Food Inc...and the death of the family farm

A the end of this post, is a clip from a new documentary.  I saw this on Cinematical today, and had to share it here.

Food Inc. is a documentary about where our food comes from...and what it means to the health of future generations, not to mention the earth itself.

When I was 18, I moved to Missouri. I'm not talking St. Louis either. I lived in the midst of family farms and family farmers. It's a long story how and why I got there, but the point is, I was there. Between 1976 and 1980, I saw the beginning stages of the corporate takeover. The family farmers going out of business, Monsanto Inc. and others moving in and buying it all up. I didn't really understand what was going on, but when I was 21, I had a pretty intelligent boyfriend. His father was a farmer, and his two brothers were farmers. He, himself, had already seen the future and gone into another business. He tried to explain to me at the time what was going on. He believed it was a conspiracy. Whether it was, or not, the consequences would be huge.

I remember once going home to visit my mother, and taking this boyfriend to the college town where I had grown up. He proceeded to get into an arguement with a couple of "college boys" who insisted that the family farmers were better off then most. They didn't think the government should help them keep their farms. At least they had something to sell, right? My boyfriend calmly told them that the death of the family farm meant you'd be spending three dollars for a loaf of bread, just as an example. They thought it was bullshit.

It all happened so quietly. Really. There were a couple of moans and groans...remember Farm Aid? But, for the most part, the farmers went broke, the corporations moved in and bought up all the land, and now the farmers are sharecroppers. I believe that 's the term I learned in elementary school. Sharecropper? They work the land, but they don't own it. Or if they own it, they don't control it? To tell you the truth, I have been out of the heartland and in the big, bad city for so many years, I have lost touch with any notion of where our food might come from.

This new film is a must see on my list. Although, it may ruin my appetite, it's high time the truth be told. The clip here is actually the opening sequence of the doc. The credits. Very clever, very intriguing. Go and see it. Swine flu? Well, it's much more dramatic isn't it? But, the real story may be the one no one talks about. 

Food Inc. opens June 12th.

LIke her or not?

Julia Roberts at a tribute to Tom Hanks. But, yet, it's always about her somehow? I dunno. I think I've had an issue with Julia ever since she called the music conductor a "stick man". Am I too sensitive? Is she the quintessential movie star for the ages? Is her ass really that big? Is that even a bad thing? So many questions, so little time.

Friday Night Netflix...Happy-Go-Lucky

Enraha...enraha!

This is another great Mike Leigh film.  A simple story about the everyday life of Poppy...an extraordinarily optimistic person living in London present time.  She hangs out with her friends, she drinks, she talks, she laughs. She is a primary school teacher inspiring the imaginations of the kids and everyone around her.  You think that she may just be an annoyingly positive dim-bulb of a girl...only...see that kid in the schoolyard bullying that other child?  Yeah, I want to go over and smack the shit out of him too.  Poppy?  She sees the little boy who needs help.  The bully I mean.  Because, she looked for the good first, and the cause of his anger. Poppy was the first person to notice or care enough about this "bully" to get him some help.  Kind of like her driving instructor...Scott.  Scott is the antithesis of Poppy.  Scott presents her biggest challenge. I mean, he may be insane...or, then again, he may not be.  "Enraha...mirrors, signal, manuever!"   Poppy handles him with the same courage and compassion.

I was afraid that I would be irritated by Poppy.  I had read where people said the character grated on them.  Really? Were these the same people who were not irritated by Juno? I hope not.  Juno was truly irritating.  Poppy makes sense.  It's unfortunate that Poppy didn't give birth at the end of the film, as that would have surely guaranteed Sally Hawkins that Oscar nomination.  What else could it be?  Ellen Page...Juno...nominated.  Sally Hawkins...Poppy...not nominated. Must have been the birthing scene.  

