Healer in Chief

Golden Globes January 16th: Keep the Date

The King's Speech' ****stars

a story of friendship and trust. two men from two different classes come together and damn what a bond is formed. the evolving friendship is told and directed so well by tom hooper that we are just swept along through it's ups and downs and we are never let down.

colin firth is brilliant as the stammering king george vi his king is brilliantly supported by geoffrey rush as the non royal friend and teacher lionel logue. the bond they form is at first trying but grows for the lifetime of both men in real life. a wonderful helena bonham carter returns to a 'quieter' role as the king's wife later to be known as the queen mum when daughter elizabeth becomes queen. jennifer ehle radiates as the wife of logue.

the rest of the supporting cast truly support with wonderful performances each. no one misses a beat.

colin firth deserves the oscar this year as he did last year ('a single man") and perhaps this year the academy will hand it to him. he is quite amazing and has grown so much over the past few years. well the reality is it's the parts he's getting. they are better and he makes them better still.

i see a definite oscar nom for rush and quite possibly another for bonham carter. picture, director and screenplay are a lock.

go see 'the king's speech' as it may well win the oscar for best picture. my vote is heading in it's direction fast and furiously.

Marion Expecting

i never really post this sort of news but i adore marion cotillard. she is expecting her first child with boyfriend guillaume canet. the met on the 2003 film 'love if you dare me'.

Director's Guild Picks

David Fincher, The Social Network
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David O. Russell, The Fighter
Christopher Nolan, Inception 

the oscars may follow thru with the same

Jim Carrey's 'Black Swan' on SNL

i love 'black swan'. i love spoofs. i like this spoof a lot

The Political Far Right

Please Watch This All the Way Through to the End

POINT MADE

Arizona Shootings Not a Surprise

it was bound to happen. and with the 'don't retreat RELOAD' anthem and use second amendment rights of the likes of sarah palin and sharron angle of nevada it may happen again. these are dangerous women in dangerous times. they need to be prosecuted as well as the assassin. they are assassins too. the rhetoric of the right, far right, is deliberate. glenn beck should be prosecuted too. his nightly hate speech is continual fuel to the fire of hate. this all began as a response to a black man in a white house. for the record i'm a white man. sure the economy is the excuse. an economy handed to barack obama by a white man named bush. and sure the economy sucks. but not as much as the racism of the far right. 

it's the right that constantly and consistently demands 'softer' gun ownership laws. sure let's make them 'softer' and what happened in arizona yesterday will continue to happen. six americans were killed yesterday including a child. a child for god sakes. america the beautiful. not today i think.

last night keith olbermann addressed the madness in a special saturday 'countdown'. perhaps we should listen to him this time. the sad part is that those who hear him will say...'oh he doesn't mean me. hello in there he does mean you...and me.

all said and done please keep the victims, the friends and family of the victims in your hearts and good thoughts today. a child for god sakes!

Happy Birthday Joan

Happy Birthday Lara

lara fabian has an amazing voice. she has never caught on in the states as well as she has worldwide. the states are the losers here.

'for always forever' with josh groban

'i've cried enough

'i will love again'

'papa can you hear me/a piece of sky'

'i am who i am'

************

Another Look Back at Film 2010

Josh's Juke Box: 'Sunset Boulevard'

hugh jackman is a grade A showman

Song of the Day: 'Don't Sleep in the Subway'

you probably figured out by now that i love pet.


extended version

the original version live

Best Performances 2010

2010 was a great year for actors. some showed stretching their already known talent. some had a role of a lifetime. some came out of the gate earlier in the year but left such an impression they could not be forgotten. some came later in the year and are still amazing us on the big screen. some are new to the field and i can only hope their promise is kept.


the following are some that shined for me. they moved me, touched me and once again showed me why i am so amazed by the talent they share with all of us.


for the newest members on this list i say 'keep at it' you are so damn talented.


for the veterans keep on keeping on.

Best Actresses

natalie portman in 'black swan'

julianna margulies in 'city island' 

nicole kidman in 'rabbit hole' 

julianne moore in 'the kids are alright'*

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

Best Actors 

 james franco in '127 hours'

 colin firth in 'the king's speech'

leonardo decaprio in 'shutter island' and 'inception'

andy garcia in 'city island'

matt damon in 'hereafter'

aaron eckhart in 'rabbit hole'

jesse eisenberg in 'social network'

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

Best Supporting Actress

marion cottillard in 'inception'

blake lively in 'the town'

mila kunis in 'black swan'

keira knightley in 'never let me go'

patricia clarkson in 'shutter island'

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

Best Supporting Actors

 christian bale in 'the fighter'

geoffrey rush in 'the king's speech'

andrew garfield in 'social network'

mark ruffalo in 'the kids are all right'*

armie hammer in 'social network'

alexaner siddig in 'cairo time'

*hated the film but can't deny the performances

January Video Recomendations

for video lovers this is a banner month for dvd releases and some new blu ray releases of classics old and new and recent films. enjoy!

The Producers Guild Pick Their Nominees

The nominees:
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:

127 HOURS
Producers: Danny Boyle, Christian Colson
BLACK SWAN
Producers: Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver
INCEPTION
Producers: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas
THE FIGHTER
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Producers: Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray
THE KING'S SPEECH
Producers: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Producers: Dana Brunetti, Ceán Chaffin, Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin
THE TOWN
Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Graham King
TOY STORY 3
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
TRUE GRIT
Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

DESPICABLE ME
Producers: John Cohen, Janet Healy, Christopher Meledandri
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Producer: Bonnie Arnold
TOY STORY 3
Producer: Darla K Anderson

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'