August 2008 Media Consumption

I saw exactly 4 complete movies last month, 3 on TV and 1 in the theater. I didn't finish Tess of the D'Urbervilles, mostly because I was obsessed with The Pioneer Woman's website and especially her love story with Marlboro Man. Her story got me thinking about all the dodged bullets I had before I married Brian, so I started writing down my own love story. I began with the first boyfriend and the dry little peck on the lips that was our first kiss. As I wrote, I remembered that his hands were on my shoulders - like he was giving Great Aunt Betsy a kiss goodbye as she sat in her wheelchair. I digress.

No new music (sorry, Katy) and all the same TV shows as last time because the fall season hasn't started yet. I will say that I still like Kenley's clothes on Project Runway, but her laugh makes me want to watch the show on mute. I'm glad I won't have to see Daniel's moist eyes as he explains how talented he is or listen to Keith talk about how hard it is for him to "get out" in Salt Lake City. Those 2 had an excuse for everything. I like Terry's and Korto's designs, too. Terry's kind of mean, though. Anyway...

Literature -

I'll start with Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Nine years ago I was fired up about Tess shouldering all the responsibility for the baby that resulted in Alec D'Urberville taking advantage of her. Or so my comments in the margins say. This time, Hardy's language is like a pleasant daydream. On the subject of Tess quarantining herself after the birth of her child:

-To all humankind besides Tess was only a passing thought. Even to friends she was no more than a frequently passing thought. If she made herself miserable the livelong night and day it was only this much to them - 'Ah, she makes herself unhappy.' If she tried to be cheerful, to dismiss all care, to take pleasure in the daylight, the flowers, the baby, she could only be this idea to them - 'Ah, she bears it very well.' Alone in a desert island would she have been wretched at what had happened to her? Not greatly."

I love that sentiment - if we were alone on a desert island, would we make ourselves miserable wondering what others were saying and thinking about us? Not greatly, indeed. On the downside, it's obvious that Thomas Hardy is not a woman. Even for a naive country girl, Tess leans a little too far in the direction of stupidity.

In other news, I'm done with O Magazine. I've had a subscription for about 3 years and I'm finding less and less I want to read every month.

Movies -

Wall Street (1987) on AMC - I was so distracted by the hair and "Darian's" (played by drag queen, Daryl Hannah) mad decorating skillz that I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on. There is a scene in a fancy men's locker room where Gordon Gecko (really?) and Bud Fox (REALLY?) are getting dressed after a fight-to-the-death game of racquetball. Gecko (I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance) takes out one of those old man black combs and combs all his hair straight back. Please. You know he was using all kinds of product to make that helmet stay in place. Hopefully it goes without saying that I don't understand the stockbroker world and all the insider information stuff would have been completely lost on me if it wasn't for the soundtrack. The movie definitely has style, though. I didn't doubt for a moment that I was getting a look at the real thing. My favorite part of the movie was Martin Sheen. I totally bought him as Bud's father (tee he he) and he had the best lines in the movie. My other favorite part was Bud being escorted out of his office in handcuffs, crying pathetically.

I'm going to borrow from Melissa and mention the fast forward moment was any moment that Daryl Hannah was on screen. Was she speaking English? Who found this "woman" attractive?!


Collateral (2004) on ABC - Tom Cruise as a hit man (totally buy that), Jamie Foxx as a cab driver (buying it), Jada Pinkett Smith as a lawyer (buying that on sale only), and Mark Ruffalo as an undercover cop pretending to be a Mexican drug lord (not in a million years). Obviously it's 4 years after this movie was made and some Oscar nominations were handed out, so I knew Cruise was a hit man. Even though that part was ruined for me, I still enjoyed the back-and-forth with him and Jamie Foxx. The best moment of the show for me was when Foxx's character needs to get through a glass door. He tries breaking it with a garbage can, which doesn't work. Then he tries to use the gun he just took from a policeman (long story). The gun doesn't work on the first try and he has to take the safety off and try again. Finally! A movie character who doesn't know how to shoot a gun on the first try. Fast forward moment for me was waiting for Foxx's character to get back in the car after getting the information he needs from Cruise's character's boss. In conclusion, Tom Cruise with gray hair and a shiny gray suit is not inconspicuous.

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton (2004) on CBS - I know. Brian wasn't home. And I love Topher Grace in anything. He was the only redeemable thing in this movie. Yeah, Josh Duhamel is good looking, if you like big-haired, smarmy, playboy types. Eric Snider's review of this movie sums up something I couldn't quite put my finger on - Kate Bosworth's character is what Hollywood producers think small town girls are like. Impossibly pretty, no discernible life plan (she's 22 and working at a Piggly Wiggly and ... that's it), wise and yet dumb as a rock. Tad Hamilton buying a farm in Kate Bosworth's hometown just so they could do a Hot Guy Working on a Farm montage was DUMB. Even for this movie. DUMB.

The Dark Knight - You've all seen it. I really liked it. Everyone I know said it was dark and left them feeling empty inside. Perhaps my soul is already black, but I didn't think it was that dark.

Blog Stalking -

As I mentioned, I'm obsessed with The Pioneer Woman. I found her rifling through Kristina's sidebar. The Pioneer Woman lives on a ranch with her husband and 4 children. She's funny, she loves photography (and is very good at it), and she cooks. Her recipes are easy to follow - she even has pictures of each step. I love it. If you have a few spare hours and can stand not being able to take a good story to the bubble bath with you, read Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. She repeats herself quite a bit, but it is a serialized story and I was reading it all at once.

Speaking of Kristina - she is the author of Pulsipher Predilections on my sidebar. She speaks to the vile, sarcastic side of me and I get a good laugh every time I visit her. (I think I've mentioned that someone wrote in my senior high school yearbook that they would miss my "vile sarcasm." I took it as a compliment and I meant it as a compliment.)