Merry Christmas to all of Hayden's fans!

Yuletide Greetings

This will most likely be my last posting of the year, so I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Since most of my work day is spent on computers, I like to avoid the little darlings during the holidays. Instead, I will spend quality time with my family (including Darth Kitty who wishes you a “Meow-y Christmas!”), see a few movies, catch up on my reading, buy stuff on sale that I really can’t afford, and try to finish that Christensen scarf I started knitting eons ago. And here’s my special message to Chrish (with thanks to Frank Pooler and Richard Carpenter)…

Merry Christmas, darling
We’re apart that’s true
But I can dream and in my dreams
I’m Christmasing with you
The lights on my tree I wish you could see
I wish it every day
The logs on the fire fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year, too
I’ve just one wish on this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you!  [21 Dec 2007]

Was this background scenery filmed in Ann Arbor?

What a View!

I may have found evidence of a fourth scene in Jumper’s trailer that was filmed in Ann Arbor. This frame was in close proximity to the other two scenes in which Hayden appears (the storefront and water tower). He is wearing the same clothing in all three, suggesting that these shots appear near one another, chronologically, in the film. The view behind him displays fall foliage but no identifiable landmarks. Remember when I said that Michigan was beginning to show its fall colors at the time Hayden was here to shoot in mid-October? I am guessing that this scene took place on top of the water tower (pictured below, lower left). Now, I’m not so naïve as to believe Hayden was physically on top of that tower, risking life and limb. Viewing the trailer, it is pretty obvious that he appeared in front of a monochromatic screen and the scenery was digitally inserted behind him. Nevertheless, I believe some brave soul filmed this from the top of a water tower.

I cannot definitively confirm that the store behind Hayden (lower right frame in picture below) is Michigan Book & Supply, located on State Street (across from Ashley’s and the Bivouac). There is a sign in their window similar to the one behind his left shoulder which says “Get Dressed” and the door/window frames are that same silver color, but I didn’t see a block ‘M’ in the right location. I suppose the props people could have added that to emphasize the connection to U of M.

 [17 Dec 2007]

Scenes from the Jumper trailer

Proof Positive

The trailer for Jumper was premiered last Saturday in Las Vegas. The film’s tagline is “Anywhere Is Possible.” The movie’s poster and trailer feature Hayden perched atop the Great Sphinx of Giza (in Egypt). I just viewed it and WOW! I guess a big-time director and loads of cash can make a huge, huge difference in a film, eh? Wow! I knew this baby was going to have a lot of special effects, but even I am blown away by the sheer volume and complexity. It’s been over two years since Sith, so I kind of forgot how much zing CG stuff can add to a project. Even though the film’s release is still two months away, this trailer looks totally glitzy and polished and Wow! Yeah, I keep saying ‘Wow!’ a lot. Sorry. No, not sorry. Actually… really, really excited! The trailer alone could generate a lot of buzz.

The trailer opens with actor Max Thieriot (pictured, upper left) playing Hayden’s character as a teenager. I wondered how they were going to handle that father-son scenario, since it was the impetus for Davey’s first teleportation experience in the book. I couldn’t see a man Hayden’s age being cowed by an abusive parent (although it appears he is).

Anyway, that opening scene with Thieriot was shot in Gallup Park, here in Ann Arbor. I recognized the wooden bridge from the park, given the countless hours I spent there searching in vain for Hayden last February. I am glad to see that some of the Ann Arbor environs made the final cut. I didn’t really doubt that it would once I learned that scenes featuring younger versions of Davey and Millie (Rachel Bilson, upper right) were filmed there. And the fact that Hayden reportedly came here in October for a pick-up shoot seemed to cement it.

In fact, there does seem to be photographic proof—if you look closely—that Hayden was here in Ann Arbor. Two frames pictured above show Hayden in front of a storefront (possibly Michigan Book & Supply, or its sister store, Ulrich’s) which sports a University of Michigan ‘Block M’ logo, and also in front of a water tower that looks as though it might say ‘Ann Arbor’ (the ‘OR’ is visible). It doesn’t resemble any water tower I’m familiar with, but maybe it’s in a part of town I don’t frequent too often. For all I know, he could be standing in front of a blue screen for these shots. It’s not like his physical presence was actually required.

