Remembering Monty on His Birthday

personally i think monty was the handsomest man on the screen for years. that being said he was also a great actor. he was a brilliant though understated actor. possibly the best of a generation. monty died to young having lived a tortured life in the closet as one had to do in hollywood. a tragic and great loss to film.

my favorite monty films

he should have won the oscar for his role in 'judgement at nuremberg' over george chakiris in 'west side story'. another oscar fiasco! but chakiris was swept in with the 'west side story' tidal wave.

he should have been at least been nominated for 'suddenly last summer'. just another of oscar's greatest snubs. charton heston for 'ben hur' give me a break.

 i'm not sure if this clip is for monty or just my excuse to re-watch katherine hepburn's monologue  reminding us of when 'sebastian saw god'. damn she was brilliant.

a tribute

Song of the Day: Prempted by the Songs of Legendary Angela Lansbury on Her Birthday

Happy Birthday Angela

5 time tony award winner angela lansbury turns 85 years young today and continues to entertain us.

a 'gypsy' vocal compilation

'everything's coming up roses' at the 1989 tony awards

from 'sweeney todd' angela and len cariou 'a little priest'

'the worst pies in london'

'by the sea'

thank you miss lansbury for sharing your amazing talents with us for decades in every entertainment medium possibe.


you are loved

'The Social Network': ***stars

a likeable cast lifts lifts a story of mostly dislikable characters. and with all his whimsy and childish charm jesse eisenberg can't make facebook founder, well more like facebook thief, mark zuckerberg, any less despicable than he actually is/was.

still aaron sorkin authors an amazingly involving screenplay, brilliantly directed by david fincher and deftly edited by kirk baxter and angus wall. but this does not a 'best picture' make. well not for me at any rate.

the real kudos for me go to andrew garfield as the blindsided and betrayed eduardo saverin and armie hammer in the dual role of the less than shall i say intelligent winklevoss brothers, tyler and cameron, who are more brawn than brain. i actually thought real life twins were playing these real life twins. this is the best dual role play since hayley mills in 'the parent trap'. quite a feat mr. hammer.

okay the bottom line is this: if you are an oscarbater go see it. it will be nominated for multiple awards unless the next two and a half months bring multiple surprises which i doubt. but who knows? for me it's a nominee not a winner.  but then again 'the english patient', 'out of africa' and 'the hurt locker' were winners. so all bets off.

also ask yourself this: do you really really care enough about the history of facebook. truly i don't.

This Is Important: 'It Gets Better'

a councilman from texas makes a plea to all of us after hearing about the too many gay youth suicides of late.

i relate to his story. it was/is my story. councilman joel byrnes is the bravest person of the week if not the year.

it did get better for me. i'm not sure why or how. not all who grew up gay or are growing up gay are as lucky as joel or me.

Happy Birthday Vanessa

Song of the Day: 'Bosom Buddies'

angela lansbury and bea arthur recreating their 'mame' duet 'bosom buddies from 'mame'. and thank the theatre gods they did or we would be stuck with the horrendous lucille ball/bea arthur from the movie fiasco. no fault of bea's. solely destroyed by the once loved now not forgiven lucy.

more angela tomorrow on the occasion of her birthday

Whoopie and Joy Walk Out on the Racist O'Reilly on the View Today

you showed him ladies as the racist pig he and all of the fox network on screen morons are!

'Desperate Housewives': Put It and Us Out of Our Misery Please. Season So Far Rates an F

all good things generally come to an end. bad things seem to linger. 'desperate housewives' has been on a steady downfall since season 2. but like an addict i keep going back to it. i know it's bad for me but the hook is still there. well i'm getting the help i need and that help is removing it from my dvr..

this season is just plain old garbage. adding vanessa williams has not helped. in fact her story lines with felicity huffman and now with marcia cross are bringing all their characters into a pit. why bring the character of paul back? i'll tell you why...the wriyers are at a standstill. it's proving nothing but a boring ploy and lack of imagination.

the only possible redeeming value to continue to watch is in seeing how much eva longoria has developed as an actress over the years. but even her storyline this season is questionable. are we being offered just another absurd if not lurid baby switch plot line or a true morality tale? truthfully i no longer care.

some offer up that 'brothers and sisters' is done. i disagree. the walkers change or at least make an attempt to change. wisteria lane just stagnates in it's own pond scum.the wives and the show are just desperate now!

