Hey Class of '81!
Please email your current mailing address to Kari Parke at SJR parkek@sjr.mb.ca to receive a letter with more reunion details.
Check the Reunion evite for updates or post your comments at the sjr81 blog.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
A History of Violence
Cronenberg in Cannes
Snapping shots for Premiere mag
movie was intense
Saw A History of Violence on DVD last night. Pretty intense. A clutch grabbed my heart when it started and didn't let go until the closing credits 95 minutes later. This is a violent film but it is compelling and has great performances. MMMM out of 5.
The DVD Special Features really gave insight into Cronenberg's style and approach as a director and it was fun to watch him work. His experience shines as we see him effortlessly create a relaxed set and manage to direct without being controlling. The short piece about their premiere at Cannes was enjoyable. And in one deleted scene, Ed Harris gets blown away by a shotgun and is lying there with a massive hole in his chest. Cronenberg comments: "Well, normally I would have had him take a gun out of his chest but I already did that. It would be like an hommage to myself. Which I am not above, by the way." That cracked me up. And William Hurt sounding exactly like Maria Bello's Uncle Pete from Philly was funny too.
Anyway, watch it and let me know what you think.
Snapping shots for Premiere mag
movie was intense
Saw A History of Violence on DVD last night. Pretty intense. A clutch grabbed my heart when it started and didn't let go until the closing credits 95 minutes later. This is a violent film but it is compelling and has great performances. MMMM out of 5.
The DVD Special Features really gave insight into Cronenberg's style and approach as a director and it was fun to watch him work. His experience shines as we see him effortlessly create a relaxed set and manage to direct without being controlling. The short piece about their premiere at Cannes was enjoyable. And in one deleted scene, Ed Harris gets blown away by a shotgun and is lying there with a massive hole in his chest. Cronenberg comments: "Well, normally I would have had him take a gun out of his chest but I already did that. It would be like an hommage to myself. Which I am not above, by the way." That cracked me up. And William Hurt sounding exactly like Maria Bello's Uncle Pete from Philly was funny too.
Anyway, watch it and let me know what you think.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Reflections on Oscar
Oscar Night '06
Gangstas, Cowboys and Bacall
No surprise with Crash
That about sums up my reflections on Oscar Night 2006, Sunday, March 5th. I was worried for Lauren Bacall and wondered if she would make it through her introduction. She should have had a buddy like Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep who co-presented for Robert Altman.
Of course the surprise of the night was Best Original Song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp". Jon Stewart did a great job improvising on that one. Overall, I was pleased with him as host for the evening. I was nauseated the next morning by Seamus O'Regan's dismissal of Reese Witherspoon's acceptance speech as "too earnest". I used to like him on Canada AM but now he annoys me. Alison S is right - he is a poor interviewer, especially at 7am.
I wasn't completely surprised about Crash. It was a great way to acknowledge a massive cast and position a movie internationally 2 days before it's DVD release. I even enjoyed seeing it again on The Movie Network recently - I had forgotten some of the nuances and was reminded of the fall and redemption (or redemption and fall) of each of the characters. I think it's interesting that it takes a Canadian to shine the light on U.S. domestic problems so effectively. Too bad no one will do that for us.
Jon Stewart was fun
Hooray for Oscar Winners
George and Reese and Paul
Check the AMPAS official site Oscars.org for a complete list of winners and the official site of this year's telecast Oscar.com for the latest fashions and trends.
Gangstas, Cowboys and Bacall
No surprise with Crash
That about sums up my reflections on Oscar Night 2006, Sunday, March 5th. I was worried for Lauren Bacall and wondered if she would make it through her introduction. She should have had a buddy like Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep who co-presented for Robert Altman.
Of course the surprise of the night was Best Original Song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp". Jon Stewart did a great job improvising on that one. Overall, I was pleased with him as host for the evening. I was nauseated the next morning by Seamus O'Regan's dismissal of Reese Witherspoon's acceptance speech as "too earnest". I used to like him on Canada AM but now he annoys me. Alison S is right - he is a poor interviewer, especially at 7am.
I wasn't completely surprised about Crash. It was a great way to acknowledge a massive cast and position a movie internationally 2 days before it's DVD release. I even enjoyed seeing it again on The Movie Network recently - I had forgotten some of the nuances and was reminded of the fall and redemption (or redemption and fall) of each of the characters. I think it's interesting that it takes a Canadian to shine the light on U.S. domestic problems so effectively. Too bad no one will do that for us.
Jon Stewart was fun
Hooray for Oscar Winners
George and Reese and Paul
Check the AMPAS official site Oscars.org for a complete list of winners and the official site of this year's telecast Oscar.com for the latest fashions and trends.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
The Zen of Starbucks cups
Found a great quote on my Starbucks cup today (The Way I See It #53):
Be exceptional. Make tremendous efforts to be extraordinary. What a privilege to be here on the planet to contribute your unique donation to humankind. Just make sure you do so...
-Shelby Lynne, musician
Shelby says she's just "a running fireball full of shit and emotion" who believes each song she writes "needs to be individually great - better than great. There's no room for mediocre in my thinkin'. My standards are pretty high."
I don't believe in mediocrity either. Make it an extraordinary day.
Be exceptional. Make tremendous efforts to be extraordinary. What a privilege to be here on the planet to contribute your unique donation to humankind. Just make sure you do so...
-Shelby Lynne, musician
Shelby says she's just "a running fireball full of shit and emotion" who believes each song she writes "needs to be individually great - better than great. There's no room for mediocre in my thinkin'. My standards are pretty high."
I don't believe in mediocrity either. Make it an extraordinary day.
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