Ken Russell's 'The Music Lovers'

1970's The Music Lovers' is a bizarre yet intriguing film by Ken Russell. It should have made Richard Chamberlain a film star. sadly it did not. Perhaps the then closeted actor played it just 'too gay' for hollywood's comfort. glenda jackson (two time oscar winner) as always gave a brilliant performance as his nymphomaniac wife nina. it's all too much fun really and any russell fan would admit though not his best it's his second best. 

it's never been released on dvd but for those of you with netflix and have the ability to watch their streaming films it's currently available. between the music of Tchaikovsky and dazzling visuals it's pure entertainment. if you are puritanical move on it's not for you.

some highlights:

In Ken Russell's own words: "It's the story of the marriage between a homosexual and a nymphomaniac."

Tonight on ABC Family Pretty Little Liars: The Identity of "A," Revealed and Other Scoop for the New Year

At the end of Pretty Little Liars first season, both the girls and viewers came thisclose to discovering the identity of their tormenter, known only as "A." Based on the successful book series of the same name, the ABC Family series follows recently reconnected friends Hanna (Ashley Benson), Aria (Lucy Hale), Spencer (Troian Bellisario) and Emily (Shay Mitchell) as they try to figure out who murdered their best friend Alison (Sasha Pieterse) — all while being taunted by A, the mysterious texter who knows all their secrets.
The upcoming episodes — which executive producer Marlene King call "darker and edgier" than the season's first batch— pick up right after the summer's hit-and-run accident. King spoke with TVGuide.com about the paths each of the girls will take in the next 12 episodes. Plus, she reveals when we'll figure out who A is. (Hint: Very soon.)

Emily Emily began the season with a boyfriend and ended it with a girlfriend. Viewers watched her begin to understand her past feelings for Alison, and new feelings for Maya. King says their relationship has "a beautiful storyline over the first four episodes that culminates in a very lovely romantic evening," but also warns that a new love interest will come into her life. And yes, it's another girl. "It's very important for us to stay true to the fact that Emily is coming to terms with her sexuality. She's not going to flip flop back and forth. Her path is really about coming to terms with who she is, and being proud of who she is, then also hopefully helping her parents understand and accept who she is as well.  

Aria The person King hinted would be a wrench in the Aria-Ezra relationship isn't the only one the couple needs to worry about. "The person who saw them that night [in the finale], who wrote, 'I see you on that car,' did really see them," King says. "There's a real viable threat to their relationship from the moment we come back." Plus Hale tells us about an impending love triangle between Noel, Aria and Ezra. "For awhile there, you don't know which guy she's leaning towards. So for all the 'Ezria' fans that can make them a little nervous," Hale says. But not to worry. "There's a resolution to it all. I think people will be pretty happy with it," she says

Spencer Viewers will see a very important Spencer flashback from the night Alison disappeared. "It's very riveting, very powerful and very telling," King says. The love-hate relationship between Spencer and her sister Melissa (Torrey DeVitto) will also be further explored. While the two were at odds during Season 1, they'll call a truce very quickly this time around. Too bad King says it also won't last.

Hanna Hanna was run down by a mysterious driver, and when the season resumes, she'll wake up in the hospital — with a memory of what she saw that night. "Within the first 15 minutes she'll tell that to the other Pretty Little Liars and the mystery kicks off full steam ahead from there," King says. While Hanna recovers she gets a few unexpected guests. Ashley Benson tells us that "each visitor lets out some sort of secret."

A King says that the mystery of A will resolve itself before the year's fourth episode -- then the story will shift into figuring out who killed Alison. "The girls really do believe they have a very viable theory and that person becomes very much a threatening person in their lives," she says. "We're a little bit darker with the mystery in this next cycle. We weren't afraid to be a little bit edgier, and you will see a glimpse of Alison moments before her death that is shocking."

New characters Rosewood will welcome some new faces, including Caleb (Tyler Blackburn), who's described by King as a "sketchy guy with a heart of gold." "He seems dark and mysterious ... but we often explore the theme on the show of what appears to be isn't," she says. Simone (Alona Tal) is Aria's babysitter from when she was 12-years-old and brings conflict into her relationship. Paige (Lindsey Shaw) is going to be a teammate of Emily's that's a "very bitter dark rival" for her.

