Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Here's James Taylor with trumpet player Chris Botti doing a jazz version of "Winter Wonderland." Enjoy.
Monday, December 25, 2017
Sunday, December 24, 2017
The Disaster Artist review
In cinema there are movies that are so bad that they're good. If you have enjoyed any episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, you know what I mean. Of course, that means the movie is so bad that it's funny. In 2003, director, writer and "actor" Tommy Wiseau released his cinematic Frankenstein "The Room" on the American public. Good thing he rented a theater in Los Angeles. Because it got seen and enjoyed as bad cinema by critics and celebrities. The Disaster Artist is the story of Wiseau and the making of The Room.
The movie starts out in a San Francisco acting class where Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) is attending. Student Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) butchers a scene from Tennessee Williams' A Streetcare Named Desire. It's so bizarre and over the top that it's funny. Wiseau doesn't realize this but it moves Greg to meet him after the class. They become friends and roommates. Eventually, they decide to move to Wiseau's apartment in Los Angeles to pursue their acting dreams. While Greg has good looks and some talent starts to get him work, Wiseau's lack of talent, Eastern European accent causes his career to grind to a halt. Frustrated with his progress, Wiseau writes a screenplay, and uses his money to make a movie called "The Room." He also will play the lead Johnny, an All-American type. He gets Greg to play Johnny's best friend, Mark.
Director James Franco's portrayal of Wiseau is brilliant. He get's Wiseau's Easter European speech rhythms just right. But we're not just talking about imitation here. His Wiseau is a misunderstood man-child with a big heart and big dreams. There's jealousy and affection that can be seen under a Spock like facade. Franco's comic timing makes the mundane and bizarre hilarious.
Based on the real life Greg Sestero's book "The Disaster Artist" with a screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, The Disaster Artist finds all the places where to depict comedy of the real life of Tommy Wiseau and the making of The Room. Director Franco knows how to stage the ridiculous and unafraid of embarrassing himself. There's a scene where Franco lets us see him wearing a modesty pouch which looks ridiculous when you're naked and even more so when you are standing around and arguing about a scene.
The Disaster Artist is like another movie about the making of bad cinema, Ed Wood. (1994) That film explored the making of Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) by a another disaster artist of cinema, Ed Wood. They both have similar themes. Guys with big dreams and no talent. The difference between them is that Wiseau knows he's the butt of the joke where Wood passed away before his cinematic lunacy became "popular." Wiseau makes a cameo in an end credit scene to The Disaster Artist thus acknowledging that The Room was a terrible movie that made people laugh. I say to him he should feel good about making people happy.
The Disaster Artist is a funny, heartfelt and yes, optimistic film. It's also one of the best movies of the year. The grade is A.
The movie starts out in a San Francisco acting class where Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) is attending. Student Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) butchers a scene from Tennessee Williams' A Streetcare Named Desire. It's so bizarre and over the top that it's funny. Wiseau doesn't realize this but it moves Greg to meet him after the class. They become friends and roommates. Eventually, they decide to move to Wiseau's apartment in Los Angeles to pursue their acting dreams. While Greg has good looks and some talent starts to get him work, Wiseau's lack of talent, Eastern European accent causes his career to grind to a halt. Frustrated with his progress, Wiseau writes a screenplay, and uses his money to make a movie called "The Room." He also will play the lead Johnny, an All-American type. He gets Greg to play Johnny's best friend, Mark.
Director James Franco's portrayal of Wiseau is brilliant. He get's Wiseau's Easter European speech rhythms just right. But we're not just talking about imitation here. His Wiseau is a misunderstood man-child with a big heart and big dreams. There's jealousy and affection that can be seen under a Spock like facade. Franco's comic timing makes the mundane and bizarre hilarious.
Based on the real life Greg Sestero's book "The Disaster Artist" with a screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, The Disaster Artist finds all the places where to depict comedy of the real life of Tommy Wiseau and the making of The Room. Director Franco knows how to stage the ridiculous and unafraid of embarrassing himself. There's a scene where Franco lets us see him wearing a modesty pouch which looks ridiculous when you're naked and even more so when you are standing around and arguing about a scene.
