Even though last night's Oscars weren't the best Oscar telecast EVER... they were still way more enjoyable than a silly montage of Oscar clips would have been if the strike didn't end and also WAYY WAYY WAY more fun than that "Golden Globes" telecast was.
So I got all my big predictions correct except for Best Actress. I changed my vote from Julie Christie to Ellen Page, ONE) because after seeing 'Away From Her' I liked Page's performance better. TWO) because I really hated Julie Christie's audio commentary. Did I mention that in yesterday's post? I'm not really sure... but her commentary was so bad it's worth speaking of again. My movie business class professor told me I should start youtube videos discussing the audio commentaries for films, specifically Oscar nominated ones... this idea could actually go somewhere. For now though, I'll just write about it.
Ms. Christie, or Julie as I like to call her, yes we are friends and on a first name basis... as I am with all of the Oscar noms from last night... had nothing valuable to say in her audio commentary. Granted I could only watch/listen for about 20 minutes before giving up, but she was just awful giving no insight into how she worked with any of her cast members... now maybe I should have listened more.. to see if she ever did say anything, but if you don' talk about them within the first twenty minutes of commentary, I doubt you will. The only spoken word about any of her co-stars was about Olympia (Dukakis). NOT ONE SINGLE WORD ABOUT GORDON PINSENT. HELLOOOO. You had to SPOON with the man... and NOTHIING!? no, 'hey, Gordon and I laughed a lot during this scene and had to do it multiple times'... or 'Gordon was a wonder to work with'... NOTHING.
And then Julie complained about not wanting to do this film. She said she was obviously glad she did... but she was really opposed to it because she didn't like the cold... (she has scenes skiing and laying in the snow) and she didn't want to learn 'Canadian.' I didn't realized 'Canadian' was a language you had to learn Julie... Yes she claifys herself and mentions learning the 'Canadian' accent. But really, you're now nominated for an Oscar... you shouldn't be complaining about anything, Julie!
I bed half a dozen other older actresses wouldn't have minded at all to have to pick up a 'Canadian' accent for a role... God only knows how many Daniel Day-Lewis has had to learn... and look at him, he's grateful.
SO, I'm going to get off of my soap box now... I hope you all enjoyed the telecast... and are anxiously awaiting the start of this year's Oscar race/season!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
OSCARS!
TODAY. IS. OSCAR. DAY! I am excited. Tonight's show is going to be a good one, I can feel it in my bones... and it should be, because the writers' strike is over so we can have the REAL oscars! I got to write an article for big lick about my predictions... and also past Oscar wins to check out and Oscar snubs that we still love.
But I hope everyone enjoys the show this fine Oscar evening... I just love love love the Oscars.
HERE is my article about the Oscars...
http://www.biglicku.com/blu/Stories/StoryDisplayPage.aspx?&title=My%20predictions%20for%20Oscar%202008&id=904#
you can see the others by clicking on my name in the TAGS part towards the bottom of the page.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
V-Day
is it bad that I want to see Definitely, Maybe?... I don't think so... Even rotten tomatoes liked it better than 27 Dresses. But there was no way I could go tonight at a 720 showing on Valentines... I would be with all couples. Shooot.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Writers' Strike is OVER!
THE WRITER'S STRIKE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!! yippee.
i suppose this is a good ending to the bad day i just wrote about.
let's get the OFFICE back up and running@
i suppose this is a good ending to the bad day i just wrote about.
let's get the OFFICE back up and running@
VA's not so super Tuesday
Today was the VA super Tuesday, not last Tuesday... but TODAY. I was extremely excited to vote and so I had class until 6:15 and knew the polls were open until 7. This was the first time I couldn't vote in the afternoon, so I felt like I would really be there with the after work voters. SO I pull into the parking lot at 6:25 and the doors are CLOSED. Everything is dark and shut down; they've shut down the polls at my location EARLY. I immediately call my father and express my hatred towards this elementary school for shutting down early and making a very hopeful and entitled voter angry.
I come back to my apt. and yell to my roommate that I'm really pissed and I start to cry. Who knew not being able to vote would make someone cry. But the tears were also reflecting a really hectic weekend and plain exhaustion.
So where am I going with this on a movie blog you ask? Well the only thing that kept me from continuing to cry was my knowledge that I was going out to buy 'Into The Wild'. I've been waiting for this day since I first saw the film in the theaters. So I stop my crying and get my butt over to the FYE, where I have a handy dandy gift card, ready to purchase 'Into the Wild' and 'Across the Universe'. 'Into the Wild' is not there. Well I think, that's OK, I'll go to Target, use my gift card to buy 'Across the Universe' and it'll be all set. Then I start wondering, if anyone should have 'ITW' today, it would be FYE... so I'm now starring at the Coming Soon poster and I don't see it listed... so it just has to be a mistake... I get up to the register and finally notice... ALLLL the way down at the bottom is 'Into The Wild' coming March 4.
I seriously wanted to keep crying right then. Like, could my day get any worse? An awful exam in the AM, lack of sleep, not being able to vote and now I can't buy 'ITW'... GREAT.
so I then go to Coldstone where my roommate is working and she gives me cheap ice cream... in a NEW chocolate cake batter flavor... it is divine and I go back to my apt, turn on 'The Biggest Loser' and drink wine to drown away my sorrows.
Should we movie fans really have to put up with this writers' strike... which should be over tonight!!! AND not having DVDs released when they say they will?!?! oy vey.
Friday, February 08, 2008
two for one.
It seems like every time I update this thing, I say it seems it's been forever... and so it has been, once again. BUT I really am trying to be good about it from now on, because I have to make my own website for part of a class, and this blog will be moved over to that website hopefully. SO I will need constant info going from now on for that site...
So tonight, I'm going to give you two for the price of one. My 'Enchanted' review and one for '27 Dresses.' Both of which I wrote for my internship/now job, BigLickU.com... enjoy.
Adams leaves you ‘Enchanted’
By Jenna Hasskarl
(Nov. 26) Disney’s new animated-turned-real-life epic adventure “Enchanted” hit the big screen on Wednesday, and the main star of the film is certainly Amy Adams.
In the traditionally hand-drawn opening, Adams plays Giselle, a beautiful red-headed princess (HOORAY!), who lives in a cute bungalow in the forest and who just wants to find her one true love. James Marsden plays Prince Edward, who doesn’t realize he wants to marry because his evil step-mother Queen Narissa, Susan Sarandon, is scared of losing her crown and has kept him from ever seeing a fair maiden.
But when Prince Edward hears Giselle singing, he’s set on finding her. They meet and immediately decide to marry tomorrow! The wedding day comes; but before Giselle can make it to the altar, Queen Narcissa pushes Giselle down a well to where happily-ever-after doesn’t exist: modern day New York City.
Adams gets lost, and no one is very friendly; she gets shoved onto a Subway and ends up very downtown and even more deserted. She finds a castle on a billboard and manages to climb up and start knocking on the billboard because she honestly believes this will help her get back home.
It’s when she’s up on the billboard that divorce lawyer Robert, Patrick Dempsey, and his daughter Morgan drive by. Morgan runs out of the taxicab when she sees Giselle and tries to help. Giselle tries to get down but then finds herself hanging from the billboard. Robert is there to catch her, and still wary of Giselle’s naïve persona, he takes her home.
Giselle’s best little friend Pip, a chipmunk, is the only one to see Giselle get pushed down the well; so the next thing we know, Prince Edward is falling through the well to rescue Giselle with Pip right behind him.
Meanwhile, Robert agrees to let Giselle stay. The only problem is that, when she wakes up, his apartment is a mess. So what does Giselle do? She summons the animals, of course. So with a little yodel, all the rats, pigeons and cockroaches from NYC arrive in Robert’s apartment.
Giselle gets all of these pests to help her clean Robert and Morgan’s apartment by singing the “Happy Working Song.” (All of the songs were great.) Of course when Robert finds the pests in his apartment, he is none too pleased. All of the songs in the film are sung by Adams and Marsden themselves and are quite catchy.
Adams does a wonderful job floating around New York City, just as if she were still moving about in her animated world. Her hand motions stay whimsical and light throughout the film. It’s only when reality and New York City’s own magic affect her toward the end that her hand motions become more human.
The cast is good, but it’s Adams who shines and enchants her audience. The musical number she sings in Central Park, “That’s How You Know,” gets a couple hundred people to follow her, and you really feel captivated and drawn to her as an audience member too. And she can really sing!
“Enchanted” also has something for adults. There are more jokes about Disney clichés than one can count, and they’ll have you laughing about how silly those clichés actually are. For example, it was mostly adults in the audience who laughed at the joke about getting married tomorrow. It’ll also have you rehashing all those hours you spent watching the Disney films when you were a kid, remembering how crazy some of the plot lines in those films are too.
The only problem with “Enchanted” is the end, which is a bit drawn out. It builds you up but then leaves you hanging and wanting a bit more. I won’t give anything more away because I don’t want to keep you from seeing it.
Overall, I really liked “Enchanted,” clichés and all, and I highly recommend it. Adams’ optimistic and wide-eyed personality shines through so much that you actually believe she could have fallen out of a fairy tale. It’s a fun film to catch with friends and family this holiday season.
27 Dresses: Always a bridesmaid…
By Jenna Hasskarl
“Always the bridesmaid and never the bride” should be Jane’s (played by Katherine Heigl) middle name or official life slogan. She’s the girl we all dread being. Instead of being a bridesmaid for maybe five weddings tops, Jane has been a bridesmaid for 27 weddings. Not only is that a lot of weddings, it’s a lot of money this young New Yorker has got to spend on dresses.