Hawkins was brilliant.  Eddie Marsen as Scott is also brilliant.  The acting is top-knotch all around.  And Writer/Director Mike Leigh is just a genius.  Geen-e-us.   He makes the audience think and question themselves in such a subtle way. At first you think Poppy isn't living in the real world and you judge her for that. Then you realize how much courage she has in maintaining that happy-go-lucky attitude. By the end of the film you begin questioning whether you live in the real world. And it happens so subtly, with no one getting killed, no one getting raped, no one getting blown up.  It's just a slice of life. 

So, more courage, less fear, more joy, less anger...seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it?

Now, if I can spend just one day a week being more like Poppy...well, it's a start.
 

I'm giving Happy-Go-Lucky a B+.  A little gem.

Oh, hello Mathilda!

I'm sorry. I'm busy. Plus, it's overcast and threatening to rain. I'm going to go lay down. Pull the covers up over my head. Ignore the growing pile of paper work on my desk.  But, before I do, one parting shot...and it's been on my mind...HOW did I forget Mathilda? I almost named my youngest daughter Mathilda after this Mathilda. The best thing Natalie Portman has ever done. Truthfully, she'll probably never top this. One of the best female characters ever.

Mathilda from The Professional.

Please smoke pot

...instead of drinking alcohol.  

In honor of 4/20, which I missed on Monday...hello!? How busy was I?

Anyway, in honor of 4/20 that I already missed, I want to post this article I found and that I wish I could have written myself. Of course, the impact of that would have been negligible, as opposed to the fact that this article was written by a former police chief!

When are we gonna wise up? Who's lobbying against legalization? That's what I wanna know. Who's benefits from this drug war? 

This article was originally posted at Huffingtonpost.com
Please read...and then write your Congressperson. And then, have a nice day.

"First, a disclaimer: I am a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, but I don't officially represent the organization in this forum. That said, I can't very well check my affiliation, or beliefs, at the keyboard when I sit down to blog for HuffPost. We at LEAP are current and former cops and other criminal justice practitioners who have witnessed firsthand the futility and manifold injustices of the drug war. Our professional experiences have led us to conclude that the more dangerous an illicit substance--from crack to krank--the greater the justification for its legalization, regulation, and control. It is the prohibition of drugs that leads inexorably to high rates of death, disease, crime, and addiction.

Back to booze vs. pot. How do the effects of these two drugs stack up against specific health and public safety factors?

Alcohol-related traffic accidents claim approximately 14,000 lives each year, down significantly from 20 or 30 years ago (attributed to improved education and enforcement). Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of "marijuana-only" traffic fatalities are so small. But evidence from studies, including laboratory simulations, feeds the stereotype that those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.

Hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths occur annually. There has never been a single recorded marijuana OD fatality.

According to the American Public Health Association, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in this country. APHA pegs the negative economic impact of extreme drinking at $150 billion a year.

There have been no documented cases of lung cancer in a marijuana-only smoker, nor has pot been scientifically linked to any type of cancer. (Don't trust an advocate's take on this? Try the fair and balanced coverage over at Fox.) Alcohol abuse contributes to a multitude of long-term negative health consequences, notably cirrhosis of the liver and a variety of cancers.

While a small quantity, taken daily, is being touted for its salutary health effects, alcohol is one of the worst drugs one can take for pain management, marijuana one of the best.

Alcohol contributes to acts of violence; marijuana reduces aggression. In approximately three million cases of reported violent crimes last year, the offender had been drinking. This is particularly true in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and date rape. Marijuana use, in and of itself, is absent from both crime reports and the scientific literature. There is simply no link to be made.

Over the past four years I've asked police officers throughout the U.S. (and in Canada) two questions. When's the last time you had to fight someone under the influence of marijuana? (I'm talking marijuana only, not pot plus a six-pack or a fifth of tequila.) My colleagues pause, they reflect. Their eyes widen as they realize that in their five or fifteen or thirty years on the job they have never had to fight a marijuana user. I then ask: When's the last time you had to fight a drunk? They look at their watches.

All of which begs the question. If one of these two drugs is implicated in dire health effects, high mortality rates, and physical violence--and the other is not--what are we to make of our nation's marijuana laws? Or alcohol laws, for that matter.

