music men wrote songs about her, some said it sweet, some said it very mean

I must tell you guys about a really touching and inspiring movie I saw last night. I'd seen it before when I was younger, but my naive mind was unable to fully grasp it.

The protagonist is a brilliant fashion designer with an eccentric hairstyle and impeccable taste - some might call her a bitch, but every strong, independent woman gets called nasty names by those who are intimidated by their self-reliance.

One such person, the husband of an employee, even goes so far as to write a song mocking her aggressive ways. Catchy though the song may be, it is highly typical of this bullying man, who taunts her mercilessly - even his dogs get in on the act, calling her a "devil woman". Pretty tough talk from a being known to eat its own feces.

With her bumbling-but-well-intentioned henchmen, she embarks on a noble quest to craft a most perfect collection of spotted coats, but this couple and their pets refuses to allow this, muscling her hustle at every opportunity. Don't hate the player, Radcliffes, hate the game. The pets even use their sneaky animal advantage to connect with other dogs across the county, managing to simultaneously undermine our heroine and irritate neighbors for miles.
But even with the odds stacked against her, the plucky fashion designer doesn't give up! A testament to ambition, she continues to fight for her art. Unfortunately, the movie takes a tragic turn when, in a race against time and a truck that the dogs have (surely illegally) stowed themselves away on, the elements turn cruelly against her as well, and a snowy car crash ensues. Miraculously, she survives, but her luck stops there: the puppies, even the ones rightfully acquired from pet stores, find asylum with the Radcliffes. As for our girl, well, at least she's got her to-die-for white coat. And elegant red gloves. And gorgeous turquoise ring. And dramatic skin tone. And uber-badass cigarette holder.

So, really, methinks she was the winner all along. And while Anita and Roger are trying to co-ordinate doggy bathtime times one-hundred-and-one, Ms. Cruella de Vil will be lounging in her furs, hacking up a lung and enjoying her legacy as one of the most gloriously inspirational movies characters of all time.

P.S. You may have noticed that I've added advertisements to the blog - if you weren't incredibly offended by this post and my love for fur, maybe you'd like to do me a "solid", to use the parlance of our times, and click on a link or two. It puts a little money (and I do mean "a little" - pocket change, but I appreciate it ever so much) in my bank account.

i'm in the mood, the rhythm is right

Music and movies are two very separate and wonderful things, and as is often the case when two wonderful things collide, adding the right music to the right moment in the right movie can be explosively great. Disney is a master of this, but I've covered that. Here are a few of my favourite examples (of the non-animated kind):

A Clockwork Orange and Beethoven's 9th Symphony
This is really the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Beethoven's music deeply permeates this film, which I just adore. Beethoven is one of the only classical composers I listen to and it's because his work is so deliciously dramatic. Alex really says it best (in my favourite quote from a book ever): "Oh, bliss, bliss and heaven - oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh. It was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now."
It's easy to associate the piece with A Clockwork Orange, but the movie doesn't own it. The song is so rich and complex that it cannot be "stolen" that easily.


Harold and Maude and Cat Steven's "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out"
A gorgeously simplistic song that sums up the theme of the film, and gives it an inspiring finish.

Dazed and Confused and any rock song from the 70's with "ride" in the title
Once you've seen the movie, have you ever heard "Slow Ride", "Lowrider" or "Free Ride" without instantly flashing back to the oh-so-joyous memories of watching Dazed and Confused? Yes? Then you just haven't seen it enough times.
It also has the distinguishing feature of making KISS almost enjoyable.


The Big Lebowski and First Edition's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"
First of all, it's weird that Kenny Rogers was in a pseudo-psychedelic band to begin with. But this song is awesome and conveys such vivid images of the Dude's badass dance skills that it's almost impossible to listen to without enjoying.


