Archive for the 'Entertainment' Category
September 11th, 2007 by Blythe
I am just over halfway through watching the first season of Big Love on DVD. I can’t remember another time when I’ve been so distracted by the subject matter of a story – book, film, or TV show – that I have a hard time enjoying or even noticing excellent writing, acting, production, and music. Usually, I’m able to appreciate any work that succeeds in what it set out to do – gory horror flicks, slow drama, crime movies with unlikable heroes – as long as the task has been completed with intelligence and complexity.
Big Love is smartly written, it has complex story arcs and interesting characters. The whole production is well thought-out and it even features music by Uber-cool guy David Byrne. It portrays a way of life that could be happening right now in America. Its actors are believable and well-cast. Its premise is fascinating; polygamy is one of those forbidden lifestyles that everyone wonders about but no one really understands how it works on a day-to-day basis.
However, it simply depresses me every time I watch it. Not because I’ve always found polygamy distasteful (I didn’t really have an opinion before I watched this show) or because the characters have terrible lives (most of them don’t). I think it’s because the show succeeds too well. Its most sympathetic character, Jeanne Tripplehorn’s Barb, is so relatable that I feel more and more distressed for her and for her children every episode.
What does it say about me that I can watch all kinds of creepiness on shows like CSI but can’t handle polygamous domestic conflict? And if it bugs me so much, why am I still watching?
July 27th, 2007 by Blythe
What can I say about Britney, Lindsay, Nicole, and Paris that hasn’t already been said? I find it interesting that, for a couple of them (if the tabloids are to be believed about Nicole), their arrests/rehab stints/head-shaving meltdowns have coincided with parenthood. I guess if the paparazzi were following me around a year ago, when I was hot and sick and pissed about being in a place where I couldn’t communicate with anyone, I might have shaved my head too. But I couldn’t have afforded multiple rounds of hair extensions during my grow-out, so it’s a good thing I just sat around complaining instead.
This year, my American vacation will be very much the same (same destinations, same time of year, same plans for eating my way through the western United States) and so very different. Last year, I was trying to decide which hand sanitizer to place in my carefully-packed carry-on next to my specially purchased snacks. This year, I’m not allowed to bring hand sanitizer on the plane and I haven’t even thought about whether I have any clean clothes to wear tomorrow, let along prepared snacks.
So if you see a woman wandering around the Frankfurt airport tomorrow wearing only a Baby Bjorn and a stained bathrobe, look away. And don’t worry, I’m sure there’s a rehab facility that specializes in my condition: frazzled traveling mommy disorder.
July 2nd, 2007 by Blythe
If I were still working in an actual office with real live coworkers, be assured that I would force ALL of them to participate in this awesome video lip-synch project. But we wouldn’t use hip songs by edgy bands. We would undoubtedly rock out to a Journey classic. Or possibly something by Def Leppard. Or Boston (More than a Feeling, anyone?).
Former coworkers, here’s one more reason to thank your lucky stars I quit my job.
June 27th, 2007 by Blythe
“A family friend told PEOPLE Tuesday morning: “(Paris Hilton) has been missing her pets a lot. And she loves fast food. She’s looking forward to In-N-Out Burger and Taco Bell.”
Later in the day, two Taco Bell reps arrived at the mansion and announced they had a delivery of four bags of food from Paris to the media. They then handed out taquitos and chips to everyone, including police officers.”
This despite all my pining for some lousy Nachos Bellegrande. Note to Taco Bell reps: I expect you to arrive no later than today. I’m allowing for travel time. Andale.
June 7th, 2007 by Blythe
There are so many emotions involved with having a child. I’ve only had Theo for four and a half months, so I’m sure I have barely scratched the surface. But besides all the frustration and delight and fear and all the other things I feel, I am simply grateful for the chance to take care of another human being, and to watch him become whoever he is.
I remember in 2003, hearing on the radio that Mr. Rogers had passed away. I happened to be spending most of my day in the car, and I listened to NPR for hours as they replayed his interviews and as people – famous and regular – talked about what he had meant to them. Today, I happened upon this article about Mr. Rogers, and it reminded me of that day. I remember wondering exactly how such a person could even exist in such a complex and difficult world. Maybe that’s why I liked his show so much when I was a child.
I hope I can focus on the gratitude as he did, and have the curiosity and sense of humor about my child that he had about all children. You should read about him, and remember watching him put on his sweater (did you know his mother knitted all those sweaters for him?). It will make you happy.
May 30th, 2007 by Blythe
More evidence that I am a pop-culture market unto myself:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BuX0eTjJRk]
This is a Take That* video. I love this song (it’s no use making fun of me, if you read my blog you know I’m also addicted to Billy Squier), and I can’t figure out a way to legally download it because I have American iTunes and it hasn’t been released in America. iTunes, this makes no sense. The Internet doesn’t know the difference among the USA, Germany, and Britain, so why do you?
