Crash Into Me

Along Came Mystic River

I actually got to see TWO movies this week! Imagine that! Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to say about either (another paradox), but I do want to mention a couple things.

First of all, Along Came Polly is pretty average. Good comedic acting, some good laughs, but I've seen it all before. With a lesser cast, it probably would have sucked. My recommendation: rent it.

Then there is Mystic River. This finally came to Monroe, now that it is back in theaters, so I took my opportunity Saturday afternoon to see it. Boy, I sure am glad I did. Now I know why Sean Penn won his Golden Globe. This movie is chock full of fantastic performances, gut-wrenching plot twists, thought-provoking dialogue, and brilliant direction. Good ole Dirty Harry hit paydirt with this film. It is extremely sad, but a full-on brilliant movie. My recommendation: it's rated R, so SEE IT with caution.

UJBC

Duane had a very interesting post a couple days ago about TV programming. I am with him, it's gone downhill. And I would do things differently. I liked his schedule, but only to a point. My TV station (The Uncle Josh Broadcasting Corporation) would be a little bit different. Here is how the daily schedule would go:

6AM: Sesame St.
7: Transformers
7:30: The Superfriends
8: Sportscenter
9: The Price is Right
10: The Incredible Hulk
11: MacGyver
12PM: The Noon Movie
2: Beverly Hills 90210
3: Lois and Clark, The New Adventures of Superman
4: Jeopardy!
4:30: Cheers
5: Simpsons
5:30: Seinfeld
6: Friends
6:30: Seinfeld
7: Knight Rider
8: Survivor
9: 24
10: Saturday Night Live
11:30: Conan O'Brien
12:30AM-6AM: Reruns of Seinfeld, Friends, and Simpsons

I Like The Way You Move

I love music. Let's establish that right off the bat. I love everything about it. Listening to music is soothing, exciting, comforting, fun, etc. But it hasn't always been that way with "rap music". Let me give you a little history lesson.

When I was growing up, secular music was not listened to in the house or out. It was just not done. Christian music or classical, or maybe some oldies were all that was let in. Sure there was the occasional rebellious flip of the radio switch at night when my brother (or best friend) and I were sure that Mom and Dad were in bed. But that was about it. In High School, the rules changed a bit, but only because I was out of the house a lot. I started listening to what everyone else listened to. But to say it simply, I would not have dreamed of listening to rap at all. Not only was it forbidden, but I grew up in a small country town in the midwest. No one was into it.

Then I went to college. And I kinda got in that, away from the parents, do whatever I damn well please phase. And so I started listening to rap almost exclusively. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Notorious BIG, Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, you name it. I was positive that was the best "music" around. But about halfway through my bachelors degree, I kinda got over that phase, and started to become a music snob. It wasn't an immediate transition, but by the time I graduated, I wasn't listening to rap at all. It wasn't "music". Just a bunch of talking with some bass.

Moving to Moscow didn't help. I retreated more and more into my music snobbery phase. I only wanted to listen to what I considered "good music" and what was pleasing to the ear. A lot of Dave Matthews Band, and a lot of everything else (my CD collection was growing ridiculously), but of course no rap.

And then I moved down here, and started to relax a little bit. I started to realize that being a music snob isn't exactly all it's cracked up to be. I was still determined to not like rap, but my standards were crumbling. Outkast started creeping in. The beats and rhythms on the radio were making my head bob. And then one day last week, I finally realized (as Christin put it), I can dig it. I was driving to the mall on Saturday, and Shake ya tailfeatha by Nelly and P. Diddy came on. I've always hated both of those artists. And I was determined to listen, and hate the song. But I found myself starting to dance a bit. IN THE CAR! And I realized...I kinda like rap! Now, I'm not talking about all rap. A lot of it downright sucks. But if you can find the right artists, the right songs, etc., it can really be good. So, now that this post is far too long, I will sum it up with one statement, that I've been seeing on a certain blog for a while now, and not believing. But it's time to come clean: Josiah was right all along...Outkast is fantastic.

Registered

Lacey and I registered yesterday. And I have to say, it was a blast. Taking that gun everywhere, scanning everything in sight. Do we need an egg slicer coated in vaulted steel? Heck yes, we do! Anyway, I highly recommend getting engaged and trying it. All that to say, we are registered at Target now, and will be registered at Dillards and Pier One. So for the 4 of you that still read this blog, go to target.com, or dillards.com, fill out the bride or groom application on Club Wedd, and buy us something nice. Like the 27" flat screen TV I registered for. Heh:)

