The Newest Love Of My life

I was gonna do a personal ad of Gregory Peck/Atticus Finch, but I decided he's mine, all mine!

I Drink Your Milk-Shake!!!!

"What's Your Perversion?" Personal Ads:

Daniel Plainview

Your darkest and most inner fantasies of transgression and ambition: he can go there. Everything that moral and ethics disable your conscience to even consider, he's already on it!

His voice will seep into your brains and ring loud as he walks in your lands and drains your water. The mystery printed on his face, due to his history, will contrast with the inexplicable prosperity and pleasure his presence will bring.

He likes tight places [especially wells], some booze [understatement] and have strong contempt towards people. He doesn't like to explain himself, but you'll never feel like questioning his logic and reasons, he'll never let you anyway; and if you do he will drag you on the ground and bury your face on the oily mud, after of course slapping it severely; or if you prefer, you can bowl. You'll be the pins.

Preferences: milk-shake.

Do not: ask him about his child.

[Song: Proven Landes - Jonny Greenwood]

Give The Man His Oscar!!

Oh my fucking G-d!!! I haven't seen such a wonderful, mesmerizing and fierce male performance in a very long time!! Daniel Day-Lewis you are G-d!!

Oscaruary: Marion And Cate

Just to start: I hated Elizabeth 2 because it was such a bad and over-the-top movie. But I often give up and have fun with the bad and the over-the-top!! 300, for instanse, if it was just bad I would've slept in the theatre, but there were over-the-top naked abs so it was fun. But 300 didn't get an Oscar nod by simple default and detriment of others; in normal circumstances I'd raise my lovely middle finger and just enjoy the over-worked campiness of Shekhar Kapur's movie, but yes I'm obsessed like that and have nothing better to do with my time.

However, in my intellectual [indirect] quarrels with the ho, I read on his review:

But when minutes later she is screaming "I keep my bitches on my collars" you wonder when did Blanchett stop playing Elizabeth and a deranged Norma Desmond arrived to play the Queen of Hearts from "Alice in Wonderland".

That was the best description of Blanchett's performance in it and it made me laugh so much that, in spite of still thinking the film sucks and that she didn't deserve that nod, I feel like I could've tried and enjoyed it a bit more. Yesterday I watched the first Elizabeth on TV and I wondered how such an okay movie could become that Mariah Carey meets Cher Tour! The thing is that whenever I think of The Golden Age and its Best Actress nod, I think of all the better performances and films that didn't make it to the shortlist due to Cate's default. Argh, whatever, she's so great that even her bad acting is convincing.

However, there's the other woman. The French one who was able to turn watchable [at least once] the dull movie that was La Vie En Rose: Marion Cotillard. "La Vie" was so disappointing that at first I didn't care much about Cotillard in it. However, senses hit me and I came to terms of what a genius beyond mimicry performance it was. When comparing "La Vie" to Ray the ho said:

a better version of myself: what we must ask ourselves here is what impressed us about Marion that didn't move a nerve on us from Ray?
)( Lucas Silvertongue)( Dressed In Red: tell me ur thoughts
a better version of myself: I think it all lies in how unshowy marion is. Jamie Foxx was all about the show and the tics and the Ray-ness of Ray, while Marion plays Edith like a woman first and like a world known diva later. I love that very first scene when she sings, where you can see all this fear in her eyes and then she opens her mouth and knocks everyone off their chairs.

So I started wondering for the first time about the way biopics intend to show humanity from the artists and end up just blabering on the myth. And we came to the conclusion that what makes a performance close to real humanity are the details. I mentioned Reese Witherspoon's tapping foot in Walk The Line; as Jose cited: "like Marion's annoying laughter. You'd see Edith being that sort of vulgar laugher? [...] Yes! She was raised by prostitutes and lived in the streets a lot, she wasnt a Grace Kelly."

The de-glamming factor also came along:

a better version of myself: and while the film sucks, Marion is
undeniably brilliant.
)( Lucas Silvertongue)( Dressed In Red...: exactly, I didn't know she was that young ho! Somehow I am very glad that I knew nothing about her before watching the movie.
a better version of myself: and that beautiful too
)( Lucas Silvertongue)( Dressed In Red...: exactly, [and] I didn't feel abused by the deglaming while watching it. I even thought Marion was one of those legendary french actresses that worked once in a while now.
a better version of myself: but is it really deglamming all the way?
)( Lucas Silvertongue)( Dressed In Red...: I know. It's not ONLY deglaming. Like Berry.
a better version of myself: I mean Piaf might not've been clasically pretty, but she was beautiful in her own way. I think Theron and Swank are worst deglamming than Berry.

In the end, even though "La Vie En Rose" isn't the movie we expected it to be, it had cute intentions ["cause in a way the musical biopic needed some sort of shakeup", said the ho], plus Cotillard turns it into a must-see, only for her genius and captivating performance. That's why I believe she captured Piaf's aura, made it her own and returned as bursting with vivacity acting. For that reason, if Marion wins the Oscar I will not be angry.

- Previous Oscaruary:
Juno
[Song: Sea Lion Woman - Feist]

I'm Not There!!!!

Normal biopics tell you all information they can gather about the person in at least 90 minutes and you leave the film's enviroment sure that you know a lot and enough about that artist's life and work. The last three ones I can recall have watched [Ray, Walk The Line and La Vie En Rose], despite different from one another, are exactly like that and I could say that biopics, particularly if they are from music business personalities, were not my thing.

Until the moment my eyes and mind layed on 2007's Todd Haynes's effort: I'm Not There. Whenever I think of it I still feel the overwhelming feeling of being thrown into a world I know nothing about, and worst, had left it knowing even less!!

