Hopelessly Not A Hopeless Romantic (Book Review: In Search Of A Love Story, Rachel Schurig)

Emily just caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and now she is heartbroken. Her friends Ashley and Ryan tell her that the reason she is because she lacks romance in her life. Their solution: she needs to bone up on her romanticisms : chick flicks and romance novels. They say that once she immerses herself in them, the right guy will come galloping into her life. Such is the premise of Rachel Schurig's "In Search Of A Love Story." This book was a freebie from Amazon. I had low hopes for it, because I have been burned a couple of times from these free books, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this. Though the premise was dumb, the story wasn't quite. Yes, it is kind of predictable, and even Stevie Wonder would be able to see who is right and who is wrong for Emily, but the journey was very adventurous, and I loved the fact that the book gave some local Michigan flavor. I wished her friends weren't too one-dimensional, especially her gay male friend who is as shallow as shallow can be, but those were minor irritants. This is a cute love story that would be great reading for someone who needs just a little more romance in his life. 

This is a first of a series, and now I realize why this was given away free - it encourages you to buy the next books in the series. If my TBR pile wasn't sky high, I would grab those books right now.

BC-16

A Burst Of Green (Perfume Review: Thierry Mugler Cologne)

Colognes are really not my thing. I like my perfume heavy, and that's perhaps why I am drawn to Orientals. But I wasn't always like this. Once upon a time, yes, I did like "fresh" scents. I just think I a lot of these marine/aquatic fresh scents smell very dated, like L'eau d Issey or Cool Water, for example. But I am not dissing them, because I did wear those as well once upon a time. Thierry Mugler's "Cologne" is reminiscent of those fresh scents, but it's a lot more complex that I think it's a modern classic. It's even good enough to be chosen by Chandler Burr for his "Untitled" series for Open Sky. Cologne starts out like any other cologne scent - a burst of citrus. On a warm summer day it's stunning. It's sharp and jolting - that hint of orange blossom certainly gives it weight (I have read a lot of comparisons to the classic 4711)  It kind of develops into some more citrus - I smell a hint of verbena, and some vetiver. In the press releases, Alberto Morillas (who worked directly with Mugler) hints of a secret ingredient called "S" and there are some funny speculations on perfume boards on what it is (ranging from shampoo to bamboo) but the consensus is that it's just plain old vetiver. When I wore this today, I could swear I could detect some violets there somewhere. There was a time that this was in danger of being discontinued and perfume connoisseurs were hoarding it. I admit, I was one of them. I don't know if that is still the case, but I do firmly believe that if you like perfume, then this should be in your wardrobe. I may not wear this often, but I will never be without it. A lot of people compare it to Creed Vetiver. I dare say it's even better - and cheaper!

The Tale Of Three Musicals (Television Review: The Read Through, SMASH S02 E05

Wasn't it just last week when I was lamenting that this season thus far there has been less of the great production numbers in SMASH?  Well, the musical gods heard me, as this week's episode, "The Read Through" opened with a production number, "Public Relations." And even if it featured the dreadful Karen as Marilyn, it had Christian Borle in multiple roles(!) and it had great choreography, even an airplane as a prop. It was quite wonderful and it reminded me of what I loved most about this show. And as far as episodes go, this one was very very good. (I haven't said that in a while) It was more or less focused, it set up story lines, and it was entertaining. 

First, on "Bombshell." Julia has finished her revised draft, and she is  ecstatic about it. But then she sees Jon Robert Baitz and he plants a doubt in her head by saying he knew someone who worked with Peter the Dramaturgist before and he double-crossed said person. Tom is doubting him, too. So Julia is doubting herself: did she do a good revision of the book? They are having a read through to find out. It turns out that it's not bad, it's very good. So you would think all systems go, right? Jerry, the "new" producer, will not produce it because it's too good. Just like Follies, Ragtime, and Sunday In The Park With George, he thinks its a curse. But he will still produce the show, though, with a different book - a previous version that Tom gave him. Eileen is the tie-braker. Which version does she prefer? Cliffhanger. 

