Movie Review-----THE REBOUND

When a movie is kept on the shelf for a long time and then goes directly to DVD, normally that is a definite sign of a stinky turkey. I don't usually waste my time with those titles because almost always they are a complete waste of time. But THE REBOUND appealed to me, in spite of the fact that it has been sitting on the shelf since 2010 and never got a theatrical release. I love Catherine Zeta Jones and am also a big fan of Justin Bartha so I gave it a shot and held my breath. Troy and I watched it tonight and when it ended we both started applauding. We loved it. It's romantic, funny, and filled with beautiful people. What more do you need? Ms Jones plays a newly divorced woman with two kids who moves to New York City to begin a new life. She rents an apartment above a coffee shop that the handsome Mr Bartha works in. Within moments, he is the new "nanny" to her two kids and the romance begins. It's predictable and the screenplay doesn't explore anything new, but we didn't care. We laughed out loud several times and at the end we were both sappy messes on the couch as the movie ended appropriately. Both lead actors are terrific. Ms Jones is ravishing and shows a comedic side that we don't see often enough. Mr Bartha is charming, incredibly handsome, and a really good actor, something you don't really notice with his role in THE HANGOVER movies. There's fun supporting performances from Joanna Gleason, John Schneider, and Art Garfunkel....yes, THAT Art Garfunkel. It was a perfectly fun romantic way to spend a Friday night. This is the perfect movie for romantic comedy lovers who are willing to look past a film's flaws and allow themselves to simply be swept away.

Movie Review-----MELANCHOLIA

There are some movies that leave you simply scratching your head. MELANCHOLIA not only made me scratch my head, but also left me unable to stop thinking about it for hours after watching the final credits roll. It's not a great movie. It's not a terrible movie. It's immensely watchable and at times immensely frustrating. One thing it never is is dull. I couldn't take my eyes from the screen even as at times I was screaming silently on the inside. Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Michael (Alexander Skarsgard) are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and brother-in-law (Keifer Sutherland). Family secrets and personal depression come into play during the festive yet somber occasion. Meanwhile, the planet, Melancholia, is heading towards earth bringing with it the inevitable end of civilization. The performances are the real reason to see MELANCHOLIA with not a weak one in the bunch. Ms Dunst has never been better and shows a maturity untapped before now. Ms Gainsbourg and Mr Sutherland are impressive as the unhappy Hosts and John Hurt is terrific as the Patriarch. But the standout performance is given by Charlotte Rampling as the bitter mother of the Bride. She is ferocious in her brilliance. Her toast to the Happy Couple is worth the 135 minutes alone. It's not quite 'Art For Arts Sake" offensive like THE TREE OF LIFE was, but there were moments that I certainly rolled my eyes and sighed at director Lars Von Triers indulgence. If you are a true fan of Art Films, you will find much to appreciate. If you like your movies a bit more mainstream, this ain't the one for you.

Movie Review-----PUSS IN BOOTS

I love the SHREK franchise. So clever and filled with humor geared towards the Adults in the audience. My favorite character from the series is Puss In Boots. So I was looking forward to seeing the spinoff of the same name. In essence, it's an origin story. What plot there is has Puss, along with Humpty Dumpty and a feline named Kitty Softpaws, looking for the magic beans that will lead to the infamous beanstalk and the golden eggs. It's filled with eye popping animation and several laugh out loud moments from a solid screenplay. Antonio Banderos does fantastic voice work as Puss. There is no one who could do it better. Salma Hayek adds great support as Kitty. If you are a fan of SHREK and that kind of humor, you will enjoy it. It's the best in the series since SHREK 2.

Movie Review-----TAKE SHELTER

I don't care who won the Oscar or the Golden Globe this year....the best performance by an Actor in a 2011 film was Michael Shannon in TAKE SHELTER. He plays Curtis, a 35 year old man living in Ohio with his wife and hearing impaired daughter. Curtis has a mother who at the age of 30 was institutionalized for schizophrenia and he has spent the last 25 years of his life feeling ashamed of her and fearful that the recent dreams and hallucinations that he's been having mean that he is slipping down the same rabbit hole. He begins seeing visions of storms with the impact of something out of Revelations. So he begins spending all of the money they have and money they don't have to build a tornado shelter in their back yard. Jessica Chastain plays Curtis' wife and shows again that she just might be this generation's Meryl. Kathy Baker has a beautiful cameo as Curtis' mother. But the movie belongs to Michael Shannon. It is inconceivable to me that he was completely overlooked for the major awards in 2011. His performance is masterful in it's subtlety when so many lesser actors would have simply "overdone" it. TAKE SHELTER is not a fun movie, by any means. It is unsettling and filled with an ominous sense of dread. But it is absolutely not to be missed. This one will stick with me.

Music Review-----TUSKEGEE - Lionel Richie

The greatest Artists always find a way to reinvent themselves.  Lionel Richie is no exception.  The brilliant thing about his newest CD called TUSKEGEE, dedicated to his hometown of Tuskegee Alabama, is that Richie has stayed true to his roots while turning his own music towards a new destination.  Richie has taken his biggest hits and given them a contemporary country flavor.  The arrangements are outstanding.  Each song sounds as if it was written yesterday but again, brings a shade of nostalgia with it without sounding retro or "old school".  To make these songs even more current, Richie duets on each one with a superstar of country music.  Highlights include YOU ARE with Blake Shelton, ENDLESS LOVE with Shania Twain, DANCING ON THE CEILING with Rascal Flatts, and EASY with Willie Nelson.  One of my mother's favorite singers was Kenny Rogers and one of her favorite songs was LADY, so to hear Richie sing it with Kenny on this CD was one of those "cry in the car" moments.  The CD ends with ALL NIGHT LONG sung by Richie and Jimmy Buffett.  This is one of those CD's that will have a permanent home in my car.  It's a terrific revisit to some of the great music of my generation with a contemporary country twist.  An early contender for Album of the Year!

Book Review-----DROPPED NAMES: FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN AS I KNEW THEM by Frank Langella

Frank Langella is one of my favorite Actors.  And in my opinion, he's the greatest living Stage Actor working today.  I have been fortunate to see him on Broadway in PRESENT LAUGHTER, FORTUNE'S FOOL, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, and FROST/NIXON.  Truly one of the great ones.  So I greatly looked forward to reading his Memoir when I heard a year ago that he was writing one.  It turns out that although it is being billed as a Memoir, it's not a straightforward autobiography.  This book is made up of several chapters with titles like MARILYN MONROE, ANTHONY PERKINS, LEE STRASBERG, and TONY CURTIS.  Langella has taken ONLY Celebrities who are no longer with us and basically has sliced and diced most of them.  Some come out just fine and it is obvious that Langella has great admiration for many.  But God help those who have either crossed him or been less than "worshipful" towards his craft....he serves them up on a platter in this dishy book.  Whether calling Lee Strasberg "cruel and ridiculous", describing in detail the narcissism of Anne Bancroft, or confessing that upon meeting Anthony Perkins for the first time, Perkins asked Langella what the size of his "manhood" is, Langella holds NOTHING back.  There are loving chapters dedicated to Roddy McDowell, Alan Bates, and Jill Clayburgh.  One beautiful chapter devoted to Princess Diana is particularly moving.  But you haven't lived until you read Langella's description of having racy phone conversations with Bette Davis...."not quite phone sex but certainly rife with foreplay."  This book is a smorgasbord of gossip.  I began reading it at 12:10am when it downloaded to my Kindle and 12 hours later, I need a long nap.  Frank Langella should be at the top of all of our lists for the most wanted Dinner Guest!

