The Pillars of the Earth' Premiers on STARZ Tonight

This epic tale of passion and greed begins when a mysterious secret disrupts the succession to the English crown and an unlikely member of King Henry’s family takes the throne. A power struggle between Henry’s daughter, Maud, and nephew, Stephen, causes England to be torn by war as battles rage for the rightful heir. Meanwhile, Bishop Waleran Bigod and the Hamleigh family manipulate the conflict to satisfy their own ruthless ambitions. Within this tumultuous setting, Prior Philip fights insurmountable obstacles to keep Kingsbridge and his dream of building a magnificent cathedral alive. The task is daunting, but master-mason Tom Builder, his gifted stepson, Jack, and noblewoman Aliena work together to achieve their dreams. And in the process, the long-hidden secret is revealed.

Premiering July 23, The Pillars of the Earth will be the epic event of the summer. Starring Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) as Waleran Bigod, Rufus Sewell (The Holiday) as Tom Builder, Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon) Prior Philip, Eddie Redmayne (The Good Shepherd) as Jack, Hayley Atwell (Captain America) as Aliena and Donald Sutherland (“Dirty Sexy Money”) as Bartholomew.

Marion in 'Interview'

and see her amazing presence and performance in the **** 'inception'.and just how beautiful is this woman? well she is as beautiful as she is talented.

'Damages' Thrown a Lifeline Sort Of...

direct tv has picked up the series for 2 seasons, 10 episodes each. so if you don't have this service provider and are a fan you had best hope it's eventually syndicated.

Blancmange: 'The Day Before You Came'

two extended abba versions

 

Save the Dolphins PSA

Kristen Chenoweth: 'I Say a Little Prayer'*

from the 'promises, promises' revival

*apologies for regis philbin...got to retire him already

'Inception': Is a ****star Masterpiece

FINALLY A FILM THAT LIVES UP TO IT'S PRE-OPENING HYPE

 the best film of the summer is here. director christopher nolan denied twice for best director nominee and his 'batman begins' and 'the dark night' both denied best picture noms may just get his just rewards this time around. he had better. i defy the academy to ignore this picture come oscar nomination time. this is the new epic. my rating system goes to four stars. 'inception' deserves more.

you heard it's about dreams and invading dreams and that's all you are getting from me. you have to see it for yourself. on the big screen both times. both times? i believe you will want to make a return visit. it is so epic that i don't believe anyone can absorb all it offers in one visit. i'm going imax on it real soon.

this the the greatest roller coaster ride ever. this is edge of the seat movie going. it gets you to the edge, then gets you totally edged and trippy and all you want is to ride it longer. it is truly a mind blowing experience.

the cast headed by leo dicaprio is amazing. joseph gordon-levitt, tom hardy and ken watanabe really shine. i had reservations about ellen page at first but her casting was truly inspired. i thought she might be out of her league. but then her character appeared out of her league with the rest of the 'dream team'. neither ellen nor her character are out of their league. and then there is the divine marion cotillard. she brightens any film always. i am mad about this woman...this actress. her role is smaller than the rest but pivotal which makes it larger than the rest.

and then there is leonardo dicaprio. he just gets better and better. he is the film's center. he winds up being it's soul. this leaves a question begging to be asked. 'best actor nominee for this or 'shutter island'? so we have the kate winslet dilemma as in 'the reader' or 'revolutionary road' i picked 'the reader' for kate and she won. leo go with 'shutter island' because you owned that film. here you generously shared with a brilliant ensemble cast. trust me leo.

the musical score by hans zimmer is oscar bait. actually i say this can and will receive as many oscar noms as categories it qualifies for.

so i love this movie. it is amazing, brilliant, adult, thoughtful and yes it is a masterpiece. run to a theater near you. don't think about it just go. it is air conditioned and the perfect antidote for the heat wave in your neighborhood.
this movie about dreams is a dream come true in a summer of filmgoing mediocrity.

i repeat the WARNING: see it before you speak about it!

'The Cove' Available on Blu Ray and DVD **1/2stars

the academy award winner for best documentary is good not great. some horrific scenes of whale and dolphin slaughters are eye opening to say the least. the japanese who claim no knowledge of the slaughter some how remind me of a generation of germans who claim no knowledge of the holocaust. you can make your own decision on this matter.

it is also your choice to rent or not. the narrative and interviews border on the tedious. the 'heroes' appear to be patting themselves on the back way to much. they appear to enjoy the spotlight more than the cause.

Dick Cheney Undergoes Major Heart Surgery and Survives

better luck next time

Congratulations to Julie Berman on Her Daytime Emmy

i'm about 2 weeks late for congratulations but better late than never. right? of course right.

julie berman is a marvel as lulu spencer daughter of luke and laura spencer on 'general hospital'...and in reality she is a perfect physical and temperamental  match as genie frances's daughter. she has won this 'best younger actress award' before and deservedly. but folks at 'general hospital' and abc it is time to move julie into the supporting category. in case you haven't noticed she has grown into a woman and holds her own with the best of them.

Meet the Mother-in-Law

levi, levi...what happened? did they drug you? did they give you something weird to drink? please levi think about the holidays, the sunday dinners, the moose hunts with sarah the wasilla gorilla. okay levi if you really have to do this please please take bristol and go far far away from this crazy woman. now levi do this and i know it may be new to you and difficult but please levi: think!!!

