YOUR DAILY Z's

And so it ends...

2009-04-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

Well the Lenten season is officially complete. I must say that Lent for me was very challenging this year but I am amazed at how much I've grown because of it. I faced a number of difficult situations that I could not rely on alcohol to make easier. Bad days at work, relationship hurdles, PMS, all of it I had to deal with on my own. I had to face the hard truths about many things and while it often felt like way more than I could handle, I did it. I grabbed the beast by the horns and took that son of a bitch out. Now that I've been through this, I honestly feel like there isn't anything I can't do.

I'm also very proud of what I accomplished in this time. I made a list of eight things I wanted to do/improve in this time and I think I did a very good job with it.

1. Exercise
I began running again and just this past week I got back up to 16 minutes. My last run was amazing and I remembered once again why I love it so much. My goal is to run a 5K at the end of June and maybe even the Storm the Bastille 5K in July.

2. Do something useful after work every day
This time has been amazingly precious to me. I've gotten to run errands, do stuff around the apartment, hang out with Natertots more, and cook some great meals for us. Speaking of which...

3. Cook more
I'm really proud of this one. I've gotten back into cooking because of my earlier work schedule and it's awesome. I've made coconut lime tilapia with mango quinoa, Italian vegetable soup, buffalo chicken pizza, spinach-artichoke pizza, Mexican casserole, pecan crusted tilapia with cheddar jalapeno sweet potatoes, and lots and lots of dips ;) I'm REALLY looking forward to all the yummy seasonal dishes I'm going to make in the summer.

4. Eliminate unnecessary stress
I think I can always improve on this one but I've gotten so much better. My PMS week in March was amazing because I made the decision at the start of it to relax and not let anything too small get to me. It did wonders. I think it's remarkable the kind of attitude change that can take place if you just put your mind to it.

5. Watch more movies
Ahhh nice, quiet Friday nights with Nate watching movies. This was wonderful. And while I really missed hitting the town and having a few martinis at Blu on a Friday night, this was such a lovely alternative. Brewing a pot of coffee, eating ice cream, getting into our pajamas and curling up on the couch...those are some memories I will hold dear for a long time.

6. Spend less money
I definitely spent way less money in the last six weeks. I was able to pay off huge chunks of my credit card and even with some of the financial setbacks I had at the beginning of the year, I'm confident I will have my step-dad and mom paid back a year from now. And that'll be huge.

7. Work harder at my job
I've definitely been putting more of myself into my job this year. I think I'm starting to really find my place there and working hard gives me a lot of satisfaction at the end of the day. Since my performance review is now complete and I've received lots of great feedback from my managers, I feel like I'll be even more inspired to not only do my current job well but take on new, more challenging tasks.

8. Be a better girlfriend
During the last six weeks, my relationship has evolved in ways I can't even describe. If I think about the person I was one year ago, I cannot imagine her getting through the stuff that I've gotten through. I've really tackled some personal demons and I now feel stronger than I ever have before. It wasn't all me though. Without Nate, none of it would have been possible. He's helped me come out of my shell and he's inspired me to be the kind of person I've always wanted to be. With him by my side, there isn't any challenge I can't overcome, problem I can't solve, and goal I can't achieve.

Well there you have it peeps! Quite a little journey I took from the end of February until now. I am now looking toward the future, excited to take what I've learned and expand upon it. Thank you to everyone who helped me get through Lent even when I was a psycho bi-atch. So what are we waiting for? Let's have a drink!

And so it begins...

2009-02-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the official start of Lent and I can say, without hesitation, that I'm ready for it. While my life has been wonderful for the past five months, I feel like I'm not giving enough back. Lent may be a Christian tradition, but being the Buddhist that I am I believe it can also be a time to take stock of what you have and do whatever is necessary to better your karma. I've been blessed with so many wonderful gifts in the past year but I often feel like I expect more out of my life when I shouldn't. When things go wrong I blame the powers that be and nine times out of ten these are things that I can prevent by having a different attitude or perspective. So while my official Lenten sacrifice is alcohol this year, I'd also like to take the next six weeks to learn and grow and come out a better person. Here's a few of my own personal goals:

1. Exercise
Because I was able to finagle an earlier shift at work, I have no excuses NOT to exercise anymore. Even with it still being winter, March is relatively tame and while the streets and sidewalks aren't perfect, it's definitely possible to run for at least 15 minutes in the afternoon. I should also incorporate yoga, pilates and meditation into my daily routine because these days, I could certainly use an outlet for relaxation and stress release.

2. Do something useful after work every day
It's unrealistic to think I'm going to work out everyday, especially when I've had a really tough day at work. I would, however, like to do something with that time besides sitting around. In the summer, I should spend time outside and enjoy the weather. On days when it's not so nice out, I would love to just sit at Bucks or in my big brown chair reading or working on my book. And because my work hours are much more in sync with my boyfriend's now, I'm hoping to get more quality time with him as well :)

3. Cook more
This one goes hand in hand with the first two. Because I'm getting home at 4:30 rather than 6:15, I actually have time to put together a decent dinner and eat it before I go to bed. With spring and summer coming up, I also have the option of going to my parents' house and cooking out with them. There will be a lot of opportunities to invent new things, and hey, maybe I'll even add them to the food blog I never update! ;)

4. Eliminate unnecessary stress
I have this little problem with sweating the small stuff that I truly feel needs to be nipped in the bud right now. Whether it's the way a car switched lanes, my weekend plans falling through, or my neighbor's loud music, I have an annoying tendency to make said issues way bigger than they actually are. Sure, everyone's allowed to get pissed off every now and again. I just think that I tend to project something bigger onto these insignificant occurrences. Bad traffic causes me to resent my commute and thus want to quit my job. Weekend plans falling through causes me to become upset with people who were completely not at fault. My neighbor's loud music causes me to want to find a new apartment. It's when my mind takes this sudden dramatic turn that I say to myself, whoa girl, take it easy. Life is waaaay too short to over-think such tiny matters especially when there are so many little things worth getting excited about.

5. Watch more movies
This is a no brainer. Watching movies makes me happy and I don't do enough of it. This is also the perfect time to set such a goal because it is now post-Oscars when all the good stuff is coming out on DVD. It's a great time to catch up on all the really high quality films I missed when they were in theaters.

6. Spend less money
After spending over $1100 on my car in a month, financial reality is definitely hitting me and thus I think it's time to re-evaluate my spending habits. While I consider myself to be very good with money, I also think I have a tendency to make superfluous purchases. Everyone should treat themselves now and again. But if 'treating myself' turns into a habit, it becomes that much more difficult to appreciate something like a new pair of jeans, a bottle of top shelf liquor, or a night on the town.

7. Work harder at my job
It's no secret that I've grown somewhat resentful of my job and it's been making it harder to go above and behind. I pride myself on the good work ethic I have and the last thing I want is for that to suffer because of certain qualms I have about my working environment or job responsibilities. My annual review is coming up and I think the timing couldn't be more perfect. I want to take this opportunity to really figure out not only what I want from my job, but how *I* can contribute more. Maybe it's not an ideal position that I want to be in forever, but I'm very lucky to have it right now so I should find a way to make the most of it.

8. Be a better girlfriend
So my boyfriend, the lovely person that he is, might be thinking...how can you be any better than you are now? Well, whether he knows it or not, I think I can. He's a very selfless and understanding person and thus he deserves the best. I don't want to drag my own problems or bad mood into my time with him because that time is sacred. I know I shouldn't "fake" being okay when I've had a bad day. Bottling emotions isn't good for anyone. However, sometimes it's better to just let go of what's bothering me for the time being and not squander the time we have together. I think the two of us have been doing a bang-up job so far but that's no reason not to always be cognizant of how our relationship is going. No matter how long we're together, these are the things I will never stop doing: being open and honest about everything, not taking any of his amazing qualities for granted, and supporting and loving him no matter what.

Alright, well there you have it! This is a very exciting time for yours truly and I'm quite confident that in six weeks, I'll be a much happier and much healthier person :)

One year ago...

2009-01-22T05:58:00.001-08:00

...we lost a gifted artist, loving father, and courageous human being. I still feel pangs when I think of Heath Ledger being taken but I'm grateful he lives on in his films. In honor of the one-year anniversary of his death, I'd like to call attention to the phenomenal number of awards and nominations Heath has received for his unforgettable performance in The Dark Knight, including the Oscar nomination he received this morning.

List of awards and nominations Heath Ledger has received for the year 2008-2009: (courtesy of IMDB)

-81st Annual Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor (TBD)

-66th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 British Academy Film Awards-BAFTA (Winners will be announced on February 8th, 2009)
Best Supporting Actor (TBD)

-15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (Winners will be TELECASTED LIVE on January 25th, 2009 on TBS and TNT)
Best Supporting Actor (TBD)

-2008 Australian Film Institute Awards
Best Actor-International (WON)

-14th Annual Broadcast Film Critics Associations Critics Choice Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 London Film Critics' Circle Awards (Winners will be Announced on February 4th, 2009)
Actor of the Year (TBD)

-13th Annual Satellite Awards
Best Supporting Actor (nominated)

-2008 Los Angeles Film Critcs Association Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 San Francisco Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 San Diego Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Phoenix Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Austin Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Toronto Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Houston Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Dallas-Fort Worth Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 New York Online Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Southeastern Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 St. Louis Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Chicago Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Detroit Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Las Vegas Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Florida Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Utah Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Oklahoma Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 Kansas City Film Critics Award
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 African American Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 Central Ohio Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 Online Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 Vancouver Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 Bulgaria Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2008 EDA Awards
Best Supporting Actor (WON)

-2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (nominated; runner-up)

-2008 New York Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actor (nominated)

-2008 GQ Australia Men of the Year Awards
Best Actor (WON)

-35th Annual People's Choice Awards
Favorite Onscreen Match-up - shared with Christian Bale (WON)
Favorite Ensemble Cast - shared with rest of the cast of TDK (WON)

-3rd Annual Scream Awards
Best Actor in a Fantasy Film or TV (WON)
Best Villain (WON)

***Heath Ledger so far has WON 35 awards, and been NOMINATED 43 times

Love me some Oscar nods

2009-01-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

Well as much as I can't believe it, the Oscar nominations come out in two days. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one in my social circle that cares, but when has that ever stopped me from obsessing over them? This year there's a REALLY good crop of movies out there for the picking so even if the Academy Awards don't interest you, I think the films that will be nominated are definitely worth checking out. Whether it's a brilliant performance, amazing script, or phenomenal cinematography and sound, the Oscar nods can be a very useful guide for what to see in the theater or put on the top of your Netflix list.

So in honor of this momentous occasion, I'm going to do what I do every year and predict the nominations for the six big categories.

* - what/who I'm currently pulling for

BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
*Slumdog Millionaire

Wildcard: The Reader

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
*Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Wildcard: Stephen Daldry - The Reader

BEST ACTOR

Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
*Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Wildcard: Richard Jenkins - The Visitor

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy Go Lucky
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
*Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Wildcard: Kristen Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire

(*Um, this is by far the hardest category from which to choose a favorite...which is okay since it won't matter in the end)

Wildcard: Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Christina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Amy Adams - Doubt
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
*Kate Winslet - The Reader

Wildcard: Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Happy-Go-Lucky
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
*Wall-E

Wildcard: The Visitor

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Dark Knight
*Slumdog Millionaire

Wildcard: The Reader

And as a fun little aside, I thought I'd call attention to a list E-dubs put together this week. It's a tribute to what they consider the all-time worst Oscar snubs in history. Rather than give you the whole list (there were 100 after all), I'd like to simply point out the significance of #1 and #2. Actually, I don't even need to point it out. I think these pics will speak for themselves!

Now get your ass up and see some movies!!

2008 hodgepodgery

2009-01-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

Ohhhhhhhhhkay the year is officially over!! And how did I officially do on my 25/25 list? Well I completed 17 of the 25 goals, and did a bang up job with the remaining eight. In the immortal words of that random photo store dude on Seinfeld, "I'd say that's damn good!" So let's take a closer look at how I tackled my list, shall we?

25 Goals for my 25th Year

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)
~~2. Take another acting class~~
3. Break my 'times I've seen a single movie in the theater' record (currently holds at 5 with Spider-Man
~~4. Pay Katie and David back~~
~~5. Go on a date (I am allergic to dating so this is, in fact, going to be a challenge)~~
~~6. Give up alcohol for Lent~~
~~7. Improve digestive health (vitamins, less stress, more fiber, less alcohol, etc.)~~
8. Read 12 books (7/12)
Darkness, Take My Hand - Dennis Lehane
Faith of My Fathers - John McCain
No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
Sacred - Dennis Lehane
The Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis
Bringing Down the House - Ben Mezrich
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
9. Do at least one freelance writing piece for profit
~~10. Cater a cocktail party~~
11. Build savings account (at least $100 a month)
~~12. Go to the Milwaukee Art Museum~~
~~13. Eat at one new restaurant every month~~
14. Volunteer with at least one charitable group
~~15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month~~
~~16. Take up meditation/find a serene place in the city to meditate~~
~~17. Get a digital camera~~
~~18. Create a food blog with recipes and pictures~~
~~19. Go to the opera, symphony or ballet~~
~~20. Attend the Triduum at St. John’s~~
21. Watch at least one documentary every month (8/12)
~~22. Run a 5K~~
23. Do a Pilates Challenge (30 sessions in 60 days)
~~24. Keep a gratitude journal~~
25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500 (13/15)-Bob Marley & The Wailers: Legend
-Bob Dylan: The Essential Bob Dylan
-The Mamas and the Papas: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
-Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual
-U2: Achtung Baby
-Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
-Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything
-Neil Young: After the Gold Rush
-Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
-Carole King: Tapestry
-Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
-CSNY: Deja Vu
-Frank Sinatra: In the Wee Small Hours
-Billy Joel: 52nd Street
-Otis Redding: The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul

So for the things I did not accomplish or complete, well I came close. For #1, I finished notes on 27 Hitchcock movies and I only have 10 left. #3, well I saw The Dark Knight five times in the theater and watched it on my friend's big screen TV. I'd say that's pretty damn close! I read 7 out of 12 books, and considering I was never an avid reader AND I had a pretty busy year, I'm very proud of #8. Oh and none of those books were Harry Potters ;-) #9 and #11 didn't end up being so important because I actually accomplished something even better. I got a new job that boosted my salary by $12,000. Not too shabby at all. #14 I wish I could have checked off the list and I'm really hoping to find more volunteering opportunities in 2009 because that really is important to me. I was only able to see 8/12 documentaries for #21 but the ones I did see affected me immensely. I ran out of time at the end of the year and thus was not able to do #23. However, I think all the running and training I did for the 5k more than made up for it.

As for the things I DID accomplish, well I'm proud of each and every one of them. I discovered a ton of great music, saw some amazing films, exercised my creative culinary muscles, ran a 5k race, improved my health, put a major dent in my Hitch book, fell in love with the city of Milwaukee, and fell in love with a boy :) I have to say it was one of the greatest years of my life if not the greatest. I hope to carry over many of these goals into 2009 because I truly believe they not only enhanced my life, but made me a much happier, healthier and well-rounded person.

December hodgepodgery

2009-01-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

Well it was a ridiculously busy month but I was able to check a few things off...

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

This month I ate at Eagan's, the restaurant located inside the infamous 'Abode of the Damned." I went with Katie and Nate before what would have been Katie's Christmas party. It was a total blast. We indulged in a few Manhattans and I had the Buffalo Chicken Salad which was to DIE for. Very good times indeed ;-)

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated $25 to the Salvation Army. Katie actually took time out of her schedule to volunteer as a bell-ringer and that inspired me to donate to the them.

25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500 (8/15)

I took it upon myself to ask for a plethora of RS list albums for Christmas and I got the following:

Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul

Carole King: Tapestry

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue

CSNY: Deja Vu

Frank Sinatra: In the Wee Small Hours

Mmmkay that about does 'er! Stay tuned for my 25/25 year-end wrap up!

November hodgepodgery

2008-11-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

Wow, I was one busy little bee in November but I still managed to get some major things accomplished. So let's get started!

4. Pay Katie and David back

Yes, I finally paid my sis and step-dad back after all these years. $750 later...I feel a TON of relief. Now I just have to start chippin' away at that chunk I owe my mom... ;)

8. Read 12 books (7/12)

This month I finished Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, which is appropriate since the movie came out and is doing extremely well at the box office. I absolutely LOVED this book and thus I asked for the remaining three of the series for Christmas.

10. Cater a cocktail party

Katie and I hosted a harvest cocktail party at my parents' house the weekend before Thanksgiving and it was a total success and such a blast to plan, organize, and execute. Together we prepared Spiced Mixed Nuts, Crackers with Brie & Fig Spread, Butternut Squash & Apple Soup, Cranberry-BBQ Meatballs, Fried Ravioli with Pumpkin Dipping Sauce, and Pecan Pie Bars & Pumpkin Bread. The guests loved the food which made me so happy I may have to do it every year!

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

Well I didn't technically eat at a new restaurant but I did get to do something I've wanted to do all year and that's try the brunch and infamous Bloody Mary at Bayou. So Nate and I headed there one lovely Saturday morning and I got the Chicken & Waffles and a Blackened Bloody Mary. Both were amazing. In fact I even ordered a second Bloody, and I can honestly say it's the best in the city.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated $5 to the Hunger Task Force through the food drive Kohl's is running Nov-Dec. I also donated $25 to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

So I only have one month left to tackle this list and it's no secret that I'm not going to get it all done. But the holidays are meant to be enjoyed so I'm not going to bust my hump to do 478727 things. I'm definitely going to try my best to get as much done and be proud of the accomplishments that I do achieve.

Happiness

2008-11-26T06:11:00.001-08:00

I haven't blogged in a million years and it's not yet time for my November hodgepodgery entry. So what's the dizeal? I guess I just want to remember this moment. Today is just one of those rare days where everything feels perfect. Even having to wake up at 5:45 to get to work by 7:00 had it's own cozy element. At first I thought, it's dark and cold and thus very unnatural for me to be awake. But once I was up, took a shower, shared a tender goodbye with my shmoopy and hit the road, I felt this sense of serenity. I made a little side trip to pick up some blueberry Krispy Kremes for my co-workers. It felt good to do something nice for the people who have been busting their asses with me all week. And once I was here, everyone was in that mood where, even though our eyes were barely open, we were supercharged and ready to get some shit done. So I got some coffee and breakfast, put on Kanye West's "Paranoid", and got in the zone. And everything, for the first time in a long time, feels in its right place.

October hodgepodgery

2008-11-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

Okay I feel like I kinda slacked off this month, but that's cool. I did accomplish the one thing on my list that was the most daunting, and that meant everything.

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

Well let's see, this month I ate at several new places. Nate took me to Samurai, a sushi restaurant in Glendale that was wonderful. And the techno Happy Birthday music was just icing on the cake ;) I ate at Fat Abbey with the fam and had the most delicious blackberry turkey sandwich and sweet potato fries. We also went to a lot of great places in Galena, Il...my favorite being One Eleven Main which had probably the best mac n cheese I've ever tasted.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated $30 to the Amputee Coalition of America. I was inspired by a storyline I saw on ER last week. One of the doctors was in a really horrible accident and lost both his legs. He came back in last week's episode and had been given prosthetic legs. He and another doctor actually went for a jog in one of the scenes and it was amazing to me. And speaking of jogging...

22. Run a 5K

Yep, I actually ran a motherfucking 5K. It was the Lakefront Discovery Run and I finished it in about 33 minutes. Yeah, I can't believe it either. But it was one of the single greatest experiences in my life especially because I had my family and Nate there to congratulate me afterward. I really have to thank my step-dad for all the advice and encouragement throughout the year. I couldn't have done it without him :)

Thank you, Boston

2008-10-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

I just want to say congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for advancing to the ALCS for the 4th time in six years. More importantly though, I want to thank them for putting a skip back in my step. The last 10 seconds of the game last night were phenomenal and they reminded me of how wonderful baseball can be...especially when it goes your way :)

BEST OF LUCK IN THE ALCS BOYS!!!

September hodgepodgery

2008-10-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, I don't have much to preface this with (translation: I don't have TIME to preface this) so let's just do this thing!

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films

I finished notes on 2 Hitch films this month!

Number 17

Champagne

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

This month I indulged in two fabulous Milwaukee restaurants...Sake-Tumi and Rustico. I've actually been back to Sake-Tumi since the first time I went, and I am officially adding it to my list of favorite Mil-town eateries. Rustico also has one of the best gin martini's I've ever had.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

My friend Dave who I work with at Kohl's has some friends whose little boy died of cancer last month. He participated in Al's Run in the boy's honor and I donated $30 toward the effort.

18. Create a food blog with recipes and pictures

I added five recipes to my food blog, Culinary Zelights, this month including Kung Pao Lettuce Wraps, Mediterranean Chickpea & Orzo Salad, Spicy Crab Cakes with Mango Cilantro Salsa, Coconut Lime Tilapia with Mango Rice, and Caprese Salad. Mmmm!

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

This month I watched an AMAZING documentary called Darfur Now. It's an incredible story of six people trying to fix the crisis in Darfur in their own unique ways. The film definitely inspired me to investigate this situation further so that I might be able to help in my own way.

25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500

This month I bought...

Neil Young - After the Gold Rush

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

Todd Rundgren - Something/Anything

That's all for now. Until next month!

PSLs and fall movies...what could be better!

2008-09-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what brings me more joy...seeing the Pumpkin Spice Latte go back on the menu at Starbucks or the Fall Movie Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly hitting the stands at Barnes & Noble. Both are such glorious sights to be seen, but tonight I'd like to pay special attention to the latter. There are so many fabulous films I'm looking forward to seeing in the coming months. And while the one I was most looking forward to seeing has been pushed to Summer 2009, I'm still extremely pumped.

So here's a little rundown of the 15 movies I want to see the most... (and don't forget to click on each movie title for the trailer!)

Appaloosa

A western starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, and Renee Zellweger directed by Ed Harris that echoes the old-fashioned classics like My Darling Clementine and The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance. Clementine happens to be one of my fave westerns so I'm really excited about this one.

Righteous Kill

Pacino and DeNiro? Nuff said.

Blindness

An epidemic of blindness infects the human race, starring Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. There's been a rash of these post-apocalyptic thrillers lately but I'm intrigued by this one and happy it does not involve enraged, blood-thirsty mutants.

Body of Lies

DiCaprio and Crowe? Nuff said.

Rachel Getting Married

I've never been a huge fan of Anne Hathaway but her performance in this one has 'tour de force' written all over it. She stars as a recovering drug addict who is temporarily released from rehab to attend her sister's wedding.

RocknRolla

Guy Ritchie is going back to doing what he does best: a fun, edgy, crime thriller filled with twists, turns, and plenty of testosterone. I've been hearing excellent things about this one and I hope it's the movie that reignites Ritchie's career. Oh and it stars Gerard Butler. Yes please!

Australia

Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman star in Baz Luhrmann's epic period picture about two people who fall in love in Australia during World War II. This feels like a bit of a departure for Luhrmann but with Jackman and Kidman behind the wheel, I have confidence that he'll knock another one out of the park.

The Road

I have yet to read Cormac McCarthy's beloved Pulitzer Prize winning novel, however, I did read No Country for Old Men and I love his language and point-of-view. I believe they translate beautifully to film and I know after I see this one, I'll want to read the book immediately.

Milk

Sean Penn stars in Gus Van Sant's film about the first openly gay man elected to a major political office and the days leading up to his assassination. Van Sant has been off the grid for awhile doing mostly avant garde and experimental films so this is exciting. It also stars Josh Brolin so you know I'LL be there ;-)

Quantum of Solace

Daniel Craig is back as Bond and that's really the only reason I need to buy a ticket.

Revolutionary Road

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are reunited for the first time since Titantic in Sam Mendes' cautionary tale about a married couple struggling to stay together.

Doubt

Based on the Tony-Award winning Broadway play, Doubt is the story of a nun and principal (Meryl Streep) who accuses a priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of sexually abusing a 12-year old black student.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This is David Fincher's follow-up to the grossly underrated Zodiac and as a Fincher fanatic I'd see anything of his. But it also happens to have a very interesting story not to mention a fantastic cast. Based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Button stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton and centers around a man born with a rare disease that causes him to age in reverse.

Defiance

I'm a sucker for anything World War II related so this one had me at hello. Then I found out it was the story of three Jewish brothers played by Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell. Phew, how can this one go wrong?

Twilight

Stephenie Meyer could very well be the next J.K. Rowling if this movie is a success. She's already worshiped by teen girls everywhere for penning the four-book series chronicling the love story between a savvy high school girl and the blood-sucking heartthrob she falls for. I'm currently reading Twilight, the first book in the series, and I am absolutely smitten. Casting Robert Pattinson as Edward, the smoldering vampire, was a brilliant choice and I have a feeling he may soon be giving Daniel Radcliffe a run for his money. Funny, since he played Cedric Diggory, Radcliffe's fictional rival in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Well, peeps, I hope I've inspired you to set some movie money aside this fall. There's so much good cinema on the docket, I think everyone can find at least one or two films worth busting out the wallet for. I've got my dollars, my list, and my enthusiasm. Now all I need is a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

August hodgepodgery

2008-09-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Well it's been one awesome summer and August capped it off perfectly. Besides having a blasty blast with friends and family, I took a pretty good whack at my 25/25 list. It's a little scary only having four months left but I'm also really excited to try and get it all done. For now, though, let's focus on what Zeetlebee accomplished in the month of August...

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films

I finished notes on two Hitch films this month.

Easy Virtue

The Skin Game

8. Read 12 books (6/12)

This month I read Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. Excellent book...very interested to see how the film that is based on it (21) compares.

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

This month I discovered two EXCELLENT Milwaukee restaurants...

Bayou

Sheridan's

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated to St Mary's Episcopal Church. Every year, family friends of mine throw a drive-in party at their amazing Frank Lloyd Wright house in Dousman, WI. I feel so privileged to be a part of it so a few bucks toward their church is the least I can do to repay their generosity.

That's all folks! Stay tuned for my annual Fall Movies Preview, coming very soon!

July hodgepodgery

2008-08-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Alright well I was a busy, busy, Zeetlebee in the month of July and sadly, it had little to do with my list. But things are slowing down for me as the summer draws to a close and I should crack down harder in the months to come.

But for now, let's do this thing!

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films

I finished notes on three Hitch films this month!

Rich and Strange

Blackmail

Young and Innocent

Okay, I've said it before and I'll say it again...British Hitch movies from the 1930s are the SHIZ!!

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

So I did nada in terms of checking out new Mil-town restaurants this month but I made up for it and then some on my trip to Iowa last weekend. I had me some killer corned beef hash and biscuits & gravy at The Kitchen at the I-80 Iowa Truckstop, THE most delicious steak and crab stuffed shrimp ever at The Big Steer, Southwestern Spring Rolls and Cajun Pizza at The Court Avenue Brewing Co., and Huevos Rancheros and MORE biscuits & gravy at Drake Diner. Sigh. So good.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated $15 to the Bone Cancer Research Foundation. The inspiration was a young guy named Dustin Eglseder who got to sing the 7th inning stretch at a Cubs game after winning a contest. He recently past away after struggling with bone cancer for a little over a year. Dustin was an amazing person and a true Cub fan and it's tragic that he was taken from the world so soon. I should also mention that him being from Iowa also struck a chord with me :)

So being that I'm a little more than halfway through the year, I decided it was time to make a few adjustments to my list. Seeing as a lot of the remaining things on here either involve saving money, paying people back, or spending money, I thought that realistically speaking I would have to do a little tweaking.

SO instead of 3. Take a wine class which costs upwards of $150, I'm going to instead tackle breaking my 'movie viewings in the theater' record that to this day remains at five for Spider-Man. Since I've seen The Dark Knight three times in the theater, it's probably going to be that one. And this task will only cost me around $50 which is MUCH better than $150.

AND instead of 23. Take a yoga class/join a gym/take up tennis, I'm going to do a Pilates Challenge. This involves like 30 pilates sessions within a matter of two months or something along those lines. I plan on tackling it after my 5K, and the best part is...it's totally free!

Alrighty that should do it!

Holy randomness, Batman!

2008-07-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

So I don't do this very often but I'd like to give a shout out to my recent obsessions. I think it's because I'm particularly enamored with the current crop of them and because, right now, I really don't want to be formatting Excel spreadsheets.

And here...we...go...

Anything related to The Dark Knight specifically box office returns, Oscar buzz, and mass acclaim.

Big Soda and Nachos at the theatre

Yeah that's right. Having gone to see The Dark Knight three times in five days, this has become a staple in my diet. Horrifying? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely.

Mad Men

I caught the Season 1 marathon this past Sunday and yeah, I'm hooked. It's just a stellar show with one of the most phenomenal ensemble casts I've ever seen. Especially...

Vincent Kartheiser who plays Pete Campbell. Okay so he's a total a-hole but man, am I in love with him.

the Prince Pandora station

Prince, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson. So glorious. And it definitely gets me through all the workplace BS.

Twitch from So You Think You Can Dance

A killer dancer with a big heart and a sweet body? Doesn't get much better than this, people.

All things Joker related

It's no secret that I've got a bit of a thing for the Joker. And when Zeetlebee has a thing for anything, the wallet is the first place that gets hit. So Christmas may come a little earlier and you know what? I don't feel guilty. Not...one...bit.

Moved to tears

2008-07-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

New York fits you / I imagine you are happiest here / as an exhilarated child in Times Square looking up at the light of your dream / Playing matador with taxi cabs is dangerous but not as dangerous as standing still / the ultimate torture /
handcuffed to a banal production / one that never closes / and that your role is servant to lesser bodies

Yes that is hell but is not New York / there are subways here that echo your sensibilities in huge copper whistles OPEN ALL NIGHT / like the diners you frequent / Diners that attempt nostalgia but achieve exposed nails / and you know New York / sometimes you are gone for days at a time / on happy dry benders / See the Jaguar opened on Broadway / closed after five performances / You rode your motorcycle and didn’t need food / The Immoralist opened / they flung flowers at the door / New York stays up late / today is a different sentence / but the stage door remains / still has dents of the flowers they threw

You ride your motorcycle enjoying hamburgers and beer / women / men / the city is yours and you know it / you can always live in it / matadors have innumerable alleys in which to dodge bulls disguised as taxi cabs / so many alleys to wander down / there is no alley that will suffice / only solace in movement

Most of the strangers we see here / are caught up in the momentum of being estranged / go / as you no longer need the artificial light to know where you are going

Thank you, Heath.

Culinary Zelights has begun!

2008-07-06T16:01:00.001-07:00

Alrighy, folks, the long-awaited lauching of my food blog aka #18 on my 25/25 list has arrived! Well, that's only partially true. I'm sure no one has been waiting and it also hasn't exactly arrived, at least not in full force. The blog is up and the recipes will follow shortly. For now though, take a look and stay tuned.

June hodgepodgery

2008-07-01T15:11:00.001-07:00

Well I think this month was saved by me cram-packing some stuff in at the end. Because up until about a week ago, I pretty much had done nothing! I've decided to make a few changes in my life, however, and I think those changes will definitely make me crank harder on my list.

So here we go!

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films

Yay, I DID try harder in June. I finished notes on three films this month :)

The Lodger

Secret Agent

Sabotage

Before I started working on this project, I hadn't seen any of Hitch's films from the 1930s. Having seen the majority of them now, I must say that it is an incredible decade of work. It's interesting how many of his films from the 30s are much more representative of his style and signature than many of the later ones. There is also a great deal of humor, sexuality, and violence that you probably wouldn't expect from cinema over 70 years old. Hitch is great that way :)

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

This month I ate at Swig and Osteria del Mondo. At Swig I indulged in what was probably the tastiest thing I've ever had...the Lobster Stuffed Roasted Poblano Pepper. And at Osteria, my sis and I decided to go the antipasti/salad route rather than the entree route. I got the grilled tiger shrimp with a white bean puree and lemon caper sauce, and the caprese salad with grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and aged balsamic vinegar. AMAZING.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. For those of you who do not watch So You Think You Can Dance, there's a choreographer on the show by the name of Jean-Marc Genereux. His daughter, Francesca, suffers from Rett Syndrome so he decided to choreograph a routine inspired by her. It was beautiful and incredibly moving. It also happened to be danced by one of my favorite couples, Kherington and Twitch. Because I was really inspired by Jean-Marc's ability to turn something tragic into something beautiful, I made my donation in honor of his daughter.

16. Take up meditation/find a serene place in the city to meditate

While I have yet to actually meditate there, I did notice while walking with my sis along the lakefront on Saturday how many amazing and peaceful areas there are to just chill out. So as soon as I get some more free time, and that will truly be the challenge, I plan on heading down there.

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

This month I watched The U.S. vs. John Lennon, a documentary about John Lennon's peace activism in the 60s and 70s. It also deals with the attempts made by the U.S. government to silence him and get him kicked out of the country. John Lennon has been and probably will always be my favorite Beatle. This feeling was only intensified when I had the privilege of seeing the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Being inches away from that famous pair of glasses and seeing the splatters of blood up close, it definitely made an impact. So while you may not have agreed with his politics, his method, or his attachment to Yoko Ono, you can't not be inspired by his passion to do good.

So there you have it! While I slacked a bit on some things, I think I did a fairly good job this month. I already feel like I've got the drive and energy to do more in the month of July. The summer's only going to get better from here.

like poetry, a saving grace

2008-06-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

C'mon baby let's do the twist

2008-06-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Alright let's turn this blog back into a rockin' dance party like it should be! So your little Zeetlebug hit a bit of a rough patch this week but she's back to her happy-go-lucky self. And what better way to celebrate the world alla Z than with a good old fashioned E-dubs photo gallery dedicated to my favorite thing in the world: movies. This one is my favorite to date (and I have a LOT of favorites) so please enjoy. Hopefully you've seen most of these films cuz the best part is reliving their spectacular endings.

Some fun facts before you begin, five of the movies are in my own personal Top 20 and three of them were directed by the unparalled David Fincher. If you can name which five and which three (without cheating) well then you get the gold star and my seal of approval.

Okay I'll shut up now. Please proceed.

Everybody struggles

2008-06-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

I always preface these kind of entries with the fact that I really don't like writing these kinds of entries, and the same goes for this one. I hesitate to be negative in a blog designed to celebrate the positive aspects of my life and the world. However, I feel as though I need to get some things off my chest. I already feel them eating away at me.

Now I can chalk everything I've been feeling in the past week or so to PMS, and that might be partially true, but most of this stuff is stuff I've been carrying with me through much of my adult life. It's the age old question...is this really what I want to be doing with my life? I'm a week away from the two month mark at my new job and I've already hit a wall. I'm no longer challenged and I'm growing resentful. I'm noticing how poorly certain things are handled. I'm also feeling very removed from my co-workers as I've been assigned a task that has nothing to do with what everyone else does here. I hear people chatting and working together on various projects and it makes me sad. The job I'm currently doing is slowly starting to remind me of my last one and that's scary.

So I'm at a loss. I know I have to keep plugging away because it's my job, my duty, and my responsibility. Due to my financial situation, I literally can't afford to be picky about my professional life. I guess I'm just struggling, which I know is normal. I mean, everybody struggles, it's a part of life. I think I'm simply looking for a little bit of hope and reassurance, that some day my life will be my own. That I can follow my dreams, pursue my passions, and not be held back by external circumstances. But that road has to start with me. There are a lot of bad decisions I continue to make again and again which only make things more difficult. I can't control a lot of what happens to me, but I can control my decisions.

I hope, more than anything, that I can find the right attitude and the wherewithal to keep on keepin' on. Just ignore all the bullshit and focus on my goals. When I think of my future and what I want to do it just seems so out of reach. But giving up will be my ultimate downfall. If I want to make it happen, it will happen. It will.

May hodgepodgery

2008-06-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

So jeez louise, I'm finally getting to this blog entry. At least June hasn't reached the double digits yet. But every month I'm going to try a little harder to get this thing done a little sooner. Enough chatter though...let's get down to it.

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films

Sadly I was only able to do notes on one film this month, but at least it was a good one. I'm going to try MUCH harder in June, I promise ;)

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

As much as I like Hitch's 1956 remake of this film, I found the 1934 version to be vastly superior. It was much scarier, violent, and daring especially for its time. And then there's Peter Lorre. The man is a genius. Makes me wish Hitch would have utilized him in his later films.

5. Go on a date

Yes, the one thing I was CONVINCED I wouldn't be able to accomplish on this list happened, and it only took until May ;) I met a waiter, gave him my number, and we went to dinner at Flannery's. Despite him ending up to be a real a-hole, the date was a really good time. We had some nice conversations and I got a free meal and a few beers out of it. So what did little Zeetlebee learn? Definitely go on more dates...but stay away from bad texters with a Peter Pan complex.

12. Go to the Milwaukee Art Museum

So the art museum has been open for about 7 years now and I finally got around to going. Wow am I glad I put this on my list and thanks to Aunt Martha's dedication to the art scene (and membership to the MAM which got us all in free!) I got to tour one incredible facility and some beautiful pieces of art. It was one of the best experiences I've had in awhile.

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

Okay so what I lacked in book reading and Hitch viewing, I made up for and then some in my restaurant-going. I had a DELICIOUS falafel pita at Cafe Lulu, some very yummy BBQ (and the best mac & cheese EVER) at Smoque in Chicago, one of the tastiest and most innovative dishes I've ever had...

...Crab Cake Tater Tots at Cafe Calatrava at the art museum, really scrumptious chili cheese fries at Red Robin, and finally some ridiculously good Reuben Rolls from the Mader's stand at RiverSplash.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. I specifically requested that my money go toward juvenile diabetes research, and I made my donation in honor of a woman named Samantha Jankins. I heard her story on WKLH one morning and it inspired me in a way I don't know if I could ever describe in words. I'll just say that it made me want to be stronger and more grateful for what I have.

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

This month I watched In the Shadow of the Moon, a documentary about the Apollo space missions. Speaking of inspiring, this was an incredible film. Not only are these old guys the warmest, most good-humored guys on the planet, they have such amazing stories to tell. You won't look at your time here on earth in the same way once you see this...and you, each and every one of you, should see it.

25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500

I bought two this month!

The Mamas & the Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend

So there you have it! May was definitely a feast for the senses, and I loved every second...even the bad ones :)

On a warm, rainy morning...

2008-06-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

...you can't help but reminisce about days gone by. So I made some coffee, turned on the big bands channel, and busted out some LJ circa 2003.

wow. i just got back from THE funnest night with Jen. we took a bus to East Towne mall and were planning on walking over to the theater to see Elf but that backfired due to time constraints. so we just stayed at the mall and did a little shopping. i got three pairs of kick ass socks from American Eagle (finally!), some Christmasy candles from Bath & Body Works and presents for my mom and sister. Jen finally got the shoes she's been looking for forever. it was a successful shopping trip AND we were so fucking loopy and giddy it wasn't even funny. actually it was really funny. i haven't laughed that hard in awhile and for such a prolonged period of time. we had such a blast. and we're going to try and see Elf tomorrow now that we figured out how to get there.

i love nights like this one. and alcohol free! imagine that. now i'm going to go watch Citizen Kane and start my film paper.

good night.

Only a 'Sconie would be wistful over a cold night in November on a warm, rainy morning in June.

