Review: The Devil Wears Prada

When this movie ended, I walked out and would have walked right back in to see it again if I wouldn't have had to get home. I loved it, loved every minute of it.

I can't remember when I thoroughly enjoyed a movie more, truly. I haven't read the book, and I'm not sure I will now, so I can't tell you how well it did or did not follow through on the original, but the story was great.

Not a new story, no; one that's been told umpteen times...but this one was told so...well...fashionably. And the role of the "Devil's" assistant, Andy Sachs (played by the luscious Anne Hathaway--a breath of fresh air herself because the girl actually has some meat on her bones), was handled realistically.

She didn't make some of the mistakes I expected her to make (having seen this oft-told story played out before)--the tale of an ingenuous and dedicated young woman (or man) who comes to the Big City with the plan of being a journalist (or some other sort of philanthropic position), but who gets sucked into a job in a high stress, demanding, rich world. And begins to fall for it.

It took a long time for the frumpy Andy to really fall for it, and even as she started to on the outside, it took longer before she really started to make the decisions that eventually led to her epiphany.

I bought into her actions and rejoiced when she held back from making choices that I (and every other theater-goer) knew would end in disaster. Yes, she did make some unfortunate decisions, but none that I couldn't buy into why she did.

Part of the reason I so loved the flick was because of the amazing Meryl Streep. She was fabulous...so cold, so cool, and with the flick of an eyelash, she would make her point. This was a perfect role for her and she was magnificent. She never raised her voice, never even raised an eyebrow.

One of the lines that really resonated with me, because, of course, it was supposed to, was when she said to Andy, "Everyone wants to be us." And she fixes a smile on her face, and gets out of the her limo and steps into a sea of waiting photographers.

All I could think was, "She's right."

And then, "But, no...she's not."

Interestingly enough, one of my friends who'd read the book said that she felt that the "big denouement" of the book was a bit of a let-down--it wasn't the big event she expected based on the way the book was set up.

So I was interested in seeing how it was handled in the movie. And I think the way the movie handled it was perfect. It didn't need to be a big dramatic blowout...because that's not how real life is.

Yes, there are people like Miranda Priestly (the eponymous devil) in the world. And there are, thank God, people like Andy...who realize what really is important in life without completely destroying their life before they figure it out.

Anyway, I won't say anything more except: go see it. You won't be disappointed.

Review: The Devil Wears Prada

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/review-devil-wears-prada.html

Crotch control?

Still on the subject of Superman here (although apparently, at least on this blog, the majority of us gals tend to go for that icy calm, deliciously brooding Batman)....

Ted Casablanca, gossip columnist extraordinaire, reports that when making Superman Returns, there was great consideration given to...well..controlling Brandon Routh's--er--package, because, of course, those tights and that little red Speedo-thing leave little to the imagination.

I guess the director didn't want us women (and other interested parties) distracted by, as Ted puts it, a crotch the size of a 747.

I have a hunch, however, that there's been no discussion whatsoever about "controlling" certain attributes of women like, say, Dolly Parton, Anna Nicole, or Jessica Simpson.

Ya think?

Crotch control?

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/crotch-control.html

Superman or Batman?

The new Superman movie opens today, and although I can't imagine anyone being able to hold a candle to Chris Reeve, I've heard really good things about it. Brandon Routh resembles Reeve enough that it won't be so jarring to those of us who remember him from the 80s (and there are a few of us out here, aren't there?).

But when it comes right down to it, I have to say...I'd take Batman over the Supe. All that dark, brooding, masked alpha male...tinged with more than a bit of angst. Yum.

Besides, Batman's strength comes from his brains and his gadgets...not some otherworldly powers that the rest of us can't hope to attain.

Batman is Everyman...or, could be Everyman if he had the gadgets, the mask, the mansion, and Alfred. What I mean to say is, Batman is more of a hero to me because he's "normal" and he makes the choice to step into the role of superhero.

When there's a choice for sacrifice--when it's not a foregone conclusion--it means more.

And yes, in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, I write about a woman who does have "special" powers--not unlike Buffy the Vampire Slayer; but Victoria has a real choice at the beginning of her story. She can choose to to live a normal life and not have the powers; and, in fact, have all knowledge of the world of vampires erased from her mind so she can live in ignorance. But she doesn't.

And therein, my friends, lies the reason I'd take Batman over Superman. The Supe can fly fast enough to rotate the world backwards, turning back time; he can lift railroad tracks and bend them up; he can lift a car and catch Lois in mid-air...he doesn't have the choice. He's got to be a hero. He has no escape.

Batman does.

And besides...I love that mask.

Superman or Batman?

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/superman-or-batman.html

Pinked

My husband giggles like a girl when he watches the original Pink Panther movies, and he's got my kids hooked on them too. They walk around the house pretending to be Inspector Clouseau, speaking in an exaggerated French accent with their lips taut and barely moving. Cracks me up.

One of their favorite exchanges is from The Pink Panther Strikes Again when Clouseau (played, of course, by Peter Sellers) is checking into a hotel. There is a dog there, making threatening noises, and the exchange goes:

Clouseau: Does your dog bite?
Innkeeper: No.
Clouseau: (bending down to pet dog) Nice doggie!
(Dog attacks Clouseau.)
Clouseau: (holding leg in pain) I thought you said your dog doesn't bite!
Innkeeper: That's not my dog.

(This exchange sends my kids into howls of laughter, and even for me, who really hasn't seen the humor in the Pink Panther movies and who doesn't giggle when I watch them--like a girl or otherwise--I can't help but join them.)

However, we saw the new Pink Panther movie with Steve Martin and Kevin Kline (whom I've adored ever since A Fish Called Wanda), and I absolutely loved it. It was ridiculous and silly, but I loved it enough to see it twice--which is saying a lot for me.

(Now my kids and I repeat the scene over and over where Steve Martin is trying to learn how to say, "I would like to buy a hamburger" until my oldest daughter yells at us to shut up!)

So when we were in Paris, it was natural for us to be looking for Clouseau and his ilk. And wonder of wonders, we actually found the Prefecteur where we are certain Clouseau worked...and even got a pic with one of his colleagues. The kids, as you can imagine, were thrilled.







(That's my Music Man, standing next to the lamp at the Prefecteur.)

Pinked

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/pinked.html

Who's it going to be?

J K Rowling says two characters die in the final Harry Potter book--and she hasn't ruled out that Harry's one of them. (Her thought is, if Harry dies, no one can write sequels about him, a la Gone with the Wind, Mrs. de Winter, Sherlock Holmes, etc.).

So, who do you think dies? (And no spoilers from Half-Blood Prince, 'cause I know someone dies there, and I'm pretty sure I know who, but I don't want it ruined for me or anyone else!).

Ron and Hermione in each other's arms?

Ginnie? MacGonagal?

Snape? (Nooooo! Not Alan Rickman!!)

Who's it going to be?

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/whos-it-going-to-be.html

When the mice are away...

the cat relaxes.

Hence, the dearth of blog entries last week.

My Music Man took our lovely munchkins camping with his parents last week, and I had a mother's (and writer's dream): the house entirely to myself for several days. Just me and the dog. We were bacheloretting it.

I had grandiose plans for accomplishing so very much while they were gone. (Heh heh heh.)

I'd write every day. I'd make myself lovely lunches, with a glass of wine if I wanted it. I'd take myself out to dinner at least once or twice. I'd work on my scrapbook. I'd read, read, read. I'd sleep in if I wanted to. I'd stay up late and watch chick flicks if I desired.

Well, I did a little of all of that...but not nearly enough of any of it. Where did the time go?

So now everything's back to normal--and I'm glad for it. But I'm still wondering where that week went, and just exactly what I did during it.

When the mice are away...

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/when-mice-are-away.html

Rumors flying about the 'Net

The 'Net's buzzing with the news that the seventh and final (definitely final, according to J K Rowling) Harry Potter book will be released in summer 2007.

(She claims she is so sick of Harry Potter that she'd like to kill him. I can sort of understand that sentiment; after all, she's been living in the head of a teenaged boy for over ten years!)

Even more specifically, rumor has it that the release date will be July 7, 2007--a fitting array of digits, if you ask me. It's a Saturday, a day that all the other HP books have been released, and Rowling has always said that magic number is very important.

So we'll see. The publisher has confirmed a 2007 release date, but not exactly when.

I'm just glad we have a target, because I made a decision not to read The Half-Blood Prince until the seventh book came. I wanted to read those two back to back.

Rumors flying about the 'Net

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/rumors-flying-about-net.html

Newsflash: Tom Cruise to Sue Forbes

Found this little gem online at Pug Bus.

