tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25325566746051971392024-03-12T20:35:52.958-07:00Chronicles In FrameEntirely Committing To Being A Culture-AholicJusticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.comBlogger442125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-57649030826338966872017-10-16T21:10:00.000-07:002017-10-16T21:17:29.102-07:00I'm Not Angry, Just Disappointed: Take Two<br />
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What's better - being surprised or disappointed?<br />
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Hopefully everyone out there would choose to be filled with the wonder of genuine astonishment rather than facing a crippling let down.<br />
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While those two options are on the opposite sides of the spectrum, both
emotions will look familiar to anyone who tends to frame their lives around expectations. Go with the flow types might just take everything as it comes and may never really have to deal with either of those feelings. Tell me - what's that like? <br />
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Getting tips from an easy breezy mentality would definitely be a beneficial for all anxious types like myself. On top of that, I'm a truly excitable person, which only makes it more tough. When planning trips or events with friends, I can look forward to it with such enthusiasm that I can't help but go over the top thinking about how great each grand adventure will be. More often than not expectations are exceeded, but sometimes it can be rather anticlimactic when reality can not catch up with your active imagination. <br />
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All of this excessive anticipation can in turn lead to ruining other aspects of life, like causing disappointment after spending years building up excitement for a movie adaptation of a beloved book. To put in lightly - watching the latest <i>IT </i>adaptation was a bruising experience. <br />
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After growing up with the miniseries <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2014/10/childhood-spooks-it-revisited.html">that ruined showering</a> for me during childhood (and continues to creep me out when catching it playing on cable each Halloween), it was looking like 2017 would be the year where a version of Stephen King's <i>IT</i> would be released that, now with an "R" rating and a release on the big screen, would be edgy and more horrifying. Perfect for us now adults who, on occasion, actually like to be scared. <br />
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Many continue to pay those bucks to check out the latest King adaptation <i>[IT </i>just recently became the <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/it-stephen-king-highest-grossing-horror-film-1202566209/">highest grossing</a> horror flick in US history] and with an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seemed like a no-brainer - I would definitely be settling in for the dark masterpiece of my dreams.<br />
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After cringing in annoyance at many of the scenes (that I'm guessing) were meant to be scary, the term "mind-boggling" would be a more accurate reaction.<br />
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This is not just hate from a book loving nerd. While I do find the book, like much of King's work, to be remarkable in the way he combines relatable human experiences with the fantastical, I specifically went into seeing this movie with no intention to compare it to the book. I was just excited to be scared. <br />
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Half way through, when I wound up rolling my eyes at the moments that were meant to be startling, I had to admit the worst possible discovery - the scary parts are not scary!<br />
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If you had told me that a movie company would finally release a R-rated feature length version cut of <i>IT, </i>and all we got was some gross effects and a lot of CGI dancing clown, I probably would have flipped you off. This revelation is one of the truly flabbergasting moments of 2017 - a year that continues to be packed with astonishing circumstances. <br />
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There is suppossed be a large campy factor to Pennywise, the murderous entity haunting the town of Derry, Maine. He is a clown after-all. But this adaption failed to give the horror soaked scenes their due. Each "scary" moment races along, preoccupied with fast cuts and Pennywise continually running at the camera with weirdly flailing bendy arms. Where's the suspense? Where's the mystery?<br />
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As cheesy as some people feel the original miniseries turned out, there is something to be said about a bona fide actor (Tim Curry) in full clown garb, just <a href="https://img.cinemablend.com/filter:scale/quill/a/f/7/8/d/9/af78d988febd07224491b572fbb4677c213601c2.jpg?mw=600">eerily standing across</a> the street from the characters or peering from behind bed sheets hanging on a clothes line. To me, that is chilling.<br />
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Those scene should feel real, since much of the horror in <i>IT </i>is specifically drawn from each character's personal fears; the fears we all face on a daily basis. We are all scared of something, which is exactly why the story has impacted so many people. The miniseries captured the simplicity of psychological terror that looks real (because it is), where nothing is hindered by distracting computer graphics. . <br />
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Those old fashioned creepy tricks in the miniseries are a nod to classic spooky movies, like <i>The Innocents</i> and <i>Rosemary's Baby</i>, where tension was built slowly, causing your mind to jump into high gear wondering when and how the scares were going to develop. <br />
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Recent stylistic sinister hits, like <i>Get Out</i> and <i>The Babadook</i>, also used old school scares to establish tension. Those two flicks set the bar high for what scary movies can be in our current era and I assumed the people creating this version of <i>IT </i>would follow in their influence, finally filming a version that really dug into the guts within King's elaborate story. <br />
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What is clear now after endless failed adaptions - almost all of King's work is impossible to adapt.<br />
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Book adaptations can be terrific on their own, even when they don't follow the book exactly. While some elements of this film version do work, including moments with the "loser's club" that showcase the connection and comradery between pals, not many filmmakers have been able to figure out how to really delve into the deep emotions King represents within his work.<br />
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<i>IT</i> is highly philosophical about growing up, adulthood, dreams, fears, relationships, and in a large scale, the purpose of life and the creation of our world in general. [King always has a big swing!] This movie does a better job at expressing the terror of facing death that is addressed in the book, especially in showcasing how many kids have gone missing and the trauma of losing a family member, in the case of Bill, with the tragic loss of his younger brother. But, when it comes to <i>IT</i> as a book, I don't think the themes will truly resonate unless you are actually reading King's words.<br />
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The most successful King adaptations are those that spend a lot of time delving into the emotions King focuses on. Two movies based on short stories have done it best - <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i> and <i>Stand By Me</i>. Those movies utilized the short page length of the source material to really pack in all the poignant resonance. <i>IT</i> is a 1,000 page tome. People should know that anything that large can not be properly tied into two hours, or four, now that the second movie focusing on "the losers" as adults has been green-lit.<br />
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Will I be seeing the sequel? There's only one answer - of course! My anticipation levels have been lowered exponentially, but I will be eager to see if the adult section takes the scary scenes more seriously. Maybe the film will go on the edgier side to reflect the character's age and older point of view? It definitely needs to be much darker. After all, the book on which it is based, is arguably one of the <a href="https://www.rd.com/culture/scariest-books/">scariest in history</a>.<br />
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Maybe we should all just hope for the eventual 10-hour series that HBO will release somewhere down the line. That I think will be the only way a visual form will be able to really capture King's vision of the events in Derry.<br />
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It is human nature to look forward to events and other things in your day. Even though all the signs are telling me to calm down and not get as excited all the time, I can't stop. Even if this movie didn't exceed my excitement, other things definitely will. I'm not going to change now. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-8716194245064938222017-09-16T22:17:00.000-07:002017-09-16T22:17:15.191-07:00Emmy Bubble<br />
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What came first - the critical acclaim or the personal adoration?<br />
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This is the kind of question that rolls around in your brain once you notice that all your favorite shows of the year continually get Emmy nominations, when apparently the masses of the world could care less.<br />
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Recently, <i>Variety</i> reported the <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/almost-nobody-watches-emmy-nominated-shows-1202559617/">results of a survey</a> (posed to five hundred adults over the age of 18) which revealed that the majority of people have not seen or even heard of the shows nominated at this years Emmy's.<br />
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Is the <i>The Handmaid's Tale </i>really going to infiltrate the culture and lead to change? Well that change might come at a tad slower pace, because apparently only 5% of those polled had seen the show. [Hopefully when the show wins Best Drama tomorrow night, more people will tune in.]<br />
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In a result that surprised no one, out of all this year's nominees, <i>Modern Family </i>fared notably with 56% of the group reporting they had tuned in to the ABC hit.<br />
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The show that fared the worst in these results was <i>Master Of None, </i>where 76% of those surveyed had not even heard of the show. Here I was living my life thinking that delightful Aziz Ansari was a household name and everyone was hanging out with their friends debating the merits of the Thanksgiving episode of <i>Master Of None </i>vs the season opener that is inspired by <i>The Bicycle Thieves</i>.<br />
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Much like Jon Hamm in that classic episode of <i>30 Rock </i>[Oh, wait, that's another show no one watched! Although, if you are actually reading this, odds are you get the reference.], or last year during the election, I have brutally come to the conclusion that I am in a bubble. This time though, it's an entertainment bubble - definitely a less harsh bubble to find yourself in once reality cruelly pops it. <br />
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This gets back to the main question - do cultural-a-holics like myself indulge in critically acclaimed shows just to stay up to date on what will get award nominations or does this small group of the population actually enjoy the shows that gets nominated? The "are you just trying to be smart and cool?" question.<br />
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I can only speak for myself and the answer is, yes, I honestly am obsessed with nearly all of the shows that are nominated for Emmy's this year. It's just a coincidence that I've seen almost all of them and I don't simply tune in because other people tell me I should like it. Seriously.<br />
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So, what makes these critically acclaimed gems not as interesting to the masses?<br />
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The popularity of nominees like <i>Modern Family </i>and <i>This Is Us </i>prove that most people are still sticking to what is found airing on one of the four big networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS). These are two shows that can be comforting, funny, sweet, and moving. If you've had a rough week and can only watch a few shows regularly, it totally makes sense that most people would gravitate towards this kind of entertainment. <br />
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But don't people know we are in the "Golden Age Of Television"? For those that are willing to trod off their usual paths, there are endless shows to consume that might make you look at life a little differently. Some may be deemed "quirky" or deal with intense subject matter, but for anyone who has extra time, it's worth expanding your viewing habits.<br />
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That's what I try to do - dabbling a little in the obscure and what is trending in the popular realm. I'm here to rave about <i>Ri</i><i>verdale </i>just as much as talk about how <i>Feud: Bette and Joan </i>is one of my favorite things to ever air on television.<br />
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I also don't want to be here to just hate on hits like <i>This Is Us</i>, because it is a perfectly fine show. And yet, I will always be bitter that it is getting the high ratings and critical acclaim that <i>Parenthood</i>, a much better crafted family drama, should have received.<i> </i>Each episode of <i>This Is Us </i>begins with the promise of something great, and while the acting is across the board terrific, the writing never fully delivers. I desperately want to see what others see in that show (including the crying every week!), but it continually disappointed in how the stories unfolded. Also, I'm a real serious crier at movies and tv, not just a casual crier, and I only teared up a couple times throughout. Yet another thing people promised me that didn't happen. <br />
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There is always going to be differing opinions, and really, with the expansion of new channels and streaming services, television has developed to look more like the music industry. There will always be something for you, whether you like Top 40 or are more into the underground indie music scene. Who can be angry with that?<br />
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This year's Emmy's did a solid job of including shows from all over that spectrum. With <i>Game Of Thrones</i> out of contention this year, there were slots open for other shows and people, and that might be the only reason that <i>House Of Cards</i> is still part of the mighty elite. Serious question: does anyone still consider that a delight to watch?<br />
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When it comes to specific nominees, like usual, I'm repping hard for Elisabeth Moss (nominated for <i>The Handmaid's Tale</i>), who between other shows like, <i>Mad Men </i>and <i>Top Of The Lake, </i>continually proves that she is one of the finest actors working today. I'm also rooting for Donald Glover (<i>Atlanta</i>), Judith Light (<i>Transparent</i>), Tituss Burgess (<i>Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt</i>), Bob Odenkirk (<i>Better Call Saul</i>), a win for <i>Stranger Things</i>, <i>Full Frontal with Samantha Bee</i>, and <i>Billy on the Street</i>. <br />
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Also (feeling like a pattern year after year), can anyone breathe after reading the nominees in the Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries category? Who could pick one? It's impossible and insane! All my favorites of the year are rounded up in that category:<br />
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Carrie Coon (<i>Fargo</i>), Felicity Huffman (<i>American Crime</i>), Nicole Kidman (<i>Big Little Lies</i>), Jessica Lange (<i>Feud: Bette and Joan</i>), Reese Witherspoon (<i>Big Little Lies</i>), and Susan Sarandon (<i>Feud: Bette and Joan</i>).<br />
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Carrie Coon should really be nominated for Best Actress from <i>The Leftovers</i>, but she definitely was also a highlight in this latest season of <i>Fargo.</i> It is also a bummer that <i>American Crime</i> was cancelled. That show is easily the most challenging and truthful examination of our culture being done by any form of entertainment today. It was really fantastic while it lasted.<br />
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For the full list of nominees, <a href="http://www.goldderby.com/article/2017/2017-emmy-nominations-list-primetime-emmy-awards-69/">click here</a>, and don't forget to watch tomorrow at 8 p.m Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific. Or tune in to E! sometime in the early afternoon and watch them struggle to fill a whole day of coverage with limited resources. <br />
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Maybe one day I will crawl out of the bubble, but for now, shhhh, I have too many shows to watch. <br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-54524433308856847232017-08-29T21:40:00.000-07:002017-08-29T21:45:54.918-07:00A Movie A Day...Might Keep The Box Office In Play? <div style="text-align: center;">
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Apparently nobody wanted to go out to the movies this weekend. In
terms of money, it was the worst weekend in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/aug/28/us-box-office-worst-weekend-in-16-years-hollywood-bleak-summer">16 years</a>! This
probably has to do with the fact that the movies released recently
were, as I heard two local radio hosts put it, flicks no one had even
heard of before.<br />
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At an average of $12 - $18 a pop at my local theaters, most people will probably want to
buy tickets for something they were actually excited about seeing. These higher costs would lead less and less people to casually stop by the
theaters and just go see whatever is playing. If these rates continue
to decrease, movie chains will probably look to anything to help
boost crowds coming to hang in front of their screens.<br />
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One company might have an idea of how to rectify the issue.<br />
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About a year ago I looked into a subscription service that could inspire more people to get off their couch and out into the movie
theaters. This company, MoviePass, promises that for just a flat
rate per month, you can have access to a ticket to one movie in the
theater per day.
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<br />
Such an opportunity instantly got my motor running, specifically because
it feeds my two dearest passions – going to see movies in the theater and a
good deal. However, there were two big catches - back then, the price was $40 a
month and you would have to commit to a full year up front, not just
paying at a month by month basis.<br />
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Even though the cost could easily be covered by just seeing one
movie a week over a month, the year long commitment felt too much
like moving in with a dude you just met. You really aren't confident
about how this whole thing is going to work out and it would be
better to have an easy out.<br />
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It became even more clear that this company should be avoided
after reading endless criticisms about the company's less than
stellar (aka garbage - allegedly) app that has to be used to purchase
tickets.
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Cut to last week and MoviePass made a <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/24/moviepasss-new-low-price-draws-150000-subscribers-in-under-a-week">big announcement</a> that
instantly led to their service being flooded with new members. It was reported that they are lowering their price to $9.95 per month - a price that matches every other
entertainment service that America has made essential in their lives.
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<br />
For some reason anything under $10 seems to be basically free.
Something that's $11.99 at Target takes about an hour of extra
thought before it ends up in my cart, but something that is merely $2
less seems like a no brainier. No question I will be buying that
$9.99 clearance kitschy elephant tape dispenser. Do I even use tape?
I mean, probably!<br />
<br />
Of course my brain starts trying to work out how MoviePass can possibly make money with such
a large drop in their pricing. One possibility is banking on
laziness. Many people will sign up just for the cheap cost and then
not use it. But for every careless person there will be an uber
subscriber (aka me) who will take on this hot deal and utilize it to
the max.
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Odds are there could be a month where I would go to a movie every
day just because <u>I could</u>! Check out that <i>Emojii</i> movie? Why not
- bring it on! I basically already paid for it anyway!<br />
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In reality, I'm rooting for MoviePass to help revive a culture of
people spending their nights out at the theater just seeing whatever
is out there playing instead of glued to Netflix all the time. Watching
movies and television at home is great and all, but it leads to
distracted viewing with people wandering back and forth and pausing to
take snack breaks.
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Ultimately nothing compares to the completely immersive experience
of going out to the movies. You can laugh with strangers and let
go, crying unabashedly in the darkness. Sometimes you might even make new
friends with other audience members. [Oh - is that just me?] Then everyone leaves once the
lights come up, buzzing with either great or horrible stances on
what you all just witnessed.
