Best Movies of 2009

Best Big Budget Movies
1. Inglorious Basterds (flick of the year, in my opinion)
2. District 9
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Avatar
5. Star Trek (my guilty pleasure of the year)

Best Movies Not Marketed for Teenagers (ie. not necessarily made in Hollywood)
1. Sugar
2. The Class (not sure how I missed blogging about this stunner of a film)
3. Two Lovers
4. An Education
5. The Cove

Best Kids Movie That Might Not Have Been for Kids Movie But Who Cares Really It Was That Good Movie
Where the Wild Things Are

Best Performance I Haven't Seen Yet
Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart"

Best Love Story That Will Be Mostly Overlooked
The Young Victoria

What I can and can't do

I can't see out my bedroom window because it's frosted over.
I can't breath through my nose because it's stuffed up.
I can provide a little picture. That's about all I can do, and try and read my book ("The Elegance of the Hedgehog") before I fall asleep. Damned cold!

Lily Allen's "The Fear"

I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and fuck loads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them

And I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
Cause everyone knows that’s how you get famous
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

[Chorus]
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cause I’m being taken over by the fear

Life’s about film stars and less about mothers
It’s all about fast cars and cussing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
and that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic

And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And its not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah we're on to a winner

[Chorus]

Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything's cool as long as I’m gettin thinner

[Chorus]

Andre Agassi's "Open" - A Book Recommendation

5 reasons to read this book:



1. Because Andre has angst (he has always hated tennis, since the very beginning - see point 4.) and angst is interesting; and he doesn't skimp on the fast food binging, drug doing, getting love wronging details;

2. Because at heart this is a love story. And Andre, for wife and the school he set up for underprivileged kids, has a hell of a big heart;

3. Because like in any great book (fiction or non) you care about the characters. And really, who gives a crap about a meat-head musclebound trainer named Gil? Me. I fell in love with Andre Agassi's physical trainer the way I fell in love with Lee in "East of Eden" and I bloody loved Lee in "East of Eden." Or in a way, like how you fell in love with Rocky Balboa's couch, Mickey. Hint: it has to do with loyalty;

4. Because Andre's father is your worst nightmare of the athlete parent bastard breed and 'father was a bastard' stories are interesting, especially when Daddy was this callous, asshole, mean, selfish, wrong, complicated. 'Father was a bastard' stories are even better when son of said bastard becomes a world champion tennis player and not a bastard himself; and

5. Because the book is aptly titled. Andre gives every Brooke Shields-doubting-the-marriage (even while making the proposal) details. His gives of all the details, tells the stories you'd want to hear. Anecdotes like this one:

Agassi and his coach, Brad Gilbert, are having dinner at a favourite Italian restaurant after a match. By chance, Pete Sampras and his entourage are also at the restaurant, on the other side. As Pete leaves he comes by to say hi to Andre and Brad. After he goes, Brad tells Andre he'll bet him anything Pete didn't leave more than 5 bucks to the valet parking guy. Andre isn't as keen on finding out but Brad pushes and asks the teenager valet how much Pete gave him. The kid looks down, wants to do the right thing, doesn't want to tell. Brad pushes.

One dollar, the kid says. Pete Sampras gave the kid a dollar.

Commenting on this, Andre says, there is a world of difference between him and Pete.

My Metaphoric Fireplace

To those I know in need

I wish I could offer more than a prayer to heal your desperate wounds
I wish I could do more with my hands than type this simple tune

It's cold in December and the darkness has seeped in
But tonight I light my metaphoric fireplace to invite you all in

To all the sad souls I know
And this year I know more than a few
To the unfortunate on whom tragedy has befallen of late
Come sit by my fire I've made hot cocoa for two

In poetry not prose because perhaps you don't feel like talking
What is there to say
Sometimes you just need a shoulder
Another to tell you it'll all be ok

Like when your parents rubbed your toweled arms hard after a swim
Who knows if it actually helped
Was it not though worth a try
Still it's natural to question and ask aloud God Why

These symbols, these words, what power can they hold
Not nearly enough in all honesty
The dark they cannot reverse

But if they come from the heart
As these sentimental lines of verse aim to do
I hope tonight they find you
And hint at hope anew

Movie Recommendation (but not a plot point given):

This is box office friendly stuff with brain. Funny stuff with heart. Hearty stuff with fun. And there's a naked bum in it (Sorry to disappoint but it ain't George's. His hairy butt just isn't a selling point for me.)

Even Gladwell Needs 10,000 Hours

"I don't sit down and it flows out. The first eight drafts are terrible ... It's never come easy."
-Malcolm Gladwell (in conversation with Charlie Rose)