soapyDave

And based on the short story I'm currently working on...

2010-07-15T19:51:00.001-07:00

I write likeStephen KingI Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Based on my recent NYC Midnight short story entry...

2010-07-15T19:49:00.001-07:00

I write likeDavid Foster WallaceI Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

A Year of Movie Connections

2010-02-13T20:47:00.003-07:00

Last year, I decided that every movie I watched had to connect somehow to the previous one. Because I see a lot of movies in the theatre, I didn’t want to include those – having to connect them would severely limit my cinema-going – so I only connected movies I watched on DVD, Blu-ray or TV. It wasn’t easy but I did it. All told, from January 1 to December 31, I was able to

Movies watched

2010-01-10T13:20:00.002-07:00

Since January 1, 2010:Grizzly ManStar Trek (2009)Half NelsonShadows (1959)

Movie watched: Synecdoche, NY

2009-12-31T23:50:00.002-07:00

Connection to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Charlie Kaufman wrote the screenplay for both films. On a related note, Amy Wright, who played the Burning House Realtor in Synecdoche, NY also played a Bridesmaid in The Deer Hunter - which brings us full circle to the movie that started the year.And that is a Year of Movie Connections. Sixty-six movies watched over the course of 2009 (on DVD

Movie watched: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2009-12-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

Connection to Shakespeare in Love: Tom Wikinson was in both films.

Movie watched: Shakespeare in Love

2009-12-30T21:20:00.003-07:00

Connection to Bug: Brian F. O'Byrne, who was featured in Bug, stars with Joseph Fiennes (who stars in SIL) in the current TV series Flash Forward.

Movie watched: Bug

2009-12-28T21:48:00.001-07:00

Connection to Frida: Ashley Judd starred in both films.

Movie watched: Frida

2009-12-27T23:23:00.000-07:00

Connection to An Education: Alfred Molina was in both films.

Movie watched

2009-12-21T22:05:00.003-07:00

An Education, which – owing to it being a new movie in theatres – does not have to connect to the last film but does anyway: Carey Mulligan AND Matthew Beard were in both films AND they played almost-love interests in both.Everyone has been raving about Carey Mulligan in this and she was good; however, I'd also like to mention that Rosamund Pike (who played her old sister in 2005's Pride &

Movie watched: And When Did You Last See Your Father?

2009-12-20T22:26:00.001-07:00

Connection to Pride & Prejudice: Even though Colin Firth might first spring to mind (at least for the women out there), the P&P watched last time was the Keira Knightley version which stars Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy instead of Colin Firth. That's close enough for me to call it a connection; however, Carey Mulligan, who played Kitty Bennet (in her debut role) also happens to be in And When

Bookshelf - Stop-motion animation

2009-12-20T17:14:00.003-07:00

Gina and I inherited a bookshelf, which made room for more books! In the process of re-arranging them, I thought we might as well make it into a film project. This is our first attempt at stop motion animation (using photography).

Movie watched: Pride & Prejudice

2009-12-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

Connection to Edward Scissorhands: Both films' main characters only kiss each other once and virtually not until the final scene.

Movie watched: Edward Scissorhands

2009-12-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

Connection to La Promesse: Thematcially, both films feature "illegal aliens" coming to a new world and trying to get by just making a living. Scissorhands is not technically an alien in the immigration or even interstellar sense; however, he is an inventor's creation (NOT like the rest of us!) and thus has no Social Security Number, etc. putting him in the same boat (as it were) as one.

Movie watched: La promesse

2009-12-15T21:21:00.002-07:00

Connection to Before Sunset: Louise Lemoine Torres, who played Journalist #1 in Before Sunset, was in an episode of the long-running French television show Commisssaire Moulin entitled "La promesse".

Movie watched: Before Sunset

2009-12-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

Connection to Flags of our Fathers: Mo Henry was the Negative Cutter for both films.

Movie watched: Flags of our Fathers

2009-12-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Connection to Family Plot: Henry Bumstead was Production Designer on both films. Check out his résumé - quite impressive as both Art Director and Production Designer.

Movie watched: Family Plot

2009-12-09T22:09:00.002-07:00

Connection to Time Bandits: Katherine Helmond starred in both films.

Movie watched: Time Bandits

2009-12-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

Connection to Garden State: Ian Holm stars in both films.

