I can't believe that a another year has gone by but, thankfully, Meryl Streep is not nominated this year. So we have 2 Black Panthers-one from the comics and one kick ass real dude. An actor with horrible prosthetic teeth, a nutty Queen, a great pianist, a black and white drab social commentary movie, Lady GaGa with her real hair and a crazy ass Vice President. It is the Oscars-full blown before they even have aired with all the controversy of the host to some idiots thinking it was wise to showcase some awards when commercials are on. WTF??? Thankfully, enough film people bellowed and the schmos over at Oscars put everything back in. I know many of you won't watch but I hope some of you will or at least catch a glimpse. I have made up my quick list of questions that you can choose when watching these people thank God for winning a Gold statue. Here are my 10 questions for you to ponder...
1. Best Dressed?
2. Worst Dressed?
3. Best Speech?
4. Worst Speech?
5. Whom Do You Hate that Won?
6. Whom Do You Love that Won?
7. Best Part of the Show?
8. Worst Part of the Show?
9. Most Boring (Person or scene)?
10. What Drug Were They On?
So There ya Go and just remember, the last time there were no hosts, this happened....talk about drugs!
Is it that time again?? Why, yes it is...it’s Thursday Time which means another 3 movies to choose and enter it over at Wandering Through The Shelves the originator of this great weekly event. This week it is all about real life couples who starred in movies together. So, without further adieu, here are my 3.
1. THAT HAMILTON WOMAN-1941
This film stars the beautiful and talented Vivien Leigh and the equally beautiful and talented Laurence Olivier as star crossed lovers from history-Lady Hamilton and Lord Horatio Nelson. These 2 lovebirds started an affair when they first appeared onscreen in 1936 (Fire Over England) when both were married to others and it was quite torrid. They were deeply in love and created quite the buzz in Hollywood when she came over to film Gone With The Wind. This film is the first and last film they made as a married couple. The costumes are amazing and Vivien looked right at home in these outfits. It is purely romantic but also a propaganda film for the war effort (Churchill's Favourite). We see this film through Lady Hamilton's eyes who is married to a high ranking official when she meets Nelson, considered the greatest British Naval hero ever. To be honest, Nelson's affair with Hamilton is the stuff of legend as Hamilton was beautiful and in love with Nelson...and vice-versa but, when he dies, she was cast aside. The passion of the real life couple playing the passion of these historical people is just too good to miss.
2. PAT AND MIKE-1952
This film stars Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn as a sports promoter and an athlete, play by Kate. She is engaged to be married to an idiot who flusters her every time he comes around to watch her play golf or tennis. Mike sees this and makes sure he is not around which suits him just swell since he is developing feelings for her...and vice versa. She helps him in other areas..like dealing with thugs. It is a fun, light comedy that flows smoothly due to these 2 great actors. They started an affair back in 1942 when they made Woman of the Year and stayed together until his death in 1967. He was married and had 2 children with his son being deaf. Due to his catholic faith(hahaaa-he had numerous affairs and was a major alcoholic), he would not divorce his wife which suited Kate just fine. Kate helped Spencer when he took off with a few bottles of liquor and try to drink himself to death. She would find him and help him even when he was a complete jerk to her. There is a documentary out about some man who was the go to guy for sex etc...in Hollywood. He claims that Spencer was gay and Kate was as well since he would help them find dates and their affair was all a ruse. I can't remember his name but I did order this documentary the DVD.
3. OVERBOARD-1987
I like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell who have been together for over 30 years with ups and downs as many couples have. Hell, I loved Kurt Russell as a mini Tarzan boy in Gilligan's island:). Remember, he was a Disney star back in the day. This is a fun light-weight movie about a filthy rich bitch who owns a yacht and wants a great show closet. Russell plays the carpenter building this closet and he can't stand her demanding airs. When the yacht leaves, she is on board with her jerk husband and her many servants, one played by the great Roddy McDowall. She falls overboard, hitting her head and wakes up in a hospital not knowing who she is. Enter Russell, who recognizes her and makes her believe they are married with 3 nasty, ugly, dirty boys. She has to clean up the pig-sty house and deal with the brats plus Russell but, you know, romance will ensue and does. As for her jerk husband..he is happy she has fallen overboard and now he can frolic with bikini gals and spend her money. This is a very fun, and a sweet movie where we can turn off our brains and just sit, drink and eat popcorn.
Which movies would you choose that stars real-life couples?
Here is a portrait of Lady Hamilton by George Romney, a wonderful artist who fell in love with this lass and was the object of many of his paintings.
Happy Valentine’s Day where many give flowers and chocolates to their loved ones since they ignored them for the rest of the year:). Since this is the actual day for romance, it just seems the right thing to discuss romantic comedies. It will be interesting to see which way some of the film nuts go so head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to find out. This is a huge theme but I went with a theme within a theme so here are my 3.
PILLOW TALK-1959
That's right, I went Doris, “I knew her before she was a virgin”, Day and Rock, “Mr. Secret", Hudson who made 3 films together and were life-long friends. She stood by him when the shit hit the fan regarding his private life, when he was dying from AIDS. Now, let’s forget about reality and travel back to their fun comedies which included the wonderful Tony Randall who usually played his friend. Pillow Talk is all about telephone lines specifically party lines. Anyone remember this? Does anyone even recall using a rotary phone? Doris is a successful interior designer who is fed up with the man who shares her telephone line. Every time she wants to call out, he is on the phone with some new gal. She is incensed and he decides she needs to be another notch on his bedpost. I love the hilarity of Tony Randall as Hudson’s friend and a big client of Doris's and the great Thelma Ritter as Day’s housekeeper. The film was a big hit and so was the song!
2. LOVER COME BACK-1961
Hudson and Day are at it again as 2 Ad execs on opposite sides of the business street who are in major competition. I don’t think this film would even be made today because it involves her getting drunk from some candy that he gives her and they wake up married! Yeah...this would never be made today and the plot is quite scary since he would now be considered a sexual predator but let’s get back to non reality and have some fun. Remember, this is the day and age when women are supposed to be happy at home making bread in a dress, pearls and high heels. Doris played a woman in a field usually dominated by men and she always seems the stronger person. Again, Tony Randall plays his friend/Boss who befuddled by the whole mess.
3. SEND ME NO FLOWERS-1964
This is a film where the 2 stars are actually married. He plays a hypochondriac who, in a series of misadventures and misunderstandings, has his marriage in deep do-do. Tony Randall is here again giving his best in a film that is actually quite funny but not as well known as the other 2.
Now let’s have a listen to Doris...
What romantic comedies would you pick or who is your go to gal or guy for these types of movies?
Revenge is a plate best served cold..is how I recall this saying. Sometimes I think about revenge but what will that serve in the end...I don't like a cold meal unless it is meant to be cold. A new month over at Wandering Through The Shelves and it starts off with this theme. I know it is a big one but, for the life of me, I had a hard time coming up with movies. It will be fun to see what everyone else has chosen. Here are my 3...
1. FURY-1936
This film is from MGM that normally did not go along with such hardened films but this is a gem directed by Fritz Lang whom most actors, including the stars, Spencer Tracy, could not stand. Spencer plays a man in love with a beautiful gal, played by Sylvia Sydney (the old lady in Beetlejuice who smokes constantly which she did in real life), who ventures to meet up with her only to be arrested on very thin evidence. A mob decides to take matters into their own hands and want to lynch him. He escapes but becomes so angry and hardened that he seeks revenge by pretending to be dead so the people in the mob are brought to trial. A very strong statement, not only on revenge but on the mob mentality that we see, all too often, today.
2. 9 TO 5-1980
Let's make people laugh and this is one movie to do it. It stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton as 3 women working for the sleaziest boss one could encounter (and let's face it, most of us have in one form or another). They end up kidnapping him in his own home and decide to keep the company going doubling productivity. The problem is they still have to deal with this slimeball played brilliantly by Dabney Coleman. It is quite funny especially that Jane Fonda plays the meek gal and Dolly can hold her own with the 2 female stars. A very funny film that I need to see again.
3. STAR TREK-THE WRATH OF KHAN-1982
This, to me, is the best Star Trek film with the original cast and one of the best from all the Star Trek films. It takes one of the original episodes and shows what has happened to the people from the show. Khan was a leader, tyrannical one with an ego the size of Charlton Heston's chest, who is found on a ship called Botony Bay, frozen. The Star Trek crew defrost Mr. Ego who learns, very quickly, how the ship works. Of course, there is a girl who falls for his ruggedness and when he is caught at the end, he is placed with his defrosted crew down on a planet with the gal by his side. Jump ahead and now, you find out that the planet went into a deep freeze, the lady love died and Khan is out for revenge. He blames Kirk and is out to get him..and his little dog too! Sorry, there is no dog unless you count these ugly worms that dig into your ears and plant themselves in your brain, as some sort of pet. This is the film where Spock "dies" and it is powerfully acted especially by Ricardo Montalban as Khan who originated the role on the TV series. I think he should have been up for an Oscar.
To do a quick vent...January was not that great..I miss my craft room. There has been family issues and I am in the middle and this stems from January 15th. We got together to remember mom who died a year before but, unfortunately, it did not go as planned. A week later, someone rear ended our car..again, and almost to the same day when I had my car accident a year ago and, this past Friday our beloved Naddie, our oldest cat, died suddenly. My hubby got him when he was so little so he is quite devastated. Blecchhhh. OK that is me venting. I plan to give a little cheer about Naddie here when I can.
OK, I promise, I had nice days too:) Now, which 3 films would you choose?
I believe I am back on track! This is the final Thursday in January and the final day for this month! I can't believe it but it is and so time never stops. This is all about the new shows that debuted last year and I am old school so I have nothing from Netflix, Crave, Hulu, Doolu or Spoodoo...Poop-Poop-Pee-Doo. Check out Wandering Through The Shelves and see what everyone else has picked. The 3 I have chosen are all from the regular old 3 networks so here we go...
1. NEW AMSTERDAM
How I wish hospitals were truly like this where someone cares and spends the time to figure out what is wrong with you. To be honest I would love to see a real doctor's show...maybe a dark comedy where you see how horrible the cleaning staff washes down everything, the nurses talk about their trips not bothering to see if the old person down the hall is ok and the doctors could care less if your issue does not show up on bloodwork. This stars Ryan Eggold (who is in BlacKkKlansman) as the new head of the hospital and starts right off firing a bunch of doctors and basically creating a storm of controversy but endearing himself to some doctors who are glad he is finally running things. My hubby and I both enjoy this show because it feels good, it cares and has some good story lines and no zombies or serial killers as heroes.
2. MANIFEST
A bunch of people on a plane run into some bad turbulence but finally land only to learn that they landed...5 years later! The center are a brother and sister who find out that their mom has since passed away, the sister's fiancee married her best friend and the brother's son remained 10 whereas his twin sister is 5 years older. Of course there is a conspiracy afloat and you are not sure whom to believe. I am really enjoying this series and hope they can carry this throughout the next seasons. Oh yes, and, so far, no zombies
3. THE COOL KIDS
Yes...I like this show with its sad soundtrack and ok chuckles but for some reason, I enjoy watching this. I think it is because they are finally showing people who are not 25 wearing cool clothes and are big time lawyers or neurosurgeons but are older people in an old folks home. Now this home is a nice one that I could never afford but, aside from that, you get to see what the old coots are up to. It stars Vicki Lawrence, Martin Mull(who is the oldest of the bunch), David Alan Grier and my fav, Leslie Jordan, that short guy with the southern accent who played on Will & Grace. I'm not saying it is the best but it is my guilty pleasure and there are no zombies in this....nope, you don't even see an old person laying there drooling in their cup.
So...I made a big boo boo because this week, at Wandering Through The Shelves, is actually films with long titles which I discussed last week when, actually, last week was about 2018 releases. In fact, since I was horrible last year seeing only one movie, I actually rented 3 films so I could discuss them here. Yeah...major brain fart and just skipped ahead like a hippie dippy gal holding a tambourine. I will be curious to see which long titled films will be chosen. I, on the other hand, will talk about 2018 movies...and I saw 3 new ones so here we go....
1. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 67...NOOOOO...I MEAN 6-FALLOUT
Tom Cruise will be in a wheelchair holding on to a moon rocket while we see his false teeth fly out but I digress. This was another fun entry in this franchise even though it stars...Tom Cruise. He is a true adrenaline junkie and does many of his own stunts. Of course, a nutbar (not Cruise, this is the plot) with tons of money is ready to destroy the world and Cruise and his small team must save the day. I always love seeing Simon Pegg and even Ving Rhames but the gals were on board as well and have a strong showing. If you want to escape and turn your brain off, this is a good film to see.
2. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
I truly thought I would get confused by all the superheroes here or that I would be lost because I still have to see Black Panther (don’t judge me). But I was pleasantly surprised and was fully engaged in all the characters even my fav, Rocky Raccoon..ok its not Rocky but it is a foul-mouthed Raccoon..be still my heart. So it starts off that evil god Thanos, with a major chin issue, wants to rule the world and to do this, he must have all 6 stones and he goes about collecting all of them. I thought the seriousness of the film didn’t quite gel with the humour ...or is that the other way around? Anyhoo, oveRall, it is quite good and you know part 2 is all about time travel or something like that otherwise we only get to watch Thanos look at a sunset dreaming about Kirk Douglas’s chin.
3. BLACKKKLANSMAN
This is the best of the 3 that I rented and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it as much as I did but it is gripping. It is actually based on a true story where an African American police detective, the first, in that city, wonders if he can infiltrate the KKK. He does and it’s amazing how he and his fellow detectives go about bringing a part of this disgusting vile faction down. I love the cinematography especially when actors are talking and their faces are brought to the foreground. I was struck by how powerful that was. Spike Lee did a great directing job and the ending showing the maniac going through the crowd killing and injuring people just shows how rife the prejudice still is. Those right wing extremists need to no longer be given any ability to have a voice. I have always thought the KKK are pure evil and I still do.
You won’t see Dr. Strangelove or Eternal Sunshine here because....I have not seen these movies yet...yup, me bad. Wandering through the Shelves came up with this clever theme and I had to think(and look up) to find 3 films I have seen. I have seen many others but I pick the 3 below...
1. THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES; OR, HOW I FLEW FROM LONDON TO PARIS IN 25 HOURS AND 11 MINUTES-1965
Well, that’s a mouthful but this is one funny movie starring Stuart Whitman as an American who decides to travel to England to join the race. You meet a variety of nut bars from other countries from the great Gert Frobe (Goldfinger from James Bond of the same name) as a Prussian nut to the equally great Terry-Thomas as the evil nemesis. It is very funny, light entertaining film...worth a look for sure and based on an actual race.
2. THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS OR PARDON ME BUT YOUR TEETH ARE IN MY NECK-1967
This movie was picked by one of the other film nuts last week and, even though I have not seen this since I was a kid, it fit this challenge. This is a Roman Polanski film in which he co-stars with his future wife, Sharon Tate (who was killed by the Manson family). Polanski plays the assistant to an elderly Van Helsing type character who is out to kill the head vampire in Transylvania. The old guy needs a lot of help since he is quite shaky on his feet. A young bosomy damsel (played by Tate) is kidnapped by the vampire to be offered up as a sacrifice to the annual vampire feast. This, seriously, has some scary moments in it but it is also quite funny especially the head vampire's gay vampire brother. It's quite a fun British film and you know Polanski must love the Roger Corman movies.
3. THOSE DARING YOUNG MEN IN THE JAUNTY JALOPIES- 1969
This is almost a sequel to the first film I chose and it even has Terry -Thomas in it as the grandson of the evil dude he played in the first movie. Gert Frobe plays, once again, a German nut who, along with his partner are thieves. The Italians are represented as well as the Americans, this time, by Tony Curtis. They are all in a race across Europe heading to Monte Carlo to win the trophy and you know hi-jinks ensues. It is another funny, frolicsome film that you can't help but enjoy.
