It's a beautiful day for a movie

My favorite time of year is rapidly approaching. It's that glorious time when pumpkin spice lattes become available at Starbucks again, people begin to layer their clothes, and risotto goes back on the menu at Casa della Z. But the best thing about the fall months is that you can go to the movie theater and your choices aren't limited to somewhat entertaining blockbusters, uneven sci-fi thrillers, and over-the-top sex comedies. Not that these popcorn flicks aren't good in their own I-just-need-to-be-entertained-for-two-hours-because-it's-raining-outside way. However, when it comes to wanting to see some truly great cinema, the summer can be interminable.

With dozens of fantastic films coming out in the next four months, I thought I'd walk you through my list. I put a list like this together every fall and I always find it interesting in December to go back over it and see which ones were critical disasters, which ones surpassed my already high expectations, and which ones I was stupid enough to leave off the list.

So without further adieu, I give you the list. And if my silly little homemade descriptions don't spark your interest, feel free to click on the movie titles for something a tad more visually stimulating.

SEPTEMBER 7TH

3:10 to Yuma



The Western is finally making a comeback on the big screen and being a huge fan of the genre, I've very excited. This one stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale (stop there, right?) and is directed by the enormously talented James Mangold who gave us Walk the Line

Shoot 'Em Up



Okay so Shoot 'Em Up seems a bit like those blockbuster action pics I was referring to earlier when I was insulting summer movie fare. But this one's got Clive Owen running from a gun-crazy Paul Giamatti all while protecting a newborn baby! Whenever you can put "gun-crazy" and "newborn baby" in the same sentence while describing a film, it's worth checking out.

SEPTEMBER 14TH

The Brave One



I love Jodie Foster. I especially love Jodie Foster as the strong yet totally fucked up and misunderstood anti-hero. Here she plays a woman who is nearly beaten to death in Central Park and consequently begins to gun down all the bad guys who cross her path. Terrence Howard co-stars as the detective on her case. Terrence Howard could co-star in anything and I'd be first in line at the theater.

December Boys



Daniel Radcliffe loses his onscreen virginity. Nuff said.

In the Valley of Elah



In the Valley of Elah, directed by the amazing Paul Haggis, is about a soldier who disappears after returning from a tour in Iraq. Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon play the soldier's parents and Charlize Theron plays the police detective investigating the case. If this film is even half as moving and thought-provoking as Haggis' Crash, I'm sure I will enjoy it immensely.

SEPTEMBER 21ST

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford



Okay I've been waiting for this movie FOREVER. It's a Western, it's about one of my ancestors, and it's got Sam Rockwell in it. Now I've just gotta hope the Brad Pitt who did Twelve Monkeys and Babel shows up and not the Brad Pitt from Se7en and The Mexican.

The Jane Austen Book Club



So apparently Becoming Jane was a bit of a letdown among the critics which might indicate that people are growing tired of all things Jane Austen. But I'm pretty sure there are no waltzes or horse-drawn carriage in this one. It follows six people in modern-day Sacramento who start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, and soon find their relationships starting to resemble 21st century versions of her novels.

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Lust, Caution



Ang Lee's first Chinese language film in six years, Lust, Caution is a story about an affair between a young woman and a powerful political figure set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II. Judging from the trailer, the cinematography of this film looks absolutely breathtaking, and judging from Ang Lee's track record, I suspect it will be a strong contender come Oscar time.

The Darjeeling Limited (ltd. release)



A Wes Anderson film starring Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody is as good as it gets, people. And if you're one of those unfortunate souls who doesn't "get" Wes Anderson, well, go anyway. You don't want to miss out on what will probably be another fantastic performance by Adrien Brody.

OCTOBER 5TH

Grace is Gone



John Cusack is without a doubt one of my favorite actors ever. And while I love his wit-soaked, dialogue-heavy performances, I'm really looking forward to Grace is Gone as it is one of the few times Cusack is understated and restrained. He plays a father of two who struggles with telling his two daughters that their mother has died in Iraq. Even though I have yet to see the film, I hope that it calls some serious attention to John Cusack who's been under the radar for a long time.

