Monday, December 31, 2007

Because Words Don't Matter


Louis Garrel literally looks like he's in pain while trying to explain his role in Bertolucci's The Dreamers in English. But it doesn't matter, because he only looks hotter while he does it. Who else can wear a hat and a henley like that and not look like an indie douchebag?

Rating Movie Posters

This is the poster for the new Hayden Christensen movie, Jumper. I say that I can't tell this is a Hayden Christensen movie. While that may be alluring for the general movie-going public that loathes his very Anakiness, I don't think that was a very good choice. I would've gone with something more appealing. Something that shows off Hayden's acting talents, like this does. Or this does.


This is one of the new panels featuring John Krasinski in the George Clooney and Renée Uglyweger film, Leatherheads. Good lordy. Jim Halpert has never looked so damn dreamy. Is the movie worth watching? If only there were some sort of glasses that could block out the chug that is Ms. Uglyweger, then this movie might have a chance.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Because Americans Just Don't Compare

Romain Duris is one of the most versatile young actors not just in France, but indeed of anywhere in the world right now. His performances in Dan Paris, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, L'Auberge espagnole, and Molière couldn't have been more diverse. In those films alone, he's played a real estate shark/gangster/obedient son/classical pianist, a straight-laced economics student finding his way in Barcelona, a chronically depressed brother worthy of existentialism, and one of the greatest comic playwrights/actors in history. Even more, he dresses well and he's rather freaking attractive (and even more so on film, somehow). Most young male American actors pale in comparison (except maybe Jake Gyllenhaal, as discussed here).

Monday, December 17, 2007

French Slang For The Day

MDR - While chatting online avec tes amis en France, use mdr instead of lol. Seriously? Seriously. Mort de rire, to die of laughing, may seem melodramatic, but whatever. They're French.

See By Chloe For The Holidays










Nine perfectly pretty dresses for a season's worth of holiday parties, all on sale at Net-A-Porter, and all from See by Chloe, the younger sister line of the house that brought you the Paddington. On sale, 6 of them are between $200 and $300, with the other 3 ranging from $320 to $555. Paulo Melim Andersson is breathing new life into a brand that was losing its direction and all that innovation is trickling its way down. Insouciant, but also unapologetically feminine. C'est parfait! Get them here.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

French Rap or French 1337 - Which is Worse?


French rap is pretty bad. This song, by French rapper Sinik, is thrown even more off-kilter with an English chorus by James Blunt (although it makes the video pleasant enough to watch). The worst part, however, is the use of French online slang abbreviation in this video's comments on YouTube, which read as follows:

"ptiinn j3 kiif la ziik
c3st tr0 bii3n
iil 0n tr0 un3 pur v0ii
t0us l3s d3u"

That apparently roughly translates to "Damn, I love that song, it's so good, they both have a great voice". What. The. %&$#.

Great Gift Ideas

This 3.1 Phillip Lim gown is absolutely stunning. It's so Pamela Sue Martin as Fallon Carrington in the first season of "Dynasty," it's ridiculous. Get it from Net-A-Porter for $995. More a gift for yourself than anyone else, but still...



Mario Testino, photography king extraordinaire, may be best known as a fashion and celebrity photographer, but he's done everything from Princess Diana to Lima, Peru. His latest collection is an assortment of more intimate photographs of mostly celebrity subjects, some of them outtake, some of them just because. It's perfect for any fan of Mario Testino, and even more perfect for anybody who loves the idea of celebrity. Subjects include everyone from Demi Moore to (a shirtless and gloriously dirty) Hayden Christensen. Yay! Get it from Amazon for $27.43 (and free shipping!).


The iLuv Portable Video MP3 & DVD Player is a wondrous little thing. Pop in your iPod and use the 8.4" wide-screen TFT LCD to watch all your legally-downloaded episodes of "The Office". It's chockful of features that I won't even list. Get it for $275 from Neiman Marcus (but probably cheaper somewhere else).

For anyone who loves their digital camera, the Eye-Fi Wireless Camera SD Memory Card is a god-send. No longer must you connect your camera to your computer to download all your photos! This awesome memory automatically connects to your wireless network and downloads them all to your computer as you take pictures, no clicking necessary. It can even automatically upload them to your favorite photo website. Just $100 for a 2 GB card!

