Something about those NYC lines...

There's something special about driving in NYC. The lines are amazing. And driving down Madison Ave, impressive.

But it's all just "stuff."  I don't care about "stuff." If you asked me what I wanted, it would be something way more special. *Sigh* to live without. I suppose that's what heartbreak is made of. Okay. Breathing on.

An Afterthought...

Movie Review: I, Frankenstein

STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch Review

PRODUCER: No way, man! We've got to do it. It's such a cool graphic novel! Gargoyles?! And Frankenstein?! Heck, yeah! And I have a ton of buddies who are all over the CGI.  They'll dominate. Totally. It'll be tighter than a drum!

DIRECTOR: That's what I was saying! After all, birds of a feather, flock together. But you know what would make it fun?
PRODUCERS: Hm. I'd say a game would make it fun. But dude, you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip...
DIRECTOR: Exactly. A game. We can go the extra mile, and - shhhh - make it a drinking game for the older fans.
PRODUCERS: What older fans? You're not gonna step on people's toes, are you?
DIRECTOR: No! Not to rock the boat, but the 25 year olds. Or people who loved Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

PRODUCERS: Dude, I love Buffy. Man, am I that old? So the game. Let's take the bull by the horns and call this "Cliche 101." They can drink when they hear a cliche! Ha! They'll be smashed by the end if they movie...
DIRECTOR: Yes! Easy as pie! And we'll learn them some while we're at it. No skin off my back.
PRODUCERS: Awesome CGI, awesome actions sequences, shallow characters & plot, our Hollywood-fit as a fiddle actors, and we're golden. Throw money at it will you? Go for broke.

WRITER: Shut up, Producers.

Fleetwood Mac Stage Performances: "Big Love" & "Tusk"

"Big Love"

Pretty darn cool...

"Tusk"

Fleetwood Mac Photo Review: Take 1

Took growing some balls myself to share this with everyone. But in the interest of openness & honesty, it's out. Here was my Fleetwood Mac concert experience. 

(Yes, Jeanette. Those are some shoes!)

It was way more awesome than I could've expected. Fantastic music played with soul and full blown passion. From that close, I could feel the interaction between the band members - a beautiful discomfort like that moment when you burn your tongue on too-hot-hot-chocolate (yes, with marshmallows) - sweetly painful. And the performance was perfection. Goodlord, to write those lyrics, and that music...beautiful...

(Um, getting whisked to the front row only intensified the experience.)

Query: if you were invited to another show in a week - front row AGAIN, would you go? 

So, text placement matters

"It might say 'where,' but that's certainly not what I read."

- Jeanette

Ha!

One of the BEST Beetlejuice scenes - looking forward to part 2! YAY!

Jeanette!!! LOOK! Remember this?!?!

Man, I remember watching this movie over & over & over! HA! 

We watch it together, no? Yes.

Ahh, the weather...

Weather update.

I like this perspective! I'm actually curious about how it's gonna play out! 

Something must be wrong with me...

Movie Review: Snowpiercer

STAR STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch Review

DIRECTOR: I don't want to argue about it. It will not as bloody as "Kill Bill," but I want a dark, Matrix-esque color pallet. Color is important - especially for this philosophical commentary on what it is to be a person. I want this done with a dark, moody elegance.
PRODUCER: Is that possible? To make the base human condition "elegant?"
DIRECTOR: It will be once this is made. It's all filmed on a train, so we'll be creative with the space. The set crew will have to be get inventive. And the action choreographer will have their work cut out! People are violent, and this story has plenty of chances to paint that image in the audience's mind. We will take that opportunity.  It'll be interesting.

PRODUCER: Interesting, yes, as long the audience is open to this oddly told story. Hey, at least the story moves forward the whole time.  I appreciate that.  And the subtitles, so selectively used, oddly appropriate. It fits in perfectly. I like it - especially with this cast.  This cast really communicates the script's Apocalyptic character possibilities. Quite a spread, here. I wonder which one I'd behave like?