Anybody out there want to launch a campaign for the re-prohibition of alcohol? Didn't think so. The answer, of course, is responsible drinking. Marijuana smokers, for their part, have already shown (apart from that little matter known as the law) greater responsibility in their choice of drugs than those of us who choose alcohol."

Harry Potter this Summer!

Okay...I am not big fan. I see these films when they show up on Cable...usually. But, this trailer is kinda creepy, and sorta freaky, and I think I may just have to pop into a theatre this summer and catch my first big screen Harry Potter flick.
This movie was made to be seen with a bucket of popcorn, a cherry Icee, and a theatre full of screaming fans!

Opens July 17th

The Real Julia Child?

For Rook. Enjoy.

One singular sensation...

Here is a trailer for the new documentary Every Little Step. This is the first time the union, Actor's Equity, has allowed professional auditions to be filmed.  Ever.  So, we get a fly on the wall documentary about the audition process for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, which is a show about the audition process. Perfect.

If you are a dancer/actor/singer this has to be a do not miss. If you are an artist of any kind. If you are a person of any kind with dreams, or lost dreams, with failed dreams or fullfilled dreams, hopes, wishes, desires, however you want to say it. 

If you've ever wanted anything so badly.  "God, I hope I get it."

This one's for you.

Disco Week on American Idol

Why God, why?

I kinda can't wait for...

Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie And Julia. Coming soon. And yes...that is Stanley Tucci.  He's also in The Lovely Bones.  Oscar nom for Tucci is imminent.  And another for Dame Meryl don't cha think?

Friday Night Netflix...Elegy

Directed by Isabel Coixet. Written by Nicholas Meyer, based on the novel The Dying Animal by Philip Roth. With Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper, and Peter Sarsgaard. 

I expected more from this film.  Kingsley, Hopper, Cruz, Sarsgaard...Clarkson!  All that crazy energy in one room, so to speak.  With a nasty, self-loathing, misogynistic, old goat of a college professor who is vunerable to no one as he sleeps his way through his students. Wouldn't you expect some gnarly shit to happen?  Well...I guess it does.  But, it is so nice-i-fied, so flattened and softened up, even by the Vivaldi playing in the background, that it never engages fully.  

Kingsley's David Kepesh cares for nothing but himself.  Kepesh cares about books, music and art, but only for the pleasure he derives from them rather than any value they may have of themselves. He cares about women,too, has cared for many of them, and for the same reason he loves the arts. They make him feel more alive.  But, the women he loves, in the same way as the books, the photographs, the music and things he surrounds himself with, are just objects, after all.

David sets his eye on, and eventually beds Cruz' character, Consuela.  David is her professor.  He is a quasi-celebrity author, and she falls for his seeming wisedom and stability.  David becomes obsessed with Consuela. I know we are meant to believe he falls in love with her, but, he doesn't.  It's obvious he only loves himself.  It meant more to him to protect his ego then it did to show up at her graduation party.  He was willing to hurt her, to spare his feelings.  Fuck that.

At any rate, there were so many missed opportunities for something more.  Something heightened, something unbalanced? Embarassing? Unexpected?  Just when you think this man's obsession is going to become interesting and comical, the filmmaker goes near the edge and then turns around and runs back to safety. Every thing was a bit whitewashed for it's own good.  If you're going to go there...go there.  

The characters are interesting.  The actors are proficient.  There are some genuinely funny moments, and some real nice chemistry between Kingsley and Hopper, and Kingsley and Clarkson.  I think it's worth seeing for Kingsley's performance alone.  Whether you like him as an actor or not, there's always something worth looking at.  

I'm gonna recommend with reservations...and give this film a C+.

500 days Of Summer New trailer

Fox searchlight's newest sleeper hit to be- 500 Days Of Summer 

Opening July 17th  

Mind If I join you?

How much would I love to have a cup of Joe with Retta and Grace?

