Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Filed under: Culture, Ruminations | No Comments »
Those of you who are NFL fans know about the Tim Tebow phenomenon, and how it reached full flower with a big late season victory over the Steelers.
The game went to overtime. Under the league’s rules, first team to score wins, without the other squad having an an opportunity to tie it up. Denver got the ball. First play, Tebow throws an 80 yard TD pass to beat Pittsburgh.
The OT went just seconds, long enough for the snap, the Tebow dropback, a look downfield, the toss and Demaryius Thomas’ scamper to the endzone.
Boom. Game over.
Well now I know how the Steelers felt.
I shan’t repeat all the details of the smackdown this past Wednesday noon to see if I or a friend had the better and correct solution to turning off another pal’s closed captioning, which visual impediment was driving his significant other nuts. You can read the details here. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 24th, 2012 | Filed under: Culture | 5 Comments »
For a number of years now, I have lunched every Wednesday with a couple of pals.
I’ll call them Dale and Milt, because, well, those are close enough but not their real names.
They are as past the dawn of their dotage as I am. Which means that none of us hears very well.
I know the exact moments when my hearing went from good to not so good at all, at least in my right ear. During the summer of ’70, I thought it a boffo idea to stand right in front of the massive set of speakers at the Atlanta Pop Festival, while the Chambers Brothers were doing an extended version of “Time.”
The diminution of auditory acuity settled into a permanent state several months later during a Grand Funk Railroad concert, at a moment in rock history when such big guitar outfits prided themselves on their ability to generate deafening decibels.
I cannot speak for the genesis of my lunch pals’ conditions. But can say there are times when our lunch table resembles one of those Saturday Night Live skits about the hearing impaired. (Not that such condition is something to be taken lightly.)
At any rate, because of his acceptance of his condition, Dale’s TV at home has closed captioning set to the “ON” position. Which is all well and good, but for one small thing. It apparently drives his usually understanding significant other to serious distraction when she’s watching by herself. And neither has been able to figure out how to turn it off. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 24th, 2012 | Filed under: Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
How coincidental is it that on the day the Academy Award nominees are announced, I review “The Artist?”
Which film, as you probably know, has already garnered any number of awards, including three from the new major playah in Hollywoodland, the Foreign Movie Press. A/K/A the Golden Globes.
So I guess it’s kinda neat but, well, not that big of a deal. Besides all this introductory blather is really of little consequence, since I also review a movie, which has almost totally slipped from my memory already, and I just saw it yesterday. That would be Steven Soderbergh’s “Haywire.” Yawn.
Anyhow, as I opine in the soon to be linked radio review of “The Artist,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences likes nothing better than to honor itself. Thus, “The Artist” and my previously reviewed “Hugo,” both of which are love letters to the movies, are going to go home with some statuettes.
Anyhow, here’s the link. Listen for yourself, or forever hold your peace.
Posted: January 23rd, 2012 | Filed under: History Warp | No Comments »
England’s Henry VIII had a thing for marriages. Actually he had a thing for marriages to women named Anne, truth be told.
On January 25, 1533, he entered into a hallowed state of matrimony with Anne Boleyn. (Years later, in 1540 to be exact, he would tie the knot with Anne of Cleaves.)
For those keeping score at home, Ms. Boleyn was HVIII’s second wife. Catherine of Aragon was his first. Boleyn provided the King with an heir to the throne, who became rather famous herself, Elizabeth I.
But, as you must surmise by now, Henry VIII soon tired of Anne Boleyn, accusing her of philandering and banishing her to the Tower of London, which was not, it is reported, a bucolic vacation spot. Eventually it was off with her head. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 17th, 2012 | Filed under: Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
When receiving her Golden Globe Sunday Night (For her bioflick portrayal of Margaret Thatcher), Best Actress Forever Meryl Streep mentioned how very many great cinematic portrayals by women they’re were last year.
Who am I to disagree?
Actually it was the singular theme in film last year, about which I’ve been harping for awhile.
So, today, on my weekly radio film review gig, instead of milking five minutes worth of shtick about Marky Mark in “Contraband” — which both the Film Babe and I liked — I decided to visit once again those worthy performances referenced by Ms. Streep.
Listen up
Posted: January 16th, 2012 | Filed under: History Warp | No Comments »
Jumping right in today. No superfluous drab gab. Right to the heart of the matter. Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts. Why waste time? Let’s get to it.
On my mark, get set, go.
Given the metamorphosis of international politics, there’s little doubt that John and Jane Q. Globalcitizen are way more interested in the ways of Islam these days than, say, a score of years ago. (That’s 20 years for you non-Lincoln scholars.)
Of note is that January 16 provided two events of Islam that should be recognized. So they are herewith.
On that date in 1956, the government of Egypt declared Islam to be the official state religion. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 10th, 2012 | Filed under: Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
Actually the title is a bit of a tease.
