When Your Kid Asks “Who is Michael Jackson?”

When Francis Magalona died, we had a week or two of FM’s music constantly in the background while we were at home. So it was inevitable that in a matter of just five days, our little boy Kean was already singing “Kaleidoscope World” and “Cold Summer Nights” with feelings.
Now when MJ died, he was just everywhere! My husband and I mourned his passing too so we had our own memorial by filling our house with his songs. And we thought that it was “our responsibility” to educate Kean about Michael Jackson’s music, before uncreative copycats would come out with their own renditions, and mislead this new generation on the originality of the masterpieces.

So now, I believe Kean knows all the lyrics to Michael Jackson’s songs better than every poseur out there who suddenly branded themselves as an MJ fan only after his death. I’m irked that some of these people who claim they are “fans” don’t even know that he sang Dirty Diana. Geez, MJ’s catalog goes far, far, far beyond Beat it, Billie Jean and Bad, okay? Kean even likes MJ’s lesser hits such as “One More Chance” and “Break of Dawn”. Betcha you’re just stuck with the Number Ones, huh? Well, this kid has good ears for music.

Anyway, so while we were immersing ourselves in MJ tributes on TV, Kean of course being the curious 6-year-old that he is, asked us a lot of questions – questions that only kids are brave enough to ask, such as:

• Mom, how did he turn white?
• Mom, why is he wearing lipstick?
• Mom, why is he wearing a girl’s shirt (referring to the lacy black “blousy” top he wore in the “You Are Not Alone” video)
• Mom, what happened to his nose?

Being a parent, I realized that we can’t really protect our children from everything in this world. There are things that we just can’t deny. Other parents would have probably just dismissed such questions, or maybe ignore them altogether; pretend they didn’t hear it at all. I wanted to answer my child as “truthfully” as I can because I don’t want him to grow old, smeared with prejudices.

So I had to tell him what I know and these are based on general “un-malicious” facts: He had a disease called Vitiligo (which I also explained)… Performers wear lipstick and make-up on stage because they have to look good under very bright klieg lights… Lace isn’t just for girls. So I showed him turn of the century images of flamboyant men’s clothing using lace and other frilly materials. And besides, it was only a “costume” – costumes are always exaggerated! As for his nose, I told my son pointblank that he had cosmetic surgery. The reason? I don’t know. I just told him that people make decisions in their lives which only they can understand; and that they have every right to choose not to explain it. And we should respect that. Anyway, it’s not about how he looked or lived his life – we just had to remember his MUSIC. After all, that’s just what he wants to give to the world. But people wanted MORE.

Michael Jackson’s life will always remain a mystery – his childhood, his court cases, his cosmetic surgeries, his children, and even his death. Michael was human. He had flaws but I think his music was perfect… it was the soundtrack of our childhood... it inspired us… it moved the world. So why should we destroy all that by bothering ourselves with all the scandals? There’s more to being an MJ fan than copying his outfits and dance steps, and hounding his private life. I don’t think we will ever know so it doesn’t really matter. The TRUTH is the only thing that has been and forever will be UNREAL in Michael Jackson.

Better Late Than Never... My MJ Memorial Blog

I know most, if not the whole world, is still grieving about Michael Jackson’s death. In my case though, I have only just begun my mourning. When I first got the text message of MJ’s death very early in the morning last June 26 (He died June 25, 3:24pm Pacific Time) I thought I was just dreaming. It was my hell week for the commemorative book project that I was going nuts over (and losing precious sleep over too) which explains why the tragic and shocking news didn’t enter my fuzzy sphere of reality that time. Sorry Michael I was too sleepy and tired to bother about your death. 

Now that I’m back in my “senses” I feel so left out. I regret missing up on a lot, if not all, of the specials and tributes that were showing simultaneously on several channels up until his grand memorial last July 7 in Los Angeles, which was aired LIVE on CNN for the all the world to witness. I cried watching the memorial service not only because I am an MJ fan but also because I was reminded of the fact that despite having a strange life, he was still human just like all of us – he had a family, children, and a childhood that paved the way for his success… and also his sadness. 

He was planning a comeback concert but God had already planned his farewell gig. Come to think of it, I think it was better this way. Imagine if he continued to live on ‘til he was 60 or 70 but with the tabloids still eating him up? He might as well be the dead. The world is cruel and that will NEVER change. When he sang “Heal the World” he was most probably singing about his hope for his own healing. Michael, though he was a superstar, is still that shy and insecure kid that all the bullies would love to pick on. You and I at some point in our lives were bullies to him. The paparazzi bullied him. The tabloids bullied him. The industry bullied him. We bullied him by wanting to own every little piece of him through media. I wonder sometimes, is his MUSIC not enough to entertain us? Do we really have to fuel the evilness of media by wanting to know more of his personal life… by dredging in the dirt? What did we gain then out of it? In the end, we even lost him.

Michael Jackson’s demise should remind us to respect people even if we deem them unworthy of such. We should not judge. We should not hate. We should not ridicule. It’s ironic how everybody only stops talking trash about someone when that person is already dead. Why can’t we say nice words to people when they’re still alive? When they still need it? Michael needed a lot of love and though he gave his heart to the world through his music, he didn’t get any love back. 

