Betty At Large

Why I LIke Boys: A Perfect Night Of Music in Long Beach

2010-02-27T13:25:00Z

Here's a mess of pix from a night out with Miss P soaking up great music and a great vibe at Alex's bar in Long Beach...

Alex's bouncer asked to pose with Miss P!

I'd never been to Alex's, actually hadn't been back to Long Beach since they tore down the Foothill and replaced it with condos...so it took the lure of knowing that my all-time favorite swing dancing partner, Adrian Demain, would be driving up from San Diego to play with the Bonebrake Syncopaters (sitting in for TK Smith) to get me out of my PJ's on on the freeway to make it to Alex's.

Well worth the drive!

Yes, there is an Alex

Great local audience totally open to any and all music...

Tonight I was accompanied by the charming David Arnson of the surf band the Insect Surfers...

Dave and Joanna of 3Ball "The Biggest Loser" Productions in Redondo.

On our way to the show, me and Dave spied a turquoise cowboy on the side of the road surrounded by five Long Beach cop cars...took it as a fateful sign of Long Beach sans the Foothill...but were delighted to find that the turquoise cowboy had escaped the coppers and made it to Alex's...

Charming turquoise cowboy Will Lewellyn, Naomi, and turquoise cowboy friend

Took it as a sign that the muses wanted me to take another step forward w/ my idea of a doc about the Swinging Cowboy bands of LA (especially when I learned that the turquoise cowboy had had his suit custom made by Javier of Hollywood, none other than a protégé of Nudie!)...that and chatting w/ Dave Stuckey of the Syncopaters, who's not only a darling but a brilliant resource on the subject...

The stars all seemed aligned tonight, everyone running into old friends, lots of great music, and cowboys everywhere you turned!

Cowboy Will Lewellyn even bought Miss P a Pabst!

The Bonebrake Syncopaters rocked the 20-somethings with their 30's hot jazz swing performed by what can only be described as the best musicians in the genre in all of LA County. Get a nice taste of the Syncopaters in this YT clip from the Redwood Bar in downtown LA (with DJ on vibes, TK Smith on guitar, Jeremy Wakefield on steel guitar, Wally Hersom on bass, and Dave Stuckey on drums)

Adrian Demain and Jeremy Wakefield rocking Topsy

Adrian Demain

Dave Stuckey was in his usual fine form tonight and wooed one and all

DJ and Wally Hersom vibbing up the joint

DJ Whiteboy James swinging' to the Syncopaters

The crowd tonight

LA Music Academy student sporting his "snake bite" piercings

3Ball's Joanna and friend Jennifer, an old skool rockabilly from the early 80s

Alex's doorman and Miss P

Alex's bathroom

During the break, Miss P spied a hair clip she just had to have!

A little rockabilly, a little Mighty Boosh!

Miss P bought a headband from hair artist Erica Acotsa...and her manservant

Then...Burlesque!

Dave Arnson and the burlesque MC's

Burlesque fans

All the booty that's fit to print

The muses made their point when they brought out the cowgirl burlesque!

But most love for the night went to Mr. Kees for not only finding my wallet, but tracking me down to return it!

Thanks Mistahkees!

See y'all at the jukebox!

Why I Like Girls: Rebel Beat Screens in El Segundo

2010-02-25T09:57:00Z

Not "Rebel Beat" screening, but without a doubt a great night for guitars, guzzlin' and gals!

Last Sat "Rebel Beat" screened at the "Automobile Driving Museum" in El Segundo...one of the worst EVER attended screenings of "Rebel Beat"...but a great night of music thanx to rockers Danny Dean, Phil Friendly, and the Crown City Bombers...and for me a great night to remember why I love me those women who love their rockabilly men!

All in all, glad I got out of my PJ's and left the house!

El Segundo's obscure "Automobile Driving Museum" is without a doubt the worst-ever named tourist destination, but a pretty nifty place to have an event...

...with over 70 mint-condition classic cars on display...

Driving Museum millionaire founder and car enthusiast Earl and his event manager Jeff are sweethearts:

And everything in their cafe goes for a buck!

Sat night our menu included Danny Dean and drummer Jerry Davidson who played after the Rebel Beat screening:

I'd never heard Danny before and was blown away by his oh-so-zexy voice, especially his version of "Ring of Fire"! Angela, promise me you'll follow thru and get Danny to put that one down on tape! Mah-yan!

Danny Dean's bassist Jack DeBaun also brought plento o' zexy to the set:

After Danny, Euro rockabilly star Phil Friendly took over:

Phil rockin the Dale Hawkins classic "Suzy Q"...shot this photo for you, Louie!

Phil had none other than Russell Scott on bass that night. I'm an addict of Russell's sultry voice...so really excited when Russell sang solo for the Ray Charles classic "I Got A Woman"...

After the show, Phil and Russell continued jamming Ray Charles' classics on the piano.

But have to say my favorite part of the night was meeting the chicks behind the music...esp Phil Friendly's wife Camille:

She looks so innocent, doesn't she?

It was a great night of raw rock and good times, but I drove home tipsy most happy about the awesome chicks I'd met that night, starting with Phil's wife Camille, a classic rocker babe on the outside but a classic Betty hero on the inside!

Here's what makes Miss Camille the ideal musician's wife: First, she's adorable! Can't go wrong showing up at your gig with a pretty girl. Second, girlfriend's got a fulltime job! Camille teaches second-grade at an LA County magnet school (that means she teaches the smart kids!). Third, Camille lets her hubbie's Texas music idols spend the night at their house! Namely, legendary rockabilly Mac Curtis. "Well," says Camille", "He passed the test. He's a genuine sweetheart!"

Fourth, guess who's in charge of all the $$?

That's right, Phil didn't touch the family funds all night!

But best of all, that sweet looking gal actually nicked drunks from another event to beef up her man's audience! Our event wasn't exactly well attended, last minute promotion and all that. It didn't bother me at all that there were more people at a private birthday party in the Museum then there were at our show, but Camille wouldn't stand for it I was on my third beer when tiny Camille came pulling at the sleeve of my jacket.

"Okay, I was just in the bathroom and there were some girls in there who are pretty drunk. Let's get 'em!" I was horrified at the idea of nicking people from another event to beef up our party, but Camille was ready to raid another Driving Museum party just to beef up her man's show. Next thing I knew, I was standing behind Camille trying to convince a mess of drunk girls from the Valley to party to some rockabilly.

Half of those birthday party gals ended up throwing up in the Driving Museum bathroom, but seriously, what more could a musician ask for in a wife?

Me luvs me some "whatever it takes" Camille!

After hubbie Phil's set, we all drove over to the Purple Orchid in Old Town El Segundo to party with the Crown City Bombers of Long Beach...

...where I met another awesome "I'm With the Band" babe...

Lilla (left), the girl behind Crown City Bomber front man Dave Bertiz, here snuggling with Crown City Bombers' vocalist Mandy McMilian. Lilla, a stylist from Australia, is a charming gal who added a lot to my night with the Crown City Bombers!

Then there was Rebecca, owner of The Purple Orchid Tiki Bar, a Mattel exec who rescued this historic El Segundo night spot just for the hell of it:

Purple Orchid owners Rebeca and Dave

Rebecca's a Venice native who'd been looking for a Tiki bar to rescue for years...
...and made the Purple Orchid a beach bar classic!

I knew it was love for me when the bartender served me my tequila shot with an umbrella!

Have to say, it's the first place in LA to bring back memories of the Belly Up!

...where the swing dancers wear flip-flops...

...and Uggs...while smoking cigarettes. Swingles be damned!

Crown City Bombers' front man Dave Bertiz rocked my favorite songs...

...giving it his all thru three sets...

Everyone had a great night, including Dave's Lilla who danced all night long.

Driving Museum Rockabilly Fest Organizer Joel Kellum and Phil Friendly:

Insect Surfers front man Dave Arnson in da houze!

