"After the Wedding" & Incubus

Hello everyone,

It has come to my attention that I have a very dedicated reader of my blog! Yay! I thought I was just rambling into cyberspace, but today a friend sent me an email requesting another post-- apparently I have been slacking. Although I wasn't really planning on kicking this into gear until school starts, my blog follower/fan/real-life-friend has left me blushing. So, I'm back!

As a I lie in my backyard tanning and drinking a margarita (I'm actually not that cliche-- so ignore the marg comment), I would like to talk about two artsy experiences that thoroughly impressed me recently, both filmically and musically (did I just make up the word filmically? Note to self-- add to Urban Dictionary).

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A few nights ago, a couple of friends came over for some good sober fun. You might be wondering, "Wait, huhhh? Whaaat bro, does that, like, exist, bro?" It does-- it's called Movie Night. My father, aka Mr. Film Freak Extraordinaire has set up a little home theater in our very own living room. Per Dad's request, we picked up a film he has not stopped raving about: "After The Wedding." And let me just start off by saying, Wow.

The film, which debuted in the US in 2007, is a drama set in Denmark. It follows a middle-aged man named Jacob who manages an orphanage in India. When the orphanage faces financial problems, he travels to Denmark where a big corporation has offered to help with a substantial donation. Jacob meets the company honcho, Jorgen, who although initially agreed to help, is now saying he needs more time to think about it. Jorgen tries to reassure Jacob of his financial commitment and befriends him, asking Jacob to come to his daughter's, Anna's, wedding. Jacob reluctantly accepts, but it is at the wedding where he runs into someone from his past, Jorgen's wife, Helene. And then it is after the wedding when things start unraveling and unraveling and unraveling. It doesn't stop.

The themes are powerful-- ranging from love, to betrayal, to sadness, to happiness. Because the themes are so universal, it is hard not to become completely engrossed in the character's thoughts, actions, and emotions. As viewers we understand these characters-- we grieve for them and feel for them.

Writer/Director Susan Bier does a fantastic job exploring the conceptual paradox between family and privacy. She shows how each character faces tough situations the best way that they can-- in the end, all of them try coping with these situations in their own unique way in order to save the ones they love, even if they are forced to lie or betray their way to this resolution. We soon realize that it is the truth that saves them all.

The movie is excellent. Although some of the stylistic choices seem disconnected, even unnecessary (Bier's focus on eyes and gestures), overall the acting is great. There are two beautiful moments-- one in which Helene discovers a tragic reality about Jorgen and another in which Jorgen confronts this reality. Both moments are so sad yet filled with impeccable authenticity.

Hopefully, this review has convinced you. But if my persuasive powers are weak, then maybe you will like the fact that it was an Oscar nominee in '07 (it lost to "The Lives of Others" -- another MUST SEE).

For your enjoyment, the trailer

And "The Lives of Others" trailer

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OK, now onto the other artsy experience that impressed me-- Incubus. I'll keep this "short," I know my movie review was a lil long.

Anyways, you might be thinking, Wait, Incubus still exists? Yup-- I saw them last night in concert. I have been to many concerts, and although we were stuck with last minute lawn seats, I still was thoroughly amazed by this concert. Incubus delivered a KICK ASS show. Not only is Brandon Boyd incredibly sexy (those abs? are they real?), but the vocals were pretty much flawless-- they sounded just like recorded tracks. Actually, the vocals were better live.

They started the show with Pardon Me. And believe me, that song never gets old. Everyone was freaking out, roaring their way through the sing along, just absolutely loving it. They played classics like Nice To Know You, Stellar, Drive, Wish You Were Here, and ended with (wait for it....) Aqueous Transmission. While swaying with my friends and holding up my cell phone as a makeshift lighter, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic. I think every Incubus fan has some sort of connection with this song whether they have heard it sober or wasted or buzzed off something. Gotta love the frogs. Oh yeah, and Are You In? encore-- heck yes.

They also played a lot of newer stuff from Light Grenades, They raged through Anna Molly & A Kiss To Send Us Off, Dig was (uh-duh) great, Quicksand was super trippy, and of course everyone screamed slash cried slash made out to Love Hurts.

My faves of the set were Megalomaniac and Oil and Water and Talk Shows On Mute and... can I just say EVERYTHING?

Other pluses: 1) He took his shirt off (did I mention his abs?) 2) He brought out some bongos 3) They were selling jumbos beers AND arepas (Gracias Mee-a-mee!) 4) Second encore: a Prince cover.

Amen.

P.S. A very good friend of mine, the wonderfully hip Ms. Sarah Turner, will be joining this blog and adding her artistic two cents!

500 Days of Summer

Since I won't be in Nashville until the 23rd, I am going to add some other fun artsy stuff to this blog. While at MTV, I was the Intern Film Critic (how silly does that sound?) and did some reviews for this summer's "hottest" flix.

Anyways, considering this movie is bad ass and summer is almost over (whaaaaaat), check out the film review I wrote. If you don't want to read it, at least watch this movie. It's awesome. What else will you be doing today? Exercising? Yeah, ok.

500 Days of Summer is definitely not your typical love story. And if you haven’t already realized this from the trailer, a narrator will tell you so in the film’s opening scene.

