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05 July 2006 @ 04:29 pm

The Fourth, and Other Ramblings

First, PB Fic Awards first-round voting closes at Midnight EST, July 7. That's two days, folks! So if you haven't submitted your votes to narrow down the nominees, please do so.

The Fourth of July was spent at my brother's house, as it is every year. There was much kidding around with one of their friends about OCD-ness, etc, even as my brother's wife was insistent on putting my purse in the hall closet (because-- stuff, lying around). Well, it's all fun and games until... DAMNIT! My purse is still in that closet, in a city an hour away from home. Grrrr.

The company and fireworks were fabulous, though, and there were three kinds of pie. Chocolate silk, blackberry and apple. Yes, I tried them all. Now I am remorseful. But hardly surprised.

Saw The Lake House last week, which we really enjoyed. Actual acting from Keanu Reeves, and I do love Sandra Bullock. If overlapping time/universes is an issue for you, well, this movie might not work. But I really liked it. Sweet, romantic, and just nice overall.

Saw The Devil Wears Prada this weekend. Lots of evil humor, and let me just say that I will never care about clothes to a 10th of the degree that the Fashion Mag people do. Grooming and good lines, yes. Fashion? Mais, non. Meryl Streep was fabulous.

Saw Match Point on video, and was kind of underwhelmed. My husband spent the entire movie saying, "You know, that guy really does look like Elvis. Now I want to see that made-for-TV movie." Frustrating story, with characters making choices you want to smack them for. Baby-obsessed wife (hello, Mia) is an apparent justification for cheating. SlutSiren (Scarlett Johanssen, looking very pretty) is histrionic. Bootstrap Boy (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) makes unimaginably poor choices. The same historic aria recording plays at 7-8 points during the movie, though I can't imagine why.

Meanwhile, on Season 4 of "The Shield," Glenn Close is kicking some ass. Yessss. :)

22 comments | Say what you feel

22 comments —

( 22 comments — Say what you feel )

certainthings on July 6th, 2006 01:25 am (UTC)

Can non authors vote and where does one go to vote?

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pamalax on July 6th, 2006 03:37 am (UTC)

You bet!! Anyone who reads or writes Prison Break fan fic should be
voting. It you have fav's on the nominee list be sure to get over there and do a ballot by the 7th.

Here is the site with everything you need

http://www.geocities.com/pamalax/pbficawards.html

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:20 am (UTC)

Can non authors vote and where does one go to vote?
Yes please! And that link will take you to the website, where you follow the nominations link to see what's nominated, and you can get a ballot from another link there.

Just fill in your ballot choices and email it in to the address noted.

Yay, Smidgy! :D I toss out a sexyDominic in your honor!

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certainthings on July 6th, 2006 04:31 am (UTC)

It's so much work. :whines: :p

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 05:12 am (UTC)

Still easier than writing fics, though! And I posted another M/L porn yesterday

I throw another sexyDominic at you, as motivation. ;)

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certainthings on July 6th, 2006 05:52 am (UTC)

I uh, voted. I think. I hope I did it correctly.

I'm so behind on PB fic. Stupid Jsquared. I need to catch up sometime.

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:29 pm (UTC)

Stupid Jsquared.
You see how it happens? You start reading, and getting these mental pictures (and then they do an interview, and there's a smidgen of foundation for those ideas), and before long you are sucked in but good. Nnnnnnggggh. *~~drool~~*

Thanks for voting. Yay, Smidgy!

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certainthings on July 6th, 2006 07:58 pm (UTC)

Thank God for the foreign press, eh?

And God bless 'em for being all flirty and gay.

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fourfreedoms on July 6th, 2006 02:49 am (UTC)

But you can of course see the echoes of Crime and Punishment in Match Point, which is funny, because one of the books he reads early on is in fact . . .Crime and Punishment

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:18 am (UTC)

But you can of course see the echoes of Crime and Punishment
I'm not as familiar with that story as I should be (I barely remember The Brothers Karamazov).

Oddly enough, for me many of the Great Russian novels, taken out of their own social context, have a rather overarching self-created drama aspect to them. Which is precisely what this movie feels like, actually. So perhaps the theme rings all the way through.

I haven't truly enjoyed any of Woody Allen's movies since "Hannah And Her Sisters" (still a favorite, though I can hardly stand to watch him in it).

Now, from a musical standpoint-- and perhaps then Allen's choice will make more sense to you-- when Chris is in the midst of his worse decision yet, an opera aria is playing in the background. Tenor and bass-baritone-- I automatically assumed it was from "Faust," because that parallel is self-explanatory. Instead, the end-credits note it as being from "Macbeth." Now, WTF? Why "Macbeth"? And why NOT "Faust?"

Any thoughts?

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fourfreedoms on July 6th, 2006 07:39 am (UTC)

"All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er:
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand;
Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd."
-Macbeth

I think it's because of that line right there. He's gotten in so far he can only go the whole way.

Yes, I've always thought that Dosteyevsky was ridiculous, but I enjoyed noticing the parallels, probably because I'm a literary snob *shrugs*. Matchpoint is indeed a self-created drama, but I think it also provides interesting insight into the human concious. Or maybe just idiotic two-faced men, but I digress.

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:40 pm (UTC)

probably because I'm a literary snob *shrugs*.
I think, "well-versed in literature" is probably more like it. ;) The fact that most of the rest of the world is less so is our misfortune, not your snobbery! I'm in a similar position with music (classical), which is my main treasure-trove of knowledge (outside of the computer science thing).

but I think it also provides interesting insight into the human concious. Or maybe just idiotic two-faced men, but I digress.
That rather sums up the main character for me. And worse... he is unaware of his own shallowness, which is the kind of thing that usually bugs me. What was also interesting was how much of a blabbermouthed harpie the family's mother was in this film, and yet much of what she said was as insightful as it was inappropriate! I kind of get an evil kick out of that. ;)

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fourfreedoms on July 6th, 2006 05:44 pm (UTC)

I'm not sure if I'd call literature a treasure-trove of knowledge for me. I'd love to be able to say so, but *shrugs* still too many books to read.

Anyway, I love how they actually misted Jonathan Rhys-Meyers' face before takes to give him more of a plasticated feel. It worked. Yucky.

Ah, classical music, both of my best friends are in a chamber orchestra together, so they could, essentially, beat me over the head with their classical knowledge. I thought it was pretty interesting how you paid attention to the score of the movie. I certainly don't, unless it's a rock music song I like and in that case . . .I'm all over it.

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resounding_echo on July 6th, 2006 06:35 am (UTC)

You saw the Lake House? Good, tell me this: does the fact that it is only *two* years apart something you just get over? When I first saw the preview I thought it was the stupidest concept. It's not time aspect that bothers me but exactly, but rather that they time spaning between them wasn't greater--two years, like that's really a hurdle. I remember seeing this Hallmark movie a couple of years ago where a woman buys an antique writing desk (the kind with the roll top) and she ends up exchanging letters with a man at the turn of the 20th century. 100 years apart, I'm on board with. But two years seems kinda like it's pushing it. Does the rest of the movie make up for it though?

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:34 pm (UTC)

does the fact that it is only *two* years apart something you just get over?
Actually, yes-- it starts to work to the story's advantage before too long. And the unfolding of the puzzle of how everything came to be was kind of fun. It's a love it or hate it concept, but I think the movie sells it well.

I remember seeing this Hallmark movie a couple of years ago where a woman buys an antique writing desk (the kind with the roll top) and she ends up exchanging letters with a man at the turn of the 20th century.
Hmmm. Intriguing idea! Possibly the inspiration for this. I wish I could speak more eloquently about "Somewhere In Time," but the fact is... I've never seen it. My sister loves it, but then-- she's a chickFlick kind of person. Julia Roberts is her idol. Whereas for me, Julia and Meg Ryan present a hurdle that I'd have to get over to actually see a movie. :0

To me, the movie works. And you've got to love/hate Christopher Plummer in it. The one aspect of the approach that was pushing it for me was my husband's favorite part!

Hope it works for you! BTW, did you know that one of your stories is in the PB Fic Awards nominations? It's "Preparations," the First Day challenge one.

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thelana on July 6th, 2006 10:00 am (UTC)

Sigh, I wanna see Lake House, badly!

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:36 pm (UTC)

What's stopping you? :P Not out in Austria yet?

Keanu does not look good in this. His face is a little puffy, and for so many men that turns them from "hot" to "schmoe."

But his _acting_ (and I never thought I'd say this) is quite solid.

Plus, pretty and fluffy story with little stings along the way that you will probably like. ;)

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thelana on July 6th, 2006 04:38 pm (UTC)

Nope, too lazy. Wanted to watch New World and Tristan and Isolde and Krrish and couldn't get my butt up while they were showing in theaters. I'm terrible.

Speaking of puffy men => http://ingrid-m.livejournal.com/507037.html

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halfshellvenus on July 6th, 2006 04:52 pm (UTC)

Glagh! Must scrub eyes!

Let's hope it's a compressed photo that's stretching him wiiiiiiiide. Because I can't imagine him putting on 40+ lbs on so quickly for no particular reason.

The _light_ beard looks good on him. THAT beard is a travesty!

Tell me how you like "Tristan and Isolde." It features no-names (pretty ones), and I kind of fear what Hollywood might do to a classic story like that. BUT... I value your opinion.

Also? *poke* "Bride and Prejudice." The songs _alone_ will stick in your head. "No Life Without Wife" is very catchy. "Marriage In This Town" also. But my favorite is the dance with the clacking sticks-- love the shifting, overlapping rhythms. Unfortunately, it leaves my head after about 2 weeks. But it's actually my favorite. :)

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thelana on July 6th, 2006 05:00 pm (UTC)

I usually rely on

dangermousie on my recs. We totally don't have the same taste, but she is always very articulate in her opinions, watches a lot of movies (and tv shows!) and generally always gives me a good impression on whether it is a movie I might enjoy (and she just started watching Supernatural).

I kind of fear what Hollywood might do to a classic story like that.

Me too. I'll never forgive Disney for changing the ending of Hunchback of Notre Dame. *grumbles*

But dangermousie's review was rather positive. And I think Rufus Sewell is the bad, but not really bad guy. And him I find very charismatic.

Also? *poke* "Bride and Prejudice." The songs _alone_ will stick in your head. "No Life Without Wife" is very catchy. "Marriage In This Town" also. But my favorite is the dance with the clacking sticks-- love the shifting, overlapping rhythms. Unfortunately, it leaves my head after about 2 weeks. But it's actually my favorite. :)

I'll try, I'll try! But I actually have a long list of other Bollywood movies I have lying around not watched yet. I must find a way to seduce you into renting Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (also with Aishwarya).

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ivy_x3 on July 6th, 2006 06:08 pm (UTC)

i couldn't bear to get through half of match point. by the point where they're having grass sex and i was just like, "WHATEVER!". and the whole shotgun ending? eh. my friend told me and i just rolled my eyes.

and i want to see the other two movies. but haven't found time yet. hm.

and three kinds of pie?! hey, that sounds reallyyy good. and dont feel bad, it's not like you eat three kinds of pie everyday!

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halfshellvenus on July 7th, 2006 12:51 am (UTC)

by the point where they're having grass sex
WET grass sex. In wet, dead weeds, in the cold English rain. :( Bleh.

it's not like you eat three kinds of pie everyday!
I know, but with my metabolism (which is practically dead, despite all the exercise) ANY day is pretty bad.

And if it were tomorrow, I just know I'd do it again, because I'm like that. :0

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