Beer, Wings & Diamond Rings

Back in Sudbury. Back to wings and beer!! This year was punctuated with the FANTASTIC news that Tony & Chantal are engaged! (Check them in the center pic). For me, it was great to hang with my undergrad buddies at our usual place.

We are all starting to move in different directions. Beth is getting secured in her job and a new relationship. Brian is getting married in the spring and is kicking ass down in Windsor. Justin is pumping out auto stories and contemplating the BIG move out of the nickel city. And Tony and Chantal are heading to Ottawa. But that central activity is SO nice to have on the calendar for the holidays. I hope we keep it up for a bit. Fingers crossed for the years to come.

Blood Diamond - movie review

I don't think I can write a review about this film without being completely honest - I love Leonardo DiCaprio. Always have. Continue to do so. I think the guy is a great actor and after The Departed he has shown some genuine grit that will hopefully propel him into the next phase of his career. Enter Blood Diamond and DiCaprio brings the manly. He shows up in Africa with his stubble and accent and shows everyone that the boy has grown and you should pay attention. The fact that he is doing this in a bullet-riddled, polictially-tinged action film about conflict diamonds may be the best setting of all.

Diamond takes three stories and cuts them together in an exciting and illuminating tale about the diamond trade. Djimon Hounsou plays a family man struggling to protect his family in a war-torn environment and the threat of rebel militia. Jennifer Connelly (rocking her amazing hair and eyes) is a journalist travelling the country in an attempt to find the "truth" about the gems. And DiCaprio arrives on the scene as a smuggler with less-than-honorable intentions. Thus, with the victim, the profiteer and the observer in place the movie is prime to explore the topic from all angles. After Hounsou is forced into a diamond labour camp (his family in a refugee camp and his son captured for the child's army) he discovers an especially large specimen. And so the game of hide-and-seek begins to recover the diamond with all sides using each other to get there first. An alliance between the three main characters if eventually achieved and motives are exposed.

Where Diamond excels is in its balance. It manages to be political yet entertaining. It mixes mainstream action with disturbing commentary (the scenes of the child army are particularly impressive). It offers romantic possibility and eventual comraderie. It provides for greed and for grace. And it illustrates the loss that supports luxury. It is unlikely that anyone will leave Diamond without having something to think about. And in the world of action-adventure that is an impressive thing.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas was a mellow affair this year. I was looking forward to it immensely even though it was a much shorter break than the year previous - that's the downside of working rather than being a student! Anyway, the plan with year had my closest family in southern Ontario at my brother's new home. So we did a small thing and it was a blast. This year Taggart was actually in toddler mode so he was more fun to have a Christmas. It is incredible how much he is talking now! When the room gets quiet he looks at someone and goes "HI" with the cutest tone. You can see him here in his santa suit sitting on the giraffe (a reading pillow) that Nana had sewn for him.

We opened all our presents on Christmas eve - starting with the pyjamas of course! I got my Futurama DVDs and WAY more other stuff than I could have imagined including a massager for my chair at work which is going to be awesome! On Christmas morning my stocking was stuffed to the brim but the "big" gift is coming in January when Mom comes to visit - I'm getting a sewing machine. (Look out for a future post about the first thing I actually sew!) The next day a mellow one and then it was time to hit the road to Sudbury for a couple of days. I am so happy that my brother's family hosted this year. Things are changing ... and its great.

The Pusuit of Happyness - movie review

Will Smith continues his path towards being the best black actor of his generation. Smith's son establishes himself as a natural. Thandie Newton reaffirms her ability to lift limited material to an incredible level. And the Pursuit of Happyness shows how just how crappy it can be to chase the American dream ... until you achieve it.



Based on the "true" story of Chris Gardner, Happyness starts with his struggle as a door-to-door salesman trying to work off a contract on a new-fangled bone density x-ray. His once-passionate marriage has crumbled under the strain of limited finances and the demands of raising his child. After a decision to enter a wage-free internship program Gardner loses both his wife and his apartment. And yet, with his child in tow he continues on in order to "make something of himself".

I understand the film's earnestness to show how perseverence and love can conguer many obstacles. As well, the film seems to revel in its interest to promote the do-it-yourself/up-by-the-bootstraps legacy of most American success stories. And while the film is obviously trying to be inspirational it doesn't quite get there. The first challenge is moving beyond the harshness of homelessness that figures prominently. In fact, much of the movie feels more like a comment on the state of homeless people and posits the idea that if they were only more committed to the dream they could succeed. Anyone who knows anything about the discrepencies in society resource allocation will find this theme of the film frustrating.

The second challenge is Gardner's incredible success. He achieves an unbelievable position through immense odds but the film never shows how he manages in the internship itself. The audience is never illuminated on the driving forces to keep him in THAT program. It hints at Gardner's affinity for numbers but never illustrates how this factored into his decision to just get a "regular" job. As such, the concept of supporting his son becomes intertwined with a motivation for money (lots of finance industry money!) that could only be respected in a capitalist world.

Add to these challenges a sledgehammer on the heartstrings and really slow pacing and the film falters further. And so, although the actors involved are bringing their full commitment to the table the film never rises above Hallmark-gilded propoganda.

CFL is Leaving CBC!?!?

I think I may have to cry. In what is, potentially, the saddest TV deal evah! the CFL has signed an exclusive contract with TSN for 2008. The deal will see all Canadian Football League games leave our trusty free broadcaster for the land of cable - including the playoffs and Grey Cup. The 2008 Grey Cup will be the the first time in 50 YEARS that the game has not been shown on the CBC. I don't know what to say. I can't believe that our league would leave us this way!

The best thing about games on CBC is that you knew - no matter what! - you would be able to find reception. Maybe fuzzy, bunny-ear reception but at least the game was on. And the CBC had just gotten flashier and the panel had gelled and that music, that gear-up-for-the-game theme music just made Saturday evenings in the fall the best things ever! And it is all going to end! Seriously, I am starting to REALLY hate what the business of broadcasting has done to the enjoyment of sport (ahem NHL - and now this!). That's all I have to say at the moment. Thank goodness I get one more season to ease into it. But Damn!

You can read about the deal here (CBC) and here (CFL) and here (TSN).

"My Boys" Makes the Cut

TBS has released a new series on its schedule called "My Boys". It is about a female sports writer and the group of guys (including her brother) that make up her social circle. The stories are always built around a baseball team (team, free agent, slump) and center on PJ's navigation through the single world. It's like "Sex and the City" with a testosterone twist. And, if you have ever spent ANY time in a buddy cicle of boys, it rings wondefully candid and true. It is a funny and enjoyable slice of entertainment. TBS airs two 1/2 hour episodes back-to-back on Tuesday nights (with replay on Saturdays) so you get a full hour of comedy TV that doesn't drag. The quips are sharp and feel like you are actually hanging out with this team. I admit to being completely addicted. Give it a try out if you are looking for something new on your TV roster. You won't be disappointed.

Nephew Alert

This is my nephew in full-on toddler status during his visit "out west" to see the other side of his family. Apparently the trip went really well. I haven't bee out there in WAY too long. I used to go once a year but I think the last time I visited Dad and Co. was 2002. I just don't have the means to get out there these days. Anyway, looking at Tag, I am getting all excited to see him again for the holidays. Only 5 more sleeps till I fly back to Ontario and then only 3 sleeps till Christmas. I actually have ALL my shopping done and am happy with all my selected gifts. I bought more than I should (since I am "technically" living on credit) but I had a job this year so it was nice to splurge. It is going to be a small Xmas at my brother's new house and I am looking forward to that. Then I have a mad flurry of visits up in Sudbury for 3.5 days before heading back to Trawna for (hopefully) a mellow and conversation-filled NYE with Jodi & Cindy (fingers crossed). In all, I haven't been this stoked for the holidays in a long time. And I get to hug this awesome little nephew of mine. Happy Holidays!

Potential

In the SO true words of Beth...

This one stands on his own.
He's not an X.
He's not a fling.
He's not leaving.
He's not the best friend.

These are all good things. Hmmmmm ....

Celebrity Skin

So, my horoscope this week said I should try to find my celebrity look-a-like and offered up a fun site to do just that. The site references key features in your face and matches them to a celebrity photo in the database. However, the results are not universal - they are photo specific. So when you change your picture, thus potentially changing the prominent elements in your visage, a different match may appear. The matches are also based on the type of celebrity pic in the system. (This explaines why I somehow managed to become a 96% match for Angelina by the end of the day. I always knew I had it in me!) You can see my four closest matches below for four recent pics of myself. And you can find your own celebrity doppelganger here. Have fun!

Bad Wave

I am all over the emotional map this week. I can't explain why but I am riding waves in too many directions and it is annoying. I wish I could figure out how to calm the anxiety. I wish I could push past the inertia. I wish I could fight back the fear. I wish I didn't feel like a crashing mess of WTF? splashing all over the place and going nowhere.

The Fountain -movie review

It has taken me awhile to process this film into anything like coherent comment for my review. I don't know if this difficulty says more about me or the film itself - but I dare anyone to not find The Fountain at least a bit challenging in the comphrension department. On that note, your interest in non-linear visual philosophy will likely determine your enjoyment of the film. That, or your use of some recreational "support".

What is undeniable about The Fountain is that it is visually stunning. As the big-name follow-up to Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, Fountain offers up a dreamy and intriguing experience. And this time it is Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz in a time-twisting tale of love, life and death.

The film opens with a bald Jackman floating in space, facing hallucinations and talking kindly to a dying tree. I know - it feels exactly like it sounds. Time and place are unknown. Jump to the present where a modern Hugh is obsessed with finding a cure to the brain tumor that plagues his lady love. He is so intent on stopping her death that he is missing out on experiencing life with her before it ends. Weisz's Izzie is writing a book - "The Fountain" - about a conquistador's search for the tree of life (aka = fountain of youth) in South America. He is sent upon this quest by Queen Isabella and a third story begins. From this point the film becomes a collage of images drawn from the three paths flashing back and forth between the incarnations of the characters at various points in their quests.

Finally, the tree is located, the loss is accepted, and the path to everlasting "life" is found. However amid the allusions of life=death and a final fantastical sequence with a Mayan warrior, body-devouring plants and glowing space nebula, The Fountain falters. Its philosophizing is lost in the meandering musings. If you are looking for an outrageous optical diversion it may be exactly what you need. If you are aiming for a straight-forward story (of any kind) then it may be a filmic frustration.

TBS is TV Crack

I have decided that the crack version of TV-cocaine is manifested in TBS. Seriously, this station can ruin your life. It's like it has a couch-potato raygun that paralyzes you the minute you flick on the channel. If you ever have TBS as part of your cable package you will understand this dilemma. Nothing helps you waste time like watching TBS. And you would think that its incredible program repitition would be a negative but it only reinforces its power. Like on those weekends when the same movie plays everyday and you WATCH IT EVERY DAY! You don't mean to, but there is nothing else on. Except TBS. Movies ALL weekend. Entire evenings of one show. NCAA football games. Roadhouse on late night AT LEAST once a month. Really bad advertising for third-rate southern US universities and aluminum-siding. The addiction is a given. I don't even know why I bother fighting it. Oh wait, I don't.

First Date

So I had a first date with a sweet, funny, cute-as-hell guy last night. What can I say? It was so much fun - and that is not just the beer talking. Ok, right, you are not supposed to drink alot on a date - whatever. I think you do what flows for the person you are with and a night at a great watering hole followed by dancing sounds like a perfect time to me. So good times. It is always nice to meet someone new. It is even better to spend time with someone and have that time just flow. To just run through the hours with energy and smiles and laughs. That doesn't mean it will become anything. That doesn't mean it will always be that way. But it was a wonderful way to spend a wintery Friday night! Check it!

LOST

Yeah, I am sometimes late to the TV show bandwagon. And sometimes I just don't find the time to make up the slack. Last spring I watched the Season 1 DVD of "LOST" with my gal Cathy. We LOVED it! We got addicted. But then Season 2 wasn't yet available - in fact the final episodes had not aired! I did my best at staying away from the remainder of Season 2 on TV and then the DVD was released this fall. Sadly, I was WAY to busy to get into it until recently. But I have finally gotten there (again, in time to be behind on Season 3!) and it was great. Not as impressive as the first season but still pretty cool I mean, what the hell is the Dharma initiative? So I will be ready this January when the season starts again. I am onboard with this one. Let's just hope it can keep the goods coming cause I really hate it when a show starts strong and then leverages its popularity to become pointless. Time will tell. Until then, being LOST is fine by me.

And Snow it Begins...

It snowed for the first time today. Big, fat flakes filled the sky and whited-out the world. It was glorious. Everyone in my office stood by the window and watched the tree branches get heavy with fluff. I love snow. And the first snow of the season is always a wondrous experience. It changes the world. It makes it a different place. Of course, tonight that was a wet, chilly, frustating place full of blackouts and gridlock. I got to avoid most of it as I walked home under a black sky still dropping blobs of uniqueness onto my toque. It was great.