Woody Allen's Last Big Scoop

I had a chance to Woody Allen's Scoop on DVD this weekend, starring Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman and Woody Allen himself. Despite the bad reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, Village Voice and the like, I thought it was thoroughly enjoyable. I would highly recommend seeing it. It is a light-hearted romantic comedy/thriller.

Like Allen's previous hit Match Point, Scoop is taking place in London but like most of his movies, it carries a strong element of New York within. Scarlett Johansson is a curious, nerdy yet spacey aspiring journalist from Brooklyn, visiting her family friends' daughter in London. In a magic show, she gets on stage and as Woody Allen, the magician, makes her invisible, the ghost of a famous journalist appears to her saying that a famous London businessman is the long sought after Tarot Serial Killer. Determined to make a story out of this juicy scoop, she decides to meet the businessman (Hugh Jackman) and drags the meek geeky Woody Allen with her. One look at Scarlett and Hugh Jackman falls on her lap but will she be able to pull the trigger and write the most scandalous story of the year or fall in love with Hugh Jackman's trimmed Wolverine looks?

Scoop may not be Woody Allen's (or anybody else's for that matter) most original scenario. In fact it may even be too influenced by Jack the Ripper as well as Allen's previous movies and embellished by obvious cliches... However the pace of the movie is tremendously well done. It keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire time. Moreover, Allen's astute sense of humor shines throughout the entire movie both through the characters and the way the plot unfolds. It has the exaggeration and lightheartedness of a Shakespearean play. Compared to Allen's previous movies, Scoop may not be as woven with literary references (if at all) or observant satire however, compared to the types of light comedies out there, Allen's sense of humor and eye for cinematography is a head above the rest.

The only thing I would complain about is Scarlett Johansson playing the same role again: The seductive and naive blond bombshell. Ever since she developed boobs (after Ghost World) she just started playing this character over and over again... A bit of variety please..

A tribute to Ingmar Bergman

Today, one of the greatest directors of all times, Ingmar Bergman passed away. Today is the day to watch Persona, Wild Strawberries or his jubile movie Saraband, one more time and cherish his amazing talent.

His scripts are so powerful. His movies are so dense with emotion. His innocent meloncholy in his movies makes you see life in a different light. His characters, whether they are the lead role or appear for 5 seconds, demand a presence and develop a persona. And the cinematography in his movies are as minimal and impactful as a haiku.

New York Times today describes him as a "poet with a camera." Such a sad sad loss...

Image credit: Bonniers Hylen/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Cava makes 1+1=3

I was talking to a coworker about sparkling wines that inspired me to share the wisdom I have about a fantastic sparkling wine. I always thought a good brut sparkling wine had to be really really expensive until I tried Aurelo Cabestrero's 1+1=3 from Cava which is a $9-12/bottle delight! The experience really is more than sum of its parts as the wine's name suggests. It is citrus-y and minerally and has an extremely pleasant finish.

After discovering this budget wine, I looked into budget sparkling wines and found out that moderately priced sparkling wines come from Italy as Prosecco or Spain as Cava. The difference is that Cava is made using the traditional method from Champagne region in France, which is a more elaborate and expensive way of making sparkling wine and thus results in a more complex wine. Processo has a more fruit forward style.

Regardless of your taste preferences, you do not need to pay tons of money for a good sparkling wine. I think Cava especially 1+1=3 is extremely enticing in these hot summer days...

What is happening to Lindsay Lohan?

I really do not care to write about whether Lindsay is innocent or guilty of the DUI charges, how long she should be sentenced or whether she should be sentenced. Neither do I want to talk about her bags, her outfits or boyfriends... For those matters, you can refer to Perez who does a comprehensive coverage of her mishaps.

I want to talk about how she went from being one of the most talented Hollywood actresses to being the ultimate bad movie making machine. She might very well be worse than Kevin Costner or maybe at par (As some of you may know, I equate bad movies with Kevin Costner. If he is in a movie, it is bound to suck). Is Lindsay becoming the next Kevin Costner?