A Fanny Pack By Any Other Name...

...is still just as ugly. It's a fanny pack. No amount of Prada branding can make it worthwhile. In fact, it makes it even worse. It highlights the fact that you just spent $535 on a nylon fanny pack. So Neiman Marcus calls it the "Prada Quilted Nylon Waist Pack." It's still an overpriced sack of cheap fabric that wraps around the waist to emphasize you don't belong in whatever country you wear it in. Gross. Bad gift idea!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

A Gas Station Worth Driving 1,159 Miles For

At the corner of Olympic and Robertson in Los Angeles stands just about the most amazing gas station ever. The BP Helios House, designed by John Picard, is just about the most eco-friendly gas station around. It includes "a roof that collects rainwater, a garden planted with drought-friendly greenery, and copious use of solar panels—even the bathroom tiles are made from recycled glass." Pretty freaking awesome. Although I think a road trip there would defeat the purpose...

Elias McConnell Sucks


Is anybody else just not impressed by Elias McConnell? He's not attractive, he's nothing special when it comes to acting, god knows why Gus Van Sant is so fascinated with him. His photography is far short of breathtaking or provocative. I guess maybe this damn VMAN article has something to do with it. Who cares if he's possibly bi? He's barely worth watching. He's certainly not the same caliber as Gaspard Ulliel, who shines in this scene from Paris, je t'aime.

Britney + Somebody Else's Body = New Video!


We all know that Britney used a body double for this new video for "Piece of Me". What I didn't realize was that the editers were going to put Britney's head on somebody else's body. I mean, holy crap, did they not think we'd notice?! Watch about 3/4 of the way through, and when she's "dancing" in the bathroom, it'll be obvious that they poorly added Brit Brit's head to the body of somebody who can actually dance. So, so sad.

Friday, December 14, 2007

The Lovely New Face of Dior Homme

Made in Brazil has the scoop on the brand new face of the brand new Dior Homme. Brazilian Thomaz de Oliveira will star in the first Dior Homme ad campaign under Kris Van Assche. Mmm...

Thursday, December 13, 2007

McFix Yourself A Sandwich


Because even if you can't understand the accents, it doesn't really matter.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Finding X


One tends to blog a lot when one has a 15 page research paper to write...

Finding Music


I've found that a good way to find good music I've never heard of before is to look for the music played at runway shows. Who knows better than stylish Europeans when it comes to stuff you've never heard before? Take the above example, "Melody Day" by Caribou. Maybe you've heard it. But until I heard it at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2008 RTW Runway Show (watch it here), I had no idea they existed. More to come...

Bad Holiday Gifts!

Above is the ad for the apparently slightly effeminate, but super-sensuous fragrances from John Varvatos. Actually, based on the wonderful ad alone, I might be enticed to buy it, if only I didn't already know that it literally smells like tobacco and leather. It's described as a "masculine woody oriental," but I think those last two words could be switched around...

Three Skanky Reasons Why I Read Perez Hilton

One: This is hot.

Two: This is slightly hotter.

Three: This is phenomenally, undeniably, smoking hot.

Edit: If you don't feel like clicking on the above links (your loss...), then please feel free to click any of the lovely ads, brought to you by Google Adsense!

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Posh Spice and Jennifer Connelly, Fashion Muses


Victoria Beckham has been named the next face of Marc Jacobs. Following in the footsteps of such characters as Meg White, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Winona Ryder, and even Dakota Fanning, lovely Posh Spice is a perfect fit for the sort of celebrity-obsessed, counter-culture irony that Jacobs likes to maintain for his brand. The ad campaign will be shot by Jacobs' regular collaborator Juergen Teller.

In an equally perfect pairing, Jennifer Connelly will star in the Spring/Summer 2008 ad campaign for Balenciaga. A longtime friend and muse to Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière, Connelly has the ideal mix of dark, elegant beauty, intelligence and exceptional talent that befits the house. Connelly is the first non-model celebrity to pose for the brand.

Could Posh and Connelly be any further apart? I don't think so.

Atonement in Theatres!


Atonement is out this weekend! If you had plans to watch it, I would highly suggest waiting until, say, a week from Wednesday to watch it. Funny, that's the day I arrive in Seattle...

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Spice Girls!!!



