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Oscar 2012 Wrap-Up

Carla — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:43:57 +0000

I donned a pair of new shoes, popped my popcorn, poured a glass of champagne, grabbed my Jr. Mints from the freezer, and was in front of the T.V. before the first beautifully dressed actress stepped out of her shiny limousine. I LOVE OSCAR NIGHT!

Here’s my view — the good, the bad, and the “what?”…

THE GOOD:

Billy Crystal was funny and entertaining–I loved his best movie parody and song. All I can say is bring him back next year.

Meryl Streep’s upset for best actress was the surprise of the night. She was truly shocked but very gracious (she acknowledged her husband first thing…awww), and she was not even a tiny bit “been there, done that!”

Jessica Chastain was stunning in a gold embroidered Alexander McQueen gown and a half-up/ half-down hairstyle that made her look like a medieval princess that any knight in shinning armor would love to joust for.

Michele Williams’ coral Louis Vuitton gown set-off her already perfect skin to breathtakingly beautiful. And, I loved the hot pink clutch that added a little pizazz to her look.

Emma Stone was not only the funniest presenter with her “first time” shtick, she looked great, too. Some critics thought her gown was too like a past Nicole Kidman dress, but I say she rocked it. The fuchsia color with her red hair and pale skin worked beautifully and the big bow was pitch-perfect for her personality–very well done on all fronts, Ms. Stone!

Penelope Cruz is always stunning on the red carpet and this year was no exception. The glamorous periwinkle, old Hollywood-inspired Armani Prive gown and her new shorter hair made me think of a brunette Grace Kelly.

Gwyneth Paltrow was bold and beautiful in a simple white, and very elegant, Tom Ford dress with a cape. She accented her look with a diamond cuff (cuffs are big for spring!) and a cool low-slung ponytail — less was more… and perfect.

Octavia Spencer who won the Oscar for best supporting actress knows how to pick a script and a red carpet dress — the pleating on her white Tadashi Shoji gown hit in all the right places to flatter her curves.

In the category of best dressed actor the winner is: the midnight blue tux. Elegant and unexpected but classic, midnight blue showed up and showed out on the red carpet. Bradley Cooper wore a Tom Ford classic shawl collar, midnight blue tux with black trim, Christopher Plummer wore a velvet version, and Gary Oldman shook things up with a three-piece black tux with midnight blue trim and a dotted pocket square — WOW!

THE BAD:

Viola Davis wore my favorite color: green. Sadly, that’s about the only good thing I can say about her look. Her hair was over-colored and her dress over-done. Ms. Davis is an amazing actress but it was just not her night.

Melissa McCarthy’s hair and make-up were glamorous and beautiful. Her dress however, was wrong for her figure type — big sleeves don’t work on a full figure.

I’m hoping that Bradley Cooper grew his 70′s-style mustache for a movie role. It so did not compliment his elegant midnight blue tux:(

Sasha Baron Cohen…obnoxious…please stay home next year.

The WHAT?:

When you are considered one of the most beautiful women in the world you shouldn’t have to try to look sexy, but that’s what Angelina Jolie appeared to be doing by thrusting her leg through the slit in her skirt. Seriously, I was waiting for her to put her thumb out.

Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz presented together and both looked stunning. When the camera cut back to the two actresses, after showing film clips, they were turned with their backs to the camera and looking over their shoulders. Why? Could it be their derrieres the two lovely ladies wanted to show-off? Their effort fell — pardon the pun — flat.

The lesson that should be learned from the Misses Jolie, Diaz, and Lopez: Sexy is better served subtle.

Until next year…

Academy Award Nominated Movies

Carla — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:00:46 +0000

Qmuze loves movies and tis the season for viewing if you want to get yourself ready for “Oscar 2012.” You probably aren’t a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and therefore you won’t be filling out an official ballot, but you very well may be marking a ballot for your office pool, or for an Oscar party, so here’s a brief “muze” on each of the nine movies nominated for best picture:

THE ARTIST is a charming film and one of two movies (Hugo is the other) that serves as a love letter to movie making. The Artist explores the film industry’s transition away from silent movies to “talkies” and yes, The Artist is a (mostly) silent movie, but you should NOT let that keep you away. This movie has great performances, is beautiful to behold, and is a good old-fashioned love story. The Artist may prove that silence is indeed golden. (The favorite for Best Movie.)

