Tony Watch: BEST ACTRESS in a Musical

Previous Categories Investigated: Lead Actor, Featured Actor and Featured Actress. Watch the TONYs tomorrow night (Sunday, June 11th) on CBS! Read these entries first and you'll know more than all of your friends...

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

Sutton Foster as "Jane Roberts" in The Drowsy Chaperone
If you've been reading the Film Experience for the past couple of years you know how I feel about Ms. Foster. I'm a fan. She was great gangly fun in her TONY Winning role in Thoroughly Modern Millie and undervalued as Jo' in the musicalized Little Women but her performance here may be favorite yet. She plays a spoiled star who is threatening to retire from showbiz. The best number in this show "I Don't Wanna Show Off" is hilarious and the choreography and Sutton herself keep extending and upping the joke which is that she doesn't mean it at all. Whenever Sutton shows off, I'll buy a ticket. Strangely for such a young and talented beauty she hasn't done any television or film. I'm glad to have her on stage but it's odd considering the general pattern of how stage careers work.

LaChanze as "Celie" in The Color Purple
This is LaChanze's sixth Broadway show and her second nomination. She's been mostly OffBroadway for the last several years having success in shows like Dessa Rose and Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin and benefit concerts. She also does frequent TV guest work.


Patti LuPone as "Mrs. Lovett" in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Patti is one of two true Broadway legends nominated in this category this year. This is her umpteenth Broadway show and her fourth nomination. Her Broadway career started in the 70s. Her one and only TONY award came for her star-making role in Evita in 1980, sixteen years before Madonna won the Golden Globe for the film version. She has worked often in TV and Film. Her most famous film appearances are arguably her brief appearance as Harrison Ford's sister in Witness or her part in the award winning ensemble of State and Main. Her new 14 song CD is called The Lady with the Torch.

Kelli O'Hara as "Babe" in The Pajama Game
This is O'Hara's sixth Broadway show and is coming right on the heels of her biggest success, last season's The Light in the Piazza which you've heard me rave about endlessly. [PLEASE NOTE: Piazza without O'Hara but still starring its headlining TONY winner Victoria Clark will be broadcast live on PBS on June 15th. If you love musical theater you'd be crazy to miss it -ed.] This is O'Hara's second consecutive nomination. I'm not impressed with her as a headliner and leading lady (too bland) but her voice is clear and beautiful and, to her credit, this performance surprised me. I think it's her best.

Chita Rivera in Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life
Patti Lupone is not the only true legend nominated this year. 73 year-old Chita has been a prized hoofer on Broadway since the mid 50s. This is her 9th nomination for her 15th Broadway run. Her resume is astonishing. She originated two roles which went on to be Oscar winning ones for others: "Anita" in West Side Story before Rita Moreno and "Velma Kelly" in Chicago before Catherine Zeta-Jones. In addition to being a trailblazer for Hispanic actresses, Chita has won two TONY Awards. The first came starring opposite Liza Minelli in The Rink and her second was for the Sonia Braga role in the Broadway adaptation of the Oscar-nominated Kiss of the Spiderwoman. Sadly, this revue of her career was not a hit with auds or critics. If it had been she would probably be a sentimental threat for the win. I saw her three years ago in Nine for which she was also nominated. And even @ 70 that woman could high-kick. She floored me.

WHO WILL WIN?: It's between LuPone and LaChanze for the prize. I think the 26 years since Patti Lupone's one and only win will tip the scales in her favor. The Color Purple is not a sure thing in any category (though certainly a threat in several) and could theoretically go home empty handed after 11 nominations... just like at the Oscars.

Tony Watch: BEST ACTOR in a Musical

Previous Categories Investigated: Featured Actor & Featured Actress. Watch the TONYs this Sunday night on CBS!

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

Michael Cerveris as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
This is Cerveris's fourth Broadway show and his third nomination. He won the award in the supporting category for his work in the revival of Sondheim's Assassins two years ago so if he wins Sunday night, he'd have won both TONYs for Sondheim revivals. (TONY voters are not as traditionally averse to repeat winners as the Oscars are). He's a magnetic stage presence who has had numerous recurring characters on TV shows like The American Embassy, CSI, dr. vegas and The Equalizer. Busy. He's also an acclaimed singer/songwriter and fronts a band called Tiny Mammoth. His previous album is called "Dog Eared"

Harry Connick Jr. as "Sid Sorokin" in The Pajama Game
Y'all know who he is. He's the most famous of this nominated batch by several country miles having recorded a plethora of successful CDs (over 20 million sold) and of course there's the recent on and off again Wil & Grace role. You don't need an introduction. (For my money though he still hasn't topped his 90s CD "We Are in Love.") This is his second experience with a Broadway. He wrote the Tony nominated music for the Therese Raquin musical adaptation (and flop) Thou Shalt Not. His sizzling chemistry with Kelli O'Hara in this production (it's not just buzz. they do sizzle) has had tongues wagging about backstage nookie. That is GOSSIP of course and I shouldn't pass it along. He's married after all.

Stephen Lynch as "Robbie Hart" in The Wedding Singer
This show comes most alive in the supporting roles where the cast members don't have the big problem of 'to ape or not to ape?' Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler's performances in the movie. I saw this in previews so perhaps it got stronger but I sort of felt like Stephen Lynch hadn't quite worked that out...whether he would be imitating or not. That said he was funny and charming and given the competition, I think he deserved the fifth slot here. Stephen is a comedic singer/songwriter who has been featured on Comedy Central so you've probably seen him there. This is his first Broadway show.