If you're not watching Saving Grace, you are missing something special. The show features one of, if not the best cast on television. Last night's episode was a mind blower. If more of ya'll were watching...we could talk about it!

Let's get on that.  

Saving Grace on TNT, Monday nights.  9pm and 10pm.  They'll be reruns until June...so, get caught up, and meet me back here.

Top 5 Favorite Characters

It's interesting. I started out with almost all women. The first list I made had 9 out of 10 women! How did so many fall off? Was it a state of mind kind of thing? As in, I was feeling all uppity and powerful when I made my first pass, and now, I'm all, deer in the headlights and vunerable? I dunno. Somewhere along the line, I crossed off Ripley from Aliens, Sarah Conner from Terminator 1 and 2.  Karen Blixen from Out Of Africa, Maude from Harold and Maude (how could I do that!?) Miss Celie from The Color Purple, and Ed from Raising Arizona. Also, dropped from the list, but not female...Mookie from Do The Right Thing, and Patrick Bateman from American Psycho.  

This is just an impossible task.  But, I have to finish...so, here's the Top 5.  What do ya'll think?  Which Peter Sellers should have been on this list?  Why did I leave off Travis Bickle?  Who would be your number 1?  

5. Dr. Frank-N-Furter...a scientist.  Rocky Horror Picture Show

 "Come up to the lab."

4. Auntie Mame...as played by Rosiland Russell in Auntie Mame.
"Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!"

3. Jean Louise Finch aka Scout...To Kill A Mockingbird
This is tough, because really, you could chose anyone from this cast.
Atticus, Jem, Calpurnia, Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell...and of course Boo Radley.
I chose Scout because, really, miscast that role and the whole movie falls apart.
"Hey Boo."

2. Dorothy Gale from Kansas...The Wizard of Oz
Recast this role and it becomes camp. Who but Judy could rend our hearts into such a bittersweet, teary eyed mess at the very thought of her singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow?
"There's no place like home."

1. The Tramp.
Much to my embarassment, I didn't even think of The Tramp on my own. ( Thank you Miss Pink! )
Really, who is more iconic then he? No one. I grew up watching old Chaplin films rented from the library and projected in 8mm. All you young 'uns have no excuse not to be watching Chaplin's brilliance on DVD. If you're not...shame on you, and get to it!  

Nothing need be said, if you just smile.

For Numbers 5 - 10 and Honorable Mentions scroll to post below!

My Favorite Movie Characters of all time!

Here's a tag that I have been way slow getting to.  But, in my defense, trying to put together the ultimate list of ultimate characters seemed such a....task!  Because, I would feel guilty when, inevitably, I realized I had left someone out.  Someone loved and under appreciated already.  

 I don't really know where this meme started to begin with, or where it will end, but...it's been floating around the blogosphere for a few weeks, at least, and now it's my turn to play. The challenge is to pick your 10 favorite movie characters...ever!  ( If you haven't been tagged yet...then I'm tagging you now....so, get to work on your own list! )

Here is the best that I can do without going completely mental. I have six honorable mentions, because, I just have to, alright?  

Here's the Six honorable mentions:

Virgil Tibbs...In The Heat Of The Night

Dayum Sidney!

"They call me Mr. Tibbs!"

Slater...from Dazed And Confused.  Actually Rory Cochrane would be in my Top 50 twice. He also played Lucas in Empire Records.  Never understood why he didn't have a bigger career.  These two characters are night and day and he owns them both.

Mary Poppins..."practically perfect in every way".

Marge Gunderson...Oh, you betcha! Fargo

Hans Gruber..."Give me my detonators."

Die Hard

Keyser Soze...Who is Keyser Soze?

The Usual Suspects

Top 10...numbers 10 - 5

10. The Waco Kid...

Blazing Saddles

9. Jimmy Dugan...A League Of Their Own

Two alchoholics in a row...thoughts?

Moving on...

8. Doc Holliday...Val Kilmer style...Tombstone

"I'm your huckleberry."