DIRECTOR: You never know. Maybe you'd be the bad guy. With odd elegance.

PRODUCER: Shut up, director.

Movie Review: Wild

STAR STAR STAR STAR 1/2


The Pitch Review



PRODUCERS: Are you sure? She's not very likable. Relatable? Probably. Likable? I don't know...
REESE: No, she's not the most likable person. But she doesn't give up. And the journey is about figuring out why she won't give up. Nudity won't be an issue for me either.
DIRECTOR: Good, because it won't read unless you bear it all, girl.
REESE: Don't be a jerk about it. Feminism matters, you know.

PRODUCER: Of course it does, Reese. We can do this however you like.
REESE: Oh, I know. We'll come out of this with respect for women. Guys fail the hike, you know...but this woman - we'll show a strong woman emotionally clawing her way out of the pits of her hell. You'll eat it up. They'll eat it up.

DIRECTOR: Of course we will, Reese.
PRODUCER: Why doesn't she have a phone with her? A cel phone, I mean? Wouldn't she want to Instagram some pictures?
REESE: What?! A cel phone? Are you crazy?! First of all, there'd be no reception on that hike. Secondly, that would defeat the point of the self-discovery journey. It's a one-woman hike through Mordor, if you will. People will drag their friends to see it. And then that friend will hate the friend who brought them for making them cry for two hours, and then love them again but not until the very end. Uplifting in a back-handed slap kind of way.

DIRECTOR: Kind of like water-boarding. We won't really drown them in their feelings, just make them feel like they'll never get back up. And then let them breathe at the very, very end. Make them think. A lot. Especially after they leave the theater.
PRODUCER: So, really? No phone? Not even if they have Verizon?
REESE: Shut up, Producer.

Movie Review: Mortdecai

STAR STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch Review

(all discussed in a British accent)
JOHNNY: It's time.
EWAN: Yes, I completely agree. There's enough dramas out there to fill a baby bottle.
DIRECTOR: Fill a baby bottle? With what?
JOHNNY: With tears. We need tears of laughter, not tears of sadness! This, my old friends, will do the trick.  It's time to resurrect the comedic brilliance of Peter Sellers. "Pink Panther," meets "Austin Powers," meets ME. Hilarious.

GWYNETH: I really do like it! So classy. Simply fun. I love how they're all so filthy rich! Is it me, or does that provide more opportunity to make it, well, better? And a little bit sexy, but not too sexy (I don't want to have to sell brazen hussy sexy, it's not my forte, but still, it's so...cheeky!

JOHNNY: Precisely.  And the characters are so distinctly...memorable. And they're so rich it's not "odd," it's "eccentric." You know how I like it, darling, don't you?
GWYNETH: Indeed I do!
PAUL: If nothing else we'll have immense fun making it.

JOHNNY: I completely agree. This is an opportunity that should not be missed! We shall resurrect the slapstick genius of that seemingly forgotten genre of film - but in a classy, way. Not crass & rude like Seth Rogen's work (which is quite amusing, but so unrefined).  I'm thinking sequels...(I adore sequels, you know).

PRODUCER: We have the perfect team to tie the story together - editing, music, a fun scene transition technique...okay! It'll be charming!
GWYNETH: Now, about the kissing, we won't be too smoochy, will we, darlings? You know how I feel about the smooching...And let's make fun of Americans a bit, shall we?!
JOHNNY: Shut up, Gwyneth. But yes, lets.

Underneath the Stars Indeed...and Over them, and Around them, and Through them...

Thank you, NASA

NASA released its 1.5 billion pixel image of the Andromeda Galaxy.  I don't know if you love stars & space like I do, but seeing this one image - the massive scope of it alone - makes me feel so tingly inside. In a really good way. 

That, and it's just plain beautiful. Worth checking out.

