Album Of My Memory (Music Thoughts: Mel Searle, Serenade In Blue)

Mel Searle is a relatively new jazzette from the Melbourne area and I searched the internet for information about her, and can't find much. I chanced upon her album, "Serenade In Blue," and thought it was pretty good.  Sure, it's not the most original thing in the world (her scat intro on "Blue Skies" is a note for note recreation of Ella's) but there is great energy here, and she has a great sense of rhythm. She skews more jazz singer than lyric interpreter, and there's nothing wrong with that if that is more your speed. The repertoire could use a little more imagination, though she does two songs from "The Sound Of Music" and that is not as common. (The jazzy version of "the Sound Of Music" borders on camp, though) Still, there's a somewhat green talent here and if she gets more mindful of her excesses, she could turn out to be a much more sensitive singer. 

Be Careful (Movie Thoughts: Careful What You Wish For)

You gotta be careful. The movie "Careful What You Wish For" really has no reason to exist. The plot is a by-the-numbers "romantic thriller" that has been done a million times before (and perfect in "Body Heat")  And there really isn't anything new and unique in this movie, except maybe the ludicrously bad acting by Isabel Lucas. Nick Jonas fares just a bit better, but he isn't even used to hid full potential. (The cinematographer even photographs him unflatteringly) Dermot Mulroney seems like he wandered from teh street, bored and just so over his role. There are no surprises, no thrills, not even a sexy something here. Nothing to see here, folks, just move right along.

This Side Of Forty (Television Thoughts: Younger, Tuesdays on TV Land)

Darren Starr, of Sex And The City and Melrose Place fame, is back with a new show, a one-camera sitcom titled "Younger." Starring Sutton Foster, it is about a woman named Liza Miller who is 40 years old, recently divorced, suffering from an empty nest (Her daughter decided to go to Mumbai)  She decides to go back to work, but realizes that because of her age, she cannot go back to the level of job she left before he got married. So she pretends she is 26 years old, gets the publishing job as an assistant to a bitchy woman, and even starts dating a twenty something tattoo artist. I get hot and cold on Foster, but for the most part, I can take her. She still has her ticks here that annoy, and she recited dialogue liek she is on an Amy Sherman Palladino script, but I found her better here. She looks pretty, and convincing as someone younger, and I like the fact that she shows her age by maturity, not by slapstick. (It would have been an easy trap for Foster to fall into, since she is a physical actress) I have only seen the first two episodes and I am already intrigued - it feels like an old-fashioned sitcom (Perfect for TvLand) and middle agers like myself can easily relate to her character. Hillary Duff and Debi Mazar play her friends (on their corresponding age spectrums) and they don't have to do much yet, so I hope Starr uses both of them throughout the run. I will be watching.

Angled Straight (Movie Thoughts: The Last Straight Man)

"The Last Straight Man"  isn't supposed to be a gay love story, but it turns out it is one. Two close friends on the eve of a wedding - one is bisexual and one is straight, and before the night is over they each other. What happens next is one part "One Day," (they meet at the same time yearly) and part "Before Sunrise" (something always happens when they almost get together) What really seems like a bad idea even as I am typing the plot, turns out to be quite good. First off, I don't subscribe to that ultimate "gay fantasy" of bagging a straight guy.  I am in the school that believes a straight guy will never fall in love with another man, and at times this movie preys on that weakness. But we find out that these characters are quite complex, and as we get to know them more and more we get to see the complexities of these people. I was instantly engrossed by the sharp dialogue, and even if you can see the small budget of the film, there are a lot of riches to be mined from it. I gotta admit that the movie made me think. I always say that I get tired of some of these inane "gay" movies, and this one should have fit that bill, but turns out to be an exception. Rent this.  

