Movies I've Seen...
Oscar winning costume designer Eiko Ishioka passed away at the age of 73.
I am the least fashion savvy person but I love the idea of fashion of art and her work embodied that notion. Her designs were vibrant masterpieces that were a beautiful mish mash of cultural influences. She was one of a kind and it’s no wonder that she collaborated with other visionaries such as directors Tarsem Singh and Julie Taymor and singers Grace Jones and Bjork.
Eiko wasn’t just a costume designer, she was also a production designer fully involved with the film shoots and use of her creations.
On the set of “Immortals”
Eiko’s other work
”Immortals”
”The Cell”
“Bram Stoker’s Dracula”
“The Fall”
“Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark”
Thankfully her work will be once more on display in Tarsem’s upcoming “Mirror Mirror”.
“Mirror Mirror”
b>Red Tails
The long gestating film about a squadron of Tuskegee airmen, the first all Black military (not the Tuskegee experiment. That’s a whole other thing.) whose Colonel (Terrence Howard) secures them an opportunity to actually face combat in Italy and prove their worth to a military that believes that wants to shut their squadron down due to their belief that Black soldiers are not as qualified as White soldiers.
The film though heavily promoted by George Lucas, executive producer, is directed by Anthony Hemingway (“Treme”, “The Wire” and the genius zombie-esque episode of “Community”). Too bad the film isn’t as good as that “Community” episode. IMO.
I will readily admit that my main issue with the film is a tonal issue. Obviously the labor of love from Lucas who was born of a certain generation and likely loves war movies of that era, “Red Tails” plays like an homage to the war movies of the 50s. The characters and the actor’s actions are exaggerated like those of the actors of the fifties who were stage and radio actors and needed to be bigger to convey themselves. If unaware of how it is miming old war films, one would think that the acting was plain bad. Keeping that in mind I gave the film serious leeway.
Until it came to the writing.
Lucas has been trying to get this film made since 1988. Writer/Director Kevin Sullivan gave the script a first pass in the 90s, but it was scrapped. In 2007 writer/comedian John Ridley was hired and the script was punched up in pre-production by Aaron McGruder creator/writer of the comics and series “The Boondocks”. Even under the guise of a 1950’s war film the writing was laughably bad with scenarios you could see coming fifty miles away without binoculars or a scope and characters who drop in and out of importance. There was one character that reminded me of the guy in the film “Summer School”. The one who leaves to go to the bathroom at the beginning and only turns up at the end to take the test. I swear there were moments where I was like, ‘Who is that? He’s…wait…he’s still here? Where has he been?”
So you have the questionable acting, bad writing and then the directing. Once again this was a throwback to an era where FX were not as impressive as they are now. Therefore you have scenes that look like stagehands were rocking the fake cockpits back and forth.
But it wasn’t all bad. I think the casting was great for the most part. David Oyelowo (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”) as the hot shot "Lightning" Little certainly kept up the style of acting that you see in older war films; Nate Parker as Easy, the steady leader of the squadron who is battling his demons, Tristan Wilds as “Junior”, the youngest of the group who is fighting to prove his skills and maturity. Elijah Kelley (“Hairspray: The Movie Musical”) and singer Ne-Yo provided the lighter moments as Joker and Samuel, the two carefree pilots.
I may see it again to see if it's better in my mind now that I accept it as an homage.
The Men of Red Tails
The cast on location. Leslie Odom, Michael B. Jordan, Elijah Kelley and Tristan Wilds
There was also a White House screening for the President, the First Lady and surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
The cast on their way there in Lucas' private plane
George Lucas, his daughter and girlfriend Mellody Hobson
Cuba and Terrence get close at the premiere
No shirtless Tristan in the film, darn it!
Marcus Paulk. He's come along way since "Moesha"
marcus paulk
Method Man. Love him, but he was terrible in this.
*In talking about the film with someone, he said that he'd love to see a film about Henry Johnson.
I didn't know who he was and the guy told me the amazing story of Johnson. Johnson, was a 5'4, 130 soldier whose job, like alot of black soldiers at the time, was to clean latrines. The French needed soldiers so the US gave France the Black soldiers; specifically the Harlem Hellcats. Johnson was stationed in Germany and under attack by invading soldiers pretty much single handedly killed eight German soldiers. And that's just the beginning of his tale..
