Good riddance, 2016.

2016 has just been a heaping pile of steaming shit.  

We lost so many amazing people this year it felt like an avalanche. And we gained...well, everyone has their own opinion on who we gained so I'll let you fill in your favorite descriptor (insert raised eyebrow here).

Last year in February I wrote a post entitled "January sucked" about the passing of Alan Rickman and David Bowie. Then so many more in the ensuing months (Gene Wilder, George Michael gah!!). It was like sand slipping through our collective fingers. There was really no way to get a handle on it. But to end the year with Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds - only one day apart? What the fuck??

These two really did me in. If I was asked to do a top 10 favorite movies list, you all know that Singin' In The Rain and Star Wars would top that list. I've written around these two movies so many times in this blog (I doubt I'd ever "revue" either film because I unabashedly love them both so much.  It would be like a one word post: Love.); they both have been a part of my life for so long.

I feel terrible for the two remaining family members. I can't imagine what Carrie's daughter Billie is going through, losing her mom and grandmother within a day of each other. Carrie's brother Todd, though, seems the most tragic. I saw him interviewed and read some things he's posted. He talks about Debbie telling him she wanted to be with Carrie after Carrie died. What does that do to you, when your mother says that about your sibling?  Is he feeling like "Why am I not enough to keep you here"? He talks about their beautiful love story but does he think "Didn't you love me as much, didn't we also have a love story"? 

I have been mourning the loss of these two women and it's obviously not because I knew them but because they both represent portions of my life. Debbie = watching musicals with my mother and Carrie = my adolescence. I guess when celebrities that you feel a connection with pass away a bit of your youthful idealism goes with them.

A little over a year ago, when The Force Awakens came out, I wrote this about Carrie Fisher:

Princess Leia Organa

I really, really loved Carrie Fisher in Star Wars.  She just seemed like the most amazing woman.  I knew she was fairly young, her mother was in one of my all time favorite films (Singin' in the Rain...in the early days of Star Wars I remember that the talk shows, etc, kept talking about how Carrie's breakout role had her playing off of two men, just like Debbie's.  I felt pretty mature because I knew what they were talking about), and she was so clever and witty in interviews.  I wore gold hoop earrings for like a year because I saw Carrie Fisher wear them.

Star Wars isn't the only iconic film Carrie has been in (When Harry Met Sally..."I want you to know, I'll never want that wagon wheel coffee table."  Classic!).  She works a ton.  She's been in movies and TV shows, has done some voice work, is a great writer and created an amazing one-woman show called Wishful Drinking which I was lucky enough to see in Berkeley when it came around.  And her dog's name is Gary.  Gary Fisher.  So good.

I've always (and still do) wanted to be friends with Carrie Fisher.  When I was young I wanted to be just like her.  In retrospect, I'm sure my family is pretty glad I'm NOT just like her.  I don't think I have enough in savings to go to a really good rehab.

Because I couldn't let go quickly, I watched a couple Carrie vehicles (I just couldn't do Singin' in the Rain or Star Wars...too much sad!).

Wishful Drinking - HBO released in 2010
As I stated above, I had seen it years ago live. Watching it again, though, was almost like a balm to soothe my aching heart. She's so engaging, witty and brutally honest. We know she's a strong woman but the beautiful thing is how she also let's us see her immense vulnerability. And the flow chart of Hollywood inbreeding is nothing short of brilliant.

Postcards From The Edge - released in 1990
I saw it back in the day (I read the book when it came out as well) and I really wanted a dose of Mother and Daughter together. I know what it's like to have a mom as a best friend. It's wonderful and difficult. Having that mother be a movie star...I can't even imagine. Anyway, the film was great largely due to the terrific screenplay written by Fisher. She so accurately captures their immense love coupled with absolute exasperation. It's her truth. Meryl Streep played the Carrie Fisher character. Obviously her acting is always flawless but goddammit I'm tired of her singing (This might be the first film she actually sang in, though. Oh wait, I have the Internet to tell me if this is true. Nope, not even close. She sang in like 3 movies prior to this.). Shirley MacLaine plays the Debbie Reynolds character. I tend to forget, because one has to sift through ALL her crazy, what a fantastic actress MacLaine is. Wowee.

(My drink pairing for any of the above is a nice glass of ice tea. Carrie struggled with addiction so let's honor her hard work.)

And really, the hits didn't stop coming up until the last minute. RIP William Christopher who played Father Mulcahy on MASH. 2016, you can fuck right off.

Here's hoping 2017 treats us all much more kindly. Wishing you all health and happiness in the New Year!





xoxo...hashtagSueslife

It actually IS a wonderful life

Its a Wonderful Life was on the other night. I haven't seen it in a long time so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Deep in my film school bones, I know it's a great movie. Frank Capra, James Stewart, Clarence the Angel. But watching it again...it really IS a great movie. Frank Capra pulls emotion out of people in an almost Spielberg-esque manner (in other words, I assume Capra was one of Steven's inspirations?). It's really funny, too. Jimmy Stewart's delivery is well timed and snarky. I like it! And if you look really close, you can almost see a bit of Drew Barrymore in Lionel Barrymore's face. True acting royalty.

Watching this film got me thinking about my own life. I really do love my life. I don't mean this to sound all Pollyanna. I have issues, everyone does. But here are things I know: I am blessed with amazing people (both family and friends) in my life, I live in the city I've always loved and am so lucky to be consistently working yet get this absolute gift of forced time off. As soon as my kitten settles down, things will be close to perfect (let's not discuss the "baklava incident").

At Thanksgiving I was able to go back to Boston for a week and visit with my mother's side of the family. I wanted this post to be a shout out to my fabulously crazy Greek family (I include the non-Greeks here as well because as you all know, we absorb you if we love you).

