I feel like this year has brought good things, much more good than bad. My friendships have grown, my grades have improved, my relationship with my family is better, and my interests have broadened. I've seen lots of movies, I've gotten new kittens, and I've forgiven someone who I believed was unforgiveable.
Mark, Lindsay, Kela, Jeff, Danielle THANK YOU. Thank you for making this year so much better for me. Thank you for reminding me that I need friends and can't just shut myself away. Thank you for putting up with me even when my crazy starts to show. Thank you for forgiving me when I do wrong. Thank you for making me feel important. Thank you for hanging out with me. Thank you for seeing movies with me. Thank you for indulging in my strange neurocies (spit). Thank you for loving me!
I love all of you, and none of you know the extent to which you've affected me. That sounds stupid, but you have. Those of you who knew me last year, you can probably see how much happier I've gotten in the last year. I owe you 5 everything.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Hmm..
Next couple days are kinda busy. Tomorrow my mom has shit she wants to get done, and then New Years Day my godparents are coming for the day and spending the night.
Today was shit mostly, but I got my laptop. That's nice.
Today was shit mostly, but I got my laptop. That's nice.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
p.s.
Can the snow fucking STOP already? It's going on 2 weeks and has officially ruined my favorite and only pair of boots. Not to mention regressed my independence from my parents to freshman level. Slush is bullshit.
And yes, I'm very aware that I'm being irrational.
And yes, I'm very aware that I'm being irrational.
:|
I can't stand how angry I feel right now. It's keeping me awake. I'm so angry.
Love the holidays, love bad feelings, love uselessness, love anger.
Why can't it all be simpler and less infuriating? Because it is infuriating. It's infuriating to the point of being ridiculous.
Fuuck.
Love the holidays, love bad feelings, love uselessness, love anger.
Why can't it all be simpler and less infuriating? Because it is infuriating. It's infuriating to the point of being ridiculous.
Fuuck.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas, Christmas time is here
Time for music? Time for cheer?
I have to say my mood is biased today from outside sources, but it being Christmas eve I guess I have to be a little bit happy? Just because this morning was complete shit doesn't mean the afternoon must be aswell.
Bella and Booger are being very cute..
I have to say my mood is biased today from outside sources, but it being Christmas eve I guess I have to be a little bit happy? Just because this morning was complete shit doesn't mean the afternoon must be aswell.
Bella and Booger are being very cute..
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Bullshit.
This is a pointless blog post trying to kill time while I attempt to motivate myself into going and doing all the before bed stuff so I can go to sleep, which I really really would like to do.
The weather is getting so much worse. Snow shney shnee. I've never been in a blizzard before, so I guess it's kinda cool. My house is currently surrounded by 2 foot deep snow drifts and icy roads. Not to mention the 65 mph winds making my room shake, again. Who can say global warming?
Saw Yes Man today, and I liked it. Those types of movies always have the potential to suck and really, this one didn't. By no means is it a work of cinematic genious.. But if you enjoy watching Jim Carrey be Jim Carrey than you'll like it.
Happy hannukah on Monday!
The weather is getting so much worse. Snow shney shnee. I've never been in a blizzard before, so I guess it's kinda cool. My house is currently surrounded by 2 foot deep snow drifts and icy roads. Not to mention the 65 mph winds making my room shake, again. Who can say global warming?
Saw Yes Man today, and I liked it. Those types of movies always have the potential to suck and really, this one didn't. By no means is it a work of cinematic genious.. But if you enjoy watching Jim Carrey be Jim Carrey than you'll like it.
Happy hannukah on Monday!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Optimism.. ha.
Well today was an extremely good day, which is why I'm not quite sure I understand the reason why my mood has deteriorated rapidly in the last 5ish minutes.
Maybe it has something to do with guilt and feeling as if I've made a rather large mistake... possibly costing me a good friendship? I think that might be it.
Today I went to Kela's in the snow. I liked it. We took pictures and watched old episodes of Arrested Development and Boy Meets World. I love her family.
Tomorrow two-hour late start. Maybe they'll get smart and just cancel school for the rest of the week. What's the point of going for 2 hours Thursday and possibly Friday? All the teachers are just going to be showing movies anyway.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Scary.
The weather tonight is really fucking terrifying. At least at my house. Especially in my room. We live on the top of this big hill and the winds are hitting our house at around 70 mph! And it's freezing in my room because for some reason the heat doesn't go up there. And every time a gust of wind hits the whole room shakes because its on the corner. I don't really like it.
The no school thing is nice though.. It's also a bit frightening that we're having such a severe winter so soon.. the weather has been crazy this year.
Snow means I can't leave my house. Sigh. It's a bit boring.
The no school thing is nice though.. It's also a bit frightening that we're having such a severe winter so soon.. the weather has been crazy this year.
Snow means I can't leave my house. Sigh. It's a bit boring.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
strange.
Usually I don't like movies with Mickey Rourke, but I really can't help being drawn to his new movie, The Wrestler. It just looks so good! Great, even. I also have a liking for Marissa Tomei... She's good. Evan Rachel Wood, not so much.
Finals are done at Clark! I'm really proud of myself for making it through my first quarter with a B+ or better in all by classes. And I did well on my finals, so that should raise my grade. Fuck, what a busy week..
Finals are done at Clark! I'm really proud of myself for making it through my first quarter with a B+ or better in all by classes. And I did well on my finals, so that should raise my grade. Fuck, what a busy week..
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Procrastination.
I'm only writing this blog post right now to postpone the inevitable: finishing my essay on the development of political parties in the early United States.
House night tonight. Coincidentally, I just bought a book at Borders called "House and Philosophy". Probably makes it into the top 10 most interesting books I've ever read. It relates all of Dr. Houses little House-isms to different philosophical ideas. (side note: I just wrote and read the word "House" way too many times and now it doesn't even look like a word. I hate that.) For example, Sartre's idea that human discomfort is based on our interactions with other people. That idea is definitely represented in House. They even gave an example of an episode that was most likely based somewhat loosely on Jean-Paul Sartre's play No Exit. It really makes you appreciate it when shows have intelligent writers who are clever enough to incorporate things like that.
