27 Dresses: A Dramedy for both Man and Woman

Each year seems to bring more and more films released into theaters that do nothing short of underwhelm and disappoint. The genre that seems to top this list, besides horror, is the comedy-drama. Or as some in the business call it, dramedy.

For this reason, I have made a point to avoid the majority of these releases. But recently, in a screening of the new dramedy 27 Dresses, I was pleasantly surprised. And being a person who does not like movies that are billed as “chick flicks,” it is a big deal that I put my stamp of approval on this film.

The premise of 27 Dresses plays on the old formula of a woman hopelessly in love with a man who views her as nothing more than a friend and employee. Jane, played by Katherine Heigl, has been a bridesmaid in 27 weddings throughout her life. It’s what she excels at. But when it comes to her own love life, she doesn’t have the guts to let her boss know that she is uncontrollably in love with him. Continue reading 27 Dresses: A Dramedy for both Man and Woman

Walk Hard…right on out of the movie theater

These days most actors seem to be jumping at the chance to work with Judd Apatow.

Apatow, who has been credited with some of the best comedies to come out lately, has written The 40 Year Old Virgin, Fun With Dick And Jane and Knocked Up, and now seems to be the new “it” film guy of the moment.

In addition to attaching his name to comedy gems like those, he also boasts an even more impressive resume by having produced Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby and Superbad. As his new film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, hit theaters, the magnitude of support from recognizable names is easily realized.

Too bad this time around Apatow missed the mark completely, despite having probably one of the strongest and most expansive cast of actors in Hollywood. This film also marked the first time John C. Reilly took to the big screen in a lead role. Continue reading Walk Hard…right on out of the movie theater

“The Closest Shave You’ve Ever Had” - Sweeny Todd

When I recently secured a spot for a screening of Tim Burton’s new film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I was elated to have the chance to see a Burton film before the masses.

See, I have been a huge Burton fan ever since I saw The Nightmare Before Christmas. And the trailers for Sweeney Todd looked as dark as ever, which is what I love about Burton’s projects. Then the day of the screening, I heard the film was nominated for four Golden Globes. This moved my excitement to the next level. Continue reading “The Closest Shave You’ve Ever Had” - Sweeny Todd

How I Know I’m Smarter Than a 5th Grader - The Webkinz Challenge

Sure, those 5th graders look smart on Fox’s prime time game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.” They look comfortable with that smug look on their little faces as grown adults struggle with questions such as “How many sides does a trapezoid have?” and “What is the largest south American country by area?”

Countless adults have participated, only to be made to look foolish by your superior intellects. You even succeeded in making Kellie Pickler look stupid, but trust me, that is no feat. Continue reading How I Know I’m Smarter Than a 5th Grader - The Webkinz Challenge

Potent Potables: Stop Whining, Start Wining

Have you ever gone to a liquor store searching for a nice bottle of wine, but instead found only a disgusted stare from the clerk when you had no clue what you were looking for?

Some time ago, I did. But after delving into the wonderful world of wine, I found out that simply asking for wine could end with you getting a bottle of just about anything. That is why I would propose that everyone learn some wine basics. This way, the next time you get back to that same liquor store, you can politely let the clerk know you won’t be needing their help anymore. Hint: this drives real wine nerds crazy.

Varietals

Your common wine novice is often heard ordering their wine merely by the color; red or white. And in some cases they are aware of a Rosé. Contrary to popular belief, not all reds and whites are the same. Now that you are an adult, you should be able to pick your grown-up drink by its proper classification and not the way you picked juice when you were a child. “I want the blue juice,” is what I remember saying when I was young. Continue reading Potent Potables: Stop Whining, Start Wining

The Good, The Bad, The Elvis

Anyone who’s ever set foot on stage knows there comes a moment in each performance when an entertainer can lose himself.

In a tide of emotion, the performance ceases to be about entertainment and evolves into the creation of something uniquely beautiful. The lucky stumble into this and the true artists learn to channel it.

For Tommy El that moment came Friday night in Baltimore as he knelt, trembling and sweating beneath a Lithuanian flag, clutching a red, white and blue scarf to his quivering lips, eyes closed and ears open. Open to hear the roar of the crowd. Continue reading The Good, The Bad, The Elvis

Breaking Bread and Shedding Blood: The Truth About Thanksgiving

Americans believe that Thanksgiving is about, well, giving thanks for things like food, shelter, liberty, and football, but few people are aware that there may be a dark side to the holiday.

When we think about Thanksgiving, images of children dressed in tall hats and buckles and paper-made feathered headbands come to mind. Most of us were those children in grade school. We remember what we learned from our teachers — Native Americans taught Pilgrims to sew corn, and they shared a big feast to give thanks for the bounty and friendship they had made.

We weren’t taught about the first-hand accounts of thieving puritans, or the evidence of failed crop, and the bloodshed of hundreds of people.

Continue reading Breaking Bread and Shedding Blood: The Truth About Thanksgiving

Smashing Pumpkins, Blowing Chunks

Early nineties. Late teens. The time in life where you’re just starting to figure out that you can go places and do things; that you have limitless options. The idea both terrified and exhilarated you. And, you’re a punk.

One of your bands was playing in DC. The Red Hot Chili Peppers. You got tickets for you and your 15-year-old girlfriend. Her parents wouldn’t let her drive to DC with you, so they drove her and her friends and you met there. You went with your friends. You’d never driven all the way into DC before.

First person. We got to the show and had to wait outside. This was before I realized that rock shows never start on time, so the only people in line were the other punk kids who had also not realized this. And my beautiful, dyed hair army jacket girlfriend.

And it was cold. REAL cold. Mid-winter cold. DC outside a club cold. An hour went by, and I’d do anything to stay warm. One of my friends was smoking, which I didn’t then. Maybe a cigarette would keep me warm.

Continue reading Smashing Pumpkins, Blowing Chunks

Revenge of the Nerds

For most of us, the perfect definition of a nerd consists of only two words: Dungeons & Dragons.

For those who have been sheltered from the world of the overly-intellectual and hyper-fantasized, Dungeons & Dragons is rightfully the nerdiest thing in the world. But within this magical realm of Wizards and Halflings exists a group of people who greatly surpass D&Ders in their nerdy thirst for questing and goblin killing: we’re talking about Live Action Role Playing (LARPing for short).

The hobby of sitting in a friend’s Mom’s basement, drinking energy drinks, eating Cheetos and navigating through fictitious worlds of yore, started a long time ago and blossomed into a community of highly imaginative dreamers, who found a way they could escape their less than satisfying lives as students, accountants, corporate guinea pigs, etc. with the roll of a multi-sided die. But the new phenomenon called LARPing has taken that imaginative whimsy to a level that will forever claim ultimate nerdom.

Continue reading Revenge of the Nerds

Feel The Love

The Dagger was offline this past weekend, quite literally at a wedding and a funeral. For everyone who’s still with us, a word of note: We received angry, angry emails from The Aegis and The Examiner over the past few days.

The Examiner editor reminded us that he’s worked for The New York Times, etc., and has “more than a dozen major awards to show for it.” The Aegis bristled and issued threats: “you guys are in way over your heads, but at least you have given more legitimacy to institutions like this one.” And, in a more sincere offering from a local newspaperman: “I believed you guys really had your hearts in it. But now I feel like it’s gone right to your heads.”

If we keep posting stories about ourselves, you’re sure to soon agree. And so, back to the election, folks…

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