Bob Martin as "Man in Chair" in The Drowsy Chaperone
An actor who also wrote the book... maybe that's like an actor directing at the Oscars: it has to give you extra points. The TONYs love a good narrator and 'Man in Chair' is a definitely a keeper charming the audience right from the start with his meta commentary about attending theatrical events. His love of the show within this show "The Drowsy Chaperone" is infectious and it also happens to be the whole point of the show. This is his first Broadway show and nomination but he's no stranger to awards. Martin is well known in Canada and can be seen in several Canadian films. He wrote and produced the TV series "Slings and Arrows" which has been showing on cable here in the USA recently.

John Lloyd Young as "Frankie Valli" in Jersey Boys
This is Young's first Broadway show and nomination. He built his reputation at New Jersey's Paper Mill theater and numerous Off Broadway stints. I haven't seen this show but he's supposedly great in it, garnering rave reviews. His biggest challenge for the win will be that the show opened a long time ago compared to his competitors. You can read his blog here.

Will (?) Win: I think Bob Martin might just edge this one out and he was grand too. Affection for this character (hard not to love him) combined with the enthusiasm for the show and Martin's overall contribution to it will push him over the edge with Young and Cerveris divvying up the dissenting votes. Or maybe not. OK. I have no idea who will win this. One of those three.

It's MERYL STREEP Month !

Given that June is kicking off with the release of A Prairie Home Companion and ending with the release of The Devil Wears Prada which is (I predict) going to be a big big hit it's time for Meryl Streep Month. So throughout the month of June in between regular postings, actor countdowns, and interviews, I'll be throwing out some Meryl goodies for y'all.

Now I realize that technically June is Gay Pride Month but I think you probably already know that worship of grand actresses is kind of a crucial component of being a 'mo... so for the Film Experience June 2006 is now officially The Month of MERYL STREEP. If you have any feelings about this or anything in particular you'd like to see happen here in regards to that let me know in the comments.

So, to kick things off: Here's a video of the March 1983 Oscar Ceremony Best Actress section brought to you by my Oscar obsession, my new friend Tom's VHS collection (which I will be robbing from as much as possible) and You Tube.



Oh... and go see her new movie!
A Prairie Home Companion Link Fix
popbytes thought Lindsay and Maya Rudolph were swell...
Slant Altman devotee Ed Gonzalez mostly likes it.
Nerve Mike D'Angelo isn't as positive.
The New Yorker A Prairie Home Companion & An Inconvenient Truth

Scary. Call Your Senators.

Jill of Brilliant at Breakfast is also guest blogging on ModFab this week and has a very scary must-read post on the future of the Internet thanks to Rethuglicans (seriously how do any of them sleep at night? I guess big money works as well as Ambien) and Democrat Sellouts. READ IT.

I sometimes wish I followed politics more closely but the truth is whenever I start to bone up I feel like vomiting. Whenever I do get caught up on whats-going-on, I am suddenly Fisher clan crazy (Six Feet Under reference. Hey, it's on my mind) like Claire (Lauren Ambrose) or Sarah (Patty Clarkson) on one of their hair flying unhinged people-frightening political rants.

Cinephilia

By now, if you've been chasing my links, you know of "Arden" at Cinephilia due to my blog crush. She currently has the plum gig of friday movie reviews for The Gilded Moose. I had the pleasure of meeting her in the flesh this past week. She asked me to attend the reading of her work in progress ("Cinephilia" natch) so I did.

I've no idea if "attending a reading" sounds very glamorous to readers outside of major theater towns but the truth is it's not. Readings are often in unglamorous locations, sparsely attended, and painfully not ready for their closeup. Still, they're are a crucial part of the creative process --you have to see how it plays for an audience. Attending them regularly is a duty for any theater addict with friends in the community. Since the author in question is usually there (and if you're attending you probably know them) you sometimes have to search valiantly for that needle in the haystack fine moment in an otherwise awful or semi-awkward thing.

Attending this one though? Not the least bit painful. Though I am sometimes a relentlessly critical person I just had a great time watching this. It's a four character piece about cinephiles and messy relationships lived through movies instead of, perhaps, actually lived.

My short review: Hilarious. Forceful. Insightful. (And there's at least a couple of moments about Splendor in the Grass that I feel were written just. for. me.)

I'm still not sure after meeting her if "Arden" is just an elaborate character creation as opposed to merely an author's alter ego but it hardly matters. As a character (yes, Leslye writes and acts the part of "Arden" ...and someone in the crowd told me she played guitar too --is there anything she can't do?) Arden has an infectiously raucous energy with that fascinating sexy and/or terrifying aura of a young Sandra Bernhard (which I mean as a total compliment, btw). If I weren't a big homo that blog crush would morph into a real one.

So next time she does a reading of her work-in-progress, you lucky NYC dwellers ought to hit that.

Fuzzy Link Sweater

Burbanked on Scoop and Little Miss Sunshine trailers.
Cinematical on the casting of Hairspray. I probably should be more excited about this one given the persistent Pfeiffer rumors... but I've seen the musical and without strong direction (unlikely) it'll suck because it's one showstopper after another and it would require fine direction to transfer that live theater energy into a film that builds and peaks in the right places. Plus Pfeiffer's character has the worst songs.
Film Stalker is TV taking over the cinema? (This serialized drama question in on my brain now as I near the end of the Six Feet Under DVD.
Oscar Watch Will History Boys impending TONY win translate to Oscar?
Stale Popcorn on the new Baz Luhrman project: Baz + Kidman + Jackman =anticipatory ecstacy.

