Oh, man. With all due respect to Crash, Reese Witherspoon and, um, Three 6 Mafia — Brokeback Mountain, Felicity Huffman and Dolly Parton were robbed. Oh, Oscar, I wish I knew how to quit you.
Also overlooked — by critics and the Academy alike — was Memoirs of a Geisha. While visually stunning in its cinematic narrative, Geisha may have made the critics happier if the screenplay had been bookended by (warning: spoilers — you may highlight the following white text if you’ve already seen the movie) scenes of New York City as the novel had been. I believe this would have made the story more cohesive and satisfying — especially to those who hadn’t read the book. But heck, what do I know.
The movie may not have inspired critics, but it did inspire Geisha fashion, renewed popularity of the Maiko Barbie Doll, and — from Fresh, makers of my new favorite scent — the "Memoirs of a Geisha" beauty collection. 
Posted March 6, 2006 by Mariva in arts, beauty, books, fashion, gifts, movies, music
If you’re not in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania today, you can celebrate the annual tradition with the next best thing: watching my all-time favorite comedy film, Groundhog Day, which is said to be — believe it or not — one of the greatest Buddhist allegories ever. 
(Background info about the movie is fun, too.)
Posted February 2, 2006 by Mariva in education, entertainment, holidays, movies
Friday movie collection 
Friday Night Lights movie 
NPR’s Talk of the Nation: Science Friday (program site)
Bike Friday: folding travel bicycles
Photo Friday: weekly photo challenge
Illustration Friday: submit your artwork based on a weekly topic
Friday Feast: a five-"course" series of questions designed to make you ponder
Friday Harbor: a town in San Juan Island in Washington state (web directory, island cam, port)
Fine Friday: traditional Scottish music
Friday Night Live Partnership: a teen safety and mentoring project
Finney’s Friday Free Stuff: free offers for various useful products and services, served up every Friday by consumer reporter Michael Finney
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Posted January 6, 2006 by Mariva in community, entertainment, fun, innovations, movies, news, resources, social, travel
Yeah, hi. What’s happening. Listen, are you gonna have those TPS reports for us this afternoon? Um, yeah, okay, so I’m going to need you to go ahead and come in on Saturday. Oh! I almost forgot: I’m going to need you to come in on Sunday as well. Oh, and next Friday is Hawaiian Shirt Day, so, you know, if you want to, you can go ahead and wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans.
Office Space: Special Edition with Flair
Posted November 28, 2005 by Mariva in fun, gifts, movies
