Tuesday, March 25, 2008
yogi
Ahhh, the tree pose. This is my favourite yoga pose. Admittedly, I'm really not that good at it. Maybe that's the beauty of ending up in my own version of it. I don't know how I look on the outside when I'm in it, but I sure like how it feels on the inside.Yes! I'm back at yoga. This is a brilliant and happy reacquaintence. A encouraged me to return, to which I immediately went online in search of the next Hatha class at my local studio. For many reasons, my running life is not blossoming into much and so a weekly yoga class has become my meager, albeit wonderful and necessary, vehicle back to fitness.
I love the quiet of the practice and the awareness of my body throughout it. After my first class back since Birdie, I realized that I do like my body I just forgot why. Sure, I don't like the actual shape it is since giving birth, but that's the journey back to the new me... which I voluntarily signed up for.
All of this said, I will run again. Truly, my running heart and spirit have not escaped me in bright new Adidas sneaks... we will meet again. Until then, namaste.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
work
My parents gave me this stellar photography book for Christmas last year. I finally had the quiet and a cup of coffee to sit down and take it in, page by page, this month. This book is a wonderful collection of National Geographic photos that really get your mind swirling with questions and insights about how work is done in our world.One photo was of a wee baby girl, naked and dirty, lying in a busy city street with a hat beside her for money. I was so moved (and horrified) by it that I had to close the book and returned to it a full week later. I figure the reality of that photograph of a baby, the same age as mine, working was just too close to home. Wow - I/we are so rich.
Other photos were not necessarily so poignant. Some are funny, others are informative, while yet others are relatable. Nevertheless, the viewing is brilliant and I highly recommend it.
Friday, March 14, 2008
goonie goes coen
Most of the films I've been waiting to see are coming out on DVD now. We're catching up on the newborn baby haze period in which we would have gone to the movies, but alas, did not make the effort - rather, we did not have the ability of making such a plan. One actor who stands out as the 'it' guy of fantastic films of 2007 is Josh Brolin.
In the Coen brothers film and Best Picture win, No Country for Old Men, he shone as Llewellyn Moss, the tough and endearing veteran who happens upon a case full of money with the smarts and energy to keep it against the forces that seek it (or does he?). He's essentially the protagonist who is competing with scene-stealers like Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones, most effectively. By the way, No Country for Old Men is a brilliant film. It is a signature Coen film and it is rather surprising that it was an adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel rather than their own script. Nevertheless, this flick is not for the folks who can't take killin' and quirky and strange and real hick. A and I saw it over a week ago and it's burned on my brain - content, pictures and characters. A big swirl of Texas crazy beautiful. Profound, actually.
In the Ridley Scott film, American Gangster, JB played Detective Trupo, the slimeball cop who is so slick, so creepy, so scary and convincing it makes you wonder what kind of person he is. He proves to be forceful against, again, very compelling characters played by Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. As a film about mafia, it's right up there with the classics. That said, it's violent, disturbing, and harsh. Crowe was redeemed for me in this role and Washington is always great. I might add that JB gives Washington a push in the sense that JB is BAD, so Washington is REALLY BAD. Without the contrast of Trupo's character, Washington may have been too despicable to watch.
Finally, Brolin starred in In the Valley of Elah, which I recently praised. JB is strong in his scenes although a small role compared to the other two. His on-screen chemistry with Charlize Theron is tangible.
One more thing, Brolin is married to one of the sexiest ladies in Hollywood, Diane Lane. Seriously, this guy is hot!
Who would have thought that this guy would go from his first film as a 'goonie' to leading in a Coen film?
In the Coen brothers film and Best Picture win, No Country for Old Men, he shone as Llewellyn Moss, the tough and endearing veteran who happens upon a case full of money with the smarts and energy to keep it against the forces that seek it (or does he?). He's essentially the protagonist who is competing with scene-stealers like Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones, most effectively. By the way, No Country for Old Men is a brilliant film. It is a signature Coen film and it is rather surprising that it was an adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel rather than their own script. Nevertheless, this flick is not for the folks who can't take killin' and quirky and strange and real hick. A and I saw it over a week ago and it's burned on my brain - content, pictures and characters. A big swirl of Texas crazy beautiful. Profound, actually.
In the Ridley Scott film, American Gangster, JB played Detective Trupo, the slimeball cop who is so slick, so creepy, so scary and convincing it makes you wonder what kind of person he is. He proves to be forceful against, again, very compelling characters played by Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. As a film about mafia, it's right up there with the classics. That said, it's violent, disturbing, and harsh. Crowe was redeemed for me in this role and Washington is always great. I might add that JB gives Washington a push in the sense that JB is BAD, so Washington is REALLY BAD. Without the contrast of Trupo's character, Washington may have been too despicable to watch.
Finally, Brolin starred in In the Valley of Elah, which I recently praised. JB is strong in his scenes although a small role compared to the other two. His on-screen chemistry with Charlize Theron is tangible.
One more thing, Brolin is married to one of the sexiest ladies in Hollywood, Diane Lane. Seriously, this guy is hot!
Who would have thought that this guy would go from his first film as a 'goonie' to leading in a Coen film?
Friday, March 07, 2008
haggis
Ever since Million Dollar Baby, people have been talking about Paul Haggis (not the stuffed pig intestines). People loved that movie. Hilary Swank won her second Best Actress Oscar for her performance as Maggie, who I must admit I cared for very much. Clint Eastwood was nominated for Best Actor and Best Director, and Best Picture of which he won two for three. Morgan Freeman won (finally) for Best Supporting Actor. Haggis was nominated for Best Writing. I found the film forgettable and schlocky and contrived. Entertaining, sure. Yet I kept running the scene - where the stool is put in the ring - over and over again, thinking "Seriously?". The film left me frustrated, annoyed and scoffing.
Shortly after MDB, Haggis was given his own film vehicle in Crash. I very much liked the idea of this film, synopsized wonderfully in a Don Cheadle monologue, which he says that people are so needy to feel something that they actually crash into something or one another. Okay, that's a film I want to see, and love. For me, Crash, although wonderfully acted and beautifully photographed, resulted in a write-off. The multi-protagonist plot was, again, contrived and undone. I felt like two hours+ was wasted on an idea rather than a story. After winning Best Picture, I felt compelled to watch it again and the second time around, I admit I enjoyed it more. Nevertheless, not a film I get excited about.
Of course, who am I to judge? Hollywood and fans of Haggis reigned supreme over not only the box office, but also the Academy Awards. There must be something that I was missing.
In the Valley Elah showed up at the Oscars this year with one nomination for Best Actor nominee, the brilliant Tommy Lee Jones. Because Tommy Lee Jones is always great, I thought I should see that. A reminded me that Haggis put this film together. Hmmm... But it's also got Susan Sarandon and Charlize Theron. Well, I'll give Haggis another go.
Thank goodness I did! Although the fans didn't show up to lavish love upon Haggis, this film was fantastic. If you can imagine it, no one wanted to watch a movie about Iraq. And, no one wanted to watch a great movie about Iraq that actually explores and confirms our greatest fears of the impact of this war on our families, our children, or our moral centre. And, no one wanted to watch a movie that would cause grief and sorrow and deep, deep breaths.
I talked to this movie. I don't often do that. I sighed with Jones. I felt nervous for Theron. I ached for Sarandon. Haggis wove a beautiful film together and finally, wrapped up each and every idea, character, and emotion so neatly. I felt proud of him. I like him. I now will partake of more Haggis, with confidence that he'll deliver the goods.
