Archive | January, 2007

Just Wondering …

22 Jan

* Is this what the Yankee fans felt like in 2004?

* When radio execs first heard the chorus of Fall Out Boy‘s cool new single, “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” why did they decide to silence the word “God” and not “Damn?”

* Is the first real snow of the season not the best part of winter? I mean, walking home, as it’s coming down, hearing the crunching of your steps as you push down on more of the finely-packed snow … there aren’t too many pleasures to be taken from this season, but that’s one of them. Hopefully we’ll get more of this soon.

* Are you on the list?

* Why did I go all the way to IKEA on Saturday for a DVD tower, when I found exactly what I wanted at Best Buy the very next day?

* Is it Friday yet?

Not-So-Little Children

21 Jan

Children of Men presents a really unsettling picture of the world, circa 2027: all women have been infertile for 18 years, there is widespread poverty, no clear leadership, and bands of rebels use militaristic efforts to forward their goals. It’s not a pretty picture. So when a miracle pregnancy is discovered, extreme measures are needed to keep the secret and not interfere with the birth. Enter Clive Owen’s character, Theo Faron, who is grappling with his own inner demons (his child died years earlier), and who is charged with protecting the mother. That’s about all I understood about the movie. There’s a bit more to it, and much of that went over my head. I was unclear about what the Fish were doing, why Julianne Moore was only on for about 15 minutes, what Michael Caine had to do with any of it, and how this movie, which is actually quite good despite my not following it entirely, could resort to things like a character (the mother) whose name is Kee and a ship named Tomorrow. They’re not exactly subtle symbols. But anyway, I didn’t want to see Children of Men when it first came out, but the good reviews changed my mind. And now that I’ve seen it, I can’t say I entirely agree, but I do still think this is a very good movie — largely because I was impressed by the vision of writer/director Alfonso Cuaron, and because I thought Clive Owen made an engaging hero. So I’m giving Children of Men a B+.

Second Helping

21 Jan

I always hate going to the movies after year-end awards have been handed out because I can’t help but be biased while watching the film. It’s like my inner critic is crying out, “Impress me!”

And yet I do it anyway, mostly out of obligation, because I want to be able to have seen the major Oscar nominees.

So with that kind of mindset, I went to see The Queen on Saturday. And it’s a good movie, but I won’t be adding it to my top 10. Continue reading →

How Do You Say "Oh Well" in Swedish?

20 Jan

Not that I really needed one, but I’d been looking for a reason to return to IKEA ever since my first trip out to Stoughton a year ago (following The Great Clean-up of 2006).

After all, who doesn’t love IKEA, with its aisles and aisles of cheap but cool stuff?

And its good food?

Well, today I finally had a good enough reason to go. Continue reading →

Dark Tide Rises Again

17 Jan

For the second year in a row, I forgot to mention the Great Molasses Flood on the actual anniversary day, which was Monday. If you’ve never heard the story of the molasses flood of 1919, then you simply must read my post from a year ago, which provides a summary and links to other articles with more details. Suffice it to say, it’s one of my favorite Boston history stories of all time. I mean, it inspired a book called Dark Tide! How great is that?

Anyway, happy anniversary, Boston. I’ll eat a molasses cookie in your honor.

Wa-Wa-Wee-Wa!

16 Jan

Easily, the best moment of the Golden Globe Awards last night was Sacha Baron Cohen’s acceptance of his award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for Borat. Check it out here. (Or here.) (Or here.) (Or watch it below.)

Burrrrrrrr …..

16 Jan

I think winter is finally here. And I don’t like it one bit.

It’s amazing to me that I’ve lived in the northeast all my life, and yet I’ve never gotten used to the cold.

Foresight is 20/20

16 Jan

File this post under: Patting myself on the back; Ego stroking

Watching the Golden Globes Monday night, I was struck by how cool it is to know that I interviewed Jennifer Hudson before she became, well, Jennifer Hudson, Golden Globe winner, big huge star, and likely Oscar winner. So allow me to re-post a link to my story from the December issue of Continental magazine, and to send some public props out to Todd, who helped me set up the interview back in, like, September. And if you still haven’t seen Dreamgirls, well, what are you waiting for? I’ve seen it twice and I’d gladly see it again. And again.

Maybe my review isn’t enough and you need some further proof of how good the movie — and Jennifer herself — is. So here’s a link to Jen’s recent appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, where she performed “I’m Changing,” or you can just watch it below. I’m so impressed that I got to chat with Jennifer on the way up. It’s so cool. And I can’t wait to say that I interviewed an Oscar winner. That’s much cooler than being able to say I interviewed a Tony winner.

Anyway, enjoy this clip of Jennifer Hudson on Letterman and go see the movie.

Love for Sale?

15 Jan

So here’s what I’ve never understood: Match.com has this offer where, if you spend a fruitless six months on the site, they’ll give you another six months free. That makes no sense to me. If you’ve spent more than $100 on a web site that promises to help you find the love of your life, and you’re unsuccessful after six months, seems to me you’d want your money back, not another six months free.

Let It Snow!

15 Jan

For some reason, “I’m dreaming of a white Martin Luther King Jr. Day” doesn’t roll off the tongue like “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” does. So I guess it’s a good thing that “Let It Snow” is a song that can be sung on any holiday, and since there’s snow in the forecast today, even if it is just a slight chance and not until tonight, I thought I’d post this video of Jamie Cullum singing it on what looks like some British TV show. (And maybe by posting this, it’ll work magic and we’ll actually get a substantial snow storm. This has been a really lame winter so far.) Enjoy!

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