Catch Colton if You Can

(Left) DiCaprio and Abagnale; (right) Colton Harris-Moore.

What is the first thing you would think of a teenager who has robbed hundreds of houses, stolen a yacht and multiple planes? Because I think of Leonardo DiCaprio. Perhaps I have seen the movie Catch Me if You Can more than most. The movie was based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a check forger at the age of 17 who adopted multiple personas to travel freely and inconspicuously. And now a criminal has emerged, worthy of enough cultural praise to match Abagnale’s notoriety. The 19-year old, dubbed the ‘Barefoot Bandit’ for committing crimes without shoes, was first arrested at the age of 12, and escaped from a halfway house where he had been living two years ago, according to an AP report. The similarities are impossible to ignore for a fan (of the movie, not the crimes) like myself. For example, ‘bandit’ Colton Harris-Moore has been accused of burglary, as well as stealing planes and boats while attempting to flee from police. As DiCaprio portrayed, Abagnale committed fraud by impersonating a pilot to essentially steal numerous free plane rides by ‘deadheading’, forged checks to steal from Pan Am Airways, and crossed state and national borders to escape from the FBI. The ‘Barefoot Bandit’ has been convicted in nine US states, British Columbia and the Bahamas, while his counterpart traveled through dozens of countries and states during his spree. Abagnale fled from the FBI for five years, Harris-Moore, for two years. Both started at young ages and came from downtrodden families. However, I do hope Harris-Moore does not match Abagnale’s ability to escape once in custody, as Abagnale once fled from a taxiing plane at JFK airport to escape arrest. Although the ‘bandit’ does not match the “Catch Me” muse’s unlawful talent, his situation is attractive to several movie studios, and his mother seems eager to cash in on her son’s exploits. So we’ll have to wait and compare movies, but until then Harris-Moore’s story will continue to unfold as his extradition and subsequent trial in Washington begins.

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

I didn’t need Edward’s telepathy to know what the teens in the theater were thinking, nor Alice’s psychic ability to know if the Twilight Saga: Eclipse would be successful. Just about every girl in the room was hyperventilating, and the third installment of the vampire series earned about $176.4 million in six days of North American sales alone. According to CNN, the movie made $30 million dollars in just the first three hours it screened.
The movie series that revamped (pun intended) the supernatural trend has furthered the cultural phenomenon, illustrating the relationship between characters Bella and Edward --and Jacob. The entire movie seemed like a game of tug-of-war for Bella’s affections. Not unlike the novel, but as a movie it was lacking action, which was awkwardly confined to the first five, and last ten minutes of the film. Director David Slade, known for horror movies like Hard Candy, was well represented in the first scene, as vampires in a rain-soaked Seattle eerily attack an unfamiliar character. Overcompensation to lighten his thriller-mood may explain why the majority of the movie was gushy and maybe too romantic for the plot, which focuses on a vengeful Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) creating a newborn vampire army to destroy Bella and the Cullen family. Howard replaced Rachelle LeFevre, who played the redheaded villain in the first two movies, but her replacement was unfortunately too sweet and sympathetic to be taken seriously as a murderous and heartbroken vampire.
The movie does highlight characters that were previously ill represented. Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) and Rosalie (Nikki Reed) are given time to share their past in order to help the Cullens fight newborn vampires, and help Bella make the right choice between life and immortality, respectively. But once Jasper’s past as a Southern Confederate is revealed, Rathbone’s accent becomes heavy and makes me question the consistency of his voice in the previous movies. Overall, the effects were decent and the hype will sustain. It should be interesting to see Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart tying the knot in the first part of Breaking Dawn though. I can just see the tabloid pictures of them filming in costume with captions questioning their matrimony.

