Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paul Newman - A man in a class all his own.
I dare you to find one person who likes movies that doesn't like Paul Newman. Adoration may range from 'can do no wrong' fandom to mere respect for a given role. The fact is he was the embodiment of why we have sayings like "He was a man's man". There was so much to like about Newman, he was a great actor, an amazing philanthropist, a devoted family man, he scoffed at Hollywood and the many trappings contained there, he drank beer and smoked and never apologized for either. He lived a life, from all observations of fierce determination, which is to say he appeared to live his life unapologetically and for that he has my ultimate respect. It among so many things is a reason to mark his passing.
My first Paul Newman film would surprise few, The Verdict was about an attorney and a thriller. All things I was feverishly interested in as a teenager. I was an instant fan and went on to watch easily 2/3 of his work on film. Everyone knows the big ones - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Towering Inferno, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Sting and later on, Absence of Malice, Color of Money. While these films and so many more defined his career, Paul Newman's body of work proves how skilled he was as an actor. My vote, if you want to look at terrific work by Newman, check out one of the following, lesser known films:
The Young Philadelphians - This is a film that is a little Peyton Place meets rags to riches story. It's an interesting small town drama that has a marvelously quiet performance from Newman.
A New Kind of Love - yes it's cotton candy, and yes Rock Hudson owned this genre, but the sheer idea that Newman and Woodward did this picture makes it worth the 2 hours, both are gleefully fun, especially when you put it next to the likes of HUD
Paris Blues - Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, need I say more?
From the Terrace - This is one of those films that you don't expect, Joanne Woodward completely against type, Newman in my opinion in a tour de force carrying the film. It is a movie about social climbing, love and hate.
Others worth mentioning - for older Newman, revisit Nobody's Fool, it is one of his best performances in my opinion. Message in a Bottle is a wonderful cameo/supporting role in an average movie. For great trivia, you can rent Our Town as a double feature - the earlier version which co-stars Frank Sinatra and Eva Marie Saint and the 2003 staged version he directed and co-stared in. Of course a movie list from me would not be complete without Slapshot, because it is gritty, filthy and about hockey what could be bad about that!
Rest in Peace Paul Newman, while Connecticut is a little duller today, we are grateful for the time you have shared with us on screen and for the thousands of children who were touched by your kindness.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Must See TV -- Does it exist anymore?
Last Sunday I was well intentioned. I was going to watch the Emmys and report back on my thoughts - The fact that it has taken me 5 days to sit down and write is a testament to the following sentence. The 2008 Emmys was not only time wasted, but brain cells lost. With that, onto the new season. For this casual viewer the bulk of my Must See TV won't arrive until January, so I am only mildly interested on what debuted this week.
Disclaimer - I don't watch House and/or Ugly Betty. I love and adore Hugh Laurie and America Ferrera, but neither show has ever landed in my bandwidth. I especially know of great love of House and I will inevitably discover it on DVD one of these days. I suspect friendships depend on it.
It was a week of debuts for all things reality -- America's Next Top Model, The Biggest Loser, Survivor have all made their fall debuts. I don't watch the latter so my only statement is - Why on earth would you want to watch people eat bugs in HiDef?
ANTM and I suspect the Biggest Loser (which is on tape) are both suffering from the same problem - predictability. It is a staid format that leaves little intrigue. For me it is why most shows like these leave little drama and interest beyond their first couple of seasons (think The Apprentice). However, the biggest insanity of the week was provided by the show made just for my mom, Dancing with the Stars -- 3 nights??? We need 3 nights of BAD dancing? All three sit lined up on my DVR and I can't quite get my arms around watching Cloris Leachman ballroom dance. Overkill is always my problem. Make us miss you and revel in your return. Three back to back nights of DWTS simply reminds me of how bad the 'b' list celebrities are and how much I miss the talents of So You Think You Can Dance! For my money, I will be awaiting the arrival of the top of the class this Sunday - The Amazing Race.
Oh and for those who think it is a dying art, I did watch one scripted show this week (Mad Men didn't have an original episode because of the Emmys). My love of some of the actors has made me return to Grey's Anatomy, against my better judgement. Here was a melodrama that in my opinion balanced the best parts of Chicago Hope and ER in their heyday. Last season was about as bad as show could get - worst than Desperate Housewives second season, worst than the West Wing post Aaron Sorkin and worst than when the Cosby kids had grown up and Raven Simone was brought in for cute factor and yes, worst than when Moonlighting lost its way post Cybil Shepard pregnancy. It lost everything that made it great, sharp writing with wit and emotion, interesting story lines and strong characters with frailty. Last year's season closer went a long way in atleast earning a three episode peek to see if Grey's can get its groove back. After last night's opener, I remain skeptical. It was neither sensational, nor compelling. While it was nice to see Sandra Oh's character recover. It maligned an interesting character in Nurse Rose. Best to call this one a draw. In a week cluttered in reality TV, a draw will bring me back next week.