Not that the movies she's been in are the types of movies I love but I have to give her credit that until recently, she has been an amazing actress and played in very good movies within the pop/hollywood/teen genre. Freaky Friday, Mean Girls and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen are very distinguished within their genre, partially thanks to her outstanding talent in acting.

Lately however, the critics have been bombing her with mean reviews. I thought Georgia Rule was some unfortunate failure until I read the reviews for I know who killed me. I mean, seeing the trailer was already a good enough indication that the movie was not going to be good but I did not predict that the movie would suck this bad. The sad thing is that in most of these reviews, Lindsay's acting is not disparaged. It is the movie that is comically awful.

However, I have very little pity for talented actors who cannot read scripts. Part of the actor's talent should be evaluating the script of a movie and weighing financial vs. reputational gain from participating in the movie. I understand the obligation of being prolific but there is a tipping point. If you are repeatedly in sucky movies, audiences will realize the pattern and start not going to your movies. Then you will not get good movie offers and be doomed to produce sucky movies or nothing. I hope Lindsay does not become the next Kevin Costner because I think her acting is much better than that...

St. Vincent says Marry Me

And I suggest all of you to say, I do, to that proposal. Don't be afraid of commitment. This album is absolutely worth it. Annie Clark's brand spankin' new band, St. Vincent is the band I have been waiting for, it feels like.I love female vocals in alternative music. But Annie Clark, not only delivers that dreamy woman lead in her songs but the multi instrumental joy that she contributed to Sufjan Stevens and Polyphonic Spree. Finally stepping into the limelight, she is just marvellous, as if she was born to be the next Tori Amos. I am having a hard time categorizing her music as pop, jazz or alt country or any other genre. She is so unique and just heart felt, makes you feel like you do when you are sitting with a cup of tea by the radiator cuddling in a blanket, watching snow come down.

Do not compare her to Feist who seemingly might have a similar path. Playing with a multi instrumental band such as Broken Social Scene, when Feist went solo, she opted for the simplicity of melody and power of words. Annie Clark on the other hand, creates a rich melody and layers that with angelic lyrics that can almost would overwhelm you at first because of its power and depth.

She is so comfortable in her lyrics and style that it is almost hard to believe that this is her debut album. Marry her and live happily ever after...

The Simpsons invade...

Simpsons the movie is hitting the theaters today and I have been counting down the days. And hopefully this weekend or sometime very soon I will go see it. It looks awesome.

Well, the thing I want to talk about is more the leading up to the week of the movie's release. I mean, Fox really made an effort to have every corporate tie in that the marketing department could think of. I thought Transformers marketing was bad!

First I saw Homer at Kwik Mart, formerly known as Seven Eleven. Then at Springfield Airline, formerly known as Jet Blue. And then I read about Ben & Jerry's new beer and honut ice cream called Duff & D'oh-Nuts. Just when I thought I felt maximally abused by Homer humor, the most unbelievable happened. Bazaar Magazine had a mock photo shoot with Marge and Homer. What the hell? I mean, I understand that they are trying to promote the movie but could you please stay within your target audience? Or do you really think that practically everyone is your target audience?

Well, maybe everyone does love the Simpsons but cool off the advertising will ya? I mean I have been watching the Simpsons since I was ten. I have determined over the past 20 years that I am into them and been waiting for this movie since South Park the movie came out... Now that Fox is trying soooo hard to push it down our throat, I can't help but speculate whether Simpsons have gone too Hollywood. Maybe this is why Matt Groening was hesitant to make this a movie, knew that the line between essential promotion and pimping out Homer is blurry...

Village Voice's commentary about the movie is encouraging. It is a well done Simpsons episode without pushing it too far. If only they had done the same thing with the marketing... I think we have entered a new era of Movie promotions. Corporate tie ins are becoming more and more acceptable. I would say watch out. If you do it too much, the audience will tune out the ads, like we do on TV.

