Movie Review: Who wants to win a Miracle?

Jamal is a boy, who becomes a man, who becomes a millionaire, but that's all just strange fodder along the journey back to his heart. Slumdog Millionaire pulsates over its audience like a bullet train on speed, exposing you to extreme poverty, ruthless violence, and corruption. But if this was all the film offered, it wouldn't be a Danny Boyle flick. In true Boyle fashion, the heart of the film lies in the chest of his lead. At only six years old, Jamal Malik falls eternally in love with Latika, a fellow street rat born into the slums of Mumbai. As Boyle's camera pans out, you behold endless miles of tin can roofs and the surrounding landfills of garbage so high, you'd think you were watching Wall-E. How did Jamal get from there to becoming a contestant on India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Well if I told you, there wouldn't be much point in seeing the movie now would there? But, I can say that what keeps Jamal and the film alive, is love. It's not as cheesy as it sounds, I swear.

I went into Slumdog expecting a classic Danny Boyle movie, which is in part what you get, but you can also feel Boyle's desperate need to make a more emotional connection with the audience. His previous films have focused on anything from heroine addicts in Scotland to the last people in London fighting a zombie army, to a space mission trying to save the world. There are Boyle-addicts out there who think everything he touches turns to gold, and then there are people who cherry pick amongst his films to find the ones they love the most (notice I didn't mention the people who don't like his films at all, because I don't know any). With Slumdog you get your typical fast-paced camera work, glowing colors, and standard Boyle aura, but you can see just how much he wants and needs you to love these characters. For some, this feeling might come off as so severe, that it's off-putting. I personally, am a sucker for an emotional life struggle and was right there with them the whole time. In order to love the film, you have to love their battle, and if you don't, than the whole thing falls apart. For all the Rudy fans out there, this may very well be a movie for you.

We see the characters age from young children, to adolescents, and finally into young adults throughout the film. This must have made for a challenging casting job. You would need three equally charming, lovable, and talented kids to play the leads, each for about a quarter of the film. My typical reaction to child actors is that it always feels unnatural. They typically seem over prepared, overly made-up and completely simulated. I was pleasantly surprised that each actor and actress in Slumdog was a real kid. These children were legitimately natural (or else really, really excellent actors). This it why watching them could be viscerally hard at times. You witness electrocution, beatings, simulated drowning, and even blinding. They get under your skin. You watch Jamal and his brother Salim grow up into young men, and even though it happens right before your eyes, you're still unsure how they could have possibly survived that long. If you're watching this film in an artsy theater in Westchester (like I was), you're so far removed from their problems, that you almost feel guilty ingesting one more piece of butter drenched popcorn. While Boyle certainly took every opportunity to call your attention to the horrors that can occur in other parts of the globe, I doubt his ultimate goal was to make his audience feel like crap. His challenge was to show that anyone, despite the life they're given, can find a way to happiness. More often than not, that happiness comes from loving something bigger than yourself. This could be from finding religion, finding your calling, or in Jamal's case, finding the girl of his dreams. She was worth everything, and until he could find her again, everything else (even 20 million rupees), was worthless.

Dev Patel, who plays Jamal in his last incarnation, might be best known to those who watch BBC's Skins, as Anwar. In Skins he played a primarily comedic part, and I wouldn't have necessarily counted him among the show's standout actors (mainly because every actor in the show is destined for stardom). I was skeptical of what he could really bring to Slumdog, but he played Jamal with so much restraint and subtlety, that I felt like I was getting to know him as an actor for the first time. His performance, most notably in some breathtaking scenes with Latika, is incredible and perfectly suited to the film. Freida Pinto, who plays the oldest version of Latika, is stunning from the moment she steps onscreen. This is the first film credit to her name, and I have no doubt of her future success. She really is the most beautiful person most people have ever seen, and certainly worth fighting for. Her undeniable out-of-this-world looks do not lessen her ability to show humility though. When she smiles onscreen, you really get the feeling that this girl doesn't know how gorgeous she is. The two of them together captivate audiences and make even the biggest skeptics beg for more. Cheers to Danny Boyle, a British director, for creating what will become a classic Indian love story. The other characters do an amazing job of supporting the two leads. Everyone felt very suited to their part, most importantly Salim, who accomplished making you both hate and love him over and over again.

