HBO 'The Normal Heart'

I finally got to watch the film, The Normal Heart, last night, which premiered on HBO over the weekend. Let me start by saying that when I read about this film being made last summer and saw the list of the cast, I was excited - being fans of majority of the cast.  The film was based on the play (same name, The Normal Heart), written by Larry Kramer, which he had written in the mid-80s due to his frustration with the lack of help from the community, the city, the state, the country, etc., on this disease.

The cast was truly amazing... but for me, the standout, the true heroes of this film, were Mark Ruffalo and Taylor Kitsch. Wow, wow, wow!   I was fans before, but amazing job on their performance.  The scenes with Ruffalo and Alfred Molina, portraying his older brother, both intense, real conversations.   The scenes with Kitsch and Ruffalo's characters were one of my favorite points in the film.   Towards the end, I was waiting to see the update of these two, and then realized, what I already knew - these characters weren't real, the situations could possibly be based on friends of Larry Kramer in reality, but the individuals themselves weren't real.  There was no follow-up on what happened, did they survive and live long healthy lives?  They could still be alive today?  Did they also get this disease, HIV/AIDS?  But unfortunately, we will never know.  I know I have my hopes and thoughts on where they are today.

Julia Roberts did a wonderful job in portraying a caring doctor, wheelchair bound from having polio as a child.  As her character said, 'she wasn't supposed to be alive' or 'no one gets polio anymore'.  Reminding us all that there can be a cure for this disease one day.  One Day.  There is a scene towards the end of the film - I don't want to spoil it for anyone, and second scene from earlier in the film, that really stood out and if she does get any nominations, those two scenes would be it.  Also, there was a scene, where I wish I could ask the director, Ryan Murphy, did Roberts character have feelings, maybe a possible crush on one of the other characters??

I also enjoyed the way the film, felt, looked like it was done in the 70s/80s... very gray, the colors were not bright, very dim.  Even scenes, where Ruffalo's character was on TV, I would notice the little subtle yellow as old film does look.  It was well done for sure.

I hope you all get a chance to watch this film - definitely a powerful film and performance.  I hope the entire cast gets recognized for their class act.

2013 Cannes Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival has always been a highlight for me for several reasons... The films, the fashion and the poster! This year it is the great, talented, dreamy, iconic, Mr. Paul Newman.

The poster has Paul and his beloved wife and preferred co-star Joanne Woodward, photographed during the making of their film, A New Kind of Love (1963). This makes it a second time that Cannes have honored them... The first time was in 1958, the year they got married and released the film where they first starred together, The Long Hot Summer.

Paul Newman is and will always be a class act!

This years opening film (which I'm excited about) is The Great Gatsby, directed by Baz Luhrmamn, starring Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke.

I can't wait to hear the feedback on this film!

I know it has been a long while since I have posted anything but unfortunately this is a side hobby that I do enjoy and wish I could do on a more permanent basis but real life is on high demand. Enjoy the poster and I will try to keep you informed!

Happy Friday all...

"Newman's first law: it is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down."

Regina Spektor ‘How’ music video…

I always thought Regina’s voice was amazing but nothing really clicked with me… until now. I saw this video playing in the background and so I shazamed it (gotta love iPhones) and I’m hooked on this song. The lyrics are great but the way she sings it – just pure magic. Great song… hope you enjoy it!

Man of steel - movie trailer

From the very first teaser, something about it pulls me in - intrigued to see this.. Growing up, Superman (played by Christopher Reeves) one of the of the first superheroes (besides Batman, played by Adam West and Michael Keaton) that I really loved. It doesn’t hurt that I really like the cast, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams and Henry Cavill.

Mumford & Sons – Lover of the Light (Idris Elba stars and co-directs)

Love this video.. amazing.   The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous.  

I, of course, cried… One always fights continuously within oneself to have that freedom of being free, free to decide what they want, what they feel is best for them – not what everyone around them thinks is best or thinks they want…  What is right?  What is wrong?  Longing for a hug from a loved one we have lost?  Sorrow, joy, loss, beginnings are tied within itself every day.      

