Year: 2008

2008 US Open (Qualifying Rounds)

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This past week, I saw some tennis live (for the FIRST time)!  My yoga teacher (Astoria Sports Club) mentioned last Monday that the first 5 days of the US Open are FREE!!!  I was so surprised; no one had ever told me that before (and I’ve lived in NYC more than 3 years).  It must be a closely guarded secret, b/c a LOT of people don’t know about it.  I had time to go on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday (after teaching my SAYA! SHSAT class), and Friday (all day).  I had a GREAT time, and chatted with a few people (some were knowledgeable about tennis and some just wanted to check out something free)!  Below are some pictures and comments from the Open.

Jelena Jankovic

She was on the practice courts w/ her hitting partner.  I didn’t know who she was until someone (much more knowledgeable re: women’s tennis) pointed that out.  I looked her up; she’s currently ranked #2 in the world!  My mom was VERY impressed when I told her.

 

The Americans

Todd Widom – He’s got the flaming red hair (and a bit of temper, too).  His build and style are similar to that of Ryler De Heart (see below).

 

Michael Yani – This wiry 27 y.o. player is Chinese-American; he needs to work on his serve (a weak spot).  He is light on his feet and very focused.

 

Ryler De Heart – He’s only 24 with affability, energy, and steely determination; he goes for broke- this makes him an exciting player to watch.  The pic above was taken just after he defeated Diego Hartfiled of Argentina (see below).  I see a bright future ahead…

 

Robert Kendrick – He’s tall, blonde, and resembles David Beckham.  Kendrick (28) and his wife have been spotted hanging with celebs, too.  But Kendrick should be lauded for his game, and GREAT presence on the court.  Kendrick’s serve is great, and he has a LOT of stamina- this makes him a VERY popular player.

 

International Players (with potential)

Aisum-ul-Huq Qureshi – This 28 y.o. family man (I saw his wife and baby) hails from Pakistan; his father was also a tennis player.  He’s scrappy, fast, and not afraid to reveal his personality (talks loudly to himself during games).  He already has many fans ALL over the world!

 

Bjorn Phau – His unusual looks come from his Swedish mom and Indonesian dad.  He’s well-rounded with a calm demeanor.  Many people were interested in seeing his skills; in Sweden he’s a big star.

 

Thiago Alves – Loud (he yells out with EACH shot he makes), energetic, and agressive are some words to describe this Brazilian.  He takes his time before serving, then struts across the court with confidence.  The leaps he made reminded me of Agassi, not to mention his build and (slightly wild) hair.

 

The SUPER-HOT Player: Diego Hartfield

Is it REALLY fair that some people look THIS good?  Seriously, this (smokin’ hot) guy was born to play tennis; you’ll sense it when you see him in action.  He’s tall (6’3″), has powerful legs, and moves across the court with agility.

“Beautiful,” “amazing,” and “wonderful” are some words spectators exclaimed while watching Hartfield.  He makes the game fast, tough, and VERY fun!

When Hartfield serves- watch out, baby!  De Heart defeated him, but he had to pull out all the stops to do so.  I cheered the entire time for De Heart, but Hartfied is AWESOME to watch as well!

 

Philipp Petzschner

Something about him made me want to root for this guy…  He’s German, only 24 y.o., and has many good qualities.  His backhand is lovely to watch, he can spin the ball well, and his serve is (usually) strong.  He shows TERRIFIC energy at times, too!

 

His slim build enables him to move around the court fast, as does his height (6’1″).  Petzschner was wearing a plain white shirt, so I don’t think he has any endorsement yet.  He wears ankle supports (perhaps in order to prevent injury).

At times, he shows impatience, frustration, and anger.  He questioned several calls, and asked for clarfications.  In one game, he hit his racket against the ground (very hard) and bent it!  Other times, he swore (English) and called out (probably not-so-nice) things in German.  I thought he was fun to watch!

 

Another point of contention here- not afraid to question authority.

 

Unfortunately, Petzschner was defeated by Thiago Alves this past Friday.   He played VERY well the previous two days (I saw three of his games); Alves was a little more agressive.  I hope Petzschner will build upon his skills, and (hopefully) learn how to manage his negative emotions.  If he does this, he can take on the world’s best!

