Tanya Lane

Tanya has always appreciated the arts, perhaps because it’s a pretty cool way to live vicariously through someone else.  Movies have always been an escape, and music was a part of her childhood from day one.  As a first grader she would listen to The Beastie Boys and LL Cool J on a Fisher-Price toy radio.  So she doesn’t rap, but if you ask Tanya she’ll tell you that she IS hip hop.  She’s also a bit of a know-it-all, so what do you call an opinionated lover of art and entertainment?  Duh, a movie critic!  Enter Poptimal.com, which has graciously given Tanya the space for cultural reflection and observation.  She tries an adamant “everywoman” approach to her reviews, one that is influenced by her belief that film is bigger than most people realize.  Movies, especially the iconic ones, move the culture forward in immediate fashion.  So, basically movies are a big deal to Tanya, more than just a simple way to pass an afternoon.  It’s an experience, and a huge influence on pop culture.  Tanya thinks she’s got pretty good taste and when she’s feeling some one or something; she gets hell-bent on convincing others.  Her latest musical obsession is Melanie Fiona, by the way – check her out.  From Lil’ Wayne’s latest mixtape to Tarantino’s latest movie, if it’s hot she wants to be up on it.  She’s a huge procrastinator and hopes to get around to changing that one day (wink).  She started a screenplay that’s been collecting dust, but one day she’ll finish it.  In a fantasy world Tanya would win the lottery, and run away from her normal life to attend film school.  Then maybe you’d see her name on movie posters.  Hey, a girl can dream can’t she?  Until then, the beat goes on.

Her favorite movie genre:  Too numerous to just pick one.  I like Hitchcockian suspense thrillers (The Talented Mr. Ripley), intersecting storylines (Crash), and thrillers with good twists (The Usual Suspects).

Her favorite TV genre: I like high concept shows like Flash Forward and reality TV, I’m not ashamed to admit!

Currently Covering: Grey’s Anatomy

Tanya’s Thoughts On:

Most annoying actor:  Nicolas Cage. That voice. Those eyebrows.

Actor I’d most like to be trapped in an elevator with: Omari Hardwick, he’s a newbie.

Best TV show almost in the history of the Universe:  True Blood

Actress whose powers of male hypnotism I most admire:  Meagan Fox

Best director without an Oscar: Spike Lee

Best actor without an Oscar: Brad Pitt

Best actress without an Oscar: Angela Bassett

Pop culture trends she shuns:  Snuggies.  Seriously? A blanket with sleeves?

Pop culture trends she embraces:  I freaking love Twitter, man.

Her television guilty pleasures:  For the Love of Ray J. *sigh* I can’t believe I admitted that.

The Show she is most excited About: Tie between V and Flash Forward.  They are both must-see TV

The Show She’s Glad She Doesn’t Have to Review:  So You Think You Can Dance.  I just finished with Dancing with the Stars, and performance shows are difficult to review.

The World Would Be a Better Place: if we all re-enacted scenes from our favorite movies every day

Her pop culture crushes are:  Matthew McConaughey and Paul Walker

The Show That Never Should Have Been Canceled:  The Wire.  Always gritty, never pretty