Best of TV 2010

t

the best new series last year is the best series this year. julianna margulies and an all around brilliant cast continue to grow and amaze. great acting and great writing keep it fresh each week. it's brilliant period

.................................

and the rest

another sophomore show gets better each week. the most sensual series on tv. this really leaves 'true blood' in the dust

i was really pissed when they dropped a j cook from the cast. i threatened to boycott. i couldn't. this show gets better and better with each passing year

sam, dean, devils, angel, demons and homo erotica. 'nuf said

nothing less than brilliant. it's the two male leads who make it great

brenda lee johnson and company are sadly leaving us after the spring season. kyra has decided to move on while on top. a show i will surely miss

nathon fillion and stana katic are the hottest and wittiest couple on tv. a damn good supporting cast doesn't hurt

adult drama at it's best

a complex and sexually charged relationship fuels the overall fun

like a fine wine it ages well

will someone give mary mccormack an emmy shot. this series never falters. neither does mary

brooke elliot makes it shine. while we are at it give her an emmy too

a slight diversion from the maddening world we live in

it's been an uneven sophomore year but succeeds more than it falters. giving the supporting cast more to do this year was a saving grace. enough of lea michele already

my favorite guilty pleasures

i still love the advenures and misadventures of sabrina, blair, nate, dan and chuck. get rid of jenny and vanessa please!

my newest guilty pleasure. these girls are wickedly delightful. and they are more so much more than little liars.

the show also brings holly marie-combs back to tv. that's an added plus

best of the new

bestest of the new

best special goes to hbo's one woman show starring carrie fisher. carrie and her 'hollywood 101' is pure entertainment

best daytime drama

best summer diversion

it deserves another summer instead of all the maddening reality crap the networks offer

best televised standup

hbo's presentation of ricky gervais 'out of england 2'

Passed in 2010 R.I.P.

 

as happens every year we suffer great losses. 2010 hit me particularly hard. my mom passed as well as jill clayburgh a brilliant actress and friend. 

for all those who suffered personal loss this year i offer you my condolences. 

to those in the video you will be missed and i thank you all for sharing your talents.

Happy New Year 2011

has it really been 22 years?

All Good Things' ***stars

a love story, a crime story, the tale of a madman. good production values and better acting raise it above what might have been a lifetime movie of the week. it keep me engrossed and that's enough for me.

two thoughts: i can understand why ryan gosling's star is on the ascendant but can't understand why kirstens dunst's star has dimmed. she is beautiful, talented and charming. it's time for her to be noticed again.

lily rabe, daughter of jill clayburgh, in a supporting role is a scene stealer but no jill clayburgh.

Happy Birthday Bebe

bebe is an amazing performer. she shined on the tv series 'cheers'. however, her greatest mark has been on the broadway stage. she won two tony awards for 'sweet charity' and 'chicago'. the film version of the latter would have been much better had she been cast as velma kelly. zeta jones was a huge mistake. but then again bebe wasn't married to michael douglas.

Movie Star of the Year

last year this title belonged to sandra bullock pulling in a gizzilion dollars with both 'the blind side' and 'the proposal'

this year the honor goes to the ever growing talent of leonardo decaprio with two of his films and two of my favorite 2010 films, 'inception' and 'shutter island', pulling in big bucks. he deserves the title. he just keeps growing as an actor and is the best of his generation.

'inception'

'shutter island'

both films are currently available on dvd and blu ray

When a Man Loves a Woman

mr and mrs mathews....she's as smart as he is.

you can feel the love and respect between this couple

needless to say chris and i share the same political beliefs...slightly left of center

'Black Swan': ****stars

first let me state that i've never been a fan of natalie portman. then i shall say that every once in awhile an actor gets a role of a lifetime like charlize theron in 'monster' and adrien brody in 'the pianist'. this is natalie's role of a lifetime. she is nothing less than extraordinary as a ballerina rehearsing the role of the swan queen in 'swan lake'. as she tries to enhance the role of the evil twin, the black swan, her descent into madness is slow but asured as she becomes more the black queen than the white queen twin. yes ms. portman is extraordinary and gives one of the greatest performances on screen ever.

'black swan' is in and of itself an extraordinary film. as it is one of the best of 2010 it will indeed be one of the best of this young decade. brilliantly directed by darren aronofsky it is so much more than a dance film. it is a 'horror' film in the best sense that madness is horrific.  if this film does not send shivers down your spine you may be dead.

the supporting cast truly supports the lead and unselfishly enhances her portrayal especially mila kunis and vincent cassell. barbara hershey shines as the mommie dearest of ballerina nina sayers.

run to see this film. i was shocked at how damn good it is. more shocked that natalie portman won me over. she's going to be hard to beat come oscar time.