Mediocre or not, it's great that the media depicts the long history of African Americans in the military fighting for a nation that did them no favors at that time.
*This clip from Dr. Henry Louis Gates' series "African American Lives" where Chris Rock discovers that his ancestor was a freed slave who enlisted in the military gets me every time.
This Means War
I’ve been waiting for this film since ONTD began inundating its members with almost daily candids from the shoot. Then this video of Tom Hardy and the film’s director McG taking a paintball hit to the bum.
It has felt like this film has been a long time coming. And since I will watch Tom Hardy in anything (I recently watched “Star Trek: Nemesis”. That’s love.), I watched this film which is a souped up romantic comedy. And I hate romantic comedies.
“This Means War” centers on spies and BFFs Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine). Tuck, a divorcee whose marriage ended because he never told his wife what he really did for a living, thus alienating her and his son, is longing for a relationship. FDR, on the other hand, is cocky, flirtatious and always on the make and doesn’t believe in love.
Enter Lauren (Reese Witherspoon). After a run-in with her ex-boyfriend and his fiancee, Lauren’s best friend Trish (Chelsea Handler) creates an online dating profile for her. Soon Lauren ends up dating Tuck and unbeknownst to her, his best friend FDR.
The two men find out and decide to keep their connection a secret, while they both try to win Lauren’s affections.
Then there’s a storyline about a killer (Til Schweiger) who is looking for Tuck and FDR. But that’s such an afterthought.
Rom-coms aren’t for me, but this movie, as predictable as it is, did have its moments. I can see why Reese Witherspoon is a rom-com darling. She’s very accessible and relatable (she has a ginormous forehead like me!). Chris Pine was perfect channeling his inner Ryan Reynolds: charming and smarmy all at once (who would’ve been perfec for this role. Originally Bradley Cooper had the role, but dropped out. Tom replaced Sam Worthington). Tom is great, as Tuck: the gentle gentleman in his daily life but at work, kick ass spy; but IMO the way he does comedy is very broad. Take any scene from “Scenes of a Sexual Nature” and you get a gist of his performance in “This Means War”.
It’s not bad at all, just broader than what the film calls for.
But you don’t think of that because when Tom is onscreen you just think…
On the upside, McG’s style of stylish, over-the-top shots makes up for what is a derivative film. But the audience really was into it. They really loved Chelsea Handler’s Trish whose diatribes about sex has caused the film to be rated R. According to whichever site you read, Fox has now decided to make edits to the film so that it can get a PG13. I think there was more edited out because Angela Bassett has less to do in this film than she did in "Green Lantern" and actor/comedian Affion Crockett is seen in the background of one scene and even got a credit, but he has no real scene. And Laura (Kara) Vandervoort has a scene. At the time was rumored that she was dating Chris Pine.
*I’m awaiting interviews with the cast for the film. Empire has interviewed Reese and Chris Pine who offer these gems.
Reese: ''We shot endings where I could end up with Tom, or I could end up with Chris, or I could end up alone. Or I could end up with Chelsea Handler!''
Chris: "We shot [an ending] where Tom and I could end up together. It's a very progressive film."
Reese on her costars shoe fetish: “''Tom and Chris were both obsessed with my shoes. Both of them! Obsessed with me wearing high-heeled sexy shoes. I was actually doing a sex scene with Chris and he said, 'Can you keep your shoes on?' I was like, 'OK,'.''
Chris on Tom: “But, man, is he a hell of an actor. I don’t need to tell anyone this, but he’s going to be around for a long time. He’s already been around for a long time, but he’s going to explode. He’s just tremendous.
Chris on their rivalry: “It's like being in the schoolyard: a beautiful girl and two red-blooded guys. It was basically a constant flirt-off - who could charm Reese and make her laugh the most ... Tom won on the accent and lips front.
“You’re damn right”
I won on eyebrows and self-deprecation. Ladies love the accent and I'm not packing any heat in that department. There'd be no shame losing to Tom. If I had to lose to anyone, it's fine if I lose to Tom Hardy. Of course, that would never happen. Ever."