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Sure, sometimes there will be that dude down the aisle texting for
15 minutes on his huge bright phone. Yet, giving him the side eye is all
part of the experience. Interacting with others might be a lost art in the future, but hey, let's keep real life human interplay, both positive and negative, going for as long as we can. <br />
<br />
While championing the success of the movie theaters might not be
for the masses, it should definitely be taken on by those who are
brave. Try to at least partially fight off some of the advancements easing you towards never leaving your
house. There is a whole world out there...for now. <br />
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Hopefully MoviePass can help hold the torch for
this entertainment tradition, because, boy, oh boy, these institutions seem
like they need all the help they can get.<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-46967212627775383352017-08-21T02:07:00.002-07:002017-08-21T02:11:51.632-07:00Total E-Clipse Of The Sun<br />
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T-shirt sales, marking up the price of special viewing glasses, and non-stop news coverage about the millions of people who will be taking to the highways causing traffic jams - these are all signs that point to a large scale event marked by the usual tinges of capitalism and American idealism.<br />
<br />
It wouldn't be this country if we all didn't react in a big way and turn everything into a brouhaha. Although, a lot of it sounds negative, it is not all bad. There are just those things to be prepared for, like heading to any music festival where you will probably be spending $20 on a hamburger and fighting with people for a parking spot. We all want to be a part of history and if I don't get the t-shirt that says I was there, than hell, it probably didn't even happen! <br />
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Aside from that nonsense, there really is nothing I love more than an occasion that upsets the normal day to day activities. The enthusiasm behind people wanting to take the day off and just experience a natural phenomenon is thrilling. Those that are lucky to be able to do so, can just take the moment to relax and spend a second to think about (as Carl Sagan put it) how we are all just on a pale blue dot, "on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam."<br />
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We can get so caught up in the motions, so days like tomorrow can be a nice change of pace. I just wish we didn't have to fight over those viewing glasses. Shouldn't all the states in the path of the eclipse mail those out to everyone for free? [My future non-profit, “Fun For All - Like Seriously”, will be in charge of this by the next eclipse – count on it!]<br />
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National events seem to level the playing field as well, which we all could agree is something we need in our country's current upheaval. We are all here just trying to survive. That sameness will only be more evident tomorrow and will hopefully occur to many while looking up under the same sky. <br />
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Sure, these poetic ideals are not on everyone's mind. Many will just be trying to get that perfect #eclipselfie. Even I thought about live tweeting the event that I plan on catching while sitting on a Washington beach eating donuts. Tweet gems like, “It's allll happening!” and “It's allllll happening...a little more!!” seem really integral to send out into the world. But joking around and being involved in that social experience is all just part of the cultural phenomenon these days. I enjoy it as much as the next millennial or really adult/humans of all ages. <br />
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Although, I do want to offer the most obvious advice on the planet. Take that Snap of you watching the eclipse with bunny ears and tweet out that joke, and then just put the phone down. Step away from it. Just do it. Enjoy it all before the moment is lost. Only then will you truly be able to remember where you were when this event happened. People like my grandma remember where they were during the eclipse in the 1970s. She for sure was not occupied by technology.<br />
<br />
Over the years our phones have made aspects of life more entertaining and the ability to share our experiences with people in all walks of life is extraordinary, but sometimes returning to more simple times, when we could leave the house without a phone glued to our hands, seems like the better answer. <br />
<br />
I really do hope that only goodness is on people's minds as the sky goes dark tomorrow, and not the macabre. Other pop culture devotees have surely been thinking about instances of eclipses in books, movies, TV, and music in preparation for tomorrow's event. Stephenie Meyer seems to have a monopoly on our collective reaction to the word “eclipse”, or maybe many of you have escaped that connection, either way, there are more pop culture "eclipses" worth noting than just those revolving around fighting over a werewolf and vampire. <br />
<br />
Having grown up in a family obsessed with Stephen King, the one example I have not been able to get out of my mind the last couple weeks is his intense masterpiece, <i>Dolores Claiborne</i>. Anyone who has read the book or caught the excellent film adaption starring bad-ass Kathy Bates, knows that a large plot point involves an eclipse falling over a town in Maine (of course). King delves into the idea of what can happen during the two minutes of darkness while everyone's attentions are focused on the sky...<br />
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I don't know if King found news articles about people doing bad things during solar eclipses or if that just came from his own wildly creative mind, but let's still keep our intentions good for tomorrow. Don't try to rob stores or cause a disturbance. Hopefully the worst thing you do tomorrow is fall over while trying to frame the perfect eclipse photo with your phone. While embarrassing, that is something we can all handle.<br />
<br />
Soak up those dark rays, maybe blast Madonna's <i>Ray of Light</i> album, or tune in for Bonnie Tyler's performance of <i>Total Eclipse Of The Heart</i> (perfect pop culture moments of fun like this is why I love living!), and, most of all, just pay attention. After all, you may not be around the next time the moon falls between the earth and the sun. Celebrate in the bold and big way America does best. Also maybe think about sharing those viewing glasses with your neighbor.<br />
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Live that best Solar Eclipse Life.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-30034480459660575702017-02-28T00:16:00.000-08:002017-02-28T00:16:07.651-08:00Well That Was A Twist aka The Oscars Were Cuckoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In an ending that maybe one risky gambler in Vegas predicted, both <i>Moonlight </i>and <i>La La Land</i> were named Best Picture last night. Although, it turns out it was not a tie or a joke, it was just one of the biggest flubs in live television history. <br />
<br />
Once the mistake was noticed, the folks of <i>La La Land</i> welcomed (what turned out to be) the actual winners up on the stage - the talented group of people who made <i>Moonlight</i>. <br />
<br />
So, how did this happen? That is the giant, smooth, gold man shaped question in the room.<br />
<br />
After a night of wild speculation about rigged systems and conspiracies, a <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/oscars-best-picture-mistake-brian-cullinan-pricewaterhousecoopers-wrong-pile-1201998091/">simple explanation</a> was confirmed earlier today - there are multiple copies of every envelope (gasp!). Someone grabbed another Best Actress envelope off the "other" pile instead of the Best Picture envelope off the "no seriously, this is the real stack" pile. An honest mistake, but such a simplistic, seemingly lax system really breaks down the strict secrecy visage that led us all to believe that each envelope is held in a locked briefcase strapped to a body guard named Hank until the second the award is announced. Who would have known that there are extra award envelopes just falling all over the place backstage. Quite frankly, it is surprising that this has not happened every year.<br />
<br />
Even if Warren Beatty had stopped the whole shenanigans and said into the mic, "Excuse me, this looks funny. Please God help me not look like an ass on TV," there still would have been quite the mystery to explain once a lady with a Britney Spears circa 2001 head mic ran out in a sweating panic to hand over the correct envelope.<br />
<br />
Their names might be lighting up all the headlines today, but of course neither Beatty or his presenting partner, <a href="http://www.mylusciouslife.com/wp-content/uploads/galleries/post-20688/full/Best%20fashion%20films%20-%20Bonnie%20and%20Clyde%C2%A01967%20-%20Faye%20Dunaway%20costume%20design.jpg">Bonnie GD Parker</a>, aka Faye Dunaway, are to blame. After watching the clip for the millionth time (because the news could not stop replaying that shocker), it did seem like Beatty was trying to show the envelope to Dunaway to get a second opinion about its inaccuracy.<br />
<br />
Now we know (Dunaway pay attention) the following: if someone is ever stalling and looks at you with an awkward smile and intense eyes, they are not making a joke, they are simply covering their panic and are looking for an out. Oh, and if someone hands you a card, always read what it says in your head before saying it out loud. Just some lessons you all can use the next time you present an award.<br />
<br />
That twist ending could not have been more ironic for this awards season, a year which found people on Twitter early Sunday morning declaring their anger over <i>La La Land</i> winning Best Picture, hours before the ceremony even began. Now that the mystery behind that wrong envelope has been solved, everyone can move on and give it up to <i>Moonlight </i>for
taking the top movie prize of the year! Who am I kidding - people are
going to be talking about that mix up for the next century, but
hopefully between all that bewilderment and gossip, more of this country
will go soak up the stunning, emotional film watching experience that is the
newly crowned Best Picture of the year. The last shot in the movie is so gorgeous it should be framed. <br />
<br />
I am a huge fan of both movies that were called out as Best Picture last night, so all the immense (and I feel, totally unwarranted) hatred for <i>La La Land </i>was beginning to become infuriating. There was a deep passion behind wanting <i>Moonlight </i>to win (I was with you all), but why does another movie need to be cut down in the process? That negativity really bums me out, especially when 2016 was jam packed with movies sharing beautiful human stories about people from across this country and world.<br />
<br />
All drama aside, I was thrilled that <i>Moonlight </i>was the real Best Picture. In the numerous years I have been trying to see all the Best Picture nominees before Oscar Sunday [A feat I finally accomplished! Stop, please, hold the applause!], no set of nominees have been more wonderful and memorable across the board than this year. Even <i>Hacksaw Ridge</i>, a movie I thought I would hate, was completely riveting in the last 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
Going in knowing there was a grand assortment of flicks to choose from, it was honestly exciting to then see the awards nicely distributed between numerous movies. We all know it is annoying when a single movie wins all the awards (except for <i>Titanic</i>, because it is hard to deny that it is flawless). Six out of the nine best picture nominees won at least one award. Sorry <i>Lion, Hidden Figures, </i>and <i>Hell Or High Water - </i>you are still tremendous<i>.</i><br />
<br />
Specifically Kenneth Lonergan's win for <i>Manchester By The Seas's</i> screenplay had me cheering when it beat <i>La La Land</i>. After watching it two times through, it really sinks in how that movie's backbone is the strongly written witty, brilliant, and heartbreaking dialogue. All the characters feel simply natural, just like if they were your family, friends, or neighbors. <br />
<br />
We are also waking up in a world where Viola Davis finally has that statue in her hands. Her commitment on the highest level makes her a genuine welcome presence in anything. I get excited seeing her face pop up in those Vaseline commercials. In <i>Fences</i> she makes you feel the depths of her character's pain and happiness and is riveting the whole time she is on screen, even when she is simply crocheting and laughing out behind her house listening to her husband (Denzel Washington, in one of the finest roles I have ever seen him take on) tell stories . <br />
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All of the winners are worth noting, but I can not leave this year behind without applauding Mahershala Ali's quietly powerful role playing a guiding light to a young boy, Emma Stone for winning in a role that leans on comedy more than the usually awarded intense drama, the beautiful, joyous, and invigorating music from <i>La La Land, </i>and Casey Affleck (albeit<a href="http://time.com/4645846/what-to-know-about-the-casey-affleck-oscar-controversy/"> problematic in real life</a>) who perfectly embodied the internal pain of, I will say it, the absolute saddest tragedy I have ever seen play out in a movie.<br />
<br />
Aside from the honorees, the ceremony itself (hosted by Jimmy Kimmel) had some pretty enjoyable moments. One weird, yet delightful bit was the group of tourists that were grabbed off a tour bus and sent to parade past the front row of the auditorium and ended up getting enthusiastic hugs from Queen Meryl, among others. At first the lack of surprise on some of their faces made it all look staged, and then it all went on far too long to be actually planned.<br />
<br />
I would rock ripped shorts, a light up fanny pack, and carry five selfie sticks on live TV if it meant I could get a hug from Meryl and Dev Patel. Nobody summed up all the shenanigans better than treasured NPR Podcast personality, Sam Sanders:<br />
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Now that the Academy Awards are over, this is the time when more of the movies will start being released for people to stream and rent in the comfort of their own home. Oh also, important message, the male cast members of <i>Moonlight </i>have become <a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/men-moonlight-are-um-moonlighting-calvin-klein-mod-251177">Calvin Klein models</a>.<br />
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Okay, now I'm back after being extremely distracted. Anyway, I can not speak more highly about all the Best Picture nominees, even <i>Hacksaw Ridge, </i>which is far from a favorite, but it still has the story of an extraordinary real hero as its central focus. Some others, like <i>Arri</i><i>val, </i>I'm still trying to unpack in my head after watching it several days ago.<br />
<br />
From a musical to extreme drama and compelling coming of age story to sci-fi and a modern western - this year's nominees are a broad spectrum that represents many different movie genres. The package of each movie might look a little different, but at the heart of each one is a story about human life, dreams, and connection with others. Like Viola said in her acceptance speech, "So here's to August Wilson who exhumed and exalted the ordinary people." There are a lot of those ordinary stories left to tell.<br />
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In total, 62 movies were nominated for an Academy Award this year. I saw 20 before the awards yesterday - lets see how many more I can tackle next year. Here's to kicking off (hopefully) another wonderful year at the movies<br />
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Until next time!<br />
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<b>Other nominee recommendations: </b>The scene where Channing Tatum dances in a sailor suit in <i>Hail, Caesar! </i>(or watch the whole movie - although it is not a Coen best), <i>Kubo and the Two Strings, The Lobster (!), Florence Forster Jenkins </i>(Meryl + Hugh Grant are a delight), and <i>Captain Fantastic</i> (partial to those Pacific Northwest sights). <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-34846887128377016072017-02-26T12:17:00.001-08:002017-02-26T15:07:02.699-08:00Winning Best Picture & Best Actress Is Rare: A Defense For Emma Stone and La La Land<div style="text-align: center;">
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We could talk about all the things <i>La La Land</i> has been criticized for endlessly, but I'm not here to discuss “mansplaining” jazz or the dancing prowess of actors who, in my opinion, flow pretty darn good together for not being professional dancers. I'm just here to talk about a set of very specific facts and data. Numbers and statistics – exciting, right? Compiling data can become very interesting if you start to recognize disparities.<br />
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As a person who is fascinated by female representation in all forms of media, certain facts that can be examined from past Academy Award winners have led to me aggressively rooting for Emma Stone and <i>La La Land</i> to walk away with Best Actress and Best Picture.<br />
<br />
Many will argue that <i>Moonlight </i>is the better choice. I tend to agree, even though it is hard to make decisions when all the nominees are amazing for different reasons. <i>Moonlight </i>is an utterly transfixing movie that I would argue <u>should</u> win Best Picture this year, but it doesn't feature a Best Actress nominee, which makes it not fit into the data I am about to pass on. This would be a different article if Naomie Harris was up for Best Actress.<br />
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While it won't be a victory for racial representation, a win for Stone and <i>La La Land</i> would be a triumph in a different way, by adding one more movie to a certain small list.<br />
<br />
Over the last couple years I watched each of the past Best Picture winners. There is a trend I quickly noticed, since I am a super trivia nerd who does a deep dive into the IMDB page of every movie I see. What I discovered is that it is rare for a movie to win both Best Picture and Best Actress. That combination has only happened 11 times out of 88 years. The movies on that illustrious list are:<br />
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<i>Million Dollar Baby<br />Shakespeare In Love<br />The Silence Of The Lambs<br />Driving Miss Daisy<br />Terms Of Endearment<br />Annie Hall<br />One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest<br />Mrs. Miniver<br />Gone With The Wind<br />The Great Ziegfeld<br />It Happened One Night</i><br />
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(By the way, all these movies are still worth watching.)<br />
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In comparison, over double the amount, 26 Best Picture winners, have featured the Best Actor winner:<br />
<br />
<i>The Artist<br />The King's Speech<br />Gladiator<br />American Beauty<br />Forrest Gump<br />The Silence Of The Lambs<br />Rain Man<br />Gandi<br />Kramer vs Kramer<br />One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest<br />The Godfather<br />The French Connection<br />Patton<br />In The Heat Of The Night<br />A Man For All Seasons<br />My Fair Lady<br />Ben Hur<br />The Bridge on The River Kwai<br />Marty<br />On The Waterfront<br />All The King's Men<br />Hamlet<br />The Best Years Of Our Lives<br />The Lost Weekend<br />Going My Way<br />It Happened One Night</i><br />
<br />
(Most of of these are still great too. Just a recommendation – maybe skip <i>A Man For All Seasons</i>.)<br />
<br />
These stats give off the impression that movies featuring impressive female performances in a leading role are not widely deemed extraordinary as a whole. This is clearly seen in that Stone is the only Best Actress contender who is representing a Best Picture nominee. In stark contrast, four out of five Best Actor nominees this year are from Best Picture nominees. (Sorry Viggo.)<br />
<br />
When looking back though history, there were many opportunities for the Academy to award the Best Picture prize to the movie that also featured the Best Actress winner – they just didn't. When comparing<br />
the winners from those years with the movies that could have won, it clearly reveals that movies with heavily male dominated casts often rule the biggest category on Oscar night.<br />
<br />
First of all, <i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i> (with includes Best Actress winner Vivien Leigh) is a more<br />
impressive film, top to bottom, than <i>An American In Paris</i> (the Best Picture winner from that year).<br />
Here are some other oversights: <i>Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf</i> (featuring the Best Actress winner<br />
Elizabeth Taylor) should have easily won over the bore that is <i>A Man For All Seasons</i>, <i>Funny Girl</i><br />
(with Best Actress winner Barbara Streisand) should have topped <i>Oliver</i>, and <i>Moonstruck </i>(with Best<br />
Actress winner Cher) would have been a more memorable Best Picture winner when compared to the<br />
long slog that is <i>The Last Emperor</i>. I would also choose <i>Fargo </i>(featuring Best Actress winner Frances<br />
McDormand) over <i>The English Patient</i> any day.<br />
<br />
Sometimes though, tremendous movies with almost completely female casts are pitted against each<br />
other. In 2003, <i>The Hours</i> (which includes Best Actress winner Nicole Kidman) lost to <i>Chicago</i>. Since<br />
I enjoy a beautifully depressing flick, I personally prefer weeping over Meryl Streep, Kidman, and<br />
Julianne Moore tackling the work of Virginia Woolf, but it is hard to complain when <i>The Hours</i> lost to<br />
a film like <i>Chicago </i>that has razzle dazzle and also features a large female cast.<br />
<br />
Would this disparity end if more movies focused on women were produced each year? We can only<br />
assume, but yes of course!<br />
<br />
In 2013, it was reported that out of the top 100 films from that year, only 15% of protagonists were<br />
women. This has directly effected the dominance of movies focused on male driven stories in the Best<br />
Picture category. It seems insane, but not a single one of the eight Best Picture nominees in 2015<br />
featured a story completely centered around a woman. (It is a slight stretch for a lead performance, but<br />
you could say <i>The Theory Of Everything</i> did at least include a woman's story when the film shifted<br />
some focus away from Stephen Hawking to his wife – wonderfully portrayed by Felicity Jones. At least<br />
she was featured on the movie poster.)<br />
<br />
