#42 - FILM: Bollywood to Bubba

my frazy music, movies and books!



Lots of time on my hands this week to sit down with the DVD player for a little entertainment and enlightment.

Here's the scoop:

Bride & Prejudice (2004)

If you are not big on foreign films, this is a delightfully romping silly introduction to Bollywood.

You will probably recognize one of the stars, Naveen Andrews, of LOST fame.

I thoroughly enjoyed the predictable plot and romantic angst of the young lovers in this story and the fretting parents.

Director, Gurinder Chadha, (Bend It Like Beckham) uses the plot of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (complete with Mr. Darcy) to introduce American audiences to romance India style.
One of the highlights of this film are musical numbers that are vibrant and somewhat corny (think GREASE) and sweet.

I could easily see this film turning into a musical.

PG13 - Storyline is about romance, but compared to most American PG-13 films, nothing to worry about here.



Being Julia (2004)

Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons grace this adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's tale called "Theatre".

Here's my theory on films like this...

Don't bother making a film unless there is no other way to reveal the story.

This plot could have been (and SHOULD have been) a stage play. A live audience may have served it better.

This film survives only due to the amazing performance of Annette Bening. She received a Golden Globe for her presentation of Julia in this film. She is a gifted American actress whose subtlety may very easily be overlooked when thrown into the throngs of starlets desperately grabbing for attention.

If you really want to see Annette Bening at her best check out Richard III (1995).

Being Julia is burdened with a predictable plot which feels more like a chore than an escape into entertainment. Here's the short and skinny, a middle aged actress falls for a young lover who is a cad and uses her terribly. Cad gets his comeuppance in final scene.

R rating - Sex


Bubba Ho-tep (2002)

This has got to be the third time I have viewed this film.

It is an absolute gas!

Each time is funnier than the last.

The plot revolves around Elvis and JFK saving a nursing home from a mummy's curse.

It is well worth your time.

R rating - Lots of bathroom and old man humor; not appropriate for the delicately inclined.

Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

There are a lot of good reasons to see this film.

I wish I had seen it on the big screen. The cinematography is breathtaking. If you are an admirer of Vermeer's artwork, you will easily see the detail given to light and making the simplicity of life breathtakingly beautiful.

For the visual treasure that this film is, I recommend it... but, I will tell you this...

the book by author, Tracy Chevalier , is infinitely better when it comes to storyline. The filmmakers cut away the subplot of the book.

If you have never read the book, your experience of this film may be different than mine.

I was disappointed in the lack of depth given to Griet, the beautiful woman of the famous painting, Girl With a Pearl Earring.

The film is slow-paced, which I enjoyed, my husband did not.

If you are curious about the details of medieval life, then you will surely enjoy this film as a treasure trove of historical information.

Scarlet Johansson is breathtakingly beautiful in this story, Colin Firth plays Colin Firth in period costume (as usual) and the supporting cast is flawless.

3 Oscar Nominations and 2 Golden Globe nominations were given to this film. Definitely worth a look see.

Rating PG-13 - Scenes depicting sexual assault

Dogville (2003)

This film, starring Nicole Kidman, is shocking and stark.

I love it... that is not the correct term. I am passionate about this film.

We saw the red carpet premiere of Dogville during the Toronto International Film Festival, complete with an appearance by Nicole Kidman.

Even in the balcony of the huge Pantages theater, Ms. Kidman is radiant.

And her beauty as the tormented, Grace, in Dogville makes this film disturbing.

Director, Lars von Trier, is known for his minimalist work. And such is the case with Dogville.

The set is stripped away, taking place on a soundstage with just enough scenery to tell the tale. Scenes are created by lighting, a few props and intense performances.

The first viewing of this film left me feeling overwhelmingly confused by the powerful emotions stirred up. My husband became so upset over the plot, that he actually walked out of the theater during a scene, returning later.

Here's why.

Rape happens in this story.

And there is nothing Hollywood glamorized about it.

Nor is it something that any voyeur would enjoy.

The plot shows rape for what it is... a horrendously brutal act of anger against a vulnerable victim.

And for that, Dogville is something worth viewing.

The story shows how women who are victimized may not run away from an attacker, they may not fight back, they may just do what they have to do to survive.

The theme of this film also addresses the shadow that lies within each of us. When presented with having power over someone else, would we also victimize?

I viewed the film for the second time this week, and saw the film in a different light than the first viewing. I was so shocked by the unexpected turns in the plot, that my first viewing left me overwhelmed.

The second viewing, now knowing what was going to happen, I was able to focus on the characters... and Lars von Trier has definitely defined the darkness that lies waiting in each of us.

This film is not for everyone, and definitely did not get the recognition it deserves... thus, the reason it was not released to mainstream audiences. But, if you want to learn something about the human heart... you may want to consider watching this film.

Rating R - Explicit Sex, Violence

#41 - Naughty Ken Jennings

Jeopardy all star champion, Ken Jennings, has a bee in his bonnet.

Using his blog like a sledgehammer on Alex Trebek, Ken declares that Alex died in a firey crash and was replaced with a cyborg... opr something like that. Here is an excerpt from naughty Ken's Alex Trebek rant:


"Finally, Alex. I know, I know, the old folks love him.

Nobody knows he died in that fiery truck crash a few years back and was immediately replaced with the Trebektron 4000 (I see your engineers still can’t get the mustache right, by the way.)

But that’s beside the point:

“Alex” is the franchise. You can’t just bring in Ryan Seacrest without warning, more’s the pity. But I think a few little host tweaks would do a lot of good.

On Price Is Right, Bob Barker ends every show with a plug for his personal favorite cause. “Spay or neuter your pet!” or whatever. Something like this would humanize Trebek. I propose a new sign-off, along the lines of, “Can our returning champion do it again on tomorrow’s show? Tune in and find out, everybody. Legalize cannabis. Good night.”

You know how Trebek likes to read foreign words in these thick, strained accents, thinking he’s being muy auténtico? He should continue to do this, but instead of delivering them himself, he needs to have a little ventriloquist’s dummy with a sombrero to pipe in with those words. (The sombrero can be switched with a beret for French words.)

Whenever Alex says “Correct!” to a contestant, he should do the two-index-finger point, like Isaac in the Love Boat credits.

You and I have a lot of history, Jeopardy! You know I think the world of you…you’re putting my kids through college, for crying out loud! So I think I can be open with you in a way that others just can’t. I hope you take this advice in the spirit in which it was offered. Remember, I only criticize because I…

Love,

Ken

XOXOXO

Okay, I am reminding myself to never cross Ken Jennings.

I mean... what a stinker!

The automaton on that show had been Ken...

or was I the only one to notice that.

Okay, sometimes Ken could be snippy, but... hey didn't you start thinking after awhile that his performance on Jeopardy was a tad scary.

Guess it takes an automaton to know one.

AOL readers' polls show that folks response to Ken Jennings little Jeopardy "bash-a-thon" is overwhelmingly appalled.

Why?

Because after winning $2.5 million , Ken Jennings... your attitude seems just a bit... hmmm...

ungrateful?

So what is the final answer to Mr. Jennings little Trebektron 4000...

Here you go, Ken:

"What is humble pie?"



RESOURCES:

Ken Jennings - Blog

#40 - Project Runway!!!!

Oh, I feel so lame... but, I am going to admit this:

I HAVE BEEN COUNTING DOWN TO THE NEXT SEASON FOR PROJECT RUNWAY!

And tonight is the big night.

I am not thrilled with the whole Heidi Klum says "We have a great villian this season."

I am not in this for the "drama".

I like the assignments and the results.

Let's talk about reality for a moment.

Do you really think that anyone is going to throw a six figure prize and licensing contracts to an idgit who does not know how to interact with the human race.

Here's the answer:

NOPE.

What I hope does not happen this season is that said "villian" gets carried into the top three as this happened last season.

I don't want to see such idiocy.

I want to see talent.

Plain and simple.

So let's see what this season brings.

Heat up the popcorn, gimme that remote and hold all calls tonight,

because Project Runway's new season premieres.

Auf Weiderschein!

#39 - A Creepy Phone Call

I just got off of the telephone with a creepy computer person.

Stay with me on this…

Not a person calling about computers…

This was a computer pretending to be a person.

She claimed to be representing DOVE.

I ask, “The soap?”

Long pause…

“No.

DOVE.

D-O-V-E.”

I respond, “Oh…yes… I got that part. “

Thinking to myself I KNOW how to spell dove.

Good grief!

The pleasant June Cleaver voice explained that Hollywood media is dominating the selection of film and television broadcasts.

DOVE wants people to take control of that by promoting family value oriented programming.

So I am thinking to myself,

“Whose family values?

Mine?

Are you including our multiracial second married selves…

and our sibling of the lesbian persuasion who is a proud parent and in a loving relationship with her partner.

Oh, and our brother who is also of the same sex persuasion…

um..

is that what you mean by family values?”

But, I thought I best be polite.

So instead I asked, “Which religious organization are you affiliated with?”

Long pause…

“DOVE is not affiliated with any church organization, but we promote the family values of the Judeo-Christian faiths.”

Again I am thinking…

“WHAT??! Muslims don’t have family values?

What about Buddhists?

Or Quakers…

do they count?”

I am starting to go on slow burn.

While my mind is racing… June Cleaver keeps on talking and talking.

I guess she is following a script.

So I decide to relieve her of the script and I ask another question.

Long pause.

And the voice switches gears and recites something else… and now I am VERY SUSPICIOUS.

I ask, “Am I talking to a COMPUTER?!!”

Pause.

Smooth as silk Not June Cleaver explains, “You are talking with a computer facilitated by a person.”

Well, something like that.

This was getting too surreal.

I push, “Look is this a computer or a person?”

And out comes a laugh on the phone line.

I sigh, “Oh! This is a person! Thank goodness, I was beginning to wonder what is going on here.”

And I let out a small laugh of relief.

And the response is the same laugh.

IDENTICAL to the first laugh.

Oh shoot.

This IS a computer.

A computer with an attitude thinking it was gonna be all human and stuff and trying to laugh.

Nope.

I had enough by now.

I am creeped out by this female HAL wannabe so I hang up.


So sorry, but I just DO NOT chat with computers.

Especially ones that sound like the voice of Big Brother on estrogen.

Bothered me so much I just had to locate the DOVE website.

I did.

It’s not too bad actually.

So I think they need to be enlightened by my disgruntled self.

Clicked the CONTACT US button and left the following message:

“I do not appreciate being interviewed by a computer.”

Yep.

I think that about sums it up.

Nuf’ said.

Oh… here’s their website just in case you are curious:

http://www.dove.org/default.asp

POSTSCRIPT:

They wrote back.
Here is what I got:

"If you would kindly provide me with your phone number, I can take you off of our calling list. I apologize for the call that was placed toyour home. We strive to be as professional as possible; however, whenworking with people, we are bound to fall short on occasion. I'm surethis is what happened in your case. Again, I apologize but want you toknow that our mission and cause are noble which is to get more cleanentertainment made for families and to provide families with informationso that they may make informed decisions. We in no way try to censor ordictate what families and/or adults watch. We feel strongly inproviding an alternative for what is generally available to families.Thank you for your feedback and with your phone number I can take youoff our call list.
Thank you.
Dave Lukens
Executive Director
The Dove Foundation535 East Fulton, Suite 1AGrand Rapids, MI 49503Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX

I thought about a reply, but I am too tired and grouchy now.
But, I will tell you this... I am soooo not going to give these folks my phone number.
:P
TA!