Whip It!: Feel good hit of the fall?

I walked out of the preview screening of Whip It! feeling everything that I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be feeling: empowered, exhilarated, and wishing I could kick as much ass as a derby girl. Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is a feel-good story that focuses not on romance, but on being satisfied in your own achievements.

Ellen Page stars as Bliss, an earnest teenager who wants to break away from her overbearing mother, who believes that the best way to get out of their small town is to become a beauty pageant queen. It's an underdog story, yes, but who doesn't love an underdog story? Her ticket to freedom comes from joining a roller derby team in and being surrounded by mold-breaking people who are unlike anyone she has ever met before. The laughs come one after another, the skating scenes are sharply edited, and, the soundtrack features hits from the Strokes, MGMT, Jens Lekman, and Kings Of Leon. (For the record, the Kings Of Leon song is "Knocked Up," not any of the tripe from Only By The Night.)

This is a film by women, starring women. It also showcases female capability; the tagline is "Be Your Own Hero," after all. While there is a romantic subplot featuring a local indie rocker, getting the guy is nowhere near as important as being strong and independent. Best friend Pash and derby team the Hurl Scouts provide Bliss with the support that she needs to come into her own. The lively cast propels the story, with plenty of humor along the way. It's not a movie that takes itself too seriously, though it would be difficult to, considering that it features characters who give themselves monikers such as "Bloody Holly," "Iron Maven," and "Smashley Simpson." What it does do is present a great message in a hilarious, well-crafted package. Whip It! is exactly what's needed to combat the frail, powerless version of femininity that is perpetuated in Twilight.

In the words of the Hurl Scouts’ Coach Razor, "Go getcha some."

Glee is the word

Everyone loves a story about outsiders, because almost everyone's felt like an outsider at some point. Such is the case with Glee's gang of misfit toys, with a new lesson about how It's Okay To Be Different dispensed every Wednesday night. Quite frankly, Glee still seems like a bog-standard high school underdog story, but I still feel compelled to watch it and wring my hands and shout "YOU LYING BITCH!" at the screen. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they shouldn't promote acceptance, but there's a difference between making a TV show and making a 40-minute-long PSA. Sometimes the cheesiness makes me want to reach for a loaf of bread and a George Foreman Grill. Still, there are redeeming elements. In spite of the nagging, manipulative women that they keep company with, Will and Finn contribute enough charm and charisma to keep me watching every week. Emma's not too bad either, although her primary characteristics seem to be germophobia and a Charlotte Charles wardrobe. In general, Glee still seems to be figuring out which direction it wants to take, and I'm going to keep following it until it finds that out.

In other news, there's a new teaser clip for Merlin 2x02, and Spaced is ten years old today. Also, "Uprising" by Muse sounds remarkably like Goldfrapp.

TV mini-reviews: Bored To Death, Gossip Girl, The Big Bang Theory

Bored To Death 1x01
It's Jason Schwartzman doing an HBO show, so I knew it was going to be good. I may have set my expectations a little too high, but I think it's going to get better as it progresses. Schwartzman plays Jonathan Ames, a struggling writer who begins working as an unlicensed private detective on a whim with the help of his favorite detective novels. The aesthetics are crisp, the humor is deadpan and witty, and I can't wait to see where this goes and how the characters develop. A Schwartzman-penned theme song doesn't hurt, either.

Gossip Girl 3x02
This episode was all about the tables being turned, except for Serena, of course. I'm not sure why I'm trying to review something that I don't actually take seriously, other than that insomnia does amazing things. I will say, however, that this show has some really great montages. They're always well-edited and fit together perfectly and help to compensate for things like references to "the Bass cave."

The Big Bang Theory 3x01
I have nothing to say about this other than that Leonard needs to learn about bros before hos.

Merlin 2x01: The Curse Of Cornelius Sigan

While the Doctor's away, strange creatures still reign on BBC Saturday nights with Merlin. The second series of the surprise hit debuted tonight, with "The Curse Of Cornelius Sigan."