Movie watched: Garden State

2009-12-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Connection to Mean Girls: Neil Flynn, who played Cady's dad, was in the TV show Scrubs with Zach Braff, who directed and stars in Garden State.

Movie watched

2009-12-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. As this is still in cinemas, no connection is required.

Movie watched: Mean Girls

2009-12-01T22:55:00.001-07:00

Connection to Saved!: thematically, both films follow a gaggle of high school girls' zany hijinks.

Movie watched: Saved!

2009-11-21T21:26:00.003-07:00

Connection to "10": Nedra Volz – who had a bit part in "10" – was in 4 episodes of One Day at a Time with Valerie Bertinelli, who played herself in Saved!.

Movies watched

2009-11-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

Men Who Stare at Goats, The Invention of Lying. No connection required as both movies were in cinemas.

Movie watched: 10

2009-11-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

Connection to L.A. Story: Denise Crosby starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation with Patrick Stewart; she had a bit part in 10 (party guest) and he had a bit part in L.A. Story (maitre d').

Movie watched: L.A. Story

2009-11-15T20:29:00.003-07:00

Connection to Sunshine State: Sam McMurray acted in both films.

Movie watched

2009-11-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Where the Wild Things Are. New movie in cinemas, no connection required.

Movie watched: Sunshine State

2009-11-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Connection to Malcolm X: John Sayles, who directed Sunshine State, played an FBI Agent in Malcolm X.

Movie watched: Malcolm X

2009-11-07T22:22:00.001-07:00

Connection to Summer of Sam: both films were directed by Spike Lee.

Movie watched

2009-11-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

Coco Avant Chanel. New movie in cinemas so no connection required.

Movie watched: Summer of Sam

2009-11-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

Connection to M: both films feature a serial killer who is terrorizing a city, as well as cops and organized crime both trying to stop the killer.

We'll miss you...

2009-10-31T11:59:00.004-07:00

SonnetOctober 31, 1994 – October 31, 2009a.k.a.: somet, monkey, monkey cheese, chubby cheese, evil cheese, tubby cheese bear, stinky mccheese, kitty, kitten, kitten pants, kitty bear, the grey one, grey monk, little lord fat 'n grey, mckitts, swee-peas, bay-bees, Most people only ever saw her dark side but she also had a loving, cuddly side that only a lucky few got to experience. Sonnet was very

Movie watched

2009-10-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

Up. New in cinemas so no connection required.Up. New in cinemas so no connection required.

Movie watched: M

2009-10-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

Connection to The Maltese Falcon: Peter Lorre stars in both films.

Movies watched: Calgary International Film Festival

2009-10-11T15:13:00.003-07:00

We only managed to get out to 5 CIFF programs this year. Some of the usual organizational issues but it wasn't too bad. I would have liked to see more but there were a lot of conflicts. Each year, when the guide comes out, we go through and mark everything that looks good. Then we plot them all out and where two or three play at the same time - or too close to make it between venues - we pick the

Movie watched: The Maltese Falcon

2009-10-10T22:39:00.001-07:00

Connection to Chinatown: John Huston, who directed TMF, starred in Chinatown (as Noah Cross, Faye Dunaway's character's father). According to the IMDb, Chinatown also references TMF in some way but does not have details.

Movie watched: Chinatown

2009-10-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Connection to Hot Fuzz: The line "Forget it, Nick. It's Sandford" is similar to the last line in Chinatown: "Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown." (from Hot Fuzz Movie Connections page at IMDb).

Movie watched: Hot Fuzz

2009-09-20T22:04:00.002-07:00

Connection to La Femme Nikita: Remember, LFN was a stand-in for Léon (aka The Professional). In Hot Fuzz, "The Japanese peace lily that Nicholas Angel brings with him and takes care of is much like Léon's plant in the movie Léon. When he talks about it, similar dialogue is used." (from IMDb Movie Connections page for Hot Fuzz).Likely the most tenuous connection so far but that's what this is all

Movie watched

2009-09-19T17:03:00.001-07:00

Cold Souls. No connection required as this is new in theatres. Verdict: Eternal Sunshine without the fun, but still worth a look.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: La Femme Nikita

2009-09-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Connection to La Haine: well, we needed a connection between this and Hot Fuzz. The obvious choice was Léon (aka The Professional) but it was not handy ("WHAT!" you say, "you don't own The Professional?" – I know, I know! However, a quick replacement was on our shelf: La Femme Nikita. Nikita was directed by Luc Besson (as is Léon) and stars Jean Reno (as does Léon). Also, both films have (**

Movie watched

2009-08-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Taking Woodstock. Because this Ang Lee film is new in theatres, no connection is required.

