Movies and Celebrity Lens

What's Going on in Hollywood? 

Hot Air

As I stated above this first link will take you to an article that explains the outrage a certain individual in Hollywood is feeling against the New York Governor repealing a 35% tax cut for films shot in the Big Apple. Well, that hit a nerve.

They don't make them like they use to! 

Write about it! (My Blog)

Write about it!

I am referring to movies and the way they are done now compared to the way they were done back in the day. I am not a total throw-back, but in my opinion there is just no comparison between the actors and actresses of the time of say, the 40's, 50's, and 60's and today, and the way they go about their craft.

If you need examples or you want me to be more specific and give exact comparisons that would be my pleasure. All my references can and are found at Internet Movie Database (IMDB). My comparisons will be child stars, and I will start with Elizabeth Taylor, and the movie would be National Velvet. She was phenomenal in that movie, from the smiles to the tears to the feeling in which she put into that part at 12 years of age. The year before that she stared in Lassie come home. By 1958 she had been nominated for her first Oscar; the first of five, with two wins in 1961 and 67.

No, I am not going to talk next about Shirley Temple, though I should. I am going to talk about Jodie Foster and her incredible body of work in The Taxi Driver. And did you know Foster did the original Freaky Friday? Well, neither did I; so we do learn something new every day don't we.But that isn't all she did is it? She was brilliant in The Accused also. Did I fail to mention Jodie won Mr. Oscar for The Accused (89) and for one more movie that happens to be one of the most popular movies of all time. Yeah, you know which one it is, and it stars another one of my favorites, but he is not what this blog is about; The Silence of the Lambs (92) was with out a doubt one of her best performances along with Nell, and Stealing Home. She was great in Contact. Her nominations include Taxi Driver in 76, and Nell in 94.

Here is one that I believe will blow you away as it did me; Kurt Russell, who most people know got his big start with Disney. Russel began acting at the age of nine, and did both TV and Disney. But get this, he did TV in the late 50's in a show called Sugarfoot. But that wasn't all; he was all over the tube in some very popular shows of the day and even had his own series on ABC called "The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters" from 1963-1964.

Russel then went on to do a variety of things like "Giligan's Island" in 1965, and "Lost in Space" in 1966. The list goes on and on, but he really caught on with people my age (at the time) doing Disney Movies like The Computer wore Tennis shoes,(1969) Now you see him, Now you don't,(1972) and The strongest man in the world. (1975) All three movies were about the escapades of a man named Dexter Riley.

One of the funniest movies I ever saw was with Kurt Russel, and called "Used Cars." It was a very underrated movie at the time, as was "Big trouble in little China." The latter was directed by John Carpenter, the former by Robert Zemeckis. Later on in the 90's it was Backdraft, Stargate, and you know the one with Sly Stallone that was bad but good. Kurt Russell only gets better with age. In the 21st century he is Steve Stronghold.

Are there other actors and actresses out there that are good at their craft like those that I listed here? Of course there are, and most assuredly there are those I missed that started as children, but as you can see the ones I selected began their careers way back when and for the most part, stayed out of trouble as children and young adults. They may have had their issues as adults, but then again who doesn't. The very nature of their work makes it impossible to keep their personal lives private. So every little thing that happens makes the news, but they still managed to stay out of trouble by and large.

As for Liz Taylor, she was so absolutely gorgeous that I'm sure she had her pick and in those days the media was not the tell all it is today. So what ever happened didn't always make the tabloids until she was much older. I am not a tabloid either.

Up & Coming! 

Whats in the works, or around the corner?

Transformers: Revenge of the fallen

Everyone has been waiting for this movie... okay, well almost everyone. But the chemistry between Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf on screen was unmistakable. The entire cast, really, was just excellent and I for one am happy to see Isabel Lucas, is back as Alice. Not returning are Anthony Anderson as Glen Whitman and Jon Voight as Defense Secretary John Kellar.

