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!

No Bark, No Bite

14 Jan

[Note: This review contains plot spoilers, so if you have any intention of seeing Alpha Dog, don’t read this review until after you’ve done so. Or, read this review and change your mind about seeing it.]

There are a few things wrong with Alpha Dog, but one of the biggest — the plot — just can’t be helped because the film is “inspired by actual events.” Alpha Dog tells the story of Jonny Truelove (a.k.a. Jesse James Hollywood), a drug dealer who, to exact revenge on a delinquent customer, kidnaps Nick (Anton Yelchin), the customer’s 15-year-old brother. Truelove’s friends, including Frankie (Justin Timberlake), unwittingly go along with it, and show Nick a good time when he’s left in Frankie’s care. Had the film not been based on a true story, chances are it would have ended with Nick being returned to his family and Truelove behind bars, and the film would have come off like a fun story about this kid who was abducted and was actually better off for having had the experience. But that’s not what actually went down, and the film takes a much darker turn that does it in.

Not that it would have been a much better movie had the kid lived. The script is generally lame, the acting doesn’t help it, and together, it makes for a film about a bunch of not very likable, not very cool, not really tough, and actually, pretty lame people. And it’s a shame, because not only did I think the trailer made the movie look pretty cool, but I’ve always sorta thought Emile Hirsch (who plays Truelove) was a pretty good actor (I particularly like him in The Girl Next Door) and I hoped Timberlake would be fun to watch, but neither one is particularly good (though I’d say Justin has his moments, and he’s certainly better than Lance Bass was in On the Line). So, I’m calling Alpha Dog a disappointment. And I’m giving it a C–.

Welcome to the Wow

12 Jan

Just when I had adjusted to the three-hour time difference, I’m back from Vegas and very tired.

Overall, it was a good trip, as I’ve already said: productive and cost-effective as far as my work objectives go, and fun as far as everything else goes.

Here are some “reporter’s notebook”-style things I thought I’d mention: Continue reading →

What a Show

10 Jan

ces_01You’re not going to believe it’s me saying this, but if I don’t see another TV for a month, it will be too soon.

After three days of CES, I’ve certainly seen enough of them. Plasmas, LCDs, 1080p full HD, etc etc etc. Each one bigger and blacker. LG has a 102-incher, Panasonic has a 103-incher, and Sharp has a 108-incher. Clearly, size matters.

I’ve also seen a lot of cell phones, cameras, mp3 players, iPod accessories, camcorders, blah blah blah … after three days of speaking to PR people and asking about availability and pricing, it’s all blending together (good thing I’ve taken plenty of notes).

And of course, nothing I’ve seen has been as cool as Apple’s iPhone, which is not here because Apple doesn’t do CES. Still, yesterday in the press room, it was all anyone was talking about. Continue reading →

Showing Off

8 Jan

Hello from Las Vegas, where I’m at for a few days for the Consumer Electronics Show.

It’s my third time at the show and it’s great fun, as work trips go. I’m so eager to see all the new cell phones, camcorders, TVs, etc. that I got to the show more than an hour too early today (I thought it opened at 9, but it opens at 10). Ha. But it’s all good.

Anyway, just wanted to say a quick hello because this time I have a good excuse for not posting. If I find a couple minutes and something I can write about quickly, I’ll try to say hi. Otherwise, I’ll be back with pictures and stories and a fuller report later in the week.

Silent New Year

5 Jan

So how do I explain the fact that I’ve now gone almost a week without a single posting?

Well, I can tell you it’s not because I’m still in shock about the cancellation of The O.C.

And it’s not because I’m stunned it took so long for anyone else to notice the similarity between Leo DiCaprio and Eric Dane, which I’ve been saying since October.

It also isn’t because I’ve melted thanks to the unusually warm weather here in Boston.

The truth is, I don’t have a reason. But I’ve gotten enough questions about my blogging absence that I felt like I had to post something.

So, here you go. I’m alive. Happy New Year, y’all.

Movie Review Year in Review

31 Dec

Updated 1/27

Although I still haven’t seen a few films that are on my to-see list (namely, The Queen, The Good German, Night at the Museum, and Babel) I thought I’d do a special year-end post to give attention to the movies I enjoyed the most this year.

I’ve gone through and reread my reviews, noting what letter grades I gave and why, and here are my rankings for the best movies of the year — or at least those I consider my favorites: Continue reading →

Things I’ve Learned, vacation week edition

29 Dec

I could really get used to this “week off” stuff.

It’s nice for a few days to sleep in, roll out of bed sometime between 9:30 and 10, take my time getting ready, do what I want (or don’t do anything at all), and just relax.

Alright, sure I’ve spent plenty of time this week playing with my new computer, but I’ve also learned a couple things too: Continue reading →

From the Ashes They Rise

27 Dec

Like any sports movie worth its salt, We Are Marshall plays with your emotions using the typical methods: an underdog who everyone has counted out, swelling orchestra music to generate a bigger response, gruff non-believers, and more.

So knowing you’ll be getting stuff like that going in means you have to evaluate the movie on a different level.

To that end, Marshall is a movie you can root for. It’s not the best sports movie ever, and it doesn’t really earn your tears like, say, Rudy does, but it’s a rousing tribute to how a school and community got back on its feet after a terrible loss. Continue reading →

Welcome to the Year 2002

26 Dec

Buying a computer isn’t supposed to be a life-changing experience — unless you’ve never had one before, I suppose — but after this past weekend I can say with all certainty that I am a changed man.

You see, until now I had been using an HP desktop computer at home (wait for it) that was running Windows Me and I was accessing the internets using a (gulp) dial-up connection (the phone cord was strung up along the ceiling from one end of the apartment to the other).

But on Saturday, as a Hanukkah present, I bought myself an iMac and hooked up a cable internets connection with an AirPort Express so it would be wireless and much much faster. (And no, I didn’t pay for it all myself; I used gift checks and other stuff, plus money I’d been saving.) Continue reading →

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