While still not perfect, this year is a much better situation, where over half of the Best Picture nominees are focused around women in a lead or supporting capacity! This might have a little something to do with a recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/21/movies/women-protagonists-movies-2016.html?_r=0">report</a> that found women film protagonists increased to 29% last year. Of course much more work needs to be done in regards to women of all races attaining leading roles, but at least this year the diverse list of Best Supporting Actresses are all from a Best Picture nominee. That is truly something to applaud.<br />
<br />
Having not seen <i>Jackie </i>or <i>Loving </i>yet, I can't compare Stone to other nominees like Natalie Portman and Ruth Negga. All I can do is point out that Stone has that big fact of being the only Best Actress<br />
nominee from a potential Best Picture winner. Let's get real though – the stats on her side is definitely not the only reason that makes Stone and <i>La La Land</i> worthy for winning big.<br />
<br />
That movie's appeal to many (including the big fan typing these words) is the almost exclusively lighthearted story that blasts your mind out of the madness of reality and into a place where people dance and sing atop cars on jam packed freeway off ramps. As a person currently riddled with high anxiety over the state of the world, please, someone, take me to that place!<br />
<br />
Although, it is not just the escapism that makes it a terrific movie. There is beautiful staging of performance scenes - set overlooking the hills of L.A. at sunset, down on a pier at twilight, or in brightly colored sound-stages on the Warner Brothers lot. Combine that with a bunch of toe tapping, instantly sing-a-long worthy songs and it is clear that this movie took a bunch of talented folks to pull off. It is dazzling to watch all the literal moving parts come together. The sheer creativity behind crafting a big successful modern musical is praise worthy.<br />
<br />
Stone brings in her zany charisma and that makes her character delightful to watch. She succeeds at<br />
having plenty of fun singing and dancing in the streets, but also at tackling emotional issues, like facing<br />
the reality that the dreams you had for your life may not come to fruition.<br />
<br />
Like I already mentioned, many have been critical of the star's musical talent, but I lean on the more supportive side to Gosling and Stone. Are they Adele, <span class="st">Beyoncé</span>, or Celine powerhouse singers? No, but they carry a tune well enough for it not to be a distraction. I also felt like it was refreshing for a musical to have some scenes that felt more natural, as if they could actually be happening in real life. Stone gives a stand out performance that is an essential piece to one of the most lively and enjoyable movie going experiences I have had in years. <br />
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Even with all of that merriment on its side, the backlash has begun. It may not be “cool” to support <i>La<br />La Land</i>, but when anyone makes you question your devotion to a film you loved, just think, a win for<br />
the movie and Stone could be one more notch up for the girls.<br />
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Until next time.<br />
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[This is an update to an article published last year about <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2016/02/why-it-would-be-refreshing-for-room-to.html"><i>Room </i>and Brie Larson</a>. It will probably continue to be updated until it is no longer newsworthy.]<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-48135839556417693432017-02-11T18:01:00.000-08:002017-02-11T18:03:18.432-08:00A Real Completist <br />
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It's all happening! Someone at one movie theater chain finally figured out that showing all the Best Picture nominees over a single weekend was pure insanity. <br />
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This year Regal thought of a better idea, although AMC will still stick with their tradition of cramming the nominees into two short days. Regal theaters will be showing all the nominees over the ENTIRE week leading up to The Academy Awards. For $35 (plus tax, of course) you can buy a Festival Pass, which grants you access to a showing of each of the nominees. Well, I guess you could go see <i>Hacksaw Ridge</i> nine times, but why would you? So, it is a tremendously fun event AND a great deal! How often does that happen? (Check <a href="http://www.regmovies.com/promotions/Best-Picture-Film-Fest">here</a> to see if your local theater is participating. Hopefully it is.) <br />
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This genius move makes a lot more sense. Not even I, a religious movie devotee, would want to see nine movies in one weekend. This event will also finally let me accomplish a goal I have never reached before - seeing all the Best picture nominees before the Academy Awards. Wahoo!<br />
<br />
Having already seen four of the nominees (<i>Moonlight</i>, <i>La La Land</i> - twice, <i>Manchester By The Sea</i>, and <i>Hell Or High Water</i>), I might only end up using the pass to see five movies. Although, with the almighty Festival Pass in hand I will probably go for a couple repeat viewings just because I can. The heart wrenching story in <i>Manchester By The Sea</i> will likely stick with me the longest out of any of the nominees (basically unforgettable), but I am still deciding if I can sit through all those emotions for a second time.<br />
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<span class="st">V</span>enturing out to see the Oscar nominated movies is not new for me. It is a tradition that goes back to fourth grade when I obsessed over <i>Titanic </i>winning 10 Academy Awards and that time my friends and I were, not surprisingly, the only 15-year-olds at a showing of <i>The Hours</i> on a Friday night in 2002. I am not sure why the fascination started, but it has followed me my whole life and led to me watching every movie that has ever won Best Picture.<br />
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If I learned anything from watching all the past winners in that category, it was this: throughout time, the Academy Awards end up representing more than just a frivolous salute to the rich and famous. Often the movies that walk away with golden statues showcase the feeling of our country during a certain time. These stories become a record of what people found entertaining, but also capture a snap shot of the culture's emotions.<br />
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When fears and uncertainty about WWII were high, people found their power supporting a triumphant tale where one woman ended up taking on a Nazi in her back yard (<a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2010/08/battle-of-oscar-stars-best-picture-1942.html"><i>Mrs. Miniver</i></a>). American pride was high in 1976 during the bicentennial, which could have been part of the reason that a tale of a down on his luck, turned champion boxer<i> </i>(<a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2011/10/battle-of-oscar-stars-best-picture-1976.html"><i>Rocky</i></a>), was the biggest movie at the box office and also won Best Picture. Last year's winner, <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2016/02/seven-out-of-eight-aint-bad.html"><i>Spotlight</i></a>, a movie about the importance of hardworking journalism, came at a time when trust of the media was (and still is) waning, but it struck a chord by reminding us all why America thrives with our ideals about the freedom of the press. <br />
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What movie could possibly represent the present state of our culture? There is absolutely nothing of importance going on currently... <br />
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In the words of a gal from Beverley Hills, <a href="https://media.tenor.co/images/fac565b3ce0f4a6046ee4207365b66e6/tenor.gif">"As if!" </a><br />
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Years from now people will look back on the Best Picture winner of 2017 and either wonder, "Wow! They needed a fun escape!" or "Wow! They wanted to rally behind a movie that celebrated the diversity of America!"<br />
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Those movies being the two - <i>La La Land</i> and <i>Moonlight</i> - that are most widely considered the front runners to be this year's winner. <br />
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Much of the reporting on this topic is already proclaiming that a win for <i>La La Land </i>will only be because Hollywood is obsessed with itself. However, its appeal to many (including the movie fan typing these words) is the lighthearted story that blasts your mind out of the madness of reality and into a place where people dance and sing atop cars on jam packed freeway off ramps. As a person currently riddled with anxiety over the state of the world, please, someone, take me to that place! <br />
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Although, it is not just the escapism that makes it a terrific movie. There is beautiful staging of performance scenes - set overlooking L.A. hills at sunset, down on the boardwalk at twilight, or in brightly colored sound-stages on the Warner Brothers lot. Combine that with a bunch of memorable songs that are instantly sing-a-long worthy and it is clear that it took a bunch of talented folks to pull off. It is dazzling to watch all the literal moving parts come together. The sheer creativity behind crafting a big successful modern musical is worth praise all on its own. I have seen it twice and, to be honest, I can predict it will become one I watch on a regular rotation for years to come.<br />
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Of course things always get tricky when each of the Best Picture nominees are tremendous. <i>Moonlight </i>is also an extraordinary film watching experience, but for different reasons than those directed towards <i>La La Land. </i><br />
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The unique form, that sets up <i>Moonlight </i>as virtually three mini movies, is really striking in capturing the evolution of one character in his difficult struggles from childhood to becoming an adult. Each of the three actors (of wide age ranges) that play the different phases of the main character, light up the screen with emotionally raw performances. At several points I was brought to tears just getting lost in the wide, sorrow filled eyes of the youngest actor, Alex R. Hibbert. It is difficult to get across the plight of a character without words, just facial expressions, so those quiet moments with actors expressing a lot through very little is a real accomplishment in <i>Moonlight.</i> The themes of the story are also further elevated by gorgeous cinematography. Some scenes pop with bright colors and others will capture the beauty of a brightly shining moon sparkling on a dark ocean.<i> </i><br />
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While it may not be as fun to watch as <i>La La Land,</i><i><i> Moonlight </i></i>is a quintessential modern American tale<i>. </i>The story highlights day to day experiences that are not always shown in movies, even though the events of the plot will look familiar to many people in our current culture. This is one important element of filmmaking - taking a look at our society and reflecting it back for us to contemplate. That alone is the main argument for why <i>Moonlight</i> should win Best Picture. Especially for those that find the best movie watching experiences are driven by powerful stories that are true to life. <br />
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Ultimately, judging <i>La La Land</i> against <i>Moonlight</i> is like comparing a cantaloupe and a raspberry - both are very tasty and beautiful fruit, but otherwise do not have much in common. This reason alone makes the task of choosing a winner basically impossible. That leads the way for the often annoying sounding, yet true statement, "It's just an honor to be nominated."<br />
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Once the day of the Academy Awards rolls around (February 26th), who knows, we could all be wrong! Maybe the nominee that has currently made the <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/oscars-2017-hidden-figures-overtakes-la-la-land-to-be-highest-grossing-best-picture-nominee-a7567331.html">most money</a> (<i>Hidden Figures</i>) will come out victorious. If that became the winner, our current culture would be declaring, "In 207 they cared about movies starring women!" Or maybe <i>Manchester By The Sea </i>will win, which would declare to future generations that, "They really needed to learn something from a person facing tragedies!"<br />
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It may seem like just another awards show, but whatever wins Best Picture is leaving behind a single clue in this wide and mysterious world that ties into who we are and who we were.<br />
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If you need me starting on February 17th you know where to find me - the movie theater. I will check back in with all of my Oscar marathon related experiences. <br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-8575559051755755892016-11-27T18:22:00.001-08:002016-11-30T21:12:31.769-08:00New Gilmore: Just What We Needed<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Heading out to a Gilmore Girls gathering this weekend and was told my outfit looked familiar...]</td></tr>
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"I wanna remember it all. Every detail."<br />
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Life (just like for the rest of us in the real world) has continued on for the folks in Stars Hollow, Conn., the small, idyllic town featured in the now iconic television series, <i>Gilmore Girls</i>. <br />
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In the recently released four part cinematic explosion of a mini-series, Rory Gilmore has become a 30-something who is working out how to exactly express herself in her writing and profession, while also staying true to herself. As she uttered the line quoted above, Rory longingly moved into feeling nostalgia of her past mixed with keeping her eyes on the future. It is a line that really slugged me in the gut, mostly because my extreme sentimentality that frets o<span class="value-preview show">v</span>er time flying by too fast, constantly causes me to feel sad when I can't remember what I ate last Wednesday. (Yeah, it's bad.) Emotional folks like myself would like nothing more than to just "remember it all". Everything, all the little things, including meals. <br />
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While it may be impossible to recall every second of every day, we can give it a good shot. We can be present and write all our experiences down in a journal or turn it into a wonderful story that captures those marvelous aspects of our daily li<span class="value-preview show">v</span>es. <br />
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That has always been the real magic of <i>Gilmore Girls</i>. Through the years, this show has brilliantly told the stories of day to day life (just with a little more flair and definitely more hats).<span class="value-preview show"> Big milestones are also shown, like Rory's graduation from high school and college, but more often the stories stay away from big flashy events, unlike the shows that are known for their yearly holiday themed episodes. <br />
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<span class="value-preview show"><i>Gilmore Girls </i>did try their hand at a delightful Thanksgiving episode (hilariously featuring Melissa McCarthy in full on drunk Sookie mode), but the rest of the stories are almost always focused around the m</span>oments in a year that normally go unmarked by festivities - tele<span class="value-preview show">vision habits, con</span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">versations</span> with people at your job or with your neighbors, and those weekly family dinners. </span>These situations sometimes feel boring while they are happening, but those connections will inevitably be what most people will want to remember when looking back through the years. I know I already do.<br />
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<span class="value-preview show">Where the show uniquely shines is in how these life e<span class="value-preview show">v</span>ents, big and small, are captured. The writers and creators of <i>Gilmore Girls</i> ha<span class="value-preview show">v</span>e always known how to really create a moment you will remember fore<span class="value-preview show">v</span>er. For example, no one could forget Lorelai solemnly settling in for <i>A Star Is Born</i> marathon (there are three versions) only to be surprised with a romantic gesture at her door while the quintessential Judy Garland number, "The Man That Got Away" plays in the background. Pure storytelling gold. </span></span><br />
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<span class="value-preview show">This new set of episodes/mini mo<span class="value-preview show">v</span>ies of course include several of these brilliantly written and memorable moments, none which will be remembered more than a totally showstopping, purely magical montage scene that takes place in the middle of the town square set to "Reflecting Light" by <i>Gilmore </i>songstress Sam Philips. Many will remember that song was first featured during Luke and </span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">Lorelai</span></span>'s waltz at his sister's wedding (another memorable <i>Gilmore </i>moment for the books). That song can cause tears to start flowing right when the first cord is struck, evident even now as I play it to set the perfect mood for writing these thoughts. It is a beautiful, haunting song all on its own, but cast against the world of these characters, as Philips' voice has set the tone for the entire series, makes those warm feelings start bubbling inside e<span class="value-preview show">v</span>ery time it's played. </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">This new scene is one that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino must have been planning in her head for years. With grand execution, it feels like both a magnum opus ode to the characters and town, and also a wonderful summation of her creative talents. It is beautifully choreographed to the point that it could be a music video that both Sherman Palladino and </span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">Lorelai </span></span> probably dreamed about starring in during their 20s. </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">Needless to say what unfolds is a real wow moment that will be blowing fans away for years to come. Even if that is your only take away from the four episodes, the resurrected series was still totally worth the nine year wait. The scene is that good - I'm not exaggerating. </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">Some are voicing disappointments with aspects of the revival, mostly general hatred towards an extended musical scene at Miss Patty's and a few plot holes, like who wrote that letter that Emily was so mad about? However, even with a few story missteps, I adored every minute of the Stars Hollow gang being back together. </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">For me, a person who has been reeling over grief, change, and trying to make sense out of using my journalism degree the last of couple years, this series hit very close to home<i>. </i>So close that it kind of freaked me out.<i> </i> </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">Finding connections with <i>Gilmore Girls</i> is not new, since, like other fans, I have always seen parts of myself in both Rory and </span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">Lorelai</span></span>. That continues into the new episodes, where at this time in my life I completely understand each of the stresses impacting the three Gilmore women and the journeys they individually take. So much so, it feels like this series was created just to give me a personal pep talk. And it worked. </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">You know when people say that things come into your life just when you need them? These new episodes of <i>Gilmore </i>was that for me and I will forever be grateful for the kick in the motivational pants. I can bet others out there feel the same way. </span></div>
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<span class="value-preview show">Many people will not personally connect to the main story points, but, like always, there is something in the series for everyone. Witnessing the brilliant comedic and dramatic stylings of Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop again completely makes it worth spending six hours on the couch. Of course getting the entire gang back together again is delightful, but those two women back playing the roles that feature their talents at their best is a welcome sight that will hopefully earn them the awards that they ha<span class="value-preview show">v</span>e always deser<span class="value-preview show">v</span>ed. <br />
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<span class="value-preview show">Graham and Bishop perfectly embody how their characters are starting to feel the years passing by. That combination of</span> nostalgia and change as the central theme of the new episodes is what gives this reboot its strongest attributes and really made it a welcome return to the world of television. <br />
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Strong emotions tied to the past are fueling the characters on <i>Gilmore Girls</i>,<i> </i>as well as nearly e<span class="value-preview show">veryone</span> watching the new iteration of the series. Well, those nostalgic emotions accented with Chinese food and Pop Tarts, if your viewing party (with others or solo) is doing it right. If you watched the series when it originally aired, it's impossible to not drag up feelings of the "old days" where gathering on Tuesday nights with family or friends in living rooms (or dorm rooms, like I did for the final two seasons) was an essential part of a week. E<span class="value-preview show">ven if you are a newer fan who </span><span class="value-preview show">binged it with the ease and beauty of Netflix o</span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">v</span>er the last year or se</span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">v</span>eral months, you can still be smashed with nostalgia just through the lens of the characters, who </span><span class="value-preview show">we ha</span></span><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">v</span></span></span>e witnessed growing up</span><span class="value-preview show"> in a fictional land </span><span class="value-preview show">through the magic of storytelling. </span><br />
