In This Corner...

You know the bell is about to ring, and these two middle-weights will come out slugging. Place your bets now:


The Challenger:


Vs. The Champion:
Star may have youthful energy, but Barbara is the wiley veteran. It's gonna be a war.

The Times They Ain't A-Changin' That Much

I'm about five turns through the latest Dixie Chicks album, Taking The Long Way. While I'm not generally a fan of country music, this album seems so personal and introspective that I'm rather obsessively drawn to it. Track 14, I Hope is far-and-away my favorite. The song balances worries about some of today's obvious social and political concerns with an optimism about the future.

I wouldn't categorize any of the songs from Taking The Long Way as real protest songs, even though it contains an obvious undertone, and several political messages. Some of my favorite songs are songs of protest, whether the protest is about politics or worries about a changing society. Classics such as those that Dylan and Joan Baez wrote and sang used to move me, as did songs by Arlo Guthrie. Hotel California and The Long Run by The Eagles commented on the dramatic societal changes taking place in America during the late 70s, and speculated on our move toward a more selfish, materialistic lifstyle. Those themes made me like the records for more than just Joe Walsh's wailing guitar.

Seems protest songs are in vogue again, fueled mostly by artists who believe the US government has blundered or squandered many of it's attempts to answer the tragic events of the last several years. The movement can't be ignored: Green Day scored a critical and popular hit with American Idiot; Pearl Jam is back on top with World Wide Suicide; and iconic artists like Neil Young are writing inspired lyrics.

Throughout our history political and social issues have served as muse for great artists. The current wave seems so popular, though, that one can't help but speculate that it represents an increasing and mainstream uneasiness in America.

Centennial

Earlier this week, when I popped onto Blogger to write something about Oprah, or a Backstreet kid or some other sort of nonsense, I saw on Dashboard the number "99." My next post--this one, in fact--would be number 100.

Compared to some of the folks on my "Blogs I Like To Read" list, 100 posts ain't that many. Some have been writing for several years; others have just been quite prolific in a shorter period of time. For me, however--a guy who used to write a political and issues-driven blog that my best friends and family refused to read (even when I begged them)-- 100 posts is a real milestone.

Milestones are checkpoints, places to pause for a brief second and gauge the road ahead. Will I be able to write as honestly as him? Can I be as genuine and authentic as they seem to be? When the hell will the words and phrases flow more fluidly, like they seem to do for him and her. Will my dry humor come off correctly in type, like it seems to do so easily here? And here.

So, it's with sincere appreciation that I thank those of you who pop onto The Film Geek frequently, and those who take the time to comment about something I've posted. I've learned a lot, and laughed a lot. I've been inspired. Mostly, though, I've enjoyed making the new connections and relationships that have occurred because of this strange, narcissistic cyber journal.

Now, gotta go find me some Oprah news...

He Can Leap A Tall What?

For those interested, here is a review of the new Superman Returns, from USA Today.

For a lot of fun reading about the movie, and how the flick is geeking folks up, check out Superman Week at Fried Rice Thoughts.

Update: And for continued Super fun, check this out.

Please, Don't Let This Be A Dream

When you've made a career (and millions of dollars) out of passing public judgment on others, karma can sure be a bitch.

Update: Apparently the Chicago Tribune requires registration, which I didn't realize at the time I added the link. Here is the story, from tonight's online edition.

Limbaugh detained at Palm Beach airport

The Associated Press
Published June 26, 2006, 9:12 PM CDT


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Rush Limbaugh was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities said they found a bottle of Viagra in his possession without a prescription.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement examined the 55-year-old radio commentator's luggage after his private plane landed at the airport around 2 p.m. from the Dominican Republic, said Paul Miller, spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

ICE officials found a prescription bottle labeled as Viagra, a drug that treats erectile dysfunction, in his luggage, Miller said.

"The problem was that on the bottle itself was not his name, but the name of two Florida doctors," Miller said.

"He said he had the Viagra in his possession for his use and that he did obtain it from his doctors," Miller said.

Investigators confiscated the drugs, and Limbaugh was released around 5:30 p.m. without being charged.

The sheriff's office plans to file a report with the state attorney's office.

