What a year... after suffering a heart attack last week on a plane, it seemed that actress Carrie Fisher was out of danger and recovering but sadly, she passed away at 60-years-old. And it's sad, because having played the iconic role of Princess Leia in 'Star Wars', we all loose someone from our childhood.
She obviously did more than that and i'm not meaning other roles, but she was a spokeperson for people struggling with mental illness and drug addiction, because she publicly was one herself. Her 'fuck it' attitude was what made her stand out as a person and what many admired about her is that she had no shame about her conflicted past. For me, apart from the movie, she was my favorite toy from the bunch of 'Star Wars' little figures that my brother had.
Behind she leaves a legacy in the form of a badass role playing a princess that was a rebel one, so far away from Disney's princesses type, the admiration to her persona for being brave enough to speak out loud about her weakness and a daughter (Billie Lourd) that has just started her same profession, and i hope she keeps on going. After the cut i've posted a bunch of amazing photos of Carrie Fisher and her mom actress Debbie Reynolds, hanging out with the cast of 'Star Wars', with her first husband singer Paul Simmon, with 'Postcards from the Edge' co-stars Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, and with her daughter Billie.
I'm... speechless. The news of the death of George Michael on Christmas day have caught us all by surprise and heartbroken during a holiday he was so related to. And i just can't believe it. I knew he was having some really bad years when it comes to his personal life but he had managed to pull it off and make a huge comeback twice in the past, so i was just expecting the third one. Because if anything, George Michael has one of the best voices our generation has ever heard, with such range that he could sing whispering through your soul with 'Jesus to a Child' and powerfully sing 'Somebody to Love' at Freddie Mercury's tribute concert and sound almost like the Queen singer.
This 2016 couldn't be any worse when it comes to loosing great artists and with this one they literally took part of my upbringing, as i always watched his fabulous videos in MTV like 'Too Funky', 'Freedom' or 'Fastlove', and with 'Older' i became enchanted by his voice. I don't know, i just didn't expect for his voice to go silent.
My favorite songs from him below, in no special order but starting with 'You Have Been Loved', song he wrote as a farewell love letter to dear friends he lost, now it serves us to kiss him goodbye because he truly "has been loved."
You Have Been Loved
Too Funky
This video, the song, the models, everything is so fabulous, catchy and cool, one can't get better than this.One of my favorite videos ever.
Kissing a Fool
It's inevitable for me to sing out loud this song when it comes out because, it is so great. I would love to sing it at a karaoke one day because it's just perfect for that.
Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
For me, this cover is way better than the original song and it always gives me so much life when i listen to it. I adore it.
Careless Whisper
A powerful ballad that will remain forever.
I Can't Make You Love Me
This one hurts for anyone who has ever felt a broke heart. Because the lyrics, the melody, are so relatable that the heart keeps on breaking.
Fastlove
I listened to this song on repeat and it was all worth it. I never grew tired of it. I got the casette of 'Older' back in the day and bought the cd when i got the chance. A masterpiece.
A Moment With You
His voice was perfect for slow, smooth songs like this. It created a whole vibe you could easily get into and i adored that.
Freedom!
This one would not be on the top 3 songs but i had to add it here because it's so iconic when it comes to his career. I know many would have added 'I Want Your Sex' but, eve though it's good, it's not among my faves.
Outside
I was going to add 'Faith' instead of this one but who am i kidding? i know 'Faith' i's a classic but i'm sorry, i like this one so much better. It makes me wanna dance and sorta turns me on so it's a win-win.
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Somebody to Love
I could not make a list without adding this Queen song and the performance to witness how powerful and emotive the tribute was. He just totally nailed. He was such an amazing performer, i can't believe it yet.
Just a few days ago we got a taste of what to expect from the much awaited and criticized 'Blade Runner' sequel, and while i don't expect it to be something as big and iconic as the original 1982 film, it looks intriguing to me. But that only reminds me of all of the films coming this 2017 and how much i'm looking forward for them so here are the 10 movies i want to watch this next year really badly:
Blade Runner 2049
While it's not directed by Ridley Scott as the classic movie is, Denis Villeneuve is a director to keep an eye on, as he has already delivered some interesting works like 'Prisoners', 'Sicario' or the recent 'Arrival' so i have high hopes for it. It also helps that the trailer looks amazing and it contains the whole mood of the first film so hope i won't get disappointed and that it turns out to be at least something interesting.
