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Okay, my Masters application is complete and turned in. Tomorrow I have the appointment to straighten out the whole "English 123A is the same class as English 123D and therefore I DID graduate (MORONS!)" situation. The department counselor just needs to give me the form and I take it over to the graduation office. Then I corner two of my professors, explain that I'm switching majors, and ask them to write my recommendation letters. They're going to be thrilled, heh. (NOT!)

And then I sit and wait for an answer. I can't say I am 100% happy with my admissions essay, so I have to say this is the first time I ever was not SURE that I'll be accepted. And admissions are way down this year due to budget cuts, so there is absolutely no guarantee. So I'm just going to get through everything tomorrow and then cross my fingers. I wouldn't mind if you crossed your fingers for me too - because I really want this.

Actually, I want it more than I even thought. My original plan was to also apply back to the English Literature department just in case, but when I finished the Mass Comm app I sat back and thought about going back to studying literature and I met that same block my brain started putting up last semester. My brain does not want to study literature for one more minute. It is through. Done. So if I want a Masters - and at this point, if I want a degree that's good for anything - then I need to get into that Mass Comm program.

So... please cross your fingers.
:D

The Kite Runner

Stage production of The Kite Runner is playing at the San Jose Repertory Theatre through April 19. I wrote the article for San Jose MetBlogs.

Hamster Cuteness

I'm still dieing over the cuteness of these pictures. And her YouTube videos are outstanding.
Have you ever seen a more adorable hamster Birthday Party??

(No, I don't know her, I just am in love with her pets)

Epicenter about 12-13 miles from my house.
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/nc40234037.html

Pretty good push on the house, but only felt about 3 seconds long. Of course, in earthquake time that's a good 3 minutes, haha.

Poor Annie does remember her hamster.

Annie, I don't think you ever treated your pets badly. You just didn't realize they were so fragile. My kids think I'm crazy because I keep yelling "Careful of her feet!" "Don't put her on the ground!" "Don't take her to the garage!" "Watch her little head!" And they aren't being careless with Puffles but they just don't realize how easily accidents happen. You and I were a lot younger than my kids are now. So stop feeling guilty! Your hamster's memory has lived on for over 30 years - and other animals are being saved now because we warn the kids about the dangers.

So anyway, I still think about Annie every time I pet little Puffles. She and I had a lot of good times together, besides hamster maiming heh.

Tonight is Earth Hour, so everyone remember to switch off lights from 8:30pm to 9:30pm!

Quinceañera - the Movie

Get thee to Netflix or your nearest video store and rent this, Ahora!!

I cried and cried and cried. LOVED it. I can't wait for my daughter to come home so she can watch it, it's going to be her favorite movie.
It's only $9.99 at Amazon, you could just order it now since you'll want it when you're done watching it anyway. I know my order is already placed.

Change for the weekend, no Aptos.
Instead Scott and I are going to go to dinner at Aqui's and hang out for awhile, then he's going home to do some construction on his house this weekend. So I'll be staying home at my house.

That means:
Gardening and tomato planting
House cleaning (?)
MOVIES.

I would like to see: Monsters vs. Aliens, and/or Haunting in Connecticut
I have also rented:
Harold & Kumar Go to WhiteCastle
Get Smart
Kiss Me Kate
Quinceañera
Tropic Thunder

But I'm definitely going to try to get some tomatoes and basil planted this weekend.

The weekend

Today's plan: Work at 10am, get off at 4pm, go to Aptos. Do nothing until Sunday.

What more can we ask?

San Jose MetBlogs

So yes, I'll be writing some things over here now. No, it's not a real job, and yes, I'll be contributing a few times a week. It's at least something out there with my name on it. If you live in the area you should keep an eye on the site anyway.

Not a real job - but I'm actually excited and happy about it. I was asked to do it, so that was flattering. It will be good practice for actual "real" work, because as easily as I can toss things out here, my brain just freezes when I'm writing for something else. It took lots of tries to get out that one review, too many to be reasonable, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I just need to get over that freezing before I screw up any actual work.

And of course I'll be linking to my entries each time! So look forward to it! I am, anyway!
:-D

Guess who's writing for San Jose MetBlogs now?

I hate editing

I really shouldn't post things so late at night. It's a pain in my ass going back through to correct the mistakes the next day. You are instructed to always ignore my spelling typos and grammatical errors for the first 24 hours after I post.

Now get back to work. Are you really supposed to be reading blogs right now??

Chorus Line - the Movie

Since when was this a movie reviewing blog, except for during Cinequest???
I guess since I broke my brain at school. Hopefully the brain is all healed by August.

Anyway, I totally forgot to tell you I watched Chorus Line, right before I watched Gypsy. I never really had any desire to see Chorus Line, and in high school concert band we had to play "One" like a million times and it involved putting our instruments down to clap and just... like... GAWD. Hated it. So anyway, I never wanted to see it. But again in class my professor made a comment about it being one of his favorite stage shows, so I watched it.

It was okay. It was better than I expected, but I wasn't blown away or anything. I was a little surprised by my professor's professed love, but I figured maybe it appealed more to those who, like him, have experienced chorus line auditions. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars.

But in class today I told him I watched it and he screwed up his face and said it was the worst adaptation of a stage production to screen ever. He said it's totally different on stage, a totally different storyline. I'm glad he told me, because I never would think of buying to see tickets to see the show after I saw it, and frankly I was doubting his taste, heh, but now I'm open to seeing it on stage.

This post is too long for a mediocre movie. I don't recommend you rent it, unless you really want to see it - it's not terrible, just okay. But if you're a fan of Disney's High School Musical movies, one of the Chorus Line stars now plays Mrs. Darbus on HSM.

In class a couple weeks ago we saw a clip of Gypsy starring Bette Midler. I haven't seen it before but it looked really good. I decided to rent the 1962 Rosalind Russel version, with Natalie Wood starring as Gypsy Rose Lee, because it was rated higher than the Bette Midler version.

It was SOOOOOOOOO good. I loved Rosalind's Mama Rose character, mostly because she was a strong woman who was so opposite from the women in most of the other musicals I've watched - women swooning over men and worrying about when they would get married. Mamma Rose had no intention of getting married and I loved it. Of course, Mamma Rose is also a horribly manipulative stage mother slash monster, but I liked the strong woman part, heh. It was a really great film, and according to my professor it's considered one of the two best written musicals ever. I have to say, as awful as Mama Rose was for most of the movie, when she told 16 year old Louise to get out there and strip - GOD it was one of the most disturbing scenes I have ever watched.

Most people I've talked to have seen this movie already, but if you haven't it's a really REALLY good one. Of all the musicals I've seen this week, I would say it's tied with Cabaret for my favorite, but with Music Man a close sentimental second. You should definitely try to rent it.

Dr. Phil's a nimrod

I hate Dr. Phil.
That doesn't stop me from watching his stupid show sometimes, but only on very rare occasions. Tonight's episode was an interesting show regarding stupid Nadya Suleman, but I'm going to call Dr. Phil on his shit: we do NOT "need full transparency" into that house. Why does the public need to know ANYTHING about what goes on in that house? Only the authorities need to know, the hospital and Child Protection Services and the police. Not the public, not Dr. Phil. What an incredibly arrogant bastard. Yeah, I'm pissed about the whole 14 baby thing, but it's not MY business what happens in the house. It's MY business if one dime of my tax dollars goes to pay for her shopping trips. Other than that, Dr. Phil is an asshole to even suggest that the entire world needs to know what happens in her house.

But Gloria Allred, good gawd, woman. There was a time, many years ago, when I had respect for you. You really are a famewhore now, aren't you? I mean, I fully believe everything the nurses are saying that happened, but there's no need to exaggerate the case more. Allred almost negates the truths that the nurses are trying to get out because of her own stupid theatrics.

I do think Nadya has a fantastic lawyer, and he did a good time trying to call Gloria on her shit. Incredibly, he's almost the only sane voice in this mess. On the other hand, contrary to what they all said on the show, Nadya DID have cameras in her house for her second homecoming - it was all broadcast on RadarOnline, complete with her repeatedly thrusting the babies' heads against her other kids' mouths commanding them to "Kiss the baby", and a loud and disturbing fight with her own mother. Whether Nadya spends any time with the babies or not (and maybe it's better if she doesn't) I hope the current nannies do a good job and I hope they stick around for a long time.

The initial reason for the story to even come out was that it is the first time octuplets have survived. This should have been an incredibly inspiring, medical miracle type of story. Instead we have another guaranteed trainwreck a la Britney but with fourteen innocent lives involved.

They just all make me mad.

The Octomom

Does anyone else have the feeling that this story is going to end with at least one child dead and Nadya in jail?

This whole thing is like a guaranteed train wreck. There's no way it will turn out good. There is no possible way. And we all can't wait for that tragic ending, right?

SAD. And MADDENING. And FRUSTRATING. It's like watching the old Britney running around town half nekkid and OBVIOUSLY DELUSIONAL but no one does anything. And now we have a new crazy woman but instead of an ex-husband who can sue for custody of the two poor kids, we have fourteen babies with no father. Lovely.

I was mad when this news very first broke, but I get more furious as each day goes by. It's just ridiculous that anyone let this happen. The whole thing could have been prevented at so many points, and now there's no way to step in until something tragic has happened.

So last week my son was very upset because he wanted to drive to San Diego to see a concert with his friends. Now, he's 18 so I'm not going to stop him, although I didn't like the idea of a car full of 18yr old boys speeding down the highway to San Diego. But I wouldn't have stopped him.