**I have to admit Chris looked good in the film. His legs don’t even look like toothpicks anymore and his facial pockmarks weren’t even noticeable.
Man on a Ledge
This is the kind of divisive film that makes people not trust critics. The audience response was bananas: people were cheering, clapping, saying “yeah!”…they were really into this film. I loved it. I was literally on the edge of my seat, but the critics are panning it like mad (propelling the studio behind the film Lionsgate-Summit to offer tickets for 2 for 1 through Living Socal. They’re doing the same for the Katherine Heigl film “One for the Money”). It’s not Oscar fodder, it’s not a high concept action film, it doesn’t propose to be anything but an entertaining film and IMO it succeeds.
In the vein of “The Negotiator” and “Inside Man”, “Man on a Ledge” stars Sam Worthington (who has yet to conquer that not-sounding-Australian thing) stars as Nick Cassidy, a disgraced cop who escapes from jail and hopes to prove his innocence after being imprisoned for stealing from Trump in Disguise mulit-millionaire David Englander (Ed Harris who looks really frail like the preacher from “Poltergeist 2”). He takes to a ledge for to get the media’s attention, but with the police negotiators on the scene (Elizabeth Banks and Ed Burns who could pass for Brian William’s brother), it seems Nick has more than suicide on his mind.
Director Asper Leth, Kyra Sedgewick, Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie, y so gorgeous?
Still of his upcoming film “The Gangster Squad
*And why so funny? Here’s Anthony talking about his “Gangter Squad” and “Half-Nelson” costar Ryan Gosling and assorted other things.
Interviewer:Screen Rant: I hope you can understand me. I’ve got a bit of a cold.
Anthony Mackie: “A cold? Gotta put some tussin’ on that.”
(dawnybee if you don’t know what ‘tussin is, watch this Chris Rock clip)
On casting a “Lethal Weapon” remake
Anthony:”When I think of a young hot head who’s full of hot air I think of Chris Evans. Isn’t he a guy you just want to smack around? (Laughing) “I just want to beat him up. I don’t want to smack him around.”
Anthony ”I found working with Ryan Gosling to be delicious…He’s turned into a hot fudge Sundae since I worked with him the last time. He is just a delectable treat that every woman should enjoy to the fullest.”
Interviewer: So if he’s a hot fudge Sundae now, what was he before? Pinkberry?
Anthony “He was like Baskin Robbins before, and how he’s Haagen Daz you know what I mean? He’s like savory crafted ice-cream now. If you like supremely intelligent, well rounded, well sculpted, God of a Greek God handsomely beautiful guys who are really talented and able to do anything they want in the world, I think you should like Ryan Gosling.”
Interviewer:(Laughing) Did you see Crazy, Stupid, Love?
Anthony: “No, I’m straight.”
At the premiere of “Man on a Ledge”, he once again praises Gosling.
"He is the most delicious little petit four I could ever experience in my life. I love him, little vanilla mocha fudge blossom he is." (on if there’s a bromance brewing) "No, no, no - we’re grown-men status. He’s just so cute I want to hug him all the time."
I was disappointed that the trailer gives away a lot of stuff, but it was understandable because you can’t sell a film about a man on the ledge and let people think it’s just about a man….on a ledge.
Jamie Bell costars in the film as Sam’s brother who along with his girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez who looks like Charisma Carpenter but with an even more banging body) are the key to securing Nick’s freedom. Jamie will soon be off the market, all you ladies who wanted to tap that “Billy Elliott” arse. He and his off-again, on-again girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood are more than on-again and are engaged.
Matching rings to go with their tattoos
Here’s the talented and lovely Evan in a shoot by Ellen Von Unwerth.
Evan is so fab
In more marriage news: The new year really kicked off a new beginning for folks. Let’s see how many go the distance.
*Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel became engaged; Aretha Franklin and her boyfriend became engaged but broke it off last week. It’s rumored that Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez are engaged. Halle has been dealing with drama with ex-Gabriel Aubry. Their daughter’s nanny filed for a restraining order against him alleging that he pushed her when she questioned him about keeping Nayla home from school. The order was declined, but allegedly Gabriel has agreed to go to anger management classes.
