"Do not be afraid to take the big step."

[rubykatewriting]

That was my fortune yesterday at Hot Wok. The cookie was ho-hum - not the hard, crisp cookie I love - but the meal was pretty ho-hum from about the egg drop soup on anyway, so, you know, fitting. While I'm not one to take signs from the inane fortunes I get (I totally do), but since I've been feeling pretty damn close to perfect since I made the decision to move out, I think it's definitely telling me that it's the right one.

Aside from that, Christmas weekend was fantastic. Lots of food and sweets, and Mom totally surprised me with Veronica Mars season 1 DVDs. I was so not expecting it as she bought me the router so that I can actually use the WiFi on my laptop as well as a print of Chagall's Paris Opera House ceiling painting from Signals.

I went out shopping yesterday, another first (I went out on Black Friday, something I will never repeat. Ever.) and bought a couple pairs of jeans and these adorable light weight hoodies, one in green, the other in dark brown. I'm wearing the green one today with a black tank underneath because the hoodie is really low-cut in the front. I seriously doubt the peeps at work are fully prepared for the girls (I got all my kudunkadunk in the front), out loud and proud.

I also caught a showing of The Holiday last night. First thing? When did Cameron Diaz forget how to act? Or am I hallucinating that, once upon a time, she could at least pull off a decent line reading every once in awhile?

God knows, I'm not really a fan of Nancy Meyer's "rom coms" since Baby Boom on, but usually the actors manage to salvage something from the material enough to make it enjoyable. (I have to give her credit for making Keanu Reeves sexy as fuck, too.) And for Kate Winslet, Jude Law (sweet Jesus, he was charming and I only thought of his real-life fucktardery once), and Jack Black, they did. They really did. Kate and Jack were sparkling on screen together, and I loved the side plot with Arthur so very much. Jude was delightful and the young actresses who played Olivia and Sophie were ADORABLE, and then there was Cameron, off to the side, being a massive vortex of suck. She was the one sore spot in the entire film.

But, sadly, I realized as I was riding home afterwards, that I think I've lost all desire for rom coms. They're fluffy and unrealistic by design, and all I could think at the end was how? How are Graham and Amanda really going to make it work long distance like that? Iris and Miles? And with regards to Graham and Amanda, aren't they being a bit unfair towards Olivia and Sophie by starting something that has so many odds stacked against it? See? I've become a cynic, a realist, when I wasn't looking, and that makes me very sad. Or, maybe it's just that Hollywood has become so set on that Hollywood-ending at all costs that realism, the natural conclusion to a character's arc, has gone out the window.

Yeah, I'm going with that.

Happy MondayWednesday, all!

[Note: this icon has nothing to do with the post at hand, save for the fact that the Krasinski was in The Holiday for all of five seconds looking all rumpled and delicious.]

Comments

[honey-wheeler.livejournal.com]

And for Kate Winslet, Jude Law (sweet Jesus, he was charming and I only thought of his real-life fucktardery once)

Hee, I did the same thing, I was all, "Wow, I could almost forget he's a nanny-banging scumbucket!"

The part I found least plausible was that Graham could find anything remotely appealing about Amanda, to the point that he'd cry over her leaving. Which was partly because Cameron Diaz seems to have lost her ability to act (she used to be kind of good once, it's not just you) and partly because her character was just a grab bag of neurotic tics mascerading as "charmingly damaged." Oh my god, she's Meredith!

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

How fantastic is it that Cake came on my iPod as I read your comment? Pretty damn fantastic.

Hee, I did the same thing, I was all, "Wow, I could almost forget he's a nanny-banging scumbucket!"
Yes. Like, I found him ridiculously attractive to the point I was having Enemy at the Gates flashbacks and wanting to pop it in the DVD player. Yes, I’m sure you’re wondering why a WWII-era film about a couple of snipers having a duel-to-the-death whilst Russia starves and freezes to death is appealing to me? Because I don’t think I’ve found Jude any more attractive or sexy or totally-take-me-against-a-wall HOT.

partly because her character was just a grab bag of neurotic tics mascerading as "charmingly damaged."
Exactly! The running gag about her inability to cry? Only smidgingly funny the first go-round. The second and third? No, no, NO.

But that's really Nancy Meyers's forte, really. Unlikable women we're supposed to love and aspire to be (see also: Keaton's Erica in Something's Gotta Give), when in actuality, they're caricatures that make me want to stab things. Many, many times.