Next, on "The Hit List," Jimmy and Kyle's musical. I cannot get myself interested in this storyline. Maybe because it's Karen's. It looks like Derek has pulled strings to get the musical in the Winter Fringe Festival, but Kyle's book is untested. So they invite friends, and it turns out that the book stinks, so they decide to make the show sung-through. The only interesting thing in this plot development is the possibility of West Taylor and Andy Mientus hooking up - they have great chemistry. 

Last, on "Liaisons," which is the musical Ivy is working on. So glad to see Megan Hilty do things on her own, away from Karen. The star of her show is played by Sean Hayes, and of course, Sean Hayes plays the character just like any of his characters: like 'Just Jack.' This is funny, and infinitely more interesting than karen and Company's shenanigans, and always good to see Veanne Cox. But right now, I kind of wonder why this story line exists. 

So ther eyou go, I was tired last night, and the show really perked me up after. It kind of made me adrenalized and I slept late.

Dim All the Lights Sweet Darling (Movie Review: Keep The Lights On)

All movies tell a story, some seek to understand people, others define history. But only few show human emotion at its real core. "Keep The Lights On" is not just a movie, it's a mirror of vulnerability, of ache, of passion, of hurt. It's a mirror of life. 

The movie starts in 1998, as a documentary filmmaker, Paul (played excellently by Thure Lindhardt)  is on a phone sex line trying to initiate a hook up. One of his trysts lead him to Erik, (Zachary Scott) a closeted lawyer. They see each other again. It is kind of a romance, but like most relationships, it is difficult to define. The woman in the triangle disappears, but another obstacle resurfaces: Erik's drug problems. And that proves to be a more formidable third party. As years go by (the movie ends in 2007) we see them try to connect, try to unchain themselves from each other, but they end up failing in both. It begs the question - what attracts us to some people, what makes us stay in relationships, what feeds our feelings for and against. It is complex, and this film shows the aching complexity. Director Ira Sachs has made a truly authentic movie - even the pots and pans seem honest. There seems a deliberate attempt for us to feel exasperated by their relationship. As we become tired of them getting back together for the nth time, we cannot help but think and imagien how the characters feel. Lindhardt and Scott show an intimacy that is frighteningly real that makes this two million times more real than any reality show out there. There is one heartbreaking scene towards the end when they try to make a decision and you know where the film is going, but you know it shouldn't go there. And even as the film makes a resolution of some sort, you are still unsure of what happens to the characters.

This is the kind of movie that is richly layered that you probably miss a nuance or two first time around. I plan to watch it again, and I bet the ache will still be there, if even heightened by familiarity. Sometimes you get so jaded and numb by life. A mirror of life, like this movie, awakens.

Animal (Perfume Review: Muscs Kublai Kahn, Serge Lutens)

Sometimes, when I can't decide what scent to wear, I play a game. I close my eyes, and go to a section, and I pick one blindfolded, and for better or worse, I wear it. I did that this morning, pointing at my Serge Lutens collection. Beforehand, I thought to myself, I hope I don't pick Musc Koublain Kahn, thinking it is going to be nice and warm outside. So of course, as fate would have it, it was the one I got. 

I have never worn MKK on a nice day.  I usually pick a cold winter day to wear it. For me, it is the epitome of a "warm scent." There's musk, and there's MKK musk - every musk in here is highlighted, and its purpoted notes list is enough to scare the bejesus out of anyone - civet, cumin, castoreum. A friend of mine who is a perfume expert describes it as such: "You know when you have b.o. and you try to cover it by wearing perfume? That's how this smells like."

Fair enough. MKK starts out with an amber opening, but it quickly fades to the musk: and yes, there's that civet, there's the hint of cumin. And it smells skanky. Today as I wore it, it didn't waste time blooming. But bloom I like, as it bloomed like only a perfume can - the smell became fuller, more rounded, it enveloped. I don't know how it projected to others (I ran two errands and got in contact with humans) and I will not lie if I say that it didn't make me a little bit self-conscious. But I appreciated it more for what it is - a musk smell. Everyone keeps on saying that there are roses in here, but I don't get it: I would point to the beautiful Le Labo Rose 31 as the definitive rose/musk combo. I smell ambergris here, and vanilla, and a slight rotten fruit (peach? pear?) When you get to the drydown, you get a soft sweet floral. Imagine you wear a strong Oriental perfume early in a summer day and you get just a whiff of it after you have done everything under the sun. That sweet musky emission at the end of the day, just before you take a shower. Just for that alone, Christopher Sheldrake (who did this for Uncle Serge) deserves a lifetime achievement award.