Alan Cumming and his husband are renewing their vows.
Ice skater Johnny Weir got married.
His hubby sorta looks like Chris O’Dowd from “Bridesmaids”
I hope marriage doesn’t tone him down.
Designer Isaac Mizrahi got married.
Retired Congressman Barney Frank is engaged to his longtime partner James Ready.
He’s ready, all right
*In readying for Valentine’s Day, Out Magazine latest edition is “Our Love Story” where they have people discuss how they met their better halves and the life they lead together. http://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2012/01/11/neil-patrick-harris-david-burtka-love-couple-stars-children
Cover boys:Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka
David has two other children (twins) from a previous relationship that he never sees. Some say it’s of his own choice, others say it’s because his ex refuses to let him see them.
NPH: “I initially fell for David harder than he fell for me. I was in love with him before he was comfortable saying it, and I think that speaks to our past experiences. I remember saying, “I think I love you,” and he was like, “That’s really nice,” which is not necessarily what you want to hear. But I appreciated his honesty in not jumping the gun and saying something because he felt obliged to.”
…David first proposed to me five years ago on the actual street corner where we met. We were on our way to an event at an Indian casino 45 minutes out of town in a limousine, and David wanted to stop for some reason that I didn’t quite get. I thought he wanted to get some booze or something. And then he got on one knee and proposed, and I was so freaked out by it that I said, “Yes,” but I didn’t know what it meant. Then I got the ring and loved it, and a year later, on Valentine’s Day, I proposed to him in Santa Monica. That was four years ago. The callus on my right hand is long-formed-and not from masturbation. I’m dying to move over to the other hand. I’d also like to call him my husband. I’m not the biggest fan of the word “partner”: It either means that we run a business together or we’re cowboys. “Boyfriend” seems fleeting, like maybe we met two weeks ago. I’ve been saying “better half” for as long as I’ve been able to. I think it’s a little self-deprecating and clearly defines that we’re in a relationship, but it would be nice to say “my husband.”
Dancer Bill T. Jones and his partner
Actor Denis O’Hare and husband, designer Hugo Redwood
HUGO REDWOOD
When we were first together, Denis was mostly on Broadway, and I called myself a theater widow because I’d never see him during the week. We’d write each other notes in the morning and night. We’d have Monday date night. Then he started doing more TV and movies. If we actually spend seven months in the same city together, that’s a long time. But it’s also a weird sort of benefit to our relationship that we’re not always on top of each other.
The conversation to have a family started not long after we were together, but it took five years to get to the punctuation at the end. Denis was a little harder to bring to the table. But when he showed up, it was gangbusters.
We got married because we could. It’s not sexy. City Hall’s like the DMV -- we stood in line with a lot of Eastern Europeans. A lot of the impetus for doing it was because, if we weren’t married, then we’d have to go through two rounds of adoption. I would be Declan’s father, and then Denis would have to adopt him. This way, it’s neat and clean. Now I’m a married man with child.
DENIS O'HARE
The first big discussion we had about children took place in 2004. He mentioned it in passing: “Wouldn’t you like to have kids?” I was sort of, “No! It’s not going to happen because you need to have a career. If you have a kid, then you’re not going to have your business.” I eventually came around. Then I realized it was something I had to be a part of, so I had to not just get behind it, but also see it as something good for me.
We didn’t want to go the adoption route because these babies in foster care, they already exist and need homes.
We decided we wanted to take a child from our neighborhood in Brooklyn or the Bronx.
I don’t think we’ll do it again because of the anxiety. Now we want a second child, so we are looking at private adoption. I wish we had done that 10 years ago. If I were to give anyone advice, I would say do it before you’re ready. For the first time in my life, I feel this incredible need to stay alive -- for him. I think, I can’t get in an accident. I can’t die. I can’t leave him alone.
We got married because we wanted to do it quickly for fear that they would take it away again, like they did in California.
Getting married was a political act because so many people fought so hard for it. Also, every time I say the word “husband” and somebody flinches, I am helping to teach society this is the way it will be. This is the way it is.
~I leave you with
*WellingBaum on the down low.
Tom and Michael, you’ve been together that long? High school sweethearts, who met at camp and kept secret love affair going, I bet. You sly dogs, acting like you met on the SV set.
