THE HEAT

Melissa McCarthy is a wonder to watch as she pulls off both physically and verbally a big woman detective with no filters or fears of what you think! Screenplay by Katie Dippold was filled with great comedy.  A scene in the station house early on where McCarthy describes the size of her captain's balls sets the stage for some great jokes about men.  This is clearly a great film about two women and offers so much fun for women to watch.  Truth be told Abe loved it and the audience seemed to love it as well. Of course there's some formulaic sentimental moments toward the end but you can forgive those as you laugh your head off.  Hats off to Paul Feig for using McCarthy in something so much more developed than Bridesmaids.  Go see this.  For me it was great preparation for the work that needs to continue on Monday at the Capitol.  Women working together to get something done!

Wendy Davis Filibuster

I got to the Capitol Senate at 10:30a.m. to stand up for Wendy Davis, a State Senator fighting to keep abortion clinics open in Texas and provide access to these facilities for all women.  She planned on a 13 hour filibuster to prevent Republicans passing a bill that would close down all but 5 of these clinics.  She's a tiny beautiful 50y.o. Harvard educated lawyer who was a 19y.o. single mother.  Talk about a journey! She spoke for 10 hours while twice being caught on violations from The Taliban Texans (Republicans) who were so mean to her.  One violation was when Sen. Ellis helped her put on a back brace! Hundreds of people lined up to hear her talk.  I stayed until 4PM when I left to pee and get something to eat and returned at 4:30 until the end.  The gallery EXPLODED at 10 P.M. when she was given her third violation.  The Dems held the stage as they argued rules and procedures because for sure The Taliban knew they'd have a riot on their hands if they stopped the session and called for a vote on the bill. We cheered and clapped from 11:40 when a female senator reminded the President (Dewhurst) that female senators are never heard when they make motions until past midnight when they did a quiet vote at the podium.  The "brown cops" tried to make us leave, many did.  I did NOT appreciate a brown clothed cop pushing me out the door, told him so and ducked inside.  Ugh!  I did not like him! And so we end this day with the Taliban getting their vote passed illegally (past midnight) and them getting the message:  "We're Here, maybe queer. a lot smarter and kinder than you."  The whole world was watching tonight.  When Wendy Davis becomes governor maybe then Abe will stop saying "Texas is an awful state."  I will work so hard to make Wendy Davis our next governor.  I want Abe to feel better about Austin being in Texas.  For my kids too.

Sometimes You Have To Make Your Own Community

It's no secret that Abe and I will never ever ever be Texans. So I try very hard to find those experiences and people that validate what I value, what I stand for, what's worth paying attention to and fighting for.  So much about Texas legislation is so oppositional to what we believe in.  So EVERY opportunity I have to share my voice and speak out about what I believe in as a tax paying citizen of Texas finds me showing up!  And I am always so pleased to find myself surrounded by Texans who share my value system, are well educated and heartfelt about the rights of women to have access to their constitutional right to reproductive healthcare.  Today's turnout at The Capitol was fabulous.  Hundreds and hundreds of men and women showed up  to let the Legislators know we were there and cared very much about their discussion of bills that would close down all but 5 abortion clinics.  Keeping reproductive healthcare out of the Legislators hands is crucial to the well being of all Texans, men and women alike.  I'll keep fighting the fight.  This is how I find my community.

REEFER MADNESS at the Dougherty Arts Center

This musical comedy which had a short run Off Broadway runs for  four more days at the Dougherty before it returns to Spiderhouse next week-end.  Don't miss it!  The direction by Michael McKelvey is excellent and his casting selections are flawless.  The choreography is challenging to cast and crew as this performance occurs in two different venues.  We loved the energy, the talent and the parody of the hysteria surrounding reefer.  The play is based on a propaganda government issued film made in 1938  warning parents of the harmful influence of marijuana.  It's what musicals are made for "You got trouble right here in River City."  Hats off to Sarah Marie Curry (whom I studied Improv with) and Joey Banks who are fabulously talented as the leads.  The costumes, sets, props all worked so well to produce a fun evening of fine tuned musical theater. Go Go Go!

Kurosawa Double Header at the Paramount

While RASHOMON has always been a favorite of mine with it's four different versions of a horrific event the real winner tonight was HIGH AND LOW.  This is an old fashioned crime thriller/cop movie filled with  social commentary and absolutely exquisite acting.  Watching a family in the early 60's whose lives are torn apart by a kidnapping and the ethical dilemmas presented them when they learn it's the chauffeur's son rather than their own who is kidnapped is riveting.  I learned more about Japanese culture, character, social strata from this film than any history lesson I'd ever received in school.  Kurosawa is a master filmmaker.  His shot of junkies in a heroin den was so authentic and gruesome, while shots of an upper class home were beautiful and stylized.  His actors wardrobes were meticulous and I just loved the shots of cops sweating in their shirtsleeves working hard to figure out a crime for the sake of bringing honor back to a man who felt shamed. We both loved this film and getting out on Congress to the ROAR of motorcycles and their drivers parading up the strip ended a perfect night of character driven experience.

'Singin' In The Rain at the Paramount

Truth be told I've seen Gene Kelly a bazillion times in the dance/song sequence while he's singin' in the rain  but I've never seen the entire film and it was absolutely wonderful.  The Paramount was filled with kids..tons of kids with their parents.  And they laughed their heads off at this film made in 1952 with Donald O'Connor offering stunts and facial grimaces and hysterical mimicking of characters.  None of the kids were disruptive, antsy in their seats or whining.  Proof that this is a fantastic film that hits it's mark.  I am not a lover of musicals or musicals on film.  But all of the dancing and singing  in this film  is meaningful and enhances the story.  Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor are multi-talented and not only do they dance and sing ...they can act.  This is surely a classical American film that should be held up as an example of a huge enterprise that enhanced the culture of filmmaking in America.  Just gorgeous!!!

Marilyn Monroe:The Immortal Goddess/Austin Film Society

Last night's Essential Cinema's pick began the series of Marilyn Monroe films.  This 1994 documentary was extremely informative and respectful.  A highlight was Gloria Steinem's intelligent reflections on Marilyn.  To have an educated activist feminist counter balance the perpetuation of Marilyn as an untalented sex object is what made this documentary so substantial.  Meeting Martin Mortensen, her first husband, a thoughtful and respectful man who married her when she was 16 and he was 21 was comforting in that he described her respectfully as a fine wife who enjoyed being married.  She had great domestic skills and he demonstrated little anger about her choice to be an actor rather than his wife.  We saw numerous scenes from many of her films and not only was she gorgeous she demonstrated a great talent for comedy and emotional depth in her characters.  Susan Strasberg described Marilyn's dependency on her mother (Paula) for constant coaching on set and what we see emerging is Marilyn's self doubt, her demons winning a battle and an extremely sad decline.  This is a powerful and truthful account of Marilyn Monroe's real life.