Q quotient: QQQQQ

THE DESCENDANTS is the George Clooney film about a work-alcoholic dad that is thrown into full-throttle parenthood when his wife is injured and he has to take over. Mr. Clooney delivers the best movie line of the year when talking about his kids (one teenager and one close enough) — he explains to a friend that he has these two kids and “there’s something wrong with them.” This line alone was worth the price of admission. (If you have teenagers you know what I’m talking about.) Mr. Clooney was very good and is nominated for best actor, but I was slightly disappointed with the director’s pacing — probably because I expect so much from the great Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election). (Mr. Clooney’s performance makes this movie, but he may get edged out for best actor by Jean Dujardin from The Artist.)

Q quotient: QQQQ

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE — my least favorite of the nominated films — advertises Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock as its stars, but sadly, they have very small parts. The film is carried by a their on-screen son that may or may not be autistic, but is definitely annoying. Ms. Bullock’s performance in the last 15 minutes of the film saved it from complete disaster for me. (I can’t believe this movie even got a nomination — no chance of winning.)

Q quotient: QQq

THE HELP was adapted from the very popular book of the same name but is even better in its movie form. While The Help purports to be a story about racism in Mississippi circa the 1960′s, it’s instead a story about mean girls. That being said, it’s a very entertaining movie. The Help is a good story that is well-produced and rife with great performances. (Look for a best actress win and possibly a best supporting actress win.)

Q quotient: QQQQ

HUGO is directed by Martin Scorsese, takes place in a train station, and has movies and love at the center of its plot — what’s not to like? Mr. Scorsese is known for his dedication to restoring and preserving old films and his direction of Hugo is a love song to movie-making. This film is truly for the whole family: grandparents will love the nostalgia, parents will enjoy the interesting plot, and kids will be swept away by the magic. It should not escape your attention that you are watching a movie that has a subplot about the genesis of film making, through 3-D glasses! (And the Oscar for best director goes to: Martin Scorsese.)

Q quotient: QQQQq

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS Oh la la how I loved this movie! Set in present day Paris but juxtaposed to Paris in the 1020′s, “midnight” proves to be a magical time, indeed. A writer visiting Paris gets to meet icons from his favorite era — Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Picasso. As he steps back in time he comes to realize that he needs to make changes in his present to be happy in his future. (This magical movie gets my vote for best original screenplay.)

Q quotient: QQQQQ

MONEYBALL stars Brad Pitt but Jonah Hill is the man to watch. Mr. Hill’s character is a pudgy number-crunching nerd that was surely the last one picked to be on any team (other than debate) when he was in school . I’m not the biggest baseball fan and I tend to favor my intuition over statistics, but I do love a good underdog. Mr.Pitt and Mr. Hill’s movie personas work the stats to overcome their financial shortcomings to give the Oakland A’s a winning season — too bad it took so long, literally, the movie would have been much better with fifteen minutes cut out. (Mr. Hill should win best supporting actor but sentimental favorite, Christopher Plummer {Beginners}, will likely take the golden statue home.)

Q quotient: QQQq

THE TREE OF LIFE , an amazing film by the great director Terrence Malick, is part 2001: A Space Odyssey and part Leave it to Beaver. This is probably not a movie for beginning movie goers. When Mr. Malick delves into his beautiful creation scene you may think someone has slipped some LSD into your Jr. Mints. However, if you are a lover of letting visuals tell a story, this is the movie for you. Mr. Malick‘s imagines are so powerful he needs very little dialogue to communicate. The Tree of Life is an appropriate title for a grand and complex movie that explores themes that range from the meaning of existence to the loss of innocence. This is a movie that will be taught in future film classes — not perfect, but certainly profound. (This film is probably too abstract for the Academy to give it best picture, but hopefully they will see fit to reward it with best cinematography.)