Love And Marriage (Book Review: The Average American Marriage, Chad Kultgen)

Chad Kultgen's book, "The Average American Marriage" is a sequel to his 2007 book "The Average American Male." I read the previous book and I kind of liked it, in a perverse pornocentric way. It told of how a straight young man and how, from what I recall, his mind was riddled with thoughts about sex non-stop. I thought then that it was difficult to surmise the point of the book: a peek into the mind of a male? an exercise in documenting how to sow oats? a variation of Penthouse Forums? So color me not surprised that this new book, more or less, follows the same format, only this time we fast forward to the young marriage years. Being unmarried and childless, I cannot say I totally relate to his life, so it gave me a big window to the mind of a young heterosexual married man. My friends don't even fall in that category (Actually, I do have a couple, I just never talk to them) The book would polarize people, I suspect. I can't see how a book with frank sex talk would make some people happy. It's rawness is its biggest strength and weakness. Even I blushed at some of the words, and believe you me, I have seen it all. There's a lot more to the book than that, though. The story makes a statement about what we give up to get what we desire. For all the jaded talk in the book, we also glimpse a tender young man who is just like all of us: searching for happiness and our place in the world. And times have certainly changed: the character in the book has a gay best friend, and even gets invited to a gay wedding! (A bone, ehem, for the gays!) I liked the book, but I feel like I have read it before.

BC-15

Giants In The Sky (Film Review: Jack the Giant Slayer)

" There are Giants in the sky!
There are big tall terrible Giants
in the sky!
When you're way up high
And you look below
At the world you left
And the things you know,
Little more than a glance
Is enough to show
You just how small you are."

- Stephen Sondheim, "Into The Woods"

I am such a Theater Nerd that upon seeing "Jack The Giant Slayer," I instantly thought of the song "Giants In The Sky," from his musical Into The Woods. You can't blame me. Both the song and the movie have something to do with the children's story, "Jack And The Beanstalk." Though the movie, pardon the pun, is supersized. It's even in 3D. So why, you ask, did I end up seeing this movie? Anyone who knows me would tell you this isn't my cup of tea. I don't know why, either. The nice spring weather? Oh, why lie. I saw it because of Nicholas Hoult. I have been following his career since the UK "Skins," and well, why not. I think he is the next best thing, and this movie may not exactly propel him to A-list, but I think is a good step towards hitting it big. 

Oh the movie, you ask? It's your standard fantasy-action fare, with all the CGI machinations you would expect. I wish I could say I was totally enthralled by it, but I was merely entertained, and now, a couple of hours later, I wish I could remember more. I do recall that the cast had a pedigree: Ewan McGregor (with a bizarrely modern - but handsome - haircut)  Stanley Tucci, and Bill Nighy.  Maybe it's my projection, bu I feel like they are slumming it, doing this project in exchange of lucrative Hollywood money. As for the 3D effects, one wonders why they bothered. But I am not the one to ask about these things anyway, as I am vehemently opposed to the idea of 3D-izing anything. The great thing about movies, in my opinion, is how magical a great cinematographer can transform a frame through shading and lighting. 3D destroys that artistry.  So yes, I will not deny that the movie was entertaining, but forgettable. Hoult and McGregor made it bearable, but ultimately it's forgettable fare for me.

Her Guts, No Glory (Book Review: Guts, Kristen Johnson)