The first time I met this group I was 3. I don't remember that time. 

The second time I met this group I was 15. This trip is burned in my memory. My mother took me out to visit her family for 6 weeks over the summer. it had been several years since my brothers had moved out, so I was basically raised like an only child. I lived in a relatively quiet household (Turkish dad... he didn't like hullaballoo) and I was very used to being alone. Well. I walked into something that I had no idea even existed. First, there were so many girls! I lived in a house full of dudes so meeting a bunch of women (all in their 20s and 30s at the time) that were related to me was MIND BLOWING. Seriously. Plus they were hilarious and boisterous and fun! I was plied with pink champagne and side trips to Salem. I was hooked.

I hadn't visited with that family in quite a few years as our lives all got busy working, raising children, etc. Our last remaining relative of that generation is our aunt, Ronnie. A few years ago it was time for her to move out of the apartment she lived in for over 30 years. She has no children so I volunteered to go to Belmont, MA and help with the move and cleaning out her apartment (I terrorize my niece, Laney, by telling her that someday she will have to do this for me. I'm taking precautionary measures by making many trips to Goodwill now). I'm so glad I did because not only was I able to help my aunt but it jump-started my relationship with my cousins. So now I go back and visit every year at Thanksgiving (I may or may not insert some Greek guilt here about my cousins coming to the West Coast to visit now and then) and every time I'm there my Grinch heart grows three sizes bigger.

While I was watching George Bailey's town rally around to help him, I kept thinking about my recent trip and what my family is all about.

• My cousin Cynthia and her husband Joe (honorary Greek) open their home and heart to me every year. When I am there I get the best meals (Cynthia is an AMAZING cook!). We lay around (covered in two dogs and one cat) and watch a ton of Hallmark movies. Well, Joe doesn't watch that many with us. And we laugh. A lot. She is like the big sister I never had. I love spending time with them.
• Like brief sightings of a rare bird, I get sporadic visits with Cynthia's delightful daughter Caterina. I love this kid. She is gonna do great things, mark my words. I love spending time with her.
• My gorgeous cousin Elaine is ridiculously generous with her time (with everything, really) when I am there. I get to see her nearly every day and she drives me all over the place (Massachusetts drivers are a bit scary, so I haven't ventured into renting a car or anything). We have great conversations, even when we don't agree on things. I love spending time with her.
• My cousin Maria is one of the strongest women I know. Even with some severe medical issues, she remains extremely independent. I love spending time with her.
• My cousin Cathy and her family hosted a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner this year. She is the ultimate hostess. We had a fantastic meal, then the men (far outnumbered in this crowd) went to watch football and the women stayed in the kitchen and had a massive dance party. It started with some Greek dancing (duh), then morphed into everything from We are Family to Paradise City. Even Aunt Ronnie danced from her chair. It was one of the best times I've ever had. I don't get to see Cathy's family every year as they travel quite a bit, so this was a particular treat.
• Also at Thanksgiving I got to sit a a table of 3 generations of Caragianis women (Ronnie, myself and my second cousins Caterina and Christina) listening to tales of my aunt's life. She moved to Los Angeles when she was 19 to work for "Mr. Statler" at the LA Hilton in the 50s. She lived in Greece for 10 years in the 70s where she was CEO of a car rental place. Then she worked for a long time at a famous local Boston restaurant, Jimmy's Harborside (http://www.libertywharf.co/home/history/) that often had folks like the Kennedys in attendance. And now she's the "ambassador" at her assisted care facility, welcoming all the new tenants.  She also started a Poker Club, teaching a bunch of her neighbors how to play. It's a dime a game. The best part of listening to these stories was watching the young girls hear them for the first time and realize was a complete badass their great aunt is.

And that's just a few. There are so many more stories. Every day with that group is a treat.

Look, it's a shitty, scary time in our country and in our world right now. This is the first time in my life that I even thought I might need to be an activist. I think it's up to each of us, though, to remember what it is about our lives that make them wonderful. What fills your heart? Remembering these things and making new memories is the only way we are gonna get through these next few years. Right?

Pair this post with a big glass of Ouzo and enjoy some family pix.

These two started everything - my YiaYia and Papou (with baby Uncle Chris and Aunt Stacey)

5 of the original 6 in the 80s. (L to R: Aunt Ronnie, Aunt Pat, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Stacey, my mom)

Aunt Ronnie in 1952 working at the Statler Hotel (dancing with a co-worker!)

Aunt Ronnie now with my cousin's new puppy. She LOVES dogs!

Cousins dancing!

In case there is any doubt Cynthia and I are related.

Happy holidays everyone!

xoxo...hashtagSueslife

Travelog or Shit I Watched on the Plane v2

Hi gang! Wishing you all a happy and harmonious Thanksgiving!

As you know if you've been reading my blog, I'm currently not working. I made the decision to travel a bit while I'm off work and take advantage of being a freelancer. I always envied people who would work a few months then take a significant amount of time off to travel. I did the "Sue is a worrywart" version of that. I went to Chicago for a long weekend at the end of October (blog post pending on Chi-town movies) and most recently (like I got home a few days ago) I went to Malaysia. I'd been to Kuala Lumpur (KL) once many years ago and had always wanted to go back and check out the beaches. My dear friend Rachel and her boyfriend Stefan are currently traveling the world and agreed to meet me there for this trip. (You can read Rachel's post about our trip here: https://rachhitstheroad.com/2016/11/15/penang-with-friends/) Another friend, Dave, also signed up to join us so we had an instant party.