What was your stand when he was being tried for child molestation? What did you think when his skin was turning white? What was your reaction when he was seen “dangling” his baby out the window? Maybe you had a good laugh back then. Maybe you believed the accusations. Maybe you think he deserved it. If you did then maybe you have no right to cry over his passing after all. 

Second Childhood and High School Crushes in our 30s!

The new Transformers movie is out and thanks to typhoon Feria’s threat, classes were suspended coincidentally on its opening day and as usual, it ironically turned out to be a clear morning after all so off to the malls the students flocked – Kean and us included. Thanks to a new Cubao secret (not too secret anymore now) – Ali Mall’s newly refurbished Cineplex – we were able to bury our bottoms very comfortably. While everyone else in the metro endured the long lines and the “standing room only” viewing, my family and I practically had the shiny new Ali Mall all to ourselves. I love it that we just live a street away from the classic Cubao landmark! Araneta Center is our backyard.



Speaking of Transformers 2 and in the light of Michael Jackson’s demise, the perfect song for my husband these days would have to be “Have You Seen my Childhood?” Like a “spoiled” kid in a candy store, his current indulgence is shopping for Transformers toys. And he really plays with them!!! The good news – he and Kean are totally bonding over it. The bad news – these toys cost at least P300 to P500 a pop! It may sound silly but this is really serious stuff for Joseph. Compared to my toy-filled childhood, he resents that his parents didn’t get him any of these robots back then. He recalls his mom saying, “It’s beyond your toy budget…” So the poor little boy had to live through watching those Uncle Bob’s Lucky Seven Club’s toy commercials without ever getting at least one of them. Awww… So now, I’m playing “mommy” to his reincarnated JJ (his nickname back then) and buying him these robots. Good thing that I’m also a fan and an ‘80s buff so I understand the need to feed the nostalgia.

So while my husband is going back to being 7 years old, I on the other hand had my own trip back to my 16 year old self by having a very ridiculous high school like crush on Zachary Quinto. Sigh… the name alone creates psychedelic hearts on my eyes. Let me just shriek! He’s soooo cuuuute!!! OMG my face is flushing just thinking about him.



Okay, before I go on any further, you might be wondering who the heck is Zachary Quinto? Well, for most people now he’s Spock from the new Star Trek movie but before that he’s been Sylar to me and to the legions of Heroes fans. I have never missed an episode of Heroes and even if the TV series has become too preposterous in its recent plot developments, there’s no stopping me from following Sylar – the super-powered serial killer who hunts the super-humans in order to steal their powers! He’s primarily a villain but I know there’s more to that psychotic persona… I know there’s a heart buried deep within that hate… I was thrilled when the series showed the character’s soft side as the plot’s paradox in the “Villains” season.

Anyway I could go and on about my own character analysis of Sylar – originally Gabriel Gray – but that would be too much of a geek talk. Yes, my husband and I are self-confessed Heroes freaks. We even plan to name our first daughter (IF EVER) Claire – after the show’s cheerleader character with the regenerative powers. Alright enough Heroes gab. Let me go back to Zachary.

I’ve always been attracted to him but the adulation was just limited within the show. I’ve had plenty of major celebrity crushes in my teenage years – you know that type of silly obsession that make you cut out their photos from magazines and stick them on your walls (don’t laugh!)— but I never thought I would actually have one again in my 30s! The last major celebrity crush I had that lasted all throughout my adolescent years was Keanu Reeves (don’t laugh again!) Hey if you saw him on “Pointbreak” you’d know what I’m talking about. And now ZQ makes me gush.

Like I said, before I was just in love with Sylar the character but now I AM IN LOVE WITH ZQ – the man who plays Sylar & Spock! This video did it all for me. Check out ZQ’s interview on Ellen last May.



Isn’t he totally adorable! Nothing kills me more than a guy who’s cool enough to strut some dance moves on national TV! Kilig to max! And so that got me hooked! I went online and plunged into Google ZQ Mode. I found his official website, grabbed his ooh-la-la GQ photos, put them interchangeably on my desktop (I’ve just recently named my laptop ZQ), became his fan on Facebook, and now having my own toy shopping spree by getting these Sylar and Spock action figures online!


I’ve been reading immensely about him and following his updates on FB. I even sent him a relatively long (giddy-sounding) birthday message last June 2. Actually his birth date stopped me in my tracks. The date was all too familiar and after jogging my memory about its significance, I stammered. He shares a birth date with some guy I used to “know”. Let’s just not expound on the meaning of “know” alright? I’m now a happily married woman. Enough said. But guess what, I also realized that ZQ and this so-called birthday twin actually have some semblances here and there. Hmmm… now this is the part where it kinda gets weird and worrisome. And I don’t know how else to end this blog so I’ll just trail off…

Cooking... Blogging... and Meryll Streep

I’m really excited about this upcoming film starring my all-time favorite Hollywood actress Meryll Streep and newcomer funny gal Amy Adams. The movie’s title is “Julie & Julia” and is directed by Rom-Com Genius of the ‘90s Nora Ephron. Remember “Sleepless in Seattle” “You’ve Got Mail”… okay, you get the picture. I love it because it’s about three things that I absolutely adore: Cooking… Blogging… and Meryll Streep. Here’s the basic plot:

Frustrated temp secretary Julie Powell (Amy Adams) embarks on a year-long culinary quest to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” She chronicles her trials and tribulations in a blog that catches on with the food crowd.

