For what? for what? I gotta have something to wear besides this...

I spent my holiday vacation in bed either sleeping or watching movies. Basically I was in heaven. The best day of my vacation was after my family opened their Christmas presents, I snuggled up with my stuffed animals, and a bowl of hot porridge, and watched two of my favorite Dustin Hoffman movies: Kramer vs Kramer and Tootsie. Sometimes I think my taste in leading men are unusual. I'll take a Gene Hackman, Geoffrey Rush, and Kevin Spacey over a Robert Pattinson, Zac Efron, and Taylor Lautner any day (Now if I can have all six, I would be the happiest camper in the world). I like the unconventional leading man because he brings something different to the table and Dustin Hoffman might be the dreamiest of them all (definitely with the best head of hair).
     In Kramer vs. Kramer, he plays a dad in the midst of a divorce, who's ex-wife (played by the drop dead gorgeous Meryl Streep) has deserted him and their young son. After being a office work-horse at the advertising company he works for, Hoffman's character, Ted, has to learn to be both mom and dad, while still maintaining his position at work. It's not always easy and sometimes he sucks at it, but he never stops trying and never stops loving his son. Unfortunately, once Hoffman and his son have hit their stride, his ex-wife reenters the picture wanting custody of their son, after sixteen months of abandonment. Now Ted must fight with a justice system that believes a child should always be with their mother and claim his right as a parent. It's a heart-wrenching film that doesn't pick sides but just shows the different models of family that were sprouting in the 1970s. Hoffman's performance is stunning and when Streep enters the courtroom and is cross-examined, her portrayal is breathtaking. Both actors truly deserve the Academy Award wins they received.
        Hoffman is also a very versatile actor and his comedic work is something to watch, and I'm not just talking about Meet the Fockers. In the 1982 film Tootise, Hoffman plays Michael Dorsey, an out of work actor who makes ends meet by waiting table at a local restaurant in New York. When his agent tells him no one in the industry wants to work with him because of his harsh attitude and unwillingness to compromise, Michael auditions for the role of hospital activist on a local soap by pretending to be a woman, and not a very attractive one at that. He lands the role and becomes a sensation. He also shakes things up and stands up women's rights on set. Of course things get complicated as Michael falls in love with his costar and he starts receiving male advances from unexpected male companions. It's a hilarious tale and the last fifteen minutes of the film always has me in stitches, the kind where you're suffering from panic attacks because of the embarrassment these characters have to endure. If you've never fallen in love with Dustin Hoffman before, you certainly will after these films.



Dustin Hoffman is still sexy as a female. Love Him!!!

This is true love - you think this happens every day?

        One of my favorite movies that takes me back to my childhood is The Princess Bride. It's has the same level of nostalgia that The Neverending Story possesses, but it stands up to the test of time so much better. I can watch that movie today and I'm pretty sure I could watch it twenty years from now and it would still be as funny as charming. It's the tale of a farmhand, Westley, who is in love with the maiden, Buttercup, that lives on the farm. In order for them to be married, Westley sets off to make his riches. However he is captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts on his journey and is believed to be dead. After five years of mourning Westley, Buttercup begrudgingly decides to marry Prince Humperdink, who is not even remotely charming. Somehow Buttercup is captured by three bumbling but endearing idiots and hilarity ensures. Especially since her lover has returned from the sea and is carrying a grudge. I'm making it sound more ominous then it really is. It's actually a lighthearted story about bravery, courage and the power of love.
         The story is narrated by Peter Falk, who plays a grandfather reading the story aloud to his grandson, Fred Savage. Cary Elwes portrays Westley with charm but also a sense of mischeviousness that I adore. My favorite characters are Fezzick, the bumbling giant with a heart of gold, and Inigo Montoya, who is searching for his father's murderer. Both characters have these moments where your heart turns to putty. So cute!
   It's such an original and innovative movie because it turns the fantastical fairy tale genre on its head and introduces comedy where it never existed before. It's enjoyable for both children and adults and drunken college students.



Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.

the world forgetting by the world forgot...

So the weather in Brooklyn has been less than ideal. It's rained four out of the last five days and the upcoming forecast isn't looking better. However it made it out for my besties bdays this weekend (Hi Dee and Dave) and had an awesome time even though I was surrounded by couples. I'm not much of a relationship girl but when the weather turns sour and your friends are shacking up you start to long for someone to build a fort out of sheets with. SoI turned to my favorite romantic comedy for solace, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's not your traditional love story nor comedy but that doesn't make it any less potent. It's about a Joel, played beautifully by Jim Carrey (do you prefer him in his dramatic or comedic roles? I usually like the dramas) who has broken up with his girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet). In attempt for closure and vengeance, Joel attempts to have his memory erased of Clementine by a team of specialists (Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood and Tom Wilkinson) and in the dream state process, he recalls every moment they've ever shared. Joel starts to realize that he doesn't want to forget Clementine but rather he wants to get back with her and he struggles to keep the memories. The entire film has great dialogue and makes you remember that sometimes even the worst memories you have of someone are the best times of your life. I know that it doesn't sound that romantic but this is one of the few movies that has ever made me cry.


