excerpt - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

"You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity. At some time, every creature which lives must do so. It is the ultimate shadow, the defeat of creation; this is the curse at work, the curse that feeds on all life. Everywhere in the universe."

--Chapter 15, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

La Jetée (1962)

I watched this two years ago and it did not invoke the same effect it did for me today upon my second viewing. It gave me unbelievable chills.

excerpt - The Rum Diary

She laughed. "It won't last. Nothing lasts. But I'm happy now."

"Happy," I muttered, trying to pin the word down. But it is one of those words, like Love, that I have never quite understood. Most people who deal in words don't have much faith in them and I am no exception--especially the big ones like Happy and Love and Honest and Strong. They are too elusive and far too relative when you compare them to sharp, mean little words like Punk and Cheap and Phony. I feel at home with these, because they're scrawny and easy to pin, but the big ones are tough and it takes either a priest or a fool to use them with any confidence.

--Chapter Five, The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson

excerpt - Something Wicked This Way Comes

"So, in sum, what are we? We are the creatures that know and know too much. That leaves us with such a burden again we have a choice, to laugh or cry. No other animal does either. We do both, depending on the season and the need. Somehow, I feel the carnival watches, to see which we're doing and how and why, and moves in on us when it feels we're ripe."

goodbye my iPod

iPod gave out today, after 5 years of faithful service.

You served me well since 2003, you were a great consoler and friend, I will miss you.

time of death - 3:27 am

excerpt - The Illustrated Man

"When life is over it is like a flicker of bright film, an instant on the screen, all of its prejudices and passions condensed and illumined for an instant on space, and before you could cry out, 'There was a happy day, there a bad one, there an evil face, there a good one,' the film burned to a cinder, the screen went dark."

Kaleidoscope, The Illustrated Man

Tystnaden (The Silence) 1963

For me, the most relate-able of Bergman's "Trilogy of Faith."

Nattvardsgästerna (Winter Light) 1962

I have yet to really get into a chunk of Bergman's work, but I think it's safe to say that this one is an incredibly bleak and harsh outlook on the existence of God. Tomas's struggle with his faith and his disheartening realization that God is silent made me feel sorry for him, and his indifference and ultimate cruelty to Marta, who loves him blindly, just made me feel horrible. I usually feel a sense of optimism in the face of reality from Bergman, but his trilogy of faith is really jarring, raw, and a slap to the face. Not so sure what to think. Maybe once I watch The Silence I will be able to formulate a stronger opinion.

Såsom i en spegel (Through a Glass Darkly) 1961

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Hotel Chevalier (2007)

Absolutely lovely. I loved Jason Schwartzman's masked nonchalance as Jack, and Natalie Portman wasn't bad as the wounded-but-feigning-otherwise character as Jack's ex-girlfriend. So Andersonian. Really of the essence. And a great prelude to The Darjeeling Limited.

Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries) 1957

The sweet things in life grow wild; it'll be your secret.

Det Sjunde Inseglet (The Seventh Seal) 1957

Jeux d'enfants (Love Me if You Dare) 2003

This film initially reminded me of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie, with the vibrant color scheme, whimsical fantasy-infused cinematography and quirky characters, but as the movie progressed I immediately noticed it was a much darker, twisted story about love. Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard star as Julien and Sophie, who, since childhood have played a game of dares, started when they were children by Julien presenting Sophie with a gift of a tin merry-go-round and, upon asking if she'll lend it back to him, her demanding him to do something crazy to show he really wants it back. The game continues up to their adult years, always erratic and crazy and deepening the strange bond they have, even if on the surface their relationship is dysfunctional and destructive. I enjoyed how in their childhood the visuals were high contrast, with crazy bright colors. As they get older the visuals become more harsh, the colors settle down as their era of playtime is ending and the real world of adulthood sets in. Another thing to note is the growth of Julien and Sophie of the tyrant and the creme puff, which are what they declared they would grow up to be, as children hiding under a banquet table at Sophie's sisters wedding. All throughout several renditions of the song La Vie en Rose plays throughout, giving the film a simple, yet meaningful backdrop. And of course this gives an ironic twist, as Marion Cotillard goes on to play Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (which I still have not watched). In all, I loved this film, because it told a story about love in a fresh, atypical view. Love hurts, and it can be so twisted, yet in the end it prevails.

"this is you"

he wrote this for me.

