Settle the f*ck down Twihards

I find this story equal parts annoying and amusing. Normally I would call bullsh*t on a story like this, but it comes from Deadline Hollywood - a source that is generally pretty spot on. Nikki Finke - love her or hate her - normally gets her stuff right.

According to a report on her site, fans of Kristen Stewart have been bombarding potential buyers of Welcome To The Rileys, pleading with them to purchase the rights to release the film. In an effort to ensure that they are able to see Kristen on screen as a teenage stripper, apparently these fans have gotten a hold of said executives emails and are using twitter, text and email to beg for a distribution deal for this movie. No word yet on whether their efforts have been successful.

Holy mother of crazy. Assuming this is true, and I am going with it being true simply because it is hysterical and disturbing, What the f*ck?? Badgering movie executives to buy a movie because you are a fan of one of the actors in it is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. But I am not surprised. These are the same fans that have been known to write petitions because they don't like the proposed director of Eclipse. The same fans that wrote and delivered a letter to Summit when the very small role of Victoria was recast. Fans that will inundate message boards to defend Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and the Twilight series if someone deigns to say something even remotely disparaging. Some of them are just a little crazy.

Now, don't mistake me. I am a fan of Kristen Stewart. Look back through previous posts. I think she is a little bit of awesome and have even been known to write a few comments on message boards in defensive of the Stew. I really want to see Welcome to the Rileys. I read the script and think it has potential. What I take issue with is the fact that although the intentions are from a good place, treating the makers, cast and crew of this movie with such disrespect irritates me. WTF were they thinking? That this would make the buyers want to purchase the film? They are turning what is a complicated high level decision into the equivalent of a high school petition to get a new brand of pop in the cafeteria.

XO

Up, Up In The Air

Can I tell you just how completely and utterly over the moon I was that Up In The Air was showing here in Vancouver only a week after it’s official limited release opening last week. I thought I was going to have to wait until Christmas to see this movie. There is a strong chance I may see it again. It was that fricking good. Srsly. One of the best movies I have seen all year. Amazing on so many levels.

It tells the story of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a corporate downsizer and consummate modern business traveler who, after years of staying happily airborne, suddenly finds himself ready to make “a real connection.” Ryan has long been contented with his unencumbered lifestyle lived out across America in airports, hotels and rental cars. He can carry all he needs in one wheel-away case; he's a pampered, elite member of every travel loyalty program in existence; and he's close to attaining his lifetime goal of 10 million frequent flier miles - and yet . . . Ryan has nothing real to hold onto.

When he falls for a likeminded fellow traveler (Vera Farmiga), Ryan's boss (Jason Bateman), inspired by a young, upstart efficiency expert (Anna Kendrick), threatens to permanently call him in from the road. Faced with the prospect, at once terrifying and exhilarating, of being grounded, Ryan begins to contemplate what it might actually mean to have a home.

Jason Reitman has made 2 fantastic films over the last few years – Juno and Thank You For Smoking. Up in the Air is probably my favourite of the three. It is not as glib as Juno – while the dialogue is smart and well thought out – it is not littered with a myriad of pop culture references – likely due to the absence of the fantastic Diablo Cody. That is not to say the script isn’t fantastic. So much of Anna Kendrick’s dialogue was gold – her interactions with George Clooney will go down as some of my favourite scenes in a movie all year. Honest, smart witty dialogue is so rare in movies. And this was all that and so much more.

I am so impressed with the performance given by Anna Kendrick. While my friend Kent distracted me by pointing out her odd eyebrow shaping – I was able to look past that (he couldn’t) and appreciate that she held her own against Hollyweird superstar George Clooney – and did an amazing job. Her portrayal of the high strung, aptly named Natalie Keener was revelatory to me. And the fact that Reitman wrote the part with her in mind is a big deal. She ain’t in Forks, dealing with the Vampires of Twilight anymore. Anna Kendrick has surpassed all the other bit players in that franchise with one poorly packed suitcase. She was effing fantastic.

George Clooney has shown again why he is. He is George Clooney mother f*cker. 2 time People Magazine’s sexiest man alive, confident, charming, charismatic, relatable in spite of his jaw dropping good looks. Bingham is a flawed human being, but Clooney makes him likable and endearing. Vera Farmiga was also very good, but her role was not quite as meaty as either of the other 2 leads. She’s very very pretty as well – and does not have distracting eyebrows.