I am the least fashion savvy person but I love the idea of fashion of art and her work embodied that notion. Her designs were vibrant masterpieces that were a beautiful mish mash of cultural influences. She was one of a kind and it’s no wonder that she collaborated with other visionaries such as directors Tarsem Singh and Julie Taymor and singers Grace Jones and Bjork.
Eiko wasn’t just a costume designer, she was also a production designer fully involved with the film shoots and use of her creations.
On the set of “Immortals”
Eiko’s other work
”Immortals”
”The Cell”
“Bram Stoker’s Dracula”
“The Fall”
“Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark”
Thankfully her work will be once more on display in Tarsem’s upcoming “Mirror Mirror”.
“Mirror Mirror”
b>Red Tails
The long gestating film about a squadron of Tuskegee airmen, the first all Black military (not the Tuskegee experiment. That’s a whole other thing.) whose Colonel (Terrence Howard) secures them an opportunity to actually face combat in Italy and prove their worth to a military that believes that wants to shut their squadron down due to their belief that Black soldiers are not as qualified as White soldiers.
The film though heavily promoted by George Lucas, executive producer, is directed by Anthony Hemingway (“Treme”, “The Wire” and the genius zombie-esque episode of “Community”). Too bad the film isn’t as good as that “Community” episode. IMO.
I will readily admit that my main issue with the film is a tonal issue. Obviously the labor of love from Lucas who was born of a certain generation and likely loves war movies of that era, “Red Tails” plays like an homage to the war movies of the 50s. The characters and the actor’s actions are exaggerated like those of the actors of the fifties who were stage and radio actors and needed to be bigger to convey themselves. If unaware of how it is miming old war films, one would think that the acting was plain bad. Keeping that in mind I gave the film serious leeway.
Until it came to the writing.
Lucas has been trying to get this film made since 1988. Writer/Director Kevin Sullivan gave the script a first pass in the 90s, but it was scrapped. In 2007 writer/comedian John Ridley was hired and the script was punched up in pre-production by Aaron McGruder creator/writer of the comics and series “The Boondocks”. Even under the guise of a 1950’s war film the writing was laughably bad with scenarios you could see coming fifty miles away without binoculars or a scope and characters who drop in and out of importance. There was one character that reminded me of the guy in the film “Summer School”. The one who leaves to go to the bathroom at the beginning and only turns up at the end to take the test. I swear there were moments where I was like, ‘Who is that? He’s…wait…he’s still here? Where has he been?”
So you have the questionable acting, bad writing and then the directing. Once again this was a throwback to an era where FX were not as impressive as they are now. Therefore you have scenes that look like stagehands were rocking the fake cockpits back and forth.
But it wasn’t all bad. I think the casting was great for the most part. David Oyelowo (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”) as the hot shot "Lightning" Little certainly kept up the style of acting that you see in older war films; Nate Parker as Easy, the steady leader of the squadron who is battling his demons, Tristan Wilds as “Junior”, the youngest of the group who is fighting to prove his skills and maturity. Elijah Kelley (“Hairspray: The Movie Musical”) and singer Ne-Yo provided the lighter moments as Joker and Samuel, the two carefree pilots.
I may see it again to see if it's better in my mind now that I accept it as an homage.
The Men of Red Tails
The cast on location. Leslie Odom, Michael B. Jordan, Elijah Kelley and Tristan Wilds
There was also a White House screening for the President, the First Lady and surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
The cast on their way there in Lucas' private plane
George Lucas, his daughter and girlfriend Mellody Hobson
Cuba and Terrence get close at the premiere
No shirtless Tristan in the film, darn it!
Marcus Paulk. He's come along way since "Moesha"
marcus paulk
Method Man. Love him, but he was terrible in this.
*In talking about the film with someone, he said that he'd love to see a film about Henry Johnson.
I didn't know who he was and the guy told me the amazing story of Johnson. Johnson, was a 5'4, 130 soldier whose job, like alot of black soldiers at the time, was to clean latrines. The French needed soldiers so the US gave France the Black soldiers; specifically the Harlem Hellcats. Johnson was stationed in Germany and under attack by invading soldiers pretty much single handedly killed eight German soldiers. And that's just the beginning of his tale..