Event Review-----OPRAH'S LIFECLASS: THE TOUR

Being in Oprah's presence is as close to royalty as I am ever going to get. A few years ago, Troy and I were fortunate enough to get tickets to see a taping of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW in Chicago at Harpo Studios. The guest was Barbra Streisand and it was an extraordinary experience that I will never forget. Walking out of Harpo Studios, I knew that I needed to treasure every moment of that day since odds were that I would never get the opportunity again to see Oprah in person. So a month ago, it was announced that Oprah was bringing her Lifeclass Tour to St Louis. The rules were that you enter your email address one time into a drawing and if your email is pulled or picked, you get two tickets to see the St Louis taping. I entered my email and thought there was no way that I could be lucky enough to have another opportunity to see Oprah again. And sure enough, the day after the drawing, I got an email that said that my email had not been chosen but thanks for entering. So be it. One week ago, I was surprised to receive an email from Harpo Studios that there were a few additional openings and if I wanted two tickets, I needed to respond ASAP. I responded, I got the tickets, and this evening Troy and I went to the Peabody Opera House to see Oprah tape an edition of LIFECLASS that was airing "live" on OWN. The Class was co-taught by Ilanya Vanzant, who has a checkered history with Oprah but they have healed enough that Oprah announced tonight that Ilanya was taking over Harpo Studios for her new talk show debuting this summer called ILANYA FIX YOUR LIFE. We were in our seats by 5:30pm and at 6:30pm, the preshow began. They pumped loud club music into the theatre and the audience wranglers got everyone on their feet and stoked to see Lady Oprah. We were given rules for the evening and then we were introduced to Sherri Salata, who is the President of OWN. Sherri came onstage and took about ten minutes to introduce the upcoming summer season of OWN and showed clips of several new shows coming. Then she introduced the family that owns Sweetie Pie's that is featured on OWN's huge hit WELCOME TO SWEETIE PIES. The Family was sitting in the 4th row and got a huge ovation from the audience. Then the stage manager counted down to 7pm and there in front of us suddenly was Oprah Winfrey herself. She looked beautiful in a yellow dress with her hair pulled back in a perfect ponytail. She seemed thrilled to be there and had nothing but incredible things to say about St Louis and the Peabody Opera House and Staff. After the first commercial break, Oprah introduced Ilanya and the Lifeclass began. The first guest was a man named Steve. Steve is a 20 year drug/alcohol addict. He has recently gotten himself sober and has lost his purpose since being clean. This was an incredibly moving segment that was the cornerstone of the entire evening. Ilanya asked the audience to be honest and stand up if they themselves have an alchol/drug problem. More than half of the audience stood up. Then Ilanya asked the people who knew someone who has an alchol/drug problem to stand up. There wasn't one person in that audience still sitting. The most powerful thing happened at the commercial when the entire audience reached out to Steve and shouted love and affirmation for his bravery. Ilanya Vanzant was brutally honest with this man and drew gasps from the audience when she said to Steve, "Your story has become your addiction." When she said that, Oprah sat back in her chair with a look of shock while realizing that Ilanya was absolutely correct. The second guest was a woman who prayed her whole life for a baby and then when she had one, he turned out to be highly autistic. She admitted that if she had known that this was going to happen, she wouldn't have had the child. Ilanya and Oprah both made headway with this woman, but unfortunately for the television audience, the real breakthrough happened during the commercial break. At the end of the evening, once the broadcast ended, Oprah remained on stage for a short while and talked about OWN. She is standing behind the struggling network and will continue to try and make the best television possible in the hopes that eventually America catches up and pays attention. She once again praised St Louis and made a graceful exit while the audience screamed their gratitude to her. Watching Oprah interact with the audience, I got the feeling once again that she is truly appreciative of the fans. She makes eye contact with everyone and spent a great deal of time during the commercials hugging and posing for photos with people. As for Ilanya, I will absolutely be watching her talk show when it debuts. She is no holds barred and totally entertaining. I have a feeling that her show might be the breakthrough success that OWN so desperately needs. It was a wonderful night full of several meaningful moments to me. The theme of the night was HEAL THE PAIN and the theme of forgiveness was also strong. To say that I had a few "A-ha" moments would be an understatement.

Movie Review-----THE MUPPETS

One of the great movies that I can watch over and over and still laugh out loud is the original THE MUPPET MOVIE. Come on....it's fabulous, right? That incredible musical score, all those terrific celebrity cameos, and a really smart screenplay. It is and always will be a Classic! This new Muppet movie called THE MUPPETS is a pretty successful attempt to revitalize the franchise for a whole new generation. I would say it's about 98% successful. No score could possibly compare to the original that contained such gems as THE MAGIC STORE, MOVIN' RIGHT ALONG, and of course THE RAINBOW CONNECTION. And the score to this new Muppets film is the real negative to the production. But it's a pretty big negative. There isn't one memorable song in the entire score. The best song in the film is when THE RAINBOW CONNECTION is revived. So, even though one of the songs won the Oscar for Best Song this year, of which there were only two nominees, for me, the really weak musical element took away from some of the enjoyment of the whole product. BUT....there are so many other reasons to truly recommend THE MUPPETS. It's a clever script that puts Jason Segal and Amy Adams in charge of gathering the estranged Muppet clan together for one final show in an effort to save The Muppet Theater, which is about to be bulldozed by villainous Chris Cooper. There are lots of celebrity cameos including Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, and even Mickey Rooney makes an appearance. The nostalgia factor is so huge in this movie that it's almost more fun for Adults who grew up with THE MUPPET SHOW than for kids who are just now being introduced to Kermit and The Gang. I'm convince that kids won't get half of the "in" jokes. When the whole cast assembled to sing THE RAINBOW CONNECTION, I was ridiculously choked up. If you have fond memories of the TV Show and especially the original films, you will greatly enjoy THE MUPPETS. But honestly, nothing can beat the memory I have of sitting at the Village Square Cinema with my father hearing Kermit sing those words for the first time....."Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, for lovers, the dreamers, and me."

Movie Review-----THE HUNGER GAMES

Reading THE HUNGER GAMES Trilogy was an obsessive experience for me. I started them on a Tuesday morning and by Friday evening of the same week, I was turning the final page of the last book. My Kindle was an extra appendage that week. I quite honestly could not stop reading them. I have been anxiously awaiting the movie and I kept my expectations low. I have learned that when I truly love a book and then they make a movie, the film very rarely holds up to the film. With the exceptions of THE GODFATHER, ORDINARY PEOPLE, and OUT OF AFRICA, I am often let down by a movie adaptation. Now that I have seen the film of the first book THE HUNGER GAMES, I can't say that I was disappointed with it, but I also wasn't as thrilled as I thought I would be. I will start with the positive things....Jennifer Lawrence is brilliant as Katniss. She simply IS Katniss. There isn't a moment in her performance that she is anything less but beautifully present and in the moment completely. It is one of the best performances that I have seen in this sort of genre film. The cinematography is gorgeous and the location shooting in Asheville, North Carolina is perfect to represent the setting of the actual Games. All of the supporting performances are impressive, with special mention given to Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks. Donald Sutherland is appropriately menacing as The President. Wes Bentley is always a welcome sight. Now to the negatives....I felt that the movie moved rather slowly. The two people I saw it with hadn't read the books however and disagreed with me. It felt as though we would never get to the actual Games. I thought the whole set-up took too long. But maybe it was just because I was too familiar with the book. Who knows? Without giving anything away, one of the characters in the book that I felt was one of the most important was the young girl, Roo. The character in the book felt much more fleshed out and the relationship between Roo and Katniss was built up much more than the film time allows. So when the inevitable conclusion to this duo comes, it doesn't have the weight in the movie that it had in the book. I remember distinctly turning the page when "it" happened and having to stop to catch my breath. This moment in the movie had little impact. Now I realize that I am just "old", but what bothered me the most about the movie was actually WATCHING the actual Hunger Games take place. Let me explain....in the book, my mind allowed me to envision what I wished when it came to the killings. On film, you can't escape the violence. And there is something about watching teenagers kill each other on film in 2012 that left me extremely unsettled. Perhaps that is the point. But there were moments when I found myself distracted by the disturbance I felt watching these young people stabbing each other and hacking each other to death. Having said that, I will credit the filmmakers for making the violence as tasteful as possible. Nothing is necessarily unwatchable or there just for the sake of needing a little blood and guts. For me, it was just incredibly hard to be entertained by seeing the Games come to life. All in all, I enjoyed THE HUNGER GAMES movie adaptation. But it doesn't compare to the experience I had sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee envisioning the movie in my mind as I read these three incredible books. See the movie, by all means....then go directly to Barnes and Noble and buy the Trilogy. You won't be sorry.