Kristen Johnson's memoir, "Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster" has been recommended by so many people that I felt compelled to check it out. I don't consider myself a fan of hers, if only because I don't know if I have seen a lot of her work. I was never a watcher of "3rd Rock From the Sun," so there goes that . I think I might have seen her on stage, and I quick check on ibdb shows that she was part of the 2008 cast of "The Women" which I disliked, and now I vaguely remember her in that production. So I went into the book not knowing much except for the fact that she went through addiction, an experience not entirely uncommon for celebrities and celebrity memoirs. Well, I didn't know that the book was specifically about her addiction. It was well-written - you can hear her voice in the writing - but kind of thin. Maybe I wanted more from her because I didn't know much about her. There were a chapter or two from her childhood and high school years, but she skipped through her whole 3rd Rock years - she only quoted  John Lithgow in passing, and didn't even once mention Jane Curtin or Joseph Gordon Leavitt. I know that maybe that was not the point of her memoir, but for better or worse, I expected. I sympathize and empathize with what she went through, and commend her for her recovery, but was the whole experience really worth a book? As far as addiction memoirs go, it was a whole lot less interesting than Bill Cleggs, for example. This felt more like a vanity project than anything else, and as I thought about it more - some of the people who were raving about the book, like Andy Cohen, were her friends. 

BC-14

All About Ronnie (Television Review: "The Song," SMASH S02 E04)

 

And so, the weekly Smash, and I am getting misty-eyed. And scared. SMASH is hurting in the ratings, and I am very very concerned that we may not see the rest of the season should they cancel it prematurely. As much as I criticize this show, I really honestly love the fact that there is a show in network television that deals with Broadway, and has Broadway songs. I don't think it's as bad as people say it is, and every week there is always a moment for me. And obviously, it's still appointment television for me. I have even started to not delete episodes on my DVR just in case I get wistful later on and want to re-watch the musical numbers.

Last night's episode was All About Ronnie (I do love that Chris Connor song)  The "Bombshell" storyline is sidetracked for Veronica Moore's one woman, one night only show, directed by Derek, of course, and musical directed by Tom. Pray, tell, why would Tom accept this project if he despises Derek? "I am doing this for Ronnie," he explains. Did anyoen else realize that they were close? No, I didn't think so. But there they are, setting "I've Got Love," that great Melba Moore number from "Purlie" and setting it Fosse style so it could be a sexy number for Veronica. I don't like this sexed-up arrangement, and wish Hudson would just sing it "straight." And while we are talking abotu Jen Hudson, as much as I do like her, I can't help but say that at times she does oversing. Can we at least for one time, have her sing songs as written, melodically? This song would have been the perfect opportunity. 

There's Deb Messing still struggling to find the tone of the "Bombshell" book with the dramaturg. There's a scene where Peter has his pretentious drama students critique the play, and blah blah yawn. over wine, Julia has a realization and blah blah we are supposed to care about the sexual chemistry between her and Peter. Yawn. And Eileen has to give a deposition regarding the "Bombshell" financing, and blah blah yawn yawn we get a big reveal at the end that Ellis (remember him? Of course you do) is behind all the shenanigans. Lazy writing, sure let's blame it all on Ellis if we can't think of any other way to wrap up story lines. 

But back to Ronnie. She needs to show that she has range and she has grown, against the wishes of her Mama Rose mom, stiffly played by Sheryl Lee Ralph in a stiff wig. Now ponder for a moment that SRR was the original Deena in the original production of Dreamgirls and Hudson of course is the most recent Effie. (I kind of wished they had gotten Jennifer Holliday instead. Wasted Opportunity!)  Anyway, I digress. Karen, now a saviour of all saviours, enlists Jimmy and Kyle to bring songs for Vernoica to sing. Tom pooh poohs them all - nice but not for Ronnie - so she calls both boys to write a song for Ronnie pronto , on the spot. Hey, they argue, Sondheim wrote "Send In The Clowns" in a day. If only they knew The Master hates that song. Jimmy gets to write one, but Derek refuses to even listen to it, because he has chosen Broadway standards like "If I Loved You " and "Ease On Down The Road." (Yes, yes, yes, please!)  Jimmy gets mad, so just like the rest of the entitled bunch of his generation, he decides to get high ("Some weed, some cook," he asks for earlier) and seriously, Jimmy is becoming the Ellis of this season: annoying without any redeeming value. It's just good that Jordan has charm to spare. Cut to: yes Jennifer has a realization, while singing Billy Joel's "Everybody Loves You Now,"  and goes back to the slutty repertoire, and ending with the ultra sexy (I roll my eyes) "I Can't Let Go" which, thankfully, sounds more Marc Shaiman than Jonathan Larsen. 