Q quotient: QQQQQ

WARHORSE is Steven Spielberg’s WW1 movie based on a popular Broadway play. At his best Mr. Spielberg is wildly creative and entertaining, but at his worst, he is over-the-top and schmaltzy. Warhorse is not Mr. Spielberg’s best effort: The performances are so-so and the direction overly sentimental. Fortunately the heartwarming story and the handsome horse offset the negatives giving the movie goer an overall positive viewing experience. (Warhorse is destined to go home empty- handed.)

Q quotient: QQQq

Buy your popcorn and chill some champagne. The Oscar telecast is next Sunday evening on ABC — may the best movie win.

So, You Want to Write a Book?

Carla — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:17:28 +0000

The general response when I tell someone I’m a writer is: “I have a great idea for a book (or screenplay) and I’m going to write it when I have time.”

This is what I know for certain: YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TIME! Most people assure me they have their book or screenplay completely mapped out in their head and they just need to get it to paper…right. I usually just smile. It seems rude to tell someone how hard it is to get your thoughts down in black and white — like telling someone eating movie popcorn (and clearly enjoying it) how many calories it has in it. I have been on many walks with my trusty assistant, Thor, when I’ve dragged him home from his ball-playing, hole-digging time on the beach because my head is bursting with an idea. I get home to my computer only to find that my mind has gone blank and my fingers have become paralysed. My inbox stares at me begging for attention with many unanswered (and mostly unimportant) emails, and that speck of dirt on the floor across the room just has to go. My assistant that I’ve entrusted with characters and plots is now curled up asleep on the couch and is of no help whatsoever.

Writing is hard work. Like most things in life, to be successful you need to be disciplined; and, practice of and passion for what you do always makes you better. Writing is also fun — you can create a world all your own or you can opine away without interruption!

If you are one of the few who have completed a book or a screenplay you have my deep admiration. If you’ve gotten a book published or a screenplay produced you are in a very select group of people that have not just accomplished the difficult, but have achieved the near impossible.

Everyone has a story, but can anyone write a book? I recently posed this question to San Francisco author Christina Westover who has published not one, but two books. Here’s my unabridged interview with Christina’s advice on getting started:

– Writing a five paragraph essay for a high school class is daunting; how do you get started writing a book of several hundred pages?
First and foremost, I think of a character. I think about what makes him or her different than everyone else? What do they dream about? What is important to them? Once I have a character, I create a concept for the story. I know this sounds weird, but I don’t know how to write short stories, so when I write, I just know, I have to show enough of the character’s life in order to give the reader a feeling of emotional satisfaction. What drives the book, is the desire to touch another human being on the deepest most fathomless levels. I hope I have accomplished that.

–Do you “schedule” time to write?
I’m not the most disciplined writer, so I would have to say no. For me, writing occurs naturally and constantly–but in my head. I hear a constant dialogue of characters in my head talking to each other. Actually sitting down to write out my thoughts is exhausting to me, and I put it off for as long as possible. Usually, I spend a year thinking of the story, writing notes, and when I sit down to write it chapter by chapter, I usually complete writing it within one to three months if working consistently. It requires not socializing AT ALL. Writing every free moment of every day until it is done.

–Where do you get your ideas?
My ideas are drawn from everyday life. My characters are unusual, because they’re a mirror of how unusual I am. As an example,after having a complete nervous breakdown in 2001, I was diagnosed as having Bipolar II Disorder and Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Poisoning Sylvie is about a woman who suffers from toxophobia, which is a form of PTSD. She’s tired of feeling different from others, and uses a dual identity to live as though she had never been diagnosed with anything.

–What’s your process? Outline? Just start writing?
I usually have notes, almost like journal entries which I keep. I write a loose outline, just a sentence or two per chapter–but this does not mean I’ll stick to the outline. An outline just gives me a basic idea of where I would like the story to go. As I am actually writing it, the characters experience things I didn’t know were going to happen. I become an observer like everyone else. Books almost seem to write themselves when you love the characters.

