CoreyTess» Corey Tess

La Vie En Rose (DVD of the Month!)

Corey Tess — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:26:49 +0000

La Vie En Rose’ – The Life of Edith Piaf
Current mood: artistic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

This film is a heart breaker. I am a big fan of Edith Piaf, and having spent some time in France – I believe that her sound really is the soul of her Nation. Her life, like the tone of her voice and her music, was tragic. There are moments of sheer triumph and moments of the most desperate kind of despair. It took a life like this one to produce the voice of the sparrow with such depth of feeling.

The saddest thing about this film is not its content though, it’s that so many people don’t even know who Edith is and certainly (if) they see the film would not understand her greatness. With modern singers having such an array of styles and tones, I think her nasal edgey style might be mistaken for something less than say someone like Jennifer Hudson (who certainly can sing!) but is simply in a different catergory all together. In any case, if you don’t mind subtitles and can stand to witness the making of a tragic but meaningful icon in French history, you should take the time to see this.

Currently listening:

The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
By Edith Piaf
Release date: 30 July, 1991

Julie & Julia

Corey Tess — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:27:19 +0000

Julie & Julia Trailer We all know that Meryl Streep is a Goddess of immeasuable talent, rare beauty, class and of course a master of comedic timing, so when you see her as Julia Childs, you don’t really bat an eyelash at the sheer perfection. It isn’t until about half way through the film when you begin to understand how wonderfully she is conveying this human being with respect rather than mocking her, in the way that so many others have done. Although she creates the classic JULIA for us, she also gives her a depth that was never possible watching her tv show, or reading her cook books. Here was a woman… and a Chef.. but first a woman…

I really enjoyed the Julia scenes, and felt that the Julie scenes were filler and came across as an excuse to tell what would have on it’s own been an inthralling tale of a human life. I could have watched another hour of Meryl as Julia rather than the sort of “bridget jonesish” tirads of the Julie Powell character played by Amy Adams. (who was cute and fair).

I think it is sufficient to say that Julia’s cookbook has enjoyed a resurrgence of followers and buyers and there will be more french cooking going on in kitchens this fall than there has in the past five years while the Julie & Julia book rather languishes in sales…

I do adore Julia and Meryl… and Julie Powell did bring them together in a way.. and that is a great thing! So Thanks, Ladies…

Death at a Funeral (DVD of the Month!)

Corey Tess — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 07:49:57 +0000

One of the funniest films I have seen in a long time. It you love British Humor, you have to see this film. If you don’t, you still need to see it. Great comic timing. Although it is from the director of Bowfinger, the film is very british while Bowfinger was decidely american, however they share the same mixture of subtle and over the top comedy that makes a film really enjoyable. Just when you are beginning to recover from a giggle you are taken by an outright knee slapping laugh. Nice ride!

Basically the film is about two brothers who deal with a number of hilarious distractions at their fathers funeral. Everything from his gay lover showing up to a drugged up funeral attendee naked on the roof.

You can wait to DVD if its not playing near you, but please DO SEE THIS FILM!

Mad Money (DVD of the Month!)

Corey Tess — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:29:01 +0000

This little movie was a guilty pleasure. I am a Queen Latifah fan – there is just something very real and solid about the way she plays all her characters. She has a level of confidence that trancends the screen. Of course Diane Keaton is always a riot. I love her classic head shaking, hand flailing, squealing hysterics. Alway funny. A surprise to me, was Katie Holmes, playing a totally whacked out, but likable bimbo. You cannot help but like her in this film – she is just too cute. Great job on her part and I am personally glad to see her out of the house – Tom is freaky!

Anyway, if you just want to have flat out silly fun and are in a light hearted mood, Mad Money is sweet, simple, clean and friendly.

The basic storyline: A mature couple faces debt and possible financial ruin when after a year of looking for a new job, the husband (Ted Danson) finally admits he just cant find anything and they are now flat broke. His wife (Diane K) takes the reigns, but all she can find that matches her skills is a janitorial job in the Federal reserve bank where she quickly hatches a scheme to rob the place. After noticing they use locks just like the ones you get at any Home Depot on the carts that carry “Worn out” money that is to be shredded, she drags Queen L into the scheme and later entices Katie H as well. From there its a fun romp through the robbing, almost getting caught, more drama… finally getting caught and then … well, you’ll see..

VERY CUTE!

Paris Je’Taime (DVD of the Month!)