Weekend Movie Choices

In Multiplexes (links go to trailers/sites)
A Prairie Home Companion I have two posters to give away but you have to enter the contest. I don't have to tell you to see this... it's only got the most exciting cast of the summer (Streep! Tomlin! Kline! Lohan! Etcetera!) and a world great director guiding them. Plus: Meryl sings onscreen for the first time in ages. I lurve her singing in Ironweed, Postcards from the Edge and Death Becomes Her
Cars The first movie emerging from the civil war of Pixar vs. Disney (the truce has since been drawn) Pixar has had nothing but hits and has never made a bad film. Will Cars continue the winning streak or change the course?

Limited Release
Agnes and His Brothers German hottie Morris Bleibtreu (Run Lola Run) is a sex addict, his brother is a control freak, and his sister is a transsexual.
Uncut is about a man with a fractured pelvis trying to get women into his bed. They're proudly displaying their Guinness World Record claim to fame: the longest filmed shot of a penis. Shameless. They're really banking on that alone pulling you in since they don't have a trailer or stills or anything. Shameless AND cheap.
Heart of the Game One of those "inspirational" documentaries (a subgenre that always make me wary).It looks like an potential crowd pleaser.
Crossing The BridgeA music documentary from Fatih Akin who made a considerable splash with the potent erotic drama Head On

What will you be doing/seeing this weekend?

Blogger Difficulties

Just a heads up that things aren't working here. I'll be back later when the computer/internet/and blogger all start working together properly.

Mark Ruffalo & Paul Bettany

The Top 100 Actors of the Aughts Countdown continues as we enter the top 20. We begin with a possibly floundering American with a gob of potential: Mark Ruffalo and a still ascending Brit: Paul Bettany. Read...then return and discuss. You know how this works.

In other listmania news...Round 2 of the Actress Poll is up and ready for your votes.

In still more we-require-your-participation reminders: Please enter the Prairie Home Companion contest if you haven't already. The movie opens tomorrow. The contest closes in one week. And re: this week's horoscopes --do you know which film your quote comes from? Let's hear your best guesswork in the comments.

In the Musicals

Since the TONY AWARDS are arriving Sunday (another actor showcase later today) showtunes are playing on a loop in my head. So with that in mind...

Thursday Triple: Movie Musicals


(my hearty apologies to the glorious Singin' in the Rain which I love almost as much as these three but still in copious amounts)

Those are my three favorites movie musicals of all time: West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz and Cabaret. If you had to choose only three, what would yours be?

Wouldn't You Like to be a ModFab'er Too?

Just a heads up. Gabriel over at Modern Fabulousity is taking a week off from his incredible blog and I am one of a handful of bloggers/big mouths who will be taking over. So, starting tomorrow you can read me both here AND there. To borrow a phrase from me pal Stinky...

Try not to have your mind blown.

Weekly (Quotable) Horoscope

I wanted to read the stars to give you guidance this week. But since my birthday celebration went long and wild... and there are other unbirthday activities today this will be brief. I can't be as elaborately specific as usual... So through this hazy overcast sky I see no stars but at least I'm hearing voices. When I look at you [insert name of sign here] this is what the voices are saying to me. Let this be your motto this week. (If you know the movie this week will be smooth sailing!)

Weekly Movie Horoscope
June 7th to June 13th Quote-Happy Edition

Aries (3.21-4.19)
"I'm going to be the Cinderella. You can be the cocker spaniel that eats spaghetti."

Taurus (4.20-5.20)
"This task was appointed to you ...If you do not find a way, no one will."

Gemini (5.21-6.20)
"You can't deal with my infinite nature"

Cancer (6.21-7.22)
"My mommy always said there were no monsters - no real ones - but there are, aren't there?"

Leo (7.23-8.22)
"Hello, gorgeous!"

Virgo (8.23-9.22)
"Being happy isn't all that great. I mean... the last time I was... really happy... I got really fat."

Libra (9.23-10.22)
"There is truth and there are lies, and art always tells the truth. Even when it's lying."

Scorpio (10.23-11.21)
"ESK-I-MO!"

Sagittarius (11.22-12.21)
"Don't you tell me what I can or can't do! Those days are over! And if I want to have an affair, or play sex games, or do M&M's, you can't stop me!"

Capricorn (12.22-1.19)
"See... most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of... anything!"

Aquarius (1.20-2.18)
"Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in."

Pisces (2.19-3.20)
"He's teaching me to change my instincts... or at least ignore them"


tags: movies, film, famous quotes, horoscope, zodiac

Six Feet Under Post. About a Year Late.

During the next to final season of Six Feet Under I fell out of love with the Fishers and cancelled my HBO subscription. With Sex & The City going bye bye and HBO seemingly uninterested in reaching that demographic anymore (all their shows outside of 6FU being very roughhouse guy / frathouse ish) I figured why pay?

This abrupt dismissal of my favorite television family post-Once & Again was due to two things primarily: first there was that sadistic atypical episode in which David was kidnapped and tortured by a john... and how it went from being a show about three families with some fascinating psychologies to three families without a single sane person amongst their ever expanding number. A little insanity and depression was fascinating/fun/revealing. A whole lot of looney was just annoying/sad/redundant.

I am a completist to some extent so I knew I'd eventually give the last season a chance. And here I am finally watching it. (Just finished the famous "NARM!" episode --I'm about halfway through the season I think? ) So why am I writing about it now? Well this is all a very long way of giving a shout out to an actress I really like, Tina Holmes, who no one ever talks about and no casting director ever casts for roles of any weight --just guest spots. What gives?