I'll explain: when I saw "Ray" and "La Vie En Rose", I already worshiped Ray Charles's and Edith Piaf's music and had little info on their lives, and when I saw "Walk The Line" I knew nothing about Johnny Cash [except that he had died recently and had covered a 9 Inch Nails song] and June Carter, but when the films ended I didn't feel a pinch of urge to read more and to know other points of view over their lives stories, the only thing I did was to download "Walk The Line"'s soundtrack, since I knew nothing about Cash, still I downloaded Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon reinterpreting the Cashes' songs.

When "I'm Not There" was through I was totally speechless, because I din't know what to make out of it! The only thing I knew is that I wanted oh so badly to download every Dylan album I could find. I felt that instead of telling us tales of Dylan's lives with the supposed certainty that they are facts, Haynes's film feels more like his feelings and thoughts about Dylan's work than reenactment of his life's stories. That way I'm sure I have to watch this movies a million times more, as I study and find out more about Dylan's work from the Dylan himself.

But as the thoughts remain I wonder if that's not the best way of biopic-ing an artist? Through his or her works; unless the artist himself writes the screenplay, but that would be a dang of a Norma Desmond thing to do.

In the opening credits you can read the "inspired by the music and many lives of Bob Dylan", and for me that's where the thing takes the genius form, because it's not based on anything like a specific biography.

And inspired is way more including than based; you might say they end up being the same thing, but if you pay attention closely to the words and their many layers, you'll notice the difference between them.

In the end, "I'm Not There" does feel like no one is there! You know it's Dylan they're talking about, but is it really? The film presents a raw honesty that those are the views of Haynes's over Dylan's work and that's why [in my conception] the film is so intriguing, demandind and [why not] inspiring.

From now on I have the two missions of discovering Dylan and Haynes.

[Song: Lenda - CéU]

Oscaruary*: Juno

*Might contain spoilers*

It all started when I read the ho's review for Juno. It said:

In the film's best scene Vanessa [Jennifer Garner] runs into Juno [Ellen Page] at a shopping mall. She asks if she can touch her belly. What follows is a one way dialogue that nothing else in the film ever compares to. This moment encompasses the overall mood it was trying to get for its heroine; a sort of limbo where her decisions started counting for once and how terrifying yet magical it all turned out to be. [Movies Kick Ass]

- The title character:

What followed was a whole discussion about the film's flaws. Alright, you might say we're negative bitches but if you wanna know all about blind raving on Juno just look at the cinema media at the moment.

We both thought Juno a lovely and tremendously cute movie, with charming quirky characters and awesome performances. But there's a irresponsability and some irrealities in it that is kind of freaky. I said:

That's my favorite scene as well: the one that stuck into my mind for ages and I totally agree with the grade, cos the film is mega cute and funny but somewhat irresponsible. I mean, alright its Juno's film and maybe twas Cody's intention to make it that way. But the way Juno moves through the story as if she's always too cool [she's cool for getting pregnant, she's cool for wanting to take it out, she's cool for deciding to keep it, and so it goes]… and how every one else seems to support her preposterousness…

To which the ho replied:

I know! Except Vanessa and her stepmom [Allison Janney].

The conclusion to that is that Diablo Cody's screenplay most of the times seemed to worship Juno's inconsequent behaviour.

- About reality:

Of course that we don't give a damn for the reality in the movies, but in the end of the day when you move on with your life it's the "level of abstraction" you've taken from it [or any other form of art] that says if it's important to you or not. By level of abstraction I mean how much of it stuck to your mind; like the ho said: "because they linger in your mind" when I said that the Loring couple is the only thing close to reality.

The ho goes further about it in his review, by saying:

Surprisingly this isn't a dark family drama, but a cute, "look at how quirky I am" indie comedy that uses its genre to avoid touching deeper repercussions (that nobody ever freaks out about all the STDs Juno could've gotten results a bit disturbing). [MKA]

I would add up abortion to the repercussions. The film chooses to avoid the discussion; till then it's alright. But it somehow reflects on how Hollywood deals with the subject as I read once on a Guardian blog.

Have you ever met a parent that treated a teenage daughter's pregnancy with such carelessness and sarcasm as Juno's father [J.K. Simmons]? Or a guy so idiotic that wouldn't want to participate on his own child's future [Michael Cera]? That leaves the Lorings and Juno's stepmom as the ones you would run into in real life.

About Mark Loring [Jason Bateman] the ho says:

Mark glows with rock star dreams he feels his wife stopped him from fulfilling, while she becomes oblivious to her husband's feelings, because for her they should've become one by now. Bateman's empty smile captures the joy of long lost dreams with the selfishness of refusing to grow up. [MKA]

On the MSN he mentioned a discussion with Andres about Vanessa:

I had a small discussion with Andres cause he said Vanessa was OCD and Mark was the coolest guy alive; [I said: I totally disagree.] (...) I do so as well, but that shows that the film only works effectively with them. G-d knows I wouldn't argue about the orange tic tacs.

I went further by saying that it's when the film tries to make us hate Vanessa for not being quirky like the others that the screenplay starts to fail. I mean:

What I think Vanessa was is a bit obsessive. She (oh so) wanted to have that baby and sometimes it felt like she didn't know why and that's where I also think that the Cody's screenplay fails as well. I felt that as Juno and Mark's relationship starts to evolve, it feels like the movie is trying to make us hate Vanessa for seeming so desperate. However, it's JUNO's movie maybe twas supposed to be that way; however again I bet a lot of people disliked Vanessa by the end of the movie (because they) thought she was cold.

