The thing about Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)...

...is that it was just as funny to me as other (non-comedy) old movies. In fact, I might say I laughed less at Kind Hearts and Coronets because I knew this was a comedy, so I wasn't sure which parts were intentional funny or just old movie funny. Does that make sense? Anyway, I enjoy a good dark comedy, so I deeply enjoyed this film, despite my confusion.

Alec Guinness and Alec Guinness: this is the way to play multiple characters in one movie.

Taking advice from the media: How to make friends

I'm kind of a shy person, so I have to make myself make friends which is kind of an awkward process. But since tomorrow is the start of a new school year and my first year in my program, I decided to pick up some tips from movies and television. Here 9 ways I found to make friends:

1. Join a group activity like a sport. (Bend it Like Beckham)

2. Help out at a party. (Dirty Dancing)

3. Involve a stranger in an elaborate plan to impress a woman or a man. (How I Met Your Mother)

4. Find another socially awkward person to have fun with away from a large group of people. (Little Women)

5. Ask a person for help with something they do especially well, like sneaking contraband items into prison. (The Shawshank Redemption)

6. Work with someone on a mutually noble cause. (Casablanca)

7. Make fun of a classmate during lecture. (Kal Ho Naa Ho)

8. Force conversation on a seatmate while riding public transportation. (Sliding Doors)

9. Shock a new acquaintance into doing something outlandish and fun such as a three-legged race. (Anne of Green Gables)

The Audacity of Rock: Part 28

Let's hear it from the kids.

The addition of children into a song can either be creepy or endearing. Those are the only two results.


"Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" by Pink Floyd (1979)

Army of singing anarchist children: both awesome and terrifying.




"Count it Off" by the Saturday Knights (2009)

Kids singing the chorus of a horn-heavy rap song: adorable!




Questions:

1. What are other songs that feature small children?
1. Muppet-like puppets: always great?
2. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

Speaking of 90s Disney Channel and FlashForward

The TV series Flash Forward starring Ben Foster and Jewel Staite.



I knew I was missing a pop culture connection somewhere.

FlashForward

FlashForward looks to be Lost's less awesome little brother. It's about the world after a global 2-minute blackout by every one sees the future in 6 months. It has a decent premise to build a mystery off of. Pilot episodes are usually a little rough, so if they up their dialogue from cliche-disaster-flick to people-with-personality from here on out, the show could be pretty good.

However, I'm willing to stick around for two reasons:

1. Joseph Fiennes. Look here and here for reasons I've already explained my love for him. Although he's working with an American accent in this, so it puts a little damper on my enthusiasm, especially since he's saying stuff like "I was drinking again. The anxiety, the shame, it was all back." Like I said, the dialogue needs to improve, so hopefully the writers got their expository wiggles out so Joe can work his magic.

2. LEE THOMPSON YOUNG. If you're all, "Who?" you did not grow up on late-90s Disney Channel. He played teen star Jett Jackson on The Famous Jett Jackson trying to live a normal life. This was time when Disney had some fairly low-key programming that didn't have laugh tracks or obnoxious girls named Lizzie McGuire. JONAS, The Suite Life with Zack and Cody, Sonny with a Chance* are pale comparisons of their more awesome predecessor.

Remember this, guys?

Anyway, he made an appearance on the pilot episode of FlashForward. He doesn't seem to be in the main cast, but I hope to see more of him on the show anyway. Because his eyes are still dreamy.

Right?

*I nanny a 4th grader, okay?

Some great beards 3

Because facial hair is always appreciated here:

1. Robert Redford in Jeremiah Johnson. His beard is in full-grizzled mode at this point.

2. John Corbett in Northern Exposure as Chris "in the morning" Stevens. He's waxing philosophical about Maggie's burned down house.
Thinking is hot.

3. Josh Radner rocking a break-up beard as Ted on How I Met Your Mother. There was no high-five reciprocation.

4. So Joseph Fiennes doesn't have a complete beard in Shakespeare in Love, but I'm saying it's scruffy enough to count.
Also, he is quite pretty, thoughtfully holding the quill like that.

5. A youngish (by which I mean a 43-year-old) Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Treves in The Elephant Man. Not a bad look, Mr. Hopkins. Not bad at all.