Friday, June 30

SUPERMAN RETURNS



Three words....

An Instant Classic......As far as I'm concerned.

My love for Superman takes me back to my childhood. A time where I found refuge from adult angst and pain in the fantasy (but really real) worlds of Paradise Island and Metropolis. Wonder Woman and Superman were my subconscious saviors and 28 years later I still find comfort in these heroes and their make believe worlds.

So going in, I thought.... No one can top Christopher Reeve as Superman. And how dare they attempt. Arms crossed, lips twisted, standing my bullheaded ground as I was herded into the theatre with the rest of the cattle-like, eager movie goers. Who later proved to be rude, loud fools who just wanted to see some ACTION! Not interested in STORY! Well then go see X-men 3, all the bang, bang, fire and explosions a kid could hope for sans the depth.
So holding my breath as the house lights dimmed, I began my journey into the reincarnation of Superman 2006.
I stand before Warner Bros. and Bryan Singer....humbled, quieted and pleased as punch at the return of Superman. Bravo and well done. Bryan Singer is one hell of a director...he takes the impossible and makes it flow like water over pebbles in a river. For example...X-men and X2. His sensitivity, unlike Luther Vandross' song, does not get in the way, it actually helps him to create classics in the new millennium...How nice. Here is a movie I'll be able to sit down and watch, happily, with my (yet to be conceived) children.

Kate Bosworth as Lois scared me initially....bowled over, post viewing of Superman.
The dude who played Cyclops in X-men, James Marsden as Lois Lane's man.......disturbed initially as he is like an Orange County, weight obsessed, spoiled boy Cyclops in X-men, turned out to be quite the capable suitor, in Superman.
Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther.....Good in theory, Great in the can (on film).
Parker Posey (love that name) as Kitty, Lex Luther's partner in crime, wasn't to shabby either.

and Mr. Brandon Routh as Superman....author, author man...you did it. You were able to make a blue and red spandex suit look normal, good even. Small number of humans who can do that.
I laughed, I cried, I was pleasantly surprised by plot twists. Goosebumps and chills ran through my body as Superman did what he does best....Save foolish humans who, in the face of danger, freeze like Deer caught in headlights.

I intend on seeing it again in the imax theatre, far from the hood. I went to a hoodrat theatre in Brooklyn and honey child....cell phones ringing, babies crying, loud brotha's commentary, bags of (not theatre) food rattling and the two girls who sat next to me who I guess never learned the ever so gentle art of whispering, was way too much for this serious Superman fan. Seriously. And let me just add....if you can't go two hours without checking your cell phone then you are into some serious s&%# and might want to consider, NOT, attending a movie, EVER. Turn the damn thing off and leave it off....it's two little hours. Obstetricians and Cardiologists are excused.

After the credits started rolling, a young brotha' who I'm sure is still pleased with the laughs he collected in the theatre earlier today, hollers out...."Batman was better" and all the uneasy followers of the crowd laughed, long and hard.

OUTRAGEOUS!

Yet still, Superman was a pleasure. A brand new bundle of joyful entertainment. I look forward to more. Ahhhh it's always nice to have something to look forward to, necessary for the soul.

EXHALE!!!!!!

Pay Bryan Singer whatever necessary to have him direct Wonder Woman.....pahhleasssseeeee.

Wednesday, June 28

Second official year of Los Angeles livin'

The five people you meet, your first year in Los Angeles if you're me:

Porn Star (in a house in the valley.) or more like a Porn Actress - "Star" is a bit generous.
Semi-retired (quite high) rap star.
A soon to be divorced swinger.
A waiter you think you know...but you just remember him from some old movie...
A couple of extra-drunk girls (in the bathroom stall) trying to level themselves out with an altoid can full of coke.

Ohhhh La La land......


I ain't mad at cha'

Happy Aniversary to me.... THE SECOND YEAR!