Movie watched: La Haine (Hate)

2009-08-28T22:17:00.002-07:00

Connection to Amelie: Mathieu Kassovitz – who starred in Amelie – directed La Haine.

Movie watched

2009-08-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

Moon. Because this movie is new in theatres, no connection to the previous film is required.

Movie watched: Amelie

2009-08-21T22:06:00.001-07:00

Connection to La Placard (The Closet): Michel Filippi was the post-synchronization engineer on Amelie and an ADR Supervisor on La Placard. Oh, and the DVD of Amelie has the trailer for La Placard as one of the Coming Attractions.

Movie Watched: La Placard (The Closet)

2009-08-14T20:49:00.005-07:00

Connection to Cache: Daniel Autieul starred in both films.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched

2009-08-13T22:47:00.002-07:00

The Time Traveler's Wife. Because the movie is new in theatres (free preview, actually – thanks, Autumn!), no connection to the previous film is required.

Movie watched: Cache (Hidden)

2009-08-08T21:43:00.002-07:00

Connection to last movie (The English Patient): Juliette Binoche starred in both films.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: The English Patient

2009-06-27T22:42:00.001-07:00

Connection to Gosford Park: Kristin Scott Thomas stars in both films.

Movie watched: Gosford Park

2009-06-26T22:30:00.001-07:00

Connection to The Madness of King George: Helen Mirren stars in both films.

Movie watched: The Madness of King George

2009-06-19T22:21:00.001-07:00

Connection to American Beauty: Tariq Anwar was the Editor of both films.

Movie watched: American Beauty

2009-06-06T08:57:00.005-07:00

Connection to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Conrad L. Hall was the Cinematographer on both films.American Beauty is another one of those films that just gets better with each viewing. Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Chris Cooper all give excellent performances.

Movie watched: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid

2009-05-30T21:10:00.001-07:00

Connection to The Sting: 1. Paul Newman, 2. Robert Redford, 3. George Roy Hill (director)Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: The Sting

2009-05-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

Connection to Night Sun: Ernest Hemingway. Paul Newman was in Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man and Julian Sands was in The Sun Also Rises (1984).

Movie watched: Night Sun (Il Sole Anche di Notte)

2009-05-24T22:41:00.002-07:00

Connection to War & Peace: both films were based on works by Tolstoy.Gina wondered how this got on our Ziplist. I'll fess up - I zipped everything available with Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Movie watched: War & Peace

2009-05-23T22:35:00.001-07:00

Connection to Charade: Audrey Hepburn stars in both films.Gina had a few words to say about this one.

Movie watched: Charade

2009-05-21T23:22:00.001-07:00

Connection to Marie Antoinette: Both films have Paris has locations. This also has a connection to Duplicity, which we just saw in the cinema (which doesn't require a connection) - both films are RomCom-Thrillers.**Note: Charade is one of the best films ever: fantastic script, great acting & direction, I could go on and on.

Movie watched: Marie Antoinette

2009-05-16T23:13:00.003-07:00

Connection to Elizabeth the Golden Age: both films have royalty as themes/characters.

Movie watched: Elizabeth The Golden Age

2009-05-09T22:18:00.002-07:00

Connection to Map of the Human Heart: The Northwest Passage - in MOTHH, Patrick Bergin's character was mapping in the Arctic. Elizabeth I sent Frobisher to find the Northwest Passage.

Movie watched

2009-05-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

Two Lovers (i.e. Joaquin Closet's last movie). Free Preview in the Cinema, no connection required. This was actually fairly good and not at all what I was expecting. It had one particular flaw that could have been easily corrected by the removal of one scene. Since it's a spoiler, I won't tell you which one.

Movie watched: Map of the Human Heart

2009-05-03T07:03:00.003-07:00

Connection to Tsotsi: Both films were co-productions, both made by white guys about characters that aren't white.Map of the Human Heart was really not that good. I can't remember how it ended up on our Zip list but it really proves that Zip needs to add the functionality to include a brief note as to why you Zip a movie. They often come so long afterwards you can't possibly recall what made you

Movie watched: Tsotsi

2009-05-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Connection to Conspiracy: Tsotsi rhymes with Nazi, the subject of Conspiracy (I know, I know).