Jackie
I don't really like biopics, for me they're the most boring thing, but Pablo Larraín has caught my attention with this Jackie Kennedy film. For a starter, her life is something that interests me and by the looks of the trailer it looks amazing. Also, Natalie Portman seems to deliver one hell of a performance so i can't wait.
It's Only the End of the World
I adored 'Mommy' by Xavier Dolan so this new film has my full attention after that. Dolan seems to have created another moving story about family combining it again with humor and sadness and he did so well with his previous feature that i already want to watch this new one as soon as possible.
(Spoilers, obvi)
So, the much awaited season 2 of 'Scream Queens' came and gone in the blink of an eye and while it hasn't reached the level of perfection that the first season was, it hasn't been bad at all.
First things first, season 2's first episode was amazing, letting us know what happened with the Chanels with a very on point docu-series of the Kappa murders with a 'Making a Murderer' docu style, the Chanels were found not guilty but disowned by their families and therefore, poor. And this season they had to make their way to the top again.
With season 2 taking place in a hospital the plot has been a bit if a disappointment compared to rumors of season 2 taking place in a Summer camp (that would had been awesome and there are rumors of that for season 3) and everything was not as bubbly, silly and so fitting for the Chanels as S1's sorority. And while the Green Meanie plot has been quite good in the last few eps with the reveal of Cassidy (Taylor Lautner) as the baby in the womb, and Kirstie Alley as nurse Hoffel and Grace's dad, Wes, looking for revenge, it's not been as hilarious as it used to be. Sure it had its great moments with characters like the fabulous Chanel-Pour-Homme (gone too soon just like Deaf Taylor Swift) or Chad Radwell's return (RIP), but i think the scene stealer has been again Hester aka Neckbrace (Lea Michele) with her delirious psycho mind. The Chanels have also been the best part of the season, as usual, but sometimes they felt kinda like they didn't use their whole potential, but i would watch a show with these three no matter what. John Stamos and Taylor Lautner have also been great additions and having more random Chanels was fun too.
What i liked a lot about the plot is how they linked it to season 1 with nurse Hoffle being Mrs. Bean's sister, as noone saw that coming, and Wes returning looking to avenge his daughter Grace, who has gone bananas after the Kappa murders, and that gives us a clue for the Red Devil that appears right before the episode ends, that it could be Grace. That would be a really good plot for Season 3 as she's the only one who wants to kill the Chanels now and if it took place in another setting it would be better. The only bad thing is that the actress that plays Grace (Skyler Samuels) was so bland but maybe she's better playing a mean character.
Anyway, i'm mentally preparing myself for the cancellation of the show, because it doesn't look like it will be renewed but i really hope so. I think three seasons would be enough to wrap the show and i have faith in Ryan Murphy giving it life again as he has done with 'American Horror Story' this year. We won't know the fate of our Chanels until next year so in the meantime let's enjoy some of the best moments this irregular but not bad second season has had, as always, after the cut idiot hookers.
30 years of my favorite film when i was a child. Oh, how i adored it back then and how, still to this day, i do. Because the movie doesn't feel old, it doesn't look old or outdated like it happens sometimes to old films with the passing of time but it hasn't affected it one bit. That's when you know it's a classic because the movie is pretty much ageless.
Being like 7or 8 when i first saw it, i'm guessing on TV or someone rented the vhs, Jim Henson's movie always fascinated me. It's a fantasy tale about a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who over fantasies with everything and doesn't want to grow up, but she's forced to do so when the Goblin King (David Bowie) takes her baby brother and she has to face the fantasy world she always dreamed about, only to find it not so appealing then. Thinking about it, it's like when you start to realise things in your teens, and you leave your most childish part behind. It's not something pretty but is still a process. And while everything in the movie seems to be a dream in the end, i think it really wants to represent that, growing up and leaving fairy tales behind. But as the movie shows in the end, you can become an adult and still reminish about the things you liked most when you were a kid, but living in the real adult world.
This movie is so dear to me and i want to keep the magic behind it so much, that even having the special dvd feature i never watched the making of in order not to see how the puppets were done or who was behind (or inside) Hoggle, and therefore always watch it with the eyes of a child. And as dear that this movie is to me, next week i will be able to watch it for the first time ever on the cinema, and i'm thrilled about. Absolutely thrilled. And it's even going to be more special since it's gonna be the first time i watch it since Bowie's death at the beginning of the year and that will be sad. His voice has been present in my life that early in my life and through this movie was when i first listened to him so it's gonna be bittersweet because we lost a great voice and a great artist.
Anyway, as usual, i'm posting a bunch of my fave stills of the movie behind the cut and also some vids of some of the music scenes with fantastic songs by David Bowie like the magical 'As the World Falls Down', the heartbreaking 'Within You' or the coolest dance song 'Magic Dance'. This film makes me feel like a child again so i can't wait to watch it on the big screen and enjoy it as a little girl. I'm sure i will.
I'm late on this because this happened last week, and while i heard of it, i didn't take the time to check it out until now. Madonna, undeniable Queen of Pop, was granted the Woman of the Year award at the Billboard Women in Music 2016 gala and she gave such a powerful speech that can't be ignored. She was praised by many and everyone should watch it, because she's only speaking the truth out loud. She talks about her tough path during these 34 years of her career and how hard it was for her to make it onto a men's world, being overly criticized for being loud, sexual, for being herself no matter what. And it's so inspirational. She opened the doors to many young artists nowadays that everyone should give her credit for that. I got emotional during her acceptance speech because we can all relate to her story, and everyone needs to take the tame and watch this vid.
I posted below parts of her speech that i adored (which is practically everything) and you can see the full video below, but also click here to watch it with Spanish subtitles. It's amazing.
“I stand before you as a doormat. Oh, I mean, as a female entertainer. Thank you for acknowledging my ability to continue my career for 34 years in the face of blatant sexism and misogyny and constant bullying and relentless abuse. [...]
I started off in a difficult time. People were dying of AIDS everywhere. It wasn’t safe to be gay, it wasn’t cool to be associated with the gay community. It was 1979 and New York was a very scary place.
In the first year I was held at gunpoint, raped on a rooftop with a knife digging into my throat. And I had my apartment broken into and robbed so many times I just stopped locking the door. In the years that followed, I lost almost every friend I had to AIDS or drugs or gunshot.
I remember feeling paralyzed. It took me a while to pull myself together and get on with my creative life — to get on with my life. I took comfort in the poetry of Maya Angelou, and the writings of James Baldwin, and in the music of Nina Simone. I remember wishing I had a female peer I could look to for support. Camille Paglia, the famous feminist writer, said I set women back by objectifying myself sexually. So I thought, ‘oh, if you’re a feminist, you don’t have sexuality, you deny it.’ So I said ‘fuck it. I’m a different kind of feminist. I’m a bad feminist.’
I realized that I could not be a victim any longer. That everything happened for a reason. And my job was to learn from every shitstorm I wandered into.
As you can imagine, all these unexpected events not only helped me become the daring woman that stands before you. But it also reminded me that I am vulnerable. And in life, there is no real safety except for self-belief. And, an understanding that I am not the owner of my talents.
I was of course inspired by Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde and Aretha Franklin, but my real muse was David Bowie. He embodied male and female spirit and that suited me just fine. He made me think there were no rules. But I was wrong.
There are no rules — if you’re a boy. If you’re a girl, you have to play the game. What is that game? You are allowed to be pretty and cute and sexy. But don’t act too smart. Don’t have an opinion. Don’t have an opinion that is out of line with the status quo, at least. You are allowed to be objectified by men and dress like a slut, but don’t own your sluttiness. And do not, I repeat, do not, share your own sexual fantasies with the world.
