Matthew & Marg: Brave

Marg

So here is the straight truth as I see it - it isn't that Brave is a bad film, at all - but it isn't a Pixar film, you know? For their first female lead character, all Pixar has done is created a Disney Princess. For a studio renowned for their originality, they've just rehashed the same basic story that their parent company has been telling for the last 25 years (modern princesses, though some of the older ones fit too). That is, a mildly rebellious girl doesn't feel like living the life her parents/society have picked out for her, some magic happens, lessons are learned but said girl gets what she wants in the end anyway. It's not a bad story at all, Disney has done some wonderful and creative things with it. My critism here isn't with the story model, it's the story model being used incorrectly.

If they were owning Brave fully, and not calling it a Pixar movie, I think Merida would make an excellent addition to the Disney Princess cannon. She is a modern enough character to match the likes of other recent additions such as Tiana and Rapunzel. The only thing Brave "lacks" to fit the mould is a love interest, but I think it will be an important step forward for the Princess franchise to remove that factor anyway, if they want to move away from the very valid "the end goal is always to get a man" critisms of their past efforts.

Disney isn't calling this a Princess movie, unfortunately. It is technically a Pixar movie, and that's where the real disappointment sets in. Pixar as creators aren't flawless - Cars & Cars 2 are just the worst - but as a general rule they make great movies with wonderful characters, which makes it just a damn shame that Brave boasted their first lead female character, and even more of a shame that they didn't make the effort to give her a great original movie!

They've made 13 feature films, it's gross that this is their first female lead. And grosser still that they made a movie a) that doesn't feel like a true Pixar production and b) with a plotline that is so dependant on her being-a-girl-ness as opposed to her human-ness. As my movie going partner-in-crime Ben said "It sucks that they had to make such a big deal about it being their first female lead." I really would have prefered to see a film where it didn't matter the gender of the character, because leads of either sex should be the norm, not the exception. The little boy in Up for example, could have been a little girl and it wouldn't have intrinsically changed the point, plot, or mood of the movie. That would have been a better sort of way to introduce Pixar's first female lead, in my opinion.

All of that aside, I thought Brave was beautiful to look at (though, I gladly would have forgone the 3D), quite funny, and certainly there were worse ways to spend a rainy evening.

-Marg

@acuteinsomnia

Matthew

I liked Brave. It was nice to look at, and I have a fondness for gingers. So I liked it. But it wasn't what I was expecting.

Going into the movie I was anticipating an adventure story. Girl breaks away from what she is "supposed" to be, does something... well, brave, rescues a kingdom or something. And I guess that sort of happens, but it's really a movie about a relationship between a mother and daughter. Which is nice, but not what I was expecting.

As Marg mentioned above, it doesn't really watch like a Pixar film, this movie is all Disney. It's a story we have all seen before, and for me that was my biggest let down. The thing that makes Pixar movies so brilliant is that they tell interesting new stories. Look at Finding Nemo, Wall-E, all Toy Stories, Brave unfortunately doesn't deserve to sit on the same shelf. It's not that it's a bad movie, it just fails to do or say anything new. It really should of been promoted as a princess film, because it would fit in with that category brilliantly.

Also, what's up the resurgence of archery? First Katniss, now Merida. I'd be interested to see if there is a huge enrolment increase among girls age 12-18.

Brave: 3 Emma Thompson Voices/ 5 Gingers

-Matthew

@thematthewjames

A Who's Who of Style

This post is dedicated to the fashion lovers out there. The Skinny Chai has decided to do another one of our famous (ha) lists, this time profiling our favorite fashionistas! Marg had the task of choosing her top deceased icons, while Matthew examined current style mavens. Take a look below at each of our top 4 picks, and leave a comment with some of your favorite fashion icons! 

 

MARG'S PICKS:

 

Elizabeth Taylor - Obviously.

 

Taylor is one of my all time favourite celebrities ever. She was so talented, so beautiful, and damn did the woman know how to dress. Some people probably can only picture older Liz - that of giant diamonds and sequined tops - and thus wonder about my enamourment, but I say that her personal style was one that leaned toward glamour to the very end. She loved sparkle, she loved colour, and that can be seen through-out her life. My favourite era for Elizabeth Taylor is of course the 1950s and 60s, her time to shine as one of the world's sexiest, most beautiful women. Sweetheart necklines showed up frequently in her wardrobe, as did super-fitted waists. I wouldn't call it effortless chic - that would downplay the percision of her looks - the hair, the cleavage, the jewelery - everything was very intentional, clearly coming from a love of beauty. 