The four stars of the show now all have a bit more experience under their belts, and it shows, at least with Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur), considering that Katie McGrath (Morgana) and Angel Coulby (Gwen) got a combined total of about two minutes of screen time. The young medieval heroes are back in fine form, with plenty of the usual homoerotic subtext in the mix. There's plenty of Merlin acting like a jealous high school girlfriend when Arthur's attentions are drawn away from him, while Arthur is still every bit the kid in elementary school who expressed crushes through pigtail-pulling.

I think I just had the revelation that Merlin and Arthur are like Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe.

Anyways, jellied staplers aside, Mackenzie Crook guest-starred in this episode. I was never into Pirates Of The Caribbean, so I'm only familiar with his work on Skins and, of course, The Office. He was a good villain, certainly more psychological than physical. It's a shame that this wasn't a two-part storyline, it would have been nice to see more of him. This was a story that could have easily been spread across two weeks. Hopefully we'll get a multi-part plotline at some point instead of having this monster-of-the-week routine. While the first series had the running thread of Nimueh, we never saw the words "To Be Continued." Still, I'm looking forward to these new adventures, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

A Single Man trailer

This looks visually stunning, for more reasons than one, but what else could we expect from Tom Ford? Everyone looks flawless, and the color palette seems spot-on for the 60s. I can't wait to see this film. With Matthew Goode, Lee Pace, and Nicholas Hoult, how could I not?

Also, it will be interesting to see how much coverage the gay kiss will get. Despite the visibility of Watchmen, Matthew Goode isn't particularly high-profile, though Colin Firth more than balances that out. While it's obviously going to be talked about, hopefully more people have figured out since Jake and Heath that gay scenes don't have to be a big deal.

The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future

One of my favorite bands, Los Campesinos!, have a new song available as a free download. It's a more mature departure from their previously established sound, but has all of their typical cleverness.

Gleeking Out

I forgot to mention this in my fall TV round-up, but the highly anticipated Glee starts tonight. I watched the preview episode, and despite finding it remarkably like every other high school underdog story ever, I feel compelled to watch it. It might just be the internet hive mind getting to me, or the fact that I couldn't help but listen to the cast's rendition of "Push It" on repeat last night. I'm hoping that this show can charm its way past just being another teen dramedy featuring actors portraying characters who are ten years their junior.

From what was seen in the preview, Glee seems like it needs time to reach its full potential. Sassy Black Diva and Asian Goth Chick Who Probably Loves Anime? Seriously? Hopefully these characters will develop with time and become more than just stereotypes.

At any rate, it has to be better than Vampire Diaries.

Merlin series 2 trailer

So, Gwen and Arthur, eh? Obviously, it had to happen. I'm curious as to when it will happen, given that so far they have had about three conversations together. Additionally, the characters don't seem like a good fit right now, but who am I to judge? It seems like Merlin's giving both characters the push that they need to balance each other better, with Arthur growing more sentimental and Gwen getting more daring. At this point, Arthur and Morgana have much better chemistry with each other. I hope that the kiss is from a dream sequence, because otherwise it would seriously throw off the pacing of the show.

Regardless of how many other people they kiss, Merlin and Arthur will always be "two sides of the same coin."

Geeky Dreamboats

Someone out there has compiled a book of "Geeky Dreamboats." The examples provided are Michael Cera, Daniel Radcliffe, the Jonas Brothers, and Flight of the Conchords.

Michael Cera? Uh, he always plays geeks and he always plays himself, so I guess he can stay. Plus, he's just wrapped up filming a comic book movie, which he was apparently already a fan of when he was cast. However, I hesitate to apply the "dreamboat" label, although this is subject to further contemplation once he looks like he has hit puberty.

Daniel Radcliffe? Free pass, he's Harry freakin' Potter.

Jonas Brothers? Get out right now. As far as I know, there is absolutely no basis in referring to them as "geeky," and I wish I knew much less about the Jonas Brothers than I actually do.

