The Jacket
Yesterday I saw an advanced screening of The Jacket and was very surprised to find that I liked it a lot. Adrien Brody who I never found attractive, did a great job and this movie made me change my mind about him.

The story is about a military veteran played by Brody who returns to his hometown of Vermont suffering from bouts of amnesia from head trauma induced from an accident in the Gulf War. When he is accused of murder and lands in an asylum, an experimental doctor (Kris Kristofferson) puts him on some heavy drugs, restrains him in a straight jacket, and locks him away in a body drawer of the basement morgue. While inside the body drawer Brody is able to see what he believes is the future and... well the rest you'll have to see, it's very Sixth Sense and Momento.

I thought the movie would be scarier than it was, and fortunately for squeamish me, it wasn't too bad but indeed freaky. At times the content was uncomfortable due to camera work that makes the audience feel as if they are going through the same torture as Brody's character. Also their were some bloody scenes and needles.

It was nice seeing Kris Kristofferson and Jennifer Jason Leigh back on the silver screen, it had been awhile for both of them. Keira Knightley also did a good job but her voice at times annoyed the shit out of me, it was very mumbly and hard to understand, I was impressed at how different she looked with the dark hair and unkempt look.

Lauren Bacall and Then Some

My 2nd favorite actress, Lauren Bacall (Katharine Hepburn being my first) is re-releasing her autobiographical book, By Myself and Then Some today. It's actually a combination of her first two books, "By Myself" and "Now" but with a continued afterword. By Myself is my favorite autobiography, it was wonderfully written and very captivating even the parts before she was a star or married to Bogart.

Now, on the silver anniversary of its original publication, Lauren Bacall was at Barnes & Noble on 48th street signing copies of her updated memoir. So I switched my days at work and headed to the store with my first edition copy of By Myself for her to sign. I also bought her new combined book too.

The line of people wrapped around the outline of the first floor and a few unlucky late arrivers were stuck outside in the snow. The crowd was pretty diverse, surprisingly there was actually more men than women present, plus a lot of French speaking women and a group of Asian men. The age range was probably 25-75.

With the sides of her hair pulled back, the Manhattan resident and classic actress looked amazing at the age of 80. On the floor next to her was her little papillon, Sophie, eating some doggy treats and watching intently as she signed hundreds of books.

The man ahead of me in line asked Ms. Bacall if she liked the colorized version of her film Key Largo. She said she did not, and that adding color to a black and white film ruined it. She said the colors looked fake and weren't meant to be there. She also added that she didn't like the color version of The Big Sleep either.

Another woman in an accusatory voice asked when we would see her on Broadway again. Bacall quickly responded, "Ask the writers, they aren't writing anything."

When it was my turn I told her how much I liked her book and blah blah, I really don't remember for sure. My time with her was sort of rushed because a publicist from Harper Collins started talking and the woman behind me was already sliding her book on the table and the staff at B&N were urging me out of the signing area. Photos were not allowed :(

The following Cameron Crowe quote rang true for me:
"Heroes usually belong at arm's length--on a bookshelf, in a record collection. At a heroic distance."

NY Times Article: AT HOME WITH LAUREN BACALL -- To Have and Have Not

Lucky Charms On The #2 Train
If you ever want to get noticed on a New York subway, don't bother with the cheap tricks like touching yourself or going naked under a trench coat. Frankly, it's been done and I doubt anyone would even give a second glance.


Instead carry two large boxes of Lucky Charms. Yup, that's what worked for me.

I am addicted to the kids cereal. I have it in the mornings with skim milk and sometimes at night for a snack. But here in the city the little normal size boxes go for $5.99 each. Thus, when I was in Westchester visiting my Nanny, and saw that her grocery store was having a sale on two extra large boxes of LC for only $6.00, I couldn't pass it up. I bought them on the spot and then lugged them on a train and then on the subway. I had them in a bag but because they are so large you can still see the Leprechaun and his magically delicious cereal. Also because my small hands are not wide enough to grasp the bag handles, I had to clutch the boxes to my breasts as if they were my babies. haha, it must have been funny to see.

I got the following comments, all from guys by the way:
"I like your taste in cereals."
"You must have some big kids at home."
"It's nice to see a woman who eats healthy."
"Stocked up at the health food store did ya?"
and my fav:
"hey, (chuckling and jabbing friend) if we follow you, will you lead us to your pot-o'gold?" lol

Each time I replied with a laugh and smile, then explained that they were on sale and yes I eat Lucky Charms. I mean what's the big deal? But I guess because I was holding the boxes in a death grip just to hold onto the awkward things, I probably looked as if I was afraid someone would steal them.

And as for those health comments, FYI: Lucky Charms is fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals, and is a good source of calcium. It really is magically delicious!

Quiz: What your favorite Lucky Charms marshmallow says about you? Mine's the purple horseshoes.

CNN.com - Creator of Lucky Charms cereal killed in car crash ...

Product Review: Chocolate Lucky Charms has just been released, check out Impulsive Buy's review.

eww this is just wrong...




But funny! lol
------

Stats From Redbook, March 2005:

38% of men keep their eyes open while kissing.

Only 30% of women do.

New York City's Golden Gates
By TaraMetBlog

The greatest city on earth has another reason to brag with the unveiling of The Gates, a long-awaited public art project by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. But despite its popularity, some visitors feel the $21 million installation is not art at all. Whether a work of art or spectacle, the orange flags strung like a ribbon throughout Central Park are drawing in visitors by the subway load.

According to the Central Park Conservancy, which sells official Gates merchandise at the Park's entrance on 59th Street, 10 to 20 million people are expected to visit the park during the 16 days that The Gates are on display.

"February is the slowest month for tourism in the city and the exhibit has already brought an unexpected number to the park, which is usually dead in the winter," said Central Park Conservancy staff member, Chris Trimbull, 25. She adds that, "I think it's more popular than anyone had realized."

Before The Gates opened, a mere 200,000 visitors were but the day after Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked off the unfurling of 1,089,882 square feet of orange fabric, attendance had already hit 700,000 people.

Despite temperatures falling below freezing, last Friday thousands of people milled about, strolling beneath streaming saffron fabric along 23 miles of park paths.

Standing 16 feet high, The Gates attracted the young, elderly, tourists and students alike, who took photographs, held hands and observed the temporary display.

New York's AM news station 1010 WINS recently conducted an online web poll asking if The Gates are art or a joke. Out of 1298 respondents, 65% said joke.

(read more)

Also for those who are not able to go to the park, here is a photo album of the pictures that I took, enjoy:

The Gates

New York Magazine: Curtain Up