TGIF!

It's Friday! Woo!

This week I am dubbing the week of Inception and Discovery.

I went to see Inception the other day and it was ridiculous to say the very least. There are still a lot of questions I need answered. I'll probably have to watch it again. No worries people, there will be no spoilage here.

Discovery: Things I Discovered this week:

-Devin Dugan's amazing ability to photograph things in a way I've never seen. He's amazing.
-How vastly different cultures can be and how incredible and beautiful differences are
-An amazing sandwich shop in the lower east side
-I am still capable of "liking liking" someone
-I have inevitably become a regular at Union Pool against my wishes
-My love for Toots and The Maytals
-Silence isn't always awkward, but can be very telling and enjoyable
-Four Loko, is in fact the most detestable substance known to man, but at least it's cheap
-Friends and laughter have an inexplicably wonderful affect on life


It's been a helluva week...


I'm out.

Sherlock Holmes, Homes.

Sherlock Holmes

I was never an avid reader of the Sherlock Holmes series, nor was I truly invested in the television series, but I can tell you after watching this historical character, portrayed by Robert Downey, Jr., wax on eloquently about disabling someone’s body I became enamored by his poetry and astounding charisma. His character is that of a tormented intellectual who rejects societal norms, favoring only his work and his companion, Watson. Their relationship is quite close, and reports have been that Guy Ritchie intended on putting a gay overtone in Holmes and Watson’s friendship.


To my surprise the dialogue for this movie was not only deliciously multi-syllabic, but it was also intellectually witty and quick. It happens too often language is simplified for the masses’ feeble comprehension. The dialogue in this movie was full of something I thought mainstream films were devoid of, substance. Even movies set in time periods where dialect was distinctively more wordy and long winded, scripts seem to dumb down the language to appeal to large amounts of moviegoers.
The opening scene was captivating. Sherlock Holmes stands in a dark room with a rather large adversary standing right outside. There’s a voice-over of Holmes explaining how he is going to disarm this man using very specific techniques while there is a slow motion shot of him using those techniques on the goon. It’s like a tutorial. Then we are back with Holmes in the moment and he executes his planned attack quickly and with precision. In those short minutes the audience can deduct this movie is going to be badass. Jude Law was an excellent Watson, because he worked so well with Robert Downey, Jr. They had such great chemistry. The only slight trouble I had with the movie was, surprisingly, Rachel McAdams’ character, Irene Adler. I was not emotionally invested in her character at all; it was quite the opposite. Every time she was on the screen I would plainly ask, “Why?” That is not to say she did not perform well, she is a fine actress, but her role in the plot I felt was uninspired. Also, Watson’s fiancee, Mary, played by Kelly Reilly was immaterial. She really could have been a faceless character. However, I am assuming their characters will be more developed in the next movie. Mark Strong played an alright villain, but the movie was all about Watson and Holmes’ methodical, resourceful ways in which they solved cases. It was really fun to watch!

However, there is something about the movie I read in a review that really upset me and left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The New York Post reports the director’s “plan to put a gay spin on the relationship of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in his new movie about the detective and his sidekick could backfire.” Though this may be true considering the stifled minds of America have been multiplying and propagating ignorance and intolerance, the next statement by Michael Medved is nauseating. He states, “There's not a seething, bubbling hunger to see straight stars impersonating homosexuals...I think they're just trying to generate controversy . . . They know that making Holmes and Watson homosexual will take away two-thirds of their box office. Who is going to want to see Downey Jr. and Law make out? I don't think it would be appealing to women. Straight men don't want to see it.” Who is this asshole?! He was a former critic for the post. Well thanks, Mike for putting your two cents in and making yourself look like a complete bigot. I found Sherlock and Watson’s relationship in the movie to be endearing and sweet. Of course, I know my hippie, be-who-you-are attitude is not by any means the predominant culture of America, but it can’t be that much of a minority! It is not okay for Medved to say what he said. It’s a deplorable testament of the growing, senseless idiocy poisoning America. The pomposity of his statement seethes with this shameless, unabashed imprudence that makes me want to projectile vomit. The New York Post was never a publication I admired or respected and it’s articles like this that cement my distaste for it.






I'm out.

Linklater's My Homeboy

I recently saw Slacker thanks to the beautiful invention of netflix. I freaking love netflix. What a genius idea.
Anywho, I'm beginning to discover a trend in my (elitist) movie tastes. I am a polysyllabic word enthusiasts to the point of severe, possibly unbearable pomposity. I am an exuberant believer in substance, none of this inconsequential happy ending nonsense. So movies devoid of even the slightest bit of any intellectual thought, I hate. Yes. Hate. Okay, that's a strong emotion- dislike... ardently dislike. My movie tastes have evolved from Disney delusions to Linklater lunacy. Somewhere in the evolution something seemed to be lost. Innocence maybe? A sense of wonder and unimaginable possibility? Replaced by sweet sweet pessimism.

Pessimism is Richard (Pessimistic) Linklater's middle name. He thrives off of the idea of "hopeless humanity" and illustrates his disgust with society through these characters with huge vocabularies (which I am immensely jealous of) and anarchist and atheist ideals, completely anti-establishment. His movies are like stream of consciousness writing. He's like the James Joyce of film, shifting and shaping ideas with a chaotic complexity that arouses your senses and encourages thoughts of your own. However, in Slacker he does not delve into the privilege his characters embody while they curse the deterioration of society. I'm just saying education=privilege. He does get into though in Waking Life- quite possibly my favorite movie... okay, one of my favorite movies. So, I can't fault him for not putting that reality in Slackers.

