When Life Gives you Lemons...

I learned yesterday there are only 182,000 people who work in advertising in the US. That number blew my mind. When it comes to people who specialize, like I do, in digital media the number is probably closer to 20,000. In the entire country. BLEW MY MIND!

Even so, the state of the economy, and the changing face of advertising, has meant some lay offs, due to lack of funds or restructuring. Here is a trailer for a new documentary focusing on some people whose job loss was a blessing in disguise.

Life gave them lemons, and they made...

Segragation is All the Rage

I have been anticipating this movie for a while but, thanks to Trent from Pink is the new blog, I now have a trailer to share with all of you.

Moving beyond the typical summer blockbuster fare, this film will force you to reexamine your perceptions of racism and segregation. Of course, the movie will have it's share of action and explosions as well.

I'm going to see it opening weekend - I suggest you do the same.

'Uninvited' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

Ruins are All The Rage

Ianovich, Joey B and I spent the weekend making plans to go see "My Life in Ruins" and then, instead, taking long naps and/or ordering food instead. Still, with much perseverance on the part of Joey B and Ian, we managed to make it to the Webster 11 last night to catch the return of Nia Vardalos to the big screen, after a 5 year absence.

My friends, it was worth the wait.

I am not going to pretend that this is a terrific movie - it's not - but it is a charming film which, in some circles, is even better. There were some jokes lifted directly from "how to write for sitcoms 101" and the characters are painted with a very, very broad brush but on the whole I found the experience very enjoyable. Ms Vardalos takes the routine material and makes baclava - and by that I mean Greek gold! Kudos as well to Richard Dreyfuss who manages to strike a very difficult balance between wise cracking and simply wise.

I wish the cinematography could have done more with the amazing greek landscape, but on the whole, nothing detracted enough from the story to lead me to not recommend this film to everyone. I walked out of the movie with a smile on my face, and I would see it again,.Very high praise indeed.

Hopah!

Oh my God, You Guys!!!

Here Comes the Sun...

As we creep (far too slowly) towards the Summer, I can feeling a looming shadow. Blockbusters.

I, myself, am not a fan of Summer Blockbusters, but there are definitely a few movies I can't wait to see.

Exhibit A: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

I am DYING to see this movie. Joey B and I went to see the last installment (HP and the Order of the Phoenix) in 3D at the IMAX. It was fun (I loved the huge screen but the 3D wasn't as much of a component as I had anticipated) but I don't think we'll go that route again. I'm not even embarrassed to admit it.

Exhibit B: Bruno

I resisted seeing Borat in the theaters because I thought there was way too much hype. But I will definitely be putting on my leather short shorts and checking out Bruno. The link above is too a very racy preview (for Mature Audiences only). You've been warned.

Exhibit C: X-Men Origins, Wolverine

I'm actually kind of on the fence about this one. The last X-Men movie I went to see in the theater kind of sucked. I'm going to wait to hear the buzz and maybe see it in it's second weekend. We'll see what Joey B has to say about that!

Besides the new HBO movie about the Beales, "Grey Gardens", these are pretty much the only movies I'm looking forward to seeing. What films are you excited about? Have your say in the comment section.

The Sky is Grey...

I have an ongoing love affair with the 1970s documentary "Grey Gardens." I saw it first during a film class during college and, for days afterwards, I thought constantly about these two sad, lonely women who were trapped together in their dilapidated mansion on Long Island. I couldn't get them out of my mind. At the time the movie depressed me horribly, but in time I came to appreciate them as as the quirky, but entirely lovable, women they were.

I am thrilled to report that a biopic (also called Grey Gardens) is coming out soon starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie. My excitement comes, not only from the subject matter, but also from the fact that one of my film school mentors, Ms Patricia Rozema, co-wrote the script.

For those of you not familiar with Rozema's work, I encourage you to see "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing" and "When Night is Falling" (my personal favorites)... I didn't see Kitt Kittredge, so I can't really recommend it.

She is an incredibly talented director and writer and I am jazzed that she is involved in this project. Take a look at the trailer and let me know what you think.

On The Watch II

I had a very wonderful, and frenetic weekend.
Saturday started with a massage and shave at HALO spa for men in the Gold Coast, followed by lunch with Joey B at Red June and then book shopping at Shake, Rattle and Read. We then spent the rest of the afternoon reading/relaxing and then ordered a delicious Thai dinner and watched SNL (was it just me or was the whole cast super AWKWARD????)

Sunday morning we had brunch at Tallulah and then went to the Davis to see "The Watchmen".

The movie was pretty much in line with what I expected. It was visually stunning, the violence could have been rendered a little less graphically for my tastes (but I'm definitely not the primary audience for this flick) and it ran just a bit too long - I would have cut maybe 10-15 minutes out to speed up the pacing which, when you consider that it's a 2 hours and 43 minutes picture, isn't really a lot to lose.