Because you know you love the Spice Girls.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Check Out Val Emmich

Val Emmich has been getting plenty of buzz (from the New York Times, no less) for his generally enjoyable music and his recent guest spots on 30 Rock and Cashmere Mafia. I'll let you be the judge.



Double McFix With Cheese


James McAvoy is in this month's GQ, looking sharp in the best vests of the season.

Also, check out this interview at EW.com, all about filming Atonement. Good stuff.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

McFix in W's December Issue!

If you don't already have the December issue of W Magazine, PICK IT UP NOW. There's a lovely interview and photoshoot with James McAvoy in it. Preview the article here, the rest of the pictures are in the magazine.

The New (Zealand) It Boy

If James Blunt were hilarious instead of mopey, 6' instead of 5'7", adorkable instead of a tool, and had a hot (albeit vaguely unintelligible) New Zealand accent, he'd be Bret McKenzie. He makes up one half of the absurdly funny folk comedy/music/writing/acting/whatnot duo Flight of the Conchords, along with fellow Kiwi Jemaine Clement. He's an odd one. Actually, both he and his father were in Fellowship of the Ring. Go figure. And even weirder is that he looks better with facial hair than without. Anyways, he's hilarious, the show is hilarious, all is wonderful. The first season of their HBO show is now on DVD, so Netflix that ASAP.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Fashion Stuff...



1) Pierre Hardy is set to design a line of shoes for Gap. Hardy was a shoe designer for Dior in the 1980s and he currently designs jewelry for Hermès and unbelievably amazing shoes for Balenciaga, as well as his own slickly modern eponymous shoe and handbag line. The line debuts in Europe and a few other markets by the end of this year, with the American debut early next year.

2) Roberto Cavalli's designs for the Spice Girls reunion tour have been released. Cavalli did the costumes for J. Lo's pregnant tour and Christina Aguilera's semi-pregnant tour. I wonder if any of the Spice Girls are pregnant...

3) Kirsten Chugnasty Dunst will be the next face of Miu Miu. Total downgrade. The current campaign features the lovely Laetitia Casta, while previous campaigns have featured the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Evan Rachel Wood, Selma Blair, Lou Doillon, Kim Basinger, Ludivine Sagnier, Zhou Xun, and the absolutely stunning Camilla Belle.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Hayden Christensen + Awake = Good Trailer

I don't know if I'm even going to watch the movie because it looks creepy and I hate Jessica Alba, but here's the trailer for Awake, the new Hayden Christensen movie that opens this Friday.

Anne Klein - Isabel Toledo = Boring Sportswear

An Anne Klein look by Isabel Toledo, Spring/Summer 2008, which won't hit stores next year

In an effort to update the brand and give the company a stronger, more contemporary image across the board, Anne Klein, a division of Jones Apparel Group Inc., decided a year ago to enter the (already relatively crowded) designer sportswear arena. To fill the role of creative director, the company hired Isabel Toledo, who already had her own eponymous line in the same category and stocked at stores like Nordstrom. The line was meant to compete with other modern American sportswear names, somewhat edgier than Michael Kors, but maybe slightly tamer than Marc Jacobs.

On the runway, there were clear influences of the New York art world in Toledo's use of prints and colors, which is fitting considering that Isabel's husband is none other than Nordstrom fashion illustrator extraordinaire Ruben Toledo. Editors and store buyers loved it, with Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus stocking up on fresh classics, like delectably detailed, printed shirtdresses and crisp white shirts with a gorgeous, feminine tux pleats. The fashion-foward ad campaigns featured Stella Tennant and longtime Anne Klein model Carolyn Murphy in a much more conceptual narrative than any prior campaign.

But, sadly, the designer line is being shuttered in order for the company to focus more on their bridge- and better-priced collections (which have generally been pretty staid and ho-hum for ages). It's too bad because Isabel Toledo was the breath of fresh air Anne Klein, and indeed America's wilting fashion reputation, sorely needed.

The New Versace Man - Dr. McDreamy?