To May...a lovely month indeed

2008-06-03T05:50:00.001-07:00

Okay is it just me or did this month seem to last forever? Wow, did I cram a lot in. Well despite a few snags here and there, May was fabulous. I checked several key things off my 25/25 list (stay tuned for updates later) and I spent oodles of time with all the people I love the most. Oh, and the weather finally got good again.

-rediscovering The Living End
-celebrating my new job at Café Lulu and At Random with the fam
-going to The Bottle with K and talking about high school and Butterworks
-Jason Castro
-a kickass day in Chicago…lunch at the Full Shilling, watching the Cubs win at Wrigley, the hottie on the bus, Smoque with Martha, a lovely car ride
-all the positive feedback at my job
-a hot dream about Dane Cook
-going to the driving range with K
-getting the Internet at home
-a lovely evening at home alone updating my blog and watching The Rules of Attraction and The Departed
-spending Mother’s Day at our apartment due to some interesting setbacks
-Dan in Real Life
-the Mamas and the Papas
-getting new tires
-the new Duffy and Jason Mraz cds
-finally getting together with Diana and hanging out at BBC and a random house party
-going to the art museum with K, Martha, and Momzy
-the crab cake tater tots
-Marne’s fabulous graduation party
-seeing Iron Man with K and J
-going to Flan’s with Ken
-my new job and all the awesome peeps
-The Paper on MTV…best show ever! Ohhh Michael Jan…
-David Cook winning AI!!
-bringing back the Asian man love
-my new bed spread!
-the half day before Memorial weekend
-kickin’ it with Nicole in the O.C.
-the Baconator!
-a lovely barbecue with the fam, J&J and Rob & Sarah
-running around in the rain with K and Jeremy
-seeing Prince Caspian with Momzy
-So You Think You Can Dance starting again!
-quoting Dane Cook
-the Lost season finale
-going to Riversplash with K…walking around in the beautiful weather, the “cop” convo by the Miller Lite stand, some very yummy Reuben rolls, dancing like crazy to King Solomon and the Have a Nice Day Café “wedding reception” dance party
-hanging with the fam at The Knick and Calypso
-Cloverfield…definitely one of the scariest and most awesome movies I’ve ever seen
-the Cubbies being #1 in the whole major league!!

Forever in blue jeans

2008-05-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

He took my hand and began to run. At first I was annoyed but when he looked back at me with that smile, I had to laugh. Then he laughed. And that's when I realized that everything that had come before this moment meant nothing. I had finally found the one thing that had always been missing. What was it? Not the cool sand on my sunburned feet or the feeling of evening breezes against my face and in my hair. Was it him? His smile and the way he let me collapse into him at a moment's notice? No. It was me. I had finally found the version of myself I'd been trying to find for years. And not even the rough tug of his hand around my wrist, forcing my exhausted body to run and leap about like a child felt like a burden. Life would always be hard, but now I lived for it.

For J.

April hodgepodgery

2008-05-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

So I feel like I didn't get as much done as I usually do but that's probably because I got a fucking job! I'm hoping that as I get more used to the new lifestyle I'll be able to create a good balance between work, play, and what I'd like to call 'productive use of my free time.' That's the goal anyway! That, and getting myself a man ;-) But getting back to the blog post at hand, here's a list of what I DID accomplish in April.

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)

I finished notes on three Hitch films this month.

Foreign Correspondent

The Man Who Knew Too Much

Topaz

2. Take another acting class

Well I successfully completed Acting II at The Rep. Despite meeting a guy who gave me some trouble near the end, I had a blast in this class. I feel like I really rocked this one. People gave me a lot of compliments and I think I really mastered the whole Improv thing. When II ended I thought I should take a break and not go right into III for both personal and financial reasons. I do hope to take III the next time it's offered cuz I absolutely lurve acting and all the peeps in my classes.

8. Read 12 books (for the year)

I was only able to read one book this month (yeah I suck) but it was one of the best books I've ever read...The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis. It also happens to be one of my favorite movies that, as luck would have it, I am watching as I type this! Thanks Home Box Office :) Lauren Hynde and Paul Denton are two of my favorite literary and cinematic characters in the world. No doubt about it.

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

I ate at some awesome new places this month. For Davey's birthday we went to Trinity Three Irish Pubs and I got a killer grilled cheese sammy with white cheddar cheese, caramelized onion and spinach. I also went to Brocach, another Irish pub, with the fam. I had this sweet potato and butternut squash concoction that was pretty much an orgasm in a bowl. Finally, when I went to Madtown for my best buddy Jen's 25th b-day we went to Takara, the best restaurant in the city and probably the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. We had such a blast there. It's now what I imagine heaven to be like.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

I donated $25 to the Tourette Syndrome Association.

19. Go to the opera or symphony

I went to see a Mozart Mass concert at St. John's and it was phenomenal. I've been to a lot of symphony concerts but experiencing one inside a cathedral was truly remarkable. There also happened to be a thunderstorm going on that night so you could occasionally hear the thunder and see the lightning through the stained glass. Very, very awesome.

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

This month I watched Steep which was not only one of the coolest docs I've ever seen but one of the coolest films in general I've ever seen. It was totally awe-inspiring and even though I'm the biggest chicken shit in the world, I can still appreciate the awesomeness of big mountain skiing. These people are incredible.

*****

So maybe it wasn't the most productive month, but it was certainly one of the greatest and most fun I've had in awhile. I can't wait to see what the summer will bring.

Goodbye my little dreadlocked lovely...

2008-05-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

So it had to happen eventually. Jason Castro just wasn't cut out for American Idol and was sadly sent packing last night. But maybe it's not so sad after all. He expressed how daunting the task had become in recent weeks to learn more than one song in a matter of days and he had also become a bit bewildered by all the crazy attention from his fans. And as I drove to work this morning listening to his hauntingly beautiful version of "Over the Rainbow" I reflected on that humble, everyman quality that I loved most about Jason. He was a really wonderful person and I hope, despite his aversion to the rock 'n roll lifestyle, that he stays in the music industry for a long time.

And with that, I conclude this entry with some fine words from the peeps at E-dubs who read my mind and put it in print...

By the end of Ruben Studdard's "Celebrate Me Home", Jason admitted to being a little relieved, especially since he would have had to learn three more songs before next Tuesday's top-three performance show. "I don't know what I would've done," he said with a chuckle, alluding to his prior comment that his inexperience had started to catch up with him, causing him to forget the lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man."

And though I was disappointed, perhaps even a little angry, after Jason seemingly threw in the towel on Tuesday, I have to admit I howled when he cheerfully recounted to Ryan that "somebody told me I shot the tambourine man." After all, it was Jason's refreshing lack of camera readiness, his random, bewildered sound bites, that made me a fan in the first place. And let's not forget that for a guy who didn't get a second of significant airtime until week 1 of the semifinals, Jason exceeded expectations, leaving behind a pretty long list of memorable performances, including "Daydream," "I Just Want to Be Your Everything," "Hallelujah," "If I Fell," "Travelin' Thru," "Over the Rainbow," "I Don't Wanna Cry," "Memory" (which I still contend was touching, and misunderstood by Simon and Randy), and "Forever in Blue Jeans."

Some April faves

2008-05-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

-martinis at Buckley’s
-watching the BSG finale/premiere with the ‘rents
-the first semi-warm weekend
-watching Cubbies games
-The Rules of Attraction
-Jesse Blaze Snider
-Davey’s birthday lunch at Trinity, hanging out at the Ale House
-John’s party at the Genie (crazy shenanigans with Jim, hearing “Wax Ecstatic”)
-going to the ‘burbs…going to the mall with Momzy and K, pretzel and long ass wait at Wagner’s, “little people, big erection”
-Brocach for Davey’s b-day, seeing Andy Genaw, going back to our place for presents and Cubs/Canadiens games
-Across the Universe
-Jim Sturgess
-getting breakfast at MM, K going through old books, going through Toronto journal
-GETTING A MOTHEREFFING JOB!!!! (i.e. getting a call from Kim whilst at the Ale House, meeting her at Starbucks and being very well prepped for the interview, an awesome interview, and getting a call 24 hours later informing me of the good news!)
-Katie buying Dezzie aka Bloodball
-chilling at the Hall Imports dealership
-going to the ‘rents to show off Dezzie and celebrate my new job
-my kickass Madtown Mix CD
-going to C-K to get stuff for my new job, having coffee with K and Shannon in the kitchen, and telling various peeps about the job
-running errands around town with K before leaving for Madtown
-having dinner at P.F. Changs with Kat and Jen
-hanging out at Jen’s with Kat drinking some vino watching Scrubs and Lost in Translation
-chillin’ at Jen’s in the morning, dicking around online, with golf in the b/g
-lunch with Ron
-working on Hitch at Espresso
-hanging with Jen's work peeps at Nitty and Bros.
-getting sushi at Takara, meeting some cool peeps, and my love for Asians
-hanging out at Paul's Club with Gavi, meeting Matt
-Cafe Continental with Jen and Matt
-starting my new job!
-the Mozart concert at St. John's
-a fun convo about movies with K at Blu
-Dale from Top Chef :)

I got me a job!

2008-04-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, it finally happened. Funny how when you're unemployed it feels like the whole charade has been going on for an eternity but when you finally get the job it feels like hardly any time has gone by at all. Don't get me wrong, it was a very maddening process that I still wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. But I think when the right thing comes along, you feel as though the wait was totally worth it. I mean, thinking back to all those job interviews and rejection, I wouldn't change any of it. Because I honestly feel as though the job that I ended up getting was exactly what I wanted and needed at exactly the right time.

So...more about the job! I will be working for Kohl's at their Corporate Headquarters in Menomonee Falls and my title is E-Commerce Project Coordinator. Basically I will help coordinate the projects that the E-Commerce division handles i.e. maintaining, updating various parts of the website like product assortment and shop links. The e-commerce side of Kohl's is growing like crazy and it sounds like there's never a dull moment there which is precisely what I need after my last job. The two women I interviewed with (and who I'll be working for) are super nice and personality-wise I think it will be a great fit. I guess the vibe in their department is young and "hip" and I must have given off a similar vibe in the interview because they thought I would fit in great with everyone. And while it is a 'temp to hire' position and for now they're just bringing me on because they need some extra help, they said there is a very strong possibility that it will turn permanent which is awesome!

This whole thing came about in such a crazy, random way. I was out at the Ale House last Friday afternoon celebrating my step-dad's birthday. My cell phone rang and I thought it was my mom so I answered it. (Since I had had a few beers and was in a loud bar I didn't think it was wise to answer any job related calls.) Turns out it was NOT my mom but this woman named Kim who worked with a staffing agency. She found my resume online and told me about the Kohl's position. She saw that I had some elementary knowledge of web design and HTML, and also had a good amount of administrative and coordinating experience. So she asked me if she could present me as a candidate for this position at Kohl's. And unlike many other staffing people I've worked with, she seemed genuinely interested in helping out. She managed to get me an interview with them this past Tuesday which was crazy fast.

So the interview went SUPER well...probably the best interview I've ever had. I was able to be very articulate about my job experience and work style but also personable and funny and all that. I felt like the stars were aligned because every answer I had for them seemed to click. It was amazing. I walked out of it feeling very confident but considering the luck I've had I didn't want to get too excited. I talked to Kim about it as soon as it was over and she was all about following up with them. I knew they really needed to get someone in there fast but I was still expecting to wait for awhile for an answer.

The next day I tried REALLY hard not to wait next to the phone like a desperate school girl. I didn't hear anything until about 5:00. I was sitting in my sister's car (we were about to head out to try and buy her dream car) and I get a call. I'll never forget it. "Well I have what I hope is good news...they would like to extend an offer to you." SO CRAZY!!! I literally could not believe my ears. She told me how much they liked me and thought I would be really great for the job and the department. I think that was the part I appreciated the most. Yes, getting a job is glorious but more than anything I just wanted someone to be impressed and excited by me and just give me a chance to prove myself. I did my best to maintain my composure while talking to Kim because Katie was sitting right there and I didn't want to give anything away. So when I got off the phone and turned to her, I said "I got a job" and she proceeded to scream super loud. Haha, I'll never forget it. I think I was too stunned to react so boldly but Katie's reaction pretty much summed it all up. Months and months of pent of frustration finally released.

It couldn't have worked out better. I got the news right before Katie bought her new car, which she's deserved for quite some time as well. We drove it to my parents' house from the dealership and surprised them. They were both really excited for her and loved the car. So we were all, "let's go inside and have a cocktail to celebrate!" As soon as we got inside, K said " well that's not the only good news" and looked in my direction. I announced, "I got a job!" and my mom FLIPPED THE F OUT!! It was the greatest thing ever. I feel like I've never seen her so happy for me. Honestly, I think it was one of the best moments of my life. I just saw how much my happiness and success mattered to her and that was very touching.

So there you have it! I apologize for such a long-winded post here but I guess that was inevitable. I'm just amazed at how sudden and crazy this whole thing came about. But that's life in a nutshell. The best things always happen when you're least expecting them, which is why no one should ever give up hope. I was so close to throwing in the towel and was even considering moving to another city! I sincerely was at a loss as to what to do about getting a job. And then this opportunity falls into my lap out of nowhere! I'm just so happy that things finally seemed to be turning around. 2008 might just turn out to be my year after all.

Hot delicious yum yums

2008-04-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Okay so I've decided to take a permanent vacation from real men. Men I don't actually have to deal with on a daily basis, however, well those will always hold a special place in the heart and mind of old Zeetlebee. So here's a little tribute to the ones currently in heavy rotation...

Jesse Blaze Snider, son of Dee Snider, currently competing on MTV's Rock the Cradle. At first I wasn't so sure what I thought of him, but ever since he rocked the Mohawk, guy-liner, and Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" last Thursday, I've been hooked.

Ian Somerhalder, who I've always found dangerously good-looking, has re-emerged as one of my fave men as I recently finished reading The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis. Ian played Paul Denton in the film version of the book that came out some years ago and after reading the book I decided that his character is one my favorites ever to come out of literature and film. Most of the credit must go to Ellis who wrote such a fantastic and interesting character. But without Ian Somerhalder's charm, dark humor, and unparalleled hotness the character would simply be good on paper.

Jim Sturgess plays Jude in the Beatles musical film Across the Universe which I finally had the privilege of seeing last night. The film is amazing but Jim Sturgess is really the highlight. He's just a ridiculously attractive guy with a hot accent and gorgeous singing voice. And that's a trifecta of traits you just can't beat.

March hodgepodgery

2008-04-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

March updates to my 25/25 list!

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)

I completed notes on four Hitch films this month.

To Catch a Thief

Rebecca

The Wrong Man

Jamaica Inn

7. Give up alcohol for Lent

Done and done! As much as I love being able to drink again, those nearly two months of Lent were truly a glorious time for me. Never underestimate the power of patience and delayed gratification.

8. Read 12 books (for the year)

Finished No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy...

...and Sacred by Dennis Lehane...

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

This past Saturday, my sis and I went to Edgar's Calypso downtown. Holy shit is that place fantastic. Best food, service, and atmosphere I've encountered since Firefly. Not only that but K was generous enough to share the gift certificate she got for her birthday with me so it was all free!

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

So I said I was going to hold off on this until I got a job but I guess my generosity got the better of me ;) I donated $5 to Companion Animal Resource and Adoption Center. And to make up for February, I donated $25 to St. John's when I attended the Easter Triduum there.

20. Attend the Triduum at St. John’s

The Easter Triduum this year was amazing. Archbishop Dolan presided over all four services we attended which was great. I'm already looking forward to next year!

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

This month I watched an absolutely incredible documentary called Autism: The Musical. The film recounts six months in the lives of five autistic children and their parents as the children write and rehearse for an original stage production. If you know anything about autism, you know that the last thing that would seem possible for autistic children would be creating and performing a musical. That's precisely what is so moving about the film. The kids accomplish such amazing feats all because people took a chance on them. I've always been interested in autism and did several research papers and projects about it throughout my middle and high school years. As much as I know, however, this film reminded me that there is still SO much to learn...not only about the disorder but about how complicated and wonderful the children who have it truly are.

25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500

I bought three this month!

The Beatles — Revolver

U2 — Achtung Baby

Cyndi Lauper — She’s So Unusual

That's it! Onto April...

Marched to the beat of my own drummer...

2008-04-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

...and got a bunch of cool shit in the process.

-hanging out with K and J at Chipotle, Karma
-dinner at Maggiano’s with the Sezz fam
-spending a nice day with Momzy (talking, shopping at Target, looking at photo albums)
-Acting II
-David Cook
-Christian winning P-Run
-No Country for Old Men
-Sacred
-watching Vertigo and The Apartment on TCM
-Enchanted Orchid from B&BW
-the Ogden St. Starbucks
-spring weather
-Tucker on MSNBC
-Lost
-Vanilla Comoro tea
-peanut butter eggs
-No Country on DVD
-running again
-The Beatles
-new sunglasses
-The Darjeeling Limited
-Mark from Top Chef
-Achtung Baby
-peanut butter Fiber One bars
-hearing from Upshot after two months
-dinner at Buckley’s with Martha and the ‘rents
-finding a 20 disc Hitchcock DVD collection for $20
-the Easter Triduum
-a lovely photo text from Bradley
-baking corn muffins
-Easter brunch
-Godspell
-kicking ass on my scene with Mike
-drinking red wine again!
-an exciting romantic prospect...regardless of the actual outcome
-my 70s mix CD
-Autism: The Musical
-talking to Momzy at Barnes
-hanging out with K and Nicole in Bayview
-a lovely phone call from Jen
-Calypso and Buckley’s with K
-baseball season starting again! :)

February hodgepodgery

2008-03-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

So I realized the other day that I totally forgot to post an update on my 25/25 accomplishments for the month of February. Here they are in all their shining glory!

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)

I completed notes on six films this month:

The Lady Vanishes

Spellbound

Rope

Saboteur

Notorious

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

I had already seen three of the six. So out of the three I had not seen, I'd have to say that The Lady Vanishes was my favorite. Michael Redgrave was so attractive and hilarious. Plus nearly the entire film takes place on a train and I love the Hitch films that are confined to one space. What I found the most interesting was how eerily similar this film is to Flightplan with Jodie Foster. Apparently Flightplan was filmed from an original screenplay but to me it was a total ripoff of Hitch. Yes, there is such a thing as coincidence but the whole writing on the window thing is TOO much of a coincidence. Ohhhh silly people trying to pawn off Alfred Hitchcock's genius as their own. Will they ever learn?

7. Give up alcohol for Lent

I completed 24 days in the month of February, and while it certainly has posed its share of challenges, so far I am totally and utterly grateful for the experience and what it has taught me.

8. Read 12 books (for the year)

Finished Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane...

...and Faith of my Fathers by John McCain

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

Katie and I had dinner at Buckley’s and the whole fam had dinner at Metro Bar & Cafe inside Hotel Metro. And even though I have eaten at both these places before, I must give shout outs to the dessert I had at The Knick with Katie and the killer brunch we had at Cafe Hollander.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

Because I'm unemployed, I'm trying to save money every month. But I definitely don't want to skimp on what I promised. So once I get a job, I will donate an additional $15 for every month I did not donate during unemployment. Here are some new charities I would like to help in the future:

Teen Challenge - Southern California (a drug and alcohol treatment facility for teenagers)

Tourette Syndrome Association

Animal Welfare Institute

World Food Programme

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

This month I watched Sicko and Why We Fight. Both were very interesting although one was clearly more sensational than the other. More than simply arouse me emotionally, the films prompted me to care about their issues and more importantly search for my own answers. And this is precisely why I added this task to my 25/25 list. As depressing and scary as a lot of these realities are and as much as we want to ignore them, I think it's so important to be well-informed and to do whatever we can as individuals to seek the truth and act accordingly.

Well I feel like I got a lot done this month and I thoroughly enjoyed reflecting back on all of it. I can't wait to see what March brings!

