Do You Hulu?

Posted by

Film, Internet, Television

March 12, 2008

0 comments


By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz about Hulu. More than 50 content providers have partnered to deliver popular television shows and films free of charge online.

I haven’t had time to explore the site, but it looks impressive and quite simple to navigate. Now that the Writers Strike is over and they will be receiving compensation whenever someone watches their work on Hulu, I will definitely bookmark this site and visit often.

Among other, the following networks and studios are offering movies and television series’ on Hulu:

  • Bravo
  • E!
  • FOX
  • Lionsgate
  • MGM
  • NBC Universal
  • Sci Fi
  • Sony Pictures Television
  • Sundance Channel
  • TV Guide
  • USA Network
  • Warner Bros.

Have any of you tried it yet? What do you think?

Read More

iMix: Favorite Movie/TV Scores & Theme Songs

Posted by

Film, iTunes, Music

March 11, 2008

0 comments


A few days ago I enjoyed reading about and watching Nerve.com’s The Twelve Greatest Opening Credits in Movie History, and it has inspired me to explore my favorite movie scores and television theme songs.

Some are classics, some are more contemporary, and most have emotional resonance and personal significance.

Click here to open and listen to the iMix for this set list in iTunes.

In no particular order…

Dances With Wolves (John Barry)
One of my favorite soundtracks to listen to when I’m writing.  I’m a huge Costner fan from that era, which is not something that most would admit. Out loud. Or on paper.

Babel/Deadwood (Gustavo Santaolalla)
I love the track “Iguazu,” which is on both the Deadwood series and Babel film soundtracks. However, I was quite surprised that Santaolalla won the Oscar for Original Score for Babel when this track was previously used and written. There was controversy earlier this year when Johnny Greenwood was disqualified from contention for his phenomenal There Will Be Blood score, because he intermixed music from the year before on one of the tracks.

Atonement (Dario Marianelli)
“Briony” features the typewriter as an instrumental accompaniment, which is integral to the story. Brilliant.

There Will Be Blood (Johnny Greenwood)
“Future Markets” is the modern day Psycho theme. It is dark, tense and perfect.

Superman (John Williams)
Goosebumps, every single time. Favorite superhero/theme song of all time.

Rocky (Bill Conti)
You don’t have to be a guy or a jock to be inspired every time you hear the opening seconds of “Gonna Fly Now.” I only wish it was an instrumental song; the cheesy vocals kind of ruin it for me.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (John Williams)
When I hear this, I am instantly transported back to 1981, and the joy of being 8 years old returns. Is there a better feeling, however fleeting?

The X-Files (Mark Snow)
My second favorite TV series of all time. I respond to this theme like a cat who hears the crinkle and shake of the treat bag. Sadly, Snow’s original X-Files TV theme isn’t available on iTunes. If I had one complaint about Lost (my #1), it would be that there isn’t an actual theme song like this for the show.

James Bond
Although many would disagree, A View to a Kill and Duran Duran’s theme song top my Best of Bond list. Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale is a close second.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Howard Shore & Annie Lennox)
“Into the West” is haunting and quite beautiful. 

The Matrix trilogy
I don’t understand why none of these soundtracks are available on iTunes besides Don Davis’ original score, but at least a version of Rob Dougan’s “Clubbed to Death” from the first film is up there. By far, The Matrix: Reloaded is the best of the bunch.

American Beauty (Thomas Newman)
This film is in my Top 10 of all time, and I laugh and smile each time I hear the title track, conjuring up the image of Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening in their career performances.

Six Feet Under (Thomas Newman)
Another frustrating lack of representation on iTunes, because Newman’s series theme song is so iconic and memorable.

Brokeback Mountain (Gustavo Santaolalla)
The soundtrack was heartbreaking long before the tragic death of Heath Ledger. I find it impossible to listen to “The Wings” without welling up, thinking about the absolutely exquisite last scene of the film, in Ennis’ trailer with Jack’s shirt.

So, my quiet readers, which theme songs rule your world?

Read More

My Love/Hate Relationship with The L Word

Posted by

Personal, Television

March 9, 2008

0 comments



Honestly, I watch The L Word because I have to. I feel conflicted about my dedication to the show, however.

I have watched every
single episode since it began in 2004. I originally tuned in because I
was looking forward to a realistic slice of my own life on the small
screen. I have yet to find that. I don’t know why I keep watching.

No other show in my pop culture history has incensed me to the point of repeatedly screaming at the TV, rolling my eyes and wanting to abandon it altogether.  I can’t deny that The L Word is entertaining, but it also gratuitous, exploitive, outrageous and embarrassing at times.

Look, I absolutely love Leisha Hailey as Alice Pieszecki, and we root for Tina and Bette because they are our Jim & Pam, Ross & Rachel, etc. But in my opinion, Mia Kirshner’s Jenny Schecter is quite possibly the most infuriating character on television. Ever. Between you and me, I am crossing my fingers that her new SWF stalker/assistant kills her off (to be fair, I’ve wished for her character to vanish during every single episode and even TiVO fast-forwarded through her scenes from seasons 2-4).

Here is my internal argument, presented by the tiny angel and devil that reside on my shoulders and whisper the following in my ears every Sunday evening as I sit down to watch the damn show…

ANGEL: The L Word is groundbreaking and unique, and it represents you.