In the Garden Of Good And Bad Neroli (Perfume Thoughts: Maire Parfumeur de Gantier Jardin Du Neroli)

When is neroli just a neroli? If it's in a bottle, it must be MPG's Jardin du Neroli. This perfume is just orange, orange, and more orange, and maybe some bergamot. It starts out as a citrus burst of oranges, but it is not sharp - it veers more towards the powdery kind. I see on Fragrantica that there should be some jasmine in here, it is quite faint and hard to discern. It's a little bit unremarkable, but at the same time it's not really a bad perfume - am I making sense? It would be a great scent to wear on a lazy summer day, say, if you were just going to be watching television, or doing chores. Or perhaps because I found a bottle dirt cheap that I just have a good feeling about it. 

Messing With Perfection (Book Thoughts: Better Than Perfect, Melissa Kantor)

In Melissa Kantor's book, "Better Than Perfect," Juliet Newman thought she had a perfect life. She is a senior in High School, with a handsome boyfriend, and is on her way to Harvard - until her world starts to fall apart: her parents divorce, which affects her mom's mental health, and she gets tangled with Declan, who is much less perfect than her boyfriend. This is a young adult book, and it is a pretty engrossing one. I couldn't sleep last night, and these characters kept me company. I can't remember the last time I was up with a book. At times, teh plot seems by-the-numbers but Juliet is an interesting enough character that the book is not as tiresome as it could have been. 

British Bad Boys (Movie Thoughts: The Riot Club)

Do we really need a movie about posh spoiled brats in University? Apparently so. I cannot remember the last time I was riveted by a movie as I was with "The Riot Club." Written by Laura Wade based on her play "Posh," the movie revolves around a group of ten young men who are members of a club loosely based on the Bullingdon Club, which is an Oxford University dining club. (The current British Prime Minister was a member) They are a rowdy bunch who dine and drink with fearless abandon, backed by their families' wealth. Members of this club go on to such prestigious desks that they feel that while at college, they need to live their lives to the fullest because it's their last chance of unsrcutinized fun. It looks like every single handsome young man in England was cast in this movie (the one hold out, Robert Pattinson, was part of the original casting) and their photogenic faces helps you (sort of) empathize with their characters even as they do the most despicable deeds. The meatiest part in the piece is of the fish-out-of-the-water character, Miles, played by Max Irons (Jeremy's son)Playing the moral center of the piece, his does eyes help bring out an innocence and later corrupted state.  Directed by Lone Scherfig, this isn't the subtlest movie - you are immediately faced by contrasting points of view even as you try to decipher who's who and what's what. A long dinner scene - the center piece of the play -  was the most fascinating part - you are instantly enthralled, amused, horrified, disgusted all at the same time, with each emotion overlapping the other that you don't have time to catch your breath. I am a certified Anglophile and I had a ball trying to decipher the accents and placing specific Oxford locales. And Douglas Booth is a dreamy and soulful actor - I bet he will be the next best Hollywood thing. This film is highly recommended.

Sise Fina (Music Thoughts: Anna Sise, But Beautiful)

Who is Anna Sise? Your guess is as good as mine. The only thing I could find on the internet is that she hails from Sweden and is big in Asia, especially japan. This album I am listening to, "But Beautiful" was produced and released in japan and even boasts of great musicians: Jan Lundgren, Patrik Boman, and Max Schultz among others, and the album does sound full. Sise has a great big voice and has a great solid repertoire: "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square," "I'll Never Be The Same," and the title track "But Beautiful." Her voice reminds me a bit of Diane Reeves: full throttled yet controlled. Her lyrical readings are fine, and for someone is (presumably) a second language, pretty intelligent. She is soulful in ballads, and swinging when asked to. I took interest in her because she is supposedly big in Japan, and i trust the Japanese' taste, especially in jazz vocals. This album, from 2007, is pleasant enough, and now I want more information on her.