Flight of the Conchords possess sugalumps that I would check out any day.

Suggestions for improving this list, in order by surname:
--Colin Morgan. He makes Merlin the most adorable medieval wizard of all time, and his dream role is a character from a Terry Pratchett book. He also has dorky giant ears.
--Chris Pine, aka Chris Fine, aka Captain Fine. He's James Tiberius Kirk and he will not hesitate to punch you in the face. Additionally, he went to Berkeley and studied all the time, which is definitely dreamy in my book.
--Zachary Quinto. Admittedly, I've never seen him in anything besides Star Trek XI, but that clearly qualifies him.
--Jason Schwartzman. He possesses a great amount of je ne sais quoi in the geekiness department. Is it the way he looks in giant nerdy glasses? Is it the way he sounds while voicing a woodland animal with a sock on its head? The world may never know.
--David Tennant. He portrays one of the best-loved figures of science fiction, as well as having been in a Harry Potter movie. He is also lanky and enjoys licking things and doesn't freak out when finding out that he is the subject of a great quantity of pornographic fanfiction.
--Aidan Turner. He makes it okay for vampires to be able to go out into the sunlight without burning or causing the sparklepocalypse.
--Anton Yelchin. Having participated in two wildly popular sci-fi franchises, he is definitely qualified for the list. There was also that great scene in "Charlie Bartlett" where, as the titular character, he does his homework while on Ritalin.

Looking forward to fall TV

The Big Bang Theory season 3
I only just got into this show over the summer. I don't know how I didn't start earlier, given that it is about the plights of being nerdy and socially awkward, as well as giving nerdy and socially awkward people the hope that they will someday get to make out with someone who is a) normal and b) way hotter than them. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what happens when the gang returns from the North Pole.

Doctor Who: "The Waters Of Mars"

It's not much, but it's all we Whovians get until the Christmas specials. To be honest, I'm not particularly excited about people shooting water out of their wrists, but I'll take whatever I can get when it comes to the 10th Doctor. As much as I'm anticipating whatever fresh twist that the 11th incarnation will bring, David Tennant is simply fantastic and I will miss him very much.

Gossip Girl season 3

The main reasons I watch this are for the clothes and the fairly hilarious dialogue that makes me feel more confident in my own writing skills. The main buzz that's been going around for this season is that Chuck Bass is going to be kissing a man. Unfortunately, it's not Dan, but I'll still watch it anyways. Also, Anna Sui's Gossip Girl-inspired line for Target looks pretty promising.

Merlin series 2
Merlin has been my main obsession this summer. I know that it takes many liberties when it comes to the traditional texts, but it's a lot of fun and I'm not an Arthurian legends purist. I'm looking forward to this next round of homoerotic banter, CGI dragons, and intense sword fights. The cast's wonderful chemistry really makes it something special, and Colin Morgan is the most adorable medieval wizard I have ever seen. Also, Mackenzie Crook is guest starring at some point during this series--let's hope no one puts his stapler in jelly again.

Youth In Revolt trailer

Youth in Revolt - Trailer No. 1 - Moviefone

Sorry, no embed.

I have to say, this actually looks better than I thought it would. I read the book earlier in the summer after hearing a lot of good things about it, as well as being curious as to the dissimilarities between Nick Twisp and Michael Cera's standard fare. From what's seen in the trailer, his interpretation of Nick seems like regulation Michael Cera playing Michael Cera. As alter ego François, however, he certainly stands out a lot more and shows his potential. I also like the way that François is shown with the two Michaels. Aside from that, Sheeni seems spot on from the way I imagined her in the book, apart from the fact that all of the teenaged characters are clearly older than 14. Still, they look uniformly older, which is what's important. I'm looking forward to this movie a lot more than I was previously.

And I have to say, I love the dress that Sheeni is wearing 54 seconds in.

