The Week That Was

While many spent the last days of November with family and thinking thoughtful notions, these are some other events that were going on at the same time.

Black Friday Is Going Down, Down, Down

All of the commercials broadcasting deals and the mass amounts of news coverage would lead you to think differently, but in reality, shopping at stores in person the day after Thanksgiving was down by 7% from last year.

Was that because people crowded stores on Thanksgiving day instead? Maybe, but online shopping is also surging. According to NPR, compared to the previous year, Amazon showed a 24% increase in shopping on their site over Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Why go out and face the crowds if you can shop in the comfort of your pajamas? Oh, I guess people do that out in public too.

The Force Is Teased

According to the internet, people are losing their minds over the new clips of the Star Wars franchise resurrection.

The 1:30 teaser doesn't show much, but the quality of the effects sure looks great. Most loved it, but there are of course already people complaining about anything and everything. They know that come December 2015, they're still going to fork over their money, right?

Remarkable Rescue

Be aware of snow plows, is the lesson we all can learn after two boys were trapped in a pile of snow on Wednesday.

The kids were building an igloo, as is required for all children to do when it snows.  While the boys were constructing their fort, a snow plow came along and buried them in. After seven hours, thankfully, someone saw a shovel near the pile and guessed that the kids could be inside. Their igloo structure managed to save enough breathing room, but just barely.

Both were hospitalized and are now doing well. They were warm and inside, hopefully in time to celebrate the holiday with their families, who must be feeling especially thankful this year.


No Indictment For Officer Wilson
Earlier this week the grand jury in St. Louis, MO. decided against indicting Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown.

Since then, just as the media was hyping, protests happened in both Ferguson and St. Louis, as well as in most large cities around the country.

Why this will never be officially sorted out, and why neither side will be happy, is that there is conflicting evidence and differing eye witness reports all surrounding the events that leads to the sad death of a young man.

To add fuel to the fire, CNN has been investigating one of the men who did the autopsy on Brown. And then the The Washington Post reported that the  physical evidence does match the testimony given by Wilson. It's just a mess.

Through it all, in a just world, we can only hope that the grand jury did their best with the evidence they were given. Although, this is hardly the last we have heard about this case.

Big Win

Seahawks fans will know what I mean when I say that the game on Thanksgiving felt just like the Super Bowl did nearly a year ago.

It both cases there was a ton of hype where it was consistently being said that the other team would easily trample the Hawks come game day.

What ended up happening is the exact opposite. Just like when they faced the Broncos in the biggest NFL game last season, mistakes from the other team and effective team work from the Hawks helped them win another major game. It was a big show against their rivals, the 49ers, in prime time. The game was perfectly set up to begin as everyone was rolling onto their couches stuffed from gorging on turkey and all the fixin's.

Normally my family watches movies post Thanksgiving dinner, but this year, with the Seahawks winning, it was a fantastic end to the day.

Grumpy Cat, Grumpy Cat, What Are They Feeding You?

Lifetime made a movie about Grumpy Cat. She was voiced by Aubrey Plaza. That is all.

Oh, and also, with only watching about 15-minutes of it, I can say it's unexpectedly funny. Mostly due to Plaza in the voice acting role of a lifetime.

  

30 Days Of Posts

I did it! Once I hit publish, this will mark the end of producing one post every day for the entire month!

It's a small goal, but I almost quit numerous times. When I got frustrated with wireless connectivity issues slowing me down or I didn't know what to write, I thought about just not posting. Who would notice?

Good thing my perseverance side decided to ignore that little voice telling me to stop, because now I can celebrate making it to the end without cheating.

I'll just be over here high-fiving myself like a goof and possibly treating myself to some fragrances. Oh yeah, as a mini celebration I also couldn't help making that quick video featuring my adorable light activated toys. Someday I'll get to posting some better videos, but for now that dancing pumpkin sums up my attitude right now.

Take it from this gal, sticking to goals may be hard, but it feels really f'ing great when it's all over. The question now - what to strive for next?



Until next time.

Movie Small Talk: It's A Bird, It's A Man...It's That Guy Who Used To Be Birdman

Anyone that has seen Birdman, and cares about all this Oscar business, is in luck - they've already seen the Best Picture winner of 2014.

Most other years this fact wouldn't be clear so early. There could still be surprises (I'm hoping Boyhood,Grand Budapest Hotel, and Nightcrawler also make a good showing as nominees), yet I'm still confident in proclaiming a winner three months before the trophy's are handed out. Everything about Alejandro González Iñárritu's latest directorial effort makes the choice easy. It is, top to bottom, a phenomenal movie event.

At a base level, it is a smart, honest story about an actor (Michael Keaton) who is simply trying to resurrect his career and have a fulfilling life after twenty years of only being known for playing a superhero called Birdman. He had mega success and is now taking a classy step in trying to be taken seriously by writing, directing, and starring in a play on Broadway.

As the movie progresses a little you realize this guy is also hearing voices (with a very familiar, deep sounding tone) and using telekinetic powers to trash his dressing room. He might just be losing his mind or maybe his skills as a superhero weren't only part of his character.


Just like Keaton's character, we are continually questioning what is real and what is imagined. There isn't much time to analyze it all, because each scene keeps moving. That fast pace is wonderfully orchestrated by Iñárritu, who filmed almost all of the scenes as continual shots. The actors really perfected their "walk and talk". 

Every single person involved in the movie had to have painstakingly planned out each moment intricately, hoping no one would mess up. Scenes were filmed in many locations, from the packed streets of NYC to the cramped hallways of an old theater, and it is one amazing feat of skilled movie making.  

Besides the way the movie looks, it is also essential to believe everything that has already been said about Keaton's performance. It is one of those career defining roles that every actor wants. Just like his character, Keaton is most known for playing a superhero, which gives the movie that little extra wowza meta moment. It's just fun to see people talking about all of his past movies. Like this classic gem and many others I've never seen, including Night Shift. After many podcast hosts noted that one as their favorite Keaton film, it instantly was added to my queue.

Truthfully, the entire cast deserves numerous accolades. This especially applies to Edward Norton, who really should be in every movie because his charm and delivery make all movies better, and Emma Stone for using her skills to turn a sassy daughter role into something memorable.  

If I see any movie this year with more creativity or more high quality story telling than Birdman I'll, like the old saying goes, eat my hat. 

Don't just let me talk about it, lookout for Birdman playing in your neck of the woods.




Until next time!

Heyo! Long Weekend Activities

It's officially the season of shopping! My original intention was to avoid the mall, stick to supporting a couple local places instead, and just take it easy with the spending.