Jason Batemen – in spite of the horrible hair style that aged him about 15 years – was also solid, as were the other minor roles. I very much enjoyed Melanie Lynskey and Danny McBride as Clooney’s sister and her fiancé. I have a crush on Lynskey ever since I saw her in Away We Go…. She is an amazing actress. A special mention needs to go out to a number of the “fired employees” who were real life people who had lost their jobs. Reitman found people in St Louis and Detroit who were willing to recreate their dismissals on camera. I have read a few reports of cynics viewing this as Reitman capitalizing on the current economy in the US – I see it as putting a real face to what is going on in the world today. It wasn’t exploitative, it was humanizing.

Up In The Air is funny, poignant, and smart without being condescending to the audience. Without question, one of my top movies of the year. And it was nominated for a slew of Golden Globes this morning. The only question I have is why it was in the drama category? Yes it was dramatic in parts, but for the audience at the screening I saw it was most definitely more comedic than dramatic. I wonder if the production company gets to decide?

Golden Globes in about a month! Squeee. Contemplating a wee soiree. We shall see if it pans out. Especially as I have 2 chairs that people can actually sit in….Maybe.

In the meantime ---> see Up In the Air. It is Awesomeness wrapped up in amazingness, surrounded by a fluffy cloud of fabulosity.

XO

"The Runaways" gets a Poster and a 1st Screening Date

Kristen Stewart is gonna be one busy girl at The Sundance Film Festival in January 2010. Not only is Welcome to The Rileys part of the official program at the Festival in Park City, Utah but word has just come out that another film she completed in between filming New Moon and Eclipse here in Vancouver will be screened, likely looking for a distributor. I wasn't aware that they had a "non-competition" section to Sundance, but I am glad that they do.

The Runaways is the story of 1970's all-girl rock band of the same name. Starring Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, the film chronicles the band from their formation in 1975 until 1977 when Currie left at the height of their success. Also starring Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon as their manipulative manager Kim Fowley, and Alia Shawkett, Scout Taylor-Compton & Stella Maeve, I really really hope that someone picks this film up. I would hate for it to languish on a shelf somewhere.

I think this story is so fascinating. They were a manufactured group, but they turned the music industry, particularly the hard-rock music industry, on it's head. A bunch of 15-16 chicks filling stadiums, taking on what had always been a male dominated world, living the rockstar lifestyle as teenage girls. Looks pretty f*cking rad if you ask me. The first poster and promotional pictures were released recently. The poster is all about the legs and the guitars - and the red. I like it! I absolutely love the picture of Kristen and Dakota - they look fricking amazing and bad ass in this shot. I can't wait to see this movie.


Gah! Why do I not have a life that affords me the ability to go to Sundance? Or TIFF? Or SXSW? Sigh.... Maybe one day I will....


XO

Bella Swan ain't in Forks anymore.....

After the insane press tour for Twilight last November, Kirsten Stewart quietly slipped back to New Orleans to continue filming an indie flick she wasn't sure would ever find an audience. That film is Welcome to The Rileys and also stars James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) and Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo. In Jake Scott's (son of Ridley Scott) feature directorial debut, Stewart plays Mallory, a stripper and prostitute who comes into the lives of the Riley's (Gandolfini and Leo), who are struggling with the death of their daughter.

Rumours abound that Stewart will be nekkid in this role, but I doubt it. She was only 18 when this was being filmed and there are many ways to cut a film to hide the nekkidness. Regardless, it looks like she will be barely clothed for much of it, if these first images are anything to go by. I have read the script and I have to say that the film has potential. The cast is impressive and story is interesting.

Gone is the sweet, doe eyed girl Twihards know and idolise. "Bella" is replaced instead by a heavily made-up, stringy haired girl who swears like a sailor and continually offers herself to a man old enough to be her father. Oh and if my memory of the script serves me correctly, she does work the stripper pole at some point during the film.

Welcome to the Rileys will be shown at The Sundance Film Festival in January, and hopefully will find a distributor so that the rest of us can see this film at the theatre as opposed to DVD. I am a fan of Kristen. I truly believe that she will go far beyond the Twilight Saga and will be able to overcome the potential stigma of being attached to such a cheesy franchise. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to be interested in the celebrity of acting, but the craft. Either that or she is an even better actor than I thought!

