Notes On Entertainment

Ellen Page rocks!
Yep, it’s true. I heart that girl. As most of you probably know, she is now officially an Oscar-nominated actor. Isn’t that just wonderful? I had an interesting discussion with a friend yesterday, and my friend strongly believes that the movie Juno is overrated. Well, there may be some truth to that, but I prefer to focus on the positive. I thought Juno was great. I don’t care if people call it a “chick flick.” Whatever! This film presented an interesting (female) character that has to deal with an unexpected pregnancy. Ellen was perfect as Juno MacGuff. There was something fresh and exciting about this film. I’m so glad the critics (and America) embraced this film with so much gusto.

Cloverfield delivered!
I was completely satisfied after watching this film last week. J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Drew Goddard created an impressive movie that lived up to my expectations. Cloverfield has
been described as “Godzilla meets The Blair Witch Project.” Yeah, that’s a fairly accurate statement, but that doesn’t take anything away from the film. It was quite effective. Others have complained about the lack of information throughout the film. You know, it’s kind of annoying that some people expect everything to be explained to them. What are we? A collection of brainless tissue? This movie forces the audience to pay attention. I felt like an active participant throughout the movie, trying to make sense of the whole situation. That’s what things are like in the real world. When a natural disaster strikes, we don’t have a nicely written manual to refer to; we have to pay attention . . . if we want to survive.



An untimely death.
When I learned of Heath Ledger’s passing, I was at a loss for words. To be honest, I didn’t quite believe it at first. He was so young and talented. It’s a real shame, and he will be missed by his fans. His ex-wife’s father released a statement about Heath that I found quite touching. He said,

I think [poet] Tennyson got it right in the poem when he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends, and oh what a beautiful flame he made, that was Heath, what a beautiful flame he made and a great talent.

My heart goes out to his family and friends.

A Very Queer Post

Another day, another blog-a-thon. Wait! This isn’t your average blog-a-thon. Not at all. On Monday, November 19th, Queering The Apparatus will be hosting its very first Queer Film Blog-A-Thon. Finally! An opportunity for gay bloggers all across the blogosphere to express their love for queer cinema. The following is my contribution to this wonderful blog-a-thon.



I’ve always enjoyed great films. However, like most members of the LGBT community, I’ve often been disappointed with the dearth of gay characters and stories in mainstream Hollywood Films. Fortunately, there are directors, writers, actors, and producers who manage to create amazing cinematic treasurers for us (the gays), often with limited resources and support. Thank goodness for independent films and passionate artists.



In the film The Sum of Us, Russell Crowe plays a regular bloke who just happens to be gay. I debated whether to mention this film. To be honest, it is far from being perfect. However, I liked Russell’s character (Jeff) a lot. The great thing about this film is that is doesn’t conform to tired stereotypes. Jeff is straight acting, and he has a father who offers him unconditional love and support. And that’s a beautiful thing.



I realize that coming out stories are an important part of gay culture, but they’re becoming something of a cliché. And coming out films usually annoy the hell out of me, especially when they’re poorly made. The film Get Real is an exception. There are other great films that deal with the same subject matter, of course, but I connected with the film’s protagonist, Steven Carter; and I think Ben Silverstone did a great job of brining this character to life. The film is conventional in many ways, but Steven’s courage is quite remarkable. He wrote an inspiring essay that was published in the school newspaper. For a while, the author of the essay remained anonymous. But in the end, Steven addressed the entire student body, as well as his family, and acknowledged that he had written the essay. The pen, as they say, is mightier than the sword.



I enjoyed Brokeback Mountain. It certainly deserves to be praised. This film, by the wonderful director Ang Lee, brought a love affair between two men to the silver screen. Of course, other films have done that before, but Brokeback Mountain did what most gay films rarely every do—it managed to break into the mainstream. And it has secured a special place in American popular culture. I also think Annie Proulx, Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana, and Ang Lee should be commended for making this film a reality. It’s always nice to have some straight people on our side.



Queer cinema doesn’t get better than John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch. This film is one of my favorite films (top 10 material). John plays a transgender performer who leads an extraordinary life. Everything about the film is wonderful. John does a great job of introducing the protagonist, Hedwig. Within the first 15 minutes, I fell in love with Hedwig. John is a gifted director. There’s no question about that. The music is wonderful and the film is just enchanting from start to finish. Of all films mentioned in this post, I think Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the most beautiful. It is also visually and intellectually provocative.




I love John Waters. This post wouldn’t be complete without a John Water’s film. And Pink Flamingos is my favorite film by this great director. I know some—or maybe most—people find it crass and unacceptable, but this film represents so much to me and other members of the LGBT community. Pink Flamingos is a film that refuses to conform to societal standards of decency. It laughs in the face of social conformity. Divine’s character, Babs Johnson, is confident and defiant. It’s hard for the average gay person to exhibit this degree of self-confidence in the real (straight) world, which is why Babs Johnson is a breath of fresh air. Of course, one shouldn’t celebrate the violence in the film, but the violence is part of what makes it work so well. It’s all about defiance! Interestingly, John Waters often says that he wants the audience to just relax and have a good time. Well, mission accomplished. His films are certainly very entertaining, but there’s so much more to Pink Flamingos than meets the eye.



Pink Flamingos was my favorite gay film for a very long time. That changed after I saw Gods and Monsters, a film about James Whale, a film director who made horror films in the 1930s. The accomplished stage actor Ian McKellen was brilliant as James. Lynn Redgrave also delivered a great performance, and Brendan Fraser was effective as Clayton Boone, the object of Whale’s interest in the film. Gods and Monsters explores the last few moments of James Whale’s life, before he committed suicide in 1957. James lived with depression, memory problems, and other conditions that lead him to take his own life. He was 67.

Gay cinema and culture seem obsessed with youth and beauty. This blog is no exception. I post pictures of hot actors and models from time to time. However, this film focuses on the inner struggles of an aging gay man. That, I think, makes the film stand out in the world of gay cinema. Older gay men are often portrayed as asexual figures in many films. In God and Monsters, James tries to seduce a young straight man. He shows us that sexuality and the need for companionship are strong motivators that exist in all human beings, young and old. But the main reason I adore this film is because of Ian McKellen. His performance is the heart and soul of this film. The people behind Gods and Monsters get extra points from me because they cast a real gay man to play a gay character on the big screen. What a novel concept!

It's All About "Soul" (Top Chef 3; Episode 13)

Reactions to this episode of Top Chef 3 varied greatly. Some bloggers hated it, while others were ecstatic that their beloved Dale finally won his first elimination challenge and a spot in the final. More about that a little later. I found it quite funny that guest judge Eric Ripert brought up the importance of soul in this episode. In previous episodes, the chefs, particularly Dale, mentioned that Hung’s food lacked heart. I can’t help but think that the producers loved the idea and sent an email to Eric, asking him to use the word soul at least three times in this episode; and he complied. Yep, they’ve added some drama to the mix—the winner’s food has to have soul!

Now, let’s talk about everyone’s favorite swinger, Brian. At the judges’ table, when asked why they thought they should stay, Brian offered the lamest answer, the type of answer that reality television producers hate. He said,

I haven’t cooked my food, at all . . . this is our [sic] opportunity to show you what I would cook . . . I do believe my food is pretty entertaining

Actually, if his food is as entertaining and attractive as he is, then his elimination should be considered a big mistake. However, the judges didn’t buy it. Hell, I didn’t buy it. Seriously, he prepared mostly seafood dishes throughout the competition. And that’s totally his kind of food. I remember eating a rice crispy treat while watching the last few minutes of the episode, and as I chewed and enjoyed the delicious treat, I was running various scenarios in my mind. I was thinking about what it would mean to eliminate Brian, the only straight man left in the competition. Then, Padma blurted out Brian’s name without hesitation. I almost dropped my delicious treat on the floor. Why was she in such a hurry? Anyway, I like looking at Brian, but I’m not really disappointed that he was eliminated. However, this is the first time in Bravo’s history that a straight male chef will not compete in the final. I’m still not sure what to make of this realization.

It’s hard not to like Casey, the lovely gal from Texas. She made many mistakes in the beginning, but she is now one of the favorites. It could be argued that she is the one to beat. She had the following to say at the judges’ table,

I know that I’m a hard worker . . . I don’t skip a beat, and I’m a relatively young chef . . . I have so much more to show

Casey’s words were quite sober compared to Hung’s and Dale’s responses. However, unlike Brian, she wasn’t kidding when she said that she has more to show. Casey’s miraculous transformation almost seems scripted. It’s like a Cinderella story, and Casey plays the part so well. The great thing about Casey is her down-to-earth personality. She’s impressed the judges, but she always comes across as humble and surprised at her own success. Actually, I was quite surprised at her success, and I remained very suspicious of her transformation for several weeks. Now, it’s finally sinking in that Casey is a talented chef. She’s sure to win over most of the viewers, and I’m happy for her.

Of the remaining chefs, I never really took Dale seriously. Don’t get me wrong; it’s nice having him around. He has delivered some of the funniest lines this season, but he never impressed me as a chef. Well, despite what appeared to be some major obstacles, he managed to create a dish that won him the elimination challenge. Good for him. He also delivered the best response at the judges’ table. He said,

I entered this competition to find myself . . . I have been reborn. . . Now I’m a chef again

Bravo, Dale. Bravo! He is a producer’s dream reality competition contestant. I mean, come on; how do you top an unemployed gay guy who has been reborn on the set of reality television program? This is the stuff Bravo dreams are made of. Also, I love how he throws in sexual references at the judges’ table. So, it appears that I underestimated Dale. However, let’s not kid ourselves. Dale’s surprising win is due in large part to lady luck. He’s made some horrible mistakes in previous episodes, but he’s always been safe because others have sucked even more. I’m happy for Dale, but there’s no denying that he’s one lucky gay man.

Hung started off strong and has remained in the top for quite some time. Yes, he’s made some mistakes, but his talent has never been in question. He is by far my favorite chef. He had the following to say at the judges’ table,

I grew up in the kitchen . . . It’s all about soul and that’s what I talk about all day . . . I don’t see myself doing anything else in the whole world . . . it’s for the love of food

That’s interesting. I thought it was all about finesse and elegance. I guess he changed his tune after learning that the word of the day was soul. Anyway, Hung gave the producers exactly what they wanted: an easily exploitable personal story. He is an immigrant who has probably faced challenges that the other chefs could never imagine. And, now, he’s a finalist on Top Chef.

I think Dale is the weakest chef of the three remaining chefs. Casey screwed up a bit in this episode, but she was on a roll for three consecutive weeks. She has what it takes to win. Hung is the master of execution, and his dishes are usually hits—they look great and often taste just as great. However, he needs to wow the judges, they’ve already complained that his food lacks one vital ingredient—soul. Maybe he can borrow that ingredient from Casey.

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. This season of Top Chef is just too unpredictable. Anything is possible. And I do mean anything. The one good thing about this group of chefs is their good behavior. Sure, Hung can get carried away at times, but he’s generally focused on the task at hand. Dale delivers funny lines, but that only adds color to an otherwise boring season. It’s interesting that last season we were stuck with two immature boys, Ilan and Marcel, in the final. Let’s not go there. Honestly, I’m happy for all three of the remaining chefs. This season may be less entertaining than previous seasons, but it really is all about the food. And that’s a very good thing.

Let's Talk About Alonzo Bodden

I love great comedians and can appreciate a well-executed comedic performance. However, like most people, there's a special place in my heart reserved for a few comedians. At present, my favorite comedians are Dave Attell, Bill Maher, Kathy Griffin, and Dave Chapelle. I'm so tempted to declare Bill Maher the funniest man on the planet, but my heart belongs to Dave Attell. His humor may not be for everyone, but the man writes amazing material, delivers great performances, and knows how to interact with his audience. He has it all.

There's room in my heart for new comedians. In fact, I'm actively trying to find a new group that represents my generation. We do have a voice in comedy, but I'm still searching. While looking for the next big thing, I occasionally come across various outstanding comedians. And this post is dedicated to one such individual. His name is Alonzo Bodden, winner of the 3rd season of Last Comic Standing. To be honest, I'm not a die-hard Alonzo fan. However, there's no question he has some great qualities. For starters, he commands respect for various reasons. He always looks good, but, more importantly, he's an intelligent and well-spoken man. If you're more into physical comedy, then Alonzo isn't the comedian for you. But, in a world of cliches and trite routines, his material is often sharp, creative, and hilarious. I have high hopes for Alonzo. I hope he continues to grow as a comedian.

Thank Goodness For Hung and His Smurf Village (Top Chef 3; Episode 10)

For your consideration, I present to you Hung’s Quickfire dish.

That’s some crazy shit.

Yes, Michael Schwartz, that was some crazy shit! I had a really hard time understanding this episode. I had predicted that Casey would crash and burn, but then she kicked me in the ass by winning the elimination challenge. However, I refuse to apologize. I praised Sara for her phenomenal performance the previous week, but I’m still not sold when it comes to Casey. She’s just all over the place. At times, she appears to have the culinary skills of a 5-year-old child; while at other times, she manages to impress the judges (and herself) by cooking up something surprisingly good. I can’t take it anymore.




I can see why some people get annoyed by Brian. But I enjoy watching this man light up the screen. Yes, I want to have sex with Brian. Sorry, I have the terrible habit of falling for straight guys; that really needs to stop. Anyway, let’s move on. Brian won the quickfire challenge by creating a successful dish using SPAM. Interestingly, Brian mentioned Tom Colicchio’s major complaint—that Brian never steps outside of his comfort zone. It’s going to take more than seafood to win Top Chef. And I’m glad he kind of acknowledged that.



I can’t quite explain Casey’s win, but, I have to admit that it put a big smile on my face. Finally, the women ended the night victorious. With the exception of CJ, the men seemed disoriented and uninspired. In previous episodes, my beloved Gail pointed out Howie’s time management problems. The guy does not work well under pressure. Sure, he’s a good chef, but cheffing is not for the faint of heart. Stress comes with the territory, a fact that most chefs should be aware of.



To his credit, Howie has made some successful dishes, but he’s also failed miserably on a number of occasions. He also seems to lack that creative drive that many great chefs possess in abundance. It’s kind of a shame to see him go because he gave us bloggers a lot of material to work with. For example, Howie had the following to say about fashion,

Do I look like I care about fashion? This is from Target. This is all I have.

Hung offered the following,

I love fashion! I like to wear, like, clothes that fit me, not clothes that look like a box.

Hm, I think I know what’s he’s trying to say. And he’s right. Some adult men in this country are still wearing baggy jeans and shirts that should only be worn by severely obese individuals. Oh, and I found it kind of funny that no one bothered to ask Dale what he thought about fashion. I mean, he’s the (out) gay man on the show; he should have something to say about fashion. Right?

Casey, of course, won the elimination challenge, but, as I mentioned before, it’s going to take a lot more to win me over. Now, I think it’s safe to say that many bloggers had issues with this episode. For starters, the judges seemed quite unreasonable. One can only do so much with a $350 budget. There are other complaints about various aspects of the show. I’ve complained about the lack of female talent; others think this season is boring compared to other seasons; and the list goes on.

I actually think these criticisms are not limited to Top Chef; they reflect a greater problem with Bravo reality television. For example, Bravo’s newest offering, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, got less than stellar reviews. And I can see why. To be honest, I enjoyed watching Tim Gunn do his thing; yes, I consider myself a fan. But the show failed to capture my full attention. It actually looked like a makeover show that one usually finds on some other cable networks like the TV Guide Channel or A& E. And I find that very problematic. We’re talking about Bravo, the home of Queer Eye and Project Runway!

On a positive note, this episode of Top Chef offered hope. And it presented itself in the form of a slightly crazed bisexual named Hung. During the quickfire challenge, Hung worked passionately to create a dish that defied explanation. At this stage in the game, it would seem wise to stick to what’s been done before. But Hung dared to think outside the box. And the other chefs rightfully applauded his bizarre display of self-expression. He has earned my support. Yes, I hope Hung makes it to the final.

So, I agree with most that this episode was a bit disappointing, and I think Bravo needs to start injecting some creativity and innovation into its reality television programs. Seriously, they could have done so much with Top Design but failed to deliver. You know, I was so close to giving up on Bravo, but Hung’s quickfire masterpiece made me reconsider my position. Thank goodness for Hung and his defiant Smurf Village.

The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

***This post contains spoilers***



I haven’t seen the film The Barefoot Contessa (1954) in years. The film stars the wonderful Ava Gardner and the legendary Humphrey Bogart. I was discussing this particular movie with a friend the other day because of Bogart. We actually started talking about the film Sabrina (1954) and how Bogart was perfect for the role of Linus Larrabee. Yes, 1954 was a great year for this very talented man.



Joseph Leo Mankiewicz, the writer and director of The Barefoot Contessa, created a film that was by no means original; it was essentially a Cinderella story with a tragic ending. However, I loved that he created a character like Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner), a dancer from Madrid who becomes an international star almost overnight.



I had issues with various elements of the film, including Ava’s performance. However, there is no question that she was perfect as Maria Vargas. She was sensational! The film is unconventional in a lot of ways. For example, it deals with sexual dysfunction and female sexuality, topics that, I’m sure, were rarely addressed on film in the 50s. Maria uses her beauty and star power to full advantage. Sure, the film sexually objectifies Ava’s Maria Vargas. But Maria is always in control of her sexuality, and it’s that freedom that leads to her death at the hands of a jealous husband.



Another great thing about the film was the participation of the Italian actor Rossano Brazzi. He played Maria’s husband, Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favriniin, in the film. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; I love Mediterranean men. I found Brazzi’s performance quite effective.



Ah, Rossano, if only I had a time machine.

Europa Europa

When I first learned of Emma’s blog-a-thon, I immediately thought of Sir Ian McKellen’s performance in the wonderful film Gods and Monsters, my favorite “gay” film of all time. Actually, it’s one of my favorite films of all time. Period. Emma had challenged us to write about a life changing performance. But, the more I thought about it, the more it became clear to me that this particular performance (and film) did not change my life in a drastic way. Let me explain. I was in my early 20s when I saw this film for the first time. And I was moved by it; it was a great cinematic experience. However, at that age and still today, it took a collection of things—movies, songs, books, and so on—to change my life in any meaningful way. A single movie just doesn’t seem to do the trick anymore.



My life wasn’t always that way. In fact, I saw a film in the early 90s that changed my life in a major way. That film was Europa Europa. This and other films (e.g., anything by Almodovar) made me fall in love with foreign cinema, and that’s why I’ve decided to write about this particular film. Thus, the performance that changed my life—my viewing habits, to be exact—was Marco Hofschneider’s portrayal of Solomon Perel (Solly) in Europa Europa.



As mentioned before, I first saw Europa Europa in the early 90s; I loved it without question. I saw it again last year, and I still enjoyed it immensely. However, the film is not perfect; of course, the flaws that seem so salient now meant little to me a decade ago. Marco Hofschneider’s Solly was born into a typical Jewish family and lived in Germany during the late 1930s and early 1940s, a tumultuous time for Europe. Solly was an adolescent when his family was forced to flee Germany after his sister’s death at the hands of an anti-Semitic mob at the outset of World War II. His family relocated to Poland.



However, Solly's stay in Poland was short lived, as Hitler’s forces invaded Poland in 1939. Solly’s parents decided to stay behind but encouraged their two sons to run far, far away. After much hesitation, Solly and his brother obeyed. During a frantic attempt to board one of several ships that could take them to a safer area, the brothers inadvertently boarded different ships and were separated. They called out to each other, but, sadly, they would not see each other again for years.

Solly ended up in a Russian orphanage and joined a youth organization that promoted communist ideals. He even became fluent in Russian. I should point out that, after seeing this film as a kid, I thought I was a communist for several months. It was a phase. Anyway, Solly was taught to reject religion and the exploitation of the lower classes. At one point he gave the following speech to his peers,

The bourgeois keep the people in ignorance . . . encourage religious superstitions, and with the help of the popes, priests, and rabbis, they smother all revolutionary instinct . . . we call religion the opium of the masses

Then, after two years in Russia, Solly’s life was again turned upside down by the Germans. He was forced to flee the orphanage with his peers and instructors. As before, he was left behind by unfortunate circumstances. He was arrested by German soldiers, but, luckily, he managed to fool them into thinking he was a German boy forced to live in a Russian orphanage. He spoke German perfectly, and he easily befriended the German soldiers



He would spend years pretending to be a German adolescent. And he was eventually sent to Germany, where he was enrolled in one of Hitler’s Youth Schools, surrounded by people who hated all Jews. Things went from bad to worse. He was unable to make love to his girlfriend Leni (Julie Delpy), out of fear of being discovered. One look at his circumcised penis and that would be the end of poor Solly. At one point in the movie, Solly even tried tying his foreskin, to prevent it from slipping back. It was a very painful experience, but his attempt was not successful. Fortunately, he was eventually able to escape. He was reunited with his brother and they made their way to Israel.

This film motivated me to see other foreign films. In fact, at one point in the 90s, I foolishly told my friends that I would only see International films from that point forward. Almodovar! Bunuel! Fellini! And others, of course! Ah, I was very impressionable at that age.

Marco Hofschneider gave a solid performance that truly moved me. The film was based on the real life of Solomon Perel. Marco’s portrayal of Solly really affected me in a way that’s very difficult to articulate. Solly was forced to pretend to be something he wasn’t. He was forced to listen to lectures and read literature that praised the Nordic phenotype and belittled Jewish people and culture—his heritage.

Although I’ve never experienced anything like what the real life Solomon Perel had to endure, I connected with Hofschneider’s Solly. As a gay person, I spent many years pretending to be something I wasn’t. Even after I came to terms with my sexuality, I remained in the closet for many years. I was silent as the people around me made hateful comments about gays.

The great thing about Solomon’s story is that he survived; he somehow managed to overcome all that hardship and psychological stress. More importantly, his experience made him stronger. He was a fighter. I think I’m a lot like Solly. I grew up in a conservative community in Texas. But, just like Solly and many gay men and women around the world, I'm a fighter.

Eels, Fried Toes, and A False Testicle

Ah, Miami, so full of color, beautiful people, Latin rhythms, and all sorts of great stuff.



Yeah, I was all smiles as I sat on my sofa watching Top Chef on Wednesday. Well, the fine folks at Bravo somehow managed to change all of that. In fact, the show had a weird, negative vibe to it. Seriously, I started off with a smile on my face, but as soon as the show ended, I felt like I needed a hug (and some serious emotional support). Here are a few of things that made the show a tad weird/depressing:





The show started off with the cheftestants mingling in a room at Casa Casuarina, Gianni Versace’s former mansion. As soon as I found that out, my heart sank to the floor. Now, there’s nothing wrong with the place; it’s quite lovely. I’m talking about being reminded of Gianni’s untimely death. Yeah, what a sad story. Gianni was a great designer, and his life was cut short by some deranged killer. But, ok, we got to see clips of the mansion; so, that was nice. The Gianni thing made me a little less cheerful, but it was nothing major.


Then, we meet CJ, one of the cheftestants, and we learn a little more about him. Apparently, he’s a private chef and went that route because he was diagnosed with . . . cancer. And he has a false testicle. Fortunately, he’s in remission and seems to be doing just fine. However, things seemed to be getting more depressing by the minute. A few minutes earlier, I was reminded of Gianni Versace, and then I was reminded of a terrible disease like cancer; all of this within the first 10 minutes of the show. But I was fine, a lot less cheerful than before, but still fine.


After a less than impressive performance in the quickfire challenge, Clay, the Southern boy, talked about his father who was, according to Clay himself, a great chef. He wanted to make his father proud by winning the title of Top Chef. To be honest, I’m a sucker for that sort of thing. Then, Clay dropped the bomb—his father committed suicide. Talk about depressing, and if I had to guess, I'd say his father suffered from depression. It didn’t help that the camera kept following Clay around; I just knew this kid wasn’t going to last much longer. Ok, so the bad stuff just keeps getting worse: sad memories (Gianni’s death), cancer, suicide, and a Southern boy with an impossible dream. Could it get any worse?

Well, it didn’t get worse, but it certainly got . . . more interesting? The elimination challenge was something out of an Indiana Jones movie. Remember that one scene where a group of people are at a dinner table that’s embellished with snakes and even a monkey’s head at the center of the table. Ok, it wasn’t that bad; there wasn’t a monkey’s head in this episode of Top Chef, but I’m sure the producers thought about it. Anyway, for the elimination challenge, the cheftestants were asked to create a surf and turf entrée using proteins that most Americans would never even think of eating—snake, alligator, eel, and so on. I’ll stick with lobster and steak, thank you very much. I thought it was an interesting challenge, but that table looked like something straight out of Fear Factor. Seriously, I was expecting Joe Rogan to appear out of the blue. So, now, in addition to depressing memories, cancer, suicide, a Southern boy with an impossible dream, we add a whole table full of unappetizing raw proteins.

Ok, so maybe I was being a little too sensitive. The show wasn't that depressing. However, things in Bravo TV land have been quite depressing lately. Doug (Workout Season 2) passed away a few months ago, and that was sad. Kathy Griffin ended a bad marriage a few months ago, and we all know that her father died recently. I’m sorry, Bravo, but this is just too much. I’m not going to stop watching Bravo reality television; that was never an option, really. But I can only handle so much sadness and misery.

Fortunately, this episode of Top Chef wasn’t all sad memories and bad stuff. A lot of great and interesting stuff happened, too. And, there wasn't too much drama, which is usually a good thing. Right? It was all about the food.


Tom Colicchio never disappoints. As soon as he walked into that room at the Casa Casuarina, he summoned the cheftestants to gather around him like little school children eagerly awaiting instruction from a teacher. He reminded them that he is the head judge, which all of us know by now. Thanks for the reminder, Tom. You know, I’ve often wondered how many calories he consumes every season. Now, I love Tom; I really do. The guy is all man and he knows it. In fact, he adds some much needed masculinity to Bravo reality television. But Tom really needs to go to Los Angeles and get involved in Jackie Warner’s SkyLab project. We like our reality TV stars to be fit and trim. And standing next to Padma doesn’t make him look any better. Yeah, we’re shallow when it comes to that sort of thing.


Holy stereotypes! That’s all I can say. Clay, the Southern Boy with an impossible dream, brought his Southern charm, or whatever it is you want to call it, to the show. The best part was hearing him say, “I’m from Mississippi; pick it up and eat that son of a bitch. That’s the way I see it!” I’m sure his Southern drawl drove many Bravo viewers crazy. Some have probably never met a real, honest-to-goodness Southern boy. And, of course, what show would be complete without the stereotypical Italian-American. I must say, Joey wore his Italia shirt with pride. I suspect he doesn’t speak a word of Italian, but, hey, that’s none of my business. My favorite Joey moment was hearing him say, “I’m the biggest baddest mother fucker here, and I’m from New York. I came to kick ass.” Well said, Joey. Let’s hope you can live up to the hype.


And how lovely are the ladies this season? Ok, I left Sandee out. I’m sure she’s lovely in her own way, but she’s no match for Camille. I also like Sarah N. and Casey. Anyway, let’s hope these girls can really cook. Oh, I just noticed that I left out Lia; she’s also lovely. Sorry! However, the woman who really stood out this week was Micah. She’s one to watch. Of course, it’s too early to tell who the favorites are. But, honestly, I hope this year’s winner has two X chromosomes.


Hung! First, please get those dirty thoughts out of your head. Anyway, Hung is one confident (and obnoxious) man, almost as confident as his buddy Marcel. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have someone like Hung on the show. What would reality television be with the drama queen/instigator? Also, it appears that Hung is a pretty good chef. He certainly impressed guest judge Anthony Bourdain. It’s been suggested that Hung is this season’s gay villain. Please note that, according to Charlus, you don’t actually have to be gay to be the gay villain. And that actually makes a lot of sense.


So, the show ended with no real surprises. Tre won the elimination challenge and redeemed himself in the eyes of the judges. Hung came in a very close second. According to the judges, Tre’s dish (shown below) was very well executed, while Hung’s dish was excellent but lacked a little color.


There were some unforgettable moments. I loved Padma’s comment about how you could fry anything—even her toe—and it would taste good. Tom got a kick out of that comment. Anthony brought some fun to the table. He insulted the people of Cambodia and made a few snarky comments.

And, sadly, the Southern boy with an impossible dream was asked to pack his knives and go home. By then, I had already hit rock bottom; this just broke my heart even more. Thanks, Bravo! :( You know, clinical research has shown that depression in parents increases the risk of depression in their children. Suddenly, it seems like a bad idea to send Clay back home with a bunch of knives. We’ll miss you, Clay. Hang in there, partner!



For more Top Chef fun, please visit Blogging Top Chef.

A Story of Two Disillusioned Characters

I had a (heated) discussion with a friend the other day about The Office, an American remake of the original BBC comedy of the same name. I acknowledged that the American version is entertaining, thanks in large part to Steve Carell and a great cast. However, it is no match for the British version. My friend disagreed with me whole-heartedly. He just loves the American version and didn't quite enjoy the British one. Yes, the American version looks better and moves at a much faster pace, and, of course, it’s written with an American audience in mind. So, I guess I can understand why my friend and others prefer the American version. I, on the other hand, believe that nothing can top the BBC original.

Anyway, the one thing I love about both versions is the intelligent, rebellious, and unmotivated character that terrorizes one of his coworkers and fantasizes about the receptionist. Yep, I’m talking about Jim Halpert and Tim Canterbury.

Martin Freeman plays Tim Canterbury in the original series. Freeman is perfect as Tim. I sometimes question whether he’s even acting, but his performance is spot on. The show feels like a documentary, and Freeman works so well in that type of scenario. He’s cute, charming, and rebellious. I just love his scenes with Mackenzie Crook.



John Krasinski plays Jim Halpert in the American version. First, let me just say that I love John in this role. Krasinski is a bit more aggressive in his portrayal of Jim, but it’s still an effective performance. Interestingly, he retains some of the important traits of Tim Canterbury, but there are some big differences as well. Krasinski is taller, more attractive (I think), and younger than Martin Freeman, which make it a lot easier to love Jim Halpert.



Yes, I think John Krasinski is one hot disillusioned employee. I find him more attractive than Martin Freeman, who I think is cute in his own right. However, my all-time favorite man in this type of role is Ron Livingston in the movie Office Space. So, I hope you enjoyed these pictures. I’ll leave you with a video of both characters—Jim and Tim. God, I love these men!

Thanks For The Memories, Shear Genius

So, everyone’s favorite Bravo reality show Shear Genius has finally come to an end. If you’re looking for a recap of the finale, then you’re looking in the wrong place. If that's what you're looking for, then check out Eric’s hilarious recap on the Bravissimo blog. Good stuff!



Anyway, I’d like to share some of my general feelings and a few observations about the show. I think everyone in the blogosphere agrees that this show wasn’t your run-of-the-mill reality show. No! This show was all about the hair. There were, of course, a few bumps here and there. Some people seemed to lack interpersonal skills, while others were just plain weird. However, compared to other reality shows, this kind of stuff doesn’t qualify as drama. Although the whole Tabs vs. Tyson thing was kind of entertaining. Now, let’s scrutinize the geniuses and the judges.



Jaclyn Smith looked amazing on the finale. She was just radiant. And the woman is an excellent host/moderator. She was in control. She even contributed a few thoughtful comments during the deliberation in the finale. I think this was an educational experience for Jaclyn, too. Heidi Klum is no match for this angel. I’ll miss Jaclyn’s reactions to the stylists' odd behavior on the show. At first, I thought she just didn’t like interruptions. For example, she looked puzzled when Tabs started bashing Tyson. It was clear what Tabs was doing, but Jaclyn seemed disoriented. Was she expecting things to follow some sort of script? Was she looking for cue cards? It's a reality show, Jackie! I have no idea why you were surprised by a little drama. Sally, on the other hand, was all smiles. She loved the drama. Jaclyn also appeared moved by almost every loser’s goodbye speech; that was kind of cute. She would usually recover quickly and warn the stylists that any one of them could be next. Boy, she wasn’t kidding.



Is there anything cooler than Sally Hershberger? Well, yes—Tabs. But other than Tabs, no one can touch Sally. Yes, Sally was my favorite judge, and I’m not just saying that because she got to touch Meg Ryan’s head. Sally’s flat affect and use of the word “yummy” during the finale have earned her the title of coolest judge ever. It’s hard to be cool, but Sally makes it look so easy. Nina Garcia who?

My mind draws a blank when I try to think of good things to say about Michael Carl. I never really cared for the guy. Interestingly, He (and Sally) seemed a bit sedated during the finale. Hm, I guess Vidal’s presence really affected everyone on the show. They were all on their best behavior. Actually, the week before the finale, I remember thinking that Michael wasn’t too happy with Ben, and it showed during the finale. His embryo comment was just vicious. Was that really necessary, Michael? Come on. Ben is so harmless. I guess he felt the need to bitch slap Ben one last time just for old time’s sake.



If you’ve been reading my blog for the past few weeks, then you should know that I think the world of Tabatha Coffey. She’s a confident woman who doesn’t take bs from anyone. She has an aggressive personality and her hair styles were consistently hard-edged throughout the show. She gets extra points for being a lesbian. Hey, this is a gay blog, not as GAY as some other blogs, but gay nonetheless. Anyway, click here if you want to read an older post I dedicated to the hair witch (Tabs). I think I was sleep deprived when I wrote it. That actually explains a lot. Long live Tabs!



Daisy was a joy to watch every week. The Hialeah Sound Machine never apologized for being herself, and, of course, she shouldn’t. She’s loud; she’s Cuban; she’s queer; and she’s proud! Amen to that! I thought she was going to play it safe for the finale, but she did the exact opposite. She went nuts. I appreciate that fact that she did something different. However, it didn’t work out for her, and that's a shame. Also, I find it interesting that they were able to find two lesbian stylists to participate in the show. I guess there are more lesbian hairdressers out there than most would think.



I had a love/hate relationship with Ben throughout the show. This rocker from Illinois turned out to be the biggest sweetheart. I’m sure he can fight with the best of them, but he was a total gentleman from the start. He’s also quite the little sponge; yes, he’s a fast learner and that made all the difference in some of the challenges. Also, he was eager to please his clients and the judges, and that surely helped him make it to the final. Although I like Ben, I have to admit that I wasn’t pleased that he made it as far as he did. He’s one lucky guy. However, he did well in the finale. Oh, and how hot did he look throughout the final episode?



Anthony established himself as a contender from the start. He didn’t impress me all that much, but he did produce some consistently acceptable styles. And he saved the best for last. The judges made the right call by naming him the winner of the first season of Shear Genius. Ben’s inexperience and Daisy’s lack of time management (and foresight) helped Anthony secure the win. His precision cuts were very good.



So, I guess this is my last Shear Genius (season 1) post. It was fun watching the show and reading other blogs. And even though Rene didn’t really do much on the show, I will miss seeing his gorgeous face every Wednesday night. Now, it’s time to get ready for Top Chef 3. Yes!

Jane Fonda Rules

I have no idea why I subjected my eyes and brain to a film like Georgia Rule. It's possible that I just can't get enough of Jane Fonda. She's the main reason I decided to watch the film, really. I also had high hopes for Lindsay Lohan. I'm not a die-hard Lindsay fan--far from it, actually, but I acknowledge that the girl has talent. Also, the director, Garry Marshall, has directed some good movies in the past. So, I was optimistic that his newest offering would be entertaining. I had high hopes.

Well, so much for hope. I'm sure some people found this film entertaining. I was entertained at times. I particularly enjoyed seeing Dermot Mulroney on the big screen. Fonda and Huffman delivered good performances, and Lindsay was just . . . well, playing herself. Seriously, I'd appreciate a little effort next time, Lindsay. Anyway, for the most part, this film felt like a complete waste of time. It deals with a controversial topic that requires special handling. In fact, if handled just the right way, the results could have been very different. Marshall was clearly in way over his head with this project.

Fortunately, there is some good news. Jane Fonda appeared on different talk shows to promote her new movie. Yes, thanks to Georgie Rule, we get to see more of Fonda for a few weeks. Below is a clip of Fonda on the Colbert Report. Priceless!

Long Live Japanese Beauty

Hey, Marius, I heard you watched the 56th annual Miss Universe Pageant on Monday. Were the ethnic festivities to your liking? Oh, and one more thing, if you wanna make it right? Then when you go to Nationals... bring it.

Yes, Gabrielle Union, I really enjoyed the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. Of course, I love pageants. Thanks for asking. Also, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Nationals? Hm, you must have me confused with Kirsten Dunst.

Anyway, I think what the lovely Ms. Union was trying to say is: it sucked to be a white woman in the Miss Universe Pageant this year. That is, delegates of (mostly) European descent, if you don’t count some of the Hispanic women, didn’t do so well this year. Problems started when Miss Sweden decided to drop out of the competition. This was a big blow for Europe, as Sweden was a pageant powerhouse for many years, winning the MU crown on three occasions. And although Sweden is no longer the pageant powerhouse that it was back in the day, Swedish delegates always seem to perform well at the Miss Universe Pageant.