Be what men want you to be. But more importantly, be what women feel comfortable with you being around other men. And finally, do not age. Because to age is a sin. You will be criticized, you will be vilified, and you will definitely not be played on the radio.[...]
Eventually I was left alone because I married Sean Penn, and not only would he would bust a cap in your ass, but I was off the market. For a while I was not considered a threat. Years later, divorced and single — sorry Sean — I made my Erotica album and my Sex book was released. I remember being the headline of every newspaper and magazine. Everything I read about myself was damning. I was called a whore and a witch. One headline compared me to Satan. I said, ‘Wait a minute, isn’t Prince running around with fishnets and high heels and lipstick with his butt hanging out?’ Yes, he was. But he was a man.
This was the first time I truly understood women do not have the same freedom as men.
People say I’m controversial. But I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around.
What I would like to say to all women here today is this: Women have been so oppressed for so long they believe what men have to say about them. They believe they have to back a man to get the job done. And there are some very good men worth backing, but not because they’re men — because they’re worthy. As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other’s worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and enlightened by.[...]
But to the doubters and naysayers and everyone who gave me hell and said I could not, that I would not or I must not — your resistance made me stronger, made me push harder, made me the fighter that I am today. It made me the woman that I am today.
2016 has personally been a challenging year for me, and that's why i haven't updated the blog as much as i would have liked, but lately i've been posting more and more. Anyway, let's begin with everything i've loved this year!
Le mode
First things first, maybe the collection hasn't been my favorite but the runway show for the Fendi Couture Fall 2016 at the Fontana de Trevi was something astonishing and beautiful. Check the collection here.
I know many will include 'Elle' on their best of the year lists but even though i liked it, it didn't quite fascinate me like it happened to everybody else. But here there are the ones that i really loved.
Mustang -This was a marvellous movie and it deserved to be on my #1. I didn't expect it to be so good and it excelled my expectations after all those 'The Virgin Suicides' comparisons and the subplot that the film delicately shows it's heartbreaking. An instant favorite film of mine.
The Neon Demon - One of the weirdest movies you will ever see, the Nicholas Winding Refn movie is a visual and visceral trip to the sordid and superficial modelling world, with an ending you can never forget. It might be included in some of the Worst Movie of the Year lists but definitely is one of the films of the year for me. You either love it or you hate it and the more they hate it the more i love it.
Youth - After 'La Grande Bellezza' Paolo Sorrentino won my heart and with this movie it only made it more clear that he's a director to follow (i bet he already was to many but i was late to realize that). This movie reflects on the passing of time and the importance it has on society and art nowadays and Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel are splendid on it. Must watch.
Nocturnal Animals - Tom Ford's most visceral film shows that he's another director that matters and that we have to keep a close eye on him. I recently talked about the movie so i can't say anything more about it than to go watch it. Now.
Tangerine - Sometimes i watch movies because i see stuff posted on tumblr and i'm so glad i watched this. It follows a long day in the life of two trans ladies and it's a funny ride but sad at times. The dialoges and situations are gold and the feeling of freshness and ordinary life are present the whole entire movie. I really recommend it.
Julieta - I went to see this movie with my mom and it's the type of film you have to go watch with your mom. I didn't really expect much from it but the story slowly embraces you reminding you of all those good old Almodóvar stories that you love so much. Since 'Broken Embraces' (Los abrazos rotos) that i didn't like an Almodóvar film this much, and even more because 'Julieta' is so much better.
TV Shows
When it comes to tv shows, it's been a really good year. Starting with 'Girls' with season 5 being one of the best seasons the show had, preparing us to bid farewell to our girls next year with season 6. Another favorite of mine that has been great has been 'Game of Thrones's season 6 that has been a complete rollercoaster of emotions. From the Jon Snow storyline, to Sansa, to Hodor and Cersei, everything was over the edge and also preparing us for an unexpected ending coming soon that will be completely stellar, i bet (i still have to make the Best scenes and moments from S6 but will do before the new season begins). 'American Horror Story: Roanoke' surprised us all with season 6 and delivered one of its best season in years. And 'The X Files' was back with season 10 being surprisingly good and leaving a door open for another new season.