'Remember Me' on Blu Ray and DVD ***1/2stars

what a pleasant surprise.truth is i rented 'remember me' after seeing 'twilight the eclipse' and falling for the vampire edward more than i had in the past. so i wondered what robert pattinson could do in a non vampiric role. well he does admirably if not extremely well. he plays brooding and distant best. but his distance is not off putting. you root for him in love and family and inner war. coping with loss, family dramas, a distant father and a needy sister whom he adores he captivates. meeting the would be love of his life ally causes confusion and a past event involving her dad almost destroys their probability and possibilities.

i have to say that half way through the film i was wondering where the film was going. i was half expecting the post teenage angst ending. damn was i wrong. the film takes unexpected turns. and then a truly unexpected turn that is neither forced nor contrived nor meant to shock. it just happens as life just happens. i offer no spoiler as it would be criminal.

emilie de ravin as ally grew on me as she began to grow on mr. pattinson's tyler hawkins. chris cooper gives his usual all to the role of ally's dad and ruby jerins as caroline hawkins the kid sister holds her own in a necessarily strangely written role.

and what can i say but having lena olin on screen even for a short time is always a wonderful joy.

but is pierce brosnan that is getting to me. negatively. earlier this year he walked through 'the ghost writer' only looking halfway decent because he was generally paired with the worst performance so far this year of kim cattrall. pierce get it together. you are really just phoning in your performances lately.

but back to...

i wondered how a non vampiric robert would do. well i still do not agree with the james dean comparisons except for maybe the shoulder thing. i still contend he moves more into the montgomery clift intensity zone. and like montgomery his eyes can say almost anything and everything. i'm glad he followed the first 'twilight' films with this sober independent outing which he also 'executive produced'. he certainly proves he has the chops post vampire.

yes i admit mr. pattinson is turning me into a dewey eyed dope. and i'm not complaining.

oh i almost forgot: rent it. damn i'm buying it.

Mel Gibson's Tirade Gets The Letterman Treatment

Breaking News: Seniority Gives Betty White a Promotion to God

Betty White may be set to step into the 'Big Corner Office in the Sky' previously occupied by George Burns in the 1977 comedy, 'Oh, God!'

Jerry Weintraub produced the original directed by Carl Reiner, and Weintrab is working with Warners to reboot with a heavenly gender swap. Paul Rudd would take on the former John Denver role.

i generally hate remakes of good film's but for god's sake or should i say betty's sake i'll make an exception.

What Is Going on in My Mind Today?

well stated*

*due to the pg nature of the blog i needed to crop...it's a shame

'Brooklyn's Finest' on Bly Ray and DVD Rates *1/2stars

good cop, bad cop, indifferent about to retire cop. priest who gives cop absolution for committing cold blooded murder and gets 'one hail' mary as penance. talk about a hail mary pass...damn. same old same old with some good acting by ethan hawke, richard gere and the always better than most of his films don cheadle.

fagetaboutit!

Roman Polanski Free: Swiss Reject Extradition Request

In a statement, the Swiss wrote:

The 76-year-old French-Polish film director Roman Polanski will not be extradited to the USA. The freedom-restricting measures against him have been revoked. This announcement was made by Mrs Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), in Berne on Monday. The reason for the decision lies in the fact that it was not possible to exclude with the necessary certainty a fault in the US extradition request, although the issue was thoroughly examined. Moreover, also the principles of State action deriving from international public order were taken into account.

At the end of 2005 the US authorities issued an international search warrant against Roman Polanski due to sexual offence against a minor committed in 1977. On the basis of this international order of arrest, Roman Polanski was arrested on 26th September 2009 upon his arrival at the airport of Zürich and taken into provisional custody pending extradition. On 22nd October 2009 the US authorities filed a formal extradition request. On 4th December Roman Polanski was released from custody after depositing a 4.5 million franc bail and was granted house arrest under electronic monitoring in his chalet in Gstaad.

What Is Going on in My Mind Today?

it's all bp which is not exactly as it should be. yes it's of most utmost importance that the spill be stopped and bp pay everything to every single person who has suffered financial or health loss and thru the nose. morons.

but how is it most citizens of the world and especially of america can only keep one tragedy in their collective mind's at a time.

how often do we remember anymore the two stupid bush/cheyney wars that are still being waged. certainly the nightly news has forgotten hey barack old buddy i don't remember voting for mccain and the idiot. what the frack are we accomplishing there? what do you think we will accomplish in these two countries? really how much more money? how many more lives need be taken? hell if i know!

and haiti. whatever happened to haiti world? oh frack yeah it's still there. but what the hell you want us to keep more than one depressing thing in our minds at the same time. hell no we can't do that. we got bp now. the rest of the world just has to go on without us.

so maybe this will remind us about haiti

and maybe these will remind us of two wars gone on a helluva lot too long

i read on the 'huffington post' that grizzly mama palin's new book is aimed at tweens. she says to get them while they are young. i say as they say 'water reaches it's on level. i say she is still aiming too high.

Happy Birthday Cheryl: My Favorite Angel

'walkin' in the rain'



'dance forever'



'think it over'



'try a smile'



'daddy'



'just another lover tonight'