Then, like always, I get sucked into the idea of all those $4 movies at Target. I made a quick stop there this afternoon, when most of the hard core shoppers were already gone.

Other than falling a little victim to sale fever, I'm just lucky to have four days off in a row. Since this doesn't happen often, I want to jam pack the days with activities, truly taking advantage of the time to do things that I normally don't get to do. Like, play videos games! Or read all day! Or craft and decorate for the holidays like nobody's business!

Anyone else who has the same spirit but is not quite sure where to start, here are a few ideas for a weekend of fun:

Head Out To The Movies

It's the end of the year, so movie theaters are crammed with all those classy flicks trying to get nominated for Oscars. You could check out Birdman (which just got the most nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards), or other sure fire Academy nominees like, The Theory Of Everything and Gone Girl.

Big hits like The Hunger Games and Dumb and Dumber To are out too. Plus, don't forget comedy geniuses Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy are both starring in St. Vincent.

Stay In With The Movies

Movies have multiple release dates now. Some services get the movies before others. Between On Demand ordering, Netflix, Redbox, and actual video stores,  it's difficult trying to keep track of which will have the movie you want, the day you want. Eventually you can track down a movie to rent.

Since Food = Thanksgiving weekend, there seemed like no better time to enjoy a movie focused on cooking. That's why the much lauded Chef landed in my mailbox earlier this week.

Craft

With some fun striped yarn and huge ass knitting needles in my possession I plan on whipping up at least one of these cowls in the next few days. Once you master the herringbone stitch, this project is a no brainer.

Ultimately it is the perfect craft for making you feel productive while also watching various amounts of trash television.

Decorate

We are in the age of the DIY revolution. That couldn't apply more than to the holiday craft decoration craze. Basically the internet is just cat pictures and instructions for how to create your own Christmas ornaments or ideas for how to turn every room (including the kitchen) into a winter wonderland. 

Interested in creating a classy holiday wall feature? A Beautiful Mess had a fun tutorial last year for a super swank swag made of pom-pom's and bells.

Read-A-Thon

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I only made one resolution at the beginning of 2014. I came up with the idea of reading two books a month. That seems simple and yet currently I am ridiculously running behind.

In order to win this competition with myself, I'll need to read 11 books in the next 34 days. Who thinks I can do it? What is that like, three books a week? Let's place some bets. Just so you know, I'm tenacious and always finish what I start.

Dang it East Of Eden for being fantastic but nearly sucking up my entire summer of reading!

With this all in mind, I have decided that one day this weekend I will channel my ten-year-old self. Did anyone else have read-a-thon days in elementary school? It was the best day of the year. Everyone brought in sleeping bags and laid around eating snacks and reading all day. Grand memories.

Anyone who wants to join me in doing this at some point during the weekend, I suggest a pot of coffee, popcorn, sour straws, a warm snuggie, and a stack of books. I'll be finishing The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is proving difficult since I just want to stare at the gorgeous illustrations (seen above) all day.

Whenever it seems like your eyes are getting drowsy, get up, and show off your best dance move while cranking some sweet, sweet jams.

Board Games

Yahtzee, Boggle, Scrabble, Apples To Apples, Monopoly, playing speed with your set of Walking Dead cards and getting caught up admiring Daryl - the possibilities are endless.

It's nice to give your eyes a break from all those screens and communicate with real people.

Video Games

 

So, this game Little Big Planet 2 - days can be spent just picking out your little character's outfit. He can even dress like the toys from Toy Story! This is my kind of game.

I'm a gal who spent her childhood playing video games with her brother and gaggle of boy cousins. The holidays always bring back those memories of us all playing Super Nintendo in my Grandma's living room. That's why around this time I always get a hankering to be handling some sort of controller and punching a bunch of random buttons.

Thankfully, when the urge is there, my brother has a PS3 and I get to be introduced to fun games.

Binge

People these days love a good reason to binge watch TV. A long holiday weekend is the best occasion.

Netflix subscribers might consider cranking through the first two seasons of American Horror Story. Maybe even consider a couple of my all time favorites - Parenthood, Gilmore Girls, and Friday Night Lights. New shows like The 100  are also on Netflix. That one is rumored to be pretty darn great.

Even though I'd love to watch all of my dearest shows again, in the next couple days I'll be catching up on Gracepoint, watching the final episode of Olive Kitteridge (I don't want this to end!) and trying to start an episode of The Knick.

Walk It Out

If weather allows, get out and stretch those limbs. Maybe even tune into some podcasts while you're at it.

With options like this, how can an extended weekend fail?

Until next time.

"Well, that was absurd, let's eat dead bird! "

Happy Thanksgiving brought to you by Robert Downey Jr., Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, Claire Danes, Dylan McDermott, Geraldine Chapline, Steve Guttenburg, and Jodie Foster.




Home For The Holidays has been a yearly tradition in my world since we literally stumbled upon a copy of it nearly 15 years ago.

My family and I were spending Christmas at a cabin in the mountains. The cable didn't work, but there was a snazzy retro wood paneled TV, a VCR, and a copy of two movies. You guessed it, one was Home For The Holidays, which we'd never seen, and the other was a classic that we already adored, the Winona Ryder/Cher masterpiece, Mermaids.

In the evenings, after hikes, cooking, and plentiful board games, we were settled in for movie time. Cue to an hour later and our stomachs hurt from hysterically laughing.

Finding this movie might have been random and still it turned out to be an ever lasting memory. This Thanksgiving or next, think about checking out this flick. For the bombastic Robert Downey Jr. performance alone, it is worth it.


Until next time.

Weekly Buffet: Pop Culture Thank You

Turkey Day is about making some great food and also, hopefully, spending a little more time thinking outside of ourselves. There's really no better time to spread our appreciation to those that are around us.

Just for fun, it's also a great occasion to ponder other things that make us happy. Some thanks can be thrown out to those movies, books, songs, or shows that help entertain us and brighten our spirits when everything else seems lost.

Over the last week I have found numerous things that deserve proper appreciation. So, without further ado, I'd like to say, "Thank You..."




Begin Again, for giving Adam Levine a great jam to sing, so he wouldn't be completely irritating throughout the whole movie.

I'm still not a very big fan of his, but this melody has been stuck in my head. Plus, the bridge at 2:43 is one of my favorites from a song this year. "Lost Stars" has a high potential for getting a Best Song nomination at The Oscars this year.

P. S. The rest of the soundtrack is filled with other terrific tunes.






The Seahawks, for bringing my family together every Sunday.

It's often a nail biter of a game, but in between plays and during commercials it's a barrel of laughs. Listen close this Thanksgiving, which is now also a tense 12th Man day.  We'll be in the house that is both bursting with roaring laughter and tons of cheering for Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin.