The Disaster Artist is like another movie about the making of bad cinema, Ed Wood. (1994) That film explored the making of Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) by a another disaster artist of cinema, Ed Wood. They both have similar themes. Guys with big dreams and no talent. The difference between them is that Wiseau knows he's the butt of the joke where Wood passed away before his cinematic lunacy became "popular." Wiseau makes a cameo in an end credit scene to The Disaster Artist thus acknowledging that The Room was a terrible movie that made people laugh. I say to him he should feel good about making people happy.
The Disaster Artist is a funny, heartfelt and yes, optimistic film. It's also one of the best movies of the year. The grade is A.
Merry Crappy Christmas, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin.
Conservative Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin received an appropriate Christmas present. It was a box wrapped in holiday papers. And what was the gift? A box of horse poop. New York Daily News. I'm guessing the message was for Mnuchin and conservative President Trump's economic plans which are to um... poop on the working man and support the big rich. I don't think it was for his production of Suicide Squad. (2016)
Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.
Mnuchin and wife, Marie Antoinette, I mean Louise Linton looking like Bond villains as they pose with money that will have his name.
Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.
Mnuchin and wife, Marie Antoinette, I mean Louise Linton looking like Bond villains as they pose with money that will have his name.
Politically correct radical liberals lose their minds over white actresses on a magazine
The Huffington Post, overly sensitive politically correct liberals, and radical feminists have freaked out over the cover of the Los Angeles Times section The Envelope which featured white actresses. (Tweet and comment below.) Kate Harding tweeted,
Really? A couple of things, Ms. Harding and radicals. The article for the magazine is the view of top actresses in recent movies about the treatment of women in cinema. They just happen to be white. Yes, the Huffington Post points out that there are women of color that could have been added. So what? It's the opinion of the editor that these women have excellent chances at Oscar nominations. Do we need a quota for an opinion of talent? Second, being in a picture with only white women does not mean that any of these actresses are against diversity. Don't blame them.
I imagine that some of these women on the cover are liberal. At least I can say that for Jessica Chastain. (Wikipedia) Radical feminists and liberals should not eat their own. I'm a liberal and the cover didn't bother me. If you want more diversity in cinema then cast more people of color in parts. But no quota on judging what is top talent.
It is almost 2018. If you're a white woman and someone asks you to pose for a group picture, for a magazine cover, with only other white women, YOU SAY NO. https://t.co/XYn1xq9j96
— Kate Harding (@KateHarding) December 22, 2017
Really? A couple of things, Ms. Harding and radicals. The article for the magazine is the view of top actresses in recent movies about the treatment of women in cinema. They just happen to be white. Yes, the Huffington Post points out that there are women of color that could have been added. So what? It's the opinion of the editor that these women have excellent chances at Oscar nominations. Do we need a quota for an opinion of talent? Second, being in a picture with only white women does not mean that any of these actresses are against diversity. Don't blame them.
It shouldn’t be necessary to point out the obvious, but clearly it’s necessary to point out the obvious. pic.twitter.com/FQjLkBiaMy
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) December 22, 2017
I imagine that some of these women on the cover are liberal. At least I can say that for Jessica Chastain. (Wikipedia) Radical feminists and liberals should not eat their own. I'm a liberal and the cover didn't bother me. If you want more diversity in cinema then cast more people of color in parts. But no quota on judging what is top talent.
Conservative Trump to rich people, "You all just got a lot richer" ; Princess Ivanka shows she's an idiot
Republican President Trump told his rich friends at Mar-a-Lago, "You all just got a lot richer." That's an admission that his Republican tax law would benefit the rich. (Huffington Post) And yes, while the poor and middle class will see tax cuts, it won't kick them up out of their economic class.
So who does the conservative Republican tax law benefit the most? The rich. (Politifact) Corporations will see rates go down from 35 percent to 21 percent. IF you're poor or on lower end of the middle class, you may see a reduction of .7 to 1.1 percent. If you are in the top bracket that is making over one million you'll get a whopping 14 percent reduction in your taxes. And good luck to the poor in eight years because that's when your tax cut evaporates while the corporate rate will stay.
