Category: entertainment

entertainment, film

Vicky Christina Barcelona- Review

Becca

When the closing credits rolled after Vicky Christina Barcelona, a man in the row behind me exclaimed,

“Gimme a break! I want a story. Come on Woody, I want a story.”

While I doubt the portly man knew Woody (Allen), he seemed to know even less about his films. His newest endeavor, starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem, has the signature Woody moves– love triangles and trysts and quirky characters. Moreover, everything and nothing happens at the same time.

The story begins in the beautiful, romantic, whimsical city of Barcelona, where two American tourists have come to live for the summer. The analytical and pragmatic Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and her best friend, the unpredictable Christina (Johansson) could not be more different. They meet Juan Antonio (Bardem), a local artist, who invites them for a weekend trip of sight-seeing and love-making. There, they learn of Juan Antonio’s ex-wife (Cruz), a passionate, yet volatile woman who’s not afraid to use knives and guns.

While there are plenty of good, solid actors in this film, Cruz shines. Her character is both crazy and lovable, beautiful and complete mess. She seems most comfortable in her native language, which soars through the film like a bat out of a hell.

I’ve been to Barcelona a few times in my life. It really is a city of possibility, and Woody brings that to the highest level. Sure, a complete stranger will fly you to a small, romantic town and then sweep you off your feet and in to bed. Sure, his crazy ex-wife will teach you to photograph like you never have before. Sure. With a background of Gaudi design and the bustling of a beautiful city, how could it not happen?

Woody Allen’s films often transcend the need for an epic ending, for a life-shattering turn of events. Sometimes, crazy stuff happens, and then other stuff happens. For the man in the audience, that wasn’t enough. But sometimes, that’s all there is.

entertainment

Villa- Models, Bottles and so much less

Becca

I’d post a photo to go along with my review of VILLA, but they don’t allow photos inside. Really, VILLA is the queen of Hollywood snobbery.
It’s a small space–one room with a balcony, so the door goon has the ability to turn away anyone he pleases. VILLA is known for its exclusivity. NO ONE, it seems, can get in, and paps spend half their nights outside of it.  Just check out TMZ.
If you do make it past the pearly gates, you’ll find a room stuffed with beautiful people–anorexic models and men with high cheek bones– and money out the ears. But you won’t find much more. The decor is pirate cosmopolitan, ropes hanging from the ceiling like a skeleton.
VILLA is exactly like the people held within it: beautiful, but not much substance.

entertainment, travel

Death of a Nightclub– GOA

Becca

I’ve been working in the nightclub business for the past couple of years. While I think bottle service is ridiculous, it has paid for food on my table and a roof over my head.

An added benefit has been a crash course in the business of nightlife. What I’ve realized is that in a city like LA, nightlife is a world of its own.

Clubs come and go faster than a rainstorm or the latest fashion trend here. The best recent example of this is GOA.

I went to GOA right after it opened. A beautiful chain-link ceiling, large spacious rooms and a beautiful crowd made is seemed destined for Hollywood greatness. But it turns out GOA is already floundering.

Because of a licensing conflict, GOA is changing into a restaurant. This Friday is the last night for one of their biggest promotions.

There have been several complaints about the noise and over-capacity of the place as of late, filled with D-list wanna-be-celebs like Heidi Montag. So, the owners are putting in tables, and serving sushi.

Even though they’re trying to stay afloat, most people know that a nightclub serving food doesn’t float well here. You don’t want to dance where you eat, most of the time. So, it is only a matter of time until GOA sinks all together.


Crowd at Goa

entertainment, news

Something in the Gotham City Water?

Becca

What is going on with this Batman cast? Hollywood seems to still be recovering from the shocking death of Heath Ledger, and now Batman himself is acting very un-hero-like.

Christian Bale was arrested for allegedly lashing out at his mom and sister in London yesterday. Hours after his London premeire, Bale was taken to the Big House.

I’ve always thought Bale looks cool, calm and collected–a very undercontrol human being. But his past is a mess. His mom was a circus actor–a clown and dancer. His family was unconventional, to say the least.  His father ran away to sea.

Regardless of how unconventional his upbringing was, nothing can excuse attacking a woman–especially your famiy members. There’s something much more disturbing about this crime than all those drunk driving and drug charges all the rest of the stars are facing.

Even though all the details of this mess haven’t been released, it seems that The Dark Knight may be cursed…

entertainment

Sure, most reality shows are really bad

Becca

especially DANCE reality shows. There’s no end to them: So you think you can dance, Step it up and dance, etc. They aren’t filmed right and they mix too many different types of dancers together. Can a hip-hop dancer really compete with a formally trained ballet dancer? doubt it.

But there is one ray of hope. America’s Best Dance Crew was a hit with its first season. It’s filmed so that you can really see the talent of the dancers, and the crews are truly artists.

The second season has started up, and there are some really interesting groups. I have to admit I am a little biased because I have a friend on one of the crews, but even if I didn’t I would still love this show. Check it out Thursdays at 10 pm.

Here’s a clip of my friends crew, Fanny Pak: