In 2007, we had a lively family debate on the top films of the century (kicked off by a list my brother started). I'm pasting the results below for my list, with suggestions from my family, but only using movies I've seen (the person who originally suggested the film is denoted with an initial: R – my brother, D – father). I've included some extra suggestions for the last 2 decades (which I know best):
1930's
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Grand Hotel (1932)
R: Duck Soup (1933) The best of the Marx's films, splendidly blending slapstick and witty dialogue, most of Groucho's quotes come from this one. (I'd personally put in a Buster Keaton film rather than a Marx brothers, but I don't remember which of his films is which, so I've left him out for now.)
D: The Thin Man (1934)
It Happened One Night (1934) Clark Gable’s best.
R: King Kong (1933) The fun thriller that still is a good watch, even if the graphics aren't fantastic, Kong entertains in the classic scenes.
R: Bringing Up Baby (1938) Hepburn and Grant have to take care of an unruly leopard in an amusing romantic comedy.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) I'm a sucker for swashbuckling.
R: The Wizard of Oz (1939) Flying monkeys, a cowardly lion and great songs in an engaging plot of Dorothy's quest to find the Wonderful Wizard.
1940's
His Girl Friday (1940)
R: Fantasia (1940) One of Disney's best cinematic pieces, brilliant animation of mushrooms, dinosaurs, and a Night on Bald Mountain compliments the classical music.
R: The Philadelphia Story (1940) Hepburn, Grant and Stewart co-star in this witty romantic comedy, Hepburn and Grant’s chemistry can't be beat.
R: The Maltese Falcon (1941) Sam Spade was written as a lean, blonde wolf of a man, and Bogart pulled him off perfectly in this caper chock-full of great lines and suspense.
Double Indemnity (1944)
D: Beauty and the Beast (1946) Visuals stay with you all your life
Key Largo (1948) For being the best Bogey and Bacall. (The Big Sleep gets an honorable mention, but isn’t the best because the original crime is never solved.)
1950's
R: An American in Paris (1951) Gene Kelley takes the title role in a romantic musical comedy featuring great dance sequences and Oscar Levant's masterful piano pieces.
R: 12 Angry Men (1957) Suspenseful film shot all in a jury room where twelve men have to decide if a kid lives or dies.
R: Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Alec Guinness' best role as the British officer holding on to his principles in a Japanese POW camp that is trying to break his spirit.
Vertigo (1958) I prefer Vertigo to Rear Window, although both along with the following are brilliant.
R: North by Northwest (1959) Thrilling mystery with Hitchcock's great cinematography and Grant's battle of wits against James Mason.
R: Sleeping Beauty (1959) The only thing more captivating than the level of art in this animation is rooting for Maleficent, Disney’s most frightening and best villain.
1960's
R: West Side Story (1961) With Bernstein's score and the dramatic dance scenes the Romeo and Juliet in New York plot is escalated to theatrical heights.
R: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Growing up in the South, Scout looks to her father Atticus, played superbly by Gregory Peck, as a moral compass surrounded by inequality.
R: The Great Escape (1963) Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough team up with other prison inmates in a WWII German POW camp with one aim: escape, and get everyone out with them.
R: The Pink Panther (1963) Peter Sellers is the bumbling Inspector Clouseau battling against the sharp wits of the renowned 'Phantom', resulting in brilliant comedic acting and dialogue.
R: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Sellers plays three roles in Kubrick's black comedy: a British officer, President of the United States, and his advisor, the eponymous Strangelove as the world may be ending.
R: Goldfinger (1964) Connery is everyone's favorite 007, and in this film he gives his best performance, says some of his best lines, and has to fight off Odd job handcuffed to an atomic bomb.
R: My Fair Lady (1964) Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison co-star in a romantic comedy musical with fast wit and great numbers complementing the two actors' performances.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Just think, the forerunner paving the way for today's hyper-violent Tarantino and Rodriguez films. All kidding aside, it crosses a lot of genre boundaries and was incredibly innovative.
The Graduate (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967) "What we have here…"
1970's
R: Fiddler on the Roof (1971) Topol plays Tevye raising his daughters Jewish in pre-Revolution Russia, accompanied by his wife and fantastic musical numbers.
Cabaret (1972) The best musical ever, ever made. Ever. And one of the best films.
The Godfather (1972)
R: The Day of the Jackal (1973) The Jackal has been hired for one last job, the job that leads to automatic retirement: assassinate Charles de Gaulle before the inspector can catch you.
American Graffiti (1973)
The Sting (1973)
R: Blazing Saddles (1974) Wilder and Cleavon Little co-star with Madeline Kahn in the farcical depiction of life in the West, at least as it appears on the back lots.
R: Chinatown (1974) Jack Nicholson is trying to unravel a few mysteries at once, while keeping his nose out of trouble investigating conspiracy and murder.
Jaws (1975) Still brilliant and scary, even when you know the sharks going to jump out. Plus it paved the way for blockbuster marketing.
Nashville (1975) Not my favorite Altman (see 2000s), but the expansive narrative is amazing.
R: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) For Arthur and his K-nig-its to find the Holy Grail leads to obstacles such as the Knights who say 'Ni!', murderous bunnies, and silly Frenchmen.
R: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Transsexual transvestite aliens, lead by Tim Curry, abduct and corrupt the youths Brad and Janet, singing catchy tunes while doing so.
Network (1976) Still depressingly relevant.
R: Star Wars (1977) Luke, Han, and Leah join the Rebellion under the guidance of Obi-Wan and assistance of wookies and droids to fight the Empire, and it's masked face: Darth Vader.
R: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) "What is college like?" "Have you ever seen 'Animal House?" "Yeah." "It's nothing like that." Would that it were for the laughs alone.
R: The Muppet Movie (1979) Henson's familiar Muppets join on a road trip to Hollywood to 'make millions of people happy', while avoiding Doc Hopper and encountering the greatest comedians of the decade.
1980s
R: The Dark Crystal (1982) Henson's high-fantasy story traces the characters of Jen and Kira, gelflings who have to defeat the vulturous Skeksis despotic rule of their planet.
R: Koyaanisqatsi (1982) With no conventional plot, or documentary theme, 'kooyanisqatsi' translates from Hopi as 'life out of balance', as exposed by the images and music.
R: The Big Chill (1983) A story of the lost hope of the generation, old friends, a particularly stunning cast, reunite and reevaluate their lives in the 80's.
R: Brazil (1985) Gilliam's masterful story of a man in the future, played by Jonathan Price, who needs to unravel a mystery and discovers the unpleasant underbelly of his society.
R: Clue (1985) All-star cast represents the characters of Miss Peacock, Col. Mustard, and Professor Plum in the comedic caper trying to discover who killed Mr. Body.
Out of Africa (1985)
Silverado (1985)
D: Labyrinth (1986) David Bowie and music superb; great tale and wonderful visuals.
R: The Princess Bride (1987) True love between Buttercup and Wesley must overcome a pirate, a Spaniard, a giant, and a Sicilian, all before entering the Fire Swamp, joking along the way.
R: A Fish Called Wanda (1988) Kevin Kline is the brilliant gem surrounded by Cleese, Palin, and Curtis in a romantic comedy caper that's not safe for fish or small dogs.
R: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) Mixing animation and live action wasn't new, but it also had never been so funny, or had a plot that actually draws you in for more than seven minutes amongst grown-up 'toons'
R: Dead Poets Society (1989) When all teachers are the same and don't care about their students, Keating, played by Robin Williams, is a breath of fresh air and inspiration.
R: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Harrison Ford reprises his Indiana Jones role with 'dad', Connery, in a race for the Holy Grail itself against the Nazis.
Henry V (1989) Not only is it probably the best of all Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare adaptations, it has Derek Jacobi, the greatest Shakespearean actor around, as the Chorus!
1990's
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1990)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) So, so brilliant and really scary.
Thelma and Louise (1991)
R: Reservoir Dogs (1992) Six men are needed to rob a diamond store, but only four come out unhurt after a police ambush leading to the rest to wonder who is the informant.
Chaplin (1992) More a brilliant performance than all over movie, but still very good.
R: Jurassic Park (1993) Sam Neil and crew are trapped on an island where dinosaurs have been brought back to life, when things start to go suspensefully wrong.
R: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Claymation never looked so good: Skellington lives in Halloweentown, where the repetition bores him, leading to the desire to become St. Nick.
Schindler's List (1993) Deserves all of its accolades. It’s still unbelievable to me that anyone was able to make a film that covered the Holocaust so well.
The Piano (1993)
R: The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman find themselves prison mates in Shawshank, where they bond and lift each other up and out into hope.
Ed Wood (1994) My favorite Tim Burton outside of Nightmare. I watch Sleepy Hollow more, but the acting in this one is better.