The film by the way is based on a real life story of Julie Powell herself who really blogged about her cooking attempts. The blog became such a hit that she eventually published it into a book entitled "Julie & Julia". Hmmm, now there's a great idea. Do you think "Memoirs of a New Missus" would fly off the shelves? (thought bubbles hover me now)

Anyway, Julia Child is played by Meryll of course, and in case you don’t know who Julia Child is… before there was a Martha, Giada, Rachael and the Barefoot Contessa, Julia Child was the TV Chef that all housewives in the ‘50s emulated.


(left) Meryll as Julia Child and the real Julia Child (right)

In the film, we would be seeing two eras in juxtapose as present day Julie struggles with gourmet cooking in a tiny New York apartment while Julia begins to build her culinary brand in the ’50s. Cooking then becomes the metaphor for their life and love issues. That’s just my literary analysis. (Me and my penchant for metaphors!)



I was kind of inspired with the story and made me think about putting up blog posts of my own kitchen adventures. I usually just post resto finds & recipes that I have tried and tweaked but I have never written about my experience in making them, and the whole drama that went behind it (if there were any). I actually have 2 new beautiful cookbooks (Martha Stewart's Cooking School and Classic Recipes book set by Hershey’s, Campbells and Eagle Brand) sent to me as presents by my secret “sweet” kitchen fairy. I call her my kitchen fairy because she has been so generous in sending me trivets, kitchenware and cookbooks every time she does some spring cleaning in her home. This famous lady loves to spread the love on homemaking. Thanks to her, I’ve been able to make cupcakes with my favorite gadget – a yellow Kitchenaid Mixer – which I named after her. I’ve told her that she should put up her own brand of home ware like Martha. She’s already got the name. Anyway, that’s enough about her. You might already guess who she is. Hehe. :-)


(left) My yellow Kitchenaid Mixer, a gift 2 yrs ago... (right) and cooking for hubby's bday

Anyway, I really can’t wait for this new film. I love Meryll Streep’s movies. Be it drama, comedy, and even theater… she’s done it all. I love her best in comedies. Here are my FAVE FIVE MERYLL STREEP COMEDY MOVIES: “Postcards from the Edge” (I love the mother-daughter issues of this story)… “She-Devil” (Her character seriously made me think about wanting to become a romance novelist when I was a kid)… “Death Becomes Her” (two words: Goldie Hawn)… “The Devil Wears Prada” (She was so deliciously evil!)… “Mamma Mia” (Again, this really reminded me of my mom and I during my own wedding. Mama drama galore! And her character Donna, is so like my mom. She’s funny like that. Haha!)



Of course, she ain’t Meryll Streep if not for the tear-jerking Oscar worthy roles. HERE ARE MY FAVE FIVE MERYLL STREEP DRAMATIC FILMS: “Kramer vs Kramer” (Again, she reminded me of mom when she left my dad and our family)… “The Bridges of Madison County” (I’ve really always wondered about falling in love in that age)… “Adaptation” (with director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman, need I say more?)… “The Hours” (There was a time back in my melancholic years that I loved Virginia Woolf’s works)… “Angels in America” (An HBO mini-series that had her playing 4 roles. Wow talk about versatility)



But more than her craft, I am more delighted about the fact that she’s been married with 4 children for 30 years to the same man. Now, that’s a rarity in Hollywood. She’s really proof that fame and fortune don’t always destroy families.

Politics & Predictability... Oscars 2009

Show-wise, the 81st Oscars Night was a well-put production. I guess if there’s anything that was worth “debatable” about it would be the Winners (as always). Although I love Heath Ledger, I would have also wanted to give the Best Supporting Actor trophy to Michael Shannon for his role in “Revolutionary Road”. There has been an Oscar tie. Two incidents actually – Best Actor in 1932 and Best Actress in 1969 between Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl) and Katharine Hepburn (Lion in Winter). However, as much as it would be cool to have another tie, especially since they both played “insane fellows” I guess it’s just always harder to beat the dead guy.



The Academy Awards is probably the most politicized award-giving body in the US, if not the world. So every win definitely has an angle to it. For example, let’s talk about the Best Actor category. The nominees this year are: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler). Let’s face it. Though it may sound cliché, being nominated is already an honor in it itself. But it’s really true. If it were me, picking the single best out of five bests would be HARD. It’s like trying to tell which chocolate is the most delicious. I dunno! They’re all chocolates. How can they ever go wrong?

Anyway, that’s the thing about awarding stellar performances. There’s always a collective subconscious rule to it. It’s really all about Who and What the audience (or the Academy for that matter) wants to HEAR on that podium. What's the agenda for the evening?

