Across The Universe

I just don’t know what to think right now except I am so excited about this you have no idea. After disappointments in current movie musicals (went to see Dreamgirls in the theatre again last night, and the British audience laughed….they laughed out loud!!) I don’t want to get my hopes up again, but dammit if I am not twirling around in a whirlwind of screams and laughter at the thought of THIS. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

For Alice

While I was living back in Bermuda I made a lot of fantastic new friends. No one will come close to Alice. When most people would have broken, Alice marched on, with determination, and wicked sense of humour and fucking fierce shoes. Of course having an ocean between us has caused us to drift a little, and the news that she is getting married to the-so-perfect-for-her-Chris is jump-for-joy-fantastic, only dampened by the fact that finances prevent me from flying out. So this is for a woman who is a whole freezer of flavor……..

Music Video Backtrack 3

I remember hearing this back in the 90's. It made a blip on the charts, and I have no idea why it was bigger or why she never went any further than this. Imani Coppola, I am desperately waiting your return.

Panty Slang

Women get the raw deal when it comes to words. Bachelor sounds almost noble. Spinster sounds like a creature from a horror film. Fag sounds happy and light (except when used in a derogatory way). Dyke just sounds like it hurts. Where the ladies have us beat in the names for their core - the vagina.
So I am going to celebrate that various funny, cute, and highly imaginative names that are given to the centre of feminism.
The lovely woman I work with, Novelette, has entertained me for hours with the slang from her home of Jamaica. Especially this new term of panty slang:

word: poom poom

eg: Me botty man, me nwa like de poom poom.

MAFFE 2007

BEST PICTURE

BEST DIRECTOR

BEST SCREENPLAYS

BEST ACTOR

BEST ACTRESS

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Tuesday - Music I am listening to day

This is 'Relax, Take it Easy' by MIKA. First single was Grace Kelly and here is hoping the new talented gay on the block has great success! Buy the album!!!

Where have all the good Musicals gone?

Did the genre begin in 2000 and peak in 2001? In 2001 we not only got the cult fav Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but we also got Moulin Rouge!
The latter being a spectacular reinvention of the musical, and the former being an amazing adaptaion of John Cameron Mitchell’s stage play.
But a year before that we got Lars Von Trier and Bjork bringing us the brilliant and criminally under rewarded Dancer in the Dark. At least the French got it right giving it The Golden Palm (Best Picture) and Best Actress at Cannes.
Why does it seem that the movie musicals that have come out since ( Dreamgirls, The Producers and others) just seem, well, uneventful? Sure Chicago won Best Picture, but for me it didn’t hold a candle to these 3 outstanding examples of how this medium can transport our imaginations (Hedwig), our emotions (Dancer in the Dark) and even physically place us in another world (Moulin Rouge!). I guess Hollywood needs to learn a lesson from all of this. Keep the production budget small and be inventive. For example Moulin Rouge with its amazing costumes and set pieces cost $50,000,000 (what was so amazing about all that in Dreamgirls?). Hedwig only cost $6,000,000 and Dancer $12,000,000. Goes to show, passion and love can over come having no money.
Lets hope that with the upcoming Sweeny Todd, Tim Burton and co. can breathe life into this genre again.
I will leave you with a montage from Dancer in the Dark by brianlilith
over at You Tube. Enjoy.

Screen Actors Guild announce winners! zzzzzzzz

Best Ensemble: Little Miss Sunshine
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Best Actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls

Little Oscar Factoids

1 – A Modern Comedy has not won Best Picture since 1977 – 30 years! Could Little Miss Sunshine end that? (for all you people wanting to argue Shakespeare in Love was a period comedy)/

2 – A Crime/Drama had not won since 1971, 36 years (The French Connection) great news for The Departed.

3 – It has been 26 years since an actor 75 years old plus has won Best Actor (Henry Fonda). Since this seems to be the year where they are celebrating the older thespian, could O’Toole win?

4 – It has been 14 years since an English actor won Best Actor – Could Peter end the streak too?

5 – Then again, in the last 5 years, 2 Best Actor trophies have been won by African Americans. If you are of the opinion that the Academy are getting more liberal – Go Forest and Will. If you are of the opinion that a large section of the Academy are a bunch of bigots who may feel black actors have been rewarded enough lately – Then Peter and Leo are front and centre.

6 – Only one actor under 30 has won best actor (Adrian Brody) so not good news for Ryan Nelson.

7 – Since 1990 over 1 third of the Best Supporting Actor trophies have gone to veteran actors over 60 year of age. Great news for Alan Arkin.

8 – Only two African Americans have won Best Supporting Actor in 15 years. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morgan Freeman. Could be good news for Eddie (depending how jaded you are and how you look at it)

9 – Not since Whoopie Goldberg won in 1990 has a black actress won Best Supporting Actress. 15 years!! Very good news for Jennifer Hudson should they think it is time for another.

10 – Best Supporting Actress has been the kindest category to child actors (Tatum O’Neil, Anna Paquin). Abigail Breslin could be celebrating soon.