Crazy Heart Captures Mine

Remember back in the winter, when I did my Jeff Bridges post? (If not...here it is: http://jills-world.blogspot.com/2010/01/with-age-comes-appreciation.html) At the time, I was reminiscing about his White Squall days, and a little shocked when I saw how he had transformed to play the leading role in a critically-acclaimed movie called Crazy Heart.

15 years had changed the man. Drastically.

A few nights ago, I finally had the chance to rent Crazy Heart, in which Bridges plays the aging alcoholic former country star Bad Blake. Traveling from town to town, playing in bowling alleys and hotel bars, Bad is a shadow of the star he once was, struggling to make ends meet, barely able to afford the liquor that he craves and loves most.

Until he meets Jean. A lovely young journalist, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, divorced and raising a 4-year-old son on her own, she interviews Bad Blake, and the two end up unable to resist one another. With Jean's love buoying him, Bad attempts to turn his life around, by trying to make amends with his own son whom he's been estranged from for 24 years, and by trying to help out with Jean's son Buddy as much as he can. However, alcoholism doesn't just go away overnight, and their relationship is put to the test when Bad can't stop drinking and puts Buddy's safety in jeopardy.

So what did I think of the movie? Meh. Kind of slow-moving. And I had a hard time believing someone young and pretty like Jean would fall for an old soak like Bad, no matter how desperate she was, and no matter how famous he once was. (And yes, I do remember how hot Jeff Bridges was in White Squall. But he carries none of that in Crazy Heart. He looks like the kind of old drunk you might find sitting on a bar stool at Gavan's at noon. On a Monday.)

But the music...Oh, the music. I looooove the soundtrack. I downloaded it the next day, and can't stop listening. Bridges does most of the singing - and who knew he had such a smooth, earthy voice? But the bigger surprise was Colin Farrell. That's right, Colin Farrell! Lookin' kind of goofy in a long pony-tail, but sounding amazing, Farrell plays Tommy Sweet, Bad Blake's protege who's star has risen above and beyond his mentor's. One of my favourite scenes in the movie is when Bad is forced to open for Tommy at a huge festival, and Tommy joins him on stage for one of his songs. Both actors could have a singing career too if they wanted!

The concert scenes in the movie were my favourite parts. The songs are a throwback to the days of Haggard, Jennings, Kristofferson, and Jones (the character of Bad Blake is based loosely on some of those very legends), and they are really catchy country tunes with an old-school flavour. Because the audience hears Bad's "hits" several times throughout the movie, by the end, "Hold on You" and "I Don't Know" are instantly familiar, and just try to get "Fallin' and Flyin'" out of your head - it's impossible.

As you all know, musical discoveries are one of my biggest thrills, so of course I was ecstatic to find a new favourite in Ryan Bingham. He has a small part in the film, playing Tony, the leader of one of Bad's back-up bands as he rolls from town to town. While on-stage at that show, Bad has to stumble off to be sick, and Tony picks up singing "I Don't Know" for him. That scene stood out to me - I loved the guy's voice. After doing some research, I found out that not only does Bingham play the role of Tony, he also sings that song on the soundtrack, along with the movie's theme song and Oscar winner for Best Original Song, "The Weary Kind". In the movie, it's the song Bad eventually writes, and calls his best song ever.

In real life? Ryan Bingham wrote it himself. So cool.

(PS - Yeah. He's hot.)

The songs alone are worth seeing the movie for. And Bridges is excellent as Bad Blake, highly deserving of his Academy Award for Best Actor. If you like old country, it's definitely worth checking out!

Mike...Honeymooning...*sigh*

Still no wedding photos from Mike & Carrie's big day (People hits the stands on Friday), but there's a lot of honeymoon shots popping up on the web. Apparently they're in Bora Bora right now - Mike's special surprise that he planned just for her.

Warning: These pics will probably make you wish you were in Bora Bora with Mike Fisher right now....

Dear LORD!!

Mike & Carrie: Done Deal

This past weekend, at the Ritz-Carleton Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia, Ottawa Senators fan favourite Mike Fisher was married to country superstar Carrie Underwood.

That's right, ladies. It's a done deal. Mike is off the market. For serious.

As a Sens fan - and a Fisher fan - well, mixed emotions, I guess. Happy for him, as she seems like a super-sweet girl, and they seem to share a lot of the same values and spirituality. Hopeful that they share a long, love-filled life together.

There's a bit of jealousy, for sure. I mean, the little witch did take away from us Ottawa's most eligible bachelor. They don't grow too many Mike Fishers around here, y'know. Boys like that are few and far between. And she broke a lot of hearts when she made him a kept man.

But I'll get over that, because I already had to "get over" my main (former Sen) squeeze, two years ago, when Wade Redden got married.

If I could survive that, I can survive anything.

But speaking of Wade...Guess what? He was at the wedding! So far no pictures of the actual wedding have surfaced (apparently we have to wait for People magazine to hit the stands), but sneaky little photogs captured shots of him (along with Shean Donovan and Nick Foligno) lounging by the pool at the resort prior to THE wedding of the summer.

(Yes, that's him wearing the dorky little white fisherman's hat...I love it...)

*sigh* These pictures made my day!

10 Things About Me

So yesterday, I was challenged by my friend Lindsay via her Blog (check it out at http://smalltowngirl-lindsay.blogspot.com/) to share ten things about myself.

This is the kind of game I just loooooooove! I did something similar on Facebook a few years ago, a list of 25 Random Things About Me...So this one's a little easier, it's only 10. But I am going to try and make it different than my original list of 25. Heeeeeeeere we go...

1. In recent weeks, I've come to the very sad conclusion that watching your parents' parents get old sucks. Watching your parents get old sucks. Getting old yourself...well, it sucks. So yeah. 27 is looming, and that SUCKS.