Oh my god, she's Meredith!
*snorts* Seriously, I love you for that.

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

And for Kate Winslet, Jude Law (sweet Jesus, he was charming and I only thought of his real-life fucktardery once), and Jack Black, they did. They really did. Kate and Jack were sparkling on screen together, and I loved the side plot with Arthur so very much. Jude was delightful and the young actresses who played Olivia and Sophie were ADORABLE, and then there was Cameron, off to the side, being a massive vortex of suck. She was the one sore spot in the entire film.

Ahem. I was reading an old EW and they pretty much said the same thing. I don't know what happened to Cameron Diaz. She was so adorable and good in "My Best Friend's Wedding." She stole the movie from Julia Roberts!

Jude Law in this movie melted me heart. They made him a widower! How could I reist?

John's cameo was awesome. I read he has cameos in three movies right now.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

She was so adorable and good in "My Best Friend's Wedding." She stole the movie from Julia Roberts!
Yeah, there's a reason she nabbed a Golden Globe nom for that performance. She rocked that part. It's terrible really. This is the same woman who did The Last Supper and Being John Malkevich, who used to have this fire in her that made her damn near impossible not to watch, no matter what she was in.

Jude Law in this movie melted me heart. They made him a widower! How could I reist?
Oh man. When he spelled out WIDOWED, it was like a punch to the gut. It explained so much about him. Plus, you know, he's pretty, and Graham was charming and a crier and he didn't mind making a fool of himself with his girls. Jeez. What was NOT TO LOVE? Oy.

Damn you, Nancy Meyers. First, Keanu. Now Jude? Ack.

John's cameo was awesome. I read he has cameos in three movies right now.
The best part for me was that I totally forgot about it until there he was, and I was SQUEEING and DOING THE HAPPY DANCE OF JOY on the inside. I can't seem to get away from the Krasinski lately. I keep seeing the little spots with him and Ed Helms and they never fail to make me laugh. Whoever made that executive decision to put John Krasinski and Ed Helms together is a frickin' genius.

I know he has a bit part in Dreamgirls, too, so what other movie does he pull a cameo in?

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

When he spelled out WIDOWED

When he did that, my friend turned to me and whispered, "Widower," and I was like, "Um, yeah, I still remember how to spell." ;)

Damn you, Nancy Meyers. First, Keanu. Now Jude? Ack.

I've always liked Jude Law, but I was amazed by what she did for Keanu. Most of the time, I find him pretty blah and emotionless, but he was wonderful in "Something's Gotta Give."


I know he has a bit part in Dreamgirls, too, so what other movie does he pull a cameo in?

For Your Consideration.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

When he did that, my friend turned to me and whispered, "Widower," and I was like, "Um, yeah, I still remember how to spell." ;)
Oh, is that what he spelled? (Also, HEE!) The theater suddenly got loud at that moment.

I've always liked Jude Law, but I was amazed by what she did for Keanu.
See this is when knowing so much about the personal lives of actors sort of backfires on me. I was suprised I was able to overlook his wanker tendencies, like his whining over Chris Rock's joke at the Oscars.

But he really did a good job here, and I was able to put my personal distaste to the side for the duration.

Most of the time, I find him pretty blah and emotionless, but he was wonderful in "Something's Gotta Give."
I know! My mom was even going, "Hello, salty goodness." Well, she wasn't exactly quoting Cordy there, but the sentiment was the same.

For Your Consideration! That's right. I knew that. I did. I swear, I'm like the principal's assistant in Grease. Only with useless pop culture.

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

Yuo are not hallucinating: Diaz used to have a modicum of talent/ capability once upon a time. I think just that all the blow has melted what little she had.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

HA!

That would certainly explain why she was so fucking skinny. The woman has a boyish figure already, being that thin makes her look like a literal walking stick. Blech.

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

It would actually help her looks if she put on some weight... I remember a time she was pretty and striking even. Like, in "Something about Mary".

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Yep. That kind of skinny don't look good on anybody.

[popculturespong.livejournal.com]

I was at the Garnier Opera house two weeks ago and have been looking for a print of the ceiling!

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Yay! (Also, lucky duck.) Isn't it lovely, though? I can't wait until mine gets here.

[popculturespong.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is. The original is supposed to be beautiful too, though. I currently have his "Paris, through a window" as my computer wallpaper.