This year we said farewell to 'Looking' and thankfully we could all have some closure with the really great and touching movie that HBO made for all us viewers, because such an emotional show needed to have an ending. Another show that ended this year was 'Awkward' that used to be so good but it needed to end already, though i always watched it no matter what. And a really similar show, 'Faking It', was cancelled and therefore it didn't have an ending which was totally lame despite the show being ok. They could have done a mini season and give it an end. Another show that was unfairly cancelled was 'Vis a Vis', the Spanish version of 'Orange is the New Black' that turned out to be better than the original show. It was such a shame that it didn't have an ending when the story and the cast were amazing. I'm still heartbroken about it. About 'OITNB', season 4 was not bad but it wasn't as good as the amazing season 3 was. Contrary to 'UnReal' which second season started kinda low but it ended so good that i can't wait for more.
Other shows that are still on are 'Grey's Anatomy' that somehow keeps me interested no matter what, 'Scream Queens' that is not as great as the perfect first season was but has episodes close to it, and 'Younger' that remains being my good feeling show. And i'm a little behind on 'Divorce' but i'm loving the Sarah Jessica Parker show so far.
As for new shows i watched this year, i finally managed to finish watching 'Jessica Jones' season 1 and i'm glad i did because it got really good towards the end. I also watched Judd Apatow's 'Love' and it was ok but nothing as great as everyone else was saying. Ryan Murphy's 'American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson' was an amazing series with amazing performances to watch with the supreme Sarah Paulson giving one of her best performances ever. And i binge-watched 'Black Mirror' and it was all worth it. I also watched all five seasons of 'Friday Night Lights' and i actually liked the show better than i originally expected, while Woody Allen's 'Crisis in Six Scenes' was kinda disappointing. And last but not least, 'Stranger Things' was an absolute trip to nostalgia and i adored it while Paolo Sorrentino's 'The Young Pope' became my fave tv show of the year.
I also have to mention two amazing, mesmerizing and heartbreaking docu-series that i watched this year, 'Making a Murderer' and 'The Jinx' that are both equally good and seriously, amazing.
Musique
When it comes to music i have to say that i haven't been in the mood to really listen to new stuff but even though i have to admit Beyonce's 'Lemonade' was not bad, i've listened to these albums above way more, and when it comes to songs, here's my top 10 (i'm aware that there's one hat's not new but i've discovered it this year):
The end of 'Girls HBO' is not near, is here starting on February 2017 and that will come in the glimpse of an eye. And it's going to be sad to say farewell to these four amazing young women, no matter how annoying or contradictory they had been at times. That's what i liked about the show the most, that they were relatable characters, and i think in that honesty and truth resides the success of Lena Dunham's baby show.
And as it's all coming to an end, Dunham has sat down with Vogue to discuss this and many other things, but related to the show i'm posting below some quotes that i absolutely loved about one of my fave tv series ever, because no matter how at first i didn't like her persona, she has actually made more and more sense to me with time. Read the full interview here but check out the highlights i'm posting next:
About the inevitable comparison to 'Sex and the City' when it first aired: "It’s not the new Sex and the City. These are characters who watched that show, and it’s probably impacted the way they conduct themselves in New York, but their reality is extremely different.”
On their characters being unlikable: “I’m constantly being asked about these characters being unlikable, and I’m like, ‘What does that even mean? Walter White and Tony Soprano literally murder people, and everybody’s like, ‘I love them,’ and all we do is be kind of rude and do drugs sometimes and we’re unlikable.”
And about how it all started in the words of Dunham and Judd Apatow: “When I had my first meeting with HBO and they said, ‘What do you want to do?’ I said, ‘I don’t see anyone who’s like me or anyone I love on television. And now—I’m not saying we started it, because I think we’re living in this Zeitgeisty movement toward it—but between Amy Schumer, Broad City, Mindy Kaling, that has changed.” Executive producer Judd Apatow cuts to the chase: “She completely changed the landscape. There’s an enormous amount of fantastic TV that followed in the footsteps of Girls. There was really no precedent for that level of honesty and boldness.”
