Adrienne's House

Late Oscar Thoughts

March 7th, 2010 · 4 Comments

: Image by grebo guru via Flickr

I know, I am late. The Red Carpet has begun and I am typing furiously. Most of these thoughts were jotted down yesterday on my iPod while enjoying 4 of the Best Picture Nominees at the AMC Theater Best Picture Showcase. Having 10 films nominated has made it more difficult to be sure to see them all. Lucky for me there are a couple I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to see even if they win.

Even seeing it a second time didn’t make me like it any better. Yes if is a good movie but best picture no not in my opinon

Up in the air

This movie to me is pretty much George clooney being George clooney. I had a very hard time separating the actor from the character.

Precious

Compelling is the best word I can use to describe this movie. If you allow yourself to become immersed in the plot become a part of the movie it will touch you jn ways you may find hard to deal with.

Blind side

The performaves in this movie stand out to me more than the story itself. Sandra Bullock is amazing as the mother and a surprisngly good performance by Tim McGraw as the dad to say nothing of the youngest son SJ.

Avatar

I may rent this eventually but I doubt it.

Inglouriois bastards

Yeah no I don’t think I can ever bring myself to watch this.

A Serious Man

Gah! The Coen brothers perplex the hell out of me.

The Hurt Locker

Wow pretty much sums it up. Although the ability to lose myself in the movie kept getting interrupted by the thoughts that our men and women go through this shit everyday. And that people in many countrys
live this horror all the time. Amazing film.

An Education

A good movie all the way through until they pulled out the pink shiny ribbon and tied it into a perfect little bow in the end.

Crazy Heart

As Erika pointed out it is the Wrestler, but with no wrestling. To which I think is a bonus as well as the fact that there is no Mickey Rourke.

Best Picture – The Hurt Locker

Best Actress – Sandra Bullock

Best Supporting Actress – Mo’Nique

Best Actor – Jeff Bridges

Best Supporting Actor – Matt Damon

Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow

Filed under: Blog, Screening Room
©2010 Adrienne's House

Avatar

December 22nd, 2009 · 4 Comments

This is a guest review by Brett aka Amtrekker. Brett spent all of last year travelling around the US. I offered him a night on our couch while in the LA area, but he must have got a better offer. I asked him to do this review when I saw his Facebook status with his “Bottom Line” (you have to read the review to see what he says). I laughed all evening over that. Do me a favor and when you’re done reading this, go and give his site a looksee.

To put this film in perspective I’d like to use an analogy to which I know we can all relate.

You know that story where your crazy uncle nearly gets arrested for public indecency after an all night drinking binge in a Brussels brothel only to somehow muster the sobriety and broken high school French necessary to talk his way out of a pair of ill-fitting handcuffs?

The first time you hear that story you’re blown away by how unusual it is. But eventually, once you’ve heard the story from every family member with whom you still have contact, it starts to lose its luster. Was it Brussels or Berlin? What was he being arrested for? How was that transvestite involved again?

Finally, Christmas rolls around and just when you thought you couldn’t possibly stand to hear about him anymore, who should stumble through the door, whisky on his breath?

Crazy Uncle Joe!

He has LIVED this story for so long that there is no doubt that this is the best it has ever been told. He builds the story to a climax. Makes you FEEL the tension. Resolves the plot so artfully that you can feel your own anxiety drop and spirits elevate in much the same way Uncle Joe must have felt when those handcuffs came off and he was allowed to walk off into the sunset, sans tranny.

Also, there are giant blue cats fighting robots in 3D. (Analogies always seem to break down in the face of giant blue cats.)

Bottom line: AVATAR’s plot has been told and retold since the beginning of time (or at least since the beginning of Kevin Costner’s career). AVATAR is what you get if FernGully and Dances With Wolves had a loveless tryst in an effort to create a perfect genetically enhanced baby a lá Arnold Schwarzenegger in Twins.

It’s Epic.

It’s Beautiful.

It’s a must see in 3D.

Just remember you’ve already seen it before.

4 cokes 4 cokes. Hold the diet.

Brett.

(So who would be Danny DeVito?)

Filed under: Blog, Screening Room
©2009 Adrienne's House

A Very Monkey Christmas – updated with winner

November 24th, 2009 · 13 Comments

I was asked to host a preview party for this adorable new Christmas cartoon. I jumped at the chance if for no other reason than to get Erika and Jackson to come up a day early to Detroit, lol.

I put out the invites on Facebook but we had some last minute cancellations. The movie premieres TODAY on PBS KIDS, and finds George and The Man with the Yellow Hat having a very merry time counting down the days until Christmas. There’s only one puzzle: neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present. The Man is having trouble reading George’s wish list and George doesn’t have a clue about what to get for The Man who has everything. Maybe you can help!

Below is a Whrrl story of all the fun that was had. Make sure you watch the whole thing for a giveaway at the end!

Contest deadline December 6, 2009. TO win leave a comment telling me what you want for Christmas or Hannukah or Solsitce or just for the heck of it.