Movie Review: Ragnarok (see translation at bottom)

STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch omtale

BELIGGENHET SCOUT: Truly. Det er like vakker.
DIREKTØR: Vistas er enestående! Det vil være litt av en hyllest til "Ringenes Herre."
KOMPONIST: Å, ja. Stillingen vil gripe deres fantasi og visp dem bort til en fantasi land av vantro. Ja. Jeg kan gjøre det.
PRODUSENT: Vi er heldig som har stilt opp dette kastet. Jeg liker hvordan troverdig og upretensiøse disse aktørene er. Selv barn! Aw, de er som våre små hobbitene!

DIREKTØR: Skal vi se ... vi vil ikke ha mye budsjett til overs hvis vi CGI monsteret, så vi må sørge for at skuespillerne kan gjøre stunts. Rimelige stunts, men det er må være interessant og holde historien går. Som om de var magiske alver ...

FORFATTER: Elves? Hva? Nei! Ikke bli båret bort med "Ringenes Herre" tema. Det er ment å være om vikingene og den siste kampen. Derav tittelen? Hovedhistorien foregår i vår tid!

DIREKTØR: Jeg ser for meg å bruke en ring et sted i historien. Kan du presse det inn?
FORFATTER: Hold kjeft, regissør.



TRANSLATION:

The Pitch Review

LOCATION SCOUT: Truly. It's just as beautiful.
DIRECTOR: The vistas are outstanding! It will be somewhat of an homage to "Lord of the Rings."
COMPOSER: Oh, yes. The score will seize their imagination and whisk them away to a fantastical land of disbelief. Yes. I can do that.
PRODUCER: We're lucky to have lined up this cast. I really like how believable & unassuming these actors are. Even the children! Aw, they're like our little hobbits!
DIRECTOR: Let's see...we won't have much budget left over if we CGI the monster, so we'll have to ensure that the actors can do stunts. Reasonable stunts, but it's gotta stay interesting and keep the story going. As if they were magical elves...
WRITER: Elves? What? No! Don't get carried away with the "Lord of the Rings" theme. It's supposed to be about Vikings and the final battle. Hence the title? The main story takes place in present time!
DIRECTOR: I envision using a ring somewhere in the story. Can you squeeze that in?
WRITER: Shut up, director.

Movie Review: boyhood

STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch Review

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Well?

PATRICIA: ...

ETHAN: ...

ELLAR:...

PRODUCER: ...

CINEMATOGRAPHER: ...

MUSIC: ...

WRITER/DIRECTOR: That's what I thought. 

Stand-up Review: Eddie Izzard. Fabulous...*

STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR

Stand-Up Review: Eddie Izzard

Cheers! :)

Eddie Izzard was fabulously hysterical. And oh my god those legs in those pants & heels! He's better in heels than I am! 

(Okay, I had heel issues...embarrassingly, one fell off getting back into the car after refueling. The guy who saw the whole thing had a good-natured laugh. I didn't care, though, because shiny red heels are just plain fun to wear. Ask Audrey. She knows. Where was I? Oh yeah! Eddie!) 

Attractive, yet still totally masculine....and that was just the eye candy part of the show!

It felt like he was having a conversation with the crowd. But an insightful, hilarious, conversation that remained interesting for the entire TWO hours he was on stage. Two hours! Amazing...

Touching on history, politics, language, imaginative scenarios, wild tales, singing, and even offering a neat strategy to conquer fear (dying to try it!). All in a casual, un-forced, natural manner that had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand (especially me - I'd eat out of his hand). Impressive. In multiple languages, no less! Well done. And fabulous.  Beautiful man. 

*Oh! And did I mention that he considers himself to be an "Action Transvestite?" That's a transvestite that's into makeup, and Action Movies. Yes. Action Movies. I love action movies!!! A significant portion of his show is dedicated to Liam Neeson's work (!), Darth Vader (!), and Action Movies in General (!).   I...was...so...stoked!!!

