 |
This home looks like it stepped out of a Nancy Meyers movie, with its traditional architecture, light and bright interiors, and impeccable design. The home sits on over two serene acres, this sprawling 12,000 square foot, five bedroom, nine full and half bath, mostly one-story ranch home is a one-of-a-kind sanctuary. And it’s on the market for the first time on market in almost 30 years. Sitting behind more than 280 feet of hedged frontage, the classic façade leads to contemporary interiors, which are lofty, inviting, and flooded with natural light; while floors of polished brick and handsome hardwood; there are vaulted beamed ceilings with skylights, fireplaces throughout—including the primary suite bathroom—and views to the private pool, pool house, and gardens. A chef's kitchen with ample cabinetry and high-end appliances includes an indoor BBQ and across the loggia is a circular breakfast room with walls of glass looking out onto the terrace. The spacious owner's suite is a restful retreat with sitting area and fireplace, sunny bay window, and private covered balcony overlooking the property; it has a wood-paneled bathroom with soaking tub and large shower, along with privacy leaded-glass windows. There is also a large gym, office, and secondary bedrooms. Each with their own bathrooms attached. An Art Deco theater, bar and marble powder room, feature mohair covered sofas and burl wood columns. Glass doors along the loggia open to a large courtyard patio for quintessential California indoor-outdoor living and entertaining on two acres of majestic mature trees, tennis court, gazebo, waterfall pool and spa, pool house with bar, fireplace, and separate infrared sauna and steam room, as well as entertaining patios, large grassy areas, a designated vegetable garden, plus meandering paths leading to a peaceful yoga and meditation platform. And it can be yours if you write a check, made payable to the owner, Jim Carrey—yes, maybe you saw The Riddler costume—for a hair under $29,000,000.00.                               |
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Architecture Wednesday: Brentwood Estate
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Oscar Fashion: Hits, Misses and The Rock
 |
Here we are, another year, another Oscars, with a little pretty and a little ugly, and one that I will have to scrub from my brain to forget that I saw it, so let’s dive right in … VERY BEST  Fan Bingbing. I know, I’m going to say later that I am over these giant dresses, but this one, with a dress of shimmering silver and a gorgeous green overcoat with sleeves that last forever, is stunningly beautiful. BEST  Emily Blunt. These column dresses can look a little dull sometimes, especially in white, but the fit and the sleeves and the glitter give this life. Florence Pugh in yet another big gown, but the black shorts underneath, and the massive platforms bring a bit of punk and edge to this look; extra props for the hair.  Janelle Monae in a color most people won’t like, but I love. I love the shock of color, the bare skin, the bustier top and the regal look on Janelle’s face proving she owns this, and you. Jessica Chastain. Between the hair … perfection … and the fit … ooh la la … we have a gorgeous sexy, but classy dress. I love the black detail on the front that spills down the back. This is how that’s dine.  Marlee Matlin. I don’t know if she’s had work done, but her face is gorgeous, her hair is fabulous, and I love the idea of a bolero jacket over a skirt trimmed in ostrich feathers. Sofia Carson. I don’t know; didn’t know she was an actress or a singer but man, is she one gorgeous woman in a gorgeous gown—though, again, where’s the color—and makeup and hair for days. She’s a princess with a little somethin’, somethin’ going on.  Nicole Kidman. Yes, she’s got flowers like Halle Berry, further down, but on this dress they don’t seem like an afterthought. Plus, with the simple tousled hair, and the slinkiness of the gown, Nicole is giving me Evil Queen and y’all know I love an Evil Queen … being one myself. Angela Bassett is film royalty and nailed it with the regal purple gown for the gods. The hair, the face, the smile, t’s just gorgeous. BETTER  Ana de Armas shimmered in mermaid dress tinged with a hint of blue. It kinda got washed out with the Oscars new champagne carpet, but it still stunned. Cara Delivigne could have been swallowed up by this monster ballgown with a flower as big as The Rock's head, but she worked it to pieces.  