Films, B-days, and Restaurants: The Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday:

I got off work at 1 PM, went to Brentanos and bought a present for somebody (they closed on Saturday). Next, I went to Comics and Collectibles. I ran into Kevin Coll and Adam from Fused Film (www.fusedfilm.com). We talked movies and comics. Later, we met up with Justin Vactor and we all watched The Wrestler. This is an awesome film. Mickey Rourke stars as a washed-up wrestler trying to regain his former glory. Marisa Tomei is his love interest, an aging stripper. The wrestling scenes were very believable and the scenes betweeen Rourke and the other actors, including the actress playing his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) were very believable. It was an awesome film. I really enjoyed it. It gets 5/5.

I also auditioned for a student film at the U of M. I felt good about my audition, and I was just glad to audition because it's been a while. Maybe they'll choose me.

Saturday:

I got off work and joined up with my podcast crew: Chris Eaton, Justin Vactor, Ben Songer, and Willie Gillis. We recorded the Geekland Podcast (www.geeklandpodcast.com), and then the Entertainment Overload Podcast (www.fusedfilm.com). After that, we went to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat. When we got in there, it was the end of the University of Memphis-Tennessee basketball game. My alma mater, the University of Memphis, won!! Yeah, baby!!! We ate and chit-chatted. Later, I went to Chilis quickly and gave Keenon Nikita his b-day present. I bought him Wonderland on DVD. I was full, so I dropped off the gift and left. Filmmaker DeAara Lewis and her boyfriend Danny were there. After that, I went home.

Sunday:

I had lunch with Kevin Coll, Ben Songer, and Justin Vactor. We ate at Dan McGinest. Afterwards, I went over Justin's house and watched some films. First, we watched I'm Through With White Girls. This was a very funny indie film about a Black guy who dates a Black woman for the first time. It was awesome, 3/5 stars. Next, we watched the Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon, some SNL skits, then we watched the new Chris Rock standup special, Kill The Messenger. They edited three different performances together (London, South Africa, and the Appolo Theater in New York), so it was a little weird to see the different crowds and changing outfits and hair length of Chris Rock, but it was funny.

I guess I am looking forward to the Super Bowl and going to a few house parties. I have to be careful no to eat too much, though. Super Bowl parties and my appetite left me sick by the next weekend last year. Be easy, readers!!!

Podcasting, Movies, and Barack: The Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday:

I got off work, paid some bills, got a fresh haircut, then I went back to work to close up. Man, this is the life.

Saturday:

I podcasted with Willie Gillis, Ben Songer, and Justin Vactor. Check them out at www.geeklandpodcast.com and at www.fusedfilm.com. Next, I went over my cousin Gloria's house for her b-day party. I was a little late, most people had come and left. Then, I met up with my podcast crew again to watch The Last Dragon. Ben had never seen it. He said it was okay. I love it, even thought it's kind of bad. Next, we played rock band. I mainly sang. I tried to play guitar a little bit. It was cool.

Sunday:

I chilled around the house, then I went to the movies that evening to see Gran Torino. Clint Eastwood was great, but most of the actors were horrible. The story seemed a little silly as well. I give it 3/5 stars. I also finished watching Babylon AD. Boy, that film could've been good, but the ending was stupid. It gets 2.5/5 stars. I also bought the Starcade Collection on DVD. Ah, classic wrestling!!

Monday:

I chilled in the house until about 4 PM. I saw Notorious. It was a biopic about the rapper Notorious B.I.G. Rapper Jamal Woolard became Biggie, Derek Luke was decent as Puffy, Angela Bassett was great as Biggie's mom, and the actresses playing Lil' Kim and Faith Evans (Biggie's widow) did excellent jobs as well. I had concerns, but it was a darn good film. It gets 4/5.

Tuesday:

Okay, hooray, hooray, we have an African-American president. I am happy, but I am not really in a celebratory mood. We are still poor, the economy still sucks, and our loved ones are still in Iraq. This is not the end, people!! America has some very pressing issues that still need to be addressed. Sorry, but I had to be the reality check. Be easy, readers!!

In memory of my cousin Cameron

My cousin Cameron passed away today. He was only three years old. They discovered a cancerous tumor on his kidney. This one hurts. It hurts more than most of the deaths that I have had to deal with because this is one of the youngest deaths in my family in some time. I never really thought about it, but I always assumed that Cameron would outlive me, live life, be 100 times better with the ladies, experience love, pain, sorrow, heartbreak, heartache and everything that comes with being human. I only really started noticing him this year. Cameron was a fighter...dang, I almost typed is. My mind can't really process this. I want to break down, but I'm at work. I don't cry often. My family could really use thoughts, prayers, positive energy, well wishes, etc. Thanks in advance.

