This Blog

Is pretty much dead.

GOODBYE!

Black Swan

I LOVED THIS MOVIE.

I feel like Natalie Portman is one of those people who everybody knows, but I never really felt like I could name something she was great in. But god, she was great in this.

I love Darren Aronofsky. After directing both Requiem for a Dream and this, two of my (now) favorite movies, he's one of my favorite directors. I need to see Pi and The Wrestler now.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what this movie was. It's one part drama, one part psychological thriller, and one part horror. And there were times that this movie was terrifying. It's essentially about Nina's (the lead character's) descent into madness as she strives to reach perfection, and the question of what's real and what's happening and what are just insane hallucinations really creates a horrifying atmosphere. There were scenes that struck me as part of a REALLY good horror movie. It almost reminded me of the Exorcist at times

And it also has such a complex but brilliant plot, as it reimagines the story of Swan Lake while also telling a completely different story. I don't even know what to say... go see it.

NOW.

Chicago

CHICAGO!

I finally saw it, and... It was fantastic.

I think one of the things that's inherently wrong with the genre of musicals is the fact that the music part doesn't often flow well with the plot. Oftentimes the plot stops and then the characters sing about how they feel about stuff, or the song is just unrelated filler.

Sometimes musicals perfectly use the music to enhance the story, and then there's times when they find completely inventive and unique ways to use the music in the context of the story.

And that's what Chicago did, and why I think it is so brilliant. Basically the central theme in Chicago is that the world is fucked up and corrupt and murders can be freed as long as they lie a ton and are pretty and razzle dazzle the audience. To take this even farther, these serious events (murder, criminal trials, etc.) literally become vaudevillian musical showcases. The press conference becomes a brilliantly inspired ventriloquist and puppet show run by the lawyer, in his final defense he does an intense tap solo, and the courtroom is a circus. The musical numbers surpass the reality of the events and expose the over the top often hilarious truth of the events, while simultaneously making complete sense as visions of the lead character (who is obsessed with show-business).

Chicago is brass, breathtaking, exciting, intense, gorgeous to watch, hilarious, sexeh, and brilliant. I don't care if you don't like musicals, WATCH IT

BOOKS TO READ LIST 3 (I think this is the third)

OH MY GOD I NEED TO READ MORE

To help motivate me, here is a list of books/plays I want to read:

Death of a Salesman

The Shining

Brave New Worlds 1984 (I was supposed to read those freshman year but only sparknotes'd them)

Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, The Tempest, Taming of the Shrew, Comedy of Errors (I doubt I'll get to all of these but I'm interested in reading more Shakespeare)

Oliver Twist (I adored Great Expectations), maybe more Dickens

More Poe (?)

Crime and Punishment

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

Spring Awakening (the play)

Atlas Shrugged

Everything Is Illuminated (SHUT UP I'M NOT A HIPSTER)

A Clockwork Orange

Cat's Cradle

Catch-22

On the Road

Catcher in the Rye

The Invisible Man

Animal Farm

His Dark Materials

So yeah. A lot of those books are a bit old and I'll probably have trouble getting myself to read, but I think I want to read all of those at some point. If any of you have any suggestions for books you think I should read, leave them in the comments.

Updated New Years Resolutions

So let's take a look at my goals I set in January:

1. Finish my short film and film it (Before the end of the school year)
Already filmed and almost done editing. My external hard drive just arrived in the mail so I can finish. CHECK

2. Work out more often and more consistently (and eat healthier)
I've been working out consistently like all summer and this year and half of last year. This is going well. CHECK

3. Begin/Continue learning to play guitar and piano
I realized I need to concentrate what I can do. I'm spreading myself too thin and will be unable to accomplish everything I want to. I can't practice piano and guitar for half an hour every day on top of singing, reading up on acting, and all my real school work. I haven't been doing this much, but I'm not unhappy. I do want to start doing piano more again though

4. Get a B or higher on an essay in AP Comp
Obviously completed, and I got a B on my first rough draft in Am Lit which is like REALLY impressive, it's a hard class. Definite CHECK

5. Get into AP Chem
I am currently in AP Chem and it's going really well so far. CHECK

6. Do well enough in math to eventually move into Supercalc
I'm on the way, CHECK

7. Act in something and be happy about my performance, or direct a show (probably The Importance of Being Earnest) and of course do a good job
Auditions for Earnest are next weekend, and I'm starting a drama club and joining an improv club. CHECK


8. Do something big in acapella, whether it be arrange a song or get a singing solo-
I'm directing the Pokemon theme song as the first song of the year

Well, I'm pretty awesome. Go me. =D

My laptop

I lost it then I found it and now I have it and I am happy.