Alec's an alien, Dan's an idiot, and Sheldon is my homeboy

• Hulu's evil, and they're ok with that. To speak about world domination on their behalf is Alec Baldwin, "tv star." 

• I really have no idea what the heck Penn Badgley is doing in this picture or as Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl (but it doesn't really matter cause LOOK at those arms)... SPOILER AHEAD... c'mon Dan! Taking your high school teacher out on dates, then getting mad at your GF when she catches you, then blaming Blair for all your problems AND THEN, sleeping with Ms. Carr... Clearly this week's ep was filler and fraught with the perils of writers room block. I mean, they made an Eyes Wide Shut plot boring? Oh wait, that movie was dullsville. And did I mention that the show is now on hiatus for a month... In any event, best line of the show had to be "You have anything you want to tell me?"  "Umm, besides I'm glad you're not wearing that raccoon make-up anymore, cause you looked like one of the Incredibles." Kudos Dan for finally calling out lil' J on her "I'm indie, so I'm going to dress like a homeless person" look.
  

Gossip Girl airs Mondays at 8pm on The CW  

• God, I love these kids! I was very skeptical of The Big Bang Theory before I started watching, given my love/hate relationship with laugh tracks, but the show honestly keeps getting better, and I even LOL (for realz). The credit goes to Alex for continuing to harass me that the show was good, despite my initial protests (thanks for ignoring my ignorance). The cast has the kind of chemistry that makes you love watching them, feeling akin to their ups and downs, but also hate them because Penny works at a Cheesecake Factory and Sheldon's socially incapable, and somehow their lives still look more fun than yours... SPOILER AHEAD... This week, Sheldon lends Penny money, but in a surprisingly "un-sheldony" way. While the man can be easily flustered into a panic attack if you sit in his chair or touch his egg roll, it seems giving Penny several hundred dollars with no knowledge of a return date is A Ok. Gotta love the writers for making him infinitely anally retentive, but still generous. 
  

The Big Bang Theory airs Mondays at 8pm on CBS

Punxsutawney brings bad news, maybe we can get Christian Bale to yell at him...

Well, two things are official, We're in for six more weeks of winter, and my long love affair with Christian Bale is at an end. It's just kind of hard to still adore the guy after hearing him scream and rant like a little kid with a foul mouth for three full minutes at a cinematographer. FilmDrunk's got the entire Terminator: Salvation set tirade on audio here. Jeez Bale, I know you're method, but this seems a little extreme...

Also, I'm now on Twitter, so check me out, Tweet!

"Up" and "Year One" Superbowl Spots

Next up for the unchallenged leader in computer animation, aka Pixar, is Up! Set for a May 29th release, the film will follow 78 year old grumpy Carl Fredricksen, who sets out to see South America by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Only problem is an 8 year old stowaway ends up traveling with him. A never before seen sneak peak at the movie aired tonight during the Superbowl, watch it here! To watch the teaser trailer, go here. I get uncontrollably excited for every new Pixar film seeing as they never let me down (except for Cars), so Up should be no exception. And who doesn't love the idea of flying by way of balloons? It's every little kid's fantasy!! 

This summer (June 19th to be exact), Harold Ramis' somewhat anxiously awaited movie, The Year One, will hit theaters. The plot surrounds a couple of incapable hunter/gatherer's (Jack Black and Michael Cera) who are banished from their primitive village and forced to globe trot through the ancient world... yeah, I'm pretty excited for it too! This could be a project that falls flat on it's face, but I have a lot of faith in Ramis, who directed one of my all time fav movies, Groundhog Day. It's also written by two of the genius' behind The Office, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, who happen to be currently working on the script for Ghostbusters III... awesome. Tonight during the Superbowl,  a clip from the film aired, featuring Black and Cera attempting unsuccessfully to hunt for food and then running into Cain and Abel, played by Paul Rudd and David Cross. Somehow, this reminded me how much I miss Tobias...

Check out the clip here!

Movie Review: "if you've ever seen a one trick pony than you've seen me"

"I aint' as pretty as I used to be, but god damn it, I'm still standing here," says Randy "The Ram" Robinson... or was that Mickey Rourke? Throughout the entirety of The Wrestler, it's kind of hard to tell where Randy ends, and Rourke begins. But one thing's for sure... Mickey sure looks different than he used to (see picture at the bottom for proof). Rourke began his acting career with endless praise, calling him the next "DeNiro," but with drugs, alcohol, and then a career switch to boxing, all the praise and glory quickly vanished. He threw everything away, and only came to realize and regret it years later. The camera trails behind him most of the film, so that in the moments when do see his puffy, weather-beaten face, it makes an impact. This once beautiful man (both the fictional and the real one) has become unrecognizable. The guy you knew from Rumblefish and 9 1/2 Weeks is gone. But Rourke the survivor is still here, and in this, he shows us what the last 10 years have probably been like for him. The Wrestler is jagged, gritty, full of brute strength, and filmed entirely by a handheld camera (which can be a bit dizzying at times). This is worlds apart from Director Darren Aronefsky's last film, The Fountain, a lush, fantastical landscape about life and death, which unfortunately fell flat with audiences. This time, Aronefsky's artful blurring of the fictional Randy, with the true tragic reality of Mickey Rourke, has created a film that can probably best be described in two words, real and tough.  

Not one moment is movie is sugarcoated. The tones are monochromatic and dark, that is until Randy "The Ram" steps into his element, the wrestling ring. Then it's all about color, flash and blood (which is frequently real). Rourke plays a quiet hulk of man, face and body destroyed from years of steroids and being beaten into the ground. If professional wrestling is fake, then no one told these guys. They walk out of the ring into the back rooms of Jersey V.F.W halls and run down high school gyms, bloodied, full of tacks and staples, only to be shabbily patched up by standby emergency staff. But Aronefsky has tried his best to show them more as an unsung band of heroes, bonded together by the brotherhood of the fight, and full of warmth and respect for each other. They are a ragged family who speak their own lingo, and they know how to rule the crowd. 

Randy lived his glory days as pro wrestling star, complete with action figures and video games. But now years later, he's just had a heart attack, his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) has given up on him completely, he's been locked out of his trailer, and the only comfort he can find is in a lap dance with over the hill stripper, Cassidy, real name Pam (played by Marisa Tomei). In short, his life is very sad. The film follows him trying to make a stab at a normal life in order to protect what's left of his health, relegated to a job behind a grocery store deli counter (complete with hairnet). But, he's a professional wrestler, and real life doesn't seem to mean anything to him without it. Both Rourke and Tomei's characters are already actors, preying on the love of the crowd or the love of the customer, so acting the parts couldn't have been too much of a stretch for either of them. As Randy gives his final, tearful speech, you know he's not pretending, this is Rourke's life under the guise of another name. And Cassidy the stripper/Pam the mom, is not getting the male attention or tips she used to at the strip club, signaling that the time has come to retire her fishnets. Tomei, at age 44, must be feeling a similar strain given Hollywood's lack of room for aging actresses, even if she still has an incredible body (which you see ALL of in the film). The story is of their last gasp, and it drags you in, even if you didn't want to be.

The movie is visceral and unflinching in it's goal of realism, which makes it a powerful but difficult watch. It's not for the faint of heart. Some of the most interesting parts though are getting to see the behind the scenes "tricks of the trade" that these guys use in the ring. It takes you into a world that is fascinating in it's history, lifespan and popularity. But like everything else, it has an audience, and a very loyal one at that. The ambiguous ending is a perfect finale to this strangely "nail biting" film. You see what you need to see, and that's enough. Ultimately, no matter the faults and missteps of this man, you root for Randy... or was it Rourke? I never can tell...

Short and Sweet

The Wrestler comes down hard, but manages to bring you willingly along on the ride. It's gritty, full of broken glass and relationships beyond repair, but you keep your ear to the ground in the hopes that something will work out for this guy. Aronefsky picked the right leading man, even when everyone else told him not to. Despite the tough reality of the film, Rourke is quiet and likely emotionally stunted, making you fall in love with the mystery in him. Nice, solid performances from Evan Rachel Wood and Tomei, who play the women still in Randy's life. The movie fires on all cylinders, but god damn it's sad, so be aware. I will say that now after seeing this performance, I still hope that Penn will take the Oscar for best actor, only because while Rourke is incredible in this role, he's not really acting. He's just playing himself, only in sparkly tights.

Fav Quotes

"I'll tell you somethin', I hate the fuckin' 90's." 

- Randy "The Ram" Robinson

"I'm an old, broken down piece of meat, and I deserve to be all alone."

- Randy "The Ram" Robinson 

Revival Review: "Come out, come out... wherever you are."

With all the notoriety now surrounding the Hollywood bio-pic of Milk (see my review here), it's no surprise that the original Milk, also known as Rob Epstein's Oscar winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, would resurface. The film was released in 1984, six years after Milk's death by assassination, and also coincidentally, the year of shooter Dan White's release from prison. Despite the fact that the film was made decades ago, long before computers and even fax machines (as Rob joked), it's still as relevant today as it was then (and Hollywood would have to agree). A few weeks ago, hulu.com began streaming the film, and it was there that I was able to see it for the first time. However, last night, I was lucky enough to get to see it on the big screen at the Jacob Burns with Epstein himself there to talk about his creative process. There was something about seeing this film with an audience, especially after the release of Milk, that made last night very special. It was one of those times when you could tell everyone was reacting in unison. There was no doubt that the film nailed every minute.