Leon: The Professional (1994) A hitman takes in a young girl when her family is killed. Also featuring crazy Gary Oldman.
Interview with a Vampire (1994) Hee.
R: Twelve Monkeys (1995) Bruce Willis is in a bleak future of disease and recurring nightmares, where he is chosen to go into the past and fix the future.
R: The Usual Suspects (1995) Verbal Kint tells the story of an explosion leaving 27 men dead due to five criminals and the unknown Kaiser Soze, criminal mastermind and nemesis of NYC police.
Sense and Sensibility (1995) One of my favorite period pieces and Emma Thompson did a great job on the script.
Braveheart (1995) FREEEEEEDOOOOOOM!
Dead Man (1996)
R: The Fifth Element (1997) In the future the aliens responsible for the Pyramids revisit Earth attempting to contain the balance of Good and Evil, but things go wrong and Bruce Willis needs to save humanity.
L.A. Confidential (1997) Such a good noir film. I still get tense watching it, even when I know whodunit.
Lawn Dogs (1997) Quite possibly my all time favorite film. A small independent movie about a young girl who is bored with her gated suburban life, and the friendship she strikes up with the man who mows the suburbanite’s lawns.
Titanic (1997) It really is brilliant.
Shakespeare in Love (1998) Really clever, funny, and gorgeous.
American History X (1998) The most awful, violent film ever, but really incredible.
R: The Big Lebowski (1998) The Dude doesn't want to do much but drink White Russians, listen to Creedence and go bowling with his buddies, but gets mixed-up in a kidnapping caper.
R: The Truman Show (1998) Truman lives a normal life, but soon it starts to unravel, as he discovers and comes to terms with the knowledge his life is a show, inevitably leading to the question: can he escape?
1999 (quite possibly the best year ever for movies)
Go (1999) and Run Lola Run (1999) 2 of my all time favorite films, both with recurring narratives.
R: Dogma Banished to Wisconsin two fallen angels find a loophole in Catholic dogma that allows them to re-enter heaven; the consequences might lead to the end of the world. (Kevin Smith's Best)
The Matrix Ok – pretend the sequels didn't happen. This was one of the most mind-blowing experiences I've ever had in a movie. And I still love re-watching it.
American Beauty I've been feeling a little less kind to this film recently, but for years it was one of my favorites. And Alan Ball's screenplay is really touching and the acting is great (Annette Benning should've won…)
Fight Club
A Midsummer Night's Dream I don’t like all of the way this one was done, but there is some brilliant casting, including Stanley Tucci as Puck, Sam Rockwell as Flute, Rupert Everett as Oberon, and Christian Bale as Demetirus.
Runners Up: Girl, Interrupted, The Green Mile, The Sixth Sense, Office Space, Being John Malkovich, Cruel Intentions (although maybe you had to be in prep school when that came out to truly appreciate it)
2000:
American Psycho Also a performance film, but it is darkly funny hysterical and its take on the 80s is brilliant.
Runners up: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Almost Famous, O Brother Where Art Thou
2001:
Gosford Park My favorite Altman. A take on Upstairs/Downstairs and the weekend manor house mystery.
Moulin Rouge Heart-breaking, lush, and with dazzling visuals, Baz Luhrmann updates musicals.
Runners Up: Lord of the Rings - the Fellowship of the Ring, Memento, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the Royal Tenenbaums, Mullholland Drive, Enemy at the Gates
2002
Adaptation This movie is hysterically funny. And I think it’s the last time Nick Cage has done a good job of acting, sadly…
Chicago A brilliant version of a fabulous musical (even if Renee Zellwegger desperately needs to heat a cheeseburger)
Runners up: Y Tu Mama Tambien, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, The Hours
2003
Angels in America Ok - not technically a movie, but it's too brilliant to leave off. One of the finest pieces of art ever made (as a book, play, or miniseries)
Lost in Translation A lovely tale of strangers forming a bond while feeling alienated in Tokyo.
R: Triplets of Bellville Near-silent French animation tells the story of a grandmother and her boy whose dream is to ride the Tour Du France; his kidnap leads her to recruiting the odd triplets in her search for his rescue.
Finding Nemo My favorite Pixar. I think it has the best story and graphics.
Runners up: Mystic River, The Magdalene Sisters, Kill Bill Vol. 1, X2 (what? It’s a good action film! And Brian Singer added social relevance without coming off as preachy. It’s good! Shut up!)
