MY URBAN KVETCH

NY Jewish Film Festival: "A Hebrew Lesson"

One of the great things about living in New York and writing about Jewish life is that there's never any shortage of events, venues and festivals to attend. For instance, last week, I was invited to the opening night of the NY Jewish Film Festival, which is held annually at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Cinema. "Praying With Lior" --a film by my friend Ilana Trachtman--opened to great reviews, and was being featured at the Festival (and it's going to run starting February 1 at Cinema Village, so don't miss it!). But I wasn't invited because of Ilana's film...this was a film about a Hebrew lesson.

In 19-ninety-something, I was in an ulpan class at Hebrew University with two Japanese men, one German theology student, and two Americans with Israeli parents. (And then there was me. Not sure how that happened.) Our common language was Hebrew and we all came with remarkably different stories. The ulpan environment draws eclectic backgrounds into a single room with a single aim: to learn Hebrew.

                

Steve Carell Does It Again

It seems like I knew and loved Steve Carell before I "met" him on The Daily Show, with some of his signature bits, "Produce Pete," and "We [Heart] Showbiz!" (a sketch he did with his wife, the hilarious Nancy Walls--or as you "Office"-freaks know her, "Carol, Michael's real estate agent").

And when he started popping up as a bit player in movies--"Bruce Almighty" and "Anchorman," for example--I was that much happier. Graduating to leading roles, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Little Miss Sunshine" showcased his ability to tread between innocent and sympathetic sadness and high-energy comedy, although not in equal measure.

Carell's most recent effort, "Dan in Real Life," is being marketed as a comedy about a newspaper columnist who gives readers advice but still has problems. Anyone watching the trailer would think: ah, this is going to be about his home life and what a wreck it is. Nominally, that person would be right. But soon after we meet the widowed, sad-eyed Dan and his three spunky daughters, the family leaves the home-based comedy and travels into what seems like a different movie entirely, perhaps from a different age: the "home for the holidays" comedy.

Read the rest of my review at Beliefnet's Idol Chatter, where I've been posting a lot lately...

Know Your Fogels

I know. You're confusing your Fogels. But don't worry, I'm here to explain everything.

To cover them in (rough) order of contemporary prominence, let's begin with Fogell, or as he's known in "Superbad," (say it with me now) "McLovin'." (Cue the Rogen: "Sounds like a sexy hamburger.") Fogell, arguably Superbad's breakout character, is based on a real guy named Sammy Fogell who grew up with co-writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and is now a (cute) real estate analyst based in Vancouver. Word has it that Fogell, Rogen and Goldberg had many pivotal school experiences together, like  trying to buy beer, attempting to impress girls, and drinking Polyjuice potion so they could resemble older, legal liquor store patrons.

Jared Fogle, star of the Subway ads who made us think that eating sandwiches is a good way to lose weight. It's worked for Fogle, who used to weigh 425 pounds, and slimmed down considerably using Subway's sandwiches, now a pitchman for his own foundation to help overweight kids. His transformation into an Animagus is of immense help in maintaining his new healthy weight, because it burns immense numbers of calories.

Dan Fogelberg, the classic singer responsible for the plaintive pianoing of "Same Auld Lang Syne," the song that will make you annually regret the things you haven't done, the paths not taken, and the loves not experienced before you accept your fate and return to your boring, unromantic life. If you want to know every detail of Fogelberg's life, check this extensive bio, which may be longer than the seventh Harry Potter book, and definitely contains fewer Horcruxes.

Dan Fogler is a Tony-Award winner for the role he created in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. But most of you know him as the star of the latest movie that Christopher Walken didn't say no to, "Balls of Fury." When J.K. Rowling returns from retirement (I'm predicting after the 2010 wrap of the HP films) and writes the prequels, Dan Fogler will be cast as Hagrid. There's simply no question.

Next up is John Fugelsang, an actor and standup comedian who hosts shows like America's Funniest Home Videos and the World Series of Blackjack. There are unconfirmed reports that this fall, he may be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, but I'm not sure.

So that's it for this installment of "Know Your Fogels." Did I miss your favorite Fogel? Or Fogler? Or Fogell? Do share with the class. After all, I can't look into a Pensieve and know what you're thinking.