Epstein's original documentary brainchild had been to do a film about the Brigg's Initiative (aka Prop 6). However, soon after beginning to do early research, he found that the right story to tell might be about Harvey Milk. Milk had become an icon for San Francisco and the Gay Rights movement, but it was through this documentary that much more of the world came to know about his legacy. The story is told through narration by different people who knew and were affected by knowing Harvey. Epstein interviewed everyone from the now famous Anne Kronenberg (his campaign manager) to a union machinist, who before meeting Harvey thought "if you beat up a gay, you were doing the community a service." The one thing all the narrators had in common, is that they came to love Harvey, and not only because of what he stood for, but because he was sometimes insane, rebellious, and always funny. Epstein hit gold with each of the storytellers, but that was in no way by accident. He, and others, spent months interviewing hundreds of people who knew Harvey (including lover Scott Smith who's not in the film, but is played in Milk by James Franco). Ultimately it was narrowed down to the right 8 people. Each voice gave you an insight, not only to Harvey, but to the issues of the time and how they affected them as individuals. They all do an incredible job of making you fall in love with Milk, and subsequently help you feel the weight of their loss. Their pain becomes yours.

The documentary does many things which the film Milk does not, one of which is go into the trial of Dan White, one of the most infamous trials to date. We discover that the man literally got away with murder. And not because of the "twinkie defense" as claimed, but because he was a handsome, white, catholic former fire fighter... and people like that just don't go committing murder in cold blood. While I understand the reason for Milk not telling this part of the story, I am glad that the documentary does. It is an extremely poignant part of the film about our justice system, and how too often, it just doesn't work. When doing a restoration of the film, Epstein had a option to add in a card at the end of the film saying that White committed suicide in 1985, but chose not to, deciding to keep the film intact as it was when finished.

The film is edited beautifully, from the opening of Diane Feinstein pronouncing the deaths of Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk, to the incredibly beautiful candlelight march shots. The score by Mark Ishman is so on point, that it, like the film itself, has become iconic. It's an incredible story that Epstein was brave for telling (especially at the time). To culminate all the hard work (sans computers), Epstein was awarded the Oscar for Best Documentary, a well deserved win. Towards the end of the Q&A, moderator (NYTimes Critic) Janet Maslin asked Epstein if he remembered his acceptance speech. He responded with a little laugh and said "Being Jewish, I didn't want to write anything down, thinking I might curse it, but then you have to write something... People started to say we were going to win, and I couldn't talk for a week. I do remember I thanked my partners on the film, and my partner in life." Throughout the interview, Maslin made no qualms about her strong feelings that Epstein was not thanked enough (though thanked in the credits) by the creators behind Milk. I understand her being of this opinion, given the rave review she gave to the documentary when it first came out and her emotional loyalty to it, but a Hollywood film and a documentary are entirely different no matter how you slice it. I think both films deserve a lot of credit in their own right, but being that the documentary paved the way for a story like this to be told, Epstein will always be considered a true original.

Short and Sweet

Gorgeous and emotionally compelling. The Times of Harvey Milk is an incredible example of what a good documentary can accomplish, and Epstein's look into Milk's public life shows you how much one person can accomplish, even if their life was cut short. While it was amazing to see it in a theater, it's good to watch this one at home, cause you'll probably cry (it's ok to admit it). Well edited, beautiful score, perfect narrative structure... it hits on all marks. And meeting Rob Epstein was an awesome (overwhelming) bonus!

Fav Quotes

"I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you... and you... and you... Gotta give 'em hope."

- (The real) Harvey Milk

Gmail does it again!

Google continues it's "take over the world" mission, with a new option to access Gmail, offline. This means that even without an internet connection, you can still do all the things you're used to doing with your mail. To try it for yourself now, go to the labs tab in your Gmail, and click enable next to Offline Gmail. Go to the following link for more details!

Official Gmail Blog: New in Labs: Offline Gmail

Oh The Places You'll Go... if you weren't sick

A recent and very persistent flu has afforded me a lot of time spent in bed. With limited options as to how to pass the time, of course I opted to catch up on my "movies to watch" list. So, now I present: How I Spent My Flu...

Persepolis - I'd been wanting to see Persepolis for a long time, but didn't know much about the original graphic novels, except that they were autobiographical and about an outspoken young girl, coming of age in Revolutionary/Post Revolutionary Iran. Based on that description alone, I wasn't sure how much I'd like or relate to the material, but the story is so well told and beautifully illustrated, that it makes an emotional impact. Given that I had a fairly high fever when I watched it, a film with subtitles may not have been the best idea... I'd imagine that I didn't grasp all the elements of the story as well as I could have, but what I did take away was the reality of what growing up in that kind of war zone might be like. But instead of feeling like the material was pounded into me or over dramatized, like you might with a live-action bio-pic, or disinterested because there was no one story tying it all together, like you might with a documentary, I felt connected. The fantasy realm of animation allowed the story to go into realms of imagination that it could not have done in any other format. This one will definitely require a second 'feverless' viewing.

Man on Wire - This can't be real, was my first thought when I heard the story of Philippe Petit and his high wire walk between the top of the World Trade Center Twin Towers. I mean, he'd have to be tied to something, right? So he wouldn't die?? But apparently not. In fact, Petit has stated that he has no respect for tightrope walkers who use safety wires or nets, and that the possibility of death is what excites him most. Of course Petit is also certifiably out of his mind... but I wish I could more like him (or have at least one tenth his passion). This Oscar nominated documentary chronicles Petit's "coup" and the incredible reality of a feat that surely only comes once in a lifetime. "It's impossible, that's sure. So let's start working," says Petit in the film. Just seeing the energy and insanity in his eyes as he describes being cosmically pulled to the towers, is enough to make you feel like you've done absolutely nothing with your life. This amazingly beautiful film had me glued to the screen and simultaneously jumping out of my bed. Despite never once mentioning the tragedy of September 11th, it's impossible not think about it as you watch (especially when they show footage of the tower's construction). This is a must-see, and hopefully it will soon be an Oscar winner!

Center Stage 2: Turn It Up - I'll admit it, I love the first Center Stage. Crucify me if you want for bad taste, but it is full of ridiculously fun moments like, "you break it, you bought it!" and "who let that disaster in here?" So when I heard there was a sequel, of course I had to check it out. I kept my expectations low, but secretly hoped it might be as much of a lovable cheesefest as the first one. Sadly, Center Stage 2 is more like Step Up 2, equally bad and with more urban hip hop dance sequences than ballet. This time the story revolves around self-taught dancer, Kate, who leaves behind her drunken dad and little sister to go audition for the American Ballet Academy. But as a twist (or so the writers think), she doesn't get in. I don't think I should really go into a lot more detail, but needless to say, there's a guy, and he's a dancer too. In spite of the fact that the movie is indisputably bad, it still grew on me, and by the end, it was guilty fun. Final consensus is: nowhere near as fun as the first, but still fun enough in it's own Step Up kinda way.

21 - Now on my second viewing, and I still really like this movie. Sure, it's lacking in many ways; There's pretty much no chemistry between the leads, it's a very surface storyline about a boy who gets caught up in "the dark side" of gambling, and it's so predictable that it hurts. BUT, I like it anyway. First off, Jim Sturgess is adorable, and this is far more watchable than his previous film, Across the Universe. Second, who doesn't love a good teenage gambling movie? And third, I'll watch anything with Kevin Spacey, even if it's bad (which it rarely is). Overall, it's just a very watchable movie, so I recommend that you do.

Get Real - I have to attribute seeing this 1998 film entirely to the incomparable Theo, without whom I would never have known, nor fallen in love with Steven Carter (Ben Silverstone), aka the most amazing being to ever fictionally walk the planet. Steven, an out of place, but brilliant prep schooler, knows he's gay, but no one else does (except for his best friend Linda). He meets class jock and heartthrob John Dixon, and their awkward fumbling affair begins (for anyone who's watched Hollyoak's John Paul and Craig at my urging, I'm sure this storyline sounds familiar). The plot is frequently re-used, but somehow it never gets old. What makes Get Real stand out from other films of it's genre though, is the otherworldly charisma, charm and lovability of Steven. He's an incredibly well written character, and acted perfectly. I can't recommend seeing this flic enough, though sadly it's no longer available to buy on dvd (or at least not easily). But luckily, netflix comes to the rescue once again. So please see Get Real, and get smitten by Steven. 

Annie Hall - I was trying to think out what I could say about Annie Hall that hasn't been said already... but the answer is nothing. It's Woody Allen's opus, it's a prototype for an entire genre of films and characters, it changed a generation... all of this I'm sure you already know. I loved the movie too, like everyone else. But, having seen it, after first seeing so many films that it inspired, it's hard to keep in mind that it is the leader of the pack. Without remembering that, it's at risk of feeling hackneyed, which is most certainly was and is not. Allen created the anti-heroe's hero, and that character is still going strong today (Superbad anyone?) Allen too, is still able to amaze and endear audiences with recent successes like Match Point, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (which is next on my netflix queue!).