We had a great time. We traveled around Penang, which is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of the Malaysian peninsula. There is honestly not a ton to do there but lay around by the pool or beach (sadly the ocean has a ton of jellyfish and even though Dave valiantly volunteered to pee on any of us if we got stung, we stuck to swimming in the pools) and eat amazing food. Malaysia has a big Chinese and Indian population, so the food was varied and fantastic.

Before I get into the shit I watched on my various flights, I thought I'd share a bit of my travels with you guys.

• The first leg of my flight was SFO to Hong Kong. It left at midnight and I had a middle seat (poor planning on my part) in between an Indian woman who spoke a bit of English and a Chinese woman who spoke no English but talked anyway at top volume and employed elaborate and energetic pantomime to communicate (later, the Indian woman indicated to me that she thought the Chinese woman might be hard of hearing. I think she was right.). At one point I was searching for a movie to watch and stopped on one selection to read the description. The Chinese woman started talking at me and waving her hands. I said "oh, you want me to watch this?" and she finally reaches over and selects the movie to play. This is a two part procedure, so she CLEARLY wanted me to watch. I had to laugh and said "okay, I'm gonna watch this one". She looked very pleased.
• I flew in the day of the election, so we followed the results the next morning. We started drinking necessary gin and tonics at 11am.
• I know for me (and I think for Rachel, too) it was nice to be with like-minded American friends since we were so far from home. I really felt the distance, watching the debacle from Penang.
• We saw two EPIC thunderstorms. One was in Kuala Lumpur and one was in Batu Ferringhi (and yes, I constantly worried that Romulans or Klingons would attack us). We sat outside (under cover) for both of them and, being a California drought girl, these were two of my favorite moments. I think Stefan (a German) thought I was crazy to be so excited about rain, but seriously it was gorgeous.
• We got very creative.
• We thought of a name for Dave's first born (although I don't believe there are any plans for a first born any time soon): Noodles.
• We named two street dogs and one street cat the same name (Malaysia is clearly not big on neutering animals): Balls
• We discovered a new disease: Hand Tourette's. This is when you uncontrollably flip people off (can be done in several languages).
• We met super interesting people.
• We got some lovely coconut ice cream milkshakes in Batu Ferringhi. There was a "charming" little urchin who apparently knew the shop owner. He was drinking something out of a bag (I saw several of these around, our drinks came in a huge palm tree glass. Sigh) so I smiled at him and asked "What are you drinking?" He shot me considerable side eye and said "Something else." Wow.  Yummy milkshakes in silly cups

• One night in Georgetown, Rachel and I were having a drink in a bar called Junk. Contrary to it's name, it was a nice little bar with great drinks. We went there twice. This time we were sitting outside and suddenly the bartender told us someone inside was buying drinks for the whole bar. The someone in question was a guy named Sonni. Yes, with an I. Sonni apparently was a Malay man who was living in Singapore. He was sitting with two Brits (Luke from London and Connor from Cornwall (I REALLY wanted Connor to look like Poldark and while he was pretty darn cute, he was no Aidan Turner)) who he had just met that night. They had multiple buckets of beer and packs of cigarettes in front of them, all courtesy of Sonni. I asked Luke why we were all getting free drinks and Luke's theory was that Sonni was a drug dealer. We ended up sitting with them for a while and making Stefan come join us because a) safety and b) he just had to see this. By time we left, Sonni looked like he was going to pass out on the bar. Good times.

Now to get on to some Revues:

USA to HK:

Secret Life of Pets - released in 2016

Last time I did a "shit I watched on the plane" I talked about Sleeper Films, which are movies that make you fall asleep. Unfortunately (because you all know I love me some animation) this was one of those. To be fair, I was taking a midnight flight so I was super tired, but it still didn't keep my attention. I'm willing to give this movie another try, though.

Thumbs middle.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - released in 2016

This is the movie the Chinese woman chose for me. I doubt I would have chosen it for myself but it kept my attention. I watched the show intermittently so honestly I was left a bit "meh" about this one.

Thumbs middle.

HK To Singapore:

The Boss - released in 2016

Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Bell are in everything this year. I know this movie didn't get good reviews, but I really enjoyed it. There is no doubt that it has a simple. overused plot (it's a Grinch storyline) but McCarthy and Bell are both charming and funny and the kid actors were good too. Simple storylines tend to work best on multi-leg flights anyway, so it was a perfect plane movie.

Thumbs up!

In Kuala Lumpur

The Nice Guys - released in 2016

We had an fantastic hotel in KL for one night, so instead of hoofing it around town (we had also lived through one of the epic thunderstorms and gotten soaked on our way to tour Petronas Towers) we decided to have a movie night and bask in our amazing hotel with the perfect view. This movie stars Ryan Gosling (hey girl!) and Russell Crowe. We weren't sure if it was supposed to be a comedy or not, but the bottom line is neither of those guys do comedy particularly well. Also, it takes place in the 70s, so it felt a bit like it was trying too hard to be like Boogie Nights. Meh.

Thumbs middle.

View from my bedroom in KL!

Singapore to HK:

Bad Moms - released in 2016

The bad moms are played by Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell (see, she's EVERYwhere!) and Kathryn Hahn (who is hilarious!!). Again, simple plot - basically Mean Girls with adults. But it's irreverent and funny (I LOL'd) and super easy to watch on a plane. I think this was my favorite thing I watched on this trip.

Thumbs up!

HK to USA:

Emerald Green  - released in 2016

This is a German fantasy film (possibly YA?) about time travel which is why I picked it (I love time travel!). It is clearly a sequel and by doing a little research it appears that its the third movie in the Red Ruby trilogy.  Its about a girl who is part of some kind of time travel society. It concludes the story, but I was able to still piece some of it together (even with subtitles!). I enjoyed it (although it's very much like a book series I just read - The Chronos Files series) and will see if I can find the other two films so I can get the whole story. 

