TCM Remembers 2015.

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No. 74

Happy Birthday, dear John....

"Julia".

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Separated at Birth? U.S. Army PFC Lawrence S. Gordon & Tom Hanks.

U.S. Army PFC Lawrence S. Gordon (top) & Tom Hanks in "Saving Private Ryan". Probably one of the best SAB's I've come up with.

Lawrence Gordon was killed while fighting during WWII. His remains will finally be brought home. Read the story here.

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Happy Birthday, Minnie!

Minnie Driver's birthday was yesterday. I had the good fortune to see her perform three times in Los Angeles in 2009 before I moved back to Wisconsin. Yeah - she sings, writes and performs guitar. One of the best voices I've had the pleasure to hear in years.

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Happy Birthday, Shelley Fabares!

I can't believe she's 70. The only actress to star in three Elvis Presley films (GIRL HAPPY, CLAMBAKE, SPINOUT), singer of the hit single, "Johnny Angel" and numerous TV/film appearances, Shelley is one of my favorites. I really do love her.

Here's Shelley in "Girl Happy". She's the one driving.

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Happy Birthday, Elvis!

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Big fan. I mean, BIG fan, man. Happy Birthday (January 8) to the King! Here's Elvis singing "Memories" . And yes, EP - thanks for the memories...

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"Hellraisers".

Working on my Peter O'Toole impersonation. Listen - “I did quite enjoy the days when one went for a beer at one’s local in Paris and woke up in Corsica.” Pretty good, huh?

Richard Burton. Richard Harris. Peter O'Toole. Oliver Reed. There's no denying the many dysfunctions represented by this lot. There's also no denying the antics & joy one might experience in the company of these men. Or the talent.

"Hellraisers", by Robert Sellers (2011) is on my reading list. Check out a review here.

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TCM Remembers 2013

Lest we forget...

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Separated at Birth? Martin Sixsmith & Trevor Eve.

 

 

The real Martin Sixsmith of the film, Philomena (top) and Brit actor Trevor Eve (Heat of the Sun, mostly British TV and he's excellent).

BONUS! Trevor has a babe for a daughter who's also an actress.

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...the Gal playing Wonder Woman.

Israeli model & actress Gal Gadot will star as Wonder Woman in Batman vs. Superman. Here's the skinny on Gadot.

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Separated at Birth? Colin Farrell & Danny Cipriani.

Farrell (top) and rugby player Cipriani.

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Seymour.

The one, the only...actor Seymour Cassel! Signing poster of our award-winning short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE!

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Happy Birthday, John!

Lennon. John.

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My letter to Miley.

Everyone knows who Miley Cyrus is. And everyone is exploding after her performance on the MTV Video Music Awards the other night. Google it - I'm not gonna post it here. Watch it and you'll understand why the Universe is in an uproar.

I wanted to weigh in with my 2 cents in the form of a letter to Miley. Here it is:

Dear Miley,

I'm an actor/playwright/producer - small-time here in Milwaukee. 48 years old. I spent 12 years in Los Angeles so I'm familiar with "the industry". I'm savvy. And I'm not a prude. The world has seen Elvis, Madonna, Lady Gaga and dozens of other musicians who "shocked" the world in their own way. So your performance on the MTV VMA's is really nothing new - just someone else doing it. I've heard a few of your songs, seen a few clips of your television show, "Hannah Montana", know who your father is, but otherwise I'm not in your target market. However, I was your age once so I "get it". I get marketing and provocation and sex sells and all that shit.

I watched your performance from the VMA's online and I honestly had no issue with what you did  - you know, what everyone's talking about. I've watched the video for "We Can't Stop" so your performance on the VMA's came as no surprise.  Here's what I don't get - how many times do you have to stick your tongue out and simulate sex however many different ways? I'm looking at this now from a producer/director's mindset - theater, you know? When I saw your VMA performance, it was sexy - the song is catchy. But I thought - "overkill" and it drew my attention away from your song, music and your singing. I got bored. I'd seen it all - and I was no longer listening to the words and music.

Again - I'm not in your target market so my opinion holds little weight. I get it - I get "the show". It's a live performance. I know. Cut out half of the tongue wagging and simulated sexual moves and you've lost nothing.

Keep rockin'...

Jeffrey James Ircink

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SEPARATED AT BIRTH? John C. Reilly & ex-MLB'er Bill Moose Skowron.

If you disagree, you're blind.

