And here we are for Hollywood’s biggest night. This is a banner year for me in that I don’t think I’ve seen a single one of the movies nominated for Best Picture. Nevertheless, we need a place to snark, so here it is.
See you in the comments! Continue reading
Alternative Views presents one of my favorite films ever – still. At the time of its release, I’d never seen a film like it. There’s something magical about the first time you see people like you being featured front-and-center in well-marketed product from an industry that normally treats your kind like props. The film was not only groundbreaking (in my personal movie going experience), but it’s fun as hell. Even the goofy, dated dance routine at the end is fun. It’s supposed to be goofy.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo Continue reading
Today’s Alternative Views recommendation comes way of Sundance and a few other festivals. Apparently, it failed to get wide distribution. The reasons for that oversight will remain mysteries to me. This film is hella powerful.
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (2013), Skylan Brooks, Ethan Dizon, Jennifer Hudson
Director: George Tillman
Writer: Michael Starrbury
One review of this film opined that it bordered on “poverty porn”. I can’t agree. Director George Tillman pointed his camera matter-of-factly at life in a Brooklyn housing project. It’s not prurient. It’s not judgmental. It just is the life lived by 13-year-old Mister (Skylan Brooks), his addicted mother, Gloria (Jennifer Hudson) and their semi-permanent house guest, 9-year-old Pete (Ethan Dizon), himself the child of an addict even worse off than Gloria. Continue reading
Alternative Views presents, Throwback Thursday. These reviews will feature a favorite film, suitable for multiple viewings through the years. Today’s recommendation is:
Smoke Signals (1998) Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Beddard Continue reading
Oy, if you’re a network television executive you really need to be having a deep-down, soulful conversation with yourself about what the hell you’ve been doing all year. Continue reading
Oh, Hollywood, when you’re not screaming at the top of your lungs about Angelina Jolie daring to do that land-farce of a spectacle Cleopatra, again, because how dare she want to make a big, behemoth epic movie that will probably bankrupt Sony, haha! Yes, you’re giving out awards and pats on the backs for all the wonderful movies and television you’ve zapped into the eyeballs of the viewing public. It’s SAG award nomination time. Let’s see what graying, old filthy codger of a television show is still hobbling down the carpet to pick up an award. (Modern Family) Continue reading
Two regular Joes off to detect some stuff; a cat named Audrey; NBC is what goes bump in the night; The Stallone of Rage; I’M MATT DAMON; We know what you did, and we don’t care; butter biscuits with racism jam; and nobody puts Shonda in a corner. This week’s Caller is a Careless Whisper. Continue reading
This is my ideal day. Saturday morning: I love to get up to go to a museum. I always take a taxi, and only open the door into the bike lane. Because I love to see how many Citi Bike riders I can pick off. I love to spend mornings at MoMA, where I eat M&Ms and I sneeze on Jackson Pollocks, just to see who can tell. I try to get to a Mets game if they’re in town, because they have a great ticket plan: If you buy one, you get one free; if you buy two, they let you pitch. — Joan Rivers [Vulture]
Joan Rivers was an icon. She was controversial, acerbic, offensive sometimes, spot on often, and the last of the real “take no crap” broads in showbiz. No, not in Hollywood or the movies, or on television…showbiz. Showbiz meaning that she was a consummate performer. Brooklyn born, a Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College educated, and one of the quickest wits to walk the planet even at the age of 81. Rivers could get up on a stage in her twilight years and make the biggest “man’s man” blush as she regaled an audience with raunchy and ribald humor while dressed to the nines, heels in place, hair perfected, and face…a work of dizzying craftsmanship. And that’s all we’re going to say about that. Continue reading
“You do an eclectic celebration of the dance! You do Fosse, Fosse, Fosse! You do Martha Graham, Martha Graham, Martha Graham! Or Twyla, Twyla, Twyla! Or Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd! Or Madonna, Madonna, Madonna!… but you keep it all inside.” This is the scene among many that made me laugh out loud during The Birdcage starring the wonderful Robin Williams. I can still see him doing every single one of those dance steps as he paraded hilariously across the stage. The other great scene had to do with a pot full of shrimp and a dinner not going to plan, and Williams, whom you could tell, ad libbing the entire thing. And that’s what he did. Robin Williams was a genius at improv — one of the best there ever was — but when it was time to get serious, he knew just how to break your heart as he did in Good Will Hunting, earning him the Oscar, and earlier in The World According to Garp among other stand out roles. And that’s just his dramatic work; he was a king at the animated voice, and had the timing of the Gods. Continue reading
Sarah Palin is the Glenn Close of a new generation, she will not be ignored; comic book movies to woo everyone, just everyone; Blake Lively to throw her goop at you now; does “Kiefer” mean douche; magical, delightful, Idris to cast a spell; pirates to scream their way to hell and then back again; bunches of people get acting jobs; and your mom’s favorite book-turned-movie now starring people you’ve barely ever seen before. Continue reading