Disclaimer - I don't watch House and/or Ugly Betty. I love and adore Hugh Laurie and America Ferrera, but neither show has ever landed in my bandwidth. I especially know of great love of House and I will inevitably discover it on DVD one of these days. I suspect friendships depend on it.
It was a week of debuts for all things reality -- America's Next Top Model, The Biggest Loser, Survivor have all made their fall debuts. I don't watch the latter so my only statement is - Why on earth would you want to watch people eat bugs in HiDef?
ANTM and I suspect the Biggest Loser (which is on tape) are both suffering from the same problem - predictability. It is a staid format that leaves little intrigue. For me it is why most shows like these leave little drama and interest beyond their first couple of seasons (think The Apprentice). However, the biggest insanity of the week was provided by the show made just for my mom, Dancing with the Stars -- 3 nights??? We need 3 nights of BAD dancing? All three sit lined up on my DVR and I can't quite get my arms around watching Cloris Leachman ballroom dance. Overkill is always my problem. Make us miss you and revel in your return. Three back to back nights of DWTS simply reminds me of how bad the 'b' list celebrities are and how much I miss the talents of So You Think You Can Dance! For my money, I will be awaiting the arrival of the top of the class this Sunday - The Amazing Race.
Oh and for those who think it is a dying art, I did watch one scripted show this week (Mad Men didn't have an original episode because of the Emmys). My love of some of the actors has made me return to Grey's Anatomy, against my better judgement. Here was a melodrama that in my opinion balanced the best parts of Chicago Hope and ER in their heyday. Last season was about as bad as show could get - worst than Desperate Housewives second season, worst than the West Wing post Aaron Sorkin and worst than when the Cosby kids had grown up and Raven Simone was brought in for cute factor and yes, worst than when Moonlighting lost its way post Cybil Shepard pregnancy. It lost everything that made it great, sharp writing with wit and emotion, interesting story lines and strong characters with frailty. Last year's season closer went a long way in atleast earning a three episode peek to see if Grey's can get its groove back. After last night's opener, I remain skeptical. It was neither sensational, nor compelling. While it was nice to see Sandra Oh's character recover. It maligned an interesting character in Nurse Rose. Best to call this one a draw. In a week cluttered in reality TV, a draw will bring me back next week.
Monday, September 8, 2008
A Day We All Remember
Every decade seems to produce a moment that everyone can recall where they were when the world changed in a significant way for them. Pearl Harbor, JFK's assassination, landing on the moon. There are moments that universally bring us together, particularly as a nation. Yesterday reminded me of a day like that. It is a day that many will be commemorating throughout this week. For me, that Tuesday morning was typical. I was running out of the house late for work and worried about making my N/R to the 6 subway connection. Yes, at 8:30am on Sept. 11, 2001 missing the 6 train was my greatest worry in the world. As many know it was a bright, crisp sunny morning. The temperature was in the low 80s. The kind of day that makes you mad you have to go to work. Mornings like that sometimes still cause me to think about September 11th and I have rarely spoken or written about that day. Even now, seven years later it is still surreal.
I was running late for work and looked up at Times Square to check the time on my way to the subway, only to see a big black cloud of smoke emerging from the one of the Twin Towers. I went home certain it was a deliberate act and afraid we were under attack. As I called my office, I watched the second plane hit the second tower. My greatest fears confirmed. The rest of that day and the following weeks unfolded for me like for so many people. I stood on 9th Avenue and watched as the towers collapsed amid screams of those around me. I frantically called friends and family who I knew could be downtown or to tell them I was OK. I remember scavenging for food for the handful of friends who were holding up in my small studio apartment because they could not get home across the river to New Jersey. I remember talking to my young niece and nephew 3000 miles away and explaining that I wasn't in the towers that fell down and I was going to be safe. I remember not being able to open my window for over a week because of the smell, even though I lived in midtown. I remember the ghost town that Times Square looked like when not a living soul could be seen on the streets. I remember finally feeling safe when they said all air traffic was grounded or diverted out of our air space (the unsung heroes of that day - our country's air traffic controllers). I remember the first time seeing downtown Manhattan without the twin towers being a part of the landscape. I was on a train home to Long Island for my cousin's wedding just four days after the attacks, everyone on the train was silent whether in shock, fear or sadness I will never know. For me, it was a little bit of all three.
