I'd Rather Be in the Hamptons with Kylie and Rufus

Being sick in the summer sucks. Last week, it was super sunny and warm here, but I had to deal with a fever on top of the heat! Oh well, I'm sure it sounds pretty frivilous compared to the world's problems. What kept me busy was playing catch-up on a bunch of movies I'd been meaning to watch!

Wuthering Heights



This BBC miniseries of one of my favourite classic novels was a superb adaptation! I mean, it starred the gloriously hunky Tom Hardy, who yes completely disappears into his characters. Whether he's playing a violent prisoner in Bronson, a hottie dream expert in Inception, or a tormented Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, he is able to transform himself and become barely recognizable.





Watching Wuthering Heights made me want to dash out into the nearest moors and scream out the name of the man I love, hoping he will come and rescue me!!!

See It (rent or download is your best bet!)

After devouring some gothic romance, I felt it was time for some sci-fi action.

Splice



I wouldn't normally watch a movie like this, but because Sarah Polley was in it, I couldn't resist.



It's an interesting concept of fusing two lifeforms together - not quite cloning, but sort of. Obviously, things go wrong and I found it a bit predictable in terms of story, but it was a good watch nonetheless. If you like this kind of stuff, then it's worthy of a watch, in my opinion. If you're not into sci-fi, then don't bother.

Rent It

After all that darkness and gloom, I definitely was in the mood for something more uplifting.

Temple Grandin



Just in time for the Emmys, I was captivated with Claire Danes in the HBO movie Temple Grandin, based on the real life story of a woman with autism who breaks down barriers for herself and others. Inspirational and uplifting and mesmorizing, it makes you want to meet the real Temple and just be her friend and have someone as amazing as her in your life!



Congratulations to Temple Grandin for their big wins last night at the Emmys including Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, and the big award of Outstanding Made for TV movie!

See It

Now that I'm better, I wish I could've flown over to New York and go see this amazing performance that Kylie Minogue and Rufus Wainwright put on for a benefit concert!

Kylie Kylie Kylie!!

Sorry, I've been sick all week. Blah!

Luckily, Kylie's been there to help nurse me back to health again!

I can't wait to see her Tron/Xanadu inspired video for Get Outta My Way!!!



Did you see her performance on America's Got Talent on Wednesday night? Get outta her way!!!



And UK band HURTS covered her hit Confide In Me:



It might've been their way of thanking her for participating in a duet for their new album, on the song Devotion!

J'ai Tue Ma Mere

What was all the fuss about this movie from Quebec about a gay son and his mother? I fucking live this every day of my life. I was so excited to see it because I'd heard such rave reviews. But it was just depressing. Maybe because it hits too close to home? The struggle of loving your mother and hating her at the same time?

Anyway, it wasn't all that interesting and I found it choppy. Another gay Quebec movie that was far more fun to watch is C.R.A.Z.Y.

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

Holy Sh*t! GO SEE THIS MOVIE!! GO SEE IT RIGHT NOW!!!!




Tell all your friends to go see it!!!!



AND THEN GO SEE IT AGAIN!!!

It is the most entertaining, funny, intelligent movie of the summer!! And it's got a Canadian bent to it! I think the writer or director is Canadian or something? I can't remember and can't be arsed to research it right now. Just know that it is BRILLIANT!!

The way it's shot, the way it's told, the characters, the story, EVERYTHING!!! So effin good!!

SEE IT!!!! NOW!!!!

The Switch

I don't normally go to the theatre for a Jennifer Aniston movie, but this time around, the differentiating factor was Jason Bateman. He was absolutely wonderful in this movie.

The movie centers around Jason Bateman getting drunk one night and swapping his sperm for the donor sperm that Jennifer Aniston is going to use to get pregnant. Cut to 7 years later and he meets his son.

What the film managed to do for me was make me think about having a father and all the little things a father does for his children. I remember my dad doing things for me when I was younger, like driving me to school, making me lunch, rolling cigarettes with him, mowing the lawn, washing the car. Nothing spectacular, but when you don't have a father, they can be such monumental events.

Rent It

Eat Pray .... Yawn

It's fitting that I saw this movie by myself. It's all about going on a journey of self-discovery, and in that respect, I was inspired. I too would love to go somewhere in order to "find myself."

But in terms of the movie, I was underwhelmed. I hadn't read the book so was expecting lots of things, but it just didn't deliver. Julia Roberts is fine, but not great. The movie seemed choppy and amateur. The fact that the director is Ryan Murphy, who is more known for directing TV shows like Glee, might have had something to do with it.

