Quick Recap: New Girl

It finally happened Nick and Jess shippers. The kiss happened, and not in the way that the revealing tv commercials for the episode itself hinted at.

So there they are, stuck behind the Iron Curtain because of an unfortunate mishap during Real American: Clinton Addition (it's a sexy twist on the game) being egged on to kiss by the roommates and the dates. Even Cece and Sam became a part of the kiss mob. After some tries, the two still could not go through with it. There was a sweet moment when Jess told Nick that he would be "smokin' hot" if he cleaned up and then they just sat there, staring at each other, small smiles playing on their lips. These two have real chemistry. So when the time came to go through with it, Nick blurts out "not like this!" Well now, it seems his true feelings are revealed.

After some awkward moments and the end of some other plot details (Schmidt hooking up with Brooklyn Decker's character, Winston finally getting with a girl) Nick makes his move. The two characters are out in the hall, making small talk about the women's coat he "borrowed" and as Jess says goodnight and turns to go back to her room (where Sam is by the way), Nick grabs her arm and pulls her into a steamy kiss. Seriously, anyone watching who didn't need to fan themselves after have no soul. And boy, did she kiss him back.

So what's going to happen next? Hopefully the show will pick up the morning after and we get to see some big awkwardness. Will Jess reciprocate the feelings verbally, or will the two try and stay friends?

Movie Review: Amour

It's pretty safe to say that I would not have watched this movie if it weren't nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. My movie buss-ness has not yet quite extended to foreign films. This movie proves that even in a foreign language, human emotion can come through.

Amour opens with an octogenarian couple returning from a concert and finding that their apartment has been broken into. The next morning, Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) appears to completely space out for a few minutes, having no recollection of it at all. After her husband Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) suggests a visit to the doctor, the audience learns that Anne had a stroke and had an unsuccessful operation that has left her right arm paralyzed and leaves her susceptible to a more serious stroke in the future. The rest of the film focuses on the relationship struggles that Anne and Georges encounter because of Anne's condition.

The struggles that Anne and Georges are up against are not unlike those that many couples, especially aging ones, are up against. They both experience loss, depression, and longing in a very real way, and it is a testament to Riva and Trintignant for making the audience feel these emotions. I cannot say that I have ever been in a situation close to what this couple is going through, being a single twenty-something, but as I watched Amour, I completely understood all of the emotions that were shown on the screen.

Being up for Best Picture as well as Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, it is a pretty safe bet to assume that this film will win Best Foreign Film. This is an award this movie certainly deserves, though of course haven't seen any of the others, this is hard for me to assume. But this film is filled with such great acting and direction, I cannot imagine another film taking this spot. Emmanuelle Riva's portrayal as the sickly Anne pretty much steals the award away from anyone else. Her desperation and loss of self ring so true through the screen and make this easily one of the best performances of the year.

Bottom line: This is a movie about going through loss. Loss of well-being, loss of self, and the possibility of the imminent loss of life. It is not for the feint of heart or those looking for a feel-good, happy-go-lucky film. Though if these themes resonate with you, watch it. Even if you are not a foreign film buff.

Grade: A

SAG Awards 2013: Winners and Losers

Winners
Argo: This is definitely the biggest winner of the night. With Ben Affleck not being nominated for a directing Oscar, many thought this movie would be out of contention for the big prize. Now, with the win here for the whole cast and the Golden Globe, it seems like Affleck's omission for the big prize may have been the best case scenario for this film. It is possible that many voters are outraged enough that they are voting for the film almost in protest. With this win at the SAG awards, Argo appears to have taken a front running position for the best picture Oscar.

Daniel Day-Lewis: He was already the frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar, and the win here all but assures his eventual win.

Anne Hathaway: Also like Daniel Day-Lewis, her win here almost guarantees her Oscar win.

Jennifer Lawrence: This race seemed like a toss-up between Lawrence and Jessica Chastain. With her SAG win, Lawrence appears to have become a frontrunner, at least by a small margin. Voters seemed to venture more towards Lawrence's crazy/dark/slightly humorous performance over Chastain's more subdued but equally talented performance, which may give her a leg-up for the Oscar.