Samuel L. Jackson is in the trailer—his hair kind of freaked me out. Davey’s probably the one who made it turn chalk white! He is so cool. How can he be so bad and so good at the same time? Will Mace Windu finally get revenge on his protégé Anakin? Sam’s presence should lend huge credibility to this film (not that it appears to need it).

If you pause the trailer in the right spots, you can see Hayden’s stunt double. Especially in the scene where he is ensnarled in electronic tethers. Obviously there are other jumpers besides Davey who are portrayed in this film. Not so in the first book, but Davey often contemplates the possibility.

This trailer has me super psyched. Can’t wait until February 14, 2008 (yeah, they moved its U.S. release up one day). [14 Dec 2007]

Who is Hayden kissing under the mistletoe? And why does he resemble a Smurf?

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

How many of you dream of cornering kissing Hayden under the mistletoe? Okay, okay, put your hands down. I get the picture. There’s too many of you to count. Yep, mistletoe has a magical effect. The best kiss of my life happened under that little twig. Did you know that mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant? Ew! Mistletoe is mentioned in some of my favorite Christmas tunes: I’ll Be Home for Christmas, A Holly Jolly Christmas, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), and It Must Have Been the Mistletoe.

My unforgettable kiss happened in college. One of my best friends was tired of hearing me whine about the two guys I was lusting after. Whilst directing my attention to some mistletoe at the Christmas party we were attending, he challenged me to do something about it. Feeling temporarily emboldened, I told my friend that if he could maneuver one of the two guys under the mistletoe, I would kiss the poor sucker him. Victim #1 was wise to our plan and couldn’t be lured over, however the second guy was successfully reeled in. The room was dark and I’m not sure he even knew who attacked him, nonetheless it was the wettest, most passionate, best tongue kiss I ever received. I still get weak in the knees just thinking about it. Mmmmmm. On a scale of one to ten, it was a 12. Boy, was it ever!

Did it lead to even more passionate smoochfests? I wish! Every time I saw him after that night, he would turn ten shades of red and shake his head as if to say, “I can’t believe you did that!” What about the first guy who didn’t get suckered in? Believe it or not, we ended up in a long-term relationship, but he never came close to topping CJ’s kiss that night. And where is that heartbreaker CJ now? He is currently homeless, but don’t feel bad for him. He has performed with the Kustard Kings, They Might Be Giants, and is currently with the Blue Man Group, where he undoubtedly is breaking hundreds more ladies’ hearts. No, he’s not one of the Blue Men, just a member of their band. After performing in BMG’s New York show for a while, CJ gave up his apartment, put all his belongings into storage, and now tours with their road show. So, technically, he is homeless.

Here’s my current Christmas playlist. Sorry, no Jingle Dogs, but can I interest you in a cat carol?

