Barbra at the Village Vanguard

Barbra, Barbra, Barbra... Now, I'm not sure if my review of this will be considered unbiased because, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I worship this woman. However, I can tell you why this particular show is very special and unlike anything we've seen from Babs before.

First off, everything Barbra does, she knocks out of the park. Whenever she performs anywhere, it's a sell-out. The Village Vanguard is a little jazz club in the Village that's been around since the 30's. A club Barbra actually sang in when she was first starting out on the nightclub circuit. She hasn't sung in a club since the 60's. The audience consisted of about 135 people crammed into the tiny club. Among them were Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Donna Karen, Bill & Hillary Clinton, Marilyn and Allan Bergman, and a bunch of other celebrities and contest winners who were lucky enough to win tickets to be there. I, though I tried in vein, failed to win any of the contests. Anyway, you've never seen Barbra in such an intimate setting. She completely lets loose and just chats and sings and it feels like you're seeing a whole other side to her, which is quite something since she's been around for almost 50 years.

Every song choice is flawless. My favorite is one of the old songs that she used to sing when she was in her late teens called "Nobody's Heart Belongs To Me". I've always loved that song. She also sings a few songs she hasn't done since the 60's like "Bewitched" and "My Funny Valentine". The program consists mostly of songs from her new album, "Love is The Answer", including my favorite, "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning".

Seeing Barbra so laid-back and uninhibited has made me only love her more. That incredible talent, that dry sense of humor, and those character defining gestures are all there, only on a much more personal level. If you love Barbra as I do, if you love jazz, or if you simply like to hear good music, go out and get this on dvd or blu-ray! We don't have many legends left so it's a good thing the few that we do have keep on singing!

"All About All About Eve"

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I have an obsession as well as an extensive knowledge of classic films and classic movie trivia. "All About Eve" is one of my all-time favorites! It's undoubtably one of if not the greatest performances Bette Davis ever gave. It's perhaps only eclipsed by Baby Jane, however, Jane is a completely different sort of character so I'm not sure there's really a comparison. It's a true quality film and an extremely intelligent one.

Sam Staggs' book tells the story in excruciating detail! Everything you could possibly want to know about the original story, "The Wisdom Of Eve", published in Cosmopolitan magazine, to the true story that was based on, to the on-set antics and casting issues. I've rarely read a book as well researched. You get a real sense of the genius behind this picture and how important it really was. I didn't think it was possible, but I actually liked one of my old favorite movies even more after reading so much about it! Staggs has a great conversational and sometimes hilariously bitchy and honest way of presenting the information, making the book not only extremely informative, but great fun to read! I couldn't put it down. If you have any interest at all in the film itself, Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, classic films, or moviemaking in general, this is an extremely informative and well presented look at what goes into the making of a classic. He gets into the psyche and motives of people like Bette Davis and director/screenwriter Joeseph Mankiewitz. All in all, a marvelous book! Sam Staggs has also written books on the making of "Sunset Boulevard", "A Streetcar Named Desire", and most recently "Imitation Of Life", all of which I look forward to reading!

John Barrowman

John Barrowman is the new love of my life. He's been around for quite a few years and I've always liked him, but it's only recently that I've discovered how great his body of work really is. He's done countless musical theatere-related shows and concerts and he has quite a following in the U.K. where he lives with his boyfriend, Scott. I've watched a lot of interviews that he's done and I really appreciate his sense of humor and genuine love for what he does. He seems like a really down to earth guy. He has what I consider to be the most beautiful voice of any male singer living today. There's something so soothing and tranquil about it. He also has the ability to belt like a pro! I recently bought his album, "John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter", which has a lot of my old favorites on it. He managed to make them all sound brand new. You might recognize him from his cameo appearance in "De-Lovely". He was also in the show (and dvd) "Putting it Together" with Carol Burnett. He's currently playing a recurring role on "Desperate Housewives". He also just published his second book, "I Am What I Am" which I'm very anxious to read! Anyway, check him out. He's a very versatile performer and I really like how he can go from traditional to modern in a heartbeat. He has one of those voices that doesn't come along very often and he knows how to use it.

"A Single Man"

The Movie:

I went to see this five times. I have never gone to the movies to see a film that many times over. Something about this picture just touches you on a very deep and personal level. Quite simply, it's a perfect movie. Tom Ford (one of my favorite designers) directed it. It's based on Christopher Isherwood's novel of the same name which was written in the 1960's. It takes place in L.A. during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The movie chronicles one day in the life of one man, George, who lost his partner of fifteen years eight months prior to the beginning of the movie. It follows George to and from school, where he's an English professor, to the bank to run some errands, and every now and then into the past. Nicholas Hoult is Kenny, one of George's students, who is a little confused about his sexuality and who befriends George and makes him see things a little differently. Julianne Moore is Charlie, George's friend from England who's in love with George, but naturally, because he's a homosexual, this love is unrequited.

There are so many things to love about this movie. First off, there's the score, which hooks you from the moment the picture opens. Then there's the amazing use of color. As George's moods change and as the atmosphere changes, the colors change and become more vibrant. It's a really clever technique that only someone who spends all of their time trying to create beauty would think to use. Another great thing about this movie is how real it looks. It's a great period piece about the 60's. Every detail is authentic right down to the little metal Bayer aspirin tin George has on his desk at school. But the thing I love the most about this movie is that, yes, it's about a gay man, however, this is not the main focus of the movie. He just happens to be gay. It's not a "gay movie"... I mean, let's be honest, most "gay movies" suck. No, this is a story about a person. It's done with respect, truth, and class. I really appreciated the way Tom Ford decided to bring the book to the screen and tell the story. He even added some subplots that weren't in the original story, but work well on screen. Hands down, the best movie of 2009.

The Book:

After I saw the movie for the fifth time, naturally, it sent me running out to get the book! The book isn't very long at all. I read it in a day. It's easily one of the best books I've read all year. Christopher Isherwood, who wrote "The Berlin Stories", the basis for "Cabaret", wrote this in 1964. It was clearly way ahead of it's time. It's the most honest portrait of human beings I've ever read. These are real people with real problems and real emotions and imperfections. The characters in this novel are devastatingly human. The homosexuality of the heroin, George, is handled with absolutely no irony or special treatment. It's simply a fact of this man's life. In fact, it's not even something you think about while you're reading, which I think is a great compliment to the author. He managed to pull this off at a time when this was a pretty racy subject matter to write about. This is a great and somewhat underrated work of literature and I would recommend it to anyone who just wants to read something good. It's a prime example of great writing and a wonderful use of language while still being straightforward and sympathetically unsympathetic. Isherwood is clearly one of the great authors of the 20th century. I read the book after I saw the movie, and honestly, I don't think it made a bit of difference. I would recommend checking out both. I personally could not get enough of this story and did not want the book or the movie to end. It's one of those stories you become very involved in. So, read it, watch it, and judge for yourself.

Bonjour!

Hello, Darlings! Welcome to "Fasten Your Seat Belts"! I don't really know why I decided to start a blog. Possibly because I need something to focus on to fill my time...who knows. Anyway, though I may be flattering myself by thinking anyone will give a damn about what I have to say, I think it'll be fun. As I did in my now inactive blog, "Baby Gravy", I'm going to use this to discuss my opinions on...everything... books, movies, music, makeup, pharmaceuticals, and anything else I find myself interested in or feeling strongly about. Hopefully you'll feel compelled to share your opinions as well! So, here I go...