Bill Murray is cool.
Part of what makes him cool is the distance he maintains from the public and the press. Which means no autographs. Which can make him seem rather uncool to some.
Well, look what he did in lieu of an autograph for filmmaker David Walton Smith.
Coolest dude on the planet.
Can’t wait to see what he does in Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson’s new movie that opened yesterday.
Bet it’s cool, too.
Posted in Celebrities, Comedy, Commentary, Education, Humor, Internet, Life, Movies
Tagged autographs, Bill Murray, celebrities, comedy, commentary, cool, David Walton Smith, distance, entertainment, filmmakers, Humor, life, Moonrise Kingdom movie, Movies, Wes Anderson
On my flight today, the proffered movie was Big Miracle, starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski — the whale movie, as you might remember it.
That’s how I did.
I had meant to see it in the theatre, but I tend to shy away from animal movies. Even though I knew this one was positive — it’s based on true events — I hate seeing animals in any potential, dramatized or real trauma.
But I manned up and watched it today. And I was right. They found ways to make the animals — and me — suffer through this supposed feel-good story.
It’s so nice to cry with people you don’t know.
Which made the e-card that popped up in my Facebook feed today all the more timely:
You got that right.
Posted in Airplanes, Animals, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Relationships, Writing
Tagged airplane flight, airplanes, animal movie, animals, animals in trauma, Big Miracle movie, commentary, Drew Barrymore, ecards, entertainment, Facebook, feel-good movie, Humor, inflight movie, John Krasinski, life, movie theatre, Movies, Relationships, Travel, whale movie, whales
What do you do when you’re bored?
I read. Go to the movies or a show. Often just hop online.
Clearly that wouldn’t work for this guy.
Kudos to him for raising money for charity!
I love a good documentary on a Saturday morning.
And First Position, which is currently in theatres and available OnDemand, is great.
The feature film documents the journey of six young ballet dancers as they attempt to qualify and compete in the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City, the most prestigious youth ballet competition in the world.
This contest isn’t just about trophies or medals; it’s serious business. The winning dancers receive full scholarships to top ballet schools and contracts to the most prestigious ballet companies in the world — jobs that are few and far between.
The filmmakers have amazing access to the dancers at home, in the rehearsal studio, and in the wings before, during and after their competition performances. It’s pretty incredible…and no small wonder the documentary was named the audience choice’s first runner up for Best Documentary at the Toronto Film Festival where it premiered.
See? Told you it was great.
Posted in Commentary, dancing, Entertainment, Life, Movies, Television, TV
Tagged audience award, ballet, ballet company, ballet dancers, ballet school, commentary, dance, dance competition, dance contract, dance dance baby, dance scholarship, dancing, documentary, entertainment, filmmakers, First Position movie, illustrator, in the wings, life, Manhattan, medals, movie theatres, Movies, New York City, OnDemand, rehearsal studio, Saturday morning, Television, trophies, TV, Youth America Grand Prix
While catching up on my late night programming this morning, I saw that actor Chris Evans – the guy in the Star Trek remake — was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
I could watch that.
But when I did, it wasn’t Captain Kirk at all. It was Captain America from the new Avengers movie.
I had my superheroes — and my Chrises — all mixed up.
Chris Evans
Chris Pine
In my defense, the two do look a lot a like. They’re even the same age (well, Chris Pine is one year older). And they’ve both been seen on the big screen in a series of lighthearted romantic comedies before they buffed up for their bigger-than-life, save-the-planet roles.
Chris Evans was in The Nanny Diaries with his current Avengers co-star Scarlett Johansson (shown at left), and in What’s Your Number? with funny lady Anna Faris.
In his early days, Chris Pine romanced Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries 2 and Lindsay Lohan in Just My Luck.
There’s a title for ya.
But seriously — would you have known the difference if I hadn’t given you a primer? I mean, would you? Really?
(Say no. I need reassurance that my synapses are firing correctly.)
Posted in Celebrities, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Television, TV
Tagged Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Captain America, Captain Kirk, celebrities, chris evans, chris pine, commentary, DVR, entertainment, Humor, Just My Luck, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, life, Lindsay Lohan, Movies, Princess Diaries 2, romantic comdies, save the planet, Scarlett Johansson, Star Trek, superheroes, Television, The Avengers, The Nanny Diaries, TV, What's Your Number?