Of Montreal is coming to your town

How awesome is Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna album? Are you sickly obsessed or what? Yes yes, I absolutely am. The album should be the soundtrack of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim time. It is so yellow, green and red with a streak of black. It is an energizer bunny on crack. It belongs to no genre but I would like to call it "manic at the disco."

I think this album is interesting in that the first time you listen to it, it is far more digestible than the previous Of Montreal albums, which may make you think that it is more mainstream. Yet it is not. It is just as absurd and experimental yet a lot more personal and personable. The album is flourished with instrumental madness and Kevin Barnes sounds like your gossiping whimsical friend. (oh not to mention some of the depressingly ballad-like songs on this album that makes you think, Kevin, who hurt you so bad???)

And aren't we dying to see them live? Ohhh yess yess, here comes the good news!!!! They are kicking off their world tour in the fall and are probably coming to a concert venue near you.

More info about the tour for the detail oriented ones: (Yes they are they are coming to Boston they areeeee!!!!!!!! Wheeeee, October 12th it is! At the Roxy that is!)

Voting Time

I am a very apolitical person and rarely think about politics. I read the news and have ideas but not necessarily solid opinions. So reading the review of Bryan Kaplan's "The Myth of the National Voter" on the New Yorker made me really think about politics for about 15 minutes. This book, I think is written for me and apparently the majority of America, who does not know who their state senators are, government's policies etc.

Bryan Kaplan is an economist who teaches at George Mason University who thinks that increased voter participation is not necessarily a good thing unlike we all were taught to believe. My vote makes a difference, I think? I mean my one vote, in reality, among millions of votes will virtually have no effect but if I don't vote, I am foregoing my right of freedom. So what does my vote mean in the big picture?

Well, as Kaplan bluntly puts it, most voters are not just ignorant or apolitical. They have their opinions but they are mostly wrong. Then they endorse bad policies which makes them worse off because democracy allows them to do what they want. Hmmm, harsh!

Here is where the voters deviate from the rational mind of an economist (this is not biased at all, considering he is an economist hehe) As the New Yorker quotes: "The typical noneconomist does not understand or appreciate the way markets work (and thus favors regulation and is suspicious of the profit motive), dislikes foreigners (and thus tends to be protectionist), equates prosperity with employment rather than with production (and thus overvalues the preservation of existing jobs), and usually thinks that economic conditions are getting worse (and thus favors government intervention in the economy)." So based on our votes, we demand a closed market regulated by the government. We do not think in economical terms but with our sentiment.

What I do not understand is, how he believes in the "Miracle of Aggregation" yet still think that the less we vote, the better off democracy will be? Miracle of Aggregation means that when each individual has partial information, somehow when public gathers all the partial data, we get close to perfect information. So, to me that means, all the partial information the public has will aggregate to choose the right party and individuals, no? Well apparently there is also a thing called "Tragedy of Commons" which means that to benefit from a common good, everyone will act selfishly and make everyone worse off (e.g. global warming, we all know it but increase our carbon footprint anyways). He claims that miracle of aggregation happens in regulated environments such as a stock market yet democracy is more like a commons, i.e. not regulated where everyone will act according to their self interest. I need to hear more about his rationale to call democracy a commons because as is, I think voting could be a miracle or a tragedy.

Well, Kaplan is certainly attacking the average voter and this definitely got my interest. I think he is saying that we should leave everything to the economists. I know an economist who would probably second that hehe. I think this will be the first political book that I will ever buy (I mean modern political book, leaving aside Aristotle and Plato). Sounds really provocative!

Miu Miu Dreaming

Fall shopping is coming near. What are some of my must buys these days? Of course the wide leg jeans, some cute silky blouses and a pair of killer black boots (dare to dream about luscious Louboutins!!!)

But somewhere up there on my list is a beautiful black bag with just the right amount of sparkly hardware to pop in the dready fall/winter days. I love the Jimmy Mahala Hobo, the quilted Marc Jacobs classics and of course the Muse by YSL.