Universal little sister
blinking sunlight that shines through genetics
laughing new shades of green
yet timid to burn our desks & currency for being figures in a dream
your revolution is a rainbow
feminine in its withdrawal for not being loved
holy in its reflection of the stars that were too bright to see
The giggles are the only hint of knowing god
Of knowing life is an exhibition yet to happen
Not afraid to not exist
"We never have and never will
with bodies"
so says the little sister
to the leaves

"The Scottish Vacuum of Charm"

A topic that my best friend (who's incidentally my roommate) and I are discussing more and more of late is about how it seems like every Scottish actor we watch or hear about is brilliant. Either incredibly talented, or charming, or gorgeous, or all of the above. Even over the past winter break I watched five films featuring James McAvoy. That's correct, five. (Most solely just to see him, but they were all well worth the time; Atonement, The Chronicles of Narnia, Starter For 10, Becoming Jane, The Last King of Scotland). As my roommate and I watched Doctor Who Season Two the other night we gushed on about the natural Scottish brogue that David Tennant got to use during the episode "Tooth and Claw" and we were so hung up on the accent and the TALENT that we immediately got to thinking about our favorite Scottish actors.

My top ten Scots:

1. James McAvoy
No contest. I believe this man can pull off anything. And after seeing videos of him (namely Newsweek's 11th Oscar roundtable and a late-night show with fellow Scot Craig Ferguson) and listening to a radio interview of him with Ryan Seacrest I'm utterly taken by his Scottish charm. It's all in those piercing blue eyes and his goofy but breathtakingly seductive mannerism. I'm greatly anticipating the release of his next film with Christina Ricci called Penelope, which is supposed to be a modern day fairy tale.

2. Ewan McGregor
So adorable, incredibly versatile, I could go on and on but I'd bore myself and you. He first caught my eye in I think Black Hawk Down, then Star Wars Episode II, but I was utterly captivated by his performance as Edward Bloom in Big Fish and I guess Moulin Rouge as well. Alas I never got into viewing any of his "art" films but I'm fine settling with the mainstream McGregor.

3. Sean Connery
Really the "original" Scot, you know. Actually that makes no sense. But I mean in reference to the fact that I first became aware of the Scottish accent when I watched Dr. No back as a little girl running in and out of the room during James Bond movie marathons. And in Michael Bay's The Rock (best action movie of all time) where he delivers some of the coolest lines in the film in that rogue-of-a-Scottish accent, and of course his unmistakable turn lending his voice as Draco in Dragonheart. Sean Connery even impressed the original author Ian Fleming so much with his performance as Bond that Fleming decided to give Bond some Scottish roots. Freakin' awesome.And honestly, he's still extremely good looking as an older fellow.

4. Gerard Butler
I've seen more of Gerard than I thought, but not as much as I should have. Reign of Fire, The Phantom of the Opera, 300. He's pretty much the best thing in that pitiful group of movies I've seen. Also he's a very very good indication of what a MAN looks like, haha.

5. David Tennant
He first came to my attention as Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...but thanks to being educated by my roommate of the Doctor Who series, I've come to know him best as the tenth reincarnation of the Doctor! It's the lankiness, the wild eyes and the slightly geeky loveability that does it for me. And roomie of mine discovered today that he used to date the woman (Anne Marie Duff) who is now James McAvoy's wife! Lucky girl!

6. Kelly MacDonald
First saw her in Trainspotting as Renton's (Ewan McGregor himself!) one-night stand Diane, and most recently as Carla Jean Moss in No Country For Old Men (donning a perfect Texas accent), and I saw on her IMDb page that she will portray Doctor Paige Marshall in the film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's Choke! So excited to see more from this talented woman.

7. Robert Carlyle
Terrifying as Begbie in Trainspotting (the whole cast of Trainspotting ought to have made it onto this list huh) and I saw him last in 28 Weeks Later; I know that really does no justice to his track record but anyway I think he is superb.

8. Billy Boyd
My favorite hobbit from the Lord of the Rings films. I remember watching hours of the behind the scenes extras and thinking Billy is the funniest, happiest human being around. And as he is incredibly talented, and since he seems like the sweetest soul alive I want to see him in more films!

9. Tommy Flanagan
As Maximus's loyal servant Cicero in Gladiator and a man torn from his wife in Braveheart I can always name Tommy Flanagan as one who had two roles that really tore my heart up. Though he's usually in the smaller supporting roles, for me he manages to steal the scene when I do see him. Also check out his cameos in Sin City and Smokin' Aces.

10. Sean Biggerstaff
I don't think I've seen him in anything apart from the first two Harry Potter films, but then again, with that accent, that smile, and by gosh he's Oliver Wood! What else is there? He does have a role in an upcoming film called Hippie Hippie Shake (with Irishman Cillian Murphy!) which looks quite interesting.

One more thing (a happy coincidence, finding this blog!)
scottishactors.blogspot.com