This blog gives a look into the eternal sunshine of my ever roving mind.
I consider myself a social critic.
I believe in Film, Music, Theatre, Musical Theatre, Gay Rights, the Right to Choose, Human Rights and YES I still believe in Barack Obama.
I believe in most things left of center.
I don't get any organized religion.They are all a sham.
This is the gay pride flag. I am proudly gay.
These are the things this blog is about.
Love it, like it or leave it. We all have choices.
i know streisand hates this film and her performance in it. i disagree. i think she was damn terrific as dolly levi. she was funny and charming. and even poignant. i really like this filmed version of 'hello dolly' and recommend it to anyone who enjoys musicals and a fun time.
a mere 13 years old this century is. and yet none too soon the papal state may have found a papa closer to the teachings of the man called jesus than ever before most especially the last man who held this title. for he presents himself as merely a man. this is a good thing. as a jew, like jesus, i possibly can see this man in the jesus image. his humility. his grace. his spirit. no conversion here i assure you but i can see this man as i saw ghandi. that is a good man, a man of peace. we can only hope he can truly take up the sins of his church and renew the spirit of the prophet jesus.
i haven't done a lot of birthdays lately but c'mon it's shirley jones. oscar winner for 'elmer gantry' ms jones charmed as laurie williams and julie jordon 'oklahoma' and 'carousel' respectively.
from 'oklahoma'
'many a new day'
'out of my dreams'
'o-k-l-a-h-o-m-a' medley
from 'carousel'
'if i loved you'
shirley won her well deserved oscar for 'elmer gantry' playing against type to the shock of musical fans everywhere.
shirley also played marian paroo in one of my least favorite translations from stage to screen in 'the music man'.
'marion the librarian'
'till there was you'
as musical films began to fade shirley took to the small screen in the silly 'the partridge family'.
with the network tv season winding down i just want to say monica potter on 'parenthood' gave one of this year's best performances. she definitely gave the bravest performance as kristina braverman. faced with cancer she set her pacing well with all it's ups (not many) and downs (plenty). through many a horrific scene she kept us stareing at the screen both saddened and horrified. if she does not get an emmy nom if not the emmy itself, there is no justice.
when i first reviewed 'lez miz' i gave it***1/2stars. not too shabby. but after rewatching it this past weekend i am giving it back the 1/2* it had not gotten. i'll use the excuse that i was not fully recovered from my surgery when i saw it in the theater. uncomfortability can be an influence.
first i knocked russel crowe's singing. yes it is still not that good but damn it it fits the role. i mean would josh groban's voice have worked for the character javert? no! as i see crowe play the role his voice or lack of works perfectly.
second i believed anne hathaway was being applauded for one song. i was wrong. her performance throughout her 18 minutes or so on screen was magnificent. no i did not have a lobotomy. on the second and third view she stll amazed me.
i originally wrote it was a brilliant piece of film. i still say this. however, i add it is a masterpiece of musical film. i always believed 'fiddler on the roof' was the best translation from stage to film. it has moved to second place.
and oh amanda seyfried....she made me smile and cry on my second viewing. she is wonderful and the unsung piece of this film this past award season. it's not often i am more amazed the second time i see a film. generally i am less impressed or just feel the same as the first time. not so with 'lez miz'.
and hugh jackman. in another year he would have won the oscar for best actor. but there was mr. lincoln. but today i wonder if mr. jackman was not the best actor this year. just thinking out loud. you must decide for yourself.
aaron tveit and eddie redmayne and samantha barks remain wonderful.
sasha baron cohen and helena bonham cater were both great comic relief in an other wise tragedy.
bravo tom hooper.
and here is the lovely unsung amanda seyfried with eddie redmayne
i have really been enjoying this series. season 2 was recently released on dvd and bluray and i recommend you catch up. it is really epic in it's scope.
oscar also-ran 'lincoln' gets it's bluray and dvd release today. daniel day lewis won his third deserved oscar and sally field should have won best supporting actress. it's a damn good film yet deservedly lost best picture to 'argo'. i'd suggest it came in possibly third afer 'life of pi'
what a mess. what a bore. i have no clue how this film has made over $300 billion dollars except for the fact that we got fooled into thinking this was a 3d masterpiece. well it's not. i love james franco and rachel weisz and they deserve better and should do better by us.
don't waste your time that you'll never get back or your money.
mary, valerie and cloris will reunite with betty white on 'hot in cleveland' next season. june i believe. the thought passed thru my mind but i wondered if it could happen. the news yesterday not only said it could but that it would. joy!
a grand filmed version gets it's home release today. it is worth every cent you pay to rent or buy it. mine is already preordered from amazon. if you haven't you get to see some damn good performances, one of the worst musical singers of all time in russell croew and anne hathaway's demand and plea for an oscar that she did get over the better sally field in 'lincoln'. crowe and hathaway aside this is a gem with two flaws.
hugh jackman, amanda seyfried, samantha barks, aaron tveit and eddie redmayne are brilliant!