Song of the Day: 'The Nights the Light Went Out in Georgia'

 

a one hit wonder for vicki lawrence. adultery and murder sung by a carol burnett show alumni. what's not to like. it's worth another listen.

Vote Nov. 4

stop the republicans from taking over congress and bringing us back to the bush years!

THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT THE SAME OLD SAME OLD THAT GOT THE UNITED STATES WHERE IT IS TODAY

VOTE DEMOCRAT

Song of the Day: 'Billy Don't Be a Hero'

yesterday we did 'the night chicago died' by paper lace. today it's their other 1974 semi-hit 

'billy don't be a hero'

Song of the Day: 'The Night Chicago Died'

paper lace released this, 1974, at the same time abba released 'waterloo'. guess which group won out?
but 'the night chicago died' presented as odd a historical background as 'waterloo' did and made a semi-hit and an impression. they had another hit with 'billy don't be a hero' also in 1974.

SNL Spoofs Christine O'Donnell

Happy Birthday Emily

Song of the Day: 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie'

as close to abba as it was going to get after their breakup but at the same time definitely not abba at all...too little too soon. subsequent releases just didn't catch on.

but 'yes sir, i can boogie' was catchy enough.

HBO's 'Mildred Pierce' Extended Teaser

coming to hbo 2011

Song of the Day: 'Total Eclipse of the Heart''

'total eclipse of the heart' or 'turn around' as it is often referred to was one of those instant classics and deservedly so.......

originally recorded by bonnie tyler became that instant classic. bonnie reminded me of rod stewart with the gravelly sounding voice that worked oerfectly with this song.

live at the 1984 grammy awards

thinking kim would have the last word with this musical piece would have been a mistake. nikki french took ot to greater hights with her 'dance' version. the song would reach the realm of musical masterpiece.

nikki's extended mix

nicki live

another nikki remix

the cast of 'glee' gave it a rousing spin too

'Total Eclipse of the Heart'' the Literal Version

you've either watched or listened to the above versions. or totally ignored them. but treat yourself to this 'literal' version of the bonnie tyler video. you may have to watch it closely and read the 'literal' lyrics to really enjoy it.

Remembering John Lennon on His Birthdate

imagine

love

happy xmas (war is over)

It's Our Turn To Say NO on November 2

Idiot of the Week

Song of the Day: 'Wishin and Hopin'

dusty's smash hit

as much as i love her pet's cover came nowhere near dusty's original. but hell it's pet so here you go...

'What If Sonny Corinthos Met Erica Kane

maurice benard is one of day-times best actors. as sonny corinthos (general hospital) he plays the mafia boss with a heart of gold. in this 'waht if' he is paired with one of day-times biggest personalities susan lucci. and a personality she may be but an actress she is not. no hate mail please. it's just my opinion. because of her overacting and that her character still acts like she's 16 years old as an absurd 50 something is one of the main reasons i gave up on 'all my children' a decade ago.

Oscarbation: 'The King's Speech'

it's getting praise and winning prizes on the festival circuit.so is colin. maybe the oscar he should have won last year is now within reach.

in wide release

the trailer

teaser

Song of the Day: 'I Just Want To Be Your Everything'

andy had talent and was as sexy as hell. another talent that died way to soon

Happy Birthday Matt

there are a handful of 'younger' actors today who are reaching the heights and reputation of classic actors past. one of them is matt damon. as an actor matt keeps learning and growing. he's come along way since 'good will hunting' and i don't see him stopping any day soon.

'Secretariat' Opens Today

i have a feeling this is not just another horse story. i'm hearing good things about it. and i love diane lane so i'm giving it a shot.

'City Island' Rates ***1/2stars

'city island' opened this past april with little or no fanfare and where it did open it disappeared quickly. unfortunately this is the fate of many films especially those labeled as 'art house' films. but thank the cinematic gods that they get a second life on home video.

'city island is a 'slice of life' film that begins and ends in a matter of days. at it's core is secrets. secrets kept and secrets exposed. at the center of it all is the brilliant performance of andy garcia in his best role to date. he is the dad in a secretive family. their secrets are non-malicious. they are kept out of love or just because the other characters think they are no big deal or because the owner of the secret thinks they are, simply put, silly.

this film is charming and delightful. that julianna margulies has her best film role to date makes it worth seeing even more. but have no doubt that this is andy garcia's movie. and he deserves an oscar nomination for it. in fact with the best picture field still at the ridiculous ten nominations the movie itself deserves a nom.

rent this film. you will hopefully be as pleasantly surprised as i was. i love finding these small gems. in an otherwise slim film year so far this small gem is a diamond.

trailer

 

Song of the Day: 'Vienna'

i feel in love with linda eder when i saw her in 'jekyll and hyde' on broadway.

