Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Spamalot
Great show based on a greater movie! Very funny, I laughed my way through most of it. The actor playing Lancelot was really good, and had unbelievable gams. Wow! The Lady of the Lake character was pretty annoying, but she was written that way. The actor playing her had some pipes on her. Fun costumes, cute sets and great jokes, an awesome way to spend a Tuesday night.
September 2008 Books and Movies
Ten Canoes
Wow...it's really hard to put into words how I felt while watching this film. It's really a time capsule, depicting Australian Aboriginal life as it was before the Europeans. It's beautiful and strange in so many ways, the cinematography, the artistic shooting, the diverse culture, it's quite breathtaking. There are so many layers to the story, it's at once a parable, a cautionary tale, an exciting adventure story and a living history. Wonderful, and well worth watching.
Good In Bed
Jennifer Weiner
This was a really good novel. I've read a few of Weiner's books now, and although I feel she basically recycles the same heroine over and over, (plus sized, witty with a swimming mother and absent father) they are infinitely readable. I'm definitely thinking that either Jennifer stole from SATC or vice versa, because there are just too many similarities for it to be a coincidence. Perhaps she wrote for the show? This novel's plot about breaking up with someone and feeling you made a mistake, when every one around you is telling you that the person is not right for you, resounded very clearly. Especially the eventual resolution. (Look Ma, no plot spoilers!) The twists and turns are interesting, although towards the end it's pretty dark. Apparently there's a somewhat recent sequel following up on Cannie's story, so I'm looking forward to reading that as well.
The Matchmaker
Cute premise, bad screenplay. Loved the Irish setting, and Janeane Garofalo but the movie was, at times rather slow. The ending was telegraphed from a mile away, but the leading man, David O'Hara is really pretty. So that more than made up for it. Take a look if you love Ireland and want a few laughs. Just don't expect to be rolling in the aisles or sniffling delicately into a hanky because of the swooning love story.
Mallrats
I generally find Kevin Smith movies much the same and this was no exception. I did like it better than clerks, mostly because of a trip down memory lane courtesy of Shannen Doherty. The lines were funny, I actually didn't want to kill Jay and Silent Bob and the ending was cheezy and romantic. I laughed quite a bit, so I would definitely give it a watch.
Little Earthquakes
Jennifer Weiner
I've come to really like this author. Her books draw you in, I wasn't expecting to read it so quickly. This topic, about 4 mothers to be, didn't really grab me at first, as I can't relate as much as some, but I was soon addicted to the zany characters and funny situations. One thing I did notice though, were some disturbing similarities to plot lines from Sex and the City. They seemed out and out copied. There was nothing like this is in the other Jennifer Weiner books that I've read. I'm looking forward to the next one, Good in Bed, that expands on a nominal character from the book of short stories I recently read.
Vicky, Christina, Barcelona
Being a Woody Allen film, I figured it would be funny in parts, if not all. And it was, although the constant dead pan narration got on my nerves. I really want to go to Barcelona now, as I'm sure most people who see it, who haven't been there want to as well. The leading man is very sexy and the whole film had a wonderful sensuality to it. Pretty good, go see it!
Wow...it's really hard to put into words how I felt while watching this film. It's really a time capsule, depicting Australian Aboriginal life as it was before the Europeans. It's beautiful and strange in so many ways, the cinematography, the artistic shooting, the diverse culture, it's quite breathtaking. There are so many layers to the story, it's at once a parable, a cautionary tale, an exciting adventure story and a living history. Wonderful, and well worth watching.
Good In Bed
Jennifer Weiner
This was a really good novel. I've read a few of Weiner's books now, and although I feel she basically recycles the same heroine over and over, (plus sized, witty with a swimming mother and absent father) they are infinitely readable. I'm definitely thinking that either Jennifer stole from SATC or vice versa, because there are just too many similarities for it to be a coincidence. Perhaps she wrote for the show? This novel's plot about breaking up with someone and feeling you made a mistake, when every one around you is telling you that the person is not right for you, resounded very clearly. Especially the eventual resolution. (Look Ma, no plot spoilers!) The twists and turns are interesting, although towards the end it's pretty dark. Apparently there's a somewhat recent sequel following up on Cannie's story, so I'm looking forward to reading that as well.
The Matchmaker
Cute premise, bad screenplay. Loved the Irish setting, and Janeane Garofalo but the movie was, at times rather slow. The ending was telegraphed from a mile away, but the leading man, David O'Hara is really pretty. So that more than made up for it. Take a look if you love Ireland and want a few laughs. Just don't expect to be rolling in the aisles or sniffling delicately into a hanky because of the swooning love story.
Mallrats
I generally find Kevin Smith movies much the same and this was no exception. I did like it better than clerks, mostly because of a trip down memory lane courtesy of Shannen Doherty. The lines were funny, I actually didn't want to kill Jay and Silent Bob and the ending was cheezy and romantic. I laughed quite a bit, so I would definitely give it a watch.
Little Earthquakes
Jennifer Weiner
I've come to really like this author. Her books draw you in, I wasn't expecting to read it so quickly. This topic, about 4 mothers to be, didn't really grab me at first, as I can't relate as much as some, but I was soon addicted to the zany characters and funny situations. One thing I did notice though, were some disturbing similarities to plot lines from Sex and the City. They seemed out and out copied. There was nothing like this is in the other Jennifer Weiner books that I've read. I'm looking forward to the next one, Good in Bed, that expands on a nominal character from the book of short stories I recently read.