A Versace ad from Spring 2007

Donatella Versace has quite the legacy of employing celebrities for their ad campaigns. On the women's side, everybody from Courtney Love and Christina Aguilera to Halle Berry and Demi Moore has taken a shot at portraying the modern Versace woman. Even Madonna gave it a whirl a few years ago. On the men's side, Tuki Brando (Marlon's grandson) was the face last season, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers filling the slot for the two seasons before that. Now, the word is that Patrick Dempsey, Dr. McDreamy himself, is going to star in the Spring/Summer 2008 campaign. It's certainly a much different image than the one given by 16 year-old, Tahitian-born Tuki. Will all the model-flipping confuse the customer? Probably not. The Versace man is generally really confident in their clothing choices (along the lines of a DSquared2 or Dolce & Gabbana man even) and these ads will probably attract a wider, more traditional client.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Gaspard in a Tub

Dans ma Baignoire - Gaspard Ulliel

Why is he in a tub? Who knows! The real question is: why is he in a tub, fully dressed?!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Oprah's Favorite Things + Nordstrom

Notice anything particular about the three items featured on the Nordstrom.com home page? Those Ugg boots, the Clarisonic system, and the Rachel Pally set were all featured on Oprah's Favorite Things episode, which airs today. It's funny how subtle it is, there's no mention of Oprah anywhere. Buy! Buy! Buy!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Ugh - Downgrade

Simon Pegg, the very ugly star of the very funny Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, is set to play Scotty on the J.J. Abrams' helmed Star Trek movie, due out next year. Previous reports had James McAvoy in the role.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Seattle Art Museum - Oh Lordy!

The Seattle Times is pretty sure that the newly expanded Seattle Art Museum is a lost opportunity and in need of some critical evaluation. Goodness gracious...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Nordstrom - Bellevue vs Seattle


Nordstrom is investing something like $100 million in nationwide store remodels, which is most evident right now in the Downtown Seattle and Bellevue Square stores. Both are among the top Nordstrom stores in the nation (and I bet that if not for the other 4 stores in the greater Seattle area, they'd be #1 and #2). But which one is better? A comparison:

- Nordstrom Seattle has a vastly expanded sunglass shop, while Bellevue's is (at least for now) still in a nook where the concierge used to be.

- Seattle has Chanel RTW and accessories shops, both of which are being renovated. Bellevue has neither.

- Both Bellevue and Seattle have Gucci accessories shops, and when Bellevue finishes renovations, both will have Gucci RTW shops.

- Bellevue is also adding a Dolce & Gabbana shop, which Seattle recently added.

- Bellevue is adding the nation's first (and currently only) Prada shop, whereas Seattle isn't adding Prada, likely because of the current proximity of Prada RTW at both Mario's and Barneys, both within a block (see related post here).

- Bellevue is getting Miu Miu, which only the South Coast Plaza Nordstrom is also getting.

- Seattle is (re)adding an Yves Saint Laurent shop, which Bellevue is not.

- Bellevue is getting Marchesa, whereas Seattle is adding Givenchy. This, more than anything, speaks about the type of designer customer to which each store is catering.

- David Yurman is getting space at Bellevue, whereas Yurman is still part of the Fine Jewelry department in Seattle.

- Seattle has had trunk shows for Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Chanel in recent months.

- Seattle's Salon Shoes department carries a wider variety of brands, including Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Giuseppe Zanotti, Chanel, Prada, Miu Miu, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and more. Bellevue has more basic brands, like Burberry and Gucci, with a smattering of more progressive brands, like Dries Van Noten.

- Additional brands Bellevue has carried that Seattle has not: Narciso Rodriguez, Roberto Cavalli, Burbery Prorsum.

- Additional brands Seattle has carried that Bellevue has not: Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney, Sophia Kokosalaki, Zac Posen, Blumarine, and Chloe.

While not a comprehensive list, the main point is that there's a ton of stuff for any designer-obsessed Seattle shopper at either of these locations. I can't wait to see how the stores look when they're done.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Paris Reviews - Nina Ricci S/S 2008

Magdalena Frackowiak

Olga Sherer

Elsa Sylvan

Irina Kulikova

Kasia Struss

For his latest collection for Nina Ricci, Olivier Theyskens took his signature dark moodiness to the streets of Paris. His jeunes filles looked marvelously disheveled after a long night out on the town. Last season's ethereal, featherlight (and feather-heavy) collection set the tone for the hopelessly romantic Theyskens, and this season he continued his youthful theme with a series of looks that would be perfectly appropriate for the likes of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld (daughter of Vogue Paris editrix Carine Roitfeld) and her European socialite friends. For the girl who loves Giambattista Valli's irreverent-chic party frocks, Theyskens' leggy looks will seem right on target, if slightly more edgy than purely pretty. The silhouette was both lean and languid, with concert-inspired tees flowing with diaphanous chiffon panels attached, paired with pants ranging from cropped, fluid satin to lanky, enviable denim. Incredibly thin leather jackets had an undeniable downtown appeal, while the endless parade of hyper-short dresses (or were they tops?) will fit right into the discotheques of Paris and beyond. One can only hope the heat of spring and summer will keep these girls warm. When the occasion calls for more than just a flirty club outfit, there was an appropriate suit or two for going to the office.

But who says the Nina Ricci girl needs to work under the harsh glare of fluorescent lights? The bulk of the collection focused on evening looks, for the Nina Ricci girl is apparently more comfortable on the red carpet than in a conference call. Building on the success of Reese Witherspoon, whom Theyskens has been dressing in Nina Ricci for the biggest events all year, Theyskens sent out full-length looks not just to end the show, but throughout the whole collection, a less-than-subtle reminder that nighttime is where he (and ultimately his customer) shines. While none of the gowns was entirely challenging or fresh, especially after last season's L'Air du Temps-inspired showstoppers, there were certainly some stunning creations, including a number with the transparency seen on nearly every important runway this season. Theyskens is building a strong, romantic identity quickly at Nina Ricci, so it'll be intriguing to see how he backs these looks up in the stores, especially considering many are either at the upper end of ready-to-wear or are made-to-order, like the demi-couture he favored at Rochas (which has since been closed down). Will there be more of the practical day looks and cozy sweaters in the showroom? Is there a line of high-margin accessories right around the corner? Nina Ricci already has a strong perfume business, and the shoe business has been blooming. Are handbags far behind? Both the boon and the bane of luxury fashion houses in recent years, it would be interesting to see how Theyskens would do it without diluting the house's image.

Nina Ricci is available at Mario's Seattle and Nordstrom Bellevue.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Seen + Heard

Who's interested in useless gossip? I am! Anyways, the word is that for the Spring RTW shows in Paris, someone at Louis Vuitton thought it would be a good idea to fly out the top five Vuitton clients to the show. Apparently, one of these clients was a woman from Seattle, who last year alone spent somewhere around $300,000 on Louis Vuitton clothing. As Vuitton clothing isn't available in the Seattle boutique, she was probably flying to San Francisco (like chic and wealthy Seattleites seem to like) or elsewhere to shop. So LVMH flies her out to Paris and she gets to see the show and meet the people behind the scenes, which sounds like an amazing experience. That is, until LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton head Bernard Arnault asked her about her experience. The woman seemed upset and let Arnault hear about it. Somebody at Vuitton had the audacity to fly her out coach, then put her up in a regular room in a three star hotel, obviously insulting this woman's dignity. She made it clear that if she had known how Vuitton had chosen to accommodate her, she would have chartered her own private jet and booked the penthouse suite of a nicer hotel. And she said this straight in the face of Monsieur Arnault. Keep in mind, Arnault is the richest person in France and 7th richest in the world. He's one of the most influential and powerful forces in fashion. Of course, Arnault was upset with whoever set the woman up with such pitiful travel plans, and I'm betting that person is now out of a job. Sucks for them! Anyways, that's the word...

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Paris Reviews - Balenciaga S/S 2008

Natalia Vodianova - It's been far too long!

Kinga Razjak - Just a bit creepy.

Carolina Pantoliano - The new Brazilian that I absolutely love.

Magdalena Frackowiak - Her name is a mouthful.

Nicolas Ghesquière is easily considered one of the greatest designers of our time, and with this latest collection for Balenciaga, he proves he deserves the accolades. What makes him so special is how deft he is at capturing the couture craftsmanship and attention to silhouette that Cristobal Balenciaga was obsessed with, while somehow managing not to dilute his own strong vision of a new woman. This collection was no different. Florals are coming back in a big way for spring, quite literally. The majority of the opening looks consisted of highly sculptural outfits composed of a different hyper-colorful floral pattern. The shoulders were pronounced, and every look was paired with some intensely graphic gladiator boots, courtesy of Pierre Hardy. Midway through the show came some toned-down separates that could actually look right in place on city streets (albeit some extremely chic ones). The commercial quality went right back out the door, though, as the show ended with a series of strong, monochromatic looks in stiff, shimmery, masterfully seamed and darted fabric. This certainly wasn't a collection of pieces meant to sell. There weren't the bevy of kitschy handbags and accessories that have come to make Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton shows such a repetitive spectacle. These were couture-quality clothes made for the ready-to-wear runway, if only to inject a bit of fantasy and a lot of brand identity into a runway season seriously lacking in both. For that, I thank Mr. Ghesquière. And when it comes down to the bottom line, it's shows like this that get women clamoring for those Balenciaga bags in droves.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Tapes 'n Tapes