Michelle Williams. This is how you do a sheer beaded overlay on a dress that doesn’t look like it was last minute addition. My one quibble, I would have loved some color as the dress kind of washes her out. Salma Hayek finally put away the granny gowns, with the ruffles and flourishes and gave us shocking orange tinsel and sequined fringe. Mad props Salma. GOOD  Halle Bailey in a ruffled tulle under-the-sea moment—she’s the live-action Little Mermaid—with hot pants underneath; it’s young and cool but would have looked cooler in a more modern, less fluffy silhouette. Danai Gurira in what is really a slinky black ballgown, that keeps it simple and elegant up top, though a bit too full and ballsy on the bottom.  Halle Berry … that other Halle in crisp white with a waist high slit; I was bothered by the flowers, less is kinda more, but e=very time I look at it, it’s the slit that tries too hard to be sexy. That said, Halle looks gorgeous as ever. Jamie Lee Curtis in a slinky high-necked, long-sleeved sequined dress that looks safe and simple and elegant. She's giving me new age Helen Mirren and y'all know how I feel about that Dame.  Monica Barbaro in another giant gown though this one lost some fabric up top and gave us side boob and flat boob. It just seems a little try hard. Sigourney Weaver taking a little of the Jamie Lee Curtis effect with a less stern neckline. MEH  Allison Williams. She’s no Fan Bingbing, and although the sequined dress is stunning, the addition of that enormous overcoat ... that can't even be captured in one photo ... and the shredded fabric at the hem is all too much. Ariana Dubose. It’s a bit stiff, and I loathe the idea of a train just for the sake of a train. Plus, on E! they showed a dress Halle Berry wore years ago, by Versace the same designer as this one, in black and this looks the same. I mean, if you’re gonna reboot, reboot the original.  Ava Duvernay. I get it, she’s a director and possibly not a fashionista, but this really ages her with its tinfoil wrap and train. Elizabeth Olsen. I love the dress, which is giving me 1920s fabulousness, but that sheer thing hanging down over it is just too much; the dress, which looked like oil, didn’t need any help.  Hong Chau. I love the color. I love the slightly Asian look; Hong Chau said she asked the designer to add the Mandarin collar. But that black hairy train is literally unforgiveable. Sarah Polley. Cute. Not Oscar; more West Village Lesbian supper club server. I mean, she could have worn a suit that was more fitting to the occasion cuz this ain't that.  Jennifer Connelly in a black version of Emily Blunt’s column dress, but the lack of sleeves and that sequined lobster bib neck piece do it no good at all; it’s good, not better. Kerry Condon. Nice color, but man is this dull even with the feather stacked onto a sad little train.  Michelle Yeoh. After a season of some fashion risks, wins and losses, like the black gown with the straw detail, on the front she wore to the SAG awards, Michelle busts out this white feathered wedding gown for Oscar? I had much higher expectations. It’s not Bad, it’s Meh. Sandra Oh. Goddess I love her, and I love her for wearing color, but unless she’s standing still, hands on hips like this photo, she is swallowed up in fabric. Not a good look Sandy. BAD  Andie MacDowell wearing designer Boring, and to steal a joke from this weekend’s SNL, it’s from the Kirkland Collection at CostCo. Elizabeth Banks. It looks like a tornado swept through Hollywood and this is what landed on her. Plus, she looks pissed to be seen in it.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks like cheap couch fabric turned into a really boring gown, Kate Hudson clearly thinks tin-foil and tulle an Oscar gown make, but what they really make is Jiffy Pop. WORST  Andrea Riseborough is clearly trying to honor her grandmother by wearing Nana’s wedding gown to The Oscars when she should have saved it for a shopping excursion to Tractor Supply.. Zoe Saldana is one of the most beautiful women, but she ruined it with this tired milk maid negligee looking number.  