Why not give the Best Actor trophy to Jenkins? The speech tribute to him said he’s already done 60 films in the past 30 years of his career. The subtext: you’ve been here so long but we don’t think the papers or the world would be interested about you now more than it had never done in the past. Now this is just my intelligent “guess” but there may be some truth to it. The Academy after all needs all the press it could get. There’s nothing press-worthy about Richard Jenkins. He’s been around. Sure, he’s a great actor. I love him to death (pun intended) in “Six Feet Under.” Unfortunately, he’s not headline material.

Next… why not Langella? The Academy has been notorious in their obvious preference for American-themed movies. So given that “Frost/Nixon” is a very American story, why not give it a win? Well, unfortunately, as much as the story hits very close to home, it hit them where it hurt. I guess the collective subconscious on this was that: Who wants to honor a President who was practically an a**hole? Langella played Nixon too well that we forgot he was an actor vying for an Oscar.

Next… why not Pitt? Brad had better roles and performances in the past. Clearly, the collective subconscious agrees that even if we realize that Brad can still look “hot” even as an octogenarian that does not warrant an Oscar. Maybe another Sexiest Man Alive title to his belt instead.

Next… why not Rourke? I think the collective subconscious agrees that Rourke had enough “redemption” stories in the past months following the release of “The Wrestler”. His nomination is enough to rake in cash for the DVDs. And besides, the Oscars are all about PEERS. Mickey Rourke clearly has been out of the loop for a very long time. And I think they would want someone with at least some respectable amount of class to hold one of those gold trophies. They probably don’t want another “I’d like to thank my dog” speech.

So the Oscar goes to Sean Penn I think because he played a homosexual politician out to fight for Gay Rights. I’m not saying he wasn’t good at it. I love Sean Penn but sorry my favorite character of all time would be his bleach-blond surfer dude Pecoli. I’m just saying that he’s had better roles and performances in the past. Some got the Oscar nod while others were left in the gutter. So why give an Oscar now? It’s interesting to know that as of press time, activists on Gay Marriage Ban are on the streets. This is certainly a perfect orchestration (by Hollywood insiders, gay mostly) to drive a point.

The Academy can sometimes be fickle-minded. For the longest time, they have trouble giving the Best Actress trophies to non-American women. And they like giving a lot of these golden boys to Meryl Streep who I think should have a category of her own by now. A lot of spectacular British actresses have been snubbed and yet they gave one to an American who with a very fake English accent played a Shakespearean woman. Last year they gave it to a French girl and this year finally after a couple of misses, British actress Kate Winslet goes home with an Oscar for a film (The Reader) that everyone is so oblivious of that even Hugh Jackman had no idea what the movie was all about, which he interpreted by doing an ambiguous song & dance number with dancers in metallic silver body suits. His lyrics even said, “I’ve got to watch The Reader…” yadiyadiyada because like everyone else he doesn’t know what it’s all about.

Coming from its raving reception at the Golden Globes, the Academy Awards surprisingly snubs the husband and wife story set in the 50s “Revolutionary Road”. Everyone else except Michael Shannon who played a small albeit very strong role was lucky enough to be nominated for the said film. But then again, this may just be another marketing ploy to drive viewers to “The Reader.” Anyhow, I think that the voters made Kate win not because of “The Reader” but secretly for “Revolutionary Road.”

The Oscars have been infamous for turning up their noses to blockbusters and giving their nods to lesser-known films. Actually, that’s not bad at all. It’s just another way to keep the banks rolling. It is after all an industry. Some hands have to oil the gears.

Such is the case for big winner “Slum Dog Millionaire”. Who knew anything about this film until it got nominated? Nobody. That’s also because the producers never released it in the major theaters. It almost became a straight-to-DVD production. But due to its indie (short for independent not Indian) attributes, it found its niche. Clever if you ask me because I believe the producers knew that promoting a film set in India, with Indian actors, and with a story about the slums of Mumbai (Yes that’s in India) would be quite tricky in LA. So to cut costs while generating interest, why not produce it below the line? So that’s just what they did. Of course, it wasn’t just any film. They had an ace in hand – Danny Boyle. That was enough for them to bet their life that this film would soon find its way into the hands of cult film enthusiasts, movie critiques who have a taste for the exotic, and well yeah Danny Boyle fans. I’m one of them actually. I liked “Trainspotting,” “A Life Less Ordinary,” and “The Beach.”

So I was happy that he won as Best Director for “Slumdog Millionaire.” Good thing Clint Eastwood was not nominated. That was actually a big surprise too. But in the end, Eastwood’s absence gave Boyle a fair game against Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), David Fincer (Benjamin Button), Gus Van Sant (Milk), and Stephen Daldry (The Reader). Eastwood, if you don’t know is like the male version of Streep.

Another debatable win was that of Penelopé Cruz’s Best Supporting victory for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” I think Taraji Henson (Button) and Marisa Tomei (Wrestler) were strong contenders. But I guess once you play one of Woody Allen’s quirky female characters, that’s a certified Oscar. Mira Sorvino won Best Supporting Actress for “Mighty Aphrodite” and of course Diane Keaton won as Best Actress for “Annie Hall” among many other Oscar-winning Woody Allen roles. And besides, contrary to the Best Actress category, I noticed that the Academy has always been much nicer to foreigners in the female supporting role.

So how about you, what do you think about this year’s Oscar winners?