Michael Clayton



So what is Michael Clayton about? I have absolutely no idea. It's a political thriller starring George Clooney. That's really all I need to know. But I decided to do a little more research about it and in doing so discovered that the film also happens to be written and directed by Tony Gilroy, one of the writers of the three Bourne screenplays. Now if that's not a recipe for one kick-ass movie, I don't know what is.

OCTOBER 12TH

Dan in Real Life



Never in a million years would I have imagined Steve Carell, Dane Cook, and Juliette Binoche in the same film. But I watched the trailer and I'm very intrigued. I'm hoping that Steve Carell gives a similar performance to the absolutely stellar one he gave in Little Miss Sunshine and it'd be awesome if Dane Cook could take it down a notch. The film's got a great writer and director, I just hope it doesn't turn out to be The Family Stone: Part II.

We Own the Night



Gangsters? 1980s New York? A club owner torn between the mafia and his brother and father who both happen to be cops? Okay this would have to have the worst script of all time for me NOT to enjoy it. And did I mention the brothers are played by Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg?

OCTOBER 19TH

Gone Baby Gone



When I heard this was Ben Affleck's directorial debut, I was definitely skeptical. But the more I've seen/read about it, the more interested I become. The guy did win an Oscar for screenwriting...maybe he's got director's chops as well? Maybe, just maybe the guy belongs behind the screen. Well this one stars his bro, Casey Affleck, as a private investigator searching for a 4-year old girl who's been kidnapped.


Rendition



This political drama about a pregnant Midwestern woman who discovers that her Egyptian husband is being secretly held by the U.S. government, may just prove that Reese Witherspoon is not just the next Julia Roberts...but maybe the next Nicole Kidman as well. I've always been a fan of hers and after her performance in Walk the Line, I knew she was destined for bigger and better things. And if you're of that camp who just can't get on board with Reese, the film also stars Jake Gylenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin. The cast alone is reason enough to check this one out.

NOVEMBER 2ND

American Gangster



I saw the trailer for this movie before The Bourne Ultimatum and I flipped the fuck out. I'm a sucker for gangster movies and this one's got Denzel and Russell. There's absolutely no way it can suck. Next to The Darjeeling Limited, it's the film I'm looking forward to the most.

NOVEMBER 9TH

No Country for Old Men



Joel and Ethan Coen are masters of the road movie and I have a feeling that their latest effort, No Country for Old Men, is no exception. It appears to be a throwback to the Coen brothers' earlier works which might please some old school fans but leave the rest disappointed. I'm personally intrigued by the unconventional casting of Javier Bardem as the killer. If the trailer is any indication, I think he's definitely got a shot at another Oscar nod.

NOVEMBER 16TH

Margot at the Wedding



I really enjoyed The Squid and the Whale and loved The Life Aquatic so I'm thinking this one, the latest from writer/director Noah Baumbach, will be right up my alley. Nicole Kidman plays Margot who, after hearing of her sister Pauline's engagement, goes to visit her. Pauline, played by Baumback's off screen wife, Jennifer Jason Leigh, is about to marry the somewhat questionable Malcolm, played by Jack Black, and Margot intends on convincing her otherwise. I love quirky family dramas and I think Nicole Kidman's best work has come from independent films so I have high hopes for this one.

NOVEMBER 30TH

Cassandra's Dream



It's good to see Woody Allen back in Match Point territory. I think he's got a real knack for showing the dark side of adult relationships. Cassandra's Dream stars Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell as two brothers who meet a woman who claims she can help them with their financial woes. When one of them falls for her, things begin to fall apart and a bitter rivalry begins to grow between them.