I'm bringing in my second year anniversary of my move to Los Angeles, here in New York...that's right. And bummed out that I'll be going back at the end of the week. I'm sure once I get back I'll start to appreciate some things about the land of plastic...ie...not running from big hunks of trash swirling around the street and not having to holding my breath when some fool sneezes and coughs in my direction, on the subway. Trying to find a different exit from the subway, because a rat the size of a small dog felt the need to dash out at the moment I looked up. Gross....but again I'll say..I'm willing to deal with it for the love of NYC.

Let's see..The five people you meet your second year in Los Angeles.....is just about the same as the first year, except I learned to avoid going to barbeques in strange homes in the valley, hence I was spared the porn actress scene. Oh and I've met at least 400 film producers. :-)

Friday, June 16

New York, New York


I am back. Working, living, drinking, loving and just lost in the wonders of NYC. I left Los Angeles like I was on the run from the law. I'm not back as in....packed up all my stuff. I'm back as in, coordinating an independent feature film. And although independent feature films have a tendency to be ABSOLUTELY HELLIFIED in the amount of things you are supposed to get done with zero dollars and zero time....I AM LOVIN' IT!

I've cried, I'm working 13 to 15 hour days, six to seven days a week, where I'm so amped up after work I can't fall asleep for hours. Meaning I get about 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night. Again I'll say....I AM LOVIN' IT!

I love the people I work with. LOVE. And for me that is the key. I will draw my own blood for you in the name of love be it work or professional. I have a major problem working, well better yet, we will have a major problem if I attempt to work..just for the dough. I've taken a pay cut (Good God!) and have accepted four times the amount of responsibility, and for some strange masochistic reason.....I AM LOVIN' IT!

1. My car is parked, garaged in Los Angeles...lurve it!
2. I can walk across the street from my office, to the hole in the wall pizza joint...and grab a SLICE of heavenly pizza.
3. I have lost myself in work so I can remain distracted from the loss of my best friend.
4. Bacon and egg sandwiches.
5. Drinking wine on the balcony of badass highrise apartments with unbelievable views of the city.
6. Missing my subway stop and getting a little turned around in brooklyn because I fell asleep (drunk) on the train.

Making sure I fulfill all my four food group needs when I'm in NYC...Salt, Sugar, Caffeine and Fat.


I started this post before my body started to reject this lifestlye.....Ummm...it's used to existing off of Green tea, water, ice, veggies, bacon and Trader Joe's white cheddar popcorn and didn't take long to scold me for expecting it to quickly adjust to my NYC sinful food, liquor and partying ways. I've not been congested in two years and here I am....congested. From friends and co-workers who smoke in my face. Not to say the same doesn't go down in Cali, but I believe my immune system is able to fight it off when I'm not abusing it.

This post has taken me ten days to finish...I'm finishing now. Lost my voice. I've never lost my voice not in my entire major shit talkin' life. Los Angeles has softened me. The stress of this movie I'm working on doesn't help. The behind the scenes of this movie is driving me crazy. Friendships are going down the drain. Lovin' less and less the people I work with as they begin to love themselves less and less. Realizing I didn't know people as well as I thought or they don't know me as well as I thought. People are LOSIN' it and trying to make me lose it. But I'm a rock who, I believe, suffers from some serious emotional disorder. That I would subject myself to making less money and working five times as harder on an independent film where they expect us to subsist off of fritos and twizzlers is insane. Not to sound snobbish but me body, when worked far past it's limit needs things like, carrots, celery, maybe a little hummus, is that too much to ask when you're on your fourteenth day straight of working fourteen to fifteen hour days, everyday. Some healthy, not just bags and bags of chips. But again, I'm a sadomasochist. So there you have it. I have met some wonderful people which always gives me a boost. But my body is not agreeing with my sadomasochistic ways and I am SICK. No voice to speak of...get it...to speak of. Oh, isn't it great to find humor in my agony. I'm boiling water right now for some magical garlic concoction I'm about to force myself to drink and then.......SLEEEEEEP it off. I've got to get the immune system up and running so I can continue to abuse it.

Good night.