Jennifer Lawrence Is Our Evita Peron (go with me on this one)

So, I was listening to the soundtrack to Evita and watching The Hunger Games at the same time last night. (That's right, I'm pretty awesome) After the movie ended, Jennifer Lawrence and Evita (the person) were temporarily yet strongly smushed together in my brain. In my defense, Lawrence and Evita Peron have a lot of things in common. I'm going to make a list right now, and, because one of the women is dead, the verb tenses are going to get a little tricky.

So, both women are actresses, they both rose to fame at a relatively early age, they moved from small towns to big cities to chase their dreams (Louisville, KY isn't exactly small, but it's no New York), their hair often changes color wildly from brunette to blonde, they both received incredible acclaim early in their professional lives (Oscar winner, First Lady of Argentina), and at one point, despite massive economic and political turmoil, they were the most fascinating thing happening in their respective countries. More than that, though, they both exude an everywoman, working class sensibility while also somewhat representing the ideal woman (up for debate, personal preference, covering my own ass with this parenthetical note, etc). So, obviously, I had to combine one of my favorite songs in Evita with GIFs of Jennifer Lawrence:

Roger Ebert: 1942-2013

(Image Source)

I heard about Roger Ebert's death later than most people, and by that I mean I heard about it six hours after the announcement was made. So great was his impact and his presence that a mere six hours was all it took for most of my friends and relatives to hear about his death.

I can't speak to Roger Ebert much as a person, because I knew him only through his work in film criticism. I remember fondly my time spent watching him on television, sitting on the couch with my mother, yelling at him and Siskel about movies that we hadn't even seen. Our screams of "C'mon, Ebert!" could be heard around the house, usually followed by fits of laughter. 

Roger Ebert taught me how to talk about movies in the same way that authors like Bill Peet and Kurt Vonnegut taught me how to write. He contained in him that same crotchety, articulate, anger-inducing, and brilliant spirit that I tend to gravitate towards. His vocabulary was extensive, yet he had the ability to cut a film down with so few words. He seemed to invite discourse and dissent, even as his thumbs made him into a kind of Roman Emperor, condemning a film to death or letting it live another day.

Again, I didn't know him personally, but I feel an incredible connection with him, after inviting him into my home and having him invite me into his mind for so many years.  He was a brilliant writer who ignited debate and formed the way we experience film. He will be missed.

'Game of Thrones' Returns in 3 Days!

Happy Good Friday, or, if you're not of the Christian persuasion, Happy Friday!   Easter is just around the corner, and that means...

Jon Snow Can't Wait for Easter!

...that Game of Thrones is coming back for Season 3!!!

Sure, Season 2 had its weak moments. Oona Chaplin's Talisa was a major misstep, and that character is still happening in Season 3. Still, this season has the White Walkers we were all promised in the pilot, and it seems like Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Danaerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) will finally have something to do after basically saying the same things over and over in Season 2 ('I'm a Virgin Soldier!' and 'Where are my Dragons?', respectively).  So, I'm excited.

Game of Thrones is back in 3 Days! Just like Jesus!

New 'Game of Thrones' Promo is Full of Dragons

Easter is Coming, you guys! Game of Thrones returns this Sunday!!!!

'Game of Thrones' Returns March 31st!

6 days to the Season 3 premiere of Game of Thrones,
which just happens to be Easter Sunday!
Tyrion Lannister is excited for March 31 - so should you be!

Enlightened's Cancellation in Princess Bride GIFs

In case you haven't heard, Enlightened on HBO has been officially cancelled. When I first heard, the news hit me like an unexpected ROUS.

I went through some of the familiar stages of grief.  

Honestly, I couldn't believe it.

Denial

The show has such a loyal fan base! Cancelled??

But what if I started a campaign to get it back on the air? Maybe it has a life on Netflix! What about Kickstarter?

Bargaining

Then, I just wanted to fight someone. Let some honcho know that they'd ripped out my still-

'Veep': Season 2 Promo

Veep is Back!

Between worrying about Enlightened's renewal, watching the strange second season of Girls, and anticipating the third season of Game of Thrones, I completely forgot that there was a new season of HBO's Veep on the horizon. Thankfully, the good people at HBO have sent a beacon in the form of a promo video, and it is great. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is back as Selina Meyer, the trash-talking VP who takes the ineffectual nature of her position and runs with it. Most of the cast seems to be returning, and Gary Cole is in this season in an undisclosed role. It's nice to see him back in the Oval Office, since he memorably played the Vice President in The West Wing for the last batch of seasons. From the video below, it seems like the President might be playing some sort of role this year, though hopefully he won't actually appear on-screen (he was unseen for all of last season). Check out the video, and get ready for April 14th:

The 'Veronica Mars' Movie is Happening!

Dick, Logan, Keith, Veronica, Mac, and Wallace

There has been a lot of good pop culture news recently. The trailer for the new Hangover movie came out and doesn't look terrible, Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing seems like it's going to be awesome (though it can never touch the majesty of Kenneth Branagh's 90s version), and Bunheads on ABC Family got renewed for a second season. No news, however, is quite as exciting as yesterday's announcement that there is actually going to be a Veronica Mars movie. Hinted at for some time by lead actress Kristen Bell, it all seemed like an unattainable dream until the Kickstarter campaign started yesterday morning. They were looking to get $2 million in 30 days, and they've already gotten $2.7 million in donations in a little over a day. So, yeah, this movie is happening.

Created by Rob Thomas (not this guy), Veronica Mars is a California-set neo-noir television series following a pint-sized sleuth (Bell played the titular Veronica) as she navigates the

Happy Birthday, Liza Minnelli!

Liza Minnelli turns 67 years old today (67 with a V).  I've been thinking of her a lot lately, what with Arrested Development coming back and Oz the Great and Powerful being in theaters. Plus, one time I swear I saw her driving a UPS truck in central Indiana, and I love a girl who delivers mail. So, the least I can do is draw a picture of her saying my favorite line from one of my favorite movies, Arthur:

Liza Minnelli in Arthur

Happy Birthday, LM!

Bea Arthur and Women's History Month

In honor of Women's History Month (or Womyn's Herstory Month), it is Tableau Your Mind's pleasure to present Bea Arthur, who was awesome in The Golden Girls and even better as Maude, titular character in the TV show Maude and one of the classiest, brassiest dames that television has ever seen:

That is all.