Summer Songs

Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” may be unforgettable, but what other songs have been downloaded the most off of itunes this summer?
Some perfect summer songs to blast out your car window include Taio Cruz’ “Dynamite”. With catchy lyrics like ‘I throw my hands up in the air sometimes singing ah oh/ I want to celebrate and live my life saying ah oh, baby lets go’ Cruz’ single is addictive.
Jason Derulo’s “Ridin’ Solo” and Usher’s “OMG” also contribute to the list, and as far as teen pop, Selena Gomez’ “Round and Round” and Miley Cyrus’ “Can’t Be Tamed” remain popular downloads.
A trait that many top selling artists share in producing hit songs is some familiar vocals. While Ke$ha made the list on her own at number 10 with “Your Love is My Drug”, she has shared the success with artists such as 3OH!3 and Taio Cruz. Ke$ha sings in 3OH!3’s “My First Kiss” and in Cruz’ song “Dirty Picture”. Whether or not Ke$ha will be featured on any more popular songs this summer, I am confident there will be plenty to listen to in the car and on the beach!

Serendipitous lunch

After walking, running to catch a cab, driving, and walking further toward East 60th street, I arrived at the famous restaurant on the Upper East Side, Serendipity 3. Though they began serving ‘Frrrrozen hot chocolates’ in 1954, the restaurant became a curiosity in my life after seeing the 2001 film Serendipity.
The film, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, features a couple that meets in Manhattan while holiday shopping at Bloomingdales, and by a stroke of fate enjoy a casual but memorable evening together, dining at Serendipity 3 and skating at Wollman Rink. Years later, as each character plans to wed other people, they hunger to discover a relationship in each other that never existed.
Having seen this movie enough times to recite the words as they happen, sing and/or hum the entire soundtrack, and still find the movie entertaining, I have always wanted to eat at the restaurant that serves as a recurring setting of the romantic scavenger hunt that is Serendipity. Finally, after dozens of trips to Manhattan, I made it!
A two-story, narrow shop with Tiffany lamps dangling from the ceiling, along with various other objects, the place could easily be misconstrued as a claustrophobic nightmare. The oversized menus don’t help the situation. But somehow the eatery manages to feel cozy and well lit. Having a menu filled with sandwich names such as ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ and ‘High Heel Pump’ the owners reveal an eccentric sense of humor. The selections also include a famous, record-breaking sundae called ‘Golden Opulence’ that requires a 2-day reservation and costs $1,000. While less extravagant, I very much enjoyed my hot chocolate dessert, and my tomato sauce and cheese ravioli, which I ate in that order, and I couldn’t imagine a more traditional ‘New York’ place to eat lunch outside of Central park (though Tavern on the Green closed!). Regardless if you have seen the movie or not, the establishment was open for decades before it grew to national fame, and it will be around for decades to come.

Iron Man sequel: Chaotic

The innovative and brilliant Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) reemerges in “Iron Man 2” as a spendthrift and ‘textbook narcissist’—as Scarlett Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff notes. But despite the character flaw, Stark believes that his Iron Man technology is capable of creating world peace, therefore he persists in a battle on three fronts: protecting the suit, himself, and fighting off an iron-clad Mickey Rourke. Rourke plays Ivan Vanko, a Russian engineer whose father contributed to the success of Stark’s company. Angered by decades-long ill-acknowledgement of Vanko’s (Sr.) efforts, his son mimics Stark’s suit and uses its power against him. Simultaneously, Tony Stark’s company is losing momentum as his spontaneous and self-serving antics perpetuate fears regarding the productivity of the business. His behavior also warrants the US government to seek repossession of the Iron Man suit, arguing their case in publicized court proceedings. Between physical and emotional external factors, Stark faces fatal repercussions of being unable to healthfully energize his suit, and consequently himself. While seeking an undiscovered element to power the device, Stark battles his failing health, the vengeful Vanko, and uncooperative Senator Stern, who considers the device to be a threat to national security. With several plot lines, well-known actors, and vivid action scenes, the movie is chaotic but entertaining. While a third installment would be pushing it, the film overall was colorful and dynamic.