For the "Eat" section, I was hoping for scene after scene of Italian food, but I would've seen better eats over at the Old Spaghetti Factory. While the food in the movie Julie & Julia had me salivating and craving French food immediately, in Eat Pray Love, I was barely hungry at all. I mean, I wasn't even craving McDonald's.

Blah.

Eat Pray SKIP!!

Get Outta My Way!!!

sorry i haven't been blogging lately... just been busy... not much to say...

except for THIS!!!!

Heaven Is a Place on Earth

It's fitting that Proposition 8 was overturned and defeated this week, ending the ban on gay marriage in California. Here in Vancouver, we just celebrated Pride weekend, and this gives more reason to celebrate.

Even though it was seemingly a quiet weekend for me, I had a fantastic time. From watching Glengarry Glen Ross on Thursday night, to walking along the seawall on Friday morning just enjoying the weather, the water, and being by myself. Friday afternoon I spent with Momma, showing her some of the city's new attractions like the Olympic cauldron and pieces of public art. We ended up drinking the night away and catching up since her move out East.

Saturday was spent with The Guy. He made us lunch and I helped him make some music CDs for his month long road trip. And you thought my taste in music was cheesey and embarrassing? His is even more random. See, we're made for each other, yes?

Saturday night, I met up with Alexis for some drinks and to watch the fireworks but mainly for drinks.

The drinks continued on Sunday morning when Alexis and I went for a pre-Pride breakfast at Score and by breakfast, I mean two cups of coffee and Baileys.

I did spend some time earlier in the week trying desperately to hunt down the perfect outfit for Pride. I really really wanted to get myself a vintage Vuarnet shirt. I remember them being worn in the 90s and don't see them around anymore and thought it'd be fun to bring that back.



Sadly, I was out of luck. I went to several thrift stores and a couple of vintage clothing stores, but no go. I was thisclose to finding one, as one salesgirl swore up and down that she spotted one. Oh well, I ended up going for the next best thing:

I love my CATS shirt. It's baggy and it makes me laugh because 1) I hate that musical and 2) remember when everyone wore one? Plus, it was just the perfect thing for Pride, yes? What could be gayer than that? Also, it was a shout out to my future self, who will no doubt be the owner of half a dozen cats.

Anyway, the Pride parade was fun. The Guy was in it and he gave me a big hug when he saw me. Alexis, Momma, and I danced the afternoon away at Celebrities and then later that evening at Numbers. There were some awesome tunes playing, from Whitney's I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Jump by the Pointer Sisters, Laura Branigan's Gloria, and something that made me squeal on the dancefloor: Jermaine Stewart's We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off!

However, every Pride, there's that one song that just does it, that just blows my mind. One year it was ONJ's Xanadu, which had me twirling all by myself on the dancefloor.

This year, summing up the weekend and the emotions that everyone was feeling and now with the overturn of Proposition 8, that song is none other than this AMAZING remix of Belinda Carlisle's Heaven is a Place On Earth. Hope everyone had a happy Pride!!

The Kids Are All Right

It's not often that you get a summertime movie that is worthy of Oscar nominations. Last year, Meryl got accolades for Julie & Julia. This year, it's all about The Kids Are All Right, which features fantastic performances from the entire cast but definitely the three leads: Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, and Annette Benning.

The story of a lesbian couple and their kids and their kids' sperm donor is done delicately, emotionally, and amazingly realistically. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the kid of two moms and wanting to find out who the "dad" was. I can't imagine being the sperm donor who gets a call 18 years later from his "kid". I can't imagine being either of the two moms who now suddenly have to deal w/ this person brought into their lives.

It's got its funny moments, but not slap stick ha ha funny, but more awkward real-life funny. Julianne Moore and Annette Benning act the HELL out of this script, and it's so rewarding and so refreshing to see a summer movie that doesn't rely on special effects and 3-D glasses.

SEE IT NOW!!!!!

YVR: Glengarry Glen Ross

David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross is currently playing at the Stanley Theatre starring Eric McCormack.

Emily and I went with trepidation. This is because we both saw another Mamet play in New York together - Speed The Plow. And we were not amused. It was a painful play to sit through and we wanted out!!

However, I had seen Mamet's Oleanna years ago and loved it, so I did have some hope. Plus, having a big name like Eric McCormack at the Stanley Theatre was a big deal too.

We were not disappointed. I mean, it started off a bit slow and confusing, but the second act, things got going and it was far better than Speed The Plow and so we chalked it up as a hit!

Vancouver definitely needs more theatre like this -> plays that are not put on all the time, and a celebrity to draw people out of their homes and away from their TVs.

Glengarry Glen Ross runs at the Stanley until August 22nd.

Toy Story 3

Bawled my eyes out.

SEE IT!!!!!