Ashley Graham. Let’s see … floor length split cape? Check. Bikini top with wraparound straps? Got it. Sheer floor-length skirt over granny panties? Nailed it. Looking good at the Oscars? Missed it. Mindy Kaling in a stiff, see-through, boned corset, bra topped, long-sleeved, stiff looking lump of blah. Of note, during the show, Kaling presented wearing the exact same dress n black and it looked 1000% better. WTF  Eva Longoria. Eva Eva Eva, you could almost turn a gay man straight … I kid, that’s impossible … but she can’t even try in this mess; so much going on, pattern and plunge … sequins and rhinestones … sheerness and yet stiffness. Honey. No. Rooney Mara in a literal sad sack. The hair, the face, the dress … sad. THE MEN WHITE HOT, WHITE NOT  Harry Shum twisted the tuxedo, gave it an asymmetrical lapel, lengthened it, and wrapped in a sash creating a kind of East meets West look that totally rocked it. Paul Mescal. I am not a fan of a white tuxedo jacket, but his flourish with the sequined rose was nice and then he ruined it with the wide legged pants. I can’t with those. I can’t. BASIC  Austin Butler. I can’t help it; he looks like he’s wasting away and I am so over his relentless I played Elvis and stayed in character for three years “story” and his basic bitch tuxedo. He's giving me starving drenched feral cat and I am so not having it. Jay Ellis, actor, in a basic tuxedo, but the fit is perfect and he looks sleek and cool and hot.  Michael B. Jordan is the only man who can have a tuxedo tailored to show off his amazing physique and make a grown-assed man dream and … well, let’s leave it at dream. John Cho took his basic tuxedo to another left, losing the bow tie, added some velvet, and what looks like maybe a vest and looks as sexy and hot as always. A LITTLE MONOTONE, A LITTLE COLOR  Danny Ramirez, in what might have been just a tuxedo, but he gave up the white shirt and bow time for a black button down and no tie. Sleek and sexy. Idris Elba in a royal blue jacket wins; Idris always wins. And yeah, I know, he could have shown up in sweats and still looked hotter than most men.  Gabriel LaBelle brought out the burgundy velvet; he’s a cute little mop top nugget. Alexander Dreymon is a slab of steaming hot beefcake in a classic tuxedo, but done in cool royal blue velvet. DIFFERENT DRUMMERS  Harvey Guillén decided to one up Harry and really worked a tuxedo with a floor-length embroidered coat that gave it flash and edge. Questlove marches to the beat of his own fashion drummer and for that he gets props; but does he need to march in crocs? Oh.Hell.No.  Jonathan Majors is one hot man; he’s so hot I’d go see a boxing movie just for the scenes with his shirt off, but … really Jonathan? The short pants with your socks exposed? That ain’t a fashion risk, that’s a fashion felony. Ram Charan also paid tribute to his culture in his choice of tuxedo that has edge and elegances and a hot man wearing it.  Lenny Kravitz brought the rock-and-roll, though I might have loved the shirt being more open and the pants a wee bit tight cuz I’m shallow like that. Riz Ahmed; f Lenny brought the 70s rock, Rz gave us hints of 50s cool rock. He totally bailed on the tuxedo and gave us wide collar and way open shirt and I am here for it. WTF  The Rock. I don’t wanna be rude but between the color of the jacket and his oddly shaped bald head he looks like an uncircumcised penis … and not in a good way. Go ahead now, unsee it. That’s it from me. What did you think? |
Monday, March 13, 2023
Oscarvations
 |
Y’all know this is a long-assed show, so I’m gonna focus on the funny, and maybe the sweet, and the winners, and what people said, cuz it was a good show, and as a huge fan of Everything Everywhere All At Once I was quite happy, so here goes … I am not the biggest fan of Jimmy Kimmel, as he sometimes plays it safe and I like my comedy with an edge, but he gave us some zingers … though he spent a bit too much time up Tom Cruise’s ass, like when he parachuted out of Top Gun onto the stage. Give me a chance to adjust my danger zone here. My banshees are caught in my inisherin.  In the acting categories alone there are sixteen first-time nominees …Jamie Lee Curtis … Ana de Armas … Colin Farrell … Michelle Yeoh … Brendan Fraser … Ke Huy Quan … Thirty-one years ago, Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan starred together in ‘Encino Man.’ Two actors from ‘Encino Man’ are nominated for Oscars. … What a very difficult night for Pauley Shore.  “Mom, I just won an Oscar.” ... and then PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE … Jamie Lee Curtis Everything Everywhere All At Once … “My mother and father were both nominated for Oscars … I just won an Oscar.” Cara Delevingne presents Sofia Carson singing ‘Applause’ from Tell It Like A Woman, a rather beautiful rendition. When I look around this room I can’t help but wonder, Is Ozempic right for me?  