Where was his Oscar nomination?

7. Charity Hope Valentine...Sweet Charity

6. Inigo Montoya, motha fuckers!

The Princess Bride

Tommorrow...the Top 5 revealed.

Goodnight moon.

Friday Night Netflix...

I've Loved You So Long.  I fell asleep...twice.  I think I should watch this again.  What I could tell for sure...very good performances...predictable plot...nice relationship between the sisters.  It's okay...comme ci, comme ca, you know?  Grade C, I think.  If it improves with a second viewing...I'll let you know.

Rogen, Rogen, Rogen...Rawhide?

A few weeks ago, I posted the trailer for Observe And Report, and made my own observation that it was "not Mall Cop 2."

The film opens this weekend, and while I think you should go see it, don't forget what I said. This is not a Hollywood, slick, formulaic, stoner comedy starring everyone's favorite schlub. This is Rogen's Cable Guy. This is Rogen's dark comedy that will let everyone know that , hey, the man can actually act. Just remember the word....dark.

If you're one of the many who have been wondering why Seth Rogen has lost so much weight, and will he be funny without it, here's my theory. Seth is more then Apatow. Seth is going to want to be taken seriously. Seth is hoping to go further down that path the Jim Carrey cleared. Seth is not going to end up like Will Ferrell. Seth Rogen will not be a one liner, okay!? 

 I'm in his corner. After all, Sean Penn has two Oscars and he's one of the biggest stoners in Hollywood. If he can do it, can't Seth?

Here's a clip from Observe And Report. Opening today!

And there's this...

Virginia Madsen is defying gravity. Variety reports the actress is getting involved with a new documentary called Fighting Gravity. The project focuses on women ski jumpers, and their battle to get the right to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Specifically, it'll follow 15 female athletes who have challenged the Intl. Olympic Committee's decision to bar them from the games -- making it the only men-only sport in the Games. Sometimes it's hard to believe we're in 2009.

The same always at-the-ready excuse was brought out once again..."there aren't enough women interested."  Which of course, is bullshit.  This is the excuse I was given for why girl's can't play baseball, for example, and why there were only two paintings by female artists hanging in the Getty Museum. There, I was told, it was because there weren't any female artists before the 19th century!  Really? Who knew?  

Oh, and by the way...women's baseball is starting to come on strong!  Including Little League teams! I can't tell you how happy this makes me!  Ooo, I really hope there is a senior league some day!

This is good for all of us...men and women, boys and girls. The more we all stand on an equal footing, the more we can all begin to respect each other as such, and hopefully, respect ourselves even more.

So, good luck to the ski jumpers.  I hope they get their Olympic dream. Another small step. And hurray to Virginia Madsen...she's a cool chick, a good egg.  Putting her name on this has already garnered publicity...so, right on Virginia!

 

New Teaser...Extract

Another little comic masterpiece from Mike Judge? Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Kristen Wiig, and Mila Kunis star in Extract.



Not coming soon enough...you'll have to wait until Labor day.

Who's the rock star?

Last night I watched some entertainment show spend thirty minutes asking the question, "Is Michelle Obama the next Oprah?" I don't know why I was watching that shizzle to begin with, but I couldn't really wrap my brain around why they insisted on comparing Michelle, the First Lady of the United States, to Oprah...a talk show host. Nothing at all against Oprah, mind you. It just seemed to me that they had chosen Oprah because of the similar color of her skin. As in, we can only have one powerful black woman at a time, who's it gonna be?

Personally, I think the obvious person to compare Michelle to, would be, Princess Diana. The people's Princess, right? More and more I'm thinking...Michelle is our people's princess. She's turning into a rock star right before our eyes. Her trip to England was a huge success. That business with the Queen? Wonderful. It's probably the first time anyone has offered real warmth to Elizabeth II in many a moon. She touched the Queen! And the Queen touched back. Brilliant!