Movie watched

2009-04-30T16:58:00.001-07:00

Gran Torino. Seen in cinema - no connection required. GT was good: a great solid script and very funny (where it was supposed to be), even if Clint was a little over the top. Grrrrr!Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: Conspiracy

2009-04-26T20:50:00.001-07:00

Connection to Tigerland: both films are war films.

Movie watched

2009-04-24T22:38:00.001-07:00

The Soloist. Since it was new in the cinema, no connection is required. It was actually pretty good, although Bre said it wasn't nearly as good as the book.

Another year older...

2009-04-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Who else shares this day with me?

Movie watched: Tigerland

2009-04-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Connection to The Tiger in the Snow: obviously, both films have "tiger" in the title but they do also have a few other things in common:1. Both have "wars that America shouldn't have been in" as their backdrop: Tiger in the Snow (Iraq), Tigerland (Vietnam)2. Both have well-known actors playing outside their nationality: Colin Farrell (an Irishman playing a Texan), Jean Reno (a Frenchman playing

Movie watched: The Tiger in the Snow

2009-04-16T22:41:00.001-07:00

Connection to Mr. & Mrs. Smith: both films revolve around a married couple that is split up for a great deal of the film.

Movie watched: The Notorious Bettie Page

2009-04-11T22:29:00.001-07:00

Admittedly, this one has no connection to the previous film BUT that's because it arrived from Zip with a huge crack in it. We had a connection earlier but having to send it back and "re-wait" for the replacement to arrive was impossible. As it turns out, the replacement came quickly but we had already moved on.Anyway, Gretchen Mol looks great in this one but the film definitely was lacking. I

Movie watched: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

2009-04-04T22:26:00.001-07:00

NOT the Branjelina one but the film directed by Mr. Hitchcock. They have the same title but the newer one is not a remake. Connection to Lifeboat: both films were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Movie watched: Lifeboat

2009-03-30T20:21:00.001-07:00

Connection to A Canterbury Tale: both were WWII films and were essentially propaganda/buy bonds movies.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: A Canterbury Tale

2009-03-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

Connection to The Red Shoes: both films were made by "The Archers", Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Movie watched

2009-03-18T17:26:00.003-07:00

Pontypool, the new film from Bruce Macdonald. Because this was new in the cinema, no connection to the previous film is required.I was quite impressed by this. Not knowing anything about it really other than that it's a "sort-of-but-not-really-a-zombie-movie" was a good thing. I had no idea what to expect. I don't want to say too much other than check it out if you can, especially if you're a big

Movie watched: The Red Shoes

2009-03-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

Connection to The Pianist: Composing. The Pianist is about Wladyslaw Szpilman (played by Adrian Brody), a Polish Composer and The Red Shoes is about a ballet dancer (Moira Shearer) who has an affair with a composer (played by Marius Goring).

Movie watched: The Pianist

2009-03-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

Connection to Life is Beautiful: the Holocaust.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched

2009-03-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

Australia. Still in theatres; no connection required.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful)

2009-02-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Connection to A Sunday in Kigali: Genocide (Rwandan in Kigali and Jewish in Beautiful)

Movie watched: A Sunday in Kigali

2009-02-21T22:15:00.003-07:00

Connection to An American in Paris: both films feature the plot "Come-from-away falls in love with someone from there (film location)"

Movie watched: An American in Paris

2009-02-17T22:12:00.002-07:00

Connection to Irma La Douce: Paris - both films took place in Paris.Also watched Shall We Dance (1937) on television, so it doesn't require a connection.

Movie watched: Irma La Douce

2009-02-15T22:10:00.001-07:00

Connection to Sunset Blvd.: Billy Wilder directed both films.

Movie watched: Sunset Blvd.

2009-02-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

Connection to Easy Rider: The location of the whorehouse in Easy Rider was the mansion of an aging silent film star and the character played by Gloria Swanson is an aging silent film star that has a mansion.