At the outset, four European women made it to the top 15. The show started with the swimsuit presentation, and Tjasa Kokalj, Miss Slovenia, lead the way. Lucie Hadasova, Miss Czech Republic; Zaklina Sojic, Miss Denmark; and Lyudmilla Bikmullina, Miss Ukraine were the remaining three. Unfortunately, all 4 of these delegates, as well as Farung Yuthithum, Miss Thailand, failed to move on to the next round—the top 10.





This year was full of surprises. In fact, only four Latin delegates made it to the top 15. Fortunately, all of them also placed in the top 10. They were Natalia Guimaraes (Brazil), Ly Jonaitis (Venezuela), Rosa Maria Ojeda (Mexico), and Xiomara Blandino (Nicaragua). Of these four delegates, Brazil and Venezuela were clearly the judges’ favorites. Asia was well represented by Riyo Mori (Japan), Honey Lee (Korea), Puja Gupta (India), and Farung Yuthithum (Thailand), who was the only delegate who didn’t place in the top 10. Rachel Smith (USA) looked amazing and easily advanced to the top 10 group. Africa was represented by two amazing delegates—Flaviana Matata (Tanzania) and Micaela Reis (Angola). The judges loved these African beauties and they made it to the top 10.



Brazil looked sensational in her swimsuit, and the judges awarded her the second highest score. Interestingly, she reminded me a lot of Rafeala Zanella, last year’s Miss Brazil. Rafeala made it to the top 15, but didn’t impress the judges. Although Natalia looked a little like Rafeala, she was clearly a stronger delegate. She’s more sensual and has a body to die for.



However, the judges awarded the highest score to Japan’s Riyo Mori. Riyo isn’t as curvaceous as Natalia, but her thinner body was well proportioned and almost flawless. She narrowly defeated Natalia by delivering a phenomenal catwalk performance. This dancer turned beauty queen sure knows how to work it.



The one thing that really bugged me was that the judges were just all over the place with their scores. They disliked delegates who, on the surface, seemed very similar to other delegates they seemed to like a lot. For example, they weren’t crazy about Thailand, but they sure did love Korea. The judges also had some unusual preferences. They weren’t too crazy about Mexico or India, but they did love Tanzania, who had obvious flaws that the judges seemed to overlook. Mexico performed much better than Tanzania, but the judges consistently gave Mexico lower scores.

The evening gown presentation is my favorite part of the night. Mexico picked a red gown that showed off her fantastic body. She simply had an unconventional beauty that doesn’t sit well with judges. I’m not surprised she didn’t make it to the top 5. Unlike Mexico, Angola had a fighting chance. She looked lovely, and she delivered a solid performance. However, the judges weren’t as impressed as I was.


Miss USA looked radiant in her black gown, a better choice than the gown she wore for the Miss USA pageant. Unfortunately, that special moment was cut short when she slipped and fell on her tush. My heart almost stopped. I was worried that that would decrease her chances of placing in the top 5. It didn’t! She recovered nicely and managed to place in the top 5 by the skin of her teeth.



I wasn’t surprised that Korea and Venezuela made it to the next round (top 5). Interestingly, Korea reminded me of Laura Elizondo, Miss Mexico 2004. Both women seemed unstoppable at first. They could do no wrong. The judges just loved them. To be honest, Korea’s hip-to-waist ratio just seemed off the mark. I thought this flaw would keep her from advancing to the top 5. However, the judges were just hypnotized by her beauty. Yes, much like Laura before her, Honey’s striking beauty was her ticket to the top 5. Venezuela delivered a strong performance; no surprise there. I wasn’t crazy about her gown, but she looked fabulous. The judges also gave her one of the highest scores and she made it to the top 5.



Riyo (Japan) wore a lovely Gucci gown. The judges gave her a somewhat lower score, but she delivered another great performance. Her confidence set her apart from the other delegate. She just has such a commanding presence. She placed in the top 5 and proved, once again, that Japan is slowly but surely becoming a pageant powerhouse.



But the star in evening gown was without a doubt Brazil. Natalia was perfection. She looked gorgeous—just the right amount of sensuality, beauty, and glamour. Although she lacked Japan’s aggression, she delivered a performance that was flirtatious and effective. She earned the highest score in the evening gown competition.



The final five—Venezuela, Korea, Brazil, USA, and Japan—all deserved to be in the top 5. I was disappointed with last year’s top 5. And this year, I think Angola should have been given a shot, but, I guess she just didn’t wow the judges enough. USA was asked a fair question and she delivered a good answer. However, she clearly wasn’t one of the judges’ favorites. She ended the evening as 4th runner-up. I had predicted that she would dominate the pageant, like she did a few months ago in the Miss USA pageant. I was wrong. Korea was asked a silly final question, and I’m sure that hurt her chances of winning the crown. However, I was expecting more from Honey. I was disappointed. The judges awarded her the 3rd runner-up position. Interestingly, Laura Elizondo was also the 3rd-runner up in 04. Venezuela delivered a strong performance throughout. Her final question was reasonable and her answer was good. However, Venezuela usually sends delegates that are well prepared and kind of superficial. Ly had pageant pattie written all over her face, and I’m sure that hurt her chances of winning the crown. She ended the evening as 2nd runner-up. Brazil really did an exceptional job this year. She answered her question without any hesitation. It just didn’t seem possible for any of the other delegates to top her final answer. Well, it was possible and it happened. The moment Riyo opened her mouth it became clear that she wasn’t going down without a fight. Like Natalia, Riyo answered her question without flinching. However, she answered her question with a confidence that impressed the audience and, more importantly, the judges. She was also quite unconventional, a personality trait that earned Kurara Chibana, last year’s Miss Japan, the first runner-up position. Well, Riyo managed to win over the judges and she became the second Japanese woman in history to win the Miss Universe crown.



Some bloggers and pageant aficionados have made some very negative comments about Riyo. They’ve said that she didn’t deserve the crown, while others believe that Kurara was more deserving. And, of course, many were not pleased that Brazil’s textbook performance was not rewarded by the judges. Clearly, Brazil did everything right. She was flawless. However, I think Riyo deserved the crown. She wasn’t my favorite delegate, but her unconventional performance and impressive confidence won me over. There are plenty of pageant patties in the world of beauty pageants. That's for sure. What we need is more women like Riyo who have beauty, brains, and real personality.

The Hershberger School of Coolness

You might be gay if . . . you’re a guy who loves to blog about Shear Genius and beauty pageants. You might be a redneck if . . . oh, go ask Jeff Foxworthy.

Anyway, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I’d like to discuss everybody’s favorite reality show Shear Genius. Fortunately, life after Tabs isn’t as bad as I thought it would be; as they say, life goes on. Of course, now that Tabs is no longer in the picture, I have to come up with new material (thanks a lot judges). So, I’ve decided to focus my energies on the great Sally Hershberger. She’s a fascinating woman. In fact, she’s one of the most influential stylists in the entertainment industry. How do you like them apples?



The one thing I love about Sally is that she is well aware of her coolness. She’s mingled with people that Andre Leon Talley would call Hollywood royalty. She’s worked with great photographers. She’s done it all. Now, she’s a member of Bravo Reality Television, an institution that has been entertaining gay men and fabulous people for the past few years. Hm, I guess Bravo could be thought of as a University: Bravo University, to be exact. And like other institutions, it is made up of different departments and schools. The department of Health and Fitness is headed by Jackie Warner. The dean of the School of Fashion and impeccable taste is Tim Gunn, of course. But there’s another school that doesn’t receive much funding or attention: the Hershberger School of Coolness.

Yes, Sally is the dean of this often overlooked school. She usually shows up (fashionably) late to meetings. Her staff can’t stand her. She makes unreasonable demands on her students—like forcing them to take a course on the influence of the shag on Western Civilization. Sally is misunderstood. It’s not easy being cool. Oh, and we'll pretend like she didn't show up to the reunion special looking like a mere mortal.

Now, let’s talk about the stylists.

Tyson


Tyson is one confident person. Yes he is! He’s clearly a talented stylist, and he was one of the favorites before he was cut. It’s fun to watch Tyson work. He’s fast and efficient. He starts off with an idea and works hard to realize it. I’d say he produced some of the most impressive styles on the show. Unfortunately, the trait that made him so successful is the same trait that got him eliminated. When he has an idea, he works like a mad scientist to create something beautiful. The problem is . . . he doesn’t always produce something great. He can’t seem to break away from this very narrow-minded approach. So, at times, his approach produces something impressive, but it can also produce total crap.

Tabatha


Yeah, she’s been called a bitch and a bully, but this woman is talented and she’s officially the fan favorite. It’s hard to be objective when it comes to Tabs, but I’ll give it a shot. Tabs is an experienced stylist, and she rarely loses her cool. She works at a steady pace and knows what she’s doing. In the first episode, her style was one of the best; it was actually my favorite. Tabs is an aggressive person and that comes across in her styles. As Michael Carl would say, her styles have a hard-edge—she was a punk back in the day for crying out loud. Unfortunately, she seems to lack versatility. Seriously, don’t let this woman do wedding hair. She just doesn’t care to create anything beautiful. Another thing I noticed about Tabs is that she was becoming terribly predictable. Some of her styles looked cold and calculated; we were never wowed by most of her styles. Her best trait was her nonconformity and hard-edge, but that never really came through—we only got what appeared to be approximations of what a hard-edge style should be. It’s a shame because we know she’s capable of doing better.

Dr. Boogie


I hate to say it, but I think Boogie never seemed motivated to evolve or improve as a stylist. It’s one thing to be at the top of one’s game, where success has already been achieved. But Boogie is far from being a phenomenal stylist. He sure loves to remind us that he’s great, but actions speak louder than words. I do give him credit for having a vision and sticking to it. He’s an experienced stylist, as evidenced by his good time management skills. So, he obviously knows what he’s doing and I applaud that. His biggest problem on the show was that he approached almost every challenge like it was business as usual. It just seemed like he was styling some random clients hair at some salon. He never wowed the judges (or the viewers). I never got the sense that he wanted to improve. He was pretty satisfied with everything he did. And that was his downfall.

Ben


Oh, Ben. Sweet, Ben. First, let me just say that I like Ben. In fact, I’m kind of happy that he’s made it this far. His family must be thrilled. He’s just a sweet person, and I’m sure Bravo viewers are tickled pink that he made it to the final. It’s always nice when good things happen to good people. Ok, now it’s time to break this down objectively (no heart, just brains!). Ben is by far the luckiest person in the competition. He’s created some of the worst styles and he’s still around. Why? Well, he’s one lucky guy; there was always someone—just one person—who sucked just a little bit more. Now, to be fair, Ben has some great qualities. For example, like Tabatha, he prefers styles that have a hard-edge. He’s also like a sponge; show him something once and he'll emulate it perfectly. He’s very observant and eager to please his clients (and the judges). That’s important! Ben’s biggest problem is his lack of experience. He tends to take a passive approach when it comes to working with other people. But his biggest weakness is his lack of vision. Michael Kors and Nina Garcia once described the winner of the first season of project runway, Jay McCarroll, as having an innate creativity. Ben, on the other hand, seems to lack this innate creativity. He’s good at emulating others, but he seems to work with no direction in mind. Sometimes that works, but most of the time it just doesn’t. He needs to stop looking for guidance from other people and start thinking for himself.

Anthony


Anthony is another nice guy. Actually, they’re all really nice people. It’s enough to make any normal person sick. I’m just kidding. Remember . . .good things . . . good people. Anyway, Anthony is the most experienced of the three remaining stylists. But his biggest asset is his versatility. Yes, he can create beautiful styles, but he’s also capable of creating styles that are somewhat edgy and “fashion forward.” Honestly, that alone makes him the front-runner. I also like the fact that he works with a clear direction in mind. He seems to have vision. However, it’s not going to be a walk in the park for Anthony. His styles always seem to lack something, and that can be a problem. What good is vision if you can’t deliver the final product! I’m sorry, but approximations aren’t going to guarantee you the win; just ask Tabatha.

Daisy


I think everyone in the blogosphere wants Daisy to win. Yes, my heart also belongs to Daisy (aka the Hialeah Sound Machine). From the moment Daisy looks at her client’s hair, her brain, hands, and mouth just go crazy. She’s a woman on a mission. I just love watching her work. She describes what she plans to do and then starts moving at a pace that even the road runner would envy. Like Anthony, Daisy has vision and then some. The one thing about Daisy I love is that most of her styles just look . . . complete. And that’s very satisfying. She creates some very nice styles, as well as some styles that are just amazing—she and Anthony hit a home run in the bridal hair challenge. However, for the most part, her styles just don’t seem good enough to be in the types of fashion magazines that Sally and Michael Carl probably swear by. And we all know that Sally hates it when people play it safe. Daisy needs to keep that in mind if she wants to win.

Now, let’s talk about the judges.


Sally Hershberger

Sally is the easiest to read. She’s like an open book. I have a feeling she’s rooting for Ben. Remember, Ben now knows how to do the shag, and, of course, Sally noticed. Sally is all about being edgy and cool, and Ben is one cool guy. So, he gets extra points for that. Ben also has another thing going for him; he never plays it safe. He doesn’t know how to. Seriously, if you lack vision and direction, it’s hard to create something that’s nice and . . . safe. He usually ends up creating crap or something edgy and very rock star-ish. So, I think if lady luck is on Ben’s side, he’ll win Sally’s vote. Anthony can also pull through and earn Sally’s respect and support. He just needs to wow the judges for a change. Daisy is probably Sally’s least favorite of the three. She’ll need to create a work of art or the other two will have to create crap on a head in order to win Sally’s vote. Let’s face it; in Sally’s world, Daisy always seems to play it safe!

Michael Carl

Ok, Michael Carl isn’t an open book. Actually, one thing seems very clear: Ben’s not on his good side. While everyone was raving about Ben’s hair last week, Michael provided the dissenting voice. Interesting. If I had to guess, I’d say that Ben is his least favorite of the three. He seems to like Daisy a lot, but I’m going to guess that Anthony’s versatility will win him over. However, if Anthony fails to really deliver, Daisy’s professionalism and ability to create a finished look may guarantee her the win.

Jaclyn Smith

Ok, I need help with this one. I don’t know what’s going on in Jackie’s head. I suspect she’s not Ben’s biggest fan, although she does seem to enjoy his fun personality. Whether or not she prefers Daisy over Anthony is hard to tell. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s rooting for Daisy, who is professional and consistently performs well. However, Anthony is also talented, and I can totally see him creating a style that could easily please the beautiful former Angel.

So, I’ll conclude by saying that I have no idea what to expect on Wednesday. By the way, if you disagree with my reasoning here, please let me know. Anyway, if Ben manages to pull himself together and create a style that’s original and hard-edged, then he will probably win Sally’s support and everything else will fall into place for him. Anthony needs to show the judges that he’s the most versatile of the three. He can win this thing by actually creating something that looks finished. Approximations just aren’t going to cut it anymore. Daisy, of course, has what it takes to win. However, her win will be highly dependent on Ben’s luck and Anthony’s performance. She’s been very consistent thus far, and I don’t know if she can actually do any better. It truly is anyone’s game.

Miss Universe: True Beauty Queens

Don’t forget to mark your calendars. The 2007 Miss Universe pageant will be televised live from Mexico City (on NBC) on Monday, May 28th—that’s just around the corner. Latin hunk Mario Lopez and the lovely Vanessa Minnillo will host this annual celebration of . . . beauty or whatever it is you want to call it. I love Mario, but I’m a little disappointed that Carson Kressley and Shandy Finnesey won’t be participating. Seriously, they were awesome last year.

So, this is my BIG post—my final predictions for the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. As I mentioned before, my predictions are based on a number of factors, including past delegates and current trends.


Rosa Maria Ojeda, Miss Mexico 2007, is one of the favorites, and for good reason. She’s one of the strongest delegates. She’s not drop dead gorgeous like Russia or Greece. However, she’s very pretty and seems like a sweet, down to Earth person, which should help her win over the judges. Rosa has an amazing body, and she knows how to work it. She has it all. I predict she will make it to the semi-finals (top 10), and she should have no problem placing in the top 5. It’s hard to say whether she really has a shot at winning the crown. She’s not as polished as Venezuela and she lacks USA’s powerful presence, but she’s a strong delegate. As mentioned before, her biggest rivals are going to be Spain and Russia. If she manages to place in the top 5, I think she’ll end up as 3rd or 4th runner-up.


Doukissa Nomikou, Miss Greece 2007, is the woman to beat; well, that’s what many bloggers and pageant aficionados seem to think. I predict she’ll place in the top 5. There are two things working in her favor: she’s gorgeous and sexy. And she has a lovely figure. Yep, I’m sure she’ll place in the top 5. However, I don’t think she’ll win the crown. She certainly has what it takes and her chances are better than Mexico’s, but USA and Venezuela aren’t going down without a fight. I think she’ll end up as 3rd runner-up, but the 1st or 2nd runner-up positions are not out of reach for her.


Honey Lee, Miss Korea 2007, deserves to be on this list. Opinions vary, but it’s safe to say that she’s one of the strongest Asian delegates. Japan has been receiving a lot of attention lately, but my vote is still for Honey. I predict she will make it to the semi-finals (top 10), and I’m cautiously optimistic that she’ll place in the top 5. She has strong communication skills, an understated confidence that’s charming, and a natural beauty. She is the epitome of femininity. Honestly, I think she deserves the Miss Universe crown, and it is within her reach. However, I predict that she will end up as 1st or 2nd runner-up. Let’s face it; Asian delegates aren’t always evaluated fairly. If Honey wins the crown, I will be one happy camper.


Ly Jonaitis, Miss Venezuela 2007, is the queen of the pageant patties. In a world devoid of subjective feeling, Ly could easily win the Miss Universe crown. However, we don’t live in such a world; the real world is very different. Ly is a very impressive delegate—great body, beautiful, and sexy. But she isn’t really unique, which makes sense because pageant patties are all very similar. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. She can easily win the crown, but I predict that she will be the 1st runner-up. Of course, some pageant aficionados are worried that Ly will fade into obscurity just like some of her predecessors. To be honest, Venezuela hasn’t been doing well these past few years. I think Ly will turn things around for Venezuela. If she falters like Monica Spear in 04, she’ll leave the door wide open for Korea, Greece, and Mexico.


Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007, has been losing support among bloggers and pageant aficionados these past few days. She’s not as photogenic as some of the other delegates, and some people think she’s just not as attractive as the other women on this list. She does have some qualities that are undeniable. For example, she has the perfect figure—just lovely. And although she lacks maturity, she’s a confident speaker. However, she has a secret weapon that very few delegates have—stage presence. This quality sets her apart from the rest. Alicia Machado had that same quality, and she easily took home the Miss Universe crown in 96. I predict Rachel will dominate this year, much like Alicia did in 96.

I wish I had detailed information about the judges—about their likes and dislikes. That would be very helpful. Now, all we can do is wait for the big night. In one week, 77 delegates will compete for the coveted Miss Universe crown. My personal favorite is Miss Spain; she is amazing. I have a gut feeling she will place in the top 5 by displacing Mexico, Greece, or Korea. Does she have what it takes to win the crown? We’ll have to wait and see. Miss Mexico has a killer body and a lovely face; she’s one the strongest delegates. I don’t think she’ll win the crown but she will surely deliver a strong performance. Korea may surprise everyone and steal the show; she’s one to watch. Greece will probably place in the top 5. She’s just gorgeous. Finally, although I think Miss USA will win the crown, Venezuela will challenge her to the very end. This promises to be an interesting year for the Miss Universe organization.

I’ll post a recap of the final some time after Monday, May 28th. If you enjoyed this post, you may want to check out some of my other MU posts:
Beauties with Great Potential
Magnificent Beauties (Top 10)

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DELEGATE!

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE DELEGATES (VIDEO)!

Miss Universe 2007: Magnificent Beauties

In the previous post, I listed the delegates I think have a good chance of making it to the finals of the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. This post is all about winners. Yes, the women listed here are simply magnificent for various reasons. I think most should make it to the finals (top 15) without even trying. I predict these women will also make it to the semi-finals (top 10), but it’s not going to be a walk in the park for some of these girls.


I know what you’re thinking; what is Eileen Roca Torralvo, Miss Colombia 2007, doing on this list? Actually, she was on my previous list of delegates with potential, but there’s something about her that screams beauty queen. She is the perfect South American beauty. In fact, she reminds me a lot of past Venezuelan beauties, and that’s why she’s on this list. She’s not a favorite among bloggers or pageant aficionados, but I think she will do very well. Again, she’s a great pageant pattie, and I hope she does well. Unfortunately, she’s not the greatest speaker, and that can be a problem. So, I predict she’ll make it to the finals, and I am cautiously optimistic that she will also be one of the semi-finalists. However, if she fails to impress the judges, she’ll leave the door wide open for South Africa and Brazil. I doubt she’ll win the crown. If she ends up in the top 5, I’ll be surprised. Clearly, Eileen is the weakest delegate on this list.


At first, I thought Teodora Marcic, Miss Serbia 2007, was just like South Africa, Slovenia, and Estonia—just another blond beauty. However, there’s something about her that makes her stand out. She’s confident, that’s one reason, but the thing I love most about her is that, unlike most of the other delegates, she doesn’t feel the need to laugh uncontrollably like a school girl—like Miss Slovenia. I’m not saying she’s the best speaker. I’m just saying that she will easily make it to the finals (top 15), and I predict she will be a semi-finalist (top 10). Although Teodora has a better shot than Miss Colombia, she’s still vulnerable. I doubt she’ll place in the top 5.


Flaviana Matata, Miss Tanzania 2007, has a smile that just lights up any room. She’s a natural (unadulterated) beauty that will win over the judges. I think she’ll make it to the finals (top 15), and, of course, she deserves a spot in the semi-finals (top 10). I can’t say she deserves a spot in the top 5. I think she can do it, but there are a number of things that may work against her. She’s not as polished as some of the other delegates, and she lacks experience. Seriously, she’s no match for women like Venezuela and Dominican Republic. These women know exactly what to say and do to win any crown. Flaviana will probably win over the judges with her exotic beauty at the outset, but her chances of winning the crown are slim.


Tatiana Kotova, Miss Russia 2007, is gorgeous. She’s not just beautiful and photogenic; she’s the type of woman who stops traffic. She looks a little like Michelle Pfeiffer. I predict she will be a semi-finalist (top 10). I’m not sure if she has what it takes to place in the top 5. She looks wonderful in her evening gown, but she doesn’t have a killer body. That’s her biggest weakness. If she ends up in the top 5, which is not beyond her reach, her chances of winning the crown are not very good. Tatiana may be a stunning woman, but she’s not a great speaker.


Natalia Zabala Arroyo, Miss Spain 2007, is my personal favorite. If I ruled the world, I would personally place the tiara on her beautiful head and declare her woman of the year—Miss Universe 2007. Natalia is a great representative of Iberian beauty. She stands out for several reasons. I think she’s very photogenic, as are other girls, of course. But she’s special in other ways. She doesn’t look or act like most of the other women. She’s poised and confident; not the greatest speaker but effective. And her biggest strength is her presence—just looking at her one gets the impression that she’s a cultured woman. That has to count for something. Unfortunately, like Miss Russia, she doesn’t have the best body. I predict she will be a semi-finalist (top 10). She definitely has what it takes to place in the top 5 (and maybe even win the crown), but it won’t be easy. Russia and Mexico will be her biggest rivals.

These are some of my predictions for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant. I’m working on one more post—it’s the big one. My predictions are based on a number of factors, including past finalists and current trends. But the truth of the matter is that everything depends on the judges. Their collective tastes and dislikes will decide who will go home with the crown. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to post this stuff. Well, I actually enjoy sharing my thoughts with people who love beauty pageants. So, that’s why I’m posting this.

I’ll post a recap of the final some time after Monday, May 28th. If you liked this post, you may want to check out some of my other MU posts:
Beauties with Great Potential
True Beauty Queens (Final Predictions)

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DELEGATE!

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE DELEGATES (VIDEO)!

Miss Universe 2007: Beauties with Great Potential

This year, the Miss Universe organization has decided to select 15 finalists for the big night. After much deliberation, I’ve managed to generate a list of delegates that I think have a shot at making it to the finals. It wasn’t an easy task, but someone had to do it.


I wish I could tell you that Puja Gupta, Miss India 2007, will be one of the finalists. India always sends impressive women to international pageants. Unfortunately, Puja isn’t one of the favorites. I like Puja because she’s an intelligent woman, and I think delegates should get extra points for being smarter than the average pageant pattie. Of course, that doesn’t usually happen; there’s a reason these contests are called beauty pageants. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if she makes it to the finals.


I must say, Japan has hit a home run again. Ines Ligron deserves a raise. Riyo Mori, Miss Japan 2007, is a lovely delegate. She’s very photogenic, and it’s tempting to say that she will be one of the 15 finalists. However, I can’t say that with much confidence. She’s no Kurara Chibana. Now, if she delivers a killer catwalk performance, I think her chances increase exponentially. I wish her the best.


Let me just start by saying that I am not a fan of Uma Blasini, Miss Puerto Rico 2007. No I am not! She’s not very photogenic. She kind of looks anemic. And there’s nothing really special about her—she doesn’t seem to stand out in any way. Well, that’s not entirely true; she is one of the tallest delegates. At first, I was going to exclude her from this list, but then a little voice in my head kept saying, “never under estimate the power of the boricua!” Yes, the small Island nation of Puerto Rico has become a pageant powerhouse. I should also note that Uma seems to be a very outgoing and secure young woman. She may win over the preliminary judges and secure a spot in the top 15. I doubt that will happen, but it’s possible.


Natalia Guimaraes, Miss Brazil 2007, reminds me of Rafeala Zanella, last year’s Miss Brazil. Rafeala made it to the finals in 06, but she wasn’t able to secure a spot in the top 10. I like Natalia, and I have a strong feeling she will be one of the finalists. The big question is: does she have what it takes to make it to the semi-finals. She clearly has potential, but she’s going to have to deliver a performance of a lifetime to wow the judges.


Massiel Taveras, Miss Dominican Republic 2007, has a lot going for her. She’s an attractive woman who has a very nice figure. But, to be honest, she’s not one of my favorites. However, two things seem to be working in her favor. Dominican women have been doing very well in international pageants for the past few years. Massiel is a confident speaker, and I’m sure the judges will notice that. In fact, I think she is the perfect pageant pattie. Unfortunately, there’s nothing particularly great about her.


Tjasa Kokalj, Miss Slovenia 2007, is a beautiful woman. There’s no doubt about that. I think she deserves to be a finalist. However, there’s one thing that bugs me about this lovely gal. She’s not a very impressive speaker. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up annoying half of the judges. She’s not very energetic; she’s just . . . there, taking up space. I really like this girl, but she needs to get with the program.


Viktoria Azovskaja, Miss Estonia 2007, is also a lovely woman. She’s not as stunning as Tjasa. Nor does she have Riyo Mori’s natural beauty. The one thing I love about Viktoria is her understated confidence. And I think that makes her special. Let’s hope the judges agree and give her a spot in the finals.


Megan Coleman, Miss South Africa 2007, is very photogenic and she has an amazing body. This woman has what it takes to make it to the finals. She’s not one of my favorites, but she’s definitely one to watch. I suspect she’ll impress the judges. She may even have a shot at making it to the semi-finals.

I’ll conclude this post by saying that these women are all lovely. However, I don’t think any of them have what it takes to win the coveted Miss Universe crown.

I’ll post a recap of the final some time after Monday, May 28th. If you liked this post, you may want to check out some of my other MU posts:

Magnificent Beauties (Top 10)
True Beauty Queens (Final Predictions)

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DELEGATE!