TV Review-----THE ROSIE SHOW

Let me begin by saying that I realize that I am now in the minority of people who like Rosie O'Donnell.  I have loved her ever since the premiere episode so many years ago of her first talk show THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW.  What she brought to daytime television back in the mid-90's was a return to the glory days of Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, and Dinah Shore.  Her love of all things Pop Culture combined with her genuine affection and respect for the Stars that she grew up idolizing was infectious and made her Show a delight to watch every day.  Who can forget the first time she interviewed her idols Bette Midler, Mary Tyler Moore, Tom Cruise, and of course Barbra Streisand?  THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW was a great comfort to me during the horror of the Columbine Massacre and 9/11.  To see a Superstar be unafraid to show such emotion and fear on her own talk show was refreshing and let me know that I was not alone.  When Rosie chose to end her popular talk show, I felt as though I had suffered a loss.  That great friend who was there at the end of a work day would no longer be there.  And although I was an admirer of Oprah's and still am, her show never had the impact on me that Rosie's did.  So I still have Rosie's final show on videotape and watch it occasionally.  It was a terrific Farewell to a woman who changed what daytime TV was, not by doing anything new, but by simply calling back to a bygone era of "friendly" talk variety shows.  I began watching THE VIEW daily (and still do) when Rosie was added to the panel.  That year showed Rosie's divisiveness and maturity.  She was no longer the Queen of Nice.  She was now a full fledged woman who had finally taken control of her own sexuality and her own political state of mind.  Rosie quickly butt heads with the other Hosts and especially Elizabeth Hasslebeck.  I was watching THE VIEW air "live" the day of the infamous "split-screen" argument between Rosie and Elizabeth that ended up being Rosie's final hour co-hosting THE VIEW.  Rosie's absence led to Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd being added to the table and THE VIEW is still daily viewing for me.  When it was announced that Rosie would be taking over Harpo Studios with a new talk show for the OWN network, it was like a Christmas gift for me.  I would get Rosie back daily, in charge of her own Show, in a format that would harken back to the days of Rosie's old popular show.  And yet....watching the first airing of THE ROSIE SHOW, I sensed trouble.  Rosie didn't have her old energy and she didn't seem to have a great love for what made her a daytime star to begin with.  As September bled into October, each show seemed to only attract B and C list celebrities as her Guest....sometimes even D list celebrities showed up.  Where was her good friend Madonna to help her out?  Where was Tom Cruise?  Mary Tyler Moore? Barbra Streisand?  In spite of a few terrific shows dedicated to Phyllis Diller, Jane Fonda, and Penny Marshall, it seemed as though Rosie had alienated herself from the heavy hitters in Show Business and she wasn't able to attract them to this new incarnation.  Rosie took a few weeks off for Christmas and when THE ROSIE SHOW returned to OWN in January of 2012, suddenly everything changed.  The Show no longer had a live audience.  The Show no longer had a live band.  The Show no longer had a game show segment on it.  Suddenly it was called THE ROSIE SHOW: ONE ON ONE and the hour was spent with Rosie in "Charlie Rose" or "Larry King" mode sitting a modest table with one and only one Guest for the hour having an in depth conversation.  The format premiered with a two day interview with Kathy Griffin.  It was fantastic.  It was a side to both of these women we hadn't seen before.  Suddenly Rosie was comfortable.  She stated on the air that at the age of 49, she no longer had the energy or the love for her old format.  She wanted to have conversations with people without worrying about moving on to the next guest or segment.  This format suddenly began attracting some worthwhile talent....Kristen Chenoweth, Chelsea Handler, Liza Minnelli, the cast of Broadway's ANYTHING GOES and PORGY & BESS.  This format worked.  But it was too late.  THE ROSIE SHOW was simply not attracting viewers that had grown weary of what the previous 3 months had brought.  I was pulling for Rosie as she truly came into her own as an interviewer and started making THE ROSIE SHOW something I could look forward to watching at the end of the day.  So I was saddened to read one week ago today that Oprah Winfrey herself decided to cancel THE ROSIE SHOW.  The cost of producing the show couldn't support the fact that there were only a few hundred thousand viewers.  Rosie began her first show after the cancellation announcement with an incredibly classy opening telling Viewers that it's alright.  She did her best and it was just simply not enough.  She was incredibly generous towards Oprah for giving her another chance.  I believe that THE ROSIE SHOW's failure can't be placed purely on the shoulders of Rosie.  Let's face it, the OWN network is struggling.  None of the programming is what one would call a "hit".  So, I believe that Rosie O'Donnell will be heard from again in this kind of format.  Perhaps an HLN or CNN will choose her to do the same sort of "conversation" show that she has now proven that she has the skills for.  No matter where she is or what channel she's on, I will watch her.  I respect her bravery to speak her mind and I love that she embraces her "crazy".  I will be watching tonight's final airing of THE ROSIE SHOW with the hope that Rosie won't be away long.

Movie Review (Classic)-----SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES

Sometimes you just need a visit from an Old Friend....last night at 11pm I found myself unable to sleep and unable to clear my head.  So I went to my trusty DVD collection and decided to put a movie in that would eventually just guide me gently to Dreamland.  One of my favorite comedies from the eighties and possibly of all time is Neil Simon's SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES.  I first saw it when it was released in 1980.  I was 10 years old and my father took me to see it.  I fell in love with it.  I had a major crush on Goldie Hawn and by that time I had become a big fan of FOUL PLAY, which starred Ms Hawn and Chevy Chase.  SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES reunited Hawn and Chase and it immediately became one of my favorite films and has remained so all these years later.  I can recite it.  I have the sequence of camera shots memorized.  I can hum the musical score by Marvin Hamlisch at a moment's notice.  I had the poster hanging on my wall in my college dorm.  Yeah....I love this film.  So last night, I thought the familiarity of it would lull me to sleep.  Quite the opposite....I was instantly pulled into this charming romantic comedy and at 1:15am, I was watching the end credits roll with a smile on my face.  The plot is pure screwball comedy with a screenplay as only Neil Simon can do.  Chevy Chase is a man living alone in a cabin in the woods.  He is forced at gunpoint to rob a bank in Carmel, California by two bumbling crooks.  Upon leaving the bank, he manages to have his pic taken by the security cameras and soon finds himself on the run from every law official in California.  His ex-wife (Goldie Hawn) is now remarried to a District Attorney (Charles Grodin) who has just been asked by the Governor of California to run for Attorney General.  Soon, Chevy is hiding out at the home of Hawn & Grodin....cue the hijinks!  There are so many terrific one-liners, the California scenery is gorgeous (I still long to go to Carmel someday), and the performances are top-notch.  The chemistry between Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase was terrific in FOUL PLAY and is even more palpable in SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES.  They are able to convey a deep longing for each other, in spite of Hawn's resolution to remain loyal and faithful to her husband.  PRIVATE BENJAMIN will always be Goldie's greatest performance, but this is a close runner-up.  The Neil Simon lines are like butter in her mouth and she has never looked more beautiful.  Chevy Chase is one of the great physical comics who is also fortunate to pull off the whole Leading Man thing.  He has never been more charming than in this film.  Charles Grodin doesn't allow either of the Stars of this movie to upstage him.  He holds his own beautifully and is quite funny.  Besides being a terrific comedy, this is an incredibly romantic movie as well.  The triangle between the three main characters leads you, as a viewer, to truly wonder who you want Hawn to end up with.  Both men are charming and truly adore her.  The last 45 seconds of SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES ranks up there with one of my favorite endings of all time.  If you've never seen this movie, seek it out.  It's a delight.  If you have seen it and remember it fondly, give it another look.  It holds up 32 years later as one of the hidden romantic comedy gems that should be given another life.