I know that this isn't a classic by timeline standards, but when something is good, it's good.

 

Sometimes awful things have their own kind of beauty....

About a week ago I was having a conversation with one of my best friends (waddup Collin) about my love for The Departed and the Casino Royale. I explained to him that not only are the storylines great in these two movies but they are also visually stunning. His reply " Oh you like highly-stylized movies, huh?". Um Yes. That is what stylized means. Raw and gritty with a shaky camera are not usually choices filmmakers make for aesthetics but rather because of their lack of resources (there are of course exceptions like Rachel Getting Married, which had an invasive documentary type feel that I loved). Both Casino Royale and The Departed are action movies. However there is dramatic cinematic feast for the eyes, that comes from the fashion designer and first time director Tom Ford, called A Single Man. Though I wanted to see this film for months, it took the encouragement of a friend (Thanks Matt!) via his facebook to make me rent this movie. Let's just say I'm glad he did. It's one of those films that uses every possible metaphorical device to complete its arsenal of aesthetics. The story of a college professor in the 1960s, who, after the sudden death of his partner of sixteen years, has given up hope. The narrative is punctuated through the poignant use of music and color. The film is shot with gray,dull undertones but whenever happiness is on the horizon, the color shifts as if someone switched on the brightness dial on your television. It's as if when our protagonist George receives a breath of new life, we, the audience, do as well. Colin Firth is simply extraordinary in this role (which won him a BAFTA award and an Oscar nomination)  and has such subtlety in his grieving that it transcends both beautiful and grotesque and reaches the sublime. Julianne Moore plays George's best friend who has never fully accepted the fact that he's gay because she's still desperately in love with him and clinging to the life they could have had. Newcomer Nicholas Hoult does a wonderful job as one of George's students who believes that he has all the answers in life with none of the experience. He has the resilience of youth which I, and many of my peers, can identify with. The film left me with a rediscovered appreciation of art and what it means to take a story and bring it to life. I applaud Tom Ford and the cast and I think you will too.

we've waited so long for this...

Of course I saw Inception on opening day but I thought I would wait about a week before posting it on my blog to allow you snails to get to your theaters. By now you've either seen it or heard all the major hype. In terms of the hype, I think Inception seriously deserves it. Critics are harsh in saying that this film was incredibly overhyped, but what they are failing to realize is that it delivers in every way that it intended. The cinematic community has been ravaged by films that appear to be promising and then are epic failures (ahem The Last Airbender). Christopher Nolan has delivered a film that is the definition of what a summer blockbuster should be. It's intriguing, mind-bending, thought-provoking and has enough action to make you jump out of your seat (which I did because of the intense volume at the Union Square theater). I'm not one for hype. I don't think you should see a movie because it's been hyped all over the place (I'm talking about Avatar, James Cameron) but this is one of those films that makes your $13 proud. From the double meaning names (the architect's name is Ariadne) to making you question every dream you've ever had, this film has you thinking about it for days to come. The eye-candy composed of Marion Cottillard, Leonardo Dicaprio, Tom Hardy (yes please!), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (seconds, please!) and Michael Caine (yeah I said it) are strengthened due to their formidable acting within the film.  The emotional core is beautifully presented and Nolan does a great job at giving us just enough detail that we can follow what's going on but doesn't bombard us with how the contraption works and the physics behind everything. Whether you believe in one of the thrity Inception theories out there is irrelevant. Just go see it. I'm not going to spoil all the fun for you here.




And just for fun..my nemesis Dora the Explorer has seen inception too.

the comic books are coming....

In today's cinema most of the films that are in theatres are live-action remakes of popular cartoons and comic books. Especially in the critical summer blockbuster season we will be seeing a lot of our childhood pleasures transplanted to the screen. Upcoming films such as Jonah Hex, The Last Airbender, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, and the upcoming Avengers movie starring Thor, Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America, are all the offsprings of the comic book genre. But comic books have influence beyond their magical world. Maxim magazine (and yes I only read it for the articles) has a list of the best comic book moments in films that weren't based on comic books. While the list can be stupid at times (Really? Cameron Diaz dancing around in Spiderman underwear in Charlie's Angels is not a comic book moment, folks) it does include one of the greatest conversations about the topic ever to be discussed in narrative cinema. In Kill Bill Vol. 2 towards the end of the scene, Bill (David Carradine) and Beatrix (Uma Thurman) have an in depth analysis of Superman and what that means for the rest of our earthlings. It's one of my favorite scenes in the movie and I'm sure most of you remember it. But let's relive it for old times sake.