Before she even signed on for Twilight, Kristen made another indie flick that has yet to see the light of day. The Yellow Handkerchief is the story of three strangers who embark on a road trip through post Katrina Louisiana. The trio head out together, each motivated by his/her own reasons: Brett (William Hurt) must decide whether he wants to return to the uncertainty of his life and his ex-wife May (Maria Bello) for whom he longs, Martine (Stewart) yearns to escape her family, and Gordy (Eddie Redmayne) hopes to get close to Martine. Likely based partly on Kristen's probable ability to open a movie, The Yellow Handkerchief is now scheduled for an April release.

Stewart also has the Joan Jett biopic The Runaways set to open next year and the James Wood directed An American Girl in the works, amongst other things. Busy, busy time for my girl Kristen. Thankfully she seems to have had a little break for the past few weeks. I haven't heard a peep from her (or should I say, I haven't seen a shot of her anywhere). Yay to some small semblance of privacy.

XO

New Moon Review

Yesterday was the day. I took a long weekend, dragged my 30+ year old self down the street to the Scotiabank Theatre to meet my friend Emma, waited in a line up for 90 minutes with a bunch of teenagers to see: squeal – The Twilight Saga: New Moon – squeal.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should confess that any comments on the movie are clouded by the bottle of wine that I drank before and during the film. I will be seeing it again next week with another friend, and am gonna be sober for the second sitting. I am pretty sure there are a few things I don’t remember. On a somewhat unrelated note, did you know that if you pour an entire bottle of wine into a Nalgene bottle, it really doesn’t look like that much?

Anyways…..New Moon is infinitely better than Twilight. This movie is not and is unlikely to ever be a critically acclaimed movie series. It is currently sitting at 38% amongst the Top Critics on Rotten Tomatoes. But the critics have not in any way discouraged the masses from seeing it. The Twilight Saga: New Moon has shattered the opening day record previously held by The Dark Knight, taking in an estimated $72.7 million dollars on Friday. Which is more than Twilight made on it’s opening weekend.

Considering the grand fromage of the source material, I think that script writer Melissa Rosenberg and director Chris Weitz did a decent job keep the schmaltz in check. It was and will always be total cheese, but there were only a few times when I actually threw up in my mouth just a little. Case in point: the scene where Alice “sees” Edward and Bella running through the woods – which I guess was supposed to be our first glimpse of a “changed” Bella. Snort. It was ridiculous and completely overdone. And other, much better known bloggers have commented on the catwalk style of Edward's entrance in the film.... totally spot on. And while I understand that Edward is much more intelligent than anyone in the school, couldn't he fake the fact that he is a student by bringing a notebook, or at least a pen? Come on, if you are worried about being found out, wouldn't you at least carry a backpack?

Thankfully the dark and moody blue lighting was replaced with more earth tones. Chris Weitz also chose to ditch the swirling, disjointed camera shots that Catherine Hardwick used in Twilight – except for the scene with Bella moping in the same chair (and strangely in the same sweatpants) while the camera panned around her, showing time passing outside her window after Edward leaves. I thought it was really well done.

Overall I thought the acting from all was decent. Nothing award winning, but not as amateurish as Twilight was. I am an unabashed fan of Kristen Stewart, and I thought that she did a great job again. I much prefer the Bella that she portrays as opposed to the Bella from Stephanie Meyer’s books. Rob was very very pretty and tortured and brooding. And did I mention pretty? Taylor Lautner did good – but, I’m sorry, I just can’t take him seriously in the role of Jacob. He looks 16. Jacob is supposed to look 25. It just doesn’t do it for me. But he was fine. And his abs are crazy sick.

As I expected, I very much enjoyed Anna Kendrick's Jessica. For the few lines she had - amazing. According to an interview I saw recently with Melissa Rosenberg, she was one of the only cast members whose improvised lines were consistently better than the scripted lines written by Rosenberg. Love her. Can't wait for Up in the Air. Also – can I tell you how much I love Billy Burke as Charlie? Funny and sweet and fantastic. He can rock that moustache like no-one I have seen before. Love the 'stache.