Well, if we can muster any energy after stuffing our faces.





Fun coworkers who give me grand nicknames like "Moxie" and then buy me books with said name in the title.

Julia Collins from Jeopardy, who last week nearly won The Tournament of Champions! As compensation, that cool smart chick can still say she has the second longest winning streak, just below Ken Jennings.




PBS, for continuing to feature terribly strange and wonderful things from the world of the arts. Over the weekend I caught part of a production of Cats playing on PBS. I've never seen it all the way through, but what a bizarre plot! I'm still not totally clear what is happening, but even after 34 years this is still a showstopper: 


One day I'll crack this musical. It's based on poetry by T.S. Eliot - this is all very fascinating.


That wasn't the only solid performance showcased on PBS recently. Emma Thompson also proved that she is the queen of the stage, and thus the queen of everything, after taking on the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd.




Support public television! No other channel even plays anything like this.




Magazines, all of them, because they continue to fight the fight, stay in print, and always make checkout stands at grocery stores look pretty.

The Office, for accurately predicating what actually happens in offices around America and giving me the witty banter to respond appropriately to these situations.

Just a week ago at work, I observed some ladies showing off some new outfits, almost like a fashion show. Casually walking by, I re-enacted the below clip, brought to you by Kelly Kapoor. Dream complete.

Pop culture converging in reality is always a highlight.






Enjoy the most thankful time of the year!




How can you not be grateful for a world that understands Tom Hanks comedy?



Until next time.

Trailer Wars: That Guy.

[Just one of the gorgeous shots from The Tree Of Life that makes Mark Woollen's job easy.]

Little Children, The Social Network, Black Swan, and The Tree Of Life all have something in common.

All of these movies turned out to be sensational art house hits or mainstream blockbusters, but before we even had our butts in those velvet seats watching the finished product, each one was initially presented to its audience in the typical fashion -  a trailer.

What makes these movies different is they were supported by trailers that stand above the rest. Other previews will spill the beans on the entire plot or show all the funny scenes, but the trailers I'm talking about have a unique style and create art that is all their own. Each one could even be considered as mini stand alone movies that instantly propel audiences to rush out to the theater. Or maybe, just watch and adore the trailer itself.

The preview for The Social Network has been watched almost nine million times, which speaks to the popularity of the movie, but also the impact of an alluring clip.




Thanks to Vulture, now we know the secret - one guy and his company is responsible for making them all! It's not just the four movies I listed above either. Odds are that every movie trailer that left you in awe over the last 20 years was created with the help of Mark Woollen. Otherwise known as that movie trailer genius.

Without even knowing it, I was first introduced to Woollen's work during the under two minute preview for Little Children. It is an astounding work of film editing, all set to the pulsating sound of a train. Watching it now still makes my skin all goosebumpy. Back when I originally saw the trailer, I was hanging out in my dorm room. I actually called all my friends over to my laptop to watch it again. We did and then in a daze played it for a third time.

Over four years ago, being a little obsessed with that trailer lead to my first post in this here "Trailer Wars" tag. That single preview continues to motivate me to watch movie trailers on a regular basis. Maybe a new one will blow me away to the same degree. Nothing has yet, even though others from Woollen's portfolio have come close - The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty being one.

Not surprisingly, it turns out that I've featured seven of Woollen's trailers in posts on this blog over the years. Yet, I never connected that all together. Oh geez.

What a difficult task to somehow condense the idea of a whole motion picture into a two minute clip. Why Woollen succeeds so profoundly has to do with his way of consistently pulling out the heart and purpose of every movie and, with his special flare, forming the trailer with that in mind. The audience is then able to quickly care about a movie. Which just so happens to be the exact purpose of a film trailer.

It also helps that, according to the interview in Vulture, he only creates trailers for movies he honestly cares about. All his passion can be thrown into his projects. Although, that makes me wonder about him producing the trailer for 50 Shades Of Grey...

His first trailer was for a little movie called Schindler's List - a wonderful standalone piece as well, using mostly powerful images from the movie set to stirring music. Most recently Woolen's touch can be seen on previews for a bunch of this year's Oscar bait, Gone Girl, Birdman, The Theory Of Everything, The Skeleton Twins, and Boyhood.

Gushing adoringly is my strong suit, so I could blabber on about all his work for quite awhile.  Instead of reading my writing, just go watch the trailers. The entire collection of work from Woollen and his production team can be found on his website.

After scanning through the long list and watching a few as a refresher, I realized that I love every single one. Come back to me in a few days when I have finished watching them all on repeat.

The funny thing is, it never occurred to me to look up who made these trailers. It's rather crazy to only suddenly realize that everything you love is connected.


Until next time.

The Week That Was...

Any period of time that is leading up to a holiday always knows how to drag on endlessly. This is the first Sunday in awhile that I'm not sad to see end. The weekend being over is sweetened by an upcoming short work week. Hooray!

While the country collectively perused their Pinterest boards and planned what to chow down on over Thanksgiving, this is what else was going down in the world.

Ham and Turkey

Watching itty bitty hands grabbing a little pumpkin pie and a wee turkey and gobbling it down is all anyone could want this Thanksgiving.

Political Roundup

There is still plenty of drama to come out of D.C., even after the recent elections that caused a shake up in both the House and the Senate. President Obama took to the airwaves on Thursday night to announce an executive order he has planned that will make changes to our countries current immigration laws.

He voiced some very practical terms, acknowledging that there are a large amount of illegal people living in the US. It is senseless that the only plan is kicking them all out. They are here, so we've gotta make it work somehow. Republicans didn't see it that way, and controversy arises. Was everything Obama suggested a perfect plan? Or does it account for every situation? No and no. But at least it's something that is moving in the right direction.

Obama's speech was focused on the lack of voting done by congress in the last couple years, but the Senate was actually working on a bill this week. This vote was about the Keystone Pipeline.

Either I've been completely zoning out on this topic, or it came out of nowhere, because I had to do some research. SO, what is the keystone pipeline? It is a pipeline that already exists, running from Canada through the US to Oklahoma. The vote was to expand the pipeline to the gulf coast. Some say it would create jobs, the other side said it would harm the environment. That's always the debate, right? Either way, the senate voted the bill down. After the failure, it seems like this topic is dropped...for now at least.

The Life Of Nichols

I love him for the film, but Mike Nichols was way more than just the guy who directed The Graduate. When I wrote about him the day he passed away, I really only mentioned his other fine moments as a director. Frankly, that's because I only knew of him in that role.

