Movie Mondays

My recommendation of the week is The Artist and not just because it won Best Picture.  I finally got my chance to see it on Friday and I am just blown away!

Personally, I think a lot of people don't realize how important sound is to film.  It can completely elevate it or tarnish it.  This film shows what I would like to believe is a pretty accurate depiction of what the end of the silent film era was like.  Actors got "voice fright" (the voice equivalent of stage fright).  Several careers were destroyed in the dawn of sound because they couldn't keep up with the times, or sometimes because the times could not accommodate distinctive accents. And that's very much what this film is portraying!  George Valentin was the biggest silent movie star in the world and then one day came sound.  That's all I want to say about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything!

Now that I've mentioned the plot, allow me to possibly overstate that this is one of the most delightful films ever thanks to the incredibly, expressive Jean Dujardin and cutie director Michel Hazanavicius. No, but seriously look me into my blog-hidden face and tell me that this:

 isn't the cutest man that ever stood behind the camera (and yes, I've already considered that he's cuter than Wes Anderson)!

Go and watch this movie! Tootles!

Cutie Patootie of the Week

We apologize for our lack of posts, but we have been busy with school. I at least promise to become a better blog poster, but we will not give up our cutie patootie of the week.

We finally got around it, and watched "The Artist"!

And the hype is true! It's all sorts of wonderful and adorable. It truly made me appreciate sound. I think I am going to pay more attention to the sounds in movies from now on.

With that being said, Jean Dujardin is the cutie patootie!!!

That smile, those expressive eyebrows. One of my favorite scenes is when he wants to make his wife smile and imitates whatever Uggie the dog does.

His face is just so expressive, and whenever he grins, he makes me want to smile. Have you guys seen his Golden Globes speech?! He was so CHARMING.

If I could describe him in two words it would be HANDSOME and CHARMING.

My next move is to watch his French films OSS 117, which are two films which are parodies of 1960 spy films, one which includes his fellow Artist co-star, Berenice Bejo!

To add to his adorableness, he can tap dance! I die.

Please, please go watch "The Artist" as soon as you can!!! The emotion Jean Dujardin puts into his part in incredible, especially in a certain scene towards the end.

Jean Dujardin for an Oscar!

Cutie Patootie of the Week

Our Cutie Patootie of the week is Penn Badgley!

Penn first captured some of our hearts as "lonely boy" in the first season of Gossip Girl.

I have to admit that I (Mariela) loved that he was a loner and wanted nothing to do with the Upper East Side. He just wanted to mind his own business and school, and unfortunately (for some of us) he had an eternal crush on Serena, but that's another story.

I have to admit that after season one my crush on Penn died down a bit after he started dating Serena, I just missed lonely boy, and I did not really like the character he became, but alas two things happened: DAIR and Easy A.

Penn managed to capture my heart again as the loveable character he played in Easy A, Todd, an adorable school mascot.

And finally let's talk about Dair, which is probably the best thing that happened to Gossip Girl. If it weren't for the possibility of me watching Dan and Blair together then I would have probably not be watching the show anymore. I just love these two together, I love how supportive Dan is of Blair and is willing to put her happiness before his.

All that Chair fans have to argue is that Blair and Chuck are "meant to be" , but really, do you really want Blair in an abusive relationship that will make her life a rollercoaster??

Dan offers comfort to her and she always feels safe with him. They enjoy the same films and have the same interests. I can just see a lifetime of happiness with these two.

And this last Monday, something Dair fans have been waiting for a LONG time happened!!!! Nichole and I probably texted each other "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" about a million times. It was epic.

 Dan Humphrey, you are amazing!

Movie Mondays

Yes, tomorrow is Valentine's Day so I thought I'd blog about a film that was about love.  I'm feeling like a non-traditionalist today so my recommendation is Blue Valentine.

It's a great film so don't be too scared to watch it.  It's a realistic film about the courtship of a relationship, but unlike most films it even shows us the hardships.  But of course I can't really talk about the film without mentioning the performances.  Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams deliver two of the most raw performances of their careers.  The two actors completely immerse themselves and vibe off each other to bring their characters to life.  As tragic as the story of the film is, you can't but find it all so amazingly beautiful.

Now I don't necessarily recommend watching this as a date film unless you're absolutely confident in the relationship.  If you guys fight a lot, step away from this movie!  If you and you're significant other (or maybe you're single) appreciate good cinema then by all means, press play!

Enjoy. Tootles!

Cutie Patootie of the Week

It was officially announced this week that House would end on its currently airing, 8th season.  I must admit, I stopped watching a few seasons ago, but when I heard the news I was a bit bummed.  I guess I'm gonna the ability to tune in and see how cute Jesse Spencer looks and sounds.  Oh yeah, Jesse Spencer is our Cutie Patootie of the Week if you didn't already guess by the above photo.

Besides acting, Jesse is musically talented.  He plays violin, piano, guitar, and bass.  Did I miss anything?  All I can play is a doorbell, so my hats off to this cutie.  Oh and to make me feel even lesser, he can sing! He's a former choir boy!

Either a House reference or he's a Doctor Who fan!

He is also fluent in French and I don't know about you, but that's uber attractive! The fact that he can sing and speak French makes me think he should post some French YouTube videos, a la JGL.  You like the idea don't you?! "Oui oui!"

Look at those eyes!

He's also one Australian! His accent is something I can't help but die over every time I hear it.  An Australian accent is definitely in my top 3 of favorite accents!  My favorite accent is a Scottish accent, a la James McAvoy, which brings me to my final Cutie fact.  James and Jesse used to be roomies!  Oh to be a fly on that wall!

You can currently catch Jesse on the final season of House, airing every Monday at 8.

Book Worm Wednesdays

Here's to one of the raddest books written by one of the raddest authors I've ever read.  The Land of Laughs written by Jonathan Carrol.  The book is about a man's obsession with his favorite author, a man that brought the words he wrote to live.  If you know the book, you know that's the exact way to describe it without ruining it.  It also has one of the best endings ever (purely satisfying).  It's one of the most vivid and somewhat haunting books out there.  My best advice is to just go with it! 

Can I have another moment to just say how rad Jonathan Carrol is?  The man can flip your world upside down and make you love every second of it! 

Movie Mondays

This week I thought I'd recommend a personal favorite.  It was the one movie I had a hankering to watch last week and it's called Ghost World.  Yes it is based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes.  I love this movie because it feels insanely real.  I'm not gonna lie, for some reason I relate to the female lead.  Who am I kidding.  In my head I am a cynical mess that would love to speak every truth as it comes to my mind no matter how weirdly, bizarre or harsh it may be.  I'd love to wear masks for no reason at all, but if you've seen my twitter profile I clearly do it already.  I have crushes on the loner types.  And finally, I sure as hell would love to make out with Steve Buscemi! Just putting it out there.

It's one of the best movies ever made about a teenage girl, and you can quote me.  Specifically you can quote the fact that I didn't call this a teen movie because it is so far from it!  It stars Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson and it is incredibly funny(it's actually very understated.  I also recommend it if you dislike extremely pretentious people!

Book Worm Wednesday

I'm sorry for skipping Movie Monday this week but I've been up to my knees in pain, snot, flem, coughs, and the incredible need to sleep and drink something every 20 minutes.  In other words, I've been super sick y'all and I still am, so I will make this quick.

 My recommendation of the week is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.   It's one of the best books I've ever read.  It's such an intimate book and it doesn't really let you escape.  Once you're in, you're in, whether or not you like the ride.  People, mainly teens, tend to make decisions that aren't always smart; who am I kidding? The choices are more often then not stupid.  The important thing is that we have the ability to make them, that we aren't just watching and letting it all pass us by.  But is it really so bad that we watch?  Charlie, the narrator and wonderful protagonist of the novel must understand this and it is a really addicting journey thanks to the style of the author.  I shall say no more because my words will never do the book justice.

P.S. I shouldn't have to say this unless you've been living in a cave but the movie adaptation will be released this year and it stars Logan Lerman and Emma Watson.  It shall be interesting to see how the book plays out on screen; I'm more than intrigued.