Thursday, December 01, 2005

Wish Lists of the Great, pipe dreams of the deranged

I'm only too glad to share my wishlist. Since my birthday is December 30, this list pretty much covers everything I'd ever want. As I wrote this I realized it was less of an actual wish list and more of a projected wish list. Most of the items on here are things I'll never actually get. Translation: If anyone hates on me for items in my list, I will roast you alive.

A December birthstone ring from Helzberg. Lovely! It's big enough to look completely luxurious, but priced to tempt my husband to buy it for me.













A Golden Retriever puppy. I love these dogs. They are friendly, affectionate, playful, and get along very well with children. They're the perfect family dog. I've wanted one for quite some time. I doubt this wish will come true, but a girl can dream, can't she?











A Blackberry Used by stars and important people around the world, this is the ultimate techie gadget. What fashionista/nerd wouldn't want one? It would mean I could post to Las Fashionistas from anywhere in the world. You'd love that, wouldn't you, dear readers?







Benetint Cheek Stain I've heard great things about this product. I really like stains. They tend not to require re-application throughout the day, and they're also great for a more natural look.

While we're talking about makeup, I'd love a bazillion dollars in gift certificates from Sephora. There are lots of little purchases I'd love to make there, but alas, one can't have it all.










These in every color. They're so cute and girly. I love the vintage touches, and they'd go with a wide variety of outfits in my wardrobe.









Pearls!
I love these beautiful luminescent orbs of goodness-the bigger the better! They're a quick way to dress up any outfit and will make any girl feel like a princess. I'd also like a pair of earrings to match, and a pair of white pearl earrings as well.

The perfect pair of jeans. God only knows where I'd find these! I've had good luck in the past with Ann Taylor, but recently I've been disillusioned. I want different jeans. You know, the kind that are faded in all the right places and that stretch and cover all your less than hot places; the kind that make you feel you could conquer the world.
That kind. Let me know when you find them, dear readers.



And for something serious... A donation to a local crisis pregnancy center. Not because I'm pro-choice or pro-life, but rather in honor of the hard work the people at these centers do, and their committment to helping girls in the most dire need.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Review: Walk the Line

It's been a very nice long weekend. I ate myself silly, and of course I went to the movies and saw Walk the Line, the Johnny Cash biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. If that movie wasn't on your weekend to-do list, I wholeheartedly encourage you to add it. Now, I admit I liked JR's music before the movie ever came to be, but one of the friends I saw it with probably never heard a Johnny Cash song in her life, and she loved the movie. It really isn't just another Ray, not that being Ray would be a bad thing. This movie was more about the relationship between Johnny and his wife, June Carter Cash, and how they came to be as in love as they were. It's a love story, but it's one that both men and women can enjoy, being at times heartwarming and at other times funny. Even I, who have a heart of stone, got a lump in my throat at the end of the film. I forgot where I was for a couple of hours.

The movie only released this weekend, and already the buzz is all about Oscar. Joaquin is being talked about for his work, and I have to admit he did a fantastic job. He seemed to really nail Cash's struggle between his dark feelings of guilt and remorse, and his love for June. I would expect that he would do a smashing job, considering the reports that he acted like a total princess on the set. According to Entertainment Weekly, who also provided the photos, he insisted on being called JR on the set and carried his guitar on his back all the time. Whatever Joaquin's formula was, it worked for him. He perfectly conveyed Cash's angst through his music. He even got his mannerisms down to a tee. The other notable performance belongs to Reese Witherspoon, who has now officially broken out of the teen flick genre into a world where I'm sure she will be offered her pick of serious roles. I was somewhat sceptical of her ability to carry off this role, but she did so masterfully, even learning the plectrum (that instrument she's holding) to lend credibility to her performance. An Oscar nom is all but guaranteed for her, but I'm not sure that she'll beat out Zhang Ziyi once Memoirs of a Geisha finally hits theaters (not nearly soon enough). I loved Reese's performance, and she deserves to win based solely on the fact that this role was such a departure from her usual fare, but her smile is her downfall. She is the type of woman that has such an unmistakeable, instantly recognizable smile that I was never able to stop thinking, "Wow, Reese looks gorgeous in this film." She can't avoid that, and to her credit she did look great, but much like Jim Carrey, her face is purely hers.

My favorite actress in this film, however, is the longsuffering first wife of Cash, Vivian, played by Ginnifer Goodwin. You may remember Ginny from Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and Mona Lisa Smile. This woman deserves an Oscar as well, and once you see her fight with, love and cry over Cash, you feel terrible for this woman. It's harder than it sounds, because John and June were truly soulmates, and Vivian was quite nasty when she felt like it. Still, what could have easily become a bit part in a movie about two lovers was given the depth and emotion it deserved. Other Oscar noms could be garnered for Direction, for James Mangold, and costumes. On the whole, this was an excellent film that will leave you dancing on your way out.