A final look at 2007

Ahhh....2007, a year in which Britney Spears could do no right, The Sopranos came to a sudden end, and the writers became mad as hell and wouldn't take it anymore.

Some other happenings in '07...

Nancy Pelosi became the first woman speaker of the house; the war in Iraq began it's fifth year; China experienced massive recalls and has some thinking they are trying to kill us with their tainted products; former astronaut Lisa Nowak is arrested; Tony Blair steps down; shooting at the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah; Marie Osmond faints on Dancing With The Stars; the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl; the Virginia Tech massacre; Bob Barker finishes The Price Is Right; Drew Peterson; Martin Scoreses FINALLY wins an Oscar; Live Earth; iphone goes on sale; concert to commemorate Princess Diana dying 10 years ago; two television helicopters collide in Phoenix; I-35W Mississippi Bridge collapses; Sydney goes dark for a global climate change; Barry Bonds hits 756; Marion Jones admits to doping; coal mine collapse in Huntington, Utah; Anna Nicole Smith dies; shooting at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska; California wildfires; Judge Larry Seidlin; Boston Red Sox win again and Queen Elizabeth II becomes oldest ever monarch and televises her 50th Royal Christmas message.

Yes, 2007 was an interesting year; at times exciting and irritating. As the year comes to a close, I've compiled some of my favs and not-so-favs of the year. Enjoy! I did, at times.

Movies: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Atonement are not yet playing in Rochester, however, there are some movies I saw this year that were great. Two of those movies are Once and Away From Her.

Once is the story of a busker and an immigrant who meet and fall in love all the while expressing their feelings through song. The movie is touching, engaging and features some of the best movie music of the year. It stars unknowns and is a little-released and seen film, however, it's definitely one to be seen; especially for those that believe in the power of love at first sight. It's now available on DVD.

Away From Her stars the radiant and beautiful Julie Christie. She's back in a big way as a woman suffering from Alzheimer's. When her husband has her institutionalized, Christie reconnects with a man she used to know making her husband jealous and making the viewer wonder just how cognizant Christie is of what she is doing. Christie turns in a tremendously quiet but powerful performance and Gordon Pinsent, as her husband, is sympathetically moving in actress turned director Sarah Polley's nearly flawless film.

Honorable Mentions:

No Country For Old Men, The Lives Of Others, and Dan In Real Life.

Major disappointments/stinkers of the year: Pirates of the Carribean 3: At World's End, Spider-Man 3, Georgia Rule, I'm Not There, The Darjeeling Limited, and Lions For Lambs.

Music:

If you weren't annoyed by Rihanna's "Umbrella" or Timbaland's "The Way I Are" well you should have been because I was. There were some less annoying songs that were catchy and worth listening to over and over again. Below are just a few.

Canadian alt group Arcade Fire was definitely worth listening to with their critically acclaimed album Neon Bible and Paul McCartney was wonderfully winsome with his release Memory Almost Full.

Singles worth listening to:

No One by Alicia Keys
Makes Me Wonder by Maroon 5
Apologize by Timbaland w/One Republic
Shadow Of The Day by Linkin Park


Books:

I really enjoy reading and read a number of fiction and non-fiction books from Barack Obama to Harry Potter. Below my fav fiction and my fav non-fiction.

Non-fiction: The Birthday Party by Stanley N. Alpert. A former US assistant Attorney is abducted at gunpoint on the eve of his 38th birthday. The ensuing story of his imprisonment and the trial is thrilling and vivid.

Fiction: No, not Harry Potter, instead it was A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. A story of two women in Afghanistan whose lives are intertwined and become closer than they ever imagined. An adaptation of Hosseini's first book, The Kite Runner, is currently playing in theaters.

The worst: If I Did It by OJ Simpson; The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold.

TV: Some of the best so far have been Pushing Daisies, Life, Brothers & Sisters and Desperate Housewives, the tornado episode notwithstanding.

The worst includes Heroes, October Road, Prison Break, Big Brother and Samantha Who.

That's it for me in '07. I will definitely write you in '08.

peace,

paul

TALENT x 10

Check out the Men's a capella group from Indiana University. Called Straight No Chaser, in this clip from youtube they sing the 12 Days of Christmas.

Enjoy & Merry Christmas!

paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Friday humor

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are
things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now
published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while
these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
____________________________________________________________________
ATT ORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci Sweats and Reeboks.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one.
________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shittin' me?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Uh.... I was gettin' laid!
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Are you shittin' me? Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Now whose death do you suppose terminated it?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Guess.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Would you like to rephrase that?
_____________________________________ ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to? WITNESS: Oral.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m .
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Huh....are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And the best for last:
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing

Heeheehee,

paul

Interesting

Some thought-provoking questions....I've supplied the answers (my answers, anyway).

Can you cry under water?

(If you did, you wouldn't have to dry your eyes.)

How important does a person have to be before they are considered
assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in" but it's only a "penny for your
thoughts"?
Where's that extra penny going to?

(It's going towards the price of gas.)

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried
in for eternity?

(I thought there were no clothes in heaven.)

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

(I wonder who even thought of this question. Someone with way too much time on their hands...wait how can one have time on their hands, unless one is wearing a watch. I just answered my own question.)

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a
good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like
every two hours?

(And why do we say, we slept like a log when logs don't sleep. Logs aren't even real.)

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

(HUH???? Speak up!!!)

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars
to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change?
They're going to see you naked anyway.

Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?

(This could go for the word pants also, there is only one and yet they are a pair.)

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible
crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

(So that we can sing stupid songs about people we don't care about.)

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ?

(And why is it called a 'carpool' lane? It has nothing to do with a pool.)

WHY DO YOU DRIVE ON A PARKWAY AND PARK ON A DRIVEWAY??

(Good question. I think it's so we will be confused.)

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why
can't he fix a hole in a boat?

(Because then there wouldn't have been a show every single week for 3 years.)

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he
just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from
vegetables,what is baby oil made from?

(Do we really want to know the answer to this one???)

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call
it a hemorrhoid when it's in your ASS?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you,
but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

peace,

paul

unbelievable!!!!

Check out this 8 year old, Anthony Gargiula, who's never had a singing lesson. He was recently on the Ellen show singing Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." He's also featured on youtube singing the National Anthem (at 7 years old). Check out both and be amazed. A future American Idol winner?

peace,

paul

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2007/12/a_star_was_born_about_8_years.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR2rvxSUr7w

On the radio-December edition

Yes, there are good songs on the radio. Here's three that I am currently enjoying...

Alicia Keys-No One (she's back and hotter than ever with this upbeat hit).

Linkin Park-Shadow Of The Day (the rock-alt group know how to make a ballad; pretty yet not treacly). Bonus points for this group: They recently donated $50,000 to aid families affected by the California fires. Awesome!!!

Miley Cyrus-See You Again. If I didn't already know this was Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter, I'd think there was a new wannabe rocker chick on the scene. Oh, wait, maybe she is. She certainly sounds like it. This song rocks! It's nothing new or innovative but it's fun; pure sugar.

peace,

paul

weekly post from December 1, 2007

Hello friends & loved ones,

Last week was my first weekly email in a long time. I was reminded that I had not posted
on my blog since October; and even that posting wasn't anything significant. I apologize
to those of you who did not get my email last week, I know I missed several of you.

Today is World AIDS Day and I have never known anyone to die of the disease. I do know
some people who are living with it. That is the key; living! I'm reminded of something
today as I complain about the slow driver in front of me, whine that I don't have enough
money after my bills, fume that I don't know when my favorite shows will have new
episodes again and become petulant when I am too busy to do things that I want to do.
I'm reminded that I am healthy and, even though it's no longer considered a death
sentence, I do not have to live each day remembering to take my meds, worrying that I
might catch, and never recover from, the cold that is going around, or being afraid if
I'm ever going to find someone to love me even though I have an incurable and infectious
disease. I will continue to remind myself of the fact that I am healthy and remember to
pray each day for those who are not. I urge each of you to do the same. And remember to
live, live, live. We never know when we won't have the opportunity to do so.

On a lighter and final note, if you get a chance to rent a movie in the next couple of
weeks then rent the movie Vitus (it's available at Hollywood Video). It's the story of a
child piano prodigy who is pushed by his mother to excel, all the while forcing him to
live a childhood he does not want. It's a really well done film and, yes, it's in German
with English subtitles, however, don't let that deter you. The casting, especially of
the child, is really nicely done and it will make you think.

Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay happy. And remember to live your own
life.

love,

paul

post Thanksgiving prose

Hello all,

I hope you each had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had plenty to eat. I remained thankful throughout the festivities because I don't ever want to take any of my blessings for granted.

We returned earlier today from Massachusetts and have finally gotten settled back in. We had a wonderful time, as we always do, because Jack & Donna and their clan make us feel like family; they accept us just as we are. I felt the most comfortable and at ease; I've never felt so relaxed there. These people are truly amazing and we always have such a great time.

I hope you had as much fun during your turkey day that Jim and I had.

Only thirty more shopping days till Christmas.

peace,

paul

movie minute

Rushing In: The new music filled movie called August Rush seems more like one of those late summer sleepers that you would actually see in August than one of the movies competing for attention in the crowded movie release weekends of November. That said, please take the time to see this movie.

The film starts out with Lyla Novacek (played by the ever radiant Keri Russell) finishing a concert at a NYC concert hall. She soon meets rocker Irishman Louis Connelly (played by pouty lipped Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Before you know it, they are spending the night on top of a rooftop and waking up the next morning with Lyla needing to run back to her old life. Of course it doesn't help that she has an overbearing and controlling father. I did keep wanting to say, "Grow up, you're an adult and can make your own decisions." But if that had happened, there wouldn't be two hours of drama and excitement.

Soon, Lyla discovers she is pregnant and when she has an accident, she is told her child dies. The scenes of Louis and Lyla are interspersed with those of orphan Evan Taylor (played wonderfully by Freddie Highmore, the talented actor who played Peter in Finding Neverland) who is convinced that if he can keep hearing and playing the music, he will find his parents.

Eventually, eleven years after giving birth, Lyla discovers that her child is still out there. She soon begins the quest to find him. She seeks the help of detective Richard Jeffries (a wasted Terrence Howard).

The film builds to the inevitable conclusion, however, the wonder and exhilaration of this movie is the theme of hearing music in everything. This is the gift of Evan, who with the help of the Wizard (creepily played by Robin Williams), comes up with the name of August Rush. August's gift is he can hear and play music, anywhere. August soon becomes a student of Juilliard and composes his own symphony, and when told that the school wants to have his symphony performed at a concert in Central Park, August is convinced he can reach his parents; we are too.

The movie borders on too cutesy at times and there's never a doubt as to what will happen but the music and the actors take this movie above mediocre. Another issue I had with this movie was Williams. I know he is versatile and can play crazy and quirky with the best of them but I think it's time for him to play "normal" for a change.

This is a feel good movie and Highmore carries the movie well. This young actor was denied an Academy Award nomination three years ago, and while he probably won't be nominated for this role, he proves that he has some real acting chops. He will have a long and rewarding career if he continues picking the right roles.

Between eating turkey sandwiches and shopping for the millionth Christmas gift, see this gem of a movie and leave the theater feeling good and hearing the music in the shuffling of the feet of people walking up the aisles.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 4

movie minute

Rousing Rendition: What if someone you loved....just disappeared? That's the tagline for the movie Rendition, director Gavin Hood's (Tsotsi) new political thriller. The film stars Reese Witherspoon as Isabella Fields El-Ibrahimi, a mother who is pregnant with her second child and whose Egyptian born, chemical engineering husband, Anwar (Omar Metwally) is suddenly abducted from an airport on his way back from South Africa to the US. This film gives a startling glimpse into extraordinary rendition, which is the detaining and transferrence of a suspected terrorist to a country in which torture is allowed. This movie should have come out almost two years ago when news of Abu Ghraib was still fresh in the minds of the American people.

At any rate, when Isabella discovers her husband has not arrived on the expected flight, she decides to figure out what happened. This leads her to an old friend and lover, Alan Smith (played by Peter Sarsgaard), an aide to a US senator. Once he discovers the scope of what's going on, he advises Isabella to consult a lawyer.

Rounding out the lead cast is CIA operative, Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) who sits in on the interrogation of Anwar. The film is told in episodic vignettes as we continue to glimpse each character and their story and how they are connected to the big picture. We are even treated to a bit of narrative trickery which does work but you must be paying attention.

Most of the cast is ho-hum; Witherspoon does her best but she's miscast. Gyllenhaal does most of his acting with his eyes and really shows his limited range. Alan Arkin, who plays a senator is fine and Sarsgaard is okay but they aren't the ones that stand out. There are two in this film; Abasi Fawal (played by Middle Eastern actor Yigal Naor), who leads the interrogation of Anwar and whose daughter may or may not be involved in one of the plots to assassinate him and the other is that perennial fav Meryl Streep who plays an anti-terrorism chief. Streep is cold and calculating and even though hers is a supporting role she sets each scene she's in on fire. I just wish her one scene with Witherspoon had been juicier; that would have been a bonus.

This film is horrifyingly realistic and, sadly, a bit too late for people to really care too much. See it because it matters but expect to be disappointed.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 2.75

movie minute

Universal Music: In director Julie Taymor's (Titus, Frida, Broadway's The Lion King) new film Across The Universe, we are offered a story of politics, war, and love all set to the music of the Beatles. Universe is not the story of the Beatles but their music compels the storyline along in a brisk, rollicking, and touching film.

Set in the 1960's leading up to and continuing through to the Vitenam War, Universe stars Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), the star and continent crossed lovers who must endure the turmoil of the 60's in order to reach the peace of those strawberry fields.

The film starts out with the death of Lucy's paramour and Jude's arrival to America from England. When Jude befriends Max (Joe Anderson), Lucy's brother, Jude and Lucy meet and from there the rest is history set to music. Featuring 16 of the Beatles' classics, including, Strawberry Fields Forever, I Want To Hold Your Hand, and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, the songs tell the inner feelings and conflicts of the characters; they work and are perfectly in tune (pun intended) with what's going on around them and inside of them.

Taymor has captured the essence and funkiness of the 60's and the protests and the unrest of the country and the world and paints a colorful story and backdrop that is mesmerizing and compelling. This is by far the most ambitious movie of the year and even if you aren't a fan of the Beatles be prepared to be moved and tap your feet.

The film features mostly unknowns; the most famous of the starring cast is Wood who appeared in Thirteen, Running With Scissors and tv's Once And Again. Wood, in fact, is a standout and continues her rise to stardom. It's rumored she'll portray Anne Bronte in an upcoming film about the Bronte sisters and Alice in a movie about Lewis Carroll. Another thing that makes the film all the more wonderful is the cast does their own singing; this is more and more true these days with each musical film that is released. The days of dubbing appear to be over; thank goodness because the actual actor singing the actual song is so refreshing especially since a lot of real singers seem content to lip-synch.

This film wasn't one that I had planned on seeing but now I can't imagine not having seen it. Relive the days of the mushroom and bring your flower and enjoy a merry, musical movie.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 3.5

paul

on the radio-Oct. edition

There are two songs I think are really hot and just in time too as the weather is getting chillier.

Bubbly by Colbie Caillat and one by Timbaland. Normally I would say I'm sick of Timbaland because he is everywhere and has that annoyingly catchy song "The Way I Are." However, his song Apologize with Colorado pop band One Republic is catchy and, thankfully, not annoying.

paul

youtube video

Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bV-QqOPUbk

Hump Day Humor

Sometimes when you are angry with someone, it helps to sit down and think about the problem.

dvd pick of the week

On the street where they live: There's a documentary that was released this week that asks the question "How well do you know your parents?" It also goes on to ask "How well would you like to know them?" These two questions are explored in the documentary 51 Birch Street which mostly takes place in the titular Long Island home.

Filmed, directed and narrated by only son Doug Block, the film starts out with Mina Block, the matriarch of the family and it starts out as a documentary about Doug's father, Mike. Soon, however, a family tragedy and the remarriage of Mike becomes the impetus for the film to focus mainly on Mina and the life that Doug and her two sisters knew nothing about.

Featuring candid and personal interviews with the family, including uncle Josh who offers up a music video of his song I Flunk Adultery, the film follows the 54 year marriage of Mike and Mina and reveals things that were well hidden from the Block children. The secrets are revealed in diaries that Mina kept for a number of years. It's really a poignant, revealing and thought provoking documentary that deserves to be watched.

As Doug works to come to terms with the new view of his mother, father and of his own life and marriage, he narrates one of the most profound statements in the film, "Is there just one person that's perfect for you?" He answers no. He goes on to comment, "It's not a matter of finding a perfect companion. I think it's a matter of making accommodations so that it works out for both of you." That's the crux of any relationship; both parties finding accommodations so that it survives.

The film has touched people literally all over the world and don't miss the extras on the dvd which include the I Flunk Adultery music video and also how the Block family react to the film and it's premiere.

Vomit scene: No

peace,

paul

movie minute

One Tough Chick: What happens when the place you call home becomes a place of fear; paralyzing you in your tracks and questioning who you are and what you've become? That's the question that Jodie Foster sets out to answer in the new tough-chick thriller The Brave One (R). Directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Breakfast On Pluto) the film brings to light the vigilante that each of us has inside of us. If you've seen the trailer for the film you know just about everything that happens but what you don't know is how Foster pulls the film up from just a big screen made-for-tv-type movie. A woman suffers a brutal attack that kills her fiancee and makes her a stranger to herself. It lacks oomph in a number of places but Foster makes up for that with her ever changing expressions that paint a picture of precision of what she's feeling and thinking. She could go the entire movie with no dialogue and we'd still be able to follow her on her journey from city walker/radio personality Erica Bain to a gun-toting crime stopping renegade.

As the "victims" build up in the city that never sleeps, detective Mercer (Terrence Howard) begins to suspect Erica and begins investigating her. Mercer himself is haunted by the criminals that he can't put away and reveals himself as conflicted and vulnerable during an interview. Foster and Howard have terrific chemistry; not to take anything away from Howard but it's mostly Foster. She should give a master class on infusing a role, any role, with all she's got.

As the film follows Erica to the inevitable conclusion and as she sets out to get her dog back, the film debates the morality of Erica's actions and offers no real easy answers. As Erica becomes tortured more and more with each killing; each one a hole inside of her, we too become conflicted too. I've no doubt that there will be cheering as the film nears its journey and that is probably the scariest part of the whole film.

The Brave One might not get any award nominations; I'm not even sure if Foster will garner one, however, the film will make one think about right and wrong; good and evil; white and black and just how thin the lines between those things are.

Vomit scene: Yes. Visible: No. Scene occurs after the subway shooting when Foster's character enters the bathroom of the club.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 4

paul

DVD of the week

Let them eat cold cake: If you're interested in seeing a quiet and well-acted drama and you really enjoyed the Julie Christie heartbreak film Away From Her (also out on DVD this week) then you'll think Snow Cake is good too. Not as good or well acted as Away but moving and impressive nonetheless. After a tragic accident occurs, taciturn and no-nonsense Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman) decides to meet the mother of the girl who died while riding in his car. It brings him face to face with an autistic woman who besides not wanting anyone in her kitchen does not do social. The woman, Linda Freeman, is played by Sigourney Weaver. Weaver and Rickman have got to be two of the most underrated actors in their 50's. It's also not the first time they've acted in a movie together; they were also in 1999's Galaxy Quest. If you like these two actors then you're in for a treat. It's refreshing to see Weaver as someone besides the "bitch" or Alex Ripley and to see Rickman as someone besides Professor Snape. Although having said that both had wildly diverse careers before their respective famous characters took off.

As Alex lingers in Linda's world to help with the funeral and, most importantly, the garbage, the two form a bond. The two open each other up little by little; Linda teaches Alex not to be so sad and Alex teaches Linda to share her kitchen and her home.

Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity from the Matrix movies) plays a woman with whom Alex enters into an intimate relationship with. The real star, however, is only on screen for about 12 minutes; Canadian actress Emily Hampshire plays Vivienne Freeman. Mostly a tv actress, Hampshire imbues the young woman on her way to visit her mom with an energy and life that infects each character and inspires them to add life to their daily existence.

The plus of this movie is that it's not a downer; it's life affirming and charming. The tagline of the film is 'Sometimes stopping is the most important part of the journey.' This is one journey worth taking. Unfortunately there are no goodies in terms of extras on the DVD. Some outtakes of actors playing in the snow in Canada would have been COOL.

Vomit scene-Yes. Visible-Yes Scene occurs after the car crash.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 3.5

Rant of the week

Ok, well I haven't had one of these in a while but this one is long overdue. I'm sick of the tv and radio commercials from so called "normal, everyday" people urging us to contact our congressman to keep our troops in Iraq. These people claim with utmost certainty that should we pull out then America will be attacked again. Enough of the fear factor. That's what the current administration has been all about since 9/11. I've had enough fearmongering to last me a lifetime. SHUT UP, ALREADY!!!!! If I never hear another one of these commercials it won't be long enough.

peace,

paul

Radical Radio-September Edition

Well don't believe the people who say there's nothing good on the radio unless you have satellite. I do and I could never imagine going back to plain old radio but there are some really good songs being played right (in my humble opinion). Below are just a few.

****Dance Floor Anthem-Good Charlotte-To listen to the song one would think it's a positive song; and it is in a way. Listen to the lyrics and you'll find that it's about breaking up and how everyone does it at one point or another. The lyrics, "Don't be afraid to get down say, I don't wanna be in love, I don't wanna be in love" are cynical sounding but the song is way more toe-tapping fun than that Tubthumping song from the 90's.

Because Of You-Reba McEntire (w/Kelly Clarkson)-Yes, the original American Idol winner did cover this song first and now joins Reba on a countrified version of the ballad. It works well as a country song and Reba & Kelly both blend nicely. It's from Reba's highly anticipated (I'm the one anticipating) new CD called Duets which comes out next Tuesday. I'm still not a fan of the lyrics but the song still sounds great.

Stronger-Kanye West-The first single off Kanye's new CD features some silly lines, "you know how long I've been on ya? Since Prince was on Appolonia, since OJ had Isotoners" but the song is a toe-tapping good time. The song does of course feature a sample which is from Daft Punk's song Harder Better Faster Stronger.

You Are The One-Shiny Toy Guns-This song from the quartet from LA is reminiscent of some of the best alt songs from the 80's such as It's My Life from Talk Talk and Send Me An Angel by Real Life.

peace,

paul

Tuesday time out

Enjoy a little humor.....

paul


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