Trailer: Hugh Jackman in the Ski-Jumper Story “Eddie the Eagle”
Posted on January 20, 2016 at 8:00 am
And here’s the real-life Eddie the Eagle in the 1988 Olympics.
Posted on January 20, 2016 at 8:00 am
And here’s the real-life Eddie the Eagle in the 1988 Olympics.
Posted on January 19, 2016 at 6:49 pm
W asked Seth Rogen, Bradley Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Paul Dano to audition for the part of Cher in “Clueless,” reading her famous speech about the “Hate-ians.” While they make the mistake of pronouncing it correctly, I’d love to see them in some of the other scenes from the film. Or, let’s face it, in pretty much anything.
They’re great, but they will never improve on the original. Keep watching for more stars’ takes on classic scenes from “Dirty Harry” and “Gone With the Wind.”
For more on “Clueless,” read the oral history of the film by Jen Chaney.
Posted on January 19, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Spike Lee, who accepted a special Oscar award just two months ago, has said he will boycott the award show this year in protest of yet another all-white list of nominees. He is right to be outraged. How could Sylvester Stallone be nominated for “Creed” while his co-star Michael B. Jordan and writer/director Ryan Coogler are overlooked? What about the extraordinary performances in “Straight Outta Compton” (which only got a writing nomination and the Spike Lee’s completely overlooked “Chi-Raq?” What about a nomination for Idris Elba for “Beasts of No Nation” Fans and critics are outraged, with #oscarssoswhite hashtags dominating Twitter.
The Washington Post’s Lonnae O’Neal quotes my friend and fellow critic Tim Gordon in an excellent article about the “processing disorder” in the Academy when it comes to nominations for non-white performers.
From 1927 to 1999, a total of 14 black people won Oscars in all categories, he says. In acting categories, only 24 people of color have won since 1927, according to a Post report. More than 90 percent of Oscar voters are white and nearly 80 percent are male, according to the Los Angeles Times, and those numbers directly affect the range of stories and portrayals.
AMPAS head Cheryl Boone Isaacs, an African-American woman, is unhappy with the nominations as well, describing herself as “heartbroken and frustrated.” But until the Academy starts admitting more young, diverse members, it is not going to change. Boone agrees. She says. “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond. As many of you know, we have implemented changes to diversify our membership in the last four years. But the change is not coming as fast as we would like. We need to do more, and better and more quickly.”
Posted on January 19, 2016 at 9:22 am
Singer/songwriter/actress/businesswoman Dolly Parton turns 70 today!
This song was inspired by her childhood, born the fourth child of 12, to mother, Avie Lee and father, Robert Lee, in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zLsAf6SCwYHere she sings one of her biggest hits with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus.
She contributed a classic song and a deft, warm-hearted comic performance to “9 to 5.”
And she wrote this song, which became one of the biggest hits of all time when Whitney Houston sang it in “The Bodyguard.” Watch this with a handkerchief nearby.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzQ9j_Ek1roWhen asked if her feeling are hurt when people treat her like a dumb blonde, Dolly says, “No, because I know I’m not dumb and I know I’m not blonde!”
Here she is with her original partner, Porter Waggoner — and some old-style sexist “humor.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esEu6zfcdlcAnd if you have not seen the neglected gem “Joyful Noise,” please wish Dolly a happy birthday by taking a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QJ5e1N1aIc
Posted on January 18, 2016 at 5:48 pm
We mourn the loss of Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey, who died today at age 69. His music was indelibly linked to “Miami Vice” and “Beverly Hills Cop.”
You can also see him as an actor in “Miami Vice” and “Jerry Maguire.”
But he will be best remembered for his songs. Here are my favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaG00zRHDJY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG7uksXOCioThere’s an excellent documentary about the band.
May his memory be a blessing.