Paintings, Parties, and Movies:The Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday:

I got off work, went to the comic book store, and then I saw Not Easily Broken. It was a pretty good film. Morris Chestnut actually tried to act. Taraji P. Henson was solid, and Kevin Hart didn't annoy me. I give it 3.5/5 on flixser.com.
Next, I went to the David Lusk Gallery. Two former classmates of mine, Jerry and Terry Lynn, called Twin, had an exhibition of their work. Shout out to my friends Chandra and Frank Johnson and to my friend Madalyn who were also there.

Saturday:

I got off work and went over my buddy Justin Vactor's house to podcast. Check them out at www.geeklandpodcast.com and at fusedfilm.com. Shout out to Justing for giving me the longboxes for my comics and for letting me have some of his old comics. Shout out to Willie Gillis, Emily from Ohio, Ben Songer, and everybody else involved in the podcast.

After that, I went over my buddy Arnold Edward's house to celebrate Dedrick Bullard's b-day. We went to O'Charlie's and then we came back to Arnold and Dayna's house. Throw up prayers for Day-Day's mom because she is dealing with cancer. I left around 11 PM. Shout out to Call of Duty because there's a code that allows you to fight Nazi zombies. I have to say, nazi zombies are kind of cool.

Sunday:

I pretty much loafed around the house until the evening. I went to the Wolfchse Galleria and saw Rachel Getting Married. It was an awesome film. Anne Hathaway, a recovering drug addict released from rehab right before her sister Rachel's wedding. Rosemarie Dewitt played Rachel and she was excellent as well. Their relationship seemed very believable. Debra Winger was excellent as their mom. The cameos were crazy: Fab 5 Freddy (of Yo! MTV Raps fame), Donald Harrison, Tamyra Gray,and Harvey Corman. It was crazy!! I enjoyed it, 4/5 stars.

Monday:

I hung out with my boy Chris Eaton, we watched some indie wrestling and helped his buddy Mars move in. He also gave me a graphic novel. Good lookin' out,Chris

Tuesday:

PLEASE pray for my family. My mom called me while I was writing this and said that my three-year old cousin Cameron took a turn for the worst in his battle with cancer. I will visit him tonight. Any positive thoughts are appeciated. Be easy, readers!!!

Haircuts, Podcasts, and Films: The Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday:

I got off work, got a haircut, went to Comics and Collectibles to get my weekly stash of comics(check them out at www.memphiscomics.com), and then I went home.

Saturday:

I got off work, and podcasted with my crew. Shoutout to Justin Vactor, Ben Songer, Willie Gillis, and Ben's uncle. Check out the podcasts at www.geeklandpodcast.com and fusedfilm.com. After that, I chilled out with Justin and we watched 106 & Park and some Saturday Night Live skits. Then, I went home.

Sunday:

I chilled out until about 6 PM. I got some Quiznos, went to Hastings and bought some comics, and then I saw Doubt. In this movie, Meryl Streep plays a nun who suspects a priest (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman) of molesting an African-American altar boy. Amy Adams plays a naive nun who brings the situation to Streep's attention. This movie is pretty awesome. Streep and Hoffman give great performances. I will give it 4.5 stars on flixster.com.

That was pretty much the weekend. I am going to try to write more reviews to spice up this ol' blog. We'll see how it goes. Be easy, readers!!!

Repost for Rod Pitts

Happy New Year Everybody!

This is email is just to update everyone who has been concerned about Rod's condition. He is out of the hospital and is slowly getting back on his feet. He still has to use a cane to get around, but he is expected to make a full recovery in the next six months to a year. Thank you to all of those who made a donation. The funds went towards paying his past due rent and to some of his medication.

We still need your help however, as we are trying to raise $255.00 to pay for Rod's rent owed for December to January and to help him get his phone turned back on. You can visit the blog "Save Rod Pitts" at www.saverodpitts.blogspot.com to make a donation. You can also mail any payments to:

PO Box 1733
Memphis, TN 38106

Times have been financially hard for many of us which is why even $1.00 would be we greatly welcomed and appreciated. Again, thank you all very much and please keep Rod in your prayers.

Sincerely,

DeAara Lewis

Cinescape-clips from the top films of 2008

Check it out:

http://fusedfilm.com/2009/01/votd-2008-the-cinescape-a-film-year-in-review/