Tom Cruise Miffed at Forbes over Gay Slurs
By Chip Hilton

Jun 17, 2006, 06:18 HOLLYWOOD - Tom Cruise reacted angrily to his selection as Forbes magazine's most powerful celebrity in the world. What should have been vindication of Mr. Cruise's antic declarations of love for Katie Holmes and his agitated promotion of Scientology turned to bile instead over Mr. Cruise's reaction to several terms used in Forbes' announcement.

Mr. Cruise, who has long been sensitive to persistent rumors that he is gay, was said to be "incensed" at the use of "back-end earnings" in the following sentence: "In a bad year for movies, [Mr. Cruise] still made $67 million on back-end earnings for War of the Worlds, so people are still going to theaters to see him."

Mr. Cruise was further annoyed at the use of "butt" in this sentence: "Despite becoming the butt of many late-night jokes, Cruise and his omnipresent grin . . .."

Although some people suggested that Mr. Cruise is blowing the use of "back-end earnings" and "butt" out of proportion, he is clearly not in the mood to turn the other cheek.

"My client expects an apology or he is prepared to seek legal redress from Forbes," said Mr. Cruise's publicist Ben Stein. "He bends over backwards to accommodate people, and he gets the shaft. He isn't going to take this lying down."

Forbes is not the first to be subjected to rough treatment by Mr. Cruise. Last year he threatened to sue biographer Andrew Morton, who had hired Los Angeles private investigator and former gay adult actor Paul Baressi to probe on-going speculation that Mr. Cruise is gay.

In related news, Hershey, Pennsylvania, known as the Sweetest Place on Earth, has rescinded its invitation to Tom Cruise to serve as the grand marshall of its annual Chocolate Highway parade.

Newsflash: Tom Cruise to Sue Forbes

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/newsflash-tom-cruise-to-sue-forbes.html

Summer Cooler

Had the requisite Father's Day get-together at our house yesterday--it was also Music Man's birthday, so we did double duty. Had a great time, and 'cause I had such a great time, I wanted to share my new favorite summer drink.

Some of you may recall that last year at this time I did a post on making Designer Margaritas (which, if you haven't tried, you really ought to)...but this year, I was looking for something new. So I found a few recipes for Peach Sangria, and tweaked them a little, and ended up with this lovely drink:

Colleen's Peach Sangria

1 bottle dry white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc)
1/3-1/2 cup peach-flavored vodka (Absolut Apeach was what I used; two of those little sample bottles is just about the right amount, if you don't want to spend $20+ for the whole big bottle)
6 tablespoons of frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed)
1/4 cup sugar (Music Man thought the sangria was too sweet; I didn't, so it's up to you if you want to cut back on the sugar)
1 teaspoon (or to taste) of grated fresh gingerroot
sliced (not peeled) peaches
green and red grapes: halved

Mix it all together. Make sure you let it chill for at least two hours, preferably overnight. When you serve it, use a slotted spoon to make sure each glass has some of the fruit.

Yum.

Summer Cooler

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/summer-cooler.html

I'm on Amazon!

You can now pre-order The Rest Falls Away through Amazon.com. I feel totally official now (even though the cover's not up yet).

I'm on Amazon!

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/im-on-amazon.html

Colleen & Diana Take Manhattan

A week ago today, debut author Diana Peterfreund and I were trolling the streets of Soho, looking for body jewelry shops (you'll have to read my books to fully understand why!), great restaurants, and chatting about our new books--the good, the bad, and the exciting about being new authors.

Highlights of the trip included:

• Seeing Diana's new book in her hands--which will be released July 18
  
• Eating at a fabulous upscale diner called Schiller's, recommended by Diana's editor
• Learning how to pronounce the drink "cocotini" (it's co-co-tini, as in a coconut martini...not cock-a-tini)
• Learning that drinking three cocotinis doesn't leave one with a hangover, even if they've been preceded by three glasses of Pinot Grigio
• Having lunch with my editor, and dinner with my agent, and having my career and my books being the sole topics of conversation at both meals
• Having drinks in the Library Bar at the hotel we stayed at, and being joined by an old friend of mine from college (he's a cryptologist who does stuff for the US government that he won't tell me about)

Lowlights of the trip:

• Seeing Tarzan on Broadway (the only good part was Terk, who is a guy in this version, and Tarzan, and the fact that they showed off very nice bare chests during the whole production) (I'm a chest gal)
• Drizzle and rain and 50-degree weather on the second day, and nearly not making it to the theater in time for the show because of traffic
• My flight back from NYC being delayed for two hours, due to said weather problems

Weirdness of the trip:

• Being in a hotel right next to the Scientology building. It kind of creeped me out. I kept expecting to see Tom Cruise or John Travolta lurking about, looking for recruits they could snatch off the street and drag into their lair....
  

Colleen & Diana Take Manhattan

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/colleen-diana-take-manhattan.html

Review: Cars

GO SEE IT. Just go.

I loved it. It's Pixar at its best--way better than Over the Hedge, which I took the kids to see a few weeks ago.

The animation is head and shoulders above Dreamworks Animation (which bums me out because I own stock in DWA and not in Pixar...), the story is actually entertaining and unpredictable, and there are enough adult jokes in it that Music Man and I were laughing more than the children.

Surprise appearances by Tom and Ray Magliozzi (the Car Talk guys), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay Leno and others are a hoot...and all of the car characters so fit their voices. The animation on the cars make them look and act so real and living. I was really impressed. I actually wanted to hug them!

Paul Newman was hot as an old Hudson...his voice is so wonderful. And Larry the Cable guy steels the show as Mater ("as in To-Mater, without the 'tow'). Tony Shaloub cracked me up as Luigi, the tire guy who loves Ferraris...when his dream comes true at the end, I was almost bawling.

Make sure you stay for all the credits, because they do a great tribute at the end to all the Pixar movies, and to one of the castmembers who apparently died during the production. It was great. One of the most enjoyable movies I've seen in a long time.

Review: Cars

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/review-cars.html

A little something

Finally! I've been trying to get into Blogger all day, and it's the first time I've been successful. Just back from my Manhattan trip with an awesome debut author that many of you know...more on that later.

This is just a quick little something so you know I haven't forgotten about you faithful blog readers. (Pete, I'm talking about you!)

First, my second Gardella Vampire Chronicles book has a title!

Rises the Night will be released in June 2007, just five months after The Rest Falls Away.

Second, here's another little nugget I found; a brilliant quote from Gore Vidal:

"I suspect one of the reasons we create fiction is to make sex exciting."

Hmmm. Could this be the reason for the upswing in erotic books?

A little something

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/little-something.html

Review: The Break-Up

Well, I was one of the first to see the new movie that Jennifer Aniston hopes will change her reputation at the box office. I couldn't resist--I love Vince Vaughn, and I was curious to see what this movie was going to be like.

I'd heard enough to know that it was supposed to be more like The War of the Roses than When Harry Met Sally... although I found several things about this flick that reminded me of the old Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan movie that remains one of my all-time favorites.

I do think that the trailers put out the impression that the movie is a chick flick, romantic comedy (that's kind of redundant, isn't it?). It's not. Yes, there are funny parts--how can there not be with Vince Vaughn in it--but it's not a heartwarming story.

In fact, it's rather eye-opening, and realistic, in an uncomfortable sort of way. The movie does a very good job of showing how men and women in loving relationships play games, communicate (or miscommunicate, as the case may be), and how they allow their friends to influence said relationship.

There were several things that reminded me of When Harry Met Sally..., one of which is that Vince Vaughn's fast-talking, snarky humor has always reminded me of Billy Crystal, particularly in that movie. And the opening scene is practically taken from the baseball game scene in Harry..., where the two best friends are at the game, having a conversation.

While When Harry Met Sally... used the differences between men and women as a device to allow a relationship to grow, The Break-Up does just the opposite, using that same divide to show how a relationship crashes and burns. The realism in this movie is uncomfortable at times--as we've all been there, on one side or the other.

Vaughn and Aniston are great in their roles; and the supporting cast is also fabulous. Jon Favreau as Vaughn's pal steals the show, along with Judy Davis as the great Marilyn Dean, artiste extraordinaire (her reaction when Brooke tells her she's going to travel is priceless!).

I loved Vince D'Onofrio from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, but barely recognized him at first in this movie. What happened to him? The handsome, quirky man I remember has been replaced with an ageing, fumbling character that may or may not be true to character.

So far, the movie's done well at the box office, but I think Mary Castillo has a point when she notes that next weekend will tell the tale. The movie had a big opening, but if it doesn't deliver what its trailers imply, the following weekends won't hold up at the box office.