I first fell (hard) for Tina Holmes playing an unwilling faghag in her film debut The Edge of Seventeen which opened in the summer of 99 in very limited release. If you haven't seen it it's worth renting. A lot of indie gay movies are sloppy, low budget, shallow, etc... This one is great. It's about the messy painful memorable coming of age/coming out process. And it does all of that while also painting a funny true portrait of life as a midwestern teenager in the 1980s (trust me I would know). Anyway, Tina is superb in the movie. It's her first film or television role and she just nails it, totally grounding the movie in raw emotional accuracy as the confused yanked around girlfriend of a gay teen (played by Chris Stafford, who apparently has quit acting and gone to law school. Shame.) After seeing this film I expected a big career for Ms. Holmes. Instead there's just been TV guest spots. I was thrilled to see her added to the Six Feet Under lineup, a show which has always given female guest stars great material on which to chew. Illeana Douglas, Kathy Bates, Patricia Clarkson, Catherine O'Hara... they've all had lots of fun with their dips into the Six Feet Under water.

This post is directed at casting directors everywhere: This actress is a keeper so please find her work. She blends into ensembles with ease and she has a beautifully grounded and wistful screen presence. Plus, you can hang really layered emotional material on her and she will never misstep. GIVE THIS WOMAN WORK!

That is all.

P.S. I found the 6FU photo of Tina Holmes on this blog Thoughts on Stuff and swiped it. But he has a long post just about Tina's character "Maggie" which you can click over to read if you miss Six Feet Under.

tags: movies, television, Six Feet Under, Tina Holmes, HBO

Prairie Premiere

Thomas & Co has some insider bits on the NYC premiere of A Prairie Home Companion. So check it out...

Tony Watch: FEATURED ACTRESS, Musical

Previous Spotlight on the TONY AWARDS: Featured Actor.

FEATURED ACTRESS in a MUSICAL
Know more than your friends when you watch the TONYs this year by reading this.

Carolee Carmello as "Gabrielle" in Lestat
This is Carolee's ninth show on Broadway since her debut in 1989 in City of Angels. This is her second nomination and only the third time she's originated a role (the only way you are eligible for nominations). She seems to be a permanent replacement type: a Broadway trouper they can always count on but they don't trust to sell tickets. Her husband is Gregg Edelman who is also a Broadway regular. You may remember him as Peter Parker's doctor in Spider-Man 2.

Felicia Fields as "Sofia" in The Color Purple
She's a well awarded stage star in Chicago...a true pro. You'd have to be really when you're playing the Oprah Winfrey role in a new musical produced by Oprah Winfrey. An amateur would collapse under the weight of that pressure. This is her first Broadway role and first TONY nomination.

Megan Lawrence as "Gladys" in The Pajama Game
The second I started typing her name I was flooded with joy. Seriously. She is terrific as the shy secretary who starts to tear the place up once she's got a little liquor in her. The place in question is "Hernando's Hideaway" and Lawrence makes that famous number the absolute peak of the show. She used to be on One Life to Live. This is her third Broadway show (after replacement stints in Les Miz and Urinetown) and first Tony nomination. If it were my choice third time would be the charm and she'd stagger away with the trophy.

Beth Leaval as The Drowsy Chaperone
It's probably thrilling to play a title character. The show isn't about her but she handles her comic bits very well as the drunk (and therefore sleepy) companion to the show's star (Sutton Foster --more on her in a later post). Leaval is ModFab's choice for will and should win. But I'll take the other drunk lady in this lineup. The one I just got done talking about above. This is Leaval's sixth show and first nomination..

Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as "Shug Avery" in The Color Purple
Remember crazy Margaret Avery who wrote that letter to God as her For Your Consideration AMPAS ad in 1985? OK well some of you don't (too young) but it was one of the more infamous Oscar campaigns of the 80s and it was for this role in the movie (the chanteuse who has the hots for Celie) . Anyway, my point --and I do have one is that the Tony voters followed the Oscar voters and gave nominations to Shug, Celie, and Sofia. Elizabeth had a club hit "Emotions" a few years back too apparently.

My prediction for the win: Beth Leaval, The Drowsy Chaperone

Queen of Comedy

Sandra Bernhard is celebrating her 51st birthday today so I thought I'd give her a shout out by posting a video clip of what should have been an Oscar nominated performance. With this video we're going wayyyy back to 1983 when Sandra was dropping her genius right smack dab inbetween Jerry Lewis and Robert DeNiro in Martin Scorsese's undervalued King of Comedy (one of his two or three best films says me). This is just the first two minutes of what is the most genius segment in the movie.

In King of... Sandra plays a crazed groupie and here she's romancing her celebrity captive. Enjoy...



And after watching tell me if you don't think she shouldn't be thrown into the Christopher Guest improv movie mix. Hollywood has never quite known what to do with her. I bet Christopher Guest would.

Good Vs. Evil: The 666 Edition

Today is, as you all presumably know, 06/06/06. To er--celebrate (?)-- that antichrist connotative numbering moment, somebody rilly smart at the studios decided to release the remake of The Omen on this day. Now, as you also may have guessed if you've spent a moment to think about me on my birthday (and who among you hasn't?) the numbers have plagued me my whole life. Anybody with the june 6th birthday born in the sixties has had to live with the triple six situation. Whenever we fill out forms, our birthday is 06/06/6? which is, I don't mind saying, very annoying. I imagine it's like having a Christmas birthday: administrative types do comment when they see it on the paper. (Damn them!)