Only A Day Away (Movie Thoughts: Annie)

I saw "Annie" a while back, when it first came out, and I didn't like it. But there was already an avalanche of bad reviews about it then that I didn't want to add to the chorus of discomforts. So I told myself I would wait a bit until writing about it, and then forgot about it altogether. But now that it is out on video, I saw it again, and wondered to myself if I would feel the same. Sadly, yes. I look at the movie as wasted opportunity. The producers - Will and Jada Smith, Jay-Z among them - had an opportunity to bring this wonderful piece to a new generation and they didn't. It's not that this Annie is bad - it's respectable enough - but they managed to make it bland and boring. The musical numbers all fell flat - with weird arrangements and reconstructions. Why would you have hand choreography in the middle of "maybe?" Why would you reorchestrate "Tomorrow?" Why did you cut "N.Y.C"? These are just random questions I had while watching it. I have a strong affinity for the piece, for sure, because it is the first Broadway production I ever saw, thirty one years ago. But it is also the love for it that makes me want this piece to succeed. When I was watching the movie, I was more sad than angry, and now I feel kind of apathetic but I felt I just had to say my smal piece about it. Why can't they get Annie right these days? The past Broadway revival was devoid of fun, and felt that they did the same here. This is a boisterous, joyous musical, and no one nowadays sees te happiness in it - and that makes me want to take a Xanax. 

With One More Look At You (Television Thoughts: Looking Season 2 Finale, Looking For Home)

Here we are, the last episode of season two, "Looking For Home," and just like Patrick, the audience is at a crossroad. Patrick starts to move in with Kevin, and then he finds out that Kevin is still on Grinr, and is logged on, this giving him more questions than answers. What we get is a half hour discussion between the two of them. I guess be careful what you look (wish) for, you just might get it. Is it a dealbreaker if your boyfriend is on Grindr, or is it just one of those things. As Augustine says, "we all have the app, it's what we do with it that matters"  The episode ends with Patrick still at a crossroads after all these months - in some sense he is still looking. Is this a metaphor that in life, we will always be looking?

It would be truly sad if HBO cancels this show. I purposely kept HBO just for this, and as a matter of fact, tonight I am logging on to my DirectTV account and canceling the service. But if it does go away after this season, ti was a great shot.

Oh, The Orange Blossom (Perfume Thoughts: By Killian Sweet Redemption)

Yes, the Orange Blossom.  It's a note I have truly grown to love - because on my skin it casts a wide range, from soapy (Penhaligon's La Castille) to rich and pungent (Jo Malone Orange Blossom) In between hose two extremes, it still pleases. Francis Kurkdjian plays with it a lot, and does best with it - his Gaultier Fleur de Male is an Orange Blossom masterpiece, in my opinion. So when By Killian released Sweet Redemption, their tenth and last in the L’Oeuvre Noire collection, I gladly gave in to it. Calice Becker, its creator, is known for big bombastic creations, but here she is restrained in her use of orange blossom. It's still there, front and center, and it is big and bright, but it is framed well by sweetness. This is an orange blossom that makes you happy, there's no exploration of its dark side here. Today it was bright and sunny, and when I was doing my morning walk, the orange blossom not, um...blossomed. It was glorious, and while you could smell the sweetness, it did not cross that headache-inducing kind. I love this, this is one of those scents that would work well with a tuxedo: it creates a presence, and stays there, never overpowering, never disturbing.

Belongings (Book Thoughts: Where He Belongs, Trina Solet)

When I started reading this book, I hated the two main characters. jack is a bore, and Gus is one of those busybody gay guys I can't stand (Who flirts with their boss on the first meeting?) But Gus's son, Josh is adorable and steals whatever scene he is in. Honestly, he is the only reason this book was bearable. And why must we really endure pages and pages of these sex scenes? I sound like a prude, I know, but they just seem excessive, and ruin the mood for me, so to speak.