I have to say it was a good month

2008-02-27T06:56:00.000-08:00

So I do this Favorite Things list every month and usually I'll just post it on MySpace. But since I rarely go there these days, I thought I'd relocate my monthly nostalgia fest to this blog. February, despite its obvious setbacks, was a truly wonderful time for me. I've spent most of my time reading, writing, watching documentaries and fantastic cable television shows, cooking, driving around town, and generally just enjoying myself. And the best part is, I was paid to do all of it! So here's a little rundown of the highlights...

-the Giants winning the Super Bowl
-Jeremy Davies
-reading about John McCain
-The Lady Vanishes, Saboteur
-dinners at the Metro Bar & Café and Buckley’s
-Johnny Depp on Inside the Actor’s Studio
-the Super Bowl ep of Seinfeld
-Lost
-white cheddar cheese puffs
-baking a bunch of brownies and cup cakes for peeps at work on my last day
-moving on from C-K
-The Hoax
-Breaking Bad on AMC
-Bryan Cranston
-the cute guy in the political science section at Half Price Books
-Dexter on CBS
-iced tea with mint and lemon
-Mika
-Jacob from Intervention
-watching MSNBC in the morning
-re-reading my U.S. history “magic” book
-keeping the apartment clean
-learning about Vietnam and the Nixon presidency
-spending my afternoons at Barnes and Borders
-Dennis Lehane books
-Christian winning Fan Favorite on Project Runway
-my late Feb mix CD
-Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
-Why We Fight
-dessert at the Knick and brunch at Café Hollander with K
-The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
-the Oscars
-David Archuleta, Michael Johns, David Cook, and David Hernandez from AI

Here's hoping I can make March just as lovely and I get a new job to boot.

Attack of the Killer Davids

2008-02-27T06:46:00.000-08:00

A little homage to my three favorite AI men of the moment...

Oscar predictions!

2008-02-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

Okay, I have just enough time in my busy day to squeeze this post in. As some of you may know I am sans Internet at my apartment and now sans job so I'm spending only a limited amount of my time online every week. I have no idea if I'll be back on here before Sunday night so here are my Oscar predictions a few days early. Enjoy!

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men

Best Director
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Actress
Julie Christie, Away From Her

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
(This is the category where I'm most likely to be wrong but I've gotta stand by my lady!)

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody, Juno

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Foreign Film
The Counterfeiters (Austria)

Best Animated Feature Film
Ratatouille

Best Original Score
Atonement

Best Original Song
"Falling Slowly" from Once

Best Achievement in Cinematography
No Country for Old Men

Best Achievement in Film Editing
No Country for Old Men
(Apparently everyone is predicting that The Bourne Ultimatum will snag this prize but I can't in good conscience vote for anyone but the lovely and talented 'Roderick Jaynes')

Best Achievement in Art Direction
There Will Be Blood

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Sweeney Todd

Achievement in Makeup
La Vie en Rose

Best Documentary Feature
No End in Sight

Best Documentary Short
Sari's Mother

Best Short Film - Animated
I Met the Walrus

Best Short Film - Live Action
Tanghi Argentini

Achievement in Visual Effects
Transformers

Achievement in Sound Mixing
Transformers

Achievement in Sound Editing
Transformers

Alrighty, kids, this was one TOUGH year to predict let me just tell you. The crop of talent is mindboggling and if I'm wrong about every category it's because almost everyone nominated this year deserves to win. The Oscar voters had a difficult job and I won't be disgruntled with any of them should my peeps not land the big prize. I wish everyone the best of luck particularly DDL, Javi, Amy, the Two-Headed Director, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Charles Ferguson, and Roger Deakins.

Leaving it all behind

2008-02-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

So I wrote a whole blog about my 'feelings' regarding being laid off from my job. It was pretty negative because, well, how else is one supposed to feel when unemployment is only days away? But suddenly I had an epiphany and decided to scrap the whole thing. It was like reaching an emotional fork in the road where you can either succumb to your own negativity or abandon the whole sloppy mess and decide to be happy even though there isn't much at all to be happy about. For some reason I just feel like being a foolishly happy idiot who just assumes everything will work out rather than a cynical bitch with nothing but bad things to say. The life of the happy idiot has always sounded pretty appealing to me. Why not live it?

Okay so the future is a little scary for yours truly. If I don't get a job soon, I'll have to use my severance, tax return, savings, and possibly unemployment to survive. It sucks that I may have to use all this extra money I've earned to pay the bills rather than use it to pay down my debts or buy something special for myself. On the other hand, having that money means I won't have to borrow any from anyone else for at least three months and consequently go further into debt. That's certainly a better position to be than I was a few years ago when I was unemployed. I will also have oodles of time to read, work on my book, and just relax. When I'm not actively pursuing the job thing, I get to do whatever I want. And since when has 'doing whatever one wants' been such a bad prospect?

My head has been so clouded with the fear, frustration, and stress of looking for a job that I haven't been able to fully comprehend how absolutely glorious it is to finally be free of this job. I always felt stifled and held back by it and now I'm getting the opportunity to move on to bigger and better things. Who knows, I may even be challenged by next job. What a concept! Not to sound dramatic but it really does feel like being released from prison. Sure it'd be nice if when I walked through the gates I wasn't greeted by five feet of frozen snow and sub zero temperatures, but the relentless Wisconsin winter is something I should probably just ignore if I'm going to make this whole 'happy idiot' thing work.

So to paraphrase some of the immortal words of Patrick Bateman, I think it's time to stop sounding so fucking sad. Winter will be over soon, this annoying cold will pass, and I will get a new job. The best things in life are worth waiting for and I know it's all going to work out for me eventually. I'll be content and comfortable in my new cozy life and it'll be difficult to remember ever being upset about anything. So if only good things await me, why not start being happy this very second?

Some memorable AI performances

2008-02-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

Well the ever popular "Hollywood Week" episode of American Idol aired last night and it definitely delivered. I think the best part about it for me was that several of the contestants I was somewhat luke warm about before truly, truly impressed me. Most notably...Michael Johns, David Archuleta, and Josiah Leming.

John McCain circa 1973

2008-02-12T14:25:00.000-08:00

I really love this photograph. It was taken during an interview with John McCain after he was released from captivity in Vietnam. Some people don't know this but his hair actually turned white from his experience as a POW. Before I knew anything about him, I always identified McCain by his white hair like it was his trademark. Now I look at it as a symbol of his bravery and perseverance. He endured more pain and suffering than most will see in a lifetime simply to protect his fellow soldiers and defend the cause that brought him to Vietnam in the first place. Republican or Democrat, you have to be inspired by that.

The Talented Mr. Davies

2008-02-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love it when a person who you've looked at a hundred times and felt nothing toward suddenly has this magic about him? Well, for me that happened last Thursday night when a handsome, young gent called Jeremy Davies appeared for the first time in my favorite TV series, Lost.

I always thought he was a cute guy but compared with the Adrien Brodys and Javier Bardems of the world, it takes a lot more than 'cute' to catch Zeetlebug's attention. So what was it about this time? I really don't know. Maybe it's his character, Daniel Faraday, and the adorably neurotic way he stumbles around the island. Or perhaps Charlie's death left me desperate for another misunderstood yet unabashedly sweet character to root for. I'm not sure what it is but I feel like this is going to be a rough one for me to shake. Not since Sylar from Heroes has a television character left me so dumbfounded and giddy.

And as luck would have it, turns out I'm not the only one crushing on Mr. Davies. E-dubs has once again read my mind (or am I reading theirs?) and put the man at the top of their Must List for the week...

I really didn't think Lost could get any better but with the introduction of Daniel Faraday, it truly has. Now I just have to hope he doesn't suffer the same fate as our dear friend, Charlie.

The latest gift from E-dubs

2008-02-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

Someone up there doesn't just like me, they fucking love me.

Vanity Fair does Hitchcock

2008-02-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

I recently had one of those 'somebody up there likes me' moments when several friends of mine told me about the latest issue of Vanity Fair. Around this time of year, Vanity Fair puts out their annual "Hollywood Issue" which includes a pictorial of the Academy Award nominees as well as other "hot" or "buzzed about" actors from the past year. This year has been my favorite year for cinema in over a decade and I feel nothing but love and adoration for all of the actors and actresses who have contributed to that. That being said, I really didn't care what the theme was this year. You could imagine then how elated I was to discover that this year’s theme was none other than the Master of Suspense himself...Alfred Hitchcock.

Any year I would have flipped out about this but right now I just happen to be in the thick of the research I'm doing for a Hitchcock encyclopedia I plan to publish in the next few years. So not only am I getting a bunch of awesome photographs of my favorite actors (you know how I love those!) I also get to see them posed for scenes inspired by Hitch's best films. Yes, somebody up there likes me indeed.

So here are just a few of my favorites...

To catch the rest, click here. But if you're up for a more Z-esque experience, visit your local Barnes & Noble, order yourself some coffee or tea, then find a quiet corner where you can enjoy this issue in a way Hitch would have appreciated: slowly, meticulously, and with undivided attention to every detail.

Chikezie, my main squeezie

2008-02-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, surpassing the cute farm boy I fell in love with a few weeks back, Chikezie Eze is now at the top of my list of peeps to root for on American Idol. Check out those pipes!

Must we hit the bottle so hard?

2008-02-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day I can drink alcohol for the next 47 days. Why, you ask? Well, I've decided to give up imbibing for Lent. This will be my first attempt at extracting booze from my life since that seven month stint three years ago. And I've got to say, I don't think I've ever been so excited about something so unexciting.

With the exception of my sister and my mother, I really don't know many people who are innocent of at least one alcohol related problem. Whether it's binge drinking, driving drunk, having intoxicated one-night stands, calling in sick at least once a week due to hangovers, or drinking alone, every one in my life makes poor decisions because of alcohol. Obviously I am included in this bunch which is why I'm doing this. I can't change the people around me, but I can change myself. Then eventually I may have to find new friends.

I've been dealing with this stuff since high school and it never gets any easier. When I'm not being the binge-drinking idiot who loses control after too many T&Ts, I'm the smart, sober goody-goody who feels sorry for all the poor folks around her. Neither is very much fun, let me assure you. Why does it have to be one or the other though? I've been wondering that for awhile and I think the answer is fairly plain. I live in Wisconsin.

UW Madison was the #4 party school last year, and I think it was #2 when I went there. So the fact that much of my college life was spent in a drunken haze is no surprise. When I graduated and moved on, however, I was expecting things to change, and three years later, not a whole lot has changed. I drink less because I have more responsibility and my body simply cannot handle it. But a lot of the people around me act as though they are still living out their college glory years. It's just the way things are in this state, and it's really sad. If the weekend rolls around and you don't feel like going out to the bar or downing a few six-packs at someone's apartment, good luck finding an alternative...at least one you can do with another person. For me, the options have always been...go to a movie, read or write at Barnes & Noble, or sit at home and watch TV. Not that I don't thoroughly enjoy these things because I do. I just wish there wider variety of social activities to choose from.

Someday all of this won't matter. I'll have a family, smart and responsible friends who actually have priorities, and of course my love of cooking, writing, and acting to get me by when all else fails. Being in your twenties is surely overrated and I know that now. So to get through the next five years I've just got to try as hard as I can to stay true to myself and not fall by the wayside. But first, I've got to get through the next 47 days.

Random hodgepodgery

2008-01-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

Although it seemed to last forever, January was a really great month for me. I had a blast and got a lot accomplished! Besides all the fun friends/family related shenanigans, I also got to check off a few things from my 25/25 list...

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)

I completed notes on three films this month:

The Paradine Case

Stage Fright

The 39 Steps

I think of the three, Stage Fright was my favorite. Michael Wilding is BEAUTIFUL and the film was extremely funny and very suspenseful. I will say though that chemistry between Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll in The 39 Steps was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed that film as well.

11. Build savings account (at least $100 a month)

I got my federal tax return deposited into my checking account today so I put $500 of it into savings. I'd probably be more excited about it if I wasn't about to be unemployed in two weeks. Still, money is money and I'm grateful to have it! :)

13. Eat at one new restaurant every month

Even though this feels like ages ago, I ate at a few new restaurants this month: Houlihan's and Zim's. I was introduced to the complete and utter deliciousness that are the Zim's sliders and I'm so excited to have them again when I go this Friday.

15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month

This month I donated $15 to the Autism Research Institute.

21. Watch at least one documentary every month

Today I watched an extremely fascinating documentary called "Growing Up Online" from Frontline, the PBS documentary series. It's about how the Internet influences and affects children and teenagers and the way it has come to dominate their lives. While the popularity of online socializing via MySpace and Facebook is nothing new, it was pretty alarming to see how much of an impact the Internet has had in terms of education and the way young people are taught. While the technology is amazing and it's definitely making classes a lot more interesting and interactive than when I was in school, it was sad to see how many students were using the Internet to cheat and avoid actually learning anything from their education. Anyway, it's a great documentary that everyone should check out. It just might make you re-evaluate how much time you spend online!

Okay that about does 'er for my January update. Happy trails!

Simpler times

2008-01-28T13:25:00.000-08:00

so here's my plan for the rest of my day: go to Borders and get that much needed cup of coffee. possibly sit out on the patio and enjoy the T storm that may or may not get here tonight. watch Gummo (only cuz i love JJ so Much). clean my room. do some research for my film paper. listen to jazz. drink green tea. go to bed at a more reasonable hour than last night. yeah, that sounds good.

Whenever I'm having a hard day and I want to escape the burdens of my current life, I like to log into Live Journal, pull up some old entries, and take a lovely trip down memory lane. The time period I tend to revisit the most is my last semester at Madison. I had given up alcohol completely, bought my first car, moved in with my dance instructor to get away from a bad living situation, and completely immersed myself in school. Though somewhat lonely, I was happy and independent...perhaps more so than I've ever been in my life.

I achieved so much in those few months that I guess I like to hold onto the memories to remind myself of who I was when I was at my best. I stayed sober for the entire semester, completed four extensive research papers, and got a 4.0 GPA. I took up running, learned Latin dance, and began my love affair with cooking. Because Darrell and I had different schedules, I was always home alone so it felt like I lived alone. I realized then how glorious life could be having your own place. It's not something I've since experienced and even though living with my parents was fine, and living with my sister has been a blast, I cannot wait to get my own apartment and reclaim that independence.

It's not as though things are so bad right now. I think I'm just longing to get back some things I feel like I've lost. Maybe it's a sense of self or a sense of purpose, I don't really know. My priorities have been a bit out of whack for awhile and I'm hoping that a new job, a new apartment, and essentially a new life will inspire me to go after the things I know will make me happy. I don't want to put so much stock into the things that continuously disappoint me simply because society has taught me to go after said things. I'm going to waste a lot of my time and energy if I keep doing that. If that last semester of college taught me anything it's that I can accomplish so much more when I extract all the bullshit from my life and focus only on what matters to me.

A class act

2008-01-28T06:37:00.001-08:00

The boys of January

2008-01-25T13:49:00.001-08:00

A little tribute to the ones who made this past month extra special ;-)

There Will Be Blood

2008-01-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

Critics often throw around the expression "tour de force" when discussing performances. I've used it myself several times in my film reviews. I am now, however, feeling somewhat regretful for having done so. I should have saved those words for this review because, up until now, no one has quite deserved them like Daniel Day-Lewis.

I saw There Will Be Blood this past Sunday and Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as Daniel Plainview is still haunting me. If the shocking and untimely death of Heath Ledger had not occurred in the meantime, perhaps I'd be even more haunted, but that tragedy has overshadowed quite a lot. Interestingly enough, when I think about Daniel Day-Lewis as an actor, I am very much reminded of Heath Ledger. Like Daniel, Heath was a brave actor who not only took on controversial roles but audacious ones as well. He mentioned to reporters how distraught he'd become after completing his work as The Joker in The Dark Knight. The Joker is extremely dark, twisted, and morally corrupt, and when an actor completely immerses himself in a role like, there are definite consequences. Daniel Plainview is a character not unlike The Joker and I have to wonder how Daniel Day-Lewis was able to pull off that performance so honestly and convincingly and walk away unscathed. While it moves and inspires me, it also terrifies the hell out of me.

I take comfort in the fact that Daniel Day-Lewis has been doing this for a long time. Although he has only recently begun tackling more villainous roles, he's been acting for over 35 years and has found ways to leave his characters behind even when he doesn't want to leave them behind. Having seen There Will Be Blood, I understand now why this particular character was the most difficult for him to walk away from. In order to create such a mammoth performance, he really had to shed every ounce of his true self and become this other man in mind, body, and spirit. I mean, the film is almost three hours long and Daniel Day-Lewis appears in nearly every scene. Daniel Plainview pretty much is this film, in fact, he may be bigger than it. There were definitely moments when I felt as though the frames of the screen could not contain him.

Now I have to attribute much of the success of this character to the way it was written, developed, and executed by Paul Thomas Anderson as the writer and director of the film. While There Will Be Blood is loosely based on Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel, Oil!, there is no doubt that the character of Daniel Plainview is a brainchild conceived by PTA and brought into fruition by Daniel Day-Lewis. This was a true actor-director collaboration and the result is a pure cinematic marvel. I feel like it's impossible for DDL to win an Oscar without PTA winning one as well. Consider Adrien Brody and Roman Polanski. The Pianist was a lot like There Will Be Blood in that one actor was required to carry the picture on his shoulders and he was only able to do it because he had his director paving the road in front of him. It's difficult for me not to root for the Coens in the Best Director category. However, to reward Daniel Day-Lewis for his work and not do the same for Paul Thomas Anderson just doesn't seem right. I'm sure Daniel would tell you the same.

Despite my ramblings about Daniel Day-Lewis' performance, there are many, many more aspects of There Will Be Blood worth checking out. First and foremost, Jonny Greenwood's score. Discordant, tense, and chaotic, Greenwood's string-heavy opus captures the mood of the film perfectly. With the exception of Bernard Herrmann's scores for Hitchcock's Vertigo and Psycho, I don't think I've ever encountered music that externalizes the emotion and psychology of a film in such a profound way. If Daniel Plainview doesn't scare the hell out of you, then the music certainly will.

And then we have Robert Elswit's cinematography. There is a scene in the film when one of the oil rigs catches fire, and the screen is blanketed in these rich, saturated oranges and blues. Beyond the rig are vast, empty fields that slowly become enveloped in a kind of monstrous black smoke. It's absolutely breathtaking, but what's more amazing is how Elswit manages to turn something so terrifying into something so beautiful.

Clearly I could go on and on about There Will Be Blood for hours, and left to my own devices I probably would. I think it's just one of these films that I love more with every day that passes and thus I want to talk about it with whomever will listen. I thank Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis for this labor of love they have given the world, and for whatever sacrifices they made to bring the film to life. It may not mean a lot to most people, but to me, it means everything.

R.I.P. Heath

2008-01-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

Heath Ledger: 1979-2008

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain,
My friends, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full, I've travelled each and evr'y highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

The Oscar nods have arrived!

2008-01-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

And they are fantastic! Lots of fun surprises like Jason Reitman for Best Director (Juno) and Tommy Lee Jones for Best Actor (In the Valley of Elah). No one of any particular significance was left off in my book with the exception of maybe Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood. It was pretty jarring and probably turned off a lot of Academy members. Tis a shame though because his music was absolutely phenomenal.

Here's the complete list for those who are interested. As for me, I'll just say a special congrats to the following peeps and movies:

-Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor, There Will Be Blood
-Viggo Mortensen for Best Actor, Eastern Promises
-Javier Bardem for Best Supporting Actor, No Country for Old Men
-Casey Affleck for Best Supporting Actor, The Assassination of Jesse James
-No Country and There Will Be Blood scoring eight nods a piece, including Best Picture
-both the Coens and PTA for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay
-Dario Marianelli for Best Original Score, Atonement
-Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for Best Original Song, "Falling Slowly," Once
-No End in Sight, Best Documentary

And even though no one gives a shit about the technical categories, I'm really happy that No Country got nods for Best Sound and Best Sound Editing because the sound design in that film was redonkulous. I would have been pissed if it hadn't gotten its props for that.

