Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol; A Review

I'll admit that I was skeptical about the newest Mission: Impossible installment, mostly because the second installment was bad enough that I didn't see the third. But I've been having a love affair with (mostly) comedic actor Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Star Trek) for many years now, so I felt compelled to override my skepticism enough to see the movie. And the truth is, no matter how...wibbly-wobbly Tom Cruise appears in his real life, I have always enjoyed his acting a great deal. (Apparently his talent lies in translating his personal intensity into his roles.)

Simon Pegg

And guess what? I loved it.

Under the direction of Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Ghost Protocol has one of the best action/humor balances I have ever seen. When humor arises, Tom Cruise generally plays the straight-man to Simon Pegg's impeccable comedic timing and mild bumblings. But it never gets overly silly or condescending, and it never pulls you out of the movie or becomes distracting. It does what it's supposed to do; it gives the audience a moment to relax and it breaks up the very intense action sequences.

The "team" is rounded out by actors Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton, and both do a fine job. I was particularly pleased that Paula Patton seemed like a normal woman as opposed to the overly sexed-up "sidekick" women that one often finds in action films. Sure she is very beautiful, but it was entirely refreshing that her sexy, sexy, sexiness was not her only asset as a team member.

Of course, no movie is perfect and Ghost Protocol is no different. At times it felt like nothing ever went right for the team, and that the whole movie was about playing catch-up to fix mistakes made in previous scenes. But this was not overly egregious and should not stop any action-lover from seeing the film.

"The Muppets" in Review

I grew up on the Muppets. I love the Muppets. In fact, The Great Muppet Caper is one of my top ten favorite movies of all time, both for its hilarity and its nostalgia.

So with glee I traipsed to the movie theater this weekend with a load of family members to see the newly released "The Muppets" starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams. For the first twenty minutes I was perfectly delighted. It was funny and energetic, and the first musical number was a jolly treat. (Despite the obvious choreography editing to keep Jason Segel from "dancing.") After that, the magic petered out a bit (with the exception of a hysterical soul searching song about being a muppet or a man). The energy dropped off significantly, the celebrity cameo's were mostly wasted, Amy Adams was underutilized with her singing and dancing talents, and Kermit was a total downer. A DOWNER! How dare he.

But even after my indignation, I think most Muppet fans will like this movie, and a lot of other movie-goers will enjoy this movie enough to make it worth the price of the ticket. And wouldn't you know, much to my dismay, the movie got a 98% fresh on RottenTomatoes.com.

Wes Anderson: A Love Story

I hardly know how to begin speaking of Wes Anderson. For me his scripts always have the exact balance of drama, heartbreak, humor, and quirk to satisfy the bitter-sweet realities I crave in movies. And on top of that praise, each movie is a rich visual feast. What is comes down to is his attention to detail. Every aspect of the film, be it script, costume, music, set, etc., directly services the characters or the story, yet nothing feels wasted, gratuitous, or superfluous. Watch any of these titles and see for yourself.

And that, dear friends, is why I am overjoyed with anticipation of Mr. Anderson's new film Moonrise Kingdom. I don't know much about it except that the cast is amazing and what the these photos can tell me. I mean, come ON, how great are these costumes? Answer: They are super great.

Picture Pages: I Want to Go to There

Sometimes I see things on the Internet. Things I have never seen before and know nothing about. Things that are beautiful and make me immediately say "I want to go to there" à la Liz Lemon.

This is a house somewhere in Switzerland. (I managed to lose my original link and thus any specific information.) I'm sure I'd be fine milking cows and being snowed in and what not if I lived here. Right? RIGHT?!

This is Trinity College's library in Dublin, Ireland. I can just image how this place smells of old books and wood polish and learning. Mmm...learning.

Awesome Sweater is Awesome

I want, nay, need this sweater from Gant by Michael Bastian. It is so kitchy, yet not old fashioned. But it's a mens sweater, and I'm afraid those two cardinals would "perch" a little too smugly and 3-D-ly on my chest. (Thanks, grandma.)

Bonus: Much of Gant's website looks like it was ripped right out of The Royal Tenenbaums. Wes Anderson's movies always look so delicious. 

Music: Eugene McGuinness

I can't stop watching Eugene McGuinness's video for his song Lion. The hair, the suit, and the unconventional good looks play a role, but I love the general uncomplicated nature of the visuals. It feels a little raw, a little rough, which is a nice reflection of the song's title. The song itself has a definite 60s go-go vibe, but it's also modern with great lyrics. Try it out, you just might like it.

Project Runway, Episode 9: The Last Challenge

This season of Project Runway really has been a bummer. Where are the Jeffreys and Seth Aarons and Mondos and Christians who are a little outrageous and take risks and actually pay off? I do really like Viktor compared to the other contestants' design and stylings, but when I compare him to designers in previous seasons I feel a little disappointed. And maybe that's why so much focus has been on the drama of the contestants' relationships this season. Maybe they producers realized that they failed in the casting and had to try and make up for it somehow.

But here we are. The finalists have been chosen (Viktor, Anya, Josh, and Kimberly) and I can't help but watch the finale. I will also watch next season. There's just no other place where I can get this kind of fashion fix. Additionally I will watch as long as Tim Gunn is on.

My favorite of the evening was definitely Viktor. His designs, even if he doesn't alway push them far enough, are always tasteful, polished, and well fit. And let's be honest, if, say, Anya or Oliver were sewing the same designes, the clothes would look like they came from Dress Barn or Wal-Mart. But it in the hands of someone who knows their craft, the clothes look polished and expensive.

Kimberly's designs were okay. But I did like, at least in concept, her orange coat. The buttons and loops look classy and the pleats in the back are delightful. But the silver dress was awfully remeniscent of the outfit Kimberly made for Nina earlier in the season.

Part of the challenge was to show a range of clothing, but Anya showed little range in my eyes. Her cocktail dress and gown looked too similar, and her rust pantsuit thingy-ma-bob was so dated and old lady. How do the esteemed judges not see it? Or am I terribly off-base?

The stinker of the night was Josh. His ill fitting vest paired with a circle skirt (shocker!) were especially disastrous. And a metallic toga? What the what? It looks like a 50s version of the future without the charm of the kitch. 

At least this season will soon stop torturing me.