The post is 99% Fool Free.

[stoney321]

I'm the 1% fool, for those doing the math. UGH, we have wind gusts to 40mph here today, which means I am firmly planted indoors, as the wind is my enemy. Sorry, Sally Dog, you can play "chase the laser pointer" inside for your exercise. Every April Fools joke I've had played on me today has been me getting RickRolled, which, hey. I love me some Rick Astley. (Did you know he's Mormon?) Anyway, I've decided that David Archaleta on American Idol is a Rick Astley wannabe. Except I like Rick. (Never gonna give you up, Rick!!)

I've been meaning to post about a movie for WEEKS and keep forgetting. "Once," that beautiful, wonderful, heart-breaking movie that came out... in 2006. I know, I'm always behind on this stuff. (I can raise a family, or I can stay current. I can't do both.) I've got the soundtrack under the cut and LOTS OF SPOILERS. If you've not seen it, DO NOT READ. It's such a lovely, quiet movie, you should go in fresh.

Once

I've had this sitting on my counter from Netflix for months. It being described as a "modern-day musical" was keeping me from sticking it in the DVD player. It's nothing like a "musical," it just has organic musical performances, ones that laid me low. Marketa listening on headphones and singing a song while walking in her neighborhood in jammies? Absolutely fantastic moment. (And haha, I'm so trained by Hollywood, I kept waiting for a robber to come out. THANKS, MGM.) And the sound guy in the recording studio expecting them to suck, but being pleasantly surprised by their talent was another terrific moment.

At first I was disappointed at the unrequited love, but that's because I came to care so much for these two people. I love love LOVE how it ends, him sending her a piano, her composing songs and thinking of him, but grounded in her life. That, uh, that hit me in the gut, which is possibly why I didn't like the ending at first reaction. :) From a movie creation angle, I appreciated how organically the movie grew. How natural everyone was (because half of the time, Glen and Marketa didn't have cameras in their faces: the director hid behind stuff and used a long angle camera.) I loved that a lot of this movie was ad libbed, too - didn't it just feel like you were watching two people? Beautiful.

And on a romantic note, oh my heart! This movie hits so many of my romantic loves. Trivia: they actually hooked up, these two. <3 Also, Glen didn't know that Marketa replied "I love you" in Czech when he asks her if she still loves her husband. I loev that they didn't subtitle that comment, either. The songs are so wonderfully woven in to the movie's frame work, too, as their romance grows (unrequited, nonetheless) the songs deal with their growing feelings, and the growing conflict of the other people in their lives, as well.

How refreshing that "The Girl" gets huffy when he asks her to stay the night. And he looks so surprised and upset with himself when he realizes how ungentlemanly that was. <3 I love that she never lets him forget that she's a mother. And that her mother will come with her, because she looks after her baby. Real real real. I love "The Guy's" holey sweaters, the big gaping hole in his guitar from strumming so hard. Her man's jacket and frumpy clothes. Her adorable accent and inability to make a "th" sound so it comes out "mudder" and "udder." Oh and my heart broke for her singing her song about missing her husband and being conflicted with new emotions for "The Guy" while playing on the piano late at night in the recording studio. Her voice is so lovely. And my god, she's a KID. She was 19 when they made this? Wow.

I ached for days after seeing this movie. Can't recommend it enough. Keep in mind it's a quiet, soft, intimate movie. Don't go in expecting Atonement, or something grandiose.

Here's the soundtrack.

And because I laughed at it, this is a clip from the AFI festival, it's the director and writer (my bro-in-law) dressed as vampires protesting Blood on the Highway for "misrepresentation of vampires." "Dangit, Clark! You just set us back 1000 years! Go call your sponsor!" Vampires having regular guy names is always funny to me. (On my honor, it's not an April Fool's joke. It's also work safe.)

Has anyone read "A Final Solution" by Michael Chabon? Hmmm. Overall I was pretty "meh" about it. I did like the chapter from the parrot's perspective. I'm reading Phillip Roth and "World War Z" right now. To say those are polar opposites is not stretching the truth.... Alright, enough random stuff from me. Tell me stories, talk to me about books, keep me from having to do laundry and mop!!

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked the movie. It was 'suggested' to me by my folk music friend - I saw it in a really horrible 'art' movie theatre with standing water two rows in front of me, but almost as soon as the movie started I lost myself in it. Everyone talks about 'the moment' in the music store (I don't want to spoil it for anyone, either) but the moments you mention here are all resonated with me. The music is...well, part of the story but to describe it as a musical is kind of sending people off in the wrong direction. And as Glen Hansard said, in his acceptance speech - "All without a kiss."

Indeed, a gentle movie.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, that scene you're talking about with them on the piano... Lovely. The whole movie was just such a fantastic bit of film. I love that it cost next to nothing and the premise was two lines on a cocktail napkin!

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Dana's description of that one moment is what made me want to go SEE the movie (that and his smile when he told me about it...). Another thing about that - really not part of the movie but part of the 'story' of the movie - was when they brought Marketa back, on the Academy Awards, because they'd interrupted her 'thank you' with the 'okay you've said enough' music. It was...almost civilized...

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

It was their acceptance speeches (and her return to be able to actually *speak*) that made me finally put it in. :)

[lynnenne]

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Awesome promo clip.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

That is bull honky!! I'll pass on that you laughed - they'll be glad to know it. :D

[fitofpique.livejournal.com]

We watched that film a few months ago, and I was pleasantly surprised too. I love it. I tracked the soundtrack down the next day!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I had that same reaction! Must. Have. Music!!