Predictable and sometimes a little over-the-top, “27 Dresses” does deliver a cute and entertaining romantic comedy. Mainly, Heigl and James Marsden, who plays her love interest Kevin, are the best parts about the movie.
Heigl, who has been all over the Hollywood scene lately and recently got married herself, is selfless, loveable and cute; we want her to succeed. And we actually don’t mind that she’s been in 27 weddings because we see that she’s actually good at organizing the show.
Jane falls in love with weddings when she’s a small child at a family member’s nuptials. The bride has torn her dress and little Jane has got the perfect idea: to use her sister’s hair ribbon to put the dress back together and save the day.
Although the outcome is totally unrealistic for a kid to pull off, she’s then asked to carry the train down the aisle -- and that was the start of her love for weddings.
Now into her later 20’s, Jane is still in love with weddings and even manages to be in two at the same time. Marsden’s character catches her frantically changing in the back of a taxi on the way to the second wedding, where, as she does at the first one, spends just enough time to give a toast or participate in a cliché wedding dance, then she’s back to the other and repeats this process all night long.
But Jane also has dreams of her own. She’s in love with her boss (Edward Burns), who then, much to Jane’s dismay, happens to fall in love with and propose to Jane’s sister, Tess (Malin Akerman).
With her dreams shattered, Jane tries to be supportive as she plans her sister’s wedding and goes along even when her sister steals all of her own ideas for her dream wedding.
“27 Dresses” also lives up to its genre name of romantic comedy thanks to “The Devil Wears Prada” scripter Aline Brosh McKenna, who serves up plenty of fun and witty banter for Heigl and Marsden. Even the slightly overdone sing-along to Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” in a bar is fun and leaves you smiling.
Judy Greer plays Jane’s best friend Casey, whose witty antics deliver laughs as well. She seems to always play the best friend in these sorts of movies, so hopefully some day she can move up to leading lady status.
The other real shining star of the movie isn’t on screen but off. Catherine Marie Thomas, the costume designer, created 27 beautiful, outrageous and/or down-right awful bridesmaids dresses that give the movie some real character.
Overall, “27 Dresses” could have been a bit more daring with its script but Heigl and Marsden are just so darn likeable that you don’t care so much about the predictability of the film. And for anyone else out there who has noticed that Marsden never gets the girl, or at least the girl he sets out for, his luck may change! (I’m not really giving anything away, am I?)
Let’s face it: Jane must be the prefect bridesmaid if she’s organized, selfless and willing to wear these awful dresses for you on your special day.
So tonight, I'm going to give you two for the price of one. My 'Enchanted' review and one for '27 Dresses.' Both of which I wrote for my internship/now job, BigLickU.com... enjoy.
Adams leaves you ‘Enchanted’
By Jenna Hasskarl
(Nov. 26) Disney’s new animated-turned-real-life epic adventure “Enchanted” hit the big screen on Wednesday, and the main star of the film is certainly Amy Adams.
In the traditionally hand-drawn opening, Adams plays Giselle, a beautiful red-headed princess (HOORAY!), who lives in a cute bungalow in the forest and who just wants to find her one true love. James Marsden plays Prince Edward, who doesn’t realize he wants to marry because his evil step-mother Queen Narissa, Susan Sarandon, is scared of losing her crown and has kept him from ever seeing a fair maiden.
But when Prince Edward hears Giselle singing, he’s set on finding her. They meet and immediately decide to marry tomorrow! The wedding day comes; but before Giselle can make it to the altar, Queen Narcissa pushes Giselle down a well to where happily-ever-after doesn’t exist: modern day New York City.
Adams gets lost, and no one is very friendly; she gets shoved onto a Subway and ends up very downtown and even more deserted. She finds a castle on a billboard and manages to climb up and start knocking on the billboard because she honestly believes this will help her get back home.
It’s when she’s up on the billboard that divorce lawyer Robert, Patrick Dempsey, and his daughter Morgan drive by. Morgan runs out of the taxicab when she sees Giselle and tries to help. Giselle tries to get down but then finds herself hanging from the billboard. Robert is there to catch her, and still wary of Giselle’s naïve persona, he takes her home.
Giselle’s best little friend Pip, a chipmunk, is the only one to see Giselle get pushed down the well; so the next thing we know, Prince Edward is falling through the well to rescue Giselle with Pip right behind him.
Meanwhile, Robert agrees to let Giselle stay. The only problem is that, when she wakes up, his apartment is a mess. So what does Giselle do? She summons the animals, of course. So with a little yodel, all the rats, pigeons and cockroaches from NYC arrive in Robert’s apartment.
