hey kids! i seriously cannot pass up any movie musicals - even if i think it might be awful - that's why i took myself to an early morning showing of mamma mia! over at arclight cinemas (i made sure to pick a seat in the back) and i must say it's not the best flick ever but it was pretty enjoyable overall - i especially loved meryl streep (without her the movie would blow) who isn't the best singer around but she's a complete joy to watch up on the silver screen! (the only truly painful moment was when ms. streep sings 'the winner takes it all' which seemed to last forever...) i also really liked christine baranski & julie waters who played ms. streep's friends from the past (and kudos to amanda seyfried - the best vocalist in the movie) the guys were ok as well but i think pierce brosnan shouldn't be allowed to sing anymore - he's charming and all that jazz but vocally - not so great! in the end i'd say if you wanted to see this movie you should totally go but i wouldn't talk anyone into seeing it and although i enjoyed myself i doubt you'll catch me anytime soon watching the stage version of the musical - one time around with mamma mia! was enough! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo
hey kids! i decided to brave going to see the dark knight this afternoon although i knew it would be a total zany packed scene - even though i was in the theatre at 4pm for a 4:30pm showing (at the grove) i had to sit very close to the front in the third row which completely ticked me off and tossed me into bad mood central - i don't like to be in the front but i really had no other choice but to crouch down and look up for two and a half hours! to be 100% honest i have mixed feelings on the movie - it's stylish, dark and action-packed (director christopher nolan did an excellent job) but i think my overall excitement over seeing the film set my expectations way too high and i do feel a drop disappointed - the hype is probably bigger than the film itself - which is already making tons of money and setting all kinds of records! (however i feel like i need to see the movie again yet next time i totally need to sit in the back - today it was so up in my face)
the late heath ledger did an amazing job at making the joker a sinister & haunting psychopath creep but if i were forced to choose i still personally prefer jack nicholson's campy creation back in the 1989 version of batman (directed by tim burton - also responsible for batman returns my favorite of the franchise) yet it's tough to compare the two performances - they're completely different from each other (a comic book madman vs a realistic psycho) it's still tough to believe that mr. ledger is actually gone - i do hope he gets an oscar nomination (like recent buzz suggests...) what he did with the part was incredible & brilliant - what a shame to lose such a talented actor!
as for the character of 'rachel dawes' - kudos to maggie gyllenhaal who was much better suited for the part than katie holmes (batman begins) and then there's hottie christian bale who is hands down the best actor to ever play the caped crusader - he's perfect in the role! the rest of the cast including cutie aaron eckhart, michael caine, morgan freeman, and gary oldman were all superb - i just wanted to like it more than i did but due to all the drama at the theatre - i seriously have to give the film a second chance (perhaps next weekend) popbytes over & out for now...xxoo
PS without spoiling the end - i will say that i am super excited over the possibilities for the next film - with all the money it's raking in - of course there's going to be another one!
good evening! last night i watched an amazing documentary that i had to fill everyone in on - heidi fleiss, the would-be madam of crystal - i hope everyone knows who heidi fleiss is...the hollywood madam who once ran a very $uccessful worldwide prostitution ring and then ended up getting busted in the 90s and spent almost three years in prison - then she had all that drama with her loser ex-boyfriend actor tom sizemore who ended up beating her up - this film tells the tale of heidi's attempt to climb her way back to the top by opening up a 'stud farm' (that would service female clientele with twenty guy 'studs' on staff) in the middle of the nevada desert (pahrump/crystal) where prostitution is still legal in a few areas - call me crazy but i've always had a thing for heidi (i'm totally drawn to messy & tragic figures for some reason...)
