Movie: Midnight in Paris

The recent Woody Allen Film is a big hit! The Vulture reports both monetary and critical successes. In fact, the film will likely become Allen's biggest commercial hit in recent decades. You can read the original blurb here.

To view the trailer, check out my original post here.

Newly Inked: Adam Scott Joins Rogen for New Film

As read on Vulture.

Youtube: Kindergartener Delivers Pandorica Speech

After FB stalking the Knitter, I found this. It's a video of a British kindergartener delivering the Doctor's speech in the Doctor Who Season 5 Finale. He's kind of ridiculous(ly cute). The similarity between him and Matt Smith is strongest during the extra angry parts of the speech. Also, I can't believe this kid is a kindergartener. After briefly reading the Youtube comments, I found that Steven Moffat retweeted this video a while ago!

Here's the kid:


And here's the original:

I'd like to own: this bookcase

I found this on twitter linked from @davidsteinberg.

This is probably one of the few cases where an empty bookshelf would make me happier than a full one. Also, I think some of those shelves might be more difficult to fill--specifically the D and O shelves.

The original site these were taken from is here.

Trailer: Beginners

I saw this trailer a long time ago when it first appeared on my AppleTV and hadn't thought about it until recently. Beginners stars Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer as son and father, respectively. Our attention is directed at McGregor's character's love life and his complicated relationship with his father. The film gives off an indie, off-beat, touching, philosophical, funny, etc. kind of vibe.


Here's the trailer. 



So far, the reviews have been for the most part very positive! Here's a list of links for those interested:


New York Magazine (David Edelstein)
   "Mike Mills’s marvelously inventive romantic comedy Beginners is pickled in sadness, loss, and the belief that humans (especially when they mate) are stunted by their parents’ buried secrets, their own genetic makeup, and our sometimes-sociopathic social norms. [...] Beginners is a movie about laboring to understand your own wayward impulses, and Mills has a Charlie Kaufman–like gift for devising gags that double as metaphors.
    It's lines like these that make me smile: "His first encounter with Laurent (she was Shosanna in Inglourious Basterds) isn’t just meet-cute. It’s meet-omigod-the-cutest-ever."


New York Times (Manohla Dargis)
   "[T]he movie’s attractions are undeniable, including its narrative design, which seems more complex than it is, but is engaging to piece together. And the performers are charming, particularly Ms. Laurent and Mr. Plummer, with his killer eyes (still seducing after all these years) and a voice that echoes in your ears."


The Hollywood Reporter (Kirk Honeycutt)
   "All the movie’s playfulness rubs off on the actors. Scenes crackle with life. The chemistry among all the actors is terrific."

Music: Our Love Is Here To Stay

I first heard this song during When Harry Met Sally. After that, I was chasing down my dad's collections of Ella Fitzgerald + Louis Armstrong collaborations. Enjoy!

Interview: Dramatic TV Actresses

The Hollywood Reporter is now ready to cover Emmy Season. That means weekly roundtable discussions! During awards season time, the magazine hosts and then publishes the transcripts of open discussions with various individuals in the biz--dramatic actresses, animation directors, film writers, film producers, leading actors, etc. I'm a big fan of primary source literature on entertainment, so these roundtables are always a big treat for me!

Here's a video from the most recent roundtable with Dramatic Actresses in a TV Series.


There are several more videos from this roundtable located here. Unfortunately, they appear in a gallery, so I cannot embed them. Behind-the-scenes pictures can be seen here. 

For more on THR's Roundtables, visit this site to get the videos and articles from the most recent roundtable.

Red Sox versus Yankees: Again!

Thanks to the Night Owl for sending this to me. I think this quote taken from the NESN site is so funny:
"If you gave a Yankees fan the option of either having to get punched square in the face or having to look at his dog covered in Red Sox tattoos, he'd probably choose option A."


Enjoy!




This is the third collaboration between Jon Krasinski and Alec Baldwin for the New Era ads. You can watch the first and second one by clicking here and here.

Trailer: Another Year

This movie was shown early in 2011, but I never got a chance to see it while it was in theaters. The film is directed by Mike Leigh, who also made Vera Drake (I havent seen this yet) and Happy-Go-Lucky featuring Sally Hawkins (I saw this film and liked it.) Leigh seems to be skilled at communicating the nuances of relationships, and from what I've read this film carries his signature touches.