The Volturi were appropriately menacing. Michael Sheen’s Aro was perfectly over the top – a little campy, but clearly dangerous. Dakota Fanning needs to play a villain more often. With one sideways glance her Jane could cut anyone down to size. The wolfpack were shirtless. Which is pretty much all I have to say. They were shirtless. A lot. Actually, the whole time. Shirtless brown boys = goodness.

With few exceptions, the styling and look of the Vampires was far superior to Twilight. From the red and topaz eyes, to the clothes, to most of their hair. One noticeable exception is the incredibly hot in real life Jackson Rathbone. Jackson plays the unfortunate Jasper, whose hair made me laugh out loud. What was with that lock that was falling into his eyes? Bwahhhh. Even though Rachelle Lefevre was only in the film for about 2 minutes in total she looked awesome – her hair was flaming red as it should have been in Twilight.

The effects were good in parts and laughable in others. When Bella went cliff diving for instance. The diving - good. Even when she is getting hammered by the waves = good. but when she was knocked out? WTF was that? The position of her body was ridiculous. It was stiff and unnatural and not what would happen if you were in the water. Badness. The wolves were decent – their few fight scenes were fast and furious and pretty hard to follow. The scenes in Italy were beautifully shot – from Bella running through the crowds to find Edward to the Volturi chambers.

Overall, I found The Twilight Saga: New Moon the movie to be vastly superior to Twilight. Granted the budget was almost double that of the first flick. But the whole thing was just better for me. Yes it was cheese. Yes I laughed out loud at a few of the lines (but that was due to the horror that is Stephanie Meyer’s writing). But I am much happier with this one than with Twilight. Well done Chris Weitz. Well done!

XO

Like, it's like totally awesome, like you know? Like.

When I first moved to Canada my first job was at one of the major Tourist attractions as what basically amounts to a tour guide. It was a very popular attraction and there were a couple of regulars who I saw 2-3 times a week. I have fond memories of one woman in particular who used to bring her two little girls on what seemed like a daily basis for a number of years, so I got to know them pretty well.

These girls were adorable. Hailey and… f*ck I can’t remember her name. Their mom’s name was Amy. Anyways, for a while we had this game we would play. A little back-story for you: I pride myself on my command of the English language. I write, I read, I know and am comfortable using “fifty-cent” words. But there was one word that I would overuse. Like, incessantly. Like, ridiculously a lot. The game was very simple. Every time I said the word "like" they would say the word "ding". They said “ding” a lot. The girls found this game hi-larious and I quickly realised that I need to find another filler word.

Can you think of anyone who would benefit from this game? I know! I know! Let’s see if you can figure out who it is. Here are a few clues. This almost 17-year-old superstar loves pole dancing in short shorts at awards shows. Although she claims to love God she takes mildly suggestive photos of herself and posts them on Twitter for the world to see.

Do you know who it is yet? No? Let me give you a few more clues. She seems to think the smacking gum incessantly during interviews is perfectly acceptable and doesn’t listen to Jay Z because that is “pop” music - which she doesn’t listen to. Her words not mine. She also deleted said twitter account because a boy suggested it - and wrote a rap about it (sorry, I guess this would be pop, not rap right?). Finally this girl has obvious daddy issues and hates the Twilight phenomenon …. for no discernable reason. A catty person might say that her Twilight rant reeks of jealousy…

I know you know who it is? How could you not? Homegirl Miley Cyrus needs to find someone to play the “ding” game with her. Pronto. If your ears can handle the twang and the gum smacking, listen to this radio station interview where she disses the Twilight franchise and uses the word like more than should be allowed. I gave up counting after about 30.

Whoever is tasked with assisting Miley in expanding her vocabulary should also consider helping her to not sound like an ungrateful brat. Cause that is like exactly how she comes across in like every interview I have like heard recently. Couldn’t have something to do with all the positive press surrounding her BFF Taylor Swift could it? Sour grapes Miley? Tsk tsk. That is not very Christian of you!

XO

New Moon Premier

Have your ears stopped ringing yet? Mine haven't and I live thousands of kilometres away from Hollyweird. Monday night was the much anticipated official World Premiere of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Twi-hards came from far and wide, camping for days all to catch a glimpse of the cast. Summit also streamed the entire premiere through MySpace. Insanity. The three leads all arrived separately and I do not recall seeing any photos of Rob and Kristen together. No desire to feed the incessant and all encompassing rumour mill about the status of their relationship. Smart kids. Or should I say, smart Summit.

