'Going the Distance', 'Easy A', and GMC

Let's start with Going the Distance, a movie starring Justin Long and Drew Barrymore and a host of other terrific actors. Very funny. Lots of colorful language, sexual situations, raunchy humor, and some drug use - there's your disclaimer if you needed one. But it's a very funny movie and I laughed lots. Justin Long is just so stinkin' cute - it's officially a crush (ok, it has been for a while now). Drew Barrymore - I didn't realize she had this side to her, but I like it! The supporting cast is awesome - this was well worth watching, if you don't mind any of the disclaimer stuff.

Easy A starring Emma Stone, who somehow manages to be beautiful, sexy, and cute all at the same time, is amazing. Also starring Thomas Haden Church in a smart and fun role (kind of sexy even) - not his usual dumb guy funny, Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci are hilarious as the parents, and Amanda Bynes as a raving nut job. In small roles - Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Fred Armisen, and Cam Gigandet (you remember James from Twilight). This one seriously had me laughing thru the entire movie. It has a good message too, but don't hold that against it....it's so funny. Must see.

Now, I shall give a shout out for a writerly type book that is Awesome (yes - capital A Awesome). It's Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon. If you have a writerly bent of any kind be it novels, screenplays, whatever...this is a must read. No kidding. It may be saving my plot as we speak. I'm serious. I won't bore you with my plot trauma, but trust me it was there and between this book and the genius that is Clint Johnson (thank you, thank you, thank you, Clint) I may have found my tree in the forest or my forest in the trees - however that works. Problem solved is the point. 'Nuff said. I thank you all - now, go read, write or view some creativeness.

"Machete" and "The Expendables" again

Did a two-fer with a friend. We each chose one movie. I chose Machete and he chose The Expendables which I had no problem seeing again.

Machete has a terrific cast: Danny Trejo is Machete (Yay - he's finally the lead and gets all the girls and I'm not gonna lie - IS sexy in a non-conventional way). Also starring - Robert DeNiro, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Steven Seagal, Jeff Fahey AND it's written/directed by Robert Rodriguez. It's uber violent, friends, there's a lot of blood, violence, guns, and machetes. It is also Awesome (imagine great background music playing as I say Awesome). And amidst all the blood spurting, heads rolling, political manipulating, bigoted haters, border control issues and Machete getting laid - a lot - there is a message. That message may vary depending on your personal stance - but there's one there none the less. It's over the top in every way possible yet still comes off as true. If any other this appeals to you - enthusiastically go see.

The Expendables - again. I already discussed this last time, but having seen it twice now. I loved it even more this time than I did the last time and that was already some pretty significant love. If you like action movies or any of these actions stars - just see it. I so have to own this one when it's released on DVD.

BAD Clancy - Lots to Discuss

I can't believe I slacked on this for a month. Sorry. So, let me discuss many things to make up for my lazy ways.


Today, I did a double feature because Clancy needed a brain break bad! I saw The Expendables and The Switch. I saw The Expendables first and can I just say - LOVED IT. It is a testosterone driven roller-coaster ride of muscles, violence and heart. You heard me - heart. Sure these guys are mercenaries and kill lots of people. Sure they all have muscles, moves, and weapons to spare. But, the guys they kill are bad and the people they save are innocent. And the muscles and stellar cast speak for themselves (if you don't know...Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Eric Roberts and just popping in are Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwartzenegger). See it on the big screen so you don't miss any of the non-stop action.



The Switch on the other hand is a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, with Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis and Thomas Robinson as the the kid - who totally steals the movie, by the way. Premise: Aniston wants a baby, best friend Bateman doesn't like that she is turning to a donor, Wilson, for the sperm. At her get pregnant party, Bateman gets drunk, spills the donor's sperm and replaces it with his own. You can sort of figure out the rest... but this kid is so deadpan neurotic, completely mimicking Bateman, you can't help but love all of them. This is a nice, feel-good movie, and since I have a crush on Jason Bateman and always have, a must buy for me.


Now for all my month of slacking (only here - I'm working my butt off writing) - here are highlights in a nutshell:

The Hurt Locker (on DVD) - so good. Jeremy Renner and all of the cast are amazing. I don't understand guys and the things they do - but gotta love 'em anyway.

The Other Guys - Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Eva Mendez and more - a funny and sweet buddy cop movie.

The Kids are Alright - Annette Benning, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo - A married Lesbian couple used the same sperm donor to each have a child. Eighteen years later the kids hunt Dad down. This has some funny bits, but it is mostly a drama about relationships in all their forms and how complicated, difficult and rewarding they can be. I really enjoyed this one.

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World - Huge cast - all good....but if you are not into comic books or video games, you probably won't fully appreciate the coolness they achieved with this movie. I saw it with a friend who falls into this category. She liked it - I loved it. You know where you are on this spectrum, view accordingly.

Book-wise - I'm reading a lot of romances because I enjoy them and because they are research since that's what I'm writing. The only one that has singled itself out in my mind, of the dozens I've read recently, is The Tutor by Hope Tarr. It's a Harlequin Blaze (romance with explicit and creative sex scenes) and it's a historical. If all that is your groovy thing, I recommend it.