Fast & The Furious (2009)

Brian O'Conner Paul Walker teams up with Dominic Toretto Vin Diesel to work with the feds in order to bring down a heroin importer by (how else?) infiltrating his operation. Also staring Michelle Rodriguez.

Part of this excerpt was taken from IMDB; click on the link for further information, photos, etc.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

With Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans. An elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit, takes on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.

Excerpt taken from IMDb; click the link now for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot...

Star Trek :: Official Site

There are those who have had enough of the Star Trek universe. Then again, many can't get enough. They are all over every new TV series spun off of the original or, in the case of Deep Space Nine, spun off a remake of the original.

Either way, if you are a Star Trek fan, you can't help but be at least interested in the new Star Trek Movie.

The Western Genre! 

As only John Wayne could it.

The Searchers (1956)

John Wayne's performance in The Searchers should have earned him his first Oscar. Of that there is no doubt, no discussion, end of story, that's it, period! Have I made my opinion on this matter a little to obvious? In most things I try to be objective in my opinions when telling others about something, because I don't like to skew their view of the thing, but this is just too damn obvious.

This akin to Cal Ripken Jr. being voted into the Hall of fame. What moron writer voted not to allow him in on his first year of eligibility because he thinks no one is that good? Please! But that is another article.

This movie was directed by John Ford. With John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles. As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable...

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

Directed by Henry Hathaway. With John Wayne, Dean Martin, Martha Hyer. Ranch owner Katie Elder's four sons determine to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers,

True Grit (1969)

Directed by Henry Hathaway. With John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby. A drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger help a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer in Indian territory. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, T

Rio Lobo (1970)

Directed by Howard Hawks. With John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O'Neill. After the Civil War, Cord McNally searches for the traitor whose perfidy caused the defeat of McNally's unit and the loss of a close friend. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discu

Rooster Cogburn (1975)

Directed by Stuart Millar. With John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Zerbe. Marshal Rooster Cogburn unwillingly teams up with Eula Goodnight to track down the killers of her father. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Post

More Great John Wayne Movies 

Angel and the Badman (1947)

You might be saying; "What is this movie doing down here?"
Well I'll tell you. I just saw it recently: January 17, 2009. That's right, I have had this DVD in my case and haven't even had the decency to open it. I was horrified when I noticed it just sitting there mocking me.

Anyway, that line where Wayne tells the gorgeous Gail Russell "I'm a cautious citizen," was priceless.

Directed by James Edward Grant. With John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey.

The Green Berets (1968)

I remember seeing this movie as a youngster with my dad. I don't pretend to know what was going on on the screen. Vietnam to me was this gigantic thing going on in the world that only affected grownups; you know how kids are at 12 or 13.

But the fact that Wayne did this movie at that height and fierceness of the war and antiwar efforts going on around the country speaks volumes about the man and his character.

Directed by Ray Kellogg, John Wayne. With John Wayne, David Janssen, Jim Hutton. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Posters, Fan Sites

The Cowboys (1972)

This was one of the most tear-jerkier (is that even a word?) I've seen Wayne in. He was great in True grit and deserved his Oscar absolutely, but his performance in The Cowboys with those kids, I thought, deserved a nod at least.

Directed by Mark Rydell. With John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Posters, Fan Sites

Clint's Spagetti Westerns. 

As only Clint could do them.