Name	Artist	Comments
It Must Have Been the Mistletoe	Barbra Streisand	Babs does it best
Home for the Holidays	Rockapella	a cappella version
Ding Dong Merrily On High	Celtic Woman	an oldie but goodie—o-i-o-i-o!
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear	Mannheim Steamroller	Mannheim keeps cranking out the best!
Do You Hear What I Hear?	Suzy Bogguss	Suzy’s voice is magic!
Carol of the Bells	The Bird And The Bee	cool New Age-y rendition of a classic
Merry Christmas, Darling	The Carpenters	dedicated to the one I lust
A Holly Jolly Christmas	Burl Ives	Mr. Ives owns this one & ‘Frosty the Snowman’
I’ll Be Home for Christmas	Barry Manilow	one of many versions in my collection
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen	Billy McLaughlin	a nifty acoustical guitar piece
The Holly and the Ivy	Anonymous 4	lovely lilting version
Jingle Bell Rock	Bobby Helms & The Anita Kerr Singers	if Lindsay Lohan is in rehab, this version is the next best thing!
Here We Come a Wassailing	Canadian Brass	one of my brother’s favorite groups
Mister Santa	The Kaye Sisters	the Christmas version of ‘Mr. Sandman’
Wonderful Christmastime	Paul McCartney	a modern classic by Sir Paul
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree	Brenda Lee	no one sings it quite the way Brenda does
Fum Fum Fum	The von Trapp Children	they throw in a little Pat-a-Pan ditty in the middle
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)	The Chipmunks	silly, but fun
Sleigh Ride	Leroy Anderson	a Christmas classic
Feliz Navidad	José Feliciano	let’s mambo!
Here Comes Santa Claus	The Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby	I prefer ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Silver Bells’, but this one is also good
All I Want for Christmas Is You	Mariah Carey	MC hits all the right notes
Carol of the Meows	Guster	Meow-y Christmas!
This Christmas	Christina Aguilera	belt it out, girl
Auld Lang Syne	US Army Chorus	Canadian (naturalized U.S. citizen) Guy Lombardo made it a New Year’s Eve staple
Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)	Mannheim Steamroller	by popular demand, I’ll be singing this one on Xmas Eve
Joy	George Winston	heavenly piano piece
Good King Wenceslas	Mannheim Steamroller	Chip D’s gang can really jam!
Orchard House (Main Title from ‘Little Women’ soundtrack)	Thomas Newman	not a Christmas song, but you can picture the glistening snow

These iTunes links never work for me, but maybe they will for you. Here is the NEH Xmas 2007 playlist as an iMix. [12 Dec 2007]

Is Hayden heartbroken over his AWAKE reviews?

Have a Heart

Hayden just can’t catch a break. I’ve been trawling the Internet for reviews of Awake and, folks, it’s not a pretty sight. Reviewers, professional and otherwise, have heartrending things to say about the film and its lead actor, leaving myself and Hayden’s mom as possibly the only ones left in North America who actually liked it.

Am I in panic mode? Certainly not. I am perfectly calm and serene. Mayday! Mayday! Someone please rescue this boy’s career! It’s time to jump ship!!

Joking. Just joking. Well, sort of. I am suffering palpitations reading these 2-, 1-, and no-star reviews. That’s right, based on Wesley Morris’s disheartening review in The Boston Globe, my hometown rag The Ann Arbor News gave it zero stars. none. nada. zilch. I can’t remember that ever happening to a film locally.

It seems that some people will never forgive Hayden for his so-called “wooden” performance as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars. Um, you don’t think Hayden invited all these rubs by taking on a corpse-like role, one where he, you know, lies perfectly still and acts, um… “stiff” for half the film, do you…? Critics are vultures. They’ll pounce on any opportunity to drive a metaphor into the ground.

The heartless ones:

• A thriller that could put viewers to sleep [The Boston Globe]
• A film unfortunately awake in title only [The Daily Iowan]
• Down But Not Really Out [The New York Times]
• “Lots of Screenwriting 101 blunders” [The Orlando Sentinel]
  Like moi, reviewer Roger Moore noticed Hayden’s Bob Dylan accent!
• “The mystifying star appeal of Jessica Alba” [Newsday]

A Canadian reviewer gave this heartbreaking opinion:

• ‘Awake’ will put you to sleep [Sun Media]

Even the medical world weighs in:

• Doctors scoff at premise of ‘Awake’ [The (Myrtle Beach, SC) Sun News]
• Ontario’s Anesthesiologists Criticize the Film ‘Awake’ [The Sudbury (ON) Star]

There actually were a few kind-hearted souls. Blog critic Chris Beaumont really wanted to like it, but ultimately could not recommend it (2 stars). Like me, he enjoyed the film’s “interesting visual cueing impending death.” The Battalion [Texas A&M’s student newspaper] thought it provided “a good story, strong cinematic twist.” But it was WashPo’s Stephen Hunter who gave the most heartening review, ‘Awake’: The Rapid Pulse of a Tell-Tale Heart.