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</span> We can try like Rory to remember it all, but that first step will be to start enjoying the moment we are in now, a time where nine years after it ended, we were gifted with new episodes of a treasured TV show. On the scale of life, this is a small, yet essential moment that, just like the world of <i>Gilmore Girls</i> has taught us, is one worth celebrating.<br />
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</span>Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-5408342950412317422016-11-14T17:35:00.000-08:002016-11-14T17:38:15.476-08:00Fifteen Years and Revisiting An Old Friend Named Harry<br />
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I am 29-years-old and I just got sorted into House Hufflepuff. You might be thinking that I'm arriving at Hogwarts about 18 years too late, and you would be right, but apparently there are no age limits for starting at the most famous wizarding school in the world! Traveling by way of platform 9 3/4 was a tad awkward though, especially when all these little wizards were asking what class I would be teaching. No matter, I am forever young at heart, and I will be starting school just in time to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the movie based on Hogwarts most famous alumnus.<br />
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Alas, that all only happened in my elaborate imagination. Yet there is one real fact to pull out of that perfect illusion - today marks 15 years since the release of the movie version of <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i>. Light up a ballroom full of candles, throw on your best dress robes (the more ruffles the better), and raise your glass of butterbeer – it's time to celebrate!<br />
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After all this time what Harry Potter fan (aka most humans) doesn't still wish they could be whisked away to Hogwarts? That may not ever become a reality, but being able to be sorted into a Hogwarts house on fantasy supporting websites, like <a href="https://www.pottermore.com/">Pottermore</a>, or visiting a theme park, like The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, makes us all able to actually experience a smidge of what J.K. Rowling wrote about so profoundly.<br />
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With all the years that have gone by, I’m not the only “adult” (age is only a number, not a state of mind) that spent their childhood, teens, and then college years addicted to reading about Harry's adventures and watching the subsequent film versions. Patiently waiting for each new book to be released and instantly consuming every page became part of our growing up. I barely remember what the world was like before the phrase, "he who shall not be named" became universally known as the term for a specific evil doer. If memory serves correctly, pre-Potter pop-culture involved a lot of TGIF and Urkel.<br />
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That first generation of young Potter readers and viewers have aged quite a bit more since the last book and movie was released (boy, don't I know it). Even being a huge fan, I hadn't read the books or watched any of the movies in many years. With that in mind, I had recently started to wonder if my generations collective love of these stories would carry over into this thing called being an adult. There was only one way to find out.<br />
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With a special tip of my pointy black hat in honor of the anniversary, I settled in recently for a viewing of <i>The Sorcerer's Stone</i>. Surprisingly, even though I knew all the twists of the plot, it felt like I was watching the movie with fresh eyes. It is nice to know that after repeated viewings there can still be excitement in watching Harry find out that he is a wizard. I actually got a huge smile on my face as he walked into Diagon Alley for the first time.You can marvel in all the sights along with Harry as if you too would soon be getting your new wand from Ollivanders.<br />
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The movie is perfectly crafted with the hopes that viewers will always get lost in the idea and possibility connected to the mysteries of this magical world. Overall, aside from some silly looking CGI (as in, every time people are flying on brooms), the movie holds up completely. Part of me felt like I may have enjoyed it even more than when I first saw the movie, back when my biggest problem was dealing with getting movie snacks, like the essence of stickiness known as caramel apple suckers, stuck in my braces. Could this continued positive reaction partly be due to childhood nostalgia combined with longingly watching treasured actors who have now since passed on? (RIP Alan Rickman.) Or is it just a fact that the movie will always be fun to watch? All of the above can be the only answer.<br />
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After watching just one of the movies I was full on buzzed with Harry Potter fever. It was like I was fourteen and hopped up on nothing but Fun-Dip all over again. (Yeah, I have basically been a giant ball of sugar my whole life. No regrets.) It only made sense then to continue on to the next logical step of this re-awakened obsession - marathon through reading the series. Some of the earlier books I have not picked up since I was 11, the same age as those first years taking their initial trip to Hogwarts. So far I'm only through <i>Goblet Of Fire</i>, but I have been enjoying every page, proving, once again, that there is no age limit for a classic tale.<br />
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All of those out there who were full on grown-ups and enjoyed the books when they were originally released (my dad included) already knew that there was wide appeal to Rowling's creation. Now it will just take us all to keep these books with us as we continue to grow older. Not just to read to our (hypothetical) children, but to proudly carry out in public and defend their right as good novels, not just kids books.<br />
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I now know that each time you visit any part of the series you can get a whole different experience. That is the true test of a well crafted story. When you're a child you can be charmed by the magic and the idea of an interesting world outside of our own, in your teens you can relate to the drama of friendships and relationships (plus, the magic), and as you grow up you can connect to the lives of the Hogwarts students, having already lived through much of what they experienced (only with less Quidditch). And you can still appreciate the magic! The idea of having a wand will be cool until the day I die. As an adult you can also read more into the plight of the older characters who are trying to protect students or their children. Those adult characters, much like us grown-ups in the real world, have the tenacity to keep waking up every morning knowing the truth that there is a world full of evil among all the good.<br />
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After taking on more life experiences the struggle of Harry and his friends can actually be more relatable as well, especially when it comes to the pain of loss. I had never personally experienced death when I had first picked up the books. Now after coping with my mother's death, I definitely feel Harry's pain and suffering, as if I too have a permanent lighting bolt scar. He lost his whole family, but still powered on. He is the boy who lived. Rowling did a fine job of incorporating life changing lessons that can equally empower the young and the young at heart. <br />
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Rowling may not have been the first to mentally transport an entire population through her art, but she just continued a great literary and cinematic tradition. From Narnia to Middle Earth and Tatooine to Hogwarts, it seems like once in a generation an artist breaks out to create a new complete world that absorbs the masses and makes us all look at our own existence in a different way. And, guess what, she's not done yet.<br />
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With what appears to be boundless creativity, Rowling has continued to expand the Potter universe. On November 18th, fittingly very close to the release date of the first movie, Rowling will make her screenwriting debut with a new adventure - <i>Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them</i>.<br />
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The action has moved across the pond to America and transported the story back in time to 1927, years before the future of Harry Potter was known. It follows Newt Scamander (author of the <i>Fantastic Beasts</i> text book used by all first year students in <i>The Sorcerers Stone</i>) as he makes a pit stop in NYC while traveling the world looking for magical creatures. Knowing Rowling, this new branch of the wizarding world will be just as complex and fascinating as everything else she has already written.<br />
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Fifteen years ago, Harry Potter mania was just kicking up with the release of the first movie. Who knew all this time later the same fan base would be ramping up to enjoy a new set of stories and, at the same time, still love the original tales just as strongly.<br />
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Other authors have created entirely different worlds with just their words, but Rowling has taken this tradition to a whole other level that still continues to impact our culture. The new film series will be five movies, which ties Rowling up for years to come. Although, who knows what exactly her brain will be cooking up fifteen more years from now.<br />
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I'll tell you where I'll be by then - settling in for another read through of the Harry Potter series and popping in a copy of <i>Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone</i> (or likely streaming it through my eyeball, because it will be the future).<br />
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Time goes by, but, at least for my generation, it looks like some interests will never change.<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-80510144179979227482016-08-04T19:42:00.000-07:002016-08-06T23:01:12.401-07:00Emmy Extravaganza 2016 - Part 1: The Praised<br />
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Ladies and gents - bust out your top hats and ball gowns, because the awards season is coming soon! <br />
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The event in the Fall that really kicks off months of red carpets and acceptance speeches - the Primetime Emmy Awards - announced their nominations recently. [Some might say that the season <i>really </i>kicks off in the summer with the Daytime Emmy Awards...wait...no one says that.]<br />
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This year, just like every year, there were shocks, snubs, and surprises (oh my!)<br />
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What is refreshingly new though is that the field of nominees keeps expanding. There has been a huge addition of new categories over the years: from shows that involve online interaction with their audience, to short form programs, to adding a category for "Limited Series", and even breaking up the costume category into "period" and "modern" (where <i>The People v OJ Simpson</i> is considered a period piece - a horrifying fact to kids of the 90s who now feel ancient). The Academy is acknowledging that times have changed and there are many different kinds of shows other than a traditional comedy and drama.<br />
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There are plenty of places all across the internet to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-emmys-2016-nominees-winners-list-20160714-snap-story.html">check out</a> the enormous list of nominees in the 107 categories. [I did that count myself y'all, because I couldn't find the number listed anywhere. Doing the work - somebody has to.]<br />
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The following is a few notes (or rather a gigantic television themed manifesto) on some of the exciting inclusions on the list of this year's nominees.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bob Odenkirk + <i>Better Call Saul</i></span></b></div>
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Anyone looking for well acted, no gimmicks drama, should definitely be watching <i>Better Call Saul. </i>The show began as a spin off to mammoth TV giant <i>Breaking Bad, </i>but between the superb writing and the multi-faceted Bob Odenkirk, <i>Saul </i>stands on its own delivering witty and emotional episodes that cleverly expands the <i>Breaking Bad </i>universe without an ounce of blue meth in sight...for now anyway.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ellie Kemper + Titus Burgess + <i>The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt</i></span></b></div>
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Titus Burgess' amazing talent for performing dazzling rip-off show tunes and Ellie Kemper throwing everything she's got into her character (the always full of life, Kimmy), makes this duo and their show unstoppable in the comedy categories. Zany with a wallop of heart, <i>Kimmy Schmidt </i>solidifies the fact that shows with Tina Fey's guidance and vision need to always be a part of popular culture. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Aziz Ansari + <i>Master Of None</i></span></b></div>
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The idea of a comedy has evolved over the years and as <i>Master of None </i>proved this year, there is still plenty of more room to be creative within the parameters of a half hour show.<br />
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Aziz Ansari is the belle of the Emmys this year - he is nominated for directing, acting, writing, and the show is up for Best Comedy. All of which is completely deserved by the way. Each of the episodes is focused on everyday topics - new relationships, interacting with family, going out with friends - but it is presented in a way that stands on its own. One of the most memorable episodes was a brilliantly written and acted story that progressed in time to show the entire life of a relationship. However, the episode receiving the most Emmy cred is "Parents", which features Ansari's real parents playing his fake parents and delves into multiple stories about growing up in countries other than America. Ansari is writing what he knows and that is proving to be just what TV was missing.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Will Forte + <i>The Last Man On Earth</i></span></b></div>
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<i>The Last Man On Earth </i>is a drama hidden in the cream filling of an outrageous comedy cookie sandwich. Standing squarely on its own in comparison to other half hour comedies, it wonderfully captures both the hilarious and emotionally dark elements that people would find themselves encountering after almost the whole population is killed off by a virus.<br />
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The stories are often deep, the situations are wacky, the characters are sweet, and combined all together, it makes for a unique TV watching experience, where you're never sure exactly how the plot is going to progress week to week. With so many options to choose from, it takes a lot to get surprised by TV these days, but <i>The Last Man On Earth</i> will keep you on your toes, and also happened to throw in Will Forte with half of his facial/head hair shaved off for almost a whole season. Bravo.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Bob's Burgers</i> </b></span></div>
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Throughout time there has been many animated shows featuring a rag-tag family and still <i>Bob's Burgers</i> has found a way to expand on something that feels so familiar. You may never be sure what will happen during the half-hour adventures of Gene, Tina, Louise, Bob, and Linda, but there is a guarantee of finding peculiar characters, lots of sarcasm, miraculous burger puns, endless jokes, and possibly a song along the way. (This brilliant number from the last season finale, might give you chills, even though it involves Bob on a toilet.)<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Grease: Live!</span></b></i></div>
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The production of <i>Grease: Live! </i>(can't get enough of that exclamation mark)<i> </i>that aired on FOX earlier this year<i> </i>was masterful in execution and proved what many have believed was missing from the NBC musical productions - the life of an audience. <i>Grease </i>is far from being my favorite musical and yet the way this version was produced - feeling alive as the audience became part of the show and the stress inducing maneuvers impressively moving from sound stage to sound stage - all made for an exciting night of TV. Which is why it will be a real travesty if this loses in the Best Directing of a Special. Plus, if I believed in guilty pleasures, mine would be Carly Rae Jepsen (who starred as Frenchie).<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Crazy Ex-Girlfriend</span></b></i></div>
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<i>Glee </i>may have brought the idea of a musical TV show to life, but<i> Crazy Ex-Girlfriend </i>has perfected it. There are no covers of Journey, just completely original tunes full of satire and irony that the characters begin belting out mid predicament, just like any good musical comedy. The show starts with a stressed out and depressed lawyer (played by Rachel Bloom) who moves from NYC to West Covina, California to reconnect with a guy she dated at a summer camp years before. It's a show very much dedicated to characters fighting the harrowing adventure of "figuring it all out", but done in a way that will make you weep a little and then crack up. High praise is definitely deserved for a TV show presenting a totally one-of-a-kind product.<br />
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Oh and did I mention the songs were catchy? You won't be able to hear "West Covina, Califorina" without
wanting to sing the ear-worm worthy excellent first song from the pilot
episode. Plus, any distinct show that features a gem titled "Settle For Me", will win hearts all the time. Say hello to America's new boyfriend:<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fargo</span></b></i> </div>
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Atmospheric tension involving a butcher and a mob family (and oh hey! was that a UFO?) set in the middle of snowy plains, proved that <i>Fargo, </i>the movie turned TV show, was not a one season wonder. The drama unfolds slowly, but always with purpose, and most impressively manages a complex plot with a large cast of characters without letting the story become muddled and confusing. For my money, this is the best executed show on television. It's a show that needs to be experienced. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The People v O.J. Simpson</i></span></b></div>
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Anyone who was an adult in 1994 more than likely remembers every horrifying detail of the media circus surrounding the terrible murders that led to the O.J. Simpson trial. For everyone else, the FX show, <i>The People v O.J. Simpson</i><i>, </i>might have been the first chance to learn more about this time in American history.<br />
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I was seven in '94 and only vaguely remember the Bronco chase and sitting on the carpet of my grandma's living room trying to wrap my head around the final day of the trial when O.J. was acquitted. While the FX series should not be taken exclusively as historical fact (the outstanding 30 for 30 doc, <i>O.J.: Made In America</i>, can be that for everyone instead), watching the dramatized series this year was enlightening in the way it revealed the important stories of certain other players in the case, like Marcia Clark, a name I recognized, but a woman I knew nothing about previously.<br />
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Truthfully this case impacted an endless amount of peoples lives and it is utterly spellbinding. The fascination of this story still enraptures the people in this country, which is proven in how the show completely dominated with Emmy nominations (14 in total).<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rupaul's Drag Race</span> </b></i></div>
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You know, the world can be a dark and unforgiving place, so I say thank God for a show like <i>Rupaul's Drag Race</i>. There are endless reality shows filling the airwaves, but there is not a single one that outshines the sheer amount of fun that is brought by Ru and his girls. Costumes, make-up, crafting, and each episode ends with the two worst performing contestants competing to stay on the show by lip-syncing for their life - what's not to love about this picture?<br />
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Sure, there's drama like any other competition show, but these contestant have gone through more than most of us ever will just to earn the right to express themselves the way they want. With that in mind, this show presents an overall sense of appreciation and community that we all could learn from.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Direction Of A Drama </span></b></div>
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This is one tough cookie of a category.<br />
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Two of the nominees are considered by many as two of the best episodes in the entire <i>Game Of Thrones </i>series - one which has huge emotional heft (involving the saddest door of all time) and the other which is full of battle and glory.<br />
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Both could be considered terrific picks, but then after scanning down the list of nominees Steven Soderbergh's name pops up and everything changes. He is nominated for his direction of the Season 2 finale of <i>The Knick. </i> The entire series stands out because of Soderbergh and the lead, Clive Owen. That finale in particular is a spectacular feat as it chronicles an entirely insane medical procedure - the whole thing will more than likely cause you to exclaim "wow! wow!" and curse up a storm as you hide your eyes slightly behind your hands.<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Making A Murderer</span></b></i></div>
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The show that dazzled the country and turned everyone into social justice advocates, received several nominations. Recently, a second season was announced, so internet get back to work trying to sleuth out some new evidence.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bryan Cranston</span></b></div>