Stay tuned for more El Segundo rockabilly nights!

Top 10 Reasons to See "Rebel Beat" in El Segundo This Weekend

2010-02-16T13:55:00Z

Come hang out with me in El Segundo Saturday! The Automobile Driving Museum is throwing a Rockabilly Festival this weekend featuring a screening of my doc "Rebel Beat" plus live music from two young rockabillies, plus 70 gorgeous cars on display!

El Segundo Rockabilly Festival
Sat, Feb 20, 5:30 - 10:30 PM
Admission: $10
The Automobile Driving Museum
5:30: "Rebel Beat: The Story of LA Rockabilly"
7:30 - 10:30: Live music from Danny Dean and Phil Friendly
10:30 - 1AM: After party at Purple Orchid Tiki Bar
Family friendly!

#1: Screening: "Rebel Beat: The Story of LA Rockabilly"

The only documentary to chronicle LA's oldest underground music scene.

#2: Meet director Elizabeth Blozan and get a signed copy of the "Rebel Beat" DVD.

#3: Live Music by Danny Dean and the Homewreakers

A cute boy who keeps rockabilly real.

#4: Live Music by Phil Friendly

Another cutie making waves all over the world.

#5: Some of the Most Beautiful Cars in the World

Including this 1950 Studebaker Landcruiser and a 1936 Packard owned by Stalin. See all the cars.

#6: Cheap Eats & Drinks
The museum's own diner will be open and there will also be a full bar.

#7: Plenty of free parking in El Segundo's industrial district

#8: Unbelievably lush high-style design details

#9: Hard-to-find items to add to that model car collection your ex-wife doesn't understand.

#10: Purple Orchid Tiki After Party in Old Town El Segundo

When we wrap up at the Driving Museum, we're all going over to the Purple Orchid Tiki Bar for tropical cocktials and even more live rockabilly featuring Crown City Bombers from Long Beach. NO COVER!

Purple Orchid
221 Richmond St
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322-5829

For Your Consideration 2009

2009-12-31T13:24:00Z

Once again, I humbly submit my reviews of this year's Oscar bait flicks (click on any title to see the trailer). Based on what I'm reading in the trades, if you go by my choices you'll lose the office pool! Whether my favorites win or not, this was a great year for black folk, tough chicks, and film fans!

Betty's Oscar Wish List:

BEST PICTURE: "INVICTUS"
"We're more than just a rugby team now, and we better get used to it."

I'm no fan of director Clint Eastwood. I find his films slow and maudlin, like listening to Grandpa yammer on about the good old days. BUT when it comes to the AMAZING TRUE STORY of how Nelson Mandela enlisted South Africa's crappy rugby team to heal his nation's bloody past, turns out an old man is just what you need. You'll be thankful to sit at Grandpa Eastwood's knee and soak up every thoughtful moment of this inspiring true tale. Just like Slumdog Millionaire last year, by the time the credits roll you'll be wiping away the tears saying, "Do it again! Do it again!"

Plot: The amazing true story of how newly-elected South Africa President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) convinced his nation's scrappy rugby team to shoot for a World Cup...and unite a nation.

Pluses: Costars impressive juggling patriot Matt Damon as butch yet soulful team captain Francois Pienaar; Filmed entirely in South Africa; Brief but satisfying shot of a topless Matt Damon.

Minuses: Despite the film's attention to detail, you won't understand rugby or any of the dialogue.

You'll Like It If You Like: Slumdog Millionaire, Rudy, Chariots of Fire, Breaking Away, Gallipoli.

Betty Sez: See it in theaters for a great night out or rent it on DVD and use the subtitle function to find out what the hell everyone is saying. But see this one!

BEST DIRECTOR: JAMES CAMERON: "AVATAR"
"Ladies and gentlemen, you are not in Kansas anymore"

In 1939, The Wizard of Oz blew away audiences when it dropped Dorothy in a Technicolor Oz. This year, Avatar director James Cameron blew away the world with his 3D version of the mythical planet Pandora. Cameron convinced Hollywood to invest $400 million in new cameras and software to manifest Pandora, and we here living off his hubris are thrilled that the man who created Aliens, Terminator, and Titanic seems to have -- once again -- lured people away from their home theaters for a night out at the picture show.

All you need to know is that Avatar is fun! (Also, this is pretty funny.)

Plot: A tough Marine who lost the use of his legs gets a second chance on the front lines when he inhabits a giant clone designed to take down a beautiful alien culture, only to find himself wondering which world to fight for.

Pluses: A fantasy thrill-ride full of adventure and awesome chicks, including Cameron fav Sigourney Weaver as the smartest guy in the room and Star Trek's Zoe Saldana as a buff princess.

Minuses: Despite the nature-based values of Cameron's Pandora, Avatar's final conflict comes down to a typical firefight led by Whitie. We pagan goddesses say "Meh".

You'll Like It If You Like: Having eyes.

Betty Sez: Be sure to see this in the theater in 3D!

BEST ACTRESS/SUPPORTING ACTRESS: "PRECIOUS"
"You're 16, you're still in junior high school, and you're pregnant with your second child. Is that correct, Clarice?"

Skanky ghetto life, teen pregnancy, welfare fraud, and incest: Sounds like about as much fun as being hit in the head with a hammer. So not so! This smartly-crafted indie flick is like a five-course gourmet meal served up by a master chef. You'll leave the theater feeling satisfied, inspired, and eager to tell your friends all about it.

Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire was directed by Lee Daniels, the jazzy Manhattan hipster who produced Monster's Ball (one of my favorite films, responsible for the historic and moving moment when Halle Berry became the first African-American to win a Best Actress Oscar). Under Daniels' loving gaze, the tough story of Clarice Precious Jones becomes both documentary and poem, both confessor and priest to a hidden part of the American psyche, a song of love that leaves you feeling blessed and inspired.

Best Actress: Gabby Sidibe

First-timer Gabby Sidibe just might be the only girl on earth with the subway ticket to Clarice Precious Jones. She's so good, in fact, it's hard to believe she's acting. To see why she deserves the Best Actress Oscar, watch Gabby as her bubbly true self on "Ellen".

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique

Thanks to director Lee Daniels, the comedian Mo'Nique appears in Precious as one of cinema's greatest villains, abusive mom "Mary". To appreciate just how much acting ass Mo'Nique kicks in "Precious", watch real life Mo'Nique sparkle on "Ellen".

Plot: The world expands in beautiful ways for a shy Harlem teen who joins an alternative school.

Pluses: Winner of the Grand Jury and Audience Favorite awards at Sundance; Impressive celebrities (including Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz) show up to shine their knowing light on the story.

Minuses: Director Lee Daniels adds mental white space to Precious with fantasy sequences and pleasant shots of his beautiful supporting cast, but this is a classic fairytale trek into the dark wood, so pack your mental rucksack.

You'll Like It If You Like: Monster's Ball, To Sir With Love, The Miracle Worker, Amalie.

BEST ACTOR: COLIN FIRTH: "A SINGLE MAN"
"This is kind of a serious day for me."

Not to be confused with "A Serious Man", the Cohen Brothers' flick about Jews in 1960, A Single Man is about gays in 1960, starring Colin Firth. We girls love Colin Firth in Bridget Jones and Mama Mia, but Firth is at his sexy best in this art house flick directed by Gucci fashionista Tom Ford, an artful performance that can only be compared to an Aboriginal chakra massage. You'll be glad you did.

Plot: Heartbroken by the death of his partner, a suicidal English professor sees the world anew on what might -- or might not -- be the last day of his life (see the film's annoying trailer here).

Pluses: Costars lovely Matthew Goode as Firth's charming partner and talented Julianne Moore out-acting a high-style bouffant.

Minuses: Endless slow-mo shots make it impossible not to make cracks about Calvin Klein perfume ads; Apparently 1960's Santa Monica has no bears; Colin Firth will ruin you for all other men.