And so that's it. I like the episode, even though it was all abotu Jen Hudson, who I suspect will disappear after this episode. I kind of wonder what the point of her guest starring role in all this, but hey she sang well even though she had shifty eyes while acting. Now can we go back to "Bombshell"? 

Are The Stars Out Tonight (Music Review: The Stars Are Out Tonight, David Bowie)

David Bowie released a new single today, "The Stars Are Out Tonight." It's the second song he has released off his forthcoming album, "The Next Day," due out 12th of March. I like Bowie a lot, although I can't say I am as big a fan as some friends of mine, who know every breath of his discography. I have one of his Greatest Hits on my iPod, and whenever a song of his comes on,  I always seem to sit up and pay attention. This song is a rocking one - there's an immediate burst of guitars just in the opening.  A friend of mine posted the song and video on my Facebook wall this morning, and my first thought was - isn't it incredible that Bowie still sounds like Bowie after all these years, and I cannot, for example, say the same thing about Paul McCartney or Rod Stewart. This song can very well fit in any of his 70s iconic albums, and once you hear one note of it and you know it's unmistakeably his. It's very melodic, catchy, and very modern sounding. I bet it will still be relevant ten years from now. I cannot wait for the album. 

Here's the fantastic video, with the very great Tilda Swinton. 

 

A Shade Of Amber (Scent Review: Ambre Gris, Balmain)

When Ambre Gris first came out, it was a Europe exclusive, so the perfume community was craving it badly. Then all of a sudden, it was available at a discounted price and it became a mad rush for everyone to get it. Then it became discontinued, and then everyone else who didn't get at a discounted price wanted it more. I was one of those people who got it discounted (I can never resist a good bargain!) but for some reason or another, my bottle languished in my "forgotten" pile. I remember it being a solid ambre, a note that became a flavor of the month for me. I think it came to a point that I thought I already had too much ambre in my wardrobe, and maybe that was the reason for my neglect of Ambre Gris. The bottle just spoke to me the other day, and I wore it (I love the bottle, too, and the bottle is a solid crystal) The first thing I noticed is how sweet this was - not  a woodsy ambre, but more a floral one - it has pink pepper in it, and that's probab;y what sweetens the whole thing. I don't get woodsy as much anymore, but more floral. The immortelle is more pronounced (perhaps today's cold weather brings it out) and yes, now I do get the ambregris rounded by a bit of tuberose - not the indolic kind, but, again, a sweet interpretation. It's perfectly blended, if a bit, shall I say it, dated already? It smells like something that was big maybe ten years ago - I am thinking it's the pink pepper that's making me say this. I want to say it is unmemorable, but I don't know if I really feel that way because I am getting a whiff of it now, and it is appealing. Solid but unexciting perhaps is more apt.

A You're Adorable (Book Review: My A List Boyfriend, Kyle Laforge)

Sometimes you just want to read fairy tales. Kyle Laforge's "My A-List Boyfriend" is one. Kate works for a teen magazine and in a stroke of fate gets handed a last minute job interviewing Tom Andrews, a burgeoning A list hottie. There's chemistry, there's sparks, and before you know it, she finds herself dating this guy. Bad news or good news? Well, what do you  think? Haven't we all fantasized that we were with someone rich and famous? I dare you to say no, and I will say that you are lying. This book offers no surprises, but once in a while, it is always fun to go on a shallow ride.  A funny thing happened while I was reading this book: I found myself smiling, giggling like a little school girl. This is a cute love story, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. That's not the worst thing in the world, is it?

BC-13

The Book Doctor (Television Review: Smash, "The Dramaturg" S02 E03)

This episode is titled "The Dramaturg" and I actually had to look up the definition of the word, and here is the official definition according to Wikipideai. 

A dramaturge or dramaturg is a professional position within a theatre or opera company that deals mainly with research and development of plays or operas. Its modern-day function was originated by the innovations of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, an 18th-century German playwright, philosopher, and theorist about theatre.


