SOOOOO. I added those unnecessary o’s to ease my way back in my blogosphere. I have missed you, like an old lover inexplicably abandoned. So much shit has gone down in my life I feel like I could seriously have a compelling reality show. First and foremost, I am going to med school in NYC. Yes, wtf. This is so awesome that a month and half after learning I would be living in the big apple I still haven’t absorbed the info. What will it be like? Will I become a pretentious, indifferent urbanite hipster? PLEASE YES. Most likely I will meet cool people, study a lot, and sleep less than I do now. I have to say I grew so much in my last semester in college. It was an insane orgy of emotions, new friends, new experiences, partying, studying last minute and getting really stressed, and maturing. Basically, I felt like the last semester of my college experience was the only authentically “college” part of the whole damn four years. I fucked up, I did amazing shit, I took chances. Sike, I didn’t fuck up ANYTHING. And baby, this shit is only beginning. Ok, part of this new me is maybe toning down the cursing. Maybe. Anyway, lots of struggling with personal acceptance, but once you accept who you are *wink” it all goes from there. Went to Europe with my Mom…yes, damn that awful combination of something wondrous and my mother. Love her, but the woman is Steve-O level crazy. We are different people who should not spend every minute together for three weeks. But despite that, Europe was ridiculous. Hit up London, Paris, Piacenza (northern italy), Florence, Rome. London is my favorite place ever, basically. And when i got back I realized, America has its own unique charm as well…I actually missed it a tad. And the last two weeks-ish since I got back has basically been a reading/Youtube orgy. Stop using orgy, dammit. I read more than I have in years…Nightlife by Isaac Asimov & another guy, some brilliantly funny book by David Sedaris about death, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Age of Innocence by Edith Warton, the first 6th of Pillars of the Earth, and first 3rd of White Horses by Alice Hoffman. Yep, random and interesting reading. I subscribed to about four channels on Youtube, including my new favorite people luanlegacy, someonetoshoutfor, itskinglseybitch, anthonylangford, and I think that is it. Funny awesome guys who love everything gay just like me. My obsession with gay men is so typically sad. Granted, I don’t want to be a gay man like some of you ladies (that requires having a penis). I just appreciate them greatly. But I seriously need to stop being so sexist and check out the probably great selection of gay female cinema, including “Aimee and Jaguar”, and interesting looking movie/book about a love affair between two women in Nazi Germany (I think?). AND it’s a true story. I do love “Imagine You and Me”, that movie is just too romantic! Continuing on with my directionless, convoluted post, what has been new on my movie & music radar??? Let’s see:
A Rare Smile from Sherlock!
Sherlock, new BBC adaptation: A bit cheese-esque at times, this three part series is mostly just funny and clever as hell. And randomly moving. And has two perfect actors playing Sherlock and Dr. Watson with legitimate chemistry and complexity. Somehow, just when you think Sherlock is going overboard with the whole high-functioning-sociapath-thing, he actually has humanity. And just when you think Dr. Watson is too self-serious, he is somehow zany, innocent, and scarred all at once. Sidenote: I watched this right after I came back from Europe, and I recognized like five specific spots they filmed in as places I had visited. The best was the scene in the graffiti skater place in Southbank. Click dashed line for bigger version of my awesome picture from there:
SOME of the many riveting characters
Downton Abbey: Complex, subtle, unique, addictive. I NEED SERIES 2. If you like masterpiece theater-esque programming with social/ class exploration, romance, and well-executed drama this series will be like orgasmic cake. AND unlike Jane Austen, many of the characters actually live outside the exclusive upper class world of 19th century England (I do love Austen, so don’t be mad). But these “lower class” people aren’t all depressed and boring; they are complex and dignified and full of soul. Oh the quiet dignity! Just talking about it makes me want to watch it again! Downton Abbey is a grand achievement.
Fantastic Mr. Fox: Whimsical, emotional, modern, ironic, funny, and too smart for its own good. When I say adults and not so stupid children will LOVE this stop-motion adventure about foxes, I actually mean it.
The face of wistful regret
Handsome Harry: A movie about a Vietnam veteran who visits a dying Navy friend in this hospital and subsequently goes on a journey to find each member of a group of friends who beat the shit out of a fellow officer when they served. As we learn about Harry and each of his old friends lives after 20 years, and see mysterious flashbacks to their jazzy, nostalgic past in Vietnam, we begin to understand more of the story behind the inexplicable, savage event that shaped the rest of their lives. Guilt, music, homophobia, and regret all swirl into this subtle, focused story. I actually stopped watching 15 minutes because I didn’t realize the story would get so interesting and heartbreaking. And the movie has an unnatural amount of star power talent; Jamey Sheridan, Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, John Savage, Campbell Scott, Titus Welliver. (a poetic review, much better than mine, available on npr.org: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126174228)
Not the only character, obviously, but she is SO GOURGEOUS
Game of Thrones: I don’t know how to describe how mindblowing this show is. Imagine a fantasy, historical show that smoked crack and became a beast of politics, action, sex, violence, and rich characters. Yeah, that didn’t even do it justice. WINTER IS COMING! And I never even read the books and I love it this much. Standouts on the show: everyone. The acting is just RIDICahlus. Peter Dinklage is as good as he was in “The Station Agent”, even though the character is a bit different. Nikolay Coster-Waldau and Lena Headey are understated but scary as hell. Sean Bean is a heroic pillar. And a slew of great young stars who act like they have always been these characters. This show has fucking epic young actors. I have a crush on John Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). If you have ever liked anything on HBO, you WILL like this. It’s only ten intense, exciting episodes, you can do it!
You sexy twats.
Made in Chelsea: Pure guilty pleasure. Basically, the British version of the Hills. I love it ironically. Mostly.
P.S. I am about to live in a state where gay marriage is legal. YEAH NEW YORK!!!!