When Oscar Met Tony... Or how the Academy Awards became a Musical

Aah the Oscars! I admit I adore the Academy Awards and I (almost) never miss it on TV. The show just ended a couple of hours ago and here are my Favorite 2009 Oscar Moments…

First, the Host… Hugh Jackman… I love him as Wolverine… and first fell in love with him in “Someone Like You”… but boy oh boy was I amazed with him when I saw him in New York on Broadway for the “The Boy from Oz”. At that time, I was completely in awe. Wolverine can sing and dance! So when I first heard that Hugh was hosting the 2009 Academy Awards, I immediately thought, he’s definitely gonna make a musical opening… and I was so right. There was definitely a lot of pressure for him this year following a record-breaking lowest rating Oscars last year. I love Jon Stewart but I guess his wit is better off behind a desk than on-stage. And of course, everyone’s favorite (mine included) is Billy Crystal. He’s probably by far the best Oscars Host ever, even better than Bob Hope. So anyway, Hugh held himself well. He didn’t “try” to be overtly funny. He had class. He was relaxed. He was definitely not new to larger than life stages like this. The fact that he hosted the 2009 Tony Awards definitely gave him a leg up. And by the way, Hugh really knew how to raise his leg up in “The Boy from Oz”.

The Opening was simple but adorable. All the featured films up for Best Picture were highlighted through Hugh’s opening musical performance. And the biggest surprise of that bit was Anne Hathaway. Hugh drew her off from the front row, and acting as if she didn’t know anything about it, she pulled off the rug from everyone’s feet and delighted the whole Kodak Theater with her set of singing pipes. Not bad at all. And she was even complimented by Shirley Maclaine during the presentation of the Best Actress nominees.

The Presentation of the Acting Nominees was also lovely. This year, instead of merely showing clips of the nominees in their characters, five previous Oscar winners came out and gave each nominee a heartwarming testimonial for their art. For me that really made it more special (and it was a clever way of appeasing the non-winners beforehand, hehehe) Also, presenters for awards were always usually two, three max if the award was really big. This was the first time (that I remember, correct me if I’m wrong) that they got FIVE Oscar Winners to present the nominees for the Acting categories. It made the show more star-studded. I also like the fact that matching the presenter with the nominee was not done in random. There were personal connections such Sir Anthony Hopkins hailing Brad Pitt who he has worked with a couple of times already. And there were role connections. I had a laugh when it was Whoopi Goldberg’s turn to honor Amy Adams for her role in “Doubt”. Whoopi said, “It’s not easy being a nun. Take it from someone who’s been there and back.”

I always watch the Oscars for its comedy. Some polls said that Steve Martin though funny didn’t do a very good job in hosting the event some years ago. Well those are just critiques. I still love Steve Martin and whenever he’s out at any awards night to present something, expect FUNNY. This time in the 81st Oscars, he teamed up with fellow Best Screenplay winner Tina Fey to present what else but the Best Screenplay category. They came out with their own VO recording narrating their actions on stage while the screen displayed the script of their scene being typed away correspondingly. It was cute. And of course the cuter part was Tina and Steve’s comedy bit.

More Comedy for the evening came in courtesy of Seth Rogen and James Franco. It was a video segment where they were in their Pineapple Express characters. Seth entered into the apartment with a bunch of DVDs and he and buddy James started watching the films that were said to be Oscar nominees. The joke: They found the dramatic scenes funny and they shed some tears on Tropic Thunder. It was like a Beavis & Butthead segment. I definitely miss the ‘90s.

But the funniest bit for me that night was Ben Stiller’s pun on Joaquin Phoenix. Together with the exquisitely looking Natalie Portman, he came out with a fake Abe Lincoln beard, dark eyeglasses and a chewing gum in his mouth to present the Best in Cinematography Award. Anybody who ever saw Joaquin Phoenix’s recent infamous guest stint in the David Letterman Show would get the joke. Otherwise, one would wonder, what the hell is Ben doing in that beard? And what is the joke all about? If you don’t know yet, just a few days ago, Joaquin sat on David’s couch to supposedly talk about his new film with Gwyneth Paltrow called “Two Lovers”. Instead, he freaked out everyone including Dave by showing up completely weird. Check out the clip HERE. It was so bizarre that Dave even quipped “Joaquin, I’m so sorry you can’t be here tonight” followed by “My apologies to Farrah Fawcett” who for many years have held the record for having the most spaced-out interview on the David Letterman Show.

The show had enough comedy but it was definitely more entertaining than last year’s because of the Musical Performances. Hugh made the show his own by turning the program into a musical bonanza. Another favorite production number was the Baz Luhrmann-directed Musical Tribute to all movie musicals from past to present. Hugh donned on the top hat and the tails together with a very leggy-luscious Beyoncé. And to the delight of tweens everywhere in the world, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens backed them up together with Amanda Seyfried of “Mamma Mia”.