Anyway, my point in this post was I need to stop being so snobbish when it comes to movies. Hey, maybe I should give that romantic comedy a try. Maybe rent a mindless feel good movie. Curl up and watch every Tyler Perry movie EVER. Nah, just kidding, ugh especially about Tyler Perry-- do not get me started about that hot mess.

I should stop being so mean, though. It's not like I don't have my guilty pleasures.
Yup, I'm about to incriminate myself. It's okay, I don't mind... I kinda deserve it.

My Best Friend's Girl
All the Scream movies
Loser
She's All That
National Treasurer Movies (yes both of them)
Never Been Kissed
The Glass House
Must Love Dogs (I have a thing for the Cusack)

Okay that's enough. I'm severely embarrassed.

Zombieland


I saw it the other night! I almost forgot to mention it! I really liked it and know it will be an instant cult classic. It hasn't even been out in theaters that long haha, but I am most certainly calling it now! The cast was great and of course the cameo was fantastic. Woody Harrelson was just so lovable and that adorably gangly Jesse Eisenberg, so cute. I hope we see more of him in the future. Oh yeah and the girls were awesome too, not annoying or whiny. That's been so overdone, so it was nice that they were bad ass.

I'm out.

Oh wait one more of my guilty pleasures...


JUST KIDDING!!! Never saw it. Never will.

Good Hair

As a black woman, I must say I was never consumed by the necessity to perm my hair. My mother encouraged my sister and I to keep our hair natural and not once had anything negative to say about our tight curls. I am incredibly grateful to my mother for instilling in me an "alternative" sense of beauty. Beauty that wasn't in all the magazines, I guess- it shouldn't be called alternative, but you get my point...
I love my hair. Now, there were instances in elementary school when I would dream of having long flowing hair, but quickly realized even with the best hot comb treatment my hair just would not do that haha. So, now I'm 22. I am natural and have been my entire life, and had no idea the amount of stress some black woman go through to uphold unfair societal standards. I was reading an article in the times a few weeks ago about some upheaval about the two first daughters not wearing their hair straight. I was ashamed and embarrassed that there was an article in the NEW YORK TIMES detailing the stress of women and their hair, a need to have "good hair." But it was real. Women are going through some shit to make themselves more appealing to society. It really isn't fair and stems back to the standard of beauty: white, blonde, thin women. Ugh, luckily that's changing, at least I think so. More black woman are feeling comfortable with their natural hair, and they should! It's beautiful, and so is straight hair. No one should feel ashamed about themselves. Ugh, beauty in America. That's a whole other can o' worms.
Anyway, this entry was really to share with you Chris Rock's new documentary that looks hilarious called "Good Hair."
Here's the trailer, enjoy!

Halloween: Where's Mike Meyers?

So I got up this morning after suffering from the worst headache I have ever experienced, strangely well rested. I went through my morning ritual, newmans cereal and TV until I have to start getting ready for work. Well i was eating my cereal and i saw that Halloween III: Season of the Witch was on HBO. Ohhh I thought! A nice slasher movie before work would so me some good. It was horrifyingly...boring. I was flipping back and forth between that, the majestic and one of many of my guilty pleasures- the rachel zoe project. I gave up on the movie after realizing it was not my favorite slasher thriller, but instead a mundane murder mystery that should have stayed in the eighties. The Majestic I hadn't seen and realized maybe that wasn't the worst thing ever. I mean, it's not something I would run out and buy on DVD, but it wasn't unwatchable. The Rachel Zoe Project is awesome. The fashion, the made up words, my favorite deer in headlights assistant stylist brad. It's entertaining, plus the fashion is always killer. It's fun to see what rachel will wear every episode. I haven't been watching it religiously, but that will soon change.
Work today at 4. woot. money! haha Maybe I won't be so awkward today... MUAHAHAHA, whatta joke.
Listening to: We Were Born the Mutants Again With Leafling- Of Montreal

Love it.

Lazy Days

A day off today. It's nice. I like saying I have a day off because that implies I'm working and working is great because that means money. And we all know how important money is, disgustingly important, deceptively important, money scares me. What people do for it. The amount of power it gives people. It's a sordid concept that runs our society. Ah, the joys of capitalism.

Anyway, I've been tearing through the house trying to find scissors to make this necklace out of a shirt I bought.


I may use a razor. For some reason, I can find that and not a pair of scissors. Weird.

I've been watching old episodes of top chef today. I forgot how much I love Carla Hall! I really wish she would've won. She has so much charisma! Oh Carla I was always rooting for you!



I haven't gone to the movies in a while. I want to go see J.Gordon Levitt in 500 days of summer, but i'm still in that stupid post breakup stage where even the thought of lovey dovey movies makes me want to blow chunks everywhere. Well, I guess i was never really a fan of romantic movies... EVER, but now my aversion to them has reached all new levels. Love in general is no longer something i'm searching for? i don't know how to phrase that. Um, it's lost its luster you could say. When I'm walking through the mall and I see couples it takes every fiber in my body not to yell, "It won't last!" or "You think it's nice now! Just you wait!" Sigh. Hopefully, this bitterness will go away soon.


whew... that's pretty intense, eh?

I'm off to make my necklace, hope I can find some frekkin scissors.