You can learn more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Petzschner

 

AWESOME Tennis Drama: Lapentti vs. Minar

Giovanni Lapentti of Ecuador after his “medical break” (a trainer and official spoke with him).  His legs were hurt (obviously) but he chose to continue with the game.  The crowd was TOTALLY behind him!  Before he continued, he bent down to test himself.

Slowly, he readies himself to serve.  Earlier, he told the referree that he would do all he could.

Lapentti serves the ball as best as he can; he made Minar work for the victory.  Many people were watching by the third set; several were saying encouraging things.  “You can do it.”  “Make him work for it.  Don’t give it to him.”  “You can play on one foot.”

Minar won the game because Lapentti couldn’t return all of his serves.  The two men paused and spoke for several moments at the net.  Minar was noticeably concerned about his opponent; Lapentti patted him on the cheek.

He’s a REAL fighter- did all that he could under the circumstances.  Here Lapentti acknowledges the crowd with a big smile.  I hope he gets better soon!!!

More about this player: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Lapentti

“Weeds” is laugh-out-loud hilarious… and clever!

Emma4 Comments

 

I just finished watching Season 1 of the Showtime comedy series Weeds.  (Since I don’t have cable, I have to depend on Blockbuster.)  I was curious about this show for a long time, and finally watched it this past week.  I didn’t know what to expect…  Mary-Louise Parker (MLP) is FABULOUS (as always).  She looks AMAZING for her age (note the skin and figure), and creates chemistry with all her co-stars!

 

MLP plays Nancy Botwin, a recently widowed mom who deals weed in the fictional suburb of Agrestic (near the hills outside Los Angeles).  Dealing is a business to Nancy, not personal.  She learns the ropes from her experienced, tough-talking supplier Heylia James (Tonye Patano) and Helia’s nephew Conrad (Romany Malco).  Heylia and her family live in West Adams, a mostly African-American neighborhood of LA.  Romany can also be seen in The Love Guru with Mike Myers. 

 

 

Nancy has two sons, Silas (a cute, popular teen) and Shane (an eccentric, sensitive kid).  These boys (Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould) hold their own alongside the adults on the show.  Thank goodness, they’re nothing like typical sitcom kids! 

 

It’s the kind of show where the viewer doesn’t know what’s going to happen next.  The music is very fitting, yet quirky.  The dialogue is realistic (yes, people do curse in the ‘burbs), fast-paced, and VERY FUNNY!  Characters are multi-faceted and contradictory (like real people).

One of the best things of this comedy (IMHO) is Justin Kirk.  I couldn’t figure out WHO he was for a few minutes; Justin had longer blonde hair and lost 20 lbs. for his role in Angels in America.  Justin played Prior, a young man dying of AIDS in the 1980s, in the HBO miniseries.  On Weeds he plays the lazy, pot-loving Andy (Nancy’s brother-in-law).  Andy and Nancy’s dim-witted accountant Doug (the always funny Kevin Nealon) NEVER need an excuse to get high.  Andy is dysfunctional, but sometimes pretty wise, too. 

Justin on Weeds

 

Justin at an awards show

 

Elizabeth Perkins plays Celia, Nancy’s neighbor and quasi-friend, who’s constantly trying to make her (failing) family life look perfect.  She’s obsessed with her little daughter’s weight and rules the PTA with an iron fist.  A lot of the dark humor comes from her character.  Celia has moments of vulnerability, too, defying the typical spoiled, bored housewife stereotype often seen on TV.  (She has a good figure too- not thin like MLP, but curvy.) 

 

 

 

 

Back in 2000, MLP and Ben were in Proof on Broadway.  Coincidentally, MLP was also in Angles in America, as was Ben Shenkman (he played Louis, Prior’s ex-boyfriend). 

MLP and Ben in Proof

Ben in Angels in America

 

Check out Weeds– you won’t regret it!  

