Someone to Watch Over Me

Ella Fitzgerald sings Gershwin's classic.

Summertime and the livin' is easy

Your Summer Love Style is Serious

While others may be into a summer fling, you're about the real thing. And there's a good chance you're already serious with someone already. For you, the summer is about getting closer and more committed. Just don't get tempted by any of that hot weather eye candy!

What's Your Summer Love Style?

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Director Mikio Naruse focuses middle-aged (i.e. 30 year old) "Mama" who navigates the "water trade" of Tokyo's Ginza bars and their elegant hostesses in When a Woman Ascends the Stairs. Acutely aware that her looks are fading, Mama's at a crossroads. She must either find a husband or buy her own bar if she's going to survive. Because of a strong devotion to her late husband, Mama doesn't want to marry again. Yet she doesn't have the funds to buy a bar. Thus she must convince wealthy customers to back her. It's a delicate balance as relying on one man too heavily comes with too many obligations.

These bars, with their doting hostesses, are fascinating aspect of Japanese culture. The relationship between the rich business men and the women, all of whom have different objectives and desires and the attitude people have towards them is complex. The women aren't shunned as they would be in the West. Yet they aren't revered. These women aren't Geishas. They aren't trained in dance and singing. Some can be bought for after hours entertainment, but not all. Mama is one who doesn't sell out.

While it's a good idea, buying a bar is far from easy, as Mama learns through her friend and former, younger colleague, Yuri whose new bar siphons off several of Mama's customers. The new bar appears to be a success, but Yuri's been borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Yuri stages suicide which she hoped would force her creditors to back down. That plan fails miserably.

Like Kabei: Our Mother I enjoyed the little glimpses into Japan of an earlier time (here 1960). When Mama visits her mother I was surprised to see her traditional kimono-wearing mother light up a cigarette. I was surprised that Mama's apartment's decor was so Western. This milieu has its downsides, but it's more civilized and in its own way proper than what we'd have in the U.S. in 1960.

I highly recommend When a Woman Ascends the Stairs to anyone interested in Japanese culture.

Ten movies I can watch again and again

1. When Harry Met Sally
2. You've Got Mail
3. About A Boy
4. Pride and Prejudice
5. Casablanca
6. Rain Man
7. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
8. Network
9. The Sting
10. Yi Yi
    

i carry your heart with me

poem by e.e. cummings.

The Glee Project: Sexuality

**SPOILER ALERT**

This week's challenge involved the theme Sexuality and resulted in a great music video with the six remaining contestants performing "Teenage Dream."

The pairings were interesting: Sam and Alex, Hannah and Cameron, and Lindsay and Damien. While a few of them were troubled with the theme of sexuality, which made the episode interesting to watch.

I figured that Hannah and Lindsay would be rather safe. They can't just have one girl and four boys left at this stage. Both were good, but everyone was good last night.

Sam was saved too, though I don't think his performance was all that nuanced. So the three who had to sing to stay were Alex, Damien and Cameron, who were assigned to sing "I will Survive," "Danny Boy," and "Blackbird" respectively. I still see Alex as one-dimensional. I'm sure the writers could put together a good character for him, but I don't see the depth in him. He hasn't shared much that's personal as the others have. He alludes to his life and family, but I don't have much of a picture and considering that he's been in the bottom three several weeks in a row, I feel I should know him much better.

Damien's performance seemed good to me, but "Danny Boy" usually gets to me like "Amazing Grace" does. So that bias was in play. I'm finding Damien more and more likable. In his recording, he did well, better than say Lindsay or Damien.



Cameron took the spotlight as he struggled the most with this week's challenge. Hannah also struggled and that was interesting, but Cameron's struggle with kissing a girl he's not dating, was unique and real. Executive Producer Ryan Murphy brought this up and the result was a very heartfelt exchange about Cameron's faith and Murphy's respect of it and his desire to write for a character who holds these kinds of beliefs. Cameron admitted that he's been unable to sleep due to this dilemma. He didn't think it would be right for him to stay and send home someone who didn't have these kinds of qualms. It was a first, a rarity in reality TV, a popular contestant dropping out.

I thought Murphy would let Cameron go when he voiced a desire to quit, but that also raised some issues and heightened the producers' interest in him. In fact, Murphy took the unusual step of going back to the dressing rooms to talk to Cameron candidly and actually encourage him to stay. This was something as Murphy hasn't been all that impressed with Cameron.

I will say Cameron's Blackbird was my favorite performance. Just perfect, I thought as the song showed the vulnerability, heart and talent, that makes Cameron popular. In the end he decided to quit believing that he was lucky to come this far and that another door would open. I'm sure it will. I can say most of these kids could record and sell a good number of CDs right now. I really wanted him to stay. With just a bit of maturity, I think he could handle these situations morally and professionally.

Murphy had thought that Cameron could have made it till the end, which confirms my hunch. I think Hannah and Sam with Damien as a third place contender have the best chances.

Next week's theme is True Colors.

Famous Movie Kisses

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Romeo + Juliet

"Has my heart loved 'till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw a true beauty 'till this night."

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

And what movie kisses are most memorable?