And for a movie that loudly brags for being indie and quirky, judgement on difference should be the last thing to be endorsed. That leads to the thought that most of these lovely comedies with all its alternative languages and pop cultural screenplays are mostly the most [pardon the cacophony] conservative.

- About the Oscar, Ellen Page and Roger Ebert.

The ho: We sound like Ebert and [Richard] Roeper on their show; except Ebert jerks off to Juno but whatever, I think page will win.

Moi: I don't and hope not.

The ho: Well if I have to remind you, Ebert creates an oscar winner every year. Usually it's the one we'd never pick, but he's damn powerful like that.

Moi: Lol I know. But who knows, things've been so solid for Christie.

The ho: They'd been solid for Sissy Spacek in 01 as well. Until Ebert made a fierce Monster's Ball campaign.

In simple and short conclusion: we wouldn't choose Juno as 2007's Best Film, neither Page as the best actress. Even if we loved both.

*Oscarurary: since February is my Astral Hell month we named it Oscaruary so I don't think of it.

[Song: It's Cool To Love Your Family - Feist]

"You Should Blog This"

As Oscar Season approaches its end day by day, Lucas and Jose start to think and discuss about our favorite subject more fiercely: the Oscar's best actress race! But instead of just raving on this year's goddesses we'll be writing our most honest thoughts about each of the movies.
And the first happy fellow to trip under our bitchy talk will be:

[Song: Monarch - Feist]

Other Thoughts On The Same Thing

And after I ate I decided to take a look at the technical nods and realized that the love for Atonement is bigger than I thought. Actually I knew it'd get most of its nods on the tech-cats but my obsession for acting performances made me overlook them.

So, it's also up for Cinematography - and no matter how great the others probably are, I can't see how they're better than Seamus McGarvey's for my beloved movie, - Art Direction, Costume Design and [YES] Original Score!! And I guess that this is the category to which I root the most, because I know the other ones are practically impossible. So on 24th February, if Dario Marianelli leaves the Kodak Theatre [if the ceremony happens] without his Oscar I'll be real pissed.

Additional happiness comes from the Original Song nods. YAY for Falling Slowly from genius musical Once and Enchanted's Happy Working Song and That's How You Know, especially because we will have Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová singing and also and hopefully AMY ADAMS for the Disney movie.

But again: if the ceremony happens.

*pessimistic bitch mode on*

Edit: Lucas you shithead! You let your emotions run freely and you don't listen to things properly! The old guy [who is called Gil Cates you insolent child] actually said that the ceremony WILL not only happen, but Jon Stewart's the host. At least it's what this says.

Edit 2:

[the ho] a better version of myself diz:
oh schnabel is from ny
[me])( Lucas Silvertongue)( OSCAAAAAAAAAAAAARS diz:
yeah i learned that later
a better version of myself diz:
he was practically a lock for director
)( Lucas Silvertongue)( OSCAAAAAAAAAAAAARS diz:
but those were my thoughts then and i didnt have that info

[Song: Gatekeeper (One Room One Hour Mix) - Feist]

My Thoughts During [And After] The Oscar Nods

This is the first time I do it this way. I woke up early to run to the PC and see the nods announcement live by streaming. So, I finally installed the needed plug-in and few minutes later the old man I forgot the name was there to announce the top 5 names on each of the main categories, and to assist him was lovely Kathy Bates. But I was sooooooo excited and so in a hurry to open this f-ing Blogger page that I barely looked at their faces.

So the nods!

- Supporting Actress: I stomped my fet happily when Saoirse Ronan was anounced for Atonement. All the others were absolutely no surprise for me; they even said Blanchett for I'm Not There first, displaying a major lack of sense of suspense, but okay. After having watched Juno the night before I had a little silly spark inside me that hoped Jen Garner would be the year's big surprise. But well, nah.

- Supporting Actor: my jaw dropped as I heard Casey Affleck's name for The Assassiantion. Not that I thought it was surprise, but that instantly something clicked inside and I imagined the Affleck love being spread all over the Oscars and having the other Affleck as best director. But as for the rest of the guys, it'll be my new catch-phrase: NO SURPRISE AT ALL.

- Actress: Made me happy: Ellen Page [Juno], Julie Christie [Away From Her] and Laura Linney [The Savages]. Made me a bit angry: Cate Blanchett for The Golden Age, simply because every reviewer I read hated it and it's a common sense it is a shitty movie, so her nod is pure blind love. Alright alright, Cate IS the wonderful actress they're trying to convince us she is. But that's it AMPAS, we already know she is! Long time before you do dopeheads!! So in my hurt and resentful heart you should've saved that spot for someone who was in a more deserving film; let's say: Keira Knightley!! Okay, it was obvious I'd go that road. The other nominee that gave me no as much thrill as I had for the others was Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose, the best part of it was the old guy trying to pronounce her name properly but never succeeding it. Linney also left a bit surprised because I've seen almost no buzz at all for The Savages; but I'm sure she's exquisite in it, as always, so torrents here I go.

- Actor: At first I got angry about McAvoy's snub, but then I remembered/realized that despite wonderful his character wasn't that big. Tommy Lee Jones [In The Valley Of Elah] was a surprise for me and so was Emile Hirsch's [Into The Wild] snub. At first I got angry with Depp there but then I pinched myself to remind me I still haven't seen Sweeney Todd and that despite the annoying hype and the I-wanna-be-a-freak rut that Depp's in, he tends to be a good actor. And YES, love for Viggo Mortenson [Eastern Promises]! Whom I'll hopefully see today on my lovely PC so I can cheer for him, now that my dream of Atonement was semi-crushed.