I mention the Steven Spielberg schmaltzfest only in passing. It is the latest film proving that unlimited resources, sterling production values and a worthy track record are not always a sign that a film will be good. “War Horse” is not good. But it does provide counterpoint.
Ah, but the WWII spy potboiler, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is wünderbar, featuring one of the year’s great acting performances.
Check it out:
Posted: January 9th, 2012 | Filed under: History Warp | No Comments »
It’s been awhile since I’ve offered up a pithy intro to these weekly nuggets of historitude. So, I felt compelled to do it this time around.
So now I have. Now, enough, fast forward to the past.
Leo DeCaprio is being acclaimed for his portrayal last year of iconic FBI founder and FBI director for life J. Edgar Hoover. It’s not the first suitably notable bigger than life wacko he’s played on the silver screen.
Remember when he did Howard Hughes? About whom this snippet centers. Hughes, believed to be the richest man in the world while he was alive, became an OCD recluse, who lived in the penthouse of a hotel he owned in Vegas. Or, so it is believed.
After he went into hiding, nobody had seen or heard from him for years. Until January 9, 1972. Seems there was this fellow Clifford Irving, who concocted an autobiography of Hughes that purported to provide lots of insider info. Turns out he made it all up. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 4th, 2012 | Filed under: Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
Given the vast and inordinate number of darker films that have been released this holiday season, the Film Babe and I decided to check out a feel good flick.
Actually, according to the ads, we chose a “feel great movie” — “We Bought A Zoo.”
And, in this film which in fact does make one feel good without being too saccharine or cloying, is the absolutely cutest young girl in the history of the world. Listen up for further info.
And, I’ve been thinking about the amazing performances by Michelle Williams in “My Week With Marilyn” and Kirsten Dunst in “Melancholia.” Which reminded me of an old comedy the duo starred in together. “Dick” in a very funny way explains the mysteries of the Watergate scandal.
So I rented the flick, watched it with the Film Babe, enjoyed it a lot again and give a quick re-review for you.
Check it all out here:
Posted: January 2nd, 2012 | Filed under: History Warp | No Comments »
“Topping the Charts” is a phrase that really needs no explanation. It’s usually used in connection with the music biz, you know, which album or MP3 sells more than any other that week.
Frankly, I haven’t a clue who first used that phrase, or when it was first uttered by some record company PR flack?
But I do know that it was on January 4, 1938 that the first charts, based on national sales, were listed in Billboard Magazine. The first chart topper was Joe Venuti’s “Stop! Look! Listen!”
* * * * *
Most folks know that Henry Ford invented the Model T, and developed mass assembly line production.
But few are probably aware of how he goosed the big business model on January 4, 1914. He declared he was going to share $10 million of the previous year’s profits with his employees. He increased the number of employees by switching from two 9 hour shifts to three 8 hour shifts. And set up a hearing process before an employee could be fired.
* * * * *
The first presidential election in the United States of America occurred on January 7, 1789. Revolutionary War hero George Washington carried the day.
This space isn’t big enough to attempt to try to begin to commence to explain why citizens didn’t vote directly for the president, but for electors who then meet and choose the leader. By the by, George’s win was unanimous. He was unopposed.
Posted: December 27th, 2011 | Filed under: Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
Duke and I chat about our Christmas gifts. Oh yeah, it’s twu it’s twu.
And, if that’s not enough for ya, that ain’t all, kiddos.
In my reviews I reveal who takes his/her shirts off and who doesn’t? Truth.
And if all that doesn’t sate your soul and satisfy your cinematic curiosity, I actually give in depth analysis of three flicks.
“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” during which critique I opine as to who plays the best Lisbeth Salander, Noomi Rapace or Rooney Mara?
“Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol,” during which I advise whether you see more groovy gizmos or more of Cousin Tommy Cruise’s bare chest?
“My Week With Marilyn,” during which I analyze Michele Williams transcendent take on filmdom’s most endearing and lasting icon, MM, which is, one guy’s opinion, the best performance by an actor this year.
Check it out.
Posted: December 20th, 2011 | Filed under: Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
I would have been much more positive about the latest Sherlock Holmes action adventure romp featuring Robert Downey Jr. aa the now pumped up sleuth, and Jude Law as his partner in crime solving, if . . . it wasn’t a Sherlock Holmes movie.
Guns, fights, explosions, chases, romantic trysts . . . they’re all to be found here. The only problem is none of that has anything to do with Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant creation.
So, I came with the thunder. I’m sure Basil Rathbone is smiling at my take on the affair.
“Young Adult” is a slyly cynical film, ostensibly about a gal who was Queen of the Hop in high school, and has gone on to seeming fame and fortune in the big city. She returns to the homestead to steal away her old prep beau. He happens to be happily married with a new baby he adores. Nothing happens as you expect it to, a good thing indeed.
The film is a brilliant if disturbing character study.
Listen up to hear why I find the movie and Charlize Theron’s performance among the best of the year.
Those of you who are NFL fans know about the Tim Tebow phenomenon, and how it reached full flower with a big late season victory over the Steelers.
