Bright Star

If ever poetry and film could intertwine, this would be it. Bright Star is a slow, dreamy, emotionally luscious film that, like all good poetry, still has a sting beneath all the flowery prose. What kind of sting? The sting of death, of poverty, or reality. What kind of great poet dies at 25, as Keats did? What a waste. But maybe it's the impending knowledge of your own mortality that brings out great poetry. It's really that mystery that makes Bright Star interesting. And to see, as always, the women behind the great men. The muse. The heart.

I liked Bright Star- it was hard to love. It's not at all what Hollywood grooms audiences to like. It has a very slow pace. The scenes are all about the dynamics between people, the power of words in a pale, light washed room. And most of all, it's about the clash between love and reality- not really Hollywood's thing. But it's my cup of tea. 

What goes around comes around

When I was a senior at Swarthmore I took advantage of their externship program to spend a week in New York City interning for Ark Media. Ark was working on a documentary about lobotomies. I remember watching One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest and marking spots that referred to lobotomies and reading an autobiography of a woman who spent time in a mental hospital when lobotomies were common. I even went on a pre-interview to meet one woman whose mother was lobotomized by the infamous Dr. Walter Freeman. I sat in on an editing session with the director and editor as they pieced the film together. And now it's going to air on PBS! It's always interesting how different parts of your life collide.

The Lobotomist: American Experience airs 3/22/10 in NYC :)

Project Runway Avenue

New York is the center of the fashion world! Or so declares Project Runway Avenue now in midtown near 39th street and and 7th Ave/Fashion Ave. I went to see the new signpost and catch a peek at the Runway cast. Heidi was a no show but I was more excited to see Tim Gunn. Michael Kors and Nina Garica were also there, which was cool but I didn't relate to them as much as the contestants.

A whole slew of them were there but the only two I could name off the top of my head were Austin Scarlett and Laura Bennett. Austin also appeared briefly on another of my favorite guilty pleasures, Say Yes to the Dress because he now designs wedding dresses.

It was a blazingly cold morning, but worth the pink cheeks and cold toes to see the designers in the flesh.

Also, the article and picture from Racked.com

http://ny.racked.com/archives/2010/01/13/project_runway_day_commences.php

mmm soup dumplings

I never had soup dumplings before coming to New York City and I am so glad I delved into the heart of Chinatown to discover these delicious creations! Prepare for food porn:

The place to go for soup dumplings is Joe's Shanghai. The rest of the food is okay but you really come for the soup dumplings- delicious steamed pork dumplings filled with a dangerously hot and fatty broth.

Happy New Year!

It's 2010 already! Wowza! What do we call the last decade- the aughties? the naughties? the zeros? the Os? Soon we will be in the teens- I don't think America can handle another adolescence!

I had a nice break and managed to see several new movies.

Up in the Air- Good cast. Now, I'm not a big fan of George Clooney. He was not my favorite batman. But he was good in this movie. I cared about him. Up in the Air's strengths were the writing and the cast. The two lead women were really captivating. The dialogue was witty and interesting. However, the movie was a bit slow and more than bit trite- moving, but predictable. B+

Princess and the Frog- Well, Disney, what do you have here. You've taken a bold move forward (black princess, yes) and wrapped that bold move in a thick fatty, cheesy layer of stereotypes and cliches. One step forward, half step back? Princess was charming. Like Disney comfort food, here you have the pretty 2-D hand drawn animation, the familiar outlines, the fairy tale world, the magic and singing, the true love. And weird bits of the dysfunctional real world thrown in like we wouldn't notice. Like: New Orleans, site of  national disaster and chaos. Or hello uncomfortable stereotypes that are not funny. A charming hot mess.B+

Sin Nombre- don't know it? You should if you ever feel up for those thoughtful, sad foreign films that break your heart. This one was about a gruff (and cute!) Mexican gang member with a heart of gold that kills his awful, bullying gang leader and then tries to flee over the border and reluctantly makes a connection with a pretty Honduran immigrant. No happy ending in the traditional sense but maybe worth the ride if you are in the right mood. A-