She Has A Way About Her

On rare occasion, I publicly admit the crush I have on Sarah Jessica Parker. It's well known in my family. I've seen everything she has acted in (more than once), and I dig the kooky way she dresses. Hell, it's a recording of her voice that announces that I have email when I sign on to my server.

My wife enjoys my crush, and even plays along with it from time to time. This isn't only because she feels confident in our relationship...In fact, it's mostly because (1) Parker and I don't run in the same circles, and (2) Mrs. Film Geek's contention that if I did meet Parker in a bar, she wouldn't talk to me.

When I disagree and insist that she would, my wife retorts: "Cool. When you introduce yourself, be sure you tell her you are once-divorced, in your early 40s and have nearly a handful of children. Then, enjoy your whirlwind romance with the movie star."

Disillusionment. It sure sucks.

Which brings me to this article about Christie Brinkley, who is going through divorce number four.

Like many boys I knew, I had posters of Christie Brinkley on my walls during my teen years. (And maybe at least one on my ceiling, if I recall correctly.) I had a huge crush on her, and recall being a bit envious of Billy Joel when they married. She was beautiful, seemed smart and was something of a muse for Joel. Hell, most of his best songs were about her! What more could an artist want outta love?

I can't help but wonder, though, if I would have been less attracted to Brinkley if I had known then (via my obvious psychic powers) that she would marry and divorce so many times. That the muse had a limit, or that she may have baggage that isn't quite so obvious. Like Rush Limbaugh (sorry my neo-con friends, I couldn't resist). And like me, of course. Who knows,...Brinkley and I may share some similarities. (Except that I no longer have super-model legs.) Would knowing her future have made a difference to me at 16?

Nah, probably not.

Fortune Cookie Mysteries: Chapter 4

It's been a long time since I last ate at the Chinese buffet place nearby which, I allege, often tries to pass to me very private and personal messages via fortune cookie. But, Mrs. Film Geek asked me to lunch (and she was paying) so we stopped by there.

Now, I'm not as paranoid as I was the day I wrote this. Or even this. But, I can't help but think something is up when my fortune cookie arrives (sans oranges, by the way, which always upsets me) and reads: "As the purse is empty, the heart is filled."

Huh?

How did these geniuses know in advance that my wife would shell out the $17.35, and that I would be thrilled that the cash wasn't coming out of my pocket.

The mystery continues.

By the way, the lucky numbers are: 4, 46, 8, 27, 3 and 17. As always, play responsibly. Void where prohibited.

I Coulda' Been An Actor, But I Wound Up Here

Got real chops? This on-line data base houses casting call information from across the nation, and lets you plug yourself in to auditions.

I might just give that play Rent a shot...I've been workin' on some new moves.

Norm Was Right!

During his fake news segments at SNL, Norm McDonald loved to say: "Germans love David Hasselhoff." I think this video demonstrates why.

Thanks to my friend Paula for sending this my way. I'm adding it to my favorite places!

Yo! [cough...wheeze] Adrian

Thanks to USA Today's Pop Candy section for this link to YouTube, which provides some sketchy info on a new Rocky movie that will be released late in 2006.

Is there really any interest in one more fight? And, how many "just one more" fights does Sly have in this character, anyway?

Speaking of Sly, just ran across this picture of his ex? What the hell?

Flavor Flav must have put some real hurt on this chick.

Whatever Happened To...Billie Hayes

Billie Hayes is well known to those of us who grew up fascinated by those strange, almost-psychedelic Saturday morning TV shows produced by Sid and Marty Krofft.






Hayes co-starred as Witchipoo in H.R.Pufinstuf during the late 60s and early 70s, and has worked pretty steadily since by doing episodic TV and voice work.






My favorite Billie Hayes role is Weenie the Geenie on Lidsville.

In the middle of the summer, in the middle of the park
There began a great adventure for a boy whose name was Mark.

You remember...

The hat began to grow, and grow and grow and grow...
And...grow!

Mark falls into the giant hat, and into a surreal word he can't escape.

