Spoilers

I'm going to go ahead and ruin the surprise and tell you 2 movies that will NOT ever, ever, ever appear on my Top 100 Best Films list:

There Will Be Blood
and
Open Water.

Heaven help me. They were terrible - well, There Will Be Blood was terrible. Open Water just terrified me beyond reproach. It's basically a movie about my biggest fear in life.

Oh Geeze

I have it in my planner that I need to blog but I'm pretty drained, not really tired, just drained. So I'm not going to do a movie, even though it's a good one. The list is finally getting into some of my favorite movies!

I had my first shift tonight at Ali Baba's Mediterranean Cuisine. If the money is good, I think it's really going to be cool. It's really a chill place. There are 10 tables inside and 4 outside and with the exception of some end of the week shifts, there's usually only one server on the floor. Granted, only about 7 people came in tonight, but I think the guy walked with about 50 for the shift. The food is pretty accredited - had lots of good write ups in several local papers, but the only thing on the menu I've ever heard of is hummus.

Oh, geeze. Sorry this post is so lame. Like I said, I'm drained.

Charleston After a Week

I have a pretty good lead on a job. The owner of the Brickery in Atlanta knows the guy who owns the restaurant that I wanted to work at the most here in Charleston. He is going to call the owner on my behalf. So yeah, an owner calling another owner to tell him how awesome I am! Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, I will know something. I may work at the Vickery at Shem Creek or Downtown. I spent the day at the pool yesterday in celebration. I'm pretty sick of driving all over the low country to fill out applications and get rejected. So the day at the pool was nice.

I'm also reading some good books this summer! So far they include On Chesil Beach, Fingersmith, and The Known World. I highly recommend each of them. One day, I may do book reviews, but I want to finish my AFI movie list first. It's been awhile, so here's a refresher....

100. The Three Muskateers
99. Independence Day
98. Kindergarten Cop
97. Hook
96. Beetlejuice
95. Mulan/Aladdin
94. Talledega Nights
93. Back to the Future
92. Tommy Boy
91. Finding Nemo
90. Borat
89. Chicago
88. Zoolander
87. Apollo 13
86. Grease
85. The Thin Red Line
84. Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red-Light District (2004)


What It Is:
A documentary. I love documentaries. This photographer goes into the brothels in India and teaches the children of the prostitutes about art and photography. It's really sad because the girls are so young and the mothers are determined for their daughters to become prostitutes so that they can have money. The photographer tries to get the kids into schools and get their art shown and sold around the world to get them out of that life. It's moving and beautiful and everyone should watch it.

Why I Like It:
I just love documentaries. This one is particularly well done because you really get the feel of how hard it is to make a documentary and how dedicated documentary filmmakers are to their film subjects. She really cares about the kids and not only teaches the photo classes but sits through all the beaurocratic crap that even the kids parents aren't willing to do. It's inspiring in a non-cheesy, non-after-school-special way.

I Bet You Didn't Know:
Anything about this film. Most don't. This isn't the only documentary on my list so be prepared.

Memorable Moments:
The art show in Amsterdam was a highlight. I also like all the pretty pictures the kids take.

New Hobby

My new favorite hobby = mattress shopping. I wonder how many times I can go back to the five mattress stores nearby pretending to be looking to buy before they don't let me lay on the $7000 beds anymore...

Charleston

Eventually, I'm going to do a full, all-out, real post. Right now, just wanted to let everyone know that I made it Charleston. I spent all day today trying to find a job. Every place I went to said they were hiring, but I'm a little nervous that I won't be making money anywhere for a few weeks. I have $35 to my name, so hopefully I can get on the floor somewhere by the end of the week, but it's doubtful. Yes, these jobs are for waiting tables and NOT in the legal field. I'll figure that out once I figure out how to pay my bills.

And then I got sick. I feel like poop. I don't know if it's allergies, my teeth, or a cold. I'm going to try and sleep forever tomorrow if the construction guys across the street don't show up at 4am again. Say a prayer that I feel better and get a job or win the lottery (that I'm not playing.)

Just so you know....

....I'm done with my first year of law school. Yeah, I'm pretty awesome!

Quickie

If there's one thing that people without money like to do it's imagining what they would do if they had it. And by they, I mean me. Right now, I'm trying to decide between saving up to study abroad for a month next May in Austria or saving up to buy a king size tempurpedic bed. Both cost about the same, and I'm torn. Thoughts? Votes?

Long Overdue

As predicted, my posts became less frequent as exams arrived. I've completed RWA (legal writing), Property (THANK GOD!), and Torts. I have Contracts tomorrow, Civil Procedure Monday and Criminal Law next Thursday. The first half of the month, I got to do some cool stuff, so here are some pictures.

Some of the old and new LSRJ leaders with Sarah Weddington. It was a bad hair day for me.


The next generation of cousins at MORBID JOKE2.


Melissa and I at the Braves game for my 24th Birthday!

Wish me luck on my exams and I'll give you number 85 on my MyAFI Top 100 list!

100. The Three Muskateers
99. Independence Day
98. Kindergarten Cop
97. Hook
96. Beetlejuice
95. Mulan/Aladdin
94. Talledega Nights
93. Back to the Future
92. Tommy Boy
91. Finding Nemo
90. Borat
89. Chicago
88. Zoolander
87. Apollo 13
86. Grease
85. The Thin Red Line (1998)


What It Is:
One of the few (maybe the only) war movie on my list. I normally can't do war movies, but this one is beautiful, poetic, poignant, and everything I love about a good movie. The central story line is about a private fighting in the Pacific during WWII who goes AWOL but then comes back. The unique story telling gets enhanced by the imagery - the beauty of the scenery juxtaposed with the violence of war, etc. etc. Plus, this movie has EVERYBODY in it! It's kinda sad that it came out at the same time as Saving Private Ryan because (although both films are good and moving,) they are just two very different films. The Thin Red Line gets brushed over because of the fame of the D-Day violence scene from Saving Private Ryan.

Why I Like It:
Two reasons: The cast and the quotes. The cast includes John C. Reilly (his third film on my list so far?), George Clooney, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, John Caveziel, and Nick Nolte. And that's not including everyone. I'm not a huge poetry fan despite my literary background, but this movie's narration has a definite poetic flair that I love. I would put it more in a creative non-fiction prose catagory, but I just love it!

I Bet You Didn't Know:
The original cut of the film was over 6 hours long, and included in the cut hours were scenes from actors Viggo Mortenson, Billy Bob Thorton, Gary Oldman, and Bill Pullman who appear nowhere else in the film. There was a novel and a 1964 film versions before the 1998 version.

Memorable Moments:
- "If I go first, I'll wait for you there on the other side of the dark waters."
- When Woody Harrelson blows off his own ass, as he puts it.
- "We were a family. How'd it break up and come apart, so that now we're turned against each other? Each standing in the other's light. How'd we lose that good that was given us? Let it slip away. Scattered it, careless. What's keepin' us from reaching out, touching the glory?"

State of Play.

I decided this morning that I wanted to go to dinner and a movie tonight with friends. Seeing as how it was so last minute, I was unable to persuade any of my in-town homies to accompany me. So I fixed my self a salad, cleaned, and decided to go to the movies anyway. I really wanted to see Russell Crowe's latest flick State of Play. I set my facebook status to alert any stragglers and drove down to the theater. After buying tickets, I was standing in line to get a soda when I get a call from A-bomb, who lives like five minutes away. Long story short, five minutes later, we're in our seats watching some pretty amazing previews (Star Trek after finals anyone?). The whole evening reiterated for me a love of going to the movies. There's just something exciting about "going" to the theater instead of just watching at home. Don't get me wrong, I love a good movie in my jammies snuggled up with blankie and Max, but I just love the giant screens, previews, giant sodas, and having to pee worse than I ever have in my life. When I have money, I'm going to make it a habit of going once a week.