Thumbs up!

Central Intelligence - released in 2016

I so so love the Rock. He can really do no wrong! Including being in movies with Kevin Hart.  This movie is cute and again with the simple plot. I was tired and jet lagged yet I still was able to figure out the plot twist very early on. What made up for the simplicity was the fact that the Rock is always able to infuse some heart in his films. And he has such a good sense of humor - as evidenced by the fanny pack, love of Sixteen Candles and the unicorn t-shirt. Also, Melissa McCarthy has an adorable cameo (because she's in everything).

Thumbs up!

My takeaways:

#1 - I flew Singapore Air and I highly recommend them. My favorite long distance airline is still Emirates but Singapore Air is a close second. Clean, comfortable and on time!

#2 - I really enjoyed seeing more of Malaysia. The beaches are lovely and the people are even lovelier.

#3 - For some reason, I'm having a hell of a time with jet lag. So while I'm likely to be napping all day, if anyone wants to chat between 3am - 6am, I'm available!

xoxo....hashtagSueslife

Trick or Treat!!

Hey Tricksters! Happy Halloween!

Quick update on me:  I'm not working at the moment. I am on hold to go back to work in January, so I'm trying to be a proper freelancer and be....free. I'll be doing a bit of traveling (I'm sure you'll all look forward to another version of Shit I Watched On The Plane) and I'm trying to enjoy my time at home (while still keeping options open for full time employment).

I could tell you about how on Friday mornings I watch a couple episodes of Fantasy Island. Mr. Roarke is as officious as ever and every time they have a story line with a dancer, they use a "stunt dancer" (my terminology...I'm sure they don't even get a credit). It's always a woman who looks marginally like the actress she's dancing for, but you can TOTALLY TELL. Disappointing.

I could also tell you how I talk to various animals I see when I'm out walking. Last week it was an adorable gray mouse I saw in someone's garden. Today I saw a raven. I said "Hey, Tall" (it was huge) and it spat back, "Nevermore." Dick.

Or I could tell you how I watched the new Ghostbusters the other day. It was really good. Made me laugh out loud multiple times (Chris Hemsworth is great in it although I missed his Thor voice). My biggest takeaway, though, is how it seemed that Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy stepped back and really let Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon shine. Both those women were fantastic in it and if that's really how it went, it makes me like Kristen and Melissa even more. Also, I adored that all the original Ghostbusters had cameos (including Annie Potts!) and the film was dedicated to Harold Ramis.

But instead, one of my favorite people in the world asked to be a Blogguest for the Halloween post.  You've met her here before - say hello to Lisa Franklin. She and I bonded back in the day over horror films, so this is extra special for me. Her post gives us her spooky favorites - cross genres! It's amazing and I highly recommend you click on each link she's included - you won't be sorry.

(I suggest pairing this whole post with a pumpkin spice latte - you'll see why)

Enjoy, my friends. And be careful out there tonight.

Spooky Faces – Guinea Pigs and Pumpkin Spice Latte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IZCHaBlH64

Okay.  So, maybe I have watched this video at least 10 times and like classic literature and film, I get more out of it each time I repeat the experience.

“What are you watching?”

“Watching an ad for Pumpkin Spice Coffee”.

Listen to the orange and white guinea pig on the left.  The bossy one on the right is the loudest and drowns him out a lot, but he says some funny shit.  And, my favorite is when the orange and white guinea pig (GP), puzzled at the flavor of pumpkin, says, “But pumpkin doesn’t taste like anything.  It’s like squishy nothing.” And the bossy GP says, “It’s what they put in pumpkin to make it more interesting,  like cinnamon and nutmeg.”  At the same time the orange/white furry fella is saying, “And spooky faces”.  Bossy says, “What did you just say?” “Spooky faces. They carve them…”  And Bossy says irritatingly, “No, that’s something else”.  “Ohhhh…kay….”, says orange/white sarcastically.

For some reason, this amuses the hell out of me every frigging time.  My friend Traci and I will just randomly say, “Spooky faces” because it cracks us up.  Don’t know if it is just me, but give it a listen/watch…and then do it again about ten times.  Ahhh….  Life is spooky good….

Spooky Music – Swans Latest Release “The Glowing Man” (album)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka_hKb7dSiY

Wanna hear some spooky music while you are going to sleep or running or to accompany that 4:20 break?   I heard Swans’ newest release “The Glowing Man” (played by KALX in Berkeley, which I stream at work… Love you KALX!!) and thought it was the Butthole Surfers.  Then KALX played it a day later and I Shazamed it and noted that it was Swans. 

I have come late to the Swans dark party (“The Glowing Man” is their 14^th release and they claim their last).  Back in the 90’s when I lived in San Francisco, a friend of mine told me they were “industrial noise” and so I never paid much attention to them, not being into that genre.  After hearing a song from their  newest a few months ago, I downloaded “The Glowing Man” and listened to it at the beach with my then new Bose headphones and…  kapow!  I was completely hooked!  I listened to it when I ran and I listened to it when I slept (it would violently wake me up in the middle of the night when the music would suddenly crash voluminously.  Always accompanied by lucid dreaming.). 

“The Glowing Man” is meditatively trancy and builds up like a cresting wave that keeps rising and rising and rising but doesn’t drop when you expect it to (actually, I said the same thing about labor).  The tension becomes almost unbearable and yet it still keeps building upon itself.  When the crash finally comes, it is startling and sensually gratifying (not so much giving birth…).  

I hear traces of Sonic Youth, the aforementioned Surfers, a taste of “Blows Against the Empire” guitar, and Swans’ own unique brand of dark.  Front man Michael Gira has said in past interviews that he gets some of his lyrics from a part of him called, “Joseph”.  The title song, “The Glowing Man” contains the following lyrics:

“Joseph is standing behind my back

Joseph is digging his hands in my chest

Joseph is drinking the light in my lung

Joseph is moving his tongue in my neck

Joseph is riding a vein in my head

Joseph is cutting my arm on his bed

Joseph is making by body fly”

Gira sings these lyrics with an intensity that gives you goosebumps and sucks you into his dark world.

My 16 year old daughter, Ari, and I took the train up to L.A. to see “Swans” live – for their supposedly last tour.  The band is known for being uncomfortably loud, and we had come prepared with earplugs - - three different kinds – and they lived up to their rep.  Playing non-stop for almost three hours, it was less concert and more a spiritual experience.  We stood swaying, transfixed.  The bass smacked into our chests and the drone of the music had the audience rocking back and forth as if we all were at the Wailing Wall and Gira some rabid rabbi.  I had known it was going to be a unique experience, not just a concert.  Ari loved it.  She has only been to two other concerts:  Rhianna and Of Monsters and Men/Amason.  I have been to an endless amount of shows and she and I both said it was one of the best concerts we had ever been to.  I hope it remains that way for her. 

For a beautifully written review, read:  “Unraveling the Infinite – Swans’ ‘The Glowing Man’” by Dave Cantrell.  http://stereoembersmagazine.com/unraveling-infinite-swans-glowing-man/

More spooky music:  The band My Bloody Valentine.  Still holds up….  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMjc4oz0mY

Spooky Stories – “The Magnus Archives”

I like falling asleep to creepy stories so I downloaded the podcast, “The Magnus Archives”.

http://rustyquill.com/?cat=15

Welcome to the Magnus Institute where Jonathan Sims (the name of the podcast’s writer and the name used for the head archivist of the Institute) records the statements of individuals who have had unexplained experiences that include forays into the macabre, psychological horror, and the grotesque.

Writing in this genre has rarely been accomplished better than Sims’ writing is here.  I find “Archives” to be as clever as Rod Serling’s stories and as well written as some of the other writers’ that Serling had on “The Twilight Zone” including Richard Matheson & Ray Bradbury.  Fighting words indeed.  But give “The Magnus Archives” a listen in a dark room, at night, by yourself……

Spooky Movie – The Haunting (1963)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcKycxJxVWM

 

This movie holds a very special place in my spooky heart.   I don’t remember how old I was when I first saw it, but I have seen it many times, including on the big screen, and it is number one on my personal list of scary films. 

Participants are invited to spend a few evenings at the haunted Hill House by a researcher on psychic phenomena so that he may record any paranormal events that may ensue.  And ensue they do.  The invitees have been specifically selected because of their past experiences with the paranormal.  These include two women:  Eleanor, a lonely “spinster” who comes to Hill House to get away from her own desperate life and Theo, who has ESP and an eye for Eleanor.  I can’t remember if the story by Shirley Jackson had the not-so-veiled tones of lesbianism in her story, but this film plays them out in 1963’s nuanced glory.  According to Wikipedia, this was one of the first films to “depict a lesbian as feminine and not predatory. According to Harris (who plays Eleanor), however, film censors demanded that Theo never be shown to touch Eleanor in a sensual or suggestive way, to keep the lesbianism less obvious”.

The beautiful black and white cinematography and editing creates a stunning visual horror masterpiece.  But what I believe makes the film so memorably frightening are the sound effects.  Director, Robert Wise, used his past experiences as a sound editor to impeccably frightening use by bordering silence with breathtaking noises.  When Hill House comes alive, it screams, pounds, and pants.  Doors deep breathe, footsteps patter down hallways, a deafening heartbeat is heard.  Although the viewer and the film’s characters see very little in the way of the origins of these sounds, the aural assault has wormed its way into your psyche.  You clutch at a blanket or a loved one in an effort to soothe yourself from this fingernails-on-chalkboard sensual attack.

This movie should be paired with a human you trust.

And pair your October with all of the spookiness above!!  Happy All Souls Eve everyone!

xoxo...hashtagSuesLife and Lisa

Hedwig (no, not the owl)

Back in 2001, my dear friend Gareth suggested we go see this new film that just came out, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I hadn't heard anything about it and it was playing at one of the art theaters in San Francisco, the Lumiere. I know this is a terrible thing for a film student to say, but I generally dislike art house theaters. They are typically tiny with sticky floors and undersized screens, smell of pretentiousness and have bad popcorn. So I prepared myself for an evening of snooty, slow paced "cinema".

Well. What I got was NOTHING that I expected (that's not entirely true...still sticky floors and small screens). I was blown away. I immediately went out and got the cd (2001, people) and listened to it over and over and over.

Now here we are, 15 years later. Finally the Broadway version of Hedwig has come to San Francisco, so I ran out to see it. And by "ran out to see it" I mean I bought tickets in December 2015 to see a show in October 2016. It stars Darren Criss (Glee) as Hedwig and Lena Hall (who won a Tony for her performance on Broadway) plays Yitzhak.  

Seeing the live performance made me want to watch the movie again, so here are my thoughts on Hedwig - live and on celluloid.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch - released in 2001

SNH performance - October 2016

I try to do my homework for these blog posts, usually to make sure I'm not writing something blatantly untrue or just plain dumb (and it happens anyway, so I apologize!). In a weird moment of serendipity (?), I was going through old papers the week before I saw the live performance and found an interview with John Cameron Mitchell (writer, director, star) that I printed out in January of 2002 (yes, this is why I was going through old papers. I recycled/shredded over 100 lbs of paper). Nice timing. I saved this from the shredder for the moment.

