143/365 Strictly Sexual

Starring: Amber Benson, Johann Urb, Kristen Kerr, Stevie Long

Genre: Comedy

Discovery: I don’t exact know.  Netflix put it in my queue.  Maybe one night after too many beers I decided it might be a quirky flick to watch…your guess is as good as mine.

Summary: Two girls who are fed up looking for love ‘hire’ two out of work construction workers to live with them & be their ‘boy toys’.  Needless to say, one couple ends up happily ever after (Johann Urb, Kristen Kerr) while the other one has a full blown meltdown, Chernobyl-style (Amber Benson, Stevie Long).

First Glance: I don’t want to bag anyone who has the guts to make a movie about love & relationships that is a hard topic to narrate well.  Few can navigate the nuances of the complex topic that is romantic love.  I enjoyed getting a male perspective of the female experience.  Written and directed by guys.  The women were portrayed pretty honestly (although a little to0 ‘crazy’ for my liking).  This reeked of film students grabbing their buddies’ camera and a group of pals making a movie on weekends.  I don’t dig that part.  For all the raving the peeps did in the commentary about the DP, I was like “Are they for real, it is horrible”.

Deeper Look: Nope, not this time, peeps.  Keep looking elsewhere.  Ok wait, I need to be fair…The “buddy couple” (as i refer to them) who started off rather awkwardly really grew on me as they developed a friendship & chemistry by getting to know each other vs the other couple that was all about the bedroom.  I guess that’s deep, right?

What I Took Away from this Movie:  Instant attraction isn’t the key to a successful relationship & a 100,000 budget doesn’t go a long way when trying to make a decent film.

Final Glimpse: It was alright.  I wouldn’t disavow seeing it but neither would I tell anyone to rent it.  Does that tell you something?

Risky Business.

So at the risk of sounded like a complete schmuz, I have this to say.

I just learned that a pretty damn cool opportunity could come my way.

My name got dropped to a costume supervisor who is doing a movie in NM.

I will leave out details for now.

Needless to say, it would be f*uckin’ awesome to get this gig.

So in the spirit of “putting myself out there”, here is an affirmation I wrote:

“I believe I will get this job on ________  _________. I can be excited

about the opportunity no matter what happens. I can do a BIG movie.  I am able &

willing.  I TRUST ME to be a good costumer & do my best. I’m ready, Universe.

Thank you.”

Damn, I like when I put myself out there even when it scares the sh*t out of me.

Thanks for listening.

Breaking it down.

So I am at a weird place with my blog.

I love writing, sharing, and meeting new peeps through it.

I just don’t know if I want to continue right now.

Giving some thought in the next week since my domain comes up for

renewal soon.

Until then I will do some reviews and see what happens…

Thanks for visiting…

Plugging Middle Men.

I’m back…

Since I worked on this movie, I HAVE to plug it.  Check it out.  It’s a good summer flick. Comes out nationwide Aug 6th.

MIDDLE MEN Starring Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht, and Laura Ramsey

89/365 Twilight: New Moon

Starring: Robert Pattison, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner

Genre: Drama

Discovery: I saw the first one and it was time to check out the next flick in the series.

Summary: 2nd movie in a series, picks up with Bella and Edward “breaking up” because Edward doesn’t want to see Bella get hurt by a vampire.  Their love is doomed so he goes away leaving her to pick up the pieces.  She mopes for about 4 months and then we see her get back to living & enjoying a friendship with childhood friend, Jacob.  They have a strong connection but Edward is ALWAYS in her thoughts.  She does dangerous things to ‘see’ him.  In the end, she runs to Edwards’ rescue when he tries to sacrifice himself because he thinks she is dead…interesting conclusion follows.

First Glance: I thought this film was really well shot.  The DP captured more warm & vibrant tones in this one.  It wasn’t as bleak as the first that had all grays and greens.  Of course, a big part of the film is the chemistry between Kristen and Rob.  It is definitely there.  Rob P even looks less “constipated” this time around. Thank you, Chris Weitz for showing Robby there is more than being a big mope to get across star crossed love.  One of my favorite scenes is the very end when they are in the forest.  ’Nuff said, no spoilers.  I would be remiss if I didn’t say that Taylor really muscled up for this film, and had his fair share of shirtless moments.  Good job. Pretty decent CGI werewolves.

Deeper Look: N/A this time around.  Just enjoyed the movie for the fluffy fluff it is.

What I Took Away from this Movie: I do not enjoy star crossed love.  It makes me sad.  I guess, that is the point of it, right?

Final Glimpse: See it.  Fun & cheesy romance flick.

88/365 Trucker

Starring: Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt, Jimmy Bennett

Genre: Drama

Discovery: Recommendation.

Summary: Diane (Michelle Monaghan), a mom who abandoned Peter 10 years earlier, is forced to take care of him when his father (Benjamin Bratt) gets cancer. Her married friend, Runner (Nathan Fillion), opens up her heart a bit when he declares his love for her.  At first, there is little love lost between the Diane and Peter. She has no idea just what it takes to be a loving parent after living with her guard up for so many years.  Ultimately, their bond is restored as they learn the meaning of love and family.

