by dudeigotsablog

“Contagion.” Not bad. Not mad.

Steven Soderbergh has always brought a unique visual style to his films from “Oceans Eleven” to “Erin Brockovich” to “Traffic” not to mention “The Informant.” In fact, I didn’t realize quite how much I admired his work until I looked through his IMDB page. But I digress. Anyway, my lovely friend, A and I were both very excited to see this film mainly because of the commercials and the exceptional cast.

Let me say this. This was not by any stretch a bad movie or even a mediocre film. The pacing for the first hour was phenomenal, the visual style was engaging and the wealth of talent in that cast was considerable. Literally, every scene presents a new incredible actor from Marion Cotilliard, (“La Vie En Rose”) Matt Damon, (sexy in the Bourne series) and Laurence Fishburn, (Othello) to Sanaa Lathan (AVP) and Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes) plus Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). Exactly how much of the budget was spent on cast salaries???

Anyway, despite the fact that the last 20 minutes dragged a bit, that wasn’t the actual issue. It was actually how underused the cast was. The biggest asset (the cast) to this film was giving it the most problems. These are engaging actors but the script gave very little room for actual character development and forming emotional bonds with these characters was tricky simply because there wasn’t enough time. There were so many characters to pay attention to while simultaneously paying attention to the conflicts and progression of the story. There was a lot to digest and sadly the phenomenal cast didn’t always get the time they deserved.

All in all, I dub this film worthy of not only the ticket money I bled for, but I will definitely buy this on DVD for the film and the special features. Whereas it didn’t resort to the same kind of overblown theatrics that its pathogen predecessor, “Outbreak” did, “Contagion” was still a good film and well worth seeing especially if you’re interested in the political and scientific steps taken when a disease threatens the population and the dangers of fear and mass panic that can and does effect the healthy. Okay, sounds boring when you say it like that, but either way, you should see it.

by dudeigotsablog

Trailer Rundown

Trailer Rundown
So everybody knows that the additional treat that goes with going to the movies are the previews. It’s especially nice when you get paid to record them. Attached to the prestigiously cast film “Contagion” were 5 previews of films that I’d love to see in one venue or another. Observe.
1. Killer Elite: Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert DeNiro. Awesome cast but Statham’s films are never guaranteed to be awesome. Fun? Yes. Absurd? Always. Worth money I’ve bled over. Surely not. Final decision: Looks like a good Redbox candidate.
2. 50/50: A cancer comedy. I mean, cancer is one of those things where you have to either laugh or cry and after the millions of depressing cancer films, I’m actually hopeful that taking a cue from Showtime’s “The Big C” humorous approach will pay off and even if it’s dismal, I’ll still get to look at Joseph Gordon Levitt.
3. The Thing: So the same producers who got a hold of “Dawn of the Dead” are taking a crack at this classic paranoia story…in its third re-incarnation. Whereas they’re promising this to be a prequel, I still don’t think it’ll quite be able to live up to its predecessors.
4. Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows: Listen. I loved the first film. Loved it. Still do. Therefore, I will pay my blood money to see this in theaters. Loved Noomi Rapace in the original version of the Millenium Series films plus Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law had incredible chemistry on the first trip. God willing, we won’t have to only rely on their chemistry and animal magnetism to carry the film and ex-Mr. Madonna will deliver another stylish, energized romp with everyone’s eccentric sleuth.
5. The Dark Knight Rises: Look, I’ve been committed to this franchise since I was a toddler. Thus, I will be seeing this film no matter how confident I am that this cannot live up to its predecessor. They’ll really need to sell me on Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, I’ma pray Tom Hardy will have his shirt off often as Bane and if Christian Bale growls throughout this movie, both he and Christopher Nolan will receive an angry vulgar soundbite from moi. Oh you’ll get my blood money but, no growling Christian. You’ve been warned.

Well, I have plenty to look forward to in the next few months. Yup, I’ll be researching ways to sell my plasma to pay for my movie tickets…but
I’ll pretty happy about it.

by dudeigotsablog

The Crow Remake. For this, someone will pay.

Nothing is original these days. Most things are referential in some way or another and that’s not always bad. Critics are saying that we’re far less prone to create than to copy and they may be on to something. Retro fashions are back en vogue again with some hipsters looking like they got dressed via a 1962 catalog instead of as a 20 year old in the 21st century. Even music is highly referential with the retro sounding Adele and the late great Amy Winehouse topping the charts. Now, these are (and were) great performers and artists in their own right with incredible voices and writing abilities but making references to ages long gone and using it to create your own sound is one thing. However, blatant reproduction pisses me off. Enter Hollywood.

We all get that films are a huge financial gamble and that commercial films are supposed to make money. Like anyone else, Hollywood big wigs want a sure thing. Come clean though, because honestly who doesn’t? But don’t, for the love of all things holy, sacred and grungy, take a cult classic like “The Crow” and think you can do it better. That film was made at the right time, had the perfect dark and moody feel and one of the most tragic backstories ever. You cannot fabricate that kind of story or replicate the kind of effect it had on an audience not to mention the built in publicity. So exactly what powerful medications do you think execs were on to think that Bradley Cooper, Mark Wahlberg, or Channing Tatum could do a better job in the titular role. No, it’s fine. I’ll wait. What did you come up with? Nothing powerful enough, I take it. Unless someone communed with the ghost of Brandon Lee and he’s given you explicit instructions on how to one up his death before shooting even finished, there’s no fragging way this is going to be a socially acceptable decision. And while we’re on the subject of announced bad remakes, Judge Dredd? Really? I’m not sure even Karl Urban’s handsome face can save that one. And what a face it is…

photo borrowed from http://www.enthunder.com. Please don’t sue. I beg you.

**Another note, supposedly they’re also remaking “Short Circuit.” Once again, nothing from my childhood is sacred.
***Oh yeah, plus a “Romancing the Stone” remake. Now it’s turned into a game to see who can find the most obscure ’80s and ’90s movies to redo. I love these movies and I wish they wouldn’t ruin them for future generations…and me.

by dudeigotsablog

Boot Lust: damn you Asos

Can’t lie to you, I’m a girl. Gasp! I thought you knew! Anyway, as a girl, I happen to enjoy shoes. But, as a self-proclaimed tomboy, I’m not talking pumps…I’m talking boots. Last night my best friend had to talk me down from the ledge from a state away. Her steady stream of “Don’t buy them” texts almost didn’t work…until I realized that I am still unemployed. But that’s why I have a credit card, right? Right guys??? Oh c’mon. I assure you, they’re worth it:

http://us.asos.com/Blink-Blink-Distressed-Lace-Up-Boot/vw1cu/?iid=1403698&cid=1931&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=3&clr=Grey&mporgp=L0JsaW5rL0JsaW5rLURpc3RyZXNzZWQtTGFjZS1VcC1Cb290L1Byb2Qv

So if someone had $45 just lying around collecting dust, I’m a size 7. Please and thank you.

by dudeigotsablog

Slacker…

Slacking once again. My bad. While stalking theloveship.blogspot.com, which I enjoy for her occasionally random and out of left field fashion choices, the writer mentioned an utterly wonderful tumblr which everyone should now venture to…immediately:
ofanotherfashion.tumblr.com

Up next, movies that I loved this summer and the ones that were a complete waste of 2 hours of my life. Peace, love and chicken grease.

by dudeigotsablog

Narcissists invaded by Shreks. My heart bleeds.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for self-esteem. In fact, I’m working on my own levels of self-love. However, we all know that there is a fine line between self-love and respect and full blown narcissism. Apparently these people do not. The internet has the power to bring people with similar ideals together and give them a place to meet like-minded people. In the case of BeautifulPeople.com, it is a place to shallow pretty folks to meet others like them who’s primary desirable quality is a good looks. Then these dumb-asses had the nerve to be upset when normal looking people hacked their website. Duh.

So the Huffington Post posted this article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/beautifulpeople-hacked_n_880270.html

I’m having trouble finding sympathy for this one.

by dudeigotsablog

Rabbit Hole….

So every once in a while I fall into the Rabbit Hole that is the internet which results in hours upon hours of YouTube videos, blogs and other various time wasting sites. I present you with a site I stumbled upon via my new blog obsession: Instant Vintage at innyvinny.com. Love her! She’s hilarious, a thrift shop connoisseur, jewelry maker and fashionista. She’s awesome so look her up. Coinsidentally, she lead me to this little gem….it’s like they know me or something…

http://www.whatthefuckshouldimakefordinner.com

by dudeigotsablog

Goodbye Mall, Hello Secondhand.

So while lurking for the nine millionth time in the Freehold mall and simultaneously contemplating the incredible fashion and natural hair blogs which have become a part of my morning ritual, I had a thought. After making a conscious decision to eat far less meat and processed food and introduce astronomical amounts of fresh foods into my diet (which is harder than it sounds when you’re unemployed), I figured that there had to be some other conscious decisions to make my own personal bubble a greener place. Standing in the middle of a crowded mall with teenyboppers all wearing the same clothes from the same stores, it hit me. Why not try something outside of the mall?

Then I really thought about it. How much of my closet is comprised of clothing from Forever 21? Far more than is healthy. In the past year and a half, most of my purchases consist of stuff from this chain not because of its quality but because of its price. Let’s face it. They sell cheap stuff. Another fact to deal with: you get what you pay for. The clothes from these places are blatant knockoffs from other designers and chains. My friend Alyssa and I went shopping one day and literally saw the same garment in Forever 21 that we had seen in H&M that very same day for almost $10 cheaper! In theory this sounds like a win until you think about the fact that this very same piece will last about as long as the trend itself. Once again, sounds like a win until you realize that inevitably, you will throw said piece away contributing to the behemoth amounts of garbage that our world is already swimming in. Not to mention the rumors that these money hungry-fashion-clone-factories are producing record amounts of waste themselves. Bravo.

Ok so here’s the question: how do I still get the thrill of shopping without spending gross amounts of money, find quality clothing while keeping a green thumbprint?
Then, like bird poop, it hit me! Vintage and second hand clothing! Throughout my recent fascination with all things natural hair and fashion, I noticed that these bloggers wore a great deal of rescued clothes in addition to fashions procured through the usual channels all creating fantastic individual styles. Honestly, I was probably born in the wrong decade and every time fashion trends from ages past come back in style, I get excited. So, the plan is in order to jumpstart this attitude, I will not allow myself to buy anything fashion related (with socks, bras and underwear being the exceptions) from a chain store for 14 weeks. Don’t ask me why that long. It just seemed like a good idea. So, with the aid of my fashion consultant/best friend A, we will construct a fanciful wonderland within the realm of my closet with the aid of vintage and used clothing! I’ve completely justified my shopaholicism by saying it’ll be green. Why am I allowed to go about this world unchaperoned?
As a side note, I am in no way, shape or form a fashionista or environmentalist. But, trying to be green seems like a good idea and when I think long and hard about it, it should pan out in the long run. I’ve never really been a fan of looking exactly like everyone else so here’s my chance to change that and be slightly Earth-conscious about it. I will NEVER drive a Prius and still haven’t gotten the hang of keeping those reusable bags handy but I mean, baby steps, right?

by dudeigotsablog

Scissor Happy

Yes, I’m a cutter….but not in the way that you think. You see dear friends, when I get bored with my coif, I’m prone to cutting it. Taking off inches when my hair reached just below my shoulders when relaxed was common place either because of split ends or simply because I wanted it cut. My dear roommate fussed many times about my frequent run-ins with scissors. The boredom issue is now compounded with the fact that there are still about 2 inches of relaxed ends attached to my coiled roots meaning caring for my hair has become a dubious task with my natural roots and relaxed ends unable to reach an agreement on which treatments they can both agree with. Scissors, please.

Might not sound like such a big problem until you consider how different these two beings really are. The Relaxed hair (we’ll call her Medusa for now) agrees with only the cholesterol treatments but natural hair (refer to her as Foxy Cleopatra) prefers oil on a daily basis and/or my special leave-in concoction inspired by KimmayTube consisting of Shea butter, aloe vera gel, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and handy olive oil. In fact, Medusa HATES the leave-in and gets crunchy when I use Eco-Styler Gel. Meh. In fact, this problem would have turned me into a product junkie if I weren’t so broke. Never thought I say this but, thanks unemployment.

The follicle discord has been making my curly ‘fros and Bantu twist outs literally crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. For food, this can be a lovely thing but not for my hair! Besides the tension between my Jekyll and Hyde textures, wearing nothing but curly ‘fros for the past three and a half months have me itching for the scissors. Even switching it up for the past three weeks with updos, experiments with Bantu knots (which have been causing serious knotting for some reason) and a flat twist in the front haven’t been able to keep me from gleefully snatching the scissors and chopping it all off! So okay, how do I hang onto the relaxed ends to keep some length while simultaneously keeping my hair presentable and keeping the temptation to cut my hair at bay? The answer was simple. Braid the biznaches up! Done deal. Medusa shall be spared for now. Now let’s see how long it takes for me to miss my curls. Vicious cycle, vicious I tell you!

Anybody else get scissor crazy or have issues with the dueling textures?