Giselle gets all of these pests to help her clean Robert and Morgan’s apartment by singing the “Happy Working Song.” (All of the songs were great.) Of course when Robert finds the pests in his apartment, he is none too pleased. All of the songs in the film are sung by Adams and Marsden themselves and are quite catchy.
Adams does a wonderful job floating around New York City, just as if she were still moving about in her animated world. Her hand motions stay whimsical and light throughout the film. It’s only when reality and New York City’s own magic affect her toward the end that her hand motions become more human.
The cast is good, but it’s Adams who shines and enchants her audience. The musical number she sings in Central Park, “That’s How You Know,” gets a couple hundred people to follow her, and you really feel captivated and drawn to her as an audience member too. And she can really sing!
“Enchanted” also has something for adults. There are more jokes about Disney clichés than one can count, and they’ll have you laughing about how silly those clichés actually are. For example, it was mostly adults in the audience who laughed at the joke about getting married tomorrow. It’ll also have you rehashing all those hours you spent watching the Disney films when you were a kid, remembering how crazy some of the plot lines in those films are too.
The only problem with “Enchanted” is the end, which is a bit drawn out. It builds you up but then leaves you hanging and wanting a bit more. I won’t give anything more away because I don’t want to keep you from seeing it.
Overall, I really liked “Enchanted,” clichés and all, and I highly recommend it. Adams’ optimistic and wide-eyed personality shines through so much that you actually believe she could have fallen out of a fairy tale. It’s a fun film to catch with friends and family this holiday season.
27 Dresses: Always a bridesmaid…
By Jenna Hasskarl
“Always the bridesmaid and never the bride” should be Jane’s (played by Katherine Heigl) middle name or official life slogan. She’s the girl we all dread being. Instead of being a bridesmaid for maybe five weddings tops, Jane has been a bridesmaid for 27 weddings. Not only is that a lot of weddings, it’s a lot of money this young New Yorker has got to spend on dresses.
Predictable and sometimes a little over-the-top, “27 Dresses” does deliver a cute and entertaining romantic comedy. Mainly, Heigl and James Marsden, who plays her love interest Kevin, are the best parts about the movie.
Heigl, who has been all over the Hollywood scene lately and recently got married herself, is selfless, loveable and cute; we want her to succeed. And we actually don’t mind that she’s been in 27 weddings because we see that she’s actually good at organizing the show.
Jane falls in love with weddings when she’s a small child at a family member’s nuptials. The bride has torn her dress and little Jane has got the perfect idea: to use her sister’s hair ribbon to put the dress back together and save the day.
Although the outcome is totally unrealistic for a kid to pull off, she’s then asked to carry the train down the aisle -- and that was the start of her love for weddings.
Now into her later 20’s, Jane is still in love with weddings and even manages to be in two at the same time. Marsden’s character catches her frantically changing in the back of a taxi on the way to the second wedding, where, as she does at the first one, spends just enough time to give a toast or participate in a cliché wedding dance, then she’s back to the other and repeats this process all night long.
But Jane also has dreams of her own. She’s in love with her boss (Edward Burns), who then, much to Jane’s dismay, happens to fall in love with and propose to Jane’s sister, Tess (Malin Akerman).
With her dreams shattered, Jane tries to be supportive as she plans her sister’s wedding and goes along even when her sister steals all of her own ideas for her dream wedding.
“27 Dresses” also lives up to its genre name of romantic comedy thanks to “The Devil Wears Prada” scripter Aline Brosh McKenna, who serves up plenty of fun and witty banter for Heigl and Marsden. Even the slightly overdone sing-along to Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” in a bar is fun and leaves you smiling.
Judy Greer plays Jane’s best friend Casey, whose witty antics deliver laughs as well. She seems to always play the best friend in these sorts of movies, so hopefully some day she can move up to leading lady status.
The other real shining star of the movie isn’t on screen but off. Catherine Marie Thomas, the costume designer, created 27 beautiful, outrageous and/or down-right awful bridesmaids dresses that give the movie some real character.
Overall, “27 Dresses” could have been a bit more daring with its script but Heigl and Marsden are just so darn likeable that you don’t care so much about the predictability of the film. And for anyone else out there who has noticed that Marsden never gets the girl, or at least the girl he sets out for, his luck may change! (I’m not really giving anything away, am I?)
Let’s face it: Jane must be the prefect bridesmaid if she’s organized, selfless and willing to wear these awful dresses for you on your special day.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
For the Bible Tells Me So
So I recently saw the new award winning film, 'For the Bible Tells Me So' and I was really really happy with the way the film was presented. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and was pleased that someone else out there finally put these thoughts onto film.
I can't tell you how many times I've had to defend my Christianity and my liberalism and support for gay rights. Supposedly those three things don't make sense together. So that's why it was so great to see someone finally put this big national discussion on film.