For extra entries you can do any of the below choices but be sure to leave a comment letting me know which ones you did.
Become a subscriber to Adrienne’s House
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway

Full disclosure: I was provided a preview copy of the DVD along with popcorn and a cd soundtrack. The prize is also being provided by the PR agency.

Filed under: Blog, Giveaways, Kitchen, Library, Reviews, Screening Room
©2009 Adrienne's House

This is It

October 31st, 2009 · 1 Comment

This is it Wow

Wow

Really, that is what I kept repeating over and over in the theater, Wow.

It is no surprise to anyone what a fabulous and dedicated performer Michael Jackson was. But watching this movie – which is a “making of” kind of film of his concert rehearsals, made you remember just how important entertaining was to him.

He seemed to nourish himself from the music, he fed off of the guitars and the downbeat, he was coerced by another singer to sing more and sing better, he lived for this and this alone.

Whenever Michael danced he made it look easy, his moves were fluid they were just a part of his body extension. What you see in this movie is that that is exactly what it is for him. Dancing is movement. He didn’t walk, he glided, and when he runs it is with a beat and a step. He was dance, he was music.

In the beginning of the film, we are shown dancers who are auditioning to be back ups for the concert. They have come from all over the world just for this opportunity. There are tears to show their ambition and their exhiliration at the possibility of dancing for and with Michael.

Hats off to Kenny Ortega who was Michael’s right hand man and co-creative director of the concert (and directed 12 episodes of Gilmore Girls!). If you saw this guy on the street, you may have took him for some schlub, but he has an amazing eye and ear and knew exactly what Michael wanted to do before he said it. He anticipated his every want and need. And he helped to create what would have been the concert that beat all concerts.

It sounds crude but I am glad we all get to see this film, this making of, because this concert, would have been beyond words, and for it to only have been seen in one city, would have been sad. It needs to be seen by all.

5dietcokes

5 Diet Cokes

Filed under: Blog, Screening Room
©2009 Adrienne's House

Gentleman Broncos

October 30th, 2009 · No Comments

gentleman broncos I had reservations about going to see this, but when the opportunity arose, I figured what the heck.

As it is from the same people as Napoleon Dynomite and I really enjoyed that, I thought, Meh it can’t be too bad. I was wrong. But I also think I was the only person in the theater that felt that way.

The pace and story type is along the same lines as Napoleon, drab midwestern teenager, trying to find his way in the world. Idolizing an author, only to have that author steal his work. Could be a good movie, except for the story that was stolen was a throwback to cheesy 50’s sci fi and it was dispersed throughout the film A LOT. I don’t like much sci fi at all and I really don’t like cheesy sci fi.

Another way that Napoleon was “referenced” was in a character called Lonnie that I suppose was to be the “Pedro” of the film. The character was beyond over the top and at times hard to watch.

Speaking of hard to watch, there were multiple gratuitous projectile vomiting scenes that were totally unnecessary.

I wouldn’t even recommend renting this.

0 Diet Cokes

Filed under: Blog, Screening Room
©2009 Adrienne's House

Motherhood

October 23rd, 2009 · 4 Comments

motherhood I am a Mom. I am a Blogger. I am not a Mommy Blogger. I have said it before and I will continue to say it over and over. I have nothing against Mommy Bloggers, some of my best friends are Mommy Bloggers (ba dum bum). So needless to say I was a bit excited to get an invite from LA Weekly to go see this film. I declined the other invitation for an event that was the same night (the Premiere of Bon Jovi’s new documentary with an after party), because I was enticed by the blogging connection.

I am still kicking myself.

It was boring and disjointed and unrealistic. It played in to the stereotype of bloggers being in their pajamas and we spent an inordinate amount of time in the character’s car.

The entire movie happens in the span of 1 day supposedly, but at times, the scene changes intimate that more time has passed than the screenplay calls for.

I didn’t care when the mom freaked out and decided to “leave town” mere moments before her daughters birthday party because her husband edited her contest entry too harshly. Frankly, I thought it was again playing in to the negative stereotype of Mommy Bloggers being selfish and putting their blogs before their families.

And we won’t even discuss the absurdity of the bad porno section with the delivery boy.

I read earlier in the week something that bothered me and stayed with me during the movie. During a Q and A with bloggers, the star of this movie, Uma Thurman, was asked if she did any research by reading some of the Mommy Blogs. She said “No, I don’t have time”. Really? Isn’t research for any movie role important? Or does she think, meh, it’s a Mommy Blogger, what kind of research will I need?

You should have done your homework Ms. Thurman, because it wasn’t only the story that stunk up this movie, it was your lakadaisical attitutde to it and throughout it as well.

I can’t even give this 1 diet coke for being in AC and having a cold soda. The AC wasn’t on and the soda was Pepsi, blergh.

0 Diet Cokes

Filed under: Blog, Screening Room
©2009 Adrienne's House

Where the Wild Things Are

October 19th, 2009 · 1 Comment

where the wild things are Once again a guest review from my oldest niece Stephanie.