30 Rock: Though the comedy itself did not get recognized as a whole, with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin's wins, the show has once again cemented itself as a show not to be reckoned with. It also shows that this once unstoppable awards season show is back in top form for its final season, which could resonate with Emmy voters come the fall.

Amy Poehler: Tina Fey's acceptance speech involved a lot of thank you's and a love letter to Poehler. This can be good for the funny lady in future awards shows, where a lot of Fey's loyal voters may jump on the Poehler train.

Downton Abbey: Who even gave this show a chance? It was supposed to be Homeland and, if not, possibly Breaking Bad or Mad Men. But not Downton. The cast that attended (composed of many secondary characters and Michelle Dockery) even seemed genuinely shocked. This shows that either people just assumed Homeland was a lock and voted elsewhere, or many Homeland is just more susceptible than everyone thought.

Losers
Lincoln: With Affleck and Bigelow both not being nominated for Best Director at the Oscars, many assumed that Lincoln had become the frontrunner. With Argo once again winning the big award at the SAGs, it appears that Lincoln may not be the eventual Best Picture winner after all.

Homeland: It could be that people thought this show was a lock and put their votes elsewhere, but with Best Actor not going to Damian Lewis and going to Bryan Cranston instead, maybe the show is not the unstoppable force that everyone seems to think it is.

Jessica Chastain: As stated before, it looks like Jennifer Lawrence is pulling ahead of the pack for Best Actress. Unfortunately, that means that Chastain is probably not going to come up with the prize.

All Best Actor nominees not named Daniel Day-Lewis: These guys seem to pretty much not have a chance. Which is unfortunate. In weaker years, any of these men could come away with the top prize (especially Hugh Jackman and Bradley Cooper). Not this year though.

Ben and Kate is too good a show to be getting cancelled.

First impression of The Following

Kevin Bacon, welcome to my television.

In all honesty, that American treasure of an actor was the sole reason that I wanted to watch this show. Turns out, there are plenty of other reasons as well.

Electrifying. Gripping. Suspenseful. All of these and more have been bombarding commercials about this show. And all are true.

It’s impossible not to root for Bacon, a flawed FBI agent in the midst of a comeback when infamous serial killer Joe Carroll escapes from prison. And the suspense of the show…let me just say I was terrified to go to bed after seeing this first entry. But lord, I am excited to take this ride.

Verdict: a must see. At least while Bacon is still awesome. Which will probably be forever.

Movie review: Celeste and Jesse Forever

The movie opens with photos of the titular characters, played respectively by Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg, seeming to go through some relationship issues. This is followed by a scene showing the two talking and joking in a car, seemingly happy and in love. Two seconds later, however, it is shown that the two are indeed separated, but are so close best friends that they live right by each other and hang out every day.

Of course, this doesn’t work out the way the two think it will. He is still crazy for her. She seems to have moved on. And, when a drunken hook up happens and he finally thinks they are back together, Celeste pushes him away. And this time, it’s more permanent.

As the film progresses, drama ensues and the two are separated even further, but that is when they really show their true colors and start to grow. And Celeste realizes that maybe she pushed him away before she was ready.

Samberg and Jones make the audience believe in their relationship. It is easy to see how they became best friends and, later, married. And how it fell apart. The story, while filled with unbelievable ups and downs, is made real by their performances. This is a movie about real relationships. You cheer for the two, not necessarily for them to end up together, but to be happy, no matter where that might take them.

Grade: B+

Golden Globe quick reactions

• The Homeland love is so incredibly well deserved
• Glad Girls got some love and Modern Family didn’t dominate
• In what world is Don Cheadle better than Louis CK?
• Christoph Waltz can do no wrong
• JLaw and Jessica Chastain both completely deserved the awards, and I cannot choose which one I love more to win the Oscar
• Les Mis really should have been under drama. And Silver Linings Playbook should then have won
• Argo and Affleck!!!!!!!! That’s how you show the Academy what they’re missing
• No one can beat Daniel Day Lewis
• Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are who I want to be when I grow up

Flu thoughts

The amount of food network and HGTV someone watches is positively correlated to how sick that person is

Oscar nomination first reactions

• I am so dang happy with Jacki Weaver getting nominated
• The Silver Linings love is amazing
• Yea David O. Russell!
• HOW IS BEN AFFLECK NOT NOMINATED
• HOW IS KATHRYN BIGELOW NOT NOMINATED
• I see Seth McFarland doing a wonderful job hosting the show
• Anne Hathaway better win
• I am liking the song nominations
• All in all, pretty solid field

American Horror Story recap: Freedom

• Dylan McDermott is the creepiest dude right now
• Well new bloody face has mommy issues
• Well that is just about the most adorable baby
• Kit’s baby is gonna grow up to be something… I just know it
• Ah poor sister Jude
• Go Lana go!!!! You turn in Threadson you badass
• Or just kill him I guess
• Well Kit should certainly be released soon
• You would think the staff would be more broken up about torturing an innocent man
• The Monsignor is turning into a douche since his tryst with the devil
• Oh hello Alma and baby
• I still don’t buy that death
• And is no one curious about Arden and the devil nun?
• I knew it!

Quick Review: The Book of Mormon

I’m just going to stray from the usual tv and movie reviews and thoughts for a post, and that is all because of The Book of Mormon.

In a word: spectacular. The cast killed it. And my favorite song, Turn it Off, was perfect and Rory O’Malley killed it. Really all the songs were amazing. And the comedy… I have never heard a theater so loud from laughter in my life.

I thank you for bringing this musical into the world, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Movie Review: Django Unchained

Slavery. Violence. Inappropriate language. It’s easy to see why this Quentin Tarantino film is controversial. Despite all of this, it is hard to overlook the fact that this movie is made with so much care and precision that it is close to the perfect western.

Tarantino tells a truthful tale. Slavery isn’t pretty. There was intense violence and racial slurs happening in this time period, and this is depicted completely in Django. And the truth can be seen in all of the characters brought to life by the stellar cast. Leo Dicaprio as the evil slave owner, Jamie Foxx as the freed slave trying to find his wife, Christoph Waltz as a bad ass bounty hunter, and Sam Jackson as slave determined for whatever reason to keep the status quo. None of these actors make caricatures out of their subjects, but bring to life different levels of human existence. This is a film about human spirit in the face of adversity, and Tarantino makes this theme realistic throughout.

Bottom line: honest account of human strength and determination due in large part to Tarantino’s storytelling ability and stellar cast.

Grade: A

Movie Review: Les Miserables. Otherwise known as the Depression Creator

There is a good reason why this musical is called Les Miserables. And that reason is because, at any point throughout the film, you can find someone in the theater broken down into tears. Usually those are people like me, people who can literally cry at any movie they see, any book they read, or just a sad or even happy moment. Then again, there is hardly a happy moment in this entire show (I call it a show instead of a movie right here cause the same thing happens to me while watching a theater production).

Even during moments that are supposed to be happy, such as Marius and Cosette falling in love, an eerie fog of despair lingers. Instead of cheering for these lovebirds, the audience is crying along with Eponine, magically brought to life by Samantha Barks, as she sings “On My Own,” the friendzone anthem.

Don’t let my venting about the sadness make you think I didn’t care for this movie. Completely the opposite: I adored it. Only a great film is able to make an audience care so much about the characters involved that they can make adults cry or at least tear up nonstop throughout. The acting was superb. If Anne Hathaway doesn’t win every award, I will punch out all who voted. And Hugh Jackman seriously brought his a-game. Even Russell Crowe, clearly not the best singer of the production, brought so much heart and soul into Javert that at parts, it was hard to remember why I was supposed to hate him. Some of the performances that really stood out were the newcomers. Namely, I mean Barks, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, and Aaron Tveit as Enjolras. These guys can sing. Tveit especially stood out vocally amongst the other men in this film. I was a fan of his before but now…. woah. Redmayne brought so much compassion and love into Marius, I’m pretty sure every woman in the theater fell in love with him. And his fabulous hair didn’t hurt.

Bottom line: Utterly depressing, but full of such memorable and beautiful performances that I would be happy to watch and cry over it many times in the future.

Grade: A-