'For the Bible' talks to five conservative christian families who have gay/lesbian children and how they've tried to deal with it, since the Bible tells them this is wrong, and a choice, etc.
The film also talks with some religious leaders and religious educators about how we can't read the Bible literally right now, in our current time frame. They discuss the passages that were written thousands of years ago and discuss how they were written in a completely different context and under a different set of laws.
For example, one main point of the film they discussed was abomination. In the Bible it says if a man lies with another man... so on.. it's an abomination. Well turns out under Leviticus text and definition, abomination back then didn't mean the worst possible thing ever, it meant against ritual. So what they were saying, was just that a man lying with another man was against their ritual. Not that you should be ashamed and put to death and blah blah.
One of the families, a conservative Lutheran family, after some research, accepted their son's homosexuality and now fight against conservative Christians for gay rights in the church.
Another family, accepted their daughter right away, saying they kind of knew, and the father, a politician, welcomed and had his daughter work with him on his presidential campaign.
Another family, still does not support their daughters choices, but the mother does now accept her daughter's 'friendship' but doesn't want to think of her sex life or consider them spouses.
The saddest of the families was a mother who initially did not like her daughter's choice and wrote her daughter a letter saying she would never support her decision, but still loved her. The daughter committed suicide. Now the mom has done research and spoken to different churches and people and now supports gay rights and fights for them now too, using her discrimination as an example for people to move forward with.
Overall the film speaks volumes. It points out that Jesus loved all outcasts, no matter if they were diseased, prostitutes, etc. So why do so called 'Christians' continue to outcast their own. If they were true Christians they would accept everyone with a whole heart. And not use their campaign to bring in millions and millions of dollars for themselves. If they were real Christians, they would send that money to countries who really need it, not use it to buy themselves mansions.
Well those are my two cents. I encourage everyone to get out and see 'For the Bible Tells Me So'. The website is forthebibletellsmeso.org. The name of the film with .org after it.
Until next time...
I can't tell you how many times I've had to defend my Christianity and my liberalism and support for gay rights. Supposedly those three things don't make sense together. So that's why it was so great to see someone finally put this big national discussion on film.
'For the Bible' talks to five conservative christian families who have gay/lesbian children and how they've tried to deal with it, since the Bible tells them this is wrong, and a choice, etc.
The film also talks with some religious leaders and religious educators about how we can't read the Bible literally right now, in our current time frame. They discuss the passages that were written thousands of years ago and discuss how they were written in a completely different context and under a different set of laws.
For example, one main point of the film they discussed was abomination. In the Bible it says if a man lies with another man... so on.. it's an abomination. Well turns out under Leviticus text and definition, abomination back then didn't mean the worst possible thing ever, it meant against ritual. So what they were saying, was just that a man lying with another man was against their ritual. Not that you should be ashamed and put to death and blah blah.
One of the families, a conservative Lutheran family, after some research, accepted their son's homosexuality and now fight against conservative Christians for gay rights in the church.
Another family, accepted their daughter right away, saying they kind of knew, and the father, a politician, welcomed and had his daughter work with him on his presidential campaign.
Another family, still does not support their daughters choices, but the mother does now accept her daughter's 'friendship' but doesn't want to think of her sex life or consider them spouses.
The saddest of the families was a mother who initially did not like her daughter's choice and wrote her daughter a letter saying she would never support her decision, but still loved her. The daughter committed suicide. Now the mom has done research and spoken to different churches and people and now supports gay rights and fights for them now too, using her discrimination as an example for people to move forward with.
Overall the film speaks volumes. It points out that Jesus loved all outcasts, no matter if they were diseased, prostitutes, etc. So why do so called 'Christians' continue to outcast their own. If they were true Christians they would accept everyone with a whole heart. And not use their campaign to bring in millions and millions of dollars for themselves. If they were real Christians, they would send that money to countries who really need it, not use it to buy themselves mansions.
Well those are my two cents. I encourage everyone to get out and see 'For the Bible Tells Me So'. The website is forthebibletellsmeso.org. The name of the film with .org after it.
Until next time...
Monday, November 05, 2007
some top favorites anyway
I decided I couldn't go to bed without giving some top favorites for right now! I've joined netflix and get HBO for free... so I've been playing a lot of catch up lately.
TOPS
-into the wild - MUST SEE.
-american gangster - liked it, but first half was not as good as second half.
-rushmore - hadn't seen it. liked it a lot! Have yet to see darjeeling.
-Volver - great!
-the umbrellas of cherbourg - also great foreign flick!
things I'm excited for - so check 'em out!
- atonement
- august rush
- enchanted
- walk hard
- fred claus
- sweeney todd
-HELP! is coming out on DVD!!! Yes yes yes yes yes.
also, hairspray is a top on my christmas list as well.