I thought the acting bordered on the cheesy occasionally, but on the whole I walked out very satisfied. I may even venture over to see it at the IMAX - this is a movie that should be seen on the largest screen possible.

After the film, Joey B and I did more reading/relaxing had calzones for dinner and then watched the Celebrity Apprentice. Actually, looking back, my weekend doesn't seem so frenetic after all. I guess you had to be there.

Levi Stubbs' Tears...

I was very, very sad to read, a few moments ago, that Levi Stubbs, the lead singer of the Four Tops and a giant of Motown, has passed away.

I will admit that I, like many people my age, came to know his voice long before I ever learned who he was, in the likeness of Audrey II in the film, "Little Shop of Horrors." I remember watching the man eating plant devour the citizens of Skid Row with a mixture of horror and excitement pumped up by the incredible soundtrack. Even as an adult, I am blown away by the depth of humor and pathos Stubbs was able to evoke - the many winks and nods his voice conveyed.

In my teenage years I came to appreciate the music of the Four Tops and Aretha Franklin, along with the Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth and Nirvana. As I learned of, and listened to, the musicians who had inspired the bands to whom I was so devoted I began to understand the connections that run straight from Leadbelly to Kurt Cobain with a stop in Detroit along the way.

There is a wonderful song by Billy Bragg called Levi Stubbs' Tears about surviving abuse and loneliness. While listening to my iPod at work, every once in a while, the song will catch me off guard and force me to pay attention. Today, especially, it is strangely comforting to hear someone singing, "when the world falls apart some things stay in place/ Levi Stubbs' tears roll down his face." One thing is for certain, the world will never be the same.

Levi Stubbs’ Tears

With the money from her accident
She bought herself a mobile home
So at least she could get some enjoyment
Out of being alone
No one could say that she was left up on the shelf
It’s you and me against the world kid she mumbled to herself

Chorus:
When the world falls apart some things stay in place
Levi stubbs’ tears run down his face

She ran away from home in her mother’s best coat
She was married before she was even entitled to vote
And her husband was one of those blokes
The sort who only laughs at his own jokes
The sort that war takes away
There wasn’t a war but he left anyway

When the world falls apart some things stay in place
Levi stubbs’ tears run down his face

Norman Whitfield and Barratt Strong
Are here to make everything right that’s wrong
Holland and Holland and Lamont Dozier too
Are here to make it all okay with you

One dark night he came home from the sea
And put a hole in her body where no hole should be
It hurt her more to see him walking out the door
And though they stitched her back together they left
her heart in pieces on the Floor

When the world falls apart some things stay in place
She takes off the four tops tape and puts it back in it’s case
When the world falls apart some things stay in place
Levi Stubbs’ tears...

Someday, my Prince will come

Joey B and I had a wonderful "date night" last night, consisting of a delicious meal followed by a short walk to the Davis Theater to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." I saw the first installment with my friend Dave a couple of years ago, and enjoyed it, but wasn't bowled over. The advance reviews for Prince Caspian, however, convinced me to check it out on opening night. I am so glad I did.


First off, those who have read the series know that Prince Caspian is the least enjoyable of the series (at least in my humble opinion). There really isn't much that happens and what action there is isn't very descriptive. The film has mined the novel and produced absolute gold. They have not only expanded a 2 page confrontation in the book into an epic battle which serves as the climax of the film, they have managed to stay completely true to the spirit and intention of the original story.

The Screenwriter and Director did take some liberties, creating a siege on the castle of Caspian's usurper Uncle that manages to enrich the drama without falling into the LOTR trap where a battle is visually stunning but does nothing to advance the plot. Without giving away too much, the siege ends in a surprisingly moving fashion that left both Joey B and myself touched.

The ending was very satisfying and I can't remember the last time I left a film already wanting to see it again. As we walked home Joey B and I discussed the deliciousness of Prince Caspian and I pointed out that his teeth are slightly crooked, but in an incredibly sexy way. I believe I actually said, "His teeth are a little crooked, but in a really sexy way. He has SEXY teeth." This may have been my very first Seinfeld moment.

Run, don't walk, kids. You'll be glad you did.

Rage and the City

Here it is kids, the official trailer - though I'm told it's not the only one circulating on the internet. I am going to put all our Rage-terns on a 24 hour cycle searching for the latest, greatest and (barring that) most recent news on the movie, leading up to the Chicago premiere (which I will be attending, if there truly is a God)!!!

To paraphrase Kathy Griffin, "Suck it Jesus - this [movie] is my God now!"
also, here is a first look at the TV spot for the movie