Atonement

Joe Wright is brilliant. I am rarely pleased with film adaptations of books I've already read, but I loved Atonement. Dario Marianelli did the score (just as he did in Pride and Prejudice) and it has the most wonderfully haunting, eerie feel. I questioned whether he was truly talented or sort of a one-score man, and while his style is distinctive, the two scores are entirely different.

Because they had previously collaborated, I would assume, the synchronization of music and film is brilliant. There is no music in some of the most poignant parts of the film--scenes that would have been cheapened and glossed over if they'd had an accompanying score.

The editing is gorgeous and, as I've obvioulsy established, very music oriented. Similarly, the cinematography is mention-worthy. The lighting combined with cinematography (particularly at the scene at Dunkirk) and score is brilliant.

Thankfully, the actors didn't even screw up the beauty. Kiera Knightley has lately become a minor idol of mine. I already loved all of her work (particularly Pride and Prejudice), but I am entirely sold after seeing this film. Anyone who knows me understands my obsession with the 30s and 40s. Keira Knightley was a British Katharine Hepburn (who, as it turns out, is one of her idols!) and she pulled it off effortlessly.

Even more noteworthy, perhaps, was James McAvoy. Granted, I am entirely in love with him. I'd never seen him work quite this range of ages and emotions before, and it was truly impressive.

It's hard to adapt a beloved 400 page novel to film--especially if the book is as lush and detailed as Ian McEwan's, but Joe Wright handled it craftfully.

In essence, I loved it and was entirely pleased. I fully anticipate seeing it again and highly reccommend it to anyone considering seeing it.

(PS I am back in Dallas-hooray!)

Atonement

Read it now.

The movie isn't out in Birmingham, but I'm seeing it ASAP once I'm in Dallas (hopefully Monday.) I'll review it then--I promise.

Birmingham the Beautiful

Hello from the 'ham. (Yes, my roommate actually used that abbreviation.) I now realize why I have absolutely no Southern pride; Dallas is not the South. In fact, Dallas isn't even Texan. Dallas is it's own little bubble of insane commercial flatland. Birmingham, dear friends, is the South. Tomrorow my camera and I are having a field day and I promise to post photos. Birmingham makes me feel like Dallas is very factory-esque. People live in Birmingham. People work/workout/eat/sleep in Dallas. You know? Maybe you don't (I doubt I'm making too much sense after two weeks of exams and a ridiculous whirlwind of recent activity) but Birmingham definitely has more character. I don't anticipate ever living here, but it's a lovely place to visit. Now, since I do not have silly exams, I am going to make myself comfortable in the guest house, turn on some Dario Marianelli, and read Atonement. I love the holidays!

Farewell, friends.

Update that Isn't a Retort to Silly Posts about Inspiration

Hello, all. I figured it was kind of silly to not post in a week and a half and then suddenly write this random post about inspiration without a proper update. The last three weeks have been a total whirlwind experience. I have a headache now and the computer screen isn't helping, so this will probably be brief.

Lipstick Lipstick spent six hours recording our CD at Young Avenue Sound. Though it was a bit of a grueling process, I'm more or less pleased with the way we sound/the CD in general. Carol of the Meows is pretty fun. Regardless of how we were, I'm in love with Young Avenue Sound. Not only is the space set up/decorated in the coolest way ever, but they have the most beautiful piano I have ever played. I literally skipped two meal breaks and sat at that gorgeous piano for an hour or so and played anything that came to mind. It was a wonderfully cathartic experience. The brightness/sound was just unreal. (Jason Robert Brown, who I've probably told you "feeds my soul", sounds particularly wondrous.)

The Golden Compass People, stop complaining about how it is Satan's movie. It's just not that bad. New Line has done a decent job of removing the "Atheist themes" from the film enough to keep pro-family groups content. It was a beautiful film (and it had a gorgeous score, so we all know that means I'm sold.) I now desperately want to read the book--I do find the religious (or anti-religious) themes to be really intriguing, so hopefully I can read it over break.

Atonement is a beautiful, beautiful story. It's a nice book to disappear to. I also bought a couple of tracks from the film score, so coupling that with my reading has been rather enjoyable. I'm not too far into it yet, but it shouldn't take too long. I need to finish it before I see the film (which looks equally beautiful!)

Singers has been exhausting. Wonderful, but exhausting. The real issue is that with three Lipstick concerts, recording, and five or so Singers concerts in three weeks, you get kind of tired of singing. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really am sick of it. The Singers concerts have actually been pretty nice--the interior of St. George's is beautiful. The acoustics were incredible, and we sounded (not to toot our own horn...) great. I'm a big fan of Lessons and Carols, so those two concerts have been fun. Christmas at St. Mary's was also beautiful. The last concert at Holy Communion was a bit of a mess. I could not keep a straight face. I was exhausted, sick of studying, and hoarse. I chuckled the entire time. Thankfully (or maybe not), I wasn't the only one. The entire choir was snickering and giggling from start to finish. Anyways, it's been an experience.