- Director: honestly, the only surprise was Julian Schnabel for French Diving Bell And Butterfly, but not so much at its nomination in fact, but the fact he's foreign; but then I go again, why am I surprised? AMPAS is not that xenophobe. I'm happy for Jason Reitman's [Juno] nod but nothing surprised me here.

- Original Screenplay: You have no idea of how much I cheered and jumped as I heard Diablo Cody's Juno. Apart from Ratatouille I still haven't seen any of the others, so I can't say I'm totally happy or not with this. But according to the buzz there's no surprise to be happy at.

- Adapted Screenplay: Finally the love for Atonement starts to be shown!! But, alright I know about the unfair Atonement backlash, I can't say I fully understand it but I know about it. But I'm happy Christopher Hampton's genius screenplay was considered, even if I know it will not win; unless AMPAS is really up to surprising us. I also was happy for Sarah Polley's nod, because Away From Her is a marvel of a story. As for the others I'm still to watch.

- Foreign Film: Isreal, Austria, Poland, Kazakshtan and Russia; which means: no Brasil. Can't say I'm not disappointed, but I haven't seen the others yet - so I have till 24th February to be mad at AMPAS.

- Animated Film: When the Foreign Film shortlist was out last week I saw a huge and angry uproar for France's Persepolis and Romania's 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days. I haven't watched any of them yet and for the whole anger they're supposed to be good. But, in my humble opinion I always knew Persepolis would be in for animated film, after all it IS an animated film, so I never really understood it's snub at the foreign film category, but kept my mouth shut, after all what do I know? But yeah, guess I was right all the time.

- Best Picture: The love for Atonement is shown at its best and I'm wonderfully happy! But as for the rest there is no surprise at all! I wasn't expecting any though. I'm happy for Juno's nod and I'm pretty sure of the best contenders for this cat this year, so I'm not very excited about it as I am for the acting fields.

And since surprise was probably the most prominent word on this post, the old bitch guy is saying that the show is A SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That it will either happen or notm depending on how the Writer's strike will end!! Can you believe it? All the suspense they didn't give us for Blanchett's nods they're giving on this. But as for what concerns the nods, really: no surprise at all.

[Song: Ghost Song - Patrick Wolf]

Amy Adams, I Love You!

When I watched Junebug I instantly fell in love with her. Her character had a naivité that broke my heart in a thousand pieces everytime she was onscreen. From that moment on she became to me one of those actresses I'd be happy to follow the works and root for at any awards season.

Friday I watched Charlie Wilson's War and for my surprise there she was, stunningly beautiful with her huge blue eyes trotting loyally behind Tom Hanks/Mr. Wilson as his assistant, I couldn't take my eyes off her, and when she and Julia were both onscreen I had horrible inner struggles to decide which I'd direct most of my attention.

So yesterday I hurried to the cinema as soon as I knew Enchanted had openned - even if it was fucking dubbed. And despite that turndown I still felt a joy in the theatre that I didn't feel in a long time! I felt so in the mood that even popcorn I bought! And I'm definitely not a fan of popcorn.

Enchanted is the usual Disney silly children oriented comedy, but the first good part of it is how adoringly self-indulgent it is, paying homage to most of Disney's biggest classic animations.

The second and most important part of Enchanted being worthy your money is surely Amy Adams; to know that the film is silly is obvious but you'll never feel it from Adams's so beautiful and humble performance. You never feel the film being judged from her, especially because it seems like she's having the time of her life playing Giselle's maneirisms. Was that musical scene at the Central Park solely designed to make me happy? And when she arrives at the ball, was that dress solely picked up to make my breath flee my lungs completely?

Despite the film's flaws you can't help loving it because of Adams. I left the theatre so happy that I didn't mind walking home - I did it singing it.

I just saw at IMDb that next year she'll be on the silver screen under the direction of Norah Ephron. Guess who's going to be her co-star...

[Song: That's How You Know - Amy Adams]

Thanks...

Dad and aunt travelled to Salvador yesterday and I'm home alone for the first time in a very long time in Conquista. And needless to say how alleviated I feel, having the house only for me with no worries of sound volume or where to smoke [as long as I carry an incense along]. The mood is so sweet that I'm even enjoying my introspection at my utmost, avoiding people's presence and all.

Last night Purki and some others came over, but I still felt so on my own and as they blabbered around I watched Björk in my room; I didn't even mind to sleep in the middle of Pan's Labyrinth. I remembered a question the ho did me a while ago: "how do you handle always being around people?" And at that moment I didn't have an exact reply for that, because the fact was that I've been needing a time by myself...

Just to listen to anything I want without hearing complaints, write peacefully without no one asking me things and crap. So at this time I wanna thank some entities for making my days:

- Nessa Carlton - for having the coolest and sweetest songs to sing along;

- Feist - for giving me the best of introspective songs;

- my aunt - for going with my father...

- Norah Jones - for inviting me to come away with her;

- Keira Knightley - for making me cum and cry at the same time with her beauty;

- Dario Marianelli - for writing such beautiful scores;

- Julia Roberts - for showing everyone how to light up a screen;

- Björk - for always fulfilling the gaps and silent spaces; and,

- dear leisure - for just existing and allowing me to write such useless post without feeling guilty.

[Song: Come Away With Me - Norah Jones]

Oh Keira!!

I'm fond of novelas and last year there was one that thrilled me the most. A sort of screwball comedy about six childhood friends having their chance again together as adults. One of them was played by stunningly beautiful actress, Juliana Paes. She's the typical TV actress who's mostly there for her looks than for her acting. However, in this novela she surprisingly shone and I thought that maybe, under a decent direction and a better text than a good-but-still-subdued-by-ratings soap she could do a good job.

