Movie Review ~ Law Abiding Citizen

Firstly, I have to say, I had 2 margaritas (open bar) with hardly anything to eat, Gerard was sitting in front of us, Gary next to me, and the added stress of having to go to the restroom the second half of the movie -- to give it a fair critique.

Law Abiding Citizen, directed by F. Gary Gray, started with action, which I loved, with Clyde (Gerard Butler) and his family attacked. The pacing is fast, laying the foundation right away, then its 10 years later. Murders happen and Clyde is behind it all. He is calculating -- every move he makes has a purpose. I had one idea of how he was killing everyone from jail, but I was wrong! I never guessed the ending. Gerard and Jamie Foxx were terrific playing off each other. Gerard had you pulling for Clyde and at times you didn't like Nick (Jamie Foxx).

The music is great, composed by Brian Tyler. I would get anxious as the music built up ready for something bad to happen and it did! I loved the way the film was shot, the angles and the lighting. Its bloody and gruesome, but not Inglourious Basterds gruesome. When someone asks me what the movie is like, Silence of Lambs always comes to mind.

Kurt Wimmer's well written plot, kept me on the edge of my seat! I read the budget for the film was just $50 million, but it looked like a high budget film, costumes, sets, props, and explosions. Gary, Gerard, and Jamie as well as the entire cast were fantastic!

At one point I said to Gary, "Oh no you didn't!" Concerning a scene with Nick's daughter. Gary laughed.
During the nude scene I realized I had said aloud, "Oh my God." I leaned over to Gary and said, "Thank you."
He said, "You're welcome." And then laughed.
I remember grabbing his arm a few times too during some blow up scenes. (I blame it all on the liquid courage.)

Of course I have to see the movie again in a less stressful environment to give the movie a fair review. I wish I didn't have to wait until October 16th to see the movie again!

I told Gary that our group tries to see all of Gerard's movies 10 times each. He said he was going to hold me to it, but I have no worries, they won't need convincing to see this terrific movie over and over again. WE SHOOK ON IT! Well done F. Gary Gray!


Visit the official site:
Law Abiding Citizen Film



Law Abiding Citizen in theaters October 16, 2009

Love Happens Premiere

On Tuesday I had tickets to the Love Happens premiere in Westwood. I was excited to go and even saw Jennifer Aniston in the lobby before the movie began. I love Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart, but I'm sorry to say that Love Happens wasn't happening for me. It was just too sad and not really a romantic comedy.

Annette and I at the Love Happens Premiere.

Love Happens in theaters now

The Jay Leno Show ~ Opening Night

Monday September 14 at 8:00 am my grades were faxed and I was ready to begin three weeks of break! I've missed Jay Leno since he left the Tonight Show so Annette and I were beyond excited when she got four tickets to the first taping of the Jay Leno Show!

The studio is huge compared to the old one. My friend Brandt Daniels did an amazing job designing the new set.

Check out Brandt's interview: Brant's Interview

We were seated by the band and had a great time as the audience warmer worked the crowd and we noticed Mavis Leno sitting a few rows in front of us. The audience warmer didn't have to work hard to get us motivated, everyone was hyped to be there.

Jay did his usual thing, he came out dressed in jeans and a denim shirt to welcome us to the show. When he mentioned his guests, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West, the audience booed at the mention of Kanye's name, but Jay stopped the crowd and said something like, "Now don't do that. Kanye feels really badly about what he did last night, but he was man enough to keep his commitment to come tonight. We are going to sit down and talk. Listen to what he has to say and if you aren't happy then you can do what you want."

It was great to see Jay up on the stage doing his thing, nights haven't been the same since he has been off air. I'm not sure if I like the new format of the show because I'm so use to the old one, with Headlines at the beginning and musical guest at the end, but I'm can't complain Jay came out with a bang!

How timely to be the first to interview Kanye after his rude and disrespectful behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards . The entire audience was on the edge of our seats. I was proud of Jay, he didn't shy from asking what everyone was thinking, “What do you think she would have said about this?” You could hear a pin drop in the studio! I don't know if I was entirely satisfied that Kanye was remorseful, but it brought tears to my eyes.

