Weekend Project: Some Like It Hot

This weekend project could be considered a FAIL…not quite to epic proportions, because the movie DID make it out of it’s Netflix sleeve and into my computer. And I DID manage to watch the first half of the movie. But here comes the fail part: I stopped the movie. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I decided to check out Some Like It Hot because I had never actually seen Marilyn Monroe in action (horrible confession right there coming from a film major…yes, it’s true) and according to Roger Ebert, this one makes it on to the list of Great Movies. And I figured, since I was actually a film major, maybe I should start watching some of these films and actors that I learned about over and over in college. What a concept!

Now I am sure Mr. Ebert is to be trusted, right, he has made quite a living giving his opinion on things. However, I just have to say I was unimpressed by it all.

Of course, Marilyn herself was absolutely stunning…it is no coincidence that she was popularly considered the pinnacle of all that is woman for so long. Though, she really can’t dance. At all. Oh well, this fault is really minor. Point 1 for Some Like It Hot.

Also, I enjoyed immensely the fact that the movie begins in a comical 1920’s prohibition/mobster-era Chicago. It was ridiculous. But Chicago is amazing, in my incredibly biased opinion. Point 2 for Some Like It Hot.

This is where the tide changes however. Especially upsetting, I find little reason to be attached to the characters, or really care at all about them.  Hence why I didn’t even feel compelled at the moment to figure out how the movie ended. Not to mention, the comedy was sparse and forced. Perhaps it let me down more so because I had such high expectations. Kind of reminds me of when I finally got around to watching Napoleon Dynamite, way after the hype had passed. Or perhaps I just wasn’t in the right mood. Somehow my inner film critic escaped me today.

All this being said, chances are curiousity will get the better of me and I will watch the rest, just because I need to know what happens.  And because film majors watch films, even ones we don’t like.  We can’t help it.

Today’s Soundtrack: Fados da tristeza alegre – Marco Rodrigues

It has been WAY too long! This summer has slipped away and not too much has happened in my blog world. Time to change this with a post about this wonderful CD, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon.

I first came into contact with Fado music, the traditional music of Portugal, on a trip to Lisbon. Portugal’s capital city reminded me much of San Fransisco, though I can’t speak to the accuracy of this assessment, having never actually BEEN to San Fransisco.  Let me explain, this sunny city on the riverside has rolling hills all throughout, and people make their way around on old-school trolleys. In fact there is even a bridge in Lisbon, the 25 de Abril bridge, that is an exact replica of the famous landmark in SF. Now I’m sorry if those of you who are aquainted with both places are offended by my comparisions, but trust me, if you are from SF, Lisbon is a perfectly wonderful place to be connected to in any metaphorical way, even if the comparison is a little weak.  My apologies, sincerely.

Back to the music, Fado is a traditional style that grew out of the difficulties of the immigrant population in Portugal, much like Flamenco music in Spain or the slave music in early America.  Now, it has been popularized and you can hear it any night of the week drifting out from the various upscale Fado houses all across the capital city.  The music is full of emotion and passion, though the particular emotion can range anywhere from playful to melencholy.

Marco’s CD is a perfect example and his hauntingly beautiful voice along with the traditional Portuguese guitar and classical guitar that accompany him…wow. beautifully simple and stunning.  I was blessed to hear Marco live, almost 2 years ago on that weekend visit to Lisbon when my friend and I stumbled quite unawares on a Fado house where he just so happened to be playing.  We were magically transported into the world of Fado sitting at the front of an almost empty house, dimly lit, drinks in hand, completely mesmerized.  We sat almost in silence til the closing time, 2am, soaking it all in. Marco was quite gracious to us, and spoke almost perfect Spanish (albeit with a Portuguese accent), I certainly owed him a shout-out long ago. Hopefully, this makes up for it.

So, if you’re in need of something to take you on a little stay-cation to another world, where everything is worth singing about, and is done with passion and grace…check out some Fado. You will love it.

Check out his myspace for some great examples of his work.