Joe Wright's brilliant second film Atonement is not a bit close of a soap, but I remembered Paes as I saw Keira Kightley moving vivaciously on that mesmerizing emerald dress. Often bashed for her crappy movies [yes, I'm talking about Pirates], but it's incredible how much she shines and impresses when in a greatly directed movie. In her first work with Wright, my beloved Pride & Prejudice, she not only got an Oscar nod as she grabbed me by the balls and made me love her craft despite the previous shitty movies. In Atonement she steals you with a performance so filled with fire and maturity that your heart coldily warms every time her beautiful glance fills the screen with Cecilia's sorrow.

As a cinephile-wannabe I admit I still don't know much about films' techniques and specialities, but I can recognize a good acting performance when I see one. Keira's efforts on Wright's movies are for me top of the line stuffs, enough to place her among my favorite actresses alive. So I shall pray for one thing "oh Keira, keep doing at least a decent good film a year!" That would make me cinematically happy in every twelve months. Atonement is a last year's movie and it satiated my 2007 Keira thrist, as much as it did for my 2007 film craving so far. I still have other to see, but this movie made chill with each and every frame of it.

[Song: Briony - Dario Marianelli]

My Celluloid Women

Here are the top 6 movie women that made my year marvelous in different ways.

6. Anna Scott [Julia Roberts - Notting Hill]

There she is, the greatest star in the world; maybe the face we all can't forget. And out of nowhere she gets in an unattractive travelbooks shop and lives are changed. This marvelous modern Cinderella story made me cry unashamedly on some of the darkest days of the year. Roberts' performance was both heartbreaking and lightful, portraying the poor celebrity with marvelous dignity. If in the past I felt more like Hugh Grant's character, today I'd be definitely Miss Scott - hyped but unloved. The beauty of the movie lies on the feeling of possibility that fills the air as you watch it. As Björk would say "all is full of love... your doors are shut."

5. Regina George [Rachel McAdams - Mean Girls]

"This girl is the nastiest skank bitch I've ever met. Do not trust her. She is a fugly slut!"

Those who had seen the movie know what I'm talking about. But for the newbies I'd start with "Regina George is flawless", not because she really is, but because she knows she is and parades it! From all the evil self-indulgent bitches out there, Regina George is the most fun of them. With a notable beauty she goes beyond the hot shallow High School queen, becoming an archetype of a human phase. Of course there is some exaggeration on Tina Fey's genius script, but this girl is real, she's everywhere and [believe it or not] on every age field.

Of course that most of Regina's charm is due to McAdams's performance; you can see she's having the time of her life as the blonde adolescent who thinks she's the cherry on the top of the sundae. Her jargons and laidback confidence match adoringly with her [mostly] subtle meanness. As Janis says "she's a life ruiner", but as Cady says "she's like de Barbie doll I never had."

4. Elle Woods [Reese Witherspoon - Legally Blonde]

The best quality of Elle Woods is that she is good! "She may seem like your typical selfish, back-stabbing slut faced ho-bag"... but wait a minute, that's the #5! Elle Woods is GOOD!! She's sweet, helpful, devoted and hardworker. That's why you totally don't understand why that ugly-piece-of-shit Warner Huntington III breaks up with her. "You're breaking up with me because I'm too blonde?"

Further on we end up reassuring ourselves that breaking up with Elle was the best thing Warner could do to her, because she then created one of the best icons of this century so far. The way her triviality is never judged and is actually sweetened makes you adore her right away and hate those who mistreat her.

Besides, she's a twisted feminist icon, funnily competing with Enid, the lesbian activist from the same film; although she follows the preppy blonde stereotype, she's the reinvention of the feminist one. But above a feminist, Elle is a humanist! The best thing I learned with her was to have faith in people. As she'd say "you might be surprised."

3. Miranda Priestley [Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada]
"Do you know why I hired you? I always hire the same girl- stylish, slender, of course... worships the magazine. But so often, they turn out to be- I don't know- disappointing and, um... stupid. So you, with that impressive résumé and the big speech about your so-called work ethic- I, um- I thought you would be different. I said to myself, go ahead. Take a chance. Hire the smart, fat girl. I had hope. My God. I live on it. Anyway, you ended up disappointing me more than, um- more than any of the other silly girls."
That's the worst thing you could hear from you boss right? Yup, we agree and there'll be no punchline here. Alright, I'm kidding! All I have to say is that no one could've said those lines better than La Streep with her Oscar-worthy performance as the most evil of the bitches: Miranda Priestley.
I'd say that she and Regina George are my favorite movie bitches, but what makes Miranda #1 is the fact that she's got reasons to be how she is; George is just a conceited teenager that is funny, hence we love her. But Miranda uses her meanness to keep herself where she is, on the top; and if she were a man everyone would say she's just doing her job, as Andy would say to defend her. The thing is that, despite the headeater behaviour, Priestley is a fine and perfect example of the modern executive women; and since we're keen to feminism, she's highly praised. That's all.
2. Lizzie Bennet [Keira Knightley - Pride & Prejudice]
Okay, I've written a million posts about this film and my Lizzie Bennet adoration. So, I'll limit myself in saying that the second Miss Bennet is still my favorite female character and that Keira is my favorite this-generation actress. I'm so damn happy she's got a Globe nod; I don't think she'll get an Oscar one, but I'm sure we'll have delicious red carpet moments!!
1. Bridget Jones [Renée Zellweger - Bridget Jones's Diary]
"Bridget Jones, wanton sex goddess, with a very bad man between her thighs... Dad... Hi."
I loved talking about my Bridget devotion. But right now I lack inspiration! This year I've become her by drinking vodka at home and mourning the broken heart with tearjerking songs. But indeed I've said so much about Bridge that I'll just leave it for the ho this time.
"So beyond good and evil with me, that now I'm careless about being a spinster and a lunatic, if my life can be carried with at least half the joi de vivre with which Bridget carries hers. It also left me craving a snow filled make out session."
"Whenever I'm having a rainy day, it instantly makes me feel better."
"Behold as Renee Zellweger creates a cultural icon."
[Song: The Weather - Patrick Wolf]

Lies

In a very considerable time a movie and its soundtrack didn't let me so immersed and in love with it. Probably the last time it happened was with Pride & Prejudice and Prime. But this little indie movie called Once grabbed my by the balls and the following words are stuck to my head; for nothing in particular, just because they and their melody are simply beautiful.

