February 2011 | Todd Lyden.com

Monday, February 28, 2011

Epitome Monday: Christian Bale

Christian Bale at the red carpet film premiere...

Image via WikipediaBatman finally won an Oscar.

Christian Bale took home the gold this year with his supporting performance in "The Fighter." (Guess which movie is next on my que?)

So I thought he would be appropriate for today's installment of epitome Monday.

So which performance is his crowning achievement? Is it Dicky in "The Fighter?" I can't say it is because I haven't seen it yet.

What about his Batman? "The Dark Knight" and "Batman Begins" are fantastic work.

Perhaps you go back even further? "Empire of the Sun" really gave a tip that this child actor was going to become a powerhouse some day.

Maybe "Newsies?" Yes, he was in that. How about the bad guy in "Shaft?" Yes, he did play against Samuel L. Jackson!

Me? I'm going with "Equilibrium." This is the actiony B-movie that illustrated he had the action chops along with the emoting skills. John Preston has to learn how to have emotions in that film all the while mastering "gun-fu."

Which is your favorite Christian Bale performance?

Monday, February 21, 2011

Epitome Monday: Angelina Jolie

Cover of Playing By HeartFor my second installment of this regular post, I wanted to REALLY stir the pot.

I covered Robin Williams in the last one, which was more inspiration than true controversy.

For this one, I realize most folks associate Mrs. Pitt with her more actiony roles like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Tomb Raider, or her latest, Salt.

Granted, she has done some great straight dramas as well. Gia is where she came to reknown. Maybe you remember Girl, Interrupted? Perhaps, the Oscar-bait of The Changeling?

I would love to see her do more comedies because the first movie I remember her from is the maligned Hackers. Half teen comedy, quarter action, and quarter badly imagine "hacking" - it made for a good time.

However, my epitome performance from Jon Voight's daughter is Playing by Heart.
Playing by wha? you ask... This ensemble dramedy came out in 1998 and placed Jolie on a palette with Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, and Jon Stewart (yes, the comedian tried to act, and it worked).

The story is an intertwined love story told much the same way as Crash, but with less drama and a great soundtrack by the recently decease John Barry. Jolie almost doesn't seem to be acting and her section of the film provided the backbone for the rest of the interactions.

I think many could make the case for a more action-oriented flick such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but most the action roles she has played required more in the way of the action itself than the acting. There are a few other films that might make the cut. Look here for her filmography and let me know which performance you thought was her epitome.

Which film do you most associate Mrs. Pitt with?

Friday, February 18, 2011

Quick Take: Monsters

Notice the lacks of the title creatures in the movie poster?

I was sorely disappointed by two things I had high hopes for yesterday. One was a book, the other was the movie "Monsters."

The Gareth Edwards, done the cheap, Godzilla-takeoff has earned high praise. It is still floating a 71% on Rottentomatoes.com.

It was an interesting premise. Alien creatures landed in Mexico years ago and are impossible to kill off, so they quarantine the area. It's like having Godzilla permanently living in your backyard.

Except, this isn't Godzilla's story. This is more like Cloverfield (without the money, bad acting, and shakey cam) because it focuses on the people impacted by the monsters.

It may as well have been set in 1990s Bosnia, 1970s Vietnam, or Civil War America- the impact of the monsters is so tangential to the story it was as if this was just a love story told against the backdrop of ruin and bad location (ie a warzone).

The love story isn't all there either. Apparently, they just took these two actors and plopped them into Central America. Everyone they are acting against is supposedly native.

The locations are great, Edwards does prove himself adept with the special effects. However, so much takes place at night and in the dark, it becomes such an obvious cheat.

If you go into this with realistic expectations, you might enjoy it, but even at a trim 90 minutes it still felt long.
The director is being handed the reigns to a new Godzilla film. I really hope it is for other work and not this.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Call Yourself Out

photo © 2009 pastorbuhro | more info (via: Wylio)
I have a confession to make. I despise resolutions. Ok, that's not much of a confession.

Here's a better one. I don't like making plans. I do them. But I don't like it.

