Rollins

Need I write anymore? Well, fine.

I bought tickets as soon as they went on sale. Two months early. One would be safe to assume I like Henry Rollins and was excited. Did he disappoint? Nope. Never. This man is truly amazing. Even if you don't enjoy what he has to say, really you should just give him props for doing his thing and never slowing down. He is a machine and just goes and goes.
We sit down and my friend asks, "How long do these things usually go for?" It had been a while for me, so I guessed and said, "oh, I think an hour and half, maybe two hours." Right. Any mere mortal would last maybe that long. Henry? Nope. Three hours straight of talking. A-mazing.
I've seen Henry Rollins perform three times now. I've listened to his music, read most of his books, and come to love him from afar. Now before you get a stalkery image of me- if I really enjoy an author or artist, I really go full on and love them for what they do. I'm not pretending I know the person or becoming obsessive. Okay, maybe obsessive, but from a very disciplined distance.
For those of you who don't know- Henry Rollins is a musician, writer, spoken word performer, who started in the eighties in Black Flag. Beginning his career he was an angry person, full of spite and cynicism. His best friend was murdered in front of him in the early 90s, so one can see where some of his anger has come from.
As for myself, let's just say I read a lot. A freakin' lot. And I first started reading Rollins in my impressionable youth of fifteen. Suffice it to say that he has both been very good for me, and very horrible for me. His writing is achingly sad and hollowing. At times he is very inspiring, and yet also can be very depressing.
Seeing him in person is much different from reading his words. On paper he reads a bit more on the negative side of things. He brings more humor in presence. This tour was filled with his usual topics- politics, life, travel, people, and touching a bit on sex and drugs. I never get bored with him, and sometimes he really isn't what you expect. I think my friend had this view of him as just an angry man with a mic, but he really has such a sweet endearing view of life and the world. And he's so spastic on stage!
But I must say, as soon as he steps off stage, he's different. I met him after the first time I saw him in New York, and I'm just glad he didn't spit on or ridicule me. I shook his hand and said thank you, but he's pretty damn intimidating.
There are things that I like, that I love or enjoy, but one of the best feelings in the world for me is to read something, listen to something, or be with someone and really feel a connection and understanding. I've always felt that when reading Rollins. So, perhaps my response of "okay, we can't be friends now" to my friends' ONE negative comment of Henry when driving home, may have been a bit over the top. But maybe you can understand a little.
Thanks Henry, keep on.

Jane Fonda is my grandmother

Yes, it's true. For those of you who don't know- I adopt her sometimes. Those sometimes conditions are when I watch Monster in Law. Indeed, it is Saturday night and I'm sipping some wine and found this on the ole' tube. Some may pshaw to chick flicks, and yes, I used to be you. But I have come to appreciate the lovely comedic value to romantic comedies. When done well they supply a breath of fresh air and some good laughs. In Monster in Law, this is truly Jane's movie- you forget that J-lo is even in the film. Jane steals every inch of screen- so much that I had to google to see if she had done any other film recently. Sorry to say, unless otherwise forced, I refuse to see the one with Lohan. She - what can I say.
Her character in this movie does have some fanatical ways about her that do remind me a bit of my grandmother, but in a good way. The way she just jumps off screen makes me love her and want to know her. Which is why I adopt her when I watch this movie. Her maniacal laughter and devious ways delight my eye. I sooooooo want her to make more like this. Of course Wanda Sykes is perrrrrrrrrrfect as her assistant to all of her evil plotting in the attempted undoing of J-lo. I should mention the fabulous eye candy Michael Vartan is the male in this movie. I like looking at him so much I wish that he were more than one dimensional onscreen so he would have more roles. Sigh. If I had to pick, I think my favorite moment in this movie is when Fonda's character Viola Fields, daytime talk show host, interviews a Brittney-ish girl who is wearing pasties- when girl admits to thinking Roe V. Wade is a boxing match Fonda launches herself on the little idiot girl. And Sykes response? "You all better get that little girl outta there!"

Halloween

Since I was prompted- why not.

I had a rather quiet Halloween this year- no parties, costumes, or trick or treaters. I wasn't really into it this year, which may explain why I didn't realize Wal Mart would be a mecca the day after.
Let me lead you to a visual- ever see WALL-E? The humans in Pixar's future are depicted as grossly overweight people propelled around on lounge chairs instead of walking. So picture lots of these folk, zooming around (on foot also) Wal Mart, buying en masse, not decor, but candy.
We're talking GROCERY shopping for candy. I mean a WHOLE FREAKIN' SHOPPING cart full of twix.
Now I admit, I am not the healthiest of people, and I do have a horrible sweet tooth, but looking at how much these people were hoarding really made me never want to buy candy again.
I had people pushing each other in the candy areas, yelling, directing spouses, and the creme de la creme- "it was $2.50 yesterday, it's only a dollar today!!!!!!"
I was there for yarn which I never found.

oh Shosanna

So, forgive me this lapse in time. Matt and I saw Inglorious Basterds a few weeks ago, walked out of the theater and didn't know what to say for a few minutes.
I've seen most of Tarantino's films, and knew what to expect in the way of gore. Hello? WWII, Nazis, and QT, you know there will be gore. What I wasn't prepared for was the very first scene of this film. I forgot where I was, what movie I was watching. I forgot that this was going to be an action packed movie with a Tarantino flair. Suffice it to say I was mesmerized.
The first five-ten minutes we are transported to a French country farm. The farm owner, portrayed by Denis Menochet, who delivers an intense, tear jerking, memorable few minutes, is visited by a small contingent of Nazi soldiers. And we are introduced to my favorite person in the movie. Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). He is dark, with more than a touch of insanity. Cunning? Check. Snake like. Yes. Why did I enjoy him so much? Well, it is a bit difficult to put into words. He is perfect in this role. Cunning and clever, and ruthless, but ingenious in this movie. The scene these two have together is my favorite. You feel so much in the scene, it is truly amazing.
The movies rolls along at a good pace, and I'll skip all the things you could guess from the previews. Diane Kruger, usually I could leave her. I actually enjoyed her German in this movie. I don't want to do a play by play of the movie- rather just mention the one other actor who stood out for me- Melanie Laurent. Beautiful, but not in the Hollywood typical way.In a sense she's the heroine of the film. Essentially there are two plots to kill Hitler, and hers is by far the most theatrical and enjoyable. I do mean enjoyable.
As the movie ended I found myself wondering, why hasn't a film like this been made before? I don't know if it was NEEDED, but I loved it. Loved it for the first scene, and for the actors I mentioned. I'm not a huge fan of gore, or of Brad Pitt's ridiculous accent (I think it was ridiculous on purpose), but everything was right in this movie, or wrong, but in the right way. For instance, branding Nazis anyone?

She's going for the whip

Shouts Jimmy Fallon, aka "Hot Tub" Johnny Rocket, MC for Texas Roller Derby events.
Going into this movie I was a little embarrassed, thinking that the film was a bit on the cheese side, girl-power-girl -director- girl- Juno-on -roller-skates. I would ask really quickly of my friends, "wanttoseewhipit?" Fast, like a band-aid. Because, secretly, it sounded like a fun ride, but I had to play it cool.
After feeling out my friends, I ended with three dates. Yay me! We nestled into our seats, and I was so excited that I laughed at the previews. Opening is the beauty pageant scene from the previews, Juno with blue hair embarrassing her mother. So, that was expected. And I'm sorry Ellen Page, you are forever known now as Juno. Some people get those roles in life and they are just stuck with them. Juno was a great movie, great role, so don't feel bad. Plus the character Babe Ruthless, (which Page plays in Whip it) is a verrrrrry close Juno impression sans baby.
After a few scenes we arrive at our first roller derby. I think it's fair to say that not only was Juno sucked in, but everyone in the theater audience went to buy roller skates after the show. You fall for each roller girl, frenemy or friend, you love them all. Barrymore doesn't put much of herself in the film, just a taste to make you love her violent ways. Juliette Lewis is fabulous, I mean FABULOUS as Iron Maven, Juno's rival on another team. The costumes are great, the girls are bruised, saucy, tough as nails, sucking you right into the lifestyle of roller derby. You watch this and want to be friends with them. I single out Lewis and Barrymore, but really each girl was a treat. Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem- great. Zoe Bell, Eve, Andrew Wilson (new Wilson brother) awesome awesome awesome.
Each scene was like a new surprise, a new treat. I was so excited I kept whispering and nudging Teresa. How can you not love a movie where the characters choose names like Eva Destruction, Jabba the Slut, and Rosa Sparks? Or Teresa chose her name- Pat M'booty. Cute, right? Well it's a rough and tumble ride, that makes you oooh and ahhh, and ooooow! at all the right places. Bloody noses and bruises as big as a Jack O' Lantern, these are the girls next door, just with the pretty layer pulled back showing the raw meat of contact sport and adrenaline highs.