Reel Life: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Rooney Mara, Rooney Mara, Rooney Mara….

Where do I start? Having not seen the Swedish version of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” and not having read the book, I went into David Fincher’s version with no real expectations whatsoever….Rooney Mara.

This is what I came away from it with, TGWTDT is and adult movie with a capital “A” … and I do not mean for it’s violent & sexual content (we will get to that later).

It is a film for grown ups who like character exposition and plots you have to pay attention to. The first half of the film is dedicated to establishing who Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) & Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) are as people before their two paths cross. At first I thought this part of the movie to be a tad long, but the more it sat with me, the more I loved it!

When I see a movie and I think about it after the fact, well that is a good sign to me, it is better than it being disposable. 

Thus TGWTDT is a fascinating character study. My only quibble is, I wished Mikael Blomkvist was as interesting as Lisbeth Salander. Rooney Mara, OK, time to move past it, David Fincher has directed some of my most favorite in your face movies “Se7en” “Fight Club” & “The Social Network” …which, is one of the things I find quite interesting about TGWTDT -

The sex and violence are quite subdued…. Seriously lets site a couple of Jodie Foster films that illustrate intense quite well, Oscar winner “Silence of the Lambs” way more freaky violence wise, and “The Accused” a rape scene that had me so upset I wanted to lay it down on the next guy I saw on Hollywood Blvd. who even gave a woman that look.

Yeah, TGWTDT is quite tame by the abovementioned standards. So one of my fave directors, Fincher, has remained true to himself, yet oddly grown up. Did I like TGWTDT? Heck yeah! It was a really great film for adults…and in case I did not mention it Rooney Mara is amazing!

Note: Hey Mr. Fincher - you never disappoint, however, next time you want to be a big boy, a little up in people’s grill would be a nice addition.
　
http://www.dragontattoo.com/site/

Mel Carter "The Other Standards"

Mel Carter, the man responsible for giving the song "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," a place in pop history, began his career in Cincinnati at the age of four when his grandmother held him up to the microphone in a penny arcade recording booth.

It was 25 cents well-spent; the unpolished performance had an unmistakable element of raw talent in those grooves.

Well he kept grooving and it’s time to celebrate the Holidays even more because the hit maker is back!

What’s Mel’s latest release you may be asking yourself? His latest release bears the title “The Other Standards” and as you Mel fans out there know, this is what Mel does best. To the new comers in the house it’s time to introduce yourself to the man with the hit making touch and golden voice.

Stand outs include “Cry Me A River” which is one of this writers favorite songs evuh!

Another stand out is…well they all stand out, it’s Mel Carter people.

2012 is near, don’t “Cry Me A River” I have my copy of “The Other Standards”….
So? What are you waiting for, get yours, and get it now..!

Find out more about Mel and get “The Other Standards” at: http://www.mel-carter.com/

What Does Emii Want For Christmas? Stilettos...!

"Oh damn this drunk chick just spilled the drink on my Manolos
And that's a no, no, baby"....

Forget Cha Cha Heels, that is so John Waters "Desperate Living" what does the well heeled gold digger want this Christmas?

The small woman with the big voice & sense of humor, Emii is back after her hit with Snoop Dogg "Mr. Romeo" ...And she wants stilettos, now damn it! Please make sure they are 5 or 6 inches, or you will not please her one bit..(of course 7 would be the preferable fit )....

What does she have to say about all this? "I have a sense of humor about a lot of things. It might be terribly inappropriate, but I have no qualms about joking around. It's all good".

Check out my full length chat with Ms. Thang about "Mr.Romeo" for Chorus and Verse at:
http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20110404A

Pay her a Holiday visit at: http://www.emii.net/  and you'd better be bearing stilettos, b!tches...!

Disclaimer: None of the abovementioned is to imply Emii is a gold digger, and if you choose to say so, please preface it with Diva...Thank You  for your cooperation.

25 Years Of Christmas: Darlene Love

This year marks the 25th year that Ms. Darlene Love will be singing her rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on the "David Letterman Show."

The venerable legend who made the Rock-N-Roll hall of fame last year, which I predicted in our interview for Chorus and Verse when we chatted about the CD of her beloved classics "Concert of Love."

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20101110A

Has been been bringing down the house, year after year, with this tradition on Letterman that puts a smile on everyone's face.

Ms. Love has this to say about her annual performance: "This will be the 25th year I have done David Letterman. It's so wonderful to have people come up to me and tell me they do not feel it's the holidays until they have heard me sing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". I told David we have to do something spectacular"!

Knowing this pro you are in for something really special.

Raise a Holiday toast to Darlene and tune into David Letterman Friday December 23rd and catch her 25th beloved performance.

