Collective Soul? And their mega-hit “Shine”? What if this movie was about the making of that song, and not about pianist David Helfgott? Would you find this movie more or less awesome?
7. Kicking and Screaming
This may not be very politically correct to point out, but I loved that little midget Asian kid. Byong Sun!
8. The Contract
This is a movie with John Cusack and Morgan Freeman that I think might have gone directly to DVD. It is hard for me to understand why. What was interesting about this movie to me at least is that the movie takes place in Washington State (albeit with fictionalized names, with one real-life exception…that was weird). If this movie was filmed in Washington State and John Cusack and I were in the SAME STATE and NO ONE TOLD ME, then I will not be very happy at all. I’m not even going to look it up because I don’t want to know. It would depress me just too much.
9. Hard Candy
I was investigating Ellen Page’s earlier, edgier roots. It’s not a very easy movie to watch.
10. Michael Clayton
I don’t think I understood the end of this movie, and I haven’t talked to anyone who could satisfactorily explain it to me.
11. Across the Universe
It was too long. I personally would cut about 55 minutes, and I would start with cutting the lines that make it really obvious that a certain song is about to be sung (for example, when the guy is all like, “blah blah blah revolution” and it’s like, how long will it take them to break into “Revolution”?)
12. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
This movie is so adorable and it has the guy from “Pushing Daisies” in it, walking around and being charming.
13. About a Son
I was ambivalent about this movie. It was about Kurt Cobain. He was in a band called Nirvana.
14. La Vie en Rose
After I watched this movie, I felt bad for picking Julie Christie over Marion Cotillard in my Oscar pool. Particularly because I would have won more points if I’d picked Marion Cotillard. But on a side note, I don’t think we need to scramble the chronological order of movies just to be edgy.
15. Alvin and the Chipmunks
Look, I know I’m not supposed to like it, because I am mature and squeaky chipmunks are for little kids. But I just laughed and laughed at those little chipmunks. Especially when they sang their little ditties. For anyone who is wondering, my fish Alvin is still alive and he is doing fine!
16. Dan in Real Life
Look, I enjoy Steve Carell as much as the next person. But what I really love is the song “Let My Love Open the Door.” And I’m getting really sick of movies using this song to manipulate my emotions. The only exception is Grosse Pointe Blank.
17. Walk Hard
Look, I just noticed how much I’m starting sentences by saying “Look.” I know if you’re reading this blog you’re probably already looking. And I am not really starved for attention. So I am sorry. I generally liked this movie, especially the scene with the Beatles.
18. Enchanted
I like that Amy Adams. This movie was a little hard to watch, though, because my Netflix copy of it broke during the big climactic song and I had to request a new one and what should have been a quick 90 minutes of my life turned into a four-day endeavor. But I guess it was worth it. Does everyone know the story of how I saw Patrick Dempsey in real life? If not, let me know.
19. Lars and the Real Girl
I loved it.
20. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
It was a non-stop action ride. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll have a great time (that is also true for the movie below). My only disappointment? I couldn’t live blog it as I did the first three Indiana Jones movies.
21. Sex and the City
Anyone who didn’t like it can kiss my ass. What did you expect? For Sex and the City to suddenly become Citizen Kane? Personally I never wanted it to end.
22. Reservation Road
Some of the emotional trajectories of the characters confused me a bit, but I’d watch Joaquin Phoenix do just about anything.
23. Once
I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, but perhaps I just waited too long to see it. But some of the songs are great.
24. Be Kind Rewind
I know the reviews told me not to get my hopes up, but I got my hopes up anyway. Then I was disappointed. I can only be glad of the small blessing that Jack Black didn’t look too much like my brother in this one, to the point of distraction.
25. Happiness
Let’s say that you don’t feel very well. You just kinda need to lay on the couch and watch a movie to take your mind off feeling sick. But you don’t know this movie is about pedophiles and sorts of depravities? Well, then you’re not in for a very good night.
26. Clerks
I wonder what kind of movie I could churn out for $28,000. Someone give me the money and we’ll find out. I’ll even give you a part in the movie.
27. Grace is Gone
So as I watched this movie last evening, the sky got grey and dark. Lightning flickered across the sky. When the movie ended, the sky was all yellow and golden. I went out on my balcony to investigate and saw a rainbow. Do I think John Cusack sent me this rainbow as a sign of our unending love? Yes. Yes I do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)