Santori Time

Well, I finally saw Lost in Translation on Saturday. Josiah mentioned it as a movie I needed to see, I had heard nothing but good things, and I really wanted to see it...but alas, it never came to Monroe. Until now. So Jon and Hollie, Christin, Thomas and Emily and I went to see it. And exactly what I thought would happen, happened. Christin, Jon and I loved it, Hollie was noncommital, and Thomas and Emily hated it. But never fear: the movie is brilliant. It certainly is "different", but that is a good thing. Is it a comedy? Yeah, sort of (as Christin said, it's funny in the way that Royal Tenenbaums is funny). Is it a serious movie about dealing with relationships, commitment, etc.? Yeah, sort of.
First, let's get this out of the way. Bill Murray is fantastic in this film. He is sweet, hilarious, introspective, quiet, sad, depressed, and does it all in every scene. He's a burnt-out movie star doing a commercial for the money, and this kills him. He "could be doing a play somewhere". He is a guy who COULD be the life of any party, who COULD be the most popular guy in any room, who COULD be the funniest guy you know, who COULD be the one everyone wants at their gathering (you know that person...there's one in every group)...but he chooses not to be. That is not "him" any more. And every time Bill Murray is tempted to break out, crack everyone up, or go on one of his What About Bob sprees, he retreats into the character. He gives you five emotions with one look. It is amazing. The quintessential scene for me, is when the director of the commercial tells him "more intensity" (although in quite a few more words...there's the humor). I was thinking to myself, huh? But he pulls it off in a way only Bill Murray can. And sheesh is Bill Murray funny...even when he doesn't necessarily want to be. And for that matter, all of the characters give excellent performances. Giovanni Ribisi (who I love) in a small role was good. And I didn't really recognize the starlet, Scarlett Johansson, but she was great as well. Excellent acting in this movie.
Okay, some more general movie stuff. It is directed by Sofia Coppola (daughter of the legend, Francis Ford Coppola), and is only her second movie. Wow. She wrote and directed it. I still am astounded by this. It is deep without trying, and subtle enough to leave you wondering and thinking. I loved the script. It was set in Tokyo, so the running gag is how they confuse their r's and l's. As Bill Murray leaves, he asks them if he should "have a nice fright". Speaking of Tokyo, sheesh was this movie beautiful to look at. That city and the surrounding areas is like a whole different world. The technology is amazing. The mountain/volcano is breathtaking. Anyway, I liked everything about this movie. Jon and I agree, the soundtrack is cool. A lot of 80's stuff that you don't necessarily recognize right off the bat, but is familiar. The plot is fairly simple, and yet fairly complex. Go see it, and you'll know what I mean (I'm not giving anything away). It is rated R, though, so attend with caution. I really loved this movie. The more I think about it, the more I like it. I would highly recommend it...but don't expect a "normal" movie, you will be disappointed. And therein lies its beauty:)

Big Fish

Lacey and I saw the new Tim Burton movie yesterday. I have seen several reviews of this movie, from Josiah saying it would have been his favorite movie of last year, to Steven Greydanus saying it was enjoyable and decent (no pun intended), but flawed. I have to say, crazily enough, that I mostly agree with Ebert's review of it, and Mr. Greydanus's. The movie, of course, is great-looking. Tim Burton is a great director, and he uses the camera, the scenery, the special f/x, etc. so to his advantage, that it is wondrous to behold. The acting is also very good. I love Ewan McGregor, and the supporting cast is excellent. As my roommate said, it just ticks me off even more that George Lucas didn't USE Ewan's talent...it kinda just went to waste. I thought the soundtrack was very good. I thought the images, metaphors, etc. were excellent. All that being said, the "hero" of the story is, as Ebert put it, still a blowhard. Sure, all of his stories have some element of truth to them, and the end of the movie is fairly moving, and I enjoyed all of it in between. But the main character remains a man who didn't have time for his family, was busy traveling, telling stories, and "finding his destiny" (I guess having a family isn't a good enough destiny), and estranged his only son, so much so that they didn't speak for three years. This is not the kind of man I can easily sympathize with. That is how he goes to the grave, and his son ends up relenting, and taking up his mantle of crazy stories. That is not the sort of man I want to emulate or my children to emulate. And I see these as problems. Burton wants you to sympathize with his lead. He (apparently) wants you to know that it is a pretty good way to go through life. And I disagree.
Now, it may sound like I'm being too hard on the movie. That is not my intention. I would still recommend it, and I really liked it. I liked that there was a movie made, basically, about storytelling. I really enjoyed the movie overall. I just think, ironically enough, that the storytelling itself lacked in more ways than one.

Baby Lunden

Well, Bart has taken an unofficial hiatus from blogging, and he's tied up in the hospital anyway, so his uncle (well, that will be official June 5th) will take it upon himself to announce the birth of Troy/Bart and Jennifer's son, Lunden. His official name (they are filling out the birth certificate today) is Troy Lunden Gustavus Adolphus Lizenby. But you can call him Lunden. He was born at 2:53 PM on January 12th. He was 9 pounds 2 ounces, and 21 and 1/4 inches long (wow!). Jennifer had a c-section, but is doing quite well now, especially since she has a healthy baby to hold:) He is a very good-looking young man, so congratulations to Bart and Jen!