DECEMBER 7TH

Leatherheads



Okay I love any movie set in the 1920s. And I love any movie with George Clooney, John Krasinski, and Renee Zellweger. This one is also directed by Clooney whose filmmaking skills and vision I'm really becoming a fan of. I think he's got a great eye for capturing the period of his films as he clearly showcased with Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Good Night and Good Luck. I like that he also knows comedy and is able to infuse just the right amount at the right time despite the serious subject matter he often tackles. Leatherheads is his first attempt at a romantic dramedy and I think his talent as a director along with a fantastic cast behind him will make this one a great choice for the holiday season.

DECEMBER 14TH

I Am Legend



As a fan of The Twilight Zone, I'm ALL over this movie. Will Smith plays Robert Neville, the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and maybe the world after a mysterious plague takes out the human race. Somehow immune, Neville spends his time trying desperately to find any other survivors who might be out there while, unbeknownst to him, mutant victims of the plague lurk in the shadows. Sort of a Castaway meets 28 Days Later kinda thing. Let's hope Will Smith can carry a film like Tom Hanks because it looks like he'll probably have a lot of screen time.

DECEMBER 21ST

Sweeney Todd



I don't think it gets any weirder or more intriguing than a horror-musical directed by Tim Burton starring Johnny Deep and Sacha Baron Cohen. If you're not familiar with Sweeney Todd, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, well prepare yourself because this is a far cry from Dreamgirls and Hairspray. Sweeney Todd is the story of Benjamin Barker aka "Sweeney Todd" who sets up a barber shop down in London and forms a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, a human-pie maker, Mrs. Lovett. I'm excited about this film on so many levels. A Tim Burton musical for adults? Sacha Baron Cohen NOT playing Borat? Johnny Depp doing, well, anything? Should be all kinds of fun.

DECEMBER 26TH

There Will Be Blood



Paul Thomas Anderson hasn't made a feature film in five years. Hard to believe, right? Well the hiatus seems to have affected him greatly because There Will Be Blood is quite a departure for PTA who gave us Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Based on a 1927 novel by Upton Sinclair, There Will Be Blood centers on Plainview, a silver miner turned oiler played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The film shows how the grueling business of gold-prospecting affects the relationship Plainview has with his young son. Daniel Day-Lewis can do no wrong in my book, and I'm expecting some killer cinematography as well.


Alrighty, kids, that about does 'er! I now must embark upon the arduous task of figuring out where to get the $150-$200 it's going to cost to see all these movies. If only I had a firstborn.

When females become the weaker sex

So I must confess that in writing this post I'll have to admit something. I watch The Hills. Okay that's out of the way. Now, even though I should have absolutely nothing in common with these uber-rich hotties of the SoCal nation, I do find myself relating to Lauren with every episode I see. Her and I have one very big thing in common. Our "best friends" have abandoned us for their boyfriends. And not just that, they abandon us for really obnoxious, immature douchebags. While plenty of people could have looked at Lauren's breakdown on this week's episode as over the top and "for the camera" I actually found it pretty moving. Only because I've been there...many, many times. All of my college roommates ditched me as well as their other girlfriends for some guy. At one point I was so disgusted and hurt by a certain friend's actions that I moved out and took the microwave and the cable with me. I feel Lauren's pain and every day I wonder why it is girls put all their eggs into the "boyfriend basket" and don't see how disrespectful it is to a friend. Here's a person who stood by you while the boyfriend treated you like crap. But because that person doesn't have a penis and can't boost your self-esteem by simply standing next to you...well there's no use for her is there.

C'mon ladies, have some dignity! We're supposed to be the smarter, more mature sex but honestly, when it comes to guys, we are shit. To us, being alone is like having a disease and being paired up is like winning the lottery. It's so backwards. I admit that I've become a less likable human being when in the throws of some infatuation. Lauren can definitely attest to that as well considering she chose Jason over a summer in Paris. Very few women are suceptible to the curse. But why not rise above it? Why not promise yourself the next time you get involved with a guy you remember that you don't HAVE to see him every day. In fact, he'd probably prefer it if you didn't. Plus, until your married and have made a vow to someone, friends and family should be just as important than a guy if not more so. These are the people who care for you unconditionally and they deserve your time and attention.