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

"Once" was my favorite movie last year. We're big fans of Glen's band The Frames, so I went in with a completely different idea of what the music was going to be like. We were immediately captivated. Both performances are so real and the story never goes for the obvious. Just lovely. The ending felt true. My husband and I couldn't stop talking about how fresh it was.

I thought Marketa was only 19 now. I'm kicking myself that we didn't see her and Glen when they performed "Once" here last year. It was bitterly cold, and I couldn't imagine the haunting quality of the soundtrack translating to a huge outdoor venue. After reading reviews, I'm just an idiot.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I watched it without the Mr. and am waiting for it to come back through on Netflix so we can watch it together.

...I could be wrong on her age. I read that she was 17 when they approached her for the movie, but was 19 when they wrapped? That's what I read Glen say in an interview about their relationship, but I may have gotten it wrong.

Oh, that would have been wonderful to have heard!! But hey - you can't see them all. (That's what I tell myself when I miss... everything.)

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

I IMDBed her, she turned 20 in February. You win!

[redbrickrose.livejournal.com]

Definitely let me know what you think go World War Z once you're done. I finished it last night. Usually I don't find zombies all that scary because they are so ridiculous, but that book is totally creepy.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

WILL DO! And same here on zombies: I'm usually just entertained. There were some genuinely creepy moments in Shaun of the Dead, which is hilarious to me. (And the end of the remake of "Dawn of the Dead" is FANTASTIC and gives me the wiggins, I will say.)

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Yes, my goodness. Being Rickrolled was fresh and fun a loooooong time ago; now it's like parents pulling out the "hip new kid's joke!" they saw covered in Time Magazine.

I just woke up from a nap. Correction, I just woke up from an inadvertent collapse-and-sleep session. I may not be making much sense because of that, except for wanting lunch. Wanting lunch always makes sense!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

But EntreNous, I'm never gonna give you up. I'm never gonna let you down. *beats head to get it out of me*

Mmmm, nap. Mmm, lunch! I am so hungry, I think I'm on the same "must... wake and feed" wave length as you! *makes you tea*

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what to eat! We have food, but just. *flails*

My level of activity at the moment seems restricted to watching many, many videos set to "I Want To Take You To A Gay Bar" on youtube.

Also

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

om nom nom TEA!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Ditto. I just made some toast and put butter and honey on it. My mouth is happy, but not completely satisfied. There could be cheese in my near future...

Oh! I have bleu cheese and a delicious pear. Maybe that?

I approve of your activity level and wish to join you. *makes scooch motions with hands*

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Bleu cheese + pear = A+ choice!

I had a fake!chicken sandwich, and am now trying to figure out what I might do with mushrooms and asparagus for dinner later.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I am finishing it all off with a chocolate chip cookie. Mmmm.

Ooooh, what about a rice pilaf? Or risotto? *comes to your house for dinner* We're having green bean stir fry with 5 spice-seasoned tofu.

[ely-jan.livejournal.com]

That video is CRACKING me up! *battens your hatches* Windy here, too - it's madness.

I've given you all my funny!! No, wait - I just got back from getting my hair cut and there was some brainfart incident where the woman who has cut my hair for YEARS, suddenly forgot I don't have bangs.

I do now.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that cute? Aww, I love those guys.

OH NO - unwanted bangs = BAD HAIRDRESSER!!!! (But! I'm sure you look adorable. It's hard to make pretty girls unattractive!)

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I love that porotest clip. Too funny.

Once is on my "to watch" queue/

The only Chabon I've read has been "Kaviler and Clay" which I loved.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Blair and Chris are always good for a laugh. <3

When you finally get around to seeing it, I'd love to hear what you thought!

I loooooooved Kavalier and Clay. This one... Hmmm. I think it's a) too brusque - I was spoiled by the epic of Kavalier&Clay and b) I'm not familiar with Sherlock Holmes, so I don't know if it was an homage and I just didn't get it.

I don't always like it when books flip from character A's POV to character B's POV, etc. for every chapter. It's someone different every time, and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who's it was. (A lot of the names are similar, too.) Or... maybe I'm just an idiot? :D

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

The Chabon book I'm most interested in reading is the one where instead on giving the Jews Israel as a homeland, they're given a portion of Alaska. It's so outrageous, that I have to check it out. (Although there is historical fact behind it. It seems FDR did propose that solution for all the displaced Jews after WW2).

...makes our speaking English good.

[kben.livejournal.com]

"World War Z" is totally on my Wish List over at paperbackswap.com. I.Cannot.Wait.

I've resolved to read more this year. I wanted to hit a book a week, but I'm doing about half that. Still, it's better than nothing. And, just because I'm feeling frisky, here's what I've read, so far (http://blogdiggity.karynbensinger.com/2008/03/06/how-many-have-you-read-this-year--and-im-talking-about-books.aspx).

Re: ...makes our speaking English good.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I've wondered about the latest Augusten Burroughs book. I almost feel like I've read everything he has to say, though. I did like his first two books. And even though Stephen King gets a bad rap, I'm always entertained by him. The Cell is on my list, too.

Re: ...makes our speaking English good.

[kben.livejournal.com]

I love Stephen King BECAUSE he gets bad rap. It's like, the man has written 48563476 books. And people buy them. What's the problem?