Pandora Internet Radio

Bored of listening to the same songs repeated hourly on the radio? Looking for a new favorite song or artist? Thanks to Pandora Internet radio there is an easy solution. I recently re-discovered my Pandora account and after weeks of compulsive use I cannot remember why I ever gave it up. The concept is brilliant: just choose your favorite musician or music style and the site generates songs, through their ‘music genome project’, that the user would enjoy based on that selection. The best part? The site is FREE. While you can pay to upgrade your account to an ad-less version called Pandora One, the website grants about 40 hours of free music per month. I’m down to 27 hours after two weeks. The Internet radio allows you to skip songs (up to 6 per hour to protect advertisers), bookmark favorites to build a music profile, and ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ songs, which influences subsequent song plays. Sound familiar? The website links to Facebook, which further narrows results based on your profile page, and alerts you when FB friends ‘like’ the same song or musician. This seemingly omniscient musical device can be universally appreciated by music-lovers of all kinds. So set up an account, and get ready to devote hours toward exploring your personalized musical world.

Alice in Wonderland, a little too familiar

Stepping into Tim Burton’s Underland is poetically mesmerizing and picturesque, but not exactly unique. Like all of Burton’s movies, “Alice in Wonderland” has an eerie, disfigured quality. However, instead of revealing a magically parallel universe, Burton delivered what can only be described as a continuation of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Consider the similarities. It’s no surprise that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter have title roles in the movie, the latter being pure nepotism. And with a Depp-Burton ‘bromance’, there was really no question about his participation in this project. At a press conference Depp even explained, “to be honest, he could have said he wanted me to play Alice and I would have. I would have done whatever character Tim wanted.” Then there’s the matter of Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter being shockingly similar to his Willie Wonka. Incorporated into both character’s personas are brief, and spacey, flashbacks, over the top wardrobes, which include coveted top hats, awkward dancing, and goofy voices and names. In some cases the characters could be inverted with little discrepancy. And then, of course, there is the scene when Alice discovers Underland for the first time, opening a door and stepping into the colorful world. Though admittedly more borrowed the other way around (and considering their both adaptations of previous movies), Burton reveals Wonderland in the same way he reveals an equally enchanting Wonka factory. A signature look is interesting and Burton’s work is certainly unique, but his own collection is hardly refreshing. Unfortunately, relief from his Beetle Juice-Edward Scissorhands-Sweeny Todd aesthetic is not foreseeable, as new movies “Frankenweenie” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” are in production. Maybe one day we’ll see some of the unique and accessible facets of his work apparent in “Big Fish” and early Batman movies.

3D movies, a tired trend

Whether its desperation for large box-office draws, or just a newly re-discovered facet of cinematography, a series of movies have been produced in 3-D. Between Disney, Pixar, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and all major production companies, several movies are currently, or were recently playing, in 3D and IMAX theaters internationally. Personally, 3D may make money but it doesn’t increase the quality of a movie. Watching
“Alice in Wonderland” and “Up” without the feature was just as visually entertaining, if not better, due to its less distracting nature. Personally I believe that the trend reflects Americans desire for a distraction from the current tumultuous economic and political situation. Just as movies like “Up in the Air” and “The Hurt Locker” reflect current issues, oppositely the public wants distractions from day-to-day stress. This trend happened during the Great Depression, and no doubt is happening in our current one.
In theaters now include “Clash of the Titans” (Warner Bros.), “How to train your Dragon” (Paramount), and “Alice in Wonderland” (Disney). Recent Oscar winners include “Up” (Disney-Pixar) and "Avatar" (Fox). Movies to wait for include “Shrek Forever After”, opening in May, and yet another “Step-Up” movie to be filmed in 3D and released in August. Well all I can say is this trend just seems to be getting started, though I’m not entirely a fan. Don’t be disillusioned by CGI and special effects. Hopefully some movies made this year will have a deeper meaning other than profits.

Remember Me, Poignant Perfection

Beginning, not as a love story but a relationship story, “Remember Me”, starring Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin, explores the tragedies and aftermaths of two NYU students, Tyler Hawkins and Ally Craig. Each ravaged by grief, as Tyler’s brother committed suicide and Ally’s mother was murdered on a subway platform, the two bond and keep each other balanced. But as Tyler approaches his 22nd birthday, he feels a deeper loss for his brother, who died at the same age. He feels a deeper sense of anger toward his father (Pierce Brosnan), who fails to treat his children, especially young daughter Caroline (Ruby Jerins), with love and support. And moreover, Tyler struggles to find his own life’s purpose. Through his relationship with Ally, his unconditional love for his sister, and wearing patience with his father, “Remember Me” reveals an emotional, sincere story that audiences everywhere can relate to.
The film takes on an artsy perspective appropriate for its SoHo locale, while evoking the stories of real people and personalities. The acting in its entirety was interesting, but especially from two fresher faces. Emilie de Ravin’s charming performance made the movie honest and realistic. Playing an intelligent and witty college student, de Ravin filled Ally’s character with life. The screenplay writer Will Fetters deserves credit for illustrating such a believable relationship between Tyler and Ally, though the actor’s chemistry together is enough to make “Twilight” fans brush off Pattinson’s character’s bond with Bella as just a fling. But holding her own in this film was Ruby Jerins, playing Tyler’s sister Caroline. Delving into the role of a sensitive young artist who yearns for acknowledgement from her all-business father, Jerins shines in every scene, emerging as a sweet, but wise sister who cares deeply for her older brother. While the movie is admittedly a tearjerker, more so at the end, it is a story of life and the passing of time that all viewers can appreciate.

To be completely honest, I was speechless for hours after seeing this movie. I highly suggest watching it because, not only is the acting humorous and moving, the story is relatable and pure. There is no plot to this movie. It’s about life and its repercussions.

Whip It

In Drew Barrymore’s “Whip It”, an eclectic cast and flat screenplay fail to live up to the potential of the unique plot. I finally got the opportunity to see this movie, and while I was interested in seeing how Ellen Page emerged in this role, I can’t help but see Bliss Cavendar as a less bloated extension of Juno. Bliss joins a roller derby team, the Hurl Scouts, which quickly develops into a quirky life lesson for the high school senior. However, complications arise around her age, and around her weakly described relationship with musician Oliver (Landon Pigg) who she met at the derby. The movie was ultimately a flop as it combined underutilized stars, with irrelevant newcomers. SNL front woman Kristen Wiig emerged more so as a mother figure to Page’s character, rather than as her goofy, humorous self. Barrymore limited her own performance to that of a tough but spacey skater named Smashley Simpson. And then you almost wonder why Marcia Gay Harden took the role, playing Bliss’ beauty pageant mother in this coming-of-age story. Though her performance was the most believable out of the bunch. The best acting came from Jimmy Fallon, who showed off his humor the way that Wiig should have, playing derby announcer 'Hot Tub' Johnny Rocket. Alia Shawkat, playing Bliss’ friend Pash, Carlo Alban, as Bliss’ young boss named Birdman, and Landon Pigg’s portrayal of Oliver, were all unnecessary distractions from the story. Also completely unbelievable was the rookie’s ability to skate amongst ‘professionals’ in the league. Overall the movie was uninteresting and a misstep for Barrymore. Better luck next time.

Palm Beach Polo

I spent Valentines afternoon glimpsing into the seemingly exclusive lifestyle of Palm Beach’s International Polo Club. The hierarchy is readily apparent and somewhat archaic, but in the most charming way possible. Stepping onto the grass-gilded front row, I witnessed my first Polo match, and while it validated every stereotype I could have imagined, I had a great time. For those whose expertise in the rules of Polo (the terrestrial kind, not Marco...) is limited, well so is my knowledge of the game so if you are curious, http://www.internationalpoloclub.com/polo/polo-101/ gives an accurate description. But even if you are ignorant of the rules, the experience is worthwhile. The affair begins with a brief trolley-car ride to the less extravagant side of the field. After sitting through three chukkers (one polo match consists of six chukkers), and the boisterous antics of a seemingly tipsy announcer, half time ensues, during which champagne and ice cream are served to adults and children respectively. And, as per tradition, spectators scatter across the field stomping on portions of the grass uprooted by horse hoofs to ‘reset’ the lawn- in high-heeled boots and all. Obviously a “Pretty Woman” reference or two slipped as the task was completed. But as the ‘Palm-Beachers’, clad in over-sized sunglasses and neon-green bow-ties, returned to their seats, the match resumed, and then ended in an overall victory for the team Lucchese, earning the Ylvisaker Cup. Eagerly I anticipate returning in April at the end of the winter season, but until then I plan on brushing up on the rules of the game.

