| Missing the interaction... |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|11:11 pm] |
|
The internet has become too atomized. I miss the old Oni Press Community, and Yahoo Chat. Even Livejournal ain't what it used to be. Twitter is okay, but no substitute. |
|
|
| Sherlock Holmes |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|10:59 pm] |
|
Today i saw the new Sherlock Holmes, by Guy Ritchie, and starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. It was pretty fun, although as Guy Ritchie goes, a little long. If you don't like Guy Ritchie movies, you probably won't like this, although i was surprised that it had the fewest Guy Ritchie tics of his movies i've seen (of course avoiding the ones with Madonna). It's been set up for a definite sequel.
Except for the hygiene (the original Holmes was very clean, just messy) and petulance, it's actually a fairly accurate portrayal.
"You do know what your are drinking is meant for eye surgery?"
Eye candy (and far too young for Holmes).
"Does your depravity know no bounds?"
"No."
I liked the back and forth between the two.
I need you to remain calm and trust me, I'm a professional. Beneath this pillow lies the key to my release.
|
|
|
| Broken Embraces |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|10:18 pm] |
|
On Wednesday i saw Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces), the latest from Pedro Almodovar. It's about a blind author named 'Harry Caine', who used to be a film director named Mateo Blanco. It jumps back and forth between the current era (2008), and 1992-1994. We learn about his past, the past of the two people who help him (one his former producer, the other her son), and the mysterious man who comes to propose to direct a screenplay to be co-written with Harry. This man is connected with the financial backer of Harry's last film, who has just died, and his mistress (Penelope Cruz), who was also the film's female star (and the emotional centre of Broken Embraces).
I really enjoyed it - it was kind of a mix between thriller, romance and melodrama, with a bit of comedy thrown in. The only thing i didn't like was the gay teen was really too 'swishy' (more sitcom than serious movie), although better when older. And i wouldn't have minded some more comedy.
|
|
|
| Post-Christmas |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|04:51 pm] |
Mmm, Christmas. I made quinoa and mushroom pie flavored with dry vermouth, thyme and sage bechemel sauce. (I modified a Bon Appetit recipe for mushroom quinoa risotto, put it a pie crust, and gave it a sauce.) Eet was deelicious.
Brian and I were pretty exhausted of buying stuff so we only got small presents for each other.
My family was astounded by my impressive proportions. I don't know if I'm going to make it to my baby shower. After next week, though, I'm off work and resting. I feel like I waited a bit too long to do this, but I had stuff to do, you know? I just approved some proofs last week. But the way I feel now, I can't even imagine working on Monday. All I want to do is loll around.
I'm passing the time by reading Ulysses. My Kindle tells me I'm 6% finished with it. |
|
|
| Christmas Day |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|07:31 pm] |
|
Yesterday/Friday was Christmas Day.
Man, i woke up feeling so tired.
My original plan was to sneak in a movie in the morning before coming back here, and then going to my sister's for the family thing, but niece Katie and her BF were coming at noon (one a trip back from Vancouver), and i wasn't sure how long they'd have. As it turned out, they didn't get there until 1, with my nephew too.
Eventually, their parents arrived before 2, and that's when we went over to my sister's. We got into the wine and hors-d'oeuvres right away. My other niece showed up after a while, and Katie was there until 4 (they went off to her BF's family for dinner, boo, lol).
We did our gift exchange, though most of us had decided not to buy gifts... except, for some reason one of my nephews bought me a gift, and so did my brother and his wife, even though i discussed with them specifically not getting gifts... weird. I only bought gifts for my Dad (who gave everyone $$), and my two younger nephews (who i thought would still be getting me a gift in return, but oh well, lol).
Dinner was a big roast beef dinner... mmmm.... plus, i had slices of apple and raspberry pies. After dinner, we played euchre - me with my sister and her boys, and my Dad with my brother, his wife, and... not sure, lol. |
|
|
| The week before Christmas |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|07:29 pm] |
|
Well, the past week has been a bit of a blur. I saw Broken Embraces, but which day? Sunday? No... Sunday i went downtown, did some Xmas shopping, bought some pants for myself.
Monday i went into school and finished off Final Grades for the semester. Finished around noon - i think i saw The Princess And The Frog again after that. Oh, i went to Cobourg on a whim, looking for shoes i wanted to get for my Dad.
Tuesday i went shopping - finally found a place that had those shoes (a place i went to Sunday except they were closed). Finished Xmas shopping altogether. Tuesday evening i went to Lisa & Russ's for supper, which was nice. After, i went shopping with Lis, a Christjas tradition.
Wednesday i went downtown on the GO Train, brought some comics to read. I wandered through the Eaton Centre (via Bay-Adelaide Centre - new route). This is when i saw Broken Embraces. I took the 3:13 train home. Well, to The Shwa, the picked up comics, then to home.
Thursday was Christmas Eve. I started my wrapping in the morning, which was when i realized the shoes i got for my Dad were not the right kind, so it was off 'shopping' again (next year, start earlier). Anyway, the owner was good about exchanging - the colour was even better, but the size was one half size smaller. I took them i wear 10.5/11. Stopped at Licks on the way back.
Thursday evening i went over to Lisa & Russ's for supper, and afterward, some Trivial Pursuit and then gift exchange. Fun! Lessee, i got Three Shadows GN, My Neighbors The Yamadas (Studio Ghibli) DVD, a couple of CDs Russ put together (The Dears, Dragonettte), and some other things which have slipped my mind. |
|
|
| High-Tech Christmas |
[Dec. 25th, 2009|12:36 pm] |
One of my Christmas traditions is that every year, I read James Joyce’s “The Dead” from Dubliners on Christmas Eve. This year, for the first time in about a decade, I ended up spending the evening at my parents’ house instead of going home to my own bed. So it was then that I realized I had left my copy of the book at home.
But! Since I now have a Kindle (thanks to a deal I could not refuse!), all was not lost. I went onto the Kindle Store, found a free copy of Dubliners, and before I knew it I was spending Christmas Eve curled up in bed with Gabriel and Gretta Conroy. Christmas was saved, and the future is now. Sometimes, technology is awfully handy.
[Originally published at gregmce.com. You can comment here or there.] |
|
|
| Merry Christmas |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|06:01 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  happy | ] |
Here's hoping all my friends and readers have a merry Christmas.
And you other people too. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|08:03 pm] |
|
http://confessions123.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-days-we-used-to-have-my-top-15.html THE BEST DAYS WE USED TO HAVE: MY TOP 15 MOVIES OF 2009
I had every intention of avoiding the list-making impulse again this year. Every time I see one of those lists of lists, the ones that bloggers like Largehearted Boy make gathering together every "best of" they can find in one place, I disappear to some kind of quiet happy place. There are just too many. What does it all matter anymore? And this year it goes double, since we're also getting decade round-ups.
But then I was out the other night having a drink with Joëlle and she noted that based on the Golden Globes, it seemed like a bad year for movies. I said I didn't think this was true, and she challenged me to come up with my top 3. I vacillated a little, came up with a basic top 3, but said I really needed to look at everything I saw. Which I did, confirming that the guesses I made at the bar were, in fact, my faves. Once I started looking, though, it was all downhill, I couldn't stop.
There are a few movies I haven't seen. Crazy Heart, for instance, has not shown up in Portland yet (though, check Jason Bailey's review). It's one of the few I can think of that might have a slight chance of cracking this block, but I feel pretty confident that I've got a solid list here. All of the links go to my reviews of the films, so no real need to write short blurbs.
Okay, without further ado...
Jamie S. Rich's Top 15 Theatrical Releases of 2009
1. Where the Wild Things Are
2. Up
3. Up in the Air
4. An Education
5. The Informant!
6. Inglourious Basterds
7. A Single Man
8. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
9. The Hurt Locker
10. A Serious Man
11. Moon
12. The Messenger
13. The Brothers Bloom
14. Star Trek
15. Treeless Mountain
If I had to give out a special award this year, it would be to Steven Soderbergh, who entertained me not once, but three times. Though Che was technically a 2008 starter, I saw it in 2009, and alongside The Informant! and The Girlfriend Experience, the filmmaker delivered a lot of entertainment this year.
Then again, Sandra Bullock also made three movies this year, none of which I saw. What happened to you, Sandy?! I used to love you!
For a fantastic summation of 2009, I recommend A.O. Scott's intro to his own list over at the NY Times. He finds the common themes of the year, and I think is very astute. His picks are pretty good, especially his #1. Great minds...
DVD Talk is also currently working on their list rounding up our reviewers' opinions on the best DVDs of the year. This means the best packages of the best movies, not just the quality of the film itself. Below is essentially what I voted for, though I hadn't watched Tora-san yet when I voted. I swapped it with Up, since it had already made the theatrical list.
Jamie S. Rich's Top 10 DVD Releases of 2009
1. Wings of Desire - Criterion Collection
2. Mad Men - Season 2
3. Wendy & Lucy
4. Magnificent Obsession - Criterion Collection
5. The Human Condition - Criterion Collection
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Criterion Collection
7. Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
8. Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth
9. Funny People - 2-Disc Unrated Collector's Edition
10. Tora-san: Collector Set 1
I believe the full results of the DVD Talk poll will be posted sometime next week.