Short and Sweet

Apart from Rachel Getting Married, this is one of the best films I have seen this year, so far. There was so much to take in for one sitting, that it definitely has high re-watch value. You get an epic cultural introduction, heartbreaking individual performances, and beautiful filmmaking all rolled into one love story. Be prepared that it's a lot to handle for two hours, but I consider it a must see. Congrats to Boyle for the Best Picture Drama and Best Director Golden Globe noms. And make sure you stay through the end credits to watch some amazing Bollywood dancing!

Fav Quotes

"You're not going to get the next one."

Movie Review: Drink Up

I loved Emile Hirsch in Milk. This may not be a traditional way to start a review about a film starring Sean Penn, but despite excellent performances elicited from Penn and good ones from James Franco and Josh Brolin, I loved Hirsch the best. Of course, I love Emile in almost everything, and have made it a life-goal to become the next Mrs. Hirsch, but please, don't let that color my review. From his mop of curly brown hair, to his coke bottle glasses, I adored seeing Emile go gay. Now, that I've gotten my praise for Hirsch out of the way, lets get down to brass tacks. Sean Penn's done it again. He literally becomes Harvey Milk, assassinated gay rights activist, from head to toe. If I had to pick one actor in Hollywood who is a true chameleon, it would have to be Penn, hands down. We've seen him play everything from a grief-stricken mafia boss, to a mentally challenged single father, and even a pizza-loving surfer dude. As Harvey, Penn gives a much more joyful performance than I have seen him do in a long time. His last few characters (21 Grams and Mystic River) have been solemn men with hard exteriors, but in Milk, he glides over the audience like a cool, refreshing beverage. You drink up Milk, but before you say "can I have some more please," the joyful presence that lights up the screen, is extinguished. Penn is able to showcase different sides to Harvey throughout the film. You can see him flamboyantly emerging in San Francisco gay culture, but also retreating to his kitchen, contemplating thoughts of his own assassination. Some may find themselves feeling more attached to the character of Milk than others, but I think it would be difficult for anyone to not feel emotional at his tragic death. 

A big reason Milk resonates so much with audiences is the reality which the characters are based in. I don't mean that they're just based on real people, but that the performances feel relatively un-jaded by film. These are people you know, minus the seventies clothing. The fight they fought then, is one we're still fighting now. With the recent voting of Prop 8, it appears that little has changed from Harvey's "recruiting" days to now. Gay people may be entitled to privacy regarding their orientation in relation to their jobs or health care, but they're still not allowed the same rights I have as a heterosexual. Who knows how much the film will ultimately do in changing anyone's perspective, but it does reiterate the importance of never giving up on the issues that matter. I can only hope that the people who most need to see the film, will, but my skeptical side thinks probably not. Beyond its political message, Milk is also a love story. It's about the love affair that people had with Harvey, and how that enabled him to have short-lived, yet successful, effect on real lives. He saved people, and all of it might never have happened if not for a chance meeting with a handsome boy named Scott.

Scott is played by James Franco, and while it's nice to see Franco show us yet another side to himself, I wouldn't say he stands out in this film (for a better example of Franco's versatility see Pineapple Express). However, I can see why Gus Van Sant cast him. He's a likable, good looking guy, who emanates real warmth throughout the entire movie. You can appreciate the relationship he develops with Harvey, but it never quite sweeps you off your feet. As an alternative to the warmth shown by Franco, Josh Brolin plays his cards close to the vest. It's been a good couple of years for Brolin, hitting the big time with No Country for Old Men, and recently starring in Oliver Stone's W. As San Francisco City Supervisor, he keeps you at a distance, but lets you in just enough to know he'll explode any minute. Again, Brolin's performance fits in the film, but was not a particular stand out. Side bar characters played by Alison Pill and Diego Luna end up generating more original and memorable performances, even if featured in only a handful of scenes. Lesser known Jospeh Cross is also great, as well as Denis O'Hare, who plays Senator John Briggs (aka devil spawn of Anita Bryant).  

With Milk representing Van Sant's return to mainstream cinema, I wondered how indie it would end up feeling. The man has already proved himself capable of helming a bigger budget production, but the last few years he's spent doing films like Elephant and Last Days (both disturbing and unbelievably quiet), so I had to wonder if he would turn Milk into a dramatically paced 24 hours leading up to the murder. Luckily, Van Sant revisited his roots, and gave us a joyous yet still calamitous retelling of a man's life, who deserves to be remembered. Milk draws you in to a world of the past, but frequently reminds you that history has a way of repeating itself. 

