Notes from a Genius

So, I'm a little behind, in terms of writing reviews, but I have been keeping up with viewing films. I'm just passing the halfway point for my project, and I certainly have not let it derail my personal life. Here's what I've done over the past week, quickly: Last Sunday: I spent at the beach with Rory and her friend Andrea. We went to Scarborough Beach State Park, while hoping the storm clouds would hold off long enough for us to enjoy the day. They did. And we had a great time. Played some frisbee, walked the beach, looked out on some rocks, had some mixed drinks. Oops, you're not supposed to bring alcohol to the beach. Oh well! Then, we went for ice cream. Around 7:00 that night, it started to pour. We lucked out. Monday and Tuesday: I spent at the beach in Old Orchard. I love going there, perhaps because of my childhood memories of it. I love people-watching, and this tourist-trap of a town (which is also the same town that I teach in) has plenty of people t...

Film 172 "Old School" starring: Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Elisha Cuthbert (bit part, but still worth it), Jeremy Piven, Ellen Pompeo, Juliette Lewis, Leah Remini, Craig Kilborn, Seann William Scott (all bit parts for these guys) Directed by: Todd Phillips "Old School" is the kind of movie I could put on if I was bored and wanted to watch something that I didn't necessarily have to pay close attention to when it was on. That doesn't make it a bad movie. In fact, just the opposite. It's such a good movie, that I could watch it anytime, with a lack of attention because I already know what's happening. Sure, I'll stop what I'm doing for the scenes with Elisha Cuthbert, because I love her. And yes, there are some classic scenes, like Will Ferrell shooting himself with a horse tranquilizer. Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and a handful of outcasts play the anti-hero frat boys. It starts when Owen Wilson's character...

Film 169 "The Others" starring: Nicole Kidman "The Others" has the kind of twist that M. Night Shyamalan used to be good at (re: The Sixth Sense and Signs, okay those are really his only two good movies). It's a film about ghosts. And, it stars Nicole Kidman in one of her better performances, even with some of the lines she is forced to say. It's a haunted house movie. It's dark and atmospheric. The camera work is well done as the events unfold for us and the "action" scenes create enough terror in the viewer to gasp out loud. But, it's the opposite of an M. Night film, because instead of subtle, small things happening in order to provide enough tension throughout the film, "The Others" goes for big scares all the time, and it just doesn't work for me, because each scary event sort of becomes predictable. It's also a film with quietness of brooding. Here, the brooding comes from Kidman. The premise is: Nicole Kid...

I had another busy weekend, filled with fun and music, which was absolutely need as I prepared to finish up such an exhausting school year. Yup, I had to return to school on Monday and Tuesday (full day, half day, respectively). I've never been one to let my professional life interrupt my personal life, and I think with this job it's especially important to make sure I keep a personal life that is busy and filled with excitement and fun. So, Saturday night I went to see an upcoming bluesy, rock star named ZZ Ward. She's a girl from LA who has roots seeded in blues and rock, with a hint of hip hop infused in her songs. I had heard one of her songs as a featured "Free" download on iTunes awhile back and I watched a few videos of her performing on YouTube. A ticket was only $15 and the venue was just a simple 5 minute walk down the street from my apartment, so I thought the opportunity was one that couldn't be missed. She had a great opening band, called Swear ...

Film 164 "Solitary Man" starring: Michael Douglas, Mary Louise Parker, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Jenna Fischer, Jesse Eisenberg, and Imogen Poots Why is Michael Douglas so good and convincing at playing a sinner, and therefore, sort of an asshole, greedy guy? I don't know, but, as he's gotten older he seems to be playing more and more of these types of roles, maybe because this is what he is choosing to be typecast as such. For this role he plays Ben Kalman, a celebrity/good-guy with good intentions all in his own mind. When, in reality, he's the epitome of a liar and a cheater, to his customers and lovers/wives/companions, respectively. He knows what to say and how to say it to get exactly what he wants and what he believes his counterparts want, too. Or, he can convince them he is exactly what they want (or that his specific used car that he's selling is what they want to buy). Yup, he's a used car salesman (or he used to be). Seems rather cliche...

What another excellent and fun-filled weekend. I seriously cannot think of a better way to be spending my time in my life right about now, after several trips and falls, I'm really enjoying myself. Friday night I went to SPACE Gallery with my buddy Chris to check out the play "Gruesome Playground Injuries." I was intrigued by the very short write-up they posted on their website. After seeing the play and thinking about it, the play far-surpassed my expectations. It was an intense look at two individuals bound together by their faults, which happen to be their strengths for each other. I read a review of another run of the play in the Austin Chronicle and feel like it says everything I could, just slightly better: For many Americans, high school is wrought with nostalgia even before graduation. It's at once a time of discovery and a time to prepare for the rest of our lives. When life turns out disappointingly, however, that sense of nostalgia risks regret and rese...

I'm sitting in a cafe in Boston waiting for my show to start. I bought a ticket a few months ago for this amazing French-Canadian singer-songwriter, Coeur de Pirate. She was a featured artist on iTunes awhile back, you know, they had one of her songs for "free" so I downloaded it and fell in love with her voice. I saw that she was coming to Boston, so I snatched up a ticket quickly, even though I don't think this will be a packed show. Life's been good, aside form the fact that last week I received a letter from our Superintendent saying that I've been dropped down to a part-time teaching position at another school for the incoming school year. Will I be looking for another full-time teaching position? I don't know. I don't want to say that I'm burnt out, specifically, but I am tired of having to look for a new job every summer. Without fail, the past 4 years, I've been let go because of budget cuts. Certainly not because of my performance. ...