Have YOU been on "the list"?
Halloween was fun, if fleeting. Highlight of the evening: carving a naughty, suggestive jack-o-lantern at Scott's party.
Tonight, I attended an advance, invite-only screening of American Gangster. My friend Joy got us into the screening through her job connections @ the MUNY. I think it was the first time I've gotten into somewhere becuase I was on "The List"...it makes one feel like a celebrity...if only for a moment. Joy mentioned that critics would be attending this screening, but I was surprised to discover that whoever put the event together decided to have a few local celebs in the audience. Case in point: Bob Costas was sitting right behind me. I'm neither fan nor foe of the sports commentator, but it was a bit odd and unexpected for a film screening.
The film itself is so-so. Russell Crowe delivered a commendable (possibly oscar worthy?) performance. Denzel as an antagonist was ok...but I tend to prefer him in more heroic roles anyway. The first act of the film fails to captivate or "get off the ground" properly. Also, some of the plot events (based on a true story) seemed hard to believe, even if they'd been based in fiction. My armchair critic rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Whilst leaving the Esquire Cinema, Joy and I noted that the Christmas muzak has returned to public places. Joy was a little more shocked/bemused at its early arrival than I. Honestly, I wouldn't have been that surprised to hear it playing in the stores/malls/theatres before Halloween. It seems that more and more Thanksgiving is becoming that ugly-stepsister in the way of the more popular kid: Christmas. Then again, when was the last time someone wrote a Thanksgiving carol? Incidentally, my family is having über early Thanksgiving on Sunday. Dad won't be around on the actual holiday, so we wanted to include him. MMMM...turkey 'n' punkin pie...