I included the five point palm technique for kicks! Enjoy!

if you wanna fuck with the eagles, you got to learn to fly....

Everyone has a particular movie that they can quote from beginning to end. I have several and one of them is definitely the 1988 classic, Heathers. A black comedy about teenage suicide that deals with some important issues while still being tragically funny. In my opinion its the precursor to Mean Girls, and definitely funnier.  Veronica (Winona Ryder) is part of the most powerful clique in school; The Heathers. When Veronica meets an outsider, JD (Christian Slater) her world is turned upside down and she begins a romantic journey of murder/suicides that don't have the intended outcome. There's a definite social commentary about how much our society values power and notoreity as opposed to friendship and life. But don't think this movie is preaching. No, this film is a satire chock full of great lines such as "If you were happy every day of your life you wouldn't be a human being. You'd be a game-show host" and "She's my best friend. God, I hate her" and "Well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Theresa?". I could go on for days but instead I really suggest that you just watch it. I should warn you though, this movie isn't for the faint-hearted. I eagerly showed this film to my best friend and after it was over and I was laughing uncontrollably, she looked at me and said "Don't you think this film is inappropriate? I mean after Columbine? Teenage suicide is not funny". And she's completely right. Ich Luge. Suicide will always be funny in the 80s.

as we go on, we remember.....

The time has dawned on us when we must think of the future.  Your faithful Biddie is about to make the transition from undergrad to alum . For twenty-two years I have traveled on the yellow brick road, and at the doorstep of Oz, I've just realized that I have no idea how to get in and what to do while I'm there. Though I'm terrified of the upcoming adventure that lies beyond those emerald gates, I seek solace through films such as Reality Bites. While it may be specifically speaking to the post 80s hair band, nirvana loving, flannel and Gap clad stoners of the 90s, many of the issues of the film are applicable to us. Why does a college degree suddenly mean that I'm equipped to handle life without a color-coded map? Leilana Pierce (Winona Ryder) and friends travel the uncharted territories of their 20s without authoritative guidance. While they may not be conquering their dreams, they are making a valiant effort of trying to be the people they've aspired to be. I find myself on a parallel journey with Leilana. I am trying to fashion a career out of my film obsession and I haven't got the slightlest clue what the first step is. Yet Leilana seems to manage without completely losing her shit and that gives me hope that the impossible only exists in the mind. So instead of posting a collage of my finest college moments consisting of beer pong, jager bombs, and cramming for finals or posting the track for Vitamin C's Graduation song, I'll leave you with one of my favorite scenes. I wish you the finest luck and pray you find a way to pay your student loans and get medical insurance.



Our futures consist of buying groceries at the gas station and dancing to hits of the 1970s. How awesome?!

choque de titanes

                                                                                                                     my favorite character- Bubo

 I hate remakes. I hate the notion that our generation is so devoid of original ideas that we have to take classics and rework them with modern day actors and add our nouveau technology to make cinema. Bullshit. I also hate the fact that big executives who never pay to see a movie think that we only go to the theater to be awed by the newest scientific advancements (ahem...James Cameron) and that a great story can't stand the test of time. It can! I love the original Clash of the Titans. I loved the story, the mythology and the stop motion animation employed by Ray Harryhausen. Based on the myth of Perseus, son of Zeus, and his endeavor to beat the Krakken, Clash of the Titans is also a love story with some really ugly chicks (I'm referring to you, Medusa).  Even when I watch the movie today, I still get goosebumps at the sight of the gorgon. I'm more awed by the fact that they were able to tell that story without today's technology; and to do it beautifully.  This movie is a relic and a cult favorite, so stop fucking with it. If you've never seen it, save your money at the theater and peep this fan made trailer with Harry Hamlin wearing next to nothing, with a serious perm.

hello world!

I want you to get to know me better and to figure out whether you should waste your time reading my blog at all. Therefore I decided to give you a review of one of my favorite movies ever. Now I don't think there are many people who would think that Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino didn't change the game. Whether you like it or not, you have to admit that it invented a new genre and has spawned many attempts to recreate the magic that takes place between Mia, Jules, Vincent, Marcellus and Butch, but none of have succeeded. The film's non-linear storyline and the use of vignettes are just the icing on the cake. The real batter is the fact that Tarantino has been able to create characters, who seem so foreign to most people, and make them completely believable in the every day world. I don't know about you but most of my friends don't have a gimp, and if you do, really? Like for real, for real? Dirty! They talk with the kind of speech that makes them Oscar Wilde worthy. If you've never seen this classic (and yes, I do mean classic), then I would hit up your netflix account real quick and make like a baby tomato and "ketch-up".