Things my flist is talking about
So tonight, I listened to petalsinthewind (and my own gut cuteness instinct) and went with a friend to see Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (because I like Yahoo! clips: here). I cannot describe how utterly adorable it was. Amy Adams's character at one point says, "Oh, it's not a drink, it's a cocktail," and that is a perfect description of this movie: light, sweet, so easy going down, but a double which leaves you giggling for a while afterwards. :D
Amy Adams (Delysia LaFosse) is a darling, first of all: she's so lovely and so sweet, all innocence even as she bounces between three different men and pretends to be someone she's not, learning how to manipulate the society and yet still so, so young, playing at being a grown-up. Frances McDormand (the titular Miss Guinevere Pettigrew) is delightful, straightforward and hoenst and clever but still very sweet. And their love stories are so adorable, from Delysia's flighty three-way dalliance dancing around her dirt-poor One True Love (who, by the way, is so obviously the right choice that my friend and I were sitting there going, "Say yes! How can you say no? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" after his first scene), to Guinevere's simple, understated, subtle romance with designer Joe, the only other character who is old enough to remember "the last time" (WWI) and who utters one of the sweetest lines of the movie: "I've been looking for you all night and, I believe, all my life."
I also love the setting of this movie: 1939 London, just pre-war. The clothes are lovely; in Delysia's first clothed scene, I was just sitting there coveting her dress. And those shoes! Loved the shoes. I really adore 1920s and 1930s fashion (and 1950s, if it comes down to it, because oh, so pretty! Even though I rarely wear skirts). And then there's swing music everywhere, and that glamourous Gatsby lifestyle where everything is gold and glittery and everyone's drunk more often than not (but not sloppy-drunk, just pleasantly buzzed). It's a shiny lifestyle, but, as Guinevere says, they're all just playing, especially at love. Now, this means that no one gets hurt, but it also means no one really feels. And that's why Delysia gets the best of this: she's a singer, living that glorious lifestyle, but then she meets someone who knows her and who loves her and gives her life.
And, can I just say, I am in LOVE with Lee Pace. The character he plays here (Michael) is so different from Ned, not as sweet, a little more passionate, a little more seductive, a little bit darker, but just as utterly lovable. And, by the way, it is not fair how cute he is. God. So freaking adorable. And he's all scruffy and you know I love scruffy men (though, looking at the odd blank patches on his chin, I suspect he wouldn't be able to grow a proper beard), AND he's British, AND he plays the piano (though it's clearly not him; they never ever show his hands). I just. Love.
And, since oregonblondie brought it up, Miss Guided. New sitcom on ABC about a guidance counselor at her old high school, starring Judy Greer, much prettier here than she was on Arrested Development. :P She's actually quite funny, playing endearing Becky who's still very much high school aged, with her silly awkwardness and rivalry/friendship with ex-cheerleader English teacher Lisa (who is far prettier than I was willing to expect her to be) and VERY obvious crush on shop-teacher-turned-Spanish-teacher Tim (who is, by the way, adorable, and has delicious tattoos on his wrists, and wears his sleeves rolled up past his elbows. Easiest way for guys to make themselves attractive: roll up the sleeves). She is quite an excellent guidance counselor, though: mine was only good for college recommendation letters. I am wondering, though, how they could possibly spin this romantic tension out beyond a season or so: she's very obvious, and he clearly adores her (they have this delightful friendship, very comfortable and sweet, and, even though he likes her, he seems entirely oblivious to Lisa's attempts to attract him). It's just no going to be plausible for much longer. But I'm not sure I don't like that: while, with Bones and X-Files and the rest, I do want the tension to last as long as possible, these two are just sweet. :D
Amy Adams (Delysia LaFosse) is a darling, first of all: she's so lovely and so sweet, all innocence even as she bounces between three different men and pretends to be someone she's not, learning how to manipulate the society and yet still so, so young, playing at being a grown-up. Frances McDormand (the titular Miss Guinevere Pettigrew) is delightful, straightforward and hoenst and clever but still very sweet. And their love stories are so adorable, from Delysia's flighty three-way dalliance dancing around her dirt-poor One True Love (who, by the way, is so obviously the right choice that my friend and I were sitting there going, "Say yes! How can you say no? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" after his first scene), to Guinevere's simple, understated, subtle romance with designer Joe, the only other character who is old enough to remember "the last time" (WWI) and who utters one of the sweetest lines of the movie: "I've been looking for you all night and, I believe, all my life."
I also love the setting of this movie: 1939 London, just pre-war. The clothes are lovely; in Delysia's first clothed scene, I was just sitting there coveting her dress. And those shoes! Loved the shoes. I really adore 1920s and 1930s fashion (and 1950s, if it comes down to it, because oh, so pretty! Even though I rarely wear skirts). And then there's swing music everywhere, and that glamourous Gatsby lifestyle where everything is gold and glittery and everyone's drunk more often than not (but not sloppy-drunk, just pleasantly buzzed). It's a shiny lifestyle, but, as Guinevere says, they're all just playing, especially at love. Now, this means that no one gets hurt, but it also means no one really feels. And that's why Delysia gets the best of this: she's a singer, living that glorious lifestyle, but then she meets someone who knows her and who loves her and gives her life.
And, can I just say, I am in LOVE with Lee Pace. The character he plays here (Michael) is so different from Ned, not as sweet, a little more passionate, a little more seductive, a little bit darker, but just as utterly lovable. And, by the way, it is not fair how cute he is. God. So freaking adorable. And he's all scruffy and you know I love scruffy men (though, looking at the odd blank patches on his chin, I suspect he wouldn't be able to grow a proper beard), AND he's British, AND he plays the piano (though it's clearly not him; they never ever show his hands). I just. Love.
And, since oregonblondie brought it up, Miss Guided. New sitcom on ABC about a guidance counselor at her old high school, starring Judy Greer, much prettier here than she was on Arrested Development. :P She's actually quite funny, playing endearing Becky who's still very much high school aged, with her silly awkwardness and rivalry/friendship with ex-cheerleader English teacher Lisa (who is far prettier than I was willing to expect her to be) and VERY obvious crush on shop-teacher-turned-Spanish-teacher Tim (who is, by the way, adorable, and has delicious tattoos on his wrists, and wears his sleeves rolled up past his elbows. Easiest way for guys to make themselves attractive: roll up the sleeves). She is quite an excellent guidance counselor, though: mine was only good for college recommendation letters. I am wondering, though, how they could possibly spin this romantic tension out beyond a season or so: she's very obvious, and he clearly adores her (they have this delightful friendship, very comfortable and sweet, and, even though he likes her, he seems entirely oblivious to Lisa's attempts to attract him). It's just no going to be plausible for much longer. But I'm not sure I don't like that: while, with Bones and X-Files and the rest, I do want the tension to last as long as possible, these two are just sweet. :D