CLICK HERE TO MEET THE DELEGATES (VIDEO)!

Spider-man 3, Symbiotic Organisms, and Kelp Shakes

Beware of Spoilers!

A lot has been said about Sam Raimi’s Spider-man 3—too many villains and subplots, as well as other problems. Yes, I think most would agree that Spider-man 2 is far superior to Raimi’s third Spidey film. And, as some have suggested, that isn’t surprising; how do you top Spider-man 2? Personally, I don’t think the film was a total disaster. I wasn’t blown away, but I was entertained. Anyway, I’m not going to repeat what others have said about the film. Instead, I’d like to talk about . . . hair! No, I’m not kidding.

In Spidey 3, Peter Parker comes into contact with some black substance from outer space. What is it? I have no idea. As MarryAnn Johanson would say, it’s just comic book science. I guess we don’t question this sort of thing. Anyway, this symbiote wraps itself around an unsuspecting host and turns it black (of course). It also seems to influence the host’s personality (and not in a good way). Yep, Peter wears his new black suit and loses himself in the process. He flirts with the dark side and does some pretty nasty things to his friends. So, I guess this symbiote increases aggression, decreases inhibitions, and makes the host act like an asshole. The dark side is one scary place.



Now, let’s talk about hair. Yes, the first thing Peter changed was his hair style. It was kind of silly, but it makes total sense. As Peter Parker, the good boy, he would usually go with a pretty traditional style—looks a lot like the Princeton, a very clean-cut look that screams White Boy. Ah, but the Princeton is not appropriate for the dark side. No! Peter needed a drastic change that would coincide with his new (evil) persona. So, he went with . . . bangs?!? Hm, I guess that’ll work. Maybe it’s comic book science. Who knows?

Tobey McGuire’s character isn’t the first person to venture into the dark side. In 1963, Jerry Lewis starred in the delightfully entertaining film The Nutty Professor. This movie was great. Lewis delivered a great comedic performance, and Stella Stevens was perfect as Miss Purdy.



In the movie, the clueless chemist, professor Kelp, created a potion that completely changed him from a nerdy scientist to an attractive playboy (Buddy Love). Interestingly, his little potion also made him a good dancer and musician. So, the symbiotic organism from outer space makes you an asshole, but Kelp’s wacky potion does that and more! I’d like to order a Kelp shake please, but go easy on the asshole. As in Spidey 3, Kelp’s transformation wasn’t complete without a new hair hairstyle. Kelp’s hair was clean-cut and natural; it was the kind of style preferred by conservative business men in the 60s (or so I've read). Buddy Love, on the other hand, loves hair products. His hair style was a classic taper that was messier, more modern. Honestly, it wasn’t much different, but it was effective. We got the point: Buddy Love is a bad ass.

Musicians are just as vulnerable as actors. Garth Brooks also flirted with the dark side (check out his pic).



In the late 90s, this Country Music Superstar decided to release an album as his alter-ego Chris Gaines. Yep, before Peter Parker experimented with bangs, Garth had been there and done that. I’m not sure what possessed him to attempt such a bold career move. Was it some black substance from outer space? Or one of those awesome Kelp shakes, perhaps? I have no idea. I’m sure his fans were just as puzzled as I am to this very day.

So, I guess the take home message is never underestimate the power of (superficial) change. When we’re getting ready to go out to a club, bar, social event, or whatever, we usually dress to impress. Some people spend hours in front of the mirror trying to achieve the perfect “look.” In our minds, that “look” conveys a message. Some people want a style that says, “hi, I’m single and looking for action.” Other styles convey a different message, “hi, I’m responsible and intelligent; please give me a raise.” Of course, these changes are superficial, and, most of the time, our behavior stays pretty much the same. To an outside observer, a hairstyle change doesn’t seem to do much. However, to the person who styles his or her hair before some important event, a change can energize and sometimes change our disposition. By the way, I’ve experimented with bangs and still do from time to time! But don’t worry; I usually go with a Ceasar or my version of the Princeton. I rarely go the dark side.

Childhood Memories and Great Movies

Nathaniel, I accept your blogging challenge. First, let me point out that I’m not a film critic (obviously). I do, however, enjoy good movies, particularly films that make you think. Anyway, here are a few films that I truly enjoyed as a child and adolescent.


Jaws (1975)
This Spielberg film is a masterpiece. I enjoyed every minute of it. I actually saw this film in the 80s. I had no negative comments about it at the time, which is interesting because I’m a pretty judgmental person; well, not all the time, but I have my moments. Of course, I was a young kid who hadn’t really thought much about films. That would change in the 90s.


Carrie (1976)
I was blown away. De Palma is a gifted director. It didn’t feel like a horror film, it was just a great movie that I enjoyed immensely. High school can be such a drag sometimes, and I remember empathizing with Carrie from the start. There was another thing that I got from this movie—we’re all special in some way. Carrie had telekinetic powers; unfortunately, many people were hurt in the end. As they say, payback is a bitch. Sissy Spacek was amazing.

Superman (1978)
Christopher Reeve was such a handsome man. My family and I enjoyed this film so much. Also, Margot Kidder will forever be Lois Lane in my book. She rocked! My favorite line in the movie was; “you’ve got me; who’s got you?” Oh, that really takes me back.

Dawn of the Dead (1979)
I also saw this film some time in the 80s. And for some strange reason, I fell in love with zombies. Of course, not all zombie movies are great, but the idea is quite powerful. These films feed on our basic fear of the unknown, disease, predators, blood, guts, the undead, and so on. It’s scary to think that there are zombie-like diseases in the animal kingdom. So, these films are far fetched but not beyond the realm of possibility.

Nine to Five (1980)
I think I saw this film for the first time in the late 80s. Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton! What a great cast. This was such a fun movie to watch. This film was kind of educational for me. Seriously! I remember being appalled by management’s lack of consideration. I was so happy when the girls took over the company. Corporate America can suck, but this film offered hope.


Excalibur (1981)
Yeah, I’m a bit of an anglophile. I just thought this film was enchanting and beautiful. I can’t remember how old I was when I first saw it, but I enjoyed it!

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
I loved this film. Harrison Ford was the perfect Indiana Jones. I remember feeling so excited after watching this film. I think I wanted to be an archaeologist after watching this film. Well, I didn’t become an archaeologist/adventurer, but I love how some films can inspire you to think big.


E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Spielberg did it again. This is also a magnificent film. I just loved the fact that everyone around the world had seen it. And how cute was Drew? Anyway, I loved it. I should watch it again some time.

The Secret of NIMH (1982)
What an amazing animated film. I just loved the whole idea: lab rats escape and create an impressive community. They borrow electricity from a local farmer and lead extraordinary lives. My favorite animated feature of all time.

Tootsie (1982)
I remember my mother just loved this film. Of course, I watched the film a second time in the 90s, and just fell in love with it all over again. Jessica Lange’s performance was unforgettable. Who wouldn’t fall in love Lange’s Julie Nichols?

Karate Kid (1984)
This film made me feel like I could take on the world. I actually took karate lessons after watching it. I wasn’t a total disaster, but I’m no Daniel LaRusso. Also, this film had everyone at my school uttering the same phrase over and over again: “Wax on, wax off.” Pat Morita is the man!

Howard the Duck (1986)
This wasn’t one of my favorite movies. I thought Lea Thompson was cute, and the movie was entertaining, but that’s about it. The reason I’ve decided to include this film is because it really got under my skin. For some reason, I found it somewhat disturbing. Yeah, the thought of a big duck having sex with a human (the lovely Lea) was too much for me. It still kind of creeps me out.

The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
Yes, I loved The Brave Little Toaster. It’s true. I saw this animated film on the Disney Channel. Old, forgotten appliances venture into the unknown to find their beloved owner. It kind of made me appreciate the things I grew up with—my old teddy bear, for example. It was just great animated film.


Dirty Dancing (1987)
“Nobody puts baby in a corner.” How many times have we heard that one? Yeah, I loved this film. I remember my mother used to love the soundtrack, as did I. Patrick was so hot in this movie. Great memories!


Beetle Juice (1988)
Fun, fun, fun! Yeah, I also enjoyed every minute of this movie. Michael Keaton was hilarious. Of course, the real star was Tim Burton. He’s so talented. I love his dark imagination and sense of humor.

Heathers (1989)
Yes! Winona Ryder rocked in this film. This was a very cool movie that I enjoyed from start to finish. My favorite line was: “My son's a homosexual, and I love him. I love my dead gay son.” Acceptance is such a beautiful thing.

Ghost (1990)
I don’t believe in ghosts, but I sure did enjoy this film. It had everything: suspense, humor, sensuality, and so much more. Whoopi delivered a fine performance.

Ok, I could go on and on, but I need to stop typing at some point. So, I’ll conclude this post by summarizing my thoughts. Actually, I should first point out that not all of these were summer films. However, they all left a lasting impression on my boyish and adolescent brain. The funny thing is, as a kid, I never questioned why I liked a film. It was such a natural, uncomplicated process. Now, as an “adult,” I find myself scrutinizing almost every aspect of a film. I miss the days when I just trusted my instincts. I totally agree with Nathaniel’s statement, “it's those years as a kid that inform movie love as an adult.” Interestingly, even now, there are moments when I can’t quite articulate why I like (or dislike) a certain film. These moments can be quite refreshing because they force you trust yourself without question. It's like you're a kid all over again.