The show starred Butch Patrick (also from The Munsters fame) and Charles Nelson Reilly, but Billie Hayes stole the show each and every week. Her bumbling Weenie kept screwing up, but she had such heart you kept rooting for her.

Shangri La

I took the detour, but never reached the destination...

Inside Man

When I saw Denzel Washington sportin' an odd-looking and unflattering pencil-thin mustache in his role as Detective Keith Frazier, I knew I would like this movie. Denzel does his best work when he doesn't look like a leading man. Muss up the man a bit by giving him a cheap-ass hair-cut and some thrift-store clothes, then stand back and watch the magic. And he delivers magic in Inside Man, which co-stars Clive Owen and is directed by Spike Lee.

Keith Frazier is a less-than-angelic detective who happens to get called in to negotiate the release of hostages being held by Owens' character, Dalton Russell. Russell is a smart bank robber who seems to have devised the perfect crime. Frazier becomes the negotiator by default, because the real negotiator is on vacation. The result is explosive action that is clever and believable. Spike Lee tells a great story in what is one of his more mainstream flicks; this movie isn't typical mainstream, though, in what it delivers. It is smart, inventive, well acted and most importantly, it never sells out. The characters remain true to themselves and the plot throughout.

Inside Man is a terrific movie, one that keeps you interested, makes you think and lets you enjoy some popcorn all at the same time. ***1/2

X-Men: The Last Stand

Despite my offer to see The Devil Wears Prada or Speed 3 with Keanue Reeves and Sandra Bullock (yeah, I know it's really called The Lake House. But, faced with an opportunity to rag on Keanue Reeves, what would you do? What... would... you... do...?), Ms. Film Geek insisted on seeing X-Men: The Last Stand.

I've read X-Men comics since I was a kid, and really enjoyed the first two movies in this series. So, I looked forward to The Last Stand, particularly because it introduces one of my favorite characters, Hank "The Beast" McCoy. As it turns out, The Beast was about the only thing I did like about the movie. While the action scenes were great, the plot lacked depth and the acting seemed phoned in. Even though I was initially excited to see this movie, mid-way in I became bored.

I also found myself obsessed with this realization:




Hank "The Beast" McCoy and I share the same hair-style.

It's sad, but true...

Superman Returns

And does he ever!

I drove nine hours to see Superman Returns. More honestly, I drove nine hours to a south-east beach town for a week, to relax and vacation. But, the beach has a huge multi-plex cinema just a few blocks from where I'm staying. So, I knew well in advance that this week will be catch-up time for movies with stadium-seating, hot, buttered popcorn and over-sized and over-priced sodas.

Oh! And Goobers! My favorite movie snack. But, I digress.

Superman Returns has almost everything I hoped it would have: A promising young star who seems to have connected with the Superman and Kent characters well, and who will be able to carry the franchise in future sequels; special effects so incredible that they make it seem almost normal to watch a guy fly unaided into space, lift airplanes and have bullets bounce off his chest; and a Metropolis that is darker, more brooding than in previous Superman titles. Singer does a wonderful job making Supes more human...an early scene where Clark has a beer with Jimmy Olsen is priceless. Seeing the Big Boy Scout hoist a Bud to his lips as he ponders his future was one of my favorite shots.

Despite producers saying there is no parallel to a Christ-figure in the movie, it seemed to me there clearly is. There is much talk in the flick about Supes being sent to save mankind by example and serve as our leader, and lots of Christian imagery. Supes hears the individual cries of thousands as he hovers in space above the earth, and a scene where he is beaten by his enemies seemed eerily similar to one or two scenes in The Passion Of The Christ. And finally, when Supes saves the planet while taking what might be his final breath, his arms extend into a crucifixion-style pose. I loved the imagery, and thought it added greatly to the mythology.

The acting is above par, save for Kate Bosworth. She seemed way too young to be as accomplished a person and journalist as Lois is supposed to be. Overall, though, Superman Returns in a big, big way! See it in the theater. ***1/2