Celluloid Lane: Closer

Have you ever been so in love that you did something awful to make the person hate you and set you free from your obsession? Have you ever been so in love you'd forgive someone for making your worst fear come true? Have you ever been so in love that you were reduced to nothing more than pathetic ash? If you answered yes to any of the above, you'll probably relate to the characters in "Closer". But you probably still won't enjoy it.

Quick synopsis so I don't ruin the happy ending (just kidding, it's because I can't bear to think about it any longer)- Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman are four deeply flawed characters intertwined in a bizarre and largely unbelievable love triangle. The glaring annoyance is that none of them seem to understand real passion or the modern concept of fidelity, although they manage to keep all the trouble within a nice, neat, 4-person reality over the course of several years. I saw redeeming twinkles in each of their eyes now and then, but they continued living disappointing lives. My guess is that the point of the movie was to showcase true character flaws, the kind that will tear someone away from their dearly beloveds no matter how they try to reform...but we as an audience get zero background on these folks and what could have possibly gone wrong earlier in life to warrant such mental cruelty.

Ok, I'll admit the acting is quite good, but do these sound like people you'd like to watch for two hours? I assure you the problem doesn't get fixed and nobody learns anything.

Oh, but you will see Natalie Portman in a stripper thong and not much else for a good 10 minutes. Yep, she's a stripper, though by far the most angelic stripper ever seen on film. So if that's your bag, perhaps you should stop listening to me.

Hi

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. I spent a quiet evening at home with my mom. There was an empty chair next to us, though I felt his presence. I ate extra stuffing, just for him.

Today was an important day, yes. Thank you for all the feedback I've gotten so far. I'm sure most of you understand how difficult the past two months have been in my personal life, and I only ask that you keep that in mind when inquiring about my professional life.

Oh, and I guess I just can't say this enough... I don't post in comments. Ever. So if you see a comment from me, it's fake. I'd like to keep comments open on my blog, but in order to do that, I need a little respect. By respect, I mean users not posing as me.

Thanks.

PS- I saw "Ocean's 12" tonight. Review coming soon.

Celluloid Lane: Finding Neverland

I'm a big Johnny Depp fan, so when "Finding Neverland" opened at a theater near my house, I was first in line. Depp plays James Barrie, a playwright who receives the inspiration for "Peter Pan" while spending time with a lovely widow (Kate Winslet) and her four sons.

I liked the movie. A lot. My reasoning is based on the casting of Depp as a grown man who enjoys the company of children and believes in the power of imagination. Why? Because for a man over 40 years old, Depp has a eerie youthful quality that seems only to glow more as he ages. It really works here.

The story itself is a small, sweet tale about growing up (while not growing up) and making the choice to continue to believe in a certain type of magic. Those who know the story of Peter Pan will probably enjoy the depiction of Barrie and his quirks, as one would assume a grown-up who visits "Neverland" is a unique grown-up indeed. No need for any comparisons to Michael Jackson, although the film does touch lightly on the stigma involved with men and boys, and reveals that while Barrie's intentions were purely innocent, those around him didn't always see it that way.

I have a feeling that "Finding Neverland" will seem too slow for some of you, and perhaps it can be argued that nothing really happens, if you're looking for something loud and adventurous. But Peter Pan fans, Depp fans, and cinematic whimsy fans won't be disappointed. Bring your Kleenex.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

No, I have nothing new to report about The Screen Savers. Yes, I'm sorry. No, I still can't tell you. Yes, it will be different. No, it's not the end of the world. Yes, I still like chocolate. No, I don't think tapered jeans should make a comeback. Yes, I prefer to keep a sense of humor in times of turmoil. No, I'm not feverish (just plain crazy).

How about a happy picture from an Irish hilltop instead of the usual gossip today? Hooray! Happiness for everyone!

A wise man once said, "Relax. It's just television." Thanks for the advice, Paul!

Update: For those of you expressing displeasure about my SarahCam "hints," you're probably right. It isn't really a time for playfulness or teasing. Back to random quotes!

Tales from Olympic Boulevard

Those of you who watch me on G4TechTV will notice some TSS reruns for the next few days. We're busy regrouping, reorganizing, and relaunching, folks. Today we lost some great, great people in the latest phase of our ongoing evolution. This is the reality of the biz, and it never gets any easier.

TSS has not been canceled, but we need a little time before moving forward. A million thanks to all of you for your constant support and encouragment. I'll see you all again soon.

PS- I want to add just one more (important) thought here. Alex, Dan, Yoshi, Martin, Laura, and the producers we lost today from TSS and Unscrewed are all amazing, talented, funny, and incredibly bright people. I have no doubt that they are all headed for bigger and better things. Class acts, all y'all.