Letters from the hearth <3

A Serious Man

The Cohen brothers are one of my favorite movie makers. They’ve done it again with this one – one that I’ll watch again to find tidbits – too much to chew on viewing only once as usual. Probably the best review was done here:
Roger Ebert’s review

Great choice of a rabbi to cast the “walowitz” character from Big Bang Theory. Everyone cast seems just perfect. Was everyone “high” in 1967?
I loved going back in their (my own as well) world of wall paneling and Avocado green, horrible clashing prints, cars with tail fins & transistor radios. This was a true celebration of that era, that and plus the twisted way the Cohen bros. makes this an anti-pretty MAD MEN look. Fabulous!
And hilarious.

Finally watched this thing last night.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

While “Death Proof” still remains my all time favorite Tarantino film,  most of his are always always memorable even if I mildly liked it. This one was pretty good for me. The photography, camera angles, were great ~ such an artist.
The fact he wrote this stuff and had 3 (or was it 4?) different languages goin on amazes me. *head spins*

Christoph Waltz was as mesmerizing as Stunt Man Mike. Seriously I see why he won a Golden Globe.

My favorite scene was Christoph and Denis Menochet (fabulous to watch this guy too) in the countryside in the farm scene. I’ve replayed my tape of this three times.
They had light beamed down onto the kitchen table (go rewatch – this is awesome) ~  light bounces up to the two character’s faces – making the tension even more papable plus creating a beautiful almost painting effect.  As the two characters are talking,  you the viewer feel more and more tension knowing people are hidden under the floorboards,  all the while you see a tranquil back drop of the country kitchen and hear cows, birds chirping and are watching a quiet scene knowing soon……well….. (no spoilers)  but that’s the brilliance of Tarantino.

You can google any Tarantino film and see fabulous art made from the stills.
Here’s the scene I was talking about:

His films have a look only he achieves.

I scoured the internet looking for some stills that made an impression on me. I ran across a few that stood out ~ If you’ve never watched a Tarantino film you’ll be surprised at the beauty but don’t be fooled ~ they are over-the-top violent.

Only publicity stills but I liked them better than anything I found with this character – Bridget von Hammersmark; a funny name that made me think he named this character combining Brigitte Bardot and Marlene Dietrich? Works for me. :]

Incredible shot. A man above the rather ugly charicature Hitler creating a gigantic realistic painting of the “real” Hitler. Cool perspective.

For anyone out there that likes this post and the images ~ help me find more. I’ll host them. I would love to find an image of the “eyes under the floorboards” from “the farm” scene.
Any other cool images from this film? – feel free to leave comments/links.

There are certain actors that for some magical reach middle age and also reach the peak of their talent at the same time. One of those people for me was always Bill H. Macy – but another is Stanley Tucci and he’s the subject of this writing.

This revelation came to me recently after watching Julie & Julia where he brilliantly plays Julia Child’s husband, partner and best friend, and the man who gave Julie her last name, Paul Child.

This scene from Julie/Julia shows the great chemistry and fabulous eye contact he possesses. He is one of those actors that really “connects” with the other actors all while being able to steal a scene.

Julie & Julia scene

Stanley was in Road to Perdition which is an all time favorite film of mine. He didn’t have a huge role but it was there I realized how his characters in films are always so well done, always making me think, wait- who is that again?  And he just keeps getting better.

I ran accross this Levi ad from the 80’s.  Omg – he’s fantastic looking. Can he act too?

501 ad

Then last night I watched “The Lovely Bones” directed by Peter Jackson. After I was blown away with Tucci in this film, I read review after review of why many critics didn’t like this film and I was stunned.  I liked it a lot, in fact compare it to “Little Children” (2006) in it’s creepy yet haunting and well acted story. “TL Bones” is creepy and fantasy-like at the same time. It’s a huge story and a wonderful book and hard to put on film. Ebert thought it was deplorable. Some critics say the film is all over the place.  All I can say is, the prose and horror at the same time is haunting. Tucci is brilliant. His eyes, his eyes, his eyes – he is unforgettable in this.

Interview-quick trailer-The Lovely Bones

And then I just read his wife had just died of cancer during the shooting of it.  Amazing.

Now I am off to look for Blind Date which Tucci stars and directs.

Just by seeing this I kinda love it already.

ok these things are fun. Or..maybe we’ve turned into little kids. Doesn’t matter. I love em.

I make screenshots of the scenes too which is verrrry time consuming – but worth it.

Here are the ones I made so far:  If you click the links they play on the JibJab site.