I love watching movies on the big screen. Many of my friends prefer to stay at home.
Price is only one factor.
They hate having their movie ruined by chattering, texting, rude people in the theatre.
Let’s face it — it happens more often than not.
And it might be getting a lot worse.
At a recent CinemaCon panel in Las Vegas, movie executives from Regal and IMAX chains said they both had discussed allowing texting during movie screenings to make the experience more interactive for younger viewers.
NO.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
It’s bad enough already, with cellphones randomly lighting up the theatre and distracting your eye from the screen. Imagine what it would look like if they were on throughout the film. The incessant clicking. The chatter as people shared text messages.
If movie executives want to lose customers, it’s the perfect business model.
Text them that.
Posted in Business, Commentary, Entertainment, Life, Movies, Technology
Tagged Business, CinemaCon, commentary, entertainment, IMAX, interactive movies, Las Vegas, life, movie chains, movie theatre, Movies, Regal Cinemas, technology, text messages, texting in the movies, the big screen
Over drinks in Dallas last night, my friend Karen asked who were my favorite young actors in Hollywood. Easy question for a girl who spends most weekends at the theatre, right?
I drew a blank.
I mean, I could name one or two…but a Top Ten? That required more sober consideration.
So now I present — in no particular order (because that makes my brain hurt) — my Young-ish Actors Hall of Fame;
Actually, now that I look at it, the first three on the list — Gosling, Fassbender and McAvoy — would be my Top Three. As in I will see them in anything they do. And am rarely disappointed.
So, there you go, Karen.
Next question?
I met another celeb in the neighborhood yesterday. Or I should say, Rory did.
I wasn’t the one getting a belly rub in the middle of the afternoon.
Bob Balaban was getting food for his daughter’s dachshund Elliot when Rory and I chanced to meet him at the pet store. As always, Rory’s color and indeterminate breeding prompted questions and, before I knew it, Bob and Rory were sitting on the floor together.
I meet the nicest folks when I hang out with my boy.
With his travel schedule, Bob said having a dog isn’t an option.
Well, Bob, consider yourself Rory Dog’s official uncle. It’s just a small way of saying ‘thank you’ for being so nice.
(And for Best in Show, Gosford Park, Friends, and Waiting for Guffmann, to name a few.)
Posted in Animals, Celebrities, Dogs, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Walking
Tagged animals, belly rub, Best in Show movie, Bob Balaban, celebrities, dachshund, dog breed, Dogs, entertainment, Friends tv show, Gosford Park movie, Humor, life, Manhattan, meet cute, Movies, New York City, pet store, Television, uncle, Waiting for Guffman movie, walking
If you’re looking for the first robins of spring where you live…
They’re all in Central Park.
I noticed a large gathering of robins on the Great Lawn when I was walking Rory this morning. They were spaced out in an almost geometric pattern, standing very still.
It looked much like the start of some sci-fi films, just before the aliens land…or creatures burst through the earth after being buried in pods for centuries.
Perhaps they were exhibiting the bird behavior that mathematician John Nash studied as a student at Princeton, which was dramatized in the movie A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe.
Of course, there is one other reason the birds could have been standing there on the Great Lawn in the early morning –
Breakfast.
Posted in Animals, Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Philosophy, Travel, Weather
Tagged A Beautiful Mind movie, alien invasion, alien pod, animals, bird brain, bird theory, birds, celebrities, Central Park, commentary, creature from the deep, entertainment, Great Lawn, Humor, life, Manhattan, Movies, New York City, philosophy, Princeton University, robins, Russell Crowe, sci-fi movies, science, spring, Travel, walking the dog
An extra day
I was excited this morning to have an extra day.
To go to the movies. To do a little shopping. To relax in Central Park with my dog. To just ‘be’ before the demands of the work week begin yet again.
Then I remembered why I have this day. Why I am free to spend it as I choose. And who defends my right to make that choice today…and every day.
On Memorial Day, I am remembering those who have served — and who still serve — to keep us free.
Thank you.
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Posted in Commentary, History, Holiday, Life, Love
Tagged an extra day, Central Park, commentary, freedom, history, Holiday, life, live as I choose, Memorial Day, military, Movies, shopping, those we serve, work week