eMusings

This is Andrea Peyser...

2010-12-02T15:30:00.004-05:00

Who is Andrea Peyser?

She’s known as an outspoken, controversial and incredibly opinionated writer. Her column often features subjects of a sexual nature as she offers her stance on relationships, sex, parenting, and a number of other related topics.

According bighollywood.breitbart.com “Andrea started her career in upstate New York with the Associated Press in Albany, then the AP bureau in Charleston, W.Va. She has worked for CNN in Atlanta, and the Tampa Tribune in Florida, before finally returning home to the New York Post, where she started as a reporter. She was named columnist in 1993.” Her biography on the New York Post’s website doesn’t add much more. “A born and raised New Yorker, award-winning columnist Andrea Peyser started her career at the Albany Associated Press bureau, did one lost year in Charleston, W.Va., before working for CNN and the Tampa Tribune. She landed at the Post in 1989 and was named columnist in 1993. Her columns have won awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Newswomen's Club of New York and the New York Associated Press, which named her columnist of the year for 2005. A graduate of the State University of New York, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter”

But once again we’re left questioning what she actually has done. There’s really not much to be said about her as professional. What did she do with the Associated Press? And what were her responsibilities at CNN? When she was given the position of columnist at the New York Post, what was it for? Was the feedback for her reporting that strong? Were people dying to read more about what this woman had to say… and the way she had to say it? And there isn’t anything easily found about her personal endeavors – no donations to major charities, no presence on any boards of any organizations… What I find most interesting is that not one of the articles out of the first hits from Google gives any details about Andrea’s qualifications. Yes, we learn she has graduated from the State University of New York. But there’s not a single mention of what she studied specifically. Which SUNY did she attend? Was she a student of media? Publishing? English? It’s completely unclear.

If one were to read any of Andrea’s writing, it appears as if she has no background in, or even understanding of literature or mass media. She uses her column in the New York Post as a forum for her own personal opinions, and political and social stances. She openly criticizes anything having to do with homosexuality, and goes so far as to claim knowledge about the right type of parenting.

Click here http://www.nypost.com/columnists/andreapeyser, for an index of Peyser’s columns for New York Post’s website. Andrea is most well known in the blogosphere by readers of Gawker. Click here http://gawker.com/search/andrea%20peyser/, to find a collection of Gawker’s breakdowns of and responses to much of Andrea’s writing.

Although entertaining to read, Gawker’s breakdowns of Peyser’s columns are lacking in critique and analysis. I’d like to sift through a few of her articles and give back some my personal opinions…

On September 14^th, 2010 Peyser wrote an article entitled “Giving off the wrong signals,” about sports reporter Ines Sainz. It appears that Sainz reported being harassed by the Jets during one of the games at which she was present in the sidelines. Andrea digs into Ms. Sainz, claiming that she has “routinely exposed cleavage and brutally tight jeans…" She somehow manages to be both sexist and racist in one sentence, going on to explain that on TV Azteca, the Mexican station for which Sainz works, a woman’s place as a legitimate member of the news team is matched only by her “willingness to pose nude.”

Peyser continues to berate and discredit the claims made by Ines regarding the objectification she felt at the hands of the football players. She doesn’t quite go as far as to say that “she was asking for it,” but she might as well have. I have no respect for anyone who believes women who are harassed, tormented, abused and even raped are at any fault because of the way they dress or carry themselves. I don’t care if Ines Sainz was wearing a bikini on the field while reporting about the game – it is never alright for a man to make a woman feel uncomfortable or threatened. Peyser calls Sainz an embarrassment to journalism, a publicity whore, and demands that she “grow up.”

With bullying and sexual harassment being such media hot topics at the moment (see: http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-notre-dame-silent-on-teens-dea-112110,0,2697429.story), I believe it’s Peyser’s responsibility to tread lightly on the topic. The fact that she is a woman with such opinions about Zainz’s situation truly boggles my mind. How can she not relate to Sainz in any way?! I just cannot wrap my mind around how jaded one has to be to completely disengage from such a story, to go so far as to blame the victim for the situation, and to then attack their credibility as a journalist because of their personal appearance. It’s just not fair.

What I find most interesting is the fact that she is consistently contradictory in her views towards sex and sexuality. One minute she’s chastising a woman for dressing too provocatively, and berating people for their sexual preferences. But then she goes off in a separate article about how people aren’t having enough sex, and are completely disengaged from one another… Well Andrea, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t question why college students aren’t sex crazed but then write about how there’s too much sexuality in our popular culture. It just doesn’t make sense. Interestingly, in the article entitled “Give it the ol’ college shy” from November 15^th 2010, Peyser hints at an interesting and greatly discussed problem.

She argues that young people today are too consumed by their electronic devices, too overwhelmed by the pressures to succeed, and are therefore falling short in their social exchanges. I agree completely. I find it overwhelming how dependent we’ve become on social networking, how focused people are these days on their digital footprint. It’s a shame that technology is taking away from our every day interactions with others and therefore harming our interpersonal relationships. But again, it’s Peyser’s delivery which makes me cringe, and could lead any reader away from the main point she’s making. She’s offensive, cruel, and overly opinionated. I’ll give her some credit. She is concerned with the breakdown of “normal” relationship building. “Walking through Columbia the other day was like strolling through a blank-faced village of the damned. No eye contact was made. No words spoken.” Well-said Andrea. I agree, it’s becoming a major problem. But times change and this is becoming the norm.

The problem with this article is the indiscriminate generalizations she makes regarding the social deterioration of college campuses. She says, literally, nobody speaks to one another as they make their way across campus. Well, of course they don’t! She’s focusing on Columbia University; a prestigious and large city based educational institution. She refers to the campus as “sweeping.” Well, yes… It’s a college based in a city. Columbia, NYU, Fordham and Hunter are spread all across Manhattan and even have some buildings in outer boroughs. So, in that vein, it should be a given that socializing is difficult. It’s hard to reach out to others and maintain solid connections when your roommate takes classes 30 blocks away from you, and your classmates could live “on campus” when you might be out in Brooklyn. She continues making bold statements that hold no bearing for someone who isn’t a member of a college community. She goes on about “…pimple-faced awkwardness has won a major victory over the "Animal House" bacchanalia of days past.” I’m sorry, but last I checked, Animal House was a movie. A film. A fictionalization and dramatization of college life. If you recall, the film took place at a college where most students lived on campus, and focused on the life in fraternity houses. It was set at a school not situated in the middle of a major city, but instead at a university where the ONLY social life revolved around fraternity parties. It was not someplace where you have the world at your fingertips and aren’t limited to keggers, dorm mixers, and school organized events. Andrea, it is a widely known fact that the “bacchanalia” you so fondly remember does still exist. However, it is simply less significant and popular at city based colleges and universities. Try visiting the University of Wisconsin, Lehigh University, Syracuse and Washington University in St. Louis. These places are rife with parties, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. If you’re going to focus on a place like Columbia, maybe you should try looking a little harder.

Andrea – I promise you I know what I’m talking about. I graduated college almost two years ago, and still have many friends enrolled. I myself went to a small liberal arts college, but have visited and experienced the social scenes at MANY different types of institutions. I can swear to you, the party hasn’t stopped yet. What I have most issue with is the fact that she claims this is an epidemic and a crisis. I’m still wary of internet dating, and become incredibly annoyed if my dinner mates spend an excessive amount of time on their mobile devices… but this is what every day life is like these days.

Today, December 2^nd, 2010 Andrea wrote an article regarding the predicament in which Alexis Stewart (Martha’s daughter) has found herself in. Alexis has wanted to have a child for quite some time, but has had trouble conceiving. She has been very public and open about her struggle, which I fid incredibly brave and strong. It has recently been announced that she is planning on having a child through a surrogate. Peyser is having NONE of this and has many harsh words for Alexis. This is one article I’d like to break down piece-by-piece, sentence-by-sentence. Lets start at the beginning. “The rich don’t reproduce like you and me” Sorry Andrea, but you’re all well publicized writer for one of the biggest newspapers in the state. You are rich. “Martha Stewart's only child, Alexis, this week became the latest narcissistic demi-celeb to behave as if she's the first person on earth to try to birth a baby, an act performed with minimal effort by younger lights, from Britney Spears to Bristol Palin.” As far as I can tell, from reading reports about Alexis and interviews done with her, she’s been handling herself maturely and professionally with this very personal matter. And please, don’t let me go on and on about the hypocrisy of the “narcissistic” comment. Judging others from one’s own ugly high horse is the epitome of narcissism. Andrea continues with her judgment. “After wasting hundreds of thousands on unsuccessful fertility treatments -- and thumbing her nose at donor eggs and adoption -- Alexis is going the Frankenstein route.” Fertility treatment and the resulting expenditures are not at all wasteful. For many women conceiving naturally (for whatever reason afflicts them) is incredibly difficult. And again, Peyser makes statements without backing with any reliable source material. I can believe that Alexis favors having a biological child over adoption, but it is doubtful that she would thumb her nose at other options. It seems logical that she’s considered all the possible ways in which she can become a parent, and for her, surrogacy is the best choice.

Within the first three paragraphs Peyser rips into Alexis. Along with the cold “Frankenstein” comment, she continues with phrases such as “rent-a-womb,” and claims that Alexis is spreading the message to women that after “draining all available medical resources, you, too, don’t have to settle for a used kid.” I am all for adoption. I think it’s a beautiful and honorable thing for a family or individual to take a needy stranger into their home to make them part of their lives. But the cruel and horrifying way in which Peyser advocates this choice is just painful. She opens the article by berating a woman, and continues to poke at her weaknesses along side quotations from the Alliance for Children agency and parents who have chose adoption. Anyhow, Andrea continues on. “Alexis, 45, squandered her baby-making years. Not because she was too unstable, broke or unable to conceive. She told People magazine, with the urgency of one suffering from a hangnail, that she and equally self-absorbed ex-hub John Cuti were "completely ambivalent" about kids… That ambivalence cost her upwards of $27,000 -- a month! -- over the last three years for procedures that left Martha grandchild-less. And the rest of us relieved.” I’m sorry, but last I checked, people who have children yet are ambivalent about them either put their children up for adoption themselves, are terrible parents or completely uninvolved parents. Alexis’ choice with her then husband was smart. She didn’t squander her time away. She made a mature and ethical decision not to have children until she was ready – emotionally, physically, financially, whatever. Peyser’s blatant disregard for this fact is just simply ignorant. I’d rather not have a parent if one or both of them were ambivalent about my presence! Shame on you, Andrea, for implying that this is the better option.

She goes on to say that Alexis could have gone down the same road as Angelina or Madonna, and adopted a needy child. Yet she calls them “fellow egoists.” Once again, nothing is good enough for Andrea. She calls Alexis an egoist for not adopting a child, but then attacks Angelina Jolie for being egotistical for choosing adoption? Please, make up your mind. You’re confusing and upsetting the rest of us. Moving on… she continues to dig at Alexis on a very personal level, pointing out that she is on antidepressants. What does that have to do with anything? As far as I can tell it’s simply a device Peyser is using to make Alexis seem unlikable or unstable. She uses this little trick again by making Alexis’ decision out to be reckless. “It's unlikely Alexis considered potential hazards. Dangerous multiple births can result from surrogacy procedures. If Alexis is lucky, she'll get twins, like surrogate-hirer Sarah Jessica Parker. If she winds up like Octomom, she'd face the Solomonic choice of which embryos to abort -- and risk saving the budding serial killer while flushing away a future president. People are out of work. Children are alone. But rich, neurotic women spend cash, work out mommy issues, and grab attention by having kids.” Wow. These are some incredibly strong and hurtful statements. I can’t even really begin to process all the horrible assumptions regarding Alexis’ lack of parenting skills, let alone the interpretations of her statement regarding abortion. I don’t exactly know why this article has hit me harder than the rest. But something about it feels so cold and heartless. Peyser has no sympathy for Alexis’ situation, and criticizes her for decisions and actions she hasn’t even made yet.

Here’s an interesting response to today’s influx and so-called “glorification” of single motherhood. The last line “Men may no longer be necessary, but they come in handy. Put down that turkey baster” is enough to make my face flush with anger. Thanks, Andrea, for pushing women’s rights back a couple decades with that one. Or we could look into this article which is laced with not so subtle hints of homophobia, like how her daughter’s school has been “shoving a ‘Gay is OK!’ agenda” down the throats of children. I’m sorry, but I think it’s the responsibility of those molding the minds of today’s youth to make them as aware and understanding as possible to different lifestyles, choices, and types of people. Her point that programming children watch might not always be the most appropriate is overwhelmed and forgotten in lieu of her obvious bigotry.

I could easily break down and rip into each and everyone one of her articles. But instead I’d rather focus on the larger issue at hand – Andrea Peyser is a guilty party in the breakdown of the print media industry. It is because of “reporters” and “journalists” like this that younger and more qualified writers are losing opportunities. Magazines are failing, newspapers are making budget cuts, and news writers no longer have anything substantial to say. Entertainment reporting has itself become entertainment. News has become gossip. Facts have been pushed aside in favor of opinion.

One of my biggest problems with the media today is the unprofessional nature of most writing. I don’t claim to be any more eloquent or educated than anyone who may be a published writer or not. However, I do believe that as a reporter or columnist, individuals have the responsibility to express themselves in a professional, and somewhat objective, manner. Personal opinions and casual delivery should be left to the blogosphere, and in fact, many of the blogs I enjoy reading are incredibly relatable and down to earth. But as a professional employed by a New York City Newspaper, I believe Peyser has a responsibility to uphold a certain standard of writing. From what I’ve read, her articles are all conversational, informal, and often very biased.

While I understand that the New York Post is not nearly as far reaching as the New York Times of Wall Street Journal, it is still read by many. People use print media for building knowledge, and, consciously or not, often use this knowledge as a starting point for forming their own personal opinions, ideals and beliefs. For a newspaper that doesn’t claim to be a tabloid, but instead a source of viable and legitimate information, I find it offensive that these publishers and writers find it “okay” to spread messages of hate and bigotry. But what to me is even more admonishable the fact that this is done in such a blasé manner.

Just because you have opinions and a place to voice them does not make you a reputable journalist. It makes you a power drunk narcissist, a bully, and a generally questionable writer.

On a personal note, I fully acknowledge that this little opinion piece of mine won’t necessarily win me any friends. I also know that it could come back to haunt me should I ever become a writer at any sort of professional level. But I’m not ashamed of my beliefs, particularly when it’s regarding something I feel strongly about. The legitimacy of the entertainment and media industries is something I’ve witnessed evolve and change over the years, and just because I’m young does not mean I’m not entitled to my own understanding and respect for them. So I look forward to any feedback, any backlash, any thanks or messages of hate. That’s the beauty of this medium. I can say what I want and reach whoever wants to see what it is I have to say. I don’t air out my opinions in a widely absorbed public forum. Whoever reads what I have to say must actively seek me out. Unlike Andrea Peyser I acknowledge that I what I say may or may not hurt others. I back up my statements with facts or reasons. And most importantly, I think I try to see the light side of whatever it is I might not believe in or agree with. Even if I hate a movie, I can elaborate on why. I can even find something effective or successful about it. Peyser cannot. And if she can, she chooses not to.

Who is Andrea Peyser? And why should we care about what she has to say?

2010-12-02T10:33:00.003-05:00

Who is Andrea Peyser, and what is it about her that should make me care about what she has to say?

Again, it's a slow day at the office... so I intend on using my afternoon to answer these questions.

As far as I know - thanks to my Gawker addiction - she works at the New York Post (gag) and has only hateful, hurtful and ignorant things to say about sex, relationships, entertainment and "celebrities". Granted, many of us do the same thing - but nobody I know has a national platform to do so.

So, my goal for the day is to look into who this woman is, what she has accomplished, where she is now and how she got there, what it is that she intends to express to the world, and why.

Top Chef All Stars!

2010-12-01T22:24:00.003-05:00

Top Chef All Starts premiered this evening and I couldn't be more excited for the rest of the season!

I became a fan of the show in college, and in all honesty I don't even know what season it was. I've tried to stay up to date on the show, but it has sadly fallen by the wayside in favor of other shows. But already I'm hooked once again.

They really did bring back the best of the best, and to top it off most of the "characters" are also all time favorites! Love them or hate them, this is going to be a great, entertaining, interesting and incredibly competitive group. For me, this is reality show heaven. It's scripted in a way that there is a purpose for each episode, but still real enough that the competition and drama become organic. Plus, its about food. Combine delicious food, fascinating people, high tension, emotion, contests and set it all in New York City... well then you've got my attention!

I'm always in awe of people who can cook the way these chefs do. Obviously a good handful of these contestants do have formal training, and an even larger group have been directly involved in the food preparation business for years. Chefs, restaurant owners, you name it - they've done it. But they're still relatable, normal people who have a passion for food and cooking.

I love cooking shows. I could watch the Food Network all day long. I've recently begun cooking and baking much more than I have ever before, and something about these shows just makes me feel like I can do or try anything... It's not like I'll get eliminated on national television for messing it up!

One major aspect of this show that I respect above all else is the fact that the judges actually know what they're talking about. Sure, music shows have musicians, fashion shows have designers and industry professionals, but this show really does have a good handful of people who know their business and every aspect of food preparation. They have knowledge, experience, and taste.

Okay, more later... too tired to write any more... but... more coming, I promise!

Anyway,

speechless

2010-11-21T23:04:00.004-05:00

So I just wasted the most horrifying hour and a half of my life.

I watched The Human Centipede on Netflix and regret it completely. In all honesty, it wasn't the content that turned me off. Obviously the concept is disgusting and disgraceful, but I'd like to think I have a relatively strong stomach when it comes to the outrageous and nonsensical. Just about everything else was really what got me - the terrible acting, the shoddy camera work, the predictability and lack of suspense... I have now lost more than an hour of my life which I will never get back...

Once I can gather my thoughts I'll try to write something of substance about this movie.

For now I can only string together a few things about Centipede that I can't get out of my head:

Pro: No real background on the Doctor and his psychotic experimentation - I love a movie where we don't get an answer to any of the "whys?"

Con: There were moments in the film where it was clear they were trying to develop the character of the Doctor. It was too much for us to completely disconnect from him, but not enough that we understand his madness. In my opinion I don't think there's any room for this sort of middle ground character development. Either he's a crazed lunatic for no reason, or we learn of something substantial that causes him to be this way. Just a little of each makes our interpretation of him murky.

Pro: The Japanese actor - his lines were just horrible, but his delivery was impeccable. He definitely stole the movie.

Con: Nothing is left to the imagination - the "creature" is revealed right away. The reveal does have some hint of suspense, but for a really effective shock the wait should have been longer. The more build up, the better the surprise in the end.

Con: Why give them gauze diapers, but still keep the ladies topless? I know why - just because! Movies like this really bother me. Blood/guts/gore/sex just to be shocking. If it's not in any way related to the plot, then what's the point? The popularity of these shocker films is only growing (how many Saw's are there now!?)... and it's because viewers, writers, and even producers are getting lazy. Nobody cares enough about substance to pay attention to content... think about that one for a bit kids.

In the meantime, while I try to organize all the different things I have to say about this movie, I'm going to think about kittens, rainbows, and just about anything else that might make me feel better.

shameless plugs

2010-11-12T11:43:00.004-05:00

I have to say it:
I absolutely LOVE The Sartorialist. I find it incredibly inspiring - both the photos and the writing.

Everything about this blog speaks to me.

I aspire to look and live like the people featured.

Something about The Sartorialist is classist, yet everything about it is accessible. The men and women, and even children, are so real looking to me. I don't care if they're posed. I don't care if they're wearing clothes I'd never be able to afford in three lifetimes.

I adore this blog and everything about it... particularly the hint of Garance Dore.

SO chic. SO stylish. SO cool. SO perfect. SO motivating.

that reminds me...

2010-11-08T21:34:00.005-05:00

Today, Gawker posted an article entitled “7 Things You Should Never Do in a Club.” As usual, the Gawker team hit the nail on the head, outlining some of the more annoying occurrences which usually take place on a weekend night.

Personally, I feel that there were a few topics not covered, and some certain club snafus that cannot be ignored. I acknowledge, in advance, that these particular “Don’ts” have a particularly female-centric slant, so if you can’t relate I’m sorry.

Don’t Wait IN the Bathroom

It’s common knowledge that women travel in packs, particularly when we go to the bathroom. It’s a phenomenon that even we don’t understand, but it happens most often when out at a club or lounge. Unfortunately, common courtesy doesn’t always register with drunk individuals, and some ladies have a habit of remaining IN the bathroom while their friends are waiting in line or occupying a stall. This is one of the most inconvenient arrangements I’ve ever experienced. In an already crowded bathroom, I’m of the belief that more bodies just creates more conflict. So girls, please just go, do what you came to do, and leave again. Fix your hair, pee, do your makeup, hell – do a line off the nasty seat for all I care. But please just leave the bathroom when you’re done. It makes things move faster and more efficiently, and reduces my risk of getting stepped or spilled on.

Don’t Send Drinks

As far as I can tell this doesn’t happen as much as it used to in any situation or setting. However, I’ve seen it happen in a club and it’s just bad form. It’s too loud to even consider approaching the sender to say thank you. And it’s too crowded to even get to him/her. Once again, spillage is a serious risk. And unless you’re Don Draper, you will likely come off as a creep. There’s really no way around it. Don’t send drinks at a club. A quiet pub, a wine bar, even a restaurant. Fine. But not in a club. EVER.

Don’t Wear Expensive or Rare Fabrics

Depending on the venue, you are likely going to get bumped and nudged. Depending on what kind of evening you’re having, and of course what kind of friend’s you’ve got, you are going to get spilled on, have makeup smeared on you, get pen on your hands, and you may possibly even vomited on. So, for the love of god, don’t complain when your silk/sequined/feathered/leather item of clothing gets “ruined.” You should have known better. Save the sassy textiles for the classy venues.

Back Up Off My Back

I am fully aware that it is difficult to approach a member of the opposite sex in a club with the hopes of generating some sort of spark or connection of any kind. I respect that it takes a lot for a guy to dance at all, let alone come over and try to dance with me. I’m also completely comfortable with the fact that nobody formally asks to dance with you anymore. But I don’t understand how guys assume we ladies find it appealing when we suddenly feel your pelvis grinding up against us from behind. It’s the dance-floor equivalent of a catcall. I’m sorry, I haven’t even looked at you in the face, and you’re dancing with, no, ON me? No no little man. Stop right there. If a woman wants to dance with you, she will let you know. Even the shyest of ladies will somehow alert you to her interests. Pay attention to our body language and keep an eye out for eye contact. For those of you dancers who are actually good at what you do, do your thing! Dance away. Show us what you’ve got, and if you seem fun and appealing, we’ll come to you. Otherwise, please keep your junk away from my trunk.

Don’t Get Completely Trashed

I’m all for having a good time, but please please please don’t get so drunk that you need to be taken care of. It’s somewhat acceptable in any other scenario, but in the event that a friend gets beyond drunk in a crowded club, you’re just in for a really long night. As mentioned before, the bathrooms are crowded. God forbid your friend needs to get sick, you’re screwed. And leaving is a whole other issue – and finding the missing coat/purse/shoes/wallet/credit card/cell phone is just the first step. You still need to find a way to coerce your wasted friend OUT of the club. More often than not they will want to stay, completely unaware of what a mess they’ve become. If, however, you DO manage to get them to leave, just getting to the door is a problem in itself. The throngs of dancing club-goers will likely make it hard for you to get outside, let alone you dragging/pushing/carrying a friend out with you. So please, boys and girls, don’t just think of yourselves – think of me and the people like me who have to get you in a cab at the end of the night.

Watch Your Elbows

I get it. It’s crowded at clubs. People are dancing and having a good time, and generally you don’t notice that you’re elbowing me in the back. But I’ve heard horror stories of poked eyes, hair caught in rings, elbows to the ribs/back/stomach and worse. So please, just be aware of your surroundings… Or else you might get a very deliberate elbow throw to the gut.

(Photo Credit: Tumblr)

What a SHOW! Was it ROCKY? Or a HORROR?

2010-10-27T17:27:00.006-04:00

Click HERE for a really interesting discussion about last night's Rocky Horror themed episode of Glee. Dave Itzkoff and Reecca Milzoff both make coherent and pointed observations about the show, and share some opinions about the season/program overall.

....a post of my own to follow soon....

(picture courtesy of nytimes.com)

Halloween Spirit

2010-10-27T13:27:00.004-04:00

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday (my most favorite of all, no less) I spent my morning trolling the internet for new horror releases and specially featured screenings of classic Halloween favorites. In my search, I stumbled upon what looks to be a promising gem.

The Loved Ones, an Australian import, is a story about a crush gone very wrong. Lola, a quiet and awkward girl becomes taken with Brent, a troubled young man who is haunted by his father's death and mother's subsequent breakdown. Despite his rebellious behavior and psychological burdens, he finds solace in his normal, caring, beautiful girlfriend. But Lola's jealousy becomes unmanageable after Brent rejects her invitation to the school dance, and she takes a dark road towards getting what she wants.

After watching only the trailer, I'm already convinced of this film's potential. Featuring Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, and John Brumpton, the preview of The Loved Ones portrays the film as campy, engaging, excessive, and down right disturbing. It looks fantastic!

In the vein of High Tension, with clear inspiration from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 'Ain't It Cool News' seems to have gotten it right with their description of the film as "a truly demented masterpiece."

Obviously it's difficult to really say anything about a film I haven't seen. But The Loved Ones has been featured at 12 different film festivals, and highly lauded at each. As a horror junky, I'm pretty excited about seeing this (hopefully on the big screen), and can't wait to really get into it's content and style.

The Loved Ones - HD Trailer C.O. IMDB.com

Summer's Lingerings

2010-10-20T14:19:00.004-04:00

I try to shy away from indulging in blogging about myself, but this time I just can't help it.

Fall and winter are two of my least favorite seasons. Not because of the weather or the temperature - to be honest I actually really love the whole aura of autumn. Fall fashion is up there in my favorites list. I love wearing boots, and probably have more pairs than I do heels. Nothing is more satisfying than going out in a pair of jeans, boots, a t-shirt, and a light weight jacket.

What I dislike about this time of year is how it wreaks havoc on my hair. I'm not quite wavy, but I'm not a curly girl either. To make matters worse, my hair is baby-light, so it's incredibly difficult to control and style naturally. If I use too little product, my flies around with a mind of its own, and bares a striking resemblance to wispy airy cotton candy. If I put too much in my hair it gets weighed down, becoming almost straight at my crown but curly at the bottom.

There's very little room for compromise with my hair - it tends to do whatever it wants, particularly now. The back and forth of dry and humid air mixed with cooler temperatures makes for quite the interesting look, and leaves me reaching for a hair tie. As winter approaches, it gets drier and drier, and I often feel little shocks around my neck and ears when my down jacket creates static cling...

So, I'm often at a loss... What's a girl to do!?

I think I may have figured out the answer - reinstate summer products!

Summer is my season. I swim almost every weekend in the ocean, and something about that salt transforms my limp strands and makes me feel like a bombshell. My hair does exactly what I want it to! I have body, texture, and - more often than not - control. It's brilliant... But, now I'm stuck with what I've got, and what I've got isn't great.

This morning when I woke up I found myself staring in the mirror at the remnants of yesterday's satisfactory style. My hair was pressed flat on top, curly elsewhere and awkwardly wavy most everywhere else. In short, my style was inconsistent and unpleasant. And, having slept in longer than I expected, I didn't have time to shower this morning. I felt despondent. I had a full day of work ahead of me, dinner plans tonight, and refused to concede myself to a ponytail or bun.

It was at that moment that I remembered the best investment I had made in some time - Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.

It is magical. Used on wet or dry hair, this product provides you with a windswept beachy look. Honestly, even the consistency of your locks has that soft but salty feel, as if you've been swimming all morning and let your hair dry in the sun. After flipping my head over and spraying around like a maniac, I scrunched and crunched until my hair felt dry again. I flipped back up and looked in the mirror... and my hair looked better than it has in weeks.

I love this little product!

pure love

2010-10-20T11:22:00.000-04:00

More More More!

2010-10-20T11:21:00.001-04:00

JUNE 20th, 2009

YEAR ONE

In the same vein as Superbad (as well as containing a majority of the same film’s cast), Year One is able to pull the laughs, scoffs, “ewwws,” and cult fans.

The film boasts a stellar cast of comedic giants like Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt and David Cross. But aside from the many hilarious cameos, the primary cast is perfect in each of their roles. They offer just the right amount of true acting talent, even if it is buried underneath disgusting scenes where characters piss all over their own faces, shit in their beds, and repeat many of the same jokes, over and over again.

Aside from the “toilet humor” throughout, the film is actually pretty good for this genre, and I think this can be attributed to its direction. What makes Harold Ramis such a fantastic director is his ability to understand both sides of filmmaking - what it takes behind the scenes to make a film great, and what the actors in front of the camera must project in order to give the performance demanded of them. Ramis is able to relate to his actors, and can therefore draw out the comedy necessary to get just the right amount of laughs. His hands on approach is what has made Year One an effective film. This is a Harold Ramis film, through and through.

And the multitude of Jewish jokes… oy! Don’t get my started. Hilarious… if not, again, over done…

In all honesty, this is my kind of genre. I’m a Jack Black junkie and I love Michael Cera’s dry delivery. These men are characters in their own right, which makes them relatable and believable. When one imagines meeting them in person, it’s almost expected that hey will behave as their characters always do. Well done casting team, well done.

-----------------

WEEDS - SEASON 5

Only 3 episodes in, and Season 5 is already proving to be much more entertaining than the train wreck that was Season 4 of Weeds.

Shane is still incredibly troubled, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from him. At this point it’s no longer annoying. His quirky and disturbing interest in his own family’s sexual exploits is now nothing more than a strange and almost acceptably character trait.

Nancy’s formerly irritating ignorance is FINALLY getting her into trouble. She’s not simply a pair of big brown eyes anymore. She knows what’s going down, and it’s starting to break her. While last season I was simply annoyed with her story, I now look forward to what comes next.

Celia is still a bit excessive… but now that she’s finally admitted she has no friends and nobody to turn to, she is actually becoming somewhat relatable.

The episodes are better written and, as usual, incredibly well directed and shot. Season 5 is looking promising kiddies… Lets see what happens…

Catching Up...

2010-10-20T11:02:00.002-04:00

Realized I have some left over posts from my Tumbler that never made the journey here to blogger...

JUNE 5th, 2009

WEEDS

Finally making my way through the fourth season of Weeds (trying to catch up before the new season begins this week), and I’m thoroughly disappointed with the quality of the show these days.

Season Three started to go downhill towards the end, but I never expected it to get this bad. The writing and dialogue are still up to par, and the acting is always fantastic, but it seems the writers are reaching for plot points and story lines. Everything is over the top and exaggerated, and the characters are becoming caricatures of their former selves. Nancy’s wide eyed play at innocence is getting old, but her attempts at dominance are growing more pathetic. And poor, poor Silas, always failing with the women in his life, getting stuck in reckless and uncomfortable situations. Shane’s smart/eccentric little boy phase is also becoming overwhelming. Taking control of security in the house… awesome. The whole talking to his dead father thing… weird. Masturbating to old pictures of Nancy… awwwwwkwarrrrdddd. And don’t even get me started on Celia.

As far as this viewer is concerned, the only ray of light in the show anymore is Guillermo. I’m a huge fan of Diaz’s work (particularly in the masterpiece “Half Baked”), and I’m really glad that they’ve kept him around… I was hoping that he’d become a more regular character after his first appearance.

I’m desperately hoping that Season Five has more to offer.

----------

STAR TRECK

Monday evening I went to see STAR TRECK with my uncle - a fan since childood - and I actually thoroughly enjoyed the film! I was really shocked, though, to find that my uncle loved it too. I was convinced he would take issue with inaccuracies, or simply with the fact that it was a remake of one of his childhood favorites... But no. He had just as much fun as I did.

The special effects are surprisingly well done. Nothing is over the top, and the film’s visual style is able to stand on its own, while remaining somewhat reminiscent of George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” trilogy. There is no reason to question the blending of environments - Vulcan cities, schools, and topography are equally as realistic as Earths dry Iowa. The futuristic elements do not overshadow the realistic settings, nor do they take away from the very human interactions throughout the film. In terms of effects and style, the only problem I encountered while watching the film was Kirk’s green love interest - she brought up images of Idina Menzel in “Wicked” on Broadway.

One confusing element of the film is the time travel and existence of a present and future Spock. Obviously this is one circumstance where reason and believability is overcome by story (We are talking about a science fiction film, after all!). However, as I left the theater I felt as if there were some significant plot holes. I simply might not have been paying close enough attention to the explanation of this anomaly… But as such a significant portion of the film revolved around time travel, especially changes in the course of history, I was left feeling that the overall issue was unresolved.

Finally, the acting is impeccable. Zachary Quinto’s performance as Spock has been surprisingly praised by old-school Treckies and new fans alike (even by Leonard Nimoy himself!). He is able to master his character’s emotionlessness, providing a dramatic and serious performance, while also adding hints of coy and knowing sarcasm that only Quinto can deliver. Performances aside though, the real beauty of the film lies in the casting choices made by the filmmakers. Unexpected but fitting picks such as John Cho, Simon Pegg and even the young Jimmy Bennett bring the characters to life, turing them into dynamic and relatable individuals - not caricatures of the original cast. One unusual choice, though, is the casting of Winona Ryder as Spock’s human mother. Not believable. Not good. Simply… odd.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film. It was exciting, entertaining, but also well made. All the elements (cinematography, direction, writing, etc) came together cohesively and effectively to produce a great summer blockbuster.

Inspired

2010-09-28T22:38:00.003-04:00

Painting again!!

I just finished this today… can’t take full credit though - took the image/idea from something I found on tumbler. sorry i can’t give proper props… can’t remember the original source :(

Bubblings

2010-09-07T22:36:00.003-04:00

Bubblings from the depths of childhood memories today.

I found this image on tumbler forever ago... can't remember the original site... but when I was eight this was the most romantic thing/scene/concept I'd ever encountered, and couldn't imagine anything more so...

sigh... memories

Look Right

2010-08-22T09:14:00.003-04:00

The Last Exorcism

2010-08-22T06:42:00.004-04:00

My interest in actually going to see The Last Exorcism borders on sick curiosity and complete ambivalence.

However, I am thoroughly impressed by the distributers choice in digitally marketing their product.

Viral promotion is nothing new. For years the internet has provided filmmakers and studios with an outlet for reaching millions of viewers in new and creative ways. Official websites are now more accessible and user friendly. Certain films are linked in with product lines and other companies in cross promotional efforts. And more recently the use of message boards, websites, blogs etc add a new dimension to the creation of "hype" about a film before its release. Often at no expense to the filmmakers, they spread the word about a film, increase awareness, create discussions, and theoretically increase viewership.

Cloverfield is the best example of this type of marketing strategy. The teaser trailer was released almost a year before the film went public. But the content of the clips presented were ambiguous - nobody knew what Cloverfield was. The title wasn't even included in the trailers! Clearly it was a disaster/monster movie, but there was something else. Almost everything about the movie was done under a cloak of secrecy. The project was quietly greenlit in 2007, casting was done secretly - the actors were unknowns and weren't even sent scripts for their auditions, and the filming was almost completely gorilla style.

But after the film was completed, the producers continued to encourage speculation about the film. The official website for Cloverfield consists of a series of timestamped images, but little else to give any sense of what the monster is or what the film is even about. JJ Abrams, a prominent film and television producer involved in the project, included fake product tie-ins in some of his other projects like Alias and Star Trek. Theorist websites like those for shows like LOST began popping up. While most studios try to put a damper on such blogs and message boards, the Cloverfield producers allowed for the speculation to continue. Ideas and questions spread, and enthusiasm for the film's release increased. The film was a box office success, grossing over one million dollars worldwide, substantially evening out the approximately $25 million production costs.

I assume that this is what the producers of The Last Exorcism are hoping for.

Trailers have now been showing in theaters and on television for over two months. Not unlike many similar films, the advertisements are both exciting and terrifying. Their viral marketing campaign, however, is unlike anything I've seen before.

Chatroulette, developed by a teenager from Russia, is a website on which users can anonymously connect to anyone around the globe using the website at that time. As its name implies, you can chat with strangers, but should you become bored or disinterested in the person on your screen, you can click through and, roulette-style, you are paired with a new partner. You never know what or who you might find on the other. Most often, you are faced with a group of young people - often one showing the rest what Chatroulette is. More often than not though, you will find half naked men pleasuring themselves for your viewing pleasure. Click through immediately. The website became incredibly popular earlier this year, however the interest waned quickly when the novelty wore off and the male nudity became exorbitant.

Sometimes, the "people" you are paired with are prerecorded images. My personal experience involves a quick chat with all three of the Jonas Brothers. I was suspicious from the get go, particularly because I had seen a still image on the news about celebrities using chat roulette - they were dressed exactly the same when I crossed paths with them. After explaining I wasn't a fan but knew who they were, I was asked to "show tits." Awesome. I clicked through and then enjoyed a nice chat with a handsome young man in England. There are the occasional weirdos in masks or funny costumes, the girls in full makeup, the frat guys drinking beer or smoking pot, and the elusive "normal" person, who, like you, is just curious about what's out there. Most common on the website are young men, usually 15-23, in pairs or groups looking for girls and trying to convince them to flash the camera. To my knowledge, this actually happens, but I have yet to understand why.

Anyway, knowing this, someone on The Last Exorcism team took note and came up with an incredibly clever, if not a bit behind the ball, idea. Their most recent campaign is a series of prerecorded "chats" in which a young woman flirtatiously looks into the camera, postures for the men watching, and teases them by beginning to unbutton her blouse. She giggles and feigns shyness, looking down and then back up at the camera. She looks down again, but when her gaze returns her eyes are glazed over and she looks nothing less than terrifying. They then roll back into her head and she grimaces and lunges at the camera. The screen goes black, and then she reappears and lunges again. The screen goes black one last time and reveals the website for thelastexorcism.com.

It is, in a word, brilliant.

See it here at The Last Exorcism - Best Of Chatroulette Reactions

xo pep

2010-08-10T09:03:00.001-04:00

Brilliance

2010-06-27T19:22:00.004-04:00

I couldn't have said it better myself. I was going to try... but it's not even worth it. This says it all.

GROWN UPS

by Stephen Holden

cry me a river

2010-06-04T08:58:00.003-04:00

this is such an inexplicably terrible tragedy. i'm not ashamed to say i've cried for the animals... literally.

Mixed Feelings

2010-06-02T23:51:00.003-04:00

I'm still on the fence about this one... I have to admit, I have yet to read this article in its entirety. When I do I will find the time to repost a response. In the meantime, here's a few thoughts:

THE LEAP - by Jesse Green

Moving, well written, and incredibly heartfelt.

A revealing look into a terrible event, and the tragic consequences.

To those accusing the mother, the school, the teachers - shame on them.

Nobody knows what drives people to take their lives, and none of us have the right to claim to understand what happened.

However, as a former student of the Dalton School and a graduate from another NYC private school, I feel confident in saying that the pressure put on students these days is unfair and often unbearable. For someone struggling with personal or psychological issues, I can only imagine how much more torturous living up to the expected standards must have been. It's a shame that Teddy got to a point - no matter what the reason or catalyst - where he felt there was no other solution than killing himself.

Hopefully parents, teachers, administrators and friends will learn from this terrible incident, and might be more likely to acknowledge a loved one in need of help and support.

Summer Releases and Must Sees

2010-05-28T08:34:00.002-04:00

Looking forward to seeing these after watching the trailers on itunes... And proud that this summer's box office wont be based solely on blow-em-up blockbusters. There are a collection of high quality films here. Can't wait to see them.

(All synopses taken from itunes movie trailers website)

CYRUS http://www.foxsearchlight.com/cyrus

Directed by Mark and Jay Duplass

Starring John C. Reily, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener and Matt Walsh

With John’s social life at a standstill and his ex wife about to get remarried, a down on his luck divorcee finally meets the woman of his dreams, only to discover she has another man in her life – her son. Written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, the iconoclastic filmmaking team behind Sundance Film Festival favorite THE PUFFY CHAIR, CYRUS takes an insightful and funny look at love and family in contemporary Los Angeles.

SOLITARY MAN http://www.solitarymanmovie.com/

Directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien

Starring Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer, Imogen Poots, and Jesse Eisenberg

When the film opens, Ben's on the verge of a comeback, but some of the same motivations that led to his demise are threatening to take him down again. He's divorced from Nancy, his college sweetheart and the one person who knows him better than anyone. Although he still finds the time to hang out with his daughter Susan and his adoring grandson, she breaks off contact when she discovers he's seeing one of her friends. His girlfriend Jordan is the daughter of a very influential businessman who's on the board of a major auto manufacturer. If Ben can just keep his hubris in check for a little while longer, he will be back as big as ever. But circumstances place him in very close proximity with the one girl he shouldn't touch, throwing everything into jeopardy.

THE KILLER INSIDE ME http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-killer-inside-me

Directed by Michael Winterbottom

Starring Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Simon Baker, Bill Pullman, Ned Beatty, and Elias Koteas

From director Michael Winterbotton comes THE KILLER INSIDE ME which has electrified audiences at the Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals. Based on the classic novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson, THE KILLER INSIDE ME tells the story of handsome, unassuming small town sheriff’s deputy Lou Ford (Casey Affleck). A quiet charmer of his idyllic West Texas town, Ford has a simple life and a pretty girl (Kate Hudson) to come home to. But when the job brings him face to face with a gorgeous prostitute (Jessica Alba) on the edge of town, Ford's fragile world cracks – unbridling his own dark urges. In THE KILLER INSIDE ME'S blacker–than–noir universe, nothing is ever what it seems. From the acclaimed director of A MIGHTY HEART and 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, THE KILLER INSIDE ME is a thrill–ride that Stanley Kubrick called "the most chilling and believable first–person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered."

YOU AGAIN

Directed by Andy Fickman

Starring Kristen Bell, Jimmy Wolk, Odette Yustman, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis and Betty White

No matter how old you are, you never get over high school. Successful PR pro Marni (KRISTEN BELL) heads home for her older brother’s (JIMMY WOLK) wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis (ODETTE YUSTMAN), who’s conveniently forgotten all the rotten things she did so many years ago. Then the bride’s jet—setting aunt (SIGOURNEY WEAVER) bursts in and Marni’s not—so—jet—setting mom (JAMIE LEE CURTIS) comes face to face with her own high school rival. The claws come out and old wounds are opened in this crazy comedy about what happens when you’re reunited with the one person you’d like to forget.

DADDY LONG LEGS

Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie

Starring Ronald Bronstein, Sage Ranaldo and Frey Ranaldo

After months of being alone, sad, busy, sidetracked, free, lofty, late and away from his kids, Lenny (Ronald Bronstein), 34 with graying frazzled hair, picks his kids up from school. Every year he spends of couple of weeks with his sons Sage (Sage Ranaldo), 9, and Frey (Frey Ranaldo), 7. Lenny juggles his kids and everything else all within a midtown studio aparment in New York City. He ultimately faces the choice of being their father of their friend with the idea that these two weeks must last 6 months. In these two weeks, a trip upstate, visitors from strange lands, a mother, a girlfriend, “magic” blankets, and complete lawlessness seem to take over their lives. The film is a swan song to excuses and irresponsibilities; to fatherhood and self—created experiences, and to what its like to be truly torn between being a child and being an adult.

NOWHERE BOY http://nowhereboy.com/

Directed by Sam Taylor Wood

Starring Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, Thomas Sangster and David Threlfall

Imagine… John Lennon's childhood. Liverpool 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen year—old is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John: Mimi, the buttoned—up Aunt who raised him, and Julia, the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock n' roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney. Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice — and an icon explodes into the world.

SPLICE http://www.splicethefilm.com/

Directed by Vincenzo Natali

Starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley

Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing together DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiments. The result is Dren, an amazing, strangely beautiful creature that exhibits uncommon intelligence and an array of unexpected physical developments. And though, at first, Dren exceeds their wildest dreams, she begins to grow and learn at an accelerated rate——and threatens to become their worst nightmare.

GROWN UPS

Directed by Dennis Digan

Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin Kames, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek and Maria Bello

Grown Ups, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, is a comedy about five friends and former teammates who reunite years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With their wives (Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph) and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend together at the lake house where they celebrated their championship years earlier. Picking up where they left off, they discover why growing older doesn’t mean growing up.

IN MY SLEEP http://www.inmysleep.com/

Directed by Allen Wolf

Starring Philip Winchester, Lacey Chabert, Abigail Spencer, Kelly Overton, Michael Badalucco, Beth Grant and Tony Hale

In this edge—of—your—seat thriller, Marcus struggles with parasomnia, a rare sleepwalking disorder. After Marcus wakes up with blood on his hands and a knife at his side, he is startled to hear that a close friend has been found stabbed to death. Marcus frantically tries to put the pieces together – could he have murdered his close friend in his sleep to hide a secret between them? The police close in as Marcus investigates his own nocturnal activities, desperate to figure out what happens after he goes to sleep. His journey to uncover the truth leads him to a shocking revelation.

CROPSEY

Directed by and Starring Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio

Realizing the urban legend of their youth has actually come true, two filmmakers delve into the mystery behind five missing children and the real—life boogeyman linked to their disappearance in their hometown of Staten Island, New York. Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of ‘Cropsey.’ For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution, who would come out late at night and snatch children off the streets. Sometimes Cropsey had a hook for a hand, other times he wielded a bloody axe, but it didn’t matter, Cropsey was always out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to get them. Later as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend: a cautionary tale used to keep them out of those abandoned buildings and stop them from doing all those things that teenagers like to do. That all changed in the summer of 1987 when a 13—year—old girl with Down syndrome, named Jennifer Schweiger, disappeared from their community. That was the summer all the kids from Staten Island discovered that their urban legend was real. Now as adults Joshua and Barbara have returned to Staten Island to create Cropsey, a feature documentary that delves into the mystery behind Jennifer and four additional missing children. The film also investigates Andre Rand, the real—life boogeyman linked to their disappearances. Embarking on a mysterious journey into the underbelly of their forgotten borough, these filmmakers uncover a reality that is more terrifying than any urban legend.

WAITING FOR 'SUPERMAN' http://www.WaitingForSuperman.com

Directed by Davis Guggenheim

For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates. Despite increased spending and politicians’ promises, our buckling public–education system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children. Oscar®—winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH) reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN.” As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop—out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems. However, embracing the belief that good teachers make good schools, Guggenheim offers hope by exploring innovative approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools that have—in reshaping the culture—refused to leave their students behind.

HOLY ROLLERS http://holyrollersfilm.com/

Directed by Kevin Asch

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Ari Graynor, Danny A. Abeckaser, Q-Tip, Elizabeth Marvel and Jason Fuchs

Holy Rollers is inspired by actual events in the late nineties when Hasidic Jews were recruited as mules to smuggle ecstasy from Europe into the United States. Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg), a young Hasid from an Orthodox Brooklyn community reluctantly follows the path his family has chosen for him, awaiting a pending arranged marriage and studying to become a Rabbi. A charming neighbor, Yosef Zimmerman (Justin Bartha), senses Sam’s resistance and propositions him to transport ‘medicine’ for Jackie (Danny A. Abeckaser), an Israeli dealer, and his girlfriend, Rachel (Ari Graynor). Sam quickly demonstrates his business skill to his bosses, who instantly take Sam under their wing. Now exposed to the exciting and gritty worlds of Manhattan andAmsterdam nightlife, Sam begins to spiral deeper into their detrimental lifestyle, experimenting with ecstasy and then falling for Rachel. As the business grows, Sam’s double life begins to rip his family apart and the community becomes suspicious of his illegal activities. Sam slowly comes to realize the façade behind the easy money and parties. Caught between life as a smuggler and the path back to God, Sam goes on the run, forced to make a fatal decision that could bring the entire operation crashing down.

8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION http://www.mormonproposition.com/

Directed by Reed Cowan

8: The Mormon Proposition exposes the Mormon Church's historic involvement in the promotion and passage of California's Proposition 8 and the religion's secretive, decades—long campaign against gay rights. The film takes place in California and Utah as Mormons, following their prophet’s call to action, wage spiritual warfare with money and misinformation against gay citizens, doing everything they can to deny them of marriage and the rights that come with it. 8: The Mormon Proposition opens in theaters on June 18th, 2010, two years after the first gay marriages took place in California (June 17th, 2008).

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED http://www.whereisalicecreed.com

Directed by J. Blakeson

Starring Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston and Eddie Marsan

Two men — one in his twenties, the other nearer forty, both intensely focused on the task at hand — line the inside of a transit van with plastic. Shopping, they buy a drill, mattress and other supplies. In a small flat they assemble a bed for the mattress and staple foam insulation and board to the walls and windows of a bedroom. Then, their meticulous preparations complete, they kidnap a young woman. They drag her from the street into the back of the van and, with a bag over her head and ball gag in her mouth, take her back to the flat, tying her to the bed in the room they have converted into a prison cell. The kidnappers are Danny (Martin Compston) and Vic (Eddie Marsan), two ex—cons planning to make a mint on the ransom for the young woman. The younger, nervier of the two, Danny defers to the more experienced Vic, who acts with a steely conviction. Their hostage is Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton), daughter of a rich businessman, chosen by Vic and Danny as their passport to a better life. Terrified and immobile at first, it soon becomes clear that Alice isn’t about to let her captors use her as capital without a fight. As determined to escape as Vic and Danny are to succeed, Alice enters into a battle of wills which strains the already fractious relationship between the two men. As the deadline for the exchange draws nearer, all three are brought close to breaking point, with Vic and Danny’s foolproof plan descending into a desperate struggle for survival.

HAPPINESS RUNS http://happinessruns.com/

Directed by Adam Sherman

Starring Mark L. Young, Hanna Hall, Jessie Piemons, Laura Peters, Shiloh Fernandez, Andie Macdowel and Rutger Hauer

A young man named Victor realizes the shortcomings of the utopian ideals on the hippie commune where he was raised. Victor’s mother is funding the commune where the guru Insley hypnotizes and seduces women with a technique he calls “running.” Insley manipulates the minds of these women so that they give him their bodies and all their worldly possessions. Victor’s childhood love, Becky, returns to take care of her deathly ill father. Victor, haunted by visions of Becky’s death, is desperate to save her and himself by escaping from the polygamous cult. Preoccupied with Insley’s free love philosophy, the adults of the community overlook the painful reality that the self destructive behavior of their children is most certainly due to early exposure to sex and drugs. To afford an escape, Victor tries to sell weed but is cut out by rivals competing for Becky’s affection. Finally, Victor is torn between getting money from his mother who is entirely under Insley’s influence, dealing with the violent drama of his drug—addled friends, and staying to save Becky as she spins out of control.

BAM!

2010-05-27T11:10:00.001-04:00

I generally don't make a habit of staying in all day and watching TV. But when given the opportunity, I won't turn it down.

Sitting around this morning - and up much earlier than I expected - I found myself watching Emeril Lagasse on the Food Network. Now, for the record, I LOVE the Food Network. Growing up I'd sit with my grandmother while she cooked something fantastic, and FN was almost always on in the background. To this day, whenever I go over to her apartment, she's got Guy Fieri or Ina Garten on TV, and something delicious on the stove.

Anyway, I've never been a big fan of Emeril's. I find him brash and overwhelming. And I can't put my finger on why, but it irks me to no end that the man has a band on his cooking set. Really, Emeril? You need to talk more by exchanging "witty" banter with your drummer? But the audience was going wild. They clap. They laugh. They cheer him on.

Still, all I can think of is how much I am put off by him. I don't know. I guess I don't get it. He's loud and obnoxious, but people seem to love him.

But I do need to give the man credit. For all his drawbacks, the man can cook.

Some of my favorite recipes have come from his little link on the Food Network website. I love caribbean flavors and a little spice goes a long way. Bobby Flay is my go-to for southwestern/latin-inspired food. But Emeril really does have a wide variety of delicious combinations and ideas.

One of the most appealing things about his cooking is the fact that it's all relatively simple. The ingredients are generally affordable and easily accessible. Nothing is very saucy, greasy, or starchy. And though his show is practically unbearable, I do like the fact that he is able to produce an entire meal with multiple courses for the viewer. Most shows stick to one recipe or a collection of desserts, or sometimes a variation of the same dish. Emeril provides a full menu which blends cohesively from course to course. There's an overarching theme - whether it be color, ingredient, spice, etc.

The show I caught today focused particular attention to combining spice with sweetness, focusing on fresh ingredients and bright yellow, pink and green colors.

Here are some of the things I intend on trying out myself.

Fried Plantains with Shrimp Ceviche

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled Spiny Lobster Tails with Baby Spinach-Jicama Salad

Coconut and White Chocolate Souffles with Mango-Rum Sauce

And, no meal would be complete without a little cocktail to go along with it. Of course Emeril knows this, and included this classic Mojito. So I guess the guy's not all bad... He got one of my top 5 drinks really oh so right. Okay Emeril, you win this round. But I still think you're a loudmouth.

ZEITOUN

2010-04-24T11:20:00.001-04:00

32 page into Zeitoun and so far thoroughly disappointed. The back cover reads, “Zeitoun is an instant American classic carved from fierce eloquence and a haunting moral sensibility.” Thank you Michael Eric Dyson, author of Come Hell or High Water, for you have provided me with the most eloquent and intriguing piece of literature since I started this novel. As a lover of literature I hate to so prematurely write off a book that has been so well received, particularly considering its content. However, I cannot overlook the fact that I’m already bored and have yet to make it through the first chapter.

The primary problem I’ve encountered (so far) is the fact that the author has no subtlety when it comes to the subject matter. I appreciate the simple way in which Eggers presents his characters. The descriptions of their personalities, their mannerisms and behaviors are, at the very least, relatable. However, I find his inability to address the central “villain,” shall we say, with any sense of delicacy incredibly obtrusive. The foreboding mentionings of the oncoming storm Katrina are not at all as menacing as I assume Eggers intends. Instead it feels more like a nagging, pleading reminder. Immediately I am reminded of the hangnail on my index finger – I know it’s there, but there’s nothing I can do about it… but why continue bringing it up all the time? There’s no mystery here. No need to try “sneaking” in not-so-subtle clues about the ending. We know what happens. Katrina is a big-ass bitch who rears her ugly head and smacks New Orleans with the force of any real authentic southern hot sauce… Trust me, it’s “slap yo mama hot!”

Why would any writer push so hard? The topic is clearly something readers are familiar with. Nobody’s in the dark… I just don’t understand. Is it an effective literary device? I don’t believe so. Does it create a sense of tension? Not really, we know what’s coming anyway. Mentioning it once is sufficient. In fact, mentioning it once would work more effectively. By introducing the impending menace only once, maybe twice, the reader is reminded why our attention is drawn to these characters. We are meant to feel for them. A family of six – hard working parents with four young, lovely children. We want them to survive and succeed. As readers, we are meant to connect because we too have been faced with hardships. However, by introducing the villain – the threat to the peaceful nature of this family and their existence – and then continuing to throw her in our face over and over again simply draws out our expectations. Again, I’m only 32 pages in, but already I’m just waiting for the damn hurricane to hit so we can get on with the story.

I don’t want to give up on this book. I really do want to keep reading. But, having written this with a beer in my belly and the motion of the 178 Regional under me last night, I had some difficulty making it any further without finding an alternative source of entertainment or solace… aka, I fell asleep.

Up and Coming

2010-03-22T22:27:00.001-04:00

So much coming up in the near future. Some movies not quite as worthwhile as others, but still worth watching.

3.31.10 - Band of Skulls @ Bowery Ballroom

4.01.10 - Band of Skulls @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg
4.02.10 - Clash of the Titans
Dexter Scott album release
4.03.10 - Moonchildren Presented by Atlantic Theater Company, Directed by TODD THALER!
4.04.10 - Bonobo @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg
4.16.10 - Death at a Funeral
Kick-Ass

4.28.10 - VV Brown @ Bowery Ballroom
4.30.10 - Nightmare on Elm Street

6.07.10 - La Roux @ Terminal 5
6.30.10 - Passion Pit @ Governors Island
9.17.10 - Vampire Weekend

Films that I still need to see:
The Runaways
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

COP OUT

2010-02-28T18:30:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time Kevin Smith made a decent movie with a star-studded cast… and they all lived happily ever after. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is. COP OUT wasn’t nearly as disappointing as I expected it to be, but there really isn’t much to say about how wonderful or funny it is either. Normally I enjoy Smith’s films, but this one wasn’t quite up to standards. I’ve learned that he generally writes his own stuff. According to Entertainment Weekly, this is the first time he’s directed a film and not at least co-written it. So I suppose I have to go a little easy on him – he’s out of his comfort zone.

The story itself is pretty generic. It’s an interracial buddy cop film. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan are partners who, after nine years (a key plot point brought up again and again), still manage to put up with each other on a daily basis. Willis is the collected, serious bad boy to Morgan’s anecdotal somewhat slow, shouting hysteric. After a drug bust gone bad, they get put on unpaid probation. Willis is devastated, as he needs to pay for his daughter’s wedding (big name #3 – Michelle Trachtenberg), or give in and allow his ex’s new husband to pay the tab. As a way to get money, Willis plans on selling a very rare vintage baseball card, but is foiled in his attempt to do so when it’s stolen by Sean William Scott (#4). Willis and Morgan set out to find Scott, discover what happen to the card, and end up involved in a deal with a gang leader, played by one of my personal favorites, Guillermo Diaz (#5). Unfortunately, Diaz’s performance is exaggerated and generically stereotypical.

Stylistically the film was all over the map. The cinematography wasn’t bad, and I’d say the effects were pretty well done. Kevin Smith doesn’t have much action movie experience under his belt, so all things considered he did a good job. The slow motion sequences were well placed and not over done. The gun fights weren’t nearly as poorly done as they could have been. In terms of the genre, COP OUT fits in it’s own way. It’s clear that the film is supposed to be an “homage” to the 80s buddy-cop genre, and it works. But, the cheesy music took it one step too far. Distracting, overdone, corny… it was ridiculous. One point less Mr. Smith. Sorry.

Willis put on a decent show. His part honestly could have been played by anyone, but he did it justice. He brings a seriousness to roles like these that manifests in hilarity. You can’t help but laugh out loud. But, I will say that the scenes in which I found Willis most amusing were as a result of his back and forths with Sean William Scott. In a nutshell, Scott steals the movie. His backseat quips and jail cell schtick are probably the most memorable portions of the film. And for the record, I really never noticed how much he looks and acts like Paul Rudd. It’s an uncanny resemblance. Just, ya know, to put that out there.

Another point on the acting: I’m all for Tracy Morgan in a leading roll, but I’m convinced the man cannot speak without slurring his words or mumbling. Honestly, there were some scenes where I had absolutely no idea what he was saying. All I could think was, “Gee Kevin Smith, were there really no other usable takes than the incoherent ones you’ve chosen?” He’s hilarious and I love him, but Morgan’s dribbling and mushing of his dialogue became distracting very early on.

For the record, lets get into some of the other random celebrity appearances, shall we?

#6 Rashida Jones

#7 Kevin Pollak

#8 Adam Brody

#9 Susie Essman

#10 Jason Lee

#11 Fred Armisen

I'm very interested in finding out how much they were all paid. Obviously it's not always about the money, but this isn't one of those movies actors due for the street cred or award nods.

Aside from the obvious problems with this film, it was amusing. There were some truly laugh out loud moments. As rainy day movies go, this one is a winner. But, at a time when people are flocking to see the re-released Oscar nominated films, COP OUT is seriously going to suffer in the box office – with or without help from the less than flattering reviews it’s been getting.