Now when I was a wee lad I was absolutely terrified at the idea of seeing horror movies. I'm not sure how I found out about The Omen but I knew of it long before I saw it. And I also knew about Damian's birthday (6/06/66 in the original movie --I guessed they were trying to underline the point with that fourth six). When they finally aired it on television in the late 70s I watched with the blanket pulled over me, covering my face most of the time. Couldn't sleep the whole night. From 1976 to 1981 when the original trilogy was arriving in theaters regularly, kids would love to tease June 6th-ers like myself by sifting through their hair looking for that 666 mark. Mean.

Since I was the nicest most angelic child possible (no seriously see--> too cute to the be the devil) it was totally silly of me to be scared about being the devil but confusing movies with reality? That's my thing. I actually cried watching Damien: Omen II because the fear started up again. If I ever shaved my head, would I find three sixes carved in my scalp? The only thing that I thought would be cool about being "Damien" was this: In the second movie a bunch of kids surround the now teenage devilboy to tease him or beat him up or something (I forget). Damien just looks at the lead bully and the guy has a massive brain hemorhage and dies on the spot. That power woulda come in handy in grade school and junior high, I tell you that.

But anyway I am a nice guy. I'd rather give people flowers and hugs than deadly hemorrhages. Even the mean ones...pathetic but true. Obviously I'm not the Anti-Christ and besides, that job is already taken.

Links that I am pretending are birthday gifts to me:
Kelly Stern on Bush and 1967's Loving v. Virginia case. Bigots tried to stop interracial marriages, too. They also blamed judges back then.
Lone Star Verve on the DVD releases out today Mommie Dearest and Gay Sex in the 70s. Hmmmm. What message is being sent here?
Cinema de Merde on X-Men: The Last Stand. You may have noticed I didn't write a review of this. It just pained me too much. But other people are doing a splendid job of pointing out the abundant careless problems.

Links that are gifts to me: ModFab * six things * Stinky Lulu . Awwww, I wuv you too.

And with that I will now stop pestering you about buying me gifts, donating to the site, and wishing me a happy one. This shtick is getting tired but I can't help that I'm so needy. Don't judge!

Box Office Blather

[This post was written 06/05 but blogger was fighting w/ me. I don't want y'all to think I was cleaning my apartment on MY BIRTHDAY. -ed]

And now an uncharacteristic look at the box-office. But I'm avoiding cleaning my apartment and trying not to fantasize about all those birthday gifts you're undoubtedly about to shower me with.

01 The Break-Up $38+
So yes. I'm happy for directed Peyton Reed who needed a success but unfortunately for me I'm also not dumb so I know this means that people will think Jennifer Aniston is a movie star which she certainly isn't. A much hyped romantic comedy arriving with absolutely zero competition from its own genre OR any other genre for that matter. Piece o cake for high returns.
02 X-Men: The Last Stand $34+
They're already trying to spin this at Box Office Mojo like the record fall (-66.6% --ouch) only indicates that everyone saw it already. Um, don't record drops mean bad word of mouth? That's what they meant last time. And the time before that. And the time before that.
03 Over the Hedge $20+
Holding well.
04 The Da Vinci Code $19+
Why do people think this is so fascinating?
05 Mission: Impossible III $4+
The definition of an OK movie. Does what it does competently.
06 Poseidon $3+
If all remakes tanked this badly maybe we'd be free of them?
07 RV $3+
Every year there are modest hits that no one you knew ever saw and no one would admit to seeing even if they did. Who goes to see them? We don't know.
08 See No Evil $2+
Slashers never gets old for people. For me: zzzzzz and also: Ewww.
09 An Inconvenient Truth $1+
This movie was fascinating. You'd think a documentary about a lecture/presentation on global warming would be a little dry. It's not. I was riveted the whole time. Go see it.*
10 Just My Luck $under a million.
Lindsay... we love you. You just gotta a) stop partying b) stop being in dumb movies c) do something good like a Robert Altman pic --oh wow, thanks babe! (if you haven't done it yet, enter the contest to win a A Prairie Home Companion's movie poster. I've got two to give away.)

* Tangent. Rant. Warning: Seeing An Inconvenient Truth could cause copious weeping for all good Americans considering that after spending two hours with a solid smart compassionate leader they have to leave the theater remembering that there's a dumb bigoted asshole currently spreading hate from the pulpit of the White House instead of this charismatic strong Al Gore fella. And no comments from trolls please. Because listen up: No matter how squirmy gay marriage may make you this is the constitution we're talking about. You don't use it to enshrine discrimination no matter what you're personal feelings are. Take my personal feelings for example. I am absolutely convinced that fundamentalists/extremists of all religions are ruining the world with their black and white thinking (it's my own black and white thinking in response) but I recognize that whether or not I'm correct it's a personal belief. I have NO right trying to infringe upon their rights to assuage my own fears about them. This is the constitution. I wonder when Republicans will wake up and clean up their own party: they're catering to people who don't even understand the true principles of being an American. You know, like, freedom of religion (which requires separation of church and state to function properly --duh!) and that pesky "with liberty and justice for all."


tags: Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Aniston, movies, film, Box Office, Al Gore, Bush, politics, Gay Marriage,

Tony Watch: FEATURED ACTOR, Musical

From now until the Tony Awards (next Sunday!) I wanted to investigate the acting races a little more closely prior to the big night. Just to get you all hot and bothered for the actual ceremony. So herewith, a look at the Featured (Supporting) Actors in the musical category. I'm throwing in little fun nuggets o' info for each person so you can act like a know-it-all when you're watching the Tony Awards.

