Favorite Movies 2010

Since the Oscar nominations come out tomorrow, I wanted to release my list of favorte films of 2010. While many critics deliver their "best" lists, I always prefer to list my favorites as these are based on personal taste, experience of watching the film (a bad date can really ruin a movie) and their emotional impact on me. Timing is also crucial.

1. True Grit-Best line, "Well, that didn't pan out."
2. Black Swan-It's not a great movie but ever since I saw it, when I start going crazy from craving perfection, I now say, "I'm going Black Swan."
3. Somewhere-Chateau Marmont...need a I say more?
4. King's Speech-As my friend Todd always points out, I love any movie about a middle-aged man with a speech impediment (i.e. Sling Blade.) As my sister knows, I love the Queen Mother. Of course, I loved this movie.
5. Toy Story 3-Yes, I cried at the end and missed my old stuffed animals.
6. Another Year-As I get older, I like to see movies about old people.
7. Blue Valentine-I peed during the big nc-17 scence but it was still the saddest movie I saw all year. Is it me, or is Michelle Williams a great actress?
8. Social Network: Why in the hell am I not a billionaire?
9. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work: Joan writes every joke on an index card and files it. Inspirational.
10. Exit Through the Gift Shop: Saw this right after my Spring obsession with Marina Abramovic at MOMA.

Now, get ready for the NOMS!

The Secret of My Success

The truth is that I've been working like a dog for the past couple of years and today I realized that the capitalist side of my personality was initially formed by multiple viewings of movies about work. Here's my cinema MBA.
1. Secret of My Success
During the 80's I had a fantasy every guy at my future office would look like Michael J. Fox. I also learned the importance of doing market research from this movie and how not to behave at a corporate retreat.
2. Working Girl
I learned that great ideas can come from tabloids and that MBA's don't use tabloids to generate new ideas and therefore, reading gossip can be a great way to get ahead in business. I also learned that shorter hair makes you look more professional.
3. Swimming with Sharks. This taught me how to deal with a bad boss. I won't reveal my secrets here.
4. 9-5. Align with the ladies to beat the boys.
5. The Devil Wears Prada. I always side with Miranda Priestly in the movie. It's okay to be a decisive powerful and influential woman. Anna Wintour is really my real-life role model.

Australia Movie Review

Rabbit-Proof Fence+City Slickers+Gone With the Wind=Australia

I predict in a slow year for film so far, Australia is now the top contender for best picture. I have to admit, it was fantastic in an old-Hollywood epic kind of way.

Batman: The Dark Knight Review

Last night, I went to a screening of the new Batman film. I was skeptical that the film was going to ride on the coattails of the mystery surrounding Heath Ledger's death. I was wrong. The film would be fantastic no matter what. I don't want to give much away, as the film is full of surprises and action. But, I do want to say that Batman is actually very deep and meditates not only on the current state of our current politics but also on the deepest conflicts that plague the human ego. What is right? Do we sell our souls to help our families? Can you really rehabilitate evil? What motivates do-gooders? Do we really know who our real heroes are?

I also have to state that Heath Ledger's final full performance is incredible. The Joker is so fully-realized, scary and plain old batshit crazy that you have to wonder if throwing himself into the performance did take a toll on his mental state.

Youth Without Youth Premiere

At certain times in my life, I realize that great experiences and opportunities that are available to me as I live in NYC. Tonight I was invited to attend the premiere of Francis Ford Coppola's first film in 10 years Youth Without Youth at the Paris Theater. As I sat in the same row as the Godfather himself, I have to confess, I felt a little starstruck. While the movie was no Apocalypse Now, I did feel Coppola was channeling his inner Lynch. I can't really explain the plot except two people get struck by lightening and then some funky stuff happens to their bodies and souls and people start speaking in Sanskrit, grow second sets of teeth and have doppelgangers following them around. Oh, and they are running from the Nazis and dreaming of Shiva. I don't think this film will be as successful as his last vintage, but as a Cinema Studies graduate, I feel a little more complete having sat in a theater with FFC himself which was kind of like the time I saw Steven Spielberg power walking in East Hampton.

The Namesake

This trailer does not do justice to this beautiful and moving film based on fantastic book. If it's in your town, go see it this weekend. This is the best movie I've seen in a very long time but I confess I'm a sucker for Mira Nair.

Madonna for H&M

As most of my good friends know, I'm a sucker for both Madonna and for H&M. So, when I found out that Madonna was launching her own line for the Swedish department store, I was sure to get my ass over there to check it out. So, despite tepid reviews, I found some good solid pieces. I bought three dresses and a cashmere wrap sweater. With my new shoes from te casan, I'm ready for spring!

Eyebrows

I want to confess. I'm addicted to my Tweezermans. I am obsessed with any stray hair anywhere on my body. So, as you can imagine, growing out my eyebrows is going to be a difficult challenge. I was told last week that my eyebrows are "too thin" so I am now undergoing a project where I WILL NOT TWEEZE my brows for one month. My brows, however, are not that thin and without proper care, I'll be Brooke Shields in a few days. BUT I AM NOT GOING TO TOUCH MY BROWS WITH TWEEZERS! if you see me, don't look through my bangs at my hair brows. I will be seen my an A-list eyebrow expert who will shape my brows in movie star style. Wish me luck.