But there is one new addition to the black obsession family now. The Miu Miu Matelasse tote. Ohhh what a beauty... And at $1590, may I say, it will not be mine this fall/winter... Oh hello gorgeous!

Addicted to reality...

Reality TV took a big spin since Big Brother circa 2000. Before Big Brother, the innocent documentaries, home videos and game shows were the sincere form of unscripted reality. They were a nice break from the Hollywood life. Since Big Brother though, the entire world started tuning in on cameras in people's homes, watching people tangled in emotions, the more embarrassing the better. Advent of reality TV makes it legitimate to laugh at people. Unstaged or pretending to be unstaged, reality TV is one of the best inventions of the TV masterminds.

And ever since I bought a big ass TV, I am completely addicted to all kinds of shows that don't necessarily have me as their target audience. Oh the more junk the better. I don't know why the addiction. Is it the appeal of the unknown world of Heiresses of the Simple Life, the cat fights in Charm School or the teenage drama queens of The Hills? Or is it their characters' vulnerability that makes our life just feel better? Why are we drawn to people humiliating themselves in so many ways when it is on TV? I mean who does not know Chicken of the Sea joke? Is it tuna or chicken?

Currently, my favorite junk reality addictions are The Simple Life and Rock of Love (oh this is the new Charm School and maybe even better). Scott Baio "is 45 and really wanting to get married" drama also seems pretty promising. Summer season of reality TV has been a little slow. No need for despair nevertheless! The new season is kicking off pretty soon and I am sure channel executives will feed us even juicier dramas that will make my years of reality tv exposure look blend. Oh good old days when we thought Jerry Springer was bad. Oh goody! Celebrity Fit Club or Surreal Life would kick Jerry's ass any day... Sad? Hardly... It is my remote and my choice.

iphone, youphone, we all scream for iphoneee

iPhone got released a week or two ago after a long long hype that started a year before its release. I do not know of another product that had this much positive buzz around it without spending buckets of money on advertising.
How does Apple do this? I really do not understand.
As far as I know, there are only two brands out there (Google and Apple) where customers have such sympathy for the brand that if there was a defect in the product, the user would think of blaming the factory instead of Apple.

So I have to say at 500 (or 600, depending on the memory size) a pop, I was skeptical about how much of the product was hype and how much was actual value.
Well, let me say this: Ever since I went to that apple store to just mess around with it, I do not like my Blackberry any more. So yes, it is all that. It combines phone, ipod, camera and all other fringe Blackberry benefits in a beautiful and compact package. It is easy to use and it is just pretty (which appeals to a lot of girls who want email but not a blackberry)

So delivering on the point and exceeding expectations is obviously key in becoming america's darling brand. But there is something about Apple that is just delicious. Just a few years ago, it was a brand in the gutter. And we all know that once you are in the gutter, you go down further.

So Steve jobs obviously did the unexpected. He took a brand that had positive elements that people appeciated and carried it to mainsteam. He made a non black computer that was intuitive to use, a music player that could carry all your music that was small, one clean bug free version of a product that you did not regret buying (ever)... And did it in a humble way, not falling into the traps of corporate culture.

And I think America picks up on either the coolness or the reliability or both. And once you have established your brand as cool and reliable, the buzz just follows. You need to keep delivering to the point but the word of mouth effect will suffice to make your brand the hottest item in the market.

It is hard to not be tempted to bombard people with your brand but a little bit of mystery goes a long way.


Update Oh oh, and I was just at the cingular store, doing my regular iphone stalking and one of the salespeople said that the new 3G iphone is rumored to have a November release date. I am holding off until then... Just a hint :)

Aquitaine: For the love of French Food

This weekend, I went to the super romantic Aquitaine for dinner. The ultra chic windows that allow you to people gaze, the elegantly designed wine bar and perfectly dimmed light capture you right from your first hello. I happened to be sitting at the most crippling, "blocking the way" table however I still did not feel uncomfortable. The waiter was extremely polite and did not have a french attitude. (I hate the french attitude by non french people at french restaurants... are they trained to treat you like that?) The wine menu is so comprehensive that it would blow you away. The food was very good, the decor and the service. However, for some reason, I did not feel as satisfied as going to Balthazar. Similar prices, atmosphere and meal but just not quite the same.