Here's the trailer:



And as usual, here are some links to reviews for those interested. It seems that the reviews are either intensely positive or somewhat negative:


Roger Ebert
   Four Stars. Two thumbs up.  "Mike Leigh's new film is one of his best, placing as he often does recognizable types with embarrassing comic and/or dramatic dilemmas."


NYT
   An NYT Critics' Pick. "Like “Happy-Go-Lucky,” though on a somewhat larger scale, “Another Year” is about the unequal distribution of happiness. Why do some people — like Tom and Gerri, the post-’60s 60-something couple at the center of this episodic story — seem to have an inexhaustible, even superabundant supply, while others seem unable to acquire even the smallest portion? Can happiness be borrowed, stolen or inherited? Is it earned by meritorious works or granted by the obscure operations of grace?"


NY Magazine 
   A slightly more critical look at the film. "Leigh fans will be in clover amid all this garrulous despair and grotesquerie. For others, Another Year will test the paradox of Leigh’s work. It’s well known that he presents his actors with characters and a premise rather than a finished script and sends them out to amass details, physical and psychological. "


The Hollywood Reporter
   Another less than glowing review. "Acutely observed but gloomy and lacking narrative, it tells of 12 months in the life of a decent but dull suburban couple and their friends, most of whom you would go out of your way to avoid at a party. [...] It's a sedate film without drama that festival juries could well fall in love with, but moviegoers might decide that their own brand of misery is quite sufficient, thanks."

Music Video: Where Did Your Love Go

I'm a huge fan of Classic Motown, and this is one of my favorites!

Music Video: One Man Disney Movie

This video is too ridiculous for words. If movies are looking for a new voice actor star, they've found him.



On Ellen, he mentions that he currently works at Disney in the animation department. I'd embed the video if I could, but it's disabled for this video. So click here for the youtube link. Although he's not looking to do character voices at Disney, it does seem like he's interested in auditioning for Glee.

I think it's weird that Glee's audition page is a myspace page. If you haven't noticed though, I believe that myspace is a big sponsor of Glee. Makes sense. Glee has the demographic that used to (emphasis on the past tense) use myspace all the time. I guess Glee is going to be myspace's attempt to regain that audience. We'll see if it works. I don't think even the hoards of Gleeks will be able to bring myspace back to its former glory.

I couldn't find Pitera's audition video on the myspace page, but I did find Sam Tsui's on Youtube! If you haven't seen Sam Tsui's work, you should check out his youtube page. One of my favorite videos that he did was the cover of Journey's song.

Jimmy Fallon versus Stephen Colbert

If you haven't heard already, Stephen Colbert is throwing his hands in the air after Jimmy Fallon's Emmy campaign materials included a picture of the Comedy Central late night show host. The picture came from this video, in which Colbert and Fallon perform their own rendition of Rebecca Black's Friday. I've only heard three versions of this song--the original courtesy of Weirdlo, the Foodie's version, and this one. And it's no question; Colbert + Fallon's is my favorite.


Colbert appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:



Colbert mocks Fallon



The clip from the Colbert Report is my favorite between the two. His jab at JStew and the advent calendar were too adorable. One of his best lines--"Do you think I appear on magazine covers, collaborate with my musical heroes and hobnob with billionaires and presidents because I like this? No, I keep pulling 70-hour workweeks and forgetting the names of my children in the hopes of one day I might win the electroplated hand of a golden siren of prime-time achievement." And a Thank-you note showdown? Touche! 

Also, I really wish I were on jury panel so I could receive those campaign materials. Did you check out that Warner Brothers' package?! Those would make the most ridonculous posters ever. So for my fairy godmother, in addition to being able to attend the yearly Turner Classic Movies' Classic Film Festival, I'd also like to magically have my name added to the Emmy Awards mailing list. Pretty please? 

Music: Alice in Wonderland by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

The only thing about jazz that has rubbed off on me is the music from this CD: Dave Digs Disney. Dave Brubeck is a famous jazz pianist, and his quartet was founded in the 50s. Brubeck is a huge Disney fan (as am I), and this CD is a manifestation of that.

Here's one of my favorite songs. I am very much in love with the piano intro.

Music Video: Summer Parade

This song is perfect for a summer drive with the windows rolled down...

Trailer: The Illusionist

I've been eyeing this movie for a while, and I will be sure to rent it once it's available on iTunes!


Here's a nice description of the movie's premise from the NYT: 
"Set in the late 1950s, the story opens on an unnamed French magician who is struggling to keep audiences interested in his old-fashioned sleights of hand. The bouquet tucked up his sleeve has become a gift that nobody seems to want. [...] The illusionist’s lonely gloom brightens when, while performing in a pub in an isolated Scottish village, he finds an appreciative audience of one in the form of a teenager, Alice." And thus the stage is set for the audience, who watch as their relationship (no, it's not like Lolita) develops. 





Here are some reviews:
Roger Ebert
   Four stars.


NYT
   One of the things that attracted me most to this film was the artwork. The influence of hand-drawn animation is strong, as described in the article. "Mr. Chomet’s muted palette is beautiful, and his love for the 1961 Disney classic “101 Dalmatians” is evident in his gently exaggerated character designs (the father in “Dalmatians” and the illusionist have noble honkers), though he fills in his backgrounds, forgoing the strong, sketchlike lines that help give “Dalmatians” its modernist look." 

Baking: Lemon Bars

I hope this plant can star in future pictures, if you know what I mean.

When life gives you lemons...make lemon bars! Okay, it's actually, when you have an opportunity to buy lemons, make lemon bars!

Recently introduced to the website Joy of Baking, I've been perusing for something nummy. I hadn't made something lemon-y in a while, and with our past consecutive days of sunshine I couldn't resist.

I had the Canadian and the Baker over for the project, and it was a lot of fun. The Baker had other social duties, so she left after only an hour. But we couldn't have done it without her because the Baker brought this bad boy--the Hamilton Scovill Model 121 Electric Hand Mixer. What a lifesaver! Both I and my right wrist are very thankful.

Not the exact model, but a close cousin of the Baker's mixer.
Talk about old school. I am digging that beige/black color scheme.

The recipe we used was adapted from Stephanie Jaworski's here. Her recipe was meant for an 8x8 pan, but I only had a 9x13 inch Pyrex Casserole Dish. The secret? Double the ingredients! Here's the math:

8x8 = 64 sq inches
9x13 = 117 sq inches
117/64 = 1.82 which I approximated to 2.

When we put down the shortbread, it didn't fill the entire pan. There were 1 inch strips of shortbread-lacking casserole dish.

The orange is the shortbread dough.
The blue is the pyrex dish. 

The only consequence of this incomplete fill? When you pour on the lemon filling, there will be regions of the pyrex dish that will have only lemon filling and no shortbread. But really, this isn't a big issue.

I imagine that if you wanted to, you could flatten the shortbread to cover the entire pan. This would just make for a thinner shortbread layer. If you proceed in the manner that I laid down the shortbread, each bar is a little more than half of filling, and a little less than half of shortbread.

For the lemon work, remember to wash the lemons with water (and maybe even some soap) to remove chemicals such as pesticides. When you zest, try to only shave off the yellow with your grater and to avoid removing the rind (the white part) because that's inedible.  After you zest, cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Pour the contents over a strainer into another cup to filter out the pulp and the seeds.

This soup strainer works double duty in this recipe--as a  lemon juice strainer and as a confectioner's sugar shaker!

No shortbread dish? No problem! Pyrex casserole dishes work just fine.

Lemon-licious!!

Lemon Bars (Recipe adapted from Joyofbaking.com)
Fills a 9''x13'' Pyrex Casserole Dish.

Ingredients:
For the shortbread:
1 cup of butter (2 sticks) at room temperature (so that it is soft)
1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar
2 cups of flour
1/4 teaspoon of salt

For the lemon filling:
2 cups of white granulated sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup of lemon juice (3 lemons worth)
2 tbsp of zest (4 lemons worth)
4 tbsp of flour

Recipe:
For the shortbread:
0. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. Combine the butter and confectioner's sugar in a bowl. Use electric mixer until the combination is smooth and creamy.
2. Combine flour and salt in another bowl. Mix together with fork.
3. Add dry ingredients slowly into butter/sugar mixture. Mix until even.
4. Add to pyrex dish. Initially flatten using spatula. Proceed with palms of hands.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until brown around the edges. (I'm not sure, but I think that you don't want to bake in completely because it's going to bake again when you bake it with the added lemon filling. The Canadian and I baked the shortbread until it was done and uniformly a nice light sandy color, and the final product didn't seem to be affected)
6. Let it cool as you make the lemon filling.

For the lemon filling:
1. Add eggs one at a time to the sugar. Mix until smooth.
2. Add lemon juice and zest. Mix. (We would not recommend using an electric mixer for this step. Things start splashing around too much. Maybe more experienced bakers knew this already, but the Canadian and I did not...)
3. Add flour. Mix with spatula.
4. Once the shortbread mixture has completely cooled, pour the lemon filling mixture onto the shortbread.
5. Bake for 30 minutes until lemon filling has settled (The recipe called for 20 minutes, but we found that 30 minutes was necessary. At this point, the lemon filling had set, and it was still ooey-gooey delicious when we took a bite!)

Adding the finishing touches:
1. Using a confectioner's sugar shaker (Don't have one? Neither do I! Instead, I reused my soup strainer. If you pour some confectioner's sugar in the strainer, you can shower your lemon bars with sugar easily.)
2. Cut lemon bars into desired number of pieces.
3. Serve. We found that in order to serve these, the first piece that you cut (we recommend the corner), will be a sacrificed piece. Sacrificed in terms of structural integrity but not in terms of lemon-liciousness.

These bars are best served within 2-3 days. The shortbread is most crisp and the lemon filling most tangy immediately after baking. If you store it for later consumption, wrap the casserole dish and keep it in the refrigerator.

Google Birthday: Richard Scarry

Today's Google Logo

Ah! Even cuter! I didn't notice this until later in the day. 

Out of all my many childhood videos (including Donald in Mathmagic Land), my VHS cassettes of The Busy World of Richard Scarry were my favorite. Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm could do no wrong in my eyes. Scarry's world is so well thought out (and drawn out) as can be seen above. It wasn't difficult to become completely immersed in Busy Town.

And now for some blast to the past videos.

The intro to the show!



One episode that I remember well: The Best ABC Video Ever. I loved how the little aviator mouse flew a plane with a flag bearing the episode's title. The best animation bit? Around 10:00 at the end of the second video where Lowly spells out the words with his little worm body. Notice how he's panting at the end when Huckle continues speaking.

For Your Consideration: The Good Wife

Ad from this week's THR

The great thing about reading The Hollywood Reporter is that I get to read the ads and participate (kind of) in the film/television campaigns. Just as politicians campaign for positions in government, television show execs are campaigning for awards. During awards season time (Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, etc.), certain producers etc reserve whole pages in THR for ads. These make great for great posters (THR is a big glossy magazine.), and sometimes direct me towards cool things like this:


For Your Consideration: The Good Wife is a site that acts like an ad for judges (I presume). This site has a pretty long video (I'm thinking ~5-7 minutes) that encapsulates the show pretty well. Think of it as an extended TV trailer that seems like a movie trailer. Warning though for those who have not watched the show: spoilers are present in the ad.

So click here to see what those in the industry (and now you too!) are watching. But as impressive as that opening video is, the behinds-the-scenes videos are even better. Click on 'video' for lots of these making-of goodies! These ~5 minute clips include the following:

• Good Acting: The actors, actresses, and guest stars who make The Good Wife great
• Good Stories: Co-creators/Exec producers Robert King + Michelle King on storytelling
• Good Look: Tour the set with Product Designer Stephen Hendrickson
• Good Style: Costume Designer Daniel Lawson on the show's fashions
• Fun fact: Daniel Lawson answers questions about the show's fashions on a regular basis at this CBS-based site. I envy those who can actually consider hunting down these outfits, which tend to be big-name labels like Narciso Rodriguez and Diane von Furstenberg. 
• Good casting: Finding great actors for great roles
• Good Sizzle: Everything you need to know about the show

As a side note, I read this article saying that Alan Cumming has signed a 3 year deal to continue working on The Good Wife. You know what that means? Three more years of great dramatic television!!! (Chanted in the background--Three more years! Three more years!)


Other shows have campaign pages, but unfortunately...the videos are restricted to Academy Members only. Ouch. For example, Universal Studios (which owns NBC), has all their show pages online too. Here's Jimmy Fallon's. Although these episodes are not accessible to us humble folk, I bet you could use these sites as a guide for the show's best episodes.