So, I'm going to give my thoughts on the movie. No, this is not the next film in My non-AFI Top 100 films and no I won't be doing one in this post. Although I'm going to try and not give any of the twists or ending of the film away, if you really want to see the movie and don't want to know anything about it - consider this fair warning. I'm only human and may accidentally let something slip. Starting below the picture, I will reveal my thoughts on the film and you may not want to keep reading! You have been disclaimered.



So I know I have this school-girl crush/obsession with Russell Crowe and you may think I'm biased, but what I genuinely love about Russ is that even though I have this crush, I still forget I'm watching him in a movie every time I see him in a film. I know that makes no sense, so I will try and elaborate. I don't watch a film and think, "Hmm, Russell looks goofy" or something along those lines; instead, whenever I watch him, I see whatever character he's playing. He let's you get so absorbed into the character and story that you forget that this is the guy who played Maximus and Cort and Bud White and John Nash, etc.m I watched State of Play and got really into Cal - not Russell, and regardless of what you may think of him, his personal life, or my goofy obsession with him, that is a genuine talent and he's a true master of his craft.

That being said, several other performances really stood out. Rachel McAdams continues to impress me. I think this is only the third film of hers that I've seen and I've yet to be disappointed. Helen Mirren likewise makes me smile whenever she comes on the screen. A film stealer for me was Jason Bateman. He's great and has potential to be a new favorite actor for me. Also, a nod to the guy who played Private Dancer for those few episodes on Scrubs. He has a small part and it drove me nuts trying to figure out who he was the entire movie. Thank you IMDB.

The person notably missing from my accolades is Ben Affleck, and it's not all his fault, for once. He was horribly casted. He's supposed to be a Senator who went to college with Russell Crowe and is married to Robin Wright Penn (stellar, as she usually is!). I mean, come on, what is that - like a 15 year age gap? The few little white scruffies they put in his sideburns fooled NO ONE. He looked like a baby next to the giants in Crowe and Wright Penn. I also just don't think he's a good actor. He's anti-Russell Crowe. I've never seen a character played by Affleck where I DIDN'T feel like I was watching Ben Affleck - the exact opposite of Crowe's talent. As a result, the chemistry between him and Crowe was pretty weak, so the whole friend-loyalty theme that was central to the film didn't do it for me.

Not to brag or show off how awesome I am, but I guessed the big twist pretty early (A-bomb was impressed by how soon I guessed it.) That being said, it was worth the ride. The friendship loyalty theme and the whole newspapers as a dying art thanks to blogs theme didn't do much for me, but there were others that did. I really enjoyed the subtle patriotism and military undertones. The "good story telling" theme, playing with Rhetoric and the hiding and revealing of information, was right up my ally - along with all things conspiracy related.

The film was also surprisingly pretty. Interesting camera angels and mise en scene combined with some subtle, some not so subtle humor made the whole picture pleasing when juxtaposed with the dirty story, suspense and violence, and questionable morals.

To sum up: good story telling + conspiracies + Russell Crowe - all things Ben Affleck = PERFECT CARMELA MOVIE!

Awesome.

You should read this article: here. It's a list of the Top 10 Nerf guns of all time. It makes me very happy and I want number one desperately. Buy me one, please.

Blerg.

So, I have all these pictures I want to share, but I can't figure out how to post them on here other than one at a time. I want to have one of those flash slideshows but I can only find them for like myspace. Everyone is hating on bloggers. If anyone can offer some suggestions, I will love you forever.

90. Borat
89. Chicago
88. Zoolander
87. Apollo 13.
86. Grease (1978)


What It Is:
The musical that gave me my first celebrity crush – well – maybe second. I can't remember which I saw first – Grease or Seaquest. John Travolta plays the cool guy that he is who falls in love with a sweet, “good girl” Olivia Newton John. The two have a fun gang of friends, who all have one thing in common: they all like to sing. The soundtrack always starts off my summers – singing “You're the One that I want” or “Summer Nights” driving down the Tybee Road on the way to the beach.

Why I Like It:
It reminds me of simpler times, times when teenage girls didn't get pregnant or when kids actually cared about school and their grades. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

I Bet You Didn't Know:
Henry Winkler turned down the role of Danny for fear of being type-casted. Good choice?

Memorable Moments:
John Travolta trying to play sports. Just dance, JT. Just dance.

This is for your own good.

I'm a pretty awesome person, but lately, I've noticed some people forgetting what awesome is. So I thought to my self, how can I fix this? I came up with the brilliant idea of explaining to the world what awesome is through a series of videos. So here it goes.

Just in case you forgot what awesome is, here are a few examples.












If things remain the way they have been this week, I might have to post more examples in the future. So, stay awesome people, or else.

(Disclaimer: I do not claim nor do I in any way have [copy]rights to these videos. This posting is for educational purposes only. I'm sure others do have rights to these videos. I respectfully request those people, if they object to my educational use, to ask me to take down these videos before suing me and eating my dog for dinner. Thanks bunches.)

Was it the Door?

I need help. I was writing the blurb for movie number 87 (see below) and I want to know about a guy in the movie. Please read the Why I Like It section below and help me out. 1382417324 cool points to the person who can provide me with information leading to our marriage. It's driving me nuts, now. It's all I can think about.

I think I'm getting sick. I played volleyball last night and was so hot and sweaty afterward that I drove home in 35 degree rainy weather with the windows down. Now I feel a little sick.

I have an interview today for an on-campus job for next school year. I'm so glad I feel sick for it!

Hopefully, after this weekend, I'll upload pictures from the MORBID JOKE (cousin's weekend) and my birthday (which is Sunday.)


87. Apollo 13

What It Is:
Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Gary Sinese, Kevin Bacon, Clint Howard, and the guy from Twister. The all work for NASA and fly a space ship to outer space. Then things go horribly, horribly wrong. Based on the real life story of the doomed Apollo 13 flight directed by Ron Howard.

Why I Like It:
Did you see the list of cast? Can you say HEAVEN! Also, anyone know who plays the dorky guy who comes up with ideas in the panic room with Ed Harris and then helps Gary Sinese get the amps down? He looks a little John Cusak-esque? He's dorky hot. I would marry him. Anyone know him? IMDB didn't help me and I couldn't even find a picture of him on google. It's like he doesn't exist.

I Bet You Didn't Know:
On my 8th grade field trip to DC, we went to the Smithsonian National Air and Space something or other. The tour guide told us that he spoke to the Apollo 13 astronauts about the movie and the only thing they said was inaccurate was the dialogue in space. Apparently, there was a lot more cursing when things started breaking.

Ron Howard claims this is his favorite of his movies. I bet this is before A Beautiful Mind, because Russell Crowe probably changed his mind.

Memorable Moments:
The last like 30 minutes of the movie are AWESOME!

Marilyn: Blanche, Blanche, these nice young men are going to watch the television with you. This is Neil Armstrong, and this is Buzz... Aldrin.
Neil Armstrong: Hi.
Blanche: Are you boys in the space program, too?

Sorry

Don't mean to disappoint my fans, but I don't feel like doing a movie this time. And I have to blog today. It's been too long, and my planner told me I had to. So no movie.

Lauren officially has me hooked on American Idol. It started with studying while she watched one episode, then I had to watch the next night to see who went home. Then I had to see if Megan Joy could do better. Etc. Etc. Lord help me. My Top Three are Allison, Adam, and Kris in that order. Until this week, Megan Joy was top three for me, but she has stunk it up and I liked Kris's SO MUCH this week. I want to buy him. Allison and Adam are AMAZINGLY awesome. They will be the final two or else the world is not just.