–Do you like to get feedback during the process or do you finish a first draft and then get feedback?
I find it difficult if not impossible to verbalize what it is I am thinking before it is written down, so I would say I finish a draft, then ask for feedback.

–Do you know how your book will end when you start writing?
I know the emotions I want the reader to feel at the end. I don’t know which form those emotions will take, or which characters will be present in the end, but I know the books I remember most are books which leave my heart feeling full.

–Is writing cathartic for you? How so? For instance, sometimes I give despicable characters names with the same initials as people in real life that have been mean to me:( Same for good characters and good people in my life:)
Yes. It is healing in a powerful way. I think we are all so hard on ourselves, and we need to start helping one another to learn a healthier, kinder inner dialogue–the sort of dialogue which fortifies a person’s soul. Emotionally healthy individuals make an emotionally healthy society, and that has profound effects on the WORLD. I write to be an emotionally healthier person, and I try to write stories which urge people to believe in themselves and their dreams. I really believe art has the ability to heal others. Plus, when you can direct thoughts into a character, they are no longer personal, and are easier to analyze and understand.

–How long does it take you to complete a book?
It depends upon the book. I once wrote a historical novel (which I have not tried publishing) which took ten years to complete. I spent two years researching the 1920′s and 1930′s, and eight years writing. I wrote that between ages 15-25. Since my late twenties my average novel takes about a year and a half to complete.

–Everyone has a story–can anyone write a book? What’s the number two thing you have to have (a story being no. 1)?

Anyone who wishes to write a book should be urged to do so, it’s a fantastic goal to have. However, for those determined to finish the book, you need to remember, writing is work, and there will be moments when you don’t want to write. There will be days when you would rather accept that dinner invitation or eat popcorn and watch a DVD. The number two thing you have to have to write a book is passion for your subject matter. No matter what it is you write, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, your energy will be in your words. Some part of you is going to stay among these sentences, and when readers take hold of your book, they will feel it. If you’re bored, your writing will be boring. If you’re passionate, it will be passionate.

You can find Christina’s books at your local bookstore or Amazon.com

Fall Fashion 2011

Carla — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:02:48 +0000

Fall fashion is lady-like and feminine with a touch of leather to shake things up a bit. I scoured New York, from the Meatpacking District to Madison Avenue, checking out the new fall lines and found Fall to be Fabulous! Here’s what you should have in your closet if you want to stay au courant:

A dress with a FULL SKIRT that makes you look like you are floating when you walk into a room. I bought this one in a stretchy fabric from Zara for under $100 — a price that was less than my meal at a very hip restaurant in Greenwich Village where I got three compliments on my inexpensive, but very chic dress.

Moderately priced at $350, J. Crew’s beige, pleated wool shift not only moves beautifully, but transitions easily from day to night. Wear it with a belt, cardigan, and pumps for work. Lose the belt and put on a pair of sling backs and some gold bracelets for dinner out.

If you want to splurge, go for this Alexander McQueen lace knit jacquard wool and silk print that will come right out of your suitcase ready to put on. The black and ivory color combination makes this piece timeless, so really the $2080 price is a bargain, right?

Fall has not arrived until you pick up something with SEQUINS. It doesn’t matter if wear them on tennis shoes for day or on a dress for cocktails.

Sparkle with lots of sequins — this dress from Vince at Neiman Marcus.

Or, just on your feet — Christian Louboutin’s leopard print sequin pumps.

Take a break from lady-like or just give it an edge with LEATHER. Theory has a great shell and updates a plain wool car coat with leather sleeves. Or, if you can afford them and pull it off, there are some cool leather jeans (that stretch!) out there. I have no idea how they process the leather to make it feel like it has Lycra in it but I tried them on and they are unbelievably comfortable. I loved the L’agence lambskin pair.