 

 

 Katherine Hepburn - Pants!

 

It's almost a surprise to myself that I consider Katherine Hepburn as a personal fashion icon. Anyone who knows me knows that I just don't like pants - don't like 'em, don't wear 'em - Hepburn had the opposite view: she loved 'em, she wore 'em - in the 1930s and 40s, this was unheard of! Women (especially Hollywood starlets) didn't wander around in pantsuits for all the World to see. Hepburn bucked conventions - I love her style because she dressed exactly how she wanted to dress, not how society said she should. And she looked sophisticated and classy while doing so. Maybe if I could pull off slacks as well as Katherine, I'd wear some wide-legged highwaisted trousers too (probably not...)

 

 Carey Grant - The Man

 

Oh he was one hell of a sharp dressed and dapper gentleman! Grant wore a suit better than all his peers (they were all wearing suits at this time, so that is huge) - he was manicured and styled and clean and wore dinner jackets like he was born in them (he wasn't, not even figuratively, as he came from shockingly humble beginnings). Grant was the epitome of elegance, juxtaposed with a killer sense of comedic timing. 

 

 

Audrey Hepburn - Bangs!

 

It's not just her iconic look as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (but what a look!) that makes the second Hepburn show up on this list - Audrey was stylish and lovely in all her public appearances. She had a very uncomplicated look - effortlessly looking amazing in simple black turtlenecks and ciggarette-pants. She knew the value of singularly worn bold accessories, refusing to go overboard. Through-out her life, Hepburn managed to look fawn like and fresh, having a wardrobe of clothes seemingly designed to wear on sunny days spent having fun. Also: she had some of the best eyebrows in the history of Hollywood. 

 

 

MATT'S PICKS: 

 

 Tilda Swinton - THE SWINTON

I feel like people either love her style or think she is an alien from Saturn, sent to distract us all while her native people slowly pump all of the fresh water out of the Canadian Arctic in order to create a super race that will eventually kill us earthlings (which is probably why people who love her, love her). Regardless of what side of the debate your on you cannot deny that Tilda Swinton has a look that is all her own, she plays by the book of no rules when it comes to fashion. Whether or not she's dressing for the red carpet, a magazine cover, or day to day life, she has managed to create her own unique brand. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "THE SWINTON!"

Pharrell Williams - Mr. Cool

Clearly this man has style. At times he's a bit prep, sometimes he's a bit urban, and sometimes he's straight up glamor. So there is something for everyone. While this hodgepodge of styles could easily go wrong- I think Pharrell does a bang up job at pulling it off. I think you need loads of confidence to pull off a bold look- and he's got it.

 Helena Bonham Carter - The Crazy

My criteria for this list was to choose people who had their own definition of style. I didn't want to go with trend setters, or the people who always get it "right" on the red carpet. I wanted risk takers, individuals who truly expressed their personality through their clothes. That being said, I also did not pick anyone who I thought used fashion as a way of seeking attention, or shocking people. For me, Helena Bonham Carter fits the bill perfectly. While her red carpet looks always raise an eye brow or two she manages to create her own unique point of view without being to over the top- she doesn't dress to shock, she dresses to express and feel confident.


Nicole Kidman - A Class Act

I chose Nicole Kidman because I think she is someone who manages to combine her own sense of style with trends. She is usually a red carpet stunner, but she isn't boring about it. Sometimes she will use an accessory in a strange way that throws people off, many (including myself) may not like the choice, but good for her for being fresh about it. She's a woman who has the ability to be on top of every ones best dressed list, but lately she's been saying fuck that shit, and she does what she wants, not what a stylist wants. 

We hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to comment below and tell us what you think!