Well best of luck to everyone I'm rooting for! Let's hope this whole writers strike debacle resolves itself so these people can have a ceremony in which to accept the awards they deserve. 2007 generated some of those most amazing performances and technical achievements in the last decade. It would be a shame to let that go unnoticed.

Film blog update!

2008-01-18T08:14:00.000-08:00

I realized recently that See This Film was in dire need of some updating. So I tweaked the template and cleaned up a few of the entries. If you have yet to visit my film blog, I hope you will take some time to peruse it. What began as basically an e-portfolio for my college essays has evolved into a vehicle for my steadfast film appreciation. Having a public venue where I can publish my work and possibly have it read by others with a similar appreciation is truly a gift. I'm really proud of everything that has gone into the blog so far and I can't wait to add even more to it in the future!

Random thing that made me happy today

2008-01-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

About an hour ago, my mom e-mailed me a link to an interview with Daniel Day-Lewis on Yahoo. Now while the interview was wonderful, the picture they posted beside it was beyond wonderful. So, of course, I had to share because he is truly one of the most beautiful men on the planet.

The Dark Knight

2008-01-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you peeps but I'm getting redonkulously excited for The Dark Knight. Perhaps it was the trailer I recently watched or the latest poster Marcus had displayed in its lobby when I went to see Atonement last weekend. I just get more pumped about it with every passing day.

It's funny how I was so skeptical when I first heard that Heath Ledger would be playing The Joker, and now he's the main reason I want to see the movie. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, please do so as soon as possible. His laugh gives me the fucking chills every time. Meanwhile, here's a little photo tribute courtesy of those lovely folks at Rotten Tomatoes.

Atonement

2008-01-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

Every year there is that one film that gets so much Oscar buzz I can't help but reject it before I even see it. I call it the "too good to be any good" movie of the year. Most of the time, I'm right and the film just doesn't deserve the amount of praise it gets. But every so often, the "too good to be any good" movie of choice is actually really fucking good and I end up eating my words.

When I first started seeing ads for Atonement and learned it was another costume drama collaboration between director Joe Wright and actress Keira Knightley, I didn't get too excited right away. Sure, I loved Pride and Prejudice. However, I don't usually enjoy period pictures because they tend to have this kind of 'tough times with a candy center' thing about them that I really can't relate to. In other words, life is difficult for the characters for awhile but by the end, everything turns out peachy. While some may enjoy these romantic, Austenesque worlds, I prefer the cynical and gritty realism you're more likely to find in a Dennis Lehane or Jay McInerney novel.

That's exactly why Atonement threw me for such a loop. Here is a film that suggests it's going to keep you comfortable and safe within the confines of a wealthy 1930s English countryside estate, but it only takes a few minutes to realize that the backdrop is completely irrelevant. I mean, it might as well have been 21st century Las Vegas. People are selfish, foulmouthed, lustful, and unforgiving, and by the end it's nearly impossible to find a silver lining in the whole, sordid mess. And that's what is so great about the film. It was refreshing to see the way Atonement totally flipped the period picture on its head.

So maybe I'm not doing such a great job of selling this film to all of you hopeless romantics and eternal optimists. But to those of you out there let me assure you, the film transcends its pessimistic material. Atonement is a fantastic cinematic experience because while it is brutal and hard on the psyche, it is also very intoxicating and pleasurable for the senses. Here is an edited clip from my favorite scene in the film that I think really illustrates this.

So, unabashedly morose films may not be everyone's cup of tea. However, when these films have stunning cinematography, unconventional editing, and haunting soundtracks, how can you not be completely smitten with them? Yes, we live in a cruel world but we also don't live in a world as bewitching as the one in Atonement and that's why I am recommending it to cynics AND romantics alike.

I suspect the film will continue steamrolling its way through awards season but now I don't have to shudder and think, here's yet another costume drama getting acclaim simply because it's a costume drama. Perhaps I thought that way at one point, but now that I've seen the film, I know its secret. Atonement is not 'too good to be any good'. It's better.

Some photographic whatnot

2008-01-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Starting out in the evening...

2008-01-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I had myself a particularly great evening last night. I think it had to do with the fact that I had such a dull and mind-numbing day at work. Coming home and being able to do exactly what I wanted felt so very good. So what did this spectacular evening entail?

It began once I arrived home, threw off the heels, and poured myself a glass of Red Zin. I put on the Death Proof soundtrack and proceeded to engage in two of my favorite activities: dancing and cleaning. Really, there's no better way to relieve stress.

After the apartment was nice and tidy, I hit the kitchen and tackled a recipe I found in Gourmet Magazine...Penne with Green Pea Pesto. Holy shit, is this stuff good. Up until now, my all-time favorite Z classic has been Spaghetti with Chorizo, Chickpeas and Almonds. Well, friends, I think this little number just might be taking its place. It's also 93489 times easier to make. Here's the recipe if you ever feel like indulging in a little plate of heaven.

Penne with Green Pea Pesto

(Serves 2-3)

-1/2 lb of penne
-half cup of pasta water, reserved
-1/2 lb of frozen sweet peas, cooked
-1 big clove of garlic or 2 small cloves
-3 Tbsp. of Parmesan cheese (2 Tbsp. for pesto and 1 Tbsp. added to pasta)
-half cup of pine nuts (1/4 for pesto, 1/4 toasted and added to pasta)
-3 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
-1 tsp. salt
-pinch of black pepper

Add garlic and cheese to food processor and blend together. When peas are finished cooking, drain and add to food processor along with pine nuts, salt, and pepper. Process all ingredients while periodically adding the extra virgin olive oil until the mixture reaches the consistency of pesto. Meanwhile, boil water in a large pasta pot and add penne. Cook penne until al dente. Before pasta finishes cooking, toast the pine nuts in a skillet over low heat. Be careful though...pine nuts burn easily and they are fucking expensive! When the pasta is done, pour half a cup of the water into a bowl and then drain the pasta. Finally, add the pesto, toasted pine nuts, and remaining Parmesan cheese to the pasta along with the reserved pasta water. Stir, taste, adjust seasonings if necessary, and enjoy!

----

After dinner, I watched Eastern Promises. Excellent, excellent film. Having just watched The Fly last weekend, it was pretty crazy to see a David Cronenberg film that felt completely different from the stuff he put out in the 80s and 90s. I'm not going to review the film but I will say that Viggo Mortensen is absolutely fantastic. When the movie was over, I actually went back and watched all of my favorite parts again. I don't know if it was the Russian accent, the tattoos, or the chilling way he walked and talked his way through every scene, but I was pretty shaken by the performance. I really hope he gets an Oscar nomination for it.

When the movie ended, I flipped on the South Carolina Republican debate. I guess after spending almost two hours at work reading about the candidates and their platforms, I was inspired. Considering everything I've read online and heard in the debates, I've gotta say, I'm almost 100% behind John McCain now. I'm still rooting for Obama in the Democratic primary, however, if McCain should get the Republican nomination, I can't see backing anyone else.

Well, that about does 'er! Normally I don't make a habit of rehashing the events of my life but last night was just chocked full of awesome. I couldn't resist. And hey, maybe I prompted you to try a new recipe, rent Eastern Promises, or research the Presidential candidates! I certainly hope that I did. :)

WGA nods announced

2008-01-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

Some surprises, mostly familiar faces. My congrats goes out to Judd Apatow for pulling off an unexpected nod for Knocked Up and to James Vanderbilt for the particularly shocking inclusion of Zodiac over Atonement. Now THAT is awesome. Congrats also to the Coens and PTA. But they already know I love them :)

And the nominees are...

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Juno, written by Diablo Cody

Michael Clayton, written by Tony Gilroy

The Savages, written by Tamara Jenkins

Knocked Up, written by Judd Apatow

Lars and the Real Girl, written by Nancy Oliver

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

No Country for Old Men, Screenplay by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy

There Will Be Blood, Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson, Based on the novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Screenplay by Ronald Harwood, Based on the book by Jean-Dominique Bauby

Into the Wild, Screenplay by Sean Penn, Based on the book by Jon Krakauer

Zodiac, Screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Based on the book by Robert Graysmith

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

The Camden 28, written by Anthony Giacchino

Nanking, Screenplay by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman & Elisabeth Bentley, Story by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman

No End in Sight, written by Charles Ferguson

The Rape of Europa, written by Richard Berge, Nicole Newnham and Bonni Cohen

Sicko, written by Michael Moore

Taxi to the Dark Side, written by Alex Gibney

DGA nods announced

2008-01-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

I must say, the Directors Guild did good this year. Big props to my man Tony Gilroy who managed to snag a nod over Joe Wright, Tim Burton, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, and Ridley Scott. That was a very pleasant surprise to me. I know a lot of people don't *get* the buzz surrounding Michael Clayton. However, if you've seen the Bourne trilogy in its entirety, you have to admit that Tony Gilroy is a genius. So what marvelous company is Mr. Gilroy sharing you ask?

And the nominees are...

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Sean Penn, Into the Wild

Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton

Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Now since the DGA's inception, I believe there have only been six cases where the DGA winner did NOT go on to win the Academy Award for Best Director. I really think this year is going to be the seventh. As I discussed with my sis last night, I'm going to go ahead and say that the DGA will reward Paul Thomas Anderson with the prize while the Academy will give it to the Coen brothers. But however it shakes down, I don't think I'll be disappointed. This was a phenomenal year for filmmaking and I feel privileged just to have been in the audience.

Ode to Daniel

2008-01-08T08:40:00.000-08:00

So I'm developing a little bit of a crush on Daniel Day-Lewis. I just can't get over how fucking amazing he is. Watching him give his acceptance speech at the Critics' Choice Awards last night, I was glued to the screen. I just couldn't believe this was the same guy behind characters like Daniel Plainview and Bill the Butcher. Now, the world is filled with amazing actors but I don't think I've ever encountered one who disappears more fully into his roles. Even with great character actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Adrien Brody, and Russell Crowe, it is still possible to recognize the actor inside the character. With Daniel Day-Lewis, I am in disbelief every single time. I don't know how he does it. It really is magical.

Here are three videos that help illustrate my point. The first is an interview with Daniel himself, the second a trailer for There Will Be Blood and the third a scene from Gangs of New York. Watching them back to back totally blows my mind. If any one person ever inspired me to want to become an actor, it's Daniel Day-Lewis, no question. And I thank him immensely for that.

Musical Mayhem

2008-01-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of seeing two very different but equally awesome movie musicals: Sweeney Todd and Once.

Now, Sweeney Todd is an excellent musical to begin with so put into the hands of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, and Sacha Baron Cohen, there was really nowhere to go but up. I almost told myself to lower my expectations going in because I absolutely did NOT want to be disappointed by something I have been looking forward to for years. I don't think I needed to lower anything though because this one was nearly flawless.

What I love most about the film is that it stays very true to the musical while at the same time, if it had not been based on a Broadway musical, could just as well have been a self-sustained Tim Burton classic. As staples of Burton's, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter infuse the film with a kind of creepy sublimity that is mesmerizing. The supporting cast is excellent and even though Sacha Baron Cohen appears only briefly, he is a force and steals all of his scenes. I really enjoyed Timothy Spall's performance as Judge Turpin's pesky minion, Beadle Bamford. He's one of these underrated actors who usually shows up in films with all of the star players from the Royal Shakespeare Company so unfortunately his performances are often overshadowed and overlooked.

The production value of Sweeney Todd is fantastic and the film should really be recognized by the Academy for its cinematography, art direction, and costume design. The cast also does an excellent job with Stephen Sondheim's musical numbers. While Johnny Depp definitely does not have your typical Broadway style voice, I almost enjoyed his own voice more so than many I've heard from actors trained in musical theater. I think it gave the character more edge and it set him apart from the rest of the cast which was nice to see.

Now while I'm certainly praising Sweeney Todd for its incredible cast and technical achievements, I saw another "musical" film yesterday that I enjoyed for all of the opposite reasons.

Once, written and directed by John Carney, is a cinéma-vérité style film that follows two people in Dublin who meet on the street and discover they have a mutual passion for music. There are about a dozen songs in the film that are performed in their entirety so one could call Once a modern day musical. How it differs, however, is that it doesn't have any of the bells and whistles you find with modern Hollywood musicals. Firstly, the two leads, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, are non-actors in real life who were long time friends and musicians that wanted to help bring John Carney's script to life. Secondly, the film only cost about $150,000 which, as Richard Roeper so brilliantly put, wouldn't cover the catering bill on Dreamgirls. It's a breath of fresh air in every sense and if you're looking for a film that really inspires, Once is definitely one of those rare cinema experiences that will resonate with you for days.

Glen Hansard penned all of the songs in Once but when asked to play the role of Guy he originally turned it down. He wanted Cillian Murphy to play the lead because Murphy had the star power to bring attention to the film and because Hansard had little to no acting experience. Murphy would eventually pass on the project so Hansard agreed to be in the film. In an interview Hansard said, "Though I was initially thinking of using a good actor who could half sing, I quickly realized I should do it the other way around and get a good singer who could half act." And thank God for that. Hansard has one of the most chilling voices I've heard in a long time and when you combine it with the sweet, aching vocals of Markéta Irglová (who also plays piano in the film) you get one amazing collaboration. I also find non-actors to be much more interesting than real actors a lot of the time. If they don't try to act and simply let their natural personalities breathe on screen, the result is really compelling.

Like I mentioned earlier, Once is shot like a documentary. The camera is hand-held and much of the film takes place in some very intimate settings. As these two people learn about each other and fall in love with one another's raw talent and vulnerability, you feel as though you're a fly on the wall of something real unfolding before you. It's the kind of experience I don't think I've ever had watching a film. As luck would have it, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová did bond on the set and began dating after the film wrapped. It makes what you see all the more beautiful simply because you feel like you're a part of something special being brought into fruition.

While Sweeney Todd and Once are two very different films, they're also two of the best films of 2007. They both prove how much fun you can have watching a movie musical whether it's watching a sadistic barber sing, dance, and slash throats or two people making beautiful music and falling in love in the process.

Ohhh, Mountain Man

2008-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned lately how excited I am for the return of Lost? Oh man it's getting rough. With the premiere in a little less than a month, I'm chomping at the bit at this point. I can't believe the third season finale was over seven months ago. More than though, I can't believe I've survived this ridiculously long hiatus!

Well if you're as crazed as I am about this show and it's scrumdiddlyumptious star Matthew Fox, here's a fantastic interview with the man himself. The best part is when he talks about how good it felt to prove wrong all those people who were blasting the show at the beginning of the third season by putting together a string of truly unforgettable episodes and a mind-blowing finale. I was right there with you, Matthew, and if all the rumors are true, the fourth season is taking no prisoners. So for all you skeptic peeps out there...get fucking ready.

"I know we've got 15 million people watching the show, and these people are the same 15 million that have been die-hards from Day One. Those are the ones that we're making it for."

More Oscar lovelies!

2008-01-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

A few more Oscar ads have been released in the last few weeks, including one I have been eagerly anticipating...Best Supporting Actor for Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James. I'm still holding out for Javier Bardem's ad so, Miramax, you better not let me down!

Death Proof

2008-01-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

For me, the highlight of Quentin Tarantino's cinematic oeuvre is still the opening of Reservoir Dogs. A bunch of guys in suits sitting in a diner talking about pop culture and the politics of tipping, well, it really never got too much cooler than that in my book. There's no denying that Tarantino has put a slew of fantastic moments on celluloid since he did so with the infamous speech about "Like a Virgin". What I love the most about that opening scene, however, is its simplicity. Unabashed banality...that is vintage Tarantino. And even though we all love the bloody shoot-outs, colorful Kung fu, and wickedly hysterical eye-pluckings, Tarantino's true gift is his ear for dialogue. I have and probably will continue to argue with people about this but you could take out every action sequence of every one of his films and still be left with a lot great cinema.

That being said, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Death Proof, QT's contribution to he and Robert Rodriguez's 70s exploitation mash-up Grindhouse. I decided when Grindhouse came out, I would wait and see if Death Proof would ever be released on its own. I know QT and RR would be totally disappointed in my reluctance to take in the whole "grindhouse" experience, but unfortunately I've never been a huge fan of anything Rodriguez has done, with the exception of the first third of From Dusk Till Dawn. Plus all of my favorite film critics were recommending Death Proof over Planet Terror so I figured my intuition was probably correct.

Now a lot of people found Death Proof to be self-indulgent and dull. I can see why they would feel that way since the film is almost two hours long and the action sequences probably only take up about 30 minutes of that. The film is split into two segments, each segment dedicated to a group of girls doing various things you'd expect girls to do. They drive, they hang out at convenience stores, diners, and juke joints, and they talk...a lot. At first it takes some getting used to. When the 30 minute mark rolled around and I felt as though the movie had already been playing for hours, I was wondering if this one was going to make much of an impact. But something happened along the way. Suddenly I was sucked in and became totally mesmerized and fascinated by these women and their lifestyles. And the music is fantastic. If Tarantino has a good ear for dialogue, he's got an even better one for music. Between the two, the guy seriously owns the patent on cool.

And while I most certainly give all of the actresses in Death Proof mad props for owning all of their scenes, I've really gotta bow down to the hot chunk of grizzled sexiness that is Kurt Russell. He plays Stuntman Mike and when he's not being totally creepy and psycho, he's got a charm that extremely fun to watch. The scene between him and Vanessa Ferlito outside the Texas Chili Parlor was amazing. By the end of the exchange, I wanted to give him a lap dance. Russell is charismatic to say the least and it speaks volumes about his performance in the film because before Death Proof, the guy tended to leave me pretty cold.

Now while the dialogue sequences do comprise a majority of the film, the action sequences in Death Proof are worth the price of admission. Zoë Bell, a stunt woman in real life, plays herself and what she does in the final car chase showdown rendered me speechless. When you think about the fact that everything you're seeing is legit, the phrase "edge of your seat" doesn't even begin to describe the feeling. For people who are more into Tarantino's action than his dialogue, I would recommend the film simply for the last 15 minutes.

I have to say, it was more than a little refreshing seeing Quentin Tarantino return to his roots with Death Proof. I love that he has matured enough as a filmmaker to be able to pull off such a stunt heavy picture while still maintaining his integrity as a writer. This film demanded a kind of technical proficiency he wouldn't have ever imagined tackling back in the early 90s so it really shows how far he's come in that regard. But what impresses me more is how important dialogue and characterization still are to him. Even though he's established himself as one of the most interesting and provocative filmmakers of his generation, he still has the capability to bore and alienate his audience by focusing on dialogue rather than action. With Death Proof, you can clearly tell he doesn't give a shit whether or not he bores people, and that's exactly what makes the guy so damn cool.

Stuff Part 1

2008-01-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Well it's only January 1st and I've already begun making some headway on my 25 in 25 list. Here are the highlights!

17. Get a digital camera

I got myself a Canon Powershot SD1000 and so far I'm lovin' it! Funny how I went so long without a camera. I'm really excited that I'll actually be able to capture all the fun upcoming activities myself and not rely on Katie's camera anymore. Good times!

24. Keep a gratitude journal

I bought a lovely journal from Barnes & Noble and even though I've never been the best at daily updating of anything, I hope I can keep up with this one.

25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500

-Bob Dylan: The Essential Bob Dylan

So my mom might not be so up on this one, but I love Bob Dylan and it's totally stupid that I don't own any of his stuff. Rather than pick up Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde or any of the other classic Dylan albums, I decided to get the two-disc compilation of all of his hits. It's just nice having "It Ain't Me, Babe", "Lay, Lady, Lay", "Hurricane", and "Things Have Changed" all on one set. Perhaps I'll flesh out my collection in the years to come.

