Tag Archives: movies

August 17, 2015 · 10:19 pm

Happy 95th Birthday, Maureen O’Hara

I always loved Maureen O’Hara and it makes me happy to think of her still being here today on her 95th Birthday.

She was one of those incredibly real, photogenic actresses who never seemed to get their due.

And she has had a hell of a career.

In the from the 1930’s when she was the ingenue in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in  1939 to “Miracle on 34th Street” in the 1940’s to “The Quiet Man” in the 1950’s on to the totally politically incorrect and sexist, but great fun rift on “Taming of the Shrew” that was “McClintock” and the original Disney “The Parent Trap” in the 1960’s.

She may not have been the best actress, but she was made for Technicolor with her red hair and creamy skin.

And, in the five films they made together,  she almost made John Wayne seem human and likable.  Almost….

She once said: “I made John Wayne sexy.  I’ll take credit or that.”

God help her for that….

She always seemed real, feisty, down to earth and fun.

And she is one of the few greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood still with us….

I’m glad she’s still here and hope she has a great Birthday wherever she is tonight.

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October 25, 2013 · 11:18 am

Happy Saint Crispin’s Day

Testosterone must run at peak levels on October 25th

This is Saint Crispin’s Day….

Also the day of the Battle of Agincourt (1415) were Shakespeare set this famous speech so well done by Kenneth Branagh in the film of “Henry V.”

It’s also the day of the Battle of Balaclava when the famous Light Brigade charged in 1854 and inspired Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s famous poem.

Yes, I know….my Liberal Arts Education and History Major are showing again….

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October 24, 2013 · 4:30 pm

NBC To Resurrect ‘Murder, She Wrote’ with Octavia Spencer

Now, I love Octavia Spencer and she’s an excellent actress, but this just screams “hot mess”.

What ever happened to new ideas?

And Angela Lansbury is only 88 and doing 8 shows a week on Broadway as recently as the last year or so, so I’m not sure she is ready to give this role up.  She may have been planning some specials or movies or something over the next few years….

From Variety:

Turns out, you can’t kill “Murder, She Wrote.”

NBC is reviving the onetime Universal TV series that aired for years on CBS, placing Octavia Spencer in the starring role once held by Angela Lansbury and giving the project a put pilot committment.

David Janollari and Alexandra Cunningham (“Desperate Housewives”) will exec produce the drama, which will aim for a light, contemporary feel, according to NBC. Spencer will play the hospital administrator and amateur sleuth who self-publishes her first mystery novel, then becomes an active participant in true crime investigations.

via NBC To Resurrect ‘Murder, She Wrote’ with Octavia Spencer | Variety.

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January 29, 2013 · 8:23 pm

For Your Consideration: Anne Hathaway

Let me start by saying, I love Anne Hathaway.  I find her extremely talented, likable, poised and attractive.  She is one of my favorite actresses and I see everything she does.

Criticizing her is almost like kicking a kitten….

But….

I’ve never seen such a blatant Oscar campaign as the one waged on her behalf this year….

She was very good in “Les Miz”, but not great….and that’s partly the Director’s fault.  Too many tight shots over blew the performances quite a bit and I was not thrilled with some of his other choices.  I thought Samantha Barks and Eddie Redmayne gave the best performances in the film.

“Lincoln” was also a flawed film, but with some great performances-especially by Daniel Day Lewis.  If I could vote, I wouldn’t vote for it for Best Picture either-“Argo” would be my choice.  But I would surely vote for Sally Field, over the lovely Anne, for Best Supporting Actress.  Ms Field was just wonderful as Mary Todd Lincoln and did the almost impossible- made me forget I was watching Sally Field.

Again, I love Anne Hathaway.  Her day on the podium will come, realistically, probably in a couple of weeks.  She’s definitely still the favorite.

But it should be later and for a better role and performance in a better film.

And unexpected upsets to the front runner have happened before.  Ask Lauren Bacall….

Anyway, what do I know?

In any event, here is a great parody of Anne’s campaign by the very talented Emma Fitzpatrick.

Thanks to my FB friend, Chris, for first posting it for me to see….

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January 7, 2013 · 9:50 pm

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

I keep having a recurring thought….

I may be alone here, but stick with me and we’ll see….

I first heard “Les Miserables” on an actual record album when it opened on Broadway in 1987.  It would be several more years before I actually saw it on stage.  I was in my 20’s and facing something I never thought I would face a that time in my life….

Death.  Young people I knew were suddenly dying….

AIDS was at it’s most deadly peak and I was starting to see people disappear.  They did that then.  They disappeared to die quietly in small towns and big cities while the rest of us were stunned and not sure how to go on with this new normal….

Most of America was still trying to work through this while so many young men just …..disappeared.

I think that’s why the song that stood out for me from “Les Miserables”  then was “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”.  We didn’t realize it was a revolution then, but it was….

A quiet, deadly one….

We weren’t all brave and selfless, but we couldn’t miss the empty chairs at empty tables…

It was quite a different context, but it seemed to resonate with me– and I think quite a few others.