Kristen seems to have lost some of her edge for the premier. The dress is actually pretty enough, her hair and make up are spot on. She does look beautiful. But she doesn't look like Kristen Stewart. No real edge. Nothing of the rad cool chick that doesn't give a shit about what she wears or what you think about what she is wearing.
It actually looks like something you would wear to a friend's Debutante Ball. I know you may find this shocking and even a little bit amazing, but this cynical bitch was presented to society when she was a wee young thing. It was through my Church (another shock I know). Do not judge me. We all did it. It was an excuse to get dressed up and party. They put wine on all of our tables. We were 16 years old. Whatever, I don't have to explain myself to you. It was quite the memorable night - from the teeny tiny bit I can recall and what friends filled in for me later. I didn't get along with my partner, my hair looked like complete ass after about an hour (stupid cheap hair dresser), on the way to the afterparty I had to sit in the front seat of the limo next to the driver as the back was full, At the afterparty - which was at the house of someone I wasn't really friends with, I managed to get into a screaming match with my best friends, and then I proceeded to puke *all* over the bathroom. Classy classy classy. Oh and my wonderful mother still has a picture of me in my f*cking white satin & lace sweetheart neck lined dress on display in her living room. Thanks mom!

Anyways, that is the vibe Kristen's dress was giving me. Debutante Ball at Camberwell City Hall. She could do so much better. All of her red carpet outfits thus far have been impeccable. Even on Conan earlier that day, she looked like herself. Messy hair, a hand drawn tatoo on her wrist (mocking those idiot who have twilight tatoo's perhaps?), cool dress. But Oscar de La Renta gown was not Kristen to me. Even she didn't look comfortable in it and she apparently changed into jeans and a t-shirt as soon as the photog line was done. The man of the hour - Robert Pattinson - finally heard all of our pleas and threw on a suit. Still wish he had shaved, but I will take what I can get. Taylor blinded everyone with his smile and I am sure that he continued his tradition of over enunciating every word. I appreciate good diction as much as the next slightly neurotic person, but come on........

Big ups to Dakota Fanning and Anna Kendrick. Best dressed of the night for me. Loved Dakota's entire look. Age appropriate (ehm... Miley Cyrus you should be studying this young girl to see how to transition from child to actual star in Hollyweird). Her shoes were dope. For Anna Kendrick, the New Moon premiere is probably pretty low key for her. I mean this is a girl who very shortly will be walking the carpet for Up in the Air with George mother-f*cking Clooney and Jason fricking Bateman. That one shouldered black sparkly number... super hot. Hair - awesome. Make-up & styling - flawless. Loved it. Honorable mentions to Jackson Rathbone and Nikki Reed.

Ashley Greene appeared to be going for the Miss Teen "Milking my 15 minutes for as much as I can" look. Hated her dress. Dull. Just because it is red and slinky does not make it right. It was a bad prom dress. The hair was also bad bad bad. And I don't get it. Ashley is stunning. Such a pretty face! And her body is sick. She has the potential to look amazing. Sadly, Ms Greene always looks like she is trying so hard to be the Belle(a) of the Ball. Something she is not. And will never be. But, ya know what? Props to Ashley Greene. Out of all of the second string Twilight cast, Ashley is working the hardest to make this last. Apparently she has been working pretty steadily on no less than 4 projects since the start of Twilight... strange that the only press I have seen about her is whe n she was making out with Chase Crawford and/or the opening or celebration of anything she is invited to.

And what is there to say about Stephanie Meyer. That dress pretty much defies description. Too tight. Ugly. Completely wrong for anyone to be seen in public in. I am sorry. But the woman has more money than she can spend in a lifetime and this is the best she can come up with? I know she is an author not an actress, but she is a celebrity. Girlfriend needs a stylist...stat. Maybe one of her fans designed it and sent it to her? Ha!