Upcoming goals for the month:

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films
I plan on doing notes on Stage Fright, Foreign Correspondent, Saboteur, and To Catch a Thief.

8. Read 12 books
Last night I finished A Drink Before the War, the first book in Dennis Lehane's Patrick Kenzie/Angie Gennaro series. I got the other four books for Christmas so I plan on reading the next one, Darkness, Take My Hand this month.

21. Watch at least one documentary every month
I've got a few in my Netflix queue that should be coming in the next couple weeks: Born into Brothels which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2005 and Why We Fight which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2005.

Quarter Life Crisis?

2008-01-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

Nah. I'm excited to be turning 25 in a few weeks. For awhile I was dreading this age. For whatever reason I found it scary to be a quarter century old. But it also feels like the year I'm finally going to turn into the person I've always wanted to be. I've got a lot of goals for 2008 and I think I've given myself quite a variety of things to tackle. It'll be tough but if I can accomplish all of them, I'll definitely come out of this year a stronger and happier person.

25 Goals for my 25th Year

1. Finish notes on all Hitchcock films (3-4 per month)
~~2. Take another acting class~~
3. Break my 'times I've seen a single movie in the theater' record (currently holds at 5 with Spider-Man
~~4. Pay Katie and David back~~
~~5. Go on a date (I am allergic to dating so this is, in fact, going to be a challenge)~~
~~6. Give up alcohol for Lent~~
7. Improve digestive health (vitamins, less stress, more fiber, less alcohol, etc.)
8. Read 12 books (7/12)
Darkness, Take My Hand - Dennis Lehane
Faith of My Fathers - John McCain
No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
Sacred - Dennis Lehane
The Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis
Bringing Down the House - Ben Mezrich
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
9. Do at least one freelance writing piece for profit
~~10. Cater a cocktail party~~
11. Build savings account (at least $100 a month)
~~12. Go to the Milwaukee Art Museum~~
13. Eat at one new restaurant every month
14. Volunteer with at least one charitable group
15. Donate $5 to 1-3 charities of your choosing every month
16. Take up meditation/find a serene place in the city to meditate
~~17. Get a digital camera~~
~~18. Create a food blog with recipes and pictures~~
~~19. Go to the opera, symphony or ballet~~
~~20. Attend the Triduum at St. John’s~~
21. Watch at least one documentary every month
~~22. Run a 5K~~
23. Do a Pilates Challenge (30 sessions in 60 days)
24. Keep a gratitude journal
25. Buy 15 classic albums from the Rolling Stone 500 (8/15)
-~~Bob Marley & The Wailers: Legend~~
~~-Bob Dylan: The Essential Bob Dylan~~
~~-The Mamas and the Papas: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears~~
~~-Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual~~
~~-U2: Achtung Baby~~
~~-Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon~~
~~-Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything~~
~~-Neil Young: After the Gold Rush~~

Wish me luck!

Z's Top Ten of 2007

2007-12-31T16:22:00.000-08:00

Well everyone who's anyone in the film world makes a top ten list every year so of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon as well! Now this was no easy feat. This year's crop of films were some of the best of the last ten years. I tried to create a list that reflected the diversity of great cinema 2007 offered. It was a fantastic year for comedies and action films, gangster flicks and westerns, but perhaps more than anything it was a great year for writing. Nearly every film on my list was driven by a powerful scrreenplay and some amazing filmmakers who knew precisely how to bring those scripts to life. So, without further adieu, here we go...

(Sidebar: There are still several films from 2007 I have left to see and critique so definitely stay tuned for an addendum to this list.)

10. No End in Sight

9. Ratatouille

8. The Bourne Ultimatum

7. Zodiac

6. Knocked Up

5. American Gangster

4. 3:10 to Yuma

3. Juno

2. Gone Baby Gone

1. No Country for Old Men

Real men....God bless 'em

2007-12-20T06:37:00.000-08:00

Sigh

2007-12-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

I'm taking this moment to reflect upon something. I don't often do this in my blog (there's a reason I abandoned LiveJournal) but this time I think it's important. Today was a really shitty work day. I won't go into the details although I will say that it had way too much of one thing (tedious bullshit) and not nearly enough of another (a certain lad I've recently taken to) and thus I came to a very valid conclusion. No matter how sad it will be to leave all of my friends here, and no matter how scary it will be to start a new job, I know now that it's the absolute best thing for me that I'm moving on. Yes, my job is easy. Yes, my job is comfortable. But my job is doing absolutely nothing for my peace of mind or my happiness, with the exception of the aforementioned friends and that certain lad.

So the point of this post is to tell myself to remember this moment. When times get tough and I wish I was back here, I need to read this post. Because there are truly times when I literally feel my soul being sucked into the asbestos infested vents. If you think I'm being dramatic than you've obviously never worked in a corporate office before. Most of the time I just have to laugh because it's all so ridiculous.

I'll admit, you've caught me on a bit of a bad day. Most of the time all of this stuff just bounces off of me and I really don't care. And I think if you let your job get the best of you then you are a sucker. Sometimes though it's good to recognize when you may be wasting your life. I think I have finally reached that point, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Golden Globs, indeed

2007-12-13T06:30:00.001-08:00

Let me start this post off by saying...what the hell is with seven, yes, seven films being nominated for Best Drama this year?? Was it really THAT hard to narrow it down to five? I don't get it. This isn't the National Board of fucking Review here. Oh well. I think if they hadn't decided to give nods to so many films, American Gangster probably would have been left out of the mix. So I guess I should thank them for that.

The other interesting thing about the Globs this year is that they are facing some potential backlash from SAG members who are on strike. There's a really strong possibility people are going to boycott the ceremony or worse, cancel the whole thing. Now I wouldn't mind all that much if this went down. The actual Golden Globs ceremony can get tedious and relatively pointless especially now that the Oscars are held in February and everyone just wants to zip past everything to get to that. I sincerely hope, however, that the writers and the studios can reach an agreement by February because the Oscars will also be vulnerable to the strike. I just want to see Javier hold a tiny, golden man in his arms. Is that really so much to ask??

Well getting back to the subject at hand, some very great films and performances have been nominated and I want to take the time to recognize them. Rather than list every nod though I'm just going to call attention to my faves. And here they are in no particular order.

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
American Gangster
No Country for Old Men

BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY/MUSICAL
Juno
Sweeney Todd

BEST ACTOR - DRAMA
Denzel Washington, American Gangster
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTRESS - DRAMA
Jodie Foster, The Brave One
Julie Christie, Away From Her

BEST ACTOR - MUSICAL/COMEDY
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War

BEST ACTRESS - MUSICAL/COMEDY
Amy Adams, Enchanted
Ellen Page, Juno

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

BEST DIRECTOR
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Ridley Scott, American Gangster

BEST SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, Juno
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

I'm not even going to address the nods for TV just because, well, I honestly don't care this year. Bravo reality programming will never be in contention and apparently fantastic shows like Lost and Friday Night Lights just aren't worthy and thus I really don't have much use for the television side of the Globs.

So congrats to all the peeps and movies that were nominated this year. While I hope my favorites pick up awards, what I really hope for is a resolution to the writers strike. These are the people who truly deserve reward and recognition, and it will be difficult to support the industry as a whole until they get it.

Oscar ads, Oscar ads, you've come back to me!

2007-12-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

Some people may not be aware of this but I have a pretty extensive collection of Oscar advertisements that goes back to the mid-90s. Again, it must be my obsession with photography and cinema, but for nearly 15 years I have spent awards season ransacking every issue of Variety and The Hollywood Reporter I can get my hands on. And it doesn't end there. When a lovely little invention called eBay entered my life, I really went crazy. While it may be a bit sad how much money I have spent on Oscar ads retrieved through magazine purchases and eBay auctions, I stand by the addiction. To me Oscar ads are moments frozen in time. Not to get all 'cinema is magic' on your ass again (because I know it can get a little nauseating at times) but the Oscars really are the highlight of my year as a film buff. I look at my Oscar ad collection the same way I do my photo albums. These are the times and the people and the movies I want to remember for the rest of my life.

So here are some of my personal favorites from the crop of ads that have been released so far this year. I consider the ones that are pimping Cinematography to be the most beautiful and eye-popping so if you're skimming this post, as I imagine you might be, do at least give those a look.

Big week for awards, people!

2007-12-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

The NY and LA Film Critics announced their award winners today and yesterday, respectively, and it looks like No Country and There Will Be Blood are shaping up to be two of the front runners in this year's race. And I must give a special congratulatory shout out to Javier for winning not only the Best Supporting Actor award from the NY Critics but from the DC Critics, New York Online Critics, and Boston Critics as well. His chances for nabbing the Oscar are looking better and better every day and I couldn't be happier!

Here are NY and LA's winners for the seven main categories:

NEW YORK

Best Film
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Directors
Joel and Ethan Coen, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Best Actress
Julie Christie, AWAY FROM HER

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, GONE BABY GONE

Best Screenplay
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

LOS ANGELES

Best Picture
THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, LA VIE EN ROSE

Best Supporting Actor
Vlad Ivanov, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, GONE, BABY, GONE and BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD

Best Screenplay
Tamara Jenkins, THE SAVAGES

Stay tuned for the Golden Glob nominations on Thursday!

The most wonderful time of the year

2007-12-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

When the holiday season rolls around and most people are thinking Santa...Eggnog...carols, I'm thinking Chicago Critics...Golden Globes...Director's Guild. Now don't get me wrong, I love the holidays as much as the next guy. It's fun and cozy and I adore all the little traditions my family has created over the years. But as a film buff, the highlight of the year for me is awards season. It is not only a time to celebrate the year's cinematic gems but also a time to reflect upon all the great memories I have that are associated with those films. Having dinner with Jen and Greg at a lovely seafood restaurant in Madison after 3:10 to Yuma and discussing Russell Crowe's career. Getting drinks at the Bad Genie with Katie, John, Ross and Amanda, and comparing No Country for Old Men to Fargo. While I primarily celebrate films for their technical and creative achievements, I can't help but embrace them for providing me with such a plethora of happy moments.

Today award season truly began with the announcement of the National Board of Review winners. If the NBR is any indication of what's to come, things are going to work out very well for the films and actors I'm rooting for this year. Here's a quick rundown of all my peeps who picked up awards last night...

Best Film
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, GONE BABY GONE

Best Ensemble Cast
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Directorial Debut
Ben Affleck, GONE BABY GONE

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Animated Feature
RATATOUILLE

Congrats to all the winners! :)

More delicious yum yums

2007-12-03T10:30:00.001-08:00

While this weekend proved to be one of the worst I've dealt with weather-wise, it did prompt a little culinary creativity and some serious good eats. I don't really need to go through the whole song and dance of how these tasty bites came to fruition. Sufficed to say I was quite pleased that I was able to come up with some genuinely original ideas and have them taste as good as I imagined.

Lazy California Rolls

-8 oz. light cream cheese
-1 cup wasabi mayo
-half an avocado
-one cucumber
-3 oz. imitation crab
-four tortillas
-soy sauce for dipping

Blend the cream cheese and mayo with a hand mixer until it has a smooth consistency. Dice the avocado, cucumber and crab meat, and add it to the cream cheese and mayo. Stir the mixture until everything is well-incorporated. Spread the mixture onto a tortilla. Roll the tortilla and let it set and cool in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes. Do this with the remaining tortillas. Slice each roll-up into pieces the size of sushi bites. Serve alongside soy sauce.

The Z Burrito

-1/2 lb. Italian seasoned ground turkey breast
-extra virgin olive oil (for browning the turkey)
-1/2 small red onion, chopped
-1/2 sweet potato, shredded
-pinch of cayenne
-1/2 teaspoon cumin
-salt and pepper
-3 eggs
-1/2 cup BBQ sauce
-2 Tbsp. ketchup
-1 cup of shredded cheese
-2 tortillas

Heat olive oil in a skillet then add the turkey breast. Break up the turkey and as it starts to brown, add the onion. As soon as the turkey and onions are cooked through, add the sweet potato and let everything rest on low heat for 5 minutes or so. Add spices, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir the eggs together in a separate bowl and add them to the skillet. Turn up the heat slightly and wait for the eggs to cook. Add the BBQ sauce and ketchup and stir. Shred the cheese (chipotle Gouda is delicious here) and sprinkle a layer onto the open tortillas. Divide the turkey mixture between the tortillas (there may be some extra leftover) and then roll them like you would a burrito. This dish is ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In fact, I had it for all three over the weekend!

GQ Men of the Year

2007-11-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

When it comes to magazines, there's only one thing I look forward to more than EW's Oscar preview and that is GQ's Men of the Year issue. I don't know when the obsession began but I definitely have one in regards to photographs of actors. Next to my family, music, and red wine, actors make me happier than anything in the world. For me, they aren't just eye candy. I actually find myself more turned on by their talent and passion because, in my opinion, those are the attributes that seperate men from "guys". I believe actors embody talent and passion better than any other type of man and if you can get a great photographer to capture this with one click of the camera, well that picture is worth holding onto forever.

I think this year's issue is by far the best one GQ has ever put out. When I was waiting in line to buy my groceries last night, I opened the magazine and immediately saw the magnificent Casey Affleck spread. I knew at that moment I would have to buy it even if he was the only interesting 'man of the year' in the entire issue. Little did I know that I would discover much more once I got home and started leafing through it. So now I'm going to stop blabbing and let the pictures speak for themselves. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Casey

Daniel

Judd and Co.

Josh

Jason

James

John

Javier

The ultimate grilled cheese and soup

2007-11-27T06:06:00.001-08:00

As food begins to run low in your kitchen, what kind of person do you become? The kind who opens the fridge, sighs with disappointment, and heads to the nearest fast food restaurant, or the kind who is excited about making something unique out of such limited resources? I'd like to think I fall into the latter category. Every night is a Top Chef Quickfire challenge for me. You see my day job is totally void of any opportunities for creativity so when I come home, I pour myself a glass of red wine or mix up a quick Tanqueray and tonic, then I sit down and brainstorm. When the kitchen is stocked and the possibilities are endless, I feel almost overwhelmed by the choices. When the kitchen is bare, however, and I have only a few choice ingredients, my imagination, and not much else, that's when things really get interesting.

The only thing I knew for sure when I arrived home from work yesterday was that I wanted grilled cheese. I picked up a wedge of chipotle gouda earlier in the week and was chomping at the bit to, well, chomp it. I also had a can of tomato soup in the pantry that I thought about jazzing up but that didn't really feel challenging enough. The wheels began to turn once I saw the half a can of pumpkin puree I had left over from the pumpkin bread I had made for Thanksgiving. I also remembered that I had recently bought a sweet potato for no reason whatsoever. Perhaps when I picked it up in the store I subconsciously knew this glorious moment would present itself.

What followed was some serious makeshift cooking. Without a lot of the staples one might use to make soup - onions, celery, carrots - I decided just throw a bunch of shit in a pot and hope for the best. I knew the grilled cheese would be stellar but the soup was a bit of a gamble. After consuming the final product I have to say...the gamble paid off, and then some. There's no doubt in my mind that like my Kung Pao chicken, coconut lime tilapia, black bean cakes, and BBQ nachos, this dish is destined to become a classic in la cucina della Z.

Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Soup

-one sweet potato, cubed
-half a can of pumpkin puree (about 7 oz)
-three garlic cloves
-two cups of chicken broth
-salt and pepper to taste
-1 tablespoon of honey
-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
-a pinch various spices (this is dependent entirely on taste):
--cumin
--nutmeg
--allspice
--cayenne

First peel the potato and cut it into cubes. Boil the potatoes in water until they are soft enough to mash. Drain the potatoes and transfer them back into the pot along with the pumpkin puree. Mix the potato and pumpkin together until well incorporated. Smash the garlic cloves and add them to the potato/pumpkin mixture. Keep the mixture over low heat and add the butter, honey, salt, pepper, and spices until everything tastes well-balanced. While mixing these ingredients, heat up the chicken broth. Once the broth is hot, whisk it into the potato/pumpkin mixture until smooth then remove the garlic cloves. Adjust seasonings accordingly, serve, and enjoy!

No Country for Old Men

2007-11-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

"What's this guy supposed to be, the ultimate badass?"
It's almost the end of November and I think I've finally found myself the best movie of 2007. While there is still a month to go and plenty of Oscar-fare left to see, I doubt anything can top No Country for Old Men. It may not have the soul-stirring edginess of Gone, Baby, Gone or the action-packed slickness of 3:10 to Yuma but it does have two things no other film has this year: Joel and Ethan Coen.

The Coen brothers have kicked out some of the quirkiest cinematic gems of the past 20 years, but after two critical and box-office flops (Intolerable Cruelty and The Lady Killers) in the last few years, I began to wonder if the creative pool was drying out. Perhaps that's the reason I was so enamored with No Country. It proved my theory wrong and with a vengeance. Like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, No Country is a world more than it is a film. While the movie is not based on an original screenplay (it was adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name) you can't help but feel as though this story was written solely for the purpose of becoming a Coen brothers film some day. From the sound design and cinematography to the wardrobe and locations, every element of the film plays a key part in bringing this fictional world to life. Some people reduce the Coens' success to their skills as writers and the talented people they cast in their films. However, it is so important to realize how brilliant they are as filmmakers. Only a true visionary can take a simple story and turn it into something palpable.

Now I couldn't write a review of No Country without calling attention to the cast. Every actor in this film, whether in a bit part or a starring role, is fantastic. I give Joel and Ethan Coen mad props for making some rather unconventional choices in the casting decision. Here's a quote from an interview Entertainment Weekly did with Javier Bardem that illustrates precisely what I mean:

"When the Coens called, I said, 'Listen, I'm the wrong actor. I don't drive, I speak bad English, and I hate violence.' They laughed and said, 'Maybe that's why we called you.'"

The Coen brothers have a great knack for knowing when an actor will absolutely nail a character and their decision to cast Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh is no exception. Chigurh is one of the strangest and most haunting individuals in recent cinema history and much of that is because his appearance is so off-putting. He doesn't look or sound anything like your typical psycho-killer and I give a lot of credit to both the Coens and Bardem for putting so much thought into the portrayal of Chigurh. Bardem gives the character this sort of soft-spoken madness that is extremely scary to watch yet at the same time totally fascinating.

I also love that they cast Josh Brolin as the protagonist, Llewelyn Moss. This seems to be Josh Brolin's year (he's had starring roles in Grindhouse and American Gangster) but before 2007 he was pretty much the guy that was hired for the bit role because he was cheap. Brolin is not a critically acclaimed actor nor does he have box-office appeal. The Coens really took a chance giving him such an important role and I think it paid off beautifully. Brolin has a fantastic every-man quality and as Llewelyn Moss, he reminded me a lot of the great leading men of '60s and '70s Westerns.

Tommy Lee Jones is flawless as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell which shouldn't surprise anyone. What I really loved about his character was how similar it felt to Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson in Fargo. Sheriff Bell is the glimmer of hope amongst all the bloody chaos and nihilism, and while the film doesn't make any attempt to provide resolution or closure, he is the one element that allows you to walk away feeling slightly optimistic. I attribute that not only to the greatness of the character as it was written but also to the warmth and compassion Tommy Lee Jones brings to the role.