But I did. Because he wanted me to give him 1) concert money and 2) gas money.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHA

No.

So he was the only one of his friends who didn't drive down to San Diego this weekend (and it only took them 6 hours to drive the 460+ miles - see? I knew they would be speeding!!). And they all made it home safely, so I'm happy for that. But you know what happened?

They got there and the concert was Over-21-Only. And they are all 18.

So now my son is glad he didn't go. See? Mom always knows best.

Every time I play with my daughter's hamster I remember when I was a kid and my friend Annie had a hamster who lost its eye in an accident on the Barbie Dream House elevator. Aww, memories.

The Music Man - the Movie

Music Man was the first musical I ever saw so it holds a special place in my heart. But also, it's a pretty good movie. It's definitely difficult to get past all the poor, helpless women crap, and the woman needs a man to be happy crap, but otherwise I still love it. At the beginning I was laughing thinking that Iowans must HATE this movie; the film just skewers small town Iowan folk. But that makes watching Professor Harold Hill con the entire town all the more fun. Like I said, I don't go much for the love crap, but watching little Ron Howard cry at the end really brought tears to my eyes. And the very end, that ridiculous closing with the band made me all crazy happy crying. Ugh. haha.

In short, it's one of the best musicals, as far as light hearted comedic musicals go. I haven't seen it in over 20 years but I still had a fantastic time. So I think you should watch it too. It's not Cabaret, but really they're two different things.

Also, I didn't realize that Professor Hill was played by Robert Preston - the same actor who played Toddy the queen in Victor Victoria. 20 years made a big difference with that man.

Now go rent it and have some fun. I watched it on Netflix Instant Play.

Victor Victoria - the Movie

Eh. It was okay. I actually enjoyed it a LOT more than I ever thought I would, but the ending has left me bitter. I hate abrubt endings that don't answer any questions or give you, really, AN ENDING. So what was a 4 out of 5 star movie is now a 3. It's available on Netflix Instant Play.

I think I'm going to go for Music Man now as I haven't seen it in over 20 years, and technical and weather issues are preventing me from working on the back yard. BOO. That yard needs some serious work.

Movie watching update

I've been happily watching as many movies as I can the last couple days. I guess I'm having my own little home film festival - but 100% of my movies are good so far!!

Religulous - I liked this movie a lot, but it's not on my top 10 or anything. I thought Bill Maher rightfully skewers the main religions, but maybe doesn't spend a lot of time on some that he could have. I did think he was overly excited to show Islamic and Muslim religions as extraordinarily violent, but evened things up with the closing scenes showing violence on both sides. The deleted scenes were very interesting. The first one shows Maher kind of making fun of a man who was babbling about the violence of Muslim/Islamics... but I guess that didn't fit in with Maher's own babbling about their violence so it was cut from the movie. A few other deleted scenes just show Maher being kind of a disrespectful asshole. So applause goes out to the editors of this movie. They managed to at least keep the themes and ideas from being contradictory, and keeping Maher from looking like an asshole gave him a lot more credibility in the documentary. All this isn't to say that I don't like the movie; I did like it, and Maher makes entirely valid points. If you're religious you may be offended by this movie. On the other hand you might want to open up your brain to the truths Maher is trying to point out.

Zack & Miri Make a Porno: The offensive volume was turned way down for a Kevin Smith movie - which is a relative sort of statement, so don't think you're not going to see a lot of naked boobs or hanging nut sacks OR a full frontal of Jason Mewes. I think the dialogue quality in general may have lowered also, but overall it was a cute movie. My buddy Todd from IDLYITW called it "a guy chick flick" and that's pretty accurate. Also, Elizabeth Banks is smoking hot. I liked it, I just didn't love it. Don't get soft on me, Kevin Smith.

El Orfanato (The Orphanage): I watched this late at night all alone in the house, and when a certain dead woman suddenly springs to life I jumped a foot out of my chair and screamed. It's a very classic, old school type of creepy horror movie, and also uses that magical realism that is so common in Mexican films and stories. I loved it. Creepy kids in creepy mascaras are something I maybe don't ever want to see again. Rent it. Watch it.
Available on Netflix Instant Play

Cabaret: My number one favorite movie this week, even over Rocky Horror Picture Show. I didn't know ANYTHING about this movie before watching it, so I was not prepared for the introduction of: Nazis, homosexuality, homoeroticism, transvestites, lots of sex outside of marriage, dead dogs, and abortion. Did I mention the Nazis? I'm so used to musicals being mostly light hearted comedies that I was at first struck dumb by this movie, and then simply fascinated during the second half. By the time the final, soundless credits started rolling I was so emotionally wrung out by this movie I had to step back and take a break. Plus, awesomely made, acted and directed. I really wasn't expecting such a fabulous movie - and wasn't surprised to see that it practically swept the Oscars. This movie is my number one pic this week: If you haven't seen it yet, rent it. It's really an amazing film.
Available on Netflix Instant Play.

Now watching: Victor Victoria. On the menu for later: Chorus Line, Gypsy, and Sex & Lucia. And possibly The Music Man.

Dear Son,

When I send you to the grocery store and instruct you clearly to only, ONLY buy a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk, ONLY...

I do not mean to buy all of that and also jelly donuts and four pkgs Chips Ahoy AND get $20 cash back out for yourself.

Why do we keep having to go over this???

Love,
Mom.

And yeah, just for the record, though some of you think I've seen every movie ever made I actually have missed a lot of classics. For instance, I have still never seen any Godfather movies. That's right. No Godfather. That's probably number one on my list of shame - yet I still haven't bothered to rent it. I will though. One day.

Also, I actually do not just watch movies all day. I'm just still repairing my brain from last semester. So yeah, I guess I am mostly watching great movies and bad reality shows, but that's what my brain needs right now.

And so I leave you so I can watch Religulous.

Rocky Horror Picture Show - the Movie

I assumed incorrectly that everyone I knew had already seen Pineapple Express, it seems instead that no one I know has, haha. I hope that everyone who is watching it now on my advice does enjoy it - it's not the best movie in the world, but I liked it MUCH more than I thought I would and would definitely see it again. Turns out Buffy has seen it so many times she can practically quote the entire movie (she can also recite from memory any scene from any Kevin Smith movie too, so she's obviously my daughter).

But hopefully I really am the last person to watch RHPS, because WOW, the fabulosity that is Tim Curry cannot be missed. I'm going to have to watch a midnight Santa Cruz showing of this, ASAP. As a teen I had always wanted to go see it, but the parental rules definitely nixed that idea. And as an adult, I guess I just never had time. Then as time goes by, and you re-watch old movies that you remember as being awesome and it turns out that your memory is bad because the movies SUCK, ...well I guess I figured RHPS would never live up to its reputation and I didn't want to be stuck in the theater at 1am with a bunch of crazies and a bad film.

Finally though, because I'm studying musical theater in class this semester, I decided to watch as many musicals as I can - and that was a great excuse to finally rent RHPS. It started a tiny bit slow for me, I'll admit I was on the internet during the beginning, but once the Transylvanians started dancing I was hooked. Really catchy tunes and you just can't beat dancing transvestites any day of the week. By the time it ended I knew I wanted this movie playing in the background all day while I worked. So I ordered the anniversary DVD (with extra Shock Treatment DVD) from Amazon and plan to see it in the theater just as soon as possible.

Unless you have some ridiculous aversion to dancing transvestites, I hope you all have seen or are going to see this film. Dr. Frank-N-Furter is one sexy beast, and I'd visit his castle any night.

Okay, you want me to be honest, here's an honest review: I have fucking hated James Franco ever since meeting the arrogant jerkwad at Cinequest a couple years ago when he brought one of the worst films I've ever seen to the festival. I have never forgiven him for putting me through that stupid film and I didn't like him as a person any better.

But James Franco in Pineapple Express is one of the best characters I have seen on film in a very long time. As far as comedic performances go, he totally deserved the Golden Globe he received. I just may forgive him his stupid "Ape" film. Maybe. Well, very possibly. For someone who never smokes weed, I seem to have been surrounded by close friends who do for most of my adult life. Franco captures the best and funniest of those characters beautifully.

Pineapple Express is a silly movie, but it's the best kind of silly movie - it's HILARIOUS. Most everyone reading this has probably seen the movie already so there's no point in going on about it. But I totally loved it, I was laughing out loud several times in the movie, and if you haven't seen it yet, you should go rent it now.

Pineapple Express

In the middle of watching Pineapple Express and it is crazy funny. Silly, but funny.
Also, I have hated James Franco since meeting him (and his wretched movie) at Cinequest a couple years ago, but there is no denying that he did a fabulous job in this movie.

Not done yet, but so far it's great...

(Like I told my friend Morgan, and like most of you already know, there is no rhyme or reason to my movie tastes, haha)

Thank you to everyone who is weighing in on Watchmen. I fully admit my brain was on another planet and defer to you all for a true review. I probably won't watch it again on DVD as there are too many other DVDs to watch, but I wouldn't be opposed to it if the kids brought it home.
Thanks!!

Scott and I saw Watchmen this weekend and I'll just be totally up front here: I slept soundly. I had been sick the week before, and the flu seemed to be catching up to me that morning. Scott gave me some Nyquil capsules, swore they didn't make you drowsy, and off we went to the very very VERY comfortable 41st Ave Theater in Capitola. In fact, I believe my last words to Scott were, "These seats are so COMFORTABLE."