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This guy is like Meryl Streep - he transforms into his characters, is notably suave and distinguished, and can honestly do no wrong. Not to mention that since his <i>Malcom In The Middle </i>days, he has been an Emmy fave. That did not change this year, because anyone who watched the first 30 seconds of his performance as Lyndon Johnson in <i>All The Way, </i>knew his Awards Room would be adding another friend.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie</span></b></div>
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Other categories feature some of my favorite people, but I'm going to be bold and declare this as my favorite one of the night.<br />
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Felicty Huffman, Lili Taylor, Audra McDonald, Kirsten Dunst, Kerry Washington, and Sarah Paulson, are an outstanding group of women representing television that is ground breaking in subject matter and exemplifying powerful roles women of any age are due to be playing on a more regular basis. They aren't just the mom in the background, these women are playing complex characters reflecting real dramas in American culture. How can you even begin to pick a winner from this bunch? (Lili Taylor from <i>American Crime </i>- a show which blew me away this year - would ultimately be my choice if forced to answer.)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Matt Walsh</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>+ <i>Veep </i></b></span></div>
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There's nothing better than a first timer! Matt Walsh has been a consistently strong member of the hilarious <i>Veep </i>crew and it's delightful to see someone else from the cast getting recognized.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Judith Light + Gabby Hoffman <i>+</i> <i>Transparent</i></span></b></div>
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Judith Light is my favorite actress on <i>Transparent</i>, but Hoffman especially stood out this year as her character tried to figure out her life and examined the past of their complex family. Hoffman was involved in one of my favorite moments from TV this year - the dazzling way her character was integrated into a scene that merged the past and present. The music and imagery made it unforgettable.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Tina + Amy + <i>SNL</i></span></b></div>
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We like them alone, we like them together and Fey and Poehler's pairing made for one of the must-see episodes of SNL last December. Now they are nominated for their hosting duties as a duo - something that has never happened in an acting category before. Give them an award so they can share the stage again (and because they deserve it)!<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Last Week Tonight With John Oliver</span></b></i></div>
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John Oliver may not be a "real" journalist, but he is leading the charge introduced by Jon Stewart to have comedic criticism blend with actual investigative journalism. Oliver and his team work tirelessly to make sense of complicated issues, serious issues, all while dropping "f bombs", inventing religions, and all in all, making hard reality fun for us all to consume.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Gay Of Thrones</b></i></span></div>
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"Where are...my dragons!" <i>Gay Of Thrones</i>, a Funny Or Die series that follows a hairdresser discussing each episode of <i>Game Of Thrones, </i>is the only wrap up show that really matters. Each video adds a huge amount of levity to a very serious show. Especially in how <i>Gay Of Thrones </i>star, Jonathan Van Ness, has given lovable nicknames to all the <i>GOT</i> characters, like Blonde Cher, Capital City Selena, Christina Aguilera, Baby Barack Obama, Baby Miss Cleo, etc. Let's get real, no one has time to remember their real names. <br />
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Watch all the videos on repeat <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Am_FdLu8yg">here</a>. Warning: they contain spoilers. (Duh) <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Full Frontal With Samantha Bee</b></i></span></div>
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Most outlets were originally posting that Bee's new show was snubbed at the Emmys, because she wasn't nominated in the talk show category. Then I dug deeper and found that her show did get one nomination - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. Since writing is the basis for everything, that's a tremendous nomination to behold! <br />
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Bee has taken her love of crafting passionate field pieces for <i>The Daily Show</i> and multiplied that tenacity by like a zillion. She is pushing boundaries and raging against injustice - at the local and national level - even more than her former colleague, John Oliver. Bee may be the only woman currently with a late night show, but, for lack of a better way of phrasing it, she definitely has the biggest balls of them all. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Other Thoughts</b></span></div>
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Shout-out to Kyle Chandler (<i>Bloodline</i>) and Jesse Plemmons (<i>Fargo</i>) - hey there! <i>FNL</i> alums make every show better and they have the acting nominations to prove it. <br />
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<i>What Happened Miss Simone?</i> and <i>Cartel Land</i> - So, because these docs are on Netflix/A&E they can be up for Emmys and Oscars? Discuss.<br />
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<i>Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: Hello, I Must Be Going!</i> - This is nominated for Outstanding Children's Program. I watched this as a kid and it played a part in me caring about current events and the passionate person I am today. What a lovely surprise to see that it was still airing.<br />
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There will always be people out there that recoil at the thought of awards shows and deem them pure drivel. And hey, even I acknowledge that there are more important things in the world, but there are people (aka my kind of people) who very much appreciate the art of movie/TV making and it's a night dedicated to just talking about a favorite passion. <span style="font-size: small;">There is absolutely </span>nothing wrong with that.<br />
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Can there be anything more to say about the Emmys? Oh, why yes, there's always more to say. Check back in for notes on some noteworthy TV that was excluded.<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-4788191049272629192016-05-01T18:01:00.001-07:002016-05-01T18:12:36.895-07:00What In The HE (Double Hockey Sticks) Happened? <br />
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Thanks to "Watchathon" on Comcast, many 2015 movies were available to be streamed for free last week. <br />
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It's always grand to watch movies that you actually have been dying to see, but it was also a fantastic time, without having to waste actual money renting them, to check out those flicks that got terrible reviews. Bless you Comcast. <br />
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When something is deemed god-awful by a large chunk of the population, don't your senses start tingling with anticipation and questioning, "Well, <b><i><u>HOW</u></i></b> bad is it?"<br />
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Although, even when a movie stinks up the rating system over at Rotten Tomatoes, I've always been open to the possibility of a movie proving critics wrong. On a regular basis I'm bewitched with love over a flick that no one else cared for (<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/safe_haven">Safe Haven</a> is ringing a bell). However, that doesn't always happen. <br />
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Sometimes a movie is such a mess that almost universally people exclaim, "What the F!", or the more child friendly phrase used as the title to this post. <br />
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These are the kinds of movies that completely fell of the rails from beginning to end - arguments with writers/directors might have caused a rift which ended up impacting the script or the studios could have insisted on cutting scenes and re-editing the final product. There are a lot of things that can go wrong. When a bunch of creative minds come together it can create magic, but it often also leads to the demise of an entire product. <br />
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Two movies that came out in 2015 seemed to have it all figured out. Both movies feature solid casts, one had masterful digital effects, and the other had a prestige writer/director. So, what made the final released product of <i>Aloha </i>(19% on Rotten Tomatoes) and <i>Pixels </i>(17%) a total mess? You'd have to see both to actually believe the level of disaster.<br />
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Let's start with the movie that I turned on about an hour after finishing up watching <i>Spotlight </i>for the second time - that would be the Adam Sandler non-fun romp that is <i>Pixels</i>. Just to be clear - I watched the 2015 Best Picture winner, pretty much directly followed by this six time Razzie nominee. That's really a way to get clarity on well executed vs. ill conceived storytelling.<br />
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On the outside <i>Pixels </i>looks like a promising idea for the world we are currently living in that is obsessed with tech and video games. You may have also guessed that it's a fun spoof on all those end of the world action movies that keep coming out, right? Those ideas sound like a wonderful taking off point for a flick that an entire family of all ages could check out.<br />
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And that's exactly how the movie begins - back in 1982 with some kid video game wizards plugging all of their change into the machines at an arcade. Then after a moment of fun nostalgia, we are transported, with a thud of drastically cut editing, into the present where these children have now grown up to be Adam Sandler and Kevin James (whose professions are a "Geek Squad" type home technology installer and THE PRESIDENT of the USA, respectively).<br />
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Right off the bat, Sandler appears to be having a bummer of a time. His boy like charm and charisma from his past films seems to have been left behind. If Sandler is not even having fun with this movie, how is anyone watching it supposed to rise above that emotional level? Once that vibe from Sandler is introduced, everything about this turns into complete nonsense.<br />
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The concept that aliens intercepted a time capsule containing video games and they have created video game characters to use to attack Earth, could have been amusing, but something happened between idea and execution that made this movie totally fail.<br />
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Arguably the most important part of a movie, the script, is not thought out well. Characters talk through all the action in dull fashion instead of showing what is happening, the plot entirely jumps around without explaining what is going on, and worst of all, half of the time, a talented cast of people are just sitting and giving reaction shots to whatever "alien attack" they are supposed to be seeing on TV.<br />
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The hilarious Jane Krakowski is totally wasted and barely given a line as basic "silent arm candy First Lady" to Kevin James and the "romantic" interactions between Sandler and the lead female character, played by Michelle Monaghan, are painful to sit through. Really though, everyone besides Sandler, is playing to the wacky romp of a movie that this was supposed to be. Sean Bean, Josh Gad, and Peter Dinklage showed up to play, giving it their all, and made it somewhat palatable to sit through. They each went full campy and over the top, which is exactly what the all around vibe should have been. <br />
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Maybe all the money for fixing the incoherent dialogue and nonsensical plot progression went to the visual effects? At least that all looked fantastic. <br />
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On one side of a weekend's watching experience we have a movie that could have been neat, and on the other, we have a movie that should never have been made. Those hacked<a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/sony-hack-cameron-crowes-new-movie-is-ridiculous-says-amy-pascal-20141512"> Sony e-mails</a> don't lie.<br />
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<br />
See, that trailer makes it seem like there is a coherent story. Don't be fooled. People should have said no. Money should never have been exchanged. Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, and Alec Baldwin should have just taken a vacation in Hawaii instead. Hey, maybe that's exactly why this movie got made... <br />
<br />
Much apologies to American filmmaking treasure Cameron Crowe. The negative reception of this movie has already dragged him through piles of sludge, so there really is no need for another voice to echo the same negativity. And yet, I'm too baffled to just let <i>Aloha </i>go by without voicing concerns.<br />
<br />
<i>Aloha </i>is the most confusing movie I've even laid eyes on. Not since <i>Gigli </i>have I walked away from a movie wondering, "what was that even about?" If you asked me right now to explain the story, you'd have to come meet me in person so I could draw pictures and use excessive hand motions. (You might need to give me a minute break though - I'm awfully tired after having just given a 15-minute talking performance describing the three episodes of <i>Nashville </i>that my brother missed.) <br />
<br />
Well, here I'll give it a go anyway. You see Bradley Cooper is going to Hawaii to help with blessing a gate (?). He flies there on a military plane, because he either is still in the military or used to be, and he used to date Rachel McAdams, but might be interested in Emma Stone. Then there's a whole dilemma with a satellite...never mind.<br />
<br />
Sorry, I'll at least try to explain the movie watching experience.<br />
<br />
At the very beginning, Bradley Cooper's character starts a long, fast paced, voice over monologue - one of those monologues that fans of Crowe's movies are familiar with. Within a minute of Cooper talking I literally (and I do mean the actual definition of literally) had no idea what was going on. The words and pictures were zooming by and I just kept telling myself it will be all sorted out soon. "This will make sense eventually", I said to myself, as I rocked back and forth in pure maddening confusion. But no, it never did make sense.<br />
<br />
Even now looking back, I'm not totally sure what Cooper's job was, which is a HUGE part of the plot, and I still question how some of the characters were connected to each other. Cooper might have in the past worked for Alec Baldwin, but then again, I'm not totally sure. Just as much plot could be understood if the dialogue had been in a foreign language. It's not a good sign if a drama about modern day people (not aliens) dealing with relationships and professions goes completely over the head of a viewing audience.<br />
<br />
Overall, there is one baffling question - what about this story made an incredible writer like Cameron Crowe say, "I just have to write about that!"? This is currently boggling my mind. <br />
<br />
Then there's the whole issue of Emma Stone playing a woman whose father is half Asian/half Hawaiian. Crowe has said that this character is based on a person he knows and I get that she's not supposed to look like her background, but it is a dicey casting decision to make, especially when Hollywood is getting so much flack for "white-washing" roles. The internet has since exploded with criticism. That controversy was just the spoiled icing on the cake for this movie that, honestly, never stood a chance.<br />
<br />
It's impossible for someone to always get it right, even for a director like Crowe who has struggled in more recent years, but has created many treasured American classics (<i>Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, Say Anything)</i>. No one likes to see talented people falter either, yet sometimes that creative magic just doesn't come together and it's okay. For <i>Aloha </i>and <i>Pixels </i>we ask, "what happened?", but we all learn from our mistakes, don't we? <br />
<br />
Until next time.<br />
<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-8307022987448377222016-04-11T22:06:00.001-07:002016-04-11T22:06:44.287-07:00"The Boss" and Career Metamorphosis<br />
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<br />
<br />
Renaissance man. Wearer of many hats. Multi-tasker. Jack of all
trades. [I'm just realizing that all these idioms are so masculine.]<br />
<br />
There
has always been a lot of labels for someone who takes on many different
jobs or is tremendous at multiple skills. These terms especially become
relevant in today's world, as it seems like it is only becoming more
and more popular for most people (out of necessity or fun) to have
multiple jobs and interests that takes them throughout their day to day
life. <br />
<br />
Of course this doesn't just apply to us regular
joe's (or how about regular jane's, eh?) - it is also very relevant for
those working in the entertainment industry, especially actors. Some
actors are good at one thing and will stick to gross out comedy or super serious
period dramas for their whole life. Then there are actors that are
continually morphing into new characters and performing in different
mediums every time you see them - from theater, to TV, to the big
screen.<br />
<br />
There are even those bold, versatile
entertainers, that have switched from being a musician to an actor.
Sometimes you just never know what opportunities will arise and where
that new move will advance you down the path of your life.<br />
<br />
Melissa McCarthy knows this better than any performer in recent years. <br />
<br />
She may be the star of the number one movie at the box office this weekend (<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_boss_2016/"><i>The Boss</i></a>), but one of her old hats got put back on the rack again this week. After months of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/03/entertainment/melissa-mccarthy-gilmore-girls-sookie-netflix-reboot-feat/">drama and stress for fans</a>, it was finally<i> </i>announced that McCarthy will be returning to the show that made her famous after all! New episodes of <i>Gilmore Girls</i>
without Sookie St. James would have been miserable - she provides a
large chunk of bubbly heart, laughter, amazing cooking
accidents, and makes up one half of the tremendous friend duo with Lorelai Gilmore. Even if she's only able be part of one scene, that's better
than nothing at all.<br />
<br />
Many years after leaving Stars Hollow, McCarthy became a bona fide movie star after <i>Bridesmaids</i>
rocketed her into the spotlight and led to her first Oscar nomination.
She's now considered top billing on all her movies, is producing her
own scripts, and has become the muse of director/writer Paul Fieg (from
former <i>Heavyweights</i> fame - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pat655fwE2E">never forget</a>). What makes McCarthy admirable (other than her top notch <a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/lip-sync-battle-with-melissa-mccarthy/3013595">lip sync skills</a>),
is that all her success hasn't gotten to her head (or at least it
doesn't appear to have) and she couldn't be more thrilled to return to a
TV show that used to find its home on a little network called the WB.<br />
<br />
Other
people who have made the transition to bigger stardom don't always like
reflecting on their past. I'm mostly just referring to Mark Wahlberg. Calling him Marky Mark today is only for the bold. Allegedly he does
not get "Good Vibrations" from the past. [Terrible pun definitely
intended.]<br />
<br />
Wahlberg really did conquer a rarity.
The transition from TV to the big screen is one hurdle, but morphing
from a singer to an acclaimed actor is more comparable to that time
Homer tried to <a href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l99e1xWXMa1qdoghio1_400.gif">skateboard over</a>
the Springfield Gorge. There's probably someone out there that could
make that jump, but more will crash down to the bottom of the ravine.<br />
<br />
Time
has shown that it is definitely much harder for musicians to be taken
seriously as actors. Yet, there are some legends who have successfully
made the jump.<br />
<br />
I got talking about Cher's Twitter
presence yesterday (per usual - and if you want to live your best life
you too should join Twitter just to read her <a href="https://twitter.com/cher?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author">tweets</a>, which showcase the only proper way to use emojis ) and the
conversation turned to people who started as singers and then
successfully became movie stars. It's not about Mariah's turn in <i>Glitter, </i>or Christina's take on <i>Burlesque,</i> or Vanilla Ice's foray into <i>Cool As Ice</i>
- these were one off gigs. I'm talking about actors who you can watch in a
movie and you completely forget all about the fact that they were singers at one point in their life. The
small group that fall into this category have found immense success -
even being nominated for numerous Academy Awards.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, acting wasn't just a whim for singers like Cher, Wahlberg, Dolly Parton, Will Smith, or Queen Latifah.<br />
<br />
Out
of that list, Dolly and Cher have since reverted back to their
singer/performer status after their string of hit movie performances in
the 80s and 90s (except for when they bring out the big acting guns for
more recent flicks like <i>Burlesque</i> and <i>Joyful Noise</i>). <br />
<br />
There's always an ebb and flow to everyone's life, but I don't see Wahlberg ever
reverting back to his musical roots, but hey, you never know. The need
to release some tunes might start pumping back into his veins. <br />
<br />
There's
also nothing wrong with moving on and looking toward bigger success.
Much like McCarthy, the transition from TV actor to movie star status
can happen, but it just might take some time. People like Jennifer
Aniston, Tina Fey, Chris Pratt, and Steve Carell all got their start on
the small screen and have now only continued to take over the
entertainment world.<br />
<br />
It is possible to convince people that you are capable of more than one thing, even if it takes awhile.
But that doesn't mean that you always have to leave everything from your
past behind.<br />
<br />
Based on the box office numbers, the world can't get
enough of the hilariously brassy characters that McCarthy has become
known for in the film world, and yeah, I love it all too. Although,
I only hope that in between all that lovely cursing and hilarious
hi-jinx, McCarthy gets the opportunity (like in the wonderful <i>St. Vincent)</i> to be the leading lady that shows off some of that old school Sookie St. James charisma on the big screen as well. <br />
<br />
Until next time. <br />
<br />
<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-70655431473545799042016-03-20T21:24:00.000-07:002016-03-20T21:31:20.435-07:00Trailer Wars: Springtime Special<br />
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<br />
<br />
It's a cloud stricken rainy first day of spring and I just sat and watched 10 trailers for movies with upcoming release dates. Let's just say I now have something other than the weather to be depressed about...<br />
<br />
Movie fans all know that there is nothing quite like seeing an exciting trailer for the first time and the feeling of anticipation that then follows. Out of the coming attractions I just sat through, there were only two that got my heart beating and the rest had my eyes rolling.<br />
<br />
With all the remakes and over the top action blowouts/action comedies/over used CGI action blockbusters, I can't be the only person who is bored by most of what Hollywood is cranking out these days. [<i>Ben Hur</i>? <i>Tarzan</i>? I love you Jack Huston and Alexander Skarsgard, but y'all, just watch the <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2010/12/battle-of-oscar-stars-best-picture-1959.html">original</a> and the animated masterpiece scored by Phil Collins instead.] <br />
<br />
Understated movies with emotional punches to the gut tend to be what really gets my motor going. At least that has become the kind of movie I value more than anything else. May I present evidence 1A: I spent all last night drooling over everything to do with the
recent Oscar nominee <i>Carol</i> - the costumes,
music, and cinematography (plus, Kyle Chandler in a tuxedo).<br />
<br />
However, absorbing costume dramas aren't the only movies I am capable of enjoying. Not to seem contradictory, but I like to have fun too! I do love heading out to the theater for a good summer blockbuster as much as the next person, and will likely be shelling out dough for both <i>X-Men: Apocalypse</i> and <i>Captain America: Civil War</i>. Although, if this is the <u>only</u> kind of movie that's released for the majority of the year, doesn't it all become boring and expected? There is nothing to be gained when every other movie studio is just trying to capture the same magic (and dollars) as the Marvel universe. The world of movie making should always have surprises and give an audience more than they could ever dream up, not just settle for non-creative imitation. <br />
<br />
One trailer that I saw today though seems to find the perfect balance of both of these worlds - it's a movie that blends understated filmmaking with modern effects laden sci-fi fare. <br />
<br />
I'm referring to the latest from director Jeff Nichols, <i>Midnight Special</i>: <br />
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Nichols has already proven that he is a man capable of impeccable and creative storytelling by delivering wonderful movies, like <i>Mud</i> and <i>Take Shelter. </i>The later even showed how Nichols could utilize impressive CGI to build the madness inside Michael Shannon's mind.<i> </i>Anyone can tell that just from the mysterious trailer alone, <i>Midnight Special </i>looks to blend together the best of what Nichols has already shown he can do as a filmmaker. His imagination seems to have no bounds.<br />
<br />
Nichols always knows how to cast a movie as well: his muse, Michael Shannon, is present again, plus Kirsten Dunst in her full on continued resurgence (post the brilliant second season of <i>Fargo)</i>, Kylo Ren (yeah, I know it's Adam Driver), and the kid (Jaeden Lieberher) from the still tragically underrated <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/03/why-be-normal-when-you-were-born-to.html"><i>St. Vincent</i></a>!<br />
<br />
Not too much looks exciting to me these days (although, the Tim Burton fan in me was also pleased with the trailer for <i>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children)</i>, but I will be bubbling with anticipation until my eyes finally see all the mysterious genius behind <i>Midnight Special.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Midnight Special is currently in limited release. Check it out - this may be playing in a theater near you. </i><br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time. <i> </i><br />
<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-61479530018641447312016-02-27T22:25:00.000-08:002016-02-28T11:51:34.191-08:00Seven Out Of Eight Ain't Bad!<br />
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Stopping just short of the finish line has always driven me crazy. Why start anything if the intention is not to finish?<br />
<br />
Although, there are circumstances when certain conditions are out of your hands and a goal can't be completed - sometimes that 1,000 piece puzzle (that you spent DAYS completing) is missing a few pieces (curses!), or your legs cramp up before you can scale the top of that mountain (and you have to scoot back down the incline on your butt), or a certain movie leaves the multiplex before you can see all the Best Picture nominees.<br />
<br />
Yeah, I get it Regal Cinemas, you had to give like a zillion screens to <i>Gods Of Egypt 3D, </i>but there are some people who still want to see <i>The Big Short</i>! (Those theaters would be better suited for an Oscar movie, since **COUGH** <a href="http://movieweb.com/gods-of-egypt-box-office-bomb-2016/">no one</a> is seeing <i>Gods </i>anyway...)<br />
<br />
With endless movies coming out every week, nothing is guaranteed to be out for months, so it's really a "snooze you loose" situation. I snoozed and thus continued my tradition of never seeing all of the Best Picture nominees before The Academy Awards. It's almost become a joke now, because every year since I could get into R rated movies on my own, I tend to either see almost none of the nominees or get ridiculously close to seeing them all. <br />
<br />
It looks like I've come this close only one time before - in 2011 I saw <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2011/02/nine-out-of-ten-aint-bad.html">nine out of ten</a> best picture nominees. Wooo five years ago me, you deserve a pat on the back! <br />
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<br />
Even if The Academy Awards are always striving to give statues to the
best of the best for any given year, it is more likely that all the
nominees will not be loved by everyone. In other words, just the Best
Picture category alone is bound to feature one real stinker; something
that is a real bore to many people. These may be controversial choices,
but don't even get me started on having to slog through watching
previous nominees like, <i>Inception</i>, <i>Lincoln</i>, <i>Babel, Sideways, Gangs Of New York, </i>and <i>Gosford Park, </i>just to name a few.<br />
<br />
That's why it is surprising that for the first year that I can remember, I found every Best Picture nominee that I saw very enjoyable in their own way! It's difficult even to rank them because I loved them all almost
equally. Each one has different strengths, but they all feature amazing storytelling and are worthy of representing the year of film in 2015.<br />
<br />
The Academy Awards are often viewed as
frivolous, but what people forget is that acknowledging specific moments of our culture makes it so we take note of certain things in the time that we are living. It is important to use the arts as a way to keep track of how we were feeling,
looking, and thinking. That's what makes the Academy Awards entirely fascinating to me - it's a very specific record of what people enjoyed,
who we were as people, and also, partly, what issues we found to be important.<br />
<br />
Looking back through Oscar winning movies through time you will notice that this has always been the case. Just as an example, during WWI and WWII, many of the winning movies were focused on the fears of war or people fighting in the war (<i>All Quiet On The Western Front, Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years Of Our Lives). </i>Much like those movies, a win
for <i>Spotlight</i> or <i>The Big Short</i> this year would secure acknowledging a story that
mirrors timely issues and fears, and also what kinds of injustice people are angry about in today's world. <br />
<br />
In the end, if we think of the Academy Award as historical record, which movie should represent the year 2015 in history? Which is the one you'd be obnoxiously yelling about in the streets and telling everyone to jet out and see?<br />
<br />
My answer to this question keeps shifting back and forth, because I am an indecisive person when there are too many great options. But, I am still forcing myself to make a final decision. Based on my love of journalism and heart for social justice, there is really no other choice I can pick for Best Picture:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>SPOTLIGHT </b></span></li>
</ul>
This movie features a remarkable cast who suffered through unglamorous 2001 hairstyles (the George Clooney Julius Caesar haircut on Mark Ruffalo was a highlight) and fashion (a sea of khakis) to tell, what should be, the unbelievable true story of Boston Globe journalists uncovering the details of child abuse in the Catholic church.<br />
<br />
In a world where people would rather read Top 10 lists than long features, we've come to a time when this form of journalism depicted in <i>Spotlight</i>, where small groups of people dig into a stories for years, is sadly dying out. I'm hoping that what comes with the acclaim of this movie is more people realizing the importance of unbiased journalists out there working to uncover the secrets that we all need to know. This is a job that we all should fight to support, since biased propaganda is not positive for anyone. <br />
<br />
<i>Spotlight </i>should be the movie to represent 2015, but the six other nominees that I saw also had important, emotional stories to tell. I've ranked the other nominees as follows (I'll have to wait and see where <i>The Big Short </i>falls in line):<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Room</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Revenant<br />
Brooklyn<br />
Mad Max: Fury Road<br />
The Martian<br />
Bridge Of Spies</b></span></i> <br />
<br />
I've already said a lot about my appreciation for <i>Room </i>(see previous post)<i>. </i><br />
<br />
<i>The Revenant </i>is the most beautiful looking movie I've ever seen and shows all the guts and glory of Leo.<br />
<br />
<i>Brooklyn </i>features a lovely, emotional story (I cried through almost the whole thing, including a moment featuring the performance of a haunting traditional Irish ballad), that also shows us (through amazing costumes) how glamorous the 1950s could be (and how much I want to go to Ireland).<br />
<br />
<i>Mad Max: Fury Road </i>proved that even when you think you've seen it all, a guy playing a guitar is strapped to the front of a truck and a two hour car chase becomes the most visually stunning and imaginatively told movie this year - movie creativity is far from dead. <i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>The Martian </i>reminded me why Matt Damon became a charismatic movie star, as he, delivering the lines from a wonderful script, had us all laughing and crying while trying to make it back to Earth.<br />
<br />
Lastly, <i>Bridge Of Spies</i> was a movie that I had zero expectations for, so I ended up genuinely enjoying sitting through almost all 142 minutes of it - the surprisingly magnetic supporting performance by a guy I've never heard of, Mark Rylance, totally helped make up for the literal bridge...of...spies that actually pops up in the movie.<br />
<br />
These nominees really do represent many of the great movies I saw in the last year. However, I did watch another one recently, that could have qualified, and should have featured a nominee in the Best Actress category.<br />
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The movie, <i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grandma_2015/">Grandma</a>, </i>featuring a fiery and hilarious performance by Lily Tomlin, is one of those movies that is all talking and story, but it never hits a boring moment. That might have something to do with the short, yet perfect 79 minute running time. More movies should just be short and sweet. </div>
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No moment is wasted<i> </i>as a grandma (played by Tomlin) drives off with her granddaughter on an odyssey type mission through L.A., visiting old friends and partners trying to drum up some needed cash for an important medical procedure. It's a real gem. Tomlin earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role, but this is just another example of non-showy, more "comedy" leaning movies getting overlooked by The Academy. </div>
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The Oscars won't ever be able to cover it all, but hopefully, with the tweaks that are being made after the #OscarSoWhite controversy this year, a different range of films will be acknowledged. That way a wider voice will be represented as films captured in this type of historical record. </div>
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To see if those changes have an impact, we will have to wait until next year, but until then we can focus on this year's nominees. Which movie will win Best Picture? Is Leo REALLY going to win? Will someone go <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIl3zSYL8k">streaking</a>? All will be revealed tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m Pacific on ABC. Or tune in all day (like I will, duh) for that red carpet coverage. Here's hoping some ladies really go for some <a href="http://bub.blicio.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/worst4.jpg">wacky</a> ensembles. The only guarantee is that Cate Blanchett will slay. </div>
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Better get those ballots filled out soon! I've sure got some guessing to do, since I just calculated an even more staggering statistic. There are 57 films nominated for at least one award - I've seen 15. And I thought I saw a lot of movies! Sheesh. Well, I have way more watching to do - how about you? </div>
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Until next time. </div>
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-12114997113158884072016-02-20T22:16:00.000-08:002016-02-21T11:57:35.353-08:00Why It Would Be Refreshing For Room To Win Best Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Trapped between four walls with never an opportunity to breath fresh air sounds like the worst possible form of existence. Knowing that must have been what caused people to invent prison and specifically solitary confinement. The worst form of punishment is forced on those who have broken the rules - living, without a life. <br />
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You lose freedom. You lose choice. You lose everything except for whatever has been left behind in the walls that make up the enclosure.<br />
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But this isn't just for prisoners. Some people may even choose to live this way intentionally, which, as their choice, all the power to them. However, this can happen to people who are innocent of their crimes or have just been forced into this confinement.<br />
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Through the Best Picture nominated film, <i>Room, </i>the story of two people sentenced to this type of life is told. It's an intense situation for a woman, only referred to as Ma (played by Brie Larson), but the beauty of her creativity comes to life once she must invent a sense of an entire world for her son Jack all between the walls in a single room.<br />
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This year is jam packed with emotional Best Picture nominees. And it's a tough choice, but if forced to choose, <i>Room </i>is the most heartbreaking, inspiring, and moving story out of the Best Picture race. It's effortlessly directed by <span itemprop="director" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="itemprop" itemprop="name">Lenny Abrahamson</span></span>, the dialogue perfectly captures all the humor and anger of the characters (by <span itemprop="creator" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="itemprop" itemprop="name">Emma Donoghue, which she adapted from her bestselling novel),</span> </span>and it also<i> </i>features two outstanding performances from the lead actors.<br />
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Larson is wonderfully supported by the actor playing her young son, Jacob Tremblay. If there was a Best Duo award at the Oscars (for <a href="http://www.clotureclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/102015room01.jpg">on</a> and <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/20/jacob-tremblay-channels-brie-larson-instagram">off</a> screen badassery), they would take that award without question. Neither performance works without the other. Much of the movie is from Tremblay's point of view, a boy who was born within "room", and has never seen the outside world . [It's completely mind boggling!] He is the narrator, which is a beautiful touch, since his innocent voice is all the audience needs to hear in order to understand Ma and Jack's vulnerability. His voice leads the audience through both his joy and terror about the life they are facing.<br />
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As a whole package, this is the kind of movie that hits you right in your emotional core. After leaving the theater you want to both hug every single person you've ever cared about and also head out on an extensive road trip, because having freedom is the best and the world is such a big unknown place that needs to be seen.<br />
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In a form of pure "snub rage", Tremblay was sadly left off the Best Supporting Actor (or Best Actor, really) list this year at the Oscars. But the movie rightfully earned four nominations total, including a Best Actress nomination for Larson.<br />
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If <i>Room</i> (and no, not <i><a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2013-12/enhanced/webdr07/27/11/anigif_enhanced-buzz-4907-1388163139-10.gif">The Room</a>, </i>which I overheard people<i> </i>calling it at the theater) walked away with the Best Picture and Best Actress award this year it would join the ranks of only 11 other movies in history. What might that list be, you ask?<br />
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As someone who watched (all but one) of the Best Picture winners from throughout history there is a trend I quickly noticed. <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/search/label/Best%20Picture%20Challenge"><i><b>[I reviewed them all! Check out the Best Picture Challenge label!]</b></i></a><i><b> </b></i>It is rare for a movie to win both Best Picture and Best Actress. Like I mentioned above, it has only happened 11 times out of 87 years. Here are the movies that have that accomplishment:<br />
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</i> <i>Million Dollar Baby</i><br />
<i>Shakespeare In Love</i><br />
<i>The Silence Of The Lambs</i><br />
<i>Driving Miss Daisy</i><br />
<i>Terms Of Endearment</i><br />
<i>Annie Hall</i><br />
<i>One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest</i><br />
<i>Mrs. Miniver</i><br />
<i>Gone With The Wind</i><br />
<i>The Great Ziegfeld</i><br />
<i>It Happened One Night</i><br />
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(All must see movies - by the by.)<i> </i><br />
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In comparison, 26 Best Picture winners have also featured the Best Actor winner: <br />
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<i>The Artist</i><br />
<i>The King's Speech</i><br />
<i>Gladiator</i><br />
<i>American Beauty</i><br />
<i>Forrest Gump</i><br />
<i>The Silence Of The Lambs</i><br />
<i>Rain Man</i><br />
<i>Gandi</i><br />
<i>Kramer vs Kramer</i><br />
<i>One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest</i><br />
<i>The Godfather</i><br />
<i>The French Connection</i><br />
<i>Patton</i><br />
<i>In The Heat Of The Night</i><br />
<i>A Man For All Seasons</i><br />
<i>My Fair Lady</i><br />
<i>Ben Hur</i><br />
<i>The Bridge on The River Kwai</i><br />
<i>Marty</i><br />
<i>On The Waterfront</i><br />
<i>All The King's Men</i><br />
<i>Hamlet</i><br />
<i>The Best Years Of Our Lives</i><br />
<i>The Lost Weekend</i><br />
<i>Going My Way</i><br />
<i>It Happened One Night</i><br />
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These stats give off the impression that movies which feature impressive female performances are not deemed as an overall amazing movie going experience. For example, this year<i>, Carol</i>, was excluded from the Best Picture category, even though the two leads are up for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress (Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett).<br />
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When looking back on history, there were many opportunities for the Academy to award the Best Picture prize to the movie that also featured the Best Actress winner. When comparing the winners with the movies that could have won, it is easy to see that movies with more male dominated casts often rule the category. <br />
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First of all, <i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i> (with Best Actress winner Vivien Leigh) is a better film, top to bottom, than <i>An American In Paris</i> (the Best Picture winner from that year). As well as, <i>Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf</i> (Best Actress winner Elizabeth Taylor) over the bore that is <i>A Man For All Seasons</i>, <i>Funny Girl</i> (with Best Actress winner Barbara Streisand) over <i>Oliver</i>, and <i>Moonstruck </i>(with Best Actress winner Cher) would be a more memorable Best Picture winner over the long dredge that is <i>The Last Emperor</i>. I would also choose <i>Fargo</i> (with Best Actress winner Frances McDormand) over <i>The English Patient</i> any day. <br />
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Sometimes though, amazing movies with almost completely female casts are pitted against each other. In 2003, <i>The Hours</i> (which includes Best Actress winner Nicole Kidman) lost to <i>Chicago</i>. This is an interesting comparison, since these were two hugely nominated movies and were also dominated by women - this does not happen often in one year. <br />
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It seems like the only reason this disparity continues is because there are not enough movies being made that focus on women. <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/01/luck-will-not-be-lady-tonight.html">I've written about this before</a>, but in 2013, it was reported that <a href="http://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/files/2013_Its_a_Mans_World_Report.pdf">only 15%</a> of movie protagonists were women.<br />
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This year is at least better than last year, where not a single Best Picture nominee featured a woman in a leading role. (Still crazy, I know).<br />