Short and Sweet

Larger than life man collides with gay rights movement, and suddenly what was happening on Castro Street exploded over the rest of the country. The end of his story is not the reason worth telling it. Harvey Milk's life makes for a great story because of the people that surrounded him, and the things that he accomplished while still alive. He was inspiration for so many from the past, and maybe this movie can help him become an inspiration for people now. Sean Penn once again lights up the screen along with protege Emile Hirsch. See the film and experience warmth and heart that radiates from the entire cast (except Josh Brolin). 

Fav Quotes

"Can two men reproduce?"   

"No, but God knows we keep trying."  - Dan White and Harvey Milk

"Are you on uppers or something?"

"No, this is just plain old me."  - Scott Smith and Harvey Milk

Movie Review: Clash of the broken-down Titans

"I told you it was 'gotcha' journalism," laughed Ron Howard after effectively being called out by the Jacob Burns' own Steve Apkon. Apkon had just shown a clip of Howard as Opie (The Andy Griffith Show), desperately trying to get his 'pa to listen to some phone conversations he had taped. "I don't even remember doing that scene," said Howard, "but now we know what political party Opie was headed for." The clip was both timely and fitting given that it followed a screening of Howard's newest film, Frost/Nixon. The film centers on a dramatic retelling of the David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews of 1977. Prior to seeing this film, I wasn't aware that these tapes even existed, but now they are everywhere. The historic interviews were then turned into the groundbreaking play, written by Peter Morgan. The title roles were originated by actors Michael Sheen and Frank Langella on stage,  and now they are the stars of the film. Both men come barreling onto the screen in their own way. While Sheen does it with a glittering smile and mesmerizing blue eyes, Langella does it with a shaky fist and booming, era-appropriate voice. Whether you went into the film with this intention or not, you fall in love with both the leads as they march over you with their insecurities. Howard was so aptly able to catch moments of true fragility from both actors, that the simple story became a heartbreaking boxing match. 

The film is beautifully shot and carefully crafted by an artisan who's spent his entire life in the business of film. I've been impressed with Howard before, but Frost/Nixon is an accomplishment by him that people haven't seen before. After the screening, he spoke a lot about how the most gripping moment of the real life Frost/Nixon interviews was a close-up shot of Nixon as he gave into Frost's bantering and apologized to the American people for a terrible mistake. It was this one moment within 30 hours of tape, that changed political history forever. It is the crux of the film. As Langella stares blankly past the camera, you can feel he's been beaten down to nothing, and by a British talk show host at that. You are witnessing the lowest moment of a man's life. It may seem easy, but capturing that on film is anything but. This intimate moment didn't end up feeling like a cheap imitation of the real thing (as I had worried), but instead takes on a life of it's own. 

Frank Langella was not most people's first choice for the film role of Nixon, despite his critically acclaimed performance in the stage play. He and Howard have both spoken frankly, that at a certain point, he seemed almost out of the running entirely. He doesn't look like Nixon for starters, but as he channel's the character, you find yourself believing in him with ease. "I told him that he may not have been high on the studio's list, but he was at the top of mine," said Howard. The director got his way and brought Langella along for the ride. The Queen's Michael Sheen was a perfect fit for the part of David Frost from the start (and he actually did look like the real person). I was a bit skeptical of his performance at first, but Sheen breaks your heart onscreen, both when he smiles and when he completely gives up. There is something so intense about the expressiveness of his face, you feel hypnotized. I actually couldn't say whether Sheen is a gifted actor, or just gifted facially. Either way, his performance as David Frost is memorable (or maybe I'm just under his spell). 

The film has a lot to offer its audience. You are able to delve head first into these rich, meaty characters during the most important time in their lives (whether they knew it or not). Both actors were able to sidestep becoming caricatures, which can often be the downfall of a film based on real life people. As the verbal battle ensues between them, both men fight with all they've got. At a certain point, you don't know who you're rooting for anymore (another cinematic accomplishment by Howard). Frost and Nixon may be the headliners, but they are a part of an all star cast. Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Matthew Macfayden, and Oliver Platt are able to shine, despite what could have easily an been overshadowing presence by the leads. Rockwell in particular does a superb job in finding the humor and nailing it.