More TV news, ER ends tomorrow night and I'm going to bawl. I know already because for ten years, I have devoted 10pm on Thursday nights to the show. I hope Kovac comes back for one episode. I would like to see the little bald guy that was killed by the helicopter after another helicopter cut his off; I can't remember his name to save my life. Anyone? I will need consoling, so please send me love around 11 tomorrow night.

I had a great trip to Charleston this past weekend. I cried when I left. I definitely think I made the right choice about going there this summer. It just felt right, almost home-like. Katie, Melissa, and I just hung out at Katie's new house. Yes, you read that right. Katie bought a house. It was amazing.

Ok, time for helping David with his website. He's making me stop now.

It's a Walk Off

Sorry for the lack of posts, lately. It'll probably only get worse as exam time comes nearer. Be prepared. As a result, I don't have much to post other than exam studying. It's not really going well thus far. I'm pretty behind where I need to be at this point, but hopefully I'll get there eventually.

So here's a movie.

100. The Three Muskateers
99. Independence Day
98. Kindergarten Cop
97. Hook
96. Beetlejuice
95. Mulan/Aladdin
94. Talladega Nights
93. Back to the Future
92. Tommy Boy
91. Finding Nemo
90. Borat
89. Chicago
88. Zoolander (2001)

What It Is:

A parody of male models. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson play rival models who must ban together to keep Stiller's character from assassinating a world leader. Will Ferrell is the fashion designer behind the assassination attempt. I'm almost disturbed by the number of appearances by Will thus far.

Why I Like It:

It's funny. Love it. Very quotable. Can't help myself sometimes....

I Bet You Didn't Know:

They edited out the World Trade Center in two scenes because the film came out on September 28, 2001. Also, it's banned in Malaysia. Owen Wilson's hair in the movie is a wig.

Memorable Moments:

Any moment with Bowie is a memorable moment. The David Duchovony (I know that's misspelled, shut up) cameo must be mentioned or Val will not be happy with me.

Go Buy Night!

Holocaust Nobel Laureate Elie Weisel a Madoff Victim.

He survived the Holocaust and then had all his savings lost, so we should all go out and buy a copy of Night and read it. It's a great book, and a quick read.

I am Cool

Monty Python Musical! (Spamalot)
Uploaded by Benji_mon

Here is a sample of where I was last night. It was awesome!

It was a murder, but not a crime.

I had my oral arguments today. When I was going, I thought I was the worse of all the "counsel" because I thought my voice was a little shaky and that I stumbled through some stuff, and I forgot to do a conclusion. However, of all the feedback given by the "judges" afterward, I think mine was the best. They gave me some really good complements of the same quality that they gave the moot-courters last week. They said that my knowledge of the record was spectacular, I was impressively flexible with my arguments, my ability to answer a question with case law was text book, and that the attention I paid and responses to not only opposing-counsel argument's but the judges' questions as well were far above the skill level of a beginner. That was a long, poorly constructed sentence.

I made some motivational posters of my professors, but I don't know if the general public would find them humorous. My professors are quite quirky and unique, and it's fun making fun of them.

I also want to note how awesome it is to wear a suit. I had to wear it all day, and granted, all I did was ride MARTA, sit in the library, give my arguments, then go home, but I felt way cooler. If someone had asked what I did for a living, I would have said that I was an attorney. Only a minor falsity. Let's just say, it's a power trip.

I wasn't sure I was in the mood to do a film tonight. I mean, it is Friday night and I'm blogging. Not exactly super cool. But I guess I can do one. Did you guess from the title of this post what number 89 is?? It's the first musical.

100. The Three Muskateers
99. Independence Day
98. Kindergarten Cop
97. Hook
96. Beetlejuice
95. Mulan/Aladdin
94. Talladega Nights
93. Back to the Future
92. Tommy Boy
91. Finding Nemo
90. Borat
89. Chicago (2002)

What It Is:
A 1920's era musical about women trapped in mundane lives wanting to live the famous jazz life and murder their boyfriends. By women I mean Renee Zellwegger. John C. Reilly and Queen Latifah are pretty awesome in the movie and Catherine Zeta Jones does a decent leading lady. I don't love Zellwegger or Richard Gere who also lead. The movie is told from Zellwegger's perspective and the story telling is cool because it's like a show-within-the-show. That's a horrible explanation, but I'm tired.