Now, most of what I remember is how people came together in a city that is always tagged as heartless. How people simply wanted to help in any way possible and those who didn't know how to help simply lined the West Side Highway with signs and flags and merely cheered on the shifts of firemen, rescue workers and police officers who came in and out of the disaster area. I also remember many of us in the neighborhoods bringing food and condolences to what was left of our ravaged firehouses - for me the Broadway fireman who lost 2/3 of their men. The fear and the particulars are distant now, 7 years later but for me it is those bright sunny brisk moments that give me pause. It's something about the complete juxtaposition of the weather and how what ensued that day were so out of sync. While I no longer live in New York, I will always be a New Yorker. I have rarely been prouder to be a part of a community than I was in the weeks that followed. I was blessed and lost no one close to me although I did know people who died. I decided to write about that day because that feeling of coming together is one I think we as a country long for now. We need more than ever to come together as a people with common pride. I think it is why I am so engaged in this election process and so adamant in my hope that people vote. You see, while I have my opinions and preferences, I just think it is so important that we as a whole get informed and participate. At the end of the day Republican, Democrat, Independent - we are Americans and it is our country to guide through the representatives we chose. If we don't participate we disservice only ourselves. I hope to make November 4, 2008 a day I remember, to sit along side Sept 11th as a day that brought out the best in our humanity and the passion we have as a people.
I was running late for work and looked up at Times Square to check the time on my way to the subway, only to see a big black cloud of smoke emerging from the one of the Twin Towers. I went home certain it was a deliberate act and afraid we were under attack. As I called my office, I watched the second plane hit the second tower. My greatest fears confirmed. The rest of that day and the following weeks unfolded for me like for so many people. I stood on 9th Avenue and watched as the towers collapsed amid screams of those around me. I frantically called friends and family who I knew could be downtown or to tell them I was OK. I remember scavenging for food for the handful of friends who were holding up in my small studio apartment because they could not get home across the river to New Jersey. I remember talking to my young niece and nephew 3000 miles away and explaining that I wasn't in the towers that fell down and I was going to be safe. I remember not being able to open my window for over a week because of the smell, even though I lived in midtown. I remember the ghost town that Times Square looked like when not a living soul could be seen on the streets. I remember finally feeling safe when they said all air traffic was grounded or diverted out of our air space (the unsung heroes of that day - our country's air traffic controllers). I remember the first time seeing downtown Manhattan without the twin towers being a part of the landscape. I was on a train home to Long Island for my cousin's wedding just four days after the attacks, everyone on the train was silent whether in shock, fear or sadness I will never know. For me, it was a little bit of all three.
Now, most of what I remember is how people came together in a city that is always tagged as heartless. How people simply wanted to help in any way possible and those who didn't know how to help simply lined the West Side Highway with signs and flags and merely cheered on the shifts of firemen, rescue workers and police officers who came in and out of the disaster area. I also remember many of us in the neighborhoods bringing food and condolences to what was left of our ravaged firehouses - for me the Broadway fireman who lost 2/3 of their men. The fear and the particulars are distant now, 7 years later but for me it is those bright sunny brisk moments that give me pause. It's something about the complete juxtaposition of the weather and how what ensued that day were so out of sync. While I no longer live in New York, I will always be a New Yorker. I have rarely been prouder to be a part of a community than I was in the weeks that followed. I was blessed and lost no one close to me although I did know people who died. I decided to write about that day because that feeling of coming together is one I think we as a country long for now. We need more than ever to come together as a people with common pride. I think it is why I am so engaged in this election process and so adamant in my hope that people vote. You see, while I have my opinions and preferences, I just think it is so important that we as a whole get informed and participate. At the end of the day Republican, Democrat, Independent - we are Americans and it is our country to guide through the representatives we chose. If we don't participate we disservice only ourselves. I hope to make November 4, 2008 a day I remember, to sit along side Sept 11th as a day that brought out the best in our humanity and the passion we have as a people.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Getting To Know You...
Getting to know all about you...
So the infomercials are over and let the games begin. The RNC and DNC have trouted out all their key people to spend two weeks telling us absolutely nothing and I watched it like it was crack. Granted the RNC had divided attention because of a great Williams sister match at the US Open, but overall it was great political theater - Will the Clinton's behave? Will Bill be sincere? Can the DNC unify? Who will McCain pick? McCain picked who? Her daughter is what? Will Bush speak? There's a hurricane set to hit New Orleans again? Wow Palin brought down the house how can McCain compete? -- all of this fodder leaves us in one place, what happens next. I am thrilled and encouraged by the millions who have tuned into the conventions and sincerely hope that it is only momentum to the debates and record turn out in Novemeber. I have had much to say about Palin in the last 48 hours but will refrain from it here. Suffice it to say, she gave a terrific speech, whose content I question.
So the infomercials are over and let the games begin. The RNC and DNC have trouted out all their key people to spend two weeks telling us absolutely nothing and I watched it like it was crack. Granted the RNC had divided attention because of a great Williams sister match at the US Open, but overall it was great political theater - Will the Clinton's behave? Will Bill be sincere? Can the DNC unify? Who will McCain pick? McCain picked who? Her daughter is what? Will Bush speak? There's a hurricane set to hit New Orleans again? Wow Palin brought down the house how can McCain compete? -- all of this fodder leaves us in one place, what happens next. I am thrilled and encouraged by the millions who have tuned into the conventions and sincerely hope that it is only momentum to the debates and record turn out in Novemeber. I have had much to say about Palin in the last 48 hours but will refrain from it here. Suffice it to say, she gave a terrific speech, whose content I question.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)