I plucked up the courage to ask Howard a question of my own. "Your portrayal of Nixon's Chief of Staff, played by Kevin Bacon, is that he was loyal till the end, and that he felt a deep love for Nixon. From your interviews with Nixon's real staff, was this really the case?" It may not have been the best question of the night, but it was one I really wanted to know the answer to. Howard responded that whatever else they may ultimately feel about Nixon and his choices, one thing is abundantly clear; anyone who worked with him has an unwavering respect for the man. This feeling of reverence resonates strongly throughout the film. Howard spoke of how he felt betrayed by the man he once voted for. However, the film tells a different story. A deeply flawed man tried to make people love him, but failed miserably. But he tried, and as simple as that is, I think it's the whole point. 

Short and Sweet

Beautiful character film about two men who fight with all their might to come out on top. The cast hits all the right notes as a whole and compliment each other. This is a definite must-see, but seeing it in theaters is not critical, so maybe save your $10.75 and wait to Netflix it. 

There's a lot that happened in the Q&A, but I don't want the review to be longer than it is already, so feel free to email me if you want to know more about Howard's discussion of the film. Sorry it took so long to get this up! Reviews of Milk, Slumdog Millionaire and Adam Resurrected coming soon!

Theater Review: The Plow Speeds Right Past You

David Mamet's play, Speed The Plow, is already short at a mere 95 minutes long, but the show zooms by in an instant. Before you know what's hit you, it's over. You're left with this "what the hell just happened?" feeling. At the center of the show is an ominous book titled, "The Bridge..." and it becomes like a fourth cast member. The other three, Jeremy Piven, Raül Esparza, and Elizabeth Moss spend the hour and a half on stage bantering back and forth about money, power, sex, and the end of the world. If it sounds a little pretentious, that's because it is, but the three leads make such compelling comic performances, it's hard to find many faults with the show or choosing to spend your time watching it. At first look, fans of Jeremy Piven's Ari on Entourage may be surprised that in STP he plays the lesser of the two evils. His character, Bobby Gould, is a recently promoted production head for a film company. His long time friend and business inferior/ultimate Hollywood schmuck, Charlie Fox (Esparza) brings him a "Dougie Brown" film to green light, which will inevitably make them both rich (but probably has the caliber of a Fast and the Furious flick). The show begins with the excitement both men feel at being able to finally rub their success in the faces of anyone who doubted them. Enter Karen (Moss), an attractive temporary worker, who throws a wrench into the happy moment by simply reading a book.

In Charlie and Bobby's world, success is measured by the amount of money made, and neither man seems to have qualms with being deemed a "whore." But upon Karen's naive (her favorite word) suggestion that success can be measured by taking the moral high ground, Bobby finds himself questioning everything he's ever done. The play unfolds in three short acts over the course of two days. It feels like it could be a legitimate moment in the life of any film executive, only pointedly humorous. You watch them all banter each other to a pulp, and wonder what the point is. The play itself, in many ways, reflects the "Dougie Brown" film Bobby and Charlie attempt to green light; pure, somewhat vapid entertainment that uses star power to get people in the seats. While it covers some interesting material (i.e. misogyny, Armageddon, etc.) the reason to go see it lies in the witty table tennis style repartee (think "Gilmore Guys"). For anyone who ever wondered what it would be like to sit in a Hollywood studio exec's office in the '80's, now is your chance. And it's probably what you might expect; pats on the back, trash talk sugar coated in curse words, and an abominable number of cigarettes (which make the audience smell of sandalwood incense). You would think that with only three characters and a limited plot line, the overall feeling of the play would be intimate. However, seeing as everyone in Hollywood is an actor at their core, the only real intimacy felt is a brief moment of true confusion from Elizabeth Moss' character. There is no intimacy, and any friendship or attraction you see is feigned in an attempt for the characters to fool themselves into thinking they have actually attained real connections. Speed the Plow can easily feel like a dated expose on the superficiality of show business, but ultimately it's about a desperate need for connection and seeming impossibility of finding a real one.

