February 25, 2008

The Men We Love

...regarding my husband of a week and a half, I knew I chose wisely when I encountered him vacuuming on our wedding day. I also love that he obliged me by mostly watching three weeks' worth of Pride & Prejudice just because he knows I'm obsessed with it. (The fact that I managed to work Jane Austen into my wedding vows may have been a sign.)

Anyway, I loved when, during the first hour of the movie, my new spouse took to Wickham. "I know she's not going to end up with him, and I feel bad for him -- he seems like a good guy." (...totally duped, just like Lizzy. I said nothing.)

Three hours in, when Wickham runs off with Lydia, new spouse had this to say: "Oooooh...Darcy gon KILL him!!!" (said with a random Southern accent.)

He got a particular kick out of Mr. Collins and Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. When it was over, I promised him he'd never have to watch it again, and he admitted he semi-enjoyed it.

Now, check out this hilarious commentary comparing Austen men to the online dating scene.

February 7, 2008

Star Cast Joins New Adaptation

Daniel Day Lewis's wife, Rebecca Miller (daughter of playwright Arthur) has written a screenplay for her new novel, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. The movie will star Robin Wright Penn (as the title character), Keanu Reeves (as her younger lover), Alan Arkin (as Pippa's cheatin' ole hubby), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Pippa's mom), Winona Ryder (cheatin' ole hubby's mistress) and Monica Belluci (I lost interest in the cast here...couldn't tell ya what she plays). I can't wait to hear Keanu deliver lines like, "You mean the WOLRD to me, Pippa." Basically anything he says that includes the name "Pippa" is going to crack me the hell up.

February 5, 2008

No Regrets

I may be in the minority here, but I really kind of liked "Miss Austen Regrets" on Masterpiece Theater Sunday night. Maybe it's because, unlike the other films in the Jane Jamboree on PBS, it was a story that I wasn't thoroughly familiar with. Of course, they took liberties, but I'm not a stickler on facts if there's a compelling plotline to be gained from it.

I was surprised by (but immediately took to) a Jane Austen who flirted up a storm, drank too much at times, threw people dirty looks, bitched about people she didn't like, got ripped a new one by her adoring niece, was occasionally passive agressive and fretted about whether her writing was good enough -- so unlike the typical Austen heroine, who is only slightly flawed and always rights herself in the end. This Jane was human, even though I spent the whole 90-minutes wondering where I'd seen that actress before. (It's Olivia Williams, fyi, and we've seen her as "Miss Jane Fairfax" to Kate Beckinsale's "Emma." She also played Bruce Willis's wife in "The Sixth Sense.")

Jane's jilted suitor, Mr. Bridges, though not heartthrob material, had a certain something about him that I found endearing and loveable. (Hugh Bonneville, by the way, was supposed to be in an Andrew Davies-directed version of "A Diary of a Nobody"...has anyone seen this?) Even my fiance found himself somewhat engrossed. (He usually reaches his Austen saturaton point about 30 minutes in, but watched this one in its entirety.) So for that reason alone, I'll give it a thumbs up.

February 3, 2008

A Closer Look at Film Costumes

FIDM's "16th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" exhibition lets you get extra close to Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd costume as well as dozens of other costumes previously worn by everyone from James McAvoy to Nicole Kidman. The costumes from last year's biggest and best films including Atonement, Sweeney Todd, Enchanted, Harry Potter, The Golden Compass, and many more will be on display in the FIDM Museum & Galleries in Los Angeles through April 12, 2008. --Kim

Research Gone Amuck

Browsing New Orleans food blogs for an upcoming trip to NOLA, I stumbled upon this blog by Carolyn Smith-Kizer. It lovingly focuses on recreating 18th century cooking methods with enticing results. --Kim