Valentine’s Day: UGH.

February 14, 2010

Love says, mine. Love says, I could eat you up. Love says, stay as you are, be my own private thing, don’t you dare have ideas I don’t share. Love has just got to gobble the other, bones and all, crunch. I don’t want to do that. I sure don’t want it done to me.
– Marge Piercy, Braided Lives (1983)

Every love’s the love before/ In a duller dress.
–Dorothy Parker, “Summary” (1959)

I don’t want to live– I want to love first, and live incidentally.
–Zelda Fitzgerald (1919)

Love so seldom means happiness.
–Margery Allingham, Death of a Ghost (1934)

All discarded lovers should be given a second chance, but with somebody else.
–Mae West (1967)

Take me or leave me; or, as is the usual order of things, both.
–Dorothy Parker (1928)

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Posted by Amy Steele

Film on my radar: Leaves of Grass

February 14, 2010

The synopsis: When Ivy League classics professor Bill Kincaid receives news of the murder of his estranged identical twin brother, Brady (both played by two-time Academy Award® nominee Edward Norton), in a pot deal gone bad, he leaves the world of Northeastern academia to travel back to his home state of Oklahoma. Upon arrival, he finds that reports of his brother’s death are greatly exaggerated, and he’s soon caught up in the dangerous and unpredictable world of drug commerce in the backwaters of the Southwest.

In the process, he reconnects with his eccentric mother (Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon), meets a wise and educated young woman who has bypassed academia in favor of the gentler rhythms of life (Keri Russell), and unwittingly helps his troubled brother settle a score with a pernicious drug lord (Academy Award® winner Richard Dreyfuss) who uses Tulsa, Oklahoma’s small Jewish community for cover.
Leaves of Grass follows a twisting narrative path merging crime drama, drug comedy, classical philosophy and sudden violence in pursuit of answering one of humanity’s oldest questions: What does it truly mean to live a happy and constructive life?

TRAILER:


written and directed by: Tim Blake Nelson
starring: Edward Norton, Keri Russell, Tim Blake Nelson, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss
studio: First Look

in Theatres: April 2, 2010

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Posted by Amy Steele

The Back-Up Plan: Can’t women get a break from sexism in Hollywood?

February 14, 2010

Not liking the premise of this new Jennifer Lopez film:

The plot: The Back-up Plan is a comedy that explores dating, love, marriage and family “in reverse.”

After years of dating, Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. That same day, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities.

Trying to nurture a budding relationship and hide the early signs of pregnancy becomes a comedy of errors for Zoe and creates confusing signals for Stan. The real pregnancy test comes when both of them realize they really don’t know each other outside of hormonal chaos and birth preparations. With the nine month clock ticking, both begin to experience cold feet. Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive could be proof positive that they were made for each other.

MY THOUGHTS: So to me it looks like it’s going to portray women who decide to have babies on their own as desparate and settling. Then it’s making pregnancy and the birth process as a horrific experience. I am not married and don’t have any children or plan to have children but this just makes me feel that Hollywood is succumbing to the Judd Apatow-phenomenon. The anti-women, anti-choice, anti-anti is just too much. Gisele Bundchen just had a baby by water birth. Haven’t you heard about that. Most disturbing for me is that this is written by a woman: tv comedy writer Kate Angelo.

starring: Jennifer Lopez [Out of Sight, An Unfinished Life], Alex O’Loughlin [August Rush, Three Rivers]
directed by: Alan Poul [Swingtown and Six Feet Under]
written by: Kate Angelo [Will & Grace, What About Brian]

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Posted by Amy Steele

The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet: book review

February 13, 2010

Title: The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet
Author: Myrlin A. Hermes
ISBN: 978-0061805196
Pages: 384
Publisher: Harper Perennial; Original edition (January 26, 2010)
Category: historical/literary fiction
Review source: publisher
Rating: 4/5

Watching the scene played, I realized what I had not while writing it: that I had conjured up a portrait of my own deepest desires. I was in love with Hamlet– not as I told myself, merely as devoted friend, not faithful servant, but ardently, passionately.

Hamlet is certainly my favorite Shakespeare play but I’m not a Shakespeare scholar by any means. Author Myrlin Hermes has really delved into Hamlet [and perhaps borrowed some elements from a Midsummer’s Night Dream] and crafted a witty romp of a tale that has a plethora of elements: love, mystery, intrigue, bi-sexuality, cross-dressing, deceit, broken hearts and despair. The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet also addresses that age old question of “Did Shakespeare really write all those plays?” There’s a love triangle between Hamlet, Horatio and the dark woman [here a Baronness] who inspired Shakespeare’s sonnets. Hermes cleverly weaves in phrases and alusions to Hamlet [the play] as often as possible. I took a Shakespeare class at Simmons College but The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet certainly expands far beyond my base of Shakespeare knowledge. I know I missed many of the hidden messages and Hamlet references that Hermes deftly includes in her prose. It’s such an original concept and Hermes carries it out well. Particularly for fans of Shakespeare, The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet is a winning read that turns Shakespeare “topsy-turvy.”

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Posted by Amy Steele

Everybody’s Fine: DVD Review

February 13, 2010


Title: Everybody’s Fine
Written and directed by: Kirk Jones
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell
Running time: 100 minutes
Release date: February 23, 2010
ASIN: B0032BWL10
MPAA: PG 13
Studio: Miramax Films
Review source: Click Communications
Rating: B

In Everybody’s Fine, a recently retired widower [Robert DeNiro] takes a spontaneous road trip to visit his children who he has failed to get together since the death of their mother. In taking the trip, he discovers family secrets. His four children are scattered throughout the country: in New York, Chicago, Denver and Las Vegas. DeNiro turns in a layered performance as a man who finds out he really never knew his children yet instilled in them some of his values. Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell are all good and I liked the casting quite a bit. Everybody’s Fine is a quiet, sentimental and unpredictable film that explores family dynamics.

The DVD includes the exclusive bonus feature: The Making of Paul McCartney’s “(I Want to) Come Home”.

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Posted by Amy Steele

Choice Quote: The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet

February 13, 2010

For a moment, I pitied her. Though hardly handsome myself, I was at least a man, and might make my name in other ways. But to be a woman, and denied that essential quality of the feminine, the power to inspire passion and poetry? To be a woman, and to have no hope that your face might launch even a single ship to carry you across that terrible vast sea of history? To be homely for a man was unfortunate, for a woman it was tragic.

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Posted by Amy Steele

Coco Avant Chanel: on DVD February 16

February 12, 2010

coco2

Coco Avant Chanel is a stunning film and an inspirational story about a young Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel [Audrey Tautou] and the impetus for her foray into the male-dominated world of fashion design. She and her sister are left at an orphanage by their father as young girls. Fifteen years later, the duo makes money singing and dancing in bars. Coco dreams of moving to Paris. Her sister [Marie Gillain] falls in love with a Duke and moves to Paris with him. Left on her own, Coco travels to the home of Etienne Balsan [Benoît Poelvoorde] who fancied her despite the intense sparring. He is wealthy and breeds and trains race horses. When he entertains guests, he keeps Coco hidden. Coco will not bind herself with an uncomfortable corset as is the fashion at the time. She prefers to wear comfortable clothing. One day she decides to teach herself to ride a horse. Instead of riding side saddle like all the other women, she rides astride. She dresses like a boy a lot of the time. And with her un-made up face and lack of bobbles and jewels, she looks fresh and different from everyone else. She soon ends up socializing with Balsan’s friends and becomes close friends with an actress. Coco starts to make hats that everyone wants. The pivotal moment for Coco is when she falls deeply in love with an Englishman, Arthur Capel [Alessandro Nivola]. However, he is keeping something from her and Balsan is all too eager to reveal it out of spite. Balsan tries to control an uncontrollable Coco and Capel recognizes her artistic talents and independent spirit. That is why he adores her so much. Coco declares that she never intends to marry anyone [and never does]. She tells Balsan one day that she plans to move to Paris. He scoffs and says that it is silly and she will not be able to support herself. Capel on the other hand encourages her entrepreneurial attitude and will lend her the money she needs to start a design shop.

coco3
Audrey Tautou [who most remember for the sprite, cheerful Amelie] shows depth, intensity and determination in this role. You cannot take your eyes off of her beauty and strength as Coco for one moment. She is the young and determined, scrappy Coco Chanel who intends to make a name for herself. She triumphs over many obstacles and tragedies. As Capel, Nivola is handsome, charming and irresistible. And a triple threat—an American known for indie roles [Junebug, Laurel Canyon], his period British characters [Mansfield Park], now acts in perfect French in a French film. His chemistry with Tautou is electric from the moment they make eye contact. At one point she even tells her now lover Capel, that he could have married a celebrity but he chose money instead. What a strong woman. Coco Chanel is a role model. Under the direction of Anne Fontaine, Coco Avant Chanel is stunningly shot. Each scene is beautifully crafted and planned. I didn’t want the film to end. I adored every moment of Coco’s journey to the final scene where she exhibits her first clothing collection that features the signature Chanel suit. If you can see Coco Avant Chanel in the theatre, do so. These independent films that represent small works of love and art are few and far between.

Coco Avant Chanel is available on DVD February 16, 2009

I saw this in the theatre last year.

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Posted by Amy Steele

Core Fusion Collection: DVD review

February 11, 2010

Title: Core Fusion Collection
Running time: 150 minutes
MPAA: NC-17
Release date: January 5, 2010
ASIN: B002U1AC6O
Studio: Acacia
Review source: Acorn Media

Contained in this collection: BODY SCULPT which targets arms and shoulders, glutes, hips thighs and abs; THIGHS AND GLUTES which works your largest muscle groups [so you burn fat and lose inches]; and then PILATES PLUS which utilizes a “deep-toning” approach.

I love these DVDs for working out at home. They are challenging and work your core and particular muscle groups. Core Fusion is a combination of yoga, Pilates and isometrics. My legs were shaking after I did glutes and thighs! I feel great after I do this.

The point is to tone the muscles without bulk. They work toward a goal of lean and tight. That’s ideal. Each DVD contains five 10 minute workouts, so you can do all five or pick and choose a few to do. I usually do three and have a great and intense 30-minute workout.

Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito work well together and show you variations to each exercise to that you can do the easier version or the more challenging version. I particularly liked the pretzel on the thighs and glutes DVD! It worked muscles that you rarely use: the hip flexors and felt so great!

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Posted by Amy Steele

The Brightest Star in the Sky: book review

February 9, 2010


Title: The Brightest Star in the Sky
Author: Marian Keyes
ISBN: 978-0670021406
Pages: 468
Publisher: Viking (January 25, 2010)
Category: contemporary fiction
Review source: Penguin Group
Rating: 4/5

One date. It wasn’t as if he was asking her to marry him. Not that Katie wanted to get married. Yes, once upon a time she’d wanted the ring and the dress and the babies—so shoot her. There were lots of things she wanted once upon a time: to be size 8; to be fluent in Italian; to hear that Brad had got back with Jennifer. None of these things had come to pass but she’d survived.

The Brightest Star in the Sky is a charming book about a spunky spirit who finds herself in a Dublin brownstone where she keeps track of the love lives of its residents. Living at 66 Star Street are: Matt and Maeve, cozy newlyweds with a challenging traumatic event in the past which both are struggling to move beyond; Katie, a busy just-turned-40 PR executive with a wealthy partner that no one really likes and some doubts of her own; then there’s Lydia, a tough cab driver with two Polish roommates simultaneously afraid of her and dramatically attracted to her; and finally there’s Jemima, a psychic, who’s retired and lives rather quietly with her dog Grudge. Marian Keyes really delves into these characters and you come to know them all so well and cheer for them to succeed in whatever they choose to make themselves happy.

I’m not sure why Keyes felt that the best narrator to the story need be some spiritual type but it works. It’s rather clever to have this opinionated spirit floating from one apartment to another. Not quite meddlesome but not remaining neutral either. While the story is being told, she adds in little quips and commentary on what she thinks about each person’s significant others or career paths.

I could relate most to Katie as we are both single and 40. Her boyfriend seems overbearing and always tied up at work [haven’t we all been in a relationship like this at least once?] and she has self doubts about the relationship and her own happiness as she just turned this seemingly monumental age. By 40, all women want to have a career we love, a significant other we love and a place to live that we love. Don’t we? Keyes recognizes this and in Kate we watch her inner struggles, turmoil and strengths unfold throughout the pages as she makes life-altering decisions to improve her position and embraces her individuality. Even Lydia, who seems abrasive at first, comes into her own once we discover she’s caring for her mom who has Alzheimer’s. Lydia is boldly independent and outspoken. She’s tough but Keyes allows her to show some vulnerability at times that makes Lydia likable. As for Matt and Maeve, they were my least favorite. I just couldn’t figure out why they were together and why Maeve was supposed to be so attractive. I couldn’t connect to her on any level.

The Brightest Star in the Sky is a long novel but moves along quickly as Keyes provides the back-story for each person and then keeps updating readers on the important goings-on. Wherever you live, you will surely find a character to which you are simpatico and that makes this a fantastic novel. Keyes possesses a spirited writing style and includes keen observations about relationships and women that makes The Brightest Star in the Sky an immensely delightful read.

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Posted by Amy Steele

Art: Luis Melendez and The Gardner Theft

February 8, 2010

At the MFA, Boston
Luis Melendez
Master of Spanish Still Life
exhibit runs through May 9, 2010

Luis Meléndez (1716–1780) was the greatest still life painter of 18th-century Spain. An accomplished painter of miniatures, he began creating still lifes as early as 1759. In 1771 he was awarded a commission from the Prince of Asturias (later Charles IV), an avid amateur of the new science of natural history, to paint an extensive series of works documenting “every species of food produced by the Spanish climate.” An inventive and consummate master of still lifes, the artist rendered everyday objects with exacting detail, but also created marvelous effects of light and color and a wide range and variety of textures. “Luis Meléndez: Master of the Spanish Still Life” features many of the artist’s works in American collections, grouping them with relevant works borrowed from abroad, and explores some of the technical aspects of his extraordinarily realistic still life paintings. [from MFA web site]

The Gardner Theft: Twenty Years Later
Thursday, March 4 | 6:30 pm
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Anthony Amore, Gardner Museum Director of Security and lead theft investigator
With Tom Ashbrook, host of National Public Radio’s On Point.

In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, thieves dressed as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole thirteen works of art. Twenty years later, the investigation to recover the missing paintings continues. In a rare public program, Anthony Amore dispels some of the myths and misinformation by telling the real account of what happened on the night of the theft. New information on the museum’s progress to recover the works of art add to this dramatic ever-evolving story of loss and hopeful recovery. Amore will be joined by Tom Ashbook, an award-winning journalist whose career spans 20 years as a foreign correspondent, newspaper editor, and author.
Tickets: Advance ticket sales for members only until February 15; $5 members
Tickets for the general public on sale February 16; $10 General Public; $5 Seniors; FREE Students (ID required)
Ticket handling charges apply for orders by phone at 617 278 5156 or online.
[from ISGM email]

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Posted by Amy Steele

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