Born In The UK: Another Day, Another Import

Skins is to be adapted for American television by MTV

This is horrifying for a number of reasons. First of all, Skins is all about drinking, drugs, and sex. Sex with real nudity! Okay, so it's also about friendship and growing up and all of that stuff, but for the most part, it's about teenagers doing and saying things that can't be shown on American television. Once all of that is removed, there is pretty much no show left. I'm not asking for non-stop nakedness, but it would be nice if the script could involve a realistic amount of swearing. Additionally, on American television, debauchery always leads to severe repercussions. While some Skins characters did have to suffer for their actions, i.e. Jal's unplanned pregnancy, it remains that the biggest partier of the bunch died of a hereditary defect rather than a drug overdose.

Another aspect that contributes significantly to the essence of Skins is its Britishness. Obviously, this is something that cannot be replicated, but it's something that permeates the attitude and the style of Skins. It's impossible to quantify, but it's undeniable. The approach to music and the emphasis on showcasing new artists lends a refreshing sense of realism to the show. While Gossip Girl is all about style, there are times where the costumes look a little too much like costumes and the people in charge are obviously trying a bit too hard to seem hip and fresh. Skins with a layer of American gloss is not Skins at all.

Also, the American television track record is not particularly good. It's probably going to turn out to be heteronormative with an all-white cast of 23-year-olds who obviously don't look like high schoolers. If we're lucky, we'll get a token racial minority, but I'm not going to bother keeping my fingers crossed.

British shows adapted for the US tend to not make it very far, with The Office being the only prominent success. It is possible that, similarly to The Office US, it could become a decent show on its own merit. Still, I'm not sure as to how promising this is.

Dear Uncle Rusty

I finally got around to seeing Torchwood: Children Of Earth, due to having limited internet up until recently. There isn't really anything I can say about it that's not beating a dead coffee boy, but it did reinforce why I typically don't watch Torchwood. While I was significantly more impressed with Children Of Earth than I have been with the few stray episodes I've seen before, it's just a fact that I like the Doctor Who side of Captain Jack Harkness too much to have him ruined for me. Who!Jack is a fun, flirty man of action. More importantly, Who!Jack's ideas are generally better than just waving around a bunch of guns and making impulsive decisions. Children Of Earth also did Jack a great disservice by seriously dehumanizing him. The fifth episode could have done with less dramatic running montages and more reaction shots. Hey Jack, a bunch of people just died because of your paper-thin marauding, including your boyfriend, and you just had your grandson nosebleed to death. It's time to go for an angsty walk in the rain. Preferably with a lot of flashbacks to Jack and Ianto's makeout sessions.

What I really want to know is how this is going to tie into Jack's return to Doctor Who. We know that the Doctor has a tremendous amount of influence on Captain Jack, but what sort of state will he be in by the time they reunite?

The return: What I did this weekend

This time, I have a legitimate reason for not updating. I've been abroad for over a month, and lack of time/internet has led me to be almost totally cut off from everything. It's a shame I missed out on the squeefests that resulted from David Tennant kissing John Barrowman at Comic-Con. And Scott Pilgrim becoming a video game! (Note: I do not play video games.)

This weekend, I...
--Saw Paper Heart
--Read Submarine
--Saw Funny People

Paper Heart is a pseudo-documentary featuring Michael Cera and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Charlyne Yi. (IMDB claims that she's 23, but I swear I've read that she's 33.) The film follows Yi as she interviews a wide variety of participants about what they think love is. At the same time, this alternate version of her begins to date the alternate version of Michael Cera. This is the only time in which it has been permissible for Michael Cera to be playing Michael Cera, as he was actually supposed to be playing Michael Cera. Either he knows that he is exactly the same in every movie, or he really is just that boring. But that's beside the point. The film takes a whimsical approach, using paper dolls and home-made props to illustrate the stories of the interviewees. Charming, but bordering on overly precious. I did find it enjoyable enough, but I still don't really know what to think about it.