Mediocre or not, it's great that the media depicts the long history of African Americans in the military fighting for a nation that did them no favors at that time.
*This clip from Dr. Henry Louis Gates' series "African American Lives" where Chris Rock discovers that his ancestor was a freed slave who enlisted in the military gets me every time.
Click to viewThis Means War
I’ve been waiting for this film since ONTD began inundating its members with almost daily candids from the shoot. Then this video of Tom Hardy and the film’s director McG taking a paintball hit to the bum.
It has felt like this film has been a long time coming. And since I will watch Tom Hardy in anything (I recently watched “Star Trek: Nemesis”. That’s love.), I watched this film which is a souped up romantic comedy. And I hate romantic comedies.
“This Means War” centers on spies and BFFs Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine). Tuck, a divorcee whose marriage ended because he never told his wife what he really did for a living, thus alienating her and his son, is longing for a relationship. FDR, on the other hand, is cocky, flirtatious and always on the make and doesn’t believe in love.
Enter Lauren (Reese Witherspoon). After a run-in with her ex-boyfriend and his fiancee, Lauren’s best friend Trish (Chelsea Handler) creates an online dating profile for her. Soon Lauren ends up dating Tuck and unbeknownst to her, his best friend FDR.
The two men find out and decide to keep their connection a secret, while they both try to win Lauren’s affections.
Then there’s a storyline about a killer (Til Schweiger) who is looking for Tuck and FDR. But that’s such an afterthought.
Rom-coms aren’t for me, but this movie, as predictable as it is, did have its moments. I can see why Reese Witherspoon is a rom-com darling. She’s very accessible and relatable (she has a ginormous forehead like me!). Chris Pine was perfect channeling his inner Ryan Reynolds: charming and smarmy all at once (who would’ve been perfec for this role. Originally Bradley Cooper had the role, but dropped out. Tom replaced Sam Worthington). Tom is great, as Tuck: the gentle gentleman in his daily life but at work, kick ass spy; but IMO the way he does comedy is very broad. Take any scene from “Scenes of a Sexual Nature” and you get a gist of his performance in “This Means War”.
It’s not bad at all, just broader than what the film calls for.
But you don’t think of that because when Tom is onscreen you just think…
On the upside, McG’s style of stylish, over-the-top shots makes up for what is a derivative film. But the audience really was into it. They really loved Chelsea Handler’s Trish whose diatribes about sex has caused the film to be rated R. According to whichever site you read, Fox has now decided to make edits to the film so that it can get a PG13. I think there was more edited out because Angela Bassett has less to do in this film than she did in "Green Lantern" and actor/comedian Affion Crockett is seen in the background of one scene and even got a credit, but he has no real scene. And Laura (Kara) Vandervoort has a scene. At the time was rumored that she was dating Chris Pine.
*I’m awaiting interviews with the cast for the film. Empire has interviewed Reese and Chris Pine who offer these gems.
Reese: ''We shot endings where I could end up with Tom, or I could end up with Chris, or I could end up alone. Or I could end up with Chelsea Handler!''
Chris: "We shot [an ending] where Tom and I could end up together. It's a very progressive film."
Reese on her costars shoe fetish: “''Tom and Chris were both obsessed with my shoes. Both of them! Obsessed with me wearing high-heeled sexy shoes. I was actually doing a sex scene with Chris and he said, 'Can you keep your shoes on?' I was like, 'OK,'.''
Chris on Tom: “But, man, is he a hell of an actor. I don’t need to tell anyone this, but he’s going to be around for a long time. He’s already been around for a long time, but he’s going to explode. He’s just tremendous.
Chris on their rivalry: “It's like being in the schoolyard: a beautiful girl and two red-blooded guys. It was basically a constant flirt-off - who could charm Reese and make her laugh the most ... Tom won on the accent and lips front.
“You’re damn right”
I won on eyebrows and self-deprecation. Ladies love the accent and I'm not packing any heat in that department. There'd be no shame losing to Tom. If I had to lose to anyone, it's fine if I lose to Tom Hardy. Of course, that would never happen. Ever."
