February 11, 2009
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The Secret Life of Xangans
Tony (generasianx) was nice enough to invite Albert (owbert) and me to a showing of “The Secret Life of Bees” on Sunday night. After the movie, there was a panel discussion with the director, Gina Prince Bythewood, and one of the stars of the movie, Dakota Fanning. (They were also joined by Dr. Barbara Rico, an English professor from Loyola Marymount who discussed some of the central literary & multicultural themes in the movie.) Dakota Fanning, who’s not even 15 yet, blew us all away. She is a remarkably poised young woman, seemingly unaffected by the spotlight and the falseness that permeates this town. Her performance in the movie was riveting. She kept pace with her fellow actresses Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson. Quite frankly, I’m surprised the movie didn’t get more buzz (pun intended). Roger Ebert writes:
There is such a thing as feeling superior to your emotions, but I trust mine. If I sense the beginnings of a teardrop in my eye during a movie, that is evidence more tangible than all the mighty weight of Film Theory. “The immediate experience,” one of the wisest of critics called it. That’s what you have to acknowledge. I watched the movie, abandoned history and plausibility, and just plain fell for it. If it had been a bad movie, it would have been ripe for vivisection. But it is not a bad movie.I have some video of the panel discussion if anyone’s interested, I’ll post it on YouTube. If you haven’t seen this movie, it’s worth watching. If you don’t like it, I’ll pay you double.
BFF’s!, Carey & Dakota. She reminds me a lot of Jodie Foster
The Three Xangateers: Carey, Albert & Tony
I think Tony wants to cast Dakota in his next movie! Brokeback Bounty II??
14 going on 15…but she acts like she’s in her 20′s
Rev. Kim Dorr, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Dakota Fanning & Dr. Barbara Roche Rico
Outside the church in Bel Air where the movie was screened
The San Fernando Valley on a rainy evening in Bel Air. More pics here…Before the movie, we celebrated my Uncle’s 81st birthday and my cousin Cody’s 17th birthday. The whole family turned out and a good time was had by all:
Comments (26)
Ya, it was pretty fun going to see that B-movie (bad pun intented). Dakota was such a honey (another bad pun intented) for taking photos with us!
Carey, you are so lucky for getting to see all these amazing places and meet all of these wonderful people.
I can’t believe how much Dakota has grown up. I can still remember seeing her in War of the Worlds and in these pictures she looks AT LEAST 18.
i’ve heard that the movie was good. interestingly enough, i have no clue what it’s about just because of the little publicity it had. no doubt if dakota fanning and jennifer hudson are in it, it has to be a decent movie. and that is a very colorful living room you got there.
I love Dakota Fanning!
@generasianx - Very Punny Tony!
@omgitsmackie - I guess she’s about to turn 15. She’s very mature though. You would never know she’s a teenager!
@figachewy - Thanks…but that’s not my living room, LOL. It’s my aunt’s! This is my living room: http://www.xanga.com/CareyGLY/685957063/christmastime-at-the-careyfornia/
@suggestivetongue - Yeah, I like her a lot more now too after meeting her. Thanks
my dad is actually “scared” of Dakota Fanning. over the fact how she doesnt act her age. he doesnt like watching her interviews. since like you said, shes not affected by the spotlight and acts more like in her 20s.
your family produces some great looking kids – what happened with you? – lol, j/k. just another nightin hollywood hob nobbing with the stars – you lead such a dull and boring life – lol. peace, Al
Dakota…..I love her!
omgitsmackie recommended that I come by and see you. I run a very small non-profit called Communities In Schools of Perquimans County in rural North Carolina. We are affiliated with the national organization “Communities In Schools” (CIS) (we use the same logo, follow their standards) but operate completely separate from them. We are our own organization. It is extremely difficult for us to raise money in the area we live and the economy the way it is hasn’t made it any easier on us. An idea came to us via CIS National called Lunch With A Leader. Basically we connect with celebrities (“Leaders”) who agree to have a 1-hour lunch with ONE fan (anywhere across the country). The opportunity to have this lunch with the celebrity (aka “Leader”) is auctioned on EBay and awarded to the highest bidder. The winner of the auction then goes through background checks to ensure the safety of the celebrity. This program has been in operation for several years and has raised thousands and thousands of dollars for other CIS affiliates across the country. I understand you meet lots of celebrities. And it’s a stretch for me to ask a stranger to help but please consider contacting me to discuss this further! We have never been able to get a celebrity to help us out before and just ONE celebrity on Lunch With A Leader can turn things around for us and allow us to offer services to the children that we have never been able to do before. Please click on the link to our website (http://www.cisperquimans.org) and read more about what we do.
Thank you for taking the time to read! I look forward to hearing from you!
Chirleen
BTW: I can’t believe Dakota Fanning is so grown up! I still think of her as a little girl… she’s adorable! You’re very lucky
I have been wanting to see the movie since I saw the trailers! I have no clue if it will be releasing in India.
How funny! I met Dakota at LAX in 2004 and her sister. They are from Georgia and we were headed that way. We sat right next her at the airport waiting for our flight. We took a pic with her and she’s the sweetest girl ever. She was talking about her films and how she just finished Charlotte’s Web. She was talking how she’s from Georgia. She was so nice and people were asking for her autograph and she was just sweet. I can’t rave about her enough. My hubby and I became one of her biggest fans. haha! Yeah, I’m a dork. lol
@Sc12EeN17aM3 - We should do a Dakota Fanning horror movie for your Dad, Jad. LOL
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=secretlifeofbees.htm
@pukemeister - Yep, that’s my life. Dull & boring!
@cre13 - Thanks for the links. I’ll check them out!
@Dezinerdreams - Doesn’t look like
@suez_site - Did you see the movie? It’s good!
I didn’t see the movie yet! I have it in my Netflix Queue and there’s a long wait. haha! Now, I can’t wait to see it if you say it’s good!
Yeah, it’s really good. Not what I expected though. A little intense and sad…but good!
@CareyGLY - its okay. I already watched the first 72 minutes online. Will watch the rest tomorrow (as I am too tired to wait another 54 minutes to continue watching the rest)!
@CareyGLY - You’re welcome! I hope you consider helping out!!
You must know quite a few Xangans!
Wow! I think I should move to Cali! It sounds so involved with the movie industry and such. Maybe I’ll study there for a semester…
@arEms - UCLA has a great film program!
@ElusiveWords - I’ve met my share of Xangans…Always nice to put a face with a blog
da coder!
@CaKaLusa - Stay away from her Chris. She’s 14! LOL
aww, wish i coulda gone with you guys!
@JonasApproved - Were you in town Jonas!?
@CareyGLY - heh, no. i haven’t been down there since christmas. this is the longest i’ve ever gone without visiting in a loooong time. i probably won’t make it down there until june with all my trips coming up every month.