Starring (left to right top to bottom) Jeff, Julio, Rich, Marsh (me), Greg, Mickie

“It’s A JibJab Life”

I made this one for Bec with some MYSPACE/FACEBOOK friends:
starring Bec, Gig, Joe, Dwyane
“You’ll Put Your Eye Out”

Hip Hop Yourself – myspace/facebook/twitter buddies~
Jazzy J-Gig-John-Jer

Hip Hop Yourself – work pals~
Greg – Rich – Sam – Shandra

Then JOE put me in one of his:
A Christmas Carol”

myspace/fb friends: Steve,  John, (me), Dave,  Joe (popcorn lover)

/end <– maybe not — check back later..

Greg and I are rehearsing. What do you mean we’re too old for hs?

The still photos from this vid are stored:
here

I will suffer with you

“All she had to say was…..’she’s twenty’…….and my heart was broken”.

A few days ago I stood like many other days at the counter. The lines had calmed down, nobody was waiting. I was looking down at my screen when a women approached. Our normal response is to spew out sometimes robotic words…”Did someone call you up? You have a boarding pass?” …but before I could utter a single word she simply said in a soft voice…
“Can you help me…please?”
As soon as she spoke I looked up at her tears and immediately stared into a face of pain. I let her continue and only got these very basic facts. She was flying alone to Tel Aviv to rush to her daughter’s side who was intensive care. Her reason for approaching me instead of using the kiosk was pretty simple…”I’m too distraught to concentrate”.

My heart softened. I know I was born to comfort people. My nature and that is when I am called upon in time of need, I respond with great compassion. I can be the most mixed up and confused soul when confronted with my own desires and needs but when someone needs me – I become another person. I gave this woman my full attention and checked her in as quickly and quietly as possible – took her bag – tried to calm her.

The thing I chose to tell her was what she needed and that was……”You are doing the most you can, right here, right now; the distance you have no control over.” She nodded and became quiet for just a few seconds.

The last thing I did was give her a few instructions…tell her I was so sorry to hear this story…then she uttered the thing that shook my soul. “She’s twenty.”

Just typing that out makes me pause …once more.

It was as if someone was guiding her to tell me that fact. Then my own eyes filled with tears and I had a hard time speaking.

All I could say was……”my daughter is also…twenty”. In the instant I uttered those words..my mind flashed a hundred frames per second of my own daughter’s struggle, and the deep pain from it over the last year, all the yet unresolved problems, pain and deep love I have for my own child. And it wasn’t simply because I could now relate to her, but it was the humbling way this situation made me ashamed. There is always someone else…that is in worse trouble than you are -

So just before I sent her to her gate, I asked if I could walk around in front of the counter to her in which she sadly nodded in an appreciative way.

I put my arms around her and can’t even remember what I said….some lame words about..may I give you some support from the airline you are traveling with today…something an ad writer would think too schmaltzy.

I do remember uttering……”I am so sorry……..” in which the poor woman sobbed on my shoulder.
Her tears literally made my shoulder wet for an hour. I have never been so moved.

The thought of her remained the entire day….so I made the Photoshop creation above in memory of her.

I will always wonder…..what the outcome was.

Moon. “…Two weeks to go buddy……..”

I just downloaded the haunting soundtrack by Clint Mansell (The Wrestler, The Fountain, Definitely Maybe)

This is a small movie that you have to look for. It only lasted one week at one of my local theatres, pushed out for more summer blockbusters. I found it online yesterday only to arrive at the threatre and it wasn’t posted as playing. After asking, it was there, hidden. About 20 people ended up inside which made us very happy – lots of elbow room.

I loved this and will buy and add it to my sci-fi collection. I liked Roger Ebert’s ( <-- click )review. The film goes beyond a good tale ( a nicely written one too) into deep questions about loneliness, isolation & morality. Sam Bell played by Sam Rockwell is fantastic. The gentle voice of Gerty is Kevin Spacey (whom became forever endeared to me after K-PAX which I've watched about 10 times) and he does a first rate job as the computer.

Some cool facts about this film: A. This is the first film by David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones. Joey (real name) pursued a PhD degree at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee but left before completion to attend London Film School, where he graduated as a director. B. This film is going to be part of a trilogy. (You get that feel at the end of this one)

Duncan and David Bowie at premiere of Moon.

To hear one of my favorite tracks click here and listen on youtube. Very beautiful~
click here
When the violins start about half way I want to cry. ~

….”What’s that perfume in your hair?……..I don’t know….I bought it in Ensenada”…. Cheesy and cool. What a script. What a cast. What a director. Classic film noir.

Billy Wilder is in my top 5 favorite directors. I mostly love his work in the mid to late 50’s but his earlier film noir work was brilliant as well. Double Indemnity was nominated for 7 Oscars and probably didn’t win due to the war where as the voters chose sentiment over murder between two lovers. Regardless, this film is a wonderful tribute to venetian blinds and early Los Angeles (where many noir films were born) aka mentions of several beloved L.A. landmarks.