**I have to admit Chris looked good in the film. His legs don’t even look like toothpicks anymore and his facial pockmarks weren’t even noticeable.
Man on a Ledge
This is the kind of divisive film that makes people not trust critics. The audience response was bananas: people were cheering, clapping, saying “yeah!”…they were really into this film. I loved it. I was literally on the edge of my seat, but the critics are panning it like mad (propelling the studio behind the film Lionsgate-Summit to offer tickets for 2 for 1 through Living Socal. They’re doing the same for the Katherine Heigl film “One for the Money”). It’s not Oscar fodder, it’s not a high concept action film, it doesn’t propose to be anything but an entertaining film and IMO it succeeds.
In the vein of “The Negotiator” and “Inside Man”, “Man on a Ledge” stars Sam Worthington (who has yet to conquer that not-sounding-Australian thing) stars as Nick Cassidy, a disgraced cop who escapes from jail and hopes to prove his innocence after being imprisoned for stealing from Trump in Disguise mulit-millionaire David Englander (Ed Harris who looks really frail like the preacher from “Poltergeist 2”). He takes to a ledge for to get the media’s attention, but with the police negotiators on the scene (Elizabeth Banks and Ed Burns who could pass for Brian William’s brother), it seems Nick has more than suicide on his mind.
Director Asper Leth, Kyra Sedgewick, Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie, y so gorgeous?
Still of his upcoming film “The Gangster Squad
*And why so funny? Here’s Anthony talking about his “Gangter Squad” and “Half-Nelson” costar Ryan Gosling and assorted other things.
Interviewer:Screen Rant: I hope you can understand me. I’ve got a bit of a cold.
Anthony Mackie: “A cold? Gotta put some tussin’ on that.”
(dawnybee if you don’t know what ‘tussin is, watch this Chris Rock clip)
On casting a “Lethal Weapon” remake
Anthony:”When I think of a young hot head who’s full of hot air I think of Chris Evans. Isn’t he a guy you just want to smack around? (Laughing) “I just want to beat him up. I don’t want to smack him around.”
Anthony ”I found working with Ryan Gosling to be delicious…He’s turned into a hot fudge Sundae since I worked with him the last time. He is just a delectable treat that every woman should enjoy to the fullest.”
Interviewer: So if he’s a hot fudge Sundae now, what was he before? Pinkberry?
Anthony “He was like Baskin Robbins before, and how he’s Haagen Daz you know what I mean? He’s like savory crafted ice-cream now. If you like supremely intelligent, well rounded, well sculpted, God of a Greek God handsomely beautiful guys who are really talented and able to do anything they want in the world, I think you should like Ryan Gosling.”
Interviewer:(Laughing) Did you see Crazy, Stupid, Love?
Anthony: “No, I’m straight.”
At the premiere of “Man on a Ledge”, he once again praises Gosling.
"He is the most delicious little petit four I could ever experience in my life. I love him, little vanilla mocha fudge blossom he is." (on if there’s a bromance brewing) "No, no, no - we’re grown-men status. He’s just so cute I want to hug him all the time."
I was disappointed that the trailer gives away a lot of stuff, but it was understandable because you can’t sell a film about a man on the ledge and let people think it’s just about a man….on a ledge.
Jamie Bell costars in the film as Sam’s brother who along with his girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez who looks like Charisma Carpenter but with an even more banging body) are the key to securing Nick’s freedom. Jamie will soon be off the market, all you ladies who wanted to tap that “Billy Elliott” arse. He and his off-again, on-again girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood are more than on-again and are engaged.
Matching rings to go with their tattoos
Here’s the talented and lovely Evan in a shoot by Ellen Von Unwerth.
Evan is so fab
In more marriage news: The new year really kicked off a new beginning for folks. Let’s see how many go the distance.
*Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel became engaged; Aretha Franklin and her boyfriend became engaged but broke it off last week. It’s rumored that Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez are engaged. Halle has been dealing with drama with ex-Gabriel Aubry. Their daughter’s nanny filed for a restraining order against him alleging that he pushed her when she questioned him about keeping Nayla home from school. The order was declined, but allegedly Gabriel has agreed to go to anger management classes.
Alan Cumming and his husband are renewing their vows.