TOPS
-into the wild - MUST SEE.
-american gangster - liked it, but first half was not as good as second half.
-rushmore - hadn't seen it. liked it a lot! Have yet to see darjeeling.
-Volver - great!
-the umbrellas of cherbourg - also great foreign flick!
things I'm excited for - so check 'em out!
- atonement
- august rush
- enchanted
- walk hard
- fred claus
- sweeney todd
-HELP! is coming out on DVD!!! Yes yes yes yes yes.
also, hairspray is a top on my christmas list as well.
i'm so very sorry
SO I AM SO HORRIBLY SORRY for not posting in foreverrrrr. London was a blast, but movies were so expensive I only got to about three of them. Then april 16th happened, and since I go to Virginia Tech, it just put my life on pause. Over the summer, I got to see a bunch, but only in certain spurts... so to make the most of it, my friend Adrien and I would see four films a day to get the most out of our time away from camp. Boy oh boy was that hard (sitting through four movies in a row practically) and awesome at the same time.
So I really have to get on the ball about trying to update at least once a week... and would update now, but it's late and I must get ready for bed instead.
So I really have to get on the ball about trying to update at least once a week... and would update now, but it's late and I must get ready for bed instead.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
You'll have to excuse me for not updating this page in a longgg time. I'm in London now for the semester, and I promise I will update soon! I didn't see as many movies over break that I would have liked to, but Blood Diamond just came out over here, so I'm hoping to go sometime soon!
But for now, I'll let you know about the EPIC movie called "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" startting Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt, circa 1985. First of all, I got this classic movie for just one pound at Woolworth's and am proud to say that it was totally worth the converstion rate to equal a total cost of 1.90 US dollars.
The movie starts out with an embarresed and nervous SJP in a catholic school girl uniform, where a nun is making her tell the class a little bit about herself. She's an army brat and loves music, but mostly she loves to dance, and wants to be on Dance TV! Luckily, Chicago is the place where they tape this fine dance TV progam, and she and Helen Hunt become fast friends.
They soon learn there's a dance contest and who ever wins, gets to become regulars on the show! like, OMG, they have to try out! SO they try out, Hunt's partner knocks her over, therefore eliminating the pair, but SJP and her partner dance like champs, and she moves on to the finals, only to get paired with one of the hottest guys in the competition. (note: the actor has done nothing with his acting career after 1988, only making a few more movies after this one...)
SO they practice, and make out, and SJPs dad is an ex colonel who's strict, and she has an annoying younger brother, and you're probably saying why is this movie any good?! Well it's one of the better 80s movies I've seen (minus anything with John Cusack in it), and maybe it's so classically bad, that it's actually GOOD. It doesn't have that typical 80s movie "stupid best friend" character in it that annoys the hell out of you, you actually feel bad for Helen hunt not making it!
SO over all, i recommend that you most definitely see this movie, bad 80s dancers and all. You'll have a good laugh, and you can play the game of predicting what will come next! Totally AWESOME!
But for now, I'll let you know about the EPIC movie called "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" startting Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt, circa 1985. First of all, I got this classic movie for just one pound at Woolworth's and am proud to say that it was totally worth the converstion rate to equal a total cost of 1.90 US dollars.
The movie starts out with an embarresed and nervous SJP in a catholic school girl uniform, where a nun is making her tell the class a little bit about herself. She's an army brat and loves music, but mostly she loves to dance, and wants to be on Dance TV! Luckily, Chicago is the place where they tape this fine dance TV progam, and she and Helen Hunt become fast friends.
They soon learn there's a dance contest and who ever wins, gets to become regulars on the show! like, OMG, they have to try out! SO they try out, Hunt's partner knocks her over, therefore eliminating the pair, but SJP and her partner dance like champs, and she moves on to the finals, only to get paired with one of the hottest guys in the competition. (note: the actor has done nothing with his acting career after 1988, only making a few more movies after this one...)
SO they practice, and make out, and SJPs dad is an ex colonel who's strict, and she has an annoying younger brother, and you're probably saying why is this movie any good?! Well it's one of the better 80s movies I've seen (minus anything with John Cusack in it), and maybe it's so classically bad, that it's actually GOOD. It doesn't have that typical 80s movie "stupid best friend" character in it that annoys the hell out of you, you actually feel bad for Helen hunt not making it!
SO over all, i recommend that you most definitely see this movie, bad 80s dancers and all. You'll have a good laugh, and you can play the game of predicting what will come next! Totally AWESOME!
Monday, November 27, 2006
well it's been a while
It's been sooo long and I have seen many a movie that I should have written about, but I have been so busy with homework and writing for the newspaper. I will soon be writing for a new web venture entitled Big Lick U. I'll tell you more about that later..
for now I will tell you all about The Queen.
