Taken at California Adventures this past Fourth of July weekend. I thought this was pretty cool. If this doesn’t speak volumes about differing generations, I don’t know what does.
- JD
Filed under: music, popular culture, television | Tags: awards, bet, jamie foxx, janet, michael jackson, ne-yo
- JD
Filed under: film, movies, reviews | Tags: away we go, john krasinski, maya rudolph, transformers
Unlike the rest of America, I really didn’t feel like wasting 9 dollars on a Transformers sequel that was littered with lukewarm reviews. I even had one person go out of his way to convince me it was the worst movie he’s ever seen. Most of the time, I prefer to judge movies for myself, but I’m absolutely certain I will eventually come across this movie in the future.
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s paying for a movie, and feeling like I wasted a good portion of my life afterwards.
I’ve put off Away We Go for a couple weeks, but I finally got the chance to see it. Both John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph played characters we wouldn’t expect to see them play. They were quirky, but vastly different from The Office’s Jim Halpert and the eccentric characters played by Rudolph in SNL. Rudolph’s performance, especially, was truly genuine. After seeing the trailer, I wasn’t ready to believe they were the best actors to cast, as the chemistry didn’t really seem to be there. Turns out I was wrong (who would’ve thunk?).
Supporting (and unexpected) performances by Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Jeff Daniels put this one over the top for me. Definitely three of my personal favorites.
The film follows a couple as they desperately try to find their calling and a new home to bring in their newborn. In the process, they are shown the failures and hardships involved with relationships and families. One of the best films of the year, for sure. And ten times more uplifting than director Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road.
- JD
The first CD I’ve ever owned was his. Somewhere in my garage, buried deep beneath all the childhood memories are a collection of old Michael Jackson concerts and movies recorded on even older VHS tapes. I remember sitting and watching for hours, mimicking to the best of my abilities his every move. I failed miserably. Although under the urging of family, I still danced and sang his songs during parties. As a child, it was my introduction to music. Watching him perform was like watching a magician, and truth be told, he sort of was one. Who else could pull off some of the things he did?
He was an entertainer. The very best. And I learned the hard way that what he does can’t be replicated.
The reality is he affected our culture in ways very few have. Despite everything that went on outside of his career, his music is what mattered most to people. Describing him as unique would be more than an understatement. He was a transcendent, once-in-a-generation figure whose impact will always be felt.
- JD