Movie Review-----21 JUMP STREET

I have never seen an episode the TV Show 21 JUMP STREET, so there was no tinge of nostalgia within me upon seeing the feature film. I am pleased to say that knowing no trivia about the original television series, besides giving Johnny Depp an enormous career boost, did not hinder my enjoyment of the 2012 version. In fact, the first hour of this movie is the funniest laugh out loud comedy I have seen since BRIDESMAIDS. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are former high school rivals who end up in the same graduating class at the Police Academy. Due to a major mishap during an arrest, they are both demoted to the 21 Jump Street division, which is filled with undercover cops who look young enough to go undercover as high school students. Their mission is to discover the Seller of a new drug to teenagers that has turned out to have a fatal edge to it. There was rarely a moment in the first hour of this movie that I wasn't smiling. I laughed out loud many times and was in pure bliss. Around the hour mark, some of the steam starts to escape from the screenplay. It's as if midway thru writing the screenplay, the writers changed. The comedy lost it's originality and the movie dissolved into just another cop movie with one too many car chases. Jonah Hill is hilarious as the high school nerd who suddenly finds on his ADULT return that he has the means to be one of the "popular" kids. Channing Tatum proves that he should stay away from dramas and stick to comedies. He is quite good and very funny in this. Ice Cube steals every scene he's in as the head of 21 Jump Street's Division. In spite of the weak second half, I still recommend seeing 21 JUMP STREET. The first 60 minutes are about as perfect as a comedy of this nature can be. Also, keep your eyes peeled for some surprise Cameos from the original television Cast of 21 JUMP STREET....extra points for those that spot Mr. Depp before the big "reveal".

TV Review-----BENT

I will admit that I have been more fickle than usual lately with TV. After 3 episodes, I quit ALCATRAZ and after a smashing Pilot, GCB went quickly down the tubes. I have stuck with AWAKE which I find completely fascinating and beautifully written. When I saw that NBC was playing out six episodes of a new sitcom called BENT on 3 consecutive Wednesdays, I wasn't expecting much from a show that NBC clearly doesn't have a lot of faith in. The title BENT means that the two main characters are bent from life's mistakes, but not broken. Amanda Peet plays a newly divorced woman with a young daughter who needs some contracting work on her new house. She hires David Walton, a Ladies Man who immediately develops an eye for the beautiful Divorcee. The chemistry between Peet and Walton is fabulous and the incredibly smart dialogue has the feel of a 1930's screwball comedy with a definitive contemporary edge. Amanda Peet is incredibly appealing and has a real flair for this type of romantic comedy. David Walton is about as charming as a leading man can get with an enormous amount of sex appeal. Like I said, it's nice to see a Couple on tv that you can actually invest in and hope that the eventual hookup happens sooner rather than later. Jeffrey Tambor returns to network television as Walton's father, an aspiring actor that takes himself way too seriously, which is sad for him but oh so funny for us! I imagine that BENT will not get a second season since NBC has placed it in a timeslot against AMERICAN IDOL and MODERN FAMILY, but I will absolutely stick it out for the remaining four episodes. Peet and Walton are worth it and BENT deserves an audience.

Book Review-----GUTS by Kristen Johnston

After A MILLION LITTLE PIECES, I didn't think I could read another book about drug addiction. Whether fact or fiction, A MILLION LITTLE PIECES was an incredible book that I wasn't able to shake for months. So when I heard that actress Kristen Johnston was writing her own memoir chronicling her troubles with drugs, my initial thought was to skip it. Just another Hollywood tale of an Actress gone bad.... Last week, however, I kept reading Reviews of this book that stated clearly that it was uncharted territory and well worth reading. I opened the book late last night and found it nearly impossible to put down. 12 hours later, the book was finished. It is a harrowing read. Yet also laugh out loud funny with the kind of warped humor that only Kristen Johnston could provide. This is not a Hollywood behind the scenes tale. If you are looking for what John Lithgow was like on the set of 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, this is not the book for you. In fact, if it wasn't for the occasional reference to a movie, tv show or play that employed her, you would never really know this was the story of an Actress. I opened the book not knowing much about what she went through, which added to my masochistic enjoyment of the experience reading it. So I am going to keep the surprises in the book on the page and not in this Review. If you have a weak stomach and strongly dislike profanity, I would say that you would be better off not even glancing in the direction of GUTS. The title of the book alone references a large portion of the story that I would say might spoil your lunch if you enjoy reading at the table. GUTS will not be for everyone, but for me, it was a fascinating car crash that I couldn't quite get enough of. By all accounts, Kristen Johnston shouldn't be alive to tell her story, but we are all the better for her incredibly brave honesty.

Movie Review (Classic)-----THE WAR ROOM

I have no idea how this incredible documentary slipped past me for almost 20 years. Filmmakers D.A Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus examine the inner workings of Bill Clinton's first White House campaign in the early 1990's, focusing on the wizardry of James Carville and George Stephanopoulos. THE WAR ROOM was just released in a beautiful new Blu-Ray edition that couldn't come at a more appropriate time as the Republicans are narrowing down their choice in the 2012 Presidential election. We all know how the 1992 election turned out, but watching this movie is still a thrilling ride. It plays like a suspense thriller as we watch a team of dedicated Staff Members jump hurdles and avoid land mines to ensure a Clinton/Gore victory. If you haven't seen THE WAR ROOM, do yourself a favor and seek it out. An outstanding political thriller that just happens to be a true story.

Movie Review-----THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

You know when Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson team up, the result is gonna be good. However, I didn't think it would be THIS good! THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN is a motion capture adaptation of Georges Remi's classic comic strip, and it's terrific. The plot centers around the adventures of fearless young journalist Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his trusty dog, Snowy. The excitement begins immediately when Tintin buys an antique miniature replication of a boat and suddenly discovers that inside the replica lies the key to a centuries old mystery. After a few minutes, I forgot that I was watching an animated film. The characters are so engaging and the screenplay so smartly written. Spielberg directs with the same sense of Period fun that he lent to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK a few decades ago. It's Family entertainment with enough edge and cliffhanging suspense that no matter what age a viewer is, there is much to enjoy. Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Toby Jones, and Cary Elwes also lend their talents. Although THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN loses nothing watching it at home, I regret not going to the Cinema to see it in 3D. Great fun!

Movie Review-----THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Sometimes I think professional film critics are incapable of just having a rollicking good time at the movies. This new version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS was destroyed by the Press and all but ruined any chance of this update finding an audience. But I found it to be nothing short of great fun. A delightful throwback to the days of the swashbuckler with enough contemporary shadowing to make it watchable for a 2012 sensibility. The original three musketeers are past their prime and working menial jobs in Paris when their friend D'Artagnan rallies them to defend the nation. To do so, they must undermine Cardinal Richelieu's (Cristoph Waltz) plot to have himself crowned France's next king. The cast of mostly Brits is terrific and Milla Jovevich is fabulous as the period's example of a Femme Fatale. No expense is spared with this production. It is gloriously filmed with spectacular visual effects and a gorgeous costume design. It moves at a great pace and I never lost interest for a moment. If you enjoy epic adventure with a Period touch, I suggest you ignore the bashing this film received upon it's release and give it a chance. All for one indeed!!!