Chit Chat: Academy Awards 2012

Marg:  okay - I did a pretty good job picking winners! I was um... occupied when they announced Midnight in Paris for best screenplay, who accepted that award?
Matt:  nobody. LAME . Even though he totally deserved that award, I think that purely because he refuses to go to award shows they should have given it to Bridesmaids.
Marg:  I agree! I was pleased that the Descendents won for best adapted, just because I like Jim Rash so much. Also, so happy for Christopher Plummer!!! I can't believe he's never won before!
Matt:  Oh me too. He was long over due. I still haven't seen The Beginners, I really want to tho. I'm hoping it will pop up on Netflix one of these days. I was really glad that Meryl Streep won.
Marg: Me too - people act like she's over awarded some times, but it's only her second Oscar
Matt: third.
Marg:  whatever
Matt:  But it was her first time winning in almost 30 years! It makes me made that some people are saying that the Academy didn't want to give it to Viola Davis because they didn't want two black women winning. That is bull shit.
Marg:I think it has more to do with not wanting the same film to win twice in acting
Matt:  Meryl Streep was amazing in The Iron Lady. AMAZING! And, Viola only started getting big buzz over the past few weeks. Meryl had the early buzz, when everyone would have voted.
Had the show been in another 2 weeks from now, and people had extra time to vote, things may had been different. But still, Meryl is QUEEN
Marg:  I say it was a fine choice! Can we take a moment for Billy Crystal?
Matt:  ahhh yes.
Marg:  Brutal.
Matt:  I liked him. Didn't love him. It was nice nostalgia I guess...
Marg:  I thought it seemed so thrown together! I know he was a replacement, but they've had weeks
Matt:  they had a few months
Marg:  Also, wtf was up with him in blackface?
Matt:  I know.....
Marg:  like seriously? No.
Matt:  I found him to be slightly mean to people, which I didn't think was his style. Overall, I found the show to be on the boring side.
Marg:  one of the only times I laughed was when he made fun of Nick Nolte
Matt:  Even all of the montage videos I thought were boring. Yes- that was funny. lol
Marg:  The montage videos made no sense! Why was Twilight in there?
Matt:  I know. Random. You would think they would show Oscar winning movies...
Marg:  But no. Any old movie will do
Matt:  I also thought Circ du Sole was really random. And a guy fell!!
Marg:  I saw that!  feel like no one in Circ has ever gone to the movies either. They are too busy training
Matt:  lol. So overall I thought the show seems a bit boring, and thrown together. Next year I hope Ellen Hosts again. or maybe Tina Fey.


FASHION ROUND-UP

Matt:  Okay- Fashion. Who were your favs?
Marg: Maya Rudolph - loved LOVED the colour, great detailing, sophisticated, just great.
Matt:  Agree I thought she looks pretty classy. I also loved Penelope Cruz. I thought she looked classic
Marg::  See, I thought she looked like she was trying way too hard
Matt:   I think you should try hard at the Oscars
Marg::  Bérénice Bejo's dress looked amazing. I loved the beading, the whole thing looked lighter than air. I wish her hair was a little bigger though. Not much, just a little.
Matt:  Yeah- her hair ruined it for me. I liked Gwyneth and the cape
Marg: me too!
Matt:  It was a risky choice. But I think she was smart. Everyone kept saying how cold it was, and she was toasty warm in that thing.
Marg: She looked like an ivory pillar. In a good way. Natalie Portman - loved the polka dots, fantastic shade of red on her
Matt:  I think so too. There was something about the necklace that I didn't like. It all felt a bit 90's put together. But I thought the dress alone was really lovely. Octavia Spencer I thought looked great. I thought the silhouette was awesome on her.
Marg:   me too - another example of great bead work
Matt:  Any uggo's?
Marg:   Yes. Many.
Matt:  haha
Marg:  I hated Melissa McCarthy's dress. I wanted to like it. I just couldn't
Matt:  I liked everything minus the sleeves
Marg:  The colour was gross. And the sleeves looked broken
Matt:  I really didn't like Viola Davis's dress. I love that she didn't wear a wig, but I thought the dress (especially the bottom half) was fugs
Marg:  I loved her hair (everyone did!) but the dress looked like something a girl with low self esteem would wear to prom.
Matt:  It was a bad wedding dress died green
Marg:  I didn't like Michelle Williams' dress. I get that she is adorable and talented (and I love that Busy Phillips is her date to these things, and I wish they were my friends!) but the mid-section of the dress? With its tacky rhinestone bow? No thank-you
Matt:  I agree! there was so much going on! It's like- just pick one cute thing and work it!
Marg:  I need all the cute things!!! Look at my hair!!!!
Matt:  haha- J.Lo looked trashy and I'm pretty sure I could see her nipps
Marg:  Okay, the Edith Head quote?!?! I was like... are you listening to the words that are coming out of your own mouth?
Matt:  not only are you listening to the words coming out of your mouth, but did you look at your sleeves before you left the house? You are missing chunks! Lots of bad sleeves this year
Marg:  Year o' the ugly sleeves. When Melissa Leo presented, I thought the top of her dress was leopard print. In pictures (and when she was in the audience) it seems to be just sequins. Either way, ugly dress.
Matt:  Yeah- it was really underwhelming,
Matt:  I also really disliked Shaliene Woodly (girl from The Descendants)
Marg:  that's who that is! I didn't know who I was looking at, so I didn't pay any attention
Matt:  yeah- white turtleneck dress with air holes
Marg:  right, yeah, it's coming back to me, haha Every time I see Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, I am like "oh yeah, that's still happening" and they've been together for years, so its not fair at all. What is fair to say is that her dress didn't fit her, looked cheap and sloppy, and showed off her nasty upper arm tat.
Matt:  She is tickety tack but love is love
Marg: I don't want to pick on Stacey Keibler. I really don't. I feel like the whole world knows that her getting to go to the Oscars is just weird and outside of the natural order of things. And it must be hard if the general assumption is that your boyfriend will never take you seriously and you'll be replaced by a younger woman come Oscar time next year. So I don't want to be mean about her. So I present the dress without comment
Matt:  haha I had no idea until last night that she was a wrestler!
Marg: yes! Well... not a wrestler-wrestler, pretty sure she was just like, a you-know, ring bimbo, haha They probably didn't make her fight "real" fights
Matt:  either way, I had no clue she used to be white trash
Marg: still dressed up like an Oscar to go to the Oscars
Matt:  who was your favorite oscar look alike? Stacy Keibler, Meryl Streep, or Oprah?
Marg:  Meryl, obvs. She looked like she was wearing a golden duvet.
Matt:  haha- loved it, Also- I love Pharell. He looked great. I didn't like all of the shots that they kept doing of that band in the balcony, but he looked good.
Marg:  Oh yes, best dressed men: James Earl Jones He looked so nice in his waistcoat.
Matt:  Christopher Plummer in is Navy Velvet tux.
Marg:  LOVED IT. Speaking of Christopher Plummer, during his acceptance speech, they panned to his wife Elaine Taylor in the audience, and I literally gasped "She's beautiful"
Matt:  We all commented on her foxiness
Marg:  I am kinda obsessed with foxy old women
Matt:  I loved Carl's powder blue suit
Marg: Are you talking about the seat filler?
Matt:  yeah! He was a stud.
Marg:  haha - I liked him. Angelina Jolie had so much fun with that slit in her dress. So much. Most fun she's had in years that wasn't related to children.
Matt:  I thought she was very odd to watch last night.
Marg: It's because you're not used to seeing her having fun.

