FRIDAY FROTH...

I loved watching Roman Polanski's latest film, Ghost Writer.  I was mesmerized by its look--moody, haunting, and great visual metaphors.  Mr. Polanski was clearly channeling Alfred Hitchcock in visual style, but also gave a wink and a smirk to his own life by placing Pierce Brosnan's character, former British Prime Minister Adam Lang, under virtual house arrest after he is accused of war crimes.  Mr. Polanski finished Ghost Writer while under house arrest in Switzerland.  A very good Ewan McGregor is the writer that Lang has hired to finish his memoirs after the original writer mysteriously dies.  Pierce Brosnan is also very good.  After appearing to be a pawn, Mr. Brosnan delivers a "checkmate" speech that galvanizes his performance and gives the movie perspective.

This movie is worth seeing for the performances and Mr. Polanski's visual style; however, the writing is thin at best.      

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If the stack of books on your bedside table is getting low, then consider picking up One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus.  I read this book several years ago and enjoyed it so much I'm tempted to read it again.  The premise of the story is based on an actual historic event from 1854 when an Indian chief asked the U.S. government to gift one thousand white women as brides for his young warriors.  The goal was to help assimilate the Indians into the encroaching white culture.  The protagonist, May Dodd is released from an asylum to go west and marry one of the young warriors.  But make no mistake, May is not insane.  This story mixes history, fiction, and passion in equal parts; a nice combination--enjoy!

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Well girls, I have good news and bad news.

The bad news:  There was a study released this week that indicates that as women reach middle-age they need to work out moderately--walking or a leisurely bike ride-- for an hour a day to keep from gaining weight.  The old recommendation was for thirty minutes of intensely working out five days a week.  Men only need a third of the exercise as women do to maintain their weight.

I know this doesn't seem fair, but life's not fair.  Studies have shown that shoes and handbags do seem to help with the inequities...

The good news:  I have the perfect thing to motivate you to get cracking on those workouts.  Check out this new see-through handbag from Prada.  I love the diamond shaped kiss closure, and it's waterproof so you can take it to the beach.

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Did you see the picture of President Obama on the front page of the New York Times today?  He's in a bookstore holding up two books--one by Karl Rove and the other by Mitt Romney.  I have to say I was put off by Mr. Obama's big smile/laugh.  In light of the huge success he has just had passing his legacy health-care bill, it looks like gloating to me.  On the campaign trail Mr. Obama stated that passing legislation with only 51 votes was NOT how he wanted to do business in Washington and he also said that he wanted to change the tone of politics.  He has to be aware of the deep divide this bill (that he passed with only 51 votes) has caused in this country.  Mr. President, wipe that smile off your face, show some graciousness, put your head down and get back to work.

FRIDAY FROTH...

The Green Zone is a new movie that deals with the war in Iraq, specifically the first months of engagement.  While it’s not nearly as good as last year’s The Hurt Locker, I did find parts of it interesting and most of it entertaining.  Matt Damon has the lead role as an officer who takes his team out in search of the now infamous weapons of mass destruction.  He soon learns that he is getting bad intelligence, and it’s too easy to tell that his Pentagon superior, played by Greg Kinnear, not only knows this, but also will do anything to prevent the world from finding out.  This is where the movie turns political, taking easy jabs at the Bush Administration and reducing the Green Zone to black and white.  It misses an opportunity to expand on an Iraqi interpreter, Freddy, who is helping Matt Damon’s character.  Freddy’s is an interesting perspective into a very complex situation and I would have liked to see it explored further. 

The camera work will make some seasick, but I liked its shock-and-awe movement.  If you can get past the politics and the incredulity of Matt Damon going rogue in Baghdad and just enjoy your popcorn and some good action, you’ll have fun.