Like most book to movie transitions, do not read the book first, or you will sorely be disappointed.

I walked in expecting it be like the cartoon which was made from the book. I walked out wishing it was the cartoon made from the book.

If I didn’t know that this was a movie made from a book, I would have been in-love with this movie. It was sweet, funny, sad, heart wrenching, and powerful. You cheered, you laughed, you (me) cried.

Since it was based on a book that I cherish and adored, I am fustrated. I waited for a hour and half to hear a narrator say “They roared their horrible roars and knashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes. And, showed their terrible claws.” I didn’t get that not, even once. There were a few of the other famous lines, such as “I will eat you up.” Also, “Dont’ go, I (we) will eat you up, I (we) love you so much.” Sadly they were dilievered by the wrong characters.

Also, this was not a movie for the younger crowd. I took my 10 year old cousin with me and while he said he liked it, I could tell he was bored. It isn’t attention grabbing in colors or motions. As a grown-up the story held my attention.

Bottom Line: Sometimes cartoons are the way to be

On a side note, my son Adam (age 19) posted this mini review on his Facebook status:

Adam Van Houten If this Where the Wild Things Are movie came out when I was a kid, I probably would’ve cried/crapped my pants the whole time. That movie was intense, like camping.

4mountain dew

4 Mountain Dews

The Stepfather

October 18th, 2009 · 1 Comment

The Stepfather I clearly stated to all of you when I started this section of the blog, that I do not do scary movies. Lucky for you Stephanie does.

“Lakeview Terrece,” “Disturbia” and now the “Step-Father,” have officially fell out of the same cookie cutter mold from Hollywood just changing enough of the story to avoid being suied pants-less for copy writing.

“Step-Father” wasn’t a bad movie. The acting was decent, the characters were believeable, and it was something that sounds like it could be on one of those crime shows on Tru-Tv. However, it was more a movie of the week than something that should be released in theatres.

As for being scary, not so much. Suspenseful, not so much. Afterall, we seen in the forementioned movies all ready. Even the action scenes seem to have mirrored other recent movies. Pools, roofs, and attics, are really the only hiding places left in Hollywood?

I took my ten-year old cousin with me to see it, he said, “It’s pretty good.” I rest my case.

Bottom Line: Disturbia without Shila Buff and with more parental involvement.

2mountain dew

2 Mountain Dews

Mea Culpa

October 7th, 2009 · No Comments

I took a friend to the movies tonight. She hasn’t been out in a while and I had an invite to a screening for a “comedy” and I thought she would enjoy getting out.

Unfortunately it didn’t happen as I would have liked.

It seems I have been guilty of a no no. With my apologies to my sister the attorney, I haven’t been reading what I have been signing every time I have gone to a screening. As was pointed out to me this evening when the gentleman refused my entry, I have not been supposed to post my reviews of these screenings. I have been signing semi-non-disclosure forms the entire time and was not aware of it.

I take full responsibility for not reading them, and had I read them I never would have blogged anything.

I have never hidden the fact that I am a blogger, heck, I have even given out my card at a few screenings to other attendees. Now, I may not be invited back due to my ignorance and stupidity.

So, I apologize to the studios affected, I apologize to the Screening Exchange, and I apologize to you, my readers.

There will be no more advance reviews.

The September Issue

October 7th, 2009 · No Comments

september issue

This is a guest review by my BGBF Derrick. He is a fabulous photographer and teacher and although he has a blog, he uh ahem, NEVER updates it.

Anna Wintour could out stare a statue, she’s that fierce.

The September Issue is a new documentary about Vogue magazine editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour and the movers and shakers on her staff that work under her in bringing the highly coveted and revered issue to newsstands.

The work begins months in advance. Racks of clothes from infamous designers like Prada, Versace, Dior are scrutinized for what will be fashion forward down the line. Thousands of dollars are spent on photo shoots with dozens of models in French brasseries and cafes, and with starlets on location in Rome in front of the Coliseum. There is just as much Machiavellian drama and politics behind the scenes amongst stylists, creative directors and art directors to get their hard work presented and seen in the pages of the magazine, which can be discarded by Ms. Wintour without so much as a toss of her neatly cropped bob.

Probably best known as the inspiration behind the Miranda Priestly character so devilishly portrayed by Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada”, Wintour is characteristically deserving of her ice-cold reputation, but she never raises her voice, or never threatens anyone with physical violence; more than anything she’s dedicated and focused on her job. She comes across as someone acutely aware of the responsibilities bestowed upon her with regard to fashion. Most people can’t afford the high end couture one-of-a-kind pieces we see in the movie by Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld, or Oscar de la Renta, but Wintour knows that these pieces will influence what we eventually see at The Gap and at Target.

Don’t miss the antics of Wintour’s animated friend Andre Leon Talley in his brief segments in the film. His tennis playing (complete with enough Louis Vuitton accessories to pay for a timeshare) and declaration that there is a “famine of beauty!” brought down the house.

4dietcokes