Art ≠ Artist

It's easy to boycott stores that conduct business in ways that do not agree with my philanthropic beliefs (cough.....Walmart). There are days when my boyfriend tells me that he doesn't feel right going to McDonald's. It's not because of their participation in globalization (he loves that aspect). He feels he should not support the mass production and consumption of crappy burgers. I'm compelled to agree. However, I know that my actions only have an impact on my psyche, and not so much on the world. I have a similar quandary in the entertainment industry.

I recently read a review on Scorsese's Shutter Island and Polanski's The Ghost Writer. I wish I could find that damn article in this sea of writers and bloggers, but I'll have to paraphrase. The reviewer said that these two movies show that one of these directors "still has it" and "the other one is Scorsese". When I read that I immediately though "is 'it' a warrant out for his arrest"? I know that's terrible, but it's what I thought.

I know I have the ability to not see The Ghost Writer and not support a man who broke the law. In turn I'm also not supporting people who feel the craft is more important that those who create it. (I'm assuming. I have no idea what Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, or the rest of the cast and crew think. I only know what those in Hollywood that signed the petition to get the charges dropped think. Really? Your egos are so big you think signing a petition will negate criminal law? This isn't an insurance claim, it's a freaking statutory rape charge. Go back to criticizing George Bush.) But here's my point: Consumers have the right to act based on their beliefs on a famous person's actions. I doubt it'll make a difference, but at the same time I'm compelled to do so.

I mentioned this to my boyfriend and he said something that really makes sense. The art does not equal the artist. That is true. If we look back into history most artists were jacked up in so many ways I won't even make a list. The difference is those people are dead. I can easily justify that I'm not helping put more money into the wallets of morally corrupt people. Polasnki is still alive and has the opportunity to live off of his talents as a film maker. Why does he get a pass? I don't see others trying to get welders convicted of crimes out of prison because they have so much to contribute to the world.

Fortunately there aren't many examples that I have to struggle with. But here's one. I'm not going to lie, but I love Chris Brown's song Forever. (I haven't over-saturated my brain by watching the YouTube JK Wedding Entrance Dance video yet.) When he was charged with assaulting Rhianna, the two in the video were compelled to start raising money for domestic violence victims. These are two people who didn't do it, but created something that utilized the work of someone who did. Just the association was enough.

It's okay, Pachabel sold poisoned milk to school children.

I understand why they did it. I like the song, but every time I listen to it, I feel a twinge of guilt. So I listen to two Rhianna songs. Yes, its doesn't do anything really but it makes me feel a little better. So where does that leave us lower beings who are not famous but can cast out judgments upon those who need our collective money to be worth anything? I guess it boils down to whether or not you can sleep at night. And considering that I'm a rich American worried over the ramifications of spending ten bucks on a movie or listening to music videos on Vevo, I guess I'm in good shape. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go volunteer my time to STAND!.

Retro List of Five

I compared this to my original list of five and I find it interesting how my tastes have evolved. (On a mildly related note, I'm pissed off because I was watching something with my boyfriend and I remember commenting to him that if I'm not careful, I'm going to develop a Simon Pegg type crush on him. "Him" being the guy on the screen. The problem is I don't remember who he is or what we were watching. He did something awesome on whatever it was and I had to take a minute. That's going to bug me for a while.)

So, found an old notepad dated August 30, 2005 titled "My List of Five". It wasn't long after that I started this blog. Let's look at who we have here:

1) John C. McGinley

2) Peter Sarsgaard

3) Kevin James

4) Josh Charles

5) Hank Azaria

It seems as though I feel into a Law and Order/Arrested Development phase that broke the Charles and Azaria trance I was in. Granted one found his way back into my heart in 2008. That being said, I need a clean slate. And I will get one once I post this and am able to get rid of this paper copy of the list that I did not have the guts to throw away until now. I just have to find out who the hell I was thinking of earlier. Damn you, unconventionally sexy mystery man.

All In... A Room of Morons

I was playing online poker last night. For those of you not familiar with a Double or Nothing tournament, it is a room of ten players where only the last five standing are paid out double what they put in. You start out with $1,500 and I was comfortable with my roughly $1,750 with six players left. On the small blind, I had pocket Aces. There was a player crippled by the last hand going all in with his $20. Good times. I was going to knock him out. It was just me, big blind, and the big spender. Flop comes up 7, 8, J with two diamonds on the board. Still top pair for me but so many opportunities for disaster. Mr. Big Blind goes all in with a $785 bet.

Really? REALLY? A guy in all in and if you're bluffing you could be handing over enough for him to survive one more round. We could have checked our way through so TWO hands could potentially knock him out instead of your flush draw going nowhere, you ass! I decided that it was enough for him to go all in, then he probably has something. Or at least enough to knock out the other guy. I fold my pocket Aces.

So what does the guy have? Pocket Aces. He knocked the guy out. I'm just saying I had enough discipline to check my way to victory. What way this guy thinking? Whooo, I'll double up and then the game is over! Come on, pay attention! Or go into the ring games.  Either way, play smarter!

Cable = Devil

For me because as of this minute, I'm am keeping up with the Kardashians. I wish it weren't true, but I am. If I were at home and not at my parent's house, I would be doing laundry and NOT WATCHING THIS TRAIN WRECK. 

I think watching pretty people with "problems" is a lot easier than paying attention to real life tragedy and pain. I think I should mute this and fund out how to donate to the American Red Cross. It will help to wash off this layer of whore I feel all over me.

Movie Gluttony

I didn't like that I was shamed in a Blockbuster because I only would come to the store to exchange the movies on average once per day. I made it up to two times a few days. The lady at the counter see she'd see people coming in three times a day. Sometimes I miss being unemployed. (My apologies to the unemployed. Yes, these are trying times, but I bet your closet is cleaned and organized and you don't have to watch back logged episodes of Modern Family.)  

I finally was convinced by my boyfriend to rent some movies. He wanted to see Inglourious Basterds and District 9. There is a reason that I haven't been in a movie theater or a Blockbuster for almost a year (and the answer is NOT Netflix). If I have already told the story, tune out until you see the ***. 

I spent my late elementary, junior high, and early high school years consuming movies. I wish I was kidding, but I would go on a Friday and rent about six movies for my weekend. Yes, I did have friends, but no car, so screw that. It did continue until high school and some of college, but then I picked a hard major and didn't have as much time. When I came out with my degree, I forgot the intoxicating rush of seeing a great movie. I had moved on to great TV. Each episode had people I already cared about in captivating moments, whether I'm laughing my butt off or drawn into the intense action. Movies have to try harder when they try to cram that into two hours. In fact, TV left very little room in my heart left for movies to have a chance. The point is, I like the comfort of TV and this left me very skeptical of using up my life on what's not a sure thing.

*** So approaching the check out with District 9, Inglourious Basterds, The Hangover, and Paranormal Activity, We were told that for eighteen bucks, we could do the unlimited two at a time for a week. Considering we were about to drop over twenty for four movies it seemed like a good deal. I knew that I had to think about it. If I were to do the "buffet style" of renting movies, I was to do nothing but watch for the next seven days. I discussed it with my boyfriend and we decided to give up our lives for the sake of mass media consumption. 

We started with the two we originally came for. You know, Inglourious Basterds was good, but I forgot that Tarantino is a messed up guy. I should have realized that I was going to see a lot of death. I expected some, but for some reason was still shocked. Well, as shocked as one can be who has seen every other Tarantino movie. I had heard good things about District 9 and it did not disappoint. It didn't entertain as much as it did impress me. I know thirty million is a lot for a movie, but for the movie that I saw, they did a fantastic job.

We went back for The Hangover and Paranormal Activity. Okay, I admit that when you wait to see a movie and hear everyone talks about how great it is, you will set yourself up for disappointment. The Hangover was funny, I just expected more. Now I should have know that horror movies mess me up. Especially when they are in the "Jaws" state of mind where freaking myself out over the things I think I might see make the movie even more effective. Damn you, Paranormal Activity! I could not get the last image out of my head for three days. Ewwwwwww.

Next wave was The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard and The Perfect Getaway. I needed to watch a low expectations funny movie (see: Zoolander or Let's Go to Prison) and The Goods did its job. When you have lines like "It feels like a Smurf jizzed all over my face" and "James Van Der Beek, my nigger!" that's good times. I personally did not watch The Perfect Getaway as I had read the plot online. One of the couples is evil. OOOOOOOOO(hands waiving). I had a theory, checked with The Movie Spoiler, confirmed I was right, and then moved on with my life.

I went back by myself and got (500) Days of Summer. That was a cute movie. Well acted, directed, and written. It had real heart and that was enough. Okay, we both decided to see Up together. How dare you, Pixar? I don't live far from your studios, so I will gladly go over there and kick your ass if you ever make me cry that hard again. This brilliant arrangement of imagery and music in the first twenty minutes left me in a heap of tears that continued even during the fun parts and through the heartwarming protagonist's moment of revelation. I'm grateful that Up canceled out the horrid scene of Paranormal Activity that haunted me, but I don't like that I started to tear up again in Best Buy two days later when I saw it for two minutes with the sound off.

By this point I had to go back to work and I was starting to get movie fatigue, but I was determined to get to less that two dollars per rental. I rented Spring Breakdown because I'm a fan of the SNL ladies trying to give it a go. Also, I believe Jane Lynch to be the female Alan Rickman. One who instantly make any movie at least thirty percent better. It was okay. Had some good moments, but I understand why it has a limited release.

When I went back, I picked up Adventureland, but I asked for a recommendation from the store clerk. She mentioned The Hangover, which I promptly responded, "done!" Then she mentioned Fanboys. Of course! I forgot about that one but I was glad she mentioned it. I don't like that I knew as many references as I did and I had to pause and look up any one that I didn't. It's a shame it got pushed back and shelved like it did so it couldn't have the impact that it should have, but I liked it. I hope enough others did too so more good movies like it can be made.

Eventually I did go back for Adventureland. While (500) Days of Summer had indie heart, Adventureland had retro heart. But I don't like any movie that makes me not like Ryan Reynolds. Good and entertaining overall. 

Our last round was Extract and the second recommendation I got from a Blockbuster clerk: Outlander. I had to support Mike Judge after Office Space and Idiocracy. Here was the problem with Extract though. I did not like anyone in that movie. I hate entitled people. I hate whiners. I hate pushovers. I hate people who try to get away with less that their fair share. Couldn't relate to anyone and didn't even want to bother. I knew nothing about Outlander when we rented it. The box said Beowulf meets Predator. That wasn't a wrong description. No expectations plus decent premise plus Ron Perlman equals okay, but can't think of what else to get, so no regrets. And also, made it to thirteen total movies. Goal achieved. Whooo!

Well, I guess my movie buffet adventure is over and I'm grateful. Time to move onto my TV I got for Christmas marathon. That would involve a season of House, The Office, The Closer, Psych, and Family Guy. You know, I probably could have have knocked out a few discs if I hadn't typed this. Oh well, wish me luck.

Pepto and Drano

That was a special present to get on Christmas morning. I had a flu bug incubating in me that decided to show itself in a wonderful package of half digested tri-tip and artichokes. I'm grateful that it was contained in my sink for a slightly less complicated clean up. I'm grateful for my boyfriend who rushed over, dumped a bottle of Drano into my sink. (He came with the special pink bottle as well.) I'm grateful that I made it to my parents home so I could pass out on the couch and writhe in discomfort until my fever broke. It was difficult, but waking up no longer afraid to eat is a wonderful gift. It make the new cookware from my parent's easier to enjoy. Here's to a more comfortable new year.

Happy Christmas Moment

Because everyone deserves a few minutes of this.