The Monday Mocha: E.L., Thief, And Eddie

Happy Inauguration Day AND Happy Birthday to Martin Luther King Jr! Monday's have never been so good! Today, while our president was sworn in for the next four years, we also reflected on the life of a great leader for equality in the past. This whole day I was feeling that nostalgic aura follow me around.

So there I was, rummaging through my box of old books, deciding which to give away (like I ever could part with my precious books) when I came across one of my favorite reads as a child.

A Proud Taste For Scarlet And Miniver. One of my favorite book titles yet. When I was younger, I associated "miniver" with "vinegar," so I always ate salad with dressing when I read the book. LOL.
The story is set in Heaven, where Eleanor of Aquitaine is waiting with her fellow companions, Abbot Suger, Mathilda-Express, and William the Marshal for her husband Henry to be sent "up" to Heaven with them. As they wait, they each help to tell the story of the darling Eleanor Aquitaine's life.
Now, it was much later in life I realized this was based on a true story, but at the time I read this (I think I was about 9) I found it to be an amazing read. It's hard to explain the joyful challenge to reading something like this at such a young age, and I always grouped it with the other classics I was reading at the time. I suggest you take a look inside for yourself, no matter how old you are. You will enjoy it.


A few times I have posted a song or album by Clara Hill, the Berlin native who mixed jazz with electronics and funk and house. She's worked closely with Jazzanova, another Berlin-based act comprised of different DJs and producers who've been creating nu-jazz/house music since 1995. I listen to both of these artists quite a bit, and it's because of this the ITunes STore Genius section recommended to me....Thief.

Now, I couldn't find a lot about them, since they only have a couple of singles and one full album, but I do know that it's a Berlin-based trio of guys and their style is Folk Rock/Indie/Pop. At least, that's what their MySpace page tells me. So I checked out what music they do have on ITunes, and boy, they did not disappoint. Genius got it right! Their songs are so laid back and chilled out, yet retaining one of my favorite elements in music: melodic progression. Their progressions kept me on my toes without twisting my brain, and I eventually started humming their tunes under my breath for the rest of the day. IN particular, I liked these two songs.

Sooooooo relaxxxxxxiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggggggg...........for music made in 2006, this is TIMELESS.

Finally I just wanted you all to remember how much you love Eddie Murphy. Because you DO love Eddie Murphy, right? RIGHT???

Of course you do. 

Until next time, folks. Happy Monday!

-CDM

First taste of Django. Happy New Year!

After Christmas, the year felt pretty much over. So my new year began a little early! What else was there to do but marvel at the lights and get great deals on clothes and prepare for the avalanche of business that is January?

What I did, with a cup of hot chocolate/tea and a meal of my choice (preferably takeout), is sit on the couch and watch my favorite winter movies.

Tonight, I've just come back from my first movie in 2013: Django Unchained.

You know of this movie. It's the one that was being criticized before it even hit the big screen. It's the one that's got a soundtrack involving a mashup of James Brown and Tupac. It's Jamie Foxx playing the slave given a chance to rescue his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) with the help of the bounty hunter who freed him (Christopher Waltz). The trail of blood they leave behind is so tangible you could taste it. When you watch it.

Now I've seen Inglourious. So I'll say what I know many were thinking; When I saw the trailer for this movie, I figured it was going to be the black version of that. It bothered me that there wasn't a planned coalition of freed slaves with a few undercover spies to take down the entire salve-holding corporation. But as I watched Django and Schultz roam the land, playing characters to gain access to the plantation and then skillfully picking out their targets with an ease second only to breathing, I could appreciate that this movie was meant to zero in on the vengeful triumphs of one man who deserved that chance more than anybody. As he had to tell the worst lies of his life, that would allow him to get close to the enemy, I saw, in painful detail, just how much of the violence he was used to. It magnified every murder and whipping of a slave, and sweetened the revenge exacted on the culprits, because it was only two guys causing rightful disruption in perfectly ordered inhumanity. Soon enough, everyone in the audience was laughing or clapping when a pack of slave owners thinking they could kill Django were taught how impossible that was.

This violence and pain was softened by the revenge AND the steadfast love story between Django and Broomhilda. Kerry Washington's depiction of the bucked and scorned house slave is captivating and riveting, considering that she barely says a word and doesn't truly materialize until over halfway through the movie. Oh, she appears before then: in flashbacks and momentarily in lakes and fields until Django blinks a second time. It is in those moments, those saddening and hopeful moments, that we see the fuel behind Django's fire. It begins to burn in us as an audience. When we finally see them reunite, not a dream or a flashback, that ache in your chest is relief mingled with awe at a bond so powerful it transcends all the ugliness surrounding the couple, even when it threatens to consume them. In other words, the scarcity of their interactions on screen magnifies their romance. Less was much, much more.