The Queen which stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and James Cromwell (whom we all remember as teh farmer from Babe when we were little) as Prince Philip, her husband. The plot takes off as Tony Blair is running for Prime Minister and at the start of his new position as the Prime Minister to England. We follow him on his first trip to officially be named Prime Minister by the Queen and his immediate success with his government over the people. Queen Elizabeth is seen as guarded and not too friendly to the public and even to Tony Blair, but we see her vulnerable side when she's alone with her mother and her husband and even some of her closer staff. They make remarks about Princess Diana and her racy and too public life-style.
It then falls into the dreadful August night where the paparazzi drive Princess Di and Dodi Fayed to their tragic deaths in a Paris tunnel. The Queen is notified in the late night that Di is in the hospital and Fayed has already died. She does not seem to care as much since she is no longer a member of the royal family. The events follow as her summer vacation at Balmoral continues with the family and their hunt for stags.
Tony Blair, who's smile remains big throughout the movie, urges the Queen to come back to London to be with her grieving people or make a statement about the Princess, but she refuses. It took her a week to finally say something and return to London and attend the funeral which became public much to her dislike.
The film is well written and funny at times in this drama that strikes close to home and makes you remember where you were while all of this was happening. I still remember where I was when I found out the tragic news, so to see all of this being played out in what the film makers believe what happened in that tragic week, hit a little close to my childhood memories.
James Cromwell does a good job with Prince Philip, trying to be the voice of reason and support to his wife and the grandfather to two grandsons who are mourning their mother's death in the best way he knows how, hunting stags.
Helen Mirren needs an Oscar nomination for sure. She played the queen with poise and the right amount of pursed lips. She was the best job any actress could have done in that part and you feel like you are becoming friends with her in a weird sort of way. She pulls you onto her side and gives it an interesting take on Princess Di we all think we knew.
The Queen has the right amount of politics combined with the right amount of personal "stuff" (I'm at loss for the right word.) I highly recommend this movie and you may not agree with some of the comments Queen Elizabeth makes about the situation, but it makes you realize that everyone is human, everyone has issues and not everyone is perfect. No matter how high you put that someone on a pedistel, they're just as human as you are. Demanding a lot of someone can make them hide or crack under pressure and it's not their fault that they don't act they way they want you to.
for now I will tell you all about The Queen.
The Queen which stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and James Cromwell (whom we all remember as teh farmer from Babe when we were little) as Prince Philip, her husband. The plot takes off as Tony Blair is running for Prime Minister and at the start of his new position as the Prime Minister to England. We follow him on his first trip to officially be named Prime Minister by the Queen and his immediate success with his government over the people. Queen Elizabeth is seen as guarded and not too friendly to the public and even to Tony Blair, but we see her vulnerable side when she's alone with her mother and her husband and even some of her closer staff. They make remarks about Princess Diana and her racy and too public life-style.
It then falls into the dreadful August night where the paparazzi drive Princess Di and Dodi Fayed to their tragic deaths in a Paris tunnel. The Queen is notified in the late night that Di is in the hospital and Fayed has already died. She does not seem to care as much since she is no longer a member of the royal family. The events follow as her summer vacation at Balmoral continues with the family and their hunt for stags.
Tony Blair, who's smile remains big throughout the movie, urges the Queen to come back to London to be with her grieving people or make a statement about the Princess, but she refuses. It took her a week to finally say something and return to London and attend the funeral which became public much to her dislike.
The film is well written and funny at times in this drama that strikes close to home and makes you remember where you were while all of this was happening. I still remember where I was when I found out the tragic news, so to see all of this being played out in what the film makers believe what happened in that tragic week, hit a little close to my childhood memories.
James Cromwell does a good job with Prince Philip, trying to be the voice of reason and support to his wife and the grandfather to two grandsons who are mourning their mother's death in the best way he knows how, hunting stags.
Helen Mirren needs an Oscar nomination for sure. She played the queen with poise and the right amount of pursed lips. She was the best job any actress could have done in that part and you feel like you are becoming friends with her in a weird sort of way. She pulls you onto her side and gives it an interesting take on Princess Di we all think we knew.
The Queen has the right amount of politics combined with the right amount of personal "stuff" (I'm at loss for the right word.) I highly recommend this movie and you may not agree with some of the comments Queen Elizabeth makes about the situation, but it makes you realize that everyone is human, everyone has issues and not everyone is perfect. No matter how high you put that someone on a pedistel, they're just as human as you are. Demanding a lot of someone can make them hide or crack under pressure and it's not their fault that they don't act they way they want you to.
