Best Quality.

Continuing my "video blogger" status as of late - a beautiful scene from The Joy Luck Club. 7:45 in length, but worth it - whether you've seen this (incredible) movie or not, you need to set up the talk between the mother and daughter.

Here's a tissue. You're welcome.

Before and After

I realized that I don't really have any good pictures of The Giant Laurel Hedge That Nearly Consumed 24th Avenue - but this picture of Scott putting up Halloween decorations last year does show said hedge in the background:

Mind you - The Hedge has grown quite a bit since then. Taller than me (I'm six foot two-ish), probably a good ten feet wide, obscuring half the neighbor's porch and most of the sidewalk in front of our homes. Sometimes at night, you could hear it growl ... hungry for morning glory vines and Doritos bags and brown-paper-wrapped Colt 45 containers fed by those passing by on their way from the liquor store down the street.

But by the end of the day Thursday - The Hedge was silenced. Forever.

Or was it?

"The greatest trick the Hedge ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist ...

... and like that ... he's gone."

(Name the movie, kids!)

Goodbye, Ms. Charisse.

The incomparable Cyd Charisse passed away today at the age of 87. I know many gay bloggers have already posted this video, but this was my first introduction to her, when I was probably 13 or so. Although a closeted gay boy, I was in awe. Okay - maybe I was in awe of Gene Kelly at this point in the movie - but Cyd Charisse was just jaw-droppingly beautiful. And those mile-long legs (amazingly, she was only 5'6"). The movie version is from 1952, but I dare anyone to show me anything sexier to this day.

As Fred Astaire said in his autobiography - "That Cyd - when you've danced with her, you stay danced with".

... and things that make Matterdays bawl like a big baby.

I know, I know ... this is stilted, and contrived, and superficial, and overwrought ... but in that hyper-1950's way that makes it all okay. With the Super-8 film look and not-quite-realistic colors. It's like a moving Polaroid.

Please ... EVERYBODY gets a little misty-eyed watching this. Everyone human, I mean. If you haven't seen this movie or don't know the story, spoiler is below the clip.


*umm ... how do I post an "after the jump" link on Blogger?*

Okay, the spoiler for those that don't know this movie:

Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on a cruise, and both have pretty Significant Others. But, in this era of overwrought romanticism, they fall in love with each other ... and agree to meet at a later date at the top of the Empire State Building (because it's impossible to miss) if they still have feelings for each other and want to be together. Cary Grant shows up, but Deborah Kerr doesn't ... because as she's rushing to try to get to him, and looking up at the building, she is hit by a car and is paralyzed.

She doesn't want him to know, because she doesn't want him to feel sorry for her - and doesn't want to see him until she can walk to him - so she goes on with her life, teaching music to underpriveleged inner-city children. Yes, this is one of the contrived parts.

Cary tries to continue to be a painter (umm, art - not walls), remembering her urgings - and those of his aunt, with whom they spent time while abroad - and finally he stumbles across her, and somewhat bitterly delivers his aunt's shawl to Deborah, as his aunt wanted her to have it after she died. He has no idea that she was in an accident until ...

Watch.

I'm such a sappy geek.

A couple of updates ...

• My phone is working again - all of it. It's magic. Apparently it dried out enough (and is now in rehab). Matterdays happy.
• Five days until Thanksgiving. This year, again, at our house. Last year, I had more time to worry - and panic - about getting it all done. This year ... not so much. No extra time, so I'm getting what I can get done this weekend, and the next few evenings, but whatever happens happens. No Martha Stewart gourmet holiday like the Other Matt, but I think we'll all have a good time.
• For those who don't know the movie Amelie from my previous post, a little teaser. This isn't the actual trailer, but provides some of the flavor of the movie. I think we're going to watch it again soon ...

Back to listening to "Says You" ...

A Beautiful Scene from a Beautiful Movie

As I mentioned in my 12 of 12 post yesterday, I came across a favorite scene from one of my favorite movies on YouTube last night. If you've never seen Amelie - please do. It's too involved to describe everything leading up to this scene, but watching the entire movie is well worth it.

Enjoy.

Your ambulance ride was not pre-approved ... DENIED!

The most beautiful movie ever made ...

This is the finale from my favorite movie ever, Cinema Paradiso. Movie critic Leonard Maltin has called this "the perfect finale", and I agree. Now you really have to have seen the entire movie to understand why this is so perfect ... but trust me, it is.

Really. See the movie. Honestly.

*SPOILER ALERT*!!!

More about the movie (if you don't already know it) after the clip:


*SPOILER ALERT CONTINUED*

The movie is about a young boy ("Toto", a nickname for Salvatore) in the 1930's in small-town Italy. The town's entertainment revolves around the movie house. Toto befriends the projectionist, Alfredo ... and being a small town (and the 1930's), the priest regulates what can and cannot be shown. He previews every film before it is shown to the townspeople, and dictates the "pornographic" scenes that must be cut from the film and not shown to everyone - including any scene that shows people kissing. Toto is fascinated with the movies and the escape from reality ... but of course, reality always comes back into play. As he grows up, Toto witnesses horrible tragedies and experiences his own personal tragedies, and eventually leaves his small hometown as an adult to pursue his own life. In the end, he is called back to his hometown and sees how it has changed ... but has a wonderful gift waiting for him.

Enjoy. It really is a beautiful movie.