This video made me feel so much emotion and made me think of all these questions, ideas.. that is a perfect example of why I love music so much, that it can make me re-evaluate everything around me after watching a six minute music video.  

Below are some of the lyrics to this song:

And in the middle of the night

I may watch you go

There'll be no value in the strength

Of walls that I have grown

There"ll be no comfort in the shade

Of the shadows thrown

You may not trust the promises

Of the change I'll show

But I'd be yours if you'd be mine

So love the one you hold

And I'll be your goal

To have and to hold

A lover of the light

Grouplove - music videos

Recognize the name? Probably not, but you will know their song, Tongue Tied (video below), but now they have a new single called ‘Itchin on a Photograph’ and I’m loving their songs. So damn catchy!

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Tongue Tied

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Wombats ‘Jump Into The Fog’

A few months back, I had tweeted about The Wombats and a song called ‘Tokyo’ which is SO much fun to listen to! Now they have this new song and I just had to share it. Hope you enjoy it!

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Rita Ora ‘R.I.P.’ ft. Tinie Tempah

If you follow music or pop culture, you probably have seen this name pop up once or twice in the past few months. I only know a few things, but the most important facts are that she is signed under Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation and she is a fan of Gwen Stefani.

I had heard one or two songs and has a cool thing going on, but then I heard R.I.P. in the car and I was totally singing along. This song is awesome, so decided to share…

Atlas Genius – ‘Trojans’ music video…

Let me begin by saying, I heard this song back in August/September and I kept posting it, but luckily, it’s been playing on the radio more and more. So I’m finally posting this MTV Acoustic version, but please check out the song (lyric video, http://youtu.be/f_LzPFNiSc4 )

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The Details.. film trailer

I love watching films that look complicated... Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Ray Liotta, Laura Linney.   I know, solid cast!

Broken City - Film Trailer...

Awesome, awesome cast.. Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Barry Pepper, Kyle Chandler and Jeffrey Wright.  The trailer looks good... what else do you need?  I'm in!

Lana Del Rey 'Ride' music video...

I have to give credit to Lana Del Rey... every video has been different.  Like she has an old soul that she is showing and expressing in these real different videos.  It's intriguing.  I really enjoyed her narration on this video... words are below.


Lana Del Rey narrates:

“I was in the winter of my life — and the men I met along the road were my only summer. At night I fell asleep with visions of myself dancing and laughing and crying with them. Three years down the line of being on an endless world tour and my memories of them were the only things that sustained me, and my only real happy times. 

I was a singer, not a very popular one, who once had dreams of becoming a beautiful poet — but upon an unfortunate series of events, saw those dreams dashed and divided like a million stars in the night sky that I wished on over and over again — sparkling and broken.  But I didn’t really mind because I knew that it takes getting everything you ever wanted and then losing it to know what true freedom is.

When the people I used to know found out what I had been doing, how I had been living — they asked me why.  But there’s no use in talking to people who have a home, they have no idea what it’s like to seek safety in other people, for home to be wherever you lay your head.

I was always an unusual girl; my mother told me I had a chameleon soul.  No moral compass pointing due north, no fixed personality.  Just an inner indecisiveness that was as wide and as wavering as the ocean.  And if I said that I didn’t plan for it to turn out this way, I’d be lying —because I was born to be the other woman.  I belonged to no one — who belonged to everyone, who had nothing — who wanted everything with a fire for every experience and an obsession for freedom that terrified me to the point that I couldn’t even talk about — and pushed me to a nomadic point of madness that both dazzled and dizzied me.

Every night I used to pray that I’d find my people — and finally I did — on the open road.  We had nothing to lose, nothing to gain, nothing we desired anymore — except to make our lives a work of art.

Live fast. Die Young. Be Wild. And Have Fun.

I believe in the country America used to be.  I believe in the person I want to become.
I believe in the freedom of the open road.  And my motto is the same as ever —
I believe in the kindness of strangers.  And when I’m at war with myself — I ride.  I just ride.

Who are you?  Are you in touch with all of your darkest fantasies?
Have you created a life for yourself where you’re free to experience them?
I have.
I am fucking crazy.  But I am free."