It was definitely a fresh take on the 81-year-old Academy Awards. Despite some missed cues on Jackman's part (there was a moment when the camera was already rolling on him and he wasn't ready) the show was good. Not bad for someone whose film bombed in the US box office. Don't worry Hugh, maybe Australia will be a big hit in well.. Australia :-)

A Sweet Life Gone Sour

I’m supposed to feast on another RomCom (romantic comedy) for my February Mush Marathon but I could not resist watching REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. My sister-in-law had a “dibidi” at her apartment. When I found it, my immediate reaction was “Ooh! Can I borrow it?” and she said, “Sige… di ko type yan… boring. Mas maganda pa yung Titanic nila!” I chuckled. Obviously, my sister-in-law isn’t exactly a film connoisseur. She’s just your average movie-goer. It’s not her fault.

But personally, I think comparing Titanic & Revolutionary Road is probably the LAST (and silliest) thing you could do. The only thing I liked about Titanic was James Cameron’s obsession with the authenticity of the tragic voyage – from the hull down to its china. The love story was practically like a sinking ship. It was mushy right. So mushy that it felt like a soggy banana mash was being shoved into my mouth. It was “cute” and “nice” the first time but after seeing it again for the nth time (a ‘90s thing to do) you get to realize more and more that there aren’t really any subtexts to be read and there aren’t even metaphors at play to make this film even remotely “deep”. The only depth one could encounter is the bed of the Atlantic Ocean.

And this where the irony begins… While my sister-in-law thinks that Revolutionary Road was just a “boring” husband and wife story compared to the seemingly exciting romance of Titanic, the reality is (as always) what looks spectacular on the exterior is nothing but fluff (Titanic) while the one that has a mundane premise actually has more “depth” (Revolutionary Road).
Unlike Titanic whose love story plot came from the mind of a director who was famous for nothing more than his Terminator movies (go figure) Revolutionary Road was an adaptation of a 1961 novel by Richard Yates. The story is set in the mid-50s – the rise of suburbia – and it’s about a young couple Frank & April Wheeler: About 30 yrs old; Married with 2 kids… and in typical 50s dynamics, the husband goes to work in an office while the wife stays home to bake pies. The problem begins when the wife in the middle of her dishwashing chore gets an epiphany – THERE MUST BE MORE TO THIS DOMESTIC LIFE!

I have always been intrigued with stories/movies set in the 50s. Hollywood has depicted the era many times but the ones that always leave a mark on me are those that center on the paradox that is the 50s Homemaker. The one that I loved best before Revolutionary Road was one of Julianne Moore’s films – The Hours, where she plays housewife Laura Brown who secretly despises her mundane daily life which includes baking a birthday cake for her husband. She lives vicariously through her favorite novel Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” and then one day goes “Sylvia Plath” – leaves her son and goes suicidal in a motel room. She decides against it though and instead goes home, serves the perfectly pretty home-baked cake to the family, and just when you think everything’s okay; that she has come to her “senses”, she eventually takes the bus and disappears… forever. She quit, just like that.

Frank and April shared the same suburban prison. In Revolutionary Road, the Wheelers, most especially the missus had this restlessness – a desire to be part of the world and not just let it go by, which she translates to Paris. Mrs. Wheeler thinks that Paris would be the best place for them. It’s a place they think where they can exhaust their “potential”. In April’s words that would be “For Frank to be able to think about what he really wants to do while she would work and maybe pursue her acting.” When they told this to fellow suburban neighbors, they couldn’t quite understand what the Wheelers were talking about but nevertheless they took it all politely. So what’s in Paris that’s not in the US? The Wheelers argued that the cost of living there was far cheaper… and most especially it’s where they feel that they can be ALIVE. It really sounded very whimsical but given that they were two idealistic people, it was easy to romanticize everything. Let’s leave suburbia for bohemia! Paris just seems to be only way out of this mundane existence. So at first it was a pretty good plan until came Frank’s big promotion and April’s unexpected pregnancy. Suddenly Paris becomes a question at least for Frank while it becomes an obsession for April which later on causes the demise of their marriage and a couple of precious lives.

When watching the film, one could easily fall into the trap of taking sides – Frank’s or April’s. Whose fault was it? Who really caused the tragedy? As I have told you earlier, I am always curious about the walking time bomb called “the 50s Housewife.” It’s pretty clear that this generation of wives wanted to wear the pants but were the given the apron instead. They wanted to be in the boardroom and not in the kitchen. Remember this was the generation of mothers who smoked, drank beer and took cough syrup even when they’re pregnant. Well of course there was the limited medical information at that time but seriously was “good health” that really unheard of? What I’m saying is these women were clearly very ahead of their time. Abortion was not even THAT big of an issue. So if you think your grandparents are conservative – think again!

It’s just so ironic because while the 50s housewife wanted to be anywhere else but the kitchen, don’t you notice that more and more wives and mothers nowadays would rather stay home? While Frank & April abhorred their manicured neighborhood, more and more couples and families nowadays are buying into the landscaped promises of the Grass Residences of SM and all those Real Estate developments in the outskirts of the city. My husband and I asked ourselves recently “What are we working hard for anyway?” The answer: to buy a house & a car, be able to travel, afford our cable & internet, pay for our insurances, and eventually send our kids to good schools (if we ever have one). In short, we also admit to have our own version of the white picket fence dream. On the flipside, we might be able to fit in the Wheelers’ world more than they could.

You know what I really find problematic about Frank and April’s marriage? I don’t even blame the times. It’s really more about the lack of God in their marriage. Because the truth is, if April & Frank were Christians, and if they were obedient to the biblical portrait of marriage, then the 50s would have been a perfect era for them to play those roles. Submission would have been “natural”. Back then, there was no necessity for a double income household. The husband’s earnings could take care of everything. Aah! How I wish it would be the same today. These days both spouses would really have to work. And interestingly, there are really a lot of women now who are earning more than their husbands. April would have liked to be 30 in 2009 and not in 1955.

I tried to imagine myself in April’s shoes. And while I admit that I’d rather be home and be the “perfect” homemaker, I agree that doing the dishes over and over again could sometimes spark that tiny nerve of dread in my mind. Like April, I also get a lot of my epiphanies while I’m in front of the sink. My kitchen has this large window and a lot of times I’d find myself drifting away in my thoughts (which you all get to read here on my blog site, hehe) while staring blankly at the parking building that’s standing next to our loft.

And maybe that’s why most wives nowadays prefer to stay at home. We all have easy access to the world through the Internet. Who needs to go to an actual office when you can be productive in your pajamas? So maybe if only April had some internet connection at that time, I really think she would not have gone ballistic about doing the dishes every day… because she would probably have a blog where she could just vent out all her rants and raves. Haha. And you know what’s more ironic about it? Frank’s big promotion that made him bail out of the Paris project was actually about selling a very new type of business machine called “the computer”. I really find that funny. If only April knew what that thing could do in the future.

There are times when domestic life especially when it’s new really does feel like “playing house.” And although I still feel giddy in calling myself a Honeymoon Homemaker, life at home can’t be all that sweet. Sometimes after you’ve practically turned the house over for every speck of dust, it’s tempting to wonder if I’m missing out on something out there. Have I really given up my dreams? My ambition? Could I be April? Maybe if I didn’t have Christ in me that would be possible. Frank and April’s problem was just really about the oblivion to THE REAL PURPOSE of their life… Their restlessness was just really about being lost in this world, like any other person out there who has not found the Truth.

The movie was really a reminder for me to stay in the right path. I used to agree that it’s not the destination but the journey that counts. Although Frank and April set their eyes on Paris, it wasn’t really a DESTINATION. It was just part of their prescription for “living.” They didn’t really have solid goals. They just want to LIVE… and FEEL IT. For them it was all about the journey too. But now things have changed for me. When I received Christ, I learned about my ultimate destination – HEAVEN. And I’m happy that my husband, being a Christian himself, shares the same destination too. Of course we do have earthly plans, and we try to enjoy what this life has to offer us as much as we can but we are not going to kill ourselves if we don’t get to do everything. The sweet life doesn’t have to turn sour. God’s word is the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down.

Much Ado about a Tantrum

I just can’t help but blog about this. I’m laughing as I write this actually. I just got off from a heated “wall-to-wall” debate with my friend on FB (yes folks, Facebook) about the infamous Christian Bale Temper Tantrum on the set of Terminator Salvation. In gist, if I had to say anything about it – I think this is much ado about someone merely having a bad day at work. What’s the big deal?

Okay, as you all know by now, an audio tape of Bale screaming out curses to a DP (Director of Photography) or if you prefer the term Cinematographer, named “Shane,” has made its way into the Internet and by now has been the hot topic on water cooler stations everywhere in the Western world, and yes also in Facebook. The tape was a clear audio recording of Bale throwing a major hissy fit after Shane (the DP) “accidentally” walked into the set while the actor was doing a scene. Bale got very pissed, so pissed that his whole cursing monologue lasted about 4 minutes.

The world was shocked. Or at least those who care a bit about Hollywood lives. Debates are on-going as I write this. Some people have already labeled him as a primadonna douchebag… some have stated their boycott of his future films…etc etc… Okay, here’s the thing… I’m not saying that what Christian Bale did was ENTIRELY RIGHT… BUT, I think that once again, people are only quick to judge this fella just because he’s an “actor,” C’mon guys, he’s just human. Anybody and everybody can have a bad day at work. We’re all entitled to our tantrums. The only unfortunate thing that I see in this instance is the sorry fact that Bale is “not just” an actor… he’s a CELEBRITY! He’s just not ANY actor… he just happens to be Christian Bale – the star of the highest grossing film last year. Recording this on tape was definitely good material for any thriving entertainment show. I don’t know who started this unwritten rule about celebrities’ lives being a public possession but this sure has cultivated a gazillion-dollar gossip industry. Come to think of it, if this event happened in your office, would you have cared to record it and send it to the World Wide Web for everybody to feast on? I figured not.

Don’t get me wrong. I feel sorry for Shane. Who knows maybe something was probably just on his mind that day that made him utterly absent-minded. However, as someone who’s had experience in TV production (filming et al) I would have to admit that what he did was also a mortal sin. He was the DP for crying out loud. Technically on set, the DP supervises the camera and lighting crews. His job is to make a GOOD SHOT. And if we base this solely on who was doing his job and who wasn’t, I’m sorry to say but Shane definitely deserved a pink slip. I agree that Bale should not have exploded that way but hey, that’s where differing personalities come in. Some people may be more forgiving while some people just go ballistic like Mr. Bale. We each have our own temperaments.

