Cool Site: BookLamp

    I recently discovered something for my fellow bookworms! Do you LOVE Pandora? Isn't it wonderful to find new artists that are similar to your musical taste? Well, now you can do the exact same thing with books! *NERD ALERT* Best part about it: it's free! After typing in your favorite book or author, you can find plenty of novels (fiction and non-fiction) that this site thinks you'd be interested in. I know it can be overwhelming to choose a good book. I love the various option this site provides. New authors and classics like Jane Eyre are right at your finger tips. All you need to do is go online or your local book store and dig into that great new novel.

http://booklamp.org/

Coming Soon: The Skin I Live In

    Is there anything director Pedro Almodovar can't do? Seriously, he's created fantastic dramas, comedies, and continues with this psychological thriller coming next month. His last film, Broken Embraces, was along this manic obsession storyline. Antonio Banderas is like we've never seen him before playing a plastic surgeon recreating new skin with unethical experiments. Now, this is NOT the Human Centipede *shivers*. Almodovar has proven himself to be a master storyteller. The eerie music and the suspenseful cinematic shots make me very eager to see this film.  After seeing both clips below repeatedly, I expect a major mind trip. Here's hoping this will be one of the most original films of the year!

What I Learned From: Coming To America

Queens Is The Ideal Place For Love

"But where in New York can one find a woman with grace, elegance, taste and culture? A woman suitable for a king." ... "Queens!"

    Where else can you meet women who quip these gems? “I'm not interested in a man unless he drives a BMW,” “Hey, baby, I'm almost single. My husband's on death row,” or my personal favorite: “I was Joan of Arc in my former life. (lights hand on fire.)”



Forget The Bar, Church Is The Place To Meet Potential Mates

   
    This is where Akeem meets Lisa McDowell, his dream girl. Church also includes great live bands like Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate.


The Most Accurate History Is From The Barbershop

    Apparently, Joe Louis was 137 when he fought Rocky Marciano. I also didn’t know Martin Luther King Jr. and Frank Sinatra hung out in this barbershop.



"Will you just taste the soup?", "All right, I'll taste the soup. Where's the spoon?", "Ah-ha!"

 Walking On Rose Petals Is The Only Way To Travel

    If King Jaffe Joffer ruler of Zamunda can do it? Why can’t we?



Destination Wedding to Africa Is A Great Idea

    You'll get a expert Wedding Singer with choreographed dancers!

She's your Queen-to-be. A Queen-to-be forever. A Queen who'll do whatever his highness desires. She's your Queen-to-be. A vision of perfection. An object of affection to quench your royal fire. Completely free from infection. To be used at your discretion. Waiting only for your direction. Your Queen-to-be.

Forget Mickie D’s and Head Over To McDowell's

    "I'm McDowell's. They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs. They got the Big Mac, I got the Big Mick. We both got two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, but their buns have sesame seeds. My buns have no seeds."



"Is It Just Me, Or Does Every Woman in New York Have A Severe Emotional Problem?"

   

    I resent this quote but it's kind of true! Remember the ladies at the bar? And just look at the rep at the telegraph spot!

"As long as you're asking, why not go for a cool million?" "You do not think that would be too much?"  "Naah."

Renouncing Your Throne or Having Arguments On The Train May Not Be The Best Idea

    People are mad noisy in New York. Please try not to air out your business on public transportation.

"Man: So what do you think? [talking to woman] Woman: Go on, honey. Take a chance!"



Who Cares if Your Prince is a Goat Herder

    The boy has got his own money, I mean the boy has got his own MONEY!



Finally, Use Soul Glo To Maintain Those Juicy Locks

    Just let it shine through...



Eww. Get's me every time!



Buzzworthy Music Tuesdays: September 6th

Jay-Z

Oh No, I Din’t!

    I’m throwing it back Brooklyn style. For three straight days, I’ve seen Hova music videos pop up on my screen! It’s like the universe wants me to kick it a little ol’ school.

    Here’s a little doozy from the late 90s that we all love and remember. Of course, Mr. Shawn Carter has grown from this time period to become one of the most successful artists in the history of music. This mega-brand man doesn’t look to retiring anytime soon. I’m so grateful for that! If you haven’t yet heard his newest release with Kanye West, please do immediately. Watch the Throne is not to be missed.

Coming Soon: The Artist

    I may not be the biggest fan of silent films but I know come Oscar season, the critics will go bonkers for this SILENT film. Yes, it's silent and filmed completely in Black & White. Obviously, it's will pay homage to Classic Hollywood and the Golden Era. *Yay, screams movie buffs like me*This film was the big buzz at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The movie is about the rise and fall of a French silent movie star (blame the Talkies). I can't help but oogle at the 20's set up with the gorgeous costumes and lavish scenes. Just listen to the musical score. I feel like I'm in a movie theatre during the Great Depression! I expect to see The Artist on like ALL "Best Movies" list.

The Artist is set to be released on November 23rd.

Coming Soon: My Week With Marilyn

    Marilyn Monroe is someone I hold dear to my heart. I feel like her sex symbol status completely overshadowed her talent as an actress. Her performance in Some Like It Hot was ridiculously good and one of my favorites ever. It was funny, sexy, and aloof. She had the ability to be a great dramatic actress as well - shown in her 50s films Niagara and Don't Bother To Knock. So when I heard her life story was going to be made a movie again, I was very hesitant.

  

    My Week With Marilyn offers a brief time period in her life when she was filming the 1957 film The Prince and The Showgirl. This film was a commerical failure and is known for it's issues off-screen. Michelle Williams will be playing the icon. Big shoes to fill! She doesn't really look like Monroe but I do have faith in Williams after seeing most of her work. She is a very capable actress. Kenneth Branagh will be playing Laurence Olivier (WTF?). Branagh is known as a Shakespearean actor and director (Thor). He's a great actor but he looks NOTHING like Olivier. The supporting cast brings extra appeal with Dame Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Dominic Cooper, and Julia Ormond. I'll definitely watch this film but I will be very critical of the actors and their portrayals. Take a look a the poster and some images of Williams as Monroe.

 My Week With Marilyn is coming to theatres on November 4th.

See It or Skip It: One Day

I spoke previously of a great book to movie adaptations with The Help. One Day is not one of them. Ugh, I really wanted to LOVE this movie. It’s one of my favorite books. The story of Emma and Dexter is a love not to be missed. It’s funny, annoying, sad, romantic, and brutally realistic in many aspects. Why couldn’t get this one right? Why!!

    One Day is based on the bestselling novel by David Nicholls (who also wrote the screenplay). The book follows the lives of two friends over the period over 20 years. Every July 15th, we read about this one day in their lives. The successes, failures, affairs, tragedies, and overall missed opportunities life has to offer us. Boy, did this have the potential to be the next great love story film.

 

    Let’s start off with Anne Hathaway. I love this woman. I was blown away by her live performance 2 years ago in Shakespeare in The Park. She is such a greatly funny and talented actress. Should she have been casted as a British dorky, funny and insecure Emma? No, she shouldn’t have. Yes, everyone is up in arms about the whole fake accent but it doesn’t bother me. She had a British accent before in Becoming Jane and it was tolerable. However, I can see how this is a factor that stopped a lot of moviegoers. The film is not doing well in the box office. Emma Morley is someone who blooms slowly and the whole process is something I loved about the novel. It just wasn't working for me. Hathaway tries her best but doesn't succeed in this role.

    Dexter looks so tired. The character is suppose to be a jerk and a mess but I just didn’t buy it. He’s still Dexter – the charming jerk. Jim Sturgess attempts to bring this complex character on screen but his lack of chemistry with Hathaway ruins the entire film for me. Watching these two in interviews is a bit painful as well. While he did bring emotion to my eyes, I know he's a good actor -so I really can't blame it on him either.

    I could have seen Romola Garai as Emma instead of Dexter’s girl, Sylvia. Her performance in Jane Austen's Emma showed me she had the talent but I guess she wasn't a match to big named superstar Hathaway. She is grossly underused in this film. Another American in the movie is the fabulous Patricia Clarkson. Since she's Dexter's mother, she's an important character but once again they dropped the ball on this too. You should get the whole story on most of these background players. How do they expect the audience to invest in these characters if we aren't getting enough?  There was a point when I just didn't care.

    Director Lone Scherfig did a phenomenal job with Carey Mulligan in An Education. I expected no less with this film but something feels off. The cinematography and shots are lovely. I know it wasn't the director's fault. Maybe it was editing issues?

    Now, the film follows the novel directly. I wasn't surprised by any elements. It may anger some moviegoers knowing this is not a typical romantic. Just look at the set up! You're in for a ride. I kind wish they changed the ending. No spoilers here! Studios changed the end of book adaptions in The Notebook, Dear John and My Sister's Keeper. Numerous fans actually prefer those movie to the books because of this!

    What went wrong? Could it be the writing? But it's the same author!! Did I cry like I was punched in the face? Oh, yeah. I cried and cried at the book, so it was going to waterworks at the theater. I can't pinpoint where problem lies but it seriously breaks my heart that I couldn't love this movie.

     Non-readers will probably like this movie but being a devoted book follower – I just can’t.

VERDICT: SKIP IT (read the novel instead)
*Okay, go ahead and Netflix it*