The Show Is Over Say Goodbye (Television Thoughts: Glee Season 6 Series Finale)

I was a GLEE fan from the start - before the hype, before it was fashionable to be a fan, before it was hip to be a Gleek. I went through everything it gave me, I stuck to it until sometime last season when it was just too much, when I felt it was so done. So in a sense, I already said goodbye to the show. But then this year, it apparently came back, for its last season, with a vengeance. I will binge-watch the earlier episodes one of these days but I just had to tune in to the two hour series finale. And I am still crying. This show broke so many barriers, it redefines musical comedy for television in so many ways that it was kind of tough to say goodbye to the show, and these characters who brought me so much joy in the past. All the goodbyes are here, maximized to squeeze tear ducts, and you know what, that's fine. Let's all grieve. The first half is a bittersweet look at how New Directions came to be, and gave us a glimpse at how the group was formed - it even showed us how Kurt and Rachel met, culminating with the two of them singing "Popular," from WICKED. (They have done every other hit song from the musical so it's a wink and a nod)  The second half hour has all of them saying goodbye, and that's when the waterworks started. From Mr. Schuster with his ukulele to Sue Sylvester singing "The Winner Takes It All" all emotions are laid bare, and when we fast forward to where the characters are five years later, we see their triumphs. I couldn't stop myself from bawling when Rachel Berry finally wins a Tony, and when Sue introduces the whole cast on stage to sing "I Believe" I think a temporary flood alert was broadcast in my building. The show ends with a plaque that says "See the world not as it is, but as it should be," a mantra that capsulizes what the show is all about. Thanks for the laughter, tears, and music, Glee. 

50 Shades Of Pigeons (Movie Thoughts: Flying Home/Racing Hearts)

To capitalize on the success of the film 50 Shades of Grey,  "Racing Hearts" has been released on video. I think this was previously released all over Europe with the title of "Flying Home"  and I am guessing the title was changed because the new one would seem more romantic. What's in a title? Funny how a change in it can alter the perception of a film. The movie, starring Jamie Dornan, is really less a romantic comedy and more one about pigeons. Yes, you heard me right - pigeons. The story may seem convoluted, but it is about an acquisition of a pigeon orchestrated by Dornan so he could land a billion dollar account for his firm. And yes, it was fascinating, who would have thought? It gave me an insight into that pigeon race of sending them off from Barcelona and tracking which one flies home the quickest. Dornan is a presence, for sure, and I didn't think he was too bad here - he is very muted, for sure, but you cannot stop looking at him, and that is more than enough. He is definitely a movie star. The side romantic story line seems like an afterthought - they don't have chemistry and I didn't care at all.

The Root Of It All (Perfume Thoughts: Creed Acqua Originale Iris Tubereuse)

It's St. Patrick's Day, and I didn't want to go too "obvious" with today's scent. So I searched for something that evokes green, and I chose Creed's Iris Tubereuse (Look, add the letter H to Iris and you got the greenest of the green!)  This perfume is from the limited edition Acqua Originale collection. Look, I am not the biggest Creed fan for a lot of reasons, but I found a bottle of this extremely cheap, the kind of cheap that you would be crazy enough not to grab. And this line is supposed to be lighter and more accessible. Say, if you were a fan of Jo Malone, this would appeal to you. iris Tubereuse is exactly how you woudl picture this perfume to be: a white floral bouquet of both flowers, with a slight tip towards the iris, and the addition of lily. The acqua is more in execution than form - this is far from the aquatic perfumes of the likes of Cool Water. This is a transparent floral, with a rooty iris. You kind of smell a little bit of the stem, thanks to the combo of musk and vanilla in the base notes. The dry down is a little heavier than the top and middle notes - it smells like you used a lotion of these flowers, as those same petals ripen. It's a little bit of an odd scent, or maybe I just think it's odd for a Creed scent. I don't dislike it, but I think multiple more uses will make me embrace it more.

Forezen, For Five (Film Thoughts: Frozen Fever)

Well, since "Frozen" was such a ginormous hit for Disney, we knew there was more coming from this franchise. Attached to the theatrical run of Cinderella is a five minute featurette called "Frozen Fever" (do we have enough alliterations there?)  There is even a small plot here: Anna wants to organize a party for Elsa on her birthday, despite her not feeling well and having a cold. I won't mention anything else because it might spoil things but thre is even a musical number: "Making Today A Perfect Day," which I thinj is a song from the original movie that never made it to the film. It's nice, and cute, and whets the appetite for the inevitable. If you were to ask me, I think it would be fine to leave these characters alone but how could you not have a sequel? There's just too much money involved....