Exams have surprisingly enough, gone really well. One more to go. I'll keep you updated.

Break will be wonderful. I cannot wait to leave. I'm headed to Birmingham/Montgomery, Alabama for four days (which should be fun) then to Dallas for ten days (I am ecstatic!!!!!) and then to Chicago with CODA until the 7th. I'll be busy, but I cannot wait. I'm drained. I don't even want inspiration right now. I just want sleep!

Inspiration is not for Amateurs.

It was a dreary day in Memphis and I was a bit blue. You know, a little anxious for no particular reason. A little sad that I should feel anxious at this age. You know, a little self conscious anxiety resulting in non-specific sadness: a state that I call blue. Anyway, whenever I feel blue, I like to mosey up to the CODA office, hoping some (oh yes, here it comes) inspiration may strike.

Folks, I live for inspiration. Yes, I know that was a big, bold, dramatic, bumper sticker statement, but as recently pointed out I practically popped out of the cheesiest decade of all time, the 50s, and I live/speak through hyperbole so deal.

I wandered in, sat down in a delightfully unpredictably wobbly chair, and inspiration did not come. In fact, I sat and had a converstaion about inspiration. My mentor/friend cinematically gestured towards the enormous letters above the entry way "Inspiration is for amateurs." I wholeheartedly and conclusively disagree. I would love nothing more than to take an equally large poster and print the words "Inspiration is not for Amateurs" above my entry way. In fact, I think I'll do this tomorrow.

Said Buddy-Holly-glasses-sporting mentor loomed over me and matter-of-factly expressed that art was work. Yes, it's work. But none of us would be here doing it if we didn't have the inspiration to do so.

Passion and inspiration are the reasons I get up in the morning. I will always do my work. I often dislike my Search texts. I still read them. I read them begrudgingly and very critically, but I read them. I complete the work necessary in all projects and assignments.

However, I do my best work when I have been inspired. I am not arguing that we all sit around and do nothing while waiting for the ever-fickle muses to hit us over the head with brialliance. Keep doing your work, damnit but pray inspiration will strike while you're at it.

Telling a curious student to stop waiting for inspiration is exactly like a kid there's no Santa Claus. Without inspiration and passion, much of the magic is gone.

Here are some crazy things I dream of doing (and have been inspired to do):
1. Get Oprah to come to an Arts Event that I organized. This probably seems like the weirdest thing you have ever heard, but it is literally the first thing that always comes to my mind. I can't think of too many (sadly) more publicized figures to advertise and compel people to care about things. I see certain people snickering uncontrollably at this thought, but I will be inviting Oprah Winfrey to whatever my senior CAP project ends up being, so deal with it.
2. Host an Arts Benefit at the Orpheum. Have performances/talks by the largest names in the Memphis arts community to perform/speak about art. Get people to care. Collaborate, sell tickets, and give the revenue to a committee devoted specifically to audience development and improvement in Memphis. (And heck, sell a publication describing our findings. Put Memphis on the map!)
3. Build an "environmental room." This is another one of my totally random ideas that is insane, but I want a room that can morph into almost anything. I don't want a studio space. I want a space that is a freaking production. You can walk in and are literally transported into a forest. I don't just want pine trees painted on walls. I want fog, the scent of pine needles, and a treehouse. The next year (or next room over) would be a World War II era bar/swing club in DC. I don't know what the purpose would be, how it would sustain itself, if it would be a coffeeshop or hangout or performance venue or what, but I've always wanted tomsething like that. Maybe after I live everywhere imaginable and I'm old and decrepit and dying I'll buy out a huge mansion in the middle of nowhere and just fill it with environmental rooms and a magical backyard and host insane parties for artsy people to come to.
4. I want JPG to become a national program. In Dallas, I was a part of the Junior Patron's Guild. There was a season of shows/art exhibitions for three private high schools to go to for a greatly discounted price. It became the cool thing to do on the weekends, and I saw some of the coolest stuff in Dallas.
5. I want an all-encompassing arts studio arts festival. A house or building that has lecture halls, a coffee shop, a theatre, galleries, and studios. (Gosh, this sounds like First Congo.) I'd want all the arts to collaborate and have simultaneous food/exhibitions/performances for like two or three days, charge admission, and start an arts grant. Or start a committee for someone. Or help fund an already established committe or group. Heck, it could become a yearly thing, and half of the money could go back into planning for the next year and the other half would go to an organization honored by the festival (or started by it.)

Trust me, I have plenty more zany ideas, but I should probably sleep. Point is, if I permanently lose inspiration in what I'm doing, I quit. Inspiration and passion are what make me happy. Work is what fills the time before and after.

If inspiration is for amateurs, I never want to be professional.