I admit, I do have a bit of a girl crush on Michelle. I'd really like to have coffee with her, you know, hang out. I'm quite sure if I ever did meet her, I would cry. This woman is the role model I've been hoping for. This woman could be the President herself. Fuck Beyonce, Michelle is fierce! Princeton educated, mother of two, warm, funny, strong, powerful, and she doesn't have to shake her booty or dress like a Pussycat doll to be sexy. Have you seen the way her husband looks at her. Oo-owa!

Michelle has the potential to be the most popular First Lady ever.  We can compare her to Diana, Shirley Chisholm, Jackie, Eleanor, Hilary, even Oprah.  But, the truth is...she's a first...an original.  She makes me proud to be a woman.  

 Just one favor Michelle....buckle up, okay?

  

Good Morning Gus

I've been thinking about Gus and Woodrow all week.  It must be time to revisit Lonesome Dove.  

But, for today, I think I'll just pretend I'm riding on up to Montana with Gus.  

Instead of what I'm really doing...

Working in the city today.  But, will be back later...  If the Kiowas don't get me.

Friday Night Netflix...Ghost Town

Yeah...not that funny. 

 I really like Ricky Gervais. I'm a huge fan of Extras, an absolutely brilliant television show from Gervais and writing partner, Stephen Merchant. The bad news for Gervais here is, they didn't write this script. There's nothing new here. There's nothing charming or even particularly interesting about the characters or the situations they find themselves in. The tag line for Ghost Town was "He sees dead people...and they annoy him."  Well, the random dead people were the least annoying thing in this film. 

Gervais plays an annoying little dentist, haunted by Greg Kinnear, in his most annoying role to date. Kinnear has unfinished business with his widow, the beautiful, smart and successful, Tea Leoni. Since Gervais is the only living person who can talk to the dead, he does Kinnear's dirty work for him. In this case, that consists of breaking up her new relationship with her beautiful, smart and successful fiance...a charming as always, Billy Campbell. Long story short...she throws over Campbell for Gervais. And, I suppose they live happily ever after. Why would she do that? I have no fucking idea.

Kristen Wiig has a funny bit as a spray tan loving doctor, and it was nice to see Campbell, although he was rather wasted here. And I mean, not used properly, as opposed to "wasted"! Also, a neat cameo from actor Aasif Mandvi as Gervais' partner. 

If you want to get something funny from Netflix, I suggest you skip this one, and go for any or all three seasons of Extras. Or, just go to youtube and look up Gervais' speech at the Golden Globes. Which was way funnier then Ghost Town.

I'm going to add a plus to the earned D grade simply for Alan Ruck and Dana Ivey as two of the dead people, who have nice moments when their "issues" are resolved. 

Final grade D+

The Hangover Trailer

I never even heard of this film before today when I happened upon the trailer. This actually looks funny. Not Raising Arizona funny, or Snatch funny, but certainly funnier then what is usually playing at the megaplex. (Yes, that's right, I'm a megasnob! ) Certainly funnier then Old School.  Oh, yeah, same director you say?  In that case, I certainly hope it's funnier then Old School.  
And one one question...will The Hangover finally make Zach Galifanakis a star?  

Check it out...The Hangover opens June 5th!

Bruno Trailer

I know...you've all been waiting for this...except for those of you who haven't.  Like me.  But, here it is...Sacha Baron Cohen's follow up to Borat.   NSFW...I guess.

Never Put off Until tomorrow...

...what you can remember today. It's age...it must be. Brain fog? Too many drugs in my youth? Hard drive is full? I dunno.
Last night I went to bed with a great idea for a morning post...I'll do it when I get up, I said to myself. And now...I got nothing. No idea what I had intended for myself only the night before. It's a good thing I don't ski...I might not ever make it home.

This is confusion corner somewhere in Canada...you ever feel like all your road signs look like this?

On top of everything else...my ads are gone! I don't even know why!  Just a sad empty space. Sigh.

Milton The Monster

After referencing Milton in my last post, a wave of nostalgia sent me searching for the opening song from one of my favorite childhood cartoons. Brilliant.