GLEE REVIEW: Que Suave!

Ricky Martin definitely brought some flavor and sexiness to the show, for as little as he was seen…

BUT FIRST!

I forgot to post a blog about last week’s Michael Jackson episode. So in a nutshell, let me just say that I was very underwhelmed. It didn’t even hold a candle to the genius Madonna episode.

The Good

AYE! AYE! AYE!

While there were some hits and misses when it came to the Latin songs tonight, there’s no denying just how much sexiness came with Sir Ricky Martin’s guest appearance. As brief as it may have been, you can’t argue with the fact that he is incredibly debonair and enticing. Can we just take a moment to admire the “La Isa Bonita” duet with Santana? Oh my gato!

So you’re a two-timing ho…

While this pairing seemed weird and awkward when it was first introduced last season, I can’t help but root for Sam and Mercedes! She’s got some serious soul-searching to do, but it feels like this pairing is meant to last compared to the one she has with that piece of dark chocolate.

Baby Baby Baby

Oh Sue, I knew we were bound for a crazy storyline sooner or later. From sleeping with the principal, to shooting cheerleaders out of a cannon, there’s no stopping her crazy ideas. But this one was a bit of a stretch. As much as there was a little bit of a touching moment when she praised Emma’s man for his good qualities, it still was a little far-fetched.

The Motley Crew

Can we just comment on how great of a group Kurt, Rachel, and Mercedes are?!!! The cute sleepover, the wanting to help out each other with their personal problems, it’s such a Precious Clarice Jones friendship between the three of them. And it’s about time that someone talk some sense into Rachel and Finn’s engagement.

Heeeeeey soul sista!

And finally, we have us some Nene Leakes. She’s such a great addition to this show. She brings the sass in a whole different way. ‘Nuff said honey boo boo child!

The Bad

Mexican Matador?

Will just seemed really out of it once again, trying too hard to get with the in crowd. And it was especially frustrating mixing a Matador dance with a Mexican inspired Elvis dance (FYI, matadors are Spanish, and Spain and Mexico are two totally different things). We eventually got somewhere with Santana’s pep talk, but it took a while to get there.

What to Look Forward To

Another V-Day to look forward to with Glee giving us the goods when it comes to romantic music!

And hip hip hooray for FINALLY getting to meet Rachel’s gay dads!

Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D.) Music Top 20 Countdown: #20-11

I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I don’t have the best luck with Valentine’s Day. I am the kind of person that is hopeful for finding love one day, but until then, enjoy my playlist for celebrating S.A.D. (Singles Awareness Day). From bitter breakups, to heartbreak, to living the single life, here are some of my personal favorites!

20.) “Tears On My Pillow”

Little Anthony and the Imperials

I have to take it back old school for this first entry on the countdown. It’s a doo-wop classic about literally crying over a broken heart. Classic…

19.) “F*** It (I Don’t Want You Back)”

Eamon

This one is definitely on the bitter side of a break up. It’s funny that Eamon is nowhere to be found now, but there’s no forgetting just how blunt this song is. She must have been a real big h*!

18.) “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart”

Alicia Keys

It was a toss-up between this and “Karma”. But between the two, this one is more poetic and beautiful. With that being said, enjoy the beautiful broken heart of Ms. Keys.

17.) “So What”

P!nk

One of the anthem from a then single gal. She lost her husband, and she just didn’t care! She’s going to get on with her life (even though we all know she ended up getting back together with him and having a baby).

16.) “You Oughta Know”

Alanis Morissette

A dirty bitter diva can be heard throughout. Obviously she had deep affection for Uncle Joey from Full House.

15.) “My Immortal”

Evanescence

From the depressing heartbreak collection, this song captures the longing for a day when they were still together and in love.

14.) “So Sick”

Ne-Yo

Another collection from the bitter side. Ne-Yo certainly is over the lovey dovey stuff, and we’re singing right along with him.

13.) “Un-break My Heart”

Toni Braxton

The best songs always come from the bitter heartbreaks, especially when your man was the one and only Tyson Beckford. How could you not be broken hearted about that?!!!

12.) “Silly”

Deniece Williams

The strong will survive, and so is the case with Ms. Williams and her classic tale of not letting her ex get the best of her. He was a fool, and the whole thing is just way too silly.

11.) “If You’re Not The One”

Daniel Bedingfield

There is still hope, but Mr. Bedingfield is doing his best to understand why this girl isn’t the right one for him.