Additionally, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson were phenomenal. DiCaprio plays Calvin Candie, Broomhilda's charismatic and repulsive slave owner. His performance reminds me vaguely of Waltz's performance in Inglorious as the comically horrific Hans Landa; you would laugh one moment and then cry out in disgust in the next breath. Samuel L Jackson, who played the despicable head servant Stephen, effortlessly pulls off his character's pitiful devotion to his Master, even helping him decode why Django and Schultz really came to his plantation. I started off nearly laughing at the two ("I can't take evil Leo and Samuel seriously!") and ended snarling at the scream ("you horrible sick loathsome..."). And this is what true acting is all about; making people forget your real name and falling for your fake one.

I think this is the longest review of a movie I've one yet, so you can see the effect it had on me was great. I strongly suggest that those with weak stomach do NOT see the movie until it comes out on DVD; then you can mute and walk away from the violent parts. For those who can handle it, be my guest and experience Django on a big screen. Either way, if a movie can make me write a review so effortlessly that I don't even realize who I've written until I've passed the third paragraph, then it can affect others in many different ways as well. So start off the year with a little Tarantino. :)


New movies are always fun, but usually for the first month of the new year, in my spare time, I tend to re-watch the classics of my childhood and the pleasures of my adulthood. Most of these movies, by the way, are romantic. Because winter, to me, is like Valentine's Day for three months.
Here are a few to name. Check them out yourself, and next time we speak again I'll be filling you in on what BOOKS you should check out. Happy New Year everybody.

1) Tootsie

2) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

3) Kate And Leopold

4) Love and Basketball

5) How The Grinch Stole Christmas

6) Brown Sugar

7) Stepmom

8) The Holiday

9) Love Jones

---CDM

Dilla's December: Cold Night Music

Greetings, all!

On November 29th, this little blog here hit its one year birthday. I merely listed pictures of albums that I liked, and moved on. Safe to say this blog has grown since then. And I continue to hope that the longer I do this, the better I'll get at it. Happy One Year Old Birthday, Art Batter! LOL.

Anyway, it's DECEMBER. That last hurrah of 2012 before we are supposedly all going to die.

(Uh, NO.)

But it's also a great month for me to delve into one of my favorite facets of music--the cold night section. it's that kind of music that you listen to when you're walking along the city/neighborhood after sundown, when those orange streetlights are your only guide OR when the buildings light up and show you the route you're taking while driving. That kind of nighttime beauty, especially in the winter, can only be more enhanced with the right music to play. here I want to present some of my best Cold Night selections, starting with the incredible J Dilla (RIP).

Make of it what you will. :)

--CDM

Last Bite of The Apple: The End Of The Sparkly Vampire Reign

Great Sky-Shot. But why the big face?

**DISCLAIMER: This is not a piece about how sad the end of Twilight is to me. That would be a lie. Because I've already been sad at the end of a Book-Era (Harry Potter) and could never be sad about any other Era again. This is simply a humorous recount of my fling with the vampire life and what the end of it means for its fans.***

I have never found myself caught in the throes of sparkly-vampire passion the way so many fans did when "Twilight" first came onto the scene as a debut novel for Stephanie Meyer. I had no interest in the black book with an apple on the cover, not until it was made into a movie and I recognized three actors from my early teen-hood: Kristen Stewart, Cedric Diggory, and Sharkboy. 

My mom and I decided to go to the opening night of the first movie. What the heck, why not? we said. We were sitting cramped between billions of girls in Team Edward T-Shirts giggling happily. As the screen darkened, the theater exploded in screams and a few vain calls "shut up!" I looked at my mother and silently vowed to never ever make her do something like this again. There was no way this movie would be worth it.

Oh, how wrong we were. 

The plot about a young teenager outcast Bella who falls for the brooding mysterious Christian Gr--I mean, Edward Cullen, actually pulled us in. My mother and I were reduced to girl-hood again, that age when you wish for a love like the movie stars have. Somehow, surprisingly, the audience reactions to certain parts in the movie (especially the entrance of Edward Cullen) enhanced the whole experience. Suddenly, I was giggling with my mom about how handsome Edward was, while she agreed with a twinkle in her eye (of course, by the time Taylor Lautner buffed up a year later, we would be talking about HIM). 