Current Soundtrack: Pet Shop Boys, Yes: Special Edition
e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon
All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich |
|
|
| Big Dog in the Snow |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|03:28 pm] |
Have you seen our favorite scary robot in the snow, or jumping for joy? Probably not!
Posted by Paul DiFi. |
|
|
| Heinlein, Bartender |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|02:41 pm] |
[Click to enlarge.]
I'm not sure if this local RI bar had permission from the Heinlein estate to use his likeness in their ad. But it is rather nice to see the old Grand Master urging us to drink moderately.
Posted by Paul DiFi. |
|
|
| 2009 |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|05:40 pm] |
So. That was 2009, then.
This year has been one of stop-start motion for me, with a fairly relaxed summer sandwiched between two bursts of manic activity.
I spent nearly all of January and February writing the script for DEAD SPACE: EXTRACTION, which of course I wasn't allowed to talk about. If you think that seems like a long time to spend writing a videogame, you clearly haven't played it.
Unfortunately, the schedule of work and voice recording (VO) sessions for the game meant I had to pull out of attending NYCC. This was doubly frustrating, because I couldn't explain why I was unable to attend; then, immediately after the con finished, the organisers announced the next one wouldn't be until fall 2010. Grrr.
When I could snatch a spare moment, I was also working on the second half of WOLVERINE: PRODIGAL SON, Vol 2.
In March, I was finally allowed to announced my work for EXTRACTION, at the same time as I was actually down in London attending the VO sessions. Also simultaneously, the New York Times finally introduced bestseller lists for graphic novels, and to my pleasant surprise, THE COURTYARD was on the inaugural list. I then finished the second volume of WOLVERINE: PRODIGAL SON, and to top off a generally good month I was interviewed on Kerrang! Radio, which put a big smile on this old metalhead's face.
April saw the launch of WOLVERINE: PRODIGAL SON Vol 1, a London press event for EXTRACTION, and the purchase of a shiny new Mac. Behind the scenes, I was writing WASTELAND and the DEAD SPACE: EXTRACTION one-shot comic.
May was pretty quiet. I wrote some more WASTELAND and composed a new song, the eight-minute Carpenter-esque epic Inelisia, for the book's original soundtrack. I suddenly realised that the next few months were going to be pretty quiet, and I was determined to use that time for something I hadn't had chance to do while beavering away on all the DEAD SPACE stuff...
...So June found me commencing work on COLD CITY, a book I'd been meaning to write ever since my stint on QUEEN & COUNTRY. I also allowed Oni to use the first few pages of it for their semi-regular talent search, and digital comics solution Longbox was announced to the world. Finally, I produced a scriptbook, to be sold as a con exclusive.
COLD CITY kept me busy throughout July, apart from the usual pilgrimage to San Diego at the end of the month. I spent most of the con promoting WASTELAND; the full colour issue #25 was released earlier in the month, and the first Apocalyptic Edition hardcover premiered at the show in a limited edition.
August was blazing hot here in Blighty, and I matched the heat with a furious run through the last stretch of COLD CITY. The 180pp Zero Draft clocked in at twenty-six working days, in between bouts of writing WASTELAND, which is undoubtedly some kind of record for me.
In September, the graphic novel of SKELETON KEY went on sale at last, as did the DEAD SPACE: EXTRACTION one-shot, and then the game itself later in the month. Behind the scenes, it was all a bit quiet as I spent most of the time revising COLD CITY and catching up on odd bits and bobs that had built up during summer...
...Which was just as well, because suddenly in October it all got rather busy again when my old friend Andy Diggle asked me to co-write an issue of DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE, and an arc of DAREDEVIL. We spent a large chunk of MCM Expo discussing our plans, all the while being careful to stay out of Rich Johnston's earshot — sorry, Rich.
So November was dedicated almost exclusively to those two books, although I did find time to pitch for another videogame. Watch this space, and all that. The other big news was the formal announcement of COLD CITY as an Oni Press book, and I attended Thought Bubble, which was awesome as always.
And now here we are in December, where I've been doing yet more work on WASTELAND and DAREDEVIL, and have another couple of Sooper Seekrit gigs on the go. I need to hit the ground running in January, so don't be too surprised to see more surprise announcements... in between long periods of silence as I get my nose firmly ensconced in the grindstone.
Happy holidays, everyone. Let's do it all again in 2010. |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
jaydici's Friends Page