Friday, September 22, 2006
little Miss SUNSHINE
If you haven't already seen Little Miss Sunshine, I highly recommend you stop whatever you're doing and go see it right now. The premise is Steve Carell plays Frank, a gay man who has just tried to commit suicide and has to go live with his sister - Sheryl's (Toni Collette) family. Her husband, Richard, (Greg Kinnear) is striving to create his "9 Steps" program, Sheryl's son, Dwayne, (new comer Paul Dano) has taken a vow of silence until he can be in the Air Force and their daughter, Olive (Raising Helen's Abigail Breslin) wants to compete and become a beauty pageant winner. Richard's father also has to live with the father on account of getting kicked out of his "old folks home" for snorting heroine. When they find out Olive's sencond place winning in the Little MIss Chili Pepper's was bumped up to first place because of "something with diet pills" they must travel to California in their old VW van for Olive to compete.
I don't want to give too much away, because it's just all too funny and you need to see it for yourself. I thought the music was perfectly chosen for the film and helps carry the movie out to the end. The film opens and sets up the story for the audience, we see Olive practicing her beatuy pageant "winning" wave and cry, Sheryl is driving to pick up Frank, Dwayne is doing push ups, sit ups and pull ups, Richard's father, Grandpa Edwin is in the bathroom snorting heroine and Richard is giving a presentation on his "9 Steps" to becoming a winner.
Little Miss Sunshine's writing is witty, heartbreaking, hilarious, heartfelt and down to earth. The shots are all perfect and you always feel that you're one with this nutty family on a road trip. So what is so funny about suicide, bankruptcy, homosexuality, and beaty pageants? Everything. It's a compelling and beautiful journey about this family coming together for their 7 year-old hopeful beauty queen, while hitting some of their own bumps along the way. Pretty much everything happens to the Hoover's on their journey from Albuquerque to California. Everyone's acting is impeccable. Even Dano does a wonderful job with his expressions and makes you believe he is the angry, silent and driven teenager that he is. Steve Carrell does an amazing job with the script and you forget that he's been that guy getting his chest waxed in the Forty Year Old Virgin. Abigail Breslin will go far with her talent and takes charge of the screen especially with her dance routine at the end of the film. Toni Collette having done such films as "The Sixth Sense," "About a Boy," "In Her Shoes" and too many other wonderful films just blends right into her character.
If you don't go see this film, then you are missing out. The film ends when it should, without going on for too long and having the rest be nonsense and you find yourself walking out of the theater with a smile on your face.
I don't want to give too much away, because it's just all too funny and you need to see it for yourself. I thought the music was perfectly chosen for the film and helps carry the movie out to the end. The film opens and sets up the story for the audience, we see Olive practicing her beatuy pageant "winning" wave and cry, Sheryl is driving to pick up Frank, Dwayne is doing push ups, sit ups and pull ups, Richard's father, Grandpa Edwin is in the bathroom snorting heroine and Richard is giving a presentation on his "9 Steps" to becoming a winner.
Little Miss Sunshine's writing is witty, heartbreaking, hilarious, heartfelt and down to earth. The shots are all perfect and you always feel that you're one with this nutty family on a road trip. So what is so funny about suicide, bankruptcy, homosexuality, and beaty pageants? Everything. It's a compelling and beautiful journey about this family coming together for their 7 year-old hopeful beauty queen, while hitting some of their own bumps along the way. Pretty much everything happens to the Hoover's on their journey from Albuquerque to California. Everyone's acting is impeccable. Even Dano does a wonderful job with his expressions and makes you believe he is the angry, silent and driven teenager that he is. Steve Carrell does an amazing job with the script and you forget that he's been that guy getting his chest waxed in the Forty Year Old Virgin. Abigail Breslin will go far with her talent and takes charge of the screen especially with her dance routine at the end of the film. Toni Collette having done such films as "The Sixth Sense," "About a Boy," "In Her Shoes" and too many other wonderful films just blends right into her character.
If you don't go see this film, then you are missing out. The film ends when it should, without going on for too long and having the rest be nonsense and you find yourself walking out of the theater with a smile on your face.
Monday, September 11, 2006
the start of my career
As I start this new blog... my movie blog... I can't help but think, why should I even do this. But obviously if even my college professors are telling me to start a movie blog, then it's not just an idea from my mother.
I can't review a movie right now, due to the fact that it's late and I have a test tomorrow along with my 8 am class and such.. which I still have to finish studying for.
But here's a list of movies I recommend for now:
-Real Women have Curves
-Little Miss Sunshine
-Prime
-Amelie
-The Squid and the Whale
-V for Vendetta
signing off for now...
jbean*
I can't review a movie right now, due to the fact that it's late and I have a test tomorrow along with my 8 am class and such.. which I still have to finish studying for.
But here's a list of movies I recommend for now:
-Real Women have Curves
-Little Miss Sunshine
-Prime
-Amelie
-The Squid and the Whale
-V for Vendetta
signing off for now...
jbean*
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