I will say that not all women are guilty of this sad phenomenon. My sister is the perfect example of someone who is the master at dividing her time. Sure there were times when I was bitter or resentful of her choosing her boyfriend over time with me or my family but she's my sister so I felt justified in being a little possessive. Over time though I've really grown to appreciate those times when we hang out at home watching TV or take a trip to Barnes & Noble on a Saturday morning. I think after years of being ditched or excluded by friends you never again take for granted when a friend does choose to spend her time with you.

So I guess I'd just like to give a shout out to all those single ladies whose friendships have gone sour because of male interference. I feel your pain. The best thing you can do is stick by your friends and be there for them when they need you but don't let your guard down either. Be cautious and if you find yourself being used solely as a sounding board, it's time to move on. Life's too short to spend with people who look at you as an accessory rather than a human being.

Bell pepper soup for the aspiring chef's soul

Greetings all! You know the greatest thing about cooking is the spontaneity factor. I'm the queen of planning all my recipes very meticulously but occasionally, when I'm not quite in the mood for whatever meal I have planned for that night, I pull a Top Chef and try to create something completely new off the top of my head in a matter of minutes. Last night I had a soup and sandwich craving so I ditched the Kung Pao I had intended on making and instead invented the following recipe.

Bell Pepper Bisque (with or without Tortellini)*

One is the loneliest number

If you know me at all, you know that I like being single but I hate that I am the only single person I know. Why people are so insistent on getting a sig. other is beyond me. A lot of things are beyond me though. Anyway, I came across a pretty kick ass blog post by a guy discussing the subject and ironically, I think I've finally found someone I would actually consider dating! No, not really but he is quite a smart guy and extremely insightful on the subject. So please, enjoy.

The problem with being "single?"

Listen you f**kers, you screwheads...

Yes, I am one of those idiots who will buy a special edition DVD when it comes out even if I already own the regular version. Why do I do it? Because I'm a film-buff/film-snob/film-obsessed neurotic. I need to have the best of the best in my collection especially when it comes to the classics. But honestly, everyone should have the best of the best in their collections. Some of these movies are more than just movies. Case and point: Taxi Driver.



The Taxi Driver: Two-Disc Collector's Edition came out yesterday. I probably would have been completely oblivious except I stumbled upon a fantastic review of it in EW and now, of course, I *must* have it. Thanks E-dubs! Always reeling me in. I think I can be forgiven for this one though considering it was the single motion picture that convinced me to study film in college. I'm also entertaining the idea of making a Scorsese film companion similar to the one I'm currently writing about Alfred Hitchcock. The DVD would definitely serve as excellent research material considering the special features are so exhaustive.

Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver" Featurette
"Producing Taxi Driver" Featurette
"Influence and Appreciation" Documentary
Robert De Niro, Oliver Stone, Roger Corman and others pay tribute to Scorsese and the film
"God’s Lonely Man" Documentary
"Travis’ New York Locations" Featurette
Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese Introduction
New Feature-length Commentary by Writer Paul Schrader
New Feature-length Commentary by Professor Robert Kolker
"Taxi Driver Stories" Featurette
"Making Taxi Driver" Documentary
Animated Photo Galleries
"Including Scorsese at Work" Photo Montage
Original Screenplay Read Along

Special features, especially the ones featured here, are exciting. They really are. To gain insight into the filmmaking processes of these cinematic classics is an amazing experience and quite a privilege as well. Most people couldn't give a shit about special features but they should. It's an opportunity to appreciate a film on a greater level. So I say pay the extra $5 or take the time to rent that second disc. Even if you aren't a film buff/film snob/film-obsessed neurotic, you too could stand to learn a thing or two about the fabulously wonderful world of cinema.

The show must go on

Fedora? Check.

Suspenders? Check.

Black gloves? Check.

But it wasn't that Pasha was sporting three of the sexiest pieces of attire known to man last night, it was that he conveniently left out a shirt from the ensemble. The result? The sweetest and most intoxicating piece of eye candy So You Think You Can Dance has ever given me. Oh and the dancing was pretty spectacular as well.