Ice skater Johnny Weir got married.
His hubby sorta looks like Chris O’Dowd from “Bridesmaids”
I hope marriage doesn’t tone him down.
Designer Isaac Mizrahi got married.
Retired Congressman Barney Frank is engaged to his longtime partner James Ready.
He’s ready, all right
*In readying for Valentine’s Day, Out Magazine latest edition is “Our Love Story” where they have people discuss how they met their better halves and the life they lead together. http://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2012/01/11/neil-patrick-harris-david-burtka-love-couple-stars-children
Cover boys:Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka
David has two other children (twins) from a previous relationship that he never sees. Some say it’s of his own choice, others say it’s because his ex refuses to let him see them.
NPH: “I initially fell for David harder than he fell for me. I was in love with him before he was comfortable saying it, and I think that speaks to our past experiences. I remember saying, “I think I love you,” and he was like, “That’s really nice,” which is not necessarily what you want to hear. But I appreciated his honesty in not jumping the gun and saying something because he felt obliged to.”
…David first proposed to me five years ago on the actual street corner where we met. We were on our way to an event at an Indian casino 45 minutes out of town in a limousine, and David wanted to stop for some reason that I didn’t quite get. I thought he wanted to get some booze or something. And then he got on one knee and proposed, and I was so freaked out by it that I said, “Yes,” but I didn’t know what it meant. Then I got the ring and loved it, and a year later, on Valentine’s Day, I proposed to him in Santa Monica. That was four years ago. The callus on my right hand is long-formed-and not from masturbation. I’m dying to move over to the other hand. I’d also like to call him my husband. I’m not the biggest fan of the word “partner”: It either means that we run a business together or we’re cowboys. “Boyfriend” seems fleeting, like maybe we met two weeks ago. I’ve been saying “better half” for as long as I’ve been able to. I think it’s a little self-deprecating and clearly defines that we’re in a relationship, but it would be nice to say “my husband.”
Dancer Bill T. Jones and his partner
Actor Denis O’Hare and husband, designer Hugo Redwood
HUGO REDWOOD
When we were first together, Denis was mostly on Broadway, and I called myself a theater widow because I’d never see him during the week. We’d write each other notes in the morning and night. We’d have Monday date night. Then he started doing more TV and movies. If we actually spend seven months in the same city together, that’s a long time. But it’s also a weird sort of benefit to our relationship that we’re not always on top of each other.
The conversation to have a family started not long after we were together, but it took five years to get to the punctuation at the end. Denis was a little harder to bring to the table. But when he showed up, it was gangbusters.
We got married because we could. It’s not sexy. City Hall’s like the DMV -- we stood in line with a lot of Eastern Europeans. A lot of the impetus for doing it was because, if we weren’t married, then we’d have to go through two rounds of adoption. I would be Declan’s father, and then Denis would have to adopt him. This way, it’s neat and clean. Now I’m a married man with child.
DENIS O'HARE
The first big discussion we had about children took place in 2004. He mentioned it in passing: “Wouldn’t you like to have kids?” I was sort of, “No! It’s not going to happen because you need to have a career. If you have a kid, then you’re not going to have your business.” I eventually came around. Then I realized it was something I had to be a part of, so I had to not just get behind it, but also see it as something good for me.
We didn’t want to go the adoption route because these babies in foster care, they already exist and need homes.
We decided we wanted to take a child from our neighborhood in Brooklyn or the Bronx.
I don’t think we’ll do it again because of the anxiety. Now we want a second child, so we are looking at private adoption. I wish we had done that 10 years ago. If I were to give anyone advice, I would say do it before you’re ready. For the first time in my life, I feel this incredible need to stay alive -- for him. I think, I can’t get in an accident. I can’t die. I can’t leave him alone.
We got married because we wanted to do it quickly for fear that they would take it away again, like they did in California.
Getting married was a political act because so many people fought so hard for it. Also, every time I say the word “husband” and somebody flinches, I am helping to teach society this is the way it will be. This is the way it is.
~I leave you with
*WellingBaum on the down low.
Tom and Michael, you’ve been together that long? High school sweethearts, who met at camp and kept secret love affair going, I bet. You sly dogs, acting like you met on the SV set.