[And yes, I did finally finish the Harry Potter series. Why do you ask?]

O Jerusalem: Exclusive Movie Trailer

Beliefnet posted this exclusive trailer for "O Jerusalem," a feature film about the founding of the State of Israel featuring Ian Holm as David Ben-Gurion and Tovah Feldshuh as Golda Meir. This could be an "Exodus" for the creative Zionist generation...click here to view.

This Week's Clips

Want to make "An Inconvenient Truth" for kids? Too late. It's already done, and it's called "Arctic Tale." (My review at Beliefnet is here, original title: "Save the Animals, Save the World.")

Are you really wearing that "Mrs. Pitt" t-shirt again? Changing your Facebook status for the 47th time today? Then you need to read my latest column at the Jewish Week, here.

And the umpteenth and last time I'll link to my JTA piece about "Orthodox Paradox," which was recently the subject of a follow-up article in the Jewish Week that revealed that the "crop heard round the world," as I put it, actually never happened. Or as the JW titled it, "Snap, Crackle, No Crop."

My Documentary Film Debut: "Unattached"

While VH1 has yet to come calling to ask me who's had the Best Jewish Week Ever, I have spent some time opining in front of a camera for several films. (Remember when a camera crew came to my house? See picture at left...)

Well, the film, "Unattached," directed by J. J. Adler, is premiering at the Columbia University Film Festival at the IFC Center on May 3, and portrays "an expanding community of unmarried Orthodox Jews bears the brunt of a deep-seated 'Singles’ Crisis.'" (I guess this officially makes me a "talking head.")

The Blueprint recently did an article about it:

The 27-minute documentary, titled “Unattached,” explores the myths and realities of single life on the Upper West Side and considers whether there truly is a “singles crisis” in the Orthodox Jewish community. “It takes a close look at the community''''s difficult marriage of traditional and modern philosophies on courtship, and tries to shed light upon what the future holds for a growing generation of Orthodox Jewish singles,” [Adler, a film student] explained.

The film is part of Program G on May 3, starting at 7pm. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased online, via www.ifccenter.com or in person from the IFC Center box office (323 Sixth Avenue, the old Waverly Theater).

Pop Culture Epiphany

Last night, I was watching a movie on some cable channel that starred Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. I thought it was St. Elmo's Fire, but it was much more boring than I remember St. Elmo's Fire being. Plus, instead of Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez and Andrew McCarthy, I had Jim Belushi. Not a fair trade. I kept waiting for the famous "Jules rocks in front of an open window to show how depressed she is and her friends have to break down the door" scene, and it never came. But I was so tired that I couldn't figure out why.

This morning, I realized...it wasn't St. Elmo's Fire, with its love theme that makes me cry and the cheesy "Man in Motion" song. It was About Last Night. Which was adapted from a stage play called "Sexual Perversity in Chicago." And which confusingly also stars Demi and Rob, but sans the "Jules rocks" scene. Not nearly as satisfying.

Oscars Blogging

So, a funny thing happened on my way home from the Oscars. It took me forever to get home. Which would have been fine, had I left when they were over. But since I left in the middle, and the snow had been falling for a few hours, and then because of various skip-stop service on the subways, I missed about an hour, including Jennifer Hudson's win. which I'm bummed about, even though I really thought that jacket she wore on the red carpet was a horror that really detracted from her overall look, which was stunning. So here are random and sundry comments on the 79th Annual Academy Awards...

Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean!! But...he's wearing sunglasses, indoors. Oh, wait. That's Jack Nicholson. My bad.

At the Oscar party I attended someone noted that Peter O'Toole does not look his age; he looks about twenty years older.

Party guest: Is that Dakota Fanning?
Me: Nope, that's the other one. (Abigail Breslin.)

Two party gossip tidbits on good authority that:
1) Ryan Gosling is dating his Notebook costar, Rachel McAdams
2) Naomi Watts is pregnant with Liev Schrieber's baby

The opening montage shines a spotlight on all of the nominees, whether or not they're likely to win, a nice gesture that points to the fact that the even should celebrate everyone, even if they don't win.