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439100/

Movie Review: “The Dancer Upstairs”

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This is an unusual (yet VERY intelligent) film that I first watched 2 yrs ago.  I found it (only $3.99!!!) at Blockbuster this past weekend.  I had to get it!  The Dancer Upstairs (released in 2002; directed by John Malkovich) is based on a book by Brit writer, Nicholas Shakespeare.  His book is based on the lives of several REAL people. 

The movie deals with many issues: terrorism, government/police corruption, violence, family, love, and above all- the search for truth.  The viewer is pulled in because of such themes; the setting is the recent past in an unnamed Latin American country.  (However, those with knowledge of that area will know that the author meant to portray Peru.)  This film is in English, as Malkovich wanted, but spoken by the actors as a second language.  This doesn’t in any way detract from the film because these actors are SO strong.

The main protagonist is Agustin Rejas (the always-fabulous Javier Bardem), a smart (reads many books), humble, and honest policeman who used to be a lawyer.  He’s not the typical swaggering detective we’re familiar with; he is calm, yet determined.  He has a young daughter devoted to ballet and a beautiful, but a bit superficial, wife.  

A recent rash of terrorist attacks, such as a little boy walking into a government building w/ a bomb in his backpack, have the military, president (unpopular w/ many; accused of crimes), and regular people in fear.  All across the country, there are mysterious deaths of political leaders, military men, etc.  Dead dogs are hung from posts w/ signs proclaiming “Viva el Presidente Ezequial” (the codename for an unknown terrorist leader). 

A top-ranking military man chooses Rejas (w/ a team of young, streetwise detectives) to head the investigation.  They are to research the incidents, work long hrs. among a small group, and keep things hush-hush.  One of the young cops (Juan Diego Botto, a boyish Cuban-American actor) serves to lighten the tension w/ his jokes, casually rumpled/quirky wardrobe, and eye for the ladies.  

Though he is on this tough case, Rejas is NOT getting paid extra.  So, his check to his daughter’s ballet teacher, Yolanda (Laura Morante, an Italian actress whose looks and easy grace reminded me of Juliette Binoche) bounces.  He goes to give her cash, feeling apologetic, and strikes up a conversation.  You can tell that Rejas is intrigued by Yolanda from this first meeting; she is friendly and a good listener.  Yolanda is also mysterious b/c we don’t know much about her past; she says she has traveled a lot and likes to choreograph her own dances.  Rejas doesn’t tell her what he does for a living.         

Rejas is looking to find a honest way to make a living, he tells another character early in the story.  He doesn’t like it when the military is on the streets (martial law is declared at one time).  Yolanda is concerned with creative freedom, but doesn’t talk directly about her personal political views.  Rejas starts to fall for Yolanda.  I don’t want to write TOO much re: the action of this movie, but remember that NOT all terrorists (or those who sympathize with them) look like crazy, evil people.  There is plenty of action, blood, and drama to go along with romantic tensions.  I HIGHLY recommend The Dancer Upstairs.

Why English translations of Bollywood songs ruin the fun

Emma1 Comment

Bollywood should be consumed in VERY small doses IMHO.  Otherwise, one risks becoming angry, irritated, etc. with it’s vacuous portrayals of women, recycled plotlines, and banal dialogue.  A FEW films rise above the junk, to be fair to the industry.  The more Bolly movies I see, the more I understand.  It’s cool, BUT sometimes the songs (esp. when translated) are… cheesy.  Okay, VERY cheesy! 

Do YOU like cheese?  Then read on (for some good laughs)!

A still from Devdas; my mom’s impression: “Oof, that movie hurts my eyes!” (It’s VERY bright, colorful, and melodramatic.)

 

“A thousand Romeos have been made crazy for love of me.” -Soniye Mil Jaa (Aaja Nachle)

This is my FAVE line from a Bolly song, ever!  Not many ladies can say this-  Elizabeth Taylor maybe? 

 

“You’re reaching the stars of my heart.  You tell me, after meeting you, why wouldn’t someone lose their life and love to you?” –Tauba Tumhaare Yeh Ishaare (Chalte Chalte)

 What the heck are the stars of someone’s heart!?

 

“Your heart says beat, beat; my bangles say jingle, jingle.  My god, my god, love has made me helpless.” –Tu Mere Samne (Chori Chori) 

This is one of my fave Bolly songs; the movie resembles While You Were Sleeping.

 

“Look at this crazy girl- she is ignorant of this world.  A gust of wind will come, and with it- her lover.” –Silsila Yeh Chaahat Ka (Devdas)

Yup, that’s how my fam says about me!  LOL!

 

“You are the flower of his arms.  I am just the dust of his footsteps.” -Dola Re Dola (Devdas)

Chandramukhi (th courtesan in love w/ Devdas) sings this to Parbati (the virgin in love with Devdas); it sounds SAD here in English.  See, you can get affected by this stuff!

 

“Even if a mirror pays you compliments, my heart says I should break it.” –Tune Zindagi Mein (Humraaz)

This movie is about jealousy; the last half hour is EXACTLY like A Perfect Murder.

 

“My bracelets say, my bangles say I have become yours, my lover.  Without you in my life, I will die.” –Bole Chudiyan (Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham)

Another one of my fave Hindi songs; this movie is HUGE and all-encompassing (of themes) in typical Bolly movies.  The songs in it are REALLY good!

 

“The sun dims into twilight; the moon beams shimmer brightly.  I stand still as the earth moves around me.” –Suraj Hua Maddham (K3G)

This isn’t SO bad- it’s romantic. 

 

“Very troublesome, buddy, very troublesome- a fair, fair face with a dark, dark mole.”  -Badi Mushkil (Lajja)

Yes, I was nearly ROFLMAO when I realized what it meant!!!

 

 

Poster for Lajja, a movie that tried to show feminist sensibility, BUT failed miserably!

Movie filmed in Jackson Heights: “7 to the Palace”

Emma3 Comments

The Colombian community of Jackson Heights, Queens had the wonderful character-propelled drama Maria Full of Grace.  Now desis (like me!) have this new film, coming out next year- 7 to the Palace. 

Naseeruddin Shah

 

This movie stars some FABULOUS desi actors, including: Aasif Mandvi (a prolific TV/theater/indie film actor), Naseeruddin Shah (a huge star in India; the father from Monsoon Wedding), Ajay Naidu (Office Space and many bit parts), and Madhur Jaffrey (acting in the US since the 1970s; also a cookbook writer).  At the end of August, Aasif Mandvi will ALSO be visting the SAYA! (where I work/volunteer).  You may have seen him as the ER doctor in the first season of CSI or on The Colbert Report.  He had a major part in the romantic comedy American Chai (a film shot in NYC and NJ).  He had the role of Ali Hakim (the Persian salesman) in Oklahoma! on Broadway.  I saw him a few times at a small Upper West Side cafe; I used to student-teach in that neighborhood. He lived VERY close to 72nd St and Broadway.  BTW, both Aasif and Ajay are natives of Chicago.     

Aasif MandviAjay Naidu

 

As for non-desis… Dean Winters (from the gritty prison drama Oz and the police drama Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit) will have a role, too.  Wow!!!  I loved his character on Oz, and can’t wait to see how he looks/acts in this movie!  He is a VERY charming/engaging actor.  He can play a boyish, manipulative criminal (Ryan O’Reilly on Oz) or an earnest, green cop (Det. Brian Cassidy on SVU).  Some ladies may know him best from SATC where he played Carrie’s friend with benefits.  Dean is actually Irish (like Ryan), BUT also Italian; he grew up in NYC and Arizona.  It’s ALWAYS a pleasure to see ANY actor from Oz IMHO!  

Chris Meloni & Dean Winters

 

There were people set up at the corner of 75th Street and 37th Avenue last week.  There was a little tent and table with snacks and drinks.  No one seemed to be taking notice of the (mostly young and white) group of production assistants milling about.  (But this is the type of stuff that catches my eye, and I was coming from the Starbucks over at the corner of 78th.)  One of the restaurants looked different because the film crew had changed the awning (it read Tandoori Palace; I’m pretty sure that wasn’t so before).  

One day, there was a sign on the corner looking for extras; I was TOO shy to go!  Darn!!!  Maybe I will get a second chance for 5 minutes of fame…   

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1153053/