First Glance: Great cinematography in this movie.  It takes place on the road a big part of the film.  I really felt the expansive nature of the life of a truck driver. Michelle Monaghan played a perfect blend of embittered, fiercely independent woman while exposing a vulnerable woman under her crusty exterior.  She & Nathan had an easy chemistry which was filled with longing looks & unsaid dedication to each other.

Deeper Look: You never know what you are going to get when you get an indie movie about an absentee parent.  It could come of terrifically false if you move too fast or make it play out in an unnatural way.  Neither of those things happen.  The director took the time to show us two very uncomfortable characters getting to know each other all over again. That paid off.  I was sold on the story of this woman who didn’t understand what it was to be a mom; yet, by the end of the story opened herself to learning.  Diane grows up so much through the film.  The boy (Jimmy Bennett) had the best chip on his shoulder only overshadowed by his desire to know if his mom really wanted & loved him. Beautiful moment at the end between the two.

What I Took Away from this Movie: It is never too late to step up to the plate and let your heart love.

Final Glimpse: Slow, meandering movie about a mother/son relationship.

Calling all artists or animal lovers.

This was a message from the lovely Mccabe of Dancing Mermaid.  I wanted to help her get the word out for this great cause.

—————————————————————————————-

hi friends!

overnight success.

i’ve been thinking about this concept for the past few days.

the idea of overnight success.

they try to sell it in the biz i am in.

hollywood would have you believe Brad Pitt

or Johnny Depp was found in the blink of an eye &

success came instantly.  not so, in fact, Brad in his OWN WORDS

has said, ” i had a 10 yr overnight success story.”

peeps, he worked for 10 yrs before he hit it huge.

that meant 10 yrs of small movies, 10 yrs of auditoning,

10 yrs of maybe having a second job, 10 yrs of doubting,

10 yrs of having to persist, 10 yrs of not taking “NO” for an

answer…

it has dawned on me that i had this story in my heart that people

around me achieved this kind of success where i floundered

and had to really work at where i am.  guess what?

that’s bullshit.  it’s an illusion.  i’m not saying it isn’t possible.

i’m sure there are a few stories out there where it truly is a miracle.

for most of us though, it isn’t, and it does a great disservice to everyone

when it is packaged like it is.  not because i wouldn’t cheer someone

on if it did.  i would and do.

more so, because others need to know just what it takes (behind the scenes) to

achieve their dreams.

that is isn’t for the feint of heart.

it takes guts.

it takes passion.

it takes being ok with asking for help.

it takes having days of “the blah’s” and eating ice cream instead of working/networking/etc.

it takes hanging in.

it takes gentleness.

it takes vision.

it takes staying true.

it takes knowing that no matter what you know that you matter (outside of what you do).

A while back , I asked an actor buddy how he dealt with all the rejection…he said something really great to me.

“For me, the stuff worth really having requires me to persist. It’s about staying true.  The chips are going to fall where they fall.  I can’t help that.  I do my best and then release the result.”

*i want to share my story of how i became a costumer.  that will be for another day.

dreaming.

This is my dreaming vision for april 2010. I decided to do a few this year, when the whim strikes.

75/365 The Black Balloon

Starring: Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson

Genre: Drama

Discovery: I saw the cover art (which is different than the one above) & immediately had a feeling it would be a special movie.

Summary: A coming of age tale set in the early 90′s about Thomas and his brother, Charlie (who has autism).  Thomas starts a new school where he experiences some of the prejudices people have against Charlie  and his own feelings of alienation. His parents  are loving but overcome with the responsibilities that is involved with taking care of Charlie.  Soon Thomas meets Jackie (Gemma Ward) who shows him friendship and true kindness.  A misunderstanding leads to a showdown between the brothers but also the eventual healing between them.

First Glance: Can Toni Collette ever do wrong?  I don’t think so.  Even though she wasn’t the main character, her touching portrayal of harried, loving mom was so fab.  I gush!  In fact, every single actor brought top caliber performances that had me 100% in the story.  Once it started, I was ‘in’ this film.  The DP created beautifully intimate moments of family life.  It felt domestic & real.

Deeper Look: I could go on for days about what I loved:  The relationship dynamics in a loving but challenged family.  A young man struggling to find his place in the world.  First love.  Dealing with a family member with some special needs.  Moving to a new place.  The one element that impacted me the most was: Thomas feeling second fiddle within his family because they had to focus so much on Charlie.  It was heartbreaking to see that struggle.  I’ve felt that way myself in my own family (my brother has some serious challenges in his life).  It made me cry, I won’t hide that.  Delicately balanced in was the Aussie sense-of-humor.  It continues to rock my world; it’s irreverent & not too broad. This movie interweaves ideas seamlessly.  I could not ask for a more unaffected, complex view of youth. PERFECTION.

**Thank you Alissa (the writer/director) for creating such a film.  It was a pleasure to watch.

What I Took Away from this Movie: 1) Love is a powerful force.  2)  Unconditional acceptance is a necessary part of love.

Final Glimpse: Stop the presses!! This movie is the exact reason I love film so much. Please see as soon as you can.  You will be thrilled you did.

Next Page »