So I saw the beginning of the movie, and loved the set designs (a true comic book lover did those) and I watched what seemed to be the longest credit sequence ever, and then... total blackout. I woke up now and then, saw a scene or two, and then went back to sleep. There was one point when I told Scott I had to use the restroom, left the theater, and walked in foggy circles in the lobby trying to remember what I was going to do. Finally found the restroom, debated napping in the stall, and made my way back to the theater to conk out again. I slowly woke up after the movie was over (2 hours 45 minutes???) and we were drinking coffee, and it wasn't until I told Scott about my spaced out feeling in the lobby that he remembered the Nyquil. That must have been it. Lesson of the day: No Nyquil before Movies.

So I won't count this as a real review, but this is what I feel from what I saw:
Dr. Manhattan: Possibly the most boring character ever
Silk Spectre II: Not a great actress, but points for great naked comicbook sex scene
Set Design: Loved
Rorschach: My favorite. Possibly my drugged up state influenced my fascination with his mask. The only extended scene I remember watching in the whole movie was the prison break, and I loved it.

So there you have my non-review. I kind of didn't like it a whole lot - but I was drugged and sick. I also admit to not being a great Watchmen fan, I have the graphic novel but I never could get into it. However, I also remember seeing the trailer months ago (before Dark Knight maybe?) and even though I wasn't a Watchmen fan, that trailer blew me away. I could not WAIT for it to come out. So, drugged up or no, I didn't see anything that remotely blew me away here, and that's why I still honestly can't give it a thumbs up.

Also, I don't get why parents don't understand that "Animated" does not = "For Kids". Why "Comic Book" does not = "For Kids". This movie was very true to its graphic novel roots and genre AND it was rated R, and you know what that means? DON'T TAKE YOUR LITTLE KID. GAWD.

Edited to add: the 18 yr old boy also saw it this weekend, he said he liked it a lot but gave it a 7 out of 10. Also, Scott has the graphic novel AND has read it, and really liked the movie.

Cinequest ends, the movie watchers leave and my regular readers don't know it's business as usual again. Eh, they'll be back eventually.

*crickets*

It's Friday and as soon as work is over I'll be heading to Aptos. Actually, I'll be trying to convince Scott to go with me to the play at SJSU, but THEN we'll head to Aptos. I don't think there are any plans for the weekend except we're almost surely going to see Watchmen.

Coraline is coming back to 3D theaters today! WOOOO! Victory over the Jonas Bros!! I'll be seeing the 3D version just as soon as possible.

Finally got over my cold yesterday and did some Wii Fit cardio for the first time. I'm not sure the Wii Fit is up to my level of fitness, obese or not, but I figure if I can get an hour of fun in a day, well, it's an hour of calories burned instead of sitting on the couch. We shall see what happens. Regardless, the Wii is fun.

I have just a bit over 2 weeks to finish up my new major application and get my letters. My goal is to get that done by next week.

But for now I work (and do laundry).

I unlocked the snowboarding game on the Wii Fit today, and it's hard as hell, but the best part is my Wii Fit age is now 30 - the same age as Buffy.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA

Pretty soon she'll have to be the Mommy and I can sit and play ClubPenguin all day instead of homework and say "Yeah, I'll do the dishes" and then never do them and for SURE I'll get to lose my house keys and make her come home from whatever fun thing she's doing so she can let me in. I can't wait.

Secret in the Wings

Anyone want to go see Secret in the Wings with me tomorrow night at SJSU? My usual theatre-partner saw it when I was at Cinequest. Daughter backed out because of homework obligations, and tomorrow's the only night I can see it. Scroll down the page, it looks amazing. I'm still hoping Buffy can make it anyway. Anyone else?

"The Chopping Block" - TV Show

Did anyone else watch this tonight?
And am I crazy or was this show insanely dumb and confused?
It was all over the place in the opening minutes, I HATE when shows start out in the middle and make it seem like you've already missed episodes. I don't get the point of this show, I don't quite understand where these teams came from, and I was bored within five minutes. For all the talking up of this show beforehand, it didn't remotely live up to expectations. Marco Pierre White supposedly made Gordon Ramsay cry; I definitely had tears of boredom.

Am I wrong or was this the most badly directed and poorly executed reality show to hit Prime Time in a very long time? Or was I the only one suckered into watching it?

My Wii Fit age is now 31.
Buffy is 30.

And I haven't even been well enough to box or run yet.

I told her pretty soon she's going to have to be the Mom.

Sick with no sleep

It would be nice if I was feeling better now that Cinequest is over. At least the cold mostly held off until after the festival, but I would love to get out in the sunshine right now. Or mow the back yard. Instead of just dozing here on the couch all day and coughing my lungs out. Riding my shiny new bike that's sitting in the entry way collecting dust would be nice too, before it starts raining again.

Also, I hate you Day Light Savings Time. I already can't get to sleep before 1:30am, but now I'm up until 2:30am. Nice.

Hilariously, this morning the Wii Fit asked me how much sleep I get. When I entered 4-5 hours it chastised me and told me to get 7.5 hours. Yeah, right. But this evening when Buffy signed on, you know what the Wii said to her?

Wii: "Did you know that Mommy isn't getting enough sleep?"

Me: "HEY!!"

Buffy: "No shit."

Me: "That's confidential!"

Wii Fit: "You should encourage Mommy to take naps, or sleep more at night."

Buffy: "Mother. You heard it. You DON'T get enough sleep. TAKE A NAP."

Who knew the Wii Fit was a tattletale??

In better news, my Wii Fit age is 38, and Buffy is 30. She is PISSED. HEH HEH HEH.

And so here I am in the middle of my semester off. And loving it.
It has really been great for my brain to have this rest, and I'm already at the point where I cannot believe I just got through 4.5 years of full time school while working and mothering and losing my parents and blah blah blah everything else that has happened in 4.5 years. But I just don't want to go all out like that again. When I return to school it's going to have to be at a slower pace.

On the other hand, I'm switching majors. I've had serious doubts about whether an English Masters would make me happy. Professors I talked to about it last October tried to chalk it up to stress over the anniversary of my mother's death, but I knew deep down that they just were what they were: serious doubts.

The truth is, I love writing. I also love books, but I just don't want to get any further into an Elizabethan or Jacobean novel than I already have been. Really. I'm done. I want to write, I don't want to write about books any more. So after many months of thought I have decided to switch to Mass Communications. I don't know what I will do with this degree, but I do believe it will make me happier and fit me better than going any further into the English Literature degree. AND, the graduate work I already completed should be able to count towards the new major. So no loss of time spent.

I looked up the deadline for the application and I think I have until April 1 to get my new application in and two reference letters written (by professors who don't want me to leave their department, ah well). And then we'll see if all the budget cuts will allow me entrance. But I started school so that I could do something that I wanted to do - and if Mass Communications makes me happier than English Literature, then that's the direction I'm going to take.

And that is the End.

So this brings us to the close of the best Cinequest year yet. Regular readers know I have reviewed Cinequest for quite a few years now - thank you for your patience during these strange 12 days of the year. New readers may be quite surprised to find how boring this place actually gets the rest of the 353 days of the year. I won't feel bad if you don't return until February 2010. But I certainly appreciate and thank everyone who visits during Cinequest. All I ever wanted was to talk about the incredible films I would watch at CQ when I had no one else to discuss them with. So I would just ramble here to myself for 12 days a year. Now we've become something pretty big and important, and it's fun but mostly it's just nice to have actual people respond now.

And to those readers who read me but didn't attend the festival: I hope this year's coverage convinces you to give it a try next year. Seriously. It's not a scary place, it's just a time for movies. And it's fun beyond your imagination. That's what I hope I got across.

Until next year, Folks. And now we return to our regular scheduled programming.

Goodbye Cinequest Friends

Because Cinequest this year was for me much more about the people involved than it was in previous years, I have to take some time to say goodbye to them too. Click the link below for thanks to many people I met this year.

Cinequesting: Dude, we’ve been “friends” and linking to each other’s reviews for four years but I never met you until this year. This meeting was the most exciting for me. Thanks for hanging out with me and discussing movies - in person this time! You are a tremendously cool guy and I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye – but I’ll see you next year! Or maybe I can borrow some of those screeners you have laying around.

Jason: Ah Jason, you know I read your reviews throughout the year. You’re a bigger than life Maverick and next year they should put YOU on the program covers (with your Maverick tattoo of course). I hope you had as good a time this year as I did.

Vincent: It was truly a pleasure meeting you this year. Even nicer to find out you’re a really special, cool and loving person. Thanks for hanging out at the party with me!

Michael Vox: You got away from me this year and I never got to meet you. But I want to thank you for inviting me to post on CQCentral. I hope I lived up to your expectations.

Alejandro Adams: One of the most interesting directors I’ve ever met and he has a much softer inside than he lets people see. Alex, I am really sorry we didn’t have more time to talk during the festival because I think you probably have a lot of interesting things in your brain. I look forward to Slamquest, and thanks for letting me hang out with you at the closing party and introducing me to even more people (Hello, The Dridge!).

Marya Murphy: Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous and super-smart, but also beautiful inside and a great mom. I hope we can continue to be friends and I look forward to seeing you next year – or at Slamquest!

RandomCuriosity and Ana Z.: You both got away from me at the festival, but I enjoyed “meeting” you through the internet. David I actually did see you Sunday, but you were talking to people inside the box and I was running off to the Cal. Next year, right? And Ana, next year you will take extra vitamins to ward off any germs!

Beth Toni Kruvant: Definitely great meeting you in the FM Lounge this year, and because of that meeting I made sure to see your movie. It was a pleasure, and I congratulate you for winning those festival awards. Well deserved!

Ray Rodriguez: Dude, you’re awesome! I’m glad I got to meet you and thanks for sitting with me during some movies. Come sit with me any time! See you next year, I’m sure!!

Jeffrey Goodman: What a genuinely nice guy. I wish you much luck in the future and good luck with this film and any future ones. Thank you for bringing your film to Cinequest because I had a great time watching it. I’m glad you had a good time at Cinequest and hope we get to see more of you and your films in the future. You can contact me through this blog if you need me!

The Volunteers: You are the best, as always. I saw you putting up with some very, uh, interesting people this year, and you handled them far better than I could have. The festival was HUGE this year, and you helped make it run so smoothly it was unbelievable. Thanks to all of you, both the brand new volunteers and those faces I see year after year after year.

Halfdan Hussey: You can’t put a thank you list together without adding Halfdan, co-founder of Cinequest. After he quoted my blog in his Closing Night talk I had to introduce myself and we had a nice chat. He and his teams have worked very hard over the years to make Cinequest what it is today and I think extraordinary measures were taken this year to take the festival to a higher level. Mr. Hussey, it was a pleasure.

Rhett and Burke Lewis, Candyce Foster: I’m putting you last here, but only to emphasize how much I enjoyed meeting you. Thank you for contacting me before the festival, and I am still sorry I didn’t like your movie – but I do look forward to future movies from you. I hope you had a great time at Cinequest and I just want to thank you again for being such nice people. And for not sending me down the Light Rail tracks on the couch.

As the rest of you can see, there are some terrific people at Cinequest and you are guaranteed to meet some of them if you go next year. So I hope you’re all making plans because I expect Cinequest 2010 to be bigger and better than ever!

Goodbye Cinequest: I will miss you

So much to say, I don’t know how I’m going to get it all in, or all OUT. I LOVED this year’s Cinequest. I think Cinequest grew up a lot this year; it definitely felt like a major film festival for the first time. Sitting in the Cal Theater on Sunday night you could actually feel the energy (as opposed to the exhaustion from previous years) surging through the audience. I just felt like I was a part of something BIG this year. There are so many very small things that Cinequest either put into place or encouraged, and those small things really added up to something special. I just hope I can remember everything.

1. Previews before the films! In past years the repetition of the sponsor ads (not to mention that platinum blonde telling us about Cinequest over and over and over ad nauseum) made you want to stab your eyes with a fork. This year we had ads interspersed with previews of upcoming festival movies and interviews from InsideCinequest. VERY nice and welcome change!

2. The Twitter Review contest. Audiences were challenged to write the best movie reviews in 140 characters or less. They haven’t announced a winner yet, but many people participated; just reading the entries was a lot of fun, not to mention informative.

3. Twitter! Wow, did this come in handy! With the addition of the #CQFF19 tag moviegoers were able to connect with other viewers, hear instant reviews, find out the best lunch location or where the nightly soirees were, or even be instantly warned that parking was scarce or that a line was forming for a certain movie. A lot of people attend Cinequest alone, and somehow Twitter brought us “out” and got us together, and I personally became friends with a lot of people I never would have met otherwise. All through Twitter. Who would have thought?

4. The artists at the Camera Theaters. It’s not film, but it’s art and it brought attention to the Camera windows day and night. It was a great way to draw crowds closer to the theater and another great way to support local artists.

5. Nightly watering holes. I didn’t get to attend any of these parties (because I was in the theater) but I thought it was great that Cinequest gave back to the community by promoting a different place each night. They support Cinequest, we support them; it’s an obvious win-win combination.

6. Festival Fanatic. This website saved my life this year. The last thing I had time for was getting out my Excel sheet to try to make up my schedule again. This site was so easy to use and so easy to make changes to. If you plan on seeing a lot of movies at a festival, I highly suggest you use this site.

7. InsideCinequest. These people did a great job interviewing as many filmmakers as possible, and the website was a great thing to spend time on while you’re at home waiting for movies to start. It gave the festival a more professional feel and made the festival sound as exciting as it was for people just checking it out.

8. Matinee prices. Movie tickets at the festival have always been $10, or $5 for students, and that is not bad. But this year they introduced the $7 matinee ticket and I think that was a great idea. It's a tough year for people, but you always need new people to attend. The cheaper rate might bring people in this year who can afford a pass next year.

9. My Press Pass. Bloggers have talked up Cinequest for years for free, but calling us all out and giving us passes gave us a sense of legitimacy and feelings of importance and appreciation. I’ve been in communication with Jason and Cinequesting for years, but this year it was not only like we were on a team, but we felt a responsibility to do a really good job in return for those passes. Giving us access to the Filmmaker Lounge made meeting the filmmakers easy and we were more than happy to change our schedules around to watch and promote the films of directors we had met there. I hope we did Cinequest proud (and I hope I get a pass next year!).

In short, this was the best festival ever. In years past I have had a wonderful time watching movies but was more than ready for it to be over after twelve days. This year it was like a 12 day/24 hour non-stop party, and I cannot tell you how sad and disappointed I am that it is over. I urge you all more than ever, next year is Cinequest’s 20th birthday: You are NOT going to want to miss it. Come on down, sign on to Twitter, write some reviews, and go to the parties. You are GUARANTEED to have a blast.

Gotta Dance - the Movie

I am now officially a sucker for old people documentaries.

This movie was billed as a film about a bunch of senior citizens who have taken up hip-hop dancing. But it really was so much more.

It starts out with a panning shot of a line of feet, just shuffling away, not moving fast and not remotely following a beat. My first note in my book says “They’re not coordinated AT ALL. I’m not sure about this.”

My next note says, “10 minutes in and I’m going to cry off all my mascara from laughing.”

The film follows around this group of senior citizens who try out for a new New Jersey Nets dance team. But as we follow these seniors around we also get to know about their lives, and that’s what I’ve always found so incredible and satisfying about these “old people” documentaries. Fanny is an 80 year old Filipino woman who lived in the jungle with her family for two years during the war. She’s maybe four feet tall and all skin and bones, but she loves to “Boogie Woogie”. 61 year old Betsy is a kindergarten teacher who was extremely introverted but likes to dance. So she renamed herself “Betty” and talks about Betty in the third person. “Betty wants it sexy,” she says as she complains about their loose fitting costumes. Betty also brought the theater house down as she demonstrated her “sexy pole dance” for the audience.

Next note: “15 minutes in – mascara all gone.”

While many of the seniors danced when they were younger, most had not even heard of hip-hop. But “when they started that music I was poppin, hippin, whatever!” says 60 year old Audrey. And that is exactly what they all did. Ranging in age from 60 to 83 years old, this team of twelve women and one lone man started training for their first dance routine to music they had never heard before. It was slow-going for the poor cheerleaders who had taken up this project, but they respectfully let the seniors know that they expected them to work as hard as possible to get the routine down.

Game day. All the seniors have to get their hair ready and make-up done. “I could be sexy,” says one senior, “but it takes a lot of work!! Transexuals, transvestites, why would they want to go through all this?” she complains. As the team walks through the back hallway to get to the arena they see an ambulance parked outside. “Is that for us because we’re seniors?” one of them asked.

And finally, it’s time. The team, dressed in bright red rain slickers, takes the arena floor and the opening to “Singing in the Rain” starts. They start shuffling around like old people do and the audience claps politely. But then… “Singing in the Rain” fades out. Jay-Z fades in. The rain coats are slung off. And the team of seniors start “poppin, hippin, whatever,” to CRAZZZZY feedback from the audience. The New Jersey audience is up on their feet screaming and hollering and dancing right along with them, and when the routine was finished the theater audience broke out in spontaneous applause too.

The film continues to follow them through their five month long “15 minutes of fame” and shows them dealing with their new-found celebrity. There are Nets audience interviews that show the respect this team achieved, and interviews with happy youth dancers who got to do a routine with the seniors at the last game. It was a really FUN film, and a really inspiring film. It’s difficult to imagine your own parents hip-hop dancing out there, but really it’s difficult to even imagine ourselves out there. This team of amateurs really earns the audience’s respect, and gives everyone proof that there really is life after 60. The theater audience wildly enjoyed it, and I found it an incredible movie to watch on the last day of Cinequest.

But first:

Before I get to reviewing and recapping...

Halfdan Hussey, Director and Co-Founder of Cinequest, quoted MY BLOG in his opening words on Closing Night. That's right. MY BLOG.

It's not like it was any amazing writing or anything, but it was still my words, and I was very very excited. Okay, give me time to think up my reviews now.

Movie count: 25 films, 11 days (45 films if you count shorts)

Today was a really really really good day. I am really sad though that it ends tomorrow. First Cinequest ever that I'm not ready for it to be over. Thank God I didn't have school.

I woke up with a terrible sore throat and still felt like crap, so I just stayed in bed until 8:30 and decided I would miss the first set of shorts. So I drank some coffee and felt a little better, then Spike got me an Italian fritatta ciabatta sandwich which made my recovery complete. I got to Cinequest around 1pm and felt just fine.

First I watched the Shorts 7 program which had a lot of really good films, and one that was shot partly in San Jose. If Shorts 7 plays again tomorrow, you should try to go see it. As I got out of the theater to head over to the Rep I saw Rhett and Candyce and from Billy Was a Deaf Kid. They had asked me before the festival to review their film, but I very sadly hated it. Still, they asked me to introduce myself if I saw them, so that I did. They seemed really happy to see me and were genuinely some of the nicest people I have ever met. They were in very good humor about the review, and even said they wanted to post it on their website (WHAAT??). I have had my reviews quoted on websites before, but never a BAD review. Their theory (a correct one) is that their film definitely did not cause apathy; people either loved it or hated it. I hated it and I was not alone, but I have heard people raving about it all over the festival. They asked to take a picture with me, and so we did, and I apologized some more for my review. Honestly, they are so gosh darn NICE that I wanted to retract my review - but I stand by it. I'm sorry, but I can't get past that horrible dialogue. If it wasn't for that I could have gotten through it. But I would definitely see another movie of theirs, to see how they have grown and changed from all this in the future.

So off to the Rep to see Canary. Cinequesting asked me why I liked Canary but not Billy/Deaf Kid. It's really simple: Canary gives you a lot to think about with not a lot of dialogue, Billy gave me nothing to think about BUT the bad dialogue. And so of COURSE, the Billy kids were there at the theater. Candyce liked Canary, and when I said I did too her eyes opened in surprise and then her entire face fell. "I'm so jealous," she said, making me feel a thousand times worse for not liking her movie. Honestly, I rarely feel bad for anything I do or say, but these kids are insanely nice. I feel like a cad, I swear, heh. I will say this though, they have stuck around through the whole festival and everyone knows who they are. These are the kinds of filmmakers we love to see come back, whether they have a movie in hand or not. They are the kinds of filmmakers who make the whole experience for us Cinegoers. You can feel the holes that directors like Cullen Hoback and Craig Saavedra leave when they don't return to the festival. The Billy kids are going to leave a hole next year (unless they come back!).

And then off to see The Last Lullaby, which I also loved, review below.

Tomorrow's schedule will possibly look like this:
Student Shorts
Ready? OK
Euforia
Nature of Existence

And I just might be able to run between theaters to fit in Gotta Dance, but I doubt it will happen. Sadly, this is the end. No more movies after tomorrow. I am sad.

Sitting in front of this stupid page for 30 minutes now trying to figure out what to write about Canary, but I know that’s what writer/director Alejandro Adams wants. There has been a lot of talk about this movie at Cinequest, and some badmouthing, 99% of which comes from Alejandro himself. Never in my life have I seen a filmmaker try so hard to get you to skip his film or prod you to write something bad. Possibly this is genius marketing – what better way to have people watch your film than with expectations at the bottom of the barrel?

Always ready to bite at any challenge, I was not going to be deterred. I did do something that many people did not – I read all the promotional materials. The Canary filmmakers made a great fold-up flier, like the kind you would see at a doctor’s office. It was an information brochure for Canary Industries. There is a lot of information in that brochure that would help a viewer before watching the movie. I also visited their website which also has this information. And with this information I watched the movie and was able to love it.

I guess the main point that the viewer needs to know is that the Canary Industries deals in organs. Organ donations and organ retrievals. The film is set in the present, and if you listen carefully (or read the materials) you will find out that you can register your child (born or unborn) and of course yourself, so that you can receive an organ when necessary, donate one if necessary, and most importantly: take care of them. A good explanation of the company comes from their own words:

If any client is not in compliance with the Conscientious Usage contract, an Organ Redistribution Specialist may be authorized to remove the leased organ in order to preserve it for the future use of the community. The important thing to remember is that the organ gives life to many, not to one. Any individual who endangers an organ is willfully undermining the sustainability of the community.

“Indulging in sports, alcohol consumption, vigorous sexual intercourse, or other prohibited activities” will result in organ retrieval. This also means you must eat only approved foods, and no worries, Canary Industries has their own organic food line.

The movie itself has almost no plotline, no beginning, no end. The only real main character is “Canary Agent”, played by Carla Pauli. She speaks no words, just moves through Canary Industries (which is based in San Jose, of course) and the city without ever being noticed. She is not noticed by the chattering office workers at Canary, or by any citizens as she walks through town, or even when she stalks her organ prey in their own houses.

The Q&A with Alejandro was interesting, in that he decided he would ask US the questions. First one? “What does the last scene mean?” Well, heck if I know. But I loved that he posed it to us, because to me it solidified the idea that this film IS an idea. It’s something to think about. I felt that the Canary Agent, silently both walking among us and ignored by us, really just showed how everyone turns a blind eye on things that happen in the world. We can get a job with an employer that does very bad things in the world, but we’re just employees, we’re not actually taking the organs. Bad things are happening all around us, right under our noses, but we walk on by because they aren’t happening to us. And worst of all, we are inviting bad things to happen to ourselves without speaking out or taking action. So don’t be surprised if you’re inanely chattering to your girlfriend about really stupid things on television and then wake up with all your organs gone. You should have paid more attention.

edited to add: After thinking more, I remember that the only person to ever notice Canary Agent is a very young child from the last scene that Alejandro asked about. I suppose now that that scene must have been something of an "Emperor has no clothes" meaning to it. The movie just gets more awesome the more you think about it.

The Last Lullaby - the Movie

The Last Lullaby is based on a story by Max Allan Collins. Price is a career hitman who wants to retire but decides to do one last job. This is an often told tale, but I really did enjoy this movie. Tom Sizemore is fantastic as the hitman who falls in love with his target and the supporting cast also does a great job. Director Jeffrey Goodman said he wanted to tell a quieter story than you usually see, minus the helicopters, explosions, and multi-car freeway chases. He does a great job with this, creating instead a really suspenseful film, one that makes you literally jump out of your seat every time a gun goes off. Seriously. The gunshots were CRAZILY loud (My note during the first shoot-out: “Is the theater BLOWING UP???”). There are also a few twists and turns in the film, none of which I guessed before they happened. And so instead of your average action movie, what you end up with here is a really well told story, with great, developed characters.

Goodman and writer Peter Biegen were asked how it was to work with Tom Sizemore, and the hesitation they took before answering really said a lot. But they both agreed that though they “had some issues,” Tom was a complete professional during filming and seemed to really want to prove himself. However it happened, Sizemore gives a great performance, and this is a movie you should find the time to see.

Cinequest - Day Ten

And on the tenth day the Body declared a Day of Rest.

I got sick, I couldn't do it. I didn't make any movies Friday. I'm sad that I didn't see Gotta Dance because who doesn't want to see hip-hopping grandmas? Hell, I'll probably BE one of these grannies in 20 years (or less). Ah well.

Woke up feeling even sicker this morning, but after some coffee I'm feeling MUCH better and expect to get to Cinequest by 1pm. On today's schedule is:

Shorts 7: Breaking Through
Canary or Firaaq
The Last Lullaby
Another Man

Those of you who haven't made it to Cinequest yet had better get here quick, tomorrow is the closing day. There are still LOTS of good movies to see this weekend. If you're anywhere around here, and I know many of you are, come down and see these movies! Watchmen will still be in theaters when Cinequest is over, you won't miss anything, I promise.

Tandoori Love is bright, colorful, musical, romantic, slightly violent and best of all, contains extreme close-ups of beautiful, delicious Indian food. This is fusion filmmaking at its best and most hilarious, and you will leave the theater desperately searching for the nearest Indian restaurant.

Sonja lives in the Swiss Alps and is engaged to Markus. Well, he hasn’t actually proposed yet, or given her a ring, but he has already announced the engagement to their families. Markus seems like a nice guy if a bit of a mama’s boy, and Sonja is a gorgeous Swiss Miss with very long legs and red hair.

All is going well until a Bollywood film crew sets up camp next to their chalet/restaurant. Spoiled Priya is a Bollywood diva who loves Raja, the crew cook. But Raja only has eyes for the Swiss beauty in the chalet. Markus, unaware of Raja’s love for his fiancé, hires him to be the new cook for the restaurant.

And now the fun begins. The arrival of the film crew has turned all of Switzerland into a Bollywood movie. Raja makes an impromptu marriage proposal to Sonja in the supermarket and suddenly is singing a love ballad while all the Swiss customers start dancing in sync. After every declaration of love or rejection we cut to an overproduced Bollywood music video. And of course we have the standard boy meets girl, loses girl, accidentally stabs a man in the back, and then wins girl in the end. But you never know which boy and which girl will end up with whom.

This movie is just pure, enjoyable fun. There are no deep messages here, no thoughtful quandaries to think about later, it’s just a fun and quite beautiful Swiss-Bollywood movie. Definitely one of my favorites this year.

Ugh.

Woke up late with sore throat.
See that typing up reviews at 1am doesn't always work well.
May have to cancel first movie tonight.
Blah.

Head clear enough to say that you should still go see Tandoori Love. Must write review today.
Must make tea now.

Cinequest - Day Nine

Today was a really good day for movies.
Heart of Stone was a awesome and a documentary
Lightbulb was based on a true story and entertaining
Tandoori Love was HYSTERICAL, but it's after 1am so no review until tomorrow.

Make room on your schedules for Tandoori Love. It's like the movie Like Water For Chocolate, but produced by Bollywood and set in Switzerland. Very very good, hysterically funny, and amazing close up shots of delicious indian food. Don't go hungry!

Tomorrow my plan is:
Killer Poet
Gotta Dance
Why Am I Doing This?