It's Better Late (Music Thoughts: Sue Raney, Late In Life)

It's only February and I think I already have my favorite album of 2015: Sue Raney's Late In Life.  As a matter of fact, I think I may have found my new favorite song of the year, which is the title track, "Late In Life,"  written by Shelley Markham with lyrics by Adryan Russ. It is a song abotu finding love late in life,  unexpectedly. It's such a wistful, hopeful, thanksful song and Raney expresses all these emotions with such vulnerable passion that at first listen, I just found myself crying.  The same sentiment permeates throughout the whole album, and I even think I found a new favorite version of my wedding song which is "On My Way To You."  I think on my actual wedding day (I hope no one holds their breath for it, though) I will splice versions of the song by Barbra Streisand, Ann Hampton Callaway, and now Sue Raney.  And the medlette of "My Idea;/Long Ago and Faraway" is beautifully rendered,  and the tenderest version of "at Last" is found here, it feels so different after all the bombastic soul versions of this song. I cannot think of a track to throw away, and I even like her version of a song I thoroughly dislike, "Something New In My Life."  I now will find myself putting this album on an infinite loop, and doubt will tire of it.

Living For Love, I'm Gonna Carry On (Television Review: Looking S02E09, Looking For Sanctuary)

Of course it had to happen - a show I love will be cancelled. I read an article last week that had a headline that read "Looking is the show that nobody is watching," and I think even the show knows it. Here we are at the penultimate episode of the second season and things are...well, they are wrapping up. We are getting to a point that these characters are no longer "looking." This makes me infinitely sad, because these are characters that I have grown to love, and I have enjoyed the time (albeit short) I spent with them. On this episode, titled "Looking For Sanctuary," we see Patrick maybe finally finding happiness - at the end of the episode, he makes a decision to move in with Kevin. This even after he gets the wrath of his sister, whose husband is very good friends with Jon, who is Kevin's ex. Yes, it has been a bumpy complicated ride to where he has now arrived, and he may finally be happy. And Eddie has also reached a similar place with Frank, wherein he stops trying to woo him, and gives him an ultimatum: are we or are we not? (They are.) There's even a frank discussion about Truvada. The only hanging thing, for now, is Dominick and Doris, but I think that is something that can be fixed by a trip to Pinkberry. It pains me to see another favorite show of mine close shop. 

In Dreams You Will Lose Your Heartaches (Movie Thoughts: Cinderella)

Does the world need a new version of Cinderella? We have the cartoon, the musical, and now we have a live action movie. I admit when I saw the trailer a couple of months ago, I was excited to see it. Charge it to the dearth of romantic movies nowadays, I guess. This movie feeds my hopeless romantic hit like nothing else - it's glorious, it's swoon-worthy, it's modern and fabulous. 

You know the story by heart, but this version, directed by Kenneth Branagh beefs up the story. We get the back story, for example, of Ella's life before the stepmother's regime, and we even get a scene on why she is called Cinderella. Plus, this is a post-feminism Ella, who isn't as much a doormat as her previous incarnations. For example, I liked the fact that she screamed "How dare you," when her stepmother ripped her gown right before she was supposed to go the ball (pre-fairy godmother) 

Oh, and all the spectacle. This movie is gorgeous to look at: colorful, flashy, splashy. The CGI is effective but not over-the-top. There's even a hint of the original songs from the cartoon. Cate Blanchett as the stepmother borders on camp, but she is a good enough actress to recognize this is live, nto cartoon. As Ella, Lily James is charming without being too sweet, and Richard Madden is a fine though slightly bland prince (he could have used just a tad more sex appeal) 

But all in all, a good time, and a great Cinderella for today's youth. Between "Frozen" and this, today's young girls are getting a great childhood.