John Mayer's Battle Studies tour 2.4.10

John Mayer delivered an outstanding performance last night, which featured a combination of hits off of “Battle Studies” as well as favorites from his previous albums. Emerging from behind a curtain-screen surrounding the stage, on which red and black images of Mayer’s silhouette were projected, the concert began with “Heartbreak Warfare”.
Mayer’s concerts exude charisma, as the singer is able to connect with his audience, even in a crowded arena. During “Vultures”, Mayer stepped aside from the mic and allowed the audience to chant the chorus. Prior to playing “Perfectly Lonely” he asks, “Any single people here...Any happily single people? Few in number, strong in voice.” And before playing “Edge of Desire”: “From 10 o’clock to about 2 o’clock. It’s a crazy time and this song was born of that time.”
But it was after “Half of my Heart” that the singer revealed his quirky personality by playing a portion of “Dreams” by Stevie Nicks. “I imagine this would be the response to this song”, Mayer claimed.
He ended the set with “Gravity”, which featured an incredible guitar riff, and rapped up the evening with two encores, “Who Says” and “Friends, Lovers, or Nothing”. The first encore made the biggest impression. The curtain-screen was redrawn and the song’s music video was projected dramatically on three angles around the stage. My only complaint was waiting impatiently for his performance to begin. While opening band Michael Franti and Spearhead finished their set at 9, Mayer did not begin until about 9:45. Though his performance and quality set-list made up for the delay, the suspense was widely felt throughout the arena. But overall, Mayer’s performance proves that he is extremely talented and is truly ‘bigger than his body’.

Twitter

The way Facebook replaced Myspace in social media, Twitter has quickly risen in popularity among celebrities, businesses, and people all over the world. But 2009 was filled with ‘tweets’ that even further violated the privacy of celebrities, and 2010 looks just as bleak. Sure, they tweet voluntarily, but does E! news need to broadcast their every thought? And do we really need to know what the world thinks of Mariah Carey’s dress on the Golden Globes red carpet? The exploitation of Twitter by Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, and various other entertainment news sources eliminates any initiative to find stories. Just ‘follow’ every A, B, and C class celebrity and you’re bound to find something interesting. Throw in a comment, or “no-comment” from that person’s rep and you’ve got yourself a two-minute ‘breaking news’ segment. The fast paced, instant gratification of Twitter serves as another step toward the destruction of journalism. Just this once I will praise Miley Cyrus for deleting her account. While Facebook and Myspace facilitate friendships and networking, Twitter simply serves as a celebrity GPS for TMZ and an easy-way-out for entertainment reporters.

Award Show Season's Slow Start

It’s January, and that means it’s award show season! The People’s Choice, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards inaugurated the series of star-studded events. This year, however, there has been little variation among nominees and winners in all categories. Actors like Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges, Michael C. Hall, Mo’Nique, Christoph Waltz, Julianna Margulies, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Bacon and Alec Baldwin won both the Golden Globe and SAG award in their categories, as well as the cast of Glee and Mad Men. The shows basically parallel each other with few exceptions (mainly because the Globes awarded more categories- director, screenplay, etc.)
Bullock also received a People’s Choice for her work in The Blind Side, while Inglorious Basterds and Glee won best movie and TV comedy for the People’s Choice and the SAGs, respectively. While the winners are all deserving of these awards, the other talented nominees deserve some recognition. Otherwise, why have so many awards shows if they do not offer a diverse list of honorees?
But we can be sure that the Grammy’s (January 31st) will offer new nominees, and optimistically, I look forward to the Academy Awards (March 7th) for a little variation.