Yes, two posts in one day. I'm trying to show my blog some love. I used facebook too much now for most of the social stuff and twitter for joking around and myspace only because a few friends haven't switched over to facebook yet but I have not abandoned the ol' blog completely. And since the following is far more than 140 characters I'm going to unveil my new freestyle here. Please enjoy.
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
She broke my heart, now I’m bitter
Now she’s dating some guy named Charlie
But if she were dating another chick that’d be gnarly
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
She was a professional babysitter
I’d come over after the kids were asleep
Hey FCC, here comes the beep-beep-beep!
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
I went to high school with Joel Whitter
Now I’m just sounding like a creep
Hey FCC, here comes the beep-beep-beep!
Fell in love with a girl on twitter
Like Gyllenhaal and Ledger you know I can’t quit her
Keeps me up all night but who needs sleep
Hey FCC, here comes the beep-beep-beep!
Friday, August 7, 2009
"So it's sorta social, demented and sad, but social."
Gotta take a few moments to pass on my condolences to the now late but always great John Hughes. The writer/director/producer extraordinaire of such seminal classics as Sixteen Candles, Vacation, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, Planes Trains and Automobiles, She's Having a Baby, Career Opportunities.
After last directing a film with 1991's Curly Sue he stepped away from Hollywood, still occasionaly worked as a screenwriter on projects of varying success (Maid in Manhattan, Drillbit Taylor) but his impact on the world of film and pop-culture in the 80s is untouchable.
I recently re-watched The Breakfast Club again after having not seen it in many many years and I could still recite every line. I was quickly reminded why I used to watch it and so many other Hughes' films ad nauseum when I was younger. I am pretty sure I'll be re-watching most of them again in the next few weeks to honor the man and enjoy the singularity all over again.
Friday, June 26, 2009
"No man knows till he experiences it, what it is like to feel his own life-blood drawn away into the woman he loves."
Vampires are all the rage in pop-culture at the moment. From the awesome (HBO’s True Blood), the juvenile (Twilight), the sure to be lame (The CW’s upcoming Vampire Diaries from Scream/Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson) to the possible worst idea of all-time (FOX’s proposed Buffy the Vampire Slayer remake without the involvement of Joss Whedon). I consider myself to be a vampire geek through and through so I am very happy to make a recommendation for a new large print paperback from Norton Books which is The New Annotated version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The book is edited by Leslie S. Klinger and also includes a introduction by Neil Gaiman. This is truly a treasure for any fan of vampires or gothic horror. Alongside the text of Stoker’s legendary work of fiction there is a plethora of detailed historical notes, character examinations and wonderful illustrations. It’s a master class in Dracula 101.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Summer Movie Preview (Anti-Blockbuster Edition)
It's Memorial Day weekend and the official kick-off to the summer and that of course means big, loud and dumb movies hitting the screens with force. Don't get me wrong I love the summer movie season but I wanted to take a moment to address some smaller films that are also coming to theaters this summer which I am looking forward to seeing.