Well, I think what Eileen really wanted for "Bombshell" was a book doctor. Bombshell's is apparently a hot mess, based on the Boston reviews, so she has hired Peter (played by Daniel Sunjata) to help out. Of course, Julia And Tom are taken aback, and Julia is offended, which is a natural reaction. Sunjata seems miscast. On paper, I am sure it was good but there was something off about him in the role. A little fey? Too cocky, or not cocky enough? (Perhaps I am remembering his scene in 'Take Me Out" and it's ruined me for life?)  In any case, his banter with Julia seems forced, though we can all agree that we all know where that is going. (Of course, just to hammer it, they are talking about the book not having enough sex appeal in it)

The Hit List sounds like a horrible musical - one of those Rent rip-offs (with a touch of 'Next to Normal' thrown in ) that proliferated off Broadway in the late 90s (Brooklyn, The Musical, anyone?)  and even the songs sound sophomoric. I don't really see why Karen is so attracted to it, and why is she championing it so much, and shouldn't she be focusing on her Marilyn role anyway? Her scene as Marilyn with JFK (played by both Matt Bogart - in rehearsals - and Julian Ovenden - in the run through) was atrocious, and if I were in the creative team, i would have fired her on the spot based on her performance there. That scene needed sex appeal, and she was a wet noodle. The duet version of that song, though, sounds great on the cast recording.

And speaking of bad acting, it really does seem that Jennifer Hudson is one. Her line readings are horrid, and I read in a gossip site that she was being spoonfed all her lines. This is an Oscar winner? But, her brief singing of "Home" was fantastic, I must say, and I love that she was singing some of the alternate lyrics, away from the pop version of it. And also good: Megan Hilty's slowed down melancholy version of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" set to Karen rehearsing Marilyn scenes. Of course, both these songs are not available as singles. 

Over all, not a bad episode, but not great either, as it seems to just set up plot points. I hope the show pumps up its wow factor, as the overnight ratings show even more audience erosion. I am still rooting for this show.

Cover And Warble (Music Review: Telly Leung, I'll Cover You)

Telly Leung is probably best known for his stint in "Glee" as one of The Warblers, but I know him more from the Brodway productions of "Rent," (he was in the last Broadway company," as well as the "Godspell" revival. I also saw him in San Diego in the World Premiere Production of "Allegiance."  Leung possesses a thin tenor voices, and it sometimes can be tinny. But that is no problem, for he uses his voice in the most appealing way, as evidenced by this album. I'll mean this in the most flattering way: he sings like a girl singer. I am not saying he sounds feminine, but his inflections, his phrasing - there is a softness, intimacy in them that I normally get from female singers. The album also has a great, eclectic selection. Each song is a winner, and you can tell that he loves each and every word of everything he sings here, and it would beinfectious if I didn't already love them. My favorites include a jazzy arrangement of "I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life," and a bouyant "Knocks Me Off My Feet." (I keep on playign the latter over and over) There is no shortness in diva songs: he does a string acoustic "Firework," and a rousing "Papa Don't Preach." He even throws in unknown ditties like The Indigo Girls' "Gallileo" and Holly Cole's "Cry If You Want To." But the tops of all tops for me is midnight live version of "I Believe In You And Me," which has all the shadings of Whitney's version. (I am reminded of the bonus track in the Godspell revival cast recording where he does a soulful 'Learn Your Lessons Well') Leung is a great interpreter of song, I can't wait for more.

Fakin' Feelings (Book Review: Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance, Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin)

Yes, I wanted to read something light, something fun, something i could just breeze through so I started reading "Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance," by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halprin.  Jenna and Jonah star in a family network sitcom, but they also have to pretend that they are dating off-screen to give their show and their characters a little more oomph. So I figured, the book would have those zany situations, like how are they going to hide their real feelings to protect their fauxmance? But the book is actually a little more than that. Around the beginning of the novel, their show gets cancelled and they have to deal not only with their fauxmance, but with their future as actors. And wait, is the fauxmance really faux? Do they really have feelings for each other? To further hammer the plot in our heads (as if we couldn't figure it for ourselves) the authors(s) device a plot intervention: to cast the actors in a Shakespeare festival, playing the will-they-or-won't-they characters Beatrice and Benedick from "Much Ado About Nothing." It all kind of works, and I like the fact that the book doesn't dumb down the audience. Sure, the whole thing is ultimately predictable, but the settings are not as. I liked it, and provided a much needed distraction. 

BC-12