February 23, 2005

closer

i'm surprised — a cast of four, three of whom i normally don't like.  but, i have to say, i enjoyed this film.  great acting.  brilliant directing.  and i really try not to like mike nichols.

clive owen is by far my fave of the bunch.  he's so hunky.

definitely gets my vote for whatever it's up for in the oscars.

now i just wish i'd seen the original stage play.

Posted by jason at 11:30 PM

February 13, 2005

steroid boy

oh, my poor poor man.

well, i guess he's technically not my man, but i have loved and lusted after jason giambi since he joined the yankees back in 2002.  i admit, i was partly drawn to him for the narcissistic name association, but, for the most part, i just happen to find big, hunky, home-run hitting american league baseball player of italian descent incredibly attractive. 

unfortunately, with giambi having all but admitted to juicing this entire time, i am now more than a little embarrassed to wear my new york yankees number 25 t-shirt to the gym anymore.  (not that my body looks anywhere near steroid-induced, but still.) 

as sad as his announcement made me, i continue to have a soft spot for my one-time hero.  my hope is that he surprises everyone with a stellar season and shows how he is a naturally-gifted ball player.  on the other hand, given that the yankees now have tino martinez, the man whom they originally replaced with giambi, playing first base, i guess we'll have to see if he gets the opportunity.

Posted by jason at 12:30 PM

February 06, 2005

as you like it

(image lovingly ripped-off from the BAM website.)

joe took me to see the closing of as you like it at the brooklyn academy of music last sunday.  overall, the production was impressive.  i particularly enjoyed the set and the lighting design — the simple change of a twenty-five foot square carpet efficiently indicated a transition from a farm field to a courtyard to the woods in mid-winter.  the acting was okay — rebecca hall played rosalind and, to paraphrase my friend chris, who saw the boston production, ms. hall, instead of rising to the occasion, somehow managed to scale the role down to fit her own style.  on the other hand, rebecca callard, who played celia, had incredible presence and was a lot of fun to watch.

the real highlight of the show, however, had absolutely nothing to do with the production.  joe knew something was up when he saw secret service men as we were walking in, but only during intermission did we see chelsea, hillary and bill clinton heading out towards the lobby.  when bill clinton re-entered the house before the second act, i could hear the entire audience murmuring.  joe, the bravest of all of us, began clapping, at which everyone in the audience joined in and gave the president a two-minute ovation.  i got chills.

screw "arnold for president."  they should let this guy run again.

Posted by jason at 11:30 AM