Valentine's Day Movie Top 20 Countdown: #20-11

Love is in the air, especially when it comes to the big screen. Here is a lovely countdown of MY favorite romantic comedies. From the predictable to the unbelievable, enjoy!

20.) Head Over Heels (2001)

The movie that people remember, but really don’t want to. I have to admit that it is my ultimate guilty pleasure. It was when Freddie Prinze Jr. was back in his prime, so you know it was a good film, right? It’s cheesy fun with all of the typical romantic comedies gems you’d expect to see.

19.) It’s Complicated (2009)

A romantic comedy for the older crowd, but it was hilarious and adorable even for the younger kiddos. Meryl Streep works well with this kind of romantic comedy (not like when she starred in the film version of Mamma Mia). And let’s not forget about the adorable Steve Martin, the hilarious Alec Baldwin, and the hilarious John Krasinski.

18.) Serendipity (2001)

Another forgotten gem that a lot of people may not remember, this film was all about fate. And while the fate talk got a little too repetitive at times, it still was a very memorable movie. It’s the kind you root for the entire time.

17.) Never Been Kissed (1999)

One of the regulars when it comes to romantic comedies, Drew Barrymore felt in her prime with this film. We’ve got a pretty interesting concept, some young up and coming actors (Michael Vartan, James Franco, and Jessica Alba), and let us not forget about just how cute and adorable the film is overall.

16.) The Wedding Planner (2001)

I have to show some love to my homegirl Jennifer Lopez. In this cute rom-com, it’s fate once again that takes center stage. Who knew that a dumpster could be so scary and dangerous? Who has the balls to compete with Ms. Lopez? And can we please talk about the adorable Alex Karev (Justin Chambers)from Grey’s Anatomy?

15.) 50 First Dates (2004)

The second Drew Barrymore selection on the countdown, and the first pairing of Barrymore and Adam Sandler, it’s an adorable concept from start to finish. From the scenic setting of Hawaii, to the classic Sandler gags and friends popping up, this is quite a memorable rom-com.

14.) Miss Congeniality (2000)

One of the queens of rom-coms, Sandra Bullock shines in this Dirty Harriet inspired film. It’s tough to consider this a romantic comedy, but there’s no denying not only how funny it is, but also with how cute the chemistry between Bullock and Benjamin Bratt is.

13.) How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey make one fine looking couple. Hudson shines in this hilarious film. From the cute, to the insane, to the just plain creepy, she did her thang!

12.) Sex and the City (2008)

Another guilty pleasure of mine, but this one I’m certainly not afraid to admit that I absolutely love this movie. You don’t even have to be an avid Sex and the City television viewer to get what’s going on, and to really love it from beginning to end. It’s adorable, it’s sexy, it’s hilarious, and it’s just wonderful.

11.) 13 Going on 30 (2004)

I love seeing people out of their element. In the case with this movie, it was seeing Ms. Alias taking a break from kicking ass to swoon and moon over the gorgeous Mark Ruffalo. We’ve seen this premise before (Big, Freaky Friday, 17 Again) but this was just so darn adorable. 

What the Super Bowl taught me last night...

That Kelly Clarkson can remember how to correctly sing the National Anthem, and do it without vocal rifts and rock-screams to go with it

(I’m talking to the two ladies over there, yes you Christina Aguilera and Steven Tyler).

That everyone needs to get on the SMASH bandwagon if you’re not already on it!

That John Stamos hasn’t lost touch of his Greek heritage.

From playing evil cousin Stavros on Full House to promoting Greek yogurt, Uncle Jesse still has it going on!

That dogs rule the world.

That no matter what, there will always be something for people to complain about when it comes to the halftime show.

That Clint Eastwood has given me hope.

That I seem to be the only one in my family who thinks the actual football game is my commercial break to go to the bathroom or grab some more food before the ACTUAL commercials come back on for me to enjoy and watch.

That babies are pretty freakin’ adorable.

That if I want to survive the end of the world, I need to get a Chevy truck.

That David Beckham is f***ing gorgeous. I mean seriously, for real! Gay or straight, there is no denying the sexiness that is packed into one man!

That I really hope Beckham comes in the package with the underwear if I buy them at H&M right now.

That for a 50-something, Madonna can still lip-synch her little heart out.

That once the halftime show is over, it’s time for me to go watch something else.

Second Chance Saturday: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

 Mariah Carey has certainly changed over the years. From her early days of big hair and power ballads, to the R&B princess, to the stiletto-wearing sex-kitten, to Glitter breakdown, to comeback, to diva, every album offers a little something different. Her last album (excluding Merry Christmas II) failed to produce hit singles like it should have, but that’s why I created Second Chance Saturday, so other people who may not know this album even existed can now give it the attention it deserves!