I don't think there's anything left to say other than that everyone should see this movie as soon as is humanly possible. Yes, ticket prices are indeed ridiculous and you probably feel like you should be spending your hard earned dough on blockbusters rather than indie fare. However, I still encourage you to see No Country for Old Men in the theater because crappy popcorn movies will always be playing on the big screen but a classic Coen brothers film will not.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving so I should be listing off all the things I'm most grateful for, right? Well, I'm struggling a bit there. Lately all the misfortunes of the past month have been catching up with me. I won't explain them in detail because I'm not that kind of blogger. I will say that I feel misplaced. I feel like my life needs a major facelift. Luckily I've been given the opportunity to find a new job which in turn will lead to new friends and possibly some interesting prospects in the romance department. I'm hoping so anyway because I really need it. There's so much about myself that's being wasted in this life I'm living now. Please God, I need that windfall...and soon.

The World's Greatest Nachos

2007-11-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

Last night I finally took it upon myself to try and recreate the greatest food I've ever put in my mouth. What was it, you ask? None other than the infamous BBQ nachos from the Rum Boogie Cafe in Memphis. I'd been having barbecue almost every day for the last week before we rolled into Memphis but I knew the moment we arrived there I was about to encounter the best of the best. I was right. The ribs from Blues City Cafe were fantastic and utterly authentic. This wasn't really a surprise though. I fully expected to taste great ribs in Memphis. What I didn't expect was to find the world's greatest nachos.

Whoever decided to put BBQ sauce on nachos instead of taco sauce or salsa...well they deserve an automatic place in heaven. The taste is unparalleled and I'm now going to add it to my nachos any time I have the opportunity. So while I know I'm never going to be able to replicate the actual barbecue found in the Rum Boogie Cafe nachos, I think I've created a recipe that is a fantastic substitute. Give this one a whirl...you won't regret it.

Z's BBQ Nachos (makes 2 servings)

-half of a rotisserie chicken, chopped
-cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper to taste
-1/2 cup BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar)
-a few handfuls of tortilla chips
-1/4 cup green onions
-1/4 cup pickled jalapeno peppers
-1/2 cup chopped lettuce
-1/2 to 3/4 cup of Velveeta cheese, melted

Besides just throwing all of this stuff on top of the chips, the only thing you really have to do is season the chicken. I toss it with the spices listed above and I also recommend heating the chopped chicken pieces in a small saute pan with half of the BBQ sauce. The remaining sauce can be drizzled on top of the assembled nachos.

This recipe can be altered in a thousand different ways but this one is almost exactly the same as the original. And trust me...the original is as good as it gets.

Enjoy!

Hot guys, PSLs, and simpler times

2007-11-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a few minutes away from my crazy day to blog. Yeah I promised not to blog about anything too stupid and pointless but I feel like these particular sentiments deserve some attention.

I've had a rough couple of weeks. Despite the overall awesome month I've been struggling with some personal relationships and issues at work. I haven't done the best job of keeping a positive attitude but I attribute a lot of that to the fact that I was just too exhausted to rise above it. Now, however, I think it's absolutely necessary that I rise above it. I want to be happy and wallowing in the negativity because I'm "too tired" to do anything else is just stupid. I will say that several things have kept me from throwing myself off the roof of the building and I want to take this time to appreciate those things.

Every time a hot guy saved my sanity I thought of this fantastic quote from the film Beautiful Girls:

A beautiful girl can make you dizzy, like you've been drinking Jack and Coke all morning. She can make you feel high full of the single greatest commodity known to man - promise. Promise of a better day. Promise of a greater hope. Promise of a new tomorrow. This particular aura can be found in the gait of a beautiful girl. In her smile, in her soul, the way she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like it's going to be okay.

I've always felt this way about hot guys and it proved especially true this past week. Whether it was the yummy new apartment manager smiling at me in the hallway, a co-worker who helped me out when I was drowning in paperwork, or the sexy bartender who talked to my step-dad about beer while simultaneously shooting me flirtatious grins, I was reminded that the world can be such a beautiful place when I'm in the presence of an attractive guy who makes me feel attractive. There's nothing better in the world.

The other thing I found to be helpful is having your senses comforted. I never really realized it until my sis pointed out a passage from a blog she found but it's so true. A warm bath, a soft blanket, happy music, or a hot cup of yummy such as a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks always, always makes a person feel better after a hard day.

Lastly, I think the best thing anyone can do is simplify. Like my sis mentioned in her blog, our mantra lately has been "simpler times." Eating pizza and drinking cocktails with good friends before the Aussie Floyd show. Watching Alien Resurrection the night before Halloween and then reading all about the Alien series on Wikipedia the next morning. The crazy little things that at the time seem so insignificant...those are the things that matter. Why focus on how unfair life is or how stupid people can be when you can focus on the "simpler times."

I hope I can remember to keep all of this stuff in mind in the weeks to come. It's easy to revert back to my pessimistic ways but right now, at this moment, I can't think of a single reason to be unhappy.

Gone Baby Gone

2007-10-28T08:25:00.001-07:00

I think it's safe to say that this is the best film I've seen since Million Dollar Baby and that one shook me to the core. The thing I love the most about cinema is that you absolutely can never predict how a film is going to affect you. There's no rhyme or reason behind it. You just walk out of a theater moved, haunted, and changed without ever knowing what hit you. It's an indescribably beautiful phenomenon.

So can I even begin to put into words why I loved Gone Baby Gone so much? Well I'm here posting about it so I guess I should try. First and foremost, Casey Affleck's performance. Whenever I think about the expressions, or lack of expressions on his face, and the sad desperation in his voice, it gives me chills. Maybe it's knowing that he was being directed by his brother that makes the difference. I felt Casey's absolute dedication to getting this character right come out of every second he was on the screen.

And that brings me to the direction, the second biggest highlight of the film for me. I honestly had to keep reminding myself that Ben Affleck was the man behind it all. This is truly a tour de force for him. I loved how understated the performances were and how he was able to tap into the complexity of these characters without reducing any of them to stereotypes. By the end of the film you simply could not decide who was right and who was wrong even though every person in one way or another had done something terrible to someone else. I love a film that doesn't insult its audience by trying to convince it that the world is only one kind of place. While Gone Baby Gone does deal with the dichotomy of good versus evil and everyone's own personal system of ethics, I don't consider it to be a morality play. You never get the feeling that the film is being preachy and you certainly don't walk away with any answers.

Ben Affleck's direction and filmmaking style reminded me a lot of Clint Eastwood's which explains why this film had a similar effect on me that Million Dollar Baby had. I'm not sure if it's that Affleck and Eastwood were actors before becoming directors but I feel with both of them that there is this life force behind their films. And I don't mean that in a "man behind the curtain" kind of way where it's obvious someone is pulling the strings throughout. I mean that you can feel how dedicated they are to telling a story. When you look at every decision that had to be made by the director, i.e. who to cast as extras, how to light a scene, when to cut away, when not to cut away, when to push an actor to his/her limits, you realize how much a film is really a child born out of a director's passion and imagination. It is Ben Affleck who is responsible for every emotion and thought that will be experienced by the people who will watch his film and for that he really deserves to be commended.

One last thing I'd like to say about Gone Baby Gone is that it captures the city of Boston in a way I've never quite seen on film. I think what I love most about it is that this is Ben Affleck's hometown which everyone must know by now he loves and takes pride in. However, he doesn't glamorize the city and if anything he makes it seem like a pretty gruesome and brutal place to live. The people are hard, the streets are slimy, and you get a sense that those who are born there will never get out. I appreciate the fact that Ben Affleck respects Boston enough to show it as it really is. He cuts through the skin of the city and exposes its ugly insides and the result is absolutely beautiful.

More yummies!

2007-10-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

Okay now it's time to seriously get down to business. EW recently finished their Ultimate Hotties series with a tribute to the men of the 1960s and earlier. As much as I love Hugh, Christian, Clive, Russell, and all the rest, these gents are truly the cream of the crop. You just don't get any classier or sexier then vintage Hollywood movie stars and the following twelve men are it as far as I'm concerned.

Warren Beatty

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Wooing Faye Dunaway into a romance — and a life of crime — from outside her bedroom window in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment The bedroom scene in Bonnie and Clyde has stayed with me since the moment I saw it. I think that was the first time I was exposed to an honest love scene in the movies. It was raw and emotional and showed the darker side of seduction and sexual connection.

Jean-Paul Belmondo

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment As the sexy bad-boy Michel, practicing his Bogart moves on Patricia (Jean Seberg) in 1960's Breathless

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment AH-greed. I saw Breathless in my Intro to Film class sophomore year and I'd probably have to say that my love for Jean-Luc Godard films and French New Wave cinema started with that initial attraction I felt toward Jean-Paul Belmondo. I mean, who doesn't love a guy who's got a man-crush on Bogey?

Marlon Brando

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Making the T-shirt an iconic garment by sporting a snugly fitting one throughout 1951's A Streetcar Named Desire

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Yes, it's hard not to go with the sweaty T-shirt moments of Streetcar but in my personal opinion Marlon Brando's hottest stuff was in Guys and Dolls. I love the relationship between Brando's bad boy gambler and Jean Simmons's high-minded mission worker. The whole 'opposites attract' cliche can get pretty tired in movies but here it is absolutely wonderful to watch.

Montgomery Clift

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Playing the prettiest cowboy ever opposite John Wayne in 1948's Red River — and being seduced by Joanne Dru

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment I just watched Hitchcock's I Confess and I gotta say I felt guilty about how much I was lusting after his character the whole time. He plays a Catholic priest in the film, by the way.

Sean Connery

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment A few minutes into Dr. No (1962): A tuxedoed gentleman is playing a high-stakes game of baccarat and compliments a ravishing brunette:

"I admire your courage, Miss...?"
"Trench. Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr...?"
"Bond. James Bond."

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Anyone who has seen Hitchcock's Marnie knows that the film is extremely provocative and at times very difficult to watch. And while there's no denying the disturbing nature of the rape scene, there's also no denying how unbelievably powerful Sean Connery's presence is in the scene. Part of you feels pity for Marnie while the other part cannot help but fall under Connery's spell.

James Dean

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment As a teen misfit who tries to protect those weaker than him in 1955's Rebel Without a Cause.

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Agreed. It doesn't get much better than Rebel. I particularly love how he deals with all the bullies who have it out for him. "I'm cute too."

Clint Eastwood

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment As cowpoke Rowdy Yates on Rawhide (1959-66), merely opening his eyes wide and flashing his grin — two habits Sergio Leone apparently rid him of for A Fistful of Dollars and the rest of Eastwood's career.

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment When I think about Clint Eastwood and why I have so much love and adoration for him, I always come back to the cool swagger and icy stare of the character he made famous in Sergio Leone's "The Man with No Name" trilogy. He's funny, sexy, and as confident as any man has ever been in the history of the world.

Clark Gable

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment For uttering one of Hollywood's most famous lines: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." (Gone with the Wind, 1939)

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment For me it's It Happened One Night and getting ready for bed in the infamous "Walls of Jericho" scene. I love the banter between Gable and Claudette Colbert but it's the subtle moments in between that really get me. I don't think sexual tension has ever been brought to the screen so beautifully.

Cary Grant

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment He's impossibly elegant and full of rakish charm playing the larcenous John Robie of Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief (1955)

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment The train scene from North by Northwest. I think it epitomizes exactly what made Cary Grant such a classic Hollywood leading man. To this day, no male movie star has ever been able to deliver the brand of class and sophistication that for Cary Grant came as easy as putting on a grey suit.

Gene Kelly

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Whipping off his cape at the start of the fantasy tango to "La Cumparsita" in 1945's Anchors Aweigh. A man looks his best when he's at his best.)

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment I don't know but for me being in love is like dancing around in the rain like a big sap. Of course no one illustrated that better than Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain. You just don't see grown men in real life being so unabashedly silly and romantic and that's why Gene Kelly is such a beloved part of Hollywood history.

Paul Newman

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Standing outside Joanne Woodward's bedroom wearing nothing but boxers and that grin in 1958's The Long, Hot Summer

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Well if you're a sucker for pool sharks like me then there's absolutely nothing hotter than Paul Newman in The Hustler. And it's not just his mad pool skills that get me. All of those intimate and ridiculously sexy scenes he shares with Piper Laurie are almost too painful to watch.

Gregory Peck

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment The two seconds that the outlaw towers over ghost-town tomboy Anne Baxter in 1948's Yellow Sky, before stealing the hottest kiss in the Western genre

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Young Gregory Peck, old Gregory Peck, it's all very, very good. I think though my defining moment with him was when I first saw Spellbound. I know, I'm going with yet another Hitchcock film but his beauty in this movie is undeniable. I'll never forget both my mom and me gasping as soon as he came on the screen.

So that about does 'er! I know it may seem strange to lust after and worship men who are either old and crotchety or have been dead for years, but trust me. Rent any one of these movies and you'll understand.

The little things

2007-10-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know why but this picture makes me indescribably happy. ZQ's arms, Masi's adorable smile, Milo's new haircut (yeah I still haven't gotten over it, Mom), the way they're all maxin' and relaxin', it's all wonderful. And what better way to celebrate Friday than by paying tribute to those little things that get you through the work week. Thanks, men of Heroes. You're the best :)

Why do we envy?

2007-10-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Nobody's life is perfect. In fact, most people deal with a lot of problems and hardships. So why do we spend more time wishing we had someone else's life instead of our own? I often think about this strange tendency of human beings because I am extremely guilty of it myself. The funny thing is...I really do like my life. There are things that I wish I could change but for the most part I think I'm doing very well for a 24 year-old female. And the interesting thing is, while I may sometimes want someone else's life, I never want to be someone else. So if that's true, what's the point in envying?

There is no point. Unfortunately though feeling envious is part of human nature. No matter how secure we are with ourselves and our lives, there is always something someone else has that we want. So rather that beat ourselves up for experiencing the feelings, I think it's important to figure out how to deal with the feelings constructively. Lately I've been realizing a lot about how the human mind functions and although it may sound cliche, it's all about attitude. The same thought or feeling could crop up in two people and the way those two people choose to deal with that thought or feeling absolutely determines how happy each person will be.

I could look at my life in the following way: I have a boring job, I'm poor, single, and all my best friends live 70 miles away. Or I could look at it like this: I have great writing and cooking skills. I'm taking acting classes which has been my dream since I was a child. I have a full-time job with great benefits. I'm working on publishing my first book. I have an amazing family. I have good health because I run, do yoga, and eat well. I have a fantastic apartment that I share with the best roommate in the world. And perhaps my greatest asset of all...I have a never ending desire to be a good person.

It's silly to assume that someone else's life is perfect because he or she may have a bunch of exciting things I don't have. People also have a wide variety of problems, insecurities, and hangups that I wouldn't want to touch with a 10-foot pole! And some people are really good at hiding these things so their lives will always seem perfect on the outside. We can never know the whole picture which is really the biggest reason why being envious is misguided and pointless. But like I said earlier, it's a part of human nature and the only thing we can do to rise above it is acknowledge the emotion, move on, and start appreciating what have.

Like I always say, life's too short to dwell on the negative. Never let yourself be angry, guilty, vengeful, or envious for longer than a moment. There's a whole world out there to be enjoyed and with the right attitude, anything is possible.

"He melts my foolish heart in every single scene..."

2007-10-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

Recently, EW did a photo gallery tribute to the "ultimate male hotties" of the last fifteen years or so. This tribute really had nothing to do with acting chops or Oscar caliber performances. It was purely a dedication to the men they think heat up the screen. While I appreciate and very much agree with their sentiments, I decided to take those same "hotties" and consider what I think makes them so sexy.

Now unlike a lot of male moviegoers who would actually pay to see Good Luck Chuck for the sole reason of maybe seeing Jessica Alba naked, I actually have an affection for these lads that goes beyond physical appearance. Eye candy is lovely but if I'm already scarfing down nachos and Raisinets what I want more than anything is a little cinematic nutrition. The following actors are just that. They are absolutely thrilling to watch because they'll do anything to convey a character accurately and honestly. Yes, it helps that they are good-looking, but if you've ever seen The Insider, Courage Under Fire or The Machinist you'll know that hotness isn't always about being pretty. To me it's about being fearless and at one time or another, every man on this list has taken a leap.

But hey, if all that stuff about acting and "maintaining the integrity of a role" has you totally bored, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy all the guys on this list, and E-dubs and I have illustrated several.

Christian Bale

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Who knew the kid from The Empire of the Sun would grow up to be a work of art? We love him best as the sexiest Bruce Wayne to hit the big screen in Batman Begins

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment For pure sex appeal, I've gotta say American Psycho. But my heart AND uterus skipped a beat watching him play a struggling husband and father in 3:10 to Yuma.

George Clooney

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Successfully wooing the U.S. marshal (Jennifer Lopez) who means to put him back in prison in 1998's Out of Sight

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment I have to agree with E-dubs on this one. The bathtub, the hotel room, it was all very, very good.

Terrence Howard

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Slipping a garter off an icy (but quickly melting) bridesmaid in 1999's The Best Man

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment The final moments of The Brave One. It's a very controversial ending to a very controversial film but Terrence did such a beautiful job. We ladies love of a guy who can be tender and sensitive while also kicking some major ass.

Jake Gyllenhaal

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Shaving in a car's side-view mirror, moments before meeting his soon-to-be-lover Heath Ledger in 2005's Academy Award-winning Brokeback Mountain

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment I really need to go back to where it all began. I first saw Jake in Donnie Darko about five years ago and it remains my favorite performance of his to this day. Smart, witty, tortured, heroic...Donnie was the kind of guy you wish had gone to your high school.

Hugh Jackman

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment With his razor-sharp claws and superhuman physical capabilities in the X-men film series, Wolverine is no doubt at the head of the pack

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Taking care of the sobbing mess that was Ashley Judd in Someone Like You. While I've never met a man in real life who could go from misogynistic asshole to sensitive confidant in just 97 minutes, Hugh has enough charm and charisma to pull it off in this movie.

Ewan McGregor

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment As a dashing, starry-eyed poet, singing a medley of love songs on the rooftop with Nicole Kidman in 2001's Moulin Rouge

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment To this day I still wonder if Big Fish would have had the same impact on me if Tim Burton had instead cast his favorite leading man, Johnny Depp, in the lead role. I adore Johnny but Ewan McGregor gave this character a kind of whimsy that I don't think any other actor could have given it. The circus scene is absolutely beautiful to watch.

Wentworth Miller

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Crashing Mariah Carey's wedding and using his killer stare to steal her away from Eric Roberts in the diva's "We Belong Together" video

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Hands down Wentworth's hottest moment was when his Prison Break character Michael Scofield finally planted one on sexy prison doctor Sara Tancredi. The scene was tender, provocative, and probably one of the most-watched YouTube clips of all time.

Hugh Grant

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment As the hapless, hunky love interest of the engaging (and sadly engaged) Andie MacDowell in 1994's romantic dramedy Four Wedding and a Funeral

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment It's so hard to decide! I absolutely love him in Notting Hill and About a Boy but I think I have to go with his role as Prime Minister in Love Actually. Going to the "dodgy end" of Wandsworth and knocking on every door just to track down his lady, well it doesn't get much hotter than that.

Clive Owen

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Bravely shepherding the last baby on Earth through a war zone in 2006's Children of Men

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Okay so it doesn't exactly scream romantic, but Closer is definitely where you'll find Clive's sexiest stuff. Watching him berate and degrade his cheating wife (played against type by Julia Roberts) is infuriating, heart-breaking and arousing all at the same time.

Denzel Washington

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment Cheating on wife Joie Lee with siren Cynda Williams in 1990's Mo' Better Blues

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment I love to watch Denzel's character arc in Philadelphia. As lawyer Joe Miller, Denzel begins as a typical man's man, proud of his masculinity while also quite homophobic. Based solely on the challenge of it, Joe decides to represent Andy, a homosexual lawyer who was fired because he contracted AIDS. As the film progresses and Joe grows closer to Andy, it is beautiful to watch him let his guard down and open himself up to a world he was once repulsed by. If only every man could follow suit.