I WIsh I Knew (Book Thoughts: The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know, Brent Hartinger)

I didn't even realize that the characters in Brent Hartinger's "The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know" were the same characters in "Geography Club" until I finished the book and went to its Goodreads page. I have only read the first book in the young adult series so I am sure I missed a lot of the back story references here. But as a stand alone, this isn't too confusing.The most interesting thing for me is that this book kind of gave me an insight in to how millennials think - and found a commonality in that no matter what generation you are, we all have the same fears and desires at a certain age. I know that I wasn't able to appreciate the book because there are holes to be filled for me to appreciate it more, but what I read was enjoyable enough.

Taylor Made (Movie Thoughts: Tracers)

Taylor Lautner? Sure why not? I mean he is cute and all, and I have spent time with worse. But is his cuteness enough to sustain my attention on what is seemingly a run-of-the-mill action movie? Yes, and no. Well, it turns he is cute enough, but in that manufactured cute boy kind of way. I don't think he has found himself yet - he seems ill at ease with his own skin, and everything he does seems to have been rehearsed to the last kick. He is in great physical form here, and he is doing all the stunts magnificently. And his coiff is perfect: every strand artfully tossed. As a matter of fact, even his facial hair and arm tattoo is art-directed to death. The big thing lacking is soul. He seems to be in automatic pilot, up to the way he kisses his leading lady. And the movie? Do we even care about the movie? It has a dumb screenplay, though the final action sequence did give me a few chills, but really I wouldn't know a good action sequence from a bad one. But yeah, Taylor Lautner doing parkour - that seems to be the only narrative here and if that's good enough for you, then...

And Liberty And Perfume For All (Perfume Thoughts: Bond No 9 I Love NY For All)

My brother has started collecting Bond no 9 perfumes, so I have had a chance to sniff a lot of them lately.  One that recently caught my attention is the I Love NY line, which originally came as a trio: the pink bottle for her, the blue bottle for him, and the black bottle "for all" I really do not believe in genderizing perfume: it's all marketing and hype.  Of the three, what appealed to me most was the black one, the one that's for all.  The initial burst is fantastic: a creamy hazelnut cacao confection that should sound sweet, but really is on the dry side, perhaps because there's a little bit of pepper there too. The cream note kind of gives me pause, but it reminds me of a perfume that's underrated: Jean Paul Gaultier's Kokorico. The materials used for I Love NY For All is better - there's longevity here that's not projected, but exists. the middle notes (on me) get darker, which is weird, as everything normally turns sweet on me. The creamy caco note gets stronger, and I bet a coffee lover would love this perfume. The patchouli-ish clean musk-y dry down seems a bit generic, for sure, but I am already impressed so now I am jonezing a full bottle of this.

Over The Hills And Everywhere (Book Review: I Left It On The Mountain, Kevin Sessums)

Sometime a book just speaks. Kevin Sessums' "I Left It On The Mountain' speaks. It speaks like poetry, it gives too much information, it's tales are self-indulgent. But damn if it isn't a book that speaks not just from the heart but from the soul. Sessums writes about his life, starting from when he first moved to New York City in the 70s, to working with Andy Warhol at The Factory and for Interview Magazine, segeuing to his days in Vanity Fair, and then his downward spiral to meth addiction. (The last part can be an exasperating read, but imagine living it ) In between those years, he writes about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and walking the Camino trail to Santiago de Compostela. I must admit that sometimes the writing can be a bit much. Like a rich dessert, I sometimes needed a break from it to fully appreciate it. It took me two weeks to finish this book - no light reading here. But as I finished it, I found myself weeping - there is such profoundness here that even as I read every word, I know I have only began to scratch the surface. One day I know I will re read it and it will make more sense. I have lived a full-ish life at my age now, but I know I have not lives a life yet. Once I do, this book will make more perfect sense.

Happy? (Television Thoughts: Looking, S02E08 Looking for Glory)

At this point, you are probably either Team PatKev or Team PatRich. Me? I vacillate.  On one hand, there is great romanticism in PatRich, but just look at Jonathan Groff and Russell Tovey together, and they do make the cutest couple. Okay, so yes they are probably too white and too same, but the actors and the characters blend so well together, that you just go for it. And I would like to believe that Kevin has the best intentions for 'choosing' Patrick so should it be all systems go? Well, as Sheryl Crow sings, If it makes you happy... And we do see Patrick having the time of his life with Kevin - the game they built together, the prom they go to, the dance they have - it's just too much cuteness that it has to probably end soon, right? But this episode is revolutionary in one way: Patrick seems to be happy. I mean, has there ever been an episode wherein Patrick was just...happy? But then again, we also hear Sheryl Crow singing: If it makes you happy, then why are you so sad?

The Berlin Susannah (Music Review: Susannah McCorkle, Adeus - The Berlin Concert)

Sussanah McCorkle passed away in 2001, leavign behind a great discography. But apparently, there's more , as evidenced by "Adeus, The Berlin Concert" which was a limited release in Europe. The live album stems from set set at Club Quasimodo in Berlin in April 16. 1996, which in my opinion, represents McCorkle at her peak. She has always straddled between cabaret and jazz, combining intimate lyric interpretation in a jazz setting. She is a song stylist (listen to her dramatic interpretation of 'That Old Feeling' here) while she swings like a chandelier on "Swing That Bass."  At times, Billie Holiday's influence rears a bit too much, but that couldn't be the worst thing in the world, could it? This is a great recording, it sounds kind of old fashioned - there's a warmth to it that you don't hear anymore in today's music, and you cannot the beat the repertoire: apparently it represents songs from her albums at that point. I sometimes get jaded with some of these sings, as I have heard some over and over, but when a good singer, like McCorkle, sings, I pay attention. I found myself sitting at attention with "I Thought About You," a song she sings perfectly. She was gone too soon, of course, but thankfully recordings like this will always keep her alive. 

The Rest Is Still Rewritten (Movie Review: The Rewrite)

Whatever happened to Hugh Grant?  I know I haven't been up to date on a lot of things but I don't think I have seen a lot of him at late. So I jumped at the chance of  seeing "The Rewrite," where Hugh Grant is back in fine form in a role only Hugh Grant can do. He is in his element here, with his droll British accent spouting satirical dialogue dryly. As a middle aged screenwriter who had his last Academy Award winning script in 1999, the well has run dry and has to accept a professor job in Binghamton, New York. he is a fish out of water in different ways: an Angeleno in the East Coast, a man whose screenplay is revered but has not produced anything of substance since. It's all rote, but Grant elevates the material, which could be spotty, and dated (I wonder if this has been languishing for a while) It was also great to see Marisa Tomei as the love interest - they have good adult chemistry and she really has matured to be a great versatile actress. Recommended. 

Clare's Requests (Music Thoughts: Clare Teal, At Your Request)

I remember Clare Teal from the early 90s, and for some reason I used to confuse her with Stacey Kent, maybe because they were on the same label. Kent skyrocketed to larger stardom, maybe because her sound was distinctive. I know I have a couple of Clare teal albums on my collection, and it looks like she has a couple of them( there were thirteen available on iTunes)  but I don't remember much to be honest.  So when I got a hold of her new one, "At Your Request," I decided to pay more attention and write about it. Listening to this one, there's no doubt she is a great singer : clear voice with a jazz flare, with careful lyric consideration. Backed by her "mini Big Band," the arrangements are nice and supple, I mean she knows what she is doing, as evidenced by her hosting BBC Big Band every Sunday night on BBC 2.  The musicianship on this album is first rate all-around.  But, I couldn't help but look for something more. At first listen, it was good music, but it was also kind of forgettable.  The songs elections are obvious choices (perhaps because these are fans requests? ) and while she sings them with much gusto, there's not much int hose songs that surprise me anymore. I mean, I like the hot and swinging "Mountain Greenery" and the thoughtful "The Folks Who Live On the Hill,"  but I don't know if i will ever find myself reaching for her tracks, as I already have definitive performances of those from Patti Page and Peggy Lee, respectively. 