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The tabloids were reporting yesterday that Sandra Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, was having an affair.  Mr. James has issued a statement saying that most of the allegations against him are untrue; he goes on to say that he is sorry for the pain that he has caused his wife and kids.  I’m betting the affair part of the story is true.  The “other woman” appears to be a tattoo model looking for attention and celebrity.  I won’t delve into the reasons Mr. James may have committed his infidelity.  What I do find fascinating and want to comment on are the women that go after the husbands of beautiful and successful women.  This phenomenon is nothing new, but as more women are becoming high profile, we are seeing an increase in this type of affair.   And, if the husband appears to be an adoring husband, these “other women” seem all the more eager.  It seems these women can’t find a way to be successful on their own so they think that by enticing a successful/beautiful/confident woman’s husband to pay attention to them, they have achieved success—that by slipping into another woman’s bed you also slip into her life.   Or, sometimes, these “other women” just want to take someone who appears to have too much going for them down a notch or two.  These are the same insecure girls that in jr. high made-up ugly rumors about other girls. These women are less interested in getting in bed with the husband than they are in “screwing” the wife.  Girls, where is the solidarity?

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It would be remiss to not mention HEALTH-CARE--a vote is expected on Sunday.  It is amazing how many people are paying attention.  Does anyone remember the Clinton’s health-care of the 90’s?  I have a theory that people were captivated by the 2008 presidential election because for the first time, we had a woman and a black man in serious contention for the White House.  Politics became captivating and we kept watching even after the presidential outcome was decided.  Then we became horrified!  Oh, the deficits, the bickering, and the utter contempt for the American public!  There is very little good news about health-care--it’s contentious and the process has been fraught with dirty deals.  The good news is that people are not only paying attention now, they are getting involved.  Warning:  Be very careful Washington, We The People are back, we are watching, and we will hold you accountable.

FRIDAY FROTH...

OSCARS 2010

For the first time that I can remember, I missed the live telecast of the Academy Awards.  I was in Denver for the weekend to see my son play lacrosse and was flying home during my favorite show of the year.  I had asked my daughter, who was staying with a friend, to go by our house and record the show for me but she forgot. Seems she was too busy cleaning-up my house from the party that she threw on Saturday night, but that’s another post on another day.  Just don’t expect to she her “out” anytime soon unless she’s part of a chain gang.  Now, back to the Oscars. I have done copious on-line research to bring you some fashion highlights of the evening along with some other “Oscar observations”.

The Hurt Locker was the big winner of the evening with six awards and I could not be happier.  It took the prize for Best Picture which was the only surprise in the “big six” categories.  Kathryn Bigelow deservedly took home the Oscar for Best Director—the first time a woman has won in this category.   Casting is an especially strong suit for Ms. Bigelow.  Placing an unknown, Jeremy Renner, in the lead was brilliant—it kept us guessing as to whether he would make it out alive or not.  If she had cast Brad Pitt we would have known that he was not getting blown-up because he cost way too much money to die!  I have a huge amount of respect for Kathryn Bigelow for thinking about story over opening weekend receipts.   And while we are on the subject of Kathryn Bigelow…

One of my favorite looks of the evening was Ms. Bigelow who at 58 years old looked better than a lot of the actresses half her age.  Her dress emphasized her tone arms and with her long hair down and slightly curled, she looked effortlessly elegant. 

Best Actress winner, Sandra Bullock, looked stunning in a beautiful beaded Marchesa gown.  Ms. Bullock’s simple and sleek hairdo and her red lipstick set-off her gown perfectly.  As my good friend VJ said, “Sandra Bullock dressed to win.”

Other winners in the best-dressed category…Meryl Streep is a brilliant actress but has often shown up on the red carpet looking less that glamorous.  Not anymore!  She was stunning at the Golden Globes and was a winner (on the red carpet) at the Oscars in a bright white gown that showed of a smooth décolleté and a smile that conveyed a comfortable veteran enjoying herself.  Helen Mirren is a master of dressing for her age—always elegant and sexy but never looking like she’s trying to compete with the ingénues that surround her.  Kate Winslet was the epitome of elegance in an YSL gown that fit her perfectly and a necklace that completed the dress instead of fighting with it for attention.  Sarah Jessica Parker’s gown was on as many “worst-dressed” lists as it was “best-dressed” but isn’t that what we’ve come to expect of SJP?  I think she pulled it off with Carrie Bradshaw panache.  I want Rachel McAdam’s Ellie Saab dress!