FEATURED ACTOR in a MUSICAL

Danny Burstein as "Adolpho" in The Drowsy Chaperone
Burstein plays a hilarious Casanova-type winning his first Tony nomination. He gets a lot of comic mileage out of boasting and repeating his name to all who will listen. This musical is surging going into the ceremony week, so word of mouth could make him a threat to surprise for the win if they are looking for a place to reward the show. Trivia: He's married to two time Tony nominee Rebecca Luker who will be playing Mrs. Banks in next season's London transfer Mary Poppins

Jim Dale as "Mr. Peachum" in The Threepenny Opera
If you've never been to Broadway you still may know Jim Dale's work. He does all of the Harry Potter audio books and he co-wrote the Oscar nominated theme song to Georgy Girl. This is his fifth nomination and get this: He's been nominated every time he's been eligible (you can't be nominated if you replace someone in a show). He won the Best Actor award 26 years ago in Barnum. He's the frontrunner to win this category. He's a beloved stage actor and he truly works his ass off in this show, despite its maddening failures in other areas. The only drawback? Lots of people don't like the show it's in.

Brandon Victor Dixon as "Harpo" in The Color Purple
This actor will be joining the daytime soap One Life to Live soon. He's the only cast member of this musical nominated for a role that wasn't previously nominated for the Oscar in the film version of Alice Walker's beloved novel. This is his Broadway debut and first nomination.

Manoel Felciano as "Tobias" in Sweeney Todd
This is his fourth Broadway show and first nomination. His last show was the godawful Brooklyn -- good for him for following up a true stinker with a big role in a masterpiece. He also gets the great honor of singing one of Sondheim's greatest songs "Not While I'm Around" in the show.

Christian Hoffas "Tommmy DeVito" in Jersey Boys
Tommy is the member of the Four Seasons who left due to financial disputes and today hangs with Joe Pesci. This is Christian's second Broadway show and his first nomination. His first show was The Who's Tommy ten years ago. (So, apparently he only gets cast for jukebox musicals?) In the interim Hoff has spent a lot of time on guest stints on television.

My prediction FWIW (not much): Jim Dale in The Threepenny Opera

Blogosphere Multiplex: Ron L'Infirmier

Once a week I'm grilling a random blogger about their own film experience. These aren't necessarily film bloggers, just bloggers of note. This week's victim is Ron from Ron l'infirmier and this interview is trans-Atlantic. He is a famous Parisian blogger.


I discovered Ron's site while curious about blog traffic from that "She's a Bitch" video a few months ago. I perused his blog --OK, I oggled the plentiful eye candy and then ogled some more because my French is very high school broken. For those who do read French there's plenty to keep you entertained. He rose to Gallic blogging reknown posting addictive stories about life as a nurse and the medical care profession (anonymously of course...), pop culture musings, and personal stories about he and his boyfriend who he calls "La Marmotte."

The Boyfriend (mine I mean) once lived in Rennes and so I got him on the case and he translated this interview for me. Merci mon cher. He was giggling away reading Ron's blog and told me that if I needed an American comparison it's sort of, in tone if not content, a French The Search for Love in Manhattan.

10 Questions with Ron

Nathaniel: We begin against my will with Harry Potter. You take your blogging name "Ron" from the character of Ron Weasley. Which is your favorite of the Potter adaptations and why?

Ron: I prefer the first film which perfectly caught the ambience of the first book. Sugary, Christmas-scented, I associate his vision with my winters spent in Switzerland with mulled wine and gingerbread.

Nathaniel: How often are you found in movie theaters?

Ron: I have an unlimited cinema card. For 19 euros a month I can see as many films as I want. So I'd say I see between 6 and 10 a month.

Nathaniel: Good man. I wish we had unlimited cards here. You mention on your blog that Francis Ford Coppola is your favorite auteur. Are you excited for his new film Youth Without Youth ?

Ron: I haven't heard anything about this film, apart from its title, so that I can attend the first screening as a complete virgin. I don't want to know anything about it! My favorite Coppola film is Peggy Sue Got Married, closely followed by Godfather II. The first few minutes at Lake Tahoe with Nino Rota's music are among the most beautiful in cinema.

Nathaniel: Any thoughts about his daughter Sofia or her films? Booed at Cannes last week for Marie-Antoinette.

Ron: Sofia deeply annoys me. I've never managed to watch Virgin Suicides all the way through. Lost in Translation bugged the shit out of me. Miraculously, I liked Marie-Antoinette, but that's surely related to the subject and the fact that it resonates with me as a Frenchman.

Nathaniel: Can't wait to see that one. What's the strangest thing that ever happened to you at a movie theater?

Ron:A bomb threat one day in Bordeaux. A guy dropped a gym bag and left the room running. A mental case. Everyone was terrorized!

Nathaniel: Yikes. Let's move on. You claim you "kiss like a god" on your blog. To prove it which movie star would you select as your scene partner?

Ron: Who would I choose? A woman? Mary Steenburgen. A man? Paul Newman, aged 35. Heard he was a bit small for me. Does not matter.

Nathaniel: One of the reasons your blog got famous in France is the inside peak at nursing. Are there any movies that you think paint an accurate or at least an interesting picture of your profession?

Ron:Not a single one. Never have seen anything close to reality. Carol Hathaway, in ER, maybe, in some scenes, very short sequences --sometimes. Representations of male nurses are full of clichés, representations of nurses are full of crap (just think Daryl Hannah in Kill Bill and you'll find the perfect example)

Nathaniel: Does your boyfriend "La Marmotte" share your film tastes?

Ron: No. But I'm the boss.

Nathaniel: Ha ha. Here's something that's always fascinated me. France has more international movie stars than any country outside of the US --Auteuil, Deneuve. Huppert, Tatou, Saviginier, Devos, Bonnaire, Binoche, Béart, etc... What's the secret? Is their a movie star birthing factory, a trade school? Explain!