Additionally, my pal David had tickets and invited me to a Q&A with Darren Criss, Lena Hall and Stephen Trask (wrote all the Hedwig music). It was super interesting and they ended up playing a couple songs which resulted in me becoming an immediate Lena Hall fan.

Homework done!

The story of Hedwig metamorphosed out of John Cameron Mitchell (JCM) and Stephen Trask working on a show concept. JCM was inspired by a babysitter he had when he lived in Kansas and wanted to do add a scene with her. She was a German army wife. They did a sort of open mike night at a drag club and it was immediately popular. Hedwig was born. Now that they had a path, JCM mentions that the story is influenced by a Plato tale. They developed it primarily in clubs before it hit Off Broadway.  

The live performance differs significantly from the film. It's just Hedwig, Yitzak and the rest of the band in a one-night gig. Well, and the wigs.  

Hedwig talks us through her emotional arc. The SNH performance is great. They clearly keep the show vital by adding topical banter (we had some jokes about the upcoming election). The set appears to be a junkyard with a broken down car that not only elevates Hedwig onstage when needed but also serves as a dressing room for quick costume changes. Darren Criss is a really strong singer and performer. He is really charming and funny, particularly when he interacts with the crowd. And I can't say this enough, Lena Hall is fantastic. Her voice is amazing and, well, really Broadway. You know...there's just something different when it's live.  

The show also did a really clever thing...they said that the night before there had been a performance of Hurt Locker: the musical, which closed after the first act. To flesh this out, there were Playbills all over the place for the Hurt Locker performances, starring Bobby Cannavale and Taye Diggs! Music and Lyrics by Metallica and Stephen R. Schwartz, HA! And, I really hope there is a person in real life named Hunter Taylor Thompson-Tyler, who also stars. Cuz that name is frickin' awesome! Songs include "Baghdad Mornin' (Hello, Hazmat)" and "What's With All These Goats?"

I'd love to know who put all that together. Amazing.

But I'm not gonna lie. I love love love the movie. JCM is brilliant as Hedwig. In sharp contrast to the live performance, Hedwig says very little when not on stage (we are with her through a whole tour this time, playing Bilgewater Restaurants in the same cities that Tommy Gnosis is playing...yes, she's a stalker). JCM's facial expressions are subtle, gorgeous and eloquent.

Andrea Martin plays Hedwig's tour manager. I think her role is essentially the moral compass of the film, trying to keep Hedwig in line despite Hedwig trying her hardest to implode.

This story is a story of someone who is terribly broken; she has been pulled apart literally and figuratively and is desperately trying to figure out how to fit in the world.  Through her tour (or the narrative of her one-night only show) we see her put herself back together again. It takes love. Self love. JCM talks about the wig being a protective cloak and when Hedwig no longer needs it, she passes it to Yitzak. I love this interpretation.

Thoughts on live vs. film:

• I saw this with Beth and Todd (natch). Beth's hairdresser had told her she thought Darren Criss was too buff for this role and it's true that JCM is much leaner and more feminine. But after watching the film I think I'd describe it like this: Darren Criss does a great job playing Hedwig, the drag queen. JCM is Hedwig. He exudes Hedwig out of his very pores.
• Darren Criss has a great voice. Not "Broadway" but did a good job on all the songs. JCM tears the songs out of himself. It is a visceral experience. You hear every bit of crazy emotion pouring off him in every note. 
• Whichever presentation one prefers, this story is a beautiful depiction of a broken person putting herself together. Hedwig is absolutely the phoenix rising from the fire.
• Also either way you want to see it, the music is awesome! Stephen Trask's lyrics are heartfelt and tell the story perfectly (just how songs in a musical should be!). Additionally, he's in the film as a band member. AND...Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) performs on the film soundtrack. That's just cool.

(My drink pairing for the live performance was a lovely house gin and tonic from Whitechapel SF http://whitechapelsf.com. I highly recommend them - cool steampunk atmosphere and super yummy drinks. Get there early, though, it fills up fast.)

My takeaways:

#1 - Tommy Gnosis was played by Michael Pitt in the film.  He's great.  Apparently he frequently plays sociopaths on TV...just saw him in an old Law & Order: SVU.

#2 - This whole post may have been affected by a "what you see first is what you always like best" type of thing.  Sorry!

#3 - I believe this movie singlehandedly schooled us belly dancers on how to do great glitter lippy.

xoxo...hashtagSueslife

RIP Gene Wilder

2016 has really been a shit year for celebrities.  Just fucking brutal.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the moviemaking of another wonderful actor we have lost - Gene Wilder.  

Gene Wilder, born Jerome Silberman, had an extremely successful career. This was despite the fact that most of his movies were flops. He was in a handful of hit movies - each one of them was seminal works in their own way. The crazy thing, though, is that he was in a shit ton of stinker movies. Movies that folks don't even know existed (or have forgotten). I think he had more flops than hits, but his hits were ginormous (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, for instance).

I have a warm spot in my heart for some of the borderline stinkers (I always loved Silver Streak with Richard Pryor and Jill Clayburgh) but the movies I thought of immediately upon losing him were the films he made with Mel Brooks. These movies are pure genius. So it's these I wanted to see.

The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein. That's a ridiculously amazing line up.

I've seen all of these multiple times in my youth. I mean MULTIPLE times. Each of them are very different than the other, and so so funny. Like LOL-in-my-house-alone funny. The magical thing about Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks partnership is the heart they brought to these films. What I didn't realize when I was young and amused (yet slightly horrified) at the truly audacious shit in these movies was that these would have been nothing...they would have been Porky's...without that heart.

