Movie Tip #17 - A Streetcar Named Desire

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter

Description: Blanche Dubois (Vivien Leigh)goes to visit her pregnant sister (Kim Hunter) and husband Stanley (Marlon Brando) in New Orleans. Stanley doesn't like her, and starts pushing her for information on some property he know was left to the sisters. He discovers she has mortgaged the place and spent all the money, and wants to find out all he can about her. Even more friction develops between the two while they are in the apartment together...

Review: I thought, let's go for a real oldie this week. This is my favourite classic movie (hello, it's from 1951!). The story is very simple, its black and white and the movie takes place in just a couple different locations. Be honest, Marlon Brando was a very handsome man in his younger years (reminds me a little bit of Jeff Corwin...hahaha). And his performance is great. He is able to accurately depict the emotion and rage that his character feels. And "STELLAAAAAAAA!"..... just a classic one-liner.

Sexiest men on TV

Recently Simon Baker, from "The Mentalist" was named sexiest man on TV. Well sure, he's an attractive man, but I can think of ten better looking dudes on TV. For instance Josh Holloway, from "Lost", he's gorgeous. And George Eads, from "CSI". He was on the list tough. Just look at the picture and prove me wrong.... Jensen Ackles is maybe my favourite man on TV right now. He's the most handsome man I've ever seen. I said I could name ten so here are the other 7 guys I owe you: Jon Krasinski ("The Office US"), Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Grey's Anatomy"), Wentworth Miller ("Prison Break"), Patrick Dempsey ("Grey's Anatomy"), Milo Ventmiglia ("Heroes"), Jeremy Piven ("Entourage") and Shawn Pyfrom ("Desperate Housewives"). I can go on like this.... So I really think those top tens TV Guide makes are overrated, because last year Patrick Dempsey was voted sexiest man on TV and now he isn't even in the top ten. Like he lost his sexy-ness all of a sudden. Ridiculous.

Friends will be friends

Yesterday I visited my friends Evelien en Irene. We watched a DVD together, Guus Meeuwis in concert, because we visited that concert last year. Because the camera found us (I'm famous!!!) we wanted to watch the concert again, and yes.... it's official: I was on tv. We had so much fun.
Irene is my neighbour and we know each other for about 18 years now. That's a long time. Evelien also lived on our street, but now she has a place of her own. We have been friends with her for exactly 10 years now. Throughout the years I had friends in elementery school, high school, college, you name it. But you lose contact or you see each other only every two months or have contact through e-mail. Irene and Evelien are my only constant friends. We don't spend as much time together as when we were younger, but it's still a great friendship. I hope it never fades away, because they are very special to me. Real friendship is hard to find, but they are real friends.

X Joyce

Pictured from left to right: me, Irene and Evelien

Movie Tip #16 - Return to Me

Director: Bonnie Hunt

Starring: David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Bonnie Hunt, James Belushi, Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia, Joely Richardson

Description: Bob Rueland (David Duchovny), a Chicago building contractor, cherishes life with his veterinarian wife until she is tragically killed in an automobile accident. Meanwhile the family and friends of Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver), a waitress at a local Italian restaurant, are overjoyed when they learn that Grace will finally get a replacement heart (the heart of Bob's wife). Both Bob and Grace struggle to maintain normal lives after these traumatic events, until fate intervenes and brings them together.

Review: The reason that I love this movie so much is because of it's honesty. Both characters are so real and they share some heartwarming moments. My favourite line from the movie is when Bob says: "I miss Elisabeth, but I ache for Grace". That's a line I'll never forget. The story seems a little unrealistic, but the way the cast brought it you just go with it. Bonnie Hunt directed it and was a co-writer. She's done a great job doing both. She made Grace and Bob one of my all time favourite movie couples and "Return to Me" as one of my favourite romantic movies.

Movie chemistry

When I'm watching a movie, I seem to enjoy it even more when the leading actors have chemistry. Especially movies that have romance in them. Troughout the years I've seen a lot of great couples and these are my favourites:
- Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
Robbie Hart and Julia Sullivan in "The Wedding Singer"
- Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling
Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun in "The Notebook"
- David Duchovny and Minnie Driver
Bob Rueland and Grace Briggs in "Return to Me"
- Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson
Jenny and John Grogan in "Marley and Me"
- John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale
Jonathan Trager and Sara Thomas in "Serendipity"
- Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron
Nelson Moss and Sara Deever in "Sweet November"
- Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson
Bob Harris and Chalrotte in "Lost in Translation"
- Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams
John Beckwith and Claire Cleary in "Wedding Crashers"
- Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller
Mary Jensen and Ted Stroeman in "There's Something About Mary"
- Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger
Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona in "10 Things I Hate About You"
- Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in "Pride & Prejudice"

There are a lot more great-chemistry-couples. Maybe I think of some more, but these popped in my head when I started to think it over. I enjoy every couple, every single time I watch them.

