D-I-N-O-S-A-U (You)-R (Are) a Dinosaur.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and saw a grown man staring back. Before you begin to make the jokes about how I can't possibly be a grown man at the whopping height of 5'3'' : hear me out.

Yesterday, I was handed a packet at work. Health insurance. Dental insurance. Vision insurance. Life insurance. That's right: Benefits.

Gone are the days of hourly wages and living off tips.

Life insurance? That's something for old people.

When, do tell, did this happen? One day I'm drunkenly running through the street of Orange in my underwear, the next - I'm covered. Quite literally.



These are things that you think grown-ups have, and I hadn't yet thought of myself as a grown up. Sure, you have dinner parties with friends, you drink wine, you have great conversation and at the end of the night you think "God, I felt so grown up."



The "feels like" is gone. I am so grown up. It's weird, but it's what I've been waiting for since childhood. To be an adult.

Jewish tradition says 13.
The government says 18.
The bars say 21.
I'll say 22.

And today's 5 o'clock shadow isn't making me feel any younger.

Marcus and Lesley: 2010's Answer to Statler and Waldorf

Statler: I like the movie fine so far.
Waldorf: It hasn't started yet.
Statler: That's what I like about it.

Like Statler and Waldorf of "The Muppet Show" fame, Lesley and I love nothing more than to go to movies together. We've already decided: She's Waldorf, I'm Statler.

Statler: We'd love to see your act.
Waldorf: But we'd hate to miss your act.
Statler: In fact, we'd love to hate your act!

Don't get me wrong, we love nothing more than loving a movie. In the past month or so, she and I saw "An Education," "A Single Man," "The Princess and The Frog," and "Avatar." Were there more than that? I don't remember. Besides the point. If I'm going to a movie, I want her by my side. Why? She puts up with my shtick. Not only that, she CHALLENGES my shtick.

Waldorf: There have been wars started over less then that
Statler: You're wrong. Nothing's less then that.

Watching a movie with me is like watching a movie with instant commentary. If I've got something to say, I'll say it.

Marcus: The ear placement on the Avatars makes them look like Sloth from "The Goonies"
Lesley: Hey You GUYYYYYYYYYS

And Lesley will say it right back.

Marcus: You'd think that after working on the movies for years, they would have spent at least one of those years working on the script.
Lesley: What script?

Make no mistake, we don't hate everything - we just enjoy hating almost as much as we enjoy loving. "An Education" we loved. We were messes, together throughout the entire movie. We were literally curled up in a ball in our seats- yelling at the main character for dumb things that she was doing. Like Statler and Waldorf, we talk to the characters. Unlike Statler and Waldorf, the characters don't talk back. "Avatar" not so much. But half the experience, was experiencing it with Lesley. Where some people would tell me to shut up, Lesley encourages that I keep going.

Statler: Wake up you old fool. You slept through the show.
Waldorf: Who's a fool? You watched it.

Lesley and I are like minded about a lot of things too, much like Statler and Waldorf. We both sunk in our chairs when the screen faded in "Avatar" and we realized we were only THEN starting act three. We both threw popcorn in exasperation at "A Single Man." We both "awwed" in a certain moment involving Evangeline in "The Princess and the Frog."

Waldorf: That seemed like something very different.
Statler: Did you like it?
Waldorf: No.
Statler: Than it wasn't different.

She's my kindred movie soul. And she's funny as hell. I advise you - do NOT go see a movie with us if you expect silence.

Statler: I guess all's well that ends well.
Waldorf: Doesn't matter to me, as long as it ends.

Also, we're thinking about starting a video blog of movie commentary. More on that later though.

Marcus Kaye and the Blustery Day

Weather in Los Angeles is a funny thing.

Weather? in Los Angeles? There's no such thing. While you might be right, the threat of weather causes thousands of Angelenos to go running for cover and braking whenever necessary.

They also go shopping.

The second the thermostat makes that fateful plunge from 70 degrees to 69, you can bet your ass that every store in the county will have instantly sold out of gloves, hats, scarves, coats, rations. That's right... 69 degrees is winter weather.

I'm guilty as charged. Even as we speak I'm sitting inside in a scarf and leather jacket.

You see, we're not used to weather changes. We came (or stayed) in California because of its sunshine. When I think of New York, I think of snow, when I think of LA - sunshine and palm trees. So this rain business is not exactly what we come to expect in our day to day lives. Keep in mind, we Angelenos live in a world of make believe. Most of us make movies for a living. We live in fantasy and in that fantasy there is no rain. There is no cold.

But in life, there is. Well, enough cold to make any of us look like we're walking the streets of Boston in December. A Bostonian in LA would put us to shame.

And if you think we're bad when it comes to winter clothes, bundled in our long underwear, gloves, wool socks, scarves, beanies, sweater, coat and overcoat- barely able to move -- Just you wait until you see us in our cars- barely able to drive.

The second a single drop of water hits my bar, the windshield wipers are on in full force. Mind you, it rarely happens so my windshield wipers are pieces of shit - making it virtually impossible to see after all the dirt is smeared across my windshield. I imagine this is the case with most Angelenos.

Swerving and brakes, the staples of me driving in the rain. We're just not used to it. Stop bitching and deal with our driving. It's not going to get better. It's bad in the sunshine, too.

It's raining right now, so I imagine my commute home will have 20 minutes longer. I'm okay with that - since I'll be causing other peoples commutes to be 20 minutes longer as well. It's bad too. Raining pretty hard, on LA standards. Don't get me wrong, rain doesn't get us to stop doing things (look at the Globes- perfect example). So let the rain come- it can mess up our hair, it can mess up our commute, but it can't mess up our busy Angeleno lives.

This just in: Tornado warning in Los Angeles County - now THERE is some weather.

The Buzz of the Weekend

I never truly appreciated weekends. In grade school, middle school, high school weekends were definitely the only days I had off, but when you're done at 3 every day it hardly feels like you've been busy all week. There's so much time left in the afternoon.

Then in college weekends are irrelevant. Class is 2-3 days a week, drinks are 7. Sure the parties would be held until the weekend, often times but there wasn't a need for that. If someone was to throw a party on a Tuesday night (as we so often did [Cinco de Mayo, Mardi Gras*, etc.]) you'd go.

*


Being a film student, weekends often spelt out work. Class in the week, set on the weekends. 12 hour days Fri-Sun. Hardly a break. Weekends weren't a necessity, they weren't the breath of fresh air that they have so quickly become in what I shall hesitantly call "the real world." I know, I know - the world I experienced for the first 22 years of my life was indeed real as well. But this is what all the old folks call it, and I guess I'm one of them now.

Weekends are a must.



The tingle begins at about 5 on Thursday night. Here I am, sitting in my cubicle and suddenly- I'm giddy. I'm fuckin' ecstatic. I couldn't peg why. I got off work, went out and stumbled back into my apartment at 2am last night.

Yes, I still had work today. Water, tylenol, and a loaf of bread later, I've rid myself of my hangover and an eagerly anticipating the real weekend. Thursday are the pregame to the weekend. They're the night I'm not ready to give up, but will if I have to. If you tell me to give up Friday or Saturday night - I'll laugh at you.



Weekends for the first time, are a must. I won't schedule anything work related, and rarely even something brain related on my weekend. It's my time to sleep in, to do nothing, to drink, to party, to swim (and occasionally to run errands since there is NO time for that in the week). It's my time to see friends and have a social life.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say with this blog, just that I have a new appreciation for the weekend, I guess.



That being said - Its 6:30 on a Friday night. I'm out of here-

A Single Frame

I promise this won't turn into a blog of JUST movie reviews- but I just saw Single Man and feel the need to encourage anyone who gets a chance to witness Tom Ford's brilliance to do so. Don't do it for the story. Don't do it for the actors. Hell, don't even do it for me- do it for the part of you that loves to flip through magazines at the check stand of the grocery store and look at all the hyper-stylized fashion photographs.

Every single frame of this movie could be paused, printed and put in a fashion magazine. It's beautiful. The costume, the lighting, the placement of every detail. Ford's use of color is exactly how color should be. Colin Firth's life is muted. He's invisible, until he's passionate about something. Characters faces and outfits come alive with bursts of color when Firth comes alive. I want to live in this hyper stylized world that Tom Ford has created.

Okay, maybe I don't.

This movie is heart wrenching. Colin Firth is haunted by the past. Julianne Moore's future is living in it. I don't want to give too much away, but it's tough.



The depiction of the era is perfect. Colin Firth stepped in front of a Psycho poster wearing a skinny tie. I was sold.



And I lied. Totally see it for the story and the actors. Julianne Moore is terrifyingly good. No one does train wreck like her. Colin Firth is phenomenal. Old favorite Matthew Goode, new favorite Nicholas Hoult, and all time favorite Lee Pace (in too little screen time) all help model Tom Ford's latest spread.



Do yourself a favor and see it. Then go home and hug the ones you love.