'My husband is in prison just for telling the truth.’ ... followed by BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM … An Irish Goodbye … The winners thank a few people and then sing Happy Birthday, with the audience, to a friend … Halle Bailey And Melissa McCarthy present a trailer for Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid film … because Disney, ABC, Oscars … blatant self-promotion. I’m glad to see Nicole Kidman has been set free from that abandoned AMC theater.  Jennifer Connelly and Samuel L. Jackson present ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING … The Whale … Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Anne Marie Bradley … ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ gave James Cameron another chance to do what he likes best: drowning Kate Winslet … You know a show is too long when even James Cameron can’t sit through it … Why did the academy not nominate James Cameron for directing? Who do they think he is? A woman? … James Cameron has directed three $2 billion movies or, given his marital history, three $1 billion movies. Morgan Freeman and Margot Robie talk about Warner Bros. a bit that could have been excluded and shaved valuable minutes off the show … and I noticed they included a clip of The Wizard of Oz, a film made by MGM?   This point in the show kinda makes you miss the slapping.  Lady Gaga is out to sing her song from Top Gun Maverick after first saying she wouldn’t be there and having the academy select someone else to sing it. She milks her moment proving she is as thirsty as Madonna and making the moment all about her Andie MacDowell and Hugh Grant talk about moisturizers; he says Andie’s been suing one every day for the last twenty-nine years and he’s never used one, which is why she is “still stunning” and he looks like a “scrotum” ...  The difference between movies and TV is that TV can’t lose a hundred million dollars. Is the gang from ‘Babylon’ here? Mindy Kaling and John Cho present BEST ORIGINAL SCORE … All Quiet On The Western Front  Jimmy Kimmel reads questions the audience, a bit that fell flat, which proves yet again, keep the host onstage and out of the crowd. Rihanna sings Life Me Up simply and elegantly. They say Hollywood is running out of ideas. Poor Steven Spielberg had to make a movie about Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg and Seth Rogan right here. The Joe and Hunter Biden of Hollywood.  BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY … Women Talking … Sarah Polley … I want to thans the academy for not being mortified by the words ‘women’ and ‘talking’ so close together. Kimmel out again to kiss Tom Cruise’s ass … does he get paid for each Top Gun mention?  and then present BEST ORIGINAL SONG … the very catchy Naatu Naatu from RRR If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence, you will be awarded the Oscar for Best Actor and permitted to give a nineteen minute long speech. If anything unpredictable or violent happens, do what you did last year: Nothing. Sit there and do nothing; maybe even give the assailant a hug. John Travolta tears up as he introduces the In Memoriam segment, with a nod to the late Olivia Newton John … Lenny Kravitz sings ‘Calling All Angels’  "This is too much. This is my second film, y’all. This crazy.” Everyone who’s ever received a text message from their father knows about editing. Editors can turn 44,000 hours of violent insurrection footage into a respectable sightseeing tour of the capital.  "Specifically my mom and dad, thank you for not squashing my creativity when I was making really disturbing horror films or perverted comedy films or dressing in drag which is a threat to no one.”  "Thanks to Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline.’… followed by BEST ACTRESS … Michelle Yeoh … Everything Everywhere All At Once … ‘For all the little boys and girls who look like me, this is a beacon of hope. And ladies, don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re past your prime.’  And there you have it, all the awards presented on the show, and yet it went just about nine minutes long. I love that Everything Everywhere All At Once won so many … Jamie Lee Curtis deserved her t … a more bizarre and amazing film I have never seen. Lots of laughs, a few missteps, but no slaps, which is a good thing. What did you think? |