All week through reading other features on the iconic man, I learned a lot about him. Before going behind the lens, in the late 50s and early 60s he could often be found doing comedy bits with Elaine May. They had three albums and would perform on late night shows, as well as tour around the country.

Most importantly, Nichols is one of the few that could illustriously say they had an EGOT! I wonder if he had a necklace that proclaimed his achievement?

Let's break down that EGOT -  

E: Emmy  for Best Directing of both Wit (2001) and Angels In America (2003).

G: Grammy  for Best Comedy Album, An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1961).

O: Oscar for Best Directing of The Graduate (1967).

T: Tony for...he won 9 times! Best Directing of Barefoot in the Park (1964), The Odd Couple (1965), Plaza Suite (1968), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1972), Annie (1977), The Real Thing (1984), Spamalot (2005), and Death of a Salesman (2012).

Holy cow amazingness.

The Big Bucks

Earlier this week, a Georgia O'Keefe painting sold for 44 million dollars. The piece, "Jimson Weed/White Flower No 1", set a record for the biggest sale for work done by a female artist.

It's gorgeous and all, but where would you hang this kind of expensive piece of work? More than likely it will end up locked up in a safe or in a museum, but it's just more fun to imagine the person who bought the painting hanging it in their hallway or bathroom like it's no big deal.

Top 'O The Box

Once again Katniss and the gang are dominating movie ticket sales. The Hunger Games 3 and 1/2, aka Mockingjay Pt. 1 came out this weekend and is on top of the box office with the largest movie opening of the year.

Reviews haven't been as stellar as the other installments, but really, what can you expect from chopping a book into two movies? Everybody just wants to know how it ends! The movie company doesn't mind - they'll just be rolling in their giant pile of moolah.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

As the coldest November morning since 1976 fell over the entire country last week, all 50 states dropped below freezing. Yes, even Hawaii and all those other places that are believed to have hot weather 365 days a year.

This was all part of the cold front that brought over seven feet of snow to the area of New York around Lake Erie. The snow storm made everyone aware of the possibility of "lake-effect snow", something I have never heard of. Excuse me while I put on my lab coat to explain the science: when cold air travels over long bodies of warmer water, vapors of water can be picked up. That water then freezes and is deposited as snow in the closest area surrounding the lake. Buffalo was the lucky winner this time around.

It has been devastating for that region of the country. At least thirteen people have been reported dead and many have found themselves trapped in their cars or in their homes. One such lucky group was the band Interpol, who live tweeted the storm while being stuck on I-90. They were there for at least 40 hours, but had booze and food to keep them warm.

We have learned a lesson today: always travel via a luxury bus loaded with snacks, as that will be the best place to ride out any emergency situation.

Ugly Christmas Tree

"If there was a squirrel right now looking for a place to live in the winter, it won't even go into the tree."

Folks in Reading, Pa. are acting just like you and your family at the time of year when everyone gathers to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Some like the bushier type, others strive for that perfect triangular shape, and some just want a tree with a little more character.

We can all agree though that if the branches are already falling off, that's not a good sign. This is why the people of Reading are upset with the 50-foot spruce the city decided to put up this year. Besides branches falling off, it does look like the tree has had a hard life, now featuring many thinning limbs.

At first this story seems ridiculous - don't these people know the real meaning of Christmas? Those kids in Charlie Brown land turned a slumped over stick into the perfect tree, because, after-all, everything in life is just how you decide to look at it.

But if the town wants to raise money for something better, all the power to 'em. It is a little sad looking.


Until next time.

Oh, The Audacity.

Radio, TV, newspapers, and magazines are all sources that deliver information. Once digital devices became a modern portable accessory, those were a new way to access the same stories.

Then it went one step further where news wouldn't even have to be read - our ears could do all the work.

Instead of just listening to music at work or while doing other activities, why can't there be another form of audio to consume? With that thought came the birth of the podcast.
When I was in college studying Journalism in 2008, it was the early stages of the podcast revolution. No one really knew what they were exactly - was it just another form of radio? Even though our professors still struggled to understand it completely, we were tasked to create podcasts for numerous assignments.

With the in between nature of the profession, it was a weird time to study journalism. Some of my professors were in denial that new forms of media were going to completely take over. Even spending time during class helping out at established businesses like The Seattle Times, I picked up that even big time editors were naiive to the change in times.

Now six years later, we all know how wrong they were. Podcasts have become the forefront of media. Anyone who is anyone has a podcast. Chris Hardwick had a funny antidote about that, and yes I heard it on his podcast. Hosting a podcast is so common among actors/comedians that  Hardwick told a story about attending a party at Sarah Silverman's house where she had actually posted a sign on her door that read, "Please no podcast soliciting." As in, all the party guests couldn't spend all night bothering each other to be on their various podcasts.

Famous people have ruled over the medium, but really, anyone can make a podcast. Audio recording/editing programs like Audacity are free. It's the same one I used it college and many established podcasts companies use it as well. I have recently been brushing up my skills in Audacity, editing the early stages of a podcast my brother and his friends are creating. Instead of just listening to a podcast, it's been fun helping to create one.

Most of the time I'll still be sticking to just listening. This whole podcast thing has yet to catch on with everyone, but that's soon to change, especially since one show in particular is sweeping the nation right now.  Those that haven't gotten addicted to any podcasts yet, there are some suggestions below.

This American Life 

Roughly one hour spent on a few different stories that all fall under the same theme - that is the essence of This American Life, a radio program that has been airing for nearly 20 years.

The show still airs every Sunday, but it is also released in podcast form. That way you can listen to it at your own convenience.

What makes the show well done is how host Ira Glass and the other contributors focus on humdrum topics that most other entertainment producers would ignore. This American Life acknowledges that within those everyday experiences are fascinating stories.

Recently the show devoted an entire episode to the workers at a car dealership. Trust me if I didn't think Mr. Glass had lost his mind. Again, they proved me wrong. The show instantly made me want to run out to the nearest car dealer just to support a potential salesperson stressing about meeting their sales quota. Yes, this show made me care about sales quota's.

The Frame

There are many podcasts out there for news junkies looking to keep up on current events (BBC Global News is just one). For those more focused on finding out the latest in the world of movies, The Frame is where it's at.  

Unlike most other pop culture oriented podcasts, this one is released daily, perfect for covering the latest news whenever it happens.

Serial 

The podcast currently sweeping the nation is focused on one real life murder mystery. Each episode of Serial reveals a little bit more information about the case, which continually messes with the perception of who seems innocent and who may be the killer.

As of right now, the amount of projected episodes seems to be unknown. In that case, no one can be really sure how the story will end. Other fans might know more than me, since I'm perpetually avoiding Google searching the podcast, afraid that something will be ruined.  