Almost Famous and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer"
There is no song that's transformed by a movie quite like "Tiny Dancer". I'll admit that I'm not a huge Elton John fan, but after watching the absolutely fantastic tourbus sing-along, it sends chills down my spine.
As well, Led Zeppelin's "Misty Mountain Hop" gives immediate images of plane-boarding and rock-star life.
Like Dazed and Confused, every song on the soundtrack becomes amazing because it reminds you of what a great movie you saw it with.

hey, hey, hey, that cat's okay

Maybe if we all lived life frolicking about a Diablo Cody movie, we could all the oh-so-enviable person who seems to have an awesomely random quote that suits an occasion perfectly. Unfortunately, this can be tough, as the moments that most fervently call for a well-timed, well-chosen, well-delivered quote are the moments when it's most difficult to think of one. To your rescue, as usual, I have developped a easy-to-use guide to movie/television quotes and when they're best employed.
Here's what to say to make people eavesdropping on your conversation wish they were your friend.

"N.C. - No class!"
Background: This Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids catchphrase is definitely my most-often used quote. Usually spoken by Rudy or Russell
Situation to use: Your friend falls over drunk, a guy makes an immature joke, you spy a girl throwing herself at a guy - basically anytime someone behaves in a way that you imagine the Queen would sniff her nose haughtily upon witnessing.
Delivery: The "N.C." preceding is optional, but adds a more specificness to the quote. A wittier prefacing phrase is "You're like school on Saturday: no class!" Study Russell's disgusted tone here at 3:08 - you'll want to capture this sort of casually irreverent superiority.
What it says about you as a person: You're witty, retro, impossibly hip and possess a sublime sense of humour.
If you liked this quote, why not try...: some other good-natured insults like "They oughta call you a broken clock...cause you don't know what time it is!" and "They oughta call you a paratrooper...cause you fell down on the job"; prefacing any phrase that ends with the sound "ay" with "Hey, hey, hey"

"It's all happening!"
Backgound: Almost Famous...need I say any more?
Situation to use: Life is going well/something good happens
Delivery: With almost-innocent enthusiasm and pure joy, such as Polexia at 1:09 here.
What it says about you as a person: You're an optimistic rocker chick with a wild spirit and a heart of gold.
If you liked this quote, why not try...: "I AM A GOLDEN GOD!" (when you're feeling free, or drunk, or both); "You'll meet them all again on the long journey to the middle" (when offering words of pseudo-comfort); "...this is the maid speaking, by the way" (when you have revealed information that you don't want to take credit for revealing)

"You see what God just did to us, man?!"
Backgound: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas...as they accidentally let some of their cocaine blow away
Situation to use: Something bad happened that was pretty much definitely your fault
Delivery: Bewildered dismay
What it says about you as a person: You're pure, grade-A rad.
If you liked this quote, why not try...: "As your attorney, I advise you to slow down...I can't keep up!" (when somebody's out partying you and it's not okay - and, let's face it, this is never okay); "I'd rather not say - my brother's in politics" (when someone asks your name and you don't want to tell them, though, sadly, this is probably way too obscure for anyone to pick up on); "I am fortune's fool!" (this isn't Fear and Loathing - it's Shakespeare - but it applies to the same situation and adds a touch of class)

"That's just, like, your opinion, man."
Backgound: The Big Lebowski, when Jesus tells the Dude and Walter that he's going to fuck them up
Situation to use: Somebody states an insulting fact (preferably not an actual opinion)
Delivery: Like you just don't give a fuck.
What it says about you as a person: You're chill. And awesome.
If you liked this quote, why not try...: anything from The Big Lebowski, at any time.

"Milk was a bad choice."
Backgound: Ron Burgandy in Anchorman while drinking milk from the carton during a hot summer's day
Situation to use: Whenever you've made any sort of bad decision. For example, the other day I went for a bike ride but misjudged the temperature and didn't wear gloves, so I said (to myself) "Milk was a bad choice." In this analogy, "milk" represented my lack of gloves. You follow? Also, if you happened to see the movie "Milk" and you didn't like it, well, there's a golden opportunity right there.
Delivery: Study this.
What it says about you as a person: You're amusing, fun to be with, perhaps guilty of making poor decisions now and then, but humble enough to admit it.
If you liked this quote, why not try...: "Oh yeah, about that, it's probably just the pants, I was meaning to take them back to the, uh, pants store" (when someone informs you that you have a massive erection); "There are literally thousands of other men that I should be with instead, but I am 72 percent sure that I love you" (when your boyfriend says "I love you" for the first time - seriously, you must, he'll think it's hilarious...probably); "I will take your mother out to a nice seafood dinner and NEVER call her again!" (when you want to insult someone to their core)

And of course, Zoolander is the safest bet of all time.

all these strange relationships really get me down, i see nothing wrong in spreading myself around

I don't usually do tags, unless they're interesting, and this one is! I was tagged by Daughters of Dawn Vintage, who run a cool blog and an awesome vintage store, right out of the spectacular city of Vancouver.

The Rules Are...
1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures.
2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same!

Well....yeah.

This is Harold, from Harold and Maude, faking another suicide. You're welcome!
I usually don't do the "tag other blogs" because it feels so clique-y, but I can see how these "memes" (is that what they're called?) reach a sort of dead end if I don't. So I will tag four randomly-chosen commenters from my last post, using an intricate system too complex to detail. Libby, Keith, Jill and Mimi...I choose you! A thousand apologies if you've already been chosen.

And, the results are in from my poll as to who of my Top 10 you find sexiest, and it was a tie! With a whopping four votes each, the joint crown goes to...

Mick Jagger and Steven Hyde!
I would make some kind of threesome joke, but considering the fact that Mick likely would be very up for it, and Hyde would be beyond appalled, the pairing was too sensitive.
You know, a lot of you expressed your approval for the list, so I'm forced to concede that I have fantastic taste in men. However, there's the odd sort of "what?"-kind-of-guy that I'm attracted to as well, and I feel they need similar recognition.
So without further ado, my "Seriously? You're Into That?" Sexy List:

1. Real from I Love Money and I Love New York
I don't know what it is. I don't think we even get these shows in Canada, I only saw them when I was in the States, but I'm all about the Real. A wikipedia search tells me that he had another reality show. Now, I really don't find the type of guy who goes on a reality show attractive, but something about his long hair, carefully groomed facial hair and short stature - I mean, okay, I have no idea what it is, the man is simply sexy.

2. Rudy from Fat Albert
Okay...I know he's supposed be like 10, but let's face it, he looks very mature for his age, he's got that Jackson 5 thing going, he looks at least 14!
Sigh...I'm just really digging myself deeper, aren't I?

3. C.C. DeVille from (God help us) Poison
This is a longstanding crush of mysterious origins.

4. The Dude from The Big Lebowski
It's not just his chill demeanor and hatred for the Eagles...I actually find him to be a very handsome man. You know, maybe without the jelly shoes...

5. Earl from My Name is Earl

Redneck is my least favourite type of guy, but something about Earl is beautiful. Maybe its his Almost Famous roots (played by Jason Lee, who was Jeff Bebe), or his heart of gold - who knows? The vein that seems to run through all these crushes is that they come from the dark side of my brain, seem to stem from nothing and involve moustaches.

6. Jughead from Archie Comics
Perpetual munchies, half-closed eyes, extremely laid-back...are you seeing a theme here, cuz I sure am!

7. Slater from Dazed and Confused
See above.
(Ed: Let's not get it twisted - Randall "Pink" Floyd is the true sex god of the movie, and definitely the one I'm most attracted to. This list is more about unconventional guys I find attractive!)
8. Richard Dawson from Hogan's Heroes and Family Feud
Okay, I don't actually know if this is considered weird - the man is debonair! Suavity personified..

9. Harold from Harold and Maude
Dark, mysterious, and capable of astonishingly entertaining facial expressions.

10. Lil Wayne

I don't even know how to justify this one.

life is brief but when its gone, love goes on and on

I was recently reminded of an important omission from my Sexiest Men list, though I suppose he wouldn't have been eligible in the first place because, see...technically, uh, well - he's not a man.

He's not even a boy.

He's a fox.

No, literally. It's Robin Hood!
I know I can't possibly be alone in my attraction to Robin Hood. Even Nicola agrees with me...and we think it must be the voice.

Skip to 1:17, and hear his remarkable voice, British accent and all, say with full sincerity "Marian, my darling, I love you more than life itself."
Try not to swoon.
Of course, a one-in-a-million voicebox alone is not cause for a semi-bestial crush. Robin Hood also posseses many qualities I search for in a man - er, partner.

And as a special bonus, his lady love, Maid Marian, also has a great voice - a great singing voice. Here's "Love", which I adore so much that I put it on my iPod. It reflects the mellow awesomeness of Robin and Marian's relationship and is probably my favourite Disney love song.

now that's what i call OVERKILL

I love movies where a bunch of strangers end up in an old mansion under mysterious circumstances (usually lured for a dinner party by an anonymous threatening letter), find themselves locked in and are slowly killed off one by one. Even more, I love movies that parody such movies.

Ten Little Indians (1965)

Based on the classic book by Agatha Christie, this one probably set the standard. Though the ending is different, and slightly less awesome, I think, than the original, this movie is still tons of fun and has a very 60's feel.

Body Count: 8

Clue: The Movie (1985)
Who among us has not enjoyed the board game Clue? This dark comedy takes the wellknown characters, rooms and weapons, throws in a stupendously entertaining Tim Curry as butler Wadsworth, gives the option of three separate endings and comes out with a masterpiece.
Body Count: 7

Murder by Death (1976)

Starring the incomparable Peter Sellers, and featuring an unspeakably awesome cameo by Truman Capote, this is just brilliant.. As you can imagine with Peter Sellers as the star, this is a witty spoof, and absurdly fun.
Body Count: "Yes...killed good weekend"

So, if you can't find anything to do on Halloween, a Dinner-Party-Gone-Awry Movie Marathon might be in order? Yes, I think so. Just make sure you're not in a big, old, spooky house

you rocked my world, you know you did

In general, I don't like to say something is the "best". After all, everything's relative. But there are some cases where it absolutely cannot be denied that something is the best. And that is true with these songs:

Best Disney Song:

Yes I'm a fan of "A Very Merry Unbirthday To You" and "Why Is the Red Man Red?", but "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid really takes the cake. Dramatic, as well as funny ("I'm not asking much, just a token, really, a trifle!") I wasn't previously aware that the Jonas Brothers (the little one is sexy) covered it, but apparently they did? For the purpose of blogger-ism, I listened to their version. Unfortunately, it was absolutely abhorrant so I stopped watching about 40 seconds into it, which gave me enough time to scope out Nick and his great hair.

Best pop song

This might seem less-than-obvious to some, but I'm here to inform you that the greatest pop song ever created is by (who else?) Michael Jackson, entitled "You Rock My World". Some might argue "Billie Jean" but I'd have to disagree. If MJ had released this song not looking the way he does, it would've been a smash. The video features Marlon Brando, and has fantastic dancing. It also makes absolutely no sense, but we've come to expect that from dear Michael. If you want to skip all the random Mafia-related subplot and get straight to the dancing, that's about seven minutes in. You can see the edited video with just the song straight-up here, probably a better option if you're not all about really nonsensical curiousities, and not in a trippy Alice in Wonderland way. There's no doubt in my mind that, despite his public persona, Michael Jackson consistantly makes great music.


Best song ever

Some people might say, how could you possibly choose a greatest song of all time? The answer: I didn't choose anything. This song is the greatest song of all time. It is from a time before music videos, luckily I managed to find it over clips from a movie I completely adore The Departed. You're welcome.

There is more "bests" in this world and I guarantee you I will find them. Over and out.

who the fuck is mick jagger?

Keith raises a good point here: Who the fuck is Mick Jagger?
Just a God of Sex, no less. This post is in celebration of the fact that within a week, I will be watching Performance on DVD. Yes, the movie that's been on my sidebar for over a year.
Finally.

Last night I watched my favourite Christmas movie ever, Eloise at Christmastime. Everyone knows Eloise, of course, the most spoiled girl in the universe, but really, I want more than anything to steal her life. Eternally six, with the Plaza at her disposal, really living in her own little world. Anyone, its an amazing movie that I would recommend to everyone. Curious about how the lead actress, Sofia Vassilieva, has grown (she's fifteen now!), I Googled her.
Wow, she looks amazing! Though really, it kills me to see Eloise as anything but a six-year-old in a short skirt and suspenders.

the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice

So I finally watched the newest version of Hairspray. As a big fan of the older, wittier and definitely better (all due to the incredible beatnik scene) version, I was a bit wary of it, but I actually enjoyed it a lot. I'd heard that some people who formerly were not fans of Zac Efron had been won over by his performance. I'm happy to report that I was not. I thought his character was an obnoxious idiot, but my heart filled with happiness whenever dear Seaweed was onscreen. Seriously, I can't believe when faced with a choice of... THIS versus THIS

a suprising majority still go for Zac Efron, his bizarrely limp tongue and his fantastically awkward hand poisition. Elijah Kelley is clearly going "Alright, stay cool, stay cool, as soon as they snap a picture, you can take your hand off this crazy whiteboy's shoulder."

The movie also managed to reinforce that black people are and always have been better singers, better dancers and better-looking.
Zac Efron fans, hate away. Your angry anonymous comments make my world go round.

So I had a good weekend. The other night I slept over at Nicola's and we watched three great movies.

First we watched Rain, which is an independant film from New Zealand. In some ways it's sort of a typical coming of age story, but its very dark. Its quite interesting to watch, though I think it's too depressing for me to want to watch again, though I would recommend it, especially if you like dark movies.
Then the old tried-and-true favorite, A Clockwork Orange, excellent as usual.
Then we watched Midnight Cowboy, which was very cool. I loved seeing them go to a party at the Factory, and it was a trip seeing Dustin Hoffman play such an oily character, especially just two years after The Graduate.

Okay, okay, I gotta give in and admit it. Alex Turner and Alexa Chung make a very cute couple.
This is my favorite picture of them because they both look great (I loove him in that jacket) but they aren't actually together. Because that still depresses me a little.

Bonus: This is an extremely fantastic picture.

a goood weekend

I got the new Arctic Monkeys CD, Favourite Worst Nightmare and it's very good. Not quite as good as Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, but that album is pretty classic, hard to top. Alex Turner is just so so so sexy and brilliant.
I slept over at Nicola's and we watched the awesomely softpornographic Marianne Faithfull movie Girl on a Motorcycle. 80% of the movie is her on a motorcycle (in a skintight leather catsuit, with random close ups of her ass) and the other 20% is her having sex (in nothing). Still, worth watching to gaze at her amazing...haircut. What did you think I was going to say, perv?
Then we watched the Incredible, Incredible, Classic, Trippy, Wonderful Yellow Submarine. Something that isn't really thought about much today is the great wit of the Beatles. I know they didn't write the script, but it's quite funny. Like the "We're senile delinquents!" line when they get caught in the time warp and go all old. And Ringo's "hole in my pocket"...and it goes on and on.
Then in the morning, we watched Factory Girl. It got pretty bad reviews, but I enjoyed it, except the last little bit. I though it was a fun movie...EXCEPT Hayden Christiansen's horrible, awful, Natasha's-last-photoshoot-bad portrayel of Bob Dylan. I could hardly look at him and I felt very nauseous whenever he was onscreen. No wonder Bob Dylan didn't want the movie released. He probably doesn't want to be portrayed as some ridiculous crack fool...actually Bob Dylan is too cool for all of this. But his 'people' know its wrong.
And it is.
So so fantastically wrong