"We believe there may be a second-degree misdemeanor violation, which is possession of certain drugs without a prescription, because the bottle does not have his name on it," Miller said.

A doctor had prescribed the drug, but it was "labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes," Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, said in a statement.

Bye, Bye, Bye

Kevin Richardson has left the Backstreet Boys, after spending more than a decade with the band. The Backstreet Boys have recorded three studio albums, and sold more than 35 million CDs.


Apparently, Kevin has a better gig to pursue.

Might as well draft up a "Whatever Happened To..." post, just to make sure it's ready.

Syriana

I love a good conspiracy. While I wouldn't categorize myself as a conspiracy theorist (and what mostly-clear thinking, self-respecting conspiracy theorist would?), I tend to be a tad skeptical of people and their motivations. Which, of course, is a process of thinking that lends itself to believing--or at least not immediately dismissing--conspiracies.

Think more people than Lee Oswald conspired to assassinate JFK? Maybe.

President Truman established Majestic 12 after the Roswell crash? Well...I dunno 'bout that.

Current President Bush and his administration lied to the American people in order to get us into Iraq to satisfy political and economic desires? Hell, yeah!

Syriana shines a very bright light on the intermingling of government and big business. The movie shows how, without many citizens being aware, the two are so intertwined that the policies of one affects the other. The results change global dynamics, cultural norms and the everyday lives of individuals.

The story of Syriana is difficult to follow. The pacing is slow and the acting seems minimalistic. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the way through I looked at my wife and asked: "Any of this making sense to you?" Not much was, which worried me. Mrs. Film Geek is a whole lot smarter than I am.

Not long after that comment, we began to figure out that the film seemed disjointed because it is staying true to how similar events are carried out in real life. Governments, businesses and even people who are connected do not always know they are. More often than not, we know nothing at all about the domino effects that influence our lives. Governments adopt polices, businesses merge, kings come and go; how those happenings are influenced--and how those happenings influence the daily lives of people across the globe--is the real theme of Syriana.

I think.

How Many Directors Does It Take To...

EW Online has this cool interview with Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez regarding their upcoming joint venture, Grind House.

Whether he was directing or writing, I really dug Tarantino's innovative story narratives from his early movies, especially Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and True Romance. Since Jackie Brown, though, I haven't been much of a fan. Something feels gimmicky to me about his work since the mid-90s.

I'm a big fan of the visual way in which Rodriguez tells a story. Sin City was brilliant, I thought, and I really liked the early Spy Kids flicks. I may be the only person in America over the age of 17 who liked The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl.

Grind House sounds like it may be a winner when it's released in 2007.

Tori's Father Was Famous?

Richard Stahl, and now Aaron Spelling; seems I'm gonna be able to test my grandmother-in-law's theory about celebrity deaths occurring in groups of three...

There is no doubt that Spelling was a television pioneer and a genius of, well, some sort. I'm not sure if it was marketing, story development, production or what. But he had vision, and television execs and American culture hooked up to his vision for a long and successful ride.

My favorite Spelling production was The Boy In The Plastic Bubble. I'm not sure why, but the TV movie, which starred John Travolta and then-fiance Diana Hyland, really made an impression on me. I remember watching it with my mother, and being blown-away that something like the movie's premise could really be happening to a real person. The Boy and Aaron Spelling really kicked off the whole movie-of-the-week genre. (Which could be a good or a bad thing, considering.)

Whatever Happened To...Robert Romanus

Fast Times At Ridgemont High was an instant hit when it was released in 1982. Although the tag line read: "A story of a group of California teenagers who enjoy malls, sex and rock n' roll," Fast Times was much more than that. It was a coming-of-age film for kids like me who were struggling with authority, transitioning into adulthood and learning about relationships.

The film launched or solidified the careers of lots of actors, including Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Forest Whitaker and Phoebe Cates. It helped resurrect the career of Ray Walston.

But, whatever happened to Robert Romanus?

Mike Damone, as played by Romanus, came across as slick and street-wise, but he was really a poser. Insecure and afraid (but pretending not to be), I identified with Mike Damone more than any other Fast Times character.

Romanus went on to do lots of TV guest spots, some soap work and a couple of failed TV series pilots. Although he has worked steadily, it seems he never met the critical or popular success of Fast Times At Ridgemont High.