So in my New Year's post, I might have been telling myself more than anyone, PLAN IT.

I think the other thing that needs to be added to that- either a carrot or a stick. It's true, if we don't like doing something either we need to find a reward or punishment that will get us that next step over the hump.

I am going to try a reward system (what exactly I don't know, told you I don't like plans). But until then, I think punishment or avoiding it works too.

At the beginning of the year, I made plans - not resolutions. I've done OK on them. The one I realized that I slacked off in was reading. I do like to read. But I got away from reading a variety of things. I think I wanted to blame it on a variety of things. Partially that I read a lot online, but I needed to be doing more straightup BOOK reading.

Well, I have finally. It took about a month but I am back to being the serial abuser of the library that my wife disdains (not for reading but for forgetting to return books on time, planning!).

So, I call myself out. Todd, you slacker, do better!

What do you need to be called out on today?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Epitome Monday: Robin Williams

Image via WikipediaOk, to stir the pot. I am going to start using Monday for a new regular post.

I consider it the best performance of an actor. Which role/movie best used them. Which one is the one that epitomizes that actor? Doesn't mean they won an award for it. Just means they have a good body of work to make comparisons and argue over.

Today's actor: Robin Williams. Click through to see his listing of movies.

Tough isn't it? If you were given his name and said, which movie epitomizes him? Which one?

I got the idea rewatching a movie thanks to my kids and I am going to make the case for: "Jumanji."

I preface my defense by saying while I have liked him in roles, I think he hasn't had a standout performance in the better part of decade. He had something of dark trilogy around 2002 with One Hour Photo, Death to Smoochy, and Insomnia. He was great, but that was too pidgeon-holed.

I can see some folks jumping on to the obvious: Good Will Hunting. Not a bad choice, but the manic character that has been so prevelant in his career was missing.

There are others but I am sticking with Jumanji and here is why- he shows his complete range. Emotional, funny, manic, fairly athletic even!

So what do you think? Which role of his would you put above the others?
Also, who else should we talk about in future posts? Maybe you would like to write one up? Let me know!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Movies That SHOULD Be in 3D?

Image via WikipediaI have despised virtually every 3D movie I have seen in recent memory with the notable exception of My Bloody Valentine 3D and Spacehunter: Advenures in the Forbidden Zone (admittedly not that recent).

But introducing my son to "The Matrix" for the first time this weekend, we both had the same thought at probably the same time. When it was all done, he asks "did they ever show that in 3D?"

I was thinking the same thing watching the movie again for the nth time. With all these announced 3D flicks that have ZERO business being in 3D, why not go back and put something in 3D that deserves it?

I looked around online and discovered there is a Facebook group lobbying for this!

At least one site agrees with me! In fact, they make some superior suggestions for older films that deserve the 3D treatment well before the next Harry Potter film. I've heard they are already working on the Star Wars movies (Lucas, you whore!)

So the question is, which older movies deserve the 3D treatment?

Related articles

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Jury Doody

Image via Wikipedia

Jury duty is a service to your community. However, there has be a better way of doing it.

I just got my check for spending two days sitting around last week- doing nothing. And that was the same for approximately for 100 people called in Tuesday last week. The check was for $36 bucks YEE HAW!

What did I do?

We went in and sat down and learned everything that we were supposed to do, and then 12 at time, they took potentials into the jury box to be questioned.

That was only the second half of one day- they finished up the first day to inform us we would be needed another day. We learned on the second day after sitting for the better part of a good morning that we were not needed because of procedural and legal issues dealing with the case at hand.

It's very frustrating to find the when you want to give back, but you can't. Jury duty is something we're supposed to do but they make it so difficult, so time consuming and such a chore.

No wonder nobody wants to do it and they do everything they can figure a way out of it. (Reminds me of a joke, do you really want to be judged by a panel of people too inept to get out of jury duty?) I probably had no logistical reason not to serve for more than two days, except had the case run much longer it would have interfered with family appointments.

