Oh. My. Beard.

Is there really any question why I love a man with a beard? Behold Exhibit 1. I know he looks scruffy (okay, and possibly homeless) but I would run away with Christopher Eccleston in a heartbeat.

Things to think about when you're sick

You know the kind of movie that is shockingly and hysterically funny the first time you see it? You laugh so hard other people in the theater start to look at you instead of the movie (okay, that only happened to me once). Then you watch it again and since you're not surprised anymore it's slightly less hilarious. For me, it's movies like Austin Powers in Goldmember and Jackass: The Movie. This is not a critique of those movies; I love them and I watch them. I still even recommend Jackass constantly.

But there is another kind of comedy, a much rarer breed. A movie that is funny the first time, to be sure. Yet, the more times you see it, the funnier it starts to get. Little jokes you didn't see the first time (or second or third) now show up like some comedy gnome altered it between viewings. Normal scenes are even funnier than overtly comedic ones.

In my own experience, the perfect example of this kind of movie is Mars Attacks! I didn't even like it the first time I saw it. I had very high expectations a a longtime Tim Burton fan and found the movie, well, odd and not quite funny. Then a year or so later I watched it again on DVD. And caught repeats on HBO. And caught later repeats on TNT. I have probably seen it a dozen or so times now (only limited by the fact that I have yet to actually buy the DVD) and I literally find it exponentially funnier each time I see it. I have formulated a ridiculously simple equation:

(Mars Attacks!)(Number of Viewings) = humor factor.

And that thing he does with his glasses...

I was watching Bill Nighy on Charlie Rose the other night and something occurred to me...

I cannot concentrate on a single thing this man is saying.

It's not that what he's talking about isn't interesting. Whenever I can force myself to focus, he talking about great stuff: Projects he's been in (which I love), people he's worked with (also love), and his method which I actually find the most fascinating. However...

I can't concentrate on the conversation because I am enthralled by just looking at him. I mean, he's really just a 57-year old British man with thinning hair and glasses that hide his eyes but there is such an unescapable extra factor that makes him hypnotic.

I only picked up on him a couple of years ago. He started popping up in movies I enjoyed but it wasn't some artsy movie that really opened my eyes. I was a combination of two quite popular movies: Love Actually and Underworld. Love Actually has so many great actors in it bit I think it was Nighy's aging rock star that made me like that movie. He was so ballsy and funny and totally singular. Underworld is a totally fun movie but whey Nighy-as-Viktor comes on the scene, the whole thing really catches fire. (His relative absence in the sequel is to that movie's detrement, sadly.)

So as I was watching this interview, I know that I am not the only one affected this way by him. Charlie Rose looks mesmerized several times in the show and if you ever watch Rose, you know he can barely restrain himself from interrupting his guests. Nearly no interruptions on this one. Nighy magic.

And that thing he does with his glasses... hilarious!



Photos courtesy billnighy.net and bbc.co.uk

Exterminate

I miss Doctor Who.

I am not some kind of old school Tom Baker Doctor fan, but hooo boy do I love those new doctors! Admittedly, it took me ages to even like the newest Doctor even though David Tennant is fun and even Billie Piper has grown on me. But my god, how completely amazing was Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor? (Eagerly looking forward to his addition to Heroes.)

When the show is on at our house these things can be counted on:
1. I will listen to volume 10+ points higher than any other show.
2. I giggle and blush like a little girl. Completely insane.
3. Never never never fast-forward the opening credits. Arguably best theme song since The Rockford Files. Those Brits have made a ringtone of the new theme but won't make it available to anyone who doesn't live on their island. Gits.

I am now very sad that series two has come to an end on Sci Fi but hurrah for BBC America which is rerunning series one.

A little something for the new year...

A quick word about Natalie and Drew...

These two fine folks run a couple of the most hilarious daily comic sites. Plus, they're husband and wife which I happen to think is cute and hip. Bein' single is sooooooo 2006.

I do not know them so this is not some pat on the back for my friends. They just run amazingly funny stuff, the blogs are inspired and they have the most kickass t-shirts around. My favorites for the gym: "Cupcake + Multivitamin! Super Breakfast!" and "Exercising: It Blows!" (Take those cruches and eat 'em you annoying trainer!!)

However, the all-time master of shirts is the one you see here. I shouldn't even need to explain why. You can check all their fabulousness out at Toothpaste for Dinner, Natalie Dee and Married to the Sea.

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