2004
Howl's Moving Castle I prefer this one to Spirited Away. A fairytale about a girl turned into an old woman by a witch’s curse and a boy sorcerer.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Charlie Kaufman, the most brilliant screenwriter around, tops himself in an incredibly crazy, poignant take on relationships.
Runners up: La Mala Educación, House of Flying Daggers, I heart Huckabees
2005
The New World Ok – Colin Farrell isn't brilliant in this one, but the film itself is dreamy, impressionistic take on the colonization of America.
Good Night and Good Luck I'm torn between this one, with its relevant media warnings, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, with its off-kilter take on Chuck Barris. For both, George Clooney does a great job of directing.
Brokeback Mountain
Runners up: Capote, Wallace and Gromit - Curse of the Were-Rabbit, the Constant Gardener, Pride and Prejudice, Jarhead, Match Point, King Kong, Batman Begins, the Merchant of Venice, Mysterious Skin
2006
The Departed
The Wind that Shakes the Barley The story of the Irish war of Independence. Won the Palme D’Or at Cannes. It’s amazing.
Children of Men The film that basically got no US distribution, sadly. But it’s an amazing tale of a not too distant future when humans have stopped bearing children. In addition to the great story, acting and art direction, has a couple of astounding camera shots.
Runners up: Pan's Labyrinth, Perfume, The Prestige (like that alliteration?), Casino Royale, Inside Man, Brick, Hard Candy, V for Vendetta, The Queen, the Fountain, the Painted Veil, The Last King of Scotland
2007
Zodiac David Fincher’s take on the police procedural. Incredibly good, and Robert Downey Jr. gives a great supporting performance
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford The cinematography in this movie is gorgeous, and Casey Affleck shines in a great ensemble cast.
Runners up: Atonement, I'm Not There (An almost biography of Bob Dylan), Infamous (As good as Capote and sadly overlooked), A Mighty Heart, Rescue Dawn (Christian Bale so should have been up for an Oscar for this one), Stardust (awww… I love this one! Swordfights, pirates, witches, and a fallen star.), Sunshine (Visually gorgeous), Across the Universe, Persepolis, Joshua (AAH! SCARY!) and Snow Angels
2008
The Fall Possibly the most visually stunning film I’ve ever seen. Every frame is a work of art.
In Bruges Martin McDonagh is my favorite playwright. He is really dark and funny, and Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes all give great performances.
Runners up: Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Gone Baby Gone, Sweeney Todd, Waltz with Bashir, Let the Right One In (A Swedish coming of age tale, with a vampire), Persepolis, the Dark Knight, Cloverfield (which was a really interesting new way of filming a story)
2009
Best so far of 2009? Moon, The Brothers Bloom, Watchmen, In the Loop, 500 Days of Summer, Coraline, The Escapist (does not have a US release scheduled yet), La Mission, Star Trek. I really enjoyed RocknRolla, although I wouldn't say that it is great, but it is very stylish. I happened to quite like the International (done by the same director as Run Lola Run), but not many people felt the same way.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Oscar Picks (transported from FB)
Totally annoying - my oscar pool cut down the number of categories. I'd've cleaned up on the smaller categories. So I'm putting down my picks here. Because why not?
Film - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Director - Danny Boyle (won)
Actor - Sean Penn (please....) (won)
Actress - Kate Winslet (won)
S. Actor - Heath Ledger (although I'd love to see Josh Brolin take it) (won)
S. Actress - Penelope Cruz (Viola Davis could upset) (won)
Art Direction - Benjamin Button (won)
Costume - The Duchess (won)
Makeup - Benjamin Button (won)
Score - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Song - Jai Ho (won)
Animated Short - Presto (although I love Oktapodi: http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/09/02/votd-oktapodi/) (La Maison en Petits Cubes won)
Live Short - Spielzeugland (Toyland) (won)
Animated - Wall*E (won)
Doc. Short - The Witness (Smile Pinki could upset (and did))
Documentary - Man on Wire (won)
Sound Editing - Dark Knight (won)
Sound Mixing - Dark Knight (Slumdog won)
Visual Effects - Benjamin Button (won)
Editing - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Cinematography - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Foreign Language - Waltz with Bashir (Departures could upset (and did))
Original Screenplay - Milk (although I would love it if In Bruges won out of left field) (won)
Adapted Screenplay - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
20/24. Hmm - but I wrote that I got 21 elsewhere? Maybe I swapped a category at the last moment?
Film - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Director - Danny Boyle (won)
Actor - Sean Penn (please....) (won)
Actress - Kate Winslet (won)
S. Actor - Heath Ledger (although I'd love to see Josh Brolin take it) (won)
S. Actress - Penelope Cruz (Viola Davis could upset) (won)
Art Direction - Benjamin Button (won)
Costume - The Duchess (won)
Makeup - Benjamin Button (won)
Score - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Song - Jai Ho (won)
Animated Short - Presto (although I love Oktapodi: http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/09/02/votd-oktapodi/) (La Maison en Petits Cubes won)
Live Short - Spielzeugland (Toyland) (won)
Animated - Wall*E (won)
Doc. Short - The Witness (Smile Pinki could upset (and did))
Documentary - Man on Wire (won)
Sound Editing - Dark Knight (won)
Sound Mixing - Dark Knight (Slumdog won)
Visual Effects - Benjamin Button (won)
Editing - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Cinematography - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
Foreign Language - Waltz with Bashir (Departures could upset (and did))
Original Screenplay - Milk (although I would love it if In Bruges won out of left field) (won)
Adapted Screenplay - Slumdog Millionaire (won)
20/24. Hmm - but I wrote that I got 21 elsewhere? Maybe I swapped a category at the last moment?
Friday, January 2, 2009
Down with Skool!
I thought I should perhaps actually post something here. Not that I can promise too many more posts in 2009, but one never knows. There'll probably at least be some for the Golden Globes and Oscars.
What is going on? I'm job hunting, because clearly there is no better time to be doing so. There are actually a few prospective leads. One interview for an organization I quite like, in SF, although the position isn't ideal. I have heard some federal hiring freezes will end come Jan 20. :) (I'll have to find a party).
Let's see. Read the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which is a cute riff on the Jungle book, and the Story of Edgar Sawtelle, which is a well-done riff on Hamlet. Am now onto Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell. She wrote 4 murder mysteries before her death and they all have lovely covers by Edward Gorey. It's a good book, particularly if you can follow some of the PG Wodehouse-esque Britishisms.
I was deathly sick for New Years, which prevented my attendence at an outdoor party in 1 degree weather (I have got to get back to California).
Christmas! It was spread over a few days, but I got some money for my moving fund, 2 Ronald Searle prints (one of Ireland and one of Australia) [Ronald Searle illustrated, among other things, the Molesworth books. chizz chizz.], some pretty earrings, some totally astounding flip flops (they are fuzzy and purple and I don't know where I'll ever wear them, but they're kinda fantastic), a James Thurber book, some Irish dark chocolate, 2 carved hippos from Kenya ('ippo), DVDs of Sunrise:Earth (including Pt. Reyes - no, I don't know what it is, but it sounds pretty) and a book on life lessons from Pepe the shrimp from the muppets. My friends know what I need.
And as a family gift, I bought a scanner, so we are scanning in old family pictures and documents to add to our recently (semi-) completed family tree. We have an Obediah and an Ebenezer. And a murder. I'm finding out all sorts of interesting things.
Crows have moved into our street, which is lovely.
Saw Australia (which was mostly lovely, if somewhat flawed), and Frost/Nixon, which was fantastic. Milk is still my favorite, but I'd be happy if Frost/Nixon won.Sam Rockwell is astounding. Before that I saw Let the Right One In (very good. I didn't like it much at first, but it grew on me), Fear(s) of the Dark (uneven, but a few very creepy parts), and RocknRolla (stylish and fun). At some point I may do a top 10 of the year, but I'll have to try to make it through a bit more of the December glut first.
My present to my friends (being broke as I am) were 4 very eclectic CDs of things I listened to this year (or late last year while I was still traveling). The CDs were going to 6 people with wildly differing musical tastes, so I tried to make one kinda dancy, one more rock (although I left out the hard rock I listen to a lot, since only 1 of the 6 has similar tastes), one softer, and one is just the leftovers and more eclectic. In return, I've been looking through the year end lists for some new music for the new year. I'm currently wildly addicted to the Snow Leopard by Shearwater, as well as Amanda Palmer's disc, whom I've been listening to for about a month. Also on heavy rotation: The Rip by Portishead, Heart Attack by Low vs. Diamond, Beck by Be Your Own Pet, Wannabe in LA by Eagles of Death Metal, The Fall by Lily Allen, Blind by Hercules & Love Affair, Go-Getter Greg by Ludo, Constructive Summer by the Hold Steady and the Nun's Litany by Magnetic Fields. Wildly more indie than usual, but pretty good. I feel like there's been a dearth of good rock out there lately, though. I wonder if anything is coming out soon.
In the meantime, my brother is letting me rip CDs from his collection. Among the highlights thus far: Illmatic by Nas, Tommy by the Who, Odyssey & Oracle by the Zombies, Horses by Patti Smith, Hunky Dory by Bowie, Grace by Jeff Buckley, Exile on Main Street by the Stones and Raw Power by Iggy Pop and the Stooges.
That's been my week (or 3). Between the move at work, the holidays, and being sick, a lot of my time the last couple of weeks has been down time around the house. Also, it's freezing outside and I want to hibernate.
Oh - I am rocking out at the Box Office game. I scored 4th the weekend before last and I think I'm around 38th for the Winter. Possibly off to the Science museum tomorrow. And the new doctor may be announced... I'm going back to being vegetarian next week. I think that's all.
What is going on? I'm job hunting, because clearly there is no better time to be doing so. There are actually a few prospective leads. One interview for an organization I quite like, in SF, although the position isn't ideal. I have heard some federal hiring freezes will end come Jan 20. :) (I'll have to find a party).
Let's see. Read the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which is a cute riff on the Jungle book, and the Story of Edgar Sawtelle, which is a well-done riff on Hamlet. Am now onto Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell. She wrote 4 murder mysteries before her death and they all have lovely covers by Edward Gorey. It's a good book, particularly if you can follow some of the PG Wodehouse-esque Britishisms.
I was deathly sick for New Years, which prevented my attendence at an outdoor party in 1 degree weather (I have got to get back to California).
Christmas! It was spread over a few days, but I got some money for my moving fund, 2 Ronald Searle prints (one of Ireland and one of Australia) [Ronald Searle illustrated, among other things, the Molesworth books. chizz chizz.], some pretty earrings, some totally astounding flip flops (they are fuzzy and purple and I don't know where I'll ever wear them, but they're kinda fantastic), a James Thurber book, some Irish dark chocolate, 2 carved hippos from Kenya ('ippo), DVDs of Sunrise:Earth (including Pt. Reyes - no, I don't know what it is, but it sounds pretty) and a book on life lessons from Pepe the shrimp from the muppets. My friends know what I need.
And as a family gift, I bought a scanner, so we are scanning in old family pictures and documents to add to our recently (semi-) completed family tree. We have an Obediah and an Ebenezer. And a murder. I'm finding out all sorts of interesting things.
Crows have moved into our street, which is lovely.
Saw Australia (which was mostly lovely, if somewhat flawed), and Frost/Nixon, which was fantastic. Milk is still my favorite, but I'd be happy if Frost/Nixon won.Sam Rockwell is astounding. Before that I saw Let the Right One In (very good. I didn't like it much at first, but it grew on me), Fear(s) of the Dark (uneven, but a few very creepy parts), and RocknRolla (stylish and fun). At some point I may do a top 10 of the year, but I'll have to try to make it through a bit more of the December glut first.
My present to my friends (being broke as I am) were 4 very eclectic CDs of things I listened to this year (or late last year while I was still traveling). The CDs were going to 6 people with wildly differing musical tastes, so I tried to make one kinda dancy, one more rock (although I left out the hard rock I listen to a lot, since only 1 of the 6 has similar tastes), one softer, and one is just the leftovers and more eclectic. In return, I've been looking through the year end lists for some new music for the new year. I'm currently wildly addicted to the Snow Leopard by Shearwater, as well as Amanda Palmer's disc, whom I've been listening to for about a month. Also on heavy rotation: The Rip by Portishead, Heart Attack by Low vs. Diamond, Beck by Be Your Own Pet, Wannabe in LA by Eagles of Death Metal, The Fall by Lily Allen, Blind by Hercules & Love Affair, Go-Getter Greg by Ludo, Constructive Summer by the Hold Steady and the Nun's Litany by Magnetic Fields. Wildly more indie than usual, but pretty good. I feel like there's been a dearth of good rock out there lately, though. I wonder if anything is coming out soon.
In the meantime, my brother is letting me rip CDs from his collection. Among the highlights thus far: Illmatic by Nas, Tommy by the Who, Odyssey & Oracle by the Zombies, Horses by Patti Smith, Hunky Dory by Bowie, Grace by Jeff Buckley, Exile on Main Street by the Stones and Raw Power by Iggy Pop and the Stooges.
That's been my week (or 3). Between the move at work, the holidays, and being sick, a lot of my time the last couple of weeks has been down time around the house. Also, it's freezing outside and I want to hibernate.
Oh - I am rocking out at the Box Office game. I scored 4th the weekend before last and I think I'm around 38th for the Winter. Possibly off to the Science museum tomorrow. And the new doctor may be announced... I'm going back to being vegetarian next week. I think that's all.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Meme 3 - from my brother
Step 1: Put your iTunes or equivalent on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 35 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.
Step 3: Have people guess what songs they are.
Step 4: Bold out the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is cheating!
1. Come dance with me/ I -I- I love it
2. Something in the way she moves
3. The Magic 8 says I’m losing/ but I’m trying even harder now to hold on
4. Lily is dancing on the table/ We’ve all been pushed too far
5. Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
6. It’s been 7 hours and 15 days/ Since you took your love away
7. Pick the girl up at the train stop where I live/ Take a drive along the beach by the ocean
8. Well I’d live to visit the moon/ On a rocket ship high in the air
9. Once was a magical place/ Over time it was lost/ Price increased the cost
10. In many ways / They’ll miss the good old days
11. Come on baby leave some change behind/ She was a bitch but I don’t care
12. I don’t mind it/ I don’t mind at all/ It’s like you’re the swingset and I’m the kid that falls
13. Boys and girls of every age/ Wouldn’t you like to see something strange
14. Teenage Mary said to Uncle Dave/ I sold my soul must be saved
15. All I can ever be to you/ Is a darkness that we knew/ And this regret I got accustomed to
16. Here we are we’ve come to call/ With pipes and flutes and fiddles and all
17. Heaven bent to take my hand/ And lead me through the fire
18. A man walks down the street he says/ Why am I soft in the middle now?
19. I would like to reach out my hand/ I may see you/ I may tell you to run
20. I got dosed by you/ And closer than most to you and/ What am I supposed to do/ Take it away I never had it anyway
21. Come on come on come on come on now touch me babe/ Can’t you see?
22. Ka-boom/ Get it right now/ Oh let’s burn the factory/ that makes all the wanna-bes
23. Perfect by nature/ Icons of self-indulgence
24. Knew you’d be here tonight/ So I put my best dress on/ Boy I was so right (God, I'm embarrassed)
25. He was a hard-headed man/ He was brutally handsome
26. Miami/South Beach bringing the heat (dear GOD.)
27. The minute you walked in the joint/ I could see you were a man of distinction
28. Walking from the past/ But I don’t think I’ve said my goodbyes
29. Baby can’t you see/ I’m calling (this is a COVER version)
30. Drugs/ They say/ To make us feel so hollow/ We love in vain/ Narcissistic and so shallow
31. And I feel that times a wasted go/ So where you going to tomorrow?
32. You took your coat off/ And stood in the rain/ You’re always crazy like that
33. Dusting off your savior/ Well you were always my favorite
34. Don’t waste your touch/ You won’t feel anything/ Or were you sent to save me?
35. You pretend you’re high/ You pretend you’re bored/ You pretend you’re anything/ Just to be adored
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 35 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.
Step 3: Have people guess what songs they are.
Step 4: Bold out the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is cheating!
1. Come dance with me/ I -I- I love it
2. Something in the way she moves
3. The Magic 8 says I’m losing/ but I’m trying even harder now to hold on
4. Lily is dancing on the table/ We’ve all been pushed too far
5. Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
6. It’s been 7 hours and 15 days/ Since you took your love away
7. Pick the girl up at the train stop where I live/ Take a drive along the beach by the ocean
8. Well I’d live to visit the moon/ On a rocket ship high in the air
9. Once was a magical place/ Over time it was lost/ Price increased the cost
10. In many ways / They’ll miss the good old days
11. Come on baby leave some change behind/ She was a bitch but I don’t care
12. I don’t mind it/ I don’t mind at all/ It’s like you’re the swingset and I’m the kid that falls
13. Boys and girls of every age/ Wouldn’t you like to see something strange
14. Teenage Mary said to Uncle Dave/ I sold my soul must be saved
15. All I can ever be to you/ Is a darkness that we knew/ And this regret I got accustomed to
16. Here we are we’ve come to call/ With pipes and flutes and fiddles and all
17. Heaven bent to take my hand/ And lead me through the fire
18. A man walks down the street he says/ Why am I soft in the middle now?
19. I would like to reach out my hand/ I may see you/ I may tell you to run
20. I got dosed by you/ And closer than most to you and/ What am I supposed to do/ Take it away I never had it anyway
21. Come on come on come on come on now touch me babe/ Can’t you see?
22. Ka-boom/ Get it right now/ Oh let’s burn the factory/ that makes all the wanna-bes
23. Perfect by nature/ Icons of self-indulgence
24. Knew you’d be here tonight/ So I put my best dress on/ Boy I was so right (God, I'm embarrassed)
25. He was a hard-headed man/ He was brutally handsome
26. Miami/South Beach bringing the heat (dear GOD.)
27. The minute you walked in the joint/ I could see you were a man of distinction
28. Walking from the past/ But I don’t think I’ve said my goodbyes
29. Baby can’t you see/ I’m calling (this is a COVER version)
30. Drugs/ They say/ To make us feel so hollow/ We love in vain/ Narcissistic and so shallow
31. And I feel that times a wasted go/ So where you going to tomorrow?
32. You took your coat off/ And stood in the rain/ You’re always crazy like that
33. Dusting off your savior/ Well you were always my favorite
34. Don’t waste your touch/ You won’t feel anything/ Or were you sent to save me?
35. You pretend you’re high/ You pretend you’re bored/ You pretend you’re anything/ Just to be adored
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Whee! new meme!
1. Started your own blog (duh.)
2. Slept under the stars
I think the last time I did this was on Catalina, and we woke up covered in ash from the LA fires
3. Played in a band
I sang in a choir...
4. Visited Hawaii (seriously? can't we just say an island?)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumping
Hell no. But I would like to go skydiving.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
I've walked to the top of the leaning tower of pisa
18. Grown your own vegetables
tomatoes and apples
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
the Indian Pacific in Oz
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
Dear god I hope women don't do that anymore
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
SF child. I have built massive pillow forts...
25. Held a lamb
baby goat...
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
It may have been in kickball... but still
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
If my grandparents count
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
It was the Marilyn Manson version of Sweet Dreams. It wasn't good.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
Last time I can remember (if not in Ifaty, Madagascar) was in San Diego to watch the grunion
46. Been transported in an ambulance
I was accompanying my mother
47. Had your portrait painted
sketched - does that count? Oh - and sculpted, too.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Can't - moving veins. They don't like me.
65. Gone sky diving
want too...
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
I've fractured my left pinky finger. Does that count?
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
Jeff Goldblum, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Cumming, Nellie McKay, Zeljko Ivanek, Billy Crudup, Ana Gasteyer, Tom Hewitt, and many, many actors from RENT. And Olga Borodina and Jose Cura, who are opera singers. I have also seen Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Conan O'Brien, John Hodgman and Will Arnett. Living in SF and New York has it's perks. My mother also told Mel Gibson that I loved Braveheart. This was before he went crazy.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
2. Slept under the stars
I think the last time I did this was on Catalina, and we woke up covered in ash from the LA fires
3. Played in a band
I sang in a choir...
4. Visited Hawaii (seriously? can't we just say an island?)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumping
Hell no. But I would like to go skydiving.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
I've walked to the top of the leaning tower of pisa
18. Grown your own vegetables
tomatoes and apples
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
the Indian Pacific in Oz
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
Dear god I hope women don't do that anymore
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
SF child. I have built massive pillow forts...
25. Held a lamb
baby goat...
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
It may have been in kickball... but still
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
If my grandparents count
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
It was the Marilyn Manson version of Sweet Dreams. It wasn't good.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
Last time I can remember (if not in Ifaty, Madagascar) was in San Diego to watch the grunion
46. Been transported in an ambulance
I was accompanying my mother
47. Had your portrait painted
sketched - does that count? Oh - and sculpted, too.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Can't - moving veins. They don't like me.
65. Gone sky diving
want too...
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
I've fractured my left pinky finger. Does that count?
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
Jeff Goldblum, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Cumming, Nellie McKay, Zeljko Ivanek, Billy Crudup, Ana Gasteyer, Tom Hewitt, and many, many actors from RENT. And Olga Borodina and Jose Cura, who are opera singers. I have also seen Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Conan O'Brien, John Hodgman and Will Arnett. Living in SF and New York has it's perks. My mother also told Mel Gibson that I loved Braveheart. This was before he went crazy.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
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