Portrait of a Girl Raped at a Suburban Party (look it up)

http://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Holden/1776780125

yeah, that's right...a facebook.

Film School (this is 4 right?)

Doubt - 3.5/4 - Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a Catholic School leader with a troubled past that is accused by a nun (Meryl Streep) of having innappropriate contact with a Negro student. Philip (my favorite actor of all time) plays his Oscar nomination amazingly. I'll admit, even Meryl Streep was a force to be reckoned with. And Amy Adams...it was tantazlizing to think she had taken sacred vows. Did I mention practically the whole cast was nominated for a bleedin' Oscar?! This is one play put on film that works wonderfully (it is funny that the movie's ending really shows that the screenplay was based on the original play....it's the last few lines which are choked out by one of the cast members.) Go watch it!

'It is better to reign in Hell, than Serve in Heaven' - John Milton, Paradise Lost

Listening To Right Now - Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal

Film School #3

Splinter - 2.5/4 - A horror film where the gore and acting far outweigh the direction. Despite the fact it feels that the movie was edited by someone from the Sci-Fi channel there is a good deal of great terror acting going on. Two young lovers decide to go on a camping trip until they're kidnapped by an outlaw and his girlfriend. The four get trapped in a gas station with a seriously freaky creature (which never gets fully explained but that's okay here) that is bent on turning them into walking corpses (not really zombie style however). Minus .5 because of the directing.

Hamlet 2 - 2/4 - The potential for a great comedy film that falls flat on its face. Steve Coogan portrays a theatre teacher that is faced with the prospect of losing the Drama Department. So he writes his own play 'Hamlet 2' in which all the characters from the original Hamlet are saved with help from a time machine and Jesus. Steve Coogan obviously has the ability to be a great comedic actor and the lines he was given which are actually funny her delivers perfectly. Unfortunatly, I can count the times I've laughed on one hand (that's bad since I laugh at really stupid things). The movie tried to go with the shock element of racial slurs and injecting some religous blasphemy (not my term) into the script. If the film makers had concentrated on that aspect than they may have been able to produce a funny albeit controversial film.

Next film school: Doubt

Music Player #1; Film School #2

Music Player: (what I'm listening to right now/not really RIGHT NOW/but you get the idea)

Iron Maiden - Powerslave

Film School #2

I. Happy-Go-Lucky - 3/4 - British film starring Sally Hawkins portraying a seriously happy-go-lucky (that was obvious) 30-year old Kindergarten teacher. Along the way she manages to unhinge a driving instructor, bring some comfort to a ho-bo, and learn to Flamenco. A very funny, unique film.

II. Margot At The Wedding - 2.5/4 - A quirky film by the maker of the amazing 'The Squid & The Whale'. Like that one, it is highly unusual but in a good way. Nicole Kidman is a writer that comes to visit her estranged sister as she prepares to marry....Jack Black. Yes, he is funny as hell. The sexual themes throughout are very interesting and something to pay attention too (topics such as masturbation and pedophilia are brought up) but the overall effect of the film, especially with the possibly abrupt ending...leaves you wanting a little more explained. The strange thing about this movie is that some will really like it and others will find it....well I don't know how they'll find it but it won't be in a positive light. Truly, this is a film you have to see and decide for yourself.

Film School #1

this post will be the first in a series entitled 'Film School'. Instead of longer film reviews it will just be the title, rating, and a brief comment. So this is merely recommendations or 'stay aways!'.

I. Let The Right One In - 4/4 - A superb, brilliant, dazzling vampire film. Easily the greatest modern blood-sucking movie ever. It is not a mindless, gory thriller but a tantilizing, oddly romantic, love story between a 12 year old boy and a more-or-less 12 year old vampire girl. I haven't even seen Twilight yet I already now it is blown out of the water.

II. Rachel Getting Married -3.5/4 - Overall, this movie moved me to tears so often by the performance of Anne Hathaway that is almost embarrasing to mention it...even if it wasn't for the fact that her role as a struggling addict amidst the event of her sister's marriage was enchanting. Break out the tissues and prepare to say 'I can't believe she was in Princess Diaries'.

III. Forgetting Sarah Marshall - 3/4 What! A funny Judd Apatow movie...that's never happened. Peter Segal plays an oddball TV show composer that can't get over his beautiful actress girlfriend who runs away with a terrible British singer. Once again, Apatow and Co have pulled off a dirty movie that has enough heart that completly bashing it for its crudity would seem...well...heartless. (oh yeah, Mila Kunis plays as a hotel receptionist...she isn't even annoying)

IV. Frozen River - 3.5/4 - To be honest, I have no clue about the names of any of the cast. So the synopsis...an aged abandoned mother turns to smuggling illegal aliens into Canada to support her family. An important independent film in 2008, the strong performances by all involved makes this a film worth seeing.