*Americans, Take That sang that ballad in the 90′s “Back for Good” (‘Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn’t mean it…I just want you back for goo-oo-ood…(want you back, want you back for goo-ood)’). European audiences don’t need an explanation because over here Take That were almost as big as the Beatles. And Robbie Williams spun off, and there was a big scandal, and now Robbie is the new rebel John Lennon, and Take That have reunited without him. Americans, don’t ask me to explain Robbie Williams to you. He’s kind of like the male Kylie Minogue.
May 25th, 2007 by Blythe
Thanks to a care package from my merry blogmutter (fairy godblogger? hairy blogsistah?), Jeff and I watched two episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip last night. Leave it to me to finally get around to watching a show only after it’s been officially canceled.
It took almost two years, but I’ve crossed the pop culture expatriate line, where I am clueless about much of American television and have never heard of most U.S. movies in current release. So what follows is written in a kind of TV vacuum, having very little with which to compare Studio 60. And most of you probably don’t care, since you either never watched it or you removed it from your TiVo long ago, or you watched it but now it’s canceled so Blythe, get over it already.
But I loved it. I’m an Aaron Sorkin Junkie; I own several seasons of The West Wing on DVD. I could easily watch the entire series of Sports Night in one sitting. When an episode of these shows ends, Jeff and I look at each other and say, “Oh, just one more.” And pretty soon it’s 2 a.m. and we’ve watched half the season.
What I thought:
-It’s a transparently autobiographical story. Sorkin and his buddy, director Tommy Schlamme, got kicked out of The West Wing and feel they’ve been wronged by the network. Now they’re back at the same network and they’re throwing it back in the execs’ faces. I can see how this might eventually become wearing. But so far I can take it.
-Also, lots of references to past Sorkin shows and obsessions, including Gilbert & Sullivan, the section title and end credits (same as The West Wing), and of course several of the actors.
-Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford play variations on Chandler Bing and Josh Lyman so that wasn’t hard to take, but it took a while for me to get used to Timothy Busfield as mild-mannered technical director Cal after seeing him for so many years as direct and snappy Danny Concannon on The West Wing.
-I hear her character goes downhill, but the idea of a well-known, devout Christian on a show like this (or especially on a late-night comedy show) is interesting. It’s high time someone writes a smart role for a character like Harriet.
-Judd Hirsch! His appearance reminded me of how I felt when I saw Robert Guillaume on Sports Night. Loved it.
-I’ve never been a fan of Amanda Peet, but she did a good job and looked beautiful, different than I’d seen her look before. Someone please send her wardrobe to me.
We’re looking forward to watching the rest of the series. Knowing us, we’ll probably finish it this weekend.
April 26th, 2007 by Blythe
Name a movie you have seen more than 10 times
I’ve seen all of the John Hughes movies about twenty times – Pretty in Pink thirty or more.
Name a movie you’ve seen multiple times in the theater
The Usual Suspects
Name an actor who would make you more inclined to see a movie
Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Paul Rudd, Paul Newman, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Cusack, William H. Macy
Name an actor who would make you less likely to see a movie
Will Ferrell (I know everyone loves him, and I have professed my desire to see Blades of Glory, but those others – Anchorman, the NASCAR movie, etc – don’t entice me at all.), Leonardo DiCaprio
Name a movie you can and do quote from
The Princess Bride
Name a movie musical in which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
I once had a roommate who played the soundtrack day and night.
Name a movie you have been known to sing along with
Say Anything (When Lloyd holds up the boom box. You know the scene.)
Name a movie you would recommend everyone see
Truly, Madly, Deeply
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Usual Suspects
Name a movie you own
Almost Famous
Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops
Steve Carell
Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in?
The movie theatre in my hometown was closed during the summer when the drive-in was open, so we always saw summertime movies in the drive-in. Now they open the indoor theatre on weeknights and the drive-in on weekends.
Ever made out in a movie?
Sadly, no.
Name a movie you keep meaning to see but you just haven’t gotten around to yet
The Way We Were
Ever walked out of a movie?
Yes, but just because I had to catch a train, not because the movie was so bad. Though I can’t even remember the name of it. David Duchovny and Minnie Driver were in it.
Name a movie that made you cry in the theater
I laughed so hard I cried at the end of Little Miss Sunshine.
Popcorn?
Hell yes.
How often do you go to the movies?
I used to go at least twice a month. Until Theo is more movie-friendly, I’ll probably watch more at home.
What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Little Miss Sunshine
What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Dramedy
I love a drama that makes me laugh a little.
What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Grease
My mom took me after asking one of her friends if it was OK for kids, since I had never been to a PG movie before.
What movie do you wish you had never seen?