Per un pugno di dollari (1964)

Directed by Sergio Leone. With Clint Eastwood, Marianne Koch, Gian Maria Volontè. A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Tag

Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)

Directed by Sergio Leone. With Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volontè. Two bounty hunters with completely different intentions team up to track down a Western outlaw. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Poste

Buono, il brutto, il cattivo., Il (1966)

Directed by Sergio Leone. With Eli Wallach, Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef. A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discuss

Dirty Harry (1971)

Directed by Don Siegel. With Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni. A San Francisco cop with little regard for rules (but who always gets results) tries to track down a serial killer who snipes at random victims. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, D

Magnum Force (1973)

Directed by Ted Post. With Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Mitch Ryan. Dirty Harry is on the trail of vigilante cops who are not above going beyond the law to kill the city's undesirables. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, P

The Enforcer (1976/I)

Directed by James Fargo. With Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Harry Guardino. Dirty Harry must foil a terrorist organization made up of disgruntled Vietnam veterans. But this time, he's teamed with a rookie female partner that he's not too excited to be working with. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cas

Sudden Impact (1983) (Director/Actor)

Directed by Clint Eastwood. With Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle. A rape victim is exacting revenge on her agressors in a small town outside San Francisco. Dirty Harry, on suspension for angering his superiors (again), is assigned to the case. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, R

The Dead Pool (1988)

Directed by Buddy Van Horn. With Clint Eastwood, Patricia Clarkson, Liam Neeson. Dirty Harry Callahan must stop a sick secret contest to murder local celebrities, which includes himself as a target. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines,

Unforgiven (1992) (Director/Actor)

Directed by Clint Eastwood. With Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman. Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner and a young man.

Eastwood won an Oscar for Best Director, and was nominated for best actor. Unforgiven got the nod for best picture, and Gene Hackman received yet another Oscar for his usual outstanding work; this time in a supporting role.

Flags of Our Fathers (2006) (Director)

Directed by Clint Eastwood. With Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach. The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Posters

Gran Torino (2008)

Directed by Clint Eastwood. With Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang. Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Review

Adam Sandler 

The Funny Man

No body, and I mean, No Body does movies like Adam Sandler. Thats not to say there aren't better directors, or better writers. I'm talking about the total package; the writing, acting, and delivery that only Sandler can pull off. I can't think of another actor who can pull off the yell that Sandler does..."Alright"

The Waterboy (1998)

Sandler really knows how to lay the lumber in this wacky, yet pretty good flick about a mamma's boy turned foozball player.

Directed by Frank Coraci. With Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Fairuza Balk. A football team water boy discovers he has a unique tackling ability and becomes a member of the team. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Posters, Fan

Happy Gilmore (1996)

What a great scene with Gilmore getting his butt kicked by Bob Barker.

Directed by Dennis Dugan. With Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen. A rejected hockey player puts his skills to the golf course to save his grandmother's house. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trailers, Posters, Fan Si

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. With Adam Sandler, Jason Andrews, Don McManus. A beleaguered small-business owner gets a harmonium and embarks on a romantic journey with a mysterious woman. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Traile

Reign Over Me (2007)

Directed by Mike Binder. With Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith. A man who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief. Visit IMDb for P

Mr. Deeds (2002)

Directed by Steven Brill. With Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, John Turturro. A sweet-natured, small-town guy inherits a controlling stake in a media conglomerate and begins to do business his way. Visit IMDb for Photos, Showtimes, Cast, Crew, Reviews, Plot Summary, Comments, Discussions, Taglines, Trai

100 Greatest Movie Performances of All Time 

by: Premiere Magazine

100 Greatest Movie Performances of All Time

At the site you will find the listings of the top 100 movie performances of all time. By clicking subsequent links you'll find other top 100 listings to your liking as well.

100 Movie Characters of All-Time

Movie characters that are played well by actors and actresses make an impression on us that remain with us for life. For me, it was Yul Brenner as King Mongkut in the King and I, which I saw both live in Boston some time in the 80's, and on TV.

100 Best Female Character Roles

For many years in Hollywood women did not get the credit they deserved for the work they did. Oh, they got the Oscars, but not much in way of actual esteem as their male counterparts did.

One of the most memorable performances that I can think of is Hattie McDaniel, as Mammy from Gone With the Wind. She may have gotten the esteem she deserved as the first black woman to be nominated and win an Oscar, but I honestly believe she was vastly underrated as an actress because she was first black and second, a woman.