Even though I went into the show as a fan of all three actors, I most wanted to see incomparable Jeremy Piven live. But in a surprising twist, he is relatively upstaged by Broadway counterpart Raül Esparza (it probably helped that Esparza got most of the great one-liners). Esparza commands the stage from the moment he struts out, showcasing his impeccable comedic timing and line delivery. You can not help but admire his affliction of bluntness. Essentially, he is Ari Gold to a tee. While this might be unsettling for Entourage fans, I think we can all understand why Piven, who surely must have been offered the part of Fox, decided to play Gould instead. He's already won three consecutive Emmys as Ari, so the public knows he can pull that off with his eyes closed. Playing Gould however, allowed for audiences to see a slightly softened Piven, still jive talking and running his mouth off, but in a much more conservative withheld manor. We even get to see him feel lost, something Ari would never allow (even in the most dire of circumstances). I have to commend Piven on this, because despite his name being the big pull in the program, he steps ever so slightly back and allows for Esparza to blow past him. You can sense a real camaraderie between these two actors, a mutual agreement to work as a team. This partnership might have made things awkward for the female star, but luckily Elizabeth Moss is a pro, and clearly able to hold her own. Moss, who has received accolades for her portrayal of Peggy on AMC's Mad Men, steps into the role as dutiful, yet ambitious secretary once again. During her second act monologue, she plays Karen as slightly tipsy and overwhelmed by having read "The Bridge...". At first her incoherence of spoken thoughts feels endless and even annoying, but slowly you begin to see everything she says and does is a calculated move. Once this realization comes, you have to step back and really pat Moss on that back. She is able to play both innocent and guilty simultaneously with a great deal of subtlety (surely not an easy thing to convey on stage). 

This review may sound a little contradictory at points, especially given my high rating, but that is because anytime I found fault with the show, the acting hearkened me back to why I loved it so much. The characters may not be completely three dimensional, but they are certainly representative of people we all know, and maybe even love. The plot may be close to non-existent, but you laugh and are entertained.

Short and Sweet

High marks for acting quality, but low marks for the original material (sorry David Mamet!). Kudos to Piven for graciously stepping aside and allowing Esparza to really shine comically. Kudos to Moss as well for holding her own in what could easily be a very dreary part. The cast works incredibly well as whole, and no three actors could be more inviting. If you get a chance to see it before the end of it's run on February 22, I definitely recommend seeing Speed the Plow.

Fav Quotes

"I hope..."  

"We all hope honey, it's what keeps us alive."  - Karen and Charlie

"Speed The Plow" Review coming soon!

Thanks to my incredible mother, tonight we're seeing Speed The Plow on Broadway (third row orchestra!). The production stars Entourage's Jeremy Piven, Company's Raül Esparza, and Mad Men's Elizabeth Moss. From the constantly running television promos, it would seem that the show is about Hollywood power brokers engaged in a verbal battle for sex and money... so basically Piven is perfect for the part. Be sure to check back for the review!

Jeremy here I come!

NYTimes just came out with this today, and as you can see I had to post it...

Also, thanks to all my friends and family for the birthday well wishes, you made turning 22 better than ever I expected! xoxo

Holiday DVD List and other Fun Distractions

You can probably tell, from the salvation army bell ringers on the street and the Christmas music which follows you wherever you go, that holiday time is upon us. With Thanksgiving (and my birthday!) on Thursday, stores have wasted no time trying to pump up the Christmas/Chanukah spirit, hoping to get panicked shoppers to spend money they don't have on presents they can't afford. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a grinch, it's just that this will be a very different holiday season. People we know are losing their retirement, their jobs, even their homes, so it's difficult to rationalize buying a new flat screen tv or fancy watch. With consumer's budgets tightening, we may see something we've actually never seen before... real Christmas spirit. Instead of making this season all about how many gifts we need to get or who's got the most expensive payout, maybe it can be about family, friendship and togetherness again (call me corny if you want). This year, we all need a pick-me-up, something to remind us that even though things are rough right now, the future can still be bright. As you can probably guess, my recommendation is film related... I see this as the time to get together with your friends, grab some warm blankets, hot chocolate, maybe a little vodka, and watch some holiday movies. It's cheap, it's warm, and it's comforting. So I've put together my official "Holiday DVDs to Watch List", guaranteed to distract even the gloomiest of grinches (yes, that means you depressed stock market guy).