I can’t think of one. I’m picky about the movies I see, and I can appreciate almost any genre if it’s done well. I rarely see a movie without knowing a little bit about it, so my expectations are rarely disappointed.
What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
Memento
What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
The Silence of the Lambs
What is the funniest film you have ever seen?
There are so many. Sixteen Candles still kills me after many, many viewings.
*Meme stolen from delicious days.
April 3rd, 2007 by Blythe
I know you’re dying to hear what I think of the latest developments on American Idol. Chris Sligh was an early favorite of mine, mainly because he was smart and funny. But his strategizing became too transparent and complex to get the ten-year-old girl vote. And now he’s doing interviews that sound a little bitter. (“I never really wanted to win anyway, I was just doing it for my band, dude.” Something tells me he wouldn’t send Sacheen Littlefeather to sing that final song and refuse the title if he actually did win.) But I still like him and the fact that he got kicked out of Bob Jones University keeps him in my good books. Watch out for someone to hire him as a host/commentator type.
I refuse to comment on Sanjaya and his hair. Like Kevin, John, and Justin Guarini before him, there’s really nothing anyone can say to stop those preteen girls from texting a thousand votes his way.
Melinda, stop acting surprised and humbled. Just say thanks and grow a little confidence. You’re good. You have to know it by now.
Go Blake.
February 28th, 2007 by Blythe
Now that it’s three days later and you’ve probably forgotten all about the Oscars, here’s my rundown. First, I’d like you to imagine me attempting to stay off the internet all day on Monday so that I didn’t spoil myself for the rebroadcast. Then, think of my one-armed attempt at making popcorn in our handicapped microwave, handicapped because I broke the glass plate that goes round and round inside the microwave, and so the popcorn burned and somehow singed a hole in the door and sparks were a-popping everywhere and my snacks were ruined and I’m pretty sure we need a new microwave. So I drank my vanilla Coke with a handful of rice crackers. But still, it was my favorite TV day of the year.
-Ellen was a fine host, not a disaster, though I think the whole thing was a little too huge for her brand of humor. I enjoy her show a great deal, but she’s at her best when interacting with Regular People and dancing in the aisles and it just doesn’t work at a black tie event full of movie stars in that ginormous theatre. Also, bad white shoes. But I kind of liked the maroon velvet suit.
-The stars have apparently decided to impersonate each other on the red carpet. We had J.Lo as Liz Taylor, Reese Witherspoon as Gwyneth Paltrow, and Martin Scorsese as the garden gnome from Amelie.
-I am glad Helen Mirren, who looked spectacular as usual, won the Oscar, but Penelope Cruz should have received some kind of elegance award for the dress/hair/jewels/personality combo.
-Meryl Streep tends to show up looking absolutely gorgeous or else like the teacher of some hippie jewelry-making workshop. Guess what happened on Sunday? But, consummate actress that she is, she transformed into a high fashion diva with a single look during that bit with Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt (who I keep mistaking for Zooey Deschanel, where have I been?).
-In the everyone else seems to hate it but I love it category, I thought Gwyneth‘s dress was cool, what a great color. And despite my usual distaste for all things Kirsten Dunst, I thought her dress was dreamy. Loved the collar.
-Cameron Diaz seemed to have bleached a floral bridesmaid dress I wore in 1992 and added a train.
-I used to believe that Nicole Kidman could get away with anything, but that huge red bow gave me nightmares.
-Best Acceptance Speeches: Tie between Forest Whitaker, who proved that all Oscar winners should just calm down and take a deep breath before speaking, and the Italian composer (aack, I can’t find his name anywhere, that’s really irritating) who gave the best speech of the night even though I couldn’t understand it. I was so mesmerized by his sincerity I didn’t even listen to Clint Eastwood.
-The Dreamgirls almost provided us with two wardrobe malfunctions – first, Jennifer Hudson’s enthusiasm during the original song performance (the whole Dreamgirls medley was one of the best O.S. presentations in years, I thought) almost burst right out of her dress. Second, did you notice that the slit in Beyonce’s dress nearly caused the censors some problems every time the cameras showed a straight shot of the front row?
-What kind of animal has made its nest on Eva Green‘s head?
-It’s confirmed – Jack Nicholson pays the person who does seating assignments to place him next to the most comely young woman in the room. Last year, Keira Knightley. This year, Penelope Cruz.
-Best Presenter Schtick: Robert Downey Jr.’s joke about his drug-addled past. I can only imagine that Carrie Fisher wrote it.
-I was pleased with all the winners, but I want to know when Kate Winselt is finally going to get hers.
-Best quote from our living room: “Hey, did that guy just kiss the Karate Kid’s girlfriend?” (from Jeff, watching Davis Guggenheim, husband of Elisabeth Shue, celebrate after winning the Best Documentary Feature award)
Stay tuned for Oscar pool results, coming soon!