There were a lot of things about the first Twilight movie that makes it my favorite of all the movies. I am a sucker for good cinematography, and you cannot deny the attraction we all feel to the landscapes of pine trees and the faded effect of the entire film, as well as the well-paced change in shots to keep things from getting monotonous. Additionally, I thought the acting was pretty decent. Now, I know it's fun to make fun of Kristen's acting form, but I was used to it because I had seen her in other moves where her chops really got to shine. I hadn't known what to expect with Robert Pattinson. I'd only seen in as the bright-eyed Cedric Diggory, and, well, you know, he DIED at the end. But Rob did not disappoint, that cold November night in the theater. He pulled off the secretive romantic part relatively well, and his serious face doesn't look strained at all. I was especially impressed with how convinced I was by his American accent. It was believable, not over or underdone. I could see why they picked him. 

...If I had to sparkle, I'd be mad too.

The biggest factor that won me over was the soundtrack. Even those who don't like this series can't sleep on the compilation of that first movie soundtrack. The Black Ghosts, Mute Math, Blue Foundation, even a song by Pattinson, who got a VOICE on him! I liked it so much, I went and bought the album instantly. Songs from that album remain part of my personal winter playlist. 

Full Moon _Black Ghosts

Spotlight(Twilight Mix)_ Mute Math

Let Me Sign_Robert Pattinson

It was THIS first movie that compelled me to go see every other movie after that, even when the magic I once felt was completely diminished, as the plot annoyed me and the shooting-style was no longer enough, and when I never bought another Twilight soundtrack again. And it is THIS FIRST MOVIE that means I have to see this through to the end, on Friday tomorrow, even though I'm no longer the entranced watcher I was when it came to Eddie and Bella's first appearance on the screen. 

All of this goes to say that as tomorrow inches closer, I thought of the explosion this series has made for the past few years, the hype, the promotion, the posters and what not...and now I'm reminded of another grander book-movie era. Harry Potter. 

Yes, that is the album cover, and not the movie cover. Apologies.

That was MY era, the great story of my childhood. I have all seven books, two audio books, and four HP soundtracks. My entire childhood was shaped by debating whether harry or Ron would end up with Hermione and why Snape was such a jerk. And singing the Harry Potter theme at school until people begged me to shut up. When I walked out of the last Harry Potter movie (which was phenomenal) I wanted to cry. No more Harry Potter anticipation! Well, there's Pottermore, but I don't have that kind of time. :( 

And I do expect to see wet eyes by the time the credits roll tomorrow. Girls who came into this as 12 and 13 year olds and are leaving as 16-18 year olds are going to mournfully file out of the theater, lamenting the end of anticipation for another movie. People will make Internet Memes depicting how Twilight was a landmark for so many young people, and Facebook will be flooded with sad faces and one finally #TeamJacob hashtag.

Yet, like all eras, it will eventually die out, and the next author will have a chance to wow us with a grand series or novel in which literally unknown actors can become world-class superstars and people will happily but every poster, shirt, and mug that has their faces on it. We will have another literary celebrity series again, my friends. 

Is is this reality, and the fact I've already seen the others anyway, that will inspire me to say "one for Twilight, please," for the last time. So Dear Goddess, grant me the strength I need to sit once more in a theater full of screaming teenagers with old Twilight t-shirts and stare at a screen with sparkling vampires and furry werewolves, Kristen, Cedric, and Sharkboy...

and evil Dakota Fanning. (shudders)

Take Care, y'all!

-CDM

Friday Fondue: Winter Appetizers

HEYYYYYYYYY!


October sucked. I had such a flu, SUCH. A. FLU. And after Hurricane Sandy my power was out for more than a week, leaving me frozen in time, literally. Of course, that's the least damage that happened to me, and I want to take a quick moment to send my well wishes to everybody that was truly affected by this storm, particularly Lower Manhattan and New Jersey.
But now comes a new month of hope.

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

I have actually been waiting for the nor'easter to make this post a reality, because winter always has an effect on me, especially the beginning. The snow and the tree lights and the scarves and big coats--I just love it! 
And the biggest reason why I love this month is hinted in the sentence "But now comes a new month of hope."

That's right: we had an election earlier this week, and America's voice was heard, even with the confusion Sandy left behind. Voters stood in line for hours and they voted for their next president. A grand ritual of our democracy. Congratulations, Barack Obama! Good luck with the next four years, we are behind you all the way!


But enough of all of that. It's time for the Friday Fondue.

I celebrated a friend's birthday by accompanying him to see Cloud Atlas.

