Darjeerling Limited Film Review

This may sound bizarre, but Wes Anderson's new film Darjeerling Limited left me with the same raw empathy that I felt as I finished Joan Didion's book Year of Magical Thinking. His most moving and raw movie to date, Darjeerling Limited is a cinematic meditation about grief, especially the loss of a parent. Each brother (played by Owen Wilson, Adrian Brody and Jason Schwartzman) try to reconcile the meaning of their own lives as they reunite on a train ride through rural India after being frozen by grief after the death of their father.

Although often criticized for filling emotional spaces with gags, jokes and with the right song, Anderson's films actually chronicle how many of his (my)Gen X peers actually "deal" with painful reality. And, I argue that perhaps you have to be Gen X to really "get" Anderson's films and to be on the same emotional inexplicable wavelength as we soundtrack and dramatize our emotional lives. Defined as apathetic, cynical, disaffected and slackers, Generation X has surprised our critics by becoming successful, motivated and innovative and yet we are still catching up emotionally with our own outward success.

Darjeerling is a movie about emotional recovery from devastating loss and literally letting go of your baggage, something that becomes more profound as you reach your mid to late 30s . We each bring our experiences as we watch films, and perhaps grief is an emotion so close to me right now (and a new one at that) that I couldn't be helped from being very affected by this film. Owen Wilson's character Francis is literally held together by bandages after facing his own near-death experience. (Yes, you think about poor Owen's own brush with death throughout the film.)

Tonight at the BAFTA Q&A when asked what the film meant, Anderson responded quoting Harold Pinter about how what you see and what is written speaks for itself and it's not Anderson's job to tell you what the film means and for your to draw your own conclusions. So, I'm going to eat some chicken tikka, burn some incense and meditate on how much I love Wes Anderson movies.

Viggo Update

So, Katie Holmes fantasized about Tom Cruise and now they are together. Well, I'm serious about my quest for Viggo Mortensen. Viggo, I want you. Call me. You won't be sorry.

Oh No Winona

OMG. I'm the same age as Winona Ryder. Do I look this old?

NYCBABYLON PROMISES

Dear V-

Call me. This is not a joke. I need to have dinner with you soon.

x,
nycbablon

Gimme More

Ok, as much fun as everyone has made of Britney, her new song went to the test tonight at my dance class. And, the verdict is....Gimme More is an awesome song that really moves and grooves.

Gossip Girl

Well, today is the official first day of the new fall TV season. I used to be very excited for this day, but now I'm not as hopped up as I used to be. Perhaps I'm just another casualty of the digital age. The show I did watch and was immediately hooked, however, was CW's Gossip Girl. Gossip Girl chronicles a bunch of privlaged New York City kids and an anonymous blogger who writes everyone's business on her "gossip girl" blog. I felt like was back in the prime of 90210, and I just saw the pilot. I was laughing out loud as a bunch of teenagers gulped martinis and referenced dancing on tables at Bungalow back "in the old days."

Eastern Promises

Tonight I saw the David Cronenberg film Eastern Promises. If you can handle some ulta-violent scenes, I recommend to "run don't walk" to this gripping and exciting film. There is an amazing fight scene in a sauna that I predict future directors will copy for years to come. Somehow, Cronenberg has become of the best living directors. His films continue to get better and more exciting as he meditates on the meaning of family and what it means to be "normal." Plus, you get to see hot Viggo Mortensen in full-frontal nudity in what I predict will be an Oscar nominated performance.

Hilarious Britney Spoof

Beware of the McDonald's Angus Burgercast

BEWARE OF THE BABYLON is live on tape this week
eating McDonald's outside the Newscorp headquarters in midtown.
Consumerist ranting and raving in this episode:

* Taste-testing the new McDonald's Angus Burger.

* Marc Jacobs hot new Mouse Shoes - worth every penny.

* Career advice for Britney Spears, and Todd.

* Holding out for a hero, or at least some novocaine.

* Why the Weiss family pets last longer.

As always, this, and EVERY, BEWARE OF THE BABYLON podcast can be automatically downloaded from iTunes.

OR, just listen right here and now with the audio player below...

The Pick Up Artist

I am accidentally watching some insane show called The Pick Up Artist on VH-1. I know Gawker has been making fun of it, but I am shocked at how ridiculous this program really is. There is some asshat in black eyeliner with a goatee, ponytail and an earring in his chin trying to teach a bunch of normal guys how to pick up women. Right now he is seriously instructing these guys how to pick up an exotic dancer as if this is the ultimate goal of a pick-up artist. I mean, that's a challenge? It's actually much harder to pick up women like myself and friends such as ANP. We're actually much better catches than exotic dancers. We have jobs, decent incomes, and aren't trying to get off the pole.

One Star: New Macy's Ad

To see the crazy new Macy's commercial, click here. It's worth the click.

Emmy Live Blog

Stars like Eva get their tan on for the Emmy's!

I'm getting my dinner ready so I can live blog with a full stomach. I don't really care about the Emmy's in the same way I do the Oscars, but I feel obligated to comment. So far, I'm wathching E! and trying to figure out why Guliana Too-Tan-Di got this job. Poor Joan Rivers is stuck Live Blogging like me.

8:00PM
The show just opened and one thing I hate is cartoon characters on Award Shows. This is so fucking stupid. I was checking out the fashions on the web. I'm behind in making my dinner because I was shopping and trying to find things that didn't make me look pregnant. Hayden Pantierre doesn't seem to care about this though.

Fat is the new black.

8:13
Piven won again. It's too bad the show is kind of boring now. What in the hell is Vanessa Willams wearing? I hope Hugh Laurie wins Best Actor. I love him. Who in the hell is this guy Terry O'Quinn who won best Supporting Actor and what show is he on?