You'll Like It If You Like: Alfie (the good one), Brokeback Mountain, Before Sunrise, The Deep, The Piano, Modern art museums, Colin Firth.

Betty Sez: Rent it and enjoy your time with Colin Firth in private.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: CHRISTOPH WALTZ: "INGLORIOUS BASTERDS"
"What a tremendously hostile world a rat must endure."

I say Basturds if overrated, but Waltz shines as a villain I'd like to fick. Read my original review

OVERRATED!
There's nothing wrong with these films (except Nine), but I have no idea why they're getting so much attention. See these on DVD without missing a thing.

THE HURT LOCKER

Feral cats, wise-crackin' kids, and shaky cameras provide the "realism" for this film about soldiers on bomb squad duty in Iraq. Apologies to hot bomb diffuser Jeremy Renner, but in my humble opinion all the attention being paid to Hurt Locker can be credited to the fact that America is determined to stay very, very unconscious of its karmic debt in the Middle East.

This is a "war film" for people who don't want to deal with war, as Hurt Locker has about as much to do with Iraq as Good Will Hunting has to do with math. Eroneously heralded by director Katheryn Bigelow's ex James Cameron as "the Platoon of the Iraq war", the only thing this film adds to the annals of war film is the term "bomb porn". The whole story could take place in New Jersey without missing a beat. Expect nothing but a string of scenes rigged with fear and you kept at a safe distance from any true insight. You'll like it if you like Backdraft, Payback, Se7en, 24, reuptake inhibitors, or Sarah Palin.

Betty Sez: Skip it and rent either of these better bomb movies: Blown Away or Paradise Now.

UP IN THE AIR

If, say, someone like Daniel Craig or Ashton Kutcher had starred in this film about a perpetually single, urbane, 40-something dude who only comes to crave hearth and home after a bunch of perky gals invade his life, I'd be impressed with the "acting". But perpetually single, urbane, 40-something George Clooney? As if! Directed by the same snarky Jason Reitman who brought you Juno, you'll like this film if you like The Squid and the Whale, The Terminal, Oceans 11, singer/songwriters, or sweater sales at The Gap.

Critics are mewing over young costar Anna Kendrick, but it's yummy Vera Farmiga that makes this cliché of white America worth watching. Enjoy Farmiga in this interview with the only person who wouldn't want to shtupp her after seeing "Up in the Air".

Betty Sez: Rent it for a dull night in, but only as a double feature with Reitman's Thank You For Smoking or Clooney's better bitter turn as Michael Clayton.

THE BLIND SIDE

Basically an After School Special with a nice rack, Blind Side tells the true story of how Memphis socialite Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) rescues a giant black teen and proves that -- with enough money and moxie -- even scary black folk can succeed. Ironically, if Blind Side actually were an After School Special, the excessive stereotypes and paint-by-number denouements wouldn't bother you at all! You'd enjoy kicking back on the couch with a bag of chips and soaking up this amazing true tale!

Real-life NFL star Michael Oher and Memphis Socialite Leigh Anne Tuohy

But in the theater Blind Side can't quite compete with a real "film", and Bullock's contribution is far from Oscar-worthy. Here's how to play at home: Just imagine any number of other "actresses with moxie" in the leading role -- Diane Lane, Maria Bello, or even a slightly aged Reese Witherspoon. You'd have the exact same satisfaction. Yet no one else could play Julia Childs like Meryl Streep or Precious Jones like Gabby Sidibe.

Blind Side is not a bad film, just not a Best Oscar film. You'll like it if you like Two Weeks Notice, Erin Brockovich, Driving Miss Daisy, or Cool Runnings.

Betty Sez: Rent it as a fun family double feature along with A League of Their Own and the new J. Crew catalog.

NINE

This trailer-friendly flick about a film director searching his Jungian "tool" box is so bad it's not even worth mocking. Mad hot love for Marion and Daniel, but wait for the only parts you need to see to show up on YouTube in full-length clips: Fergie doing "Be Italian" and Penelope doing "Call From the Vatican". If forced to watch it at a dinner party, slyly press "mute" during Cinema Italiano to enjoy Kate Hudson's ass without having to listen to her "sing".

Betty Sez: Skip it and rent any of these nine better musicals about vexxed artists: Cabaret, La Vie En Rose, Beyond The Sea, All That Jazz, 42nd Street, Velvet Goldmine, Singing In the Rain, Stormy Weather, or Jail House Rock.

THE HANGOVER

Not bad, but no funnier than I Love You, Man or Extract, not to mention Jud Apatow's Funny People, which is not only funny but also nearly deep. All four will tickle the gin-suppressed fancy of middle-aged white guys wondering how they ended up in the suburbs. For you gals who breed for them, laugh along, then make a pitcher of margaritas and watch Clueless again. RIP Brittany. We love you.

Well Worth Seeing:

UP

Another adorable Pixar project, this time featuring America's first animated Asian star (cynics like me will enjoy this mashup of Up as Gran Tarino).

THE COVE

Winner of my all-time favorite pull quote: "A cross between Flipper and the Bourne Identity." Also, winner of the Sundance Documentary Audience Award. Far from neutral, but a great caper flick about butch environmentalists capturing illegal footage of an annual Japanese dolphin slaughter.

DISTRICT 9

A South African bureaucrat befriends oppressed aliens in this fantastic mix of action, acting, and art produced by Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson. Read my original review.

BIG FAN

A fun, bleak, art house flick about a football fanatic beat up by his favorite player. Directed by the writer of The Wrestler and starring comic Patton Oswalt. Read my original review.

THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA

A thinking man's "Revenge of the Nerds" chronicling how war architect Daniel Ellsberg brought the Vietnam War to a halt by sneaking a top secret report the American press. Read my original review.

See y'all at the Oscars!

Miss P Welcomes Fall: Pix From Our Santa Barbara Adventure

2009-10-16T23:24:00Z

Ever since the first fall I spent in beautiful Santa Cruz, this time of year has had a strange hold on me. I think maybe it's because the first fall I spent in Santa Cruz was both my first months of college, where my mind was fitted with its own set of wings, and my first taste of a true autumn.

In Santa Cruz, fall brings wonderful warm rain, an exotic luxury to a kid from the desert of Riverside. I used to spend hours walking in the rain from my dorm through miles of cow pastures to get to the office of the school paper at the bottom of campus. It was on one of these walks that I first saw the end of a rainbow, landing right in a cow pasture, turning the green hills pink, yellow, and blue.

I used to spend hours wandering the redwood forest on campus, mesmerized by the sight of bright green ferns against dark red trunks, the sound of water dripping from the high branches, and the scent of the redwoods that only comes out when everything's wet. It was on those walks that Ben used to spy on me from the branches of a big oak tree, softly reciting his poetry from up in the tree (...took me a while to figure out it wasn't the Oak talking to me).

I know what you suburbanites think of Santa Cruz, but this was all sans drugs. Just earth!

So now, from the moment the first cold wind snaps at me I am overwhelmed with the desire to run off into the country to be seduced by all that is autumnal and earthy.

Sometimes my crazy fall treks don't work out. I've had short order cooks at roadside eateries wave knives at me for asking for soup made from home-grown pumpkins, and I've checked into my share of out-of-the-way motels hoping for an idyllic escape, only to realize my neighbors were probably discussing where to hide the body.

But this year's first fall trek wasn't too bad! Thanks to Steve L., who hooked me up with a great weekend in Santa Barbara, I got a pretty good fix. Here's a mess of pix from our trip with Miss P:

First Stop: Celebrated vintner Jim Clendenen's bi-annual open house north of Santa Barbara.

On the road: a storm headed our way filled the whole trip with romantic, moody skies!

Steve had just got a "Tom Tom"...so he didn't bring a map...

...so we were lost most of the time!

But after a 2.5-hour, 45-mile trip from downtown Santa Barbara, we finally made it!

The open house is at the Au Bon Climat warehouse, not a tasting room...

...so it was all wide-open and breezy and country air. And they brought out 100 wines to taste!

Miss P looking for a good white wine...and trying to avoid eye contact with Whole Foods groupies.

Me and Miss P got a little drunk on the hot vintners...

With a case of wine (each) in the trunk, we headed to our second stop: Cold Springs Tavern, an historic stagecoach stop in Los Padres National Forest.

Every Sunday, Cold Springs hosts a biker/hiker street side blues jam.

How did Leland ever get wise to THIS dealio? Guess he's more street than I realize!

The menu: cold beer and tri-tip sandwiches.

Board members of the Santa Barbara Co-Op jigging to the blues after a forest retreat.

Next Stop: A hotel on the beach in Santa Barbara.

I chose Best Western Beachside Inn. Not the fanciest hotel, but I got upgraded to a room with a balcony and a foxy ex-boyfriend who lives in the area:

Dane juggles our dinner date with his busy life as a single dad.

Next morning...

Evidently, Miss P found a white wine she liked!

...despite a few empty bottles, I was up early for a beach hike right outside the hotel.

Black Skimmers and Elegant Terns.

Then Steve and I enjoyed a classic SoCal fall breakfast: an ocean view and snuggly sweaters.

"Little Black" Sambo's...the food sucks, but you have to do it.

Last Stop: Miss P and I hiked to Saddle Rock in Montecito (found this in "Santa Barbara Day Hikes" by Ray Ford, a great book you can pick up at the Visitor Center kiosk on the corner of the ocean front drag Cabrillo and Garden St.) The hike threads past big-ass Montecito mansions (this is Oprah's Cali hood), then into the lovely foothills:

Oh, the oaks remind me of Santa Cruz! We didn't see Ben...

But we did find the mysterious hidden "Hot Springs"!

Top of the trail:

Miss P made it to the top, despite her cumbersome garb.

Great view of fall overtaking SoCal.

Most of the wine made it back unopened.

Only thing missing was that home-grown pumpkin I was still craving...

Luckily, I live in Santa Monica! Two days later came the wonderful rain and...

...a beautiful farm boy bearing organic Santa Barbara pumpkins!

Lovely Julian of Fairview Gardens Farm in Goleta and my pumpkin, at long last!

Carried my pumpkin back home from the farmer's market in my backpack, jumping in puddles all the way. Happy fall!

Movie Review: "The Most Dangerous Man in America"

2009-09-26T12:50:00Z

"The Most Dangerous Man In America"

Suck it, Mad Men.

Look at me smoking in the steno pool! I'm so retro!

If you really want to go back to the 60s to find out why then is so different from now, forget Mad Men and see "Dangerous Man". This true tale about a daring whistleblower who changed American history doesn't star Matt Damon, but it's safe to say Matt would heartily recommend it.

Betty Sez: Free speech rebels are hot!

"We got to get this son of a bitch." -- Richard Nixon

This affectionate recap of how Vietnam War strategist Daniel Ellsberg was so shocked by his own research that he became America's most infamous war protestor will delight progressives.

But I just see it as a long-playing version of that thrilling moment when nerdy Clark Kent ducks into a phone booth and then busts out as Superman -- able to leap tall Washington monuments and 20-year cover ups in a single bound.

If (like me) you get off on bad ass geeks, or didn't know that Ellsberg's one-man war protest led to the Supreme Court's most important free speech ruling, it's a must see. Right now it's in theaters, and this fall it will air on the PBS series POV. Here's the trailer.

Plot: Narrated by the film's hero Ellsberg (with creepy snippets of Nixon ranting about how to crush him), enjoy this first-person version of all the facts fit to print about how an architect of the Vietnam War made the life-altering decision to leak a top secret report to the press, hoping to stop the war he'd come to hate.

To Its Credit: Interesting interviews with gobsmacked Nixon staffers and the butch New York Times team who threw sedition laws to the wind and first published the "Pentagon Papers"; Cool danger music courtesy "The Wire" composer Blake Leyh.

Pluses: Awesome audio of Nixon losing his religion; Surprisingly, also a charming love story.

Minuses: It's all so fascinating you'll want to press pause and Google The Pentagon Papers.

You'll Like It If You Like: The Informant; The Insider; Fog of War; Berkeley in the 60s; Milk; The Times of Harvey Milk; Platoon, Invictus, Revenge of the Nerds.

My "Dangerous" Day Out
There's nothing I like more than an interactive movie screening (I once dated a cop from East LA just for an immersive screening of Colors). Today was ideal!

First, walking from my apartment in Santa Monica to the theater, I passed THIS:

The site where Ellsberg infamously hand-Xeroxed all 7,000 pages of the Pentagon Papers

Then, after the movie I saw THIS!

Dangerous Daniel today..."The Most Adorable Grandpa in America."

Ellsberg's juicy Q&A included tales about Nixon's plot to have him "rendered ineffectual" by Cuban hit men and his theory on why Afghanistan is no Vietnam ("In Afghanistan you get a dry heat.")

Grateful Vietnam protesters and even Vets offered tearful thanks, then Ellsberg asked if anyone from nearby RAND had actually shown up. Two chicks raised their hands. Ellsberg decided they deserved a prize and gave them each a copy of his book Secrets (on which the film is based).

On the left a RAND staffer from the 70's and on the right a current staffer...who asked to be pixilated!

Ellsberg and wife Patricia.

Believe it or not, I'm actually a bit allergic to "leftie" films, and "Dangerous Man" is decidedly leftie. But I love me a story about a rebel geek! What I took away from this film was the story of a simple analyst...swimming in paper clips and grizzly facts...who made the brave decision to give up his priviledged life to stop what he came to believe was an unjust war. Not only a suspensful tale of how one nerd can change the world, but a sad reminder of just how low we've set the bar these days with our hero tales.

Give me a nerdy warrior armed with facts over a blow hard any day!

Note the mysterious orb in this pic I took tonight; After watching the film and meeting Grandpa Ellsberg in person, I'm convinced that's an angel on his shoulder!

Here's The Dangerous Man website (where you will find ample ways to fight the power).

Here's Ellsberg's personal website (where you'll find his current thoughts on why war sucks).

"Big Fan" Premiere At The Nuart: I Totally Want to Do Patton Oswalt

2009-09-12T05:59:00Z

Big Fan: 4 Betty Stars

Just got back from the first night of the LA run of Big Fan over at Landmark's Nuart Theatre.

Big Fan is a very dark, very fun, very satisfying film directed by that talented Hollywood upstart who scripted last year's indie darling The Wrestler (the film that earned Mickey Rourke his one and only Oscar nom).

Like The Wrestler, Big Fan is a strange slice of American sports you'll never see on ESPN, but this time instead of having to take a subway to Darksville next to creepy Mickey Rourke, you get a wild ride with charming Patton Oswalt!

What a difference a man makes!

Star of Big Fan (and my fantasies) Patton Oswalt with co-star Kevin Corrigan.

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a big fan of Big Fan in no small part because of my mad hot love for Patton Oswalt.

Those of you who really know me know that my fantasies tend towards the Oswalt-type: short, stocky guys packing brains. In Oswalt's case, my fantasies include a genius comedy routine delivered buck naked.

Okay, so maybe you don't quite share my fantasies, but I'm not the only Oswalt fan out there. Here's a classic Oswalt foodie bit from his stand up routine that helped convince Brad Bird to cast him as "Remy", the star of Pixar's Oscar-winner Ratatouille.

But I knew that in Big Fan Oswalt would appear as an actual man, not just an animated rat, so getting me to the theater for this opening too wasn't hard. And as one of the few perks they give us for living in LA, Oswalt was even appearing in the flesh for a Q&A opening night at the historic Nuart Theatre. That's two reasons to find parking!

It's always a treat to see a film at the Nuart. First there's Manager Jim Nicola, tonight looking as sexy and dapper as ever:

Then there's the trailers for the kind of obscure films that screen at the Nuart, which included two awesome docs: Crude: The Real Price of Oil (the latest by genius Joe Berlinger) and The Horse Boy (about a family who introduces their autistic son to Mongolian horsemen).

Then there's fun stuff you only get at the Nuart. When an ad for something or other started with blockbuster director Michael Bay saying: "I consider myself an old school director..." the rest of the ad was drowned out by jeers from a theater packed with art house fanatics.

So even before Big Fan started I was in hog heaven. But I actually also loved the film and recommend it.

If you like the kind of movie that rips your heart out, chews it up, then spits it into a gutter where a three-legged dog licks it up and pees it back out against the wall of a 7-11, or if you just have fantasies involving Patton Oswalt, then you'll love this movie.

Plot: Dumpy 30-something Paul Aufiero of Staten Island still lives with his mom, and not far from siblings who mock his job as a parking garage attendant. Paul's only claim to fame is that, as a huge fan of the New York Giants, he's earned a place at the head of the line on a local call-in radio show. But fighting to keep his title as the Giant's biggest fan just might be the worst mistake of his life. Dark comedy/drama.

To Its Credit: Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance; Writer/Director Robert Siegel (acclaimed screenwriter of The Wrestler) in an impressive directorial debut; Comedian Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille, King of Queens) in an impressive dramatic acting debut; Cinematographer Michael Simmonds (doc and verite vet with Spirit Award noms for both Chop Shop and Man Push Cart).

Pluses: NCY's scrappy Kevin Corrigan (Grounded for Life, Goodfellas, Kicked in the Head) as Paul's best friend; Exciting Michael Rapaport (Zebrahead, Cop Land, Metro) as Paul's nemesis; A verite style that sucks you right in to Paul's tiny world; Family face-offs that make you laugh while you cringe.

You'll Like This Film If You Liked: The Wrestler, Office Space, Drug Store Cowboy, Gloria, Marty...the idea of being stranded on a desert island with Patton Oswalt.

I Say: See It In The Theater for two reasons. First, Big Fan premiered at Sundance, so it netted a bunch of critical hipster reviews (scoring 81% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), but it was picked up by an itsy bitsy distributor, First Independent Pictures. First Independent is a truly indie distributor, and deserves props for putting its gutsy $$ where bigger, faux indie distributors fear to tread (Liss: they also distribute "Everything's Gone Green"). When you cough up your $9.50 at the box office for this one, you're casting a vote for independent film, for realz.

First Independent's cute Prez Gary Rubin had his game face on for tonight's LA opening.

But there's another reason to see Big Fan in a theater. Although some reviews call this a "sports comedy", there's no sports footage in this film and it's not exactly a comedy. There are great laughs, but thanks to fine directing and acting, there's sooo many moments that make you squirm! If you see it at home on DVD I guarantee you'll find excuses to skulk off during the most tortuous bits. In the theater, you have to sit there and take it! You'll be glad you did.

If you must, see the official trailer here or read the NYT review by Manohla Dargis here. But I say DON'T WATCH THE TRAILER AND DON'T READ THE REVIEWS. The twists and turns you don't expect are half the fun. Instead, just watch this geekalicious clip of Oswalt on Jimmy Kimmel.

Writer/Director Robert Siegel showed up at the Nuart tonight for the Q&A looking rather adorable for someone who's become famous for scripting downtrodden losers. He explained that this was a truly low-budget, independent film that took "24 days to shoot and 7 years to make". Worth the wait, Siegel! (hopefully he'll never read my review of The Wrestler).

And kudos to Siegel for casting Patton Oswalt, a comedian, to play a character Oswalt described as someone who would "make Travis Bickle stop and say what the hell is wrong with this guy?"

From left to right: Polly Humphreys, Patton Oswalt, Robert Siegel, Gino Cafarelli

An enthusiastic gang from Big Fan showed up to support Siegel, including the film's production designer, composer, and editor, plus cast members Gino Cafarelli of The Sopranos (who plays Paul's impatient, money-grubbing brother), Polly Humphreys (who plays Paul's nervous suburban sister), and two people who made their acting debuts in Big Fan: zexy Serafina Fiore (who taught Marisa Tomei how to strip for The Wrestler and plays a trophy wife in Big Fan) and Jonathan Hamm (defensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints who plays Paul's favorite NY Giant).

Jonathan Hamm (in blue) and his posse...film grips...or maybe NFL celebrities...how would I know?

Hamm is forgiven for that Ed Hardy T because he rocks it, and rocked his role in "Big Fan".

Oswalt showed up to the Q&A cheerful and coiffed, tossing out off-the-cuff answers as good as any of his stand up improvs. When someone asked Siegel if his next script would be a third installment on the dark side of sports, Siegel hesitated but Oswalt chimed in: "If there's going to be a trilogy, I think the trilogy should be about that plaid jacket that shows up in both The Wrestler and Big Fan. In the third film maybe we can finally see that ugly indie film jacket make its way to a happy person."

Then someone asked Oswalt how he managed to play a rabid sports fan, since Oswalt's a confessed geek who's more likely to be seen at Comic-Con (or not) than a football game. Oswalt said he drew from his experience as a rabid film fan, and took a moment to give a shout out to the Nuart: "I've been coming to the Nuart for ten years, seeing independent films and classic films, and I just have to say it truly is a thrill for me to have a screening in this theater for an audience like you guys, real film fans. I know what you're like! You're all Paul Aufiero!"

So true! Thanks to all of you from Big Fan for showing up! We love you!

Oswalt with one of his (and my) favorite things about the Nuart: tonight's moderator, Marc Heuck, film expert and "Beat the Geeks" official Film Geek (see Marc do his thing in this YouTube clip at 3:06).

Go here to find out if Big Fan is playing in your town (Anna, you can catch it in DC at the E Street Cinema; Jeff H. you can catch it in Boston at Kendall Square) Catch Oswalt being a comedian in his 2009 special "My Weakness Is Strong" in reruns on Comedy Central.

See you in my dreams, Patton!

2-Day Getaway To Anacapa Island...Via Vintage Oxnard!

2009-09-07T10:50:00Z

Just got back from a 2-day getaway to stark, stunning Anacapa Island off the coast of Ventura. Did a little snorkeling, a little hiking, and a lot of bird watching...

I started my getaway with an afternoon in Oxnard, a town some of youse suburbanites might fear, but I heartily recommend as one of SoCal's best escapes for an affordable, easy-to-reach, overnight stay where you can really clear out the ole noggin.

Barefoot, but confident!

That's Oxnard! This historic little SoCal burg settled by migrant farmhands (and still teaming with scary immigrants) might be known to some for its crime stats, but don't be fooled. Oxnard is about to become the coastal gem you can't afford.

Thanks to its proximity to a beautiful beach, its bevy of quaint, vintage housing, and its old-timey vibe, this dialed-down town is just a Travel Channel special away from being invaded by hipsters and gays ready to roll up the sleeves of their boutique western wear and make this coastal community safe for mainstream white folk.

Until then, you can enjoy Oxnard as the relaxed, affordable, Cali getaway it is today.

If you're the Travelocity type timid about stepping off the grid, start with Oxnard's Woolworth Building. It was recently restored to the tune of $2 mil (creative office space available), and features a gourmet diner that caters to organic foodies.

Venture further down Oxnard's broad, leafy streets and you'll find a town frozen in time, full of charming local shops where even Harriet Nelson would feel at home...

...well, Harriet's maid, anway...

Me, I love Oxnard for the oh-so-relaxed pace, plentiful parking (always free!), killer thrift store deals (this trip I scored a lipstick-red 50s chair for 8 bucks!), and going to the movies. Oxnard has a brand-spanking new theater...that for some reason is always empty.

This trip I enjoyed "District 9" in a plush theater...with only 4 other patrons. It was like having my own private screening room!

After totally decompressing in Downtown Oxnard, I spent the night at a plush local hotel for an awesome rate (see below), then headed out in the morning with Island Packers to Anacapa Island.

Props to Island Packers for making the boat trip as much fun as the island. True to their word, they stopped when porpoises surrounded the boat and answered endless questions with keen expertise. Their 40 years of experience was a terrific bonus to what could have been just a taxi ride.

I went to Anacapa to snorkel, and had a great time. Conditions were ideal!

After snorkeling, I hiked the island, accompanied by a darling family I met on the boat. Other than this young mom and her kids, I never saw another soul on the trail. This silent, scenic hike is sure to clear the cobwebs from even the messiest head tangled in LA nonsense:

I recommend this getaway to everyone, from locals like me who need an escape to first-time visitors to the Great State of California!

TRAVEL TIPS: OXNARD
Oxnard is 60 miles north of LA. If you live in Santa Monica or Venice, avoid the freeway at all costs; The breathtaking drive up the Pacific Coast Highway is the ideal way to begin this getaway!

Lodging: I loved my stay at the Oxnard Best Western where I enjoyed a toasty (and utterly empty) hot tub, wireless access, HBO, and a plush, 3-star room for just $72 (booking online).

Things To See In Oxnard: Oxnard's Carnegie Art Museum features 20th Century California artists from Hurrell to Gronk. Oxnard's Downtown Center for the Arts hosts even more art, plus screenings of rare foreign and indie films. Oxnard's Woolworth Building features the world's only Woolworth Museum (with historic photos and vintage vending machines), a gourmet diner, and live music nightly. The new Plaza Cinema movie theater features 14 screens...and no lines! The theater complex includes a Starbucks and a Coldstone Creamery, plus Peruvian, Thai, and Spanish eateries (all of these stops are just blocks from each other).

To check out Oxnard's vintage architecture, take a stroll from 2nd to 6th Street between F and C Street, or take a Home Tour with the Oxnard Historic District.

Big Oxnard Annual Events: Strawberry Festvial (May), Salsa Festival (July), Haunted Heritage Square (October), Holiday Lights (December).

ANACAPA:
In General: Anacapa is the closest Channel Island to the Cali mainland. It's a small, deserted island; camping is the only option for an overnight stay. There's no running water; outhouse-style bathrooms are available, but don't expect a coffee bar, showers, or even faucets.

Getting There: Island Packers is the only vendor licensed to take visitors to the Channel Islands, so they're your only choice. But a good one! The boat to Anacapa costs $45, leaves twice daily most days, and takes about an hour. It's not a cruise ship, so if you tend to get seasick take your pills.

Snorkel Gear and Snacks: Island Packers sells snacks on the boat (cash only), but there's nothing for sale on Anacapa. Snorkel gear is strictly BYO! As I learned, you might want to bring an extra set of snorkel gear in case you make friends on the boat who decide to join you!

Guided Naturalist Hikes: Free from Island Packers and/or Channel Island National Park Guides. Or take a self-guided tour using the free booklets available at the trailhead. The sole trail on the island takes about 1 and 1/2 hours going at a pokey, enjoying-the-scenery kinda pace. Expect to see Chumash Indian sites, tons of sea birds, sea lion habitats, and awesome vistas.

Kayaking: You can rent a kayak for about $55/day; Island Packers will haul the kayaks over for you at no charge, but once they drop you off you're on your own, so don't make this your first day in a kayak...unless you bring along a sexy water baby to show you the ropes!

This popular Anacapa kayak destination is about a 45-min paddle from the main dock:

But the most popular trek for kayakers is Anacapa's famous arch (just a 15-min paddle from the main dock):

My 2-day getaway only cost about $150, including luxe lodging, gas, food, and fun. Cheap frills!

You can find all my pix of Oxnard and Anacapa on my Oxnard Anacapa Photobucket Album. For prime viewing, use the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner and set the slideshow speed to "slow". Happy Trails!

"District 9" Movie Review: SciFi Fun, But Wait for the DVD

2009-09-07T10:24:00Z

District 9: 3 Betty Stars

Okay, so as of August 2009, "District 9" has made it up to the top 50 "Best Films Ever", at least according to some mystifyingly-credited ranking on IMDB (the Internet Movie Database).

Take that for what it's worth,,,

"Inglorious Basterds" is currently ranked 10 slots higher than "District 9"...and "Basturds" is definitely not 10 slots higher anything than "District 9", not 10 slots higher story, not 10 slots higher filmming technique, not even 10 slots higher acting (and that's pitting "District 9's" FX actors against "Basterds" live-action actors).

That said, anyone who needs to see "District 9" in the theater will never even read this review because 1) They've already seen "District 9" in the theater", and 2) They don't give a damn what I say because who the hell am I and what do I know about science fiction?

Yeah, it's that kind of film.

"Stop right there! I'm with the GOVERNMENT, yeah? See my badge?" "Click blurp sclorp sklurr!"

So this review is for those of you who, like me, didn't wait in line to see trailers for "District 9" at Comic-Con and are thinking that maybe, possibly, if there's time, we'll catch it in the theater if it's still playing in a second-run first-run region somwhere (like Oxnard), or, whatever, just ordering it from Netflix sometime next year in hopes of upping our chance at winning the office Oscar pool.

In other words, normal earthlings.

So I'll say right now that I liked the film okay, but just know that whatever you hear about "District 9", whether you actually see it, just hear people talking about it, or only ever read lame blogs about it, all you need to know about it is this: "Christopher". He's an alien, sure. He's creepy, yeah. He can't even think without waving his tentacles. Ew! He's ugly, I can't disagree. He's the ugliest guy you'll ever want to know more about since David Cronenberg's film version of William S. Burroughs' literary version of the cockroach he saw the day he had that really bad acid trip.

...but you'll LOVE him!

Which is what makes "District 9" so much fun! Kiss, kiss, Christopher!!!

"District 9" star "Christopher" (animated by Weta Workshop, voiced by SA's Jason Cope)

Plot: A nerdy bureaucrat ordered to relocate a bunch of irritated aliens from one nasty ghetto to another nasty ghetto becomes the center of a secret military plot, forcing him to choose between creepy aliens and his own creepy government...Guess which side he chooses! Crazy futuristic robot v. human mass murder/SciFi philosophical pathos ensues.

To Its Credit: Exec Produced by New Zealand's Peter Jackson, the Kiwi director I want to breed with who brought us "Lord of the Rings", "King Kong", "Dead Alive", and the biopic that introduced a fetching, evil Kate Winslet: "Heavenly Creatures"; Special Effects by Jackson's own Oscar-winning FX lab Weta Workshop.

Pluses: Because the film is designed to look like a documentary, it creates the most scrappy, detailed, realistic aliens you've ever seen on film, so fine an artistic stroke, in fact, it even makes up for the film's lame third act.

Minuses: By the end of the film, explosions steal focus from the characters you've grown to love.

You'll Like This Movie If You Liked: Alien Nation, I Am Legend, Die Hard, Mad Max, Cirque du Soleil.

I Say Rent It: The finest feature of this film is its heart, and that won't lose much on the small screen. Plus, the DVD might have some awesome "making of" commentary tidbits about Christopher, so I say rent it. In the meantime, enjoy "I, Robot" starring Will Smith, directed by the imaginative Alex Proyas ("Garage Days", "Dark City"), and based on stories by Isaac Asimov, a highly creative film that seems to have been overlooked.

Inglorious Basturds: Run Out and Rent "Jackie Brown"

2009-09-01T05:47:00Z

Sadly, I've been avoiding blogging for a month now. I'm in mourning for the camera I lost during the VERY LAST HOUR I spent at Comic-Con this year...and with it all the pictures I took to blog about the interesting things I learned, esp the underground fan insanity over the Brit Com "The Mighty Boosh"...I will recover eventually, and I vow to blog about just what makes people mad for The Mighty Boosh, but tonight I'm getting back in the blogging saddle with this review of Inglorious Basterds.

Here's the Official Trailer for Inglorious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino's bizarre take on WWII. For reasons only marketing execs know, the "official trailer" features the film's weakest link: Brad Pitt as Aldo Raine, a U.S. soldier inspired to ghoolish violence by Apache Indian guerrilla warfare.

(True geeks will enjoy this Mario Brother's fan take on the trailer: "Inglorious Plummers").

The "Official Trailer" for Inglorious Basterds sez: "You haven't seen war until you've seen it through the eyes of Quentin Tarantino"...

Okay, well I'm assuming that doesn't apply to anyone who's actually seen war. But if you (like Tarantino) have never been anywhere near war, you might enjoy this romp through genocide, torture, and the kinda chicks who populate the fantasies of seven-year-old boys (indulge your pre-pubescent fantasies along with Tarantino here).

But don't let reality stop you! War is fun...in a movie theater!

What the "Official Trailer" doesn't show you is the one reason to see this flick:

Sexy Christoph Waltz! Waltz plays evil Nazi Hans Landa, the "Jew Hunter". Walz was so evil and delicious as Landa he won "Best Actor" at Cannes this year. I know, right? Just when you want to stick a fork in Tarantino, he casts yet another overlooked genius for us to drool over and fall in love with! Dayum, Waltz is cute!

The film's "Official Trailer #2" actually does include Waltz...for a few seconds, anyway (spot him at 2:08...after highlights of Brad Pitt and Mike Myers, neither of whom will be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2010).

Plot: In this energetic, revisionist take on WWII, Nazis terrorizing France face pissed off Jews and crazy U.S. soldiers convinced they can outsmart the "Nah-zis" with white dinner jackets. Vendetta-ridden violence and film premier chicanery ensues.
To Its Credit: Written and Directed by Tarantino (who earned a Palme d'Or nom for the film at Cannes); Cinematographer Robert Richardson (Oscar-winner for The Aviator); Lots of nice work by a fine cast of actors from around the world who you've never heard of.
Pluses: Great suspense scenes in classic Tarantino style with amazing actors beautifully reciting realistic dialog as the chilling threat of impending violence looms in the distance.
Minuses: Brad Pitt in yet another forgettable performance (and that's sayin' something); Lots of graphic violence only comic book fans will enjoy; Mostly subtitled, a wonderful choice by Tarantino that might annoy some viewers.
You'll Like This Film If You Liked: Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2, Reanimator, Grindhouse, The Dirty Dozen, South Park.
I Say: Wait to see it on DVD. In the meantime run out and rent Jackie Brown!

After watching Inglorious Basterds in the theater, I spent a weekend curled up with a bunch of other flicks featuring great actors and stylized violence (Thanks, Tommy B!), including Pulp Fiction (Tarantino's Oscar winner!) Layer Cake (Daniel Craig before Bond!), and RocknRolla (Guy Ritchie post Madonna!).

All fine films, but the best by far was Tarantino's 1997 flick Jackie Brown. Great acting, sassy storytelling, and a plot that will have you chewing your fingernails to the nubs in the last 10 minutes. Co-starring Robert Forster (in his Oscar-nominated role), Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, and even Chris Tucker! One of my favorite films of all time.

If you're a fan of Tarantino, Pam Grier, Elmore Leonard, Blaxplotation, R&B, crime novels, or the 70's, turn on the DVD's "enhanced trivia" subtitle track and treat yourself to a second viewing. You can argue (and Tarantino will admit) that everything he does is derivative, but the fascinating background tidbits on the "trivia track" of Jackie Brown will make you admire the thoughtful lengths Tarantino goes to in his films to honor his beloved inspirations...not the least of which is adapting Elmore Leonard's "Rum Punch" for a black female lead, just so he could cast his life-long love, Pam Grier.

In my book, by casting Pam Grier as "Jackie Brown", Tarantino made up for all his sins against women...and gave us one of the world's greatest go, go, go - suckah! gals of all time! Boo-yah!

Tarantino's tribute to 70's films and Pam Grier's badass blaxploitation films: Tarantino's LAX opening credit sequence for Jackie Brown (under Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street")

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

2009-07-04T07:13:00Z

Bible Spice wishes y'all an extra happy Fourth of July! "

"This was a strange announcement. Not just grammatically, but also politically." -- Anderson Cooper

Interesting Update to my Blog on the Nicholas Brothers

2009-07-01T11:21:00Z

A few days ago I posted a blog on the amazing tap dance team The Nicholas Brothers, mentioning how my friend Adrien had explained to me that "swing" is actually such a unique rhythm that on musical sheets composers just write it down as "swing time", and musicians understand that it's the kind of thing that "You either have it or you don't".

Thought this appearence on The Daily Show by author Oliver Sacks (author of the noted book about brains "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat") , talking about his latest book "Musicophilia" makes an interesting footnote:

"You never lose rhythm. Rhythm is deep, deep in the brain. Any child starts to keep time or dance with music and that's a purely human thing. A chimpanze can't dance."

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For Your Viewing Pleasure / Serenity

2009-07-01T06:52:00Z

Just got around to viewing a set of 78 Flicker photos sent to me by my cuz Rikki Hall in Knoxville (editor of Hellbender Press, a newspaper sponsored by the Foundation for Global Sustainability) of photos of our other cuz Will Blozan (famous arborist and president and co-founder of the Eastern Native Tree Society) and his family (featuring his kids, Cora and Aven) on a spring hike in the Smoky Mountains.

These pix were such a soothing vacation from answering proffessional emails I thought I'd share them with you! Freshen up your coffee, unplug the I-Phone, and follow this link to see all the pix on Flicker in slideshow mode. Ahhhh!

Here's cuz Rikki at the "Writing Green Environmental Journalism Conference" in Knoxville, March 2009:

And here's a YouTube clip of cuz Will climbing the largest white pine in Pennsylvania:

(Mom: so glad you can finally see all these "moving pictures" on the Internets!)

RIP Prince of Pop, But THIS is the REAL shizzle! Nicholas Bro's in Stormy Weather

2009-06-27T13:27:00Z

MJ was a music/dance legend on his own, but the true legends came years before MJ was born!

I had the once-in-a-lifetime honor of serving the Nicholas Brothers vodka tonics one night while I was working as a cocktail waitress in a jazz club in Emeryville (Kimball's East).

The two mini studs were there in the Bay Area at the time (the late 90s) for a special live show called "Tap Summit". The highlight of that show was the awesome moment when a clip of their now-famous tap routine from "Stormy Weather" played on a large screen on the stage...and the Brothers themselves entered, performing the same routine live and in person right in front of the clip...even though at the time they were in their 70s! Take that, MJ! (Sorry!)

Another highlight of my night serving cocktails was getting to see Sandman Sims swing dancing to the Illinois Jacquet Big Band!

Later in life, I met the surviving Nicholas brother, Fayard, giving a talk at Santa Monica City College. And got a copy of "Stormy Weather" signed!

Fayard signing a dancer's shoe on the day

What really got the hair on my arms standing on end when I first saw the Nicholas Brothers doing in "Stormy Weather" was how intricately their tap beats become part of the jazz rhythm of that song. It's a rhythm that just can't be learned and it's sheer magic. As my friend Adrian Demain had to explain to me one day in Oceanside: "There's no way to write this kind of rhythm on a music score. The composer just writes "swing time". And you either have it or you don't!"

Said Fayard once about break dancing down the stairs in this sequence: "We never rehearsed it." Yet this clip should explain why I literally started to cry sitting in a dark theater in Santa Monica in 2002 watching the attempts at "dancing and singing" in the so-called musical "Chicago". All I could think at the time was "Well, that's it. It's officially over."

Hep hep! There will never be anything like them!

Tony Curtis Tribute Day in Downtown LA

2009-06-18T04:47:00Z

Hell-A is one of the most crowded, hostile, and psychologically impaired places I've ever lived. Yet it never fails to offer up tempting adventures you just won't find in any other burg! Case in point, my field trip this weekend to Downtown LA to celebrate screen legend Tony Curtis...

...and wander around Broadway meeting the locals. Enjoy my snaps!

This day spent enjoying my own city's treasures was inspired (as is so often the case) by foreigners. In this case, two dapper guys from France. For some reason I can't quite figure out from their website, French nature doc directors Jean-Cristophe Jeauffre and Frederic Dieudonne created Jules Verne Adventures...I guess to screen Earth and Fantasy-related films and hand out awards (...that seem to have little do to with Earth/Fantasy but probably make them very chaud in France!)

This weekend, their Euro homage went to Hollywood star Tony Curtis in a day-long blowout at LA's vintage "Million Dollar Theater" movie palace on Broadway, that hoping-to-be-hip historic drag in Downtown LA.

The Frenchies decided to honor Tony Curtis first because they LOVE Tony Curtis (don't we all?) and second because Tony's never won an Oscar! Despite the fact that this talented beauty helped make classics out of films such as "The Great Race", "The Boston Strangler", "Spartacus", "The Defiant Ones" and two of my favorites: "Sweet Smell of Success" (where Tony brilliantly portrays a nervous, compromised PR man) and "The Outsider" (where Tony plays Native American Ira Hayes, whose story is also highlighted in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers").

Last Saturday, the Frenchies screened two Curtis classics: "Houdini"...

Check this out to see Janet Leigh's hourglass hotness (first wife of Curtis and mom of Jamie Lee Curtis)

...and "Some Like It Hot", the cross-dressing classic by Billy Wilder that has Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon hiding out in an all-girl band...with Marilyn Monroe!

Check this out to see the most provacative wardrobe of Marilyn's career!

Tony Curtis the man was on hand for Q&A and to sign copies of his new memoir: "American Prince":

Get your own signed copy direct from Tony here at his website, www.tonycurtis.com.

There's just nothing quite like seeing a classic film at a movie palace like the Million Dollar Theater...

The Frenchies went all out to make this day tres chic (said Jean-Cristophe about his gorgeous pinstriped suit: "Believe it or not, I got this in LA!"). They had vintage cars chauffeur the stars...

This authentic Auburn roadster had us all drooling!

...and even hired prop hotties to walk Tony down the red carpet...

But on the left there is the chick that won my heart that day: Jill Vandenberg Curtis!

Just like my Hungarian cuz Leslie, Hungarian Tony married zexy Jill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas!

Tony's 15 year marriage to Jill has proved to be this serial monogamist's most successful dance down the aisle. And now I know why! I met Jill in the lobby of the Million Dollar Theater, but at the time didn't realize who she was. Down to earth and charming, I figured this chick was just some friend of Tony's from Vegas...cause I'd never seen this hoochie mama photo with her with Tony!

She mentioned she had "a ranch", but failed to mention that ranch is the famous Shiloh Horse Rescue Sanctuary where she and Tony have over 200 horses rescued from abuse and slaughter! Learn all about Jill's Shiloh Sanctuary here, join her on Facebook or MySpace, or check out Miss Jill and Shiloh Sanctuary on YouTube here.

I realized why Tony had hooked up with an earth mama hottie like Jill after I'd heard him talk in person. He's fun, witty, and candid. As one person in the audience said to me: "He's one of the guys who really enjoyed and appreciated all the adventures and privileges Hollywood had to offer back in those days."

But I must add, Tony's Q&A before "Some Like It Hot" was steamy! Talking about the day he first met Marilyn he said: "She had on this tight dress and she wasn't wearing underwear. How did I know she wasn't wearing underwear? Instinct!" He then went on to talk about a hot date with Marilyn on the beach in Malibu...

I think the Frenchies will post the Jules Verne Q&A with Tony on their website soon, but until then enjoy this recent interview with Tony from BBC's "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross" (it includes Tony's story about meeting Jill!). After hearing him in person, I can't wait to read Tony's memoir!

The Frenchies honored Tony with their "Jules Verne Legendaire" award, presented by the Frenchies and two actresses from the all-girl band of "Some Like It Hot":

Looking good!

Then Tony headed off to the next stop: the Frenchies' after party:

Tony right after signing his memoir for my mom, with an assistant hefting his award in a big pine box

Up close and personal with Tony's Jules Verne Legendaire Award: Jules Verne as an astronaut in bronze!

It was a fun day, thanks to the exuberant Frenchies, the sweet volunteers of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, the warm staff of the Million Dollar Theatre, and lots of people dressed for the occasion, including LA's "Art Deco Society":

For the most part, the "Art Deco Society" folk were nice, but I must say some of them sure did live up to the impression I have of LA Swingles that led me to make my doc about rockabilly and not swing!

Case in point: I tried to snap a particularly cute couple decked out in oh-so-vintage garb strutting down Broadway. I aimed my camera and said, "You're so cute! You just have to pose for a picture!". But instead of posing, they snorted (seriously, they literally snorted) and said: "We don't have to do anything!" and high-stepped right past me.

I guess I mumbled "Except be costumed assholes!" a little louder than I meant to, because suddenly they both spun on their Ebay vintage heels and glared at me with "expressions of horror" so on point with pen-and-ink illustrations from the 1930's that I had to wonder if they didn't practice it at home for just such an occasion of period reenactment (good thing they aren't black!)

I was so scared by their big, Tin Tin eyes and exaggerated down-turned mouths that I didn't dare take a picture. Instead, I snapped the two guys I cowered behind who were enjoying the Auburn, a cup of coffee, and a can of Hawaiian Punch:

Everyone else was cool. Here's a casually retro couple who'd never heard of the "Art Deco Society":

Here a couple of hot VIP gays sporting jewelry made by hip Downtown LA artists:

Overall, the audience was just what you wouldn't expect in LA: roaring with laughter at every punch line and applauding for every star's entrance. But the best part was, when "Some Like It Hot" ended, the crowd burst into giddy anti-Prop H8 cheers at the film's infamous last 30 seconds.

After the double feature, the Frenchies threw a party for Tony at the bitchy belle epoque Edison bar:

...and even hired the Green Fairy to sell flagons of Absinthe and "Henry & June" carnival masks:

But since I feared the Art Deco Society would be poised on every Edison barstool ordering Manhattans in loud, crisp voices, I dashed up the street to the more gamy Redwood Bar for a late night show of the Dave & Deke Combo....where Dave actually gave a shout out to Tony! "Tony Curtis is also downtown tonight!", said Dave. "If you don't make that party, I guess this is the closest thing you'll git to a little cross dressing tonight!"

Aw! Thanks for the shout out to the legends, Dave!

Despite the fact that Downtown LA is now so cool that I could barely see at the Redwood and had to wait two hours to get into the Edison, I still had a grand time Saturday. I got a "Some Like It Hot" DVD signed for me and Tony's memoir signed for Mom (Tony even drew Mom a kiss!).

Plus, I spent a couple hours snapping pix in one of the most visually-rich neighborhoods in our fair city, starting with the corner of Broadway and LA's lost soul:

One of the famed Victor Clothing Co. murals, a tribute to LA native Anthony Quinn by Eloy Torrez

Bus stop safety baby.

Broadway's entrance to Chinatown

Grand Central Market (next door to the Million Dollar Theater)

Little Latina heading for a treat after communion.

Fresh meat for some lucky lady!

They ain't gangstas! LA metrosexuales enjoying Grand Central Chai power smoothies.

LA's famous City Hall with the jacarandas in bloom!

The newly stylish -- and artfully locked up -- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels:

Our Lady wedding workers Chad and Chris (Cute Chris tied the knot there and recommends it!)

Bruno crashing Disney Concert Hall

Come visit Hell-A, y'all! There's always some reason!