Hardship is allowed to be used to get you out of court. The 77 year old woman who could barely stay awake because of her medicine, you probably don't want her, but the single dude who claimed that he was a salesperson and it was robbing him? Why couldn't he stick it out?

I really wanted to serve in the jury box, and now I am out of the loop for two years. They reminded us OVER and OVER, don't forget you DON'T have to serve for two more years! If I get summoned, I'll still show up next time, but not for the $36.

PS click through below, the cat story is hilarious!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Quick Take: Catfish

photo © 2011 Suketu Gajjar | more info (via: Wylio)

Thank goodness for Redbox free codes. I was stumbling through the movies on the screen and was reminded that "Catfish" was supposed to be a cool, weird documentary. It had gotten accolades since premiering at Sundance last year.

It was semi-shrouded in mystery asking viewers NOT to tell anyone what it was (Catfish). I still don't know what the title has to do with the movie, but by the end I could have cared less.

Reviews have described the film as "jaw-dropping" and "surprising," but you'd have to be asleep for the beginning of the movie not to see how it is all going to play out.

I would say that this movie deserves the title "The Facebook Movie" or the "Social Network." At it's core is how people interact on the internet and how it translates to real life.

If you've been online for any length of time, the issues of this movie are not going to be shocking or strange. It will probably have a very ho-hum aspect to it. OR maybe not, I can see why some were entranced but I assume they have never been on Facebook that much.

I won't spoil the film (unless you want me to, email here to be spoiled), but the premise is based on a NY photographer receiving a painting of one his photos from a young girl in Michigan and developing a relationship with the family including the mother and her older sister.

There is some controversy over the film as to whether it is a documentary or was staged. Either way doesn't matter, it was fairly boring from stem to stern and only interesting in a car crash kind of way. I've been more shocked at things I've seen on day time TV.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

A Look at 2011 Oscar Nominees

photo © 2010 Lisa Norman | more info (via: Wylio)
Decided to take a look at the Oscar nominees.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Javier Bardem in “Biutiful” (Roadside Attractions)
Jeff Bridges in “True Grit” (Paramount)
Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company)
James Franco in “127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight)

Illustrative that I have YET to see a single one of these performances (three kids!).
Looks tight and other than Wahlberg in "The Fighter" seems to hit them right. Firth seems the lock.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Christian Bale in “The Fighter” (Paramount)
John Hawkes in “Winter’s Bone” (Roadside Attractions)
Jeremy Renner in “The Town” (Warner Bros.)
Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features)
Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company)

Rush seems like a likely win if Firth is. So glad that Hawkes is here. Winter's Bone deserves the recognition, but the actors carried the water. Ruffalo? REALLY?

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features)
Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole” (Lionsgate)
Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone” (Roadside Attractions)
Natalie Portman in “Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight)
Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine” (The Weinstein Company)

Lawrence was sadly enough my only view this year and she deserves to be here! SEE Winter's Bone.
Portman probably has this locked, but you never know. Bening and Kidman kinda lock each other out.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “The Fighter” (Paramount)
Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company)
Melissa Leo in “The Fighter” (Paramount)
Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”(Paramount)
Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Again, I can barely register this one.

Best animated feature film of the year
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Paramount), Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
“The Illusionist” (Sony Pictures Classics), Sylvain Chomet
“Toy Story 3″ (Walt Disney), Lee Unkrich

I’ve only seen Toy Story 3, and I assume that wins. Snore. How is Disney's Tangled NOT on this list?

Achievement in art direction
“Alice in Wonderland” (Walt Disney), Production Design: Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1″ (Warner Bros.), Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas, Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Production Design: Eve Stewart, Set Decoration: Judy Farr
“True Grit” (Paramount), Production Design: Jess Gonchor, Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Sadly, all I've seen on this is Alice. I would imagine any of the others EXCEPT for Potter deserve it more since it was just Burton rehash.

Achievement in cinematography
“Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight), Matthew Libatique
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Danny Cohen
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Jeff Cronenweth
“True Grit” (Paramount), Roger Deakins

Damn, I love the work of Libatique, Pfister, and Deakins elsewhere, this makes it hard. I REALLY need to see Social Network since it is probably going to be the big winner.