X Joyce

Movie Tip #15 - High Fidelity

Director: Stephen Frears

Starring: John Cusack, Jack Black, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, Iben Hjelje, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor

Description: High Fidelity follows the 'mid-life' crisis of Rob (John Cusack), a thirty-something record-store owner who must face the undeniable facts - he's growing up. In a hilarious homage to the music scene, Rob and the wacky, offbeat clerks that inhabit his store expound on the intricacies of life and song all the while trying to succeed in their adult relationships. Are they listening to pop music because they are miserable? Or are they miserable because they listen to pop music? This romantic comedy provides a whimsical glimpse into the male view of the affairs of the heart.

Review: It's one of my favourite movies. It's known for it's strong dialogues and monologues and his extravagant characters. The story is very simple and to the point, but the way it is brought to us is phenomenal. John Cusack plays a wonderfull role (also one of my favourite movie characters) and Jack Black is hilarious in his own way. I like the music in the film and how the guys talk about it. And Rob makes top fives for everything, that's just great. BTW this movie is based on a book written by Nick Hornby. This story is a little different, but also worthed.

And they call it....froggy love

The other day it was raining. When it rains in The Netherlands you should check your yard. Because it's frog time!!! It's hard to see them, but if you look closely you can spot them. They look like a leaf sometimes, so watch your step, but frogs rule. Look at these pictures I made. Froggy love. Very cute and a beautiful piece of nature.




So, rain doesn't mean that you have to be bored. Just go frog watching :) .

X Joyce

Nice to meet you Riley Adams

In The Netherlands they just started airing the ninth season of "CSI" (finally). Last monday episode 3 was on, "Art Immitates Life". It was the first episode with Riley Adams (played by Lauren Lee Smith). She came in and I immediately liked her. She's smart, snappy, sassy and she has a good sense of humour. And she talks back to Grissom, SNAP! She is a great addition to the team and I'm looking forward to the next episode. I think she would make a great team with Greg. I'm also curious how she will interact and connect with all the other team members, because they have been a team for so long. The next new member will be Ray Langston (played by Laurence Fishburne) but here in The Netherlands, we have to wait a while for that to happen.

Movie Tip #14 - Man on Fire

Director: Tony Scott

Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Rhada Mithcell, Marc Anthony, Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke

Description: In Mexico City, the former CIA assassin and presently an alcoholic decadent man John Creasy (Denzel Washington) is hired by the industrialist Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony), with the recommendation of his old friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken), to be the bodyguard of his young daughter Pita (Dakota Fanning) and his wife Lisa (Radha Mitchell). Pita changes the behavior of the cold Creasy, making him live and smile again, and he feels a great affection for her. When the girl is kidnapped Creasy swears to kill each one responsible for the abduction.

Review: If you think about it, Denzel Washington hasn't been in any flops (at least not that I know of). He is in fact one of the most contstant actors. He proves it again in "Man on Fire". The plot seems simple and unoriginal. This is so much more. It's a realistic story, with strong characters and top class acting. Washington and Fanning are wonderfull (together and apart). The story is suprising and mind-blowing. Go see!!!

Simply irresistable

Again, I created a new desktop wallpaper. This time Jensen Ackles was the lucky one, haha. I discovered him in the TV- show "Supernatural" which I absolutely love. As Dean he is wonderfull, but as Jensen himself, in these pictures I used, he's (like the title says) simply irresistable. You be the judge:



Didn't I tell you? Feel free to use it on your own desktop.
X Joyce

Movie Tip #13 - Mulholland Drive

Director: David Lynch

Starring: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Robert Forster, Dan Hedaya

Description: A bright-eyed young actress (Naomi Watts) travels to Hollywood, only to be ensnared in a dark conspiracy involving a woman (Laura Harring) who was nearly murdered, and now has amnesia because of a car crash. Eventually, both women are pulled into a psychotic illusion involving a dangerous blue box, a director named Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux), and the mysterious night club Silencio.

Review: This movie is a brilliant piece made by David Lynch. Like any other movie he made, nothing is like it seems. When you see it for the first time, you might think it's complicated. Well it is, but if you watch it a second (or third)time, the pieces will eventually fall in to place. Not every piece by the way, because some mysteries will stay unsolved, but it's a challange as a moviefan to unraffle those mysteries. I would like to know what goes on in David Lynch's mind when he makes his films.... Naomi Watts is, as usual, great in her role(s). Go see it (probably more then once, haha!).