I remember La Brea being mentioned, also Los Feliz. And of course the scene on top of the hill overlooking the Hollywood bowl complete with a real live performance was included. Billy uses L.A. as a character much like Woody Allen used New York in so many films.

I love the view from the Glendale street in the opening scenes where a Spanish style home is described as being a popular style about 10 years previous and the sum of 30 thousand made to sound like a million by today’s standards. This was 1944.

Fred MacMurray, very cool and handsome, smoked cigarettes in the macho sexy way men did in their day.
If you notice, there were at least two scenes where both McMurray and Edward G. both struck matches with their finger nails. My dad would have been proud. I recently watched Kate Winslet smoke nervously in Revolutionary Road and was once again struck by actors struggling with trying to look natural while they lite a cigarette. Then watch actors in the 40’s and 50’s and the effortless way without thinking way they held their smokes. No comparison. Doesn’t anyone study these films?

Barbara Stanwick was the perfect tough girl. Her sultry voice and great screen presence made a perfect vamp. The names are comic book-like. Even Walter Neff sounds geeky by today’s standards. I love the narration – a typical Billy Wilder trademark.

The movie begins as a narration while a man is dying and entering his murder confession into a newfangled gadget that records speech. What will they invent next?

I’ve always loved the last words Keyes says to Walter and the last scene in the film…..and Walter’s perfect reply.

Walter Neff: Know why you couldn’t figure this one, Keyes? I’ll tell ya. ‘Cause the guy you were looking for was too close. Right across the desk from ya.
Barton Keyes: Closer than that, Walter.

(pause while Keyes lights Walter’s cig)
Walter Neff: I love you, too.

[end]

The funniest SNL I’ve seen in ages. Who else but Madonna would think babies from the Moon would be boring? I for one am curious about the baby Island – where of course you could just gather babies ( like shell collecting I presume?)

Due to copyright you must view the video on NBC which is ok by me – the quality is superb.

Madonna vs Agelina re: babies

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t scorn women who want lots of children, I am the true supporter of all things Mia Farrow. I do however, scorn women that and rich and famous and seem to want only children from another country.  I ‘d like to see both of them go get a white kid off the streets very much in style of Tracy Ulman who has already done a satire on this very subject.

Tracy\’s Malawi adoption <– youtube link

I only hope he survives giving up Taco Bell – that’s asking a lot. They’ve just added volcano beef burritos.

Very much like “baby inside another baby” as in the freaky deaky Russian place to get babies according to fake Angolina on SNL.  I’ll link the SNL shortly but in the meantime – go check out the LAX blog.

but they smell like plastic.

Seems like Jeff  (Amazon CEO) has done it again — although when I first saw the 500.00 price tag I had to ask myself,  “Wouldn’t that be like buying 35 hardbacks at about 10 bucks?”  How long did it take you to buy your last 35?  I rest my case.  The hidden secret is the wifi connection.  That one time price of 500.00 retail covers downloading books from Amazon indefinitely?  It’s hard to argue that would be high after I compare what I pay with my cable company and cell phone bills.

I can download books on my iphone now.  However, the screen is too bright and tiny for longs periods of reading so the new kindle is an interesting idea.  My old fashioned love affair with “new book smell” might be old hat,  but I’d miss it.  Plus, how do you write a lovely inscription as a gift on an E-book?   As cool as this all is, it makes me want to stroll through some old book stores and browse 1st editions,  maybe stumbling on some  wonderful old illustrations that I can touch, smell and feel.  Anyone see the movie “Definitely Maybe”? Someone wanna give me a lovely old edition of Jayne Eyre?  I’d pass out!  

A part of me is too sensual for technology –I’m torn – I love both.

Learn more about the Amazon Kindle

A while back on St.Pat’s I made this video about a desert of Pistachio ice cream with Kahlua.  Since then, all the grocery stores in my area have completely stopped carrying Haagen Dazs Pistachio – which by the way is the only true pistachio as far as I’m concerned.  31 Flavors makes fake pistachio with almonds.  So why don’t they just call it almond ice cream?  Nooo, they die it green – do they think we’re imbeciles?

Let’s have icecream

Is was this video where I took that picture that everyone seems to like. yay for overexposure.

It now appears Wordpress is almost ready to release 1.1 which isn’t in ITUNES yet. You can read more about it in wordpress.com/iphone.  I still can’t log on from my phone from version 1.0.  I have a new friend on myspace who was successful…she has several sites including one made with her iphone. Magda does nice work:  http://www.myspace.com/powpalace

i love her style. cool sites-I’m jealous.

http://10secondstories.com/

http://magda.me/ …from her iphone (wordpress)

As for me, I’ll be at the drawing board all day.

Iphone 3g has a wordpress app. Watch for blogging via my cell.  How cool is that?