Best & Worst Dressed Oscar Gallery 2012!

Chit Chat: Grammy Awards, Chris Brown, and Whitney - Oh My!

Matt:  So much to discuss!

Marg:  I know!

Matt:  Let's start with the Grammy's

Marg:  I don't have a whole lot to say haha

Matt:  did you watch?

Marg:  certainly not

           I played with a kitten instead

Matt:  lol- Well here is the recap- Adele won everything and rightfully so. Nicky Minaj (however you   spell her name) gave the shittiest performance ever. Chris brown preformed twice- NOT NECESSARY. LL Cool Jay said a prayer for Whitney Houston, which was a nice sentiment but odd coming from someone named Ladies Love Cool James. They left Etta James out of the dead people montage and there was a lot of Whitney shout outs.

the grammy's.

Marg:  Okay - first, good for Adele.

Nicky Minaj annoys me so much.

WHY DO THEY LET CHRIS BROWN HAVE A CAREER?!

Caps intentional!

Matt:  I know!! Have you seen any of those tweets going around of women saying things like "I'd let him beat me.. sexy!"

Like WHAT THE FACK!

Marg:  I saw those - what the hell is wrong with people?!

Matt:  I have no clue- I don't even know what would prompt someone to ever think that.

If it was supposed to be a joke it wasn't

Marg:  even if one woman said it as a joke, they certainly weren't all joking

society is messed up

Matt:  i know!

Like- I get that at some point people need a second chance- but he never really got the repercussions that he deserved

And I can't believe that they let him lip Synch his way through a performance twice.

Marg:  I don't even know that I believe too much in second chances when it comes to domestic abuse.

but hey, that's me!

Did LL Cool Jay lick his lips a lot?

PS: I've been looking at fashion finally, so I have things to say. Many feelings, really,

Matt:  One girl tweeted that she was keeping a count of how many times he licked his lips haha

Marg: hahahaha
Matt:  so, fashions?

best:

Marg:  best is hard to call... there was so, so much ugly

Matt:  hahaha

I though Adele looked beautiful

And I liked Rhianna

Rhianna in Tina Turner's old wig. Adele in sleeves.

Marg:  Maybe (ugh) Kelly Osbourne?

Matt:  but her hair!

Marg:  I kinda dig it

Adele always looks lovely

I didn't like Rhianna's ass crack necklace

Kelly Osbourne in weird hair.