Why I Like It:
The soundtrack. I love singing musicals, especially when I'm driving and no one else is around. Or when someone else is around, either way. I didn't love the movie as much as I love the other movies on my list, but the songs more than make up for it. I'm especially partial to Cell Block Tango and Queen Latifah's song.

I Bet You Didn't Know:
Apparently, Madonna was supposed to play Velma Kelly. Thank God for Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Memorable Moments:
I like the scene when the ballerina gets executed. And the Richard Gere press conference song.

Expect many, many more of these.....

I Like You, High Five

This is what my family looks like after church the week of St. Patrick's Day:

We used the timer on my camera to take the picture, so we held smiles for ten seconds. That's why we look a little....off, but I still think we are adorable!

So, I haven't really told anyone yet, but I don't plan on going to summer school anymore. I didn't get a job or anything, but I decided to go back to my original plan: Charleston. I talked myself out of it because it felt like the smart thing to do - take summer school, graduate early, etc. But it just didn't sit well with me, call it a gut feeling or maybe God is trying to tell me the right thing to do. I just figured that I'm still young (younger than most of my classmates) and there's no reason to rush through this, especially with the crisis in the legal field occurring right now. If I stayed here, I would be volunteering at a law firm for experience and working full time at a crap job for money PLUS taking classes, basically three different things that would all have to be top priority. In Charleston, I can just volunteer for experience and work for money. Still two things, but minus the stress of law school and addition of the beach and the company of my two best friends (not counting Val - although you should consider coming and spending a summer in the South!) It may not be as ambitious, but I think it will keep me sane.

This Friday and next Friday, I have Oral Arguments. For those of you lay people out there, oral arguments are basically a chance for upperclassmen and RWA professors to make you look like an idiot. We wrote our briefs and now they've read them, and we have to convince them of our arguments while they ask us impossible questions trying to trip us up, posing as "judges." I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.

And now for films, because I'm three days behind on my sleep and can't stay awake much longer.

100. The Three Muskateers
99. Independence Day
98. Kindergarten Cop
97. Hook
96. Beetlejuice
95. Mulan/Aladdin
94. Talladega Nights
93. Back to the Future
92. Tommy Boy
91. Finding Nemo
90. Borat (2006)


What It Is:
Sasha Boren Cohen poses as a Kazhakstani news anchor doing a documentary on American culture in order to better his native country. It's a fantastic mockumentary because a lot of the footage is actually real, sorta combining Christopher Guest with Punk'd. Nothing is safe or sacred, just the way I like it. An imdb comment describes it perfectly: "An appalling masterpiece."

Why I Like It:
To my knowledge, it's the only mockumentary I've seen that wasn't made by Christopher Guest (I've only seen bits and pieces of Drop Dead Gorgeous). Mockumentaries are my favorite genre, so it's exciting to have another masterpiece to add to my list. The more things I see Cohen in, the more I like him (and he's in a long term relationship with Isla Fisher, another one of my favorite funny people). His different characters I've seen him play are all very different, and to the untrained eye, you wouldn't be able to tell the same guy played them all. He combines character acting with slapstick and just makes me happy. He also has an irreverant yet genius attitude about him that I LOVE!

I Bet You Didn't Know:
Luenell, the black prostitute that befriends Borat, is a real actress with appearances in such "classic" films as The Rock and So I Married An Axe Murderer.

Johnny Depp, Steve Martin, and George Clooney all contacted Cohen about having cameos in the film. They are huge Cohen fans, but Cohen refused because he didn't want the celebrities to give his gig away.

Memorable Moments:
The naked wrestling scene. Bloody Brilliant.

"I will look on your treasures, gypsy. Is this understood?"