Tuesday, April 13, 2010

'Glee' Returns Tonight: Guess I'm a Gleek Now




yes there's a helluva lot of talent on this show but Matthew morrison and lea michele are the standoutss




'don't rain on my parade': lea michele

Monday, April 12, 2010

Arrest This Pope: The Anti-Christ



i couldn't agree more!

"A leering old villain in a frock, who spent decades conspiring behind closed doors for the position he now holds; a man who believes he is infallible and acts the part; a man whose preaching of scientific falsehood is responsible for the deaths of countless AIDS victims in Africa; a man whose first instinct when his priests are caught with their pants down is to cover up the scandal and damn the young victims to silence."

Richard Dawkins

1965: 'Darling' , 'Doctor Zhivago'

julie was the self centered period defining diana in 'darling' her oscar winning performance:








in 'doctor zhivago' julie portrayed lara antipov. some feel this should have been the nominated role. what the hell is the difference? julie was the best actress of the year no matter how they sliced it.







'darling' A+
'doctor zhivago A

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Declaration: It's Julie Christie's Birthday Celebration Week



julie turns 69 on wednesday. where does the time go? yet since she burst onto the international scene in 1965 with 'darling' and 'doctor zhivago' she has remained a force, if even an often illusive force, in film.


is it really 45 years ago julie christie broke out internationally with these two films? i've loved a lot of actresses for many years. julie has always been and still remains the one i've stuck with the longest. (audrey hepburn may have been the longest but the loverly one passed too soon and too young). julie is consistent. even when she goes into her 'semi retirements' she remains intriguing. she comes then goes leaving me to always want more. and more she will return to give. whether in a supporting role ('finding neverland'), an academy award worthy role ('away from her') or turning in the best work in an ensemble piece ('new york, i love you').

she is ever loverly. she has chosen to age with grace. after a few years of 'going hollywood' she walked away. she took on social causes adding to my love for her. and she continues to act on her terms. she has nothing to prove. julie has proven. everyday is a day to celebrate julie christie. this week sees has us celebrating her sixty-ninth birthday. she is still younger than springtime and a 'darling' of the screen.

so for the next week or so i am celebrating her birthday and career and ask you to join me. not that i need an excuse to celebrate julie.




a video i made awhile ago celebrating julie



'julie christie she makes me go misty'

'Army Wives': Season 4 Tonight

The Series Finale Begins Toight on Showtime




R.I.P.: Dixie Carter

Saturday, April 10, 2010

'Blind Side' vs 'Hurt Locker' vs 'Avatar'


why is it that EVERYONE i know loved 'avatar' and 'the blind side' and disliked if not HATED 'the hurt locker', myself included? just asking. how did the critics darling win best picture of the year? just asking.

And The Oscar for Best Picture Went To ... (2010 Edition)

Friday, April 9, 2010

'The Ghost Writer' Rates **stars


i am a polanski fan. in fact, i believe he directed the best drama of the past decade: 'The Pianist'. his 'rosemary's baby' remains unmatched in the thriller edge of your seat drama. that said 'ghost writer' is a second class citizen in his repertoire. it is seemingly an indictment of cheyney and the u.s.'s influence on tony blair. if any director could have made this effective and a real indictment it could have been roman polanski. he fell short with the subject matter.

truth be told i might have given this a B but for some odd reason he cast kim catrell in an important role. kim is just out of her league here. she is downright awful. her so-called british accent is beyond laughable. ewam mcgregor and olivia williams are convincible while pierce brosnan is wasted in a dull supporting role.

catch it on dvd.

better luck next time roman.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Jon Stewart Slams Pope Over Sex Abuse Scandal: Less Contrite Than Domino's

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Pope Opera
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party

'Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing' on DVD:***stars



1973: alan j. pakula gave us this tragicomedy love story starring maggie smith and timothy bottoms. i love this film of unthinkable lovers traveling thru spain on holiday. how did i miss this september 2009 dvd release. oh well i found it now. pakula was amazing. 'the sterile cuckoo', 'to kill a mockingbird', 'klute', 'love with a proper stranger' and 'starting over' are among the highlights on his resume. he passed on 11/19/1998 and hollywood suffered a great loss.












the dvd cover



the trailer

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

For Sandra: 'Smile"



dear sandra,

it's been a rough time since that oscar win right sandy? but there are a gazillion people on your side and pulling for you. people who may only love you from afar but love you we do for the joy you have given us and for the humanity you have shown for those in need. i ask you to smile. i only hope one day soon you can...smile again.

love,
josh

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

What Year Is this Again?*


And now after removing sexual orientation as a protected class in state employment and ordering the state's public universities to rescind domestic partnership provisions for gay employees, VA Governor McDonnell declares April to be Confederate History Month. He couldn't be prouder to celebrate the wanton and needless deaths of 600,000 Americans in the name of State's Rights.