Serial is using a different format than TV, but still feeding America's obsession with crime shows. It may not be Law and Order, or CSI, or one of those other shows, but who needs a script when life throws unpredictable twists that are more shocking than anyone could even write.

Nerdist

When it comes to the quintessential celebrity interview podcast, the Nerdist started it all. Radio shows like NPR's Fresh Air have been doing interviews with famous people for years, but Nerdist creator Chris Hardwick has become the master of the conversational interview. Many tight lipped celebs lighten up under this breezy format more than on any other traditional chat show.

Almost more enjoyable than hearing in depth stories from your favorite actor/musician/comedian, is the occasion when Hardwick's sidekicks, Matt Mira and Jonah Ray, join him for episodes (called "Hostfulls") where they just goof off. Most frequently they mock Mira's obsession with Frasier, but these three talk about whatever comes to mind in a relaxed banter that makes you feel like you're listening to some really hilarious friends having a great time.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Frame might be the best place to hear the scoop on entertainment news, but Pop Culture Happy Hour provides the greatest recommendations for the best new book, movie, song, tv show, comic book or anything else that fall under the umbrella of pop culture.

Each hour episode is lead by a round table of the same NPR writers and they talk about several different topics. They might have all gone to see the same movie or watched an awards show and they all give their critiques. Every episode ends with the panelists revealing, "what is making them happy this week."

Aside from the longer episodes, they have also been releasing "Small Batch" reports throughout the week. One of these this week was about all the hubub over Serial. One point of the conversation brought up the fact that Slate has a podcast about Serial.  In the sense, Pop Culture Happy Hour might have become the first podcast to talk about the podcast focused on another podcast. The world is collapsing within itself.

How many times can you say podcast? Podcast!



I explained only five of my favorites above, but that didn't account for the other podcasts I've already talked about in the past. Stuff You Should Know, How Did This Get Made, The X-Files Files and Thrilling Adventure Hour are still extremely worthwhile and fun.

The world of podcasts is expanding every day. It's actually overwhelming. Yet I support it by trying to listen to different one's on a regular basis. Harmontown and the Dead Author's Podcast are just a few more that I'm trying to work into my schedule.

Hopefully anyone not sucked into this world already is now intrigued to seek out a podcast that fits their interest. I guarantee there is a podcast out there devoted to your interests. And you know what, if there isn't already, you could make one yourself. That's the beauty of this "do it yourself" culture.


Until next time.

Journey To The Past

Welcome to Friday. At the end of a long, tiring week, where everyone around you has some sort of illness, it just feels real good to sit down, take a breather, and reminisce. With that in mind, I present a movie blast from the past.

On this exact day in 1997, a certain non-Disney animated flick was released. Anastasia may only be loosely based on that whole fascinating tale of the Romanov's, but no matter, it featured an all star cast of voice talents in a gorgeously animated world.

Not to mention the numerous hit songs that the movie produced. Aaliyah (side note: RIP) even made a music video for "Journey To The Past", one of the key tracks and, basically, Anastasia's power anthem.




Woah, Aaliyah and those kids are literally transported into that animated world of the movie! It looks so real.





"At The Beginning" was another one of the beloved songs. Oh and "Once Upon A December" too! Now a viewing of Anastasia seems essential. It just to happens to be currently streaming on Netflix.
 
To Ana, Dimitri, Rasputin and the whole gang - Happy 17th anniversary!


Until next time.

The Sound Of Silence

One young man, looking completely indifferent to the world around him, stands on a moving sidewalk at an airport after exiting a plane. He seems in no hurry, as if he could just ride that sidewalk to the edge of the world. Other people walk around him, but those are folks that obviously have intention of getting somewhere.

Our attention still lands on the young man and his blasé attitude. It's almost as if he knows that there is a bitchin' rock song playing over his day, making his life artsy and even more dramatic.

In 1967, that was how movie fans were introduced to the character Benjamin Braddock in the opening scene of The Graduate. The second that movie starts, the audience is sucked into that world, wondering who this boy is and where he might be heading.

The team of Simon and Garfunkel, stoic Dustin Hoffman, and the cinematographer all played their part in that scene becoming a classic, but the knowing eye of Mike Nichols was leading the way.

When I first saw the beginning of The Graduate, I knew I would be lost in movies forever. Being a teenager, I didn't even know a movie could look like that. Mostly, I was impressed with the long sequences that were masterfully cut in rhythm to the soundtrack. Watching this was a vastly different experience than jetting with my friends to check out the latest Freddie Prinze Jr rom-com.

From just that single viewing, I had to make room on my "Top 5 Lists" for a new favorite motion picture. I too gained an overall greater appreciation for watching movies. I didn't just want to watch them, I wanted to talk about how they were made and analyze details of the story. This turning point probably sounds very familiar to other movie appreciators throughout the world.

After hearing the awful news about the passing of Nichols today, I couldn't help but be reminded of this whole story from my past. The Graduate tends to have gotten him the most attention over the years and I could talk your ear off about just that, but there's endless reasons to celebrate his life.

I'll always tip a hat to him for many of his other achievements, like capturing Joan Cusack's gorgeously giant 80s hair on the big screen, his directing of the still gut-busting comedy The Birdcage, and the fact that he had the courage to get in between screaming Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton for his directorial debut, Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf.

Most recently though, I was hypnotized by his greatest directorial effort - the life altering miniseries Angles In America.  The plot focuses on AIDS, heaven, hell, and politics, which is quite a lot of powerful material to cover, but it all interconnects and blends seamlessly.  Much of the production also demanded large scale visuals that are, literally, out of this world. Plus, Meryl Streep plays like 10 characters. Nichols perfectly orchestrates it all. It is astounding and by the end it will leave you laying on a pile of crumpled up tissues next to a garbage can. Just the opening credits make me all emotional.

Being the big time movie director was what Nichols was known for best, but he was also part of a Hollywood power couple. Who needs tabloids plastered with Brad and Angie, when there is Nichols and Diane Sawyer? Since I grew up as a fan of Sawyer's, I first knew Nichols as Mr. Diane Sawyer, instead of the talented director I would later adore.  It's the end of a very classy era.

All that can be done now is honor a life. Mike Nichols' work made people interested in great movies. That's most definitely including me. It may seem like a small deed, but nothing that helps anyone enjoy life is insignificant. I'm grateful.

So, in the end, all we can really say is, "And here's to you Mr. Nichols. We all loved you more than you will know."



Until next time.

Trailer Wars: Evil Stepmothers, Fairy Godmothers, and Handsome Princes! Oh My!