Find out more about the CD of her classics "Concert Of Love" at: http://www.whoisdarlenelove.com/

WebTV: "Have Yourself A "Meaty" Little Christmas"

Here at "Entertain Me" we like to celebrate the Holidays some....OK, a lot, so in the tradition of the seasonal posts, Sandy Zacky's "White Christmas," Mike Clifford's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" & 10 Silly Holiday Questions: Winter Wonderette's ..."Entertain Me" is happy to lay another Holiday celebration on you, oh yeah!

That's right, it's time to "Have Yourself A "Meaty" Little Christmas" with Mr. Meatballs....Woot!

As you recall from a November post yours truly did, Jonathan Brett's Mr. Meatballs is now in season 2 of it's WebTV prescence: http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2011/11/webtv-heeees-baaack-mr-meatballs-season.html

Well here is a blast from the season 1 past, a warm Holiday treat titled: "Tiny Tim Needs Help".

It has everything you love about the season, Wheel Chairs, Charles Dickens References, Santa, Hanukkah & most importantly, MEATBALLS...stick a fork in em, and you're done...!

Get "Meaty" for the Holidaze at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MeatballsAreFunny

TV Watch: True Blood Season 5

It has been officially confirmed, after an initial press leak,  that Christopher Meloni, formerly of "Law & Order SVU" (Special Victims Unit, for those who need an acronymn translation) is coming to season 5 of my beloved "True Blood" (A special shout out to Debby Holiday for my intitial alert to the leak) ....

According to the press release he is playing a "powerful and ancient vampire" uh, aren't they all?!

As a fan of both shows this has got this fang banger quite stoked, can I get a heart ripped from someone's chest high five?!

No word yet on whether he is a good vampire or a bad vampire, I am guessing he is a total bad ass, and after last years annoying and lackluster villain Marnie (yes, she of the over articulated voice and a demeanor that only an infant could fear) I can't wait for someone as fierce as Mr. Meloni to let loose his devil inside..!

Here's to plenty of  "doing bad things to you"  on the upcoming season of "True Blood" Meloni style...

"Waiting Sucks"! Indeed....

http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/index.html

10 Silly Holiday Questions: Winter Wonderettes

Lowe Taylor, Julie Dixon Jackson, Bets Malone and Misty Cotton in "Winter Wonderettes"

The Holidays are a time of family, friends and most importantly music…lots and lots of music. That is what the hit show “Winter Wonderettes” now playing at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, CA is all about.

Here to represent is Lowe Taylor who plays “Cindy Lou" tis the season...


MS: Happy Holidays to you and the Wonderettes, finish this sentence: Walking in a winter…

LT: Wonderland!! We sing that song in Act 2. Its one of our favorites!!

MS: What is your favorite Holiday song to sing?

LT: That is hard to choose. We do more than 30 songs in “Winter Wonderettes” and they are all so much fun. I think personally I get to have a lovely character moment singing “All Those Christmas Cliches“. But “Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town” is also a blast because its super 60's and very dancey.

MS: Can you name all 8 of Santa’s Reindeer?

LT: Not even close! Although I bet Bets Malone could! She knows everything about Christmas. We do "Donde Esta Santa Claus" in the show where we refer to Dasher Dancer PEDRO and Blitzen. Haha. Let me try though... Dasher Dancer Prancer Vixen Comet Cupid R--? Blitzen. Who am I missing?? I can't remember that one!! Dang. And Rudolph of course :)

MS: Which of you if any likes kissing under the mistletoe?

LT: My character Cindy Lou would definitely be the one caught kissing under the mistletoe. And lets just say, art imitates life :)

MS: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

LT: I think there is a little part of me that loves to believe in the magic of Christmas. Its the time of year when anything is possible. That might seem pollyanna but it's nice to live in that space sometimes.

MS: Name your favorite Holiday TV special.

LT: Definitely the “Rudolph” one with the old school animation. Claymation I think?

MS: If you were a Christmas tree what kind would you be?

LT: Lets be honest, in my living room in West Hollywood is a 6 foot white and silver tree with teal ornaments. I mean, fabulous much?

MS: You are playing the home version of Family Feud and you are to name things associated with Frosty the Snowman, what do you think the number one answer would be?

LT: Corncob Pipe!

MS: Ever crush on any of Santa’s Elves?

LT: Not generally. I like a tall drink of water ;)

MS: What message would you gals like to send everyone for the Holidays?

LT: I think I can speak for all of the girls when I say we would want to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy holiday season and New Year. Be kind to each other and to yourselves. Yay!! How fun! I wish the girls could have done this with me!

All the show info is on musical.org. And my website is www.lowetaylor.com or people can follow me on twitter at @lowetaylor.