Yes, you may know of this through your friends, who saw the movie already and couldn't' explain to you just WHY it should win the "best makeup award." Or through your friend the purist who read the book and was still debating whether they should ruin their memory of it by going to the theater. 
I can't really explain it either. Basically, the idea is that every person's life is connected to each other. The things that happen t us, the people we meet or the things we do, none of it is truly accidental. There is always something, maybe years later, that will come out of the one decision we make now. From the 1800's to the 1930's to the 1970's to 2012 to 2144 to a post-apocalyptic era, this movie takes us through the lives of characters that seem to intertwine with characters years afterward.
A handful of actors are recycled for each segment of the movie, so no one plays just one character from one era. This furthers the idea that we are all connected, and it also requires makeup. Lots and lots of good makeup. And I cannot explain it, but this movie really SHOULD win Best Makeup as well as best movie. Truly. 

Next up! I received this novel as a gift from a colleague early last month. It was my refuge as I rode out the flu.

Set in the 1970's, this story is about a 19 year old named Tish who is pregnant and in love the the child's father, 22 year old Fonny. Fonny has just been accused of a crime he did not commit, and is awaiting his trial in jail. Tish and her family, with all the odds stacked against them, fight tooth and nail to set the innocent man free. A we weave in between the past and the present, Baldwin brings together every precious moment between two black lovers in a country that disdains them.
JAMES BALDWIN IS A BEAST. Not his first or his last novel, or even his most popular, but it resonated with me to read such  realistic love story, equipped with a gradual love and a harsh reality check. This beats many love stories out there right now. Everything is poetic and raw, almost like Toni Morrison, but more conversational. Reading the last page was like breaking the surface of a pond I had peacefully swam in all day. Love this book.


Finally, for music, I thought i'd compile a nice 10-Song Winter Playlist to get us started. Straight from my own personal Winter playlist, take a listen and see what you think.

1. Through Time - Roisin Murphy
2. Get Together - J*DaVeY
3. Before We Begin - Broadcast
4. Nowhere (I Can) Go - Clara Hill & Atjazz
5. Please Don't Leave Me - Eric Roberson
6. Tea Leaf Dancers - Flying Lotus
7. Lo Mein - Georgia Anne Muldrow
8. Let's Chill - Guy
9. Give It Up - Isoul8 & Valerie Etienne
10. Do Not As I Do - Hanne Huckelberg

Till Next Time!

-CDM

Coffee Music

Being a blogger is fun. But it's a hobby, not a full-time job. It's not like being a college student or a business woman; it neither pays nor causes stress. So why is it that when I'm writing up my next post in a coffee shop or a cafe, and I look over the top of my laptop and catch eyes with a business woman or a college student, I feel like I'm one of them?

What is it about coffee shops and cafes that bring out the inner cool in people who work there? Is it because an expresso next to our notebook signifies your determination NOT to pass out until your report is perfect? Is it because you're surrounded by chattering pairs and it's cool to imagine they're looking at you and thinking, "Wow, who's that cool dude with the laptop? Bet he's got a great work ethic…I want to meet him!" 

At first, getting a coffee meant getting the coffee and leaving. Now, it means bringing my "office" and enough money for the next five hours (don't think all that time is devoted to blogging--I do have other tasks). Still not sure whether that has helped or hurt my work ethic. But that's not even the point.

The POINT was that I now have a playlist for when I enter a cafe or a coffee place because dammit, THAT'S WHAT I DO: tae situations and find songs to enhance the scenery. 

I wanted to share some of them with you all, and find out what your personal playlists are, if you have any. Do you feel like playing more uptempo songs to go with the high of your americano? Maybe more melodic ballads as you sip your chai tea lattes? How about a soothing romantic mid-tempo jam as you relax with your salted caramel mocha?

(i go to cafes too much.)
But here are a few songs that are included in my cappuccino world. There's an autumn-y feel due to the changing weather, and as you can see, I couldn't' narrow it down to a single-digit numbered list. Forgive. :)

Homework- Big Deal

Eyes Without A Face-Billy Idol

Past Paradise-Eric Roberson

Trust Me-The Fray

Storm (Pocketknife's TuBa 303 Remix)-Jose Gonzalez

Beautifully Undone-Lindy

Be The One-Melanie C

Too Easy-ONe Republic

Ghost STory-Sting

Caramel-Suzanna Vega

From the Morning-Nick Drake

Remember The Love-Adriana Evans

You Don't Know My Name-Alicia Keys

Lovely Day-Bill Withers

Where You Wanna Be-Brandy

Where I Wanna Be-Donell Jones

Truth Is-Fantasia

Lo Mein-Georgia Anne Muldrow

Now you tell me: what's your coffee playlist?

-CDM