Life imitating art imitating life

I’ve been on a film kick, renting movies but not putting much faith in today’s cinema. Is it just me or have this year’s flicks been complete rubbish?

A couple weeks ago, I dished out $14 (ticket and diet coke, no popcorn) to see Pirates of the Caribbean. And I have to admit that I am a little excited to catch Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Coincidentally, American bad boy Johnny Depp stars in both.

Will I be entertained? I have little doubt, but neither movie is a cinematic masterpiece.

These are the ones I’ve been taking home….

Vertigo: One of DC’s film festivals scheduled the redigitized version of this Alfred Hitchcock classic, but I was out of town and missed it. Feeling dissatisfied as I strolled through the “New Release” section of the rental store, I found myself browsing through the classics. Two thumbs up! I was kicking myself for not having seen this earlier (it was my first time). I’ll be in Hollywood Heaven if the rest of Hitchcock’s work is as riveting as Vertigo, Psycho, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Birds.

Cleopatra: I also grabbed the film that fueled Burton and Taylor’s love affair. Although some parts dragged, it was a 98% improvement over my options currently playing at a theatre near you. I wonder why this movie didn’t make AFI’s top 100 list?

Secretary: A good friend of mine recommended this film and he’s a fairly good judge of what interests me. To quote him – “Maggie Gylenhaal is one of the best never-heard-of actresses in Hollywood. She’s had bit parts in Adaptation, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and Donnie Darko. This movie is ‘out there’, yet it really boils down to a love story (albeit, a weird one). And kudos to James Spader for a fantastic performance. All around a fun – if disturbing – film.” And I agree 100%. I really enjoyed this one and found myself laughing through most of it (I don’t know what that says about me exactly, but, that was my reaction). Two thumbs up!

Birthday Girl: Why does Nicole Kidman agree to star in horrible films like this one, Malice and Far And Away (well, I guess her ex-hubby had a lot to do with that last one)? Don’t waste your precious time on this one… do something meaningful like organize the kitchen drawers instead.

About a Boy: I’m adding this one to my private collection. Hugh Grant is hit or miss (don’t bother with Two Weeks Notice). THIS was definitely a hit! I too believe that every man is an island connected by island chains.

That’s my 2 cents on the state of movies in America. I’m going to work my way through the Hitchcock collection and AFI’s picks for the last century – but does anyone have any movie favorites they want to pass my way? I like indies, am not a huge fan of chick flicks (unless they’re really well done like When Harry Met Sally), can tolerate most foreign or art-house films, and love action adventure. Drama good, goofy comedy bad (I do not like Jim Carrey).

All suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I couldn’t have said it better myself….

So I’m sending you all over to Sweet Jezebel to ponder her “Question of a Lifetime” – At what point do you settle?

Public Service Announcement: Guidelines for Tourists

Tourists are a large component of day-to-day life in Washington, DC. The bulk invade the city in April for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Another contingency arrives in July for the Independence Day festivities. But each and every day, visitors arrive and depart, and gawk at the White House, the Capitol, the monuments and memorials, and other historic buildings and national parks.

In order to ensure your survival in the big, bad city, heed these universal laws (universal because most of these laws apply to other American cities):

1. Public transportation is a good thing. It might even be your first time riding a subway. When standing on the platform, waiting for the next Metro train, stand away from the door. You must provide space for passengers on the train to exit before you may step on. If you trap them inside, they will shove you aside.

2. Groups and couples congregate on the escalators to chat about their latest adventures. Wait to form your huddles at the top of the escalators. City folk are always in a hurry. Please stand to the right to provide space for these urbanites to climb on the left side. If you don’t stand single file on the right side an interesting transformation will occur. The city person will sigh loudly followed by the eye-roll. Then said person may loudly say “excuse me” while trying to get you out of their way. Again, if the path is blocked, some people will resort to using force.

3. Do not drive in unfamiliar cities. Park your car and walk. Driving head on into traffic down a one-way street is hazardous to your health (but entertaining to onlookers).