Puh-leez this isn’t the first time that an actor went stark raving mad on the set. This is very common, folks. Believe me. I’ve been in this industry long enough to see my own versions of Bales and Shanes. Truly there are a lot of factors at play in this scenario. First you’ve got an “actor” whose main job is to get into character. People who aren’t familiar with the nitty-gritty of this craft wouldn’t ever understand how difficult it is to ACT… to make a character ALIVE just so you the VIEWER would find the film BELIEVABLE and in the end get your money’s worth.

If this was really a BIG DEAL in a negative way then this infamous audio tape should have already been released soon after it was recorded in July 2008. Don’t you think that it’s rather “coincidental” that the tape’s out for public consumption just when Terminator Salvation is due in theaters a few weeks from now? I really believe that this will not make a dent on the ticket sales of the movie, and not even a scratch on Bale’s career. The fact that it’s on the news… the fact that this story have stirred people to react on Facebook, and everywhere else… the fact that I’m blogging about this (duh) is proof that the spin doctors who are behind this PR stunt has the cat in the bag. We all took a bite on their bait.

The thing is Hollywood doesn’t care about the morals of its people. So why should we? Hollywood wants us to react EXACTLY this way. By now, admit it or not, you’re already curious about THAT particular scene. Deep inside, you are now intrigued how that scene actually turned out in the final cut. Hollywood capitalizes not only on talent but on trash. Heck, it’s difficult to sell movies you know. PR costs serious cash. You all still watched and found Robert Downey Jr. great in” Iron Man“, right? I’m sure some of you still watch Charlie Sheen on “3 and a Half Men”… Do I even have to mention that notorious Mickey Rourke just won a Golden Globe? And don’t you realize that it only took Britney a year or so to go from being bald and panty-less to having a svelte comeback? Didn’t you ever think for a while that she just deliberately had everyone for a ride, or better yet a SHOW of her freaky life, and earn “secretly” from the tabloid headlines? Isn’t it too convenient that her new album is called “Circus”? I don’t know about you but it’s not just Britney messing with our heads – it’s the whole of Hollywood! The thing is, Hollywood knows that people easily forget, and in so doing forgive (blindly). And we can say pretty much the same thing about how we elect our leaders in this country.

What I’m basically saying here is that it’s quite OA for people to prematurely boycott and slander these actors for their human mistakes and tragedies when in the first place these actors didn’t claim EVEN ONCE that they were SAINTS. We can and we should criticize government officials and elected politicians for atrocious display of etiquette and corruption for after all their main job calls for integrity. Leaders lead while actors act. Period. How the actors are in “real” life outside the characters that they’re portraying for us to enjoy in their films is basically none of our business. Why are we complaining now when someone's JUST DOING their job?

Let us not forget that it was not Bale’s idea to tape the moment. In fact, that incident happened in a private place and time. It should have just remained within the confidentiality of the production staff. If Bale did that in front of a viewing crowd then that would have made him totally out of line. But honestly, if we have to debate on this on the grounds of logic and technicality, it’s none of our business if hardworking serious actor Bale got pissed off with absent-minded Shane. In the privacy of their work area, Bale was just doing his job and Shane was not. Unfortunately, Bale has now been subjected in a trial by publicity. Even if we take Bale’s domestic turbulence with his mom and sister, I still believe that we should be more careful in passing judgment on celebs like him. We all don’t know what exactly happened between them. And you know how complicated some family matters are. I get ballistic on my family too.

We should just appreciate, judge and criticize these actors for their work. For after all, that’s what they’re just supposed to do. We even don’t know whether Bale and Shane has had a rift prior to this one. For all we know maybe Shane was the douchebag. Just because he’s the Non-Celebrity here doesn’t automatically make him an Underdog Hero… the protagonist to the antagonist of Bale… the api… the Mara Clara… (okay I’m digressing)… but you get my point? We don’t know all the facts. And we cannot simply pass a complete judgment of Christian Bale based on a 4 minute hissy fit. I’ve had longer temper tantrums than that.

I’m not a BIG BIG Bale fan but I admit I have respect for his dedication to the craft. I really think that anybody who has not seen him in “The Machinist” (directed by Christopher Nolan) doesn’t have the smallest right to misjudge him AS AN ACTOR. This dude has been acting since he was like 7 yrs old. If you haven't seen his 1987 "Empire of the Sun" (directed by Spielberg) then you don't know where this guy's passion for acting is coming from. He knows what the job is all about. If you’ve never been on a film set or a TV production set and have never experienced enduring loooong taping hours then I think you don’t have the right to say that going berserk is unacceptable. I’ve been there. It’s tiring. The pressure is tremendous. It’s crazy. On a lighter note, if there’s one thing I regret about this temper tantrum monologue, Bale should have done it in his Batman voice. Hahaha.



P.S. By the way, the recording was not done intentionally. I mean, who would have expected for something like this to happen. The recording was probably extracted from the recording machines that were rolling during that time. The producers sent the tape to their Insurance company because they feared that Bale would really drop out of the project altogether. This was supposed to be private. So whoever unethically leaked this to the media is the bigger douchebag! The Batman is not entirely a Bad Man!