Insistor


Cowbell

Tapes 'n Tapes has got me all in a tizzy. Check out the videos for two quite palatable songs from their last album.

Wanted!

Coming March 28, 2008, the new Angelina Jolie (and James McAvoy) movie Wanted is going to be an amazing, if this preview is any indication.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Gossip Boy

I have absolutely no intention of watching CW's "Gossip Girl," but that doesn't mean you should ignore Chace Crawford, the so-called Ryan Atwood on this "The O.C." wanna-be. Especially not when he's been photographed by Terry Richardson, who can make even Lindsay Lohan look desirable.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Young, Dumb, and Oh So Fun...

Ryan Taylor may be big in Canada, but only the skankiest of Americans know his name.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Paris Reviews - Lanvin S/S 2008

Catherine McNeil

Raquel Zimmerman

Sasha Pivovarova

Elsa Sylvan

Serafima Vakulenko

Alber Elbaz pulled off a feat in his latest collection. He created one of the most refreshing, directional collections in Paris, all without resorting to the typical theatrics that lesser designers use to engage their audience. In fact, Elbaz created a collection of flowing, gathered shifts and gowns, and, here's the kicker, all in polyester jersey. The result was breathtaking. Using a palette that ranged from rich, conservative neutrals to modern, deeply saturated brights, Elbaz's fan base of gloriously chic women could easily replace their entire wardrobes. There were belted day dresses, easy blouses, and slick pencil skirts for work, incredibly airy gowns and sparkling sheaths for night, and a handful of satin shorts, tuxedos and trenches just because. Absolutely stunning and sure to fly out the doors next spring.

Lanvin is available in Seattle at Barneys New York, Mario's, and Nordstrom.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

More Parent's Weekend Fasion Show

There are suspiciously few pictures of either me or my model...

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Parent's Weekend Fashion Show!


More to come...

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Movie Watch!

I haven't had time to review the last seven movies I've seen, so I'll keep it quick:

1) Secretary - Love and masochism find a way to co-exist in this twisted tale set in a law office. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (good) and James Spader (weird) in a somewhat slow, very dark and very dry romantic comedy (?) of sorts. 5/10

2) The Ten - Somewhat uneven collection of ten vignettes based on the ten commandments. Uproariously hilarious at times, painfully drab at others, it goes to show just how useless Jessica Alba is as a human being. 6.5/10

3) Get Real - Decent tale of young gay love between a middle-class sweetheart and a wealthy jock. A fairly good watch, but it felt like a play (likely because it was based on a play). 6/10

4) Beautiful Thing - Bland, indistinct tale of young gay love in a London housing project. Bore me. 4/10

5) Black Book - The director of such masterpieces as Showgirls and Starship Troopers (as well as RoboCop and Basic Instinct) returns with this sharp (if slightly too long) look at World War II from the eyes of a beautiful young Jewish woman willing to do what she had to do to last through the war in Nazi-occupied Netherlands. 7.5/10

6) Avenue Montaigne - Exceptionally charming tale of a gamine young woman from the country who moves to Paris to change her life. Like a modern Amelie, except with slightly less magical charm and more of a realism slant on Parisian romance. Very good watch. 8/10

7) Latter Days - Story of a Mormon missionary in L.A. that falls in love with his manwhore neighbor, which results in all sorts of trouble. Campy beyond belief, more known for its sex scenes than anything else, but Steve Sandvoss is undeniably attractive. Watch it on mute. 5/10

More pictures and full reviews to come...

WTF - Sesame Street + James Blunt


I have no words.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Skankariffic - Michiel Huisman



Yea. Sorry. Actually, no, I'm not sorry. He's hot.