Now for some less than perfect looks.  Vera Farmiga and Jennifer Lopez may have been two of the sexiest women on the red carpet.  So why would anyone—especially the sultry girls—wear a dress that looks like a suit of armor?  I just think that if you pass your sweetheart on the way back to your seat from the bathroom and he wants to grab you and take you into the coat room for a nice, long kiss, you should have a dress on that says “take me, I’m yours” and not one that says “you can’t come near me and if you try I’ll hurt you.”

And for the men…Tom Ford you were perfection and George Clooney, you were perfection that needed a haircut!

 I was disappointed that Matt Damon wasn’t nominated for his role in The Informant, or Marcia Gay Harden for her role in Whip It and that the movie The Hangover didn’t get one of the ten Best Picture nominations.  It was a joy however, to see Jeff Bridges finally win an Oscar to see him share the moment with his wife of many years.

I promise to never again miss the live telecast of the Oscars.  If my son plays in Denver next year on Oscar weekend I will simple stay over and fly home on Monday.  And as for my daughter, I’ve checked with the Presidio police (they had to make a trip to my house to break-up the party that my DARLING daughter threw) and they have assured me that if she doesn’t want to make the trip to see her brother play, they have a cell that rents for cheap.

FRIDAY FROTH...

I arrived in NEW YORK around four in the afternoon last Wednesday, and as it turns out, just in the nick of time.  During the middle of the night, a storm hit the area that would dump two feet of snow, turning the city into a winter wonderland and closing airports.

When I got up Thursday morning big wet flakes were raining down.  Undaunted, I made my way, leopard print umbrella in hand, down to TriBeCa to check out the OLY ATELIER flagship store at 408 Greenwich Street.  The store inhabits a space that is simple and classic. Its natural hardwood floors, big arched windows, and a sensual circular staircase serve as a perfect canvas for Oly's organic, chic, and elegant designs.

I perused the store for well over two hours, enjoying the displays of furniture, accessories, and jewelry as I would an art gallery but only better--I caressed, sat on, and tried on, as well as ogled.  You can check out the Oly line at olystudio.com but until then...

A beautiful and bold bracelet

A mirror bed with a leather headboard--why get up?

Classically cool!

Elegant, sophisticated, sensual...

Oly's wild side--a python mirror and a zebra chair.

Like a great story, a good wine, and designers, Kate McIntyre and Brad Huntzinger, Oly is complex but never complicated.  The designs present themselves as a study in contradictions--earthy and natural yet sophisticated and elegant--making them eternally pleasing and sometimes surprising!

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Just down the street from Oly you will find Robert DeNiro's GREENWICH HOTEL.  The lobby boasts some original DeNiro artwork--the actor's father was an artist and it's clear that talent runs in the family.  I didn't have time to see a guest room but I have it on the best authority that they are each unique and roomy, have great beds/bedding, and are beautifully appointed.  The hotel restaurant, LOCANDA VERDE, like the hotel lobby, is rustically hip, comfortable and cozy.  The front section of the restaurant is a cafe from morning until four p.m. in the afternoon, serving delicious baked goods--pistachio huckleberry cake any one?--and pick-me-up espresso drinks.  I stopped in for an afternoon latte and a nero cookie (chocolate, mint, and almond)--yum-yum!  I'm giving this hotel my "take someone special, some good books and don't leave the property" rating so check it out.  Greenwich Hotel

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And what's a trip to a new neighborhood without stopping by a cool shoe store?  Between Oly and the Greenwich Hotel sits a jewel of a shoe shop--EDON MANOR.  If you like shoes, and who doesn't, these are the latest styles displayed in a unique setting.  The website is worth a visit...

edon manor

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Back up town, I walked for miles through the snow in Central Park, had dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant on the upper west side, and ended up at MAGNOLIA BAKERY on Columbus--big mistake for my waistline!