Book Review-----LIFE IS A BALL: MY FRIENDSHIP WITH LUCILLE BALL by Michael Z Stern

I have read several unauthorized Biographies about America's favorite Redhead, Lucille Ball.  I have also read Lucy's autobiography that was published after her death.  But my favorite book about Lucy is I LOVED LUCY: MY FRIENDSHIP WITH LUCILLE BALL by Lee Tannen.  It gives great insight on Lucy in her later years thru the eyes of one of her male companions.  This new book called I HAD A BALL: MY FRIENDSHIP WITH LUCILLE BALL by Michael Z Stern isn't as fascinating as the Lee Tannen book, probably because the Tannen story was the first published, but it is a wonderful recollection from a man who first met Lucy when he was a teenager and remained her friend until her passing.  Reading the book, there were a few times when I was grateful that Stern did his pursuit of Lucy in the mid 70's, because in 2012 he would be considered a Stalker and probably put behind bars.  He was relentless in his love for Lucy and went out of his way to make sure that she knew it.  This was a time when movie stars lived in California in homes that you could walk up to the front door and ring the bell.  No iron gates, no security guards.  Stern became friends with Lucy by attending tapings of her final CBS Show, HERE'S LUCY.  Eventually getting chummy with Lucy's mother, DeeDee introduced Michael to his idol and the rest is history.  Lucy and her family considered Michael to truly be her "#1 Fan" and allowed him to attend any and all Events honoring Lucy.  Michael also became very close to Lucie Arnaz and is still close friends with her to this day.  The main difference between the Tannen book and the Stern book is that Lee Tannen truly became a confidante to Lucy.  They were inseparable and Lucy considered Lee to be one of her closest friends.  The relationship between Lucy and Michael Stern is one of respect and flattery, but I never got the sense that Lucy truly let Stern into her inner circle the way she did with Lee.  Both books are must reads for any Lucy fans as they both give insight into a great Star's later years.  What I came away with from both books, especially Stern's, is that Lucy knew how to make her fans happy and went out of her way to make sure that they always knew that they were important to her.  She was absolutely one of a kind.

Movie Review-----LIKE CRAZY

LIKE CRAZY is one of those independent films that does everything possible NOT to be a mainstream Hollywood movie. The acting is terrific from all involved, the screenplay is so subtle and beautifully crafted that it feels as though you are eavesdropping on honest conversations, the story is honest in it's simplicity and the conclusion of the film has that rare quality...it makes you nod your head and think that yes, that's exactly how these characters would end up. Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones) meet as they are about to graduate from a college in Los Angeles. Jacob is an American and Anna is British. They fall completely in love with each other and dread graduation since Anna will have to back to London. The morning that Anna is to board the plane, she makes the decision to overstay her student visa and remain in the arms of the man she loves. I won't spoil anything else about the plot, but needless to say, Anna's choice is not a wise one and sets in motion this couple's eventual and inevitable fate. Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones are incredible. They both say volumes with their eyes. I have never seen two actors so beautifully show the yearning and the "distraction" of love like these two. Both of them are mesmerizing. Jennifer Lawrence plays a small but important role, but the majority of the 90 minutes is spent in the company of Yelchin and Jones. Troy likes movies that have tidy complete endings, so when the credits began to roll at the end of LIKE CRAZY, he wasn't entirely pleased. There really isn't a "conclusion" to this film, although it's obvious what the final scene of the movie would have been had the story continued. I was grateful for the realistic non-Hollywood ending because as I've said before, life is messy.

Movie Review-----JACK AND JILL

When JACK AND JILL ended after 93 minutes, Troy said something so riddled with profanity that if I quoted it here, my fear is that tomorrow I would no longer have a blog. Needless to say, he hated every second. Now, I freely admit that sometimes if I am in the right mood, even the stupidest comedy makes me laugh. I have openly laughed out loud at several less than stellar comedies and JACK AND JILL was no exception. Is it bad? Oh yes. Is it sometimes cringeworthy bad? Absolutely. Did I find myself snorting with laughter? At lest thru 85% of it. Adam Sandler plays both title roles. Jack and Jill are identical twins who come together for Thanksgiving. Somehow Al Pacino gets involved....yes THE Al Pacino who is actually pretty funny playing himself. There's bathroom humor galore and cameos from Bruce Jenner, David Spade, Norm McDonald, and Johnny Depp. Katie Holmes has absolutely nothing to do as Sandler's wife. There is not much to recommend this movie. But in the same vein, I laughed a lot. But again, if someone farts on screen, I tend to crack up. If someone falls down a flight of stairs or walks into a wall, I tend to giggle uncontrollably. So....consider your source.

TV Review-----MISSING

When did Ashley Judd become a bad actress? Seriously. She started with such promise in films like RUBY IN PARADISE, HEAT, and SMOKE? She was very affective in thrillers like KISS THE GIRLS and DOUBLE JEOPARDY. But somewhere along the line she crossed into Hack-dom. Several years ago, I saw a Revival of Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF on Broadway that starred Ned Beatty, Jason Patric, and Ashley as Maggie. Besides the play itself, the draw for me was Ashley Judd as Maggie. It seemed ideal. About 5 minutes into Act One, I realized that it was going to be an incredibly long night. She was terrible. Not one line that came out of her mouth was believable. It made me sad to think that this beautiful woman that showed such potential was in reality just not a very good actress. She has worked minimally as an actress in the past few years, devoting her time to her marriage and political issues in other countries. So why she chose the new ABC show MISSING to return to the Thespian arena is beyond me. I watched the Pilot last night and although it began with a bang, by the end of the hour I knew that I would not be making a return visit. Ms Judd plays the mother of an 18 year old who goes missing while doing an internship in Rome. It turns out that Ms Judd's character is a former CIA Agent who knows how to kick some serious ass, so she goes to Rome and tells anyone who will listen to her that her son is missing and she's not leaving until she finds him. Seriously, she says that at least 15 times in the first episode alone. I can suspend disbelief as much as anyone, but this show is ridiculous. Coincidence after coincidence happens and Ms Judd always seems to be in the right place at the right time to discover clues. She seems to have keys to get into every locked door in Rome. Agatha Christie couldn't pick up on the clues that this character is able to pull out of thin air. Ashley Judd looks gorgeous and is absolutely believable punching out bad guys and performing karate moves that would impress Mr. Miyagi, but it takes a truly skilled actress to make the audience forget the plot holes and just have a good time. The dialogue doesn't help Ms Judd....at. all. MISSING is being advertised as a 10 episode adventure series. After 1 episode, I've seen enough.

Movie Review (Classic)-----TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