6. Take a philosophy class.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
I'm going to make a list.
I'm aware this is terribly unoriginal, just bear with me. And you don't even have to read it if you find it that irritating.
Anyway, this is the horribly cliche' "list of things I would really like to do before I die, minus the things I find too personal to put on the internet".
Also, some of these are going to seem very boring, but really this specific blog is more for me, not you.
1. Graduate from college (preferably Evergreen State..) with enough knowledge to do something useful.
2. Some Oscar season, see every single movie that's nominated so I can make an educated decision on what movies to support.
3. Visit Monet's Garden's.
4. Go find the old man I met in Carmel 2 years ago who sat and talked to me for 4 hours about his life, he was very nice.
That's all I have now... probably more in later blog posts.
I took this with my phone yesterday so the quality is pretty poor, but I still like how the clouds looked.
Anyway, this is the horribly cliche' "list of things I would really like to do before I die, minus the things I find too personal to put on the internet".
Also, some of these are going to seem very boring, but really this specific blog is more for me, not you.
1. Graduate from college (preferably Evergreen State..) with enough knowledge to do something useful.
2. Some Oscar season, see every single movie that's nominated so I can make an educated decision on what movies to support.
3. Visit Monet's Garden's.
4. Go find the old man I met in Carmel 2 years ago who sat and talked to me for 4 hours about his life, he was very nice.
That's all I have now... probably more in later blog posts.
I took this with my phone yesterday so the quality is pretty poor, but I still like how the clouds looked.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Really.
I'm trying so so so so so hard. It's just not easy. I need this for myself. I need it to keep from going insane.
woo for cryptic blog posts, right?
woo for cryptic blog posts, right?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Bluhh.
What a depressing day weather wise, eh? Depressing in the best way, of course. How often do we get fog that lasts the whole day, plus it obviously being sunny above the fog so it's all shiny and beautiful? No sarcasm there, either. Depressing weather fits for today.
We got our Christmas tree today!!!
We got our Christmas tree today!!!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
MILK
I'll start out saying this: I never cry in movies. I don't know why that is, and on multiple occasions it has made me feel like a callous asshole, but it's just the truth. I don't cry in movies. Every so often one will come by that might make my eyes fog up a little, but until last night, I didn't remember the last time a tear actually rolled down my cheek, let alone multiple tears! I didn't cry during Changeling, I didn't cry during I'm Not There, I didn't cry during Into the Wild.
But I cried in Milk, and not just a little tear, tears streaming down my face. And this was all still possible even with an ornery, bitter old woman "shhhhh"-ing me through the whole film when I wasn't even talking. I call a movie that can distract me from that a success.
The acting was brilliant, to say the least. Sean Penn stole the show. He's so versatile, his roles always bring out different sides of him. His portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected City Supervisor of San Fransisco, who was assassinated, was heart-wrenching. He transformed into the buoyant, childlike form of Milk, the polar opposite of the brooding Sean Penn we see in public. The moment he came onto the screen I was floored. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the flamboyant, bouncy, happy creature that Sean Penn had created. It was astounding, and I don't say the lightly.
It may also have touched me at such a level because I truly cared about the issue that this movie was addressing. Civil Liberties, and the freedom the have them no matter what your race, gender, or sexual preference is. The movie centralized on Milk's journey to office, and his fight against anti-gay bills such as Sen. Biggs's Prop 6, which tried to get all homosexual teachers and their supporters fired in an attempt to "protect" the nations children.
as I've mentioned before, the cast of this movie was superb. Sean Penn couldn't have pulled off his role so well if not for the contrast of his supporting actors. James Franco is the first that comes to mind, playing Milk's long time partner Scott Smith. The tenderness which is evident between the two is touching, yet not gratuitous. They don't make them kiss just to see two men kiss, they have them kiss to show the love, just as they would in any movie about a heterosexual relationship. Another supporting character who serves to add to the comedic aspect is Emile Hirsch. Hirsch plays Cleve Jones, a gay rights activist who was extremely active in Milk's campaigns. Hirsch acts as a playful reminder of what Milk and Co. were fighting for: the freedom and carefree ways of the masses.
Josh Brolin plays Dan White, the assassin of both Milk and Mayor George Moscone, who was one of Milk's largest supporters. Dan White is the epitome of a sheltered homophobic male. He is elected as another City Supervisor of a different district, and is the only person who perpetually votes down, to no avail, all of Milk's prospective motions. After resigning and being refused when he pleads for his job back, Dan White shot Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk in cold blood and was later convicted of minimum charges and only served 5 years in prison for both murders. Josh Brolin brings the vulnerability of a man at odds with the future. He's a horrible creature, but we also feel sorry for him. Brolin portrays the uneducated male impeccably, and I feel like this is why we are able to sympathize with, while not forgive, Dan White. He simply went crazy, and didn't know any better. You still end up hating him in some way, though, after he destroys the man you've come to love while watching the movie.
Gus Van Sant, local Portland director, deserves much praise for his job in this. He integrated old news footage of protests, elections, speeches, parades, and of the infamous Castro District into the modern footage of Sean Penn and others. While the story focus's on Prop 6, footage of the infamous Anita Bryant is spliced in. For anyone who doesn't know, Anita Bryant was an anti-gay pro-"family" singer/actor turned activist, if you could call her that. She latched onto Sen. Briggs and the two of them started an anti-gay crusade across the nation, from Dade County, FL, to LA.
This movie is an excellent portrayal of what we've accomplished as a country, but it also shows the not-so-sweet side, and the film shows us just how possible it is to overcome it.
I give it a 9.5/10.
Please go see it!
But I cried in Milk, and not just a little tear, tears streaming down my face. And this was all still possible even with an ornery, bitter old woman "shhhhh"-ing me through the whole film when I wasn't even talking. I call a movie that can distract me from that a success.
The acting was brilliant, to say the least. Sean Penn stole the show. He's so versatile, his roles always bring out different sides of him. His portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected City Supervisor of San Fransisco, who was assassinated, was heart-wrenching. He transformed into the buoyant, childlike form of Milk, the polar opposite of the brooding Sean Penn we see in public. The moment he came onto the screen I was floored. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the flamboyant, bouncy, happy creature that Sean Penn had created. It was astounding, and I don't say the lightly.
It may also have touched me at such a level because I truly cared about the issue that this movie was addressing. Civil Liberties, and the freedom the have them no matter what your race, gender, or sexual preference is. The movie centralized on Milk's journey to office, and his fight against anti-gay bills such as Sen. Biggs's Prop 6, which tried to get all homosexual teachers and their supporters fired in an attempt to "protect" the nations children.
as I've mentioned before, the cast of this movie was superb. Sean Penn couldn't have pulled off his role so well if not for the contrast of his supporting actors. James Franco is the first that comes to mind, playing Milk's long time partner Scott Smith. The tenderness which is evident between the two is touching, yet not gratuitous. They don't make them kiss just to see two men kiss, they have them kiss to show the love, just as they would in any movie about a heterosexual relationship. Another supporting character who serves to add to the comedic aspect is Emile Hirsch. Hirsch plays Cleve Jones, a gay rights activist who was extremely active in Milk's campaigns. Hirsch acts as a playful reminder of what Milk and Co. were fighting for: the freedom and carefree ways of the masses.
Josh Brolin plays Dan White, the assassin of both Milk and Mayor George Moscone, who was one of Milk's largest supporters. Dan White is the epitome of a sheltered homophobic male. He is elected as another City Supervisor of a different district, and is the only person who perpetually votes down, to no avail, all of Milk's prospective motions. After resigning and being refused when he pleads for his job back, Dan White shot Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk in cold blood and was later convicted of minimum charges and only served 5 years in prison for both murders. Josh Brolin brings the vulnerability of a man at odds with the future. He's a horrible creature, but we also feel sorry for him. Brolin portrays the uneducated male impeccably, and I feel like this is why we are able to sympathize with, while not forgive, Dan White. He simply went crazy, and didn't know any better. You still end up hating him in some way, though, after he destroys the man you've come to love while watching the movie.
Gus Van Sant, local Portland director, deserves much praise for his job in this. He integrated old news footage of protests, elections, speeches, parades, and of the infamous Castro District into the modern footage of Sean Penn and others. While the story focus's on Prop 6, footage of the infamous Anita Bryant is spliced in. For anyone who doesn't know, Anita Bryant was an anti-gay pro-"family" singer/actor turned activist, if you could call her that. She latched onto Sen. Briggs and the two of them started an anti-gay crusade across the nation, from Dade County, FL, to LA.
This movie is an excellent portrayal of what we've accomplished as a country, but it also shows the not-so-sweet side, and the film shows us just how possible it is to overcome it.
I give it a 9.5/10.
Please go see it!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
you know, you know.
This weekend either had GREAT moments or shitty moments. So let me tell you about the great moments.
Firstly, I will tell you right now that I don't take myself seriously enough to feel embarrassed about being excited to see Twilight. I understand it isn't a cinematic masterpiece, I understand the story is poorly written, and I understand that it's for preteens, and I don't care, haha! It was an excuse for a fun night with friends. I had been planning my "twilight night" with Kela, Mckenna and Lauren for about a month and on Friday it finally arrived :)! Picked them up from school, headed to Kela's for a few hours then headed to 164th for a quick stop to Borders and dinner before the movie. So our movie started at 7:50, and we got there at 6 and there was already a line! A long line, actually. So we waited... and waited... and waited and finally were let into the theater.
I enjoyed the movie. I'll be the first person to tell you it wasn't the greatest movie ever made, but it was light and humorous and an excuse to get excited about something. Also, I'm the shallow sort and a large draw for me was Rpatz. I admit my conformity in that aspect. What probably excited me more than Twilight was the new, long Harry Potter trailer which aired before the movie. I LOVE Harry Potter and always will. and even though The Half-Blood Prince is my least favorite book in the series, it looks like it'll be one of the best movies. July!
Huh. I don't have much else to say...
Firstly, I will tell you right now that I don't take myself seriously enough to feel embarrassed about being excited to see Twilight. I understand it isn't a cinematic masterpiece, I understand the story is poorly written, and I understand that it's for preteens, and I don't care, haha! It was an excuse for a fun night with friends. I had been planning my "twilight night" with Kela, Mckenna and Lauren for about a month and on Friday it finally arrived :)! Picked them up from school, headed to Kela's for a few hours then headed to 164th for a quick stop to Borders and dinner before the movie. So our movie started at 7:50, and we got there at 6 and there was already a line! A long line, actually. So we waited... and waited... and waited and finally were let into the theater.
I enjoyed the movie. I'll be the first person to tell you it wasn't the greatest movie ever made, but it was light and humorous and an excuse to get excited about something. Also, I'm the shallow sort and a large draw for me was Rpatz. I admit my conformity in that aspect. What probably excited me more than Twilight was the new, long Harry Potter trailer which aired before the movie. I LOVE Harry Potter and always will. and even though The Half-Blood Prince is my least favorite book in the series, it looks like it'll be one of the best movies. July!
Huh. I don't have much else to say...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
dayman.....fighter of the nightman
DAYMAN from Mark Balyshev on Vimeo.
champion of karate.. and friendship...for everyone DAYMAN, uhhh ahhhahhh, chamption of the nightman!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
All I can think about is child abuse while sitting here in borders and watching an Alec Baldwin look-a-like drinking a coffee and working away on his computer. He's a funny man, that Alec Baldwin. Calling his daughter a little pig and making her cry hahahahahahha, fuuuuuuuunnny.
Saw Quantum of Solace on Friday with Mark. It was decent, not that I have any other Bond movie as of late to compare it with. The only other James Bond movies I've seen are with Sean Connery and you know it's hard to compare two films from such different time periods. Daniel Craig is rather attractive, it had to be said, and probably a lot of my enjoyment in the movie came from being able to watch him be manly for 2 hours. I'm not really big into action movies though, so really it didn't do much for me. Good as far as action is concernced.
Tonight is House night and I'm getting stressed with where this season is taking itself.
House Wishlist:
-Wilson should have stayed away, his character is becoming boring and too subserviant to House.
-House needs to persue Cuddy more.
-More banter between 13 and House, it's always funny.
-More focus on the medical conditions and a bit less on the social situations, excluding what I mentioned before.
Saw Quantum of Solace on Friday with Mark. It was decent, not that I have any other Bond movie as of late to compare it with. The only other James Bond movies I've seen are with Sean Connery and you know it's hard to compare two films from such different time periods. Daniel Craig is rather attractive, it had to be said, and probably a lot of my enjoyment in the movie came from being able to watch him be manly for 2 hours. I'm not really big into action movies though, so really it didn't do much for me. Good as far as action is concernced.
Tonight is House night and I'm getting stressed with where this season is taking itself.
House Wishlist:
-Wilson should have stayed away, his character is becoming boring and too subserviant to House.
-House needs to persue Cuddy more.
-More banter between 13 and House, it's always funny.
-More focus on the medical conditions and a bit less on the social situations, excluding what I mentioned before.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Done
I've decided to re evaluate some things. I'm not going to let certain things influence my moods anymore and am going to let the chips fall where they may. I just find it hard to pour myself into something where I get nothing in return, that's the reason I should stop trying. I can't keep putting out all this energy, it's draining. Expect some changes in the near future.
Pretty good weekend. Looking forward to this Friday. Alright school week, nothing too pressing.
Almost thanksgiving, I'm pretty happy. Sam's family is probably comming, which makes me happy. I love Sam.
Even happier about Christmas being soon. Christmas means tree decorating, cookie baking, hannukah candles, Christmas songs, cinnamon insense, and family.
Can I mention here that I love Kela?
Pretty good weekend. Looking forward to this Friday. Alright school week, nothing too pressing.
Almost thanksgiving, I'm pretty happy. Sam's family is probably comming, which makes me happy. I love Sam.
Even happier about Christmas being soon. Christmas means tree decorating, cookie baking, hannukah candles, Christmas songs, cinnamon insense, and family.
Can I mention here that I love Kela?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
HISTORY
Sick
I'm feeling ill. Physically ill.
McCain at the moment is officially winning by 13 electoral votes. I know it could flip and change, and I hope it does flip and change, but it's just so disheartening... For McCain to have that large of an advantage so early just makes me panic. I'm being irrational seeing as whoever makes it to 270 electoral votes first wins.. That's a lot of states to go. It's just hard. I hate this waiting.
Officially: fuck South Carolina, and Kentucky.
McCain at the moment is officially winning by 13 electoral votes. I know it could flip and change, and I hope it does flip and change, but it's just so disheartening... For McCain to have that large of an advantage so early just makes me panic. I'm being irrational seeing as whoever makes it to 270 electoral votes first wins.. That's a lot of states to go. It's just hard. I hate this waiting.
Officially: fuck South Carolina, and Kentucky.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
movie blog
Started a movie review blog: www.kenztalksaboutmovies.blogspot.com. This is my first post on it, I copied it here.
Today I saw the film Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie.
In March of 1928, mother Christine Collins came home from work to find her son, Walter Collins, missing. 5 months later, the LAPD contacted her and assured her that they had indeed found her son in a small town in Illinois. When she was brought to meet with him, the boy was not her son. She confronted the LAPD, and they dismissed her despite an array of physical differences between the two boys. When she persisted, they had her commited to the local mental hospital. She was only released when the news of a child serial killer broke, and her real son was suspected of being one of the victims. She then went on to persure justice through various trials which eventually had the Chief of Police demoted, and the Captain she'd been dealing with fired. She never found her son.
While the title of the film leaves something to be desired, sounding a bit like an old science fiction movie, the film itself, in my opinion makes up for it. Whether it's because I'm uneducated when it comes to movies, or it was just a great film, I don't know. All I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and there were a LOT of minutes. The movie clocked in at 2 hours and 21 minutes, and I didn't check my phone for the time once. That in my opinion is an accomplishment all on it's own. I wasn't sure about this movie to begin with. I'd read a review in the NY Times that didn't paint a very pretty picture, saying Jolie had "overacted" her character of wronged mother Christine Collins, and she should stick to her Wanted-esque movie style (see also Laura Croft). I honestly couldn't disagree more with that description. I felt that Angelina Jolie triumphed in this movie role. She played off the dramatic femme fatal beautifully. She could portray more with just a look than most actresses can with minutes of dialogue. Her pain was evident in every frame and she never broke character. She didn't overact, didn't underact, but found a very appealing equilibrium. I was never bored watching her. It seems like it would be hardest to play the role of a tragedy when the tragedy was based on truth.
John Malkovich also had an apearance playing the sympathetic reverand Gustav Briegleb. His role was one of compassion and rightousness as he tried to unearth the greed and corruption of the Los Angeles Police Department. Malkovich toed the line between sypathizer and activist nicely, and his performance made a nice addition to the film. He was also responsible for some of the more cutting jabs at the current political situation, and made subtle satire of the relationship between church and state.
Another star performance was made by Jason Butler Harner, who portrayed the child serial killer Gordon Northcott. Very rarely do we see a serial killer acted in such a way that they make out toes curl and our stomaches ache with disgust. Often they are written in this way, but the actors who are chosen to perform don't deliver. In this case, Jason Butler Harner delivers with a force. His character is aggitated, immature, terrified, arrogant and oblivious simultaneously. His apathy towards his actions is staggering, and you wonder how anyone could play such a sociopathic character and be sane themselves. His sociopathic tendencies are only shadowed by the cowardice that run in his veins. His death is both distrubing, but also a welcome relief from the disturbing imagery associated with him.
I could quite possibly be biased for this movie for the sole reason that it was the first REALLY good movie I've seen since The Dark Knight. Spring/Summer movie season is generally dissapointing with it's heavy reliance on Comicbook character movies to see it through. I'm all for a good comedy, but give me a nail-biting drama and I'll be much happier. Changeling is in most respects a good movie, and it was refreshing to be able to sit through a movie and come out feeling like I'd spent my money and time wisely. I feel like this film should be nominated for at least one or two oscars. I'm not going to go so far as to assume Angelina Jolie will be nominated for Best Actress (even though I think she deserves it), but at very least Clint Eastwood should be nominated for Best Director, and I personally feel like the film should be nodded at for Best Costume Design.
I give it an 8/10.
The movie's worth the 7 bucks, I say GO!
Today I saw the film Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie.
In March of 1928, mother Christine Collins came home from work to find her son, Walter Collins, missing. 5 months later, the LAPD contacted her and assured her that they had indeed found her son in a small town in Illinois. When she was brought to meet with him, the boy was not her son. She confronted the LAPD, and they dismissed her despite an array of physical differences between the two boys. When she persisted, they had her commited to the local mental hospital. She was only released when the news of a child serial killer broke, and her real son was suspected of being one of the victims. She then went on to persure justice through various trials which eventually had the Chief of Police demoted, and the Captain she'd been dealing with fired. She never found her son.
While the title of the film leaves something to be desired, sounding a bit like an old science fiction movie, the film itself, in my opinion makes up for it. Whether it's because I'm uneducated when it comes to movies, or it was just a great film, I don't know. All I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and there were a LOT of minutes. The movie clocked in at 2 hours and 21 minutes, and I didn't check my phone for the time once. That in my opinion is an accomplishment all on it's own. I wasn't sure about this movie to begin with. I'd read a review in the NY Times that didn't paint a very pretty picture, saying Jolie had "overacted" her character of wronged mother Christine Collins, and she should stick to her Wanted-esque movie style (see also Laura Croft). I honestly couldn't disagree more with that description. I felt that Angelina Jolie triumphed in this movie role. She played off the dramatic femme fatal beautifully. She could portray more with just a look than most actresses can with minutes of dialogue. Her pain was evident in every frame and she never broke character. She didn't overact, didn't underact, but found a very appealing equilibrium. I was never bored watching her. It seems like it would be hardest to play the role of a tragedy when the tragedy was based on truth.
John Malkovich also had an apearance playing the sympathetic reverand Gustav Briegleb. His role was one of compassion and rightousness as he tried to unearth the greed and corruption of the Los Angeles Police Department. Malkovich toed the line between sypathizer and activist nicely, and his performance made a nice addition to the film. He was also responsible for some of the more cutting jabs at the current political situation, and made subtle satire of the relationship between church and state.
Another star performance was made by Jason Butler Harner, who portrayed the child serial killer Gordon Northcott. Very rarely do we see a serial killer acted in such a way that they make out toes curl and our stomaches ache with disgust. Often they are written in this way, but the actors who are chosen to perform don't deliver. In this case, Jason Butler Harner delivers with a force. His character is aggitated, immature, terrified, arrogant and oblivious simultaneously. His apathy towards his actions is staggering, and you wonder how anyone could play such a sociopathic character and be sane themselves. His sociopathic tendencies are only shadowed by the cowardice that run in his veins. His death is both distrubing, but also a welcome relief from the disturbing imagery associated with him.
I could quite possibly be biased for this movie for the sole reason that it was the first REALLY good movie I've seen since The Dark Knight. Spring/Summer movie season is generally dissapointing with it's heavy reliance on Comicbook character movies to see it through. I'm all for a good comedy, but give me a nail-biting drama and I'll be much happier. Changeling is in most respects a good movie, and it was refreshing to be able to sit through a movie and come out feeling like I'd spent my money and time wisely. I feel like this film should be nominated for at least one or two oscars. I'm not going to go so far as to assume Angelina Jolie will be nominated for Best Actress (even though I think she deserves it), but at very least Clint Eastwood should be nominated for Best Director, and I personally feel like the film should be nodded at for Best Costume Design.
I give it an 8/10.
The movie's worth the 7 bucks, I say GO!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Sleep deprivation
Last night was holloween. I am so fucking tired this morning. No sleep last night. None. So many people at Sams, it was crazy. Midnight trip to walmart (gross) with 8 people in a car that seats 5. I hate walmart. Anyway, movie watching and xbox playing till the early hours of the morning, when ken came down and told us to shut the fuck up because linda was trying to sleep.
I'm getting so aggitated with the election. 2 years of campaigning and we're only 3 days away from the real thing. I don't understand how the race is so close. McCain is so manic. All you have to do is watch the debates and you can see him going crazy. Blinking and twitching. His politics are outdated. Tax cuts foe the wealthy and for big business. No gay marriage, abortion, or universal health care. Education cuts and a SPENDING FREEZE? A spending freeze is a BAD idea. Some programs can't afford to be cut off from funding. Education, healthcare, environmental services. Obamas approach is much more practical, to through the budget and trim out the programs that are no longer needed, not everything!!!
I'm getting so aggitated with the election. 2 years of campaigning and we're only 3 days away from the real thing. I don't understand how the race is so close. McCain is so manic. All you have to do is watch the debates and you can see him going crazy. Blinking and twitching. His politics are outdated. Tax cuts foe the wealthy and for big business. No gay marriage, abortion, or universal health care. Education cuts and a SPENDING FREEZE? A spending freeze is a BAD idea. Some programs can't afford to be cut off from funding. Education, healthcare, environmental services. Obamas approach is much more practical, to through the budget and trim out the programs that are no longer needed, not everything!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
why can't forcasting be as easy as the weather forcast?
Clark is starting to stress me out. Not because of the classwork, I love the work honestly. It's just not really the freedom I expected. At least not yet. I guess I just have to be patient.
Hmm. A large source of aggravation in my life at the moment is the postponement of the 6th Harry Potter movie. I admit pushing it back to July wasn't a bad ideal fiscally, but for my emotional well being it's been stressful. Mark will say I'm being silly, but Harry Potter has been my guilty indulgence all my life. Love it.
Waiting for our e-mail from the MovieMob. I have full confidence we will be accepted. :)
Kinda excited for Halloween actually... Haven't been excited for Halloween in years. I'm gonna head over to Sam's and we're gonna watch scary movies. Uh oh, I smell a cliche! Ha, well I haven't hung out with Sam since the beginning of Summer. So, I'm excited.
I'm a little depressed I haven't gotten out to see the number of movies I usually do around this time... I try to make a point of going to see all the possible Oscar contenders, but this year I've been too busy. It's sad to me that school has taken away my main form of relaxation. Maybe tonight I'll see if my mom wants to go see a movie with me, ha.
Ehhhhhhhhh, this week just started and has already been extremely stressful. That always happens after a great weekend, though.
Hmm. A large source of aggravation in my life at the moment is the postponement of the 6th Harry Potter movie. I admit pushing it back to July wasn't a bad ideal fiscally, but for my emotional well being it's been stressful. Mark will say I'm being silly, but Harry Potter has been my guilty indulgence all my life. Love it.
Waiting for our e-mail from the MovieMob. I have full confidence we will be accepted. :)
Kinda excited for Halloween actually... Haven't been excited for Halloween in years. I'm gonna head over to Sam's and we're gonna watch scary movies. Uh oh, I smell a cliche! Ha, well I haven't hung out with Sam since the beginning of Summer. So, I'm excited.
I'm a little depressed I haven't gotten out to see the number of movies I usually do around this time... I try to make a point of going to see all the possible Oscar contenders, but this year I've been too busy. It's sad to me that school has taken away my main form of relaxation. Maybe tonight I'll see if my mom wants to go see a movie with me, ha.
Ehhhhhhhhh, this week just started and has already been extremely stressful. That always happens after a great weekend, though.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Oh what a wonderful weekend
This weekend was fucking crazy. Seriously.
Friday: school and whatnot, then Lindsay showed up and we decided that we're going to go out to dinner. We decided to head into portland to eat at Esparza's, if you've been my friend a while you've probably been there with me. It's sooo good:)
BUT, while we were eating lindsay's car got towed, we'd parked in the wrong parking lot on accident. At first we didn't know it was towed, she thought it was stolen, and so did I really. She was panicking and screaming until this wonderful old man who looked a lot like Santa Clause helped her and me to realize it had been towed by pointing out the oh so obvious sign saying it would get towed.. Ha. So then lindsay hysterical, understandably and we call her mom and wait and they come to get us. We got the car back but it was a pretty crazy two hours...
Then we decided to go to borders to calm down a bit, and ran into some kids named Anthony, Araabi and Patrick. That was fun. They're funny! We went to red robins and didn't get any food besides one burger and milkshake, and we left our buff waiter a note telling him about his manly arms. His name was Jason. I hope he understand the depth of our feelings for him.
So Lindsay spent the night.. We had fun ;)
Saturday:
Hung out with the bff mark. We didn't really do anything but fuck around with YouTube till we got hungry, went to pita, went to best buy (he's cheap and didn't buy anything even though he has a gift card), and went to get something to drink at whole foods. Debated getting krispy kreme but decided that was too far.
When we got back to his house we made our movie review blog:) and sent in our application to movie mob on reelzchannel!!! www.reelzchannel.com/moviemob
Go check it! We might be on TV! We sounded super cool:)
Then ended the night with some paners, and chilling at jeff and daniels house! Love themm:)
And that concludes my cool weekend;)
Friday: school and whatnot, then Lindsay showed up and we decided that we're going to go out to dinner. We decided to head into portland to eat at Esparza's, if you've been my friend a while you've probably been there with me. It's sooo good:)
BUT, while we were eating lindsay's car got towed, we'd parked in the wrong parking lot on accident. At first we didn't know it was towed, she thought it was stolen, and so did I really. She was panicking and screaming until this wonderful old man who looked a lot like Santa Clause helped her and me to realize it had been towed by pointing out the oh so obvious sign saying it would get towed.. Ha. So then lindsay hysterical, understandably and we call her mom and wait and they come to get us. We got the car back but it was a pretty crazy two hours...
Then we decided to go to borders to calm down a bit, and ran into some kids named Anthony, Araabi and Patrick. That was fun. They're funny! We went to red robins and didn't get any food besides one burger and milkshake, and we left our buff waiter a note telling him about his manly arms. His name was Jason. I hope he understand the depth of our feelings for him.
So Lindsay spent the night.. We had fun ;)
Saturday:
Hung out with the bff mark. We didn't really do anything but fuck around with YouTube till we got hungry, went to pita, went to best buy (he's cheap and didn't buy anything even though he has a gift card), and went to get something to drink at whole foods. Debated getting krispy kreme but decided that was too far.
When we got back to his house we made our movie review blog:) and sent in our application to movie mob on reelzchannel!!! www.reelzchannel.com/moviemob
Go check it! We might be on TV! We sounded super cool:)
Then ended the night with some paners, and chilling at jeff and daniels house! Love themm:)
And that concludes my cool weekend;)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
:)
My mood changes so rapidly!
Today I'm happy. Even though I have 2 essays to write and 2 midterms to study for and a shitload of Moby Dick to read.
Yesterday I hit the garage door haha, pretty cool. Thought my dad was going to kill me, turned out I just got a short lecture on making sure I look where I'm going haha.
Tomorrow, hoping to see Lindsay. I miss her a lot. Saturday, chilling with Mark, jeff, and danielle!!! Man do i love those weekends :) We always have fun!
Well this is short
Today I'm happy. Even though I have 2 essays to write and 2 midterms to study for and a shitload of Moby Dick to read.
Yesterday I hit the garage door haha, pretty cool. Thought my dad was going to kill me, turned out I just got a short lecture on making sure I look where I'm going haha.
Tomorrow, hoping to see Lindsay. I miss her a lot. Saturday, chilling with Mark, jeff, and danielle!!! Man do i love those weekends :) We always have fun!
Well this is short
Saturday, October 18, 2008
sick sick sick sick
Let me tell you some of the things that frustrate me: liars, selfish people who change their minds about things without considering other people's feelings, bad movies, angry parents, closed minds, john mccain and sarah palin, itunes, apple, english projects, people who can't see past their own pain and realize that they're problems arent the only ones out there.
Took the PSAT's this morning. Not hard. Hoping i might qualify for that scholarship... probably not though.
I wanted to hangout with Lindsay tonight... was going to call her but realized I had to get up early to do homework... sucks.
It's odd to me how I get attached to certain people. I feel like I'm irritating them sometimes, because I always want to hangout, and I don't think they do. But it seems like I can't have any fun unless I'm with those people! I used to hangout with my mom alot (not lame), but i never do anymore. I don't even think I've been home on a saturday for a couple of months. I kinda feel bad, but not too bad.
Today wasn't really good. I don't know why, it just wasn't... I miss how I used to feel a couple months ago.
Took the PSAT's this morning. Not hard. Hoping i might qualify for that scholarship... probably not though.
I wanted to hangout with Lindsay tonight... was going to call her but realized I had to get up early to do homework... sucks.
It's odd to me how I get attached to certain people. I feel like I'm irritating them sometimes, because I always want to hangout, and I don't think they do. But it seems like I can't have any fun unless I'm with those people! I used to hangout with my mom alot (not lame), but i never do anymore. I don't even think I've been home on a saturday for a couple of months. I kinda feel bad, but not too bad.
Today wasn't really good. I don't know why, it just wasn't... I miss how I used to feel a couple months ago.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
AHHHHHHHH
I'm about to rip my fucking hair out! itunes is insufferable.
Let's see... today was alright. Got out of school at 11, took my mom and we went to go see the little snowshoe kitten; stayed there for about an hour just playing with her, went to Swagat (mmmmmm), the went to downtown pioneer place in the hunt for the elusive cute sweater (didn't find anything, it eluded us), then went and got a replacement iphone cause my screen cracked like 3 weeks ago. Now I'm at home trying to get my stupid fucking itunes to work!
Good things: 3
Bad things: 2
So i guess it was a semi-decent day when you get down to it.
Max Payne tomorrow with Mark! Pretty excited.
Let's see... today was alright. Got out of school at 11, took my mom and we went to go see the little snowshoe kitten; stayed there for about an hour just playing with her, went to Swagat (mmmmmm), the went to downtown pioneer place in the hunt for the elusive cute sweater (didn't find anything, it eluded us), then went and got a replacement iphone cause my screen cracked like 3 weeks ago. Now I'm at home trying to get my stupid fucking itunes to work!
Good things: 3
Bad things: 2
So i guess it was a semi-decent day when you get down to it.
Max Payne tomorrow with Mark! Pretty excited.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
go
This looks good. Guy Ritchie knows how to write a screenplay and direct. Too bad he married Madonna.
This looks more sweet. I'll probably see it with Lindsay or my mom or something. I like Rachel McAdams.
aaaand that's my recomendation!
This looks more sweet. I'll probably see it with Lindsay or my mom or something. I like Rachel McAdams.
aaaand that's my recomendation!
fuck itunes
I'm trying to get this fucking music onto my itunes and it just doesnt seem to want to cooperate. fuck apple and fuck itunes, it's a bogus program. It shouldnt be that hard to get 100 new songs onto my phone. It shouldnt clear my whole library and make me reload it form my hard drive.
As you can tell i'm in a really fucking peachy mood.
So much work this weekend. Research paper, 2 midterm papers, 7 minute moby dick presentation, and US History chapter assignment for monday. Not to mention the PSAT on saturday.
So Obama dominated the last debate tonight, went out with a fucking bang. He's so intelligent. McCain is a dumbfuck with his blinking and his little fucking sneer. All he did was go on the attack, he never once denied anything Obama said because Obama never lied. He just attacked Obama and made him look better because Obama actually had intelligent answers and explanations that disproved McCains blatant LIES.
So a couple months ago we got these two kittens from the OHS. After about 3 weeks we had to give back the sweeter one becaue she apparently had an incurable feline disease, the Humane Society said they'd try and nurse her back to health but the chances were that she'd be put to sleep. So we gave her back sadly and didn't hear anything so we assumed she had been killed.
WELL, today we got a phone call from the Humane Society saying she's BETTER! We didn't even know she was alive, but apparently she's been cured (?) and we get her back saturday?
I'm pretty happy about it cause she was so fucking sweet, but I'm a little annoyed OHS let us think she was dead.
Well, long day. Shorter day tomorrow thank god.
As you can tell i'm in a really fucking peachy mood.
So much work this weekend. Research paper, 2 midterm papers, 7 minute moby dick presentation, and US History chapter assignment for monday. Not to mention the PSAT on saturday.
So Obama dominated the last debate tonight, went out with a fucking bang. He's so intelligent. McCain is a dumbfuck with his blinking and his little fucking sneer. All he did was go on the attack, he never once denied anything Obama said because Obama never lied. He just attacked Obama and made him look better because Obama actually had intelligent answers and explanations that disproved McCains blatant LIES.
So a couple months ago we got these two kittens from the OHS. After about 3 weeks we had to give back the sweeter one becaue she apparently had an incurable feline disease, the Humane Society said they'd try and nurse her back to health but the chances were that she'd be put to sleep. So we gave her back sadly and didn't hear anything so we assumed she had been killed.
WELL, today we got a phone call from the Humane Society saying she's BETTER! We didn't even know she was alive, but apparently she's been cured (?) and we get her back saturday?
I'm pretty happy about it cause she was so fucking sweet, but I'm a little annoyed OHS let us think she was dead.
Well, long day. Shorter day tomorrow thank god.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
post-doctor
So apparently I have disformed bones?
My ulna is too long for my radius, and my radius didn't develop correctly so it's at a weird angle to my ulna, and all of this is putting pressure on all those little bones that make up my wrist and bruising them while simultaneously disintegrating the cartilage which lubricates my wrist joints.
pretty gnarly. I get to wear a wrist brace for two months, and if that doesnt work then a full arm brace, and if that doesn't work some sort of crazy surgery but I'm not too worried about that.
Hello ibeuprofen! I have a feeling we're going to be good friends.
My ulna is too long for my radius, and my radius didn't develop correctly so it's at a weird angle to my ulna, and all of this is putting pressure on all those little bones that make up my wrist and bruising them while simultaneously disintegrating the cartilage which lubricates my wrist joints.
pretty gnarly. I get to wear a wrist brace for two months, and if that doesnt work then a full arm brace, and if that doesn't work some sort of crazy surgery but I'm not too worried about that.
Hello ibeuprofen! I have a feeling we're going to be good friends.
whaaaaaaaaat?
Boring day... a little bit of homework which I'm avoiding. Don't want to go to the hospital, I hate hospitals.
I also don't want to do anything else concerning Moby Dick, because I hate it. I have to do a 7 minutes speech on the biblical references Melville uses in that stupid book, NEXT WEEK. I'm not usually one to complain about school.... because in all honesty I really love it, but this book is just insufferable. And to have to do it on anything to do with the bible is going to cause my gag reflex to go into overdrive during my presentation. The bible is full of dribble.
Tonight is House night! I'm always excited for house night because Gregory House is the god of all cable TV characters. If you watch house and want to see something funny... youtube "the black adder', Hugh Laurie in all his pre-house goodness as a gay prince of England. Rowan Atkinson is in it aswell.
Me and Mark are going to start a movie blog. We're gonna review movies with his computer camera like the Moviemob (www.reelzchannel.com/moviemob). It's going to be nice. I'll post them here.. We're pretty funny when we try.
I'm still tpying because it's a useful way to procrastinate cleaning my room and bathroom while also avoiding homework. Even if the interesting-ness of my topics has seriously declined.
My cat is attacking my face.
And with that jem of a fact, I bid you all adou.
I also don't want to do anything else concerning Moby Dick, because I hate it. I have to do a 7 minutes speech on the biblical references Melville uses in that stupid book, NEXT WEEK. I'm not usually one to complain about school.... because in all honesty I really love it, but this book is just insufferable. And to have to do it on anything to do with the bible is going to cause my gag reflex to go into overdrive during my presentation. The bible is full of dribble.
Tonight is House night! I'm always excited for house night because Gregory House is the god of all cable TV characters. If you watch house and want to see something funny... youtube "the black adder', Hugh Laurie in all his pre-house goodness as a gay prince of England. Rowan Atkinson is in it aswell.
Me and Mark are going to start a movie blog. We're gonna review movies with his computer camera like the Moviemob (www.reelzchannel.com/moviemob). It's going to be nice. I'll post them here.. We're pretty funny when we try.
I'm still tpying because it's a useful way to procrastinate cleaning my room and bathroom while also avoiding homework. Even if the interesting-ness of my topics has seriously declined.
My cat is attacking my face.
And with that jem of a fact, I bid you all adou.
Monday, October 13, 2008
jumping on the train
Oh look I'm following in Jeff and Marks footsteps with this whole blog thing, just seemed like too much fun to ignore :).
I don't really know what the point in getting this was, I have nothing to talk about, haha.
And when I do write something, it sounds a bit pathetic, but I guess I'll give it a go anyway.
Life revolves around a few things at the moment: school, friends, happiness.
Sounds average and boring.
That's because it is! I'm average and boring but somehow a few select people seem to find me unique and interesting?
Hey, lets go out and see a movie? I'd love to go to a movie right now... nice calming experience. Movies are the way to my heart, take me to one and we'll be friends forever.
Actually, I don't give away my eternal friendship to just anyone, so it would have to be a REALLY good movie.
Anyway, school tomorrow.
Oh and also, doctors tomorrow. Finally going to find out what's wrong with my fucking wrist, it's been killing me since I did something to it in Poland. Hopefully no fractures, cross those fingers!
And house party tomorrow! Always fun times with my bff mark.
I don't really know what the point in getting this was, I have nothing to talk about, haha.
And when I do write something, it sounds a bit pathetic, but I guess I'll give it a go anyway.
Life revolves around a few things at the moment: school, friends, happiness.
Sounds average and boring.
That's because it is! I'm average and boring but somehow a few select people seem to find me unique and interesting?
Hey, lets go out and see a movie? I'd love to go to a movie right now... nice calming experience. Movies are the way to my heart, take me to one and we'll be friends forever.
Actually, I don't give away my eternal friendship to just anyone, so it would have to be a REALLY good movie.
Anyway, school tomorrow.
Oh and also, doctors tomorrow. Finally going to find out what's wrong with my fucking wrist, it's been killing me since I did something to it in Poland. Hopefully no fractures, cross those fingers!
And house party tomorrow! Always fun times with my bff mark.
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