the splendid life

Fresh Films

Let's face it--I have little to no life.

I'm addicted to Netflix. I see on average a flick a week at the theaters. Once I watched five episodes of The Wire in a row.

Lately I find I'm so busy that it's hard to summon up the drive to do anything requiring energy or high heels. But my inertia = your gain. MOVIE REVIEW TIME!

In theaters now:

W. Starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Banks.

Too long. Interesting for the few snippets of new (mis?)information the film provides--par exemple, who knew Laura Bush was kinda sassy and (gasp) Democratic when she was young? Otherwise, plays out like a long episode of SNL featuring much less talented impersonators than Darrell Hammond.

Appaloosa. Starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger.

This movie was pretty badass. Solid character study, set in the mountains out West. Yeah, I know what you're thinking--you've seen this before, like 10 times. But it's a fresh plot, 's got some great acting, and Viggo is at his best!

This isn't even, like, a tenth of what I've seen in the past 3 weeks. More to come.

Kids Say...

Even though I'm based out of DC, I can never get enough of New York Magazine. Great features with interesting people, gobs of style advice, and the astonishingly handy Shop-a-Matic (now for winter accessories!).

But the main thing that keeps me coming back is the humor. From hilariously funny articles (check out the one on therapists by Jennifer Senior), to this gem:

Excerpts from Nickelodeon's Kids Pick the President Message Board.

NYMag assembled some great quotations from America's kids. Funny, I can hear more adult-sounding versions of these coming out of some parents' mouths... well, except for the one about Barack creating a new holiday.

My favorites of their favorites:

The only way I’d vote for Mccain (if i was 18) was if I was under the imperius curse (for those who are as fond of harry Potter as I). OBAMA RULES!!!
ratsrock19

i went to church the other day and they where talking about how mccain is a good choice i agree.
mccain23

Because He wants to lower Taxes, Lower Gas, and Help us I also heard that Obama Might make a new Holiday. I dont know if thats true but still Obama works ALOT harder than Mcaine, And if Obama works that hard then he should be rewarded OBama Rocks
Briardog

Obama shouldnt win because he will get assasinated and if Hilliary Clinton was the Vice President she would start the next World War III.
Katara5582

THANK YOU- THAT IS SOOO TRUE- GO MCCAIN!
tzay253496

Nice work, kids. Especially you, ratsrock19. You'd totally have to vote for whoever they make you vote for under the Imperius Curse. That shit's scary.

Check out the rest of New York's kids feature.