Cafe Hail

Interrupted by a fast approaching storm,
Hail coming down the size of beads from
   a Mardi Gras necklace--

--fake candelabras on the walls of this
   brown cafe-still adds a bit of character,           
   most wouldn't look too closely just puff
   their cigs-and drink their bitter espresso's.

Peering through the looking glass
   above the bar
      I catch a glimpse of an older man,
          60ish, in a gray blazer w/black
              turtle neck.
I imagine this man in his prime
      sitting with a moleskin-
        poetry on his mind, and discussing
 the latest artist who has just hit the scene--
arguing his point that he has the technique, but
          not enough talent to go beyond the gallery
                where he had his show.
While picking up bits of other conversations
         that he'll write down once he's alone.
Putting his spin on the actual happenings--
Assuming the beauty of the language--rather than
   the ugliness actually portrayed.

But here, back to the now, his white beard
   probably smells of musk, and the lunch of beer
     he just had.

He speaks with a very deep tone, the
       Viennese Barry White?

I feel like I know this man from some other life,
     in some other time,
         perhaps we were best friends, or lovers,
           or I could have been his goat that he had to kill,
            to eat, to survive.  Which is why I don't
             make eye contact with him now,
               something inside me recognizes what he did, even
              though he had to, I'm not ready to forgive.

Old-timey radio sits on the shelf, you know the kind,
       with that antique radio grill cloth across the speakers. 
Dials made of black wood, its frame a faux rosewood.
Beside it is a modern stereo--so gaudy in its metallic
     plastic, and orange digital tuner,
         and buttons everywhere.

The clash of old and new--
   radio to radio-
   man to man.

Hanna

"Hanna"

Good but not great.  Wanted it to be better than it was.  Fault lies in the script.  Done--C+

Rick Steves' Travel

So I'm taking another long trip to Europe, and I'm again reading the trusty Rick Steves' Guidebooks.  I'm sure most people know who he is, seen his show on PBS, or heard his radio shows, but many people who have heard of him, have not read his books.  His philosophy on travel is a good one, and something all Americans should take heed of.  I'm going to post a couple excerpts from his book, and hope you enjoy.


From Rick Steves' Ireland:

"Traveling as a Temporary Local"
   
  "We travel all the way to Europe to enjoy differences--to become temporary locals.  You'll experience frustrations. Certain truths that we find 'God-given' or 'self-evident,' such as cold beer, ice in drinks, bottomless cups of coffee, hot showers, and bigger being better, are suddenly not so true.  One of the benefits of travel is the eye-opening realization that there are logical, civil, and even better alternatives.
     'The Irish generally like Americans.  But if there is a negative aspect to their image of us, it's that we are loud, aggressive, impolite, rich, superficially friendly, and a bit naive.
     'While the Irish look bemusedly at some of our Yankee excesses--and worriedly at others--they nearly always afford us individual travelers all the warmth we deserve.  Judging from all the happy feedback I receive from travelers who have used this book, it's safe to assume you'll enjoy a great, affordable vacation-
with the finesse of an independent, experienced traveler."


From Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door:

"Back Door Travel Philosophy"

