Friday the 13th

Lastnight we were supposed to paint our bedroom, but MSH declared we would go to see a movie. And it would be “Crash.” I hadn’t heard much about it, but it has Don Cheadle in it, and that’s ALL MSH needed to know. We’re big fans of the Cheadle. Cha cha cha Cheadle! Sorry.

Background Information: This movie is about people in Los Angeles. I am white.

I give the movie three stars. It failed to garner four stars from this reviewer because it underachieved. Great ideas, excellent writing, shot VERY well, good casting (except for Jennifer Esposito—I displayed more acting talent as the French Waiter in the Ladybug Theater’s production of “Fairy Mixup” at age 9—although she definitely has way better hair.) But there were some plot points I just didn’t buy. Granted, I’m an optimist and an idealist and I live in a smaller city where race conflict is muffled, non-existent, or carefully swept under the rug (confined to specific, mostly poor neighborhoods and underreported by the mainstream media.) But I just didn’t buy that average people in everyday urban life could be that hateful to each other and that some of these otherwise peaceful characters had violence just under their skin. So you can say the writing or the acting didn’t sell it to me, or maybe you just have to be from LA to fully appreciate it—I would like to hear a perspective from someone who lives or has lived in LA!! As a movie that weaves several intersecting stories, it had moments magical, jaw-dropping, heroic, wince-inducing—definitely worth watching. But I felt like it could have been better. At several points I wanted to tell the characters, “just lighten the hell up!”—that sort of removal from the suspension of disbelief always takes the movie experience down a notch for me.

So watching this movie meant I missed watching the O.C. broadcast live—trusty ComcastTM DVR saves my behind again! I just ran home on my lunch hour and watched it. It was shocking! Dramatic! Read on.

Ryan running into ex-girlfriend baby mama (but he don’t know) in Chino, where she is totally not bitter and nurtures his relationship with Marissa? Contrived. Unrealistic. Corny.

Kirsten dissolving from a mature, self-aware, functional woman into a passive-aggressive, emotionally distant alcoholic in the space of three episodes? I ain’t buyin’ it. As Amy points out, we could buy this last season when it was Marissa—because she’s sixteen. Or whatever age you are when you go on weekend trips with your boyfriend on a regular basis, can put prom together in the space of a week, but can’t communicate your emotions, let alone word of a felonious assault to the local police.

Caleb Nichol pitching into the pool with a heart attack? Crazy! Dude, if you’re having a heart attack, LEAN TOWARD THE PLANTER!!!

But these things don’t really bother me. Something keeps me addicted to the over-the-top dramedy that is “the O.C.” Maybe it’s the clothes. Although what was Marissa wearing in that scene outside the high school—a yellow tube top with a bright Caribbean blue afghan dickey?

The big heartwarmer of the episode was Seth and Summer onstage at prom. Lovin’ it. I was also very proud of Julie Cooper-Nichol. They are redeeming her character big-time. First she’s refraining from slipping Caleb a mickey, then she’s athletically diving into the pool to try to save him. I knew they’d find a way to keep our little JuJuBe in designer outfits. ;)

One more observation: The O.C. makeup artist must like the actors’ left sides. Bruise on Marissa’s collar bone? Left side. Boo boo on Trey’s felonious noggin? Left side. Bash and black eye on boozy driver Kirsten? Left side. Hmmmmm….this could point to the nefarious conclusion that….I pay WAY too close attention to this show.

IN OTHER NEWS, one of our sales staff quit this week. First employee that’s quit since I’ve been here. Kind of a downer, also since I was sick that day. But we’ve proved Friday the 13th superstitions wrong—D. closed a big deal—and I scored with the former employee’s wireless mouse. I don’t know if this is because it’s wireless, but its movement is smooth as silk. And my desk’s feng shui is improved. Thank you, technology. Please don’t give me cancer.

My coworker just lent me “Music from the O.C., Mix 2.” SahweetAH!
Who said that Daisy Duke (in the Dukes of Hazzard movie) could be blond? Like we don't have enough blonds in movies and TV shows. Seriously people.

Despite such chicanery, have a great weekend, people!