Cadillac Records

For those of you who know me, you know I'm a huge music fan. My iPod has about a gazillion songs on it (well, more like 3200) and I love finding new artists and discovering different stuff all the time. And naturally, this flows right into my movie taste. I adore music-based movies, so I was pretty pumped about watching Cadillac Records. This is the story of Chess Records, a company based in Chicago that produced acts like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, The Wolf, Chuck Berry, and Etta James.

It was a pretty interesting flick...I learned a lot about the artists that I know and love, and got a lot of the backstory that maybe the typical fan does not know. The acting was pretty decent...Adrien Brody definitely gets props as label owner Leonard Chess. Beyonce, in her role as Miss James, did a solid job as well. It was clear that the movie was riding on the coattails of Dreamgirls, as it had a similar feel and I actually thought of Beyonce's portrayal of Deena Jones during the movie. She's a little one-dimensional as an actress, but she's Beyonce. She'll be alright.

All in all, I recommend this film to anyone who's interested in music's history or just likes to hear some really good songs during their movie-watching experience.

Rating: THREE angel wings.

July Playlist-LET'S GET MOVIN'!

1 Accessory Jordyn Taylor
2 Again Natasha Bedingfield
3 Bad Girl The Pussycat Dolls
4 Big Spender Adrienne Bailon
5 Blue Jeans Jessie James
6 Calling You Kat DeLuna
7 Fashion Lady GaGa
8 Uncontrollable Adrienne Bailon
9 Unstoppable Kat DeLuna
10 Halo Beyoncé
11 Wanted Jessie James
12 I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas
13 I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) [Radio Edit] Pitbull
14 Kaboom! Ursula 1000
15 Shut Up and Let Me Go The Ting Tings
16 Fingerprints Katy Perry
17 Bar-Ba-Sol David Cook
18 I Don't Feel Like Dancin' Scissor Sisters

Movies to see this summer, in one sentence. (yes some of them are run-on)

Spring Breakdown-funny little flick with two of my favs: Amy Poehler and Racheal Dratch, not to mention small parts with so other SNL peeps & Amy's awesome hubby.
Valkrye-pretty good for a movie with two things wrong with it: Tom Cruise and failure.
Confessions of a Shopaholic-consumer driven yes: funny and cute, most def!
Gran Torino-fav Clint E. movie ever.
Revolutionary Road-Kate Winslet is freaking amazing, that Leo fella ain't too bad either.
He's Just Not That Into You-every guy should see this movie to see how women really are, every girl should see this movie to see how we really are!
Star Trek-SOOOOO not your daddy's enterprise...
Angels and Demons-good movie, Tom Hanks-how can you go wrong?
Paul Bart: Mall Cop-funny, silly flick.
The International-decent but slightly depressing as it totally supports hubby's conspiracy theories (not about aliens).
Taken-high suspense, Liam is awesome.
Bride Wars-adorable and funny, could've been better without the last 5-10 mins.
Role Models-hilarious at times, but not for everyone.
Rachael Getting Married-the opposite of Bride Wars, but still funny and seriously good.
Twilight-don't know if you've heard of this little movie, it's pretty good.
High School Musical: 3-yet another small indy film, good if you like musicals and disney.
Body of Lies-very good, nice conspiracy sort of flick.
Flash of Genius-good, but also sad.

Music-You-Should-Own-Old-School-Playlist

Here are some super awesome songs that EVERYONE should own!

1 Wild World-Cat Stevens
2 White Rabbit-Jefferson Airplane
3 No Time-The Guess Who
4 Light My Fire-The Doors
5 Mellow Yellow-Donovan
6 Teach Your Children-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
7 Fortunate Son-Creedence Clearwater Revival
8 Mr. Tambourine Man-The Byrds
9 The Joker-Steve Miller Band
10 Go Where You Wanna Go-The Mamas & The Papas
11 Daydream-The Lovin' Spoonful
12 Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?-Chicago
13 Ain't No Sunshine-Bill Withers
14 Oye Como Va-Santana
15 Groovin'-The Rascals
16 We Gotta Get Out Of This Place-The Animals
17 Woodstock-Joni Mitchell
18 The Sounds of Silence-Simon & Garfunkel
19 Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin

Diva's Rushing Summer Playlist

A little bit of Old School, a little bit of New School, rockin' us into summer!

I Love Rock 'N Roll-Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Cheap and Cheerful-The Kills
Homecoming-Kanye West
Cecilia-Simon & Garfunkel
I Love You Always Forever-Donna Lewis
Something Like That-Tim McGraw
Chinese-Lily Allen
God Only Knows-The Beach Boys
The Luckiest-Ben Folds
You Are Mine-Mute Math
Go Where You Wanna Go-The Mamas & The Papas
Because The Night-10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged
The Boys Of Summer-Don Henley
Full Moon-The Black Ghosts-Twilight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Ain't No Rest for the Wicked-Cage the Elephant
I Know What I Am-Band of Skulls
Shut Up and Let Me Go-The Ting Tings
Magnificent-U2

Changeling

I had been waiting quite a while to see this film which gave Angelina Jolie a Best Actress nod at this year's Oscars. It definitely lived up to my expectations.

Jolie was absolutely amazing, as well as the rest of the cast, which included John Malkovich and a bunch of very talented people I've never heard of (haha). A true story about a mother's determination to find her kidnapped son and the corruption of the LAPD during the 1920s, Changeling is a movie that will suck you in the moment the opening credits roll. Clint Eastwood did a tremendous job directing as always. Rent this movie TODAY.

Four angel wings!!

Austrailia!

I was really excited about this movie, but then it didn't get great reviews and wasn't in theater's very long, so it became a rental this week.

It was pretty good. A sweeping "epic," there were quite a few pretty shots, but the plot was a bit discombobulated, and a bit longer than it needed to be. LOVE Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, plus director Baz Luhrman, but it lacked the usual spark his movies bring to the screen. Overall, a solid rental. Two angel wings.