The Great Gatsby

It is getting close and closer and I just can't wait for the movie to come out, now more then ever. I love the 1974 version with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford, the story, the acting, the costumes, the music, everything is so good so I am so curious about the new one.
Add the fact that I love Baz Luhrmann's movies, find Leonardo DiCaprio to be a brilliant actor and was totally conquered by Carey Mulligan in "Drive" (if you haven't seen this one, do it, Ryan Gosling's abs, can't go wrong) and you get to understand how excited I am, or somewhere close to it because I'm so waiting for this one!! I can't even watch the trailer because I become so nervous.

Hope you enjoy it!

Pedro the turkey

 Time to time I watch old movies, getting into character comes way more easily than with modern-day cinematography, at least for me. I am not always in the mood for an oldie, nor do I like all of them, but when I find the one I like in the right moment, I keep thinking about that movie for days, running through the scenes in my head.
 Last weekend I watched "Giant", an amazing film starring James Dean whom I like so much (I know it's a cliche', get over it) and Elisabeth Taylor. If you haven't seen it, I'd recommend it.
 There was this one scene with Leslie's (E. Taylor) kids who didn't want to eat Thanksgiving lunch because they realized it was a turkey they were playing with earlier that day. I think it's such a good example of how genuine we all are in early childhood, it's such a pity that growing up we lose that sense of guilt.

This weekend was "The Great Gatsby", I'm slowly getting into the Charleston mood while expecting Baz Luhrmann's version.

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Creepy Valentine

 I was never a big fan of Valentine's Day, I think it is too commercialized and has lost its genuine significance who knows when. Some of you may think I'm just frustrated because I'm single and, to be honest, haven't had a serious partner by my side for quite a while now, but I have actually never liked it.

 At 14 I had my first "serious" boyfriend, it was all so sweet, we'd meet after school, go for a walk, hung out at schoolmates' birthday parties, the simple life. He was a really nice guy that I'll remember forever, he was my first kiss after all. On Valentine's Day the whole city was running around with red roses, and different types of heart shaped goods, I got out of school and there he was, my boyfriend, with a yellow rose in his hands (no, he wasn't stingy, he just couldn't find another red rose because they were sold out). It was a nice gesture, but isn't it lame!? Even a kid got trapped into a consumer wheel. I didn't appreciate the rose and I was quite clear about it, wouldn't it be so much nicer if he just came, said "Happy Valentine's" and kissed me.
Or he could have written me a note or something, I'm sure I would have kept that!

 (When I was 7, on Valentine's my classmate gave me a hand written card with a note saying he loved me and that the dried rose that was attached to it was the rose his dad gave to his mom many years before that. That is romance!)

 I got a bit out of the track, the plan wasn't explaining my Valentine's Day cons, the idea was to let you know why this Valentine has been a bit creepy for me.
 My building's concierge is a single man in his 30s, not so good looking, someone people would refer to him as a loser. I've always had a nice professional relationship, I smile, say hello, comment the weather time to time, to make the long story short, he fell in love with me, or at least he says so. When I came back to Milan after Christmas holidays, he gave me a present, a perfume. I thought it was rude to refuse so I thanked him and took it.
 This morning he rang for me to come down to pick up a package, too bad it was from him. It was an orchid, a red rose and a crystal statue of a bear with a red heart pendant. I hate these kind of gifts!!! But he doesn't have to know that, it's ok, he doesn't know me. On the other hand, why would you do something like that for a person who told you didn't like you, and didn't want you in her life?! When I said I was uncomfortable receiving gifts from him he said he wants us to be friends! So smart, on the lovers' day you give me a red hearted gift that should be saying lets be friends.
The thing is that these are just some of the things he has done over the years, and when a friend of mine showed me this trailer I had to share it with you. He even looks a bit like a guy from the movie. I don't think I will see this movie as long as I live in this building, but in case I get a rash, I will let you know. :)

 I'm sure we all have our own opinion on days like these, and I'm also sure it changes with the changes in our life and with our situation. If I'd be cuddling with my boyfriend, I'm sure I wouldn't be "freaking out" over my concierge situation.
Hope you had a nice day and will be having an even better night. Sleep tight lovelies!

Waste Land

 Some time ago I watched a consciousness raising documentary "Waste Land" about a project of a Brazilian contemporary artist with a NYC address Vik Muniz. The movie was shot at one of the world's largest landfills, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. The artist spent two years working on this project and in the movie we get to know people who make a living picking the recyclables.
 The garbage-pickers (2500 people) spend their days digging through piles of trash, day and night, in the worst conditions ever, yet they remain joyful, happy to be able to make an honest job. For most of them, the alternative would be drug-dealing or prostitution, but this way at least at the end of the working day they can wash off the dirt.

Source: Waste Land website

 The artist photographs some of the pickers and gets to know them better, goes to their homes, meets their families, talks to them about their hopes and dreams, their past and their future.