Ron: Ah - good question! No secret, no technique, just one obvious fact: In France the cinema is still an art, made by magicians who thumb their noses at money. We love actors for the quality of their work, not for their box office success. That tends to change, of course. Another reason is that here unemployment benefits can be very generous for out-of-work actors... A lot of people live off the system and there are therefore a lot of new faces.

Nathaniel: Last question Ron. They make a movie of your life. Who would play you? What's the title? What's the rating?

Ron: The film of my life? Clement Sibony for my role. Stéphane Rideau for La Marmotte. The title, "Je n'attendais que toi" (I was waiting only for you). The rating?

[Ron opted for a tagline instead -ed] "Too many rose-colored sentiments, but some excellent lines. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it or you'll hate it. You cannot remain indifferent"

Voilà.

Nathaniel: Merci beaucoup to Ron l'Infirmier for participation in this "blogosphere multiplex" interview.

New Reader? If this is your first time here please check the rest of the blog or some of the film experience's greatest hits: A History of ... Jodie Foster * "She's a Bitch" Music Video * Top Actress of the Aughts * A History of Gyllenhaal * 2005 Film Bitch Awards *

Previously at the Blogosphere Multiplex: Thomas & Co.
* If there's any hot blogger you'd love to see interviewed, let me know. I'll try to rope them in.

Cillian, Tom, and Countdown Madness

I know I've kept some of you waiting for far too long for this latest installment of "Top 100 Actors of the Aughts". For those who have been on pins and needles... try waiting on something softer next time --how about Cillian Murphy's lips?

Anyway I digress--it's so easy for the mind to wander with some of these actors around --Tom Wilkinson. How about that performance in In the Bedroom. Probably shoulda won the Oscar, non? Meanwhile Cillian Murphy has the honor of being the most recent arrival to the movies with the highest placement on this list. That's because he's a memorable actor and he works. A lot. He works the camera too.

Enjoy. Then return and discuss.

P.S. #1 In the poll that just wrapped, Heath Ledger pulled out the win but Crowe and Penn will also be joining him advancing to the next round because of their percentages of votes. Stay tuned. It all wraps up in June.

P.S. #2 I just realized that there's no corresponding readers-ranking for the twin Top 100 Actress countdown. I like the lists in pairs to match, so we're going to barrel through the voting for the Actresses in very quick rounds. So go and vote now on the first of three rounds.

Say What? Double Edition

I think I confused with the double image. Where did everyone go? Anyway... We have our first repeat winner
Neel Mehta gave Gong Li a zinger for Miami Vice



Coming Tomorrow:
Another blogosphere interview
Two new actors for the top 100 countdown
A Tony awards preview.

Ignore Me. I'm Very OCD

You guys. This is how f***ed up I am. It's my birthday week and I'm actually feel guilty --guilty!?! -- about taking two days off from posting.

What. is. wrong. with. me?

(rhetorical question. no answering necessary, tyvm)

To assauge my guilt, I offer suggestions for other readings:
Cinephilia is on "Team JOLIE". The cool kids all are.
The Scene Stealer on The Piano
Thomas & Co on Favela Rising

Those Plaid Pants Ain't New No More

I was just running out the door (figuratively speaking) and almost forgot: Yikes.

Please go and wish one of my favorite blogs, My New Plaid Pants, a very happy 1st birthday. I don't know much about the aging process but I think this means that soon he won't be just showing us pictures of Jake but he'll actually speak in full sentences about Jake! Wow. They grow up so fast.

JA, I can't wait for the second year...

love, Nathaniel.

P.S. 1 In other "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" news in case you missed it: FourFour, which I also love in embarrassing amounts, turned one a couple of days ago.

P.S. 2 I, not the blog version of me but the actual me, will be celebrating my birthday this coming Tuesday. So you better be here!

R & R

I need a little downtime. Gotta enjoy those Birthday Gifts you're about to send me. Gotta finish that "to do" list. Gotta work on my other projects. Gotta get a bit o' sunshine. Gotta get a massage --I tell you the writing life certainly does a whammy on the neck and shoulder. Or at least on my neck and shoulder. Etc...

Have a great weekend. I promise next week will be exciting: movie reviews, another 'multiplex blogosphere' interview, daily additions to the 'Actors of the Aughts Countdown', Tony Award spotlights, & more.

Feuding Couples and Gothic Sisters

Weekend Theater/DVD options:

In Multiplexes
The Break-Up Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn spar under the direction of Peyton Reed. In case you missed my post about this, it's here. Aside from my fondness for Mr. Reed, I'm excited this movie is finally opening because that means that in only two or three weeks from now Jennifer Aniston will stop being on magazine covers every two seconds. Soooo sick of her. And to think she used to be my favorite Friend...


And I have to ask again. What happened to the major studios competitive spirits? Why do all these films get each weekend to themselves? Didn't use to be this way. Are Aniston & Vaughn that potent a draw that all other studios feared opening against them?