Joe Dunthorne's Submarine is a coming-of-age story about a vocabulary-obsessed Welsh boy. Quite frankly, it didn't make much of an impression on me--I've already forgotten the ending. Other than that, it was a sufficiently compelling story, full of erratic and hormone-fuelled decisions. I didn't find the narrator to be particularly charismatic, although I don't think he was supposed to be. Between this and my June readings of Fierce People and Youth In Revolt, I have spent quite a lot of this summer reading from the perspectives of teenage boys.

The only Judd Apatow-directed product that I had seen before was Freaks and Geeks, so I wasn't sure what to expect out of Funny People. Well, actually, I didn't expect it to be so blatantly indie. I mean seriously, Jonah Hill wearing a Beirut t-shirt? Are you kidding me? Name-checking Wilco? I've never been an Adam Sandler fan, but Seth Rogen's character was definitely the eyes of the movie. Clocking in at 2:16, it did start to drag a bit towards the end, but the comedic and the serious elements blended well. Also, after seeing this, I'm satisfied with Aubrey Plaza as Julie "The Bitch" Powers in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And I want Jason Schwartzman to write at least part of the soundtrack to my life.

An open letter to Michael Cera

Dear George Michael,

The first thing I ever saw you in was Juno, in the December of 2007. At the time, I was less cynical than I am now, and I thought Juno was hilarious. I liked you! I dug the running shorts and the Tic Tacs and the hamburger phone. To my tender young heart, you were adorable. I had yet to realize that Paulie Bleeker was kind of a dick and that Juno suffers from what I term "Coldplay Syndrome": as exposure to X increases, then enjoyment of it decreases. Basically, I thought that both you and Juno were pretty awesome.

In the beginning of 2008, I started watching Arrested Development, which went on to become my favorite TV show of all time. As George Michael Bluth, you didn't really have to do too much. It worked, even though your Canadian accent was rather pronounced. I would have bought a frozen banana from you.

About a year ago, I started hearing things about Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, a movie that you starred in that was coming out in the fall. The premise of a couple meeting on a whirlwind, music-filled night out in NYC sounded reasonably appealing, so I decided to read the book that it was based on. I completely fell in love with the book and decided that there was no way that the movie could live up to it. Plus, the Nick in the book was nothing like you, considering that there were numerous references to his chest hair. I ended up not seeing the movie until this March, and sure enough, I thought that it would have been much better if it had starred people other than you and Kat Dennings. You had the range of a teaspoon.

I saw Superbad a year after everyone else had. It was very obvious that you were still George Michael and Paulie, just in a different outfit.

Most recently, I heard about Scott Pilgrim because of you starring in the adaptation that is currently being filmed. Similarly to Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, I was quite intrigued by the plot synopsis and decided to check out the series of comics that inspired the movie. I was immediately addicted to the comics and their fantastic sense of humor, but there was an unshakable feeling that you just weren't Scott, just like there was an unshakable feeling that you weren't Nick. You always play one-note quiet nice guys, and while Scott Pilgrim is a nice guy, there's definitely a manic energy to him that I've never seen in you. I hope Edgar Wright whips you into shape, because I don't want to be disappointed in this adaptation. You had better do a good job of making Mayonegg explode into piglets and bunnies.

I just picked up a copy of the novel Youth In Revolt, the soon-to-be-released adaptation of which you are also the star of. I can already tell now that I am going to read it, love it, and be pissed off because you're just not right for the character.

Sincerely,

Katie

The Brothers Bloom in review

After waiting for what seems like at least a year, I finally saw The Brothers Bloom today. It was just as delightful as I expected it to be, sharp, witty, and engaging. Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel Weisz were all wonderfully magnetic in the lead roles, while Rinko Kinkuchi provided much of the comic relief without speaking a word. I loved the sense of humor, which was well-established within the first few minutes. The Brothers Bloom may possibly have one of my favorite opening scenes ever.

I saw a lot of Wes Anderson in the aesthetic, which I obviously loved. It was particularly noticeable in the way that the film seemed to be set in its own world to the extent that references to cell phones and other modern conveniences were a bit of a shock. The wardrobe was pretty much fantastic and I want all of it. The pacing was a bit weird at times, with the blend of action and comedy, but you can't have it all.