Or go skinny dipping.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Awards season is rolling around and I have some thoughts.... (oh, yeah.... and thanks to Lauren Johnson - I'm back [again].)



Best Picture: This ones tough. Even tougher is picking out the nominees. There are so many different directions this can go. There are some givens - Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds, Up, Hurt Locker (which I still REALLY need to see). Hopefully, An Education makes the nominee list. It would never win, but deserves the recognition. Lesley and I were messes throughout that little picture.

What Should Win: Inglourious Basterds - I can't think of a single thing wrong with it, except maybe... nope. Actually. I've got NOTHING.
What Will Win: Up in the Air - It's just too topical to not win. It came out at the right time. Granted, most Academy members don't know what it's like to be unemployed right now... but that's another story entirely.

Best Director: The home of your real best picture. Now that there are 10 best pictures, the 5 with director nominations will be your true contenders. I think Pete Docter will slide in here for Up. Lee Daniels. Quentin. Kathyrn Bigelow and Jason Reitman. That's right James Cameron... I think theres only room for one animated director and it's Pete Docter.

Who Should Win: Kathyrn Bigelow. Give it to her! Break the barrier. If any female director deserves it - it's her. Slap James Cameron in the face. Do it.
Who Will Win: Jason Reitman. He was able to get great performances (minus Anna Kendrick) out of not only his actors, but also REAL people. That touch is the icing on his directorial cake.

Best Actor: Its been kind of a so-so year for leading men, even more so for leading women. More on that later. Also, I haven't seen a good number of these pictures (mainly because the main actor seems to be the only thing going for a lot of them.)

Who Should Win: I've heard nothing but great things about Jeremy Renner's performance in Hurt Locker. I've also heard Colin Firth is unstoppable in A Single Man. That being said - he'll never win. An actor playing a gay man won LAST YEAR.
Who Will Win: Jeff Bridges - He is always great and in a story that seems like a country version of last year's "The Wrestler," the academy might award Mickey Rourke through Jeff Bridges. I'd consider Jeff Bridges more deserving, anyways.

Best Actress: Don't make me choose! I can tell you who it won't be. It won't be Sandra Bullock (but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE nominate her. She deserves it for her completely different style of comedy exhibited in The Blind Side.) It won't be Gabby Sidibe. Don't get me wrong, she was great. But if were going to pick a breakout star of the year it's going to be -

Who Should Win: Carey Mulligan. Lesley and I were on the edge of our seats watching her in a drama. A drama! She had us right in the palm of her hands.
Who Will Win: Meryl Streep. I love her, and she was spot on as Julia Child. She hasn't won in years and in a year of weaker performances- this might be the time to award her again.

Best Supporting Actress: This is always one of my favorite categories. Sorry Lauren, I absolutely hated Anna Kendrick. I thought she was annoying. Not worth my time, or this award. If I was to give it to someone in Up in the Air - it would be Vera Farmiga- because in addition to tricking George Clooney and Anna Kendrick... she was able to trick me. I'd also love to see Melanie Laurent nominated for Inglourious Basterds. Not sure if she'll make that cut though.

Who Should and Will Win: Monique. I dare any actor to compete. I literally screamed during Precious because of her. A grown man behind me was bawling because of her. No one else even comes close. If I could giver her 5 Oscars- I would.

Best Supporting Actor: Another case where I haven't seen most of the contenders. I think the Academy will do the "reward a great actor for their years of service" thing with the leads this year - which leaves this category open for an ACTUAL great performance. That of-

Who Should and Will Win: Christopher Waltz for being the snarkiest, most loveable/hateable Nazi I've ever encountered on screen. He oozed sinister charm. I loved it (and it will be a chance for the Academy to recognize the movie - which they'll do in much fewer places than it should)

Best Original Screenplay: This was a great year for original screenplays. Definitely nominated will be Up. It won't win this award either. Don't worry- Best Animated Feature is still yours Pixar.

What Should Win: (500) Days of Summer. I read the script. It's great. The play on time is incredible. The characters, as much as I'd love to credit Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt - are on the page. What Will Win: Inglourious Basterds. Don't get me wrong- I'm 100% okay with this. And since Quinten won't win Picture and won't win Director - they're going to give it to him here.

Best Adapted Screenplay: I usually like to read the source material to accurately judge the quality of the adaptation. That being said- the movie also needs to stand as a movie on it's own. Sorry Lovely Bones.

What Should Win: An Education. It's the perfect little movie.
What Will Win: Precious. The book is tough. The movie is tougher.