Corey Tess — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:16:17 +0000

Paris Je’Taime

I absolutely fell in love with this movie. Amelie is still my favorite film, but this is a close second… i loved every moment…

20 delicious morsels of film each by a different film-maker served up with a distinct french cinematic flavor.. for those of you who have been to Paris, it will confirm your feelings, for those who have not, it will make you want to live it… each piece gives you a new emotion, a new section of the city, a new scenario … I really do Je’Taime Paris!

The Darjeeling Limited (DVD Choice of the Month!)

Corey Tess — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:45:26 +0000

The Darjeeling Limited
Current mood: content
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

A romp! I loved it.
This film is literally a journey. Lovely, and funny, witty and somber. poignant and yet completely frivolous!

3 Brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien (gorgeous) Brody and Jason Swartsman (also one of the writers) seek what they cannot find. The approval of their mother, the meaning in their fathers life and death, their relationship to eachother… in east asia they discover the answers… and it is a riot to watch…. A must see.

For Your Consideration (DVD of the Month)

Corey Tess — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:20:40 +0000

For Your Consideration:

I love the absolute superficiality of it. The way the people just back slap eachother like crazy,.. you are fabulous darling! And the fact that it is Home for Purim is hysterical… they poke fun at all the basic stereotypes… i love the botox and the TRL slam… amazing… Not everyone is going to like this film, but I loved it.

Alpha Dog..meh..

Corey Tess — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:26:20 +0000

ALPHA DOG!

Ok, So I know I watch a lot of movies. I am a workaholic and being on my lap top at night is really boring unless something is playing in the background – so thanks to a combination of DirectOnDemand, TiVO and Blockbuster.com I am always hooked up with movies. My work hours are – after the gym -> 10:30am (in the office) till about 7pm (leave the office) — drinks & sushi (mostly) with friends til about 9:30pm – 10 to 2am (lap top work and movies). So, i guess that is roughly… 1 to 2 movies per night.. WOW!

So here is a film that might be a good flick for when you want to see something you never saw in the theater, had seen the preview a couple times and thought, “i should see that” but then never did… you can download it or rent it… it’s worth the time.. and Justin Timberlake is in it

This would have been completely contrived, over dramatized and self indulgent, if it wasnt a true story…. Justin Timberlake actually gives a pretty good performance. He doesnt over do it. Very much a GUY film. Basically, A bunch of over priveledged, over-sexed, drugged up white kids playing “Gang like games” in the valley when a fight turns bad and ends in the kidnapping and murder of an innocent teenager… apparently 98 in the valley was quite a time for the “wanna be black ganstas – scene”. in a weird way it reminded me of Zodiac… the style and setting.. there was one scene near the end where the green screen technology totally failed and you could clearly see the actors were not at that location.. but other than that.. worth a rent…

Here is a link to an article on the true story that inspired the movie.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16636250/

Deja Vu (DVD of the Month!)

Corey Tess — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:40:40 +0000

Deja Vu:

Pretty Cool. A wild ride. I liked this movie. I wont give away anything. See it if you like action, Denzel and a mildly cool ending. I would say the major problem with it was that they introduce you to this really cool thing that you want to know more about outside of the context of the story.. how it works, what else they are going to use it for, etc… but they tied it so deeply into this one plot that it wasnt the star of the movie, which it really should have been – then they could have done Deja Vu II, and III

It is pretty good and for some reason Jim Cavesial (not sure how you spell his name, Jesus in the Passion) chose to take a tiny role in this film.. which weirded me out.

Little Children… Not Childs Play!

Corey Tess — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:43:48 +0000

If you liked “In The Bedroom”, you will love this. Certainly not a fun little jaunt of a film, Little Children is very real…

It examines the calm and seemingly normal lives of suburbans who are anything but satisfied with life… i think it really speaks volumes about the sometimes supressed desires of people whose lives are otherwise devoid of “real” problems. If you are sick, or poor, or opressed, ugly, fat, disliked or damaged in some visible way, people often allow for you to complain about not feeling complete… but if you are in all those ways complete… then nothing could be missing… or could it?

i like the film… i think people should pay more attention to those little pangs of “what if”.. and “why not” to avoid making the bigger mistakes that ruin peoples lives… A must see in my book.

Could Kate Winslet be any more perfect?

WARNING FOR VIEWERS: NUDITY, LAUNGUAGE, SEX.

5 Stars