Achievement in costume design
“Alice in Wonderland” (Walt Disney), Colleen Atwood
“I Am Love” (Magnolia Pictures), Antonella Cannarozzi
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Jenny Beavan
“The Tempest” (Miramax), Sandy Powell
“True Grit” (Paramount), Mary Zophres

Ok I at LEAST knew the Tempest was made. What is "I am Love???"

Achievement in directing
“Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight), Darren Aronofsky
“The Fighter” (Paramount), David O. Russell
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Tom Hooper
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), David Fincher
“True Grit” (Paramount), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Tough call, Coens' are out by virtue of recent wins. Fincher has a taint that I don't think can be removed ESPECIALLY if the movie wins. Russell is in the same boat. I think this is Aronofsky and Hooper in the end.

Best documentary feature
“Exit through the Gift Shop” (Producers Distribution Agency), A Paranoid Pictures Production, Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz
“Gasland”, A Gasland Production, Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
“Inside Job” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Representational Pictures Production, Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
“Restrepo” (National Geographic Entertainment), An Outpost Films Production, Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
“Waste Land” (Arthouse Films), An Almega Projects Production, Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

A war film that worked deserves to win. Plus I actually saw Restrepo- go see it!

Best documentary short subject
“Killing in the Name”, A Moxie Firecracker Films Production, Nominees to be determined
“Poster Girl”, A Portrayal Films Production, Nominees to be determined
“Strangers No More”, A Simon & Goodman Picture Company Production, Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
“Sun Come Up”, A Sun Come Up Production, Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
“The Warriors of Qiugang”, A Thomas Lennon Films Production, Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Uh- these all deserve to win?

Achievement in film editing
“Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight), Andrew Weisblum
“The Fighter” (Paramount), Pamela Martin
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Tariq Anwar
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight), Jon Harris
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

If I'd seen ANY of them I could at least guess?

Best foreign language film of the year
“Biutiful” (Roadside Attractions), A Menage Atroz, Mod Producciones and Ikiru Films Production, Mexico
“Dogtooth” (Kino International), A Boo Production, Greece
“In a Better World” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Zentropa Production, Denmark
“Incendies” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Micro-Scope Production, Canada
“Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” (Cohen Media Group), A Tassili Films Production, Algeria

Mexico for the win! SCOOOOOOOORRRRRE!

Achievement in makeup
“Barney’s Version” (Sony Pictures Classics), Adrien Morot
“The Way Back” (Newmarket Films in association with Wrekin Hill Entertainment and Image Entertainment), Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
“The Wolfman” (Universal), Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

It's friggin Rick Baker and have you even heard of the other ones???

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Paramount), John Powell
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Alexandre Desplat
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

I think the music from the Inception trailer should win because it freaked my wife out so much, but I hope that Reznor wins to stick it to traditional scoring. Who is Rahman? Is that a fake name?

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Coming Home” from “Country Strong” (Sony Pictures Releasing (Screen Gems)), Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
“I See the Light” from “Tangled” (Walt Disney), Music by Alan Menken, Lyric by Glenn Slater
“If I Rise” from “127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″ (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Screw Newman, he was here last year. Country music (better stuff) won last year. I would not mind seeing Tangled win.

Best motion picture of the year
“Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight), A Protozoa and Phoenix Pictures Production, Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
“The Fighter” (Paramount), A Relativity Media Production, David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), A Warner Bros. UK Services Production, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
“The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features), An Antidote Films, Mandalay Vision and Gilbert Films Production, Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), A See-Saw Films and Bedlam Production, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight), An Hours Production, Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), A Columbia Pictures Production, Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Toy Story 3″ (Walt Disney), A Pixar Production, Darla K. Anderson, Producer
“True Grit” (Paramount), A Paramount Pictures Production, Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
“Winter’s Bone” (Roadside Attractions), A Winter’s Bone Production, Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

This move to ten films is ridiculous. This list is unmanageable. Was "The Kids are Alright" that good? Winter's Bone was probably good enough. Toy Story 3 though? The top five should probably mirror the directors and that is it.