     "Travel is intensified living--maximum thrills per minute and one of the last great sources of legal adventure.  Travel is freedom.  It's recess, and we need it.
     'Experiencing the real Europe requires catching it by surprise, going casual...'Through the Back Door.'
     'Affording travel is a matter of priorities.  (Make do with the old car.) you can travel--simply, safely, and comfortably--anywhere in Europe for $120 a day plus transportation costs.  In many ways, spending more money only builds a thicker wall between you and what you came to see.  Europe is a cultural carnival, and, time after time, you'll find that its best acts are free and the best seats are the cheap ones.
     'A tight budget forces you to travel close to the ground, meeting and communicating with the people, not relying on service with a purchased smile.  Never sacrifice sleep, nutrition, safety, or cleanliness in the name of budget.  Simply enjoy the local-style alternatives to expensive hotels and restaurants.
     'Connecting with people carbonates your experience.  Extroverts have more fun.  If your trip is low on magic moments, kick yourself and make things happen.  If you don't enjoy a place, maybe you don't know enough about it.  Seek the truth.  Recognize tourist traps.  Give a culture the benefit of your open mind.  See things as different but not better or worse.  Any culture has much to share.
     'Of course, travel, like the world, is a series of hills and valleys.  Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic.  If something's not to your liking, change your liking.
     'Travel can make you a happier American, as well as a citizen of the world.  Our Earth is home to six and a half billion equally important people.  It's humbling to travel and find that people don't have the 'American Dream'--they have their own dreams.  Europeans like us, but, with all due respect, they wouldn't trade passports.
     'Thoughtful travel engages us with the world.  In tough economic times, it reminds us what is truly important.  By broadening perspectives, travel teaches new ways to measure quality of life.
     'Globe-trotting destroys ethnocentricity, helping us understand and appreciate different cultures.  Rather than fear  the diversity on this planet, celebrate it.  Among your most prized souvenirs will be the strands of different cultures you choose to knit into your own character.  The world is a cultural yarn shop, and Back Door travelers are weaving the ultimate tapestry.  Join in!"


Every time I've traveled I've taken these words of advice.  Even though I've read this a million times, it always hits home, at least for me.  162 days and counting.  Can't wait to join in.

Metro Sketch

This building of white surrounded by flags
Orange, lime-green vest, black pants w/ red stripe,
Navy blue hat w/ badge upon her head.
Standing watch over this structure that inhabits ghosts
   of dancer's past. 

Asian, alive, one after the other, coming to this rest stop
On a tour of the blue/green globe.

Waiting for the modern carriage,
Young and old make cliques of age.
Standing with their full bags,
 of all types, carrying what is most important to them.
Off white, one strap, black and gray, double strap back pack,
and here a simple person w/ only her jacket of gray and blue,
   hugging it to her chest, like it brings her comfort, like a child
      and her blanky.

Business suits of drab grays and browns and blacks.
Tourists with their, easy to move around, shorts and
   walking clothes, w/ sneakers that cost so much that they  
        Probably don't know they could have saved/helped 20 children
           in need w/ the money spent on comfort.

Phones open, to pass time.
Magazines read so no eye contact needs to be made.
Books open, looking down, then up, then down again,
  Probably will have to read the page again for understanding
    When they get back home.

Golden galoshes held in hand, w/ sandals of pink upon her feet.
  Prepared for rain, or just prepared.

Black hands hold the pole, held so tight the knuckles turn white,
Fuchsia pullover, w/ white strap from a brazier peeking out,
  in front of me, hair conditioned to the point of dryness,
   hairspray flecks the ends of her brownish, red hair.
    Looks back to see me staring, I avert my gaze in guilt,
       but shouldn't, but do.

Mouth agape black sock cap over dreads,
Yellow short sleeve, with silver long pants,
  down to below the hips, eyes slowly close.

Headphones and Ipods, drowning out the communal noise,
  so inside ourselves, shutting off the sound to the outside
   world, our world.  The one we live in, and hurt in,
and experience, and on and on, every part of us,
   is part of it, and yet we close it down,
Oh to be you with yourself as company.

Dirty blonde wants some shut-eye, lays her head against the
  grimy window, hair up, on top of head, looking peaceful
    amongst the melee of speakers announcing "Next Stop,"
      and children speaking in tongues of their homeland,
       professional males sneaking glances at the dirty blonde young woman,
          who could be their daughter.

Smiles, smirks, frowns, disdainful faces, sleepy, tired, concerned, concentrating,
 Each living within their minds.
Is the girl with the short sleeve, blue top, and dark blue jeans, reading a book,
  studying, thinking of me beside her? 
Is the woman with the green pullover having at least one thought
  of the child sitting across from her?
Are any of us observing our surroundings?
  Soaking it in, and creating/stereotyping our neighbors,
   or are we all contemplating death, and how we get there,
    or what's for lunch, did I make that call?
I hope it's all of that,  yet none of that.
And oh so much more than that.