XO

Fashion Fabulosity a la Kristen Stewart

When a movie opens, even a movie that is pretty much guaranteed to be a blockbuster, there are normally two or three big red carpet premier's scattered throughout the world. But for The Twilight Saga: New Moon it has been taken to the next level. Hell, it has been taken to the next stratosphere!! I honestly cannot recall there being "fan events" attended by upwards of 20,000 screaming fans for any other movie franchise. Even Harry Potter did not receive this level of craziness. Photo calls, press conferences, red carpets, musical performances by bands from the soundtrack, autograph sessions. Complete and utter controlled insanity - all to promote a movie that really doesn't need promoting.


And in attendance at all of these events the ridiculously titled "Twilight Trinity" of Robert Pattinson, Kristin Stewart and Taylor Lautner. Srsly, Twilight Trinity? Ugh. Whoever came up with that moniker deserves a good thrashing. Tagging along for the ride, but getting a lot of love also is the movies director Chris Weitz. But it is pretty much all about Rob, Kristen and Taylor. They have been earning their paychecks this week. Smiling for the fans, signing thousands of autographs, answering the same questions, smiling for the photogs, standing there - smiling - listening to the screaming....it always boils down to the screaming.

The lead cast have been to London, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Mexico, Brazil, Japan and prolly a few places I have forgotten about. And with few exceptions Kristen Stewart has looked phe.nom.inal at every event. I am not a fan of the white jeans in the top photo and the cream Paris outfit would have looked a lot better if she had gone with a pop of colour in the shoes... but small things. Overall her styling has been impeccable. Fashion forward, edgy, polished. But it seems to be staying true to her own style. Love love love for Kristen this press tour. Her reign as my ultimate girl crush remains firmly intact.

My personal faves have been the grey and black peek-a-boo Balenciaga ensemble from Madrid (above) - super sexy, with the sheer panels on the skirt and the top. A little challenging to wear I suspect as the photogs are looking to get shots from every angle and that could be somewhat unintentionally revealing. This dress is like a naughty school-girl outfit designed by Sid Vicious. Love it. And even when she is just going out for dinner (in jeans below) she looks awesome....

I also loved the London outfit - the bright flirty and fun Proenza Schouler below. Amazingness again. I know that a lot of her fashion choices have been panned by the blogs - or at least the people commenting on the blogs. Whatever. These are also the same people who find Robert's homeless person look charming and adorable. Am I the only one who is completely over this bedraggled, unshaven, I don't give a crap look? This is the red carpet. Not the just crawled out of bed, can't be shagged putting on a decent outfit carpet. Even Taylor Lautner has the class to shave and throw on a decent outfit. Not saying that Rob needs to throw on a suit - but come on...... a t-shirt? And could you maybe try and look like you have showered over the past few days?

Kristen seems as if she is a completely different person from last years junket. Nearly every interviewer has commented on the fact that she seems more comfortable being involved in the juggernaut that is the Twilight franchise. She is confident and poised when answering the same question repeatedly and is a lot more articulate in expressing her feelings for the film and her character.

I honestly think that she knows her character better than any of the other cast. She seems to have thought about it intently and gives thoughtful, sincere answers about Bella's motivation and the other characters. Rob as always is charming and self-deprecating... but this is also something I am kind of over just a little. At least Rob is still pretty! Taylor is confident in his answers, but over enunciates to the point that I want to stab myself with something sharp and pointy.

There will always be those who feel that Kristen is an ungrateful brat. That all she does is itch and moan about the perils of fame and the fact that she can't go anywhere without being followed by the evil photogs. But what these people fail to realise or acknowledge is that Kristen isn't spontaneously harping on her lack of privacy or the paparazzi following her everywhere. Every single interview asks her about how her life has changed since the release of Twilight. If she were to say her life hadn't changed, she would be accused of being insincere and a liar. When she is asked the questions, she answers. Honestly and probably a little more bluntly than her publicist would like. Her honesty and bluntness are always going to get her into trouble with some people.

This week is going to get pretty crazy with New Moon mania. The entire cast is reuniting in LA for yet another premier. Apparently people have been lined up since Thursday. Cray-zee! Do these people not have jobs? Children? Spouses? Umm Dare I say, lives? Ya know what? Whatever floats their boat I guess! And who am I to talk. I am taking a day off work on Friday... ostensibly because I have personal time to use before the end of the year. But in reality, it is to see a matinee of New Moon. Heh!

XO