And it changed our world….

I think that may have been what made “Les Miz” relevant to our generation….

I think this subtle, subliminal, un-intentional subplot meant more to a lot of us than we realized then and may have added a gravitas for us that the rest of the show may not have otherwise reached….

With this one song, the show became part of the time and place for so many of us…it made it real and in the moment for just that moment.

Like I said, you may not be with me on this, but I think more Gay men may have had this reaction- whether or not they were aware of it- than they realized….

I know I did…

I loved how Eddie Redmayne performed this song in the movie- even if I had issues with the movie as a whole- but his very real  version is not on YouTube yet.  But Michael Ball’s excellent concert version is…

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November 20, 2012 · 11:39 pm

An Off-Duty Pilot, Helps Land Lufthansa Plane At Dublin Airport During Emergency

But where is Karen Black when you need her?

When the copilot of a Lufthansa flight was struck with a debilitating migraine while mid-air on Monday, the crew could have used a doctor — but what they got was a pilot.

Luckily, one brave passenger happened to work for North American Airlines, making him fully qualified to fly commercial aircraft.

“It was a miracle,” a source involved in the operation told Independent.ie. “It had all the elements of a Hollywood movie but thankfully one with a happy ending.”

via Hero Passenger, An Off-Duty Pilot, Helps Land Lufthansa Plane At Dublin Airport During Emergency.

 

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October 12, 2012 · 12:28 pm

Lindsay Lohan: Mitt Romney Supporter

If you need any further evidence that it’s insane to support Romney, this is it….

Poor, Lindsay….so lost in so many ways.

 

From the Huffington Post:

Lindsay Lohan has joined the likes of Stacey Dash and Hulk Hogan by telling the press she’s voting for Mitt Romney.

Appearing at a promotional event, the “Liz & Dick” star said her decision came down to one issue: unemployment.

“I just think employment is really important right now,” she said. “So, as of now, Mitt Romney. As of now.”

“It’s a long story,” she added, according to E! News.

via Lindsay Lohan & Romney? Actress Says Mitt’s Got Her Vote, For Now.

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October 11, 2012 · 11:57 am

Mark Hamill: Romney Looks Presidential, ‘but I cannot believe a word he says’

The Force is NOT with Romney….

Luke Skywalker has come out of retirement to speak out…..

And make some very good points….

From Rawstory.com:

“I debated in high school. If you told things that weren’t true or just made things out of whole cloth, you were penalized. It’s too bad they don’t apply the same standards to presidential candidates as they do to high school students,” he told Current TV host Cenk Ugyur.

Hamill said he was worried about low-information voters, who might not be aware of Romney’s penchant for changing his positions.

“I would cast this guy as the president in a heartbeat,” he added. “He’s got the hair, he’s got the stature, he’s got the wardrobe, but I just cannot believe a word he says.”

via Mark Hamill: Romney looks presidential, ‘but I cannot believe a word he says’ | The Raw Story.

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October 1, 2012 · 8:35 pm

Republican Congressional Aide Arrested for Assaulting Lindsay Lohan

This is just too rich- and trashy- for words…

A Republican Congressional Aid partying with Lindsay Lohan and assaulting her?

The Conservatives and the Religious Right are going to love this….

Or they may just be happy, at least this time, it’s a Republican misbehaving with a woman….

This time…..

From RawStory.com:

Christian LaBella, who is listed as a legislative correspondent in the office of Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) and who staff confirmed “has worked” for the Congressman, was arrested Sunday morning on charges that he assaulted actress Lindsay Lohan after a night of partying. The charges were dropped and the arrest voided on Sunday afternoon, reportedly because Lohan did not received medical attention.

The dispute allegedly arose after a night of clubbing in New York City when Lohan discovered that LaBella had taken pictures of her on his cell phone and attempted to delete them. Lohan reportedly told police that he threw her on the bed and scratched her, after which she fled her room at the W Hotel in Union Square. She then apparently told police that LaBella attempted to choke her outside of her hotel room, and she pulled the fire alarm.

LaBella was picked up by police upon exiting the stairwell.

via Republican Congressional aide arrested for assault on Lindsay Lohan | The Raw Story.

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September 26, 2012 · 8:59 pm

Rest in Peace, Andy Williams

I can’t let Andy Williams’ passing go by without comment…

He and his music and TV show were so much a part of my childhood….

His Christmas Album is still one of my favorites…

And his version of “Moon River” is the definitive version of the 1960’s- except for Audrey Hepburn in the film.

And the gracious way he stood by his ex-wife, and the mother of his children,  Claudine Longet during her scandalous murder trial…

Even if he was a Republican, he was friends with Bobby and Ethel Kennedy….

He was a Gentleman…

I’ll miss him….

Here is a link to a great remembrance from Suzi Parker in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/andy-williams-crossed-generational-and-political-lines-in-his-long-career/2012/09/26/ddead784-07f9-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_blog.html

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