'vienna', not from the musical, is just a beautiful song delivered by a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice. but i warn you: in concert she is a total bore. she has zero stage presence. buy her cd's and listen to them at home.

Song of the Day: 'Jambalaya'

i have no ides why i find myself humming and singing this song as much as i do. it was a catchy tune the first time i heard it.

 emmylou harris

the first time i heard it was this recording by jo stafford and the version that is gladly stuck in my brain

Remembering Carole Lombard on Her Birthday

carole lombard was the zaniest film comedianne of all time. she died too young in a plane crash while selling war bonds during world war 2. she lives on film forever.

my two favorite lombard films

'Dorian Grey' rates 1/2*

this 2009 film went virtually unnoticed when released in the fall of 2009. and no wonder. 'the picture of dorian grey was always a dark tale. this version goes beyond dark. it is now a lurid tale with absolutely no merit whatsoever. run as far from it as you can.

my only question is what the hell was colin firth thinking when he took the second lead in it. really i ask seriously who the hell did he owe a favor. this is the biggest piece of junk i've seen in a long time and that includes every anne hathaway movie i've ever suffered through.

Get Out and Vote on November 2nd

Song of the Day: 'What If'

happy birthday kate and yes you are the 'song of the day' although i sing your praises everyday

Happy Birthday Kate

Rejoice Rejoice for on this date in 1975 a new star burst forth that would  shine with beauty and brilliance and she would be called Kate

Well I'm rejoicing. I first came to Kate by way of 'Sense and Sensibility' in 1995. I was impressed. So in 1996 when 'Jude' was released I went to see it. I am becoming more impressed. Also in 1996 I went to see 'Hamlet' because it was a sort of Julie Christie comeback. And there was Kate playing 'Ophelia' and I know longer needed more impressions. I knew then and there that Kate would be an actress to be reckoned with.

Then comes 1997 and the titanic 'Titanic'. The STAR was born. From that moment on Kate would rise to the heights of super stardom. But Kate would also amaze. Being offered a lot of major Hollywood movies Kate opted to do smaller independent films. This is how she really learned the craft. Kate became an actress not a "movie star". Thank god.

She had five Oscar noms with no win. I could quibble with three of them. I can really accept one: that being Jennifer Connelly in 2001. Kate in 'Iris' lost to Jennifer's 'A Dangerous Mind' and even I say that was correct. The lose to Helen Hunt in 1997 was a sham. Truth be told Julie Christie and Judy Dench also should have won over Hunt that year.

The real robberey was in 2004. Kate lost for 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. WHAT? And to Hillary Skank, typo intended, for 'Million Dollar Baby'. Ridiculous, Absurd, Embarrassment. MADDENING!. Hillary snuck in with the rest of the Clint Eastwood's film awards. Highway Robbery.

I do have things to say about her 2006 lose for 'Little Children' but I'll deal with that another time.

But Finally At Last Kate won the Oscar for 'The Reader'. Just desserts justly served.

Happy Birthday Kate. Thanks for acting. Thanks for the choices. Thanks for the Work.

revisiting two videos i made awhile ago on her birthday

   

Song of the Day: 'Midnight Blue'

'Caprica' Returns October 5 on SYFY

get the first season on dvd. 'caprica' is the best that syfy has to offer

Song of the Day: 'The Tide Is High'

blondie.........i love blondie and i really love this song

'What If' Jason Met Greenlee

steve burton on 'general hospital is the acting pro here. and he just happens to be the HOTTEST guy on daytime television.

rebecca budig from 'all my children' is mediocre at best and annoying as hell.

Song of the Day: 'Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts'

dylan at his best. baez doing dylan even better. both versions are masterpieces. i love songs that tell a story. when they are done well they are brilliant. this is one of the brilliant one's. i give you two versions. joan and bob.

joan

dylan

Passed September 2010

Song of the Day: 'Whistling Away the Dark' from 'Darling Lili'

written by henry mancini for the film 'darling lili' the under appreciated julie andrews and rock hudson 1970 vehicle. julie's performance was also underestimated and under appreciated at the time of it's release. perhaps it still is.

Happy Birthday Julie

some of my favorite julie films over the years. though i must admit the thought of watching 'mary poppins' ever again makes me gag!