Someone notes that this is the most international awards show ever. And where's Israel?

Ellen delivers a joke about Jennifer Hudson, who America didn't vote for, and Al Gore, who America did vote for. Of course, she did the full joke, not this recap which, in the rendering, has lost all comedy impact. Nicely done, Ellen. (But Esther's delivery apparently needs work.)

Comedy continues with a song by Will Ferrell and Jack Black: I love the way John C. Reilly has embraced his silly, comedic side. He's brilliant in both comedy and drama, and the Academy should  learn from his example. Instead of including comedy as a token, there should absolutely be Oscars given for comedies.

Ari Sandel wins for "West Bank Story," a comedic musical about two warring felafel joints. Which, thanks to my dad, I'm now about to watch via iTunes.

[Here's the part where I missed what was probably one of the only interesting parts of the broadcast: Jennifer Hudson's win. I can only hope it pops up on YouTube tomorrow.]

Melissa Etheridge thanks her wife when she wins for Best Original Song, beating three numbers from Dreamgirls and thanking Al Gore, calling all of us "not red or blue, but green." Awesome.

Michael Mann's "America" montage: Hey, where is the "greed is good" segment from Wall Street in describing America? If Scarface is in there, maybe we could cop to Wall Street, too. Plus, no footage from either of the 9/11 movies?

I thought the Departed was an amazing movie. I even sat through it five times on the way back from Israel. But as much as I love Martin Sheen--and as much as I remember buying his JFK impression in the TV movie he did back in the 80s--his Boston accent never sounded right to me.

Jodi Foster, looking great as always. I seriously love her. Not in that way, Mom and Dad. If you're even still reading after that comment I made about Melissa Etheridge, that is. (Not that there's anything wrong with that. I applaud love, period.)

Helen Mirren deserves that Oscar. For her cleavage.

Presenting the Oscar for Best Actor, is Gwyneth Paltrow. Oops, sorry: it's emaciated Reese Witherspoon. Lovely words from Forest, Forest Whitaker. "...A connection so deep that we feel it and through our combined relief can make a new reality..." and God who believes in us all and has given me this in this lifetime that i will carry to the end of my lifetime and into the next lifetime.

Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola as the Three Amigos, which is great, because they decide to finally, FINALLY, give Marty the Oscar. (And someone, I think Steve, yells "Mazal tov!") Here's a conspiracy theory for you: I think the reason that those three directors were up there to present the Best Director award was orchestrated because the guys with the briefcases knew that Marty's name was in the envelope. Discuss.

Why does Diane Keaton keep doing wacky things with her arms while announcing nominees?

Voiceover lady says that "Martin Scorsese calls The Departed 'the first movie he has ever done with a plot.'" Do you think that is true, gentle readers? Last Temptation of Christ? Goodfellas? Any plots you'd care to remember from Marty's career? Check out his filmography here, and let us all know what y'all think...

PS, Happy birthday Sean Astin! Good night folks!

Pre-Oscars Thought

Just caught a few red carpet celebrity glimpses that I had to blog before leaving for the Oscars party I'm going to...

Since Ellen's hosting this year, wouldn't it be great if Jodie Foster decided to honor her by coming out at the Oscars? I'm just saying, it's time. We all know, and it doesn't matter, doesn't impact her box office, doesn't reflect on her talent or choices...I know it's her private life, but still. And this way, if she does it, I was the first one to predict it.

And if you saw her, you'd know what I'm talking about...presenting, Celine Dion as pre-rhinoplasty Jennifer Aniston.

More later, y'all!

"Out of Faith": Intermarriage on Film (Plus, FYAB!)

I just wrote a post for another site about intermarriage, so I'm kind of tapped out on the subject right now. (More on that post and its eventual location to come, so stay tuned.) But I did want to make you aware of this new documentary film about intermarriage, "Out of Faith," which is being screened this Thursday at Makor. And for all you readers of My Urban Kvetch, now a special FYAB...that's right: for you, a bargain! 20 percent off tickets with the code NYP. So go, enjoy, and discuss amongst yourselves and here...