Oh Goodeness.

Matthew Goode has been cast in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's latest collaboration.

I'm trying to formulate words that express how excited I am about this, but all I can really say is that I leapt out of my chair and did a celebratory fist pump. I've been on a huge Matthew Goode kick since the release of Watchmen (I even watched the Spanish movie where he's blond and kind of a pedo), and Gervais and Merchant can do no wrong. I'm so excited!

Further neglect

Here's a new Chanel N°5 advert, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and featuring Audrey Tautou, naturally. I typically favor a more minimalist style, but Jeunet's wonderful sense of romanticism never fails to disappoint. And of course, Audrey Tautou is pretty much flawless.



In other news, I'm not going to lie, I kind of want to see the new Star Trek movie. I haven't watched the show since elementary school and can't remember anything about it at all, but hey, it's a prequel. Also, as a bonus, this is probably one of the hottest casts around since Watchmen.

I want the one I can't have: 500 Days Of Summer in review

Alright, so, the Nashville Film Festival. You know it's the Nashville Film Festival when the writer of one of the songs on the soundtrack is there to accept a certificate from BMI to congratulate him on the song having been played 4 million times and people in sparkly outfits called Doyle and Debbie kick off the screening with a song about trailer park residents.

500 Days Of Summer is going to be the indie hit of the year. It's easy to tell that from the second you see Zooey Deschanel's bangs in the trailer. From the second you see Joseph Gordon-Levitt sporting a cardigan, a tie, a messenger bag, and giant headphones. From the second the Smiths are mentioned. And it all matches up. Belle & Sebastian are namechecked within the first ten minutes, Regina Spektor and Black Lips songs are heavily featured, and the credits roll to Mumm-Ra. Say what you will, but I am in love with this movie.

Gordon-Levitt is earnest and heart-wrenching as Tom, a greeting card writer who knows deep-down inside that he's risking a broken heart, but keeps on hoping anyways. Deschanel as Summer is his heartbreaker who never does anything truly hateful; Marc Webb, the director, really drove that point home in the Q&A session. She is who she is--a person who is not easily tied down. The chemistry between them is pretty much what drives the movie, and it's certainly effective. The performances come across as being natural. This is a film about genuine people--the way it looks may be stylised and beautifully orchestrated, but the characters aren't.

This movie's got style. Webb's previous work on music videos really shows, and the parade-like sequence after Tom and Summer have sex for the first time is a stand-out, as is a scene where Tom envisions himself in a variety of classic films. The way color is used is great--blue is used to represent Summer--and I want all of Tom's and Summer's outfits, except for the part where Tom wears a brown jacket with black shirts all of the time. It was a beautiful world to be in for those 90-odd minutes.

An observation: On numerous occasions, Tom wears Joy Division t-shirts, one with the Unknown Pleasures artwork and one with "Love Will Tear Us Apart," but the band's music is never used in the film. I can only conclude that their sound is too heavy for the tone of the movie; despite being a story about heartbreak, there's still a sense of lightness to it.

Live: Flight of the Conchords at Ryman Auditorium 10 April 09

I wasn't sure what to expect from seeing Flight of the Conchords live, other than pure awesomeness. How do you approach a comedy duo that's also a band, anyways? Well, I still may not know, but it was pretty amazing. Kristin Schaal opened, and I love Mel even more now. I don't know much stand-up comedy, but she was hilarious and was wearing these fantastic silver sequined bermuda shorts.

But anyways, Flight of the Conchords. My life was made from the second they walked out wearing silver jackets and the robot heads and started with Too Many Dicks On The Dancefloor. They mainly played songs from the second season, for obvious reasons. For some reason I'd always found Bret to be slightly funnier, but I was nearly cracked a rib from laughing when Jemaine kept gesturing towards his rump during Sugalumps.

The most important thing is that the merchandise included magnets, featuring goldfish, Bret's mug, business socks, the keytar, a hotdog, and a robot head.