Did this make Pasha's departure all the more gut wrenching and horrible? Well I'm a coffee mug half-full kinda person so I'd like to say that it was instead the perfect way for Pasha to leave his mark and say goodbye. While I think he's the hottest male dancer, the biggest sweetheart, and the greatest dance partner of the crew, I would have to bestow the "best solo dancer" prize on either Neil or Sabra. The way the two of them come alive on stage makes them more than great dancers in my eyes. Heart, soul, energy, vulnerability...it's all there. And while Danny and Lacey are phenomenally talented, I do feel their performances have lacked emotional depth for the most part. Danny really did win me over in last four weeks but there just weren't enough of his routines that touched me the way Neil and Sabra's did.

So we've come to the end. I'm sad to see one of my favorite summer shows drawing closer and closer to its inevitable conclusion, but I had the absolute time of my life being apart of it and that makes me very happy. I wish all the dancers the best of luck with this competition and beyond, and I look forward to seeing how each one of them evolves in the coming years.

The Bourne Ultimatum

The only thing better on this planet than a truly kick ass action thriller is a truly kick ass action thriller with soul. The Bourne films do it oh so right and the third and perhaps final installment was one of those rare movies that made me want to leap out of my seat and dance around while "Age of Aquarius" blared from the heavens. As the hot, pulsating beats of Moby's "Extreme Ways" played from the theater speakers I just couldn't get up. Sometimes I will sit through the credits but very rarely when I see movies alone. I simply cannot bear that dreaded moment when the ushers *think* the theater is empty, walk in, see that you are the only person keeping them from their cleaning duties and thus force you out with their silent yet menacing silhouettes. Yesterday though, I couldn't have given shit. I was sucked into the Bourne universe and not even a small army of brooms and tuxedos was going to get me out of that theater.



It's a film that does exactly what films should do. It whisks you away to a world that is completely unlike your own. Sure I appreciate cinema that reflects and/or documents reality because it makes me think and inspires me to act. However, that can be exhausting and frankly, not very much fun. Sometimes I just need a movie that appears as though it has been choreographed to the music of a great Mozart symphony: fast-paced, clever, and sexy as hell.



So yeah. I fucking loved this movie. And while I'd be happy and totally satisfied if a trilogy is all we're going to get, I'd be lying if I said a fourth one wouldn't be the mini cherry on top of the regular cherry on top of the sundae of awesomeness that is the Bourne franchise. Sadly, Robert Ludlum only wrote three books and it would probably be best if the films honored that. So let's move on and perhaps find another action thriller series Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon can collaborate on. I have absolutely no idea what that would be but I don't get paid to come up with these ideas. Screenwriters of the world...are you listening? Call your agents, get a meeting, and start pitching!

Black Hawk Down

Awwww. I freakin' love Black Hawk Down. It was on cable last night when I was doing the spectacularly tedious job of proofing yellow page ads. Watching that movie always puts things into perspective though.





Yeah so my back hurt like hell from cleaning all night and I was drowning in a sea of phone numbers and item codes. But I wasn't falling 50 feet from a helicopter or getting shot in the head. This movie is just so damn cool that way. It's got the hottest men on the planet, a kick ass and totally haunting soundtrack, and some of the best cinematography I've ever seen. I heart Black Hawk Down beyond comprehension and after watching it last night I can honestly say it's still my favorite war film to date.

So you think you can get an orgasm from a television show?

Pasha, Neil, Pasha, Neil. I just can't decide. And Wednesday's performance show didn't help matters. Between Pasha's pop-lock-and-droppin' and Neil's plaaaanging all over Sabra, I would have had to bathe in ice water in order to fully recover. So I've come to the conclusion that I simply can't choose between the two of them. I want both at the same time, preferably with a conference table involved.

Welcome!

I really don't have anything interesting to say at the moment. So here's a picture of Dan Radcliffe!