Now I'm expecting that all of you have seen at least one of these films. If you haven't seen them all, I highly recommend that you do. Completely worth your time.

As I watched this time, I was also struck by how many of these amazing actors show up in multiple Mel Brooks films (Gene, Madeline Khan, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman). He also had a strong base of brilliant character actors that he used frequently (Kenneth Mars, Liam Dunn). You got to hand it to Mel Brooks - he obviously knew talent when he saw it, grabbed it and hung on. Christopher Guest HAD to have been influenced by this recipe for success:

Get a smart, collaborative, hilarious, amazing bunch of performers together. Check.  

Give them a sturdy foundation (a story with heart) on which to build their performances. Check.  

Let them improvise scenes and ideas. Check. 

Hilarity ensues. Check check check!

Obviously I focused on Gene Wilder when I watched this time. Some things about him:

-His eyeballs. Wow. Just beautiful. They take up half his face! They are soulful and expressive. Sometimes adorned with eyeliner. (Which just makes them more lovelier, actually.  Yes, I'm a girl of the 80s.)

-His hair. Oh Gene. I wish I knew you then. I would introduce you to the haircare regime I've adopted and your locks would be your friend, not your enemy. Sure I use 6 different products (5 for washing alone) but whatevs. Alas, that wasn't meant to be. Frizz it is.

-His mouth. Small, well formed, so delicate. Together with the eyes it created a perfect canvas to create every performance. There's also an almost lisp which adds to the overall vulnerability and is very appealing.

-His talent. We all know him from films, but he actually started in theatre. In fact, he met Brooks because he was in a play with Anne Bancroft (Mel's girlfriend at the time). His films are primarily comedies. What makes him so very special is how nuanced his performances are. He seems to approach his characterization as if the story were a drama (he tears up in Blazing Saddles!). The characters he creates 100% believe in everything they are doing which makes his performances real and makes the comedy so brilliant.  

The Producers - released in 1968

• Favorite quote:  "Don't be stupid, be a smarty. Come and join the Nazi party!"
• Brooks fact:  This is the first film he directed. He had only directed one play prior to this.
• Wilder fact:  Gene was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor! His first film!
• Mel wrote it as a play within a play originally, which I think is why there are so few locations (first 20 minutes are all in Bailystock's office).
• Brooks loved the idea of laughing at a dictator. 
• Roger Ebert wrote, "I remember finding myself in an elevator with Brooks and his wife, actress Anne Bancroft, in New York City a few months after The Producers was released. A woman got onto the elevator, recognized him and said, 'I have to tell you, Mr. Brooks, that your movie is vulgar.' Brooks smiled benevolently. 'Lady,' he said, 'it rose below vulgarity'." (from Wikipedia)

(My drink pairing for this would be a gin martini. Think "bar in any theatre district" for inspiration.)

Blazing Saddles - released in February 1974

• Favorite quote:  (so many!!) "Raise my rent!"  (my brother John used to say that all the time)
• Another favorite quote:  "Someone needs to go back for a shitload of dimes!"
• ANOTHER favorite quote:  Really everything that Lily von Shtupp says!
• Wilder fact:  He and Cleavon Little rode horses to the premiere. And stayed on them to watch!
• Richard Pryor was going to play Sheriff Bart but the studio backed off of him because of his history of drug arrests, etc. John Wayne was set for Wilder's part of the Waco Kid. Kind of glad neither of those stuck. Wayne wouldn't do it because it was too naughty (bad for his wholesome image) but was excited to see the finished project. He told Mel he'd be first in line to see the film.

(I'm gonna go out of a limb and give you a food pairing this time. Franks and beans. LOTS of beans. Wash it down with some sarsaparilla. Then clear everyone from the room.)

Young Frankenstein - released in December 1974 (1974 was a good year for Gene and us!)

• Favorite quote:  (again, SO many) "Roll, roll, roll in ze hay!"
• Another favorite quote:  "Could be worse." "How?" "Could be raining."  (I used that one A LOT when I was younger)
• ANOTHER favorite quote:  "He could have an enormous schwanzstucker." "That goes without saying"  "Voof"
• OMG, one more:  "Taffeta, darling."  "Taffeta sweetheart."
• Brooks fact:  Mel originally didn't want the "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene. Wait, WHAT? Wilder fought so hard for it he nearly burst into tears. Mel said "okay, if you feel that strongly about it, it's bound to be great." (I'm a million percent paraphrasing here)
• Wilder fact:  This was originally his idea although he and Brooks shared writing credits. I think you can tell, though, because while clearly Brooks sticks in the sophomoric humor (not dissing, just saying), the script is so thoughtful and heartfelt. They both felt very strongly that they would honor Mary Shelly (author of original Frankenstein novel) and James Whale (director of original Frankenstein film).
• One of my favorite things about this movie is that Brooks and Wilder approached the man who did the original Frankenstein sets in the 1930s, Kenneth Strickfaden, to see if he had any of the sets. They were all just sitting in his garage. He let them take the sets and he even set it up for them!

(My drink pairing for this movie is a shot of Jaegermeister.)

And to wrap this up, I want to do a shameless plug for my niece D'Arcy Carden. I've watched this kid in a myriad of school plays. She's always amazing - I've known this for a long time. Now the world will, because you can watch her in an NBC sitcom - The Good Place. 

http://www.nbc.com/the-good-place?nbc=1

Watch this if you know what's good for you.  :)

My takeaways - 

#1 - 2016 has been a hell of a year. I'm ready to move on, thanks.

