Hot@Harper
Reading Group Books
Great NPR piece on the making of Once, set in Dublin. Director wanted to make a modern musical, where we'd totally believe when the characters broke into song. As a kid, I had a big problem buying into that suspension of reality, but have grown to love it, and i can't wait to see this movie.
So, my Dad always goes on about Myrna Loy. Ok, ok, I say, ignoring him. I do love her in the Thin Man...and then a friend got us the entire Thin Man boxed set for Xmas. And at the end is a retrospective on both Wm. Powell's career, and Myrna's. Omigod, what a beauty! I never really saw it before, as I was to enamored of the traditional beauty of Donna Reed and Grace Kelly. And Myrna is the more so for her charitable work in her later years. Dad, I get it now!!
How happy am I that the riff from Tone Loc's Funky Cold Medina is in Shrek 3?!
So, another pop qiuz. No googling. Who plays young Scrooge in the 1951 version with Alistair Sim as the elder Scrooge. (Our favorite version by the way, with the Muppets one a close second. The rats doing 'heat wave'? C'mon. A classic movie moment.)
Have you seen Wordplay? Not exactly as taut as Spellbound or Mad Hot Ballroom, but still wonderful. Wil Shortz as new sex symbol!
Hoot is a hoot! Not a GREAT movie...kind of an afterschool special level of filming and scripting...BUT no less wonderful. Great message, great music (opens with Jimmy Buffett covering Bruce Cockburn's Where the Lions Are), Buffett as a school teacher, a cameo by Hiassen, and it's just all-around a delight.
sSo psyched about Robin Williams and Sandra Oh in Night Listener, based on Armistead Maupin's novel. All 3 of them are on 20/20 tonite, and Robin on Fresh Air next week. Movie opens Aug. 4.
Watched it again last night; scary how it holds up.
Just based on the phone booth ads and one trailer for Talladega Nights, me thinks Will Farrell needs a new agent.
So they found a painting of Mona's sister or an early study. Nice timing. I do have to say that I loved Da Vinci Code the book and get annoyed by those who turn their nose up. No, it is not literature; it's ice cream. Dan Brown sets all the hooks and you know he's doing that and it's fine to enjoy the ride. Really; it is.
Having said that, this bit of satire is quite funny and Onionesque.