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Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Ever since Showtime aired THE TUDORS, I've been fascinated with Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, descended from English kings on both sides of his family and condemned to death by Henry VIII on trumped up charges of treason (by the way, I think Henry VIII was a fat fucking asshole).

Anyway, David O'Hara portrayed Henry Howard in THE TUTORS and he was magnificent. After doing some research, I come to find that Howard, along with Sir Thomas Wyatt, are considered the "Fathers of the English Sonnet".

Indeed! Here's one of Howard's sonnets:

"The Means to attain Happy Life"
by Henry Howard (1516 – 1547)

 

Martial, the things that do attain

The happy life be these, I find:—

The richesse left, not got with pain;

The fruitful ground, the quiet mind;

The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;

No charge of rule, nor governance;

Without disease, the healthful life;

The household of continuance;

The mean diet, no delicate fare;

True wisdom join'd with simpleness;

The night dischargèd of all care,

Where wine the wit may not oppress.

The faithful wife, without debate;

Such sleeps as may beguile the night:

Contented with thine own estate

Ne wish for death, ne fear his might.

 

 

Check out my favorite scene with O'Hara as Henry Howard in THE TUDORS. Henry tried to escape from the Tower of London where he was being held on suspician of treason. Begin viewing at the 4:07 mark through the end. These two scenes....they are passionate and if I could be any tragic historical figure it would be Henry Howard.

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Separated at Birth? Grampa Datka & Robert Shaw?

 

 

Grampa Myron Datka (mom's father, top) and actor Robert Shaw (Jaws, A Man for All Seasons, The Sting, and From Russia, With Love).

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Separated at Birth? Bérénice Marlohe & Claudia Cardinale.

 

Come on! They're almost dead-ringers for each other! French-born Marlohe (above) is the newest Bond girl, appearing in the 23rd James Bond film, "Skyfall", due in theaters in November.



 

Italian-born Cardinale was a 60's sex symbol (one of my favorites) whose American films included "The Pink Panther" (1963), and "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977). Cardinale seldom left Europe to make movies, keeping close ties with Italian cinema, including the classic Sergio Leone "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968).

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TGIF! presents..."Suo Gan"!

TGIF! presents...Empire of the Sun & "Suo Gan"! Kick ass movie and kick ass Welsh tune. Christian Bale is beyond his years in this film. I mean....he's incredible.

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Celebs say (and do) the darndest things!

 

If you're still reeling over Clint Eastwood's speech at the Republican National Convention, Clint gave an interview to The Carmel Pine Cone, his local paper in CA, after his now infamous stint at the RNC.

Now - I'm a Clint fan. Always have been. And we have similar politics. He's pro-choice and pro-gay rights. And pretty much a righty on most everything else. Oh - and he supports the arts. Forgot about that one. Anyways, I probably wouldn't have used "the empty chair" or made those couple references about President Obama telling Mitt Romney "to screw himself" (which Clint alluded to but didn't actually say), but that's just me. Aside from those two things (which I really didn't get bent outta shape about), I had no problem with what Eastwood said.

In the interview, he touched on the "method to his madness" (my phrase) regarding his speech. Here are some highlights:

A)  "I had three points I wanted to make...That not everybody in Hollywood is on the left, that Obama has broken a lot of the promises he made when he took office, and that the people should feel free to get rid of any politician who's not doing a good job. But I didn't make up my mind exactly what I was going to say until I said it."

B)  "There was a stool there, and some fella kept asking me if I wanted to sit down...When I saw the stool sitting there, it gave me the idea. I'll just put the stool out there and I'll talk to Mr. Obama and ask him why he didn't keep all of the promises he made to everybody."

C)  As he wrapped up his remarks, he was aware his presentation was "very unorthodox," but that was his intent from the beginning, even if some weren't on board. "They've got this crazy actor who's 82-years-old up there in a suit...I was a mayor, and they're probably thinking I know how to give a speech, but even when I was mayor I never gave speeches. I gave talks."

I know it was on national television which certainly amplified the entire incident. But I would rather have done what Eastwood did on national television than tweet what actor Jason Biggs (AMERICAN PIE) did...something about taking two pinkies and shoving them into Paul Ryan's wife's asshole - and that her asshole was probably bleached. OR what actress Ellen Barkin (TENDER MERCIES, SEA OF LOVE) tweeted - about how she wished Hurricane Isaac would sweep "every pro-life, anti-education, anti-woman, xenophobic, gay-bashing, racist SOB right into the ocean .

Yep. Most definitely.

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