A Swell Evening

22 Nov

Longtime readers of this blog know how much I loved the movie Once when I saw it this past summer.

So when my friend Nina tipped me off that the film’s stars, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, were coming to Boston to do a concert to promote their album, The Swell Season, I didn’t hesitate to get tickets.

And I’m happy to report that while the concert on Wednesday night didn’t recreate the same sense of euphoria that the movie did, it was still a damn good night of music that only makes me love the movie more. Continue reading →

Flame On!

21 Nov

One thing people may not realize is that I know, at least generally, who is reading my blog. So to the two 14-year-old girls in Shrewsbury, PA, who this morning read through my movie reviews and felt the need to, ahem, “burn me bad” by posting anonymous comments after five of the reviews, I say right back at you: Oh, you think you’re so tough, do you? Next time you want to start a flame war with me, try to do it without such bad grammar and so many spelling mistakes. Yeah, that’s right. I’m busting your chops now. (And yes, it’s all in good fun, if I really need to say that.) But if you girls want to comment on anything you read here — and I do encourage you to comment — try being man (or woman) enough to sign your actual name next time instead of doing it anonymously. Then I’ll be impressed.

For everyone else, want to see their comments? They’re hysterical. Here are links to the reviews:
Across the Universe

Because I Said So

Snakes on a Plane

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Brokeback Mountain (my second review)

She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Sister

20 Nov

At last it can be revealed … I’m going to be an uncle!

That’s right, my sister is pregnant and expecting her first (of what I hope will be many) child(ren) sometime in late May.

As you might imagine, I’m real excited about this news. Sure, it’s great for Mitzi and Jason, and my parents and his parents, blah blah blah, but don’t forget, this is my blog, where everything is all about me, so I’m going to tell you that no one’s as excited as I am.

Holy crap, I can’t wait to be an uncle. An actual, born-in-the-family uncle — as opposed to the “uncle” of my friends’ kids. Continue reading →

Candy Corn

19 Nov

You’ve been warned: Disney’s new movie Enchanted is just about the sugariest, sweetest movie I’ve ever seen. It’s strictly for those with a high tolerance for corn. The film begins in the most cliched Disney animated film ever, where Giselle (Amy Adams), friend to nearly every animal in the forest, is waiting for her true love’s kiss. Along rides Prince Edward (James Marsden), whose stepmother is the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), and the two instantly fall in love. Narissa hates Giselle, of course, and before Giselle and Edward can be married, Narissa throws Giselle down a well, where she lands in … Times Square, in non-animated reality. There she meets Rob (Patrick Dempsey), a divorce lawyer, and wouldn’t you know it, Giselle melts his cold, cynical heart. It’s all just so romantic and bright and cheery and colorful and happy. And New York (especially Central Park) has never looked better.

Not that this is actually a great movie (I figured now was a good time to say that). Dempsey gives a rather wooden performance, and even though this is a fairy tale, the story is a little too contrived and the scene at the King and Queen Ball (yes, really) is a little too hokey. But it’s just damned near impossible not to smile whenever Adams is on the screen. She and Marsden both give such enthusiastic performances that you can’t help but have fun watching the film. Also cool is seeing Idina Menzel in something other than Rent or Wicked (even though hers is a pretty thankless role). But yeah, don’t go see this movie unless you’re a sucker for Disney — or you’re a seven-year-old girl with a princess fetish. I’m giving Enchanted a B–.

He Worked for Our Love

19 Nov

A Bruce Springsteen concert isn’t just any concert. It’s practically a religious experience.

And Sunday night’s show at the TD BankNorth Fleet Boston Garden Center was no exception.

This was, I believe, my fourth time seeing Bruce live (including the 1999 reunion tour when I had seats third row center, thisclose to the stage), and again, he didn’t disappoint.

Somehow I was able to get real good seats for Sunday’s show — Loge level, center, facing the stage, right in between Bruce and Steve Van Zandt — and it was an awesome evening. (No surprise.) Continue reading →

What’s in a Name?

18 Nov

According to The New York Times and the 2000 census, Smith is still the most popular last name in America, followed by Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones.

What about Lieberman?

It ranks waaaaay way down at number 3,906. Apparently, only three out of every 100,000 people share my last name.

The good news, though, is that in 1990, Lieberman was ranked 4,571st, so we climbed 666 places in 10 years. That’s an impressive jump. Just five more and we overtake the Corraleses, 20 more until we overtake the Wentzes, and 150 more until we overtake the Munns.

And if we grow another 666 places by the time of the next census, we’ll overtake the Parrys.

Davis, for those who may be interested, came in 7th. Martin, as a last name, came in 17th.

And if I ever become famous and decide to take my middle name as my last name, I’d have the 89th most popular one.

Find your own last name here.

Take the Money and Run

17 Nov

In the Coen brothers’ new film, No Country for Old Men, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) comes across a drug deal gone bad and takes a bag with $2 million from the scene.

Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), one of the baddest bad guys I’ve ever seen, is hired by some businessmen to track down the money.

And no matter where Moss goes, Chigurh finds him. That bad guy, he’s good.

And so is the film itself.

Also featuring a top-notch performance by Tommy Lee Jones — as Ed Tom Bell, the sheriff on Chigurh’s trail — No Country is one of the best movies of the year. Continue reading →

I’m Too Sexy for People

14 Nov

DAMMIT! I was overlooked again for the title of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. I figured when the Boston Phoenix left me off their ‘Unsexiest’ list that it was a good sign and I actually had a chance. But now People has gone and given the honor to Matt Damon of all people. Jeez Louise. What’s a guy gotta do to get a little lovin’ from those folks? At least I can still say I was Time‘s Person of the Year. That’s probably a better honor anyway. And I suppose it could be worse. At least I wasn’t named one of the Frigid 50.

The Ring Is Cooler, Anyway

13 Nov

I can’t get too upset about C.C. Sabathia winning the Cy Young Award today instead of Josh Beckett. Don’t get me wrong: I think Beckett’s the better pitcher and deserved the honor. But hey, Sabathia needed to win something after those two big, embarrassing losses in the ALCS. And besides, I’m sure Beckett’s much happier with his World Series ring. I know I would be.

Will Music Soothe the Savage Beast?

12 Nov

One personality trait I’ve always been proud of is my ability to stay even-keeled and not let anything get me too bent out of shape. But every now and then, I do get really pissed off. If I’m at work when this happens, I just vent through some music. Green Day tends to come out at these times. If I want to internalize it and calm myself down, I listen to their “Give Me Novacaine.” But if I’m beyond internalizing, I put on something like “Basket Case.” Or maybe I’ll play something by the Killers. Perhaps “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine.” A few years back, I’d play something like Counting Crows’ “Have You Seen Me Lately?” So I put this question out to you, my dear readers: I’m really pissed off right now. What’s a good song to play? Put your answer below in the comments field. Thanks.

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