I am curious about the fact that the original ending didn't screen well with the test audiences. I didn't like the current ending; it was too open-ended and left all of what we thought we learned about men and women and relationships up in the air. The original ending must have been truer to the movie; the new ending, I think, is intended to throw those of us who wanted it to ultimately be a romantic comedy, a bone. But the bone didn't work for me.

But, at least Aniston has done one thing: successfully opened a movie one week after her ex's partner gave birth to their child. (Although Vince Vaughn had top billing in the movie; likely due to the fact that he produced and conceived of the film.)

But, does this scene remind anyone else of the opening scenes of Mr & Mrs Smith?

Review: The Break-Up

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/review-break-up.html

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "my husband is a snake..."

Apparently, a woman actually married a cobra in a Hindu ceremony in India today.

The new bride seems very happy, despite the fact that the groom was too shy to attend the ceremony. They used a bronze statue to stand in for him.

The bride described their courtship in this way, "Whenever I put milk near the ant hill where the cobra lives, it always comes out to drink."

Apparently, she and the snake do have some connection: "Bimbala Das [the bride] was ill," Bhoi [the bride's mother] told the local TV channel. "We had no money to treat her. Then she started offering milk to the snake ... she was cured. That made her fall in love."

I'm just wondering about grandchildren.

Just. Wondering.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "my husband is a snake..."

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/gives-whole-new-meaning-to-term-my.html

Mid-Michigan Pinata Techniques

On Memorial Day, we were invited up to the home of our cousins, who live on a small farm in the middle of Michigan. They had arranged for a pinata for the kids.

Since it was on a farm, where there aren't a lot of trees, I thought it was very appropriate and enterprising as to how they took advantage of the equipment on hand to make this work.

Mid-Michigan Pinata Techniques

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/mid-michigan-pinata-techniques.html

La-azy Friday Post for '80s Music Fans

Timothy McSweeney has included this little "imagined monologue" on his site for those of us who went through puberty, dating, and those Napoleon Dynamite years in tune with Duran Duran, Men at Work, Madonna (when she was still a virgin), Footloose (when it was still just a movie), and leg-warmers.

L O C A L R A D I O S T A T I O N ' S
" ' 8 0 s H O U R" W A N T S
A S E C O N D C H A N C E

I remember how it used to be, and I realize how much I miss you. You lost a lot when you lost me. I'm going to make a change; it's going to feel real good. I'm going to be a man in motion. I take a look in the mirror. I want to change my clothes, my hair, my face. I thought that pain and truth were the things that really mattered. But you can't stay here with every single hope you have shattered. I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams. What a pity, you don't understand. I'm going to make you see that there's nobody else here. But your empty eyes pass me by and leave me. I gotta have faith. I would go out tonight, but your kiss is on my lips, and I haven't got a stitch to wear. I want to know what love is. I want you to show me. How can I forget you, when there is always something? Baby, where did our love go? Come and save me tonight. I want to dance with somebody who loves me. Let me be your private dancer.

My God, what have I done?

A man can tell a thousand lies, but I've kept it hidden well. Please don't go. You got what I need. If you want it, you got it. As long as we've got each other. Is this the end of the world as we know it? Hush, hush. Keep it down now. What have you done for me lately? I drove all night to get to you. Is that alright? I would walk five hundred miles just to be the man. My hands are tied. Nothing to win, nothing left to lose. If you leave, don't leave now. Who's going to drive you home? There doesn't seem to be anyone around. I'll be watching you; it's my prerogative. I'm on the hunt. I'm after you. Get out of my dreams. Get into my car. All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here in my car. I know this much is true. With or without you, I can't live. I'd be better off dead than to live without you. Make it easy on yourself. I'll make you fall for me, I promise you. Please, please, please, let me get what I want. This time.

(by Lindsay Hunter, posted 5/12/04)

So...how many different songs can you identify? I lost count at 15.

La-azy Friday Post for '80s Music Fans

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/la-azy-friday-post-for-80s-music-fans.html

Ms. Austen's Unintended Double Entendre

From Emma:

"Miss Goddard was the mistress of a school--not of a seminary or an establishment or anything which professed, in long sentences of refined nonsense, to combine liberal acquirements with elegant morality upon new principles and new systems, and where young ladies for enormous pay might be screwed out of health and into vanity."

Oops.

Ms. Austen's Unintended Double Entendre

http://colleengleason.blogspot.com/2006/06/ms-austens-unintended-double-entendre.html