Not Mr. Beans Holiday

I watched a great movie last night. If you’ve never heard of “In Bruges,” I wouldn’t be surprised. It seems to have had very little if any promotion since its Sundance debut. I’d never heard of it and probably never would have if I hadn’t come home to find it sitting on our coffee table. Only complete boredom would tempt me to open up a DVD case prominently picturing Colin Farrell holding a gun (flashbacks of “Phonebooth” anyone?). Anyhow, the movie stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hit men sent to take some time off in Bruges, Belgium. Half comedy, half drama, the film perfectly balances European wit and sarcasm with themes of faith and morality. Of course, sightseeing along the canals doesn’t last for long, and the plot begins to unfold (in a revealing one “oooh” and “aaah” after another kind of way). I only expected to watch half of this movie, as I got a late start and work the next morning loomed over my head. However, when it was past my bedtime, I couldn’t bring my fingers anywhere near the remote. The relationship between Farrell and Gleeson’s characters will truly pull you in as they clue you into their running jokes and show glimpses of compassion unexpected from two movie screen murderers. Alongside this compelling central relationship, Ralph Fiennes pops in and out as Harry, the “voice from behind the curtain” character who delivers instructions and holds the power. Additionally, you’ll find a decent romantic interest and some surprisingly tasteful laughs owed to midget humor. “In Bruges” is one rude film (in a completely amazing and lovable Irish sort of way). Go rent it, if you don’t like it…I suggest immediately watching “Vantage Point.” (then you’ll be begging for the former)

Evolutionary Sex Crimes (and other Nature in the News)

I'm really not sure if anyone else will find this interesting, but I thought I'd give it a go. I came across this article on NYTimes.com this morning. I think that plants may just surprise you with their intelligence. Read on and beware of bedside potted predators...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/science/15wasp.html?ex=1373774400&en=846dbf79e20f864d&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

So, while plants are becoming date-rape drug connoisseurs, we humans have taken the appeal of local farming to an extreme. Something tells me that this was NOT what local food activists had in mind...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/science/15farm.html?ex=1373860800&en=0b30c437e6b4d048&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

And last but not least, a very interesting read that examines the not-so-defined line between humans and “animals”…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/weekinreview/13mcneil.html?ex=1373774400&en=52e4c66aca82a4ba&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Lola, Honey, Give me your Shades

I want, no I crave, heart shaped sunglasses. And no, I'm not talking about that creepy yet addictive Marilyn Manson music video featuring Evan Rachael Wood wobbling around covered in blood. I fear that the organ bearing shape is fixing to replace the wayfarer as the "it" frame. Despite my sense of their looming popularity, I haven't been able to get Lolita inspired eyewear off my mind since Moschino displayed these beauties. Every pair that I have found has lenses that are too transparent for my liking. (I hate it when I can see eyes through sunglasses...is that weird?)

Speaking of Lolita, I was combing the Drama section of Blockbuster the other day (due to a lack of worthwhile new releases) and found that they failed to stock the classic Kubrick flick. This only reminded me of my distaste for Blockbuster and of my immediate need to reinstate my Netflix account (with or without the necessary funds).

p.s. Banksy in the bag?!? Thanks for the update hilaillary.

Banking Banksy

THIS JUST IN!

For years the unsolved mystery behind his identity has brought fire to this underground graffiti artist. However, Banksy's days of lurking in the night only to reveal a stenciled masterpiece by dawn might be less of a public uncertainty as of today. British newspaper Mail On Sunday claims that Banksy is in fact Robin Gunningham, age 34. The newspaper has spent over a year gathering evidence and tracing the artist. Below is a photo taken of "Banksy" (I'm really not liking those quotations) at work in Jamaica in 2004. Valuable sources confirm that the man in the photo is indeed Robin Gunningham, the former Bristol schoolboy.

Could it really be? One who has kept dignified in the shadow of his talent, after being praised by heiresses of hollywood, alas unmasked?

If so, I must say I am rather shocked. I really did not expect such a weathered guy. Who would have thought? Banksy: Patrick Dempsey meets Robert DiNero in rehab. I guess art really has no face.

Not Exactly a Whale of a Time

In regards to my Spanish counterpart:

www.Google.fr holds the answer to your question in its expected holiday illustration. Yes,today is indeed the national holiday celebrating France's independence. However, I am baguette-less and out of brie...so festivities will have to be postponed. Rahoo: when in doubt, one googles. [insert reason for UVA acceptance here].

Moving further east (keeping it relative), let's discuss those who unfortunately will not be celebrating freedom today. As most of you darlings are familiar with my fertile effervescent mind (I'm so clever), I am once again discussing the green movement. It has been 26 days since members in the Greenpeace Japan office were arrested for exposing the whale industry scandal. Sadly, they have been formally charged with trespass and theft.

If you are unfamiliar with these Japanese hunting habits check out http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/activists-charged-for-exposing

Any Excuse for a Party

Given that the name of our lovely blog is in French, I thought I'd remind everyone that today is Bastille Day! (I only ever remember this because it also happens to be my father's birthday). After exclaiming several "Happy Bastille Day"s this morning in the office, someone countered my intelligence by asking what the holiday was for. Since Hilary is of course the true Frenchster, I had no idea. All I knew was that the French study abroad students that I met while studying in Spain were outraged when classes were held on Bastille Day. Oh the drama!

Anyhow, now that I'm safe in my cubicle where no one can question my sources, I have wikipedia'd the holiday and found that

"Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is called Fête Nationale ("National Celebration"), in official parlance, or more commonly quatorze juillet ("14 July"). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution."

In the words of Bill Nye the Science Guy...NOW YOU KNOW,
and now LETSCELEBRATEEEE! Oh wait, I don't get off work for another 4 1/2 hours.

Seeing Double

You may have heard of the Improv Everywhere phenomenon that started in New York City. Their videos are blogged about repeatedly as their YouTube video view count continues to grow. Improv Everywhere is an organization solely devoted to the cause of comedy. They make bold attempts to display comedic situations using the street as their stage. In the most recent videotaped stunt, Improv Everywhere took to the subway and created what they dubbed as the “human mirror.” They certainly got a reaction from fellow public transit users. Check it out…


For more, go to http://improveverywhere.com/
I also suggest watching the Frozen Grand Central video. It seemed eerily similar to M. Night Shyamalan’s motionless Central Park victim scene from his latest disappointer, “The Happening.”

Improv Everywhere recently created a new blog, Urbanprankster.com, which allows people outside of NYC to organize pranks and create mayhem beyond the Big Apple. Any ideas?