DEVIL: No, it represents an unrealistic, glamorous side of the community that I’ve never witnessed, and I’ve lived in both LA and SF. No one I know looks or acts like that.

ANGEL: Not everyone related to characters on Friends either.

DEVIL: This is different. For every 10 versions of Friends or Melrose Place, there was only Queer as Folk and now The L Word.

ANGEL: Imagine the pressure on the creative staff behind The L Word; thousands of women who demand to be represented in some way on the one show that features them.

DEVIL: Throwing in background characters with short hair is a quick fix. They are primarily pandering to the male audience and feeding into widespread stereotypes.

ANGEL: Would you rather watch groups of women hang out and play games in flannel and birkenstocks? It’s a television program, not a reality show.

DEVIL: That’s not fair. But touché.

ANGEL: Your expectations for The L Word are too high and demanding. You should just enjoy the camp, and appreciate that we live in a social climate where a series like this exists and thrives.

So there you have it. Will I continue to watch? I suppose so.

Sigh.

Read More

Friday Night Lights Scores a Reprieve!

Posted by

Television

March 5, 2008

0 comments


It appears that Friday Night Lights has been saved and we will be treated to a third season after all! It hasn’t been entirely confirmed, but the story out there is that NBC is making a deal with DirecTV for the series to air across many platforms.

Huge kudos to the team behind the Save Friday Night Lights campaign for all of their efforts! I’m sure that their actions, on some level, were influential in the decision to renew the series.  All I did was write a silly, angry letter to NBC a few weeks ago when it looked like they were going to cancel FNL.

 

Ladies, your Riggins fix lives on.  Boys, let’s hope for more Tyra and less Lyla.  Personally, I am all about Coach Taylor and Tami.  Mark my words…Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton will both receive long-overdue Emmy nominations!

Read More

Rental Review: Romance & Cigarettes

Posted by

Film

March 4, 2008

0 comments


When you see these names, what do you think?

Steve Buscemi
Bobby Cannavale
James Gandolfini
Eddie Izzard
Mary Louise-Parker
Mandy Moore
Susan Sarandon
Elaine Stritch
Aida Turturro
Christopher Walken
Kate Winslet

On paper, the cast of Romance & Cigarettes reads like a dream; a few Oscar winners and a perennial nominee, a pop star-turned actress, a cross-dressing British comedian, a Broadway veteran and some stellar Sopranos. Add writer/director John Turturro and the Coen Brothers (executive producers) to the mix, and this film should have been a sure thing.

You probably haven’t heard of the movie because it was made 3 years ago, played at several film festivals with high acclaim and then inexplicably went straight to DVD only recently. I can only describe it as an indie musical with an obvious John Waters influence…but far more butch (read: macho).

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know that Kate Winslet is my #1 in all categories. In Romance & Cigarettes, Winslet plays a va-va-voom vixen whore who smokes like a chimney and has a mouth like a sailor. Unfortunately, that’s the best part…that and watching Tony Soprano sing and dance.

While this film has potential to grow into a cult classic, I feel that it would play better on the stage than on screen. It doesn’t exactly flow, but I would recommend it as a rainy day rental if you don’t mind a slightly entertaining head-scratcher of a story with a terrific ensemble cast.

[Sidenote: The electricity briefly went out while I was writing this. It is 56 degrees outside with no sign of wind or rain, a typical California evening.  WTF?]

Read More

TV News: Dirt, Grey’s, Lost, Men in Trees, Scrubs, SNL

Posted by

Grey's Anatomy, LOST, Television

March 3, 2008

0 comments


Here is an update about a few of our favorite shows.

DIRT has returned for a sophomore run on FX. Though I haven’t had a chance to catch last night’s premiere episode, I hear that the series has made vast improvements over last season. It has been a guilty pleasure show for me, and I look forward to the changes.

Perhaps it’s because Private Practice is on hiatus until the fall…Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) will be making a one-episode appearance on GREY’S ANATOMY at some point when it comes back on the air next month.

Fans of Rescue Me might want to tune into LOST this week, as Andrea Roth (a.k.a. Tommy’s wife Janet) makes an appearance in what is rumored to be a Juliet-centric episode.

Another guilty pleasure show that has recently transitioned into Season Pass-worthy is MEN IN TREES. It debuted again last week, and has moved to Wednesday nights on ABC. To be perfectly honest, it took me some time to be able to separate Anne Heche’s character from her real life persona (in my eyes, that whole Ellen debacle is her scarlet letter…even 10+ years later). But I really enjoy the ensemble of this show, and Heche is actually a pretty good actress. Thus, the addition to my weekly TiVO lineup.

It appears that SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is making a refreshing resurgence. Tina Fey was the perfect post-Writers Strike host to kick off the second half of this season, and Juno star Ellen Page did an excellent  job last week (including a funny monologue with Andy Samberg as Diablo Cody; see photo above). Although I admit that her last skit was a tad confusing, I think that many viewers misinterpreted it…Page did not come out of the closet; she was making fun of the rampant and unsubstantiated rumors about her sexuality. I just think that the writing of that sketch fell flat and short.

Although NBC is currently denying it, there is story circulating that ABC is going to pick up and revive SCRUBS. The series has been on the bubble of cancellation for some time now, but apparently ABC would like to give it at least 18 more episodes over on their network.

If there are any other shows that you’d like me to cover, by all means please let me know!

Read More