Neiman Marcus says the color for fall is BORDEAUX–I say go GRAY. This neutral was everywhere and it looks great with CAMEL — clean and classic.

Favorite collections: CHOLE is divine! Stella has a feminine groove happening with color-blocking and transparent cutouts that give you all the right curves. TORY BURCH is channeling Chanel and she’s doing it very well with her tweed jackets and skirts. BANANA REPUBLIC’s Mad Men collection — chic and affordable — makes you want to have a martini.

To accessorize these feminine looks you’ll need a clutch for night and a proper HANDBAG (the strap goes over your arm, not your shoulder) for daytime. Bold, gold jewelry is big this season — I love it paired with pearls. There are GLOVES galore being shown and PUMPS, with or without sequins, are perfect to complete the look. If you are feeling particularly glamorous FUR is a great accent for this season — on cuffs, hems, or a fur scarf.

For the GUYS: If you want to update your look put on a VEST . You can pull one of your three-piece suits out of your cedar closet or just pickup a sweater vest to wear with a sport coat and jeans. If you need a new suit the hottest jackets have a third flap pocket — called a change pocket or a ticket pocket — above the right hip pocket, and are close-fitting.

SPRING 2012 — The spring lines were showing at Lincoln Center when I was in New York. I chatted-up several models at the Starbucks on 60th one morning and the word is SEQUINS will still be around in the spring, TRANSPARENT fabrics are everywhere from blouses to the bottom two thirds of skirts, and robin’s egg blue, sea-foam green, and yellow will be the big colors.

Happy Shopping!

Bridesmaids

Carla — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:19:43 +0000

I expected the movie Bridesmaids to be funny and I was not disappointed — it was hilarious. I was however, a little surprised by how ribald the humor was. The girls, it seems, can get just as down and dirty as the guys.

Kristen Wiig, of Saturday Night Live fame, co-wrote the movie and stars as Annie, old friend, maid-of-honor, and loser at love. Helen (Rose Byrne) is the bride’s new (and perfect) friend, and the maid of honor wanna be. Bridesmaid number three, Whitney, is a mom of several small boys and would love a few days of being single. Becca, the newlywed bridesmaid, is naive but headed to naughty. But the funniest bridesmaid is Megan played by Melissa McCarthy. Ms. McCarthy is perfectly cast as the less-than-feminine sister of the groom who is anything but uncomfortable or un-confidant around the more traditional bridesmaids.

The groom and groomsman don’t play much of a role in Bridesmaids but debonair John Hamm as Ted, a Porche-driving egotist that likes Annie for the occasional booty call, and Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd) a renaissance cop, fill the men’s roles nicely.

This movie has been called the female version of The Hangover and that’s a fair comparison. There is also a debate over whether or not Bridesmaids is a chick flick. This is a tough one. If The Hangover is not a guy movie then Bridesmaids is not a chick flick. But the fact remains: it’s a little tough watching the opposite sex expose their bawdy side in such a big way.

I really liked this movie and I’m tempted to give it four Q’s. However, I had to cover my eyes during a bathroom scene and the movie was ten to fifteen minutes too long, so the very funny Bridesmaids gets: QQQq

Movies: The Beaver & The Princess of Montpensier

Carla — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:23:32 +0000

If you think The Beaver sounds like a comedy you would be oh-so-wrong. Mel Gibson’s character, Walter, is suffering from depression, and while he resorts to using a beaver hand puppet to express himself, the result is heartbreaking, not funny. Mr. Gibson is very good in this role (possible Oscar nod?) – a role his real life seems to have been preparing him for. Mr. Gibson doesn’t hold anything back — he is a man that is broken. His disease tears his family apart. The theme of this movie is very clear: people in a great deal of pain have a hard time expressing themselves and often need a device. The problem with the movie for me was that it seems to suggest that love can cure depression. In short, the movie was very good, but ultimately it couldn’t live up to Mr. Gibson’s very honest performance.

Very good performances and an interesting, if not honest, look at depression. QQQq

If you think The Princess of Montpensier sounds like a romantic drama you’d be right. A beautiful aristocrat, Marie, is in love with a handsome and fearless warrior. Her father however, is more interested in politics than love and marries her off to the Prince of Montpensier. It’s the 16th century and the Protestants and Catholics are fighting and her prince goes off and leaves his bride with his former teacher/mentor who also falls in love with her — it’s tough being a princess, but someone has to do it.

Conflict between love and duty makes for a great story. Throw in a castle and religious wars and you’ve got yourself a movie. QQQq

Summer in the City — Fashion on the Go

Carla — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:22:50 +0000

Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer is just over two weeks away — is your wardrobe ready?

For those of us traveling this summer there is always the dilemma of packing light but having everything you need to look good. At the heart of any good fashion debate: “what bag should I take?” For me, it needs to be lightweight for perusing the spice markets of Istanbul, chic enough for lunch with friends in Memphis, and neutral enough to go with all of the shoes I plan to take to New York. Either of the bags pictured is a good choice. On the left: Christian Louboutin’s linen tote has been finished with a metallic coating to give it durability and a glamorous glow. On the right: Balenciaga’s super soft lambskin bag has a distressed metallic finish that should go with everything, and its slim top will make it comfortable to carry. Both bags have handles that fit well over the shoulder so that you can wear your bag tucked easily (and safely!) under your arm. Both bags are big enough for a wallet, passport, and camera, while still having enough room to accommodate your souvenir shopping.

My two friends and fellow shoppers picked-up Armani’s navy blazer for their summer travels. A navy blazer goes with everything — white jeans, linen pants, khaki shorts or skirt and even over a black sleeveless dress (blue and black is a trending color combo!). I also like the Smythe one-button navy blazer pictured right. The gold button detailing is nice for summer — add white jeans, gold sandals, a nude colored silk blouse and voila!

Packing note: If you are like me and your summer destinations have hot and humid climates you are not thinking jacket. But, airplanes and restaurants can be cold so wear the blazer to and fro and you won’t have to make space for it in your bag!

Now for the MEN: One look at George (Neiman Marcus in San Francisco) tells you that if you have a question about men’s fashion, you have found your go-to guy. George informs me that the big look for men this summer is a “soft” fitting sport coat. You can go wild with prints and colors on your shirt if you choose a tan or navy coat. If you go with the handsome plaid coat pictured here, try a periwinkle, yellow, blue or white shirt.

George assures me that pocket squares are still au courant, so if you haven’t gotten one you should. For tips on how to wear it check out my post “Trends For Spring.”

Complementing the softer structured sport coat this summer are a plethora of cool-looking tennis shoes. Everyone from Ferragamo to Zenga is doing one, and yes, you wear them with your new sport coat and pocket square. But, what you may not be wearing is a belt — I’m seeing a lot of empty belt loops on the oh-so-hip and beautiful.

A relaxed casual look is king this summer so enjoy it gentlemen!

So Many Movies — So Little Time!

Carla — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:36:53 +0000

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS — SOURCE CODE – THE CONSPIRATOR

If you can hold your eyes open tonight (I know you’re tired from getting up before daybreak to catch the royal wedding) you should take yourself out to the movies. Depending on your mood, all three of these films are good for a Friday night when you may be a little tired from a hard week of work…or a busy week of royal watching.

Water for Elephants is a love story. A man and a woman fall in love over a horse and continue their courtship over an elephant. There is a bad guy, a good guy, a pretty woman, a train, and a circus in this movie; the depression era setting gives urgency like only desperation can, causing characters to love more, lose tempers faster, and drink to forget. Although I am often disappointed by the movie version of a good book, this movie’s director, Francis Lawrence, gave my imagination a run for its money: Water for Elephants was well cast, and the sets and costumes were Oscar nomination worthy. Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson have nice chemistry, bad guy Christoph Waltz is despicable, and the cast of circus characters is charming. The “biggest star” in the movie, Rosy the elephant, is beautiful, soulful, and smart — you will fall in love with her instantly. I LOVE this movie’s tag line: “Life is the most spectacular show on earth.”

Interesting story; great setting and characters photographed beautifully = QQQq

The Conspirator is Robert Redford’s historical drama that is relevant today. Robin Wright plays Mary Surratt, a woman who is rushed to justice with a military trail instead of a jury of her peers. Tossing the Constitution aside, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Kevin Kline) is eager to settle the case of President Lincoln’s assassination and start healing a war-ravaged country. (The argument over whether to try Guantanamo Bay detainee Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a military court or civilian court is an interesting parallel, but ultimately not one that I’m buying–Mary Surratt was a citizen and KSM is not.) Mary Surratt’s son is accused of helping John Wilkes Booth plot against Mr. Lincoln. The son goes missing and Mary is charged as a co-conspirator. Ms. Wright’s Mary is understated; she is a woman resigned to her fate and resolute in her protection of her son. If you are a history buff this is the movie for you.

Smart film with interesting historical costumes and sets, but a little slow = QQQ

Source Code is a fun movie! It’s science fiction, action and adventure, and love story all rolled into one movie. Jake Gyllenhaal is great as Captain Colter Stevens, a man who finds himself on a train talking to a woman that clearly knows him, but he has no recognition of. He rushes to the bathroom, looks in the mirror, and doesn’t recognize himself. He soon finds out that he is on a mission to find the bomber of the train he’s on. This movie is unique and begs the question: Is there a parallel universe? Source Code is well worth your ten bucks — it’s fun and it gives you something to think about.

Groundhog Day meets The Matrix = QQQQ

Jane Eyre

Carla — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:53:36 +0000

I have a big crush on three fictional characters — Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, Batman, and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre. All three men are smart, mysterious, slightly tortured, and they are all ‘man enough’ to handle a strong woman. I love the story of Jane Eyre in all its Gothic glory — the repressed emotions, pent-up sexual desire, grand manor homes, and lonely moors equal Romance with a capital R.

Director Cary Fukunaga does a good job of keeping our emotions on edge with great music, beautiful photography, and nice pacing. Miss Wasikowska’s Jane is strong without being defiant and plain without being dowdy. Mr. Fassbender as Rochester is smoldering, and yes, tortured.

A lot of guys will refuse to see this “chick flick” — instead opting for an action movie that will leave you dizzy from a harrowing car chase rather than emotion. Let me give you something to think about: This is a Victorian era film. The characters’ wild desires are suppressed throughout the movie. The pent-up sexual tension is passed right along to the audience, an aphrodisiac of sorts — why not take advantage. Or, you could go see that car chase movie — zoom! bang! crash! — but you should know: car chases give us a HEADACHE!

A great story, good acting and beautiful scenery = QQQq

Nobu 57

Carla — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:29:09 +0000

The last time “The Blondes” were in New York we went to Nobu 57 with our handsome dates and a few other friends. Nobu 57 is a big lively restaurant with a fun atmosphere — it’s a great place to dine with a fun foursome or more. The food is delicious and the people watching is pretty yummy too.

On my last visit we were seated at a table between Alec Baldwin and company, and Kelsey Grammer and company. I felt a little nervous sitting in-between these two: Mr. Baldwin is one of the most liberal guys in Hollywood and Mr. Grammer is one of the most conservative — both are very outspoken. The two met in the middle (right by our table), shook hands, and had a friendly conversation — politics were clearly not on the menu. Celebrities like dining at Nobu because they are “protected” from the public. I’ve noticed a “big guy” that stands inconspicuously near the tables of the “known” to intercede if a fan deigns to interrupt the star’s dinner for a picture or an autograph.

The real star at Nobu however, is the food — Japanese with a South American influence. Some of my favorite dishes are the tacos (especially the lobster and the king crab), the Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, the Black Cod with miso, and any fresh vegetable they are serving with the jalapeno dressing. The service is just right — they are always there when you need them but never in the way. If you are overwhelmed by the menu just trust your server. Bonapeti!