Music and Lyrics

Does art imitate life or does life imitate art or does life imitate art imitating life? Take the following example:

A couple of weeks ago I went on a promising date with a musician. Since the date, this man went on vacation and has been back for a week. Due to his busy schedule, he cancelled a date last Thursday and is busy preparing for a show he is doing next week. Before our date, I accidentally had a conversation with him(which I forget most of) under the influence of a bedtime Ambien. I later apologized for whatever I said under the influence of the velvet hammer which this blog will prove is a term I've been for Ambien since 2003.

Tonight, I went to meditate and then decided to log onto myspace.com. I decided to look at the musician's personal page where I noticed that he changed his status to "in a relationship." I'm pretty sure he's not in a relationship with me so I'm not sure if this just means nothing or he has a girlfriend. Of course, I'm also pretty sure based on past experiences, he probably got back together with a girlfriend. Then, I decided to torture myself and look at his official music page where I then noticed he had uploaded a new song entitled "Velvet Hammer." Then I listened to the song surprised that it was purely an instrumental so the meaning of the song is still a pure mystery to me although I'm 100% sure I inspired the title. This is not the first time I've inspired a NYC band to write a song. Back in 1999, the late great Cogs wrote a song called Joanna about a story I told about an old roommate of mine. So, I don't know if this guy digs/dug me or perhaps I'm just a fleeting muse among yet another musician/artist. In any case, I then immediately called Todd and explained the situation to him. Since we are going to the BAFTA screening tomorrow night of Music and Lyrics, Todd immediately exclaimed, "This is just like Music and Lyrics." Then, Todd and I decided to actually write the lyrics to the music which Todd then recorded to the actual music but we will not post for the public until this situation is resolved. But, without the music, here are the lyrics to the song which was originally recorded by the musician who from this day forward will now be known by the nickname of "Music And Lyrics."

you tell me to get ready

that you're coming back

i cant sleep

you hit me like a velvet hammer

you say you're in a relationship

i dont know if it's me or someone else

but that's what it says on myspace and i cant sleep

i need to take the velvet hammer

(chorus)

like the little white pills

you put me in a dream

but now you're just a side effect my doctor warned me about

you promised me that every day would smell like christmas eve

but now i only taste regret

and all i'm left with is the velvet hammer

As you can see, there is a lot going on here and these are my questions.

1. Does this dude have a girlfriend?

2. Should I be flattered he wrote the song but didn't tell me about it?

3. Am I reading too much into all this because I'm getting stir crazy from this freezing cold weather?

With all this confusion combined with the mystery surrounding the death of Anna Nicole, I'm so wound up that I'm going to have to take a velvet hammer to make myself fall asleep.

Dreamgirls: Too Hot in the Hot Tub

Tonight, I got a sneak peak at the new movie Dreamgirls starring Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson from Idol, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Fox. The movie is highly entertaining and Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" is so powerful that when I get my DVD, I will need to watch this scene immediately at least 20 times in a row. But, the real highlight of the movie for me was Eddie Murphy who recreates his SNL performance of the James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub party. And, this is not a bad thing as that skit is one of the funniest in the history of SNL. If you want a real preview of the fabulousness of Dreamgirls, watch the clip below.

Rest In Peace Robert Altman

"There are no good and bad movies, only good and bad directors."-Francois Truffaut



Robert Altman, the great American auteur, died today at the age of 81.

If you've never seen a Robert Altman movie, queue these up on your Netflix. These are my personal favorites:

1. Nashville: Nashville is not only my favorite Altman film, but one of my overall favorite movies. To see a great American movie about America by a great American director, rent Nashville immediately! Plus, "I'm Easy" is such a fabulous song and you will melt when Keith Carradine sings it to Lily Tomlin.

2. McCabe and Mrs. Miller: Leonard Cohen soundtrack, Julie Christie and 1970's Warren Beatty. Are you convinced?

3. The Player: This is one of the greatest "Hollywood on Hollywood" films ever. The jokes still hold true.

4. Short Cuts: Read the Raymond Carver stories and then rent the DVD. I was amazed how Altman actually brought the stories to life with emotion and complexity.

5. Gosford Park: Altman channels Jean Renoir.

I just watched A prairie Home Companion a couple of weeks ago and while it was not one of my favorite Altman films (but a very good one,) I realized today that this is a film about death and it was appropriate to be Altman's bittersweet last movie.

Best Films of 2006

I wrote this weeks ago, but I had to see a couple more movies before my final posting. Here's my Top 10 of 2006.

1. The Queen
2. Borat
3. Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
4. Volver
5. Marie Antoinette
6. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
7. The Devil Wears Prada
8. Stranger Than Fiction
9. Children of Men
10. Babel

Best performances of the year:
Best Actress: Helen Mirren in the Queen
Best Actor: Sascha Baron Cohen in Borat
Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada
Supporting Actor: (Tie) Jackie Earl Haley in Little Children and Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls