Crazy is as crazy does

First pick

2008-07-07T23:30:00.003-04:00

Only because I like the title - Gomorra

Cadbury Mini Eggs and Chocolate Ice Cream

2008-02-26T23:59:00.002-05:00

I have a new favourite snack.
I digress.
So after the fat induced shame spiral I decided to try and continue my film festival journal just about 5 months after I saw my last film. I'm partially inspired by the Chcolate and Mini Eggs and the fact that I had about four cups of coffee today and I'm not really sure I can close my eyes just yet. I'm all twitchy.

According to my TIFF 2007.xls file on Saturday September 8, 2007 I waited in the rush line for Juno. It was the only movie that I didn't get that I absolutely had to see. I didn't get Lust, Caution either, but I've noticed that I only like every other Ang Lee movie I see. So I went super early to sit and read in the rush line so I could get a seat on the ledge in front of the Ryerson theatre. I lucked out and ALL the talent came early, so while all the girls were squealing over Michael Cera I was on the ball enough to notice a guy was selling a ticket.
First, I would like to say I love the volunteers. They are fantastic, they work hard, they...stand all day. But seriously it was a very disorganized start - the talent was all "hey, I haven't seen you since the plane ride or the limo or the lineup outside! Let's mill around and chat" and all the squealing girls were running up to to them and taking pictures and Ben was there with the wife and all I could think was I have another movie in this theatre at 8:45 and I have some drinking to do after that and y'all are cutting into that time. Thank you Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons for sitting the f down like the professionals you are. Bless you.
And then it started. And I loved the credits. And I loved the song over the credits. And all I remember is laughing and crying and crying and laughing and smiling with Reitman when he brought the entire cast, the music guy, the costume chick and possibly a few other random people up on stage with him during the Q and A. Even the dumb question to Michael Cera about whether he took the GO train in was funny because Jason Bateman jumped in to say "no, but his parents did" making everyone laugh and smile again.
Loved it. Everything from Su-Chin, the least threatening pro-life protester ever (seriously watch Lake of Fire kids, those people are for real) to best friend Leah who is so gorgeous I wonder if she is going to pull a Scar-jo to Ellen Page's Thora Birch and will become the next big thing being fondled by Isaac Mizrahi on the red carpet. There's no point in talking about the movie now, it's made over a hundred million dollars now you've all seen it. And if you haven't seen it go. And if you have seen it and didn't like it, congratulations you are officially dead inside and have managed to prove the non-existence of the human soul. Hope you're happy- oh wait, you can't be, can you?

So after Juno, I ran out, ran around the building, marched right back in and sat down to see Nothing is Private, directed by Alan Ball of Six Feet Under fame, and starring my festival favourites, Aaron Eckhart and Maria Bello. And it was possibly the exact opposite of Juno. It is based on Alicia Erian's novel "Towelhead" and it was dark. Real dark. And only the second in a string of movies that week that involved a lot of inappropriate sexual advances on younger women by older men. It's weird, because just an hour earlier Juno managed to make the advances of a much older gentleman on a much younger woman kind of charming. The movie was good - but it had some scenes that kept me up that night. Or they would have if I hadn't gone out, drank my face off and had to wake up for a 9:30 AM movie.

God Bless America

2007-11-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

I ate Turducken today. I may die trying to digest but any country that can take a day that should remind people of genocide and turn it into a day about stuffing meat into meat with carbs in between is ok by me.

Not entirely dead inside?

2007-11-03T16:07:00.000-04:00

Why do I cry like a gassy baby every time I watch Armageddon?

Don't forget the candles

2007-09-07T22:38:00.001-04:00

You know what song they played in Becoming Part 2 after Buffy had to kill her recently not evil boyfriend? Sarah McLachlan's Full of Grace. Does everyone listen to her after a bad breakup? I preferred Ice Cream myself. Usually best enjoyed whilst consuming a tub of Mint Chocolate Chip or Vanilla Swiss Almond.

Sticky

2007-09-07T22:21:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Hell. Also known as theatre 3 in the Scotiabank-formerly-known-as-Paramount Cinema. Yes Virginia there is a problem with the air conditioning. The problem is when you pack a bunch of sweaty film festival goers into a theatre without A/C things tend to smell, feel and taste a bit like ass.
On to the films. Both of which I watched in said ass-smelling theatre so I'm afraid my thoughts may be coloured with...well ass.
L'avocat de la terreur was just ok. The first 45 minutes or so were very interesting then the narrative sort of fell apart. Or I fell asleep. Did I mention the heat? But seriously the first bit about the Algerian independence was very well thought out and portrayed, but the end - they made Carlos the Jackal just seem like a jealous boyfriend. And the L'avocat de la terreur just seemed like a guy who likes chicks in peril - especially if said chicks have an affinity for incendiary devices and public spaces.
Joy Division was great. Sad and bittersweet with amazing music and great details like how Saville came up with the album cover for Unknown Pleasures without ever hearing the music. Fun for the whole family. If your family enjoys tales of suicidal punk singers.

And so it begins

2007-09-06T23:42:00.000-04:00

I'm sore, my eyes hurt and I smell like sweaty fanboy. Yes, it is festival time again. Just saw my first film, Persepolis and it was great. A very sweet and at times dark story of what it is like to grow up during political upheaval. It was strange to see the similarities that they had in Iran with teenagers everywhere - sneaking out to party, getting in trouble for talking back in school. The difference was the consequences would be much more severe.
The voice actress for the young Marjane may possibly be the cutest sounding little moppet ever. I'm not usually a big fan of child actors (those Fanning girls give me the wiggins) but I love a cute sounding child. Like that little kid from Monster's Inc. So frakking cute.
I digress.
Liked the movie, I didn't cry but I did see some possibly Persian looking folk crying after the movie. I usually break down around the fifth movie, so looking forward to some waterworks later this week.

You're on notice!

2007-03-24T01:19:00.000-04:00

Galactica better not suck this Sunday. I have concerns. They started out the season strong - maybe too strong. Starbuck was stabbing Leobens, Pegasus was blown to bits, Tigh killed his frakking wife and the guy who should be blamed for most of the carnage got to have a three-way with Tricia Helfer and Xena Warrior Princess. But lately I've had the strangest feeling after my weekly voyage with the rag tag fleet. I couldn't put my finger on it until recently, but the feeling was boredom. This show used to snap baby necks with a song in its heart. But now when I've got an angry Boomer threatening Athena over little Hera's crib, all I can do is shrug. The darkness doesn't surprise me anymore - not because I'm dead inside, but because it's just not as entertaining.

So this Sunday I pray to the gods that it doesn't suck.

Sashay Chante

2007-02-01T22:32:00.000-05:00

I am seriously too old to be downloading 2U by Keshia Chante right now, but I blame the endless hours I have spent at the gym shedding bank fat. I got old and I got soft and I tried to reverse the process and that damn song plays almost every time I'm about to start pumping out cable crossovers. It's too frakking catchy. I give up. And while I'm at it, frak you too Ted Leo. Like I needed another reason to dance to Since You've Been Gone.

Wii-shing and hoping

2007-01-18T00:08:00.000-05:00

I want a Wii, but I'm scared of it too. Too much fun can be a dangerous thing. People who have been gaming at home for years are reporting damaged furniture, personal injury and in most cases physical exertion and muscle soreness. I feel like it's high school all over again with everyone having sex while I'm waiting on the sidelines. I want it, but much like deciding to not to act like the other girls and be more normal and get my hair done more often I know I don't to get up at 4 in the morning to line up for my Wii.
So I wait, and like in high school the stories of disaster of those who go before me will help me take precautions when it is my turn at bat. We won't have our Wii in the room with the good tv unless we erect some sort of plexi-protective layer in front of it. We will use our Wii in a room with a high ceiling without any overhead lighting. We will wear our protective strap every time, not just in the beginning. We will keep all breakables out of swinging distance. We will be ready. We will be prepared. We will Wii-proof before we party.

Donkey punch of the day

2006-11-04T09:56:00.000-05:00

Looking up at the skylight in my bathroom after a shower and seeing someone looking back. Jeepers creepers I've got a motherfrakking peeper.

Donkey punch of the day

2006-11-02T23:54:00.000-05:00

iTunes 7 and my new iPod don't allow me to play the TV Guide podcast. I have to listen to it at home on the computer. That kind of makes me feel a little dumb for spending $toomany.frakkingdollars on something to listen to on the move. Perhaps I should invest in a walkman, burn the podcast to a CD and then I will have the TV Guide crew to entertain me on the elliptical as they have in the past. This is the second donkey punch I have had from the people at Apple. I'm trying real hard to be the shepherd, but the are starting to make me think my position on the PC + cheapass MP3 player world.

Of course I saw Snakes on a Mutha#$%@ing Plane

2006-08-20T23:23:00.000-04:00

Packed theatre, late show on Friday night, a man-bag full of rubber snakes (courtesy an even more hardcore acquaintance) plus a group of socially lubricated buddies equals good times. Oh, yes you also need to add a plane and some snakes.
Best line uttered by a dying passenger - "Good luck"
Biggest Disappointment - [Spoiler Alert] the baby didn't get eaten by the giant snake.

How they Operate

2006-07-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

Saw another marvelous fantastic amazing Gomez show this week. Brought a lady friend out for a girl date who had never seen them live and had only heard a few songs, and at about the 10 minute mark she notes "they never sounded this interesting before". After about half an hour she's liking them and by the time they are halfway through the set she loves them. Another convert. They really are one of those bands that you have to see live or at least sit down and really listen to the music. Of course when you tell people that you come off like a pretentious ass, so they ignore you.
On a slightly different topic I have discovered a new cure for fatigue and tummy upset. For the past week I've had a mystery bug that has kept my ass nailed to the shitter and my energy level at zero. I was almost ready to reintroduce solids to the diet, but I had concerns about agitating the burning ring o' fire. But I had to go to the Gomez show, and I couldn't stand around like the old lady I am rapidly becoming. So I gave in to a few cravings and by the end of the opening act [Slow Runner - quite good actually] I felt invincible. Or at least like I could jump up and down to the music without soiling myself.
I share my findings with you here now.
Burger King Whopper with Cheese (just the sandwich) + Red Bull and Vodka + Gomez = Magic.
Can't explain it, but Gomez my ass thanks you too. Great show.

Why do I care

2006-06-21T00:08:00.000-04:00

I want Nelly Furtado to get a new font.

Where have all the ... people gone?

2006-06-06T23:55:00.000-04:00

A long summer stretches ahead of us. Our stories are in reruns, resting and we must wait until fall to be entertained by many of our favourite shows - along with NBC's attempts to reclaim their Must See TV Glory Days.
I miss Must See TV. I have a theory, and it might be crazy, but I think I have figured out what NBC has been missing. Two words. Black people.
I love black people. Hell, I AM black people. And as much as NBC loves them some funny white people in unrealistically large New York apartments, they need to remember that it was a black dude in an ugly sweater that won them the night in the first place. The origins of Must See TV had black people peppered *giggle* throughout the evening. In 84 they had Cosby, Night Court and Hill Street Blues. Black people everywhere. They were funny in their sweaters and their Gordon Gar-Trail shirts. They were funny in court, and entertaining on the mean Hill streets. The Keatons and the gang at Cheers seemed perfectly comfortable surrounded by all those black people. We weren’t so scary after all. People liked us, they really liked us. The years rolled on and they kept adding other shows, but the night started and was built with the blood sweat and tears of a black man, like so many things in America.

But in the mid-nineties two things happened that changed the face of NBC forever. Cosby and all related spin-offs went off the air, and a couple of fledgling networks that loved them some black people were born. The coming of the networks that will soon be known as the CW created a new place for black people to go. And so they went off into the sunset never to return except in supporting roles. The nineties rolled on and yes, NBC held on to the night for a while (lotta black day players in the ER thank goodness) but I can’t really see those years being as cost effective. Between the Seinfeld cast and the Friends they were dropping a lot of clams to keep the old machine rolling. I don'’t remember Keisha Knight-Pulliam holding out for a million bucks an episode.

Time rolled on and the WB and UPN gathered all the black people to their welcoming bosom and slowly the idea of Must See TV became a thing of the past. Breeders can tell their spawn of magical time when they would sit down in front of the tv for an entire evening watching one channel that came with basic cable all night long. But times have changed and those days are gone.

And now, next year ABC will be moving their 20+ million viewer juggernaut, Grey's Anatomy to Thursday. Although the titular character is a teeny tiny blond who needs a sandwich more than Ally McBeal the rest of the cast is chock full of chocolate-y goodness with a Korean Canadian and a Latina lady doctor for additional spice. I'd like to take a moment to re-introduce a couple of old friends. Thursday night, meet black people. Black people, welcome to Thursday night.

like I needed another reason to love Gomez

2006-05-30T21:13:00.000-04:00

They linked to this on their blog.

no really, what are the odds?

2006-05-30T20:39:00.000-04:00

So I finally sold my old 1994 Ford Escort that I have driven exactly 6 times in the last 12 months. I sold it Friday. That would be three days before the super surprising Toronto Transit Commission wildcat rrowr strike gave the city a shot to the kidneys yesterday. I took it as a sign to work from home. The universe is not always subtle.

oh my gods

2006-05-20T01:13:00.000-04:00

I have a picture of him.. Still trying to decide if I should put it up in my makeshift podstation at the new office. Perhaps not, as all that drooling and staring at the wall might be off-putting.

so sometimes I cry like a little girl

2006-05-20T00:36:00.000-04:00

I downloaded the Grey's Anatomy two part finale so I could watch it again. There are two reasons for this.

During the crazy crazy scene where they are cutting into the totally hotandawesome dad from Supernatural at the same time they are cutting into Isaiah Washington they are playing the title track from the new Gomez album How we Operate. The song is fantastic as most Gomez songs are and even though I actually bought the CD (yes from a store, I know it would be cheaper from iTunes, and even cheaper if I were to steal it, but when I really like music I like to actually go to a store and buy the CD because sadly that is the only language the fools at the record labels understand. That explains why in the past two years I still buy CDs, although all those CDs are by acts that appeared in Dave Chappelle's Block Party and Gomez - btw Gomez is coming to T-dot this summer - get your tix early! And the Roots are coming too. My cup, she runneth over - speaking of I need a couple new bras) and I downloaded the song and put it on repeat on my mini and I have listened to it a million times this week (or 27, but whatever) at some point my mind decided that the song actually was magic, and if I were to just watch the show again they wouldn't kill Denny Duquette.

I can't remember the other reason I watched it again because I am too busy crying because they did kill Denny Duquette - and then to kick me while I was curled in a ball rocking back and forth spinning plates they fraked up Isaiah's hand. People do you NOT understand how the medical drama is supposed to work? You take with one hand and give with the other. You do not kill with one hand and then frak the other hand up for kicks. Seriously. Seriously.

Go buy Gomez. Any album will do. I'm busy weeping. Leave me.

Weevil - don't drop the soap

2006-05-09T22:16:00.000-04:00

This was a big Tuesday for me. I haven't been this excited since Buffy and Angel were in first run. Today I wore pink and went to my ladies only gym after work then came home and drank a long island whilst watching the girliest night of television I have had the pleasure of enjoying in a long while. I feel adrift. Both of my Tuesday shows focus on girls - be they Gilmore or Mars, and they were fabulous. I have so many questions about what could happen next year, but both shows are not really on any network for another week. Sometime after the 18th I will find out the fate of my 2006 2007 television watching season. Will I get to hear Lorelai Gilmore say 'frakking Celine Dion' again? Will Veronica track down her fugitive ex-boyfriend and so he can get some azithromycin for the chlymidia she may have inadvertently transmitted to him? I have no assurance that these questions will ever be answered because I keep falling in love with shows on fringe networks like WB or UPN or Fox.

Maybe I should start reading again.

they don't call it gym-nice-tics

2006-04-18T23:18:00.000-04:00

I like bad (insert rock and roll air quotes here) movies. I like movies that people are ashamed to admit they go and see. I will go see Antonio Banderas profit shamelessly off the magic that was Mad Hot Ballroom in Take the Lead. I will go see...a bunch of people I've never heard of in Stick It. I draw the line at The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - not because I think I'm better than that, but because in some cases I have to be loyal to the original, and this movie is diverging from the original vision behind the Fast and Furious franchise - to be Point Break with cars. I don't see an upstart cop trying to prove himself anywhere in the IMDB plot summary for Tokyo Drift. I watched the original Fast and the Furious in the theatre. I watch Point Break every time I see it airing on Spike or TBS. And you, Tokyo Drift are neither Fast nor Furious.

The good guys - Part 4 - It places the lotion in the basket

2006-03-28T23:41:00.000-05:00

Only one man has ever managed to say "it rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again" and sound cute. T. R. Knight of Grey's Anatomy. His character George is cuter than a basket full of whiskers on kittens. He isn't just in love with the girl that will never love him back, he admits out loud that he remembers the strappy sandals she was wearing the first time they met. He is good with babies. And old people. And young people. And nurses. Gorgeous women feel the need to fall into his bed after a bad day -- not for sex mind you, but to just snuggle up next to his cuteness and fall asleep. Because unlike every guy you know from university who said, "no it's ok, you can stay over, nothing has to happen, we can share the bed, I'm too tired to try anything *wink*" and next thing you know you are waking up with an erection shaped bruise humping your hip, hands hunting high and low and you gotta be...

Wait, this is my PG rated blog.

As I was saying you cuddle up with him after a bad day because George would never try anything like that.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this man does not exist. This man could never exist. All laws of god and man and morning wood say that if anything he has to wake up humping the leg of a Katherine Heigl or Ellen Pompeo if they crawl into bed with him. We know he has a penis, he got syphilis on it from a nurse (that he actually apologized to because he was mean and broke up with her after he started itching). And any penis should rub against this if it is sleeping with him. Seriously. Seriously.

He was asking for it officer

2006-03-27T23:19:00.000-05:00

I don't stalk people anymore. Much. Hardly ever. But I need to warn you Stroumboulopoulos if you insist on sitting there in your big belt buckle and your Adidas and point at the camera and say the word 'stock' (in reference to a piece about what one may stock in their bomb shelter) while I am sitting in front of the television and feeling quite proud that I decided not to stalk you, well, that is just you asking for it.

Forgiveness Revisited

2006-03-26T10:53:00.000-05:00

To the little old lady who nearly ran me over yesterday:

I was planning to forgive you for almost running me over yesterday, because I thought you were leaving a matinee of Lord of the Rings - The Musical. I saw Lord of the Rings - The Musical. It was long. Real long. And some bits were a little strange. I do not wish to go further into my feelings on the production as I do not have any sort of training in musical theatre, I don't see live musicals very often, and I respect the effort it must take to mount a production of that size. I can say that it was long. Real long. And I thought when you nearly clipped me on John St. yesterday that you and your gang of blue-hairs were laying down rubber like that because you needed to get home for the next round of meds, not having anticipated the duration of the production.

Then I checked online. There aren't any matinees on Saturday, just Sunday. So today's application of my mythical time machine involves me returning to yesterday and giving you a gesture a little stronger than a smirk.

The good guys - Part 3 - Bad case of loving you

2006-03-26T03:11:00.001-05:00

Dr. John Carter entered the ER on...ER some ka-jillion years ago and is still as cute as a freakin' button factory. Your Clooneys and Margulies' may come and go, but you remain, somehow retaining the sweetness that made us fall in love with you in the first place. We were mad for you when the veterans were mean to you. We were sad for you when they gave you the hotness of Thandie Newton, and used her to make you lose a marriage and a baby. We completely and totally pledged our allegiance to you when they made you read the goodbye letter from Mark Greene.

You are too cute to live. You must be removed from the planet earth. No super hot, super rich, super nice, super sweet guy like you exists, and even if he did he would not toil away in an ER for an eon. He would leave, and find a nice girl on The Bachelor or something. You are the worst character ever conceived for the television, if only because you are too perfect.

The good guys Part 2 - Hail to the Chief

2006-03-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

Your last girlfriend really did a number on you. You knew you shouldn't have dipped your pen in the company ink. At first the only thing you had to hide from your colleagues was the fact that you were tappin' that - then you had to hide evidence that she may have possibly tried to destroy the water supply need to sustain the remains of your entire civilization. You didn't have to hide that for long though, she revealed her duplicity by pumping a couple of rounds into the boss in front of many witnesses. After she was killed in a very Jack-Rubyesque fashion you thought you had finally managed to wash that girl right out of your hair.

You were wrong. She came back, looking just as cute as ever, apparently in love with another man, and pregnant with his child. But it's not really her, it's just her evil space twin - who has memories of loving you.

So what do you do when you hear that the evil twin of your evil dead ex-girl is about to be sexually violated during a "routine interrogation"? Do you toast her humiliation with your homemade moonshine? Line up to take a turn? No sir, because you are a good guy, so you march yourself right down to that holding cell and kill that man with your bare hands even though you know you might be tried and put to death for treason.

Ladies, this man does not exist in real life. If you watch Battlestar Galactica and you have a crush on Chief Petty Officer Tyrol, remember this is Science Fiction. Emphasis on the fiction. In real life if you met a man who would let you put him through all of this and still kill for you, odds are he wouldn't look like this.

The good guys - Part 1

2006-03-16T22:25:00.000-05:00

I am starting a series about fantasy men from television. I'm not talking about a Remington Steele, or a Dr. Doug Ross. I'm talking about the super sweet, super nice, super smart, super thoughtful, secretly-in-love-with-the-best-girl-friend guy from tv. He's the real fantasy man. The hot guys that will bag you, shag you and never look back are a dime a dozen, but that cute puppy dog that loves you from afar and is waiting for you to notice him doesn't really exist in real life. The men on TV are generally hotter than your average man. So that means that a real world version of Jim from The Office, or George from Grey's Anatomy will likely look more like this and less like this.

TV lies. It's like a man that way.

So look for my next post, I will be starting with my favourite puppy dog / knuckle dragging grease monkey, the Chief from Battlestar Galactica. He sweats! He emotes! He grieves his evil toaster ex-girlfriend!