Just like any other rom-com, this self-righteous chick flick is filled with romance and comedy, but what makes it especially unique is the fact that there is also heartbreak and disappointment in the face of romantic fantasy. It shows us how love isn’t like the all the sappy movies we cling onto in our youth— sometimes love is unreciprocated and sometimes love can inevitably fail.

The film follows the story of Tom and Summer. Tom Hansen, played by indie cutie Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is true believer in love. When the adorably aloof Summer Finn (Zooey Deshanel) becomes a new assistant at the office where Toms works (which is, ironically enough, a Hallmark-like greeting card company), he falls head over heels for her. And he falls hard. But there is just one twist: the feelings aren’t entirely mutual.

The movie is structured in a non-chronological fashion, beginning with the tail end of their failing relationship and followed by random snapshots of their good and bad times together. The unsystematic movement of the storyline introduces a new dimension to the romantic comedy genre, fueling the audience with curiosity and also symbolically revealing how love can be messy and inexplicable.

The film begins with previews of the two characters’ unique childhood experiences: Tom grew up disillusioned by British emo/pop music while Summer grew up disillusioned by the failure of her parents’ crumbling marriage. Although these introductory bits are humorous, they also explain why both characters see the world so differently.

We see their diverging views of love at work during their first outing together at an office-coordinated karaoke night. In a tequila-drenched, whimsical voice Tom says, “Wait. What happens when you fall in love?” Summer retorts in a dry, disinterested voice, “Love. You don’t believe in that. Do you?” He quickly responds with a (predictable) comedic comeback: “What. It’s love, it's not Santa Claus.”

I guess that opposites (initially) attract because the two do make it happen. But as the story unfolds, we see how the two characters stay true to form. Inevitably, their personal perspectives of the world lead them towards their downfall. While Tom falls victim to his needy tendencies in the face of unrequited love, Summer is still able to look into his puppy eyes with a casual/cool, soul mate-are-for-suckers attitude and say things like “let’s just be friends” (Ouch?).

It makes sense that the relationship doesn’t last even though we all hope that this artsy duo can survive and live happily ever after. But in the end, that’s what makes the film honest and real.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Maybe I am biased, considering I fell completely in love with Tom Hansen. But if you don’t have the capacity of lusting over fictional characters, there are a few more reasons why you should still check it out. A) It was a breakout hit at Sundance. B) There are some really great scenes, including a happy-go-lucky dance sequence starring Mr. Levitt himself and another in which the couple plays fake house in a furniture store. And lastly, C), For all you music lovers, the soundtrack is pretty kick ass.

So, whether you are on a first date or just in the mood for a Sunday matinee with family and friends, 500 Days of Summer is definitely worth it. Whether we are hopeless romantics or raging cynics, we can all relate to the love in this film in our own fresh and special way.

Hello Blog, Hello World!

Hi friends,

Today is my very first blog. I would like to call this a fresh start.

I am good at starting things, journals especially, but I am bad at finishing them. I usually get distracted by bigger and better things. Or just succumb to laziness.

But this summer, I have gone through many interesting, personal changes. I have realized that instead of sitting on my ass, waiting for the world to give me something good to look forward to, I would like to take manners into my own hands (literally).

This Awakening came to me first in waves. I lived for the past two months in New York City, interning at MTV in Media & Licensing.

As an incoming senior at Vanderbilt University, completely oblivious about my future career, I figured the best option was law school (me? lawyer? huh?). My parents and friends alike gave the thumbs up to this potential career choice. I signed up for the LSAT, went to my internship, drafted licenses, emailed fellow lawyers, negotiated financial deals (Etc, Etc, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH).

But then I was hit by the waves; waves of boredom, frustration, anxiety. All the bad stuff. I realized that I hated what I was doing.

When creativity is idle, it later comes crawling out in bizarre (wave like?) ways. Point in case, I had abandoned my creative passions and interests during this whole "I need to be successful and grow up" process.

After some personal realizations while running by the East River and many, many conversations with close friends and loved ones, I decided to drop the whole law school thing and am planning on Grad School, in Creative Writing or Film (in case you were curious). Not only am I anxiously working on writing samples and studying for the GRE, I am also picking up some fun hobbies. Lately I have been exploring, film, music & art -- things that makes me tick and thrive.

Basically, I have reconnected with my old artsy self.

As I prepare for Grad School, I would like this blog to be my side project. At Vandy, so many people (me included) have completely forgotten there is something outside of the Vanderbubble (yes there are cooler things to do than fratting out). There is much more than people think. Nashville has a lot to offer to those of us who are artistically curious (and daring) enough.

As a music freak, I have taken advantage of many concerts these past three years. But I still haven't explored other parts of Artsyville. There is art, film, and even more music than I probably don't know anything about. Therefore, this blog is going to be a way for me to discover those other artsy parts that haven't been yet discovered. I want to scope out the underground scene, party with the hipsters, and everything else funky like that. And I want to share it with all you starving artists and bored bloggers. Aren't I nice?

I have recruited some others to my side; this blog is a collaborative effort. I'm excited. This might be a very cool thing.

School starts in less than two weeks. Until then, I will be doing some artsy stuff here in my hometown, Miami, FL (ehem, Mee-Am-EE). I will also be tanning, a lot. Maybe eating some cuban food. Maybe a club or a bar, here and there.

Oh yeah, and I will be blogging. Don't worry, there will be no more lifestory bullshit like you witnessed in the earlier part of this post. I just needed a juicy intro.

Stay tuned.