In Theaters: Limited Release (links go to trailers/sites)
Peaceful Warrior Gymnasts are hot. Even physically/spiritually damaged ones. Grizzly ol' Nick Nolte plays mentor again. Plus, this movie is a Film Experience sponsor (see sidebar) so what else you need? (Select Cities)
District B13 and Typhoon two very violent foreign actioners. (From Fance and Korea respectively)
50 Ways of Saying Fabulous New Zealand coming of age comedy (NYC).
Favela Rising Buzzy documentary on Rio de Janeiro slums and an activist movement using music and dance to combat violence.
And a whole slew of very indie product including: Woodenhead (NYC) The Conrad Boys (LA) and The Puffy Chair


New to DVD This Past Week
Freedomland Anyone with a Netflix or similar rent-all-you-want subscription knows that it opens up a whole new world of video watching. When you're paying a subscription fee you can watch whatever you want without guilt and never feel like you're wasting money. Which is a great incentive to watch bad things with good actors --like this one. Count how many things go wrong and how quickly about this production. You'll be amazed at its internal chaos. You'll realize why Samuel L Jackson never cries onscreen. You'll marvel at how Edie Falco can survive anything. You'll scratch your head wondering why Julianne Moore doesn't give her character any of the traits that she reveals skillfully in late film monologues... Did they write this one as they filmed? Did she not read the scenes before she had to perform them?

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane It's a two disc special edition that we MUST all watch. Why? The commentary track is from two of the most brilliant queer performers of our time Lypsinka and Charles Busch. That sound is the sound of my queer self exploding. For more Baby Jane love you can read this Halloween post or watch my "She's a Bitch" video (if you haven't already seen it a hunnert times)

How Comic Book Films Will Die

I feel like this has been a terrible terrible month for fans of superhero films. First we had the huge disappointment of X-Men: The Last Stand (I thought I'd be over it but it's lazy mediocrity continues to grate), than that hideous Ghost Rider trailer. Seriously who WHO while watching Daredevil and Elektra thought that this man should ever get near another comic book franchise again?

And when did Marvel lose their smarts about how to manage their lucrative properties? They were so handily beating DC at the superhero movie game and then they just started getting sloppy. Any old director, any old comic will do. Just slap it up there on the screen, make another 100 million. Don't they realize that these things have a cumulative effect and the money will be shortlived. Did they not notice that this is how the very successful Superman and Batman franchise died for DC? Didn't they notice that it took 10 years and a director as talented as Chris Nolan to get the Bat franchise out of the dank laughable cave it had carved for itself? And didn't they notice it took millions upon millions of false starts and decades to restore Superman's luster? If in fact that's what has happened. We are assuming that this new one is good. Don't they realize that a sequel to Fantastic Four will be like when they made a sequel to Charlies Angels? If the public thought the first was kinda dumb, they aren't going to get all excited for a second...

So what put this huge stick up my ass? you may be asking, curious about this sudden rant. It was this little tidbit at 'Coming Soon' about the new Spider-Man film. If we learned anything from Batman sequels and X-Men sequels it's this: The more villians and characters you add, the crappier the movies get. These are not Robert Altman movies. Trust me when I tell you that if Robert Altman's characters had superpowers and were required to go through three or four action setpieces in the course of the running time, he'd have the smarts to whittle down the ensemble.

Movies are 90 to 120ish minutes long. They are not television series. Nor are they monthly comic books. These truths ought to be self evident. There's only so much story you can tell. And why waste an audiences first impression of a great comic book character by making it a cameo? Why don't they just get in the pay cable series business instead?

Now, I trust Sam Raimi. He's made two of the best superhero movies ever. I expect the third will be good too. But four villains in Spider-Man 3??? really? The one villian plan worked pretty darn well in the first two movies, didn't it? You got time for all that backstory? Or will this third film be released in installments like Lord of the Rings?

tags: movies, XMen, Comic Books, X-Men, Marvel, film, DC, Box Office, Spiderman, Batman

Book Worm

You will not always find me with head buried in books. In fact, you'll rarely find me this way. I'd rather watch a movie. Nevertheless I am totally in that groove lately. I have read three in quick succession and am looking for my next victim book. So I have a question for you readers. What should I read next? List a book that really amazes you. Paperbacks preferred since they make ideal subway time-passers.

Superman is Sixty-Eight

Superman was born in 1938. He looks damn fine for a sixty-eight year old, don't you agree? I've read several different dates of birth as his actual birthday. At first I was under the impression that it was today, June 1st. But I keep reading different things. From my very limited knowledge of the comic character (never been a big Supes reader) I think February 29th is the character's birthday within the comicbooks. Am I right? wrong? Do you care? I'm hearing differing dates for the official birthday of the character in actuality. May 30th? June 1st? Who knows?

At any rate, Superman Returns flies into theaters on Wednesday, June 28th (two days earlier than planned --which is nice. I like Wednesday openings. They used to be all the rage but seem to have faded in the past few years. So Happy Birthday Supes, whenever that actual day is!


Suggested Super Sites to Search:
Superman Super SiteMany Men of Steel and more...
Superman Homepage news, trivia, comic reviews
Blue Tights Network Production video of the new film and more...
Superdickery Galleries of Superman behaving badly. Funny.
Wikipedia's Superman Page
& two blogs carefully ogling those blue tights for you:
My New Plaid Pants
Towleroad

and a final interesting article to look at:
"The Myth of Superman" from Loonyblog

JUNE !

The movie ends. The lights go up. But we're always having the film experience. Things do happen outside of the cinema (unfortunately) so we filter them through the movies. If the arrival of June has you humming here are some thematically appropriate subjects to fill your next song.

Did you know that June is...


and...


I bet you didn't know that, huh. They always try and cram too much into each month which is why none of these ever get much press on their own. But to give you a fuller picture of June it's also Gay Pride Month (more on that later) and National Dairy Month, Zoo & Aquarium Month, and Turkey Lovers Month.

And finally. It's National Adopt-a-Cat Month. If you love pussycats, please please please consider picking one up. Felines have brought me much joy in my life and they're great pets (much easier than dogs) and you know... you're saving a life. If shelter animals don't find homes they put them to sleep. That's right. If no one wants them, they die...


...and that is almost always a terrible tragic thing.