Two things for tonight.

First, there are two movies you should take time to see. The first is still in the theaters, Crash. It is a great examiniation of human nature, and in particular, racism. I left the theater wondering whether or not I'm really a "good" person. It also related some to my feminist rants. Everyone in the movie had a little racism which leaked out at times, racism they probably didn't realize they had most of the time or else racism which really didnt' bother them. I think sexism is the same way. It's so ingrained in human nature and society right now that we often let it pass without noticing the harmful stereotypes being reinforced every day. My favorite characters in this movie were the ones who took note of their own prejudice and tried to change it even if they ended up failing miserably in the end. So yeah, go see this movie while it's still out there. Don't wait for the video, it's too long to wait.

The second movie I saw recently was Return to Paradise with Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix, and my favorite, Vince Vaughn. This drama was extremely powerful because it dealt with a choice none of us would want to make. Basically the choice is "save your friend from being hung in Malaysia by serving 3-6 years in a third world prison (for a crime you did actually take part in)" or "let your friend die and say in nice safe America." Yeah, at first I thought it would be an easy thing to decide but obviously there are more complications to worry about. Another very thought provoking movie which I highly recommend.

By the way, some of you may be wondering why I am seeing so many movies. Honestly, this is what I like to do during the summer. I hardly ever get out to see movies during the school year. I average about one movie in the theater every three months. I don't see many other movies either just cause of the lack of selection at the campus movie store. So during the summer I get to watch all the movies I missed and then some. My movie intake will diminish in the next couple weeks though because rehearsals for The Merry Widow for which I am assistant stage manager, start Monday and I am also starting a second part time job at BEHIV, a non-profit which provides services like mental health counseling and help finding housing to low income HIV patients (see link to the left). I will be a development assistant aka all around office intern. It's going to be interesting and it pays well.

Okay, so second thing, probably even more fun than any of the above. An amazing website called Tom Cruise Is Nuts! Go to www.tomcruiseisnuts.com for entertainment and fuel for arguments against die hard Cruise fans. Here is their "disclaimer"

"Our use of the term "nuts" is meant, as defined in Webster's, as a reference to an "eccentric" person. That's all. We do not mean to in any way denigrate or belittle anyone with mental illness. In fact, we take mental illness very seriously, which is why Mr. Cruise's ill-informed rant inspired us to create this website. We don't have anything personally against Mr. Cruise, either. We think he's a first-class actor and a humanitarian. We did used to worry that he was a misguided zealot, but that's all. Now we think he's a dangerous, misguided zealot."

I love that last part. I completely agree - "a dangerous, misguided zealot." I was very sad today to hear about Katie Holmes converting to Scientology and I hope she wakes up from the trance Cruise has put her in (probably using vitamens and exercise) so that she can return to the sweet, normal actress I used to respect.

That's all for now. Leave me comments. Yay!