Matt:  I thought Katy Perry's dress was really beautiful- But the combo of her spray tan/ hair/ and lipstick made her look like an umpa lumpa

What didn't you like?

Katy Perry in a look by Willy Wonka

Marg:  Oh everything!

Matt:  lol

Marg:  Taylor Swift's champagne robot geisha dress

Matt:  I know!

BARF!

too much!

Taylor Swift in a dress by annoying.

Marg:  Also, Nicki Minaj

what the hell was that?

I think the stink of desperation would knock you out if you stood too close to that woman

Matt:  I am so sick of these stupid people and their costume fashion.... It's all a gimmick.

haha

yes

well said

Nicky Minaj wearing a future regret.

Marg:  Fergie.

I'm just going to wear neon orange lace over my giant granny panties.

Matt:  haha- I could have gotten on board with Fergie had she of worn a one piece body suit.

And if it wasn't black.

Orange and black is just Halloween

Did you see the girl with the gun arm?

Fergie in a breathable number.

 

Marg:  I was just about to bring her up!

I don't know who she is.

Matt:  desperate

me either

but now people are talking about her

Marg:  She looked like a wax figure with a robot arm

Matt:  It was like she was wearing a transformer costume

Marg:  in all seriousness... is she a singer?

Matt:  i just googled her- her name is Sasha

she is a Russian singer

Marg:  well, good for her.

This happened.

 

Matt: So- Whitney Houston.

Where were you when you heard the news?

Marg:  At Ben's. I logged onto facebook, and someone posted the I Will Always Love You video without comment. And I was like "I think Whitney Houston died"

Matt:  That's a bit ghostly of you... (I was going to say ESPN, but that is a network... )

Marg:  It was sorta weird, 'eh?

I think that it was just that people don't usually post about Whitney, maybe?

Matt:  Not in that way.

It's kind of weird how people react to celebrity deaths

I was actually a bit shaken up.

Marg:  I don't feel like I was super impacted. It was no Amy Winehouse situation for me.

Matt:  I guess it's always more of a shock than anything.

Not that it was surprising that she died, but it was still shocking.

Marg:  I've been amused by some of the facebook tribute posts about her in the last few days

Which I know is wrong...

Matt:  lol

Marg:  But the specific songs that some people pick are strange choices

Matt:  haha

I have seen a lot of people pick rando moments, like in interviews, or award shows

Marg:  I mean, the real hits, the classics, yes please. Or if you were a huge fan, something more obscure

Matt:  It's all odd... and odd experience.

Marg: Kimbra gets to do it.

Every time I go to the hair dresser (which isn't often enough), I bring up the topic of bangs. And every time, I get cruelly shot down.

Most recently, the woman I've decided will probably be my go-to person* managed to skirt around the issue, telling me we could "try bangs" with great hesitation, then proceeding to simply not cut them. I still like her better than the last person I went to: 

"If you get bangs you'll look silly," said that stylist with asymmetrical, partially straight, partially spiky cropped purple and white-blond hair, "like a little girl."

Why all the professionals I've gone to are so hesitant to give me the bangs I've desired for so long, is for two reasons. One, my hair is... wavy-curly, I guess? I like to say that it is curly, but maybe only parts of it are (?), and all of it is wavy. And some days it is really curly. My mother insists that it isn't curly at all, but I think she is basing this around the fact that technically if I don't wash it, and then I brush out the curl, it looks almost straight. And before I hit puberty, it was straight, so maybe she feels like that is my real hair. Incidentally, I had bangs up until my grade 7 blossom into womanhood (ahahahahaha!), and when I grew them out, I parted my hair down the middle and clipped them out of the way on either side with some colorful snap barrettes. Excellent work, young Marg. 

The second reason is that I am always very honest with my hairdressers. I don't really know how to do my hair. I don't own a blow dryer or a functional straightening iron - and even if I did, I don't know how to use those devices. At all. I let my hair air dry (even in the freezing cold!) and I squish product in it (not gel though! No crusty-curls for this girl!). So, ultimately there runs a risk of the dreaded curly bang. Which, according to the pros will either make me look like Exhibit A:

He was very pretty.

 or like Exhibit B:




Would it be so bad?


But - my desire for bangs is quite strong, so I present to you Exhibit C, or the glory that is New Zealand songstress Kimbra and her most excellent curly bangs: 

So maybe there is hope for me after all? I'm no Kimbra, but our face shapes aren't that dissimilar (I think?), and I already have a bob. Debate amongst yourselves!


-Marg
@acuteinsomnia


*I have very little loyalty to people who cut my hair, except for my undying loyalty to Matthew, who has chopped it off three times for me.