The hottest man at the Emmy's.

8:23
Tina Fey looks the best she ever looked. She follows the Weight Watchers diet. I have to confess. I am kind of liking Ryan Seacrest. Perhaps this is a sign that I'm getting old. I also have to confess, I don't quite like Ugly Betty. What is up with Jaime Pressley? I think Catherine Heigel is the most beautiful woman there tonight.

Who's the boss of this bad hairdo on Judith Light?

8:59
I had to run out and pick up my camera which was stolen by a busboy on my birthday. I may not be a celeb, but I have the power to track down stolen goods through intimidation tactics. What did I miss?

No joke. Tina and Julia look fabulous.

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn about Ellen Pompeo.
9:11
There is something crazy about Neil Patrick Harris making a joke filled with sexual inneundo towards Hayden. Isn't he gay now? I hope the Sopranos wins Best Drama series. It was so much better than crap like Lost and Heroes. This commercial for Macy's is fabulous. I love Trump blow drying his hair and Jessica Simpson trying to break into the store.

Is it me, or does Steven Colbert look like Bob Saget?

9:27
Jesus, how old is Tony Bennett's wife? Speaking of older men, Mark Harmon isn't aging well.

Is John Stewart now old enough to be considered a silver fox?
9:40
Jersey Boys? I thought we were supposed to have a surprise Britney Spears performance!
9:43
Todd and I are on the phone now discussing how everyone looks like they are 90 years old or at least 30 years older than they actually are. Todd is now saying how the entire cast of Roots look like they are on the verge of death. Perhaps all the young people don't watch TV anymore and watch YouTube. Todd and I are now officially old.
9:53

Ten years ago Lewis Black was performing with my sad ass at Gotham Comedy Club. Now he's getting free jeans and doing his routine on the Emmy's.

10:05
Tom from myspace just officially jumped the shark as a guest on the Emmy's. That reminds me that I need to check my facebook account. Thanks to the Internet, I don't watch as much TV anymore as I used to so perhaps the Academy might want to tone down the current.com thing. Brad Garrett is making some very Borscht Belt blue jokes about being in between Fisher's legs. And when did Patricia Heaton morph into Joely Fisher? And, Elaine Stritch actually is very old but still looks younger than John Stewart and Judith Light.


Patricia Heaton is reincarnated as Joely Fisher.
10:23
Now Fox is plugging Don't Forget the Lyrics, which is actually pretty entertaining although Singing Bee is slightly better. Todd's right. Rupert has fixed the entire Emmy's although this is pretty fantastic with Kanye West as the opponent singing his own songs.
10:39
Ricky Gervais just won. Oh good. Here's my dream man, Hugh Laurie. My mother just called me and told me how she hates when actresses show too much boob. It's a good thing I'm not a Hollywood actress because she would see how I love to show off my own boobs any chance I get. I'm glad Sally Field won. What just happened? They totally edited and blanked out Sally's speech! WTF? Censorship on the Emmy's? Now we we are in The Memoriam section which is making me sad.

Fox doesn't seem to really like Sally Field turning the sound off during her acceptance speech.
10:51
I am so ready for this Emmy's to be over. I don't watch Ugly Betty, but America Ferrera is pretty cute. Before I was obsessed with Hugh Laurie, I was in love with Jimmy Smitts. Thanks god he's on to wake me up the last few minutes of this show. By the way, I decided that I love Heidi Klum's Dior dress which reminds of an old Christian Dior dress I have the poster for on my wall. And doesn't it seem like the entire cast of Pretty in Pink is there except for Ringwald?

Christian Dior Me like Heide Klum!
11:02
Wow! 30 Rock winning is an upset. Just a year ago, I was so excited for the Sunset Strip and Krawkoski was wasting time in my dance class. Oh, and there's another old comedy buddy of mine Judah Friedlander on the stage. I should have stayed in comedy.
11:09
While I love House, I'm glad Sopranos won because it really was a fantastic show. And, support Joan Rivers and read her live blog here. Without her, we wouldn't have all this preshow television we've grown to expect and love.

Mile High

I just returned from a business trip to Denver so I haven't been able to blog. I was completely outside of my comfort zone, but I have to admit, I had a great time and learned a lot about my new business along with some nice people. I also had the opportunity to see Sinbad perform at a corporate event and questioned if perhaps I should have stuck it out as a comic, because that kind of gig seemed like a nice job. Also, I particpated in a "team building event" at Mile High Stadium that included running, climbing, etc. I'm not much of an athlete, but it was fun and I didn't kill myself. I also can recommend all of your hair care needs for 2008.

If I'm awake, I'll do some Emmy Award live blogging on Sunday night.

Chipped Molar

I am so busy and to top it off, I lost half a molar today. I'm pissed.

Britney's Balls

Sometimes my self esteem plummets and I hate my hair and my body, but now when I feel this way, I'll reference this photo of Britney Spears who wore this getup with her bad weave live on the MTV Video Music Awards to make myself feel better.

Muffy

It's fashion week and I could be blogging about that perfect white Rachel Roy suit I saw today, but I can't stop thinking about what is up with Muffy Potter Aston's hair? This is something I've often wondered whenever I see her photo. Doesn't she realize that this 'do ages her at least 20 years? Or maybe since she is married to a plastic surgeon, she really is 100 years old? Who lets her leave the salon looking like that? The hair and brows are just way to severe. She could look so much more youthful and fresh. I just don't get it. Couldn't she call Tim Gunn for an overhaul?

Fall Season

Between Fashion Week, my new job, the new iPod line, Max's hissy fit and fall shopping, I haven't had time to blog. I'm still here.

Horse Whisperer

Horse Whisperer
Originally uploaded by redrachel

I'm out horsing around this weekend. Happy Labor Day!