right now she's still in nevada - plans for her new brothel venture have been put on hold (i doubt the 'stud farm' will ever be built - sadly i think she's chasing a pipe dream) and cares for a bunch of exotic & expensive birds (approximately 70) left to heidi by her next door neighbor marianne (an old madam in fact) and also opened up a laundromat called dirty laundry - there's a number of incredibly bizarre moments (she likes to collect rocks) along with some touching ones (especially with the birds) heidi has a bunch of problems & issues (right now she's facing drug charges) but i think she is basically a good person and would never harm anyone intentionally - who knows what the next few years will bring ms. fleiss' way - i do have my fingers crossed for her! i highly recommend watching the film next monday (july 21st) when it airs on HBO as part of its documentary films series - major kudos to directors fenton bailey & randy barbato from world of wonder for crafting such an excellent view into a slice of heidi fleiss' oddly fascinating life! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo
HEIDI FLEISS, THE WOULD BE-MADAM OF CRYSTAL chronicles the infamous Hollywood Madam's attempt to open the first legal brothel for female clients in the tiny desert town of Crystal, Nevada. Leaving behind her glamorous life in LA and the memory of three years in the penitentiary, Heidi soon discovers that she faces a mountain of opposition, including the need to convince local authorities she's fit to run a brothel despite being a convicted felon. In an unexpected twist, Heidi befriends her next door neighbor, Marianne, a now-destitute and bedridden former Madam who lives alone with a dazzling collection of exotic birds. As Heidi's problems mount, she finds herself irresistibly drawn into Marianne's world despite an avowed aversion to emotional attachments. Priding herself on self-sufficiency, Heidi ultimately struggles alone with her inner demons -- including a predilection for methamphetamines -- as she tries to keep her dream in sight through a combination of grit, humor and sheer perseverance.
hey hey! despite the fact i heard hancock wasn't getting the best reviews - i decided to go see it earlier this afternoon down at the grove (of course first i grabbed a quick bite to eat at the farmers' market) the theater was quite packed and i wouldn't say it was the best movie i ever saw but i really do like will smith - i usually try to catch most of his flicks - and then you've got charlize theron (who can actually give angelina jolie a run for her money in the looks department - she's super gorgeous!) tossed in with the always adorable & endearing jason bateman - some laughs & thrills and a plot twist i didn't see coming (but i should have...) all in all i liked it a lot - it wasn't too deep - just a totally fun summer flick! (i did like wanted a lot better but it's a totally different movie) however i don't think there'll be a 'hancock' franchise - i think one film is probably enough! next up for me at the movies is wall-e and the dark knight (when it opens on july 18th - it's already receiving rave reviews) i can't wait to see both of 'em! i hope everyone is enjoying the 4th of july holiday - i'm about to grill up some hotdogs - people are lighting firecrackers outside (plus i can hear the fireworks going off at the hollywood bowl) the sound is driving my dogs nuts - oh good times! popbytes over & out for tonight...xxoo
hey kids! wow - i was actually able to tear myself away from the computer this afternoon (after i fixed a site wide issue that was driving me insane but all is ok now) to go see wanted (at the arclight) which i've been dying to see ever since i posted the trailer - and i'm happy to report that i loved it - it was way different than i expected - and the first twenty minutes or so i was thinking where the hell is this movie going but then angelina jolie turned up and kicked everything into high gear and i quickly found myself on the edge of my seat! of course the plot was a little on the ridiculous side (that pretty much goes for any action film) but i didn't care one bit - the action sequences were incredible and the plot twists were plentiful - and i thought hottie james mcavoy (and his six pack) did an excellent job for his first big action film - in fact i could see them doing a sequel around mr. mcavoy's character 'wesley gibson' and i'd totally go see it!
as far as ms. jolie is concerned - i couldn't help but thinking to myself - she's super gorgeous & intelligent, a humanitarian & UN ambassador, a great actress plus she's about to have two more of brad pitt's babies (bringing the jolie-pitt clan to a total of six kids) talk about somebody who has it all! for a fun care-free time at the movies - i'd highly recommend checking out wanted! oh my word - now it's time to deal with the fact that tomorrow is monday - not good times - popbytes over & out for tonight...xxoo
hey hey! although i'm running a week behind the film's premiere last week - i finally got to see sex and the city earlier this evening - overall i did really like it - what a nice treat after loving the HBO series for years to see the four ladies reunited up on the silver screen! there were plenty of laughs (especially w/ charlotte when the gals headed to mexico) but i must say i found the film to be a little on the long side (clocking in at a little over two hours) but if you're a fan - i couldn't imagine not loving it yet i totally feel this really needs to be the end of an era - i have absolutely no desire to see a sequel - everything was tied up (spoiler alert: not sure how i feel about carrie ending up w/ big) and i think they need to let it be and go out on a high (even if there is more money to be made...)
i was against this film being made at the very beginning (since the show ended on a great & fitting note and i didn't want the film version ruining how i felt about the show) but i did come around and they did an excellent job with the film in the end but now it's for sure time to say goodbye to carrie, samantha, miranda, and charlotte - it sure has been a swell ride (many thanks to michael patrick king and sarah jessica parker) and there'll always be the DVDs featuring all of the good times! (of course i got a little misty at the end - i'm going to miss all four of 'em) popbytes over & out for tonight - i can't freakin' believe tomorrow is monday already - ugh (i still need to do a post on the kanye west show last night - even though i'm not like a crazy fan - it was one of the best concerts i've ever seen - it was completely brilliant!)
(btw remind me never to go to the amc citywalk movie theaters over at universal studios - i don't like that place at all - i hadn't been in years (last movie i saw there was tomb raider back in 2001) but tonight i was reminded why i never go there...)
hey y'all! so the other night after leaving an advance screening of there will be blood (the film opens in theaters this wednesday december 26th) i felt a little sick to my stomach and i held the notion that i really despised the film - yet it's always the movies that either produce a super strong negative or positive reaction that stay with you long after you see 'em! for some reason i cannot get the film out of my head (i even dreamed about it that night - no joke!) it's certainly not a date movie - or for the average happy go lucky moviegoer (i'd tell my dear mom to skip this one...) but if you've wanted to see the film or you're a big film buff - i would highly recommend seeing this flick - although it's a tough one to sit through at a running time of about two hours & forty minutes but i can't stress enough how amazingdaniel day-lewis' performance is - unfortunately there's nothing likable at all when it comes to his character daniel plainview who was an oil baron in the early 1900's (hell - you certainly wouldn't have caught me drilling for oil back then - talk about dangerous work...yikes!) who comes into contact with a california town (with a shitload of oil under the soil) held together by an over zealous and young preacher played by paul dano - of course religion & oil collide - both bad industries (in their past & present formats) if you ask me!
mr. day-lewis completely transformed himself into this basically super vile & greedy person who ends up on a downward spiral as he becomes more powerful & wealthy - surely he'll be nominated for a best actor oscar - he really was that good! i've also got to mention the score for the film provided by radiohead guitarist jonny greenwood which was fairly bare & stark but added such a chilling element to the film - i'm not one to buy scores but i think i need to pick this one up! finally kudos to writer & director pt anderson - it's definitely a far cry from the pop filled fun of boogie nights or magnolia (i don't even care to mention punch drunk love which i hated and didn't stay with me at all) yet mr. anderson handled the material with a strong vision - it's a very well crafted film and looks gorgeous - i just think it's a tough pill to swallow! the story was loosely based on upton sinclair's 1927 novel oil! which i'm actually curious to read now after seeing the film! i know this one won't be a blockbuster smash at the box office but i know it'll be rewarded with heaps of awards & accolades! popbytes over & out for tonight - i will be around tomorrow - unfortunately i have to go to work but hopefully i'll be allowed to leave early so i can get my christmas eve on! much love to all as always...xxoo!
good morning & happy friday! last week i got the chance to attend a screening of a mighty heart starring angelina jolie as real-life mariane pearl - the widow of slain reporter daniel pearl - the film is based on ms. pearl's penned account of her husband's kidnapping & subsequent murder in karachi, pakistan in a book also called 'a mighty heart' - i knew the film would be tense and upsetting - and of course it was but i did find myself on the edge of my seat the whole time even though i already knew how it ended! i can't exactly say run out and see this movie - if you wanted to see it then i'd say for sure go check it out but i know some people like to escape at the movies & forget reality - this is not that kind of film! (this is more a saturday afternoon type thing rather than a friday night date movie...)
director michael winterbottom did an amazing job at creating tension & suspense - it's a very well put together film plus the acting was superb - especially ms. jolie who is already garnering oscar buzz for her performance - i'll add fuel to that fire - she did an excellent job! once the film got going i completely forgot i was watching angelina - say what you want about her - she is truly a talented actress! the film also stars dan futterman as mr. pearl but the story really focuses on mariane's plight to find her husband in a foreign land filled with danger & deceit around every corner...
after seeing the film i'd actually love to read ms. pearl's book - such a strong willed woman who really held herself together in a time of crisis while also being pregnant - i couldn't imagine ever being in her situation nor would i want to see anyone else endure what she had too! i'll be interested to see how the film does numbers wise - it is being heavily advertised here - although i just can't see it pulling in large numbers - but we'll keep an eye around oscar nom time to see if ms. jolie could be up for another oscar (she already nabbed one for 'girl, interrupted') popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
on january 23, 2002, mariane pearl's world changed forever. her husband daniel, the south asia bureau chief for the wall street journal, was researching a story on shoe bomber richard reid. the story drew them to karachi where a go-between had promised access to an elusive source. as danny left for the meeting, he told mariane he might be late for dinner. he never returned.
in the face of death, danny's spirit of defiance and his unflinching belief in the power of journalism led mariane to write about his disappearance, the intense effort to find him and his eventual murderer in her memoir a mighty heart: the brave life and death of my husband danny pearl. six months pregnant when the ordeal began, she was carrying a son that danny hoped to name adam. she wrote the book to introduce adam to the father he would never meet. transcending religion, race and nationality, mariane's courageous desire to rise above the bitterness and hatred that continues to plague this post 9/11 world, serves as the purest expression of the joy of life she and danny shared.
good evening! last week i was so lucky to attend an advanced screening of la vie en rose - a new biopic about famed french singer edith piaf (1915 - 1963) at one point the legendary marlene dietrich told edith her voice was 'the soul of paris' and she was right! i'll be 100% honest that i didn't know all that much about her but now i'm totally obsessed! (she was like the french judy garland but even better!) she had such an interesting but super sad & tragic life from the start (you must read her bio) being passed around when she was a kid - living off the streets - singing for money until one day she was discovered and initially was nicknamed 'the little sparrow' (piaf is french slang for small bird) poor thing also lost the great love of her life (who was married) to a plane crash - plus she was in a car accident which led to her crippling addiction to morphine but gosh she was a trooper right up to the end - a real character that no one even comes close to today - they certainly don't make stars like they used too! (she was even involved in the french resistance - girlfriend was way cool!)
the film was excellent - a beautifully told story directed by olivier dahan - which jumps around to different points in edith's life giving us glimpses & insights into her incredible story - this is not your typical biopic - by the end i was ready to jump out of my seat - i was blown away - even having a mini emotional breakdown in my car when i left the theater - her whole story moved me so much - everyone know popbytes loves the messy ones! (you must watch this video of the 'real' edith singing 'non je ne regrette rien' aka 'no regrets') the actress who plays ms. piaf marion cotillard was mesmerizing & astonishing - oh my word! if she doesn't at least get nominated for an oscar i would be shocked! i couldn't keep my eyes off her - she nailed the part - it was almost eerie! of course no one could sing the vocals (if attempted that would've been a travesty!) original piaf tracks were remastered for the film (i just bought the soundtrack on itunes!) ms. cotillard did an incredible job 'performing' as edith! i really couldn't recommend this film anymore than i already am - it's a must see! the movie opens this friday in LA, SF and NYC and will hopefully get a wider release soon after that! (make sure to pop over to edithpiafmovie.com for more info!) popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
good evening y'all! i'll admit right off the bat that i'm not a huge fan of spiderman - i'm more of a superman & batman type of guy - but i did manage to see spiderman 3 this afternoon with my dear mom (who also edits/corrects my posts!) damn - the movie freakin' rocked! i really wasn't that into the first film - i didn't see the second one - so i was surprised by how much i enjoyed this third outing! (my mom also agreed plus this was her first time w/ spidey) the film was tight all around - the plot was great - the special effects were incredible - everything came to a nice climax - i don't see the need to make a 4th but i'm sure that's already being talked about...
tobey mcguire, kirsten dunst and hottie james franco were all great! thomas haden church made an awesome 'sandman' - the one person who i was so-so on was dallas bryce howard - her part was pretty small but i hated her blonde hair - it looked off to me aka wrong! i've also got to mention topher grace who is just so darn adorable! by the numbers it's pulling in - the movie is already a huge success - and deservedly so! i wonder if the upcoming pirates of the caribbean (may 25th) will be able to pull ahead of 'spiderman' - my bet is probably not...
anyways - sadly tonight is my last night on the east coast - i fly out really early tomorrow (oh my word - i need to wake up @ 5:30am!!!) when i get back (around 12:30pm - when flying back west the time change is so at your advantage) all will be back to normal...including 'pop nosh' & my 'monday .mp3' post and i've already got my trailer picked out for tuesday morning - it's a hot one! i'll be taking more trips this way - hopefully i'll make it to my friend jamie's wedding in september! popbytes over & out for tonight - much to love to all as always - xxoo!