4. Group leaders should leave the brightly colored umbrellas at home. And your matching t-shirts…. they scream “Mug Me” to the natives. Be warned.

5. Invest in a map. Cityfolk have a quirky sense of humor. When you interrupt them to ask where the White House is, they’ll often send you off in the opposite direction. Get a map!

And that’s about it.

Did I miss any helpful rule distinctive to your city or tourist trap town? If so, feel free to leave them here.

Male makeover fantasies

We live in an appearance motivated society and I work in a zealous perception-oriented industry. Sometimes thoughts pop into my head, unwelcome, but reasonable and often warranted.

I just returned from a meeting…. a series of presentations really. And when the topic isn’t directly related to something I’m working on, my mind wanders. My thoughts moseyed over to the guy sitting across from me (hollow square set-up).

In a parallel universe, he was a hottie. But here, on earth, he had “project” written all over him.

If he was a confident man, he would command a room simply by stepping into it. He towered over everyone else there at 6’5 or 6’6 – but he slouched, like he wished to curl into himself. Then there is the thick, chestnut hair. If he cut it short, or layered the floppy mess, I’d be tempted to run my fingers through those rich locks. Instead it kept falling into his eyes. So occasionally, he’d wag his head like a dog to shake the hair off his face. His eyes are clear blue, rimmed with thick lashes. Not that I had the pleasure of peering into them. During his presentation, he looked up, he looked down, he did a little dance – shifting his weight from foot to foot, with his hands shoved deep into his pants pockets…. a new form of Irish step dancing. We’re not even going to touch the wardrobe.

A small dose of confidence would transform this guy into an attractive, dynamic individual. I could see it in my mind’s eye – the way he appeared before me, and the way he would be if the Fab Five got their hands on him. It was almost painful to just sit there and imagine the way his presentation could have went.

Do you know what I’m talking about it? If I was a tactless moron, I’d shake him and talk some sense into him….. massage his ego a little and plant a few seeds that might one day blossom into some semblance of self-assurance. I mean, what do you do with someone who might need a little nudge? How do you get them to feel better without making them feel worse?

Too much time on my hands

I just got off the phone with a really good reporter friend of mine. She is working on a story about international organizations and the breakout of disease, like the recent SARS episode.

Out of curiosity, she polled the people at her gym and at a Fresh Fields-type market, about 50 people total, asking if they knew who Kofi Annan is. Only five answered correctly. FIVE.

She lives right outside New York City, not in some isolated burrough in the US. She has no reason to exaggerate, and I don’t doubt her after my own recent encounter with the couple who thought Ted Kennedy was running for President… well, enough said.

Are people too busy to care? Do I have too much time on my hands?

Addiction pain

I never thought it would happen to me. I watched other people complain of headaches and an inability to concentrate. Not me. I can quit anytime. I’m not addicted.

It appears I was the last to know. Everyone else saw I had a little problem – 2 cafe lattes in the morning, 3 cans of diet coke before the close of business, and then meeting friends out for espresso or other coffee delights.

I decided to quit cold turkey. No coffee… no tea… no chocolate…. and no diet coke. Just drink water. How hard can this be?

Oh. My. God. The throbbing in my head is unnatural. I rarely get headaches, and when I do, they ache – not POUND.

Are you addicted to caffeine?

Same old song and dance

John Ashcroft is in Boston this morning as part of his 18-city goodwill tour to protect his Patriot Act against mounting resistance from civil liberities groups.

Well, if his performances in Philly and Buffalo are any indication of what he’s prepared for Beantown, you’re better off logging onto the website and skipping the lecture.

As Donn Esmonde of the Buffalo News so eloquently put it:

“Dear John: My pen is not a weapon of mass destruction. My notebook is not a suicide bomb. My colleagues and I are We the People, the public’s eyes and ears, the carriers of the message.”

Why publicize a national tour and then refuse to speak with press?

Some interesting statistics

I thought this was really interesting. Did any of these figures surprise you?