Second Best Is Worse (Movie Thoughts: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)

I feel cranky tonight, because I was severely disappointed with "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I loved the first movie, and was expecting at the very least a pleasant sequel. And this one is slightly less than pleasant that I wonder its reason for existing. Well, a movie with Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith sparring couldn't be that bad, right? Well, except for that, this is a total waste of time. The overcrowded cast makes for underdeveloped story lines, to start. I was confused as to what is happening with whom. And Dev Patel as Sonny has resulted to eating the scenery here, as colorful and exotic as it looks, still.  I didn't care what happned to him, never mind root. And the addition f Richard Gere (again the exotic flower here) ad David Straitharn adds nothing. I couldn't wait for the film to end. Even for fans of the first movie this can be a watse of time. Make ti a weekday rental.

No Gardenia (Perfume Thoughts: Chanel Gardenia, Les Exclusifs Collection)

Yesterday was one of those "just staying at home and relax" days for me, and that is when I grab samples from my ever-growing samples box.  I always say I do this because I can concentrate on smelling the new-to-me scents. But really, I try not to use my samples (unless I am traveling) because a lot of times I fall in love with a fragrance and would want to get a full bottle right away.  Chanel's Gardenia called out to me yesterday, and this, of course, is the 'modern' version, the one on the Les Exclusifs line.  And of course, it called to me because I was wearing Annick Goutal's Un Matin du Orange the day before,and was on an orange blossom kick. Chanel Gardenia obviously does not have a gardenia note in it : it is a bouquet of jasmine, orange blossom, and tuberose, a blossomign white floral. But this version is slightly watered, slightly aquatic, and though it advertises as having some musk, I don't get it. It's nice and fine, but that's about what it is: nice and fine. It's nice and easy to wear, but it did not challenge me, it did not want me to reach for it. It's inoffensive, and I would imagine it is perfect as an office scent: the sillage is not obtrusive, and it smells "classy" enough for someone past the age of 25. Crisis averted, I say. If I saw a cheap bottle, i would probably get it, but otherwise, I have other Chanel wants (La Pausa or Jersey, for example) on my list. 

I Saved The Best Of Me For You (Movie Thoughts: The Best Of Me)

I would be the type to see a film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book on opening weekend.  You know hopeless romantic and all that. But here I am, seeing "The Best Of Me" on a Saturday nigh ton video, five months after its theatrical run. Maybe it's just as well, though. There's a lot of wrongs in this movie, directed by Michael Hoffman. The Sparks book is creaky enough: it's one of those potboilers with plot holes as big as Sparks' book royalties. But people eat it up, and his fans will do the same here, regardless of what doesn't make sense in the story. Half the film is told in flashback, from 1992, but it feels like its he fifties with all the backwards thinking of people in the scenes. It cuts to present time, with James Marsden and Michele Monaghan game to the proceedings. Basically the story boils down to the "what might have been" variety: you see your first and only big love twenty tears later (twenty one, Marsden corrects) and you sense sparks (ha!) are still there. But suspend your disbelief, because the hopeless in all of us will love the message this film offers: that to love someone in your life is enough. In fact, it's more than enough. That's not a bad thought to think about, as there are people who live in this world without having the capacity to love someone else. Can you imagine living your life not having fallen in love with someone? This movie says that life is a wasted one. Marsden is especially good here, with his puppy dog marble blue eyes gorgeous enough to pierce your heart. Roll your eyes for sure, but if you have ever fallen in love - and let's face it, all of us has - I bet this film touches something basic in you.

Home And Children (Book Thoughts: If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now, Claire Lazebnik)

I confess I started reading this book because I liked the title: "If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now." Plus, I liked a previous novel of Claire Lazebnik. This is a story of a young mother raising her child while also living at her parent's house. And...there really is nothing else happening. i must confess I found the book very slow and once things started to happen, the book was already ending. But, Lazebnik is good at giving her characters very distinct voices, and even if the main character, Rickie can be a trying one, I felt myself connecting and empathizing with her, making this book marginally enjoyable.