Now, if only this news had come out a few days earlier. Think of all the free publicity it could have generated:

• Woman awarded $11K for waking in surgery

Timing is everything and this film doesn’t seem to have it. Anyway, I think those of us who actually have a heart enjoyed Awake. WashPo’s Hunter seemed pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be an “actual, rare mystery thriller, with no true supernatural overtones,” not “Saw With Wicked Surgical Blades.” I, too, was grateful that director Harold left out the horrid, CSI-like special effects.

Let’s hope Jumper does fabulously well (only two months and counting!) because Hayden’s career could use a tiny shot in the arm. After working so hard in 2005-06, what does he have to show for it? If they say anything kind at all, they acknowledge his work in Shattered Glass and Life As A House. So, is that his reward? A few “attaboys” and my undying loyalty? Is he all washed up at 26? Eek! Perish the thought. You can see why actors have such fragile egos (while pretending not to). They put themselves out there, warts and all, and then they get smacked around and trampled on. Not my idea of fun. My hat’s off to Hayden for braving the cold, cruel world to pursue his passion. He must really, really love us!

Happy Hanukkah to Hayden’s Jewish fans!  [05 Dec 2007]

Inverted Hollywood kiss

Not the Kiss of Death

The results are in. Awake did $5.9m (U.S.) and finished 5th during its opening weekend. Not great, but it was the second-best R rated film and it beat Factory Girl by a mile. Last week, at least one “expert” was prescient with a predicted $6 million gross. Today, another article indicated this was below industry expectations. I was incensed when I read an Associated Press summary of last weekend’s Top 10 movies which gave away a major plot point. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter was conciliatory, calling it a decent film that suffered from “studio malpractice” because producers would not allow it to be screened by critics.

The audience gave it so-so reviews. Some were pleasantly surprised while others unmercifully trashed it. A number of “reviews” were given primarily to bash or deify the principal actors. Providing little to no added value, those were a waste of my valuable time. You can’t take seriously, for example, someone who refers to the lead actor as Christopher Hayden. At least one review on Yahoo! existed solely to reveal major plot points. For shame. I reported that one to the proper authorities.

I also do not understand those who claim to have left the movie early or to have slept through it (i.e., the ultimate insults). For the sake of supporting favorite actors, I have squandered my hard-earned dough in viewing some stinkers. The Virgin Suicides and In the Mouth of Madness come to mind, as do Belizaire the Cajun, Total Eclipse, Escanaba in da Moonlight, and probably a few others I have already erased from my memory bank. I have never left a theatre before the film ended. That’s akin to leaving a hockey game before the clock reads 00:00.

Some of the more intelligent reviewers downgraded it for its medical inaccuracies. Given the subject matter (anesthetic awareness), it is only natural Awake would attract the attention of those who work in the medical profession. Since I don’t have any credentials beyond an expired certification to administer First Aid, I cannot intelligibly comment. However, I am sure there are inaccuracies that would not be tolerated in a typical operating room/hospital.

This was a low-budget indie film, which means the director had fiscal constraints that likely hampered his artistic vision. If I were in control of the purse strings (and given a few additional millions to work with) I would have expended it on the following: upgrading the music, perhaps add another nurse in the O.R., and make a few more changes to the script.

While I loved the opening credits music—it was a little eerie and suspenseful—the remainder of the film’s music offered nothing special. The musical score can be a key component in a suspense/thriller. It cues your mind to expect something big, intense, or even to misinterpret the signs along the way. However, you need a $killful compo$er to do all of that and a director who is in tune with how music can enhance a film.

Another nurse in the operating room might have given it a more robust look/feel, but I may be basing that on too many viewings of E.R.-focused medical dramas on television. Truthfully, I only met three of the medical personnel involved in my mom’s knee surgery: a nurse, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon. Were more people involved? Perhaps, but how would I know? Adding another person to the O.R. would necessitate an additional back story.

I would have done more with the mother-son relationship. Instead of having the prominent surgeon meet for a heart-to-heart with her son in the family limousine, I would have had Mrs. Beresford drag her headstrong progeny to Dr. High-and-Mighty’s digs. Compare and contrast the technology and competency of personnel at the smaller Varick Hospital with that of the caliber of a New York-Presbyterian or Mayo Clinic (two top cardio hospitals). Given his vast wealth, Clay should have opted for the Cleveland Clinic (ranked #1 in 2007). Natch, to avoid legal hassles they’re not going to use real hospital names, but they could have made something up.

Also, contrast the two surgeons’ offices. Showcase the numerous awards and photos of Dr. Superstar-Cardio-Surgeon posing with his famous patients versus Dr. Jack Harper’s family album and modest fishing trophies. Play up the mother’s snobbery, suggesting she is only impressed by prestige, fame, and money. Have her point out that Varick is a lowly teaching hospital, whereas Clay could be operated on at a world-class facility like Hospital X. Yeah, I know. Some of this was covered/hinted at in the film. I just think it could have been done on a bigger scale.

I also thought they should have incorporated one more incident highlighting the severity of Clay’s heart condition. Hayden did look marvelously stricken in the one scene he was given, but another instance could have been shown in the flashbacks, such as Clay’s first attack. We see a glimpse, but none of Clay’s actual suffering or how it came about. It would have increased the sympathy for his character when things start to go against him on the operating table.

Another red herring or false lead could have been tossed in to throw viewers off the track. Without question, some of the bad guys come off as good guys in the beginning, but one more person—perhaps an insanely jealous ex-boyfriend of Sam’s who has Clay in his crosshairs—might add another possible villain to the mix.

It was a good first try for director/writer Joby Harold. I think the story was multi-layered and the pieces fit together well without giving the farm away. Clay’s out-of-body experiences were well-paced and added to the suspense. I actually liked the confusion of the characters talking over each other during those sequences. It forces you to focus and keep track of who is saying what. There was a touch of M. Night Shyamalan in this one. Mr. Harold has a future in this genre if he so chooses.

Even though I’m offering up these suggestions, please understand that I still enjoyed Awake very much. Well, maybe “enjoy” isn’t the right word. Seeing Hayden’s chest cut, then cracked open, as well as his heart ripped out and dumped unceremoniously into a stainless steel pan, is not my idea of entertainment. But, in my particular case, it added to the suspense. I didn’t want to see my Chrish end “toes up on a slab” in the morgue, as Dr. Puttnam so memorably put it. [03 Dec 2007]

Another Hollywood kiss!

“My Favorite Color is Green”

If you haven’t seen Awake yet, what in the world are you waiting for? Hayden’s permission? Git… skeedaddle! Get thee to a theatre, young maidens and lads. Director Joby Harold is my new hero. The numerous close-ups of Hayden’s dreamy eyes and face are worth the admission price alone. I swooned a thousand times, I swear. My mind has been racing along at 100 mph, trying to think of ways I can describe this film for those who haven’t seen it. If you don’t want to know general things about it, read no further. Otherwise, I promise not to ruin the movie for you by giving away major plot points.

What should you know about this film going in? Despite earlier reports, Sigourney Weaver is not in the cast. There are three (or was it two?) Hollywood kisses between Hayden (Clay Beresford) and co-star Jessica Alba (Samantha “Sam” Lockwood). I call them “Hollywood” kisses because of the way Hayden holds her face as they osculate. It’s meant to look romantic—and it is—except I’ve come to expect it whenever he delivers a passionate on-screen smooch. To be honest, I went into this film intending to count them because I knew that, at least in this one respect, he was very predictable. Now, I’m not knocking Hollywood kisses, per se. On the contrary, my objection is that I am not the one on the receiving end!

Hayden’s character is introduced in an interesting way. He actually starts out looking dead (but is not). You get to see the throbbing vein in his forehead a few times, including in this initial scene. That throbbing vein is a good visual cue that he is struggling or upset. You also see his angry Anakin eyes a few times… where he looks daggers at a person, as if he’d like to cut them in two with his lightsaber. We also see him tear up a bit. The tears are due to excruciating pain mixed with a feeling of betrayal, which reminded me of the tears Anakin sheds when he decides to betray the Jedi. Hayden’s eyebrows looked darker than I remembered and there were a few times when I got lost in his sideburns. Sigh.