Vicky, Christina, Barcelona
Being a Woody Allen film, I figured it would be funny in parts, if not all. And it was, although the constant dead pan narration got on my nerves. I really want to go to Barcelona now, as I'm sure most people who see it, who haven't been there want to as well. The leading man is very sexy and the whole film had a wonderful sensuality to it. Pretty good, go see it!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
August 2008 Books and Movies
Perfect - Young Women Talk About Body Image
Helen Hines, Editor
A lovely collection of true life short stories out of Britain on body image. A really useful school or youth group resource, as it deals with all different shapes and sizes, image problems and their solutions to them, both negative and positive. It's also a great way to encourage young writers as the contributors themselves are budding writers. An excellent resource.
Brunelleschi's Dome How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
Ross King
As always, Ross King has written a fabulous book about an extremely interesting part of history. As usual, it took me an age to read it! The cupola of the main cathedral in Florence is an architectural wonder. The first of it's kind to be raised without centering, it's absolutely massive. If you love history and architecture, this is the book for you. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
The Guy Not Taken {Stories}
Jennifer Weiner
Great collection of short stories! Wonderfully written, obviously somewhat autobiographical. Many of these could be fleshed out into full novels, and made into movies. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
X-Files: I Want to Believe
Uggg! Completely disappointing! I was such a fan of the show, and even liked the movie that came out after the series ended. This movie was pure drivel, and badly acted to boot. I really expected more from Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny (well maybe not Duchovny :) so much) and Chris Carter. The plot was completely devoid of anything alien like, and the romance between Mulder and Scully was far fetched to say the least. Did anyone else notice that when Mulder went to phone Scully, the name programmed in the phone was Gillian? I thought that was pretty funny. Give it a miss, not worth even a rental.
Big Fish
A lovely, whimsical film about a son trying to understand his father, who always embellishes the truth in his storytelling. I was surprised that Tim Burton directed the "regular" scenes so well. Both Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney were fantastic, and I thought their southern accents were pretty good. The British always seem to have a better time of learning accents, likely because there are so many different accents in Britain, and a big part of drama training in Britain is dialectal class. The tall tales were fantastic, and it was great to see that at the end, they had a ring of truth. I laughed and cried a few tears, so it was a great movie for me.
Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power
Ross King
This was a good read. To examine Machiavelli as a person, to see what his everyday life was like, was incredibly eye opening. Previously, all I really knew about him was his "eye of the beholder" reputation, which, to be honest, isn't very flattering. The Oxford dictionary defines the term "machiavellian" as "an intriguer, an unscrupulous schemer", but this is based on how he was portrayed by dramatists such as Shakespeare and Marlowe. Of course, his writings, especially The Prince, are a reflection of his thoughts and do contain some of those elements. I found Ross King painted a fairly likable character, and it's made me want to learn more about Machiavelli.
Helen Hines, Editor
A lovely collection of true life short stories out of Britain on body image. A really useful school or youth group resource, as it deals with all different shapes and sizes, image problems and their solutions to them, both negative and positive. It's also a great way to encourage young writers as the contributors themselves are budding writers. An excellent resource.
Brunelleschi's Dome How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
Ross King
As always, Ross King has written a fabulous book about an extremely interesting part of history. As usual, it took me an age to read it! The cupola of the main cathedral in Florence is an architectural wonder. The first of it's kind to be raised without centering, it's absolutely massive. If you love history and architecture, this is the book for you. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
The Guy Not Taken {Stories}
Jennifer Weiner
Great collection of short stories! Wonderfully written, obviously somewhat autobiographical. Many of these could be fleshed out into full novels, and made into movies. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
X-Files: I Want to Believe
Uggg! Completely disappointing! I was such a fan of the show, and even liked the movie that came out after the series ended. This movie was pure drivel, and badly acted to boot. I really expected more from Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny (well maybe not Duchovny :) so much) and Chris Carter. The plot was completely devoid of anything alien like, and the romance between Mulder and Scully was far fetched to say the least. Did anyone else notice that when Mulder went to phone Scully, the name programmed in the phone was Gillian? I thought that was pretty funny. Give it a miss, not worth even a rental.
Big Fish
A lovely, whimsical film about a son trying to understand his father, who always embellishes the truth in his storytelling. I was surprised that Tim Burton directed the "regular" scenes so well. Both Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney were fantastic, and I thought their southern accents were pretty good. The British always seem to have a better time of learning accents, likely because there are so many different accents in Britain, and a big part of drama training in Britain is dialectal class. The tall tales were fantastic, and it was great to see that at the end, they had a ring of truth. I laughed and cried a few tears, so it was a great movie for me.
Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power
Ross King
This was a good read. To examine Machiavelli as a person, to see what his everyday life was like, was incredibly eye opening. Previously, all I really knew about him was his "eye of the beholder" reputation, which, to be honest, isn't very flattering. The Oxford dictionary defines the term "machiavellian" as "an intriguer, an unscrupulous schemer", but this is based on how he was portrayed by dramatists such as Shakespeare and Marlowe. Of course, his writings, especially The Prince, are a reflection of his thoughts and do contain some of those elements. I found Ross King painted a fairly likable character, and it's made me want to learn more about Machiavelli.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Avenue Q
Fantastic!!!!
Absolute must see for anyone who grew up with Sesame Street. With songs entitled "What Do You Do With a BA in English", "The Internet is For Porn", "If You Were Gay" and "Schadenfreude" how can you go wrong? Excellently written, wonderfully acted and puppeteered, this show puts a grin on your face for practically the duration of the show. It's only playing until Aug 31st so hurry if you want to see it. I'm so glad I was able to catch the show!
Absolute must see for anyone who grew up with Sesame Street. With songs entitled "What Do You Do With a BA in English", "The Internet is For Porn", "If You Were Gay" and "Schadenfreude" how can you go wrong? Excellently written, wonderfully acted and puppeteered, this show puts a grin on your face for practically the duration of the show. It's only playing until Aug 31st so hurry if you want to see it. I'm so glad I was able to catch the show!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Oakville Jazz Festival
Or what would have been, if it hadn't been completely rained out and cancelled. Luckily for me, I was able to have a lovely time in Oakville in spite of the change in plans, with spending time with a dear friend, watching the Olympics, seeing a bad movie, a nice dinner and a trip to Chapters before taking the Go Train home. Hopefully next year the festival will be back on!
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Fergus
I've always loved doing this gig. Fergus is a small town in Ontario that hosts an annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Nowadays I only perform in the tattoo that opens the games on Friday night, but I used to stay up for the whole weekend. There's so much to see, the dancing competitions, caber toss, tug-a-wars, piping competitions, not to mention the beer tent with live music. But it's not a place for sleep, which would explain perhaps, why I'm not so keen on staying on the Fergus grounds anymore. There are a number of campsites and B&B's outside the grounds, so maybe one day, I'll go back to going up for the entire weekend. Because it's a yearly event, it really gets you thinking about where you were the year previously and what has happened to you since. The tattoo went very well, afterwards we had a little tailgate party, went to the beer tent to listen to Seven Nations, a cool celtic rock band out of NYC. Good times!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
July 2008 Books and Movies
Deal Breakers: When to Work on a Relationship and When to Walk Away
Dr. Bethany Marshall
Good topic, not dealt with very well. The doctors speaks of 5 personality types (Scriptwriter, Little Boy Lost, Man in Charge, Man Without Fault, Invisible Man), how to recognize them, when to work on a relationship with them, and when to walk away. It seemed to blame the man exclusively, with only one tiny paragraph stating that if you found the book didn't resonate, to re-read it with yourself in one of the roles. Blanket statement much? There were some good ideas there, but deeply submerged in a ton of gobbledygook. I'd give it a pass.
Sybil
Flora Schreiber
Excellent read and very hard to put down. Even with the controversy surrounding the validity of the MPD claim, this book shines as an example of overcoming a demonic childhood. The details of abuse were horrific, but the ending was very uplifting. A great read for anyone interested in psychology or an interesting story.
Born Into Brothels
Amazing documentary! The kids are heartbreakingly beautiful set amist a horrendous backdrop of crime, poverty and prostitution. It was really nice to see the updates at the end, even though not all of the children got out of the brothel. It's too bad that so many people have negative things to say about the filmmaker. I think she has worked tirelessly to help in anyway she can, without judgment or superiority. An excellent film.
The Stepford Wives
This updated version of the 1975 movie was good, but more of a black comedy than a horror flick. I decided to read the book first, so I wouldn't picture the movie while reading the book. They changed a lot of things, some good, some bad, but I'll need to see the original movie before I can make a true comparison. I enjoyed it for what it was, and thought the casting was very apropo.
The Stepford Wives
Ira Levin
Creepy! But what do you expect from the man who wrote Rosemary's Baby? This is an excellently written novel, a deceptively easy read, that packs a literary punch firmly within the time frame in which it was written. A searing commentary on a typical male reaction to the Women's Lib movement in the 1970's, a twisted concept (perfect women robots replacing the freshly killed real wives) and thrilling to the end.
State and Main
Really good movie! Love David Mamet as a playwright, so was pretty sure it would be good with him as director and screenwriter. There were a few weak links, ever since SATC, Sarah Jessica Parker just seems to channel Carrie in everything she does. This movie was filmed in the middle of SATC madness, so I understand why she had a little trouble losing Carrie. I am also not a big Alec Baldwin fan. But I loved so many others in the film, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Stiles, Rebecca Pidgeon, just to name a few. This movie was definitely over looked in 2000 and well worth seeing.
Dr. Bethany Marshall
Good topic, not dealt with very well. The doctors speaks of 5 personality types (Scriptwriter, Little Boy Lost, Man in Charge, Man Without Fault, Invisible Man), how to recognize them, when to work on a relationship with them, and when to walk away. It seemed to blame the man exclusively, with only one tiny paragraph stating that if you found the book didn't resonate, to re-read it with yourself in one of the roles. Blanket statement much? There were some good ideas there, but deeply submerged in a ton of gobbledygook. I'd give it a pass.
Sybil
Flora Schreiber
Excellent read and very hard to put down. Even with the controversy surrounding the validity of the MPD claim, this book shines as an example of overcoming a demonic childhood. The details of abuse were horrific, but the ending was very uplifting. A great read for anyone interested in psychology or an interesting story.
Born Into Brothels
Amazing documentary! The kids are heartbreakingly beautiful set amist a horrendous backdrop of crime, poverty and prostitution. It was really nice to see the updates at the end, even though not all of the children got out of the brothel. It's too bad that so many people have negative things to say about the filmmaker. I think she has worked tirelessly to help in anyway she can, without judgment or superiority. An excellent film.
The Stepford Wives
This updated version of the 1975 movie was good, but more of a black comedy than a horror flick. I decided to read the book first, so I wouldn't picture the movie while reading the book. They changed a lot of things, some good, some bad, but I'll need to see the original movie before I can make a true comparison. I enjoyed it for what it was, and thought the casting was very apropo.
The Stepford Wives
Ira Levin
Creepy! But what do you expect from the man who wrote Rosemary's Baby? This is an excellently written novel, a deceptively easy read, that packs a literary punch firmly within the time frame in which it was written. A searing commentary on a typical male reaction to the Women's Lib movement in the 1970's, a twisted concept (perfect women robots replacing the freshly killed real wives) and thrilling to the end.
State and Main
Really good movie! Love David Mamet as a playwright, so was pretty sure it would be good with him as director and screenwriter. There were a few weak links, ever since SATC, Sarah Jessica Parker just seems to channel Carrie in everything she does. This movie was filmed in the middle of SATC madness, so I understand why she had a little trouble losing Carrie. I am also not a big Alec Baldwin fan. But I loved so many others in the film, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Stiles, Rebecca Pidgeon, just to name a few. This movie was definitely over looked in 2000 and well worth seeing.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Summerlicious
Blink and you will miss it, Summerlicious is almost over! Twice a year 4 and 5 star Toronto restaurants put together a set menu for the "plebs" to enjoy. Today I had lunch at Jump with a couple of friends. It was really good! I would definitely go there again for a proper meal. Their Summerlicious menu had a lot of choice. I had 10 mushroom soup (not cream based) to start, red snapper for the main and lemon creme for dessert. It was delish! Very hard to make up my mind though, there was an interesting avocado and tomato salad, shrimp pasta and chocolate torte as well, among other things. Loved the decor and the skylights, but the bathrooms didn't match the upscale feel of the restaurant. The bar is beautiful, very old school. All in all, a great experience!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Staying +++
I must say, it's been tough these past couple of weeks. My grandmother is still in the hospital recovering from spinal surgery. My mother has had another bout of vasculitis, but is thankfully back on the proper medication. My volleyball has abruptly and extremely rudely been terminated. My course for work is supremely time consuming. My arthritis has acted up on 3 separate occasions, causing me to freak out a little about the validity of my drug related remission. I seem to be either at a standstill or crossroads when it comes to my heart. I'm a touch down in the mouth these days.
Deep yogic breath, in then out, through the nostrils.
Yoga is great, I'm really proud of the small but steady progress I've been making. I am getting stronger in mind and body everyday. My meditation is richer and I feel that I have been seeing clearly through my third eye. I know I am flying in the face of all sound advice from friends, but I feel I am going against my intuition if I ignore what my gut is telling me. Maybe I am just listening to what I want to hear, maybe not. Time will tell. Yoga has definitely increased my patience, something I was horrible at before. I managed to hang my drapes! Yay! I know it doesn't sound like something major, but considering there was a surprise metal sheet in behind the drywall, it really was an accomplishment that took way too long to complete. The drapes really make the place look great. I still have to drill the holes in the bedroom for those curtains, which is going to be the same hassle as the living room, but having done it once, I'm confident that I can do it again. My friends are fantastic, especially after the volleyball fiasco. My family is really pulling together to be there for my grandparents. My sister and her boyfriend are really happy, and have just come back from a wonderful Mediterranean cruise. I'm being asked to do a number of paid gigs, one of which is out of town in upstate New York.
So the bottom line is, the more you think positively, the more positive things come your way. The corners are starting to raise! :D
Deep yogic breath, in then out, through the nostrils.
Yoga is great, I'm really proud of the small but steady progress I've been making. I am getting stronger in mind and body everyday. My meditation is richer and I feel that I have been seeing clearly through my third eye. I know I am flying in the face of all sound advice from friends, but I feel I am going against my intuition if I ignore what my gut is telling me. Maybe I am just listening to what I want to hear, maybe not. Time will tell. Yoga has definitely increased my patience, something I was horrible at before. I managed to hang my drapes! Yay! I know it doesn't sound like something major, but considering there was a surprise metal sheet in behind the drywall, it really was an accomplishment that took way too long to complete. The drapes really make the place look great. I still have to drill the holes in the bedroom for those curtains, which is going to be the same hassle as the living room, but having done it once, I'm confident that I can do it again. My friends are fantastic, especially after the volleyball fiasco. My family is really pulling together to be there for my grandparents. My sister and her boyfriend are really happy, and have just come back from a wonderful Mediterranean cruise. I'm being asked to do a number of paid gigs, one of which is out of town in upstate New York.
So the bottom line is, the more you think positively, the more positive things come your way. The corners are starting to raise! :D
Monday, June 30, 2008
7 Months
There's a great line from Charlotte York in SATC:
"It takes half the total time you went out with someone to get over them."
The other girls have varying opinions about whether or not she is right, and can't come to a unanimous conclusion.
So this is where I'm at now. The halfway mark. All I can say is that it must be different for everyone. Granted I've done a few things to keep myself in a holding pattern, but it is the path my heart and "third eye" (yogic centre of knowledge and intuition) has instructed me to follow. I continue to listen and adjust as necessary.
My heart chakra is very open, which is what allows me to feel and receive love so fully, but it also keeps my emotions very close to the surface, where they can overflow, if I'm not mindful.
My next step is to work on my root chakra, which will keep me centered and grounded, helping me live a balanced life. In keeping with this approach, I will stop creating a blog entry for each month that passes. This is not to say that I will forget, but I am going forward in a different way.
I can't predict the future, but I can learn from the mistakes of my past to ensure I do not repeat them. I empathise with those who are on a similar journey and wish you all well.
"It takes half the total time you went out with someone to get over them."
The other girls have varying opinions about whether or not she is right, and can't come to a unanimous conclusion.
So this is where I'm at now. The halfway mark. All I can say is that it must be different for everyone. Granted I've done a few things to keep myself in a holding pattern, but it is the path my heart and "third eye" (yogic centre of knowledge and intuition) has instructed me to follow. I continue to listen and adjust as necessary.
My heart chakra is very open, which is what allows me to feel and receive love so fully, but it also keeps my emotions very close to the surface, where they can overflow, if I'm not mindful.
My next step is to work on my root chakra, which will keep me centered and grounded, helping me live a balanced life. In keeping with this approach, I will stop creating a blog entry for each month that passes. This is not to say that I will forget, but I am going forward in a different way.
I can't predict the future, but I can learn from the mistakes of my past to ensure I do not repeat them. I empathise with those who are on a similar journey and wish you all well.
June 2008 Books and Movies
Hunting and Gathering
Anna Galvada
This is an English translation of a beautiful French novel entitled "Ensemble C'est Tout". It has recently been made into a movie starring Audrey Tatou as Camille. Of course it has very limited release here in Canada, with practically no advertisement. I'm glad I read the book first and am looking forward to reading it in the original French as well. Most movies change the book, and I'm sure this is no exception. The characters are so finely drawn, so quirky, so engaging. I practically read it in one sitting and it's over 400 pages long! There's no narrative, so sometimes the dialogue is a bit difficult to follow, but even if you need to re-read a passage you will get more out of it. I highly recommend this book, it's absolutely stunning.
Get Smart
This was really, really funny! Best line in the movie was the Alan Arkin "Swordfish" line. I kept laughing well after it was over. Steve Carell has the best dead pan. Ann Hathaway, whom I've always liked a lot, held her own really well. The Rock was a lot of fun as well. A fun couple of hours, definitely go see it!
The Importance of Being Earnest
How could I have missed this gem when it first came out? I love the plays of Oscar Wilde and Colin Firth! Excellently done, with a great cast. Apparently the director, Oliver Parker has also done a version of An Ideal Husband, which, of course, I now have to see!
13 Going On 30
Cute chick flick take on the 80s movie Big. I don't generally like Jennifer Garner, but she was very convincing in this movie. The fashion from both 1987 and 2004 was spot on and of course, I love any movie genuinely set in NYC, not Toronto or Montreal masquerading as NYC. Although the love interest was pretty weak, there was the requisite "happy ending" so all turns out ok.
In Her Shoes
What a wonderfully funny, heart-wrenching and beautiful story. I've loved Toni Collette ever since I first saw her in Muriel's Wedding. I was impressed with her very realistic American accent. I'm not always a fan of Cameron Diaz, but she was really great in this. I love shoes, so all the pretty shoe candy was a big plus. Francine Beers (who was Mrs. Cohen aka Ol' Lightning Rod in an episode of SATC) had some of the best lines. Although a touch predictable in places, I really enjoyed it.
Anna Galvada
This is an English translation of a beautiful French novel entitled "Ensemble C'est Tout". It has recently been made into a movie starring Audrey Tatou as Camille. Of course it has very limited release here in Canada, with practically no advertisement. I'm glad I read the book first and am looking forward to reading it in the original French as well. Most movies change the book, and I'm sure this is no exception. The characters are so finely drawn, so quirky, so engaging. I practically read it in one sitting and it's over 400 pages long! There's no narrative, so sometimes the dialogue is a bit difficult to follow, but even if you need to re-read a passage you will get more out of it. I highly recommend this book, it's absolutely stunning.
Get Smart
This was really, really funny! Best line in the movie was the Alan Arkin "Swordfish" line. I kept laughing well after it was over. Steve Carell has the best dead pan. Ann Hathaway, whom I've always liked a lot, held her own really well. The Rock was a lot of fun as well. A fun couple of hours, definitely go see it!
The Importance of Being Earnest
How could I have missed this gem when it first came out? I love the plays of Oscar Wilde and Colin Firth! Excellently done, with a great cast. Apparently the director, Oliver Parker has also done a version of An Ideal Husband, which, of course, I now have to see!
13 Going On 30
Cute chick flick take on the 80s movie Big. I don't generally like Jennifer Garner, but she was very convincing in this movie. The fashion from both 1987 and 2004 was spot on and of course, I love any movie genuinely set in NYC, not Toronto or Montreal masquerading as NYC. Although the love interest was pretty weak, there was the requisite "happy ending" so all turns out ok.
In Her Shoes
What a wonderfully funny, heart-wrenching and beautiful story. I've loved Toni Collette ever since I first saw her in Muriel's Wedding. I was impressed with her very realistic American accent. I'm not always a fan of Cameron Diaz, but she was really great in this. I love shoes, so all the pretty shoe candy was a big plus. Francine Beers (who was Mrs. Cohen aka Ol' Lightning Rod in an episode of SATC) had some of the best lines. Although a touch predictable in places, I really enjoyed it.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Toronto Jazz Festival
Once again I volunteered at the Toronto Jazz Festival and saw some great performances while doing it.
Sunday, June 22
I saw the Geri Allen Quartet. Great pianist with wonderful phrasing. Loved the added synthesizer sound. Another big highlight was her tap dancer, he was phenomenal! They were followed by the Alto Summit (Red Holloway, Donald Harrison, Greg Osby, Bobby Watson) who were exceptional. Alto Sax has never been my favorite jazz instrument, but I was moved to pieces by a soulful, smooth ballad. They also played Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island to great applause.Great show!
Monday, June 23
Tonight I caught a tiny snippet of Ahmad Jamal. Another great pianist, with a fantastic band. I was sorry I couldn't get there sooner to catch Oliver Jones and see a few more tunes from Jamal.
Wednesday, June 25
Tonight I worked my first volunteer shift. What a night! Saw The Blind Alabama Boys, they were absolutely amazing. The highlight of the night was their version of Amazing Grace set to The Animals "House of the Rising Sun". My shift was in the Green Room, so not only did I get to see the Boys up close, I also met another great, the pianist Robi Botos. The night began with the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, who were very good as well.
Thursday, June 26
I was late to this concert due to a rehearsal, but what I saw was phenomenal! Roy Hargrove, Frank Wess (great flute!), Paquito D'Rivera (holy cow can that man play the clarinet!), Roberta Gambarini (love her voice!) and many more. The crowd was electric and the musicians were incredible. Very nearly my favorite performance of the festival.
Friday, June 27
Worked my 2nd shift of the festival tonight in the Green Room for the John Abercrombie/Mike Stern/John Scofield show. Wow, those are some serious music fans that came to that show. There was no room, even to stand, so I had to listen to the show from outside the tent. The evening ended with an impromptu duet between Stern and Scofield, which was awesome. There were big crowds looking for autographs at the end of the show. I was pleased to see that the kid with the guitar was able to get his instrument signed by both Mike Stern and John Scofield. He was so happy!
I also caught a snippet of the lunchtime Galloway's Surprise Swing Session, luckily, when Guido Basso (!!) joined the fray. It's so great when you get a treat like that, I was blown away.
Saturday, June 28
By far, my favorite show of the festival! The show was sure to be a sell out, so I bought a ticket to ensure admission. Hilario Duran started the night with his trio, which included Mark Kelso on drums and Roberto Occhipinti on string bass, playing a few world premieres in his set. Wonderful, I always enjoy Hilario when I see him. Then came Arturo Sandoval. I was absolutely blown away. This man just kept pulling rabbits out of his hat. Trumpet, piano, vocals, percussion, keyboards/synthesiser, the man can do it all. I was flabbergasted by the high and low range of his trumpet, he literally sounded like a tuba at one point. His band was fabulous, especially the bongo player. Roberto even came into the tent to watch Arturo's bass player do a solo. The night ended with getting my ticket signed by both Hilario and Arturo, a wonderful keepsake from a brilliant night.
Sunday, June 29
First up was the Sapporo Jazz Orchestra, a teen big band from Japan. They are all studying at a jazz high school and they are good! Definitely look for some of them in 10 years to be playing the circuit!
The DMBQ lunchtime concert blew me away. Co-fronted by Tara Davidson, Mike Murley and David Braid, they also played compositions by all three. I had been told by many people that I had to see Mike Murley play sax, and they were right. The control, the overtones, simply amazing. David Braid's compositions are so lyrical, so melodic, especially the tune "Interior Castles". Mike and Pete enjoyed the show as well, it was a great way to pass the afternoon.
Looking forward to next year!
Sunday, June 22
I saw the Geri Allen Quartet. Great pianist with wonderful phrasing. Loved the added synthesizer sound. Another big highlight was her tap dancer, he was phenomenal! They were followed by the Alto Summit (Red Holloway, Donald Harrison, Greg Osby, Bobby Watson) who were exceptional. Alto Sax has never been my favorite jazz instrument, but I was moved to pieces by a soulful, smooth ballad. They also played Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island to great applause.Great show!
Monday, June 23
Tonight I caught a tiny snippet of Ahmad Jamal. Another great pianist, with a fantastic band. I was sorry I couldn't get there sooner to catch Oliver Jones and see a few more tunes from Jamal.
Wednesday, June 25
Tonight I worked my first volunteer shift. What a night! Saw The Blind Alabama Boys, they were absolutely amazing. The highlight of the night was their version of Amazing Grace set to The Animals "House of the Rising Sun". My shift was in the Green Room, so not only did I get to see the Boys up close, I also met another great, the pianist Robi Botos. The night began with the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, who were very good as well.
Thursday, June 26
I was late to this concert due to a rehearsal, but what I saw was phenomenal! Roy Hargrove, Frank Wess (great flute!), Paquito D'Rivera (holy cow can that man play the clarinet!), Roberta Gambarini (love her voice!) and many more. The crowd was electric and the musicians were incredible. Very nearly my favorite performance of the festival.
Friday, June 27
Worked my 2nd shift of the festival tonight in the Green Room for the John Abercrombie/Mike Stern/John Scofield show. Wow, those are some serious music fans that came to that show. There was no room, even to stand, so I had to listen to the show from outside the tent. The evening ended with an impromptu duet between Stern and Scofield, which was awesome. There were big crowds looking for autographs at the end of the show. I was pleased to see that the kid with the guitar was able to get his instrument signed by both Mike Stern and John Scofield. He was so happy!
I also caught a snippet of the lunchtime Galloway's Surprise Swing Session, luckily, when Guido Basso (!!) joined the fray. It's so great when you get a treat like that, I was blown away.
Saturday, June 28
By far, my favorite show of the festival! The show was sure to be a sell out, so I bought a ticket to ensure admission. Hilario Duran started the night with his trio, which included Mark Kelso on drums and Roberto Occhipinti on string bass, playing a few world premieres in his set. Wonderful, I always enjoy Hilario when I see him. Then came Arturo Sandoval. I was absolutely blown away. This man just kept pulling rabbits out of his hat. Trumpet, piano, vocals, percussion, keyboards/synthesiser, the man can do it all. I was flabbergasted by the high and low range of his trumpet, he literally sounded like a tuba at one point. His band was fabulous, especially the bongo player. Roberto even came into the tent to watch Arturo's bass player do a solo. The night ended with getting my ticket signed by both Hilario and Arturo, a wonderful keepsake from a brilliant night.
Sunday, June 29
First up was the Sapporo Jazz Orchestra, a teen big band from Japan. They are all studying at a jazz high school and they are good! Definitely look for some of them in 10 years to be playing the circuit!
The DMBQ lunchtime concert blew me away. Co-fronted by Tara Davidson, Mike Murley and David Braid, they also played compositions by all three. I had been told by many people that I had to see Mike Murley play sax, and they were right. The control, the overtones, simply amazing. David Braid's compositions are so lyrical, so melodic, especially the tune "Interior Castles". Mike and Pete enjoyed the show as well, it was a great way to pass the afternoon.
Looking forward to next year!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Dirty Dancing: The Stage Show
Just got back from seeing this, what fun! Totally cheesetastic, it followed the movie pretty spot on, with a few added scenes that didn't really enhance the basic story. The coolest part was to see how they used amazing technical theatre devices to show scenes such as when Johnny and Baby practice lifts in the water. I found the plot extensions to be quite indulgent, so I'm curious as to the dramaturgy behind them. The girl playing Penny was an unbelievable dancer, she had the most amazing legs! Johnny was played by an understudy tonight, and flubbed his line 3 times, so that kind of took away from his performance. I wonder what the "real" Johnny is like. Of course, no one can top Patrick Swayze in the movie! I've seen it over 30 times, thanks to countless sleepovers in Junior High. :) What a fun way to spend a Thursday night!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
An Emotional Day
Whew, sometimes life can throw you a doozy. Between my grandmother is in the hospital recovering from emergency spinal surgery, my mom is not doing very well, and work, the stress levels are rising. Which is why I do yoga, but today, my emotions just wouldn't be subdued. We had to do some partner work today, and while the instructor was demonstrated, I guess I decided unconciously that I wouldn't be able to do it. So when I tried, that's just what happened. And then everything just came pouring out. The instructor has seen everything, and was very supportive. It was a little embarrasing to cry in front of the other yoga goers, but I'm not sorry it happened, as it was a new experience and I learned something from it. I know I'm sometimes more than a little frustrated at my limitations in yoga, and it does seem that, often times, I'm the only one who isn't able to do a move. It's a huge challenge to try and accept my body the way it is working on any given day, and not pass judgement or compare myself to others. The day was rounded off by visiting my grandfather, which was a bit sad because he is really living a life of isolation, with his increasing deafness, and my grandmother in the hospital. I'm happy to report that she is doing better, although she is still on bed rest. They can't move her to rehab until her wound has healed. I feel quite drained, but hopefully I'll sleep well tonight.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
ETT Annual Dinner
Went to my first ETT Annual Dinner this evening at the Royal York. It was pretty fun, good food (pistachio crusted halibut in a lobster bisque with lemon dill risotto and chocolate pecan tart with melon gelato for dessert) and dancing. They showed the completed 10th anniversary DVD that the Communications Committee I was on worked most of the year towards. I'm looking forward to the next event, a boat cruise on the Northern Spirit.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
May 2008 Books and Movies
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Not quite as good as the first one, but still, really enjoyable. They've upped the ante with the CGI and the New Zealand landscape is breathtaking. Throw in a good looking cast and some very impressive battle scenes and you have an enjoyable 2.5 hours.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Beautiful Italian cinematography, great cast and some very funny moments are the good points. Bad writing, choppy plot transitions and far too much emphasis on how terrible it is for a late 30s woman to be *shocked gasp* single were the bad points. It was really 50/50 for me, I spent just as much time liking the film as I did not liking the film.
Snow Cake
Quite literally, one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long time. Dealing with a quite rare topic, adult autism, Snow Cake is very very special. Sigourney Weaver gives one of the most amazing performances I've seen and Carrie Ann Moss and Alan Rickman are wonderful with just the right amount of pathos. It was funny, in a poignant way and made me cry buckets towards the end. It's a joint venture between the U.K. and Canada and shot in Wawa, which in itself made for some stellar cinematography. I can't recommend it enough, really worth seeing.
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
Ross King
Again, took me a while to get through it, but another great read from Ross King. I love the way he incorporates conjecture to make the drier bones of history come alive. I finshed this book with a burning desire to see the Sistine Chapel in person, it's on my list!
Dan in Real Life
Quite enjoyable, much like Little Miss Sunshine, a dark comedy. Made me laugh out loud and brought tears to my eyes. Love Juliette Binoche, although I think it's really interesting that North American movies are the only ones where you see someone speaking English with an accent. In foreign language films, people hardly ever have an accent, I don't think they would even be hired if they didn't speak near flawless French, Italian, German etc. But all things foreign translate into better North American box office returns, I suppose. Steve Carell was excellent, he really has wonderful poignant comedic timing. The family dynamic was fantastic, loved Dianne Wiest as the mother. The house was just as much a part of story as the characters and the music tied it all together. The plot plodded somewhat in the middle, but overall, a good film.
Remember Me?
Sophie Kinsella
Love Sophie Kinsella, but she's gone back to using a Becky Bloomwood character, klutzy and constantly inappropriate in every situation. I'm not a fan of her characters that I get frustrated with while I'm reading. Her best character to date is Samantha, from the Undomestic Goddess. I liked Lexi too, even more when she she wised up to the fact that her "perfect" life was a crock. Still a fan of Kinsella's tight writing style, although this one was not quite as funny. That being said, I couldn't put it down and was finished in 2 days.
Not quite as good as the first one, but still, really enjoyable. They've upped the ante with the CGI and the New Zealand landscape is breathtaking. Throw in a good looking cast and some very impressive battle scenes and you have an enjoyable 2.5 hours.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Beautiful Italian cinematography, great cast and some very funny moments are the good points. Bad writing, choppy plot transitions and far too much emphasis on how terrible it is for a late 30s woman to be *shocked gasp* single were the bad points. It was really 50/50 for me, I spent just as much time liking the film as I did not liking the film.
Snow Cake
Quite literally, one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long time. Dealing with a quite rare topic, adult autism, Snow Cake is very very special. Sigourney Weaver gives one of the most amazing performances I've seen and Carrie Ann Moss and Alan Rickman are wonderful with just the right amount of pathos. It was funny, in a poignant way and made me cry buckets towards the end. It's a joint venture between the U.K. and Canada and shot in Wawa, which in itself made for some stellar cinematography. I can't recommend it enough, really worth seeing.
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
Ross King
Again, took me a while to get through it, but another great read from Ross King. I love the way he incorporates conjecture to make the drier bones of history come alive. I finshed this book with a burning desire to see the Sistine Chapel in person, it's on my list!
Dan in Real Life
Quite enjoyable, much like Little Miss Sunshine, a dark comedy. Made me laugh out loud and brought tears to my eyes. Love Juliette Binoche, although I think it's really interesting that North American movies are the only ones where you see someone speaking English with an accent. In foreign language films, people hardly ever have an accent, I don't think they would even be hired if they didn't speak near flawless French, Italian, German etc. But all things foreign translate into better North American box office returns, I suppose. Steve Carell was excellent, he really has wonderful poignant comedic timing. The family dynamic was fantastic, loved Dianne Wiest as the mother. The house was just as much a part of story as the characters and the music tied it all together. The plot plodded somewhat in the middle, but overall, a good film.
Remember Me?
Sophie Kinsella
Love Sophie Kinsella, but she's gone back to using a Becky Bloomwood character, klutzy and constantly inappropriate in every situation. I'm not a fan of her characters that I get frustrated with while I'm reading. Her best character to date is Samantha, from the Undomestic Goddess. I liked Lexi too, even more when she she wised up to the fact that her "perfect" life was a crock. Still a fan of Kinsella's tight writing style, although this one was not quite as funny. That being said, I couldn't put it down and was finished in 2 days.
Sex and the City: The Movie
Of course this movie deserves it's own blog posting! :)
Though no movie, no matter how great, can replace the familiarity of one's favorite TV show, I can safely say that I was pleased with the end result last night. Were there some cheesy lines, liberties with characters and full out plot holes? Absolutely! But it was great to catch up with the "girls", see some amazing fashion and fall in love with NYC all over again. I wouldn't be sad if they decided to relaunch SATC as a show about women in their 40s, but then again, they do already have Lipstick Jungle for that. I'm definitely a Big and Carrie fan, so I had a good cry at several intervals. A lot of critics are saying that Jennifer Hudson was weak, but I quite liked her and the soundtrack she contributed. I consider myself to be almost a devotee to the show, and was quite prepared to hate the movie if it paled in comparison to the show. I was pleasantly surprised and will be buying the DVD to add to my collection and of course, for the extras. For die hard SATC fans, this movie will slightly disappoint, but over all, Michael Patrick King did a good job, and hopefully we'll see a sequel soon.
Or a second run of the show....please, pretty please with a cherry on top? :)
Though no movie, no matter how great, can replace the familiarity of one's favorite TV show, I can safely say that I was pleased with the end result last night. Were there some cheesy lines, liberties with characters and full out plot holes? Absolutely! But it was great to catch up with the "girls", see some amazing fashion and fall in love with NYC all over again. I wouldn't be sad if they decided to relaunch SATC as a show about women in their 40s, but then again, they do already have Lipstick Jungle for that. I'm definitely a Big and Carrie fan, so I had a good cry at several intervals. A lot of critics are saying that Jennifer Hudson was weak, but I quite liked her and the soundtrack she contributed. I consider myself to be almost a devotee to the show, and was quite prepared to hate the movie if it paled in comparison to the show. I was pleasantly surprised and will be buying the DVD to add to my collection and of course, for the extras. For die hard SATC fans, this movie will slightly disappoint, but over all, Michael Patrick King did a good job, and hopefully we'll see a sequel soon.
Or a second run of the show....please, pretty please with a cherry on top? :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
6 months
I write this, feeling extremely sentimental, after shedding more than a few tears at the opening of Sex and the City, the movie. (More on that under separate cover.) I feel so many things 6 months in. I still believe in love, although some days it's harder to believe than others. I believe in myself, although being kind and forgiving to myself is really hard sometimes. It's easy to beat yourself up for your mistakes, but only by forgiving yourself can you really move forward. I am trying my best not to drive myself crazy by wondering where anything is going and want to concentrate on living my life day by day, moment by moment, remembering that each element "is what it is".
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Dental Damages
Ok, I've pretty much had it with these root canals! I sure hope that this is the very last one I ever have to experience. Something about the part of my mouth that was affected didn't take the freezing, so it was pretty painful. Not to mention the expense, ouch! Anyway, I'm glad to have it all squared away, and hopefully (as I've just taken a codeine) I'll be able to sleep well and will awake tomorrow with minimum tooth discomfort.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Eat Pray Love
I've decided to give this book its very own blog entry because of the sheer impact it has had on me while reading it. To date, Eat Pray Love is the most influential book I have ever read. It spoke directly to my stomach, brain and heart. Elizabeth Gilbert's writing style had me laughing out loud and crying gut wrenching tears. There is something for everyone here, and certain parts of this book spoke to me so clearly, I actually book marked them, (page 65, pages 148-151 and page 178) something I have never done before. It's inspired me to continue with my yoga, embrace daily meditation and experience fully the simple pleasures of life. Although I wouldn't consider myself to be searching so much for a spiritual experience with God the way she did, it has brought up more and more questions of that nature for me. I've been very comfortable for over 15 years with my agnostic borderline atheist beliefs. I wonder if it's a temporary by-product of reading the book, or if this will kick start a deeper spiritual study. The book has definitely solidified some plans for my year off. I will go to Italy to see all the parts I have yet to see, and I will go to India. I'm so glad I read this book, for me, it is a bookshelf classic, destined to be read again and again.
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