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It turns out that five of the nominees this year include a terrific lead or supporting performance by women - <i>Mad Max: Fury Road</i> has Charlize Theron (my pick for the other big Oscar Snub this year), <i>Spotlight </i>has Rachel McAdams (who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress), <i>The Martian</i> has both Jessica Chastain and Kate Mara, <i>Brooklyn</i> has Saoirse Ronan (Best Actress nominee), and <i>Room, </i>of course, has Larson. <br />
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As much as I loved the other movies mentioned above, I'm rooting for <i>Brooklyn, </i>and even more so <i>Room, </i>to win Best Picture. Since Larson is a shoo-in for the Best Actress win, a little bit of hope for the double win is in my mind just so more movies featuring Best Actress winners can be added to the list, but in the end, it's just because <i>Room </i>deserves it. <br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-6696486190849836192016-01-31T16:34:00.001-08:002016-01-31T16:47:04.106-08:00Home Is Home<br />
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Home. It can be the dwelling where we lay our head down at the end of the day, but home also has to do with identity.<br />
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Home can be the houses we grew up in, the place where our families/friends are located, the cities where we were born, and the countries we find listed on our passports. This idea of home can create a sense of history and center us to a concrete destination in this wild and large world. <br />
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No matter how old we get, these various forms of home are ever changing, and yet, can still be places or feelings that are never lost, even if it is a location that we will never see again.<br />
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Through it all, the word home is made up of whatever you decide it to mean.<br />
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The Best Picture nominated film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381111/"><i>Brooklyn</i></a>, finds a young woman searching out exactly what home means to her.<br />
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Is it a place or a feeling? Or both?<br />
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Eilis (pronounced AY-lish), with the help of her sister pushing her, decides to leave her home of Ireland in order to pursue an adventurous life in a new place, Brooklyn.<br />
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It is 1951 and she boards a boat to cross the Atlantic, leaving behind her older sister and widowed mother, who will now only have each other. <br />
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How bold this must have been to venture to an unknown place. Especially in an era where air travel wasn't accessible to all and knowing, deep down inside, that you may never come back. Or if you do, it will be years before enough money can be saved to make a return trip on a rocky boat.<br />
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With only letters from her family to comfort her while navigating the world of living in a boarding house and starting a new job, Eilis battles with homesickness and wonders if this new country will ever feel like home.<br />
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Father Flood (played by the always lovely Jim Broadbent), a priest in Brooklyn who sponsored Eilis's trip to America, tries to comfort her through this adjustment. He tells her that, "Homesickness is like most sicknesses - it'll make you feel wretched, and it'll move on to somebody else." <br />
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How then do you make a new place feel like home? Once Eilis changes her attitude, she begins to embrace the growing opportunities that are everywhere. It also might help a little that she meets the sweetest fella that has been seen on the big screen in decades. These two meet at 1951's answer to bar hopping and online dating - local area dances. These innocent gatherings featuring guys and gals sipping soda with paper straws might look boring and tame at first, but upon further reflection these forced mixers look rather refreshing in comparison to how we all mingle in today's world. Let's have a nice chat and a dance!<br />
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Of course, just when everything seems to be going right in the world, and the hope of being settled in a new home is looking bright, reality comes to sweep dreams away. Eilis is faced with the choice of sticking with the home she has always known or reaching for the metaphorical home of her future.<br />
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She professes that, "you'll catch yourself thinking about something or someone who has no connection with the past. Someone who's only yours.And you'll realize that this is where your life is."<br />
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Best Actress nominee Saoirse Ronan, who is Irish just like her character
Eilis, also has a name that constantly needs pronunciation explanations here in the states
(it's Sur-Sha by the by). And even though Ronan is a modern Irish girl and many of us watching this movie are only tied to immigration through the stories from our ancestors (I too had Irish relatives come through Ellis Island), this story of breaking out on one's own is purely timeless. Traveling might be easier now, so there is more of a chance to reconnect with loved ones that you leave behind, but moving from childhood to adulthood and breaking out on your own is always going to be one of life's biggest transitions.<br />
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Finding that sense of home will take time and adjustment, but knowing that this struggle happens to everyone is just another way that human existence can be constantly tied together. Home is home, wherever that might be.<br />
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Seek out <i>Brooklyn</i>, hopefully playing in a theater near you, especially before The Academy Awards on February 28th.<br />
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<i>Brooklyn </i>is nominated for three awards - Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay for the wonderful writer Nick Hornby. Divine 1950s costuming, sumptuous cinematography, superb acting, and heartbreaking story telling, make <i>Brooklyn, </i>top to bottom, well deserving of becoming the Best Picture of 2016. This sweet and moving story will not be soon forgotten. <br />
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Awards season - it's the best time of the year! <br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-85815344638515214342015-12-31T15:31:00.003-08:002015-12-31T16:12:45.352-08:00New Year A Comin'<br />
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Just when you think that 2015 has no more surprises, the ground starts to shake.<br />
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I live in earthquake country, but often forget about it, since the last earth shattering event I experienced was in 2001. Way back to when I was trying to complete a math assignment in a classroom on the third floor of my ancient middle school.<br />
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Now, 14-years later, I couldn't first blame all the shaking on the boy next to me who always annoyingly propped his feet up on our table, constantly causing my perfect penmanship to get all squiggly. <br />
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Back then I couldn't finish my algebra assignment because of an earthquake and Tuesday night my Christmas tree loudly thumped several times in my living room due to the same reason.<br />
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It was a 4.9 magnitude, relatively small, but strong enough for my brother from across town to text, "it was like a strong giant running into the apartment several times. crazy."<br />
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Let's just say I've been acting a little paranoid since the 20-second (or so) event. Even today I slightly panicked after seeing dark "smoke" coming out of the peak of Mt. Baker.<br />
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Nah.<br />
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Turns out it was just a perfectly placed dark cloud, made more apparent due to the rest of the sky being clear and crystal blue.<br />
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I've taken a few breaths, achieved some calm with the phrase, <a href="http://www.madisonhouseautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Scared-Prepared.jpg">"don't be scared, be prepared"</a>, and settled in to wrapping up a few more favorite things before fulling embracing 2016.<br />
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This past year I got obsessed with a small number of albums, and so I didn't think that I branched out too much. But thanks to some handy calculations done by Spotify, I found out that I apparently still listened to 251 different artists this year. (Anyone can see their year in music<a href="https://yearinmusic.spotify.com/en-US"> here</a>.)<br />
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That's just through Spotify though, which probably only accounts for about half of my music listening, since I still roll old school and buy physical copies of CD's, plus, stream quite a bit through Pandora <br />
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Even if I did listen to a bunch of different artists, there is definitely overlap when it comes to what I listened to the most:<br />
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This was definitely the year that I went from being a casual Brandi Carlile listener to embracing her full on. She's a native to my neck of the woods in the PNW and has performed in my hometown a ton over the last ten years, so I have been listening to her music for a long time, but I still never considered her one of my favorite singers. Now, I definitely do. I quickly became obsessed with her 2015 album, <i>The Firewatcher's Daughter, </i>which also led me to go back and listen to some of her superb albums from the past (<i>Bear Creek).</i><br />
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Some of my other favorite albums of the year were: Marina and the Diamonds, <i>Froot , </i>Sufjan Stevens, <i>Carrie & Lowell </i>(both of which were previously discussed <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/04/weekly-buffet-mixed-emotions.html">here</a>), Kacey Musgraves, <i>Pageant Material </i>(previously written about <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/06/weekly-buffet-summertime-not-sadness.html">here</a>), Leon Bridges, <i>Coming Home </i>(covered <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/12/im-coming-home-to-leon-bridges.html">here</a>), and Ryan Adams, <i>1989 </i>(written about <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/12/welcome-to-new-york-new-york.html">here</a>).<br />
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This year was also the year I welcomed the Scottish electro-pop band Chvrches into my life with full force. There isn't any album this year more worthy of blaring in head phones and chair dancing your night away than <i>Every Eye Open. </i><br />
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Apparently I've really been digging this whole electronica/pop vibe, especially when it's done by cool chicks. Really, being a Robyn fan, it shouldn't be a surprise. Sometimes you just want to have fun, and Grimes has been running with that over the last five years. She created yet another fantastical album this year. <i>Art Angels </i>didn't make my top list on Spotify, but that doesn't count since I sill listened to it religiously. <br />
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Another favorite was an album that didn't come out in 2015 - Sia's, <i>10,000 Forms Of Fear. </i>I listened to the hits from this album in 2014, but 2015 was the year that the CD didn't come out of my car for months. The strong songwriting on powerful topics like fear, addiction, and heartbreak was wonderfully spun into an entire album of power anthems. That girl can sing and perform the heck out of anything.<br />
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One new single that did come out this year was, "Alive". Sure it's a great pop song with more anthem like qualities, but what really takes this song to another level is the moment near the end of the song, when Sia reaches that note where her voice cracks. It's completely visceral and a explosion of sound - it gives me chills every time. She's not holding anything back and, judging by her popularity, we never want her to stop.<br />
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I love tracking all my stuff, so I also keep tabs on what I'm listening to through <a href="http://last.fm/">Last.fm</a>. It's always fun to look at the end of a week, month, or year to see what songs/artists you were most addicted to.<br />
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Some of the songs from that list are pulled from my favorite albums of the year, but the rest are outliers. Paul Simon must be due to this <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2910274/">great movie</a> and the song by Sara Watkins was featured in the final episode of <i>Parenthood</i><i>. </i>Sometimes watching something ends up inspiring lots of listening.<br />
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One of the other songs from my most listened to list was simply a gorgeous cover of a classic John Denver tune. Take it away Brandi Carlile and Emmylou Harris!<br />
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This past year was another fruitful one for the lives of music fans. One of my goals for 2016 is to commit even more of my time to discovering more great albums.<br />
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Today we all say goodbye to 2015 and here's hoping the new year brings wonderfully exciting things to us all. After spending four days this week crazily power-housing through <i>Making A Murderer, </i>I can't stop thinking about injustices and abuses of power, so for 2016 I couldn't wish more than for everyone out there to think about the little things we could all do to positively impact everyone around us and beyond.<br />
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Blah, blah, blah - I know, I realize I'm up on a soap box, but I really can't help it!<br />
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It all starts somewhere and I know that, besides obsessing over pop culture, movies, TV, music, and everything else in the world of the arts, I'm going to push myself to become more involved in issues found in the real world around me.<br />
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There's always something to get done, or something to enjoy, and here's to a big, shiny new year of finding out what that is going to be. Hopefully that doesn't include any more ground shaking. **Knock On Wood** - because I'm a paranoid SOB.<br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-7168544529154876332015-12-23T02:04:00.001-08:002015-12-23T02:04:36.980-08:00"If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around. "<br />
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As much as people rag on <i>Love Actually</i>, it's hard to deny that the opening and closing segments (the later is captured above) of the movie are a superb use of home-video footage. <br />
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It is true that people greeting family members/friends at airports is largely joyful (I'm sure there are many fist fights as well, but we can ignore that for right now), so for a movie focused on love, integrating in snippets of real people greeting the ones they love only makes the rest of the fictionalized story more impactful. Plus, it's just a wonderful idea for a feature in a movie - something truly unique that still makes me happy every time I see it.<br />
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Much like how an airport brings together many people with many different stories, <i>Love Actually </i>tells numerous integrated stories as well - the guy who loves his best friend's wife, the sister whose responsibility for her brother overpowers her need for a super hot dude, the boss who has a crush on a coworker, a widower, a child with a <i>Titanic </i>level crush, the bloke who is obviously deemed adorable once he comes to America, the spurned writer, the almost cheater, and many more!<br />
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The movie has become a modern Christmas classic and has now been integrated into everyone's yearly watching traditions.<br />
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I still love the movie as a whole, but now that I've seen it at least once a year for the last 10 years, I've picked out certain moments that really make re-watching it truly worthwhile. <br />
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Nearly everyone would agree that, hands down, this is the saddest moment in the whole movie, but the scene is elevated by a legendary song and Emma Thompson's ability to convey emotions through every inch of her body. Her simple movements are subtle and heartbreaking. Plus, don't even get me started about her, "you make the life I lead foolish too," speech that happens later on! Good acting people, it goes a long way. Thompson might have been given a sad story line, but she sure makes it a memorable one.<br />
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Everyone melts into a puddle over the scene with Rick Grimes holding up all those cue cards - it's a solid scene, but I'd rather watch the two devastating story lines acted out by two bitchin' broads any day of the week.<br />
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Thompson and Laura Linney are awesome (duh) and Linney finds herself entangled with Rodrigo Santoro. She's very excited (as are the rest of us): <br />
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That reaction shot is still one of the cutest things of all time. <br />
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Alas, in the movie it doesn't work out between those two, but, I'm not gonna lie, I've imagined that eventually Santoro's character decides to not be bothered by all the phone calls and gives her another chance. Maybe even goes with her to visit her brother? It could happen! Yes, I've thought about this often. <br />
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There's also Hugh Grant dancing through the Prime Minister's mansion, Colin Firth not quite learning Portuguese, and many more memorable moments. But as Mark says after finally getting kissed by Keira Knightley: "Enough. Enough now."<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-55373690093670773832015-12-22T01:52:00.000-08:002015-12-22T01:53:25.773-08:00Rudolph The Red Nosed Ralphio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Driven by being obsessed with <i>Master Of None </i>and needing more Aziz in my life, I started re-watching <i>Parks and Recreation </i>again, for the...well, I've lost count of the number of times I've watched the episodes of this grand television program.<br />
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Every time I re-watch a show I tend to notice something different. This time around, I realized that all of the characters are mostly consistent throughout the series, except for Ron Swanson. The change in his character from season one to two is very subtle, but it happens basically at the exact moment that he swaps out the artwork in his office from <a href="https://ronswansons.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/ron-swanson-2.jpg">a lady holding a plate of eggs and bacon</a> to just a plate of <a href="http://cdnmo.coveritlive.com/media/image/201408/phpZYKBUwParks-Recreation-Ron-Office.JPG">eggs and bacon</a>. <br />
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The one thing I never notice differently is Tom Haverford's better creative half - Jean Ralphio.<br />
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Anytime this guy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpMUHUU7wks">bounce, bounce, bounce, bounces,</a> onto the screen, hilarity is about to ensue. Plus, he has access to the ill-est clubs, is a beautiful rapper, has a cute crush on Leslie Knope, and most people in Pawnee despise him, which only makes you want to love him more.<br />
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He never listens to the haters and always turns his frizown upside dizity. <br />
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There are many things I miss about <i>Parks and Rec</i> and the madness brought on when Jean Ralphio teams up with Tom or his sister Mona Lisa (ahhh best character name ever), is definitely something that I miss the most. <br />
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Thankfully, Jean Ralphio jokes never get old - perfect for endless plays back on Netflix. <br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-40450991501312823842015-12-21T23:25:00.004-08:002015-12-21T23:25:59.139-08:00Oh Christmas Cookie, Oh Christmas Cookie<br />
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Traditions are what makes the holidays go 'round.<br />
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There's trimming the tree, singing carols, hanging out in matching PJ's, and of course, baking up a storm.<br />
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This past weekend was all about gathering at good ole grandma's for an annual baking day. In between the noise of mixers going, laughing, and Christmas songs playing, there is some stress in making sure to avoid distractions, so that all the hard work doesn't result in burnt cookies. What a shame that would be! And, I have to admit, one small batch of ours did partially end up in the garbage. When you're making 8 dozen cookies, there are allowances for a few to end up too dark, too crispy, and thrown away.<br />
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Sometimes though when grandma is dishing out stories from the past, you've got to stop everything to listen, even if it means having a slightly delayed reaction to the buzzer going off on the oven.<br />
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Not to mention that you also have to keep your eye on grandpa - he'll move in and grab a pile even before they are completely cooled or before the decorations are done. Step away from the cookies. <br />
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Nearly five hours later, and this photographic evidence only captured a small portion of our bounty:<br />
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We made oodles of desserts - thumbprint cookies, Russian tea cakes, linzer trees (filled with homemade raspberry jam), and, a necessity, sugar cookies!<br />
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By the way, that one cookie (cut out with these awesome <a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Lj7Q-7j0L.jpg">word balloon cookie cutters</a> a co-worker gifted to me) says "Poof!" - the icing got piped on a little too hard and now it looks a little like I wrote something else...<br />
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Resolution for 2016: spend one whole day JUST baking sugar cookies. That will make it so there is still plenty of energy left to dedicate only to decorating. It's the most fun part, but being over tired made me semi rush those snowflakes. I just slapped on the icing, but was pleased with the fact that the icing on top actually set (the secret, I've learned, is corn syrup). One day I will make cookies that look just like <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt1Z5wOjrJgd8ejcpZKiCQOS5qsIywunHUun182LhMvy3pTBr6ts1B95yyIb33FUu4JuTkfrWvTqt5PSSRcip-vciyQEkyudIDqWr_4ek1kIt7TsdS2kMWEqMBULDJKfwgS2TrDHUcRs/s1600/IMG_3198e.jpg">these beauties</a>.<br />