Best animated short film
“Day & Night” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Teddy Newton
“The Gruffalo”, A Magic Light Pictures Production, Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
“Let’s Pollute”, A Geefwee Boedoe Production, Geefwee Boedoe
“The Lost Thing”, (Nick Batzias for Madman Entertainment), A Passion Pictures Australia Production, Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
“Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)”, A Sacrebleu Production, Bastien Dubois

I gotta find that Gruffalo one!

Best live action short film
“The Confession” (National Film and Television School), A National Film and Television School Production, Tanel Toom
“The Crush” (Network Ireland Television), A Purdy Pictures Production, Michael Creagh
“God of Love”, A Luke Matheny Production, Luke Matheny
“Na Wewe” (Premium Films), A CUT! Production, Ivan Goldschmidt
“Wish 143″, A Swing and Shift Films/Union Pictures Production, Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

I got nothing...

Achievement in sound editing
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Richard King
“Toy Story 3″ (Walt Disney), Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
“Tron: Legacy” (Walt Disney), Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
“True Grit” (Paramount), Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
“Unstoppable” (20th Century Fox), Mark P. Stoeckinger

Unstoppable is an Oscar nominated film. Suck that in. I'd bet money on Inception.

Achievement in sound mixing
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
“Salt” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
“True Grit” (Paramount), Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

Salt has been nominated for an Oscar! Probably Inception again.

Achievement in visual effects
“Alice in Wonderland” (Walt Disney), Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1″ (Warner Bros.), Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
“Hereafter” (Warner Bros.), Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
“Iron Man 2″ (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment, Distributed by Paramount), Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

There are probably better movies for this list. These hardly stand out.

Adapted screenplay
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
“Toy Story 3″ (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Michael Arndt, Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
“True Grit” (Paramount), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Winter’s Bone” (Roadside Attractions), Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

How is Toy Story adapted??? The rest are all tough calls considering they came from original books. Winter's Bone or Social Network probably deserve the lead because they took some REAL adapting.

Original screenplay
“Another Year” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Mike Leigh
“The Fighter” (Paramount), Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson, Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
“Inception” (Warner Bros.), Written by Christopher Nolan
“The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features), Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
“The King’s Speech” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Seidler

Wow, tough call here. If King's Speech is that good, it probably deserves, but if another win's I would not be surprised.

Wow, I really need to get on the horn with some of these nominees. I have three kids is always my excuse for not seeing more films I really want to see.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Quick Take: Moon

Cover of Moon [Blu-ray]Just finished the Duncan Jones flick "Moon."

Wow.

What works
- Sam Rockwell - the man OWNS this movie the way Ryan Reynolds had to own "Buried." And he does so in a way that if revealed would spoil the movie.
- the story- the location is original, but the story is a bit derivative of some others, but it works!
- special effects- you will believe that you are living alone on the moon... going nuts.
- believable- this looks like what a future "Helium 3" mining operation would look like on the moon.
- HAL computer voice supplied by Kevin Spacey? Check!

What doesn't work-
nothing.

Thankfully, this guy is working on his second film coming soon. Enjoy the trailer:

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Don't Be Bill Murray: Groundhogs Day

Cover of "Groundhog Day (15th Anniversary...

Cover via Amazon

Puxsatawney Phil (which I would legally be killed as previous resident of PA should I have misspelled it) has come and gone.

The movie Groundhogs Day is permenantly in our memory, isn't it?

It's no major spoiler to reveal that the plot has to do with a man stuck reliving Groundhogs Day. If you haven't seen it, shame on you- it is in the National Film Registry afterall!

He does what most people would probably do given virtual immortality- he screws around, messes with people, does generally selfish things. He then progresses to just circumventing the day by inventively killing himself.

He eventually breaks out of the time loop of reliving the same day over and over by learning from his mistakes.

Are you committing a "Groundhog Day?" Are you committing the same mistakes over and over? What would it take for you to stop?