Lightbulb - the Movie

Lightbulb is a hard movie for me to categorize. The program lists it as comedy, and it really was funny. It also had some serious parts too, but most of all it's just the true story of two guys who are struggling to find that one idea that will make them rich. Matt and his friend are trying to create novelty gadgets to sell, such as a watch that gives you random numbers for the lottery. This idea doesn't go over very well, but a different watch idea, one with "thinking dogs" (don't ask) is well received. They go on to lose all their development money at the dog track, so more money is needed to create different watches with the top ten dogs on them. Matt's gambling problem then not only loses all the business money, but flushes all his wife's money down the toilet as well, and she smartly leaves him. Eventually they are snookered out of their watch rights and hit rock bottom (trying to steal a gigantic cactus - by digging it out of the desert), but are finally saved when Matt goes to open a bottle of beer and finally comes up with a brilliant idea. The best part of the movie is that this is a true story, and it's hilarious seeing up on screen an item that you either have at home or have considered purchasing. Matt the gambling loser was obviously a genius.

The movie isn't the best at Cinequest, but it is very entertaining and well put together, and has some experienced but not well-known actors, and even some pretty funny sex scenes ("It's Animated! It's Animated!!!"). I wouldn't recommend you skip something really great to see this one, but if you have a free spot you won't be sorry.

I'm really glad I managed to fit this one in. It had gotten my attention in the festival program but I set it aside because you only need so many Stand and Delivers and Lean On Mes. But after the talk with the director earlier in the week my friend and I were intrigued, and then after my son saw it and liked it I decided I had to see it too.

It does follow the same type of storyline, except it is an actual documentary. It is the story of Weequahic High School in Newark, built in the Jewish and African-American section of town, and which churned out more graduates who went on to get PhDs than any other school in America, 1930-1970. Philip Roth, who I just spent an entire semester studying, graduated from this school. But in the 1970s things started changing, and the entire neighborhood was overrun with Crips and Bloods.

In steps new principal Ron Stone. At this point the school had won a single football game in three years, and no state championship in 25. Fights ran through all the halls. The Crips and Bloods were trying to kill each other. And Ron Stone, wearing his bullet proof vest, vowed to make a change.

It wasn't all Ron Stone's doing though, and I wasn't clear who was the chicken and who the egg, but there is also an alumni association involved here. Made up of Jewish graduates from the good times, there is a marked contrast between their lives and those of the current students. Doctors, lawyers and businessmen, they arrange meetings and barbeque fundraisers to help Ron Stone build a gym and create college scholarships. Through the association's help, students are able to go on ski trips and even a trip to France.

Through the six years of Ron Stone's rein, the football team wins the state championship and mediators make actual headway with the gangs. Many gang members vow to make sure all their members are going to graduate high school - and they not only do this, but they go on to college.

As promised by Beth and my son, there is a marked ending to this documentary. I'm not going to tell you just like they didn't tell me - you may possibly see this on TV one day. I will say it's a tragic ending but not an expected one, and this really catches the viewer off guard. Regardless of that tragedy though, it is obvious that the good that Ron Stone and the alumni association are doing will continue on, and that takes some of the sadness away.

Must take my vitamins today

The 18 hour days of school/work/movies/5-hours of sleep are just starting to catch up with me, but I think I can make it through to Sunday. I still feel like a bug is trying to take hold, but each morning the coffee drives it away. At this very moment I'm not sure I can handle three movies tonight - but they are all movies I've really wanted to see, especially the late one (Tandoori Love - trailer here). So somehow or other I'm going to see all three. Jason survives on these Foosh Mints, and I haven't noticed them at the store, but I think I may go on a mission today.

Speaking of errands, I have 19 library books that have been overdue since Cinequest started. Dammit.

Cinequest - Day 8

Today wasn't the best of days, so hopefully things get better tomorrow.

My son was going to attend Generic Thriller with me today, but he came home this afternoon looking like death warmed over. Or maybe warmed under. I sent him to bed where he passed out and I went to Generic Thriller alone. As you can see from the review below, I didn't enjoy myself. It was SO boring that I couldn't even get up the energy to leave, I just dozed on and off through the movie - along with a couple people around me to my amusement.

When it ended I didn't stay for the Q&A; if the director had something to say it should have come across on screen, and I didn't see anything I wanted to hear about. So I left, hoping Asqew Grill would still be open. Just closed, of course! I had planned to see Camila JAM but I just wasn't up for a subtitled movie this evening. Hopefully I'm not catching my son's bug, but I feel like I should get some sleep tonight. So I drove home, got to Pasta Pomodoro just in time to get an order of Pasta Bolognese and Bruschetta in, and went home.

I'm going to get some good rest tonight, because I have three movies planned for tomorrow:

Heart of Stone
Lightbulb
Tandoori Love

I am REALLY looking forward to all three. I hope they don't disappoint, I don't think they will.

Generic Thriller - the Movie

I can’t say that I wasted 90 minutes of my life at the theater this evening, because I did get some good nap time in. But I can’t say that you should go see this film either. At all. Ever. The misleading title probably didn’t help expectations, but not even in the Cinequest film description are you told that the entire film is constantly narrated by strangely boring Steven and takes place solely on the stage of the SJSU theatre. There is no “thriller”, generic or otherwise. There is a strange killer of blondes that runs around pretending to stab and shoot people, but it’s really only funny for a couple minutes – and don’t even let that bit get you excited, it was NOT exciting. This was not even a poorly thought out SNL skit that was lengthened to a full length feature – it was a long, rambling stream-of-consciousness with no thought provoking ideas or comedic moments, and most especially, it had no Thriller.

It did have one redeeming quality – the awesome Shirley Jones. Head floating around the stage in a bubble, she gives constant advice to Steven as he continues talking and arguing with his players. But don’t think for a moment that any of these supposed conflicts make this film even remotely interesting. I came home and told my son to take it off his movie schedule immediately. No point missing something really great, or even something good, by wasting your Sunday morning watching this. Go watch the Student Shorts instead; you’re certain to find many fascinating films there.

Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing Lifelines, directed by Rob Margolies. I picked this movie because Jane Adams is my Indie Queen and I always love anything she’s in (including 11 episodes of “Frasier”). Lifelines is the story of the Bernstein family, and for the first 6.2 seconds they appear to be the Perfect Family, in the Perfect House, on the Perfect Street. But like the Todd Solondz movies this film is so reminiscent of, things are much different behind closed doors. Daughter Meg sneaks boys into her room to spend the night. Teenage son Michael has a painful stuttering problem. Mother Bernstein, played in the performance of a lifetime by Jane Adams, is a caffeine addict and verbally mistreated by all three of her children. The dysfunction in this family becomes even more apparent when the entire family goes to a family counseling appointment, youngest child arriving in handcuffs after escaping the car and making a run for it. This family meeting has convened so that the parents can announce their impending divorce, which comes as absolutely no surprise to their children. Ah, but the reason for the divorce? Dad has discovered he is gay and is carrying on an affair with mom’s co-worker Mr. Hennessey.

All the way up to this announcement the laughs are plentiful and they are out loud guffaws. But as the counselor brings each family member into an individual session, even darker secrets are uncovered. The youngest son was raped by a male neighbor when he was five and never told anyone. The oldest son saw what happened and wasn’t able to help, thus initiating the stuttering. The mother turns out to be just what her daughter has been complaining about all along: a stark-raving lunatic bitch.

The acting of everyone involved in this film was amazing. Jane Adams ranges from her usual meek, incompetent, loser character to a psychotic, screaming, belittling mother from Hell. The teenage daughter, played by “Gossip Girl’s” Dreama Walker, is a wonderfully expressive actress, and so gorgeously beautiful that she was sometimes distracting in her background scenes. And Jacob Kogan, who you have seen playing the creepy title character in 2007’s Joshua, was amazing as the precocious young son. You’ll be seeing him again soon playing young Dr. Spock in the new Star Trek movie. What amazed me most was when 26 year old writer/director Rob Margolies walked out on stage. A KID did this? I would have bet a million dollars that Todd Solondz had directed this film, but it was all Rob who wrote the story and coaxed such striking performances from Jane Adams and the rest of the young cast.

It was simply an amazing film; those of you missed it missed something really good. It wasn't the best I've seen at Cinequest, but right now I'd rank it right under The Market. It is opening in New York on April 3, and I would not be surprised to see it at an Indie Theater near you in the future.

Heart of Stone - PreReview

A few days ago, during the infamous "No Internet in the FF Lounge" day, Cinequesting and I found ourselves in conversation with Beth Toni Kruvant, the director of the documentary Heart of Stone. I had seen this movie in the program and thought it looked good, but wasn't super-excited about it, so I did not have it on my schedule. Cinequesting asked the usual questions of the documentarian, "How long did you film?" (2 years), and "How did you know you were done filming?"

Her answer was that there was a "natural progression towards an ending". This intrigued us, but she was very cagey about telling us about the ending. She just gave us a look that told us we need to see the movie without knowing anything about the ending.

That was enough for us. We started furiously scanning through our schedules to see if we could fit it in, but I didn't think I would make it. Last night my son was looking for a movie to watch and I told him that I thought he might enjoy Heart of Stone. So that's what he went to see.

He came home last night and told me that it was Really Good. He really liked it and said I should go see it. I told him about my conversation with the director and asked if there was a definite ending. "Oh yes," he said. At that moment I didn't think I was going to see it, so I asked him to tell me the ending. He just gave me a look. "Are you SURE you're not going to see it?" he asked. "I don't think so," I told him. "Are you SURE?" he pressed.

I turned back to FestivalFanatic where I keep my schedule. I scanned through it, checking, and TaDAAH! Thursday at 5pm is the last chance to see it and I can make it. "I can see it Thursday!" I said.

"Then I'm not going to tell you the ending."

I am intrigued. And even more excited than when I was talking to Beth. Did YOU see it last night? Are you planning to see it Thursday? I think we all should.

No sympathy for Buffy needed

Yeah, little Buffy is getting all sorts of support from people who think I should just leave a key out for her. It wasn't the forgetting of the key that made me mad, it was that I told her to go home and stay home. She wasn't supposed to be at a friend's house, regardless of key status.

Aside from that, she's very excited to watch the Student Shorts on Friday night. If you haven't yet seen any shorts programs, the student shorts are always some of the best shorts of the festival. Friday, 9:30pm and Sunday, 10am. She also wants to see Ready? OK. It's Day 8 and we have four more days after today - there are LOTS of great movies to come! Today Kevin Pollak will be at Cinequest and Friday Diablo Cody (Juno) is coming to town. Don't miss it!

Movie Count: 17 movies (30 with shorts) + 1 DVD in 7 days

Today started well and ended badly, but we can blame teenagers for that.

Arrived at Cinequest around 4pm and my first viewing was at 5 so I headed to the FF Lounge to read out of the rain. It certainly was nice to have a warm, dry place to sit. It was interesting again that the internet was turned on and the talking was at a minimum. There was some talking, but not the big, exuberant groups we had the other day.

At 5pm I went over to the Cameras to watch the Animated Shorts with Cinequesting. Today was the last day to see that series of shorts, so I'm just going to link to their description but also a BONUS: I found two of them on YouTube. Here they are:

Chainsaw
Glance Back
The Inquisitive Snail
Kaleidoscopics
Life on a Limb
Our Wonderful Nature on YouTube!! (don't stop until the 1:50 mark at least)
Run
Chicory 'n Coffee on YouTube!! (only two minutes of it)
Lies
Sudan

Then I went back through the rain to the Rep for Lifelines. I will see anything with Jane Adams in it so this was a must see for me no matter what. I am SO HAPPY I got to see this movie, it was unbelievable. I'll do the movie review later.

When it was over I left the theater and got in line to go right back into the theater to see a movie I've been waiting for: Audie and the Wolf. Click that link, watch the entire trailer, and tell me that's not quality film right there. I was so excited that I was actually going to fit it into my movie schedule.

*buzz* *buzz* *buzz* goes the cell phone as I sat waiting for the movie to start. "Hello?"

It's my daughter. My 17 year old daughter who has spent the last seven years of her life with mother being AWOL for 12 days in February and March. She knows it's Cinequest time. She knows Mom is at the movies. She knows that you DON'T BOTHER MOTHER DURING CINEQUEST.

*ahem*

She was not calling from home. She was calling from a friend's house. Because instead of going home like I told her, she went to her friend's house, and when she left her brother was still home because he had not yet left for his Cinequest movies and so she LEFT HER HOUSE KEY AT HOME.

So I had to leave the theater without ever seeing one minute of Audie and the Wolf, and drive all the way home to let her in.

I'm not bitter. *SOB*

Tomorrow's movies:
Generic Thriller
Camila JAM

Movies for today

It's going to be a three movie day, unless I get super tired.

Shorts 3: Animated World I never miss the animated shorts
Lifelines Starring Jane Adams from Happiness, I'm just not going to miss this one
Audie and the Wolf I've been a sucker for horror/comedies since I was a kid

Looking at my schedule, I still have a LOT of good movies coming up. Very exciting!!!

Cinequest - Day 6

Movie Count: 15 movies (20 with shorts) + 1 DVD in 6 days

I think we're heading towards a record. I believe 22-24 may be the most films I've gotten in at one Cinequest. I'm aiming for 34 this year, and I haven't missed one yet!

Today was pretty easy. My first movie was at 7pm so it was just a school/work day and then off to Cinequest. My first movie was called How To Be... with a young actor you may have heard of... Robert Pattinson?

IMDB describes it: A young man having an existential crisis convinces a Canadian self-help guru to come to London and become his personal life coach.

IMDB leaves out the part where the self-help guru actually comes to LIVE with him (and his parents!), and often pops up at inconvenient times. I really liked this movie, MUCH more than I had expected. I had not gone to see it for Robert Pattinson, like the 1000 young girls in the audience who were cheering and squeeeing everytime young Robert blew his nose. But you would not believe how good he was in this movie!! There was a lot of physical acting in this film, and he was really quite charming. I just really liked the character. The official website is here. Cinequest sold out of the first showing, and nearly packed in the Cal Theater for the second showing. I think someone would be remiss in passing up the opportunity to get this film out now while the Pattinson is hot. It was definitely good enough to play at the Nickelodean theater in Santa Cruz.

The director was there and stayed for Q&A, and he delivered a lot of really interesting information about making the movie. Including the time Robert Pattinson let him know that he had gotten a "small part" in some American horror film, haha.

Did it "WOW" me? Mmmm, it came close. It's definitely up there on my favorites this year, but I wouldn't say it WOWed me. I would say though, that you should go see it.

After I saw it, I ran over to the Cameras so I wouldn't miss a minute of Billy Was a Deaf Kid (reviewed below). I should have gone to see Samurai Avenger instead.

Billy Was a Deaf Kid - the Movie

Billy Was a Deaf Kid was a very trying movie for me to get through. The two speaking characters, Sophie and her boyfriend Archie, were the most annoying couple I’ve ever seen on screen or in person. They never STOP TALKING. But they don’t talk about anything, it was just “Why did you do that?” “Why did you do that?” “Why are you doing that?” “But why did you do that?” Ten bajillion times over. There are also a couple of shocking moments, starting with the opening scene of Archie spitting into Sophie’s face about a hundred times. Now, this was part of an agreement, so you know, whatever. But there was a point where she told him to stop and he kept going. The spitting continues through the movie with Sophie several times asking him to stop. There is also some arm grabbing and refusals to let Sophie leave the room. Despite this, and in spite of me mentally yelling, “RUN, Sophie, RUN!!” Sophie sticks with him to the end of the movie (even after he also violently pushes his own adult sister into the concrete).

The Q&A after was interesting. One woman and one man both raised their hands and said they had never laughed so hard at a movie. I laughed a couple times, but never very hard. But you know who really never laughed? The 28 people who walked out of the theater. Ten of them during the first spitting scene. I hadn’t meant to keep count but I was sitting near the exit, and when a parade went past I couldn’t help but count them, and then kept a tally through the movie. 28 people, gone.

There was a discussion of whether what Archie did could be considered domestic abuse, and the woman who played Sophie defended the actions saying that when Archie poured soda in her face and mouth and nose while holding her down on the floor, it was only after Sophie had spit soda in his face. And in the first scene, she was slapping him while he was spitting on her. Well. That’s not exactly how I would describe what happened. I would say that it starts crossing the line into abuse when Sophie tells Archie to stop and he refuses, and ANY time that he won’t let her go. Yes, she started some of the fights. But at no time did she hold Archie against his will (nor could she have) and never did he tell her to stop doing something except during the first scene. Granted, she did start slapping him again after he told her to stop, but it was because he would not stop spitting in her face. I would have done more than slap Archie at that point, I would have kicked his fucking ass instead.

I loved the parts with them riding on the couch, and I quickly realized this was because it was set to music and Sophie and Archie could SHUT the hell UP. If all the dialogue could be taken out of this movie, I would love it - including the spitting and slapping. So, special supporting role of the Couch gets an A+ from me.

I felt through most of the movie that either the writing was just really, really, REALLY amateurish, or the actors were improvising as they went along. Apparently there was a little of both. But it wasn’t until the scene with Billy’s doctor that I understood the reason for the inane dialogue. The thesis statement comes right out of the doctor’s mouth: “Communication means you talk and then someone understands.” The doctor was trying to describe Billy, but at that point you realize there is no communication in the film between anyone, no matter how much talking they do. Even Archie's sister has her iPod on and does not notice them stealing Billy from her house.

I know Cinequesting liked it, but I cannot recommend it. At least 28 others in the theater also don’t recommend it. I think the filmmakers hold promise, I understand the meaning of the movie, I just don’t ever want to sit through 90 minutes of Sophie and Archie yappering to each other ever again.

In the Camera Theater lobby:

"Let me introduce you to my friend - oh! You should know each other, you're both from Canada!"
"Well, Canada is very big."

Maybe that filmgoer will learn some things about the world while attending Cinequest.

Before a screening of Corpse Run:

"What are you doing, some blogging there?"
"Oh I don't blog, I don't do any of that crap. I was checking my email and FaceBook."
"Am I your FaceBook friend?"
"I don't know, let me check..."

Bloggers are everywhere Dude. And we're invisible.

In the Cameras before Whiz Kids:

"I can't believe we couldn't get into that movie, after being turned away last night too! This is too much!!"

Well, it is recommended that you arrive 30 minutes before the film starts. Especially because, sorry, but we don't have a special seat saved just especially for you. Like everywhere else, it's first come, first sit.

In the hallway to the Camera Theaters, one filmgoer to a Cinequest volunteer:

"We appreciate you."

And we do. Cinequest couldn't run at all without their pool of volunteers who all work Very Very hard to make our experience a good one. So Thank You again to those volunteers.

What Cinequest is and is not

The other day one of my old high school friends asked, “What IS Cinequest, anyway?”
Cue me as Mrs. Broflovski: “Wha-Wha-WHATTT???”

I have friends from all over this country and Canada who read this blog, and I understand that most of them have not heard of Cinequest, one of the top ten film festivals in the world – except what they read here. But a long time San Jose resident??

I explained to him what it was and his response was, “I saw Death Race this week, loved it. :-)”

I don’t think he understood. I love Jason Statham too, and will watch any movie with him in it whether he’s talking or not (naked is nice, too). But that doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy something from Cinequest. On questioning him further, I decided to put together a list here.

What Cinequest is and is not:

1. Cinequest is not JUST for the hoity-toity upper-class, neither is it only for film makers or film students.
Cinequest has movies for everyone, from teenagers to the elderly to your employer’s IT guy to the burly sanitation engineer on your street to the high school student to the college student to the entrepreneur to the waitress at Asqew Grill to the cashier at Baja Fresh to the old cranky retired guy down the block. There is absolutely, positively, something for everyone at Cinequest.

2. You do not have to dress up to go to a film festival.
Many people dress up for Opening Night because the film is in the California Theater and there’s a party after. But many don’t. As far as the rest of the movies, comfort is essential, just as going to any movie. And though many people come for only a couple movies, many others have marathon viewing schedules and barely arrive to the Camera Theaters out of our pajamas. You’re in a dark movie theater, folks, arrive with curlers in your hair if you like.

3. Cinequest has more than just foreign films.
Cinequest has PLENTY of foreign films, it also has plenty of films from the USA, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, so if you don’t want to read subtitles you can still come every single day and never read more than an opening credit.

4. Cinequest also has foreign films. And they're good.
Dude, I’ve seen hysterical foreign films that blow the socks off Tyler Perry’s Medea, I’ve seen foreign films sadder than Mystic River. I’ve seen fantastic films from Hungary, Finland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Turkey, Iran – and they are all just as good and accessible as anything you see at your local AMC.

5. Foreign films are not all obscure, obtuse, or impossible to understand.
Some are. Sure. But the majority at Cinequest are just as understandable as your local AMC movies and leave you much more satisfied when they’re over. Honestly, you’re missing a lot if you stick to American and English-only films – some of the best films I’ve ever seen have been (easily understood) foreign films.

6. You know you won’t like Cinequest because you only watch horror films?
Honey, have I got the festival for you. Obviously you haven’t seen Blood Car, Samurai Avenger, or Audie and the Wolf

7. You’re a geek and can’t leave your WOW games or your Game Cube for two hours?
Haven’t seen Monster Camp or Corpse Run, obviously.

8. Yes, in fact there IS parking downtown, and Cinequest will validate your parking ticket. There’s also a convenient little thing called the Light Rail System that drops you off right by the theaters.

9. Cinequest is not expensive.
Sure, you can buy a pass to get into all the movies for $125 or a super-special pass for $500, but a single student ticket is only $5 and matinee shows are only $7.

10. If you don’t like going to the movies alone, this is the place for you to go – alone.
I go to the majority of my films alone and have NEVER stood in line without someone talking to me about a film or striking up a conversation in the seat next to me. If you know me in real life you’ll know I’m a lot shyer in RL than I am on the internet – but I don’t feel that way at Cinequest. Everyone there has one thing in common – they want to see some fantastic movies. You don’t have to come up with small talk because you already have something in common: the film you’re about to see or the film you just saw or the film you want to see or the film you heard about. I have never felt less alone than when I am at Cinequest by myself.

If you have any other misconceptions or even a simple question about Cinequest, feel free to post it here. Or go visit some other really great sites that will assure of the exact same information:

Cinequest
Cinequesting
CQ Central
Cinequest on Twitter
Tweets about Cinequest
Inside Cinequest

Today's Schedule

First up, School.
Then, Work.
Then:
How To Be... Starring some unknown actor named Robert Pattinson
Billy Was a Deaf Kid I have heard some mixed reviews, but mostly good, and I am really looking forward to it.

Shorts Program 2: Document: The World

Christmas in Tent City – One of the best of a great group, Francisco and Roberto Jiménez tell the story of a childhood Christmas 60 years ago, after having emigrated from Mexico. Switching between talking heads with the brothers and beautiful illustrations detailing the story, you can’t help but shed a tear when his mother cries.

Drag King – I was disappointed to realize this movie was not about actual Drag Kings. Oh no. This film was red-neckery at its most perplexing. In Lake County, California, there is a demolition derby where the drivers also tow boats behind their cars. I don’t know why. I didn’t understand this movie at all. It got a huge applause though.

Forced into Comfort, Fighting for Apology – GOOD GRIEF. The Comfort Women in Japan did not volunteer to be raped, beaten and tortured. SHAME ON YOU JAPAN. This was an EXCELLENT film.

Naming Pluto – About the woman who actually named the planet (she was 11 years old at the time). It was a really interesting film. Although when I started giggling every time they said “discovered Uranus” and “observations of Uranus” I knew I probably watch too much South Park.

Pickin' and Trimmin' – My mind started drifting the moment the old man started mumbling about… ZZZzzzzzzz. I think I probably should have liked it, but I didn’t, and it was torture for me waiting for it to end. Don’t hate me if you thought it was charming.

Rare Chicken Rescue - LOVED this one. About a man suffering from depression who raises very rare chickens. And these birds are Gorgeous. At 26 minutes, it was just starting to lose my interest when suddenly a tragedy hits and I woke right up again. I would watch this one again just to see those gorgeous birds. Here is a trailer to give you a taste of the film (but not a taste for chicken).

Movie Count: 13 movies in 5 days. (18 movies if you count the shorts)

Great day today and I finally saw two films that WOWed me!!

Went to Cinequest early today to spend some more time in the filmmaker's lounge. Lots of friends there today: Cinequesting, Chris Garcia, Alejandro Adams, Marya Murphy, Jarrod Whaley, Beth Toni Kruvant - director of Heart of Stone, and more. Usually everyone is quiet and has their noses in the computer screens - but today... NO INTERNET! It took us awhile of clicking and wishing and mentally kicking the computers until we finally gave up and...

Started talking to each other. Like, in large groups discussing the movies. And when many from my group left to go to their movie, we all formed into new groups. People who have sat in the lounge together for days but never spoke were suddenly in deep conversation about film. It was great, it was fun, I talked to people I probably never would have spoken to otherwise. (And RandomCuriosity, if you were there, you better speak up next time.)

At 11:45 I went over to the Cameras to see Shorts #2 - the World, and saw some really great films. Then I raced over to the Cal Theater to see The Market, a Turkish comedy that was the first to WOW me this year. A quick stop at Asqew Grill for a very fast salmon salad, then back to the Cameras to see Whiz Kids, another film that came very close to wowing me. And finally back to the Cal Theater to see The Caller - LOVED it. I didn't know it only played once this year, the rest of you are out of luck - but I can't possibly believe this film won't become available somewhere sometime.

NO time for reviews today as I have to finish a school project, but after class tomorrow I should be able to catch up on my reviews. But do you know where you can find reviews? At CQCentral. Go there for a lot of information on the festival and the films, and even many trailers!

Top Cinequest Movies so far

I was asked to rank the films I've seen so far, and by doing this I managed to get some good mini reviews in too. So I'm going to post them here and let this be my catch-up. Today is another full day and I'm falling way behind, so this is the only way it's going to work!

1. Witch Hunt – Moving documentary executive produced and narrated by Sean Penn, but Sean’s voice quickly fades into the background as you listen to these seriously outrageous stories. I remember when these Bakersfield cases were going on but had no idea that these parents spent so much time in prison, or that they had only recently been released. I think listening to the children tell their stories as adults was probably the most difficult, and seeing them onstage for the Q&A still suffering from so much guilt was heart-wrenching.

2. Capers – Very fun movie to watch with a lot of interesting visuals. I loved everything from the animated credits and scene cuts to the satisfying ending and the hope of a sequel. Danny Masterson did much better with his role here than he did in Wake. Plus – there’s a dachshund!!

3. Two Million Stupid Women – Drunk birthday girl recently dumped by her boyfriend runs around town with her two friends pretending she’s not demeaning herself further. I wasn’t sure about this movie about halfway into it when some unidentified issues with the two friends started escalating. But I felt the movie came to a satisfying and believable ending – something that could not have been accomplished without these three very impressive actors.

4. How Am I Not Going to Love You? – Billed as a story of two friends, I think it really focused only on futbol loving Hugo. It was a very moving story about learning important life lessons too late.

5. Historias Extraordinarias – It was long, I dozed a few times, but I still couldn’t help loving it. I think the moving vignette about an elderly lion in his last hours on earth will stay with me (and the entire audience) for a long time.

6. The Skeptic – Light on special effects, it still had the audience jumping in fear a few times. I really enjoyed it even though it might possibly be only a few levels above a midnight TV movie. I thought the ending could use some adjustment but I do recommend it.

7. Rock Paper Scissors – I’ll be honest, I laughed throughout this movie. But the characters and entire plotline were so over the top and kind of ridiculous that I had a hard time believing it was a true documentary. It was only the rational composure of the filmmaker at the Q&A that convinced me it was for real.

8. Corpse Run – HATED IT.

Blue Sky, please come back

Woke up to rain today. Don't want rain for Cinequest. Not quite awake yet. Need coffee.

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