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

"The Adjustment Bureau"

This movie is for those who love Science Fiction,  romantic comedies, and philosphical ideas with a side of religion.  I was so very surprised by this film.  First time director George Nolfi is able to weave many ideas and genres into his script, an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story, into a completely satisfying movie-going experience.  The humor is what really put me over the edge for this film.  It's funny, genuinely, a trait in a lot of films nowadays, that is forgotten. 

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have such an easy rapport with each other that makes you root for them the whole time. They really are fantastic together on screen.  I'm a sucker for a good romance, and above all else, that's what this is.  The science fiction part is where I think some people might have a problem suspending disbelief.  I almost never have a problem with that, and this time wasn't any different for me.  What is amazing to me is the simple way the film's S/F conceits come across, and that's it's filmed in creative ways, that never pulled me out of the story like most of the CGI in other movies do. 

"The Adjustment Bureau" brings up a lot of questions on predestination, free will, and the like.  It had me thinking the whole time watching, as well as after the final reel.  This is great entertainment, full of romance, comedy,  some action, and all the time asking the audience to think along side it. Which I find very rare in most  films released. 

I do have to say the ending was a little flat.  After  I had put so much emotion into watching this film, I just wanted, oh I don't know, a little "more." 

Grade: B+

Until next time readers!  Don't forget to not use your cell phones when going to the movie theatre.  After 30 minutes of seeing a bright screen, on the front row, I started to think that a floating cell phone was part of the movie. (For reals people, if you can't turn off your cell phone for a couple of hours, in public, then don't leave your house, or just go hang out with the person that is so important that you spent 11 dollars to see a movie only to have to text with the jackass the whole time) Oh, and when you kick the seat in front of you throughout the entire movie someone will turn around and give you a dirty look, I on the other hand  will give you the finger.

OSCAR PICKS 2011

I'll put a # next to what I think WILL win, and a * next to what I think SHOULD win.


Best Motion Picture of the Year
*Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids are All Right
#The King's Speech
The Social Network
127 Hours
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening (The Kids are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
#*Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
#Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
*James Franco (127 Hours)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
#*Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
#*Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
#*Toy Story 3

Best Documentary Short Subject
Killing in the Name
#*Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang

Best Short Film (Animated)
*Day & Night Teddy Newton
#The Gruffalo Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
Let's Pollute Geefwee Boedoe
The Lost Thing Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary) Bastien Dubois

Best Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession Tanel Toom
The Crush Michael Creagh
God of Love Luke Matheny
Na Wewe Ivan Goldschmidt
#*Wish 143 Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Achievement in Art Direction
#Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
*The King's Speech
True Grit

Achievement in Cinematography
*Black Swan (Matthew Libatique)
Inception (Wally Pfister)
The King's Speech (Danny Cohen)
The Social Network (Jeff Cronenweth)
#True Grit (Roger Deakins)

Achievement in Costume Design
#Alice in Wonderland (Colleen Atwood)
*I Am Love (Antonella Cannarozzi)
The King's Speech (Jenny Beaven)
The Tempest (Sandy Powell)
True Grit (Mary Zophres)

Achievement in Directing
*Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O. Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
#David Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit)

Best Documentary Feature
*Exit through the Gift Shop Banksy, director (Paranoid Pictures)
Gasland Josh Fox, director (Gasland Productions, LLC)
#Inside Job Charles Ferguson, director (Representational Pictures)
Restrepo Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger, directors (Outpost Films)
Waste Land Lucy Walker, director (Almega Projects)

Achievement in Makeup
Barney's Version
The Way Back
#*The Wolfman

Achievement in Film Editing
*Black Swan (Andrew Weisblum)
The Fighter (Pamela Martin)
The King's Speech (Tariq Anwar)
127 Hours (Jon Harris)
#The Social Network (Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall)

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
#Biutiful (Mexico)
Dogtooth (Greece)
In a Better World (Denmark)
*Incendies (Canada)
Hors la Loi (Algeria)
(note: "I Am Love" should have been nominated and should've won, IMHO)

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
How to Train Your Dragon (John Powell)
Inception (Hans Zimmer)
The King's Speech (Alexandre Desplat)
127 Hours (A.R. Rahman)
#*The Social Network (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
"Coming Home" from Country Strong Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
"I See the Light" from Tangled Music and Lyric by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
#*"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3 Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Achievement in Sound Editing
#*Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

Achievement in Sound Mixing
#*Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

Achievement in Visual Effects
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Hereafter
#*Inception
Iron Man 2

Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours (Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle)
#*The Social Network (Aaron Sorkin)
Toy Story 3 (Michael Arndt, story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich)
True Grit (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen)
Winter's Bone (Debra Granik and Anne Rossellini)

Original Screenplay
Another Year (Mike Leigh)
The Fighter (Paul Attanasio, Lewis Colich, Eric Johnson, Scott Silverand Paul Tamasy)
*Inception (Christopher Nolan)
The Kids are All Right (Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko)
#The King's Speech (David Seidler)

SIXTEEN CANDLES!!!!!

So just found out that AMC is showing "Sixteen Candles" on Sunday.  It's my Birthday on Saturday, and I just might go and celebrate 25 years of the John Hughes's classic.  Anyone want to come with?

3 POEMS

So this'll be a first for me.  I'm going to share some poetry with you, Filmland readers.  Over the years I've only let a few people see things I've written, so this is scary and new. And without further delay, here we go:

                                     
                                
                                              Written Life

                                      The novel, the writing of life,
                          Speaks in first-person.
                          The characters that help you along,
                          Write the chapters.

                          Theirs is a novel too, and I,
                          But a small character.
                          You see, we all have our own,                      
                          Books to write.

                          Don't forget that sometimes,
                          A character will be written-out,
                         Only to be filled with another,
                         One that will help write the next.

                         If we, by we, I mean me, could float
                         Above, and inside the head of many,
                         O' what wonders would be seen?
                         Would I find we're all the same?

                         That we are one of many, transcends,
                          Reveals the abundant layers of pages.
                                            


                                                     To Judge

                      Listening to judgements by others.
             When the bird tweets, is it a song of judgement
                       Passed?
             Should one create/make their own, when told?
                       Or pass it only from your physical moment of
                            introduction on?

             I'd like to follow the latter, for peace.
             Within me I will find the way I'll
                       look and see.
             Nothing is "forbidden" you, or shouldn't, by
                       a friend.
             Lest the judgement be turned back around
                       on them.
                                     

                                                                  My Box

         Explaining, or attempting to , my envisaged
            world,
     Takes patience, and timing of those exact beliefs.
          Through empathy and sympathy
                     a symphony of acceptance--
         
           Will finally be formed by that
             mountain of discarded intolerance--

                              Fear



That's all folks! Until next time

Friday Night Lights

I know I'm late to the party, but "Friday Night Lights" never seemed to be something I'd really enjoy watching.  I was very wrong.  Thanks to Netflix streaming for having this great show.  If you haven't been able to catch it on any of the stations its played on over the years(NBC, DirectTV, ABCFamily, and NBC again), try and watch it.  I think you'll like it.

MOVIE REVIEW

"Blue Valentine"--AI finally got a chance to see this film, which I'd been wanting to see since I'd heard about it.  It's a unique film.  It's a history of everything within this one relationship, yet also a sobering, in-depth look at what could be a history of many relationship's.  Life happens, we all know that.  When first meeting someone, life becomes rose-tinted. Time passes, and life happens.  I took a lot of things from this film, identifying of course, with Dean(Ryan Gosling).  The idea of a Prince Charming, is a disservice to men, as well as women.  There's no such thing, and as life happens, it will tell you this.  There are too many societal pressures upon a relationship that are antequated, and are due an update.  Oh, on some levels, we've come out of the middle ages, but I think there is something so ingrained in us, that we're soon taken back, no matter what.  "What does it mean to be a man?"  A line uttered with such frustration and confusion, by someone, who thinks that love is enough.  Life happens.  This is a portrait of a relationship, the beginning and the end, at the same time.  The performances and direction put you there in that moment.  And if you've had similar experiences, those memories will surface, and in my opinon, that's a good thing.  So, the destruction of Oz. What is Oz anyway? Just a fictional emerald city where all your problems are solved.  Life happens. 

Until next time, dear movie-goers!  Life is happening right now!