And a couple of days ago, Trump's daughter who I'll call "Princess" Ivanka showed the world she is an idiot. She told Trump State TV... er, Fox News that in April you'll be able to do the tax return on a postcard and see the cuts. Wrong. (Politifact) You won't see the cuts for the year 2017 but 2018. And you will not be filing your return on a postcard. Maybe I shouldn't call Princess Ivanka an idiot. She could be just like her old man. A liar. We need a laugh here. Actress and singer, Maya Rudolph does a pretty funny Ivanka. Check it out when she was on Late Night with Seth Myers.
So who does the conservative Republican tax law benefit the most? The rich. (Politifact) Corporations will see rates go down from 35 percent to 21 percent. IF you're poor or on lower end of the middle class, you may see a reduction of .7 to 1.1 percent. If you are in the top bracket that is making over one million you'll get a whopping 14 percent reduction in your taxes. And good luck to the poor in eight years because that's when your tax cut evaporates while the corporate rate will stay.
And a couple of days ago, Trump's daughter who I'll call "Princess" Ivanka showed the world she is an idiot. She told Trump State TV... er, Fox News that in April you'll be able to do the tax return on a postcard and see the cuts. Wrong. (Politifact) You won't see the cuts for the year 2017 but 2018. And you will not be filing your return on a postcard. Maybe I shouldn't call Princess Ivanka an idiot. She could be just like her old man. A liar. We need a laugh here. Actress and singer, Maya Rudolph does a pretty funny Ivanka. Check it out when she was on Late Night with Seth Myers.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi review
After seeing a character survive being in space without a spacesuit in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we can say the Star Wars franchise is not science fiction. You can call it science fantasy. Keep that in mind, fans of hard science fiction when you watch this film.
The movie picks up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) left off. General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) is leading the Resistance in an escape from their base. However, they can't escape the Empire... I mean the First Order who have a way to track the rebel fleet even if they make the jump to hyperspace. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has made contact with Luke Skywalker. (Mark Hamill) Pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac), Finn (John Boyega) and new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) come up with an unauthorized plan to free the fleet from the First Order's tracking device. Rose and Finn would go to a space casino and enlist an expert to sabotage said tracking device. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a master of the dark side of the force and hence evil is running around trying to please Emperor er... Superme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). He detects a disturbance in the force that's either Rey or Skywalker or both.
It's good to hear Mark Hamill finally speak! It was a rip-off in The Force Awakens when Hamill merely shows himself. Anyway, Hamill as Skywalker is excellent as the weary and depressed Luke Skywalker. He's worn down by big failure which I won't spoil. The other performances also shine. Oscar Iassac as Poe, John Boyega as Finn and Carrie Fisher in her last film know their characters well and you readily believe them and their actions. Snoke is your generic power hungry dictator but Andy Serkis makes him bleed evil.
Writer and director Rian Johnson does a fine job staging large action set pieces. The editing and lighting are some of the weaknesses in this movie. Again, as in most modern cinema there's an over reliance on fast cutting to convey excitement. This leads to confusion and motion sickness. Then Johnson's lighting at times is too dark. I really wanted a clearer view of the actors faces even in caves. But the biggest strength and problem with The Last Jedi is the screenplay. First, here's he good part of the story. It's original. There's a nice touch of humor and I liked how Johnson depicts the Force as a metaphysical power.
The big problem in Johnson's screenplay nearly throttles the movie. It is that his story has too many plot threads. The Force Awakens introduced new... ahem, younger characters and there is the fact that Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill's days of "galloping around the cosmos" are nearing their end. (That quote comes from Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan) These final three films after the original trilogy should be mostly about them. Yes, I know Star Wars creator George Lucas thought about doing movies about the old Luke, Leia and Han. (Wikipedia) But while the three actors are still alive, everybody is going to wonder what happened to them in the future. Fisher has since passed away. While introducing a couple of new characters is a great idea, introducing six (Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, Ren, Rose) is too much. You could see Johnson looking for scenes to feature all of them. To be frank, giving Poe and Finn separate plot threads took away from the Rey-Luke relationship. And it got worse. At the casino, Johnson introduces DJ played by Benicio Del Toro. He's a great actor but his hamming for the the camera ate up even more time that could have been used for the Rey-Luke plot thread.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an original, entertaining but flawed movie. It's worth seeing if you are a Star Wars fan. Though hard science fiction fans won't enjoy it as much since they're probably going to wonder with all those hull breaches in space how any person can not be immediately killed. The grade is B.
The movie picks up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) left off. General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) is leading the Resistance in an escape from their base. However, they can't escape the Empire... I mean the First Order who have a way to track the rebel fleet even if they make the jump to hyperspace. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has made contact with Luke Skywalker. (Mark Hamill) Pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac), Finn (John Boyega) and new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) come up with an unauthorized plan to free the fleet from the First Order's tracking device. Rose and Finn would go to a space casino and enlist an expert to sabotage said tracking device. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a master of the dark side of the force and hence evil is running around trying to please Emperor er... Superme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). He detects a disturbance in the force that's either Rey or Skywalker or both.
It's good to hear Mark Hamill finally speak! It was a rip-off in The Force Awakens when Hamill merely shows himself. Anyway, Hamill as Skywalker is excellent as the weary and depressed Luke Skywalker. He's worn down by big failure which I won't spoil. The other performances also shine. Oscar Iassac as Poe, John Boyega as Finn and Carrie Fisher in her last film know their characters well and you readily believe them and their actions. Snoke is your generic power hungry dictator but Andy Serkis makes him bleed evil.
Writer and director Rian Johnson does a fine job staging large action set pieces. The editing and lighting are some of the weaknesses in this movie. Again, as in most modern cinema there's an over reliance on fast cutting to convey excitement. This leads to confusion and motion sickness. Then Johnson's lighting at times is too dark. I really wanted a clearer view of the actors faces even in caves. But the biggest strength and problem with The Last Jedi is the screenplay. First, here's he good part of the story. It's original. There's a nice touch of humor and I liked how Johnson depicts the Force as a metaphysical power.
The big problem in Johnson's screenplay nearly throttles the movie. It is that his story has too many plot threads. The Force Awakens introduced new... ahem, younger characters and there is the fact that Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill's days of "galloping around the cosmos" are nearing their end. (That quote comes from Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan) These final three films after the original trilogy should be mostly about them. Yes, I know Star Wars creator George Lucas thought about doing movies about the old Luke, Leia and Han. (Wikipedia) But while the three actors are still alive, everybody is going to wonder what happened to them in the future. Fisher has since passed away. While introducing a couple of new characters is a great idea, introducing six (Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, Ren, Rose) is too much. You could see Johnson looking for scenes to feature all of them. To be frank, giving Poe and Finn separate plot threads took away from the Rey-Luke relationship. And it got worse. At the casino, Johnson introduces DJ played by Benicio Del Toro. He's a great actor but his hamming for the the camera ate up even more time that could have been used for the Rey-Luke plot thread.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an original, entertaining but flawed movie. It's worth seeing if you are a Star Wars fan. Though hard science fiction fans won't enjoy it as much since they're probably going to wonder with all those hull breaches in space how any person can not be immediately killed. The grade is B.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Department of Defense: UFOs exist!
Okay, can somebody explain why the Air Force terminated Project Blue Book in 1970 which investigated UFOs when we have just found out that the Department of Defense has spent 22 million dollars investigating them. (Politico. New York Times ) The program was called The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program. (AATIP) What we know is that the UFOs studied had far "greater capabilities far beyond what is currently considered aerodynamically possible." Some sightings were compiled by military pilots. Check out the ABC video below where two Navy fighter pilots photograph a UFO and listen to their stunned responses. (At the forty second mark.)
I'm not a crazy conspiracy guy. But let's face it. We need consider that the United States government knows much more about this than they release to the public. The Truth is Out There.
I'm not a crazy conspiracy guy. But let's face it. We need consider that the United States government knows much more about this than they release to the public. The Truth is Out There.
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