"You're moving too fast for me
And I can't keep up with you
Maybe if you slowed down for me
I could see you're only telling
Lies, lies, lies
Breaking us down with your
Lies, lies, lies
When will you learn"

[Song: Lies - Glen Hansard]

Close To The End

As December flies desperatedly I realize I must start moving my ass around my year auto-analysis. The dramas, the things to praise and thank for, the music, the movies.

I'll quickly start with the movies - I decided to download the Oscar buzzed movies and the first is indie musical-drama Once. I downloaded the soundtrack earlier this week and despite its very Damienriceness I don't feel suicidal when I listen to its songs. A couple days ago I saw the trailer and it gave me chills, so I'm already anticipating the screening.

[Song: Gatekeeper - Feist]

The Change Of Heart

I've been absurdly stressed. I'm to travel to Rio next week and still I wasn't able to get my ID card, without it I won't be able to get the plain, nor the concerts tickets. All the misfortunes that has been crossing my crusade are the paradigm of Murphy Law, but I still hope things will be okay in the end... I have to hold on to that.

But in this whole stress I've become a bit sensitive about things around; especially music that reminds me of twisted parts in my life. Lately it's been Brazillian g-d Vanessa Da Mata who's been startling me about the dark side of my joy.

Don't get me wrong. I'm far from going into depression land again, but suddenly the unfinished businesses of my life have showed themselves as if the red curtain was opened up. Last weekend was Children's Day, therefore, a holiday. Dad and I went to Salvador after two nights and a day in Inhambupe, his hometown. I saw my mom again, after a month since I moved back to Conquista; it felt like an eternity and I realized how much I miss her. That cunning ache to the chest possessed me as soon as I laid eyes on her; I wanted so much she'd go out with us but she preferred not to, probabaly because of dad. And on the Monday, after we dropped my sister home, I wanted to go upstairs and tell her my feelings; she still wasn't home though and I thought the chance was missed.

So, this morning, feeling terribly tired after another unsuccessful attemptive of getting my papers I drove home listening to Da Mata's Minha Herança: Uma Flor [already on the white-box] and the lyrics made me think of my relationship with mother. How I've been neglecting her emotionally and how probably she got tired to get close and seems now to be just accommodating with my coldness. And a fierce fear possessed me as the tears rolled down my face; a fear we'd become strangers, simply relatives who let the personality differences drive them apart.

The song however has optimistic lyrics and along with the fear came a deep and honest desire to fix everything; my heart wished so vehemently that I'd become a better son. My mom has been getting into so much [emotional] trouble lately, and listening to that song made me see how cruel and judgemental I've been towards her. I suddenly saw that by turning away and choosing not to get involved not even a bit with her problems, I've been positioning myself on a higher level than hers... and uhg I now see how stupid and embarrassing it is. Me Mr. I'm-Destroying-My-Ego... turning my back to someone who I should never do so.

All culminated in Woody Allen's Another Woman, and I found myself feeling like Gena Rowlands's character. In the end she decides to change... I guess I'm supposed to make a phone call.

[Song: Minha Herança: Uma Flor - Vanessa Da Mata]

Just A Moment Of Hysteria...

I haaaaate Jake Gyllenhaal!! After Brokeback Mountain he became a gay world sensation and all the fags think he's the best thing in the world, when there are a lot more talented and cuter actors out there, such as James McAvoy and Jamie Bell. I don't give a shit for the gay world, but his overexposure annoys me more than Britney Spears craziness.

'Nough said... sorry for the tantrum.

[Song: I Hate Everything About You - whoever sings it]

Cinephile Vacations

Even going out every night I was still able to watch loads of movies this month. I didn't have much to do, so all that was left for me to do under the daylight were movies and books. When I packed in Salvador, I filled a huge backpack with DVDs; among them Prada, my Audrey Hepburn box, Notting Hill, Moulin Rouge! and Prime. I've watched none, instead I've been renting movies like a desperate death row cinephile. Surely I won't remember all the movies I've watched, but one thing is sure: I had wonderful and unforgetable sex with Woody Allen. I rented all of his movies that the video store had and I can say for certain that I'm an Allen freak. Bellow goes the list of his movies that amused and put me to thinking this past month. And I promise to go about them one in the course of the semester.
[Chronological order.]
- Scoop
- Melinda and Melinda
- Anything Else
- The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion
- Crimes And Misdemeanors
- The Purple Rose Of Cairo
- Zelig
- A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
- Manhattan
- Interiors
- Love And Death
- Sleeper
- Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex* *And Were Afraid To Ask
I still have to re-watch Annie Hall, Match Point and rent Celebrity.
[Song: The Modern Things - Björk]

Bitchy Talk

When I set the ho to be the third interview I wished to do a happy birthday post to me by having him on my month. But then he disappeared due to [he says] school [but I’m sure he got drunk and neglected me] and I got sick and depressed… water under the bridge. Hence the Bitchy Talk had this hiatus filled with a feeling that the ho had to be my third guest, even if my birthday month is now – as he said - ages ago.

José Roberto Solís Mayén is one of the most fascinating human beings that I’ve ever had the luck to meet. It’s true that we never actually met, but I never felt that was entirely paramount for me to know that in him lies one of my role models. For that matter, when it dawned on me that I no longer had excuses for procrastinating his interview, I dried up. He knows everything about me and I know everything he tells me, and sometimes others I just catch on the gazillion kilometers of space between us; because of that I didn’t know exactly what to ask without sounding rambling. Until I asked Marce for some tips of what I could ask him, I realized this was not an interview for ME, but for whoever happened to read it. In my biased-but-honest opinion, the more people know about him the better the world will be.

We started calling ourselves “ho” after the genius Gwen Stefani line “take a chance you stupid ho”. “What You Waiting For” is a song that deals with inner strength and the struggle to connect with it; but it doesn’t deal with it in the corny Mariah Carey way, but with a feature that is very strong in us: self-deprecation. The ability of laughing at ourselves at the most adverse circumstances is something that should be experienced by everyone; when I realized [by having him calling me “ho”] he had the self-depreciation attached to a charming and adorable wit I knew he was to be the best of my friends.

In here you’ll find not nostalgic blablabla about the way we were [yes, we’re that old], but only a portion of how genius the ho, aka Jose, is. Enjoy.

[kks = ]
[Ms Walters = Lucas]

)( Lucas Potter Jones )( One Day It'll Happen: tell us what you are listening to.

a better version of myself [ho]: I'm listening to Love Profusion by G-d. Actually my Ipod's on Madonna shuffle.

LPJ: tell us about your relationship with LP.

ho: well, you know I never listen to full albums right?
LPJ: yup, you’re a sinner.

ho: and American Life was no exception; but I remember clearly during Easter 04, I took my CD to a the beach and fell asleep listening to it and I woke up to LP and I fell in love with it; it became my second fave song in the album, then I saw the video and had multiple orgasms. It was also my top song of that year.

LPJ: I remember that. And what's not hot about Madonna in flowery dress and beautiful CGI landscapes?

ho: the fact that it's the same as the Estée Lauder perfume ad. That was both one of her laziest, yet still breathtaking moments.

LPJ: lol, you tore my dreams on LP's video.

ho: robots don't dream.

LPJ: I must say I’m nervous myself.

ho: how come? Am I allowed to ask stuff? Lol

LPJ: yes you are… because I’m afraid this will become a trip to our memory lane [even if I never remember the way to mine]. At some point we'll be remembered our early days like old hags.

ho: uh oh. So you'll realize we're older than we look, and dumber than we seem.

LPJ: but I'll try to be professional.

ho: ok do so Barb.

LPJ: ’cept for the fact I’ll do you by the end of interview.

ho: u.u I don’t sleep with my interviewer. After Larry King gave me crabs I promised myself I’d never do that again.

LPJ: there's beladonna in the drink I gave you...

ho: stop the kking Ms Walters.

LPJ: … anyways. Was Madonna somehow a turning point in your life?

ho: actually I don't remember a life before her. And that's not as pathetic as it sounds. What I mean is, I grew up in a house where my mom's trademark album was the immaculate collection. when I have flashbacks of that era, the soundtrack is usually Material Girl or Papa Don't Preach. So in a way, I never found Madonna, she found me.

LPJ: But is there a moment in your life that she and her art were like paramount in some decision or such?

ho: well, you know I'm a very art driven person, but to this day I've yet to find something that has such an effect on me to turn my world around.

LPJ: everyone's aware of your other, I should probably say main passion: cinema.

ho: *nods*

LPJ: do you think Madonna and cinema will ever work?

ho: I think for me they have, just maybe not in the way people expect it. When I saw Evita for the first time I was dazzled, but for example the other day a friend was trashing Madge while we listened to Mazzy Star and I revealed to him that if it hadn’t been for Swept Away I’d probably have no idea who Mazzy Star were. She may not be such a good actress, but the way she's able to pull the strings behind the camera and infuse everything with all her knowledge still has an impact in the way people should see her films. And she's also a top showwoman. I’d take a hundred confession tours in a row before having to see another Hilary-Swank-as-a-man movie.

LPJ: hello, me too! Let’s form a club.

ho: we have one. The putinhas something club.

LPJ: which movie, when you think of the first movie you ever saw, comes instantly to your mind?

ho: hmmm, tough one. I have a very vivid memory of going to the theater with my grandma and great-uncle to watch Disney's Treasure Island, but I saw Bambi a gazillion times at home; and I’ve asked my dad and he tells me the first movie he took me to see was a Spanish cartoon and that I wouldn’t stop singing the songs for months after it.

LPJ: lol, which happens to be?

ho: I can never remember the name.

LPJ: your blog's name is one of my favorite things in life. *blushes*

ho: awww I never knew that before.

LPJ: resume in few words the power of pop culture in your life.

ho: well, it's like a drug to me. I can't imagine life without pop culture, yet sometimes I feel there are greater things in life that should interest me most, then again, as I like to say, everything's connected: pop culture has led me to paths that have changed who I am and what I think.

LPJ: same here. Especially because pop culture unashamedly [thank G-d] sucks from every other culture.

ho: yeah I know! But some people are too blind to realize that.

LPJ: was there ever a time that irked u? People being blind for things u like?

ho: not really, you know I have this weird thing: I want people to realize that the things I like are good, but when everyone likes what I like, it's like a turn off, I enjoy having things that I feel are entirely mine. Say Moulin Rouge! for example, I adore it to death, but when I listen to certain people saying it's their fave movie and knowing the kinds of things these people like and their complete ignorance of everything the film draws from, makes me feel like it's unworthy of my snob love towards it. lol

LPJ: lol we're ego sluts. Talking bout Moulin Rouge!,tell us the feelings you had during your very first screening.

ho: I went to the Honduran premiere.