I think Aquitaine has done a very good job but tried to stay on the safe side despite its claim to be contemporary and experimental. So you can't find anything wrong with the food. It reminds you of a familiar french meal you had at a fabulous restaurant. However it is just a reminder... It is not the actual mind blowing experience that you went ooohhhh, ahhhh over.

Having said that, I think Aquitaine is a must go if you live in Boston. I think everything tastes exactly like it should. It just misses that special twist that would make it memorable toujour. I can still taste Balthazar french onion soup when I close my eyes (yes, I am obsessed with food to the point that I sometimes dream about it). With Aquitaine, I do not have that feeling.

I do not want to sound like I left unsatisfied. I definitely left with a big smile on my face and rosy cheeks from the great wine. I just wish the chef pushed the boundries a little, play with a couple of unfamiliar spices, add a twist of moroccan... Make it a little contemporary. Overall, it is a great french classic.

Croc Monsieur

So I don't know if this is a Boston thing but I have been seeing a mind numbing number of crox (crocs) lately. It is hard to miss them because they come in florescent colors. Even the most subdued people are not afraid to flaunt their bright orange crocs. Crox are replacing Birkenstocks and flip flops combined. It is CRAZYYYYY. For those of you who walk on the street with your eyes closed, crocs are plastic clogs that look like this

So I went to the Croc's website to better understand the mania because Croc is making a sizeable impact on the Boston community.
I would like to note that the website is extremely Web 2.0 forward with super Flex capabilities and such.

But my actual quest was to find out WHY do so many people wear those hideous things??? I believe a lot of people felt the need to be pursuaded so they actually posted reasons for wearing these things.

So here they are and why I still will love my Manolos more

1. Really soft, super comfortable and molds to your feet: Well comfortable is a subjective term. For me, super comfortable means not having to wear bandaids with my shoes. And some of my shoes, after wearing bandaids for wks do mold to my feet and stop giving me blisters.
2. Barely there, weighing only 6 oz: I do not think I ever had the problem of my summer shoes weighing a ton. My flip flops probably don't even weight 3 oz.
3. Vented so air passes through, keeping feet cool: Well instead of opening holes why not wear sandals? They are meant to keep your feet breezy.
4. Non marking slip resistant soles: I don't really quite care about the non marking feature but slip resistant actually sounds great. And when was marking soles ever a concern?
5. Bacteria and odor resistant: Ewww, I am not even going to comment on this. If you have bacteria and odor in your shoes, throw them out and buy new ones, seriously!
6. Ultra hip italian styling: Did anyone say Prada? Oh Croc, my bad!
7. Port holes allow sand and water pass through: When will I be concerned that my shoes do not have port holes to pass sand through? While gardening? Oh wait, I live in the middle of the city. I do not have a garden.
8. Can be sterilized in water and bleach: Uhm going back to my point 5. Time to buy new shoes people. New shoes...
9. Easy maintenance, just wipe clean: Yup, that solves your shoe maintenance issues. I mean, how many hours a day do you spend maintaining your shoes? Wow what a time saver!
10. Orthotic molded foot bed: Ok, I will give you this one... I do know that I sacrifice arch & heel support to look 4 inches taller... I am sure I will pay for it in 20 yrs.

Ok, I have to give it to them that these things are amazingly convenient with a solid heath benefit. I understand how they can easily replace smelly Birkenstocks. But I think they are a little too out there for me to let go of fashion or flip flops. I am still not convinced why I should walk around looking like a psychedelic Danish Milkmaid. Long live Choos!