The recent release of The Original Folk & Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm has garnered much attention for Jack Zipes, who is the first to translate all of the brother's original stories into English.

Those who only know the Disney interpretations, brace yourselves. The first version of their tales are shocking in comparison. No adorable animated animal sidekicks are in sight. Instead, all of the Grimm's stories are quite gruesome.

In the original version of Cinderella, birds peck out the eyes of her stepsisters. Worst of all - her dad isn't even dead, he just LETS all that bad stuff happen to his daughter. How rude!

The entire world might not be ready for the real stories, but it seems essential to know the truth behind an author's original intent. Watered down plot might make things kid appropriate and more pleasant, yet it is doubtful that it improves the quality of a story.

Sir Kenneth Branagh (yeah, he's been knighted) should have included some of these more edgy elements into his upcoming directorial project - the latest movie version of Cinderella.

Oh, this is a Disney production? Never mind, that would make it too scary.

But can they get Cate Blanchett to play the evil stepmother? They did! Glorious. Now that just made this a whole lot more interesting.


When the trailer for this movie was released today, anyone who said that their first thought wasn't, "Aw, nuts! Do we need another version of Cinderella?", is lying. Especially, if nothing different has been done. Taken straight from the Disney canon, it's a very simple story that we all know and love.

There have been cartoon movies, stage productions, endless movie versions of the stage productions, plus  the memorable interpretation from Faerie Tale Theatre. It can be said that it has all been done before.

That cynicism completely disappears the longer the trailer plays. Modern filming technology has reached a point where a fairy tale land looks magical and very real. The effects aren't overdone, like another recent adaptation - Alice In Wonderland. Both the computer animated parts blend perfectly with the actors and the actual world around them. Cinderella's classic robins egg colored dress also looks dazzling and has that showstopper effect more than ever before.

Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize the girl in that beautiful dress as saucy cousin Rose (not to be confused with cousin Amy) from the hit PBS show. Here, she is not just a side role, but leading the entire cast. Although, Cinderella is bound to be shown up. It's just unfair casting both Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter, who play the evil stepmother and the fairy godmother - no one, no matter how hard they try, will be able to top their presence on screen. Who really cares, those two classy broads make this one a must see.

The gruesome elements from the Grimm's original stories might eventually jazz up movie versions of Cinderella, but right now, it actually isn't necessary. Casting talented people and hiring directors with creative visions (Branagh has done it all) can still transform any old story into something new again.


Until next time.

Weekly Buffet: Smart Girls

      - I spent the weekend organizing my books by color. Jealous? - 

It's hard to write something everyday.

The first week was easy. My brain was working on overdrive. My fingers flowed effortlessly on the keys and I was quickly coming up with, what I believed to be, witty banter on somewhat interesting topics.

Then the days just kept on coming, one after the next. I'd open up my onyx colored laptop each afternoon feeling like I never even left. Us two have gotten even closer than normal lately. We're just like peas and carrots.

Last week was the second consecutive week of producing posts on a regular basis and the well of creative energy was running low. It's all about finding the time, the words, the ideas, the right picture, and on, and on. In the end though, it's been a challenge worth doing - even if it means burning that late night energy to get something done. Some mornings I am a little more sleepy, but that is better than having to do the whole, "I'm not mad, just disappointed", conversation with myself. I had to finish what I started out to do in the first place.

No one is depending on me to complete the goal, so it's a great time to toughen up and see what I'm made of. With all this big talk it's as if I'm heading out to war! All of our aspirations are not as serious as defending our country, but I think it's motivating to pretend that is the case.

Make whatever you want to do feel important. I know I feel a lot cooler when I imagine that clicking on that big orange "Publish" button is just like running through a ribbon at the end of a race or jogging up those Rocky steps. I'll stick to the images, since running in real life is boring torture. But big ups to those people who love it.

That is my wannabee Oprah moment for the day. Thank you for indulging me. And on to what has been keeping me sane outside of typing my afternoons away. There is a definite theme this week - ladies of the hero worship variety. Maybe I was keeping them all close this week as a form of inspiration. Or it's just a coincidence that cool ladies are making cool shit. Either one, you choose.

This Is Life

Lisa Ling was another reason I watched The View in my early years. I'd always known I admired journalism more than any other profession and Ling was doing exactly what I loved most about the job. She was smart and asking all the right questions even on a show that is still considered puff pieces for stay at home parents and the elderly, which is or never really was completely the case.

Either way, Ling had been a war corespondent before, and left the show to pursue that more edgy side of the job again. She would often do memorable reports for Oprah. One in particular from 2008 found Ling tagging along as young women escaped from the world of Polygamy.

All she had done in the past perfectly prepared her for the excellent new CNN show, "This Is Life".

Ling focused all the episodes on fascinating ways of life that are happening every day around the country. Most recently I watched an episode called, "Unholy Addiction", which covered the unexpectedly high rate of drug addiction among Mormon's in Utah.

Never one to judge, Ling excels at what she does because of her authenticity and actual interest in the people she is talking to. She wants to listen and help if she is able.  This is the kind of reality TV more people should watch.

(All of the full episodes are available on Youtube.)

Yes, Please!

Another truly passionate, authentic woman, is Amy Poehler. Now she has a book where she can expel all her wisdom from a life spent committed to all forms of comedy.

Yes Please reads like your best friends impeccably written diary and looks like an elaborate scrapbook. It is a mixed media experience filled with hilarious costumed photo-shoots (a la Amy Sedaris), random essays, letters from her parents, candid photos, and random hand written top ten lists. All of it comes together to tell her life story.
 
Poehler grew up in Massachusetts, then ended up in Chicago performing improv as part of Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade, which then took her to the big league - being a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She of course has been moving on to bigger things ever since.

But back to SNL. This was where most of us got hooked on Amy. In Yes Please, she tells many dishy behind the scenes stories about hosts and cast member hijinx.  She also reveals a huge regret that weighed on her for years. One of the sketches she starred in really hit some people the wrong way, even causing a famous actor and his wife to write her a searing letter.

After hearing this, out of curiosity, I wanted to be able to see that sketch. Really, reading Yes Please has just made me want to marathon through entire old episodes of the show. Especially, those from the early 2000s with Poehler's crew of ladies - Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, and Ana Gasteyer.

As much as I just want to watch Poehler's stuff (it's been too long since a viewing of Baby Mama), I still have to finish the book. Her point of view about life is wildly amusing, cheerful, and motivating. If you even think you like Amy Poehler a teeny bit, pick up a copy of Yes Please immediately.