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For now, I'm happy with the result and I'll be sitting down with a cup of joe and a cookie. Tis the season.<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-78521568154443726402015-12-21T01:22:00.002-08:002015-12-22T02:02:30.838-08:00"I Don't Think People Want To See That Many Women Talking At Once"<br />
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All of you out there have probably heard already, but a certain movie raked in the dough over the last couple days, becoming the highest opening for a movie in a single weekend. It was totally unexpected! Years from now people will still be talking about that one time Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took down the highly anticipated return of <i>Star Wars</i>.<br />
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Oh, sorry about that, somehow a dream I had last night was registering as reality in my brain for a quick second.<br />
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Sadly <i>Sisters</i> was not the movie <b><i>EVERYONE</i></b> on the planet was racing out to see over the weekend, but enough of a crowd still did, making the Fey/Poehler comedy open in the third spot with a respectable $13.4 million.<br />
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But it's not all about the money guys! Other than ensuring that these two will continue to make movies together for the rest of their lives. The world needs their faces on screens forever and always.<br />
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I wasn't able to make it to see either of these movies this weekend (Christmas is almost here and there's still so much to do!!), but I will as soon as possible. While I am stoked to see <i>Star Wars (</i>because R2D2 is my homeboy), in reality, Fey and Poehler are my Han and Chewie , or Luke and Leia, or any combination of the new characters that make sense as a dynamic duo. If there was ever a movie I would sleep outside on a sidewalk for (which really might be unlikely on all fronts), it would definitely be for one starring Tina and Amy. (Throw Meryl in the mix and make them a trio - I'd pass right the f out.)<br />
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It's not just that these women are funny - there are a thousand reasons to love the brains behind Liz Lemon and Lelie Knope: they have, and continue to write sharp, topical jokes (like during their time at SNL and hosting The Globes), women everywhere can rejoice in how they took part in creating smart, clever, and hilarious female characters (see <i>30 Rock </i>and <i>Parks and Recreation)</i>, they are bestselling authors (read <i><a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2011/04/boss.html">Bossypants</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2014/11/weekly-buffet-smart-girls.html">Yes Please</a> </i>immediately<i>, </i>if you haven't done so three times already), they are both lovely examples of projecting positive lady images (see projects like "Amy Poehler's Smart Girls") and, most importantly, it's admirable how they support each others successes.<br />
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Anyone who has seen them talk about each other (as in any interview they've ever done) knows that these two are the best example of how to be proud of your friends. They always talk like the other one is the best person on the planet and are totally humble, which sets such a great example for ending jealousy and just being happy for other people. Work hard and there is enough room for us all to accomplish the things we want - what a simple concept! <br />
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They've also been real life friends forever, which makes it possible for media sources like Vulture to create delightful <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/history-of-tina-and-amys-best-friendship.html">timelines</a> charting out their rise to fame and world domination.<br />
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Let's just say it like it is - these broads are the best and when teamed up they are unstoppable, even in short clips, like the one they just made with the hysterical gals from <i>Broad City</i> (Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer). <br />
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This weekend they weren't just at the multiplexes either, they were also featured at their home away from home - the stage of <i>Saturday Night Live. </i><br />
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Fey and Poehler's main years<i> </i>at SNL hit right when I was a teenager, the prime time for gathering with friends on Saturday nights and laughing late into the early hours of the morning. Those pros are always welcomed back into the world of live comedy.<br />
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Last night showcased the women totally killing it from beginning to end. It was the first time in awhile that I enjoyed every sketch and video. This episode had it all - there was a clever song in their monologue, a bunch of crazy "clips" from a 1970s variety show (also featuring comedic powerhouse Maya Rudolph!), The Boss (!), and a perfect spoof of all those malfunctioning "hover boards" (they don't really hover, guys). <br />
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Those moments, while great, weren't even the best! There was also one sketch ("Meet Your Second Wife") that is without a doubt the most creative and biting moment the show has had in recent memory. I can't remember the last time a sketch hit a cultural norm in such a real way. In another top highlight, Tina and Amy answered the tired question, "how do they juggle it all?" by forming the "squad" I want to hang out with most, which includes people like Gayle King, Amy Schumer, and a rapping Aidy Bryant. (Watch "Dope Squad" <a href="https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/tina-amys-dope-squad/2957167">here</a>.)<br />
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Tina and Amy also returned to some familiar bits from the past - "Bronx Beat" was back, they both told jokes at The Weekend Update Desk, and it wouldn't be complete without the writers finding a way to get them back into some tasteful business suits so they could take another swing at their iconic spin on Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. Even after a few years off, their impressions of these women were brilliant.<br />
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All in all, fans of Fey and Poehler have been reveling in these two being all over the place recently. Now after this weekend, we'll have to go back to catching them in reruns and re-watching <i>Baby Mama </i>for the zillionth time. Whether it be something old or new, Tina and Amy have always brought the funny, and, in my eyes, exemplify the quality I want to work on most - being fearless. <br />
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Here's to 2016, to <i>Sisters, </i>to Tina and Amy, to finding comedy in every situation, and being fearless. <br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-45707292449876151782015-12-19T00:23:00.002-08:002016-11-30T20:36:54.691-08:00Please Go Chasing Water Crimes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes during a long week you catch yourself complaining about all the little things that went wrong in your own life and then the nightly news has a way of putting it all into perspective. It is hard to cry about spilling raspberry jam all down your new white sweater when you hear about lead tainted water impacting the people of an entire city. <br />
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Tonight it was shocking to see de<span class="value-preview show">v</span>elopments surrounding this exact story playing out while tuning in for a segment on a masterful news program - <i>The Rachel Maddow Show.</i> Harsh critics say that the media is biased and uninformed, but anyone who faults the world of news as whole should check out the below video, which is a shining example of dedicated journalists doing the work. <br />
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Over the last couple years, and still now, the people of Flint, Mich. have been drinking water that contains high levels of lead. This is especially bad for children, whose developing bodies could now forever be effected by the toxins. It gets worse - it appears that the government of Michigan knew all about it.<br />
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Someone other than Erin Brokovich has been on the case:<br />
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Fans of her show already admire the way Rachel Maddow and her crew are consistently highlighting events other news agencies have yet to cover. The crisis in Flint has become a huge news story in the last couple days, but her show was on the story far before others caught on.<br />
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The people working on <i>Maddow</i> dig deep into stories, do extensive research, and expand on all the details, all while making connections that reveal injustices. They are not focused on being biased - it is all about presenting real information and finding the truth.<br />
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This is what makes journalism great and why we need it in order to thri<span class="value-preview show"><span class="value-preview show">ve in society.</span> </span>Hosts of the other various cable news shows are given an hour or more each day, but few use the opportunity to do more than just retell the same "Breaking News" stories that every other agency has already discussed to death. There should be more facts and less opinions.<br />
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We live in a time when everything that comes out of a politician's mouth has to be fact-checked. It is frustrating trying to dig through all the information out there in the world, while also trying to keep up with what is real and what is fake. One thing that should make us all feel better - as long as people like Maddow are on the air, journalism has a face of someone that can be trusted.<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Nothing will make you feel more behind on music from the past year than playing a 31 hour long playlist and only hearing 10 songs you recognize.<br />
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Yesterday NPR released their "Songs We Love 2015" playlist. While I may be only a 1/4 of the way through 199 songs, it still is shocking that I hardly know any of the songs and have barely recognized many of the musicians. All that podcast listening over the years has lowered the supreme musical prowess I once had in my youth.<br />
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Taking on NPR's epic playlist is a great excuse to listen to a whole bunch of different genres (everything from classical to songs in different languages and all that fall in between), so I'll keep dabbling and discovering even more new songs from the last year.<br />
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Here are some fave takeaways from the playlist so far. Most of what I liked are somewhat folksy lady singers, so there is a definite musical pattern here. Oh, plus, the song that made me say, "be still my heart" - a great jam focused around a cartoon character from <i>Hey Arnold.</i> It is amazing simply because who could even imagine such a thing existing?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Kristin Diable - "Time Will Wait"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Caitlin Canty - "Get Up"</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Phony Ppl -"helGa"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lord Huron - "Fool For Love"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Staves - "No Me, No You, No More"</span></b></div>
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In between all the new discoveries, NPR also gave a shout out to some of my own favorite songs of the year:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Father John Misty - "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Brandi Carlile - "The Eye"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Leon Bridges - Coming Home</b></span></div>
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(Read all about what I said about my obsession with this album <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2015/12/im-coming-home-to-leon-bridges.html">here</a>.) </div>
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Well, I know what I will be up to for the next couple days. I've still got a ton of NPR's playlist to check out. If you would like to do the same, you can get started <a href="http://apps.npr.org/best-songs-2015-so-far/">right now</a>.<br />
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Until next time. <br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-91781129417577893932015-12-16T21:45:00.000-08:002015-12-16T21:46:49.763-08:00Do You Hear What I Hear?<br />
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If you ever wanted to know the whole story behind a treasured song, the Song Exploder podcast will be your favorite musical discovery.<br />
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For nearly two years, this podcast has been asking musicians - from The Postal Service to Ghostface Killah - to tell the story behind making a single song. The interview sessions turn into a platform for these creators to give in-depth explanations of lyrics and the thought process for using certain instruments. Every time I listen to an episode, I marvel at the genius behind the idea for this podcast. <br />
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The most recent episode highlights one of my favorite things of 2015 - the music used in the opening credits for the show, <i>Transparent. </i><br />
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Composer Dustin O'Halloran, created the theme music for the show<i>. </i>On the podcast he discusses how he wanted the simple plunky piano tune to give off a nostalgic feeling, which is exactly the effect it has on me, especially when the music is paired with the visuals of old home movie footage.<br />
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I love the show as a whole, but those initial moments in the credits is by far my favorite thing about <i>Transparent. </i>I know that sounds a little crazy, but it has been awhile since a show had such a compelling opening.<br />
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The credits for this show isn't about showing off the faces of the cast in awkward poses (as seen in many other shows), the <i>Transparent</i> credits seem like a mini movie. I want to know more about the people in those clips, especially the 60s beauty queen with the big hair and sequined dress. It's funny how much the pangs of nostalgia hit you during this intro, as if the clips in the credits are moments captured of our own family memories. We insert ourselves into the familiarity of these scenes.<br />
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I love to play and listen to music, but I don't think I will ever have a talent for writing songs. Song Exploder, really makes you realize how complex putting a song together actually can be. There is a lot of thought that goes into every single second.<br />
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Between this podcast and watching <i>Love & Mercy </i>(the movie about Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys), this week has been all about the magic and madness behind the creative geniuses who work tirelessly to make the stuff that we simply kick back and enjoy.<br />
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You can subscribe to the Song Exploder podcast through iTunes or just check out each episode on <a href="http://songexploder.net/">their website</a>.<br />
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Plus, as a good tie in, the new season of <i>Transparent </i>has premiered on Amazon. I've only got the first ep. under my belt and while I loved it as a whole, the ending left me with lots of curious thoughts. It was wildly inventive, so much so, that I'm not sure I even wholly understood it. But that's the best kind of entertainment - anything that makes you think things you may never have thought before and leaves you wanting more. It was intriguing and I can't wait to see how it all ties into the rest of the season.<br />
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Hope you all are digging the show and podcast as well. <br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532556674605197139.post-52861140371404478792015-12-15T22:40:00.000-08:002015-12-16T21:57:11.106-08:00The Longest Sleigh Ride<br />
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Netflix DVD envelopes have been festive for about the last month and it is straight up delightful.<br />
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I thought I should share, since most of the world is probably not seeing this grand artwork after ditching the genius of mail-delivery DVDs in exchange for Redbox or streaming services.<br />
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Clearly I am holding on to the past, but how else does anyone rent old or obscure movies! My town is down to two locally owned movie stores, so when I just have to rent gems like <i>Zardoz </i>or <i><a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2014/11/movie-small-talk-reviews-on-run.html">Sleepaway Camp</a>, </i>Netflix DVDs is the best option.<br />
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Plus, the people working for Netflix are consistently on point when it comes to summarizing the plots of movies.<br />
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Wait...<br />
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...Not!<br />
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Netflix is the absolute worst in this category. The white sleeve the DVD comes in always features a plot description and there is a 50/50 chance that the summary is complete rubbish! I've even <a href="http://whatiknowisthis.blogspot.com/2012/01/musings-on-movie-plots.html">written</a> about this before.<br />
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Case in point, the one I received last night for <i>The Longest Ride</i>:<br />
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They gave it a good shot, but this is only part right.These words tell the story of a different movie - one that completely focuses on Alan Alda as he remembers stories from his past while being trapped in a burning car. Oh, and there also happens to be a young couple falling in love nearby.<br />
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Not that a movie starring Alan Alda would be terrible - he's the most used celebrity in crossword puzzles after all! A short name like "A-L-A-N" or "A-L-D-A" really fits well into a lot of places.<br />
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This movie does turn out to be more of an ensemble, with a lot of integrated story lines, so I can see it being somewhat difficult to wrap it all up in a couple sentences. However, it is comical that this movie description mentions nothing about bull riding, since that is the main focus in all the movie trailers, and was basically the only plot point I knew going into the movie.<br />
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The envelope should read, "Scott Eastwood Rides Bulls", since that seems like the reason most people watched this movie.<br />
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<a href="http://38.media.tumblr.com/b1c17885f4161c9a78a45105d2616141/tumblr_inline_n5hb5ploII1qkdogo.gif">Mr. Eastwood</a> might have inspired me to rent it, but this movie ended up utterly charming me.<br />
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Adapted from a Nicholas Sparks book, the movie follows a big shot bull rider (Eastwood) as he is falling in love with a local college gal (Brittany Robertson). One night they rescue a man (Alda!) who has gotten in a car accident. These three bond over this intense experience, and in the hospital, Alda's character begins telling stories about the early years of his marriage. It's a Sparks book, so of course the man's stories are told through old love letters.<br />
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<i>[Side Note: I don't care how many times letters are used as a way to advance a story. Letters are the perfect way to bridge the past and the present, plus there is just something old timey and romantic in the way you can express your detailed feelings about a situation through writing. No other medium can match it.]</i><br />
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It quickly becomes clear that this newly paired off couple could learn a lot from the issues faced by the couple falling in love in the 1940s. <br />
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Eastwood and Robertson have good chemistry and their story is nice to watch, but the surprise to me was the utterly engrossing portions of the movie focused on the flashbacks of Alda's character as a young man. I'm a sucker for retro costumes and decades from the past, so sign me up for any movie with tons of lush flashbacks.<br />
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This blast from the past story is pretty simple (we don't have to worry about some guy named Lon breaking up these two like in <i>The Notebook)</i>- Alda's character as a young man had to go to war, him and his wife had issues with finding out what they wanted out of life, and they decided that it was important to focus on what they did have rather than desiring what they didn't. Through all of this, the two actors in the flashbacks (Oona Chaplin and Jack Huston) really make you feel like their love is palpable.<br />
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It's no surprise that the acting from these two was the highlight, since they both come from lines of Hollywood royalty - Oona Chaplin being the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, and Jack Huston being the grandson of the director John Huston and the nephew of Angelica Huston. Along with Scott Eastwood being the son of Clint, this movie features quite the trifecta of offspring.<br />
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Young actors from famous families mirrors the way this movie blends the past with the present, which is my favorite feature of most things written by Sparks. Time goes by, but the struggles of people falling in love rarely vary. It's a solid way of connecting stories together.<br />
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As this movie began to wrap up, everything might have been a little too neatly tied together and coincidental, but to be honest, for once, I was completely thrilled with how a somewhat cheesy and predictable ending unfolded in front of my eyes. Plus, guess what guys? The title of the movie isn't just a reference to bull riding - it has a double meaning!<br />
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I give in to movies like this more often than I like to admit. Don't even get me started with the severe ugly cry moment I had while watching <i>Safe Haven. </i>At least the Netflix plot description on the envelope didn't ruin that twist ending.<br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033742614071172011noreply@blogger.com0