I used to go to the movies with my Grandfather all the time. He loved movies and between he and my mother, I was seeing movies that I shouldn't have seen well before I was a teenager. In 1983, I was 13 years old. One Saturday night, my grandfather and I went to Ronnies 6 Cine to see a new movie called TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. Neither of us knew anything about it but Papa said that he read it was going to be a real contender for the Academy Award for Best Picture, so we went. Sitting in that cinema watching TERMS OF ENDEARMENT for the first time with a packed audience in 1983 is a memory that has stuck with me. Even 30 years later, I can place myself sitting next to my grandfather listening to people laugh, sigh, and ultimately weep. In the car on the way home, Papa said "Tell your parents everyday you love them, Buddy." I think a combination of the movie itself along with the experience shared with my beloved Grandfather has kept TERMS OF ENDEARMENT close to my heart all these years. Last night, I decided to watch a DVD from my vast collection and somehow zeroed in on TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. It had been several years since seeing it and I thought it might be like revisiting an old friend. So I got in bed with the dogs and popped in the DVD. Maybe it's my age, maybe it's my place in life, maybe it's the recent loss of my mother, but watching this movie last night was a new experience for me as though I had never seen it before. It's one of those rare films that gets better and richer with each passing year. The screenplay and direction by James L. Brooks are both about as good as it gets, pardon the pun to another Brooks triumph. These characters are so human and so fleshed out that when the end credits begin to roll, I feel as though I have suddenly been yanked away from good friends. The tumultuous story of Aurora Greenway and her daughter Emma is honest, realistic, brutal, and in the end heartbreaking. These women are portrayed by Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. I think as time goes on and film historians look at this film, both of these performances will be remembered as two of the "great" ones. I don't think either Actress makes a false move. Shirley MacLaine won her Oscar as Aurora and she truly is brilliant. Aurora is a hard character to love. She is bitter bordering on cold, terse with looks and brutal with words. But yet somehow Ms MacLaine never gives you a moment's doubt that nothing is more important to her than her daughter. The scene in the hospital with Aurora demanding that the nursing staff pay attention to her sick daughter is the one that is always shown when this film is highlighted in Ms MacLaine's resume, but to me there are other even more powerful moments. Aurora's farewell to Emma as Emma and her husband move out of Texas, her reactions to her first encounter with Garrett Breedlove, the repulsive astronaut next door played by Jack Nicholson, and her finest moment is an uncomfortable dinner with her son-in-law at the hospital. It is a bravura performance that ensured MacLaine her Academy Award against such heavyweights as Meryl Streep (SILKWOOD), Jane Alexander (TESTAMENT), Julie Walters (EDUCATING RITA) and Debra Winger herself for her portrayal of Emma. Ms Winger is extraordinary and it realistically should have been a tie for Best Actress between she and MacLaine. Neither is better than the other and neither could have done it without the other. Debra Winger makes every moment count. Her scenes in the hospital room with her children are nothing short of triumphant. A masterclass in acting. Jack Nicholson won his second Oscar for his supporting role as Breedlove, the astronaut. He begins as the fool next door and slowly makes his way into the bed and also the heart of Aurora. It's a beautiful performance and also a brave one. The seduction scene in Aurora's bedroom is both shocking and hilarious. The supporting cast includes John Lithgow (also nominated for an Oscar for his performance), Danny DeVito, and Jeff Daniels who SHOULD have been nominated for his performance as Flap Horton, Emma's philandering husband. Shirley MacLaine describes in her Hollywood autobiography what it was like making TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. She called it a highly stressful and chaotic shoot. She nearly walked off the picture at one point. MacLaine and Winger didn't get along at all, which probably added to the dynamic on film between Aurora and Emma. She claims that there is close to 45 minutes of "cut" scenes that added to the film in some sort of Director's Cut would make the film even more fleshed out than it already is. Where is THAT Blu-Ray, I ask you? Watching the movie last night, I didn't weep. I didn't even cry. I just sat there silently blown away by a film that I have seen several times and was amazed to see how it holds up. Absolutely one of the great pictures of the 80's and absolutely one of the best movies of the past century in Hollywood. The sequel THE EVENING STAR is not a good film. The only reason to see it is to wrap up Aurora's story. Although THE EVENING STAR does contain a magnificent performance from Marion Ross as Rosy, Aurora's maid and best friend. I think it's time for me to read the novel TERMS OF ENDEARMENT by Larry McMurtry. I never have because I heard that it was quite different from the film to the point of McMurtry refusing to acknowledge that a movie even exists. But if nothing else, it will give me more time in the company of Aurora and Emma. Great place to be.

Movie Review-----IN TIME

One of my favorite movies from the 1970's is LOGAN'S RUN. I was fascinated by the whole idea of being "terminated" just because the law says you are "old enough". I can't tell you how many times I have watched Michael York and Jenny Agutter race against time on those cheesy MGM soundstages. I was even a fan of the terrible TV Show that starred Gregory Harrison as Logan. So when I heard the plot to IN TIME, it sounded suspiciously like a remake of LOGAN'S RUN. It's not, but the general idea is the same in both films. In a near future where aging stops at 25, time is the new currency and the wealthy can live forever. When Will Sales (Justin Timberlake) inherits decades of life from a wealthy murdered man, he's pegged as the suspect by the corrupt Time Keepers, who enforce the law. The first hour of IN TIME is fabulously entertaining in it's depiction of a world where the price of a cup of coffee is 4 days off your life and a new automobile can cost 65 years. The movie unfortunately becomes your average "couple on the run" flick in it's final 40 minutes and the second half just doesn't live up to the first. Justin Timberlake isn't going to play Richard III anytime soon, but he is certainly better here than he was in the awful BAD TEACHER. There are a few glimmers of the magic that he possessed in THE SOCIAL NETWORK. The other performances are perfectly serviceable for this genre. In spite of the last half of the film, IN TIME is a fascinating and above average popcorn movie. But LOGAN'S RUN still rules!!!!

Movie Review-----THE SON OF NO ONE

There are some movies that make you need a long hot shower after watching them. A real 'Silkwood' scrubdown, if you know what I mean. THE SON OF NO ONE is absolutely one of those films. Set in New York City in the days after 9/11, the plot centers around a young Cop played by Channing Tatum. Something happened to him when he was a young boy living in the Queensboro Projects in 1986. There were two deaths and suddenly 16 years later, there are anonymous notes and mysterious phone calls made with threats to unleash the secrets of the past. The flashback scenes are intercut with the present day story until the pieces come together in the last half hour of the film. These flashbacks are gritty, dirty, and incredibly hard to watch. Even harder to shake after the movie is over. Channing Tatum leads an impressive Cast that makes the material worth watching, in spite of the problematic screenplay. The back and forth aspect of the storytelling makes it difficult to grasp exactly who you are supposed to root for. So by the time the mystery truly starts to make sense, I wasn't invested enough in the characters to care. But the performances from Al Pacino, Tracy Morgan, and in particular Katie Holmes were worth the 90 minutes on the couch. Ms Holmes shows some true dramatic chops and I wish she could find that perfect role to take her out from under the shadow of her Hollywood marriage. So it's a mixed recommendation for THE SON OF NO ONE. If you come across it on Cinemax some late night, you could do worse. Just have a clean bar of soap ready when the end credits start rolling.

DVD Review-----IDINA MENZEL-BAREFOOT AT THE SYMPHONY

I remember seeing WICKED in Previews on Broadway. One of my theatrical memories which will remain a permanent part of me forever was hearing Idina Menzel sing DEFYING GRAVITY at the end of Act One. As the lights came up for Intermission, I sat stunned by what I had just heard and seen. Idina Menzel had reached inside me and grabbed me as few performers had done before. I will never forget that evening. Last week, I purchased the DVD to Idina's first preserved Concert, IDINA MENZEL-BAREFOOT AT THE SYMPHONY, a 90 minute concert filmed live in Toronto. A full orchestra conducted by the legendary Marvin Hamlisch supports Idina's brilliant gorgeous vocals. She performs selections from THE WILD PARTY, CHESS, FUNNY GIRL, RENT, and of course, WICKED. In between songs, Idina's patter is charming, funny, and has the rare gift of seeming improvised and unrehearsed. Highlights of the concert include NO DAY BUT TODAY from RENT, LOVE FOR SALE/ROXANNE, and an Acapella unamplified FOR GOOD from WICKED. Her DEFYING GRAVITY alone was worth the price of the DVD. This is a wonderful evening of music that has been beautifully filmed with clear gorgeous sound quality. This Concert is airing on PBS in the coming weeks. If you have never experienced the wonder of Idina Menzel, seek this out. It is first class entertainment from one of the current superstars of Musical Theater.

TV Review-----GAME CHANGE

HBO has done it again! Only HBO can be counted on to do a first class adaptation of the best seller GAME CHANGE. I read the book when it was released and was mesmerized by the story behind both the Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin campaigns for President of the United States. Unlike the book, the movie adaptation is kept strictly to the goings on on the Republican side of the campaign. And it is just as memorizing as the book was.... Julianne Moore plays Sarah Palin and is in a word, spectacular! It is my favorite performance from this brilliant actress and I sincerely hope that she starts writing her award acceptance speeches soon. She is not doing an imitation of Palin which would be so easy to do. Ms Moore simply becomes Sarah Palin. Nothing more, nothing less. There are moments that you genuinely feel pity for this woman thrown into the limelight with no warning. The physical resemblance between Palin and the actress Julianne Moore in real life is hardly identical, but with the magic of the movies there are certain shots where the resemblance is breathtaking, which adds to the humanity of Ms Moore's performance. Ed Harris plays John McCain. His portrayal is crusty, foul-mouthed and filled with heart. A side to McCain is seen that makes it clear that he wanted to run this campaign clean and fair, until Palin's inadequacies caused him to get in the sandbox and play dirty. Woody Harrelson proves again that given the right material, he's a hell of a dramatic actor. GAME CHANGE is a thrilling book that kept me up nights and it has been adapted into a first class Event for television. And again, whether you are an Elephant or a Donkey, in a blue state or a red state, no one but NO ONE should miss what is likely to be the television performance of the year being given by Julianne Moore.