The excitement of being at the first taping of the Jay Leno show didn't disappoint, Jay was funny as ever, Oprah was on the show, and headlines are back!

Annette, Ray and Barbara waiting outside the NBC studio.

Jimmy Kimmel Live

We were the first to arrive at Jimmy Kimmel around 4:30. We were so excited and got busy taking pictures.

Annette, Barbara, Lois, and me

Not long after people began arriving. It was hot and the line coordinators had us squeezed into a small area. A little while later the Gamer Girls handed out tee shirts and Gamer energy drinks.

About 6:00 we were finally inside the staging area where we stood some more, but it was at least air conditioned. We were seated in about the 4th or 5th row with a straight view of where Jimmy and the guests sit. I was right next to the camera. It's stadium seating so we were also at eye level. No, we weren't in the front rows because they are saved for the VIP guests. If you taped the show you can see us in the audience, especially Barbara with her beautiful fuchsia blouse.

The audience warmer, Don, began working the crowd and a few minutes into it my shoe fell off my foot! It landed behind the seat of the guy in front of Annette who was next to me. Soon all of us were distracted with trying to figure out how to get my shoe back. One of the people in front of us noticed what was going on and they told the young man in front of Annette to get my shoe. Soon the row in front of us were all trying to get my shoe back for me. Once I got my shoe back the entire audience and Don, the audience warmer, were staring at us.

Don asked something like, "What's going on? Is there a private party going on?"
I said, "I lost my shoe."
Don said, "Are you trying to pick up men by throwing your shoe at them?"
The young man in front of me said something like, "It's working," and he began rubbing my leg!
Don the audience warmer continued with his act, but every once in a while would pick on me about throwing my shoe at men. Later he gave me a souvenir for teasing me, a key chain with Jimmy Kimmel Live printed on it.

The show started, all I heard was blah blah blah until the Gerard came out. Gorgeous! There he was sitting in front of us and he was his usual fun self.

At the commercial break we were probably at the edge of our seats hoping he would look up at the audience. All the support staff came on to the stage to touch up makeup, set up the Wacky Wire, and talk to Jimmy. All I thought was, GET OUT OF THE DAMN WAY!!

Then everyone was gone, leaving Gerard standing on the stage. He looked up and smiled while he looked at each and every one of us. He looked back at me and pointed with his finger with a big grin and shook his head looking at all of us again.

He looked around at the rest of the audience and waved at the other fans who were sitting further up in the stands.

When show resumed, Jimmy and Gerard were a crack up with the Wacky Wire and the donut story! OMG the donut story!

After Nate's interview we were directed out of the studio to the outside concert stage to see the taping of the musical guest, The Used, which will be shown next Friday. We didn't stay long and had to walk around to the front of the building to retrieve our cameras.

Another fun night in Hollywood!

Gamer in Theaters now!

Final Destination Premiere

At the Final Destination Red Carpet Premiere in Westwood Village, well actually the carpet was black, LOL!

Isaac on the black carpet


Isaac and me

Me

Final Destination in theaters now

Inglourious Basterds Premiere

Pictures of Grauman's before all the celebrates arrived at the Inglourious Basterds premiere. I saw Brad Pitt and Tony Hawk on the red carpet. I didn't get the chance to take pictures because security was tighter than I have ever seen it. Once we were given our passes we were rushed into the theater, must have been because of Brad and Angelina. Unfortunately we never had the opportunity to see Michael Fassbender the only person we were interested in.

A billboard mounted on a truck just like the one they had at Comic con.

Kathy, Annette, and Alice

Kathy, me and Alice

Inglourious Basterds in theaters now

Taking Woodstock Screening

Pictures at the Taking Woodstock screening at the Arclight Hollywood.

Demetri Martin and Ang Lee on the red carpet



Ang Lee

Taking Woodstock in theaters now