#2 - I didn't mention Gene and Gilda being married because he was married a bunch of other times too. What I appreciate about him, however, is his private life was just that - private.

#3 - I re-watched Willy Wonka recently. Goddammit that's a good movie.

xoxo....hashtagSueslife

Celebrating Dogan H Erokan

This is off my normal posting "rhythm", but today would have been my dad's 100th birthday and I wanted to honor him. I don't write a lot about my dad here - largely because he wasn't a big movie fan. But he was a character and an influence and he is always with me, even though he's been gone for over half my life.

Some things about my father:

• He was all sorts of secretive and internal. Honestly, he could have been a film director in Hollywood for all I knew. Okay, that's an exaggeration but here's some stuff to illustrate my dad, his work and secrets
• He worked on HIGHLY sensitive projects at Lockheed back in the day. He was originally an engineer in their Oceanography division but ended up in Missiles and Space. The irony that I work on secret stuff right now is not lost on me.
• He was also the guy who got plaques for having Zero Defects in his work. Try living up to that when you can barely grasp basic Algebra. That was tough on our relationship.
• While he was at Lockheed he was flying to LA and back daily on one of his top-secret jobs...and my family didn't know about it until it was done. MY MOM had no idea. He'd leave at his normal time in the morning and be home for dinner. Crazy, right?
• He believed in reincarnation, which may have been something prevalent in his religion, but he had one story that exemplified why he believed. He was a naturally gifted mathematician, but the thing that blew even his mind is when he took his first computer class at Harvard (ahem). He just GOT it. He just knew what the professor was talking about (this was in the early 40s...big wall sized computers). He understood it to the point that they moved him to the next level class (at HARVARD) so he could actually learn something. That shit is nuts.
• He had an exceedingly crusty exterior but I know deep down he loved his family. (He went up against my mother when I was 12 and wanted a kitten. He was surprisingly on my side. We won, and that was no easy feat! That's love for you.) He just had a hard time showing it. My theories on why:
• Maybe this was because he was raised by a single mother who had lost both her husbands (my dad was only 2 when his father was killed in the Battle of Gallipoli). She probably had a lot to manage.
• Maybe it's a Turkish thing - apparently my grandmother told my mom that you only kiss your children when they are sleeping; you don't show affection.
• Or maybe it was because he was a true introvert.
• He was a different guy when he was young.
• My aunt tells me this crazy story about how she was visiting once and wanted to go gambling so he drove her to Reno for one night. They stayed up all night gambling and came home the next day.
• When he was dating my mom (he was attending either Harvard or MIT, cuz he went to both!) he was the life of her family parties, often drinking everyone under the table.  
• My mom's family adored my dad, despite the Greek/Turkish thing!
• He hated being sick - I think for him it was the ultimate insult. He was very active and took good care of himself; he ate well and exercised regularly. His body let him down. He also hated being a burden on his family. He apologized to me once, close to the end. For being sick. That's something that stays with you.

Some things about my dad and me:

• He loved having a daughter (being the old Turkish man he was, he called me "Daughter" all the time.  Or maybe he just forgot my name. Kidding.) but I think that after I grew out of being a malleable little kid, he had no idea what to do with me. I can guarantee he didn't bank on living with an opinionated, outgoing female who didn't want to do things the way he wanted (I'm not sure why, since that is what he married. Maybe he was hoping his offspring wouldn't be as contrary as his wife?). I got lectured on things ALL THE TIME. I know he had had enough rebellion from my crazy musician brothers and I also assume he had very strict ideas of how girls should behave. Sadly, that's not what he got.
• He and I had a rough go of it for the majority of my teenage years through my early 20s. I'm sure he was continually flummoxed and I was just irritated. Not a great mix, but pretty typical. The unfortunate thing was I didn't have much time with him after I grew up and pulled my head out of my ass to really understand him. 

We made our amends, my dad and I. Granted it was at the last minute, but still. And what I have come to realize and accept is I am my father's daughter in many ways, inside and out.

• I have his face. (Although I've never mastered the raised brow like he did. His was epic and terrifying to my high school friends.)
• I have his fucked up, glaucoma eyes.
• I have a bit of his OCD Virgo behavior. (Any one who doesn't believe me should ask Beth about our headdresses when we belly danced.)

And a few of the things he taught me have stayed with me.

• Don't walk over street grates wearing high heels.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation is awesome. He was watching it before me!
• Music is important.

So in his honor today, I'm going to add an email I sent to my book club when I wasn't working (these emails were the beginnings of my blog). A really odd thing about my father, who was a math genius and had multiple degrees, was that he loved some seriously bad TV. This was one of his favorites.

(Originally sent March '15)

I was overjoyed this morning to find that Fantasy Island has shown up in my daytime TV rotation! Exciting. I LOVED this show when I was younger. Naturally I am watching it and this is what I'm finding (like a mini Sue's Revues):

• Ricardo Montalban is a fine looking older man
• He is also a ridiculous over-actor.  
• 80's lipstick style is really not good...bad colors and everyone looks like they have misshaped lips (or maybe these actresses just do have misshaped lips!)
• Tattoo is fucking awesome!!
• Tattoo is also a ridiculous over-actor.
• Mr. Rourke is heavy handed when he's trying to "teach someone a lesson".  And by the way...if it's my fantasy, WHY are you teaching ME a lesson??  
• I'd want my money back if I were a patron of Fantasy Island.  Fuck you and your lessons.

As I'm learning with my foray into movies and TV of my youth:  Some things are better left in the past.

Happy birthday, Dad. We miss you. We should all raise a glass of port in his honor. And if you are so inclined, smoke a pipe.

xoxo...hashtagSueslife