Olive Kitteridge

The treasured HBO miniseries is back. An adaptation of Olive Kitteridge, the 2008 novel by Elizabeth Strout, is the network's latest. Nothing screams the promise of an artsy TV production louder than choosing a Pulitzer Prize winning novel as the subject matter.

Having not read the book, I based my excitement on the knowledge that I very much enjoyed some past HBO miniseries, like Mildred Pierce and Angels In America. Oh, and the big factor - that the phenomenal actress Frances McDormand was playing the titular character.

After seeing two of the four episodes I can definitely say that Olive is a tough character to crack. She is a woman who loves her family and job as a teacher, but has a hard time expressing this, which a lot of the time makes her appear cold,  angry, and flat out rude. Her compassion though, easily extends to those she may see herself in - those suffering from depression and other mental disorders, or generally people who are lost and just need help from someone.

McDormand, as expected, is wonderful at playing all of these complex character traits. She is supported by many other terrific actors  - Richard Jenkins, Rosemarie Dewitt, John Gallagher Jr., Bill Murray, Zoe Kazan, Jesse Plemons, and Ann Dowd are just a few talented folks that play Olive's family and the people who she helps throughout the 25 year span of the miniseries. I can't forget to mention musician Martha Wainwright, who plays a lounge singer that chimes in some haunting tunes throughout the episodes.

I for one, can't get enough of stories just about a person's life. Daily activities can seem so humdrum and simple, but those are the endless details that makes each life fascinating.




Until next time.

Movie Small Talk: Singing Keira

John Carney could become the next Woody Allen. Both directors tell stories in a very different way, but share the wonderful sense of creating movies as an ode to the cities of the world.

Recently, Allen has spent more years making films around Europe - France and Spain, specifically - neglecting his favorite city. Someone else had to fill in.

With Begin Again, Carney has flown across the pond (as they say) from the setting of his first hit movie (Once, set in Dublin) and borrowed Allen's favorite muse - New York City - for a bit. And boy did he utilize every corner of that city.

Every park and alley are key to part of the plot, but the story is also focused on the idea of second chances for a few characters whose lives both revolve around making music. One, played by Mark Ruffalo, is a highly successful record producer that is hitting a rough patch in his life, and the other, played by Keira Knightley, is a songwriter not too keen on actually performing.


Even with a fine trailer like that one, Begin Again is still better than what even can be set up in a couple minutes.

Fans of stars Ruffalo and Knightley will more than likely love this movie simply because of them. And rightly so, they both are enjoyable on a regular basis. To my surprise, Knightley actually has a solid singing voice. I thought all along this was going to be some Marni Nixon business, but it's really all Knightley,  all the time. No dubbing necessary.

What a relief to see her outside of a high drama period piece too! Knightley does not once clench her jaw in disgust over a cheating lover. She even frolics around NYC, looking thrift store chic, with not a mink or giant ornate hat in sight.

On the other side, Ruffalo has never been confined to a certain role. Everything he does, including his recent string of consecutive banner movies, like The Avengers, Thanks For Sharing, Foxcatcher, and The Normal Heart, find him playing vastly different characters on the regular. In the last couple years, especially after he played The Hulk, I have become convinced he can play anything well.

These actors instantly make this a likeable movie. What kicks Begin Again up a notch to become a memorable, well made movie, is the creative use of music. The featured songs make for a grand soundtrack (which I have been listening to on repeat the last few days). All of the tunes are fueled by Knightley's character's break-up with a newly famous rock star (Adam Levine). In that sense, this movie is definitely about relationships and love. Though, ultimately it is a story about the creative process.

How someone writes a song, where they get inspiration, and how to create a melody for lyrics, all plays out through the story.

In my favorite scene, Ruffalo's character orchestrates an entire musical arrangement in his mind. Yes, he was highly intoxicated at the time. As he thinks of how each segment of the song should sound, different instruments come to life on a stage as if played by a ghost. We are literally able to see his genius process for creating a song, step by step. I have never seen a scene like that before. Begin Again gives me hope that every story hasn't already been told and there is still lots of opportunity to make a unique movie.

It was encouraging to see so much detail paid to the idea of creativity and how it works in our minds. I never wanted to try writing a song before, and after watching this movie, I kind of want to give it a try. Is that cheesy? Just say yes. Well, I'm sure lots of other people had the same response. Even if it's not writing, this movie will motivate you to do what you want, whatever that may be.

Look for Begin Again to rent or buy at stores (online or physical) near you.



Until next time.

The Week That Was...

Hello there again you old so-and-so! We've all come back together again to regale in a fresh batch of current events.

As is always expected, it's been another bonkers week out in the world. Without any further ado, let's indulge in those special idiosyncrasies that will forever make the last seven days unlike any other week that could happen this year.

"Shawl We Dance"

Earlier this week all of the news outlets were talking about women's accessories like it was an episode of Project Runway. "Vlad, please utilize the Piperlime accessory wall tastefully."

Vladimir Putin did not listen to Tim Gunn, instead deciding to ruffle some feathers and show his gentlemanly side at the APEC summit, which was being held in China over the past week. (It was also the same place where Obama got picked on for being twinsies with another leader.)

Putin decided to get a little friendly and placed a shawl around the shoulders of Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan. This did not go over very well - the media in China quickly censored his grand act of gallantry.

Was he really concerned for Ms. Liyuan's chilled shoulders? Or was he schmoozing like no one has ever schmoozed before? 

Guess what, he's single ladies! For now anyway...

Top Of The Box

What sounds like something entirely implausible happened over the weekend - Dumb and Dumber To was a huge success!

It was the number one movie of the weekend, making 38.1 million dollars.The critics roughly ripped it to shreds, but they also don't really respect the original as a comedy classic either (it's a generational thing). None of that matters when fans show up to spend loads of dough on a sequel to a twenty-year-old movie.

To be honest, I couldn't be happier for Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey. If this flick bombed it could have been something they wouldn't be able to shake for years, or ever. I may rent this eventually, purely for the extreme commitment that Daniels and Carrey throw into their wacky characters.The story doesn't look like it will top the original, but when these guys are all in, at least they can make most of the viewing experience enjoyable.

Don't Mess With Bossypants

I don't even want to even give any more attention to this, but alas, it can't be avoided.

There is a certain lady, I will call her "she who shall not be named", that spent some time trying to break the internet recently. Everyone has seen the pictures, but this publicity stunt hasn't ended yet.

Now, somehow Tina Fey has been dragged into this mess, for something she wrote in 2011. Part of her book Bossypants mentions "she who shall not be named" in a segment about female body image. Many media outlets are posting the quotes from her book because it is timely,. Ha ha, let's all laugh because Fey is being satirical and fun.

Oh, no, that's NOT what everyone is thinking?

What made me horrified was the large amount of postings showing up in my Facebook feed and tons of comments posted in articles by those who took Fey's words literally. For examples, just peruse any of the articles, or maybe your Facebook friends went a little ragey too. 

Y'all, she's a smart comedian, let's move on. There are more important things in the world. Which leads to...

Mission Accomplished

Philae, the king of all space probes right now, has landed on a comet! The baby of the European Space Agency, spent over 10 years up amongst the stars trying to catch up to the comet, officially making its landing earlier this week.

Merely the journey should be fascinating enough, but the actual purpose of the mission is where things get real interesting. Could comets hold the origin story of life itself? That is what Philae is hoping to dig up in samples. Basically NBD. Although, it hasn't all been completely smooth orbiting, specifically since the probe landed with a few bumps, causing it to be in a location that is more difficult to have solar rays charge its battery pack.

Oh, and just so it's clear, I definitely imagine Philae as Wall E, putting samples in his little red cooler and buzzing around to the tunes of Hello Dolly. 

BRRRR It's Cold In Here

That line likely was uttered by of mostly everyone in the US this week. We saw bitter cold combined with bright sunny skies in Washington. Weather that makes for quite gorgeous conditions.

Not to sound braggy or anything since the rest of the country faced much worse over the last seven days. Many states in the country saw their first snow and colder than usual temps. Some places were up to 25 degrees lower than normal.

It has it be that El Nino, or something, that is still messing up all the weather patterns.

All Eyes On Adult Swim

"Too Many Cooks" is the whimsical video dujour. From news sites to podcasts to general banter to think pieces, anyone who is a crazy anyone was recommending this video that was first seen on Adult Swim before the internet took it under its wing.

Clocking in at over 11 minutes, it's a video that demands more attention than the usual popular internet clip. So far, over three million people have taken that challenge and spent a little extra time just to check out what is so buzzworthy.

I could explain what happens in the video, but why not just watch some wacky. Just a bit of intrigue for those you have yet to see it: some of those viewers/ mega appreciators are getting really obsessed with tracking the creepy bearded killer. He is real spooky. Interest piqued?


Until next time.

Trailer Wars: Miss Cuckoo

Jodie Foster's character in Contact utters a famous line about trying to describe the beauty of the cosmos. She says, "They should have sent a poet".

In the case of attempting to write something witty about Miss Meadows, I lack the proper words, and now say, "They should have sent a comedian."

The above gif entirely explains the normal reaction after you have seen the trailer for this movie.

For your viewing pleasure this Saturday, the movie that finds Katie Holmes playing an adult woman who wears a variety of bobby socks with heels. Oh yeah, she is also packing heat.




Toodaloo?

I really wish this movie was going to be good, just so that could become an actual catchphrase.


Until next time.

Rumor Has It

Y'all heard it from Bette first - Hocus Pocus 2 is... a possibility.

When Bette Midler starts using words like "trending" there is some serious stuff happening. All of this buzz about a sequel to a movie deemed a classic by fans (not critics), began after Midler headed to Reddit for an AMA.

She's starred in Beaches, Big Business, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, and The Rose, yet the AMA was flooded with questions about Hocus Pocus, because, just like Casablanca or Gone With The Wind, it is a movie that only gets better with age. Seriously, it's a treasure, let us all just admit it already.

Since Bette pledged her passion for the project, those other Sanderson sisters have agreed that they too would jump on the project if given a chance.

One problem (spoiler alerts) - we all know those witches were dunzo at the end of the movie. They all  "poofed" into thin air after not sucking enough child souls to restore their livelihood. So, what would a sequel even be about? Maybe it could be a prequel. Those actresses have aged quite a bit. On second thought, throw that idea out the window.

Well, it's obvious there is still quite a lot of work that needs to be done before this sequel even becomes a script. Luckily, people who love rumors can peruse Variety daily and discover lots of other movies that are/probably in the works.

Just looking at Variety's website for the past week, I discovered a lot of really interesting flicks that appear to be happening. 

Waltzing With Bond

In reality, it seems crazy that the idea of movie villains could even have existed before Christoph Waltz.

He can look charming with his ear to ear smile, and then with a simple stone face, he becomes frightening. Those are always the qualities of a maniacal killer. They can reel victims in with charisma and also cruelly end lives once their true evil personality reveals itself.

James Bond movies aren't necessarily my thing. I've seen some (mostly when Pierce Brosnan played the role), but always wanted to try watching the entire series that spans decades. Now that Christoph Waltz is probably going to be the big bad villain in the next one, I'm definitely going to catch up.

Streepy Does Opera

Mamma Mia was an international blockbuster, but many were unimpressed with the singing by mostof the actors. Some years later, Meryl Streep will star in another musical oriented film - yet this time no one can complain about her voice, since it will be intentionally bad.

Streep is set to star in Florence Foster Jenkins - a biopic about Jenkins, who was a socialite in New York City during the 1900s that believed she could be a talented opera singer. That wonderful sounding voice was all in her head. She suffered from the same naivety that still afflicts many people who audition for American Idol. 

All is well and good until Jenkins decides to do live performances. How can this be pulled off without letting Jenkins in on the fact that, well, she's actually terrible? Having never heard of this woman before, much research about her story is about to commence.

Just to be clear - I love Meryl in Mamma Mia and think her rendition of "The Winner Takes It All" is fantastic. Plus, the new previews for Into The Woods also favorably shows off her voice. It is really fun seeing her in the movie versions of these famous Broadway musicals. Yet the premise of Florence  sounds outstanding too. I really can't wait to see this one.

Even Bigger Greek Wedding

With the release of Dumb and Dumber To this weekend (which actually looks like it isn't going to bomb) and all that talk about Hocus Pocus 2, it is obvious that people love a sequel. It is lucky then that another very popular movie appears to be making a return appearance.

I cautiously turned up my nose up at the prospect of Toy Story 4, but for some reason a sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding just sounds fun. At the same time, this also falls into the category of, "why don't you just leave it alone!"

It was a little film about a sweet love story set at odds against a big hilarious family. I actually would like to see where the characters are now and I wouldn't be surprised if there was another entertaining story to tell. Plus, I'm guessing John Corbett will be back and that is reason enough to make this movie happen.


Apparently, the awards season has already started. Movie fans will be spending the next couple months catching up on all those contenders. It also never hurts to look to the future, wondering what kinds of movies are coming out next.

With any hope, one day that might turn into another enjoyable tale of The Sanderson Sisters. Only, though, if they all ride vacuum cleaners.


Until next time.