Russell Crowe

EW's Ultimate Hottie Moment In the Colosseum, avenging the murders of his beloved wife and son, in 2000's Gladiator

Z's Ultimate Hottie Moment Who doesn't love a good Western especially one with a great anti-hero. Russell Crowe gives us exactly that with his portrayal of Ben Wade in 3:10 to Yuma. Like the Man with No Name, Ethan Edwards, and Bill Munny, Ben Wade illustrates all the great qualities of a Western anti-hero and does it with confidence, intelligence and oodles of sex appeal.

Honorable Mention (E-dubs, how could you leave THESE guys off the list??)

Daniel Craig, Hugh Laurie, Adrien Brody, Aaron Eckhart, Joaquin Phoenix, and Matt Damon. Now did I leave off anyone? Let me know peeps!

"Acting is a way of living out one's insanity.”

2007-09-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

I've done very little acting in my life. A few scenes in my film classes and some things when I was in elementary school. Enough to catch the bug but never explore it in any real way. So to pursue acting is quite a challenge not only because I am inexperienced, but because I want so badly to succeed at it. I have a love for actors and the craft of acting that I can't quite describe. It's been with me since I was young and it is really what has fueled my passion for film through the years.

So here I am, three weeks into an adult acting class I finally got myself to take. How am I feeling? Absolutely ecstatic. The first two weeks I compare to wading around in the shallow end of a swimming pool. Getting wet and moving around but not attempting anything too dangerous. This past week, however, was the real test. I was finally thrown into the deep end and left to my own devices. We were given an open scene project which involved taking a very basic dialogue exchange and interpreting it in such as way as to create a very specific scene with a specific setting and characters. The scene had to make sense which was difficult consider we couldn't change a syllable of dialogue.

I was nervous about this project because a. it was my first time memorizing a scene b. I was working with a woman who is hearing and visually impaired and c. I would be performing said scene in front of several more experienced actors. I decided though to let that all go and just embrace the nature of the scene. Being that it took place in a cemetery and I was playing a character who was attempting to comfort a widowed friend, I really wanted to focus on the emotions and not let outside factors influence my performance. I wanted it to be sincere and believable.

I've got to say, it was extremely nerve-wracking being up there performing. It was also exhilarating. For those few minutes I was totally caught up in the scene to a point where I felt like I was transformed by it. What was scary though was not knowing how the audience was receiving it. The second we broke character and I looked out at everyone I had absolutely no idea what the reaction would be. Relief doesn't even begin to explain how I felt once my instructor began to speak.

"Wow, that was really good. Very beautiful scene."

Really? I thought. And then I scanned the rest of the students' faces and they had this look of absolute agreement and amazement. I honestly couldn't believe what I had done. I felt as though some real actor has slipped in for me, performed the scene, and then snuck out just as the audience began to clap. It not only gave me this huge boost of confidence, but because Antonia and I had volunteered to go first, we were able to sit back, relax, and enjoy our classmates' performances. The other scenes were much more light-hearted and I definitely needed that after being wrapped up in such an intense scene myself.

When class ended and I walked to the elevator, two of my fellow students were also waiting to ride down to the first floor. As I approached the elevator, one of them said to me, "really good job today" and the other nodded her head and her eyes widened as though she was thinking back to it with amazement. It was truly awe-inspiring.

So it seems my first attempts at acting are going quite well and I'm really hoping the first go-round was not a fluke. Not only do I want to be able to do this, I want to be able to do it well. I'd love nothing more than to get enough training and enough confidence to begin auditioning and hopefully at some point begin performing for real audiences. I'm finally beginning to feel a real kinship and connection to all of those actors who have always inspired me. It makes me happier than anything has in a long, long time.

Another lovely literary creation is born

2007-09-21T11:10:00.001-07:00

Whenever I sit down to write a blog post, a film review, or even a simple tirade on the trivialites of my life, I thank my lucky stars that I was blessed with the ability to write. It's a gift that has gotten me extremely far in my young life. But this gift didn't just fall out of the sky. It was given to me by my mother who happens to be one of the most talented writers I have ever known.

So why do I speak of this now? Well it just so happens that my mother, esteemed romance author Diana Laurence, recently published her eighth book (ninth, if you include an e-book she wrote about, what else, publishing!) The novel is called Bloodchained and it is very unique in that Diana consulted a wide variety of people whom she gathered through a Yahoo! Group to write the story. From choosing characters' names to deciding between several possible plot synopses, all of the Bloodchained contributors helped Diana create what is sure to be her most riveting and complex creation yet.

In order to shed some light on my mother's recent brainchild, I am providing a very interesting little interview with the talented lady herself.

Q: So, what kind of people will enjoy reading Bloodchained?

A: The book is a paranormal suspense novel, set in a fantasy world with a Renaissance feel. It features an original, romantic twist on vampires, a new race of blood-drinkers called “Roicans.” So it will appeal to people who enjoy Renaissance faires, historical romances, fantasies, and mysteries. I’d say check out the book if you like Robin Hobb, Anne Rice, “Lord of the Rings,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” even “Harry Potter.” Anyone who enjoys fantasy, horror or science fiction and has a romantic bent could really like Bloodchained. It’s a great love story but also a page-turner that male fantasy fans can get into.

Q: What’s the story about?

A: Grace and Sebastian Gilder are 20-something orphaned siblings, whose parents left them a thriving inn and tavern on the edge of the bustling city of Audicacia. They’re right on the road taken by pilgrims coming to visit the Temple of Love, a mysterious edifice reputed to answer the prayers of the lovelorn. One day three strangers, two men and a woman, arrive at the inn, and Grace and Sebastian quickly find themselves attracted to all three. So attracted, in fact, that they are rather concerned. As the story unfolds, bits of the puzzle are revealed, and clearly the three travelers are somehow mixed up in the business of the Roicans, a legendary race of blood-drinking immortals. But just how they are connected to the Roicans is unclear, and it’s hard to tell bad guys from good. By the time you do, the stakes are life and death. And the romance is in trouble too.

Q: So what’s the deal with these “Roicans”? Why not go with standard vampires?

A: The problem with conventional vampires is that they are attractive, but soulless and damned. It’s hard to write a romance or happy-ending book about vampires...after all, Dracula is a horror story. “Buffy” and the Anne Rice books are quite dark and tortured. I wanted to write a love story as well as a suspense novel, so I felt I had to solve this quandary. But my assignment was to write a book about blood-drinkers, and there’s no denying people adore vampires. The whole domination/submission thing is very powerful, as is the idea of creatures that can mesmerize you and do this bad thing to you that at the same time so pleasurable.

So I took those elements of the vampire archetype that work well with romance, and devised a different origin for the Roicans, a different set of rules. They are the offspring of one original pair, Ireogot and Heroica, who loved so perfectly that by drinking each other’s blood they became both totally one, and also immortal. So the basis of the race is very romantic and positive. Unfortunately, the race eventually fell, as any humans with supernatural powers will, and now we have Roicans as diverse as there are mortals. Some are good, noble, and heroic. Others are selfish megalomaniacs. Most are just regular folks who happen to drink blood and live forever. It all makes Roican/mortal relations rather tricky. And it’s very fun for me, the author, because I get to work with charismatic characters that you love to love, and love to hate.

Q: You said “my assignment was to write a book about blood-drinkers” ...what “assignment”?

A: Bloodchained is a totally unique book in that it was written, in a sense, by 64 people. Back in January 2007 I was thinking about my next book project and wanted to find a way to use technology to get readers and fans involved in the writing. I recruited 63 people, most of them strangers, to take part. I used online polls, email, my website, and a blog to keep the group connected. My partners chose the genre, point of view, and sensuality level of the book, and they also picked the plot from three synopses. They named the characters based on sketches I prepared. They were involved in critiquing throughout the writing process, and then six volunteers read and edited the entire manuscript before it went to my professional editor.

Q: How did that process affect the writing?

A: Honestly, I was amazed at how much having my partners involved helped me. Their insights were fantastic: they constantly thought of things that didn’t occur to me at all. It resulted in this being a much better conceived and written book than I’ve ever written before (and I’ve written a lot of books!). It was also great fun to have a “cheering section”--these people were so enthusiastic and supportive.

Q: What else have you written and published?

A: I’ve been freelancing for over thirty years. My first published piece was a short story that appeared in ‘Teen magazine when I was thirteen, back in the days of hippies! I’ve sold various short works over the years, and also published a book of devotions, a self-help book on Jungian psychology, two novels (a contemporary and a fantasy romance), and four collections of short tasteful erotic stories. I’m best known for those, the “Soulful Sex” books, which are erotic romance for people who enjoy reading about sex but don’t get into the more raw stuff in typical erotica.

Q: You publish your own books. Why not use a “real” publisher? Shouldn’t readers worry that that’s an indication your books might be amateurish?

A: First of all, in the past I’ve had books published by four different publishers. My last publisher was quite good to work with and I was their bestselling author; unfortunately, as so often happens in the small press, they went out of business. I had a couple new publishers ask after my work, but I decided at that time to start publishing all my books myself. It gave me so much more control over everything, and I am able to produce better quality books, at a faster pace, for lower prices. There’s no downside at all!

Most laypeople don’t realize how tough the publishing business is. It’s almost impossible nowadays for new authors to sign with the big New York houses, and even if they are, it’s no picnic. Most often your title is out for a few months and then falls forever into obscurity, never being seen in bookstores again. And the time it takes to release a book this way is ridiculous in today’s fast-paced climate. From conception to online bookstores, Bloodchained took six months. Meanwhile, a writer friend of mine working with a small print publisher is going to be waiting a year for a book he finished in 2006 to be released…and I’d be very surprised if it comes out looking as nice as Bloodchained! You just care more about quality when it’s your own work.

Q: And why do you like Bloodchained in particular so much?

A: I was so pleased with what my partners chose for me to write. It has all the elements I enjoy personally: a spunky, sympathetic heroine; a hero who is one of those off-putting but irresistible types like Mr. Rochester or Mr. Darcy; seductive paranormal elements; hot and romantic love scenes; a cozy Renaissance-y setting; a hot, nasty villain in sort of Cillian Murphy-style; tons of page-turning suspense; and, thanks to all my editors, writing that I think is very rich and vibrant. The world of Audicacia and the Roicans has so many possibilities--I’m desperately hoping the book will catch on and I can write a sequel.

Q: How can people find out more, and buy the book?

A: Just visit the official website at www.bloodchained.com for everything you need to know. The book is available in trade paperback, lit, pdf and Mobipocket formats, from the publisher or from online retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. People interested in finding out more about me and my other work, please visit www.dianalaurence.com, and check out my blog at www.eroticawithsoul.blogspot.com. My publishing house site is www.livingbeyondreality.com, and for anyone interested in downloading free sample ebooks to experience my writing, visit the LBR Press READ FREE page at www.livingbeyondreality.com/readfree.html

Pulling the plug

2007-09-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to address something for quite some time, however, I can't help but feel a little hypocritcal when it comes to this particular topic. What's the topic I speak of? Internet addiction and more specifically, Facebook addiction. I find the whole thing extremely fascinating mainly because I have such a love/hate relationship with it myself.

There are times when Facebook is amusing and does indeed help me keep in touch and make plans with friends. But that's really where it stops. More often than not I find myself uncontrollably drawn to the website when I'd rather be doing something else. What is it? The urge to update my status which is absolutely insignificant? The desire to know exactly what an ex has been up to in the last month even though I want nothing to do with him in my real life? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, this obsession we have with Facebook. It's simply an off-shoot of a more deeply rooted problem: internet addiction in general.

People wonder how I can possibly live without having the internet at home. It's because if it's there, I'm going to go on it and I don't enjoy spending every waking moment online. Having access to it for the nine hours I'm at work is enough, believe me. And developing a dependence on the internet just feels a little disgusting to me. Think about it. It's not good to get physically upset by internet withdrawal. It's not good to freak out because you can't see whether or not anyone wrote on your Facebook wall in the last two hours. I just feel that people rely to heavily on the internet for things they really shouldn't rely on it for, i.e. social validation and mental masturbation.

So to avoid becoming a complete hypocrite, yours truly is going to take a bit of a hiatus from the devil's playground that is Facebook. I cannot help but feel a small weight lifted from my shoulders thinking how nice it'll be. I can pretend for a little while that I'm capable of functioning outside of an e-world. So please, if you need to get a hold of me, try the phone...or if you're really feeling crazy, ring my doorbell.

...

For more exciting insights into this subject, check out a very cool article from the International Herald Tribune:

Meanwhile: Just one more, and I swear I quit

When you bleed Cubbie blue

2007-09-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

Pennant races are exciting. When the Brewers lost complete control of their 8 game lead in the NL central back in June/July and the Cubs took the reigns I was hoping it would come down to this. A fight to the death for a playoff spot both teams have been after for years. The Brewers haven't made the playoffs since 1982 and the Cubbies have been looking for a chance to redeem themselves since the Steve Bartman travesty of 2003. It's a baseball thriller you couldn't script but now that we're nearing the end and the Brewers and Cubs are once again tied for first I can't help but retract the desire I had three months ago for a neck and neck race to the finish line.

Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely happy that the Cubs are even in the race at all considering they were indescribably awful last year. Their playoff hopes were pretty much dashed in June. I guess the problem lies in the fact that because they're in this race, there's a 50% chance I'm going to have my heart seriously broken in a few weeks. I've been a Cub fan for a long time but this is the year I realized how truly important this team is to me. At one point the Brewers were 14 above .500 and the Cubs were 7 below .500 and now look at where we are. The Cubbies overcame was seemed like an insurmountable obstacle. Yes, it helped that the Brewers completely collapsed in July and then again in August. However, it's a lot more difficult to come back from behind then it is to blow a giant lead. I was and remain so proud of every single member of this team it often creates a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

Now I wouldn't change a single thing about this season if I could. It's been one of the greatest sports seasons I've experienced in my life. I guess I'm just feeling a little sad now that we're getting to the end. And it's less about the Cubs losing the pennant race to the Brewers and more about how much I'm going to miss seeing these guys play every day. How much I'm going to miss seeing all those fans at Wrigley Field, listening to Pat & Ron the radio, and visiting the Cubs' Yahoo! Sports page religiously.

More than anything though I'm going to miss how close this team has brought me to my parents. All those lazy Saturday and Sunday afternoons we gathered together in the living room to watch WGN or sat on the patio listening to the soothing sounds of Pat, Ron and Wrigley Field. All the conversations we had in the kitchen about how amazing...or not amazing the Cubs had played that day. These are the moments that have made me the Cubs fan I am today. I'm now convinced that if you cut me open, my veins would twist like the ivy on the outfield wall at Wrigley and I'd bleed Cubbie blue. The downside of this kind of fandom is of course the aching disappointment of my team missing out at a shot at the World Series. But the upside is something I can't even describe. It's the reward that comes with the kind of patience, commitment, and hope only a Cub fan can and will ever understand.

3:10 to Yuma

2007-09-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I've seen this film but I gotta say I'm still feeling the impact and thus I had to blog it out. I can say now, even just three weeks into Fall Movie Season, if you see anything at all in the coming months make sure you check out 3:10 to Yuma. Not a fan of Westerns? Who fucking cares. It's brilliant and the performances are unparalleled.

I think my favorite part about this film is the supporting roles. And trust me, I LURVE Christian Bale and Russell Crowe so to say that means a great deal. We have Dallas Roberts, a favorite of mine since A Home at the End of the World, who plays a calm, cool, and relatively collected railroad rep. His job is to simply personify the unforgiving nature of the railroad business but he does it so vividly and convincingly that I found his character to be one of the best in the film.

Alan Tudyk, known primarily for his work in the fantastic but unseen sci-fi series Firefly, is once again great as Doc Potter, an unassuming yet witty veterinarian who is roped into (no pun intended) joining the posse of men escorting Crowe's Ben Wade to the prison train.

I really enjoyed Peter Fonda's performance in this film I think because he's barely recognizable as Peter Fonda. Maybe it's just my strange taste but I've never taken to Peter Fonda in anything he's done which is odd considering I absolutely adore his father in everything! In 3:10 to Yuma, Fonda breathes grizzled life into Byron McElroy, a bounty hunter intent on killing Ben Wade to gain a reward before the government can kill him themselves.

But all in all, I have to say the Best Supporting Actor award goes to Ben Foster. Speaking of unrecognizable, it took me several scenes to piece together that this was, in fact, the same guy who played the naive Jewish teenager Ben Kurtzman in Liberty Heights. Unbelievable. This is undeniably Ben's best work as he completely inhabits what could have been a caricature of role with brutal cynicism and unrelenting cruelty. He honestly makes Russell Crowe's "bad guy" look a bit like Jimmy Stewart and Russell Crowe's "bad guy" is freakin' bad as hell.

So on top of all the amazing performances, 3:10 to Yuma has got a solid script (thank you AGAIN Elmore Leonard!), some eye-popping cinematography, and an absolutely beautiful score. It's been a really long time since I've come out of a movie so jacked up and eager to tell every one and their mother about what I'd just seen and this film did that and then some. Between 3:10 to Yuma and The Assassination of Jesse James which comes out this weekend, I am so excited to say that the Western is officially back in business. So get your ass to the theater and start soaking it up.

...

To get even more fantastic insights into the subtle greatness of 3:10 to Yuma, check out this review from the incomparable Roger Ebert.

"One test of a great actor is the ability to let dialogue do its work invisibly..."

What is happiness to you?

2007-09-17T14:16:00.001-07:00

So I've had a whirlwind week and a half. Crazy really. After an EXTREMELY long passage of time with absolutely no romantic prospects, I found myself dealing with two potential situations within ten days. The emotions that came out of these ten days were some of the best I've experienced in a really long time. An odd combination of euphoria, surprise, some major boosting of the ego, and a heightened realization of how amazing life can be.

It wasn't all good though. One guy has just gotten out of a long term relationship and the other is someone I've had more than a few problems with in the year and a half I've known him. In other words, to pursue a future with either one is going to require some major sacrifices on my part. I must admit, being on Cloud 9 with the first guy two weeks ago and then back on Cloud 9 with the second guy this past weekend, it's very difficult to come back to earth. There are few things in life as wonderful as spending time with a person you totally click with. You don't want it to end and you don't want to be anywhere but there. However, life isn't that simple and you've got to be prepared for things not working out. You need to be grounded and you need a foundation or you will be a hot mess if you ever lose that 'thing.'

So all of this got me thinking about what truly makes me happy. I was single for a long time and thus I'm totally capable of being happy without a man. Yes, life is IMMENSELY better with someone by my side and on my mind. But it can't always be that way. So what do I have? A short list popped in my head at that moment:

-driving around downtown at night listening to Kanye West
-watching HBO and eating takeout
-going to bed early & waking up early
-making an impromptu visit to my parents' house & watching a House marathon with my mom
-my acting class
-hanging out at a friend's apartment
-Terrence Howard's voice
-shopping for stupid shit like lotion and knee high socks
-watching the Cubs and Bears game with my parents

Thinking of all the things on that list really did make me indescribably happy. So that's when I decided...this is your life and your foundation and whatever comes after is just icing on the cake. Embrace all of these moments that are yours and no one else's and if you're lucky, you might just find someone who you can tell all about it.

Mixin' it up

2007-09-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Every time I pay a visit to Madison, I make myself a killer mix CD. I think I have almost a dozen at this point and I love them because I can pop one in at any time and it will totally take me back to that time.

So I've got a trip to Madtown planned for the weekend and I've created what is probably my favorite mix so far. I think it's a nice combination of upbeat tracks and nice, lowkey "cozy" tracks perfect for this time of year. I highly recommend checking out all the songs if you have the time and money because they are all stellar.

A little something from EW

2007-09-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

“No matter how slow the film, spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer it has chosen.” -Minor White

It's a beautiful day for a movie

2007-08-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-08-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

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!