LPJ: oh gawd there was no such thing in crappy Brasil.

ho: and I knew the songs by heart, cause I had the soundtrack months before, and to me in a way it was like the images had to live up to the sounds I’d heard. And boy did they do! To date, my first screening of Moulin Rouge! was the most electrifying experience I’ve had in a theater!

LPJ: did you cry at any moment?

ho: you know I never cry, but my eyes were watery from the moment it began, at first from excitement and then with utter sadness. But mostly I had a silly smile all through it.

LPJ: what about the corny-but-surprisingly-beautiful heart-shaped fireworks in I Will Always Love You in the Elephant Love Medley? How did you feel about it?

ho: I’m still waiting for them to appear whenever I kiss someone I’m madly in love with. hehehe

LPJ: that’s the cutest answer I always had to that question.

ho: *blushes*

LPJ: those fireworks were the moment I started to cry and you know I’m a whimper. Hosie, name three people that you think have influenced you deeply throughout your life.

ho: in what way?

LPJ: in any way.

ho: I’ll go with my dad, his mom and Madge.

LPJ: tell us about all of them dumbass.

ho: ok, you see my dad is the smartest guy I know. From an early age he taught me about books, films, music (I owe my love of Bossa to him). But I think his major influence on me has been his selfless ability to let me make my own choices; when I fuck up, he’s there to back me up though. My grandma taught me about the finer things in life. She introduced me to Fellini, caviar and champagne. And Madge, well she's like oxygen to me; she opened my eyes to Kabbalah and political consciousness in a way. I kinda feel guilty now for not saying my mom lol. But well, my mom's implicit with Madge I guess.

LPJ: lol, we and our mom troubles. Let’s leave them outta here; you can cry, I cannot.

ho: we both know you will, I won’t. lol

LPJ: … shut up!

ho: u.u

LPJ: what do you most hate about people?

ho: ignorance, and I don’t mean poor people who don’t go to school, but people who have the chance and still have such narrow visions as not to want and explore everything the world offers to them. I hate people that never try new things, I also hate people who talk in the movies. lol

LPJ: yaaaaaaaay, you’re me!

ho: I am. lol

LPJ: I also hate people who eat popcorn in theatres, they’re always too loud.

ho: then you hate me. I’m obsessed with candy corn. lol

LPJ: ew. That’s why you’re fat. u.u

ho: but just on blockbusters and chick flicks. I’m not fat. u.u

LPJ: I know you’re anorexic like me now. What do u most love about people?

ho: I love their ability to surprise me on any level. If it’s my family, I love when I learn old stories that are new to me. With my friends I love their ability to give me hope when everything looks so bad. And with artists I love their way of pushing boundaries and showing me more can be done and more should be done. I also love when people smile at me, a stranger's smile injects me with fuzzy energy every time.

LPJ: lol you slut.

ho: lol I don’t mean it in a sexual way, since I’m counting girls as well.

LPJ: slut anyway.

ho: I know but shhh…

LPJ: before we started we hurried to get a Kylie wallpaper. What’s the importance of Miss Minogue in your life?

ho: simply put, nobody puts a smile on my face like Kylie.

LPJ: I’m aware you have OCD. Is there some kind of secret in your life?

ho: my OCD is mostly gone.

LPJ: ohh tell me about it.

ho: I still have my little quirks, like cleaning my house like a madman.

LPJ: Bree.

ho: but what kind of secret do you mean?

LPJ: like something in your life u never reveal to anyone.

ho: if you're expecting a The Crying Game twist, I’m sorry to disappoint you, not really. I haven’t killed anyone, I haven’t fathered children in foreign countries and I wasn’t involved in Watergate. So I guess no secrets here. That doesn’t mean everyone knows me though, I’m a very private person.

LPJ: ahh-ha! I just found out your as old as the Watergate.

ho: reincarnation sweetheart.

LPJ: where do you think you want to live your whole life?

ho: I don’t really care about the place, as long as I’m with somebody I love (if it happens in NYC or Florence even better hehehe), but u know I thought life here would be hell for example, and now when I’m not here I miss the people and the places.

LPJ: it’s more about how we feel about ourselves than what the place has to offer. Do you agree?

ho: totally. Like I say, if I’m with good company I can enjoy hell.

LPJ: is there anything you think you could never learn?

ho: the forgetting part in forgive and forget. Also to ride a bike or a skateboard, I’m waaaaay too old to learn that now.

LPJ: I’ll teach you.

ho: u.u like Phoebe.

LPJ: well hosie, I’m afraid were close to a wrap.

ho: u.u I never cried.

LPJ: well I deeply never expected you to… But before it, choose an image that you think that describes you like no other.

ho: tough one [what happened during the ho's deliberative break]
Remember that part where Holly Golightly is looking into Tiffany's?

LPJ: I do

ho: that's me, I'm Holly Golightly looking into what I consider heaven, without getting the chance to ever make it mine. You see, like Holly all of my life I’ve dreamt of an absolutely perfect place where I’m going to be happy. But this place is so flawless in my dreams, that probably I’m scared of finding it and being disappointed; so like holly, I move in life avoiding emotional attachments because they make me vulnerable. But deep inside I’m dying to have someone kiss me under the rain, tell me everything will be ok and finally giving the cat a name.

LPJ: I don’t have to say that that’s beautifully heartbreaking.

ho: u.u don’t cry Barb!

More on the ho.
More Bitchy Talk.