Lisa Yuskavage

It's kinda sad to see that Amy Sedaris will be in the up coming Wayans brother film..one of those typical gag worthy parodies called Dance Flick. Awhile ago I was talking about how there is a definite lack in comedic females..and Amy Sedaris and Sarah Silverman have been the only two ladies truly dominating in the "industry". I will continue to rant about how it's pretty obvious that Amy Sedaris probably hasn't had the greatest scripts as of late, if in her good taste she has decided to take on a role as "Ms. Cameltoe". Her good friend and comrade Stephen Colbert has seen a immense amount of success since his show started. Yet Sedaris is still incredibly underrated. Even her brother has probably seen more press, despite the fact that she's been in the industry for a very very long time. Over all, it's just rather disappointing to find one of my female idols having to pay the billz by doing some shitty Wayans bros. "flick". She deserves to be in any Apatow flick and would fit right in.

In other cool news, the reason why I haven't had the chance to make some posts as of late is because I have been preoccupied with one of my first sales!

There is plenty of vintage to be had and if anyone does in fact read this thing, then you should come out to 596 Queen West. this Sat. between 10am - 6pm

This is one of my first personal sales, and so far it's been quite successful. I'm also more then happy to do trades! So if you have some stuff kicking around your closet, shoes your not wearing, or even jewelery..since it is that time of the season I'd be more then happy to consider a trade of sorts. There is some great stuff!

Grey Gardens

Ah.. Drew Barrymore! A few posts ago I talked about my first male crush (i.e Christian Slater) which gradually went downhill. My first female crush was Drew Barrymore. Who was by far the icon of my teen years, and was someone who's fashion sense I also idolized. My admiration of Drew eventually fizzled (much like many of her romances) but she's always still been someone I've followed and can gladly say I still admire. Many people are split on Drew. Her roles are often questionable, and I had hoped that as the two of us aged so would her roles. But she was often and always typecast as this flaky coming of age chick. I ate it up as a teen, and loved her hippie attitude but then suddenly I felt like even I was more mature then Drew Barrymore. But maybe this is changing? I caught Drew last night on Letterman. She was on there promoting the HBO version of Grey Gardens. Which since HBO started it has had many fashionistas following its every move. No one was sure how Jessica Lange & Drew Barrymore would take to the roles of Big Edie and Little Edie. But this trailer looks amazing and so does Drew at the premier. Both Drew and Jessica pull off the two magnificently and transform almost identically to the two famous recluses.



I also came across this great video of Albert Maysels' being interviewed at Grey Gardens recently, now after the mansion has been completely renovated.

Bad Hair Mountain

look.

Observe & Report

I took in a viewing of Observe and Report tonight. The new movie by up and coming director/writer Jody Hill. Who previous to this made The Foot Fist Way with Danny McBride, and has also directed some of the episodes of his show Eastbound & Down.
Now, although I am sick with a cold which may have slightly obscured my whole perception of Observe & Report...I can honestly say I'm really split on whether or not or I like it. Which although it is incredibly unique, and incredibly dark there is something that sort of leaves me unsettled about it all. Maybe that's the point, but I still can't say I truly enjoy his films. Seth Rogen is amazing though, as usual and his performance is a bit of a distance away from his usual stoner/slacker roles. This time he plays a bipolar mall cop. There is a mound of dark humour through out this whole film and some genuine laughs..no doubt about it. It is exactly what everyone is saying it is, a comedic version of Taxi Driver (didn't think that was possible, but Hill does succeed in getting this message across fairly well). I figure if you love Seth Rogen you'll see any film of his because you pretty much know what to expect.

I do get kind of irritated to see Anna Faris in another role where she plays a dumb blonde. Which is getting to be the grand stretch of her career, and is beginning to wear thin. It's sort of sad for me to see a girl who obviously has comedic talent waste it on these rather generic roles. Jessie (my boyfriend) states that at least Hill goes to the ultimate extreme of the dumb blonde (i.e particularly a scene where Rogen has sex with her while she has drunkenly passed out, vomit smeared across her pillow). Still...it's disappointing.

Another aspect of Hill's films that kind of irks me is the fact that you only ever get to experience a very bland understanding of where these characters are coming from. There are brief moments where you get to know these characters and their backgrounds, but not enough. To the point where the characters seem a bit too empty for me. They're big balls of energy, people who swear, steal, drink, do lot's of drugs and waste a lot of time. Despite knowing that Rogen's character has a drunk Mom and his father left him (and it was probably his fault), and he takes medication for his bipolar disorder there is nothing else. I couldn't get emotionally involved with any of the characters, which made it difficult for me to relate to some extent or really know how to feel about them. Maybe this sounds like bullshit. I get that they're all living shitty lives, working shitty jobs, and getting nowhere with their lives no matter how hard they try..but I've seen this many other times (i.e Mall Rats/Clerks, Office Space, Waiting) I get that mediocre lower class jobs suck..to the point where some people want to kill themselves or go crazy. This movie falls into that same category except perhaps going go the extreme.



A pretty good movie that doesn't go a long the same line as most those films is The Promotion with John C. Reiley and Sean William Scott. Yeah it's a lot more down played, but still has this dark edge to it. It also isn't what you'd typically expect from one of these kinds of movies. I can say although it was a straight to DVD movie it's pretty underrated and I'm sure I preferred it to Observe & Report.




To rant some more..

I'm also kind of sad to see that there really aren't many good comedic woman being featured in good comedies these days. It's very much a boys club. Apatow and the like are really tame when it comes to female roles. If there is one thing that kind of gets me about these movies is the fact that there really are no females that can stand up to the likes of the boys in most of these movies. The girls are so tame! So prim and proper. Flighty and bitchy. Including Katharine Heigl in Knocked Up.


Apatow's real life wife is often featured in most of his films, other wise he always aims to cast pretty and quaint little ladies which almost always float around in the background. Girls who spend most of their time chatting with their girlfriends/family, concentrating on their entertaining careers, worrying about their looks or looking after their kids. Except for maybe Rosie Perez in Pineapple Express. Which from what I can remember has been the only stand out role by any lady in comedic roles as of late. I don't mean to say I think there should be more "tomboy" roles for woman.I kind of hate the word "tomboy". I think it's good when woman can balance femininity on screen with a strong sense of empowerment. Girls who can still be attractive, but not encased in some sort of beauty mistique. Girls that are smart, powerful, but also down to earth. The kind of girl who has balls, knows what's what and can talk just as dirty as all of these fellas. I enjoyed Jaime Pressly in I Love You, Man. She has a bit of that spunk I'm looking for in a funny woman. But she also spends the whole movie kind of catering to her over baring misogynistic husband.





There is also that scene in Knocked Up with Charlyne Yi (who may or may not be banging my boyfriend Michael Cera behind my back) She's amazing...hilarious...and so cute. But is also in the film for a total of 10 minutes?! Ugh! Oh wells. Check out a scene from her cute film Paper Heart with Michael Cera.Which hopefully comes out soon?


I guess there just aren't too many independent ladies out there. It always seems like these girls just can't let go, smoke some weed and shoot the shit with the boys. They're always in the kitchen, dealing with their woman problems. Being over baring, giggling or shopping with their husbands money. It's really irritating because there are tons of ladies who don't fit into this box. The kind of girls (like me) who avoid marriage and babies at all cost, take empowerment in what they do with their lives, love video games, good music, humour, etc.

Anyway, I found a cool article in relation to this that is well worth the read:
Check it out!


"I explained that I am a fan of Apatow's work, but that I feel it is my responsibility as a feminist to point out sexism when I see it, no matter how subtle or how well-meaning the source."

She makes some good points with regard to Apatow's films and feminism in general. I also can't focus primarily on Apatow as the guy giving shitty roles to woman..it seems to be a common case in most movies of the comedy variety. Including Observe & Report, The Promotion, and others. The only comedic director I have been impressed with is Kevin Smith. Who to me, does write good roles for women in his movies. Most of the woman in his movies aren't pussies and I can appreciate that.

Maybe there is hope for us?

Cringe Fest Christian

I had many celebrity boy crushes growing up..but Christian Slater was by far the first. I also had a very odd crush on a much older Patrick Swayze due to the influence of Dirty Dancing but that quickly past. Christian Slater was by far the top of the cake soon after I had seen Kuffs (with a K instead of a C to increase the irony). Perhaps it was his gravely Nicholson voice and high eye brows, lucious and greasy dirty blonde locks that fell over his smiling eyes, what ever it was this boy oozed sex appeal when I was a pre-teen. He was also one of the most popular actors in the late 80's and early 90's. For awhile this dude could do anything and still make some decent cash at it. Sure he made his fair share of good movies (actually..only two). Particularly, Heathers and True Romance.





He also was arrested on numerous occasions, spaning drug abuse, marital abuse, and packing a loaded weapon. C.S was such a bad boy. Who would want a timid Emilio when you could have crazy sexy Christian?




He also had some pretty high profile romances, including Winona and few other gals that arn't really making there mark in Hollywood anymore. What amazes me most about celebrity mixed with youth, is you never imagined they'd grow up either. Even when I still think of Christian I picture him as that cute twenty something breaking all the rules, and all the hearts.




Luckily C.S is time capsuled in such classics as Pump Up The Volume, The Wizard, Young Guns 2, Robinhood, and as the voice of Pips in Ferngully.



Also, doesn't the above look an awful like the cartoon versions of Christian and Winona? Except they have wings? I think so.


Who could forget some of his later careers cash ins like Bed Of Roses (with Benny & Joon's Mary Stuart Masterson) & Untamed Heart? Where by he plays one.. a shy florist and two a shy dishwasher/shut in.

Imdb describes the plot of a Bed of Roses as a:

Romantic drama about a young career girl (Mary Stuart Masterson) who is swept off her feet by a shy florist (Christian Slater), who fell in love with her after one glimpse through a shadowy window.

Last night my friends and I gathered around to watch a classic VHS version of Untamed Heart and we were some what appalled and facinated at the same time. Even the wine we were drinking could not coat the fact that this movie is awful/life affirming. Especially because we couldn't realize how much we bought into the foder of this film in our youth. Very much like a awful car crash you can't take your eyes off of. We also couldn't figure out if it was the romantisism of the 90's or just youth in general..but when we were young we thought this was one of the sweetest movies of our time. Well, at least I did. And will gladly admit it. As well as Roger Ebert who described Untamed Heart as being

"Kind of sweet and goofy, and works because it's heart is in the right place"
Or in the case of this movie, C.S's baboon heart is not in its right place and that's why he dies in the end. Check out the full review here.




We also made note of how much Christian looked like The Beast from the early 90's tv show Beauty & The Beast. I think the resemblance is uncanny. I also think that if Christian Slater survived in Untamed Heart this is how he would have inevitably aged due to his baboon heart. There is nothing better then his brief monologue in Untamed Heart about his childhood living as a orphan and how the Sisters used to tell him magical stories of his parents and how they died.



We also came the conclusion that there is no way Marisa Tomei could ever watch herself in the movie ever again. We could barely get through it, so there is no chance in hell she could either. I'm sure it's something she has just whole heartedly blocked out from her memory.



C.S is luckily still in the industry some what. I think the last movie I ever saw him in was 3000 Miles To Graceland. An awful movie my parents rented one time where in Christian a long side Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner (two other babes from classic early 90's features) live out their middle age rock n roll Elvis fantasies. I also wonder why Christian Slater, a long side Nicholas Cage and other actors have very weird and some what perverted facinations with Elvis Presley?? I.e True Romance and 300 Miles To Graceland vs. Wild At Heart and Leaving Las Vegas?)

Anyway, I think I spent way to much time writing this blog post so much so that my brain hurts. I'll leave you with one last little tid bit of C.S glory which I think sums up his career fairly well.

Some Velvet Morning

Paris Ja taime

Jane Birkin



Birkin was such a stone cold fox in her day. Which always begged me to wonder what exactly she saw in Serge Gainsbourg who despite his great music making as always across as an ugly sleeze (I mean that in the kindest way). Which he totally built a career on. Luckily their daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg was lucky enough to get her mothers genes.



As well as her other daughter Lou Dillon who I also mentioned recently in my posts with regard to her posing for French Playboy. This woman has some great genes, and it's great that she's passed it on to another generation. We wouldn't have wanted them to go to waste.





Other wise, things could have turned out disastrously.









Jane Birkin is also quite notably known for having the Hermes Birkin bag named after her, and no wonder. Her style is timeless...that is of course when she is clothed.








Anyway, I hate how Parisians are so hopelessly attractive. To have natural beauty and an air of sexual confidence is not easy to achieve and the pull it off so ceaselessly.



Which is also why The Dreamers is my favorite Bertolucci film, next to Last Tango In Paris.



Both Eva Green & Maria Schneider embody style and sex appeal blended with instability..and not in the conventional sense. These are not conventional woman. Bertolucci manages to capture all that is beautiful about love, sex, and relationships in general. With a dash of politics and turmoil...which all seem to blend together to create two very magnificent films.



This is my favorite and probably the most beloved scene in Last Tango: