Having Colin as my best friend and boyfriend.
My job at ZooFriends and my awesome coworkers there, all of whom I consider friends.
My job at the library, and my coworkers/friends there.
The library, with all the free books, DVDs, CDs, and information it offers.
My dad, who lets me live at his house and is a great roommate.
My mom, who takes me on cool vacations, like Disney World.
My sister, who will be a friend I never have to worry about losing contact with.
My friends who live close by and come hang out with me.
My friends who live far away and keep in touch with me.
Having a bachelor's degree.
Not having to be in school, but having the opportunity to go back if I want.
My cousins, more friends I can count on to always be in my life, no matter what.
Facebook, which allows me to easily keep in touch with so many people that I rarely get to see.
Barnes & Noble, for sending me coupons and making it affordable for me to buy gifts for everyone, including myself.
Neil Gaiman, for making the fantasy genre cool and the macabre accessible.
Hulu, which allows me to keep up with my shows when I miss their original air dates.
Hollywood, for providing me with endless hours of entertainment and escape.
Independent filmmakers, for providing me with endless hours of though-provoking and emotionally resonant stories.
All the band directors and music instructors I've ever had, for teaching me how to play, listen, and appreciate music.
Macaroni and cheese, for being the most delicious food ever.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
And the Academy Award for Best Costume Design goes to...
I just got back from seeing Anonymous at AMC. It's extrapolates on the theory that William Shakespeare didn't actually write his plays, that he was a frontman cover-up for the Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere. It's an interesting idea. I recently borrowed from the library a documentary about the whole thing called The Shakespeare Conspiracy, which I thought was quite fascinating, and I find I'm more prone to believe the cover-up story than to assume that Will Shakespeare from Stratford-upon-Avon was the true writer.
Regardless of which side you're on (and it is actually a legit debate among scholars) the movie is very enjoyable. It opens and closes with actor Derek Jacobi narrating to an audience from a stage, which presents the story as a suggestion rather than a "here's what really happened." (Jacobi also narrated The Shakespeare Conspiracy, by the way.) The rest of the movie plays out in the Elizabethan era, with all the splendor of period sets and costumes (Oscars?).
As a whole, I thought the plot was very enjoyable and well-written, although the "character" of William Shakespeare feels somewhat more like a "caricature," being portrayed as a bumbling, illiterate drunk (though it is quite funny). Aside from that, I thought the cast was amazing. Vanessa Redgrave's Elizabeth I felt very real. In most other films featuring Elizabeth I, she's a hard, empowered woman who gets what she wants and knows how to rule, but rarely do we ever see her as anything less than a super-strong heroine. This film shows her in the context of court intrigue and personal entertainment. We never see her as the unyielding ruling Queen of England, so she actually comes off somewhat weaker than we might be used to. I liked it. She seemed more tangible, like what royalty would actually be like day to day--somewhat spoiled, somewhat disinterested. That's not to say that the film necessarily shows her to be a snobby brat, but since her role as a ruler isn't relevant to this story, we don't see that side of her, and it's quite refreshing, to be honest.
I thought Rhys Ifans as Edward de Vere was astounding. I already liked him, but in the past I've only seen him in roles as slightly crazy people (Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter) or loser fools (Spike in Notting Hill). In Anonymous, he's all at once suave, aloof, cunning, discerning, and yet somewhat unsure of himself and eager to please as all artists are. His performance mesmerized me. Edward Hogg as Robert Cecil was superb, as well. He totally pulled off the conniving, yet pitiable antagonist.
All in all, I found Anonymous to be a very fun, entertaining, and intriguing film. I definitely recommend it, even for Shakespeare purists--don't deny a good story simply because it's not what you would consider "historically accurate." Just enjoy it for what it is, the tragic story of a man who had to hide his art and let someone else take the credit for it.
Regardless of which side you're on (and it is actually a legit debate among scholars) the movie is very enjoyable. It opens and closes with actor Derek Jacobi narrating to an audience from a stage, which presents the story as a suggestion rather than a "here's what really happened." (Jacobi also narrated The Shakespeare Conspiracy, by the way.) The rest of the movie plays out in the Elizabethan era, with all the splendor of period sets and costumes (Oscars?).
As a whole, I thought the plot was very enjoyable and well-written, although the "character" of William Shakespeare feels somewhat more like a "caricature," being portrayed as a bumbling, illiterate drunk (though it is quite funny). Aside from that, I thought the cast was amazing. Vanessa Redgrave's Elizabeth I felt very real. In most other films featuring Elizabeth I, she's a hard, empowered woman who gets what she wants and knows how to rule, but rarely do we ever see her as anything less than a super-strong heroine. This film shows her in the context of court intrigue and personal entertainment. We never see her as the unyielding ruling Queen of England, so she actually comes off somewhat weaker than we might be used to. I liked it. She seemed more tangible, like what royalty would actually be like day to day--somewhat spoiled, somewhat disinterested. That's not to say that the film necessarily shows her to be a snobby brat, but since her role as a ruler isn't relevant to this story, we don't see that side of her, and it's quite refreshing, to be honest.
I thought Rhys Ifans as Edward de Vere was astounding. I already liked him, but in the past I've only seen him in roles as slightly crazy people (Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter) or loser fools (Spike in Notting Hill). In Anonymous, he's all at once suave, aloof, cunning, discerning, and yet somewhat unsure of himself and eager to please as all artists are. His performance mesmerized me. Edward Hogg as Robert Cecil was superb, as well. He totally pulled off the conniving, yet pitiable antagonist.
All in all, I found Anonymous to be a very fun, entertaining, and intriguing film. I definitely recommend it, even for Shakespeare purists--don't deny a good story simply because it's not what you would consider "historically accurate." Just enjoy it for what it is, the tragic story of a man who had to hide his art and let someone else take the credit for it.
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