• Love Actually - Sometimes, it's hard to remember that love actually is all around. This movie really has everything from Christmas in London, to cute kids singing, to Emma Thompson. You really can't go wrong watching this incredible British cast get their eggnog on.
• Elf - I remember when I first saw the trailers for this movie, I was skeptical. I mean I loved Anchorman, but c'mon Will Ferrell... a Christmas movie, really. But then I saw it, and it made me so ridiculously happy for no reason at all. Seeing Ferrell in tights, running around NYC talking about sugar and Santa is priceless (or $19.99 for the DVD). See Elf and try not to smile... I bet you can't.
• Hook - As well as being a great holiday movie, Hook also happens to double as my absolute favorite movie of all time. It has everything, action, adventure, romance, comedy, drama, flying, fairies, baseball... the list goes on and on. But the reason Hook makes it to my holiday DVD list is because the movie happens to begin as the family flies to London to spend Christmas with granny Wendy. Hook helps you remember what's really important in life, family and being with the people who love you (even when they've lost their "marbles").
• Miracle on 34th Street - Miracle is the epitome of the classic Christmas movie, and typically requires a viewing at least once a year. I consider it a Christmas movie for the eternal optimist, or at least the true Santa believer. Every part is great, but my favorite is when young Natalie Wood begrudgingly repeats to herself "I believe, I believe..."
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - HP may not seem like an obvious holiday movie choice, but when you see Harry celebrating a "Happy Christmas" with his friends for the first time, it's hard not to get a little sentimental.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas - This is another holiday standard not to be missed. My personal recommendation: get up and do the Snoopy dance with the gang. It will put you in the holiday mood :)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - No, I am not talking about the silly live-action Jim Carrey version, I'm talking about the real thing. This Dr. Seuss cartoon resonates with every person not quite in the celebrating mood.
  
• Babes in Toyland - It's not exactly a Christmas movie, but with all the toys it certainly feels that way. Laurel and Hardy make their way through the insane place that is Toyland, using humor to make it through.
  
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - As brilliant as the original Home Alone is, I actually prefer the second one. Macaulay Culkin plays precocious Kevin McCallister, a kid you definitely don't want to mess with. Watching Kevin run around snowy NYC, get Christmas room service at the swankiest hotel and drop by the most incredible toy shop in all of New York is why Home Alone 2 makes a great Christmas flick.
  
• The Nightmare Before Christmas - Everyone deserves to have a merry Christmas, even the spooky residents of Halloween Town. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, sets out on his biggest undertaking yet, to discover something new and exciting with which to fill his empty life. He happens upon Christmas Town and suddenly his life has new meaning. This stop motion animation musical is another holiday standard not to be missed.
• Serendipity - Everyone secretly hopes they'll meet the love of their life the way Jonathan and Sara do, but it rarely happens. The two leads get their Christmas miracle when they both want to buy the same pair of black cashmere gloves in a dept. store, only to discover it's the last pair left. After their encounter, Jon and Sara spend a magical Christmas in New York but leave each other with the hairbrained notion that fate would bring them back together one day. What's even crazier, is that their plan works... Jeremy Piven is a great co-star, and he and John Cusack have chemistry together that rivals Jon and Sara's.
• A Muppet Christmas Carol - Muppets and Michael Caine, how can you go wrong?
  
• The Family Stone - The first time I saw this movie, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but it kept playing on tv, and somehow I kept watching. Slowly but surely the film grew on me, to the point where I feel it warrants a place on my list. It's Christmas themed in every way, and tear jerking at some points. It seems like a bit of an odd jumble of a cast, but it really works in the end.
• The Polar Express - I just saw this DVD for the first time the other night and loved it. I read and loved the book as a kid, and am glad to say they successfully were able to lengthen into a full length feature film. It makes a great Christmas eve pick.
  
• The Santa Clause - Last, but far from least, is my favorite Christmas movie, The Santa Clause. I can't really explain why, but this movie gets to me every time, and it has a great cast. Tim Allen just makes me laugh.
  

So there you have it, 15 movies, guaranteed to get you humming "Jingle Bells." 

Here are a couple of other fun things:

Man Decorates Basement with $10 worth of Sharpie

Who Would Replace Hardwicke as "New Moon" Director?

Joel McHale sits down with Miley

The Soup's Twilight Trailer

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Special Update: FROST/NIXON

Courtesy of the Jacob Burns, on Wednesday Dec. 3rd, I'll be seeing a special preview screening of FROST/NIXON followed by Q&A with director Ron Howard. This will be my first big JBFC event and I plan to take notes on the whole thing, especially the Q&A so I can bring you an in-depth review of the the new film. I'm really looking forward to this, so I'll hope you'll all check back for the write-up!