Movie watched: Easy Rider

2009-01-31T22:03:00.001-07:00

Connection to Pillow Book: a bit of a stretch but we'll go with it. Cross-country Buddy Motorcycle Rides: Ewan (star of Pillow Book), has done Long Way Round and Long Way Down with Charley Boorman. In Easy Rider, Peter Fonda tours with Dennis Hopper.

Movies watched

2009-01-31T20:22:00.002-07:00

The Wrestler (C)The Reader (C)New releases, no connection required.

Movie watched

2009-01-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Frost/Nixon (C)New release, no connection required.

Movie watched: Pillow Book

2009-01-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

Connection to Big Fish: Ewan McGregor starred in both films.

Movie watched: Big Fish

2009-01-24T20:16:00.001-07:00

Connection to The Shining: both films feature twins. There are the creepy ghost twins from The Shining and in Big Fish, there are young twin girls in the audience at the circus and of course, the conjoined twins in the circus.

Movies watched

2009-01-24T20:11:00.001-07:00

Milk (C)Happy-go-Lucky (C)Vicky Christina Barcelona (C)New releases, no connection required.

Movie watched: The Shining

2009-01-22T17:46:00.001-07:00

Connection to A Few Good Men: Jack Nicholson starred in both films.

Movie watched

2009-01-19T22:14:00.001-07:00

Inkheart (P)New release, connection required.

Movies watched Last Week

2009-01-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

The Changeling (C)The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (C)Slumdog Millionaire (C)Revolutionary Road (C)Since these were all new releases in the theatre, I don't have to find a connection; however, you'll notice that as of this morning all four of the above films were nominated for at least one Oscar, as was "A Few Good Men" (4 noms, no wins).

Movie watched: A Few Good Men

2009-01-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

Connection to Hannah & Her Sisters: J.T. Walsh was in both films.Sent from my iPhone

Movie watched: Hannah & Her Sisters

2009-01-11T18:33:00.001-07:00

Connection to Seventh Seal: Max von Sydow was in both films.

Film Watched: The Seventh Seal

2009-01-10T14:32:00.001-07:00

Connection to Casablanca: Bergman. Although Ingrid and Ingemar are not related, they were both Swedish of course. Further, Ingemar was once married to a different Ingrid.Sent from my iPhone

Film Watched: Casablanca

2009-01-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

Connection to Adaptation: twin screenwriters - both films were credited to twins (even if there is no Donald Kaufman). This connection is also mentioned in the film Adaptation.Sent from my iPhone

Film Watched: Adaptation

2009-01-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Connection to The Deer Hunter: Meryl Streep starred in both films.Sent from my iPhone

2009 Movies Blog: A Year of Connections, Tenuous and Otherwise

2009-01-02T12:57:00.001-07:00

This year, instead of just tracking the films we see, Gina and I decided that every movie we watch must have some connection to the movie we watched before it (with one caveat, that is we don't have to link TO new movie releases in theatres because we wouldn't want to not see a new movie just because there was no connection). Still, we'll do our best to connect to those as well.The connection can

2008: A Year of Movies - That's a Wrap

2009-01-02T11:13:00.004-07:00

It wasn't really a resolution but at the beginning of 2008 I started keeping track of all of the movies I watched. It came about in response to Gina's question at the end of 2007, "what was your favourite movie of the year?"I don't think it's particularly amazing that I managed to actually do it for the entire year. For the most part it was easy, as each time I watched a movie I wrote it on a

Movies - Week of December 29

2009-01-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Gregoire Moulin contre l'Humanité! **** (D)Stage Fright ***½ (D)Bell, Book & Candle ** (D)Isis in Darkness **½ (D)Breathless **** (D)Sunrise ** (S)For legend, see Week 1Best Movie of the Year so far (Cinema or new DVD releases only included)Everything is Fine

Movies - Week of December 22

2008-12-29T19:19:00.003-07:00

With a Friend Like Harry ***½ (D)The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ****½ (B)Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Design Team Commentary) ***½ (D)For legend, see Week 1Best Movie of the Year so far (Cinema or new DVD releases only included)Everything is Fine

Movies - Week of December 15

2008-12-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

No movies this week.For legend, see Week 1Best Movie of the Year so far (Cinema or new DVD releases only included)Everything is Fine

Movies - Week of December 8

2008-12-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

No movies this week.For legend, see Week 1Best Movie of the Year so far (Cinema or new DVD releases only included)Everything is Fine