Last night I watched Ethan and Joel Coen's newest movie,
"A Serious Man." Here's what The New Yorker
had to say about it.

Tim Burton MoMA

I am often dumbstruck by human achievements. Depending on the morning, the feeling could be brought upon by a burnt Jesus' face on a pancake, other days it takes a hike up a towering pyramid in Bosnia, stretching it's peak into a cloudless sky. Two weeks ago, that very same emotion was evoked by the superb collection of Tim Burton's art at MoMA.

Combining humor and fright in his 40 years of twisted artistry, his creations made from rubber, film, Polaroid, and paper are displayed in a delightful set-up. Four hundred plus drawings framed above life-sized models are a stunning sight to behold.

The exhibit is organized roughly chronologically, encompassing generations of movie paraphernalia from the rubber heads of Hugh Grant and Sara Jessica Parker from Mars Attacks, to mini models of the infamous Jack Skeleton from Nightmare Before Christmas, to name a few. Not to be missed: the Batman suit worn by Michael Keaton, book proposal full of wicked drawings and stories written by teenage Burton, and the rows of pencil and pen sketches. It sounds so trite to say, but there really isn't anyone that has an imagination like Tim Burton does anymore.

As for the nitty gritty, the price of the postcards are worth the two bucks you pay and they are great keepsakes for the uniqueness of experience. I bought four and framed the little mini-artworks on my walls. I only wish I went on a group tour, as there's no doubt much magic behind the common themes in all his work.

If I won the Superbowl...

I would make this my victory song.

*watch

Jeremy Renner Charms the Brattle Theatre

Actor Jeremy Renner talked, riffed and answered audience questions at the 3rd Annual Boston Film Critics Award last night at Brattle Theater in Cambridge. The crowd -- 500 or so people -- was an mix of film critics, Harvard students, white-haired movie aficionados and even Julia Child's niece Philadelphia Cousins.

Renner, who has acted in 28 Weeks Later, Lords of Dogtown, and Dahmer, (and probably something I've left out) is up for an Oscar for his performance in Hurt Locker. The first thing out of his mouth when asked why director, Katherine Bigelow did not chose well known actors to work in her movie. A simple, courteous, "I don't know."

"The movie creates a lot of tension, you wouldn't expect an actor like Tom Cruise to work in this movie because he has a lot of baggage." said Renner. "I've died in 99% of what I've done as an actor, so you expect I would die in this one too."

Renner talked about his excitement for the movie after the two and a half years of filming and preparing for the role. He said, over the last 18 months, getting picked up by the Venice and Toronto film festival awards has made it easier to swallow. "It's real to me now. There's value to this movie. I can sit here on stage enjoying a scotch."

At one point an audience member asked Renner what his motivation was for playing his character. Renner looked amused by the question. "I'm not going to tell you the answer. I don't know what it's like to have my life on the line. In fact, I faked how it was to have my life on the line."

When answering what is next, Renner said he had finished filming a Boston based movie directed by Ben Affleck called The Town, "Yeah we robbed everything. I liked robbing the North End. I had a townie haircut, it didn't look good on me."

The final audience question: Do you think your going to win the Oscar for best actor? Renner sipped his scotch and sat back, pausing before answering the question. "I have already won my friend. This is victory."

The last few hours of studenthood...

at least for this degree.

A New York Weekend

When I am in New York, I'm guaranteed a smile. Sometimes it's from the owner of a Ray's Pizza joint or the toothless grandma watching fast-walkers or a Brooklyn cutie peeking over his Bulgakov novel.

Somehow the weight of world dissipates when I'm visiting this bright city even on a cold January day.

New York tends to be thought of as the major incubator of creativity, its the driving force of art and architecture, writing, fashion and music. Always taking us in dynamic and innovative directions. New York is our connection with the rest of the world to the art scene.

Looking at any New York event calendar, you will find traveling art exhibits, speakeasies, creative dining, to live performances, and film happenings, it's surprising that so much can go on in one city all the time.

New York offers a chock full of ways to be inspired. And for this reason I am taking a weekend trip to NYC to work in cafes and crank out the last articles in my series.