V. Zack & Miri Make A Porno - 3/4 - A funny Kevin Smith movie! yay! A heartwarming (yeah, that's right) tale of two High School friends living together years later that turn to porn to make ends meet. Seth Rogen & Elizabeth Banks star together...and they're are so cute, and cuddly...uh i didn't say that. This movie is hilarious. Don't shy away from the title. Of course this movie is completly dirty and many throw their hands up and ask 'Since when do we need pervasive language and sex to make a good movie?'. I ask 'Since when do we need torture, violence, and patriotic sensationalism to make a good movie?' or something like that

films to avoid: Beverly Hill Chihuaha (however you spell it!)

10 Hottest Actresses (I'm Serious)

10. Rachel McAdams

9. Zooey Deschanel

8. Jennifer Connolley

7. Emily Browning

6. Amy Adams

5. Mary Elizabeth Winstead

4. Danielle Harris

3. Elisha Cuthbert

2. Liv Tyler

1. Kate Beckinsale

AND THERE you have it, my list of the top ten hottest modern actresses. I know...I know...sorry about making every girl reading this insecure and every guy hopelessly horny, but alas...here are some of the films this ladies star in which you may want to check out.

Films

Rachel McAdams - Wedding Crashers, The Notebook, Red Eye

Zooey Deschanel - The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Elf

Jennifer Connolly - Labyrinth, Requiem for a Dream, Blood Diamond

Emily Browning - A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Uninvited, Darkness Falls

Amy Adams - Sunshine Cleaning, Doubt, Talladega Nights (uh...don't really recommend this one if you have managed not to see it yet but Doubt has Philip Seymour Hoffman in it!)

Mary Elizabeth Winstead - Final Destination 3, Death Proof, Live Free or Die Hard

Danielle Harris - Halloween 4 & 5, Free Willy, Halloween (2007)

Elisha Cuthbert - The Girl Next Door, Captivity, He Was a Quiet Man

Liv Tyler - Stealing Beauty, Lord of the Rings, The Strangers

Kate Beckinsale - Vacancy, Underworld, The Aviator

Mary Elizabeth Winstead gets the award for being the coolest actress for being in a Quentin Tarantino movie, but Kate and Liv come in pretty close for playing woman that can easily kill you.

Review #2

Paramore – Riot! (4/5)

Paramore emerged on the rock scene in 2005 with the album All We Know is Falling. The album came on the heels of losing a band member and thus the record is filled with allusions to heartache and sorrow. At the time, most of the band members were in their late teens and lead singer Hayley Williams had just turned 17.
The band built a loyal fan base through touring and Warped Tour. The first album had sold in excess of 300,000 copies by the time they released “Riot!” in 2007. The record is riddled with pop rock tunes of love, defiance, and simple rebelliousness. However, Paramore is an act that is far distant from Avril and her group of wannabes. The shear amount of catchy hooks, captivating guitar flourishes, and angelic tones is a prize difficult to discern on any record with songs about skater boys and stupid girlfriends.
Riot! begins with the title “For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic” which harkens back to “Emergency” in attitude with a little vengeance. “That’s What You Get” is the first love song on the record and purely does not disappoint. The tunes cry of “That’s what you get, when you let your heart win” is a testament the band’s ability to write fairly straightforward material in a manner which somehow grabs you by the ears and screams “Listen to me as you float away peacefully….”. Fan favorite “Hallelujah” keeps Paramore’s aptitude to produce great hooks before moving on to the anthemic “Misery Business”. The song outshines nearly the whole record in an effective rock n’ roll style. The next few songs are great especially the song “Miracle!” which almost personifies Riot! itself if there wasn’t for another song coming up.
“Crushcrushcrush” is a brilliant, sexy melody which bursts on to the scene so infectiously it is nearly impossible to listen to it and move onto track nine without listening one more time. “We Are Broken” breaks the mood with a softer, gentler note that somehow does not misstep.
The carnival air of “Fences” nearly halts one in their tracks with the realization that this sounds like an outtake from My Chemical Romance’s “The Black Parade” with slightly higher pitched vocals. If any track on the record was built for dancing it is the rollicking memo named “Fences”.
“Born For This” ends the record with the embodiment of the record’s namesake. “Born For This” pleads sing with me which is what one inevitably finds themselves doing (everybody sing, like it’s the last song you will ever sing). Beyond that, it is just witty with a reference to an older Paramore track. But you can find out which one for yourself when you check out the album.

Recommended Tracks: “For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic”, “Misery Business”, “Crushcrushcrush”, “Fences”, “Born for This”

on the brink

little over a month from now and i'll be graduating HS.
i've also got a final at MSU for Math 135!!!
i'm so nervous about it. if you didn't catch on
i'm taking college courses while i'm still in HS.
i've already passed ENG 110 and I'm pretty sure
i've got ENG 210 in the bag.
its just that scary math final.
boo