I'm Sorry

Nov. 30, 2006

You've got to be kidding: Now Danny DeVito, Asbury Park's favorite son, needs to apologize for "inebriated'' verbiage! On Barbara Walters' talk show, Danny slammed President Bush and said he and wife Rhea Perlman got full usage of the Lincoln Bedroom.
Danny admitted on the show he was still feeling the effects of drinking the night (and morning) before with pals. His manager, Stan Rosenfeld, says Danny is calling Barbara to apologize.
Danny has led an impeccable life and career; I can't ever remember he being involved in controversy or nutty behavior. What is it, something weird in the SoCal air?
Here's an idea: Mel Gibson, Michael Richards, Danny (and Hugh Grant, from a few years back) can form the Apologizers Club. And Borat can be their mascot!

Illegal

Nov. 29, 2006

At a screening of what New York Magazine calls "torture porn'' _ "Turistas'' _ a security guard inspected reviewers' bags for cellphone cameras.
Huh?
This is a first.
Does that mean the movie's distributor knows something I don't? Presumably, that there is a big wanna-see of a movie about 20somethings being robbed, tortured, caged and having their organs removed (as in kidneys, livers, et al.)?
Then again, the "Saw'' franchise is hot.
Raise your hand if you're planning to actually spend money on a ticket to "Turistas.''

Resolved

Nov. 24, 2006

Yes, it's true, about 30 more days to go before the last movie gasps its way into 2006's annals. But why not get a jump on movie stuff resolutions?
The first installment: Never Again.
We never again want to see, hear or read about:
(1) Tom Cruise-related nuptials or the lack thereof.
(2) Brangelina-related nuptials, parentage or paparazzi flaps.
(3) Ensemble-cast-driven scenarios about strangers' lives intersecting.
(4) '70s' movies and TV shows recycled into bad new movies.
(5) Matt McConaughey in leading-man roles.
(6) Another Basic Instinct sequel.
(7) Another Pirates of the Caribbean sequel.
(8) Another Clerks sequel.
(9) Post bizarre meltdown "apologies" from movie stars
(10) Denzel Washington wielding an automatic weapon on the right or wrong side of the law.
Got any Never Agains?

Star-crossed

Nov. 21, 2006


Norm wants to know why I didn't give "Casino Royale'' three and a half stars (I gave it three). He says my review read like a ""three and a half star review.'' Good point.
If I were only rating its new James Bond _ Daniel Craig _ it would have gotten four stars!
But the showpiece of the movie (after its wild opening chase) is the actual card game, and that was so prolonged, it grew dull and fuzzy. So, three stars, not 3-1/2.
So far in 2006, I've given only one movie a top rating of four stars. More about that movie in Wednesday's Press.
By the way, if you've seen a four-star movