Thank you Tim Burton!

Can you believe Tim Burton is finally taking on Alice in Wonderland? Words cannot express my excitement!

Check out some of the amazing photos and concept art:
www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56475

REVIEW: Rachel Getting Married

This week I watched the unexpectedly original movie Rachel Getting Married. I forget who told me I needed to see it, I think it was a few people, and to who ever you are, thank you! While this is most definitely NOT a happy-go-lucky, popcorn and candy type of movie, I thoroughly enjoyed this work of art.

Rachel Getting Married is a drama about a recovering drug addict, Anne Hathaway, who returns home from rehab and jumps straight into her sister's wedding. Of course, there's turmoil for this dysfunctional family and it's portrayed in a very thoughtful, articulate way by director Jonathan Demme (he also directed The Manchurian Candidate, Philadelphia and The Silence of the Lambs).

The casting and the acting was perfect. You truly felt you were watching loving, very hurt family during one of their most personal experiences. Anne Hathaway has definitely shown that she can do more than act in goofy yet charming comedies (though I really do love The Princess Diaries. I can't help it!) Anne creates a character that is complex and layered; she is someone you want to comfort and at the same time give a good slap to. Same compliment goes to actress Rosemarie DeWitt, who plays Rachel in the movie. Both of these characters yank the audience through a brutal weekend.

The absolutely brilliant use of camera and score also helped to pull you into this unique film. Being a Creative, I can't help but watch all of the behind the scenes extras that are created for the DVDs. I knew there was something very unique about this film but I couldn't figure out what until I watched the special features for Rachel. In it, Demme explained how they had purposefully written musicians into the story line, so that they could try something that no other film has done: filmed both the actors AND the score at the same time. The musicians were family friends who were staying at the house for the wedding. They would be practicing, or goofing off with this instrument or that while the scenes were all being played out. The effect was amazing. It was raw and true. You felt like you were right in the room with them, feeling their awkwardness or pain or happiness. The music was eclectic and flowed organically, even though at times the musicians would be downstair, with only vague knowledge of what was happening in the scene the actors were filming upstairs.

The camera work was another unique way of bringing intimacy to the movie. Most of the time, there were two cameras that were following the actors about the scenes. In large group scenes, like at the wedding, the actors were to just be in character and "be at a wedding." They didn't know when a camera would come and film them (except for during the major parts of the story). This created many vignettes that were worked into the film. It gave real depth to the characters and that feeling that you were looking in on a real family wedding. Most of the people at these large filming were friends and family of the director, which also added to this ambiance. In some of the other reviews I read, people complained about the free style camera work being too shaky. Take note that if that style is hard for you to watch, this might be a movie you'll have trouble with.

I enjoyed the rawness. My main criticism was that there were couple of scenes that went on way, way, way too long. At one point I was starting to get annoyed, hearing all of the speeches at the rehearsal dinner, but patience paid off in the end. Also the wedding scene is very long and gets a bit bizarre. As I mentioned, they worked musicians into the story line, and along with that came some surprising cameos of artists from all sorts of backgrounds, which makes this scene very surreal.

Overall, while I spent most of the movie either crying or holding back tears. It left me deeply grateful that the art of film is so accessible as a medium. This was a beautiful exploration of haunting characters in a unique and captivating way.

More about Rachel Getting Married at www.imdb.com/title/tt1084950/

Birthday, Part One

I turned THIRTY this past week.
Unlike the stereotypes, I was very welcoming of the event. Twenties were a bit of a roller coaster and I am very happy to put them to rest.

My thirties had a very wonderful welcoming party -- it was the best birthday I've had yet. There were three days of celebrating, parties, and presents. But the best gift I received was something that I never expected. I have become content and happy with who I am. My sense of self has never been stronger; I don't know if that's because of the people I have in my life, I've reclaimed the title of writer and artist, or its just time and age.

What made me aware of this new contentment was seeing how all the most important people in my life were right there with me. (For those who couldn't be there in person, I know who you are and I know you were there in spirit.)

There's no hesitation in saying that these are the best friends I could ever ask for. These are the people that will continue with me through the exciting journey of my thirties and beyond.

I am such a lucky person to have so many special people in my life. And they love me for exactly who I am. There's no part I have to play, no need to put on a show. They like the person I am... and you know, I like who I've become, too.

I can't think of a better gift than that.

Sorry I've been lagging...

I went on an awesome road trip to the Central Coast. It was one of the best vacations I've been on. The best part is that I now have lots and lots to talk about with you all, so you'll be seeing more posts from me this week.

Pork chops, haircuts and a lot of fuss

I am in a wonderful relationship. My boyfriend and I get along so well, we probably make all our friends sick to their stomachs. So why, then, do I go on these neurotic trips where I think the stupidest little thing is going to make him throw his hands in the air and confess "I can't do this anymore! What was I thinking?! I can be with someone who doesn't know how to pick out pork chops!"

Now, I know you are laughing at me right now. And that's ok. Because when I finally confessed to Boyfriend why I was a babbling, nervous mess, we both laughed at the absurdity.

Did I really think he would dump me because I don't know the difference between a loin and a chop? Or because I used the wrong knife to cut an apple? Or I cut my hair too short?

Of course not! I know in my head he wouldn't be so petty. So where on earth did this come from?

My girlfriend in Florida told me she does the same thing.

Florida: I was cooking for my guy the other night and I was scared that if he didn't totally like it he would never speak to me again. Actually, I freak out like that on a daily basis.

Me: Why do we think like this? It makes no sense, if you look at it rationally.

Florida: Because we've allowed people to beat us down and now we don't understand a good thing when we see it.

I think she's right, as usual.

In past relationships, I've gotten into arguments for the most basic decisions. You should've heard the the crap I got when I had my hair cut! Each time I made choices that went against the grain, I had vigorously to defend myself, my feelings and my beliefs. And it chipped away at my confidence a bit at a time. No wonder so many of us have issues with these kinds of things making up our pasts.

How can couples can survive now-a-days with the way people treat one another? It's amazing that two kind, caring people can find each other in this fucked up world. It's one instance where saying, "You Deserve Each Other" is a huge compliment.

It makes me really appreciate relationships like my parents, who have been married over thirty years. Or my friends, who have been together since they were in high school. What they have is nothing short of a miracle.

I just hope Boyfriend and I can keep laughing about these silly episodes of mine.

Maybe eventually, I'll stop worrying... but then that wouldn't be me, now would it?

Unplugged Attempt No. 2

So a couple of months ago, I was watching too much mindless reality TV crap, so I decided to do something about this disgusting, brain-rotting (but OH-So-Deliciously-Delighting) habit of mine.

Don't ask me why I can't stop watching Animal Cops, Big Brother or Daisy of Love -- that's not up for discussion right now. What's really on my mind is that I only lasted about 2 weeks before I plugged that time-sucker back in (that doesn't count the time my friend from Florida got me all in a tizzy because Neil Diamond was supposedly on the Miss America Pageant. He was on the show but the show wasn't on my TV. Florida forgot about the time difference -- I was very disappointed. Really.)

Now I'm hooked more than ever before -- and it's time to stop. Why? Because of two very good reasons.

Reason for Turning Off the TV Number ONE: It makes time go by too fast.
I'm terrified of how quickly time goes by and I want to enjoy every single moment. Sometimes that includes curling up and watching an entertaining television program. But most of the time, I end up flipping through the channels a d picking the best of the crappy shows to keep me amused while I eat or procrastinate. The next thing I know, three hours have gone by and I am left wondering, "How it could have possibly disappeared so quickly?! I just turned the TV on?!" It's absolutely devastating and ultimately depressing that time just vanished right in front of my eyes.

Reason for Turning Off the TV Number TWO: There's so many thing on my To-Do list.
I love to read, write, draw, do puzzles, play with my cat, take a walk, go for a run and especially sleep. That's all stuff I could be doing instead of vegetating while watching strangers make fools of themselves in the name of love, money, or sex (Animal Cops excluded). Let's not forget to mention all the chores I never get around to doing. There's so much to do that the guilt sometimes feel like its going to eat me alive. That's a big burden to carry just so I can watch meaningless television.

I think the biggest problem is that I let myself get sucked in way too far.

One hour a night is not bad, especially compared to what the average American watches. But I take it to a level where I can't turn it off, and then I sit and do nothing. And I feel guilty for not doing anything, so I watch more TV. And I am sure most people don't get this neurotic... but I do. That's what's important. I am happier when I have the TV turned off, so that's why I'm unplugging it again.

Now, I'm telling everyone so that if I fall off the wagon and happen to mention the crazy thing that Daisy did with 12 Pack, you all can give me a strict talking to and make sure I unplug the damn machine again. Ugh!

Getting Lucky

I don't gamble.

Why should I? I might as well dump the contents of my wallet out the window for all the good it does me. I have terrible luck not just with slot machines and blackjack tables but with any kind of raffle, lottery, contest or game.

And I am okay with that.

Boyfriend and I both believe that while we have bad luck at games, we have very good luck in life. And honestly, which would you rather have? So we are happy with what fate has given us, or what it hasn't.

That's one reason why gambling was the last thing on our list of To-Do's on our trip to Vegas. This was my first time meeting The Family and I was very relieved when we all got along amazingly well. Fortune was holding up its end of the bargain and overall we were having a blast.

We even found a dollar on the floor while wandering around The Strip. I kicked something and Boyfriend said, "Wait! There's money pick it up!" It was a folded-up dollar bill.

"It must be lucky," I joked, "We'll have to play it at the casino."

It wasn't until we were killing time before heading to the airport that we had a chance to test our dollar's luck. We were running a little late because we lost track of time (and margaritas) at happy hour. We decided to just walk through the casino on our way to grab a cab and put it in the first machine we found.

"Maybe it will at least pay for our drinks," I teased. Neither of us thought anything would really happen.

I turned to my right and there was a dollar slot machine. "This one," I said, "I stopped in front of it so it has to be the one."

Boyfriend had to show me where to put the bill into the machine (that's how long it had been since I attempted gambling) and I hit the big button. "You won a dollar, do it again."

I hit the button with slight touch of aggression for fun.

"You won five."

Slap.

"That's ten! Keep going!"

Slap.

"Twenty!"

Okay, one more time and I'm done. I'll feel stupid losing it all, I thought.

Slap.

And then the little number on the screen started spinning -- and spinning.

"Hey, this was a good one... Oh crap!"

I didn't quite believe what I was seeing but all of a sudden the machine was ringing and it blinked nonchalantly on the screen "$461."

"Cash out! Cash out!" Boyfriend cried. I didn't know how so this time he slapped the button.

With uncontrollable giggles, we headed frantically to the cashier (or whatever the person who sits behind those bars is called.) Next thing I knew, there was $461 in my hands and Boyfriend was practically jumping up and down from excitement. We went straight from there to the front of the hotel, grabbed our bags, hopped in a cab and were on our way to the airport, with gigantic grins on our faces.

Our cab driver was a friendly guy and as he was chatting away he noticed our extremely happy moods. "So how was your trip?" he asked.

"Well, it's funny you should ask..."Boyfriend started, and we began giggling all over again.