The Brothers Bloom (Opens this weekend in limited release)
Writer/Director Rian Johnson follows-up his fantastic debut Brick with this comedic tale of two con men brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) who embark on that elusive final job by taking a bored heiress (Rachel Weisz) on adventures around the world. The cast is top-notch and this looks like a funny and lite romp. Trailer link blow:
The Brothers Bloom (Opens this weekend in limited release)
Writer/Director Rian Johnson follows-up his fantastic debut Brick with this comedic tale of two con men brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) who embark on that elusive final job by taking a bored heiress (Rachel Weisz) on adventures around the world. The cast is top-notch and this looks like a funny and lite romp. Trailer link blow:
Moon (Opens June 12th in limited release)
Sam Rockwell stars as an American astronaut nearing the end of a 3 year long stay at a secluded mining base on the moon when he begins to contemplate the consequences of his work and what the future may hold for him. Kevin Spacey voices the HAL-ish robot that controls the station Rockwell works at. The always great Rockwell seems a perfect fit for this role and I love seeing smart and thought-provoking sci-fi that doesn't rely on CGI. Trailer link below:
Humpday (Opens in July)
Director Lynn Shelton does not shy away from the taboo or boundaries in this tale two overly competitive male college friends who after many libations find themselves enthralled in a dare to make an erotic art film whereupon the two of them have sex with each other on camera. Sometimes writer/director Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair, Baghead) co-stars in what looks to be a funny and hopefully honest twist on male commraderie. Trailer link below:
Away We Go (Opens June 5th in limited release)
From Oscar winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) and a screenplay co-written by literary uber star Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) is this film about a young couple (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph) expecting the birth of their first child who travel around the U.S. visiting friends and relatives all the while trying to find a home of their own. The wonderful supporting cast includes Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Allison Janey but I'm very happy and eager to see Krasinski and Rudolph get to carry what seems likes a lovely and touching film. Trailer link below:
Whatever Works (Opens June 19th in limited release)
I'm an unabashed fan of Woody Allen whatever style or mood he's working with and think a collab between him and Larry David is more than fitting. David portrays a neurotic New Yorker(surprise!) who enters into a strange bedfellows relationship with a young Southern Belle (Evan Rachel Wood) with equally eccentric and confused parents played the comparable Ed Begley Jr and Patricia Clarkson. Allen hasn't disappointed me since he started his current hot-streak dating back to 2004's Melinda and Melinda and this looks to be no exception. Trailer link below:
500 Days of Summer (Opens July 17th in limited release)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, two of the best young actors working today, headline this unorthodox film about a young man examining the best and not so best days of his now ending relationship with the girl of his dreams. Trailer link below:
Paper Heart (Opens August 14th)
Actress Charlyne Yi, best known for some scene-stealing moments in Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, portrays herself in this "mockumentary" about the search for the love in the modern world. Yi's real life boyfriend Michael Cera co-stars and will hopefully redeem himself for last year's painful Nick and Nora... and the not so promising looking Year One coming out earlier in the summer. Trailer link below:
The Hurt Locker (Opens June 26th in limited release)
Formerly an A-List director in the male dominated action genre Katheryn Bigelow (Blue Steel, Point Break) presents this well-received war film set in Iraq and surrounding an elite Army bombing squad with a cast that features Jeremy Renner(who should be a bigger name) and a certain favorite castaway by the name of Evangeline Lily. It looks intense and sharp. I'm glad there are still filmmakers brave enough to make movie about Iraq despite the critical and commercial backlash toward them in recent years. All it is going to take is one really great film about the subject to unleash a wave of the stories that deserve to be told. Trailer link below:
The Boat That Rocked (Opens August 28th)
British writer and filmmaker Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Love Actually) the mastermind of smart and charming but not too saccarine romantic comedy steps out of his comfort zone for this fictionalized telling of a pirate Rock 'n' Roll radio station in England during the 1960s that actually broadcasts from a ship in the North Sea. Phillip Seymour Hoffman leads a great cast that also includes my favorite "Mad Women" January Jones, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton and Kenneth Branagh. Trailer link below:
Taking Woodstock (Opens August 14th)
The last film we preview comes from director Ang Lee with the true story of how a closeted Hotel Manager by the name Elliot Tiber (here played by Demetri Martin) living in the Catskills of upstate New York was able to help the organizers of Woodstock keep the legendary festival alive. The supporting cast includes Eugene Levy, Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kelli Garner and Liev Schrieber. Trailer link below:
Well that's all for now. I hope you'll check out the previews and maybe catch some of the flicks on the big screen sometime this summer in between the Transformers and Terminators and Star Treks we'll all be making to the cineplexes this summer.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Let's play nine!
I've been away awhile so let's talk some baseball. The Texas Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 10-8 earlier this evening thanks to a pair of home runs from Second Baseman Ian Kinsler(above) and 6 solid innings from starting pitcher Kevin Millwood. The Rangers have now won 5 games in a row and are 21-14 overall leading the American League West Division. This marks the first time the Rangers have been 7 games over .500 since early in the 2005 season. Josh Hamilton, who also homered in the game, has knocked one out of the park in 3 of the last 4 games since his return to the big leagues after a rehab stint in the minors and seems to be getting back into All-Star form. The West is a very winnable division this year and I am surprisingly optimistic about their chances even though it's early. We just can't rely on winning games 10-8 so often. Millwood had a good game and the offense had already put several runs on the board for him before he left only to have the bullpen give up 5 runs in the top of the 9th.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Let's Raise Money to Fight Asthma!
I have set-up a personal donation webpage at : http://https://www.mrsnv.com/evt/e01/part.jsp?id=2416&acct=9000002156&rid=0
to raise money for the American Lung Association's BLOW THE WHISTLE OFF ASTHMA WALK to be held this April 25th at the Arbor Trails in Austin, Texas.
I know times are tough but if you are able to spare even a little for such a worthy cause by donating, volunteering or even passing along the word to someone else you know that may be interested it will be appreciated.
Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day full of fresh air.
to raise money for the American Lung Association's BLOW THE WHISTLE OFF ASTHMA WALK to be held this April 25th at the Arbor Trails in Austin, Texas.
I know times are tough but if you are able to spare even a little for such a worthy cause by donating, volunteering or even passing along the word to someone else you know that may be interested it will be appreciated.
Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day full of fresh air.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Catching up
It's a been a very hectic time lately but I wanted to get in a quick update before I go off the grid completely until mid-week.
First off, I want to give a big happy congratulations to Jenny & Chris Foust on the arrival of thier first daughter together, Kamryn.
Hate to follow that with a sad note but I have mention the tragic passing of actor/singer Andy Hallet, best known for his role as the Cabaret hosting Empath demon Lorne on the cult and beloved television series Angel. He died so young at the age of 33 last weekend from heart failure. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. He created one of the most original, joyous and endeliable characters in TV history as far as I'm concerned.
Baseball season starts tonight and Opening Day is offically tomorrow. I'm sad I'm going to miss it as I'll be camping way out on Colorado Bend with my Dad and Godfather Mike, but it's good to know baseball is back.
In other sports news I'm pulling for the Michigan State Spartans all the way against the North Carolina Tarheels in tomorrow night's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game. Coach Tom Izzo is a class act and I'm almost as sick of the Tarheels as I am that other school in thier area.
Quick movie recommendation : I Love You Man is another top-notch comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, both of whom are coming off two great comedies from last year in Forgeting Sarah Marshal and Role Models. I also really enjoyed Adventureland from the director of Superbad, although it's less of a straight up comedy and more akin to coming of age flicks like Some Kind of Wonderful or Say Anything... And it's easily the first time I've actually liked Kristen "Pouty Twilight Girl" Stewart in something. Maybe I'll have to give more of a benefit fo the doubt from now on. But that Twilight series, sheesh, just do not get it.
That's all for now, time to head on to see the one and only Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band live in concert for the first time. Hells YEAH!
First off, I want to give a big happy congratulations to Jenny & Chris Foust on the arrival of thier first daughter together, Kamryn.
Hate to follow that with a sad note but I have mention the tragic passing of actor/singer Andy Hallet, best known for his role as the Cabaret hosting Empath demon Lorne on the cult and beloved television series Angel. He died so young at the age of 33 last weekend from heart failure. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. He created one of the most original, joyous and endeliable characters in TV history as far as I'm concerned.
Baseball season starts tonight and Opening Day is offically tomorrow. I'm sad I'm going to miss it as I'll be camping way out on Colorado Bend with my Dad and Godfather Mike, but it's good to know baseball is back.
In other sports news I'm pulling for the Michigan State Spartans all the way against the North Carolina Tarheels in tomorrow night's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game. Coach Tom Izzo is a class act and I'm almost as sick of the Tarheels as I am that other school in thier area.
Quick movie recommendation : I Love You Man is another top-notch comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, both of whom are coming off two great comedies from last year in Forgeting Sarah Marshal and Role Models. I also really enjoyed Adventureland from the director of Superbad, although it's less of a straight up comedy and more akin to coming of age flicks like Some Kind of Wonderful or Say Anything... And it's easily the first time I've actually liked Kristen "Pouty Twilight Girl" Stewart in something. Maybe I'll have to give more of a benefit fo the doubt from now on. But that Twilight series, sheesh, just do not get it.
That's all for now, time to head on to see the one and only Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band live in concert for the first time. Hells YEAH!
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