(super big smiley face)

Movie Review: A Walk Among the Tombstones

DIRECTOR: Oh, I know! Right?
WRITER: It's true! Without the sound, movies aren't as intense.  I have a sound guy that'll make the music so intense it'll marinade them in fear & discomfort.
PRODUCER: Absolutely. but if the visuals don't line up, it won't work. How are you gonna balance that?
LIAM: I don't understand. I thought this was an action flick.
PRODUCER: Well, not really. It's not like your "Taken" flicks. It's more...suspense-thrilling movie.
LIAM: You mean "thriller."
WRITER: Yes, a suspense "thriller."

DIRECTOR: But we'll imply the fear. I'm going to hijack their imaginations, and make them assume the worst. Scare the sh&# out of them. For a very...long...time...

LIAM: I like that. You have a point. The scariest thing to a person is what's in their head. And I like how the fear builds and builds because you don't understand the reason behind all the horrible things happening. They will fear what they don't understand. People crave an explanation, like an insane addiction. Worse than cocaine. No, worse than heroine.
PRODUCER: Right. It's the type of story to make you paranoid, and scared of people, and untrustworthy.
LIAM: You're saying I can't trust you? You mean "untrusting," don't you?
PRODUCER: Shut up, Liam.

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Go, animators!!!

Something I'm looking forward to seeing in person

Gosh, I love a beautiful sunset. Of course, who doesn't? This one is in San Diego - view from my sister's place. I can't wait to get back out there for a visit!  Thanks for the pic, Sandrita!

Movie Review: TAK3N (Taken 3)

STAR STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch Review

LIAM: Of course I still have some Kick-ass left. Tons. But the running...come on...

DIRECTOR: No no. It'll be great! 

PRODUCER: You're in shape. Still hot.  You'll be fine. 

WRITER: The story just carries forward! You'll be amazed at how you'll still care about the characters & story. It's good, Liam, really! 

DIRECTOR: Same characters you love, & fast paced camera work. I want the movement to be practically continuous. With weighted stops. Trust me, it's good!

LIAM: It'd better be.  A really good story benefits from continuity like that. People like predictability & routine.

WRITER: Precisely. But with some variation. 

LIAM: We cannot lose the core - that some things are worth fighting for. Risking everything for. Like real love. And not to give up in the face of hell.

PRODUCER: Um, sure. What he said. (And that you should always get out when you have the chance, if you're smart.) With fancy cars, insane car chase scenes, explosions, fight scenes up the yin yang...it's "Taken" for godssake! Part 3! 

LIAM: Don't forget the stuff about love being a priority. 

PRODUCER: Shut up, Liam. 

Movie Review: Inherent Vice

STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR

The Pitch Review

JOAQUIN: Man, this story kind of gives me a chubby.
DIRECTOR/WRITER: I know. It's supposed to.

JOAQUIN: I mean, man, it's got everything. In fact, it's the modern Pulp Fiction. It's that good. I'd say "better," though,  because I love the nude scenes - goddam, that unbelievably erotic time suspended in foreplay... And the short skirts... Holy sh$*. Goddam! It's hot. Long, and hot. And funny. (In a grown-up, hippie-loving, pot-smoking, sex rocks kind of way. Man, hippies had dirty feet, didn't they? Cool.)

DIRECTOR/WRITER: I know.
JOAQUIN: So you're getting all these big name stars to be in it? Of course you are. They're gonna be begging to be in this one. I'd say I wanted an Oscar for this role, but I don't give a rat's ass about that game.

DIRECTOR/WRITER: I know.
JOAQUIN: And the characters have these unbelievable, classic, memorable lines. It's gonna stick. For a long time. I'm telling you, man, like a modern Pulp Fiction...but set in the 60s - or 70s...whatever, man. Classic. More than a cult classic, man. It's not too long, either. Long, but good long.

 DIRECTOR/WRITER: I know.
JOAQUIN: Okay, I can't get any harder...
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Shut up, Joaquin.