(Spoilers)
Tom Ford is back with his second long feature proving that his success with his directorial debut with the exquisite 'A Single Man' was not a one time thing. In fact, he has made a more risky, over the edge movie, so he's becoming a director with an interesting career to follow.
If in his stellar debut Ford explored the solitude and despair of a man who lost his lover and we witness precisely that during one apparently normal but crucial day, in 'Nocturnal Animals' he goes a bit deeper than that. Not that 'A Single Man' is not loaded with emotions, because truly it is, but the cut goes way deeper in his sophomore film.
Starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, it follows the story of lost lovers Tony and Susan and how their decisions in life come back in the shape of a book to haunt them, especially to Susan as Tony writes the novel. This is a movie about heartbreak, about regrets and revenge, mostly that, or at least that's what i got out of it. The story is completely driven by revenge from Tony's part, and sending his book to his ex-wife is like a proof that he's not as sensible as he was with her, which at first was what she liked about him only to despise it at the end. She's both a contradiction and the most absurd cliche, as she comes from a really well established family and she doesn't want to end up like her mother, but she exactly ends up like her, like he told her it would happen. The ending scene is a clear example of Tony's intentions of revenge: standing her up at a restaurant, waiting for him to appear which he never does, as the ultimate step for his vendetta.
When it comes to the parallel story of the film, the one he writes in the novel, i can't really tell what i got out of it. At first it seems that he's narrating something that happened to them when they were together but turns out it's completely fiction, or maybe not, but i'm still figuring that out. I guess the violence and cruelty that he depicts in the story is like him showing to her that he can write about something that hasn't happened to him and that his sensible side is nowhere to be found there. Like he's proving himself to her, after all these years, after all the pain she has caused to him. And that's why i really think all this is driven by revenge.
'Nocturnal Animals' is really a dark and sordid ride, from the credits with all those obese women dancing nude, which is controversial and provocative, all in the sake of "art". That might be a contrast between the own director's designer's world and his career in directing, as he gets the most frivolous part with his career as a designer - and that fits Susan's world in the art gallery, and then there's the most visceral, emotional part that he delivers with his role as a director, which completely falls into Tony's part with his novel. Either way, the movie is really interesting to watch, a dark twisted thriller that goes deep in the characters and the story really gets to you. I personally liked 'A Single Man' better but 'Nocturnal Animals' is not way behind. But i'm completely following Tom Ford's career in the film industry. His career in fashion i can't afford.
Ever since last week i started binge-watching the hell out of 'Black Mirror' because you all were drooling about this show, especially after that 'San Junipero' ep that i haven't seen yet, but last night i watched 'Nosedive' and wow.
I remember that when it was aired there was many buzz about it, and as i saw some stills with Bryce Dallas Howard i knew it was this ep when it started but i did not expect what was coming out of this episode. Of course, after watching the first two seasons of the British show i can tell ahead watching a new episode that it's going to be a mess, referring that all stories go wrong in such a detrimental way, but this one has been particularly tough, because in a way it's so much like reality. Just like all the other eps, it depicts a close future where technology really overwhelms us, which i think is already happening through social media, but in the future we see on 'Black Mirror', everything is on the edge.
Directed by the brilliant Joe Wright, the story seems taken straight out of 'The Perfect Housewives Club' but with social media heavily involved, and it actually fits so much our reality nowadays where we are thriving for likes on instagram or nice comments on facebook that it's scary when you see it that way. I, personally, invest a lot on instagram sometimes and that can get to the point of not being fun when a photo is not appreciated enough, but i don't let that change my mood. But it could, and i'm sure it does to some people. That's what i sort of like about 'Black Mirror' even though it's always depressing, that it's a tough picture of what the future might look like soon enough.
Anyway, as i finish this third season i just wanted to reflect on what has been so far, my favorite episode to date. Of course i will comment on them all once i do but in the meantime, check out my pal's Un marino en la orilla blog (in Spanish) about another episode that i also liked a lot, the Christmas special at the end of season 2. But as always, check out some pretty stills of this very bittersweet story below and don't forget to rate me!
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