2. I'm in love with a teen vampire. And a teen werewolf. And I don't care if that's not normal behaviour for an almost-27-year old.

3. My 4-year-old nephew and I fight all the time. He calls me names. My 1-and-a-half-year-old niece doesn't even like me. I've barely even held her since she was old enough to shake her head "no". Despite that, I adore them...they are two of my favourite people in the world.

4. I'm terrified that someone close to me is going to name their baby one of the names I've had picked out for years. I'm even more terrified that I'm never going to get the opportunity to use the names I've had picked out for years.

5. Despite the fact that I'm planning a trip down south next winter, I can't stop eating. People talk about getting "bikini ready". I just want to be "bathing suit ready". At this rate, I'm going to have to wear a tent the whole week.

6. There's nothing I enjoy quite as much as a hot summer night at the ball field. The mosquitoes don't seem that bad, and even the beer tastes good. And I hate mosquitoes. And beer.

7. I miss Wade. It's been 2 years since he left the Ottawa Senators for the New York Rangers, and I may be one in a very small minority, but I'd take him back anyday. I don't think my team will ever feel right without him.

8. I love downloading new music and listening to it on my iPod. My latest purchase? Lukas Rossi's new album, "Hollywood". It's awesome.

9. Some of my favourite things: Banana popsicles, my guitar, chips & dip, good books, lip gloss, guys who look good in ball pants, Skittles, my crappy DVD player, friends, floating on a pool noodle, pictures, baby smell, strawberry daiquiris, Saturday mornings, my Blackberry, playoff time, McDonalds, dancing all night...

10. I really want goldfish. I've been wanting them for months now. I don't even know why. Since my dog Jake died when I was 12, I never wanted another pet. And if I did, I certainly didn't want goldfish. I thought goldfish were stupid. But now I want them, and I'm going to name them after dead singers, because that way when I have to flush them, I won't feel so bad. If I ever get them, my first two will be named Presley and Marley.

So there we have it. 10 things about me. Some of them, I'm sure some of you already knew. I'm also supposed to pass this on to 5 other people, but I know a few of you that read my blog and Lindsay's have already posted them in Lindsay's comment section. For those of you who haven't already, please feel free to leave your list of 10 in my comments section!

An RPattz Lovefest

Brace yourselves. This blog is all about Rob Pattinson and how much I love him.

Ah, what a breath of fresh air he was to me over my 4-day long weekend! I'd been craving me some RPattz. And I was fulfilled.

My Canada Day was spent with a group of great friends at the Kanata AMC watching the latest installment of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse. I was so grateful to have some new vampire and werewolf visuals to sink my teeth into.

Seriously, is there anything more beautiful that Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner? Together, in one movie? It should almost be illegal.

Eclipse is when the love triangle between Edward, Bella, and Jacob really explodes. Edward wants to marry Bella, but she thinks she's too young and doesn't have a whole lot of faith in the institution of marriage, having grown up in a broken family. She wants Edward to change her so that she can live immortally alongside him. Edward is against the idea, and is refusing to change her unless she marries him first. Jacob disapproves of the whole thing - the marriage, the changing, everything. He wants Bella all to himself, and threatens to never stop fighting for her, as long as her heart is beating.

Geesh. Is there a luckier girl in the world?

I loved Eclipse, for so many reasons.

I loved that we got to see more of the Cullens, as they rallied together with the wolves to protect Bella against Victoria and her army of newborns. I loved seeing the back-stories of Jasper and Rosalie come to life.

I loved the scene where Edward must sit by during the snowstorm, helpless to Bella shivering in the tent because of his cold body temperature, and having to watch toasty-warm Jacob lie with her to keep her from turning into a popsicle. I loved their conversation, and how they almost grudgingly became friends.

I loved the meadow scene at the very start of the movie, when Edward and Bella are alone and happy and smiling. Those moments are few and far between in the movies. It was nice to see them just looking like a pair of normal, love-crazed teens.

I loved Riley and his vampire army. The scene where they rise up out of the water as they descend upon the Cullens and the wolves? Spine-tingling awesomeness.

What did I not love? Well, Bryce Dallas Howard in the role of Victoria. She didn't fill Rachelle Lefebvre's shoes very well. She was too wide-eyed and innocent. Like a little damsel in distress. Which I know she was supposed to be, to lure Riley into her evil, vengeful plan, but it was a little over the top. Not the Victoria we're used to.

And I didn't love the Jacob-and-Bella kiss atop the mountains. I know the Jake fans were squealing with glee, but despite my finding Jake to be absolutely adorable, I'm still Team Edward at heart. And that kiss just made me sooooo mad. " Kiss me Jacob! Kiss me!" ... "I don't know what happened, Edward...I'm sorry..." Oh you little hootchie!

*sigh* I can't wait to go see it again.

I spent all weekend thinking about the movie, and by Sunday, I needed me some more RPattz. So I headed to the local video store to pick up Remember Me, recently released on DVD. The non-Twilight movie Rob has made between Twilight flicks.

I'm not sure what I expected. I knew he wasn't going to be Edward, and I was prepared for that. But I was not prepared for this absolutely stunning film that literally took my breath away.

I can't say a whole lot about it, because it's one of those movies that you can't know anything about or it will ruin it. A twist ending that floors you, and the build-up to that point is a rollercoaster of emotions - filled with laughter, tears, and heartache. It's a love story, but it's also a family drama, and at the end of it all, it seems so unfair.

But it will make you think about things that you probably haven't thought about in a long time. And it will shake you up.

If you're not a Twilight fan, or not a Rob Pattinson fan, don't let his being in this movie stop you from seeing it.

He's worth it.