YouTube Tuesday: Auditions

I love audition tapes. But not bad American Idol auditions. Acting auditions. Maybe it's the former drama student in me, but I love figuring out what it is that gives one actor the edge over an other. I want to know why Jessica Biel didn't get the Agent 99 role in Get Smart. (Okay, that's easy. Because she can't act. And isn't funny. And can't act. And isn't Anne Hathaway. And can't act....)

Evangeline Lilly auditions for Lost:

What I love most about this? She's mourning Jack's death. Yes, folks, he was originally going to die in the pilot.

Crazy that this was her first audition, huh? Love her.

Oh, and Matthew Fox auditioned for Sawyer!



Hugh Laurie auditions for House:

I firmly believe the show could not exist without him.



Zachary Levi auditions for Chuck:

Can you imagine being sent the script for Chuck? How could you not audition? And if you didn't get the part? An eternity spent in tears.

Zac had nothin' to worry about. It's him.

P.S. He's been cast as the "dashing bandit" in the new Disney musical, Rapunzel. Chuck sings! And the songs will be written by Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies). I will watch.



Rachel McAdams auditions for The Notebook:

I would love to be a casting director, discovering brilliant talent and giving young actors their breakout roles. I heart McAdams. She doesn't reek of fakeness. Just loveliness. (Yes, I just coined the phrase "reeking of loveliness.")

Note that both women featured in this post are Canadian. Not intentional, but fun.

My Life as a Movie: One Week Ago

I survived the beginning. The middle. And last Wednesday, I left Meryl Streep sitting in the back of the limo and walked away from it all.

Welcome to the big beautiful question mark that is my life. Details will follow.

[image source]

YouTube Tuesday: Swayze

Yesterday was a sad day. Patrick Swayze died. And while I've never been a real Swayze-swooner, I will always have a soft spot for Johnny Castle.

(He was married to his wife Lisa for 34 years. He was only 57. That's some crazy/awesome life math. Here's the couple dancing together. Sexy.)

The Dirty Dancing soundtrack is a classic. Did you know that Swayze WROTE "She's Like the Wind"? Take it away, Pat....

Somewhat related: I don't understand why weddings seem to dictate the playing of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." It sounds more like an anniversary song to me.

I'd rather play Dirty Dancing's "Yes" at my wedding. Lyrically it seems far more appropriate. Even though such appropriateness might be slightly inappropriate. But not really. Because I know what you'll all be thinking. Creepy friends. Stop thinking about my wedding night.

Call Me Lucy

My life is still like a movie. Assume away.

P.S. I don't own a pink dress.
P.P.S. Nor do I frequently hang out in closets with pants-less men.
P.P.P.S. My FAVORITE Sandra Bullock "Lucy" is in While You Were Sleeping. I'm pretty much her. Minus the coma guy.

YouTube Tuesday: (500) Days of Awesome

I stole this from Beth. Because I have no original ideas today. And it's Tuesday, thus requiring some sort of YouTube element here.

This is the best scene of the summer. (Not taking District 9 into account. That movie just kind of hovers above the rest.) I find it hilariously appropriate, as I'm about to turn off my computer and curl up with Sex God. I highly recommend chapter six to all of my girlfriends. And to my future husband. Just sayin'.

P.S. Go watch (500) Days of Summer. Or don't. I'm not the boss of you. But if I were.... I'd make you see it. Twice.

Almost Jerry Maguire

I think I'm going to start blogging cryptically, using screen shots from popular movies instead of filling this space with words. This way, you can come to your own creative conclusions, assuming that my life is far more sensational than it actually is. Everyone wins. I think.

Deal? Deal.

P.S. I miss the pre-crazy Tom Cruise. He was pretty awesome, wasn't he?

An Explosion of Adorable

I heart Zooey.

Take her band, She and Him, add her (500) Days of Summer costar, Joseph Gorden-Levitt, throw in some fancy footwork, and you get a delightful dose of cinematic happiness.

Sunday Stuff

Another "stuff" post. 'Cause I like stuff.

• This article makes me giddy. If you haven't seen Julie & Julia, I highly recommend it. Not only will it desensitize you to the boiling of live lobsters, it will inspire your inner blogger. Book deal, here I come!
• Liv Tyler and I could be twins. I pretty much wear this exact outfit every week. Minus the sunglasses.
• Read Sex God. I'm serious. I keep trying to quote from it, but I can't. Because I end up wanting to transcribe the entire thing. It is a little awkward to bring up in conversation, though. "So I was reading Sex God last night...."
• I received a sad email recently, one that hinted at a young marriage in significant trouble. Maybe they need to kiss more. Or better. (The Onion rocks.)
• Why is everyone talking about the darkness and goriness of District 9? I thought it was excellent storytelling, evenly paced with solid action sequences and heartbreaking character development. I wasn't even slightly disturbed. Which now disturbs me. Quick, someone reassure me that it's completely normal to not freak out over exploding humans.

District 9

Best movie of the summer.* I'd go again. And I don't double-view very often.

Sharlto Copley is phenomenal. Both insufferable and heartbreaking. More people should name their sons Wikus.

*Followed by (500) Days of Summer, Star Trek and UP.

In Love with "Summer" and "Adam"

I saw (500) Days of Summer. Now it's your turn. Go. Now. It's wonderful and heartbreaking and hilarious and awkward and optimistic and....

And I think I love this movie. In advance.

I Like Indie Flicks

And their soundtracks.

"At one point they put all the songs on top of each other... I didn't like it. At all."

~Bart Fogelaby, Rolling Stone

My Mother's Red Hat w/Alicia Silverstone & Alanis Morissette from Alicia Silverstone

"UP" for an Adventure

I went to see UP this afternoon. In 3-D. Alone.

It was wonderful.

I used to go to movies by myself at least once a month. But in recent years, the habit faded with an increasingly overwhelming social and work life. Suddenly there were no opportunities to just stop by a cheap theater on my way home from work and watch a quirky flick solo.

I've missed that.

I don't know how to explain it without sounding insane. For most of you, the thought would never cross your minds to spend two hours in the dark with strangers. But I'm not most of you. And oddly, I'm more likely to feel lonely when I'm stripped of my freedom to just be a little spontaneous and independent. One of the perks to getting older is learning to be comfortable with just being myself. I'm not an insecure teenager anymore, and kind of like hanging out with the woman I've become. She's pretty cool sometimes. She has bizarre ideas, makes random observations, has the heart of a child, the brain of an old woman, and can be giggling on the inside while appearing nonchalant to all those who pass her by. And she occasionally cries over animated old men.

I still love watching movies with friends, I really do. But sometimes I want to get caught up in a story without worrying about how I'm responding to a flick. When you go solo, no one holds you accountable for your laughter, mockery or tears. No one debriefs with criticism when your heart's all light and mushy. Sometimes I just crave an honest reaction from myself.

Friends used to call this solo-watching "pulling a Nadine." I highly recommend it. Everyone should do it at least once.

Okay, on to UP. This post should probably be a two-parter. I apologize for making you read paragraphs. (No, I don't. I lied.)

Delightful. Poignant. Christopher Plummer. And I cried. Twice.

I wasn't expecting to be moved by this great little geriatric-action-adventure flick. Because I had heard rumors of audiences tearing up, I assumed that I would remain cold-hearted and emotionless. Because that's often the case. The expectation of tears ruins it. Not this time.

It hit surprisingly close to home: What does adventure look like? What happens when our lives don't pan out the way we once dreamed it would? What is failure? Is part of growing up seeing our dreams change shape, our priorities shift, our deal-breakers readjust? If you had asked me last year what I'd be doing right now, I would have told you I'd be writing from somewhere that required a passport. Maybe with a boy and/or wombat in the tent next to me. (Yeah, I don't blog about everything, folks. Because my head doesn't always take me to places that are fair to others.)

I've landed in those places where I've mercilessly banged on the piano or scribbled in my journal, "I wanted an adventure, but NOT THIS ONE." But since my life is like a Pixar movie, the adventure I end up living is always far greater than one I could imagine. And with plenty of awkward character development to keep things interesting and moving in a generally forward direction.

As I walked out the theater this afternoon, I realized I'd be as perfectly happy with Ellie's adventure as I would be with Carl's. Because there's no point in having an adventure if you're not sharing it with someone. Even if that adventure doesn't look like the one you thought you wanted. And even if that someone is a rather annoying little boy who just needs a merit badge.

(In somewhat related news, I'd totally be open to a movie date to see 500 Days of Summer. Not necessarily a literal date. Unless that's how you roll. I heart Zooey.)

Signs...

...is a great movie. I mean, if you believe in both God and aliens.

Seriously, though. Joaquin is fantastic and intense and not-yet-crazy. Mel is charming and paternal and not-yet-crazy. Abigail Breslin is adorable and precocious and not-yet-overexposed. It's the perfect balance of scary and thought-provoking and entertaining and achingly sad. And did I mention that Joaquin isn't crazy?

Plot holes? Yep. But I can handle 'em.

Maybe it just reminds me of the night I turned 19, sitting in a dark, drafty theater with a few friends, terrified of crop circles and enamored with tin-foil helmets. (I believe that theater collapsed shortly thereafter, crushing a few innocent folks to death. The venue was its own horror show.) I also appreciate the frequent usage of plaid by the Costume Department.

Independence Day TV is a little awkward. And I'm tired of accepting Bill Pullman as president. Too strong of a Newsies connection for my brain to wrap around. 

P.S. Am I the only one who's amused that Phoenix plays an ex-pro ballplayer and happens to hang out in a cornfield? How very Field of Dreams of him.

TiLF: Things I Love Friday

Sleeping in.

And then rolling over and sleeping some more.

Eric Hutchinson.

On piano. On guitar. I think we'd be friends. But you already know this. 

Rob Thomas.

With and without Matchbox Twenty. I think I might love his new album. Time will tell.

iTunes gift card.

My family celebrated my birthday on Canada Day. Even though the actual date of my birthday is August 17th. That gives the rest of you plenty of time to figure out how to celebrate me.

(The iTunes card is merely enabling me. So addicted. Next up: Motion City Soundtrack.)

Dark-chocolate-covered coffee beans.

I like to eat my caffeine just as much as I like to drink it.

Writing.

Without direction, deadline or expectation. Sometimes it's nice to just let the brain go nuts.

Natalie Portman in Garden State.

I love this movie. And if I were a boy, I'd want to marry Natalie.

Google. 

Paul Rudd. 

Rumors of Zac Levi being Gargamel in the 3D Smurfs movie.

I'm so conflicted. And amused.

Doug the piano.

Even though he's almost broken. I guess 20 years is a long life for a much-loved digital piano. He's my therapist.

(A piano is a great gift idea. So if you love me and have a few grand to spare....)

myvintagevogue's photo stream.

I spent way too much time oohing and aahing over photos today. Next time I'm invited to the Oscars, I'm going vintage. 

"I've been reading a lot of books on tape...."

Jeremy: So, can I kiss you or what?
Mirabelle: The point being?

Ever see Shopgirl? It's so painfully awkward and endearing. Especially Jason Schwartzman's speech about amps. ("Amplifiers are so under-appreciated....") This has nothing to do with anything. Except that, like Mirabelle, I think too much. But unlike Mirabelle, I have no intentions of ever making out with Steve Martin.

I was going to blog about one thing, but then got distracted. And then I was going to write about something else, but self-censorship got in the way. And then I checked my email too many times, ate too much sugar, and embraced today as Neurotic Wednesday.

It's probably better to consciously indulge in insane thinking on occasion than to let it creep into my everyday life. I'm now trying to find a way to channel this awkward energy into something creative.

In completely unrelated news, I told people how to dress like Sandra Bullock today.

Shortest YouTube Tuesday Ever: Keanu

Below is one of my favorite Keanu Reeves moments of all time. Because it made me laugh out loud in the middle of a melancholy plot-hole-riddled film about, uh, what would have happened had he and Sandra Bullock met in an even-less-believable-than-a-bomb-rigged-bus scenario. You can't teach this brand of brilliance.

One of my life's regrets: missing out on Reeves' performance as Hamlet in Winnipeg back in '95. I have a very vivid imagination. But I can't wrap my head around that one.

Oh, Neo. You know kung fu.
Not iambic pentameter.

Green Lantern: Fan Edition

Fans are amazing. They should be the ones making the movies, as evidenced by this fan-made trailer for Green Lantern. Even Nathan Fillion thinks this is brilliant.

(If you're on Twitter, follow him at @NathanFillion. Pretend you're friends. That's what I do.)



Also in fan-made corner, there's the Thundercats trailer. It, too, is quite excellently imagined. There are a lot of creative geniuses out there with too much time on their hands. Who would have thought that Troy-meets-Garfield could look so cool?

Random Saturday Musings

I Beg to Differ

this is my heart. it is a good heart.

I'm by no means an accomplished songwriter, but I am super-confident that most people have had a song written about them. Not necessarily a love song, but a song nonetheless. And most of these songs will never be played for an audience. Unless that audience is Boy Behind the Wall. I'm pretty sure he stays up late, his ear against the wall, listening to me play.

J'aime Lire

The Cherry Blossom Girl

Note to self: read Enid Blyton in French.

Truth On TV

There is a thin line between love and hate, and it turns out that line is a scarf.

~Rachel, Friends

Skinny Me

I stepped on the scale this morning. I must have reset it when cleaning yesterday, as it displayed my weight in kilograms instead of pounds. For a moment, I thought I had lost 70 pounds overnight. Diet secret of the stars.

The Sound of Silence

This movie was not "magical." It was psychological torture. I watched it in high school with a girlfriend. Our friendship was unique in that every single movie night we held was guaranteed to feature the worst movies ever made. This was one of them. Maybe it was because my friend's parents were divorced and it hit too close to home. Maybe it's because I find the silent treatment both cruel and unproductive. I don't know.

I also don't know why the film popped into my head today. But it did.

Why Does it Look Like a BOMB?!

There are no words. Okay, maybe one: INSANITY. Girls, a timer on the bra solves nothing. Wearing your desperation will never be trendy.

Swim Like It's 1960

Norma Kamali Collection

I need a new swimsuit. Preferably one that doesn't make me do the self-loathing dance in the fitting room. I'm not-so-secretly hoping my Mad Men infatuation will translate into my swimwear. And that a lifestyle of poolside cocktails will follow.

Jesus Forgives, Right?

I'm skipping church tomorrow so that I can sample beer at the Steam Whistle Brewery before listening to opera at St. Lawrence Hall. Would Jesus drink beer on a Sunday morning? Maybe.

YouTube Tuesday: Newsies Forever

ME: Not enough of my friends appreciate Newsies.
JOEL: How many would be enough?
ME: 95%.

I weep for today's youth. They will only know Christian Bale as a star. They didn't get to embrace the quirky career before the cape. And when they do discover his earlier gems, they'll view them as before-he-was-famous flicks, not as priceless treasures independent of his recent success.

Best call to strike in a Disney film: "The World Will Know"



Best evidence the director/choreographer was taught by Gene Kelly: "Seize the Day [Reprise]"



"Best" use of Bill Pullman's vocal cords: "King of New York"

My best friend and I used to call cute boys "muckety-mucks." A reference to this song, not the actual definition of the word. Did I ever mention that I was really cool once upon a time?



P.S. This scene is why I didn't buy Bill Pullman as president in Independence Day.

P.P.S. Robert Duvall is also in the movie. He does not sing or dance. Disappointing, really.

Wolverine

Highlight: Wolverine threw on a plaid shirt, got a job as a lumberjack, and settled down in northern Canada with a school teacher. Complete with aboriginal folk tales as foreplay. 'Cause that's how Canadians roll.

Well, until the thing with the hobbit. And the rage. Violence always ruins the plaid.