After her back-to-back comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi and E=MC², she came back swinging with the hater-calling-out “Obsessed”. She’s always had some weird tiff with Eminem. Whether they’ve actually gotten together romantically in the past or not, it certainly makes for some interesting music battles. This time around, Mariah Carey went so far as to dress up like him in the music video. I mean, I don’t remember Eminem ever having a goatee, but whatever helped! The song was catchy, auto-tuned, and memorable.

The next single (which I admit is actually the only forgettable song on the album) was her cover of “I Want To Know What Love Is”. That’s all…

But then we finally get somewhere with her third single “H.A.T.E.U.”. From the signature Tricky Stewart sound, to the slow rhythm, and the whisper vocals, everything was so sweet and beautiful. It’s a shame that it didn’t get the success it deserved.

And after the first three singles failed to make it big, they started plans for a re-release with guests on every song. The first single was “Up Out My Face” with the emerging star that was Nicki Minaj! It was cute, upbeat, and lots of fun, but once again it failed to make a lasting impression.

So they went ahead with another single in “Angels Cry” featuring Ne-Yo. It was classic-styled Mariah Carey song, in the same field as “We Belong Together” and “I Stay in Love”. But sadly, it didn’t have the same power. Beautiful, poignant, and rich!

With the singles aside, the album from start to finish is impeccable (well, minus the last song which is “I Want To Know What Love Is”). Everything flows together so wonderfully and is literally music to my ears!

In a nutshell: we have the haunting “Betcha Gon’ Know (The Prologue)”, the sweet and tasty “Candy Bling”, the ruff-rider gem “Ribbon”, the lovely memories in “Inseparable”, the strong-willed independence in “Standing O”, the drunk diva fierceness in “It’s a Wrap”, the bumping rider “More Than Just Friends”, the slow grind seduction in “The Impossible”, the part 2 seduction with “The Impossible (The Reprise)”, the heavenly “Angel (The Prelude)”, and the bittersweet closer “Languishing (The Prelude)”.

After a two-album winning streak, this one failed to live up to its predecessors. But it was impeccable and beautiful in every way possible, which is why it is so heartbreaking that it wasn’t a huge success like it should be. I remember when it was released that it came up in 3^rd place behind Paramore and Barbra Streisand. I love listening to new music and going back to it later and reminiscing about the time I first listened to it. I love when music can take you back to a time and place. This album for me is one of the standouts in my memory that takes me back to my first semester outside of high school. I was working, going to school, and getting to spend time with my family and friends. I was also listening to this album around the same time that I “came out” to my family and friends in November 2009. So needless to say, there is some great significance to this album. I’m still pulling for that remix album that was never released (guests were supposed to include Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, Ludacris, Jodeci, and Kanye West among others). Here’s to hoping for another big comeback for the one and only Mariah!

At a Loss for Words... (The Artist Review)

It’s about time that movie-goers from today’s generation are introduced to the silent film era. Unless you’re like me at my age (verging on 21 in a couple months) who appreciates all of Hollywood’s history, especially when it comes to the silent film era, most people wouldn’t even think twice about seeing a silent film these days. The performances in The Artist were beautiful and meaningful, even if there were no actual words spoken out loud. Whether the actors were unknown or well-known, they all did an amazing job with their nonverbal acting, a skill in the industry that has certainly gotten overlooked. As far as the quality of the film is concerned, the black and white coloring felt nostalgic and very welcoming. It wasn’t grainy or off-putting. The music was a central part of the film itself, and the sets looked fantastic.        

The Artist takes place in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s when the silent film era started to get overshadowed by the “talkies”. Silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) was at the top of his game, winning applause and hundreds of fans with his very successful films. As his career begins to fade, young starlet Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) makes a name for herself as an up and coming force to be reckoned with in the talking-film industry.

It’s very easy to follow along. It is not as if there are no words at all to understand, the audience just can’t hear them out loud. Just like in classic silent films, we see the characters talking, but often times there are captions that come up on the screen to follow. The fact that it is silent actually makes it easier to present the subject clearly. The audience seems to pay more attention seeing as how they don’t want to miss anything happening. I loved how nostalgic the film felt. It wasn’t a copy cat of silent films. It was a real silent film. It captured a moment in Hollywood’s history when everything seemed so innocent. Times were hard, but they seem so simple. Going to the movies always feels like an escape for movie-goers, and back in the 1920’s-30’s, it wasn’t any different.

I love the fact that the unknown actors from France (Dujardin & Bejo) were the stars of the film, while well-known American actors were in the supporting roles (John Goodman, Missi Pyle, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann-Miller, and Malcolm McDowell).

Another aspect of the film that I loved the most (being a fan of big dance numbers) was in fact the dancing. Again, it brings us back to a time of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the classic dance breaks in movies with an awesome tap number or other types of choreography of some sort. And to be perfectly honest, there was nothing about the film tht I didn’t like or found dull.

It’s really hard having to choose performers I liked the best when really everyone apart of this silent film did an amazing job! But to talk about my favorite moments? Let’s start first with the moment when Peppy & Valentin first meet. After the premiere of his film, he goe soutside to greet the fans and take some pictures with the crowd. A young vibrant fan (Peppy) is trying to get an autograph when her book drops. As she bends down to pick it up, the crowd pushes her into Valentin, causing everyone to gasp. That moment right there is extraordinary. In my head, I can hear the crowd’s gasps, even though all we really hear in the audience is music playing. For a second, it looks as though Valentin is an uptight actor in Hollywood who is upset that someone would dare have the audacity to bump into him. But a few seconds later he starts laughing, giving everyone else in the crowd their cue to continue laughing at the situation. Peppy starts using this as a moment to really get in the cameras viewpoint. There is a split moment on her face when the audience can see that she really just wants to have her picture taken with this famous actor. That to me is the one pivotal moment (and especially since it takes place in the beginning) that sets the tone for the rest of the movie for me.

From there on in, I look at every gesture and movement, seeing as how the audience can’t really pay attention to hearing the actors speak. From Dujardin’s hilarious and very expressive facial expressions, to the remarkable and starlit eyes in Bejo, to the seriousness and big teddy bear quality in Goodman’s stature, even to the hurt and betrayal in Miller’s eyes, everyone in this film was cast for a reason. They each have their own special ability to cpature emotion and portray it on screen through their eyes and their movement. And it’s not just when they are seen by themselves. It is in the moments when they interact with each other. It is true that at times, people can dislike a chracter but admire the performance. For me there wasn’t any one character I didn’t dislike. Missi Pyle’s character as one of Valentin’s co-stars comes close, but her annoying demeanor on screen works for me as an audience member. I love to loathe her for hating her costars for stealing away her moment to shine. You can tell that there had to be strong personal connections between the performers on and off screen in order to establish real chemisty in the film.

The director Michael Hazanavicius had an important job in directing his actors and performers. There is a lot more than just reading lines from a script. All of the directing came from natural body movements, but on a grander scale. The director certainly helped all fo the actors perform convincingly. The actors and actresses do in fact play together as an ensemble. They all have their subtle moments by themselves of course, but it is when they work together as an ensemble that really makes it something special and something so magical to watch on screen. The pace and rhythm seems right. It’s not stretched out and too long. At just about an hour and 40 minutes, it kept my attention the entire time. The editing is clean and precise. The continuity is fluid from start to finish. 

The film was definitley worth attending. In a culture today when we’re all about words and sounds, it was refreshing to sit back and really pay attention to body language and facial expressions for a change. And with the Academy Awards coming up so soon, it was definitely worth seeing around this time of year. I would recommend this film to any movie lover who appreciates the history of film, especially when it comes to the silent film era. I can’t see myself referring this to friends of mine who are fans of big action movies and loud noises. You really have to have an appreciation for classic cinema to thoroughly enjoy this film.

The film did affect me emotionally, seeing as how I am so enthralled with anything dealing with Hollywood. The sadness of a fading star and the excitement of a rising one wa something I recognized and could connect easily with. Yes the film was entertaining all in all, but it was more than just entertaining. It was magical, memorable, and beautiful. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say how terrible this movie is. It seems to be on every major critic’s top 10 lists of 2011. It’s collecting almost every major award so far this season. The only criticism I’ve heard was a couple weeks ago when an audience at the movies asked for their money back because they didn’t realize the film was silent or that it was in black in white. Those audience member obviously don’t appreciate a beautiful thing when they see it. 

OSCAR PREDICTIONS! 

Considering all of the nominations it has received for this upcoming Academy Awards ceremony in a few weeks, I'm expecting it to win Best Director and Best Original Score. I'm still on the fence about a Best Picture win. The Help has always been my favorite, and with their win at The SAG Awards earlier this week, it might just be the top choice over The Artist. We'll just have to wait and see!