see this: nowhere boy.

If you think that John Lennon was always a long-haired, zen-like peace-activist with his arms wrapped around Yoko, it’s time to see Nowhere Boy (if only as a manual for how all datable boys should dress). Turns out Lennon was a rebellious little punk who frisked girls in the woods, jumped on the tops of busses, and pissed off austere British headmasters everywhere. His family issues–he lived with his strict aunt while his zany, unstable mother lived down the street–occasionally come off as overly dramatized…but who cares? It’s all true! Not to mention the folky, Elvis inspired soundtrack is totally a better alternative to your next party than some overplayed Bloc Party. I’d mention how cool it is that the flick was directed by a notorious British female of the art world, or that the faux-Liverpool-accented star, teenager Aaron Johnson is a heartthrob…but all anyone seems to care about is that he knocked her up. Whatever. Go find an obscure cinema and see it.

Ode to Shedding Child Stardom

What gets married too early, is photographed with zombie eyes, spends 5 zillion years in rehab and then earns a People magazine cover? 

Answer: Not Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

 He’s still the winningly geeky guy from that 90’s teen movie you watched in English class, but now instead of just prowling behind chain-smoking hottie Heath, he’s reincarnating the film god himself. Seriously. But will someone please tell him he doesn’t have to Sharpie himself to prove Indie film cred? Even Natalie Portman isn’t worth frosh frat house flashbacks. 

elegy…

first off, every girl has a girl crush…even if they say they don’t, trust me they do. for quite some time i was on the fence between kat von d. and one penelope cruz. after watching elegy tonight, penelope’s 2008 flick opposite ben kingsley, she has stolen my heart. truly, elegy (greek for poem of mourning) is a rare film that is equal parts indie/artistic/dark/poetic/inspiring. cruz plays a 24 year old student, consuela who falls in love with her professor, played by the aged kingsley. kingsley falls head over heels gaga for consuela (can we blame him?) and begins an obsessive downwards spiral. ignoring the feminist undertones, which i dug, (isn’t it always the chick who turns psycho?) this film captured the frantic compulsion of someone  truly, madly, deeply in love with the unattainable. kingsley and cruz played their roles beautifully and their chemistry was undeniable. the film was filled with love, sadness, beauty and angst…all i could ask for on a wednesday night.

i’ll leave you with my favorite quote which i rewinded the film to copy:

“beautiful women are invisible. we never actually see the person. we only see the shell. we are so dazzled by the outside that we never make it inside.”

Absolutely Perfect.

I am in love with this trailer.

Penelope!

At the behest of my darling roommate, I watched Penelope last night. Regardless of how you might feel about Christina Ricci, modern day fairy tales or even swine flu, you will undoubtedly enjoy this movie. The story of an heiress born with a pig nose trying to break the curse by marrying another aristocrat, Penelope is more about finding independence than finding love. Actually, it’s really all about James McAvoy in Frye boots, but the plot is more than redeeming enough to watch even if someone boring had been casted (we’re looking at you, Zac Efron). The set design is brilliant too, something Baz Lurhman might have created after taking a mild sedative.  It was released in 2006 without causing much of a stir, but this film deserves a much wider audience.  Next time you’re sick or lazy or bored or heart broken or have swine flu, netflix Penelope and fall in love.