Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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Until this past weekend, when the Manolo saw the new Tropic Thunder movie, The Manolo had nearly given up on Ben Stiller. His act, once so sharp and funny, had grown stale and repetitive, and almost unbearably lazy with throw away movies such as Dodgeball.

But, with this new movie he has redeemed himself, for it is one of the funniest and sharpest movies the Manolo has seen in many months, indeed, it is the work of near genius.

Of the course, Tropic Thuner is not the movie for the faint of heart, but those who can tolerate cruel and intensely sardonic humor will be well rewarded. Both Ben Stiller and Jack Black are exceedingly good, and Robert Downey, Jr. gives what is undoubtedly one of the most confoundingly brilliant and funny performances the Manolo has ever seen. And even with that, the entire movie is stolen by (of all peoples) Tom Cruise(!), who gives what is the most exceptional and unhinged performance of his career, one that has honestly caused the Manolo to reassess his opinion of him.

So, if you are the person who loves the comedic acting, you must go see this movie forthwith.

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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The workings of the human mind are truly the mystery, no?

For several days now two songs have been playing continuously–round, round, baby, right round–in the Manolo’s mind. The first is the marvelously hummable “The Brotherhood of Man,” from the the quintessential 1960’s workplace musical comedy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

The second is, inexplicably, the opening few chords from Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That.“.

The mysterious brain part is that, as far as the Manolo knows, he has not heard either of these songs in the past few weeks, and yet there they are, on the continual reply loop in his head. And so, the Manolo has decided that the best therapy is to see the movie and listen to the Dolly, not exactly the onerous tasks.

P.S. When the Manolo hears “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That,” in his head, these are NOT the mental images that accompany it…

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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The Manolo can watch Fellini’s Roma again and again, if only to see this amazingly surreal and amusing scene again and again…

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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Normally, the Manolo is not the gadget person, someone who must each week rush out and obtain the latest piece of technological gimcrackery, however, many of the Manolo’s friends have been recommending the tiny little mini-computer, the Asus Eee PC as being suitable for the boulevardier blogger such as the Manolo.

“It is light and small and can be easily fitted into your man bag,” said one helpful friend.

“The Manolo does not have the ‘man bag’. It is the Swaine Adeney Brigg document case!”

“Whatever, it’s perfect for you, Manolo.”

And so the Manolo purchased this little inepensive computer and it arrived yesterday. And now, today, the Manolo is sitting in the cafe, sipping the cappuccino, and blogging to you with his new machine. Yes, the Asus Eee PC is very tiny, and light, and powerful enough to surf the internets, but unfortunately, the keyboard is too small for the Manolo’s thick and inelegant fingers, and this has been terribly frustrating, as the Manolo is the touch-typer of some ability.

The Manolo suspects that he will use this new machine occasionally, but will ultimately rely upon his beloved MacBook.

Although, this objet d’art calls powerfully to the Manolo.

“Buy me, use me, love me,” says its siren song.

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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What can one say about Lacombe, Lucien except that it is the magnificent and magnificently troubling small masterpiece.

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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The Manolo loved the first half of Be Kind, Rewind. It was innovative, anarchic, unexpected, and hilarious, nearly every detail made the Manolo laugh. Sadly, the second half of the movie was maudlin, sentimental, slack, and drippy, and it left the Manolo wondering if the movie had been put together by two different peoples.

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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Sadly, after watching Dr. Zhivago for the first time in many years, the Manolo concludes that it is the exceedingly beautiful movie, but also ponderous and ultimately unconvincing.

Laying aside the ridiculousness of the plot, and the sudden and inexplicable manner in which various characters act in ways that are contrary to their essence, the biggest fault is that Omar Sharif, although dreamily handsome, is strangely inert. His standard response to any complication or problem is bewilderment, the charming little half-smile and cocked head of the stupefied man.

Rage, man, rage against the manifest injustices of the new order! Don’t just stand there looking like the handsome idiot.

Sadly, the ridiculous plot does little to help Sharif make the most of his meager talents, as by the end, one is forced to conclude that Zhivago, the character, is also the idiot.

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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The Manolo found this Juno movie to be exceptionally annoying, more than the little manipulative, and yet also somewhat moving.

The worst and falsest part of this movie was the first ten minutes, in which the Office man pretended to be the sharp-tongued pharmacist who engaged in the witty banter about pregnancy tests with the precociously annoying Juno.

Note to the budding screenwriters: please, keep this sort of thing to yourself. The Manolo does not require more ironically ironic irony to be piled onto the heaping helping that various “hip” artists have attempted to serve him over the past decade.

Go away and come back with something authentic, something that fully takes advantage of the remarkable talents of the magnificent Jennifer Garner.

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

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Ayyyy! The dogs, they are so beautiful, and the shoes of the handlers, they are so hideous!