What year is this again???

*compliments of my buddy larry

Happy Birthday ABBA

on april 6, 1974 ABBA won the eurovision contest and ABBA was born.

so happy birthday ABBA and' thank you for the music'


the winner takes it all




the visitors crackin' up mix



super trooper

Monday, April 5, 2010

Happy Birthday Agnetha



one of us extended mix



if i thought you'd ever change your mind



wrap your arms around me live edition



i wasn't the one who said goodbye




Sunday, April 4, 2010

My Favorite Films of the Decade*

My Favorite Films: These are films that moved me, touched my heart, filled my spirit, made me laugh or made me cry, uplifted me or completely devestated me. Some of them made me feel. Some made me think. Some of them surprised me. Some made me laugh out loud. Some stunned me visually and audibly. Some gave the Best acting of the decade. None of them made me feel as if i wasted my time watching and liking or loving them.

All of them AMAZED me one way or another.

These are my favorite films of the 'oughts' as opposed to the best. They are the films I have revisited and will revisit often.



So, in alphabetical order, my favorite films of the past decade are:

Angels and Demons
A Single Man
Avatar
Away from Her
Babel
Batman Begins
Before Sunset
Chocolat
Crash
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Fahrenheit 911
Finding Neverland
(500) Days of Summer
The Hours
In the Bedroom
Iris
I've Loved You So Long
The Jacket
La Vien Rose
Little Children
Love Actually
Luther
Mamma Mia
March of the Penguins
Marie Antoinette
Match Point
Milk
Mona Lisa Smile
Moulin Rouge
Munich
The New World
Nine
The Blind Side
The Bourne Trilogy: Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum
The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Devil Wears Prada
The Others
The Phantom of the Opera
The Pianist
The Reader
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Pride and Prejudice
Spider Man Trilogy
Unfaithful
Up in the Air
United 93
Volver



and the Best of them: FILM OF THE DECADE: (TIE)

'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and 'The Pianist'



Best Actor:

Adrien Brody - 'The Pianist'





Runners up: Joseph Gordon-Levitt - '(500)Days of Summer', Colin Firth - 'A Single Man' and Sean Penn - 'Milk'






Best Actress:
Kate Winslet - 'The Reader', 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', 'Finding Neverland' and 'Little Children'





Runners up: Julie Christie 'Away from Her' and Marion Cotillard 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Nine'




Best Actresses Supporting:
Rachel Weisz - 'The Constant Gardner'
Sandra Bullock - 'Crash'
Thandie Newton - 'Crash'



and

Best Actors Supporting:
Michael Shannon - 'Revolutionary Road'
Matt Dillon - 'Crash'




Best Director:
Roman Polanski - 'The Pianist'



Beat Original Screenplays:
'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
'(500) Days of Summer'



Best Screenplays Adapted:
'Milk'
'The Pianist'
'The Reader'



Best Musical Score:
'Finding Neverland'



The Films:



*updated

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Happy Birthday Doris

Film Week in Review

the most uplifting film of 2009. watch sandra bullock's amazing and oscar worthy performance. buy it!:rates an A:



the best film of 2009...rent it...buy it...but see it. a modern classic. rates an A+:





recommended to rent. rates a B:




recommended if you have nothing else to do. rates a C:


don't bother renting either of these:

this wife gets a D:



did cameron diaz even read this script? a definite F:

Friday, April 2, 2010

'Up in the Air': ***1/2stars

i had no desire to see this film when it opened. i had been disappointed by most of george clooney's films. color me wrong! thank the gods for netflix. this is one helluva brilliant film. i now think it was the best film of 2009. and clooney was brilliant and brilliantly supported by the always amazing vera farmiga and the up and coming anna kendrick. director jason reitman has made a classic film.

so now i had to re-look at and readjust my best of the past decade and add this brilliant work. and as an aside it also has the best opening credits i've ever seen on film.


Happy Birthday Chris

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Happy Birthday Ali and Debbie

Passed: March 2010

fess parker - actor
peter graves - actor
robert culp - actor
at the movies - series
johnny maestro - singer
24 - series
june havoc - actress