rachel getting married

I saw a great movie this past weekend titled Rachel Getting Married. It stars the amazing Anne Hathaway as a young woman dealing with addiction and the stress and turmoil it brings to her fractured family.

What I loved about this film was how authentic it felt. This did not seem like it was a group of actors working off a script, but rather a family dealing with their emotions and dysfunction in real way. I believe part of the realness was due to the way it was shot. The cinematography was done in such a way that it had the feeling of a home movie, with off center angels and camera movement giving the viewer a sense of a real person filming it. Anne Hathaway was brilliant as Kim, an addict that has to deal with her past sins and their effects on her loving but tense family. I've begone to really enjoy Hathaway as an actors and icon of intelligence and glamour. It doesn't hurt that she is an outspoken activist for gay rights.

She handles her first dramatic role well, and the rest of the cast is phenomenal. Sometimes the family and extended group of friends is a little to hipster chic for me, but it doesn't seem that contrived or outside of the realm of their world. My suggestion is to go see this film, it might rip your guts out but you will feel better for it in the end.

new hope but still a long road

Today is a great day in American history, the history of the world. The face of America has changed to one that greater represents who we all are as a nation of many. Tears came to my eyes last night after watching Barack Obama make his winning speech. He embodies the hope I have for this country, to turn away from failed policies to a brighter future.

This morning when I woke my happiness over the events from the night before became bitter sweet. California, the second state in the union for recognize the full rights of its Gay and Lesbian citizens wrote discrimination into its constitution under the guise of protecting the "family." Yet, how does protecting "family" then mean tearing apart the family of Gay and Lesbian couples? Are not Gays and Lesbians part of families or are we as a group separate from the greater nucleus of humanity?? It makes me wonder.

Social justice is not easy to create and it will be a long and hard road until every American is recognized and treated the same under the law. It is my belief though that in electing Obama we are sending a signal that we are finally on the path to true equality of all people. Brave citizens are already challenging the discrimination of Proposition 8 as I write this. We must be a bold unified people and fight for the rights of others and not just ourselves. When discrimination is allowed it does not just hurt the group that it wishes to remove from the larger social structure of America, but it damages all Americans. Hopefully with a leader like Barack Obama we as a nation can come together instead of separate, and remove hurdles that bar equality.

YES WE CAN! YES WE DID!

election night

So tonight is the big night. Thankfully I am going out with a friend for drinks and dinner so I won't be pealed to the television watching the results on t.v. biting my nails. I have been so on edge about this election. We as nation can not afford more of the same.

Whatever your reason is that is bringing you to the poles tonight make sure to vote smart and responsibly. Know the issues well before casting your ballot. Voting is not just a right but a responsibility.

I hope America has a collective wake up call and heeds to the promise of hope and change. Yes We Can!

i wanna take a ride on your disco stick

I've been waiting for this album to drop since I first heard the song "Just Dance" way back in April. It seemed like forever till the official release date of Lady GaGa's first album The Fame. While I was lucky enough to get a leaked version of the album to stave off my craving it wasn't enough. I was yearning for her album.

Well the wait is finally here. Lady GaGa's official entrance into the pop stratosphere has arrived. This album has been on constant replay since I've gotten, and if I include the leaked version I have been listening to it straight for the last four months and have yet to be tired with it. Her lyrics are sharp and the songs vivacious and full of energy.

My only fault with the album is that after the first five tracks, it starts to loose stem in the second half. This could be easily solved by changing up the track listing. Over all The Fame is a great dance record for a night full of sweaty dancing, sex and a disco ball. Stand out tracks are "Poker Face," "Paparazzi," "Just Dance,"Love Game," "Summerboy."

britney is back bitch!

Britney Spears / Womanizer

Totally rocking the Toxic-feel of this video. It is so great to have Britney back on track. This is a sign y'all a sign of a new and brighter future. Enjoy :)

her sugar is raw

Last night Michael and I went out to see the Queen of Pop in Boston. This is the second Madonna concert I had ever attended live and after the euphoric glory of experiencing her "Reinvention Tour" I couldn't wait to see what Madonna had in store for this go around.

Over all I enjoyed every second of the "Sticky & Sweet Tour." I was up for about two hours straight dancing my heart out. My proximity to Madonna ensured that I had an excellent time. I was basically hyperventilating seconds before she came out because I was going to be a few feet from the divine.

Though I do have to say that compared to the "Reinvention Tour" this current outing seems a little sub par. The Madonna's stage show seemed to lack a narrative that is always apparent in her concerts. While parts of "S&S" were amusing and enjoyable, such as the 80's Brooklyn inspired motif for "Get Into The Groove," other parts felt in consistent in the larger context of the production.

The high point of the night for me was her rendition of "Like A Prayer," arguable one of her best songs. Madonna transformed this gospel inspired pop gem into a ethereal trance number that sent my soul spinning, which was reinforced by large video screens promoting shared values of the world's major religions. Another high light was the gypsy rendition of "La Isla Bonita" and the intimacy of "You Must Love Me," although Madonna has always had my heart since "Lucky Star."

The lowest point for me was the rock version of recent classic "Hung Up." It is such a great dance anthem, turning it into an electric grunge rocker ditty was kind of unbearable for me.

At the end of the night Madonna left me energized and satisfied, but I lacked the inspired awe to change the world that I had after the "Reinvention Tour." Overall the show was enjoyable, and considering the current state of Madonna's personal life I do not blame her for the inconstancy in her performance. At the end of the day though she is still the Queen of Pop and worth her weight in gold.

I'm seeing Madonna tomorrow, jealous??