Evidently Clay can afford the best tailor in town. He looks great in everything. He wears a military dress uniform in a couple of scenes. Yes, I drooled. He speaks Japanese in one scene. Whole sentences. Even puts emphasis on a word or two, as a fluent speaker would do. I have no idea what he said, but I was impressed with how effortlessly he said it. Obviously, those trips to Tokyo paid off in spades.

Clay says the F-word a lot, and, no, I don’t mean the “oh, fudge” G-rated version that I frequently utter. The film is rated R for language. I think I’d say the F-word repeatedly—in fact, I guarantee it—if I was in Clay’s predicament. Feeling pain of that magnitude would get me plenty P.O.’d. He does unleash a rather lusty, blood-curdling scream at one point. Hayden might have a future in horror flicks if the leading man parts ever dry up.

In some early scenes he seems to be trying out his Bob Dylan accent, à la his role in Factory Girl. Thankfully, it disappears as quickly as it pops in. Of course, he might very well have been practicing it, since he filmed Factory Girl the month after Awake wrapped.

There are several scenes when Clay has out-of-body experiences where he is recalling moments from his past. He walks around barefooted, in hospital skivvies, observing himself interacting with other key players. When I realized that much of this filming took place outdoors in NYC during December, I was amazed Hayden didn’t catch pneumonia!

At one point Clay carries Sam in his arms. Now I ask you, should a man on a waiting list for a heart transplant be exerting himself in such a manner? It reminded me of a real-life incident I had in college. Upon returning to our dormitory, my boyfriend and I discovered the elevators were out of order and had to take the stairs. In the stairwell, he scooped me into his arms, intending to carry me up six flights of stairs. I protested and struggled to get down. When he wouldn’t release me, I stopped struggling because I didn’t want to make it any harder on him. He was the brainy, not brawny, type. When we reached the landing he finally put me down, red-faced, and between gasping breaths said, “That was a really stupid idea.” I concurred, thinking him insane, but he went on, “No, I mean I have a small hole in my heart. I probably shouldn’t have done that.” I could only stare at him, incredulous that intelligence does not override a man’s need to impress a girl.

Sam apparently has the same disdain for Clay’s cigarette habit as I do for Hayden’s. Interestingly enough, anesthetic awareness is more common in those who have long term exposure to nicotine and some other drugs. Something for Chrish to think about next time he takes a puff.

This film is a suspense/thriller. Thus, early on, there are a few small clues that point the way toward Clay’s fate on the operating table. I actually picked up on one of them before he did, but I totally missed the clue in the opening scene. Of course, the camera intentionally obscures that clue, otherwise it would give away too much right off the bat. What I picked up on simply struck me as something odd, yet it never registered that it might be a clue. Also, there is an unnatural closeness, almost intimacy, between Clay and his mother Lilith (played brilliantly by Lena Olin). Their closeness is key to the story, but I dare not say more. I was partially right about that “cloud of suspicion” thing, but it doesn’t quite play out the way I predicted. Nope, Miss Scarlet is completely exonerated, and I don’t think Clay will be heading to the loony hospital.

As I sat in the theatre, I eagerly anticipated the scene in the car where Clay tells Sam, “My favorite color is green. My favorite person is you.” I had previously seen it in an MTV video clip made while the film was still in production. If you were anticipating that scene as well, get ready for disappointment. It’s not there. Oh, the car scene is still there, but he never says those words I longed to hear. Since green is one of my two favorite colors, I put that little clip on my iPod. Imagine my disappointment. Ah, well. Maybe an extended version of the scene will be included in the special features of the DVD.

When I learned that this film was not screened for the critics, I became slightly concerned. That is usually a sign that the director expects them to pan the film and is unwilling to risk negative exposure prior to its release. But I needn’t have worried. Perhaps he was afraid the reviewers would give too much away. As much as I liked and enjoyed Awake, I learned that everyone comes with different expectations. As the house lights came up in the theatre, a woman sitting two rows in front of me said to her companion, “What a stupid movie!” But don’t let that ruin your day. Did I mention the numerous close-ups of Hayden’s eyes? Purrrrrr… [01 Dec 2007]