Movie Review-----SILENT HOUSE

Let me start by saying that I didn't go to the Cinema to see SILENT HOUSE. I went with friends to see JOHN CARTER. About 15 minutes into JOHN CARTER, I realized that if I remained in that theater I would come out aggravated and probably friendless. So I walked into the lobby to see what I could go see instead and the only movie that was starting that would be over by the time my friends got out was SILENT HOUSE. Now, I had read a few things about SILENT HOUSE and was intrigued. So I wasn't sad to take my seat alone in the theater. And I mean ALONE. The gimmick to SILENT HOUSE is that it is a thriller in real time. The 88 minutes unfold in what the filmmakers would like you to believe is one solid uncut take. And that is truly the most interesting thing about the film. I tell you, if there WAS a cutaway shot, I didn't see it. It's impressive. It's the story that loses speed and interest. And the movie is only 88 minutes long. A young girl is helping her father and uncle rehab a home. She gets left inside the house alone and strange things start to happen. That's as much as I will say so those of you unfortunate few who chose to waste your time and money on SILENT HOUSE can have even a wee bit of surprise to look forward to. SILENT HOUSE wants to be another BLAIR WITCH or PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. But it's just weak. Elizabeth Olsen is impressive as the victimized teenager, but the movie doesn't give her much to do except scream, cry and act as stupid as all of those teenage virgin victims from slasher films through the decades. The movie would be scary and effective if it wasn't so damn dark. Truly the movie is so incredibly dark that you can't make out what is going on half the time. When the movie ended, I felt as though I had chosen the lesser of two evils. I was very happy to not have seen JOHN CARTER, but oh so sorry that the only movie that was convienient timewise was SILENT HOUSE. Blech.

Movie Review-----FRIENDS WITH KIDS

Life is messy. Sometimes the best of intentions and the highest hopes just aren't enough. I enjoy movies that are not afraid to show the reality of "mess". FRIENDS WITH KIDS is a new comedy from writer/director Jennifer Westfeldt. In the wake of their friends' marriages and eventual offspring, longtime pals Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) and Jason (Adam Scott) decide to have a child together without becoming a couple. By becoming "time-share" parents, they reason, they can experience the joys of parenthood without significantly curbing their personal freedom. However, when julie and Jason both become involved with others, each discovers they secretly harbor romantic feelings for one another. At the same time, we are given glimpses into the couples that surround them who discover that "family" life isn't everything they dreamed it would be. What I appreciated the most about this film, besides the terrific performances, is the bravery to point out that sometimes marriage sucks. Sometimes having that child that you dreamed about creates nothing but discord and disappointment. Life is not always a Woody Allen film. And with apologies to Woody, one of my very few issues with his films is that you seldom see "mess". The Cast is splendid. Jennifer Westfeldt should be a bigger star. Period. Adam Scott gives a breakthrough performance here that solidifies him as an up and coming leading man. Maya Rudolph is terrific as a mother unafraid to show the crazy side of parenthood. Jon Hamm doesn't have a lot to do until one sensational scene at a dinner table where he has one too many scotches and unleashes some cold hard truths. Kristen Wiig is simply so talented that I don't think we have seen the tip of what she can do yet. I was surprisingly quite moved by FRIENDS WITH KIDS. I was completely invested in the characters and situations. By the final scene, it didn't bother me that it was a typical Hollywood ending. I cared about the main couple and was rooting for a resolution that would send me out of the theater smiling. And it did.

Concert Review-----WANDA SYKES

Is it possible to simply laugh TOO much? I wondered that tonight about an hour into Wanda Sykes stand-up concert at Peabody Opera House. She was talking about one of her two children. She said that her son was born with an abnormally large head. Large to the point of being too heavy for his body. If he leans it too far to one side, his whole body tips in that direction. "When he enters a room, I'm not always sure he wanted to be there..." This ten minute segment about this child's head had tears running down my face and snorting....actually snorting. Wanda Sykes took the stage for 90 minutes and there wasn't a moment in an hour and a half that I wasn't smiling. The woman is funny. Just naturally funny without trying. Her description of Black People experiencing turbulence in an airplane caused the woman behind me to say out loud "I just peed a little". Her views on Republicans...."They need a hug and a lollipop". And when discussing the capture of Osama Bin Laden...."Isn't it interesting that we finally got him only AFTER 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' ended!!" And she then acted out a group of gay Navy Seals entering the compound to find Osama. This was a brilliant evening that was highlighted by my first visit to the new Peabody Opera House. St Louis is fortunate to have this new performance space. Beautiful, spacious, but strangely intimate at the same time. Wanda Sykes was a perfect first of hopefully many visits to the Peabody!

Movie Review-----THE WHISTLEBLOWER

Who needs recreational drugs when you can get a "high" from discovering a film that is so powerful and engrossing that you immediately want to share it with everyone.... THE WHISTLEBLOWER stars Rachel Weisz as Kathryn Bolkovac as an American policewoman sent to Bosnia to train cops in the aftermath of that country's brutal civil war. While there, she uncovers evidence that U.N. peacekeepers are complicit in a flourishing sex-trafficking trade. But when she brings her allegations to light, she discovers that her foes are more powerful than the law. Based on a true story, this pulse racing thriller from director Larysa Kondracki co-stars Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn, and Vanessa Redgrave. From the very first frame of this film, I was completely immersed in it. It is an important story told with an expert directing hand and filled with first rate performances. Rachel Weisz is sensational and if the film had been better advertised and seen by more people, she could have been and should have been a contender for an Academy Award. Her work in this movie stands as one of the best performances from an Actress that I saw in a 2011 film. There isn't an emotion that she isn't called upon to engage in this film and she is one hundred percent convincing at every moment. Great supporting work from all involved, with a special shout out to the marvelous Vanessa Redgrave. This is a brutal film at times but the violence is important and I am grateful that the Director and Twentieth-Century Fox weren't afraid to show the realism of treatment these young girls go through on a daily basis. It will make you angry, especially when you read the title cards at the end of the film that summarize what happened in "reality" when the film's story ends. I urge you to go to Netflix, Redbox, or OnDemand and watch this incredibly moving profound story unfold. It is worth two hours of your time. Unforgettable!

Book Review----WHITNEY HOUSTON! THE SPECTACULAR RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE WOMAN WHOSE VOICE INSPIRED A GENERATION by Mark Bego

Mark Bego was just about to finish his biography on Whitney Houston when she reached her tragic end on February 11, 2012.  In two short weeks, he wrote a prologue and a final chapter on the book and it was rushed to publication.  The complete title is WHITNEY HOUSTON! THE SPECTACULAR RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE WOMAN WHOSE VOICE INSPIRED A GENERATION.  Even as I was downloading this book to my Kindle, I was curious as to whether or not this would be an all out hatchet job or a passionate yet truthful look at a fallen superstar.  It turns out that it is indeed written with a great deal of love and admiration for this woman who along the way simply lost her footing.  Bego doesn't make any judgments on Whitney, but instead let's the people who knew her best tell the story.  Although the story takes a turn around the time of her marriage to Bobby Brown, much of the book describes in detail her meteoric rise to the top of the charts beginning in 1985.  Her albums are dissected in great detail and there are also wonderful tales from the sets of the three feature films that Whitney starred in, including enough information about the last film she made before her death SPARKLE to wet your appetite for this summer's release.  I have read several celebrity bios that feel inauthentic or are filled with "an anonymous source said....".  But Bego's biography is filled with interviews with those who worked with Whitney, loved Whitney, and in the end, felt helpless to do anything to help her.  This book reminds us all what there was to celebrate about the life of Whitney Houston and the musical legacy she leaves behind.

Movie Review-----THE BIG YEAR

Is it possible to take a non-fiction book about bird watching and adapt it into a successful engrossing film? What if you add in David Frankel as the Director and throw in Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson as the three leads? Fill the supporting cast with actors of high esteem such as Angelica Huston, Brian Dennehy, and Dianne Wiest to add some award winning pedigree and film it on location in some of the most beautiful parts of America to make it visually pleasing. Shake, stir, and hope for the best! The result....a pleasant harmless movie that was a numbing failure at the Box Office but somehow succeeds while sitting in your living room. There is something incredibly sweet about this tale of three men with a deep passion for bird watching that find themselves in a yearly competition called 'The Big Year'. It's like looking through a window to a world that I didn't know existed. I must admit that I was fascinated by the idea of the movie more than the movie itself. The screenplay does what it can to give the illusion of an actual plot but in the end it simply serves as an outlet for beautiful scenery and serviceable performances. And yet, again, I was strangely fascinated by the whole endeavor. Jack Black is charming and gives the best performance among the three central leads. Steve Martin seems straitjacketed and bored. Owen Wilson annoys me in everything and this is no exception. So, in the end, I give THE BIG YEAR an unenthusiastic recommendation. It's real pretty, very sweet, but utterly forgettable.

TV Review-----GCB

Sunday nights on ABC are fun again!!!! The past few years has seen DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES completely lose it's luster and the final few seasons of BROTHERS AND SISTERS were simply painful to watch. It seemed that Sunday night on ABC had lost it's glow. But watching the Pilot episode of GCB has given me hope and something to now anticipate with a wee bit of glee on Sunday nights! GCB stands for Good Christian Bitches and the characters on this show certainly fit that description....and then some. Leslie Bibb plays a former "mean girl" who moves back to Dallas, Texas after her millionaire husband dies in Los Angeles amidst scandal and public humiliation. She moves back into her wealthy mother's mansion with her two teenage kids and finds that due to her past behavior, she is not welcomed back with open arms by the community. Robert Harling of STEEL MAGNOLIAS fame wrote the script and it is filled with dialogue and one-liners that are reminiscent of some of those delicious bon mots written for those southern women in the beauty shop all those years ago. Darren Star of SEX AND THE CITY fame is the executive producer. Everyone in the cast is perfectly suited for their roles. Kristin Chenoweth is the ringleader of the high school girls who never grew up determined to make life miserable for their former rival. It's a terrific change of pace for Ms Chenoweth who seems to be having the time of her life playing this ultimate "mean girl". The standout in the cast, at least in the Pilot, is Annie Potts. Ms Potts is always a welcome sight on network television and she is in top form here as Ms. Bibb's mother. Her character is outrageously delightful whether teaching her teenage grandson how to mix drinks for her before 9am or describing her daughter in high school as "A Bitch with teeth". Undoubtedly, the show is going to ruffle some feathers for it's portrayal of Church people. These women can slit your throat while quoting Bible passages. My favorite line in the Pilot is said by Ms Chenoweth as she and her cohorts are on a Conference Call gossiping viciously. Ms Chenoweth suddenly stops and says "Ladies, this is a totally inappropriate conversation to have on the phone....see you at Church". I laughed out loud several times and was sorry to see the 60 minutes come to an end. With DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES slowly marching to it's final and well deserved cancellation, GCB has breathed some life into what used to be the leading network for Sunday night viewing. I wouldn't want to worship with or hang out with the women of GCB, but oh what fun it is to watch from a distance!

Movie Review-----DREAM HOUSE

DREAM HOUSE was released in Fall 2011 to some of the worst reviews that I have heard or read in recent memory. But it was hard for me to believe that a film starring three actors the likes of Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts, and Rachel Weisz could truly be as bad as all that. I watched it late at night with Troy out of town and although I started in a dark room with only the light from the television, about 20 minutes into the film I turned on two lamps. It certainly creates a mood of suspense and mystery right away. The plot begins as a typical "Family moves into house where something horrible happened" but 40 minutes into it's 90 minute running time there is a twist which changes the mood and style of the film. Now let me say that the Critics were correct that this is absolutely not a good movie. However there is something about it that mesmerized me and kept my mind racing and shifting with each turn of the plot. The performances are admirable and a level above what you would normally find in a picture of this genre. It's filmed beautifully and directed with a sure hand by Jim Sheridan. Your appreciation and enjoyment of DREAM HOUSE will depend on whether or not you are willing to take the ride, flaws and all. And for God's sake, don't watch the trailer before seeing it since the plot twist is revealed and that will surely kill any chance of enjoying the actual film. Not the disaster the Press made it out to be, but not the slam dunk you would expect with this Cast either. Lower the expectations and it's worth a slot in your Netflix lineup.

TV Review-----AWAKE

Every now and then, Television Executives surprise me. Hard to believe that the same overpaid people who give the greenlight to shows like FEAR FACTOR and WIPEOUT sometimes have the bravery and smarts to give shows as complex and dangerously clever as AWAKE a chance. AWAKE has one of those premises that in the wrong hands could be a complete cluttered disaster. A police detective is in a car accident with his wife and son. In one of his realities, his wife died in the accident. But when he closes his eyes at night, he dreams a reality where his wife survived, but their son was killed. Thus begins the pattern....each time he wakes up it's one or the other of these "dreamstates" and we, as an audience, along with him don't know which is the "real" life and which is the "dream" life. It sounds confusing, but the writing makes the situation crystal clear. Jason Isaacs is both star and producer. His performance is the driving force of the show as he was in every single scene of the pilot episode. His love for both wife and child is heartbreaking and by the end of the hour, we understand and sympathize with his plight. He doesn't want to know which of the situations is real and which is not, because that means he would have to let go and accept the death of one of his loved ones. The added brilliance to the show is that in both realities he has two separate psychiatrists played by the wonderful BD Wong and Cherry Jones. He also has two different work partners in each reality. A twist to the normal "procedural" is that both of these dreamstates that he enters somehow assist him in solving the same crime. This is the sort of show that you would more likely find on A&E or HBO. Hard to believe that the bigwigs at NBC were willing to take a shot at something this quirky and artsy for Primetime. But we are the lucky ones to benefit from this leap of faith. AWAKE is immediately absorbing. My hope is that it develops an audience that is willing to take this thought provoking ride. Bravo NBC!

Movie Review (Classic)-----ANATOMY OF A MURDER

Continuing my mission to see Classic Films that somehow escaped my viewing thru the years, I watched what is considered by many to be the greatest Courtroom Drama ever filmed. Running two hours and forty minutes, I am not convinced that it completely deserves that accolade (I feel that WITNESS TO THE PROSECUTION is the superior film), but ANATOMY OF A MURDER is spellbinding and filled with brilliant performances. James Stewart is masterful as a down and out lawyer called to represent a soldier accused of murdering his wife's rapist. The first hour is the investigation and the final 100 minutes consist of mesmerizing courtroom drama. Ben Gazarra is the accused and he is incredible. What a presence. He even makes smoking with a cigarette holder look masculine. How I wish I could have seen his performance as the original Brick in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Lee Remick is beautiful as the wife with questionable morals. The always wonderful Eve Arden plays Stewart's secretary and is a true scene stealer. George C Scott is mighty as the prosecuting attorney. Had the movie tightened up and lost about twenty minutes from it's running time, it truly might have been perfect in my estimation. But it still holds up as an example of expert filmmaking from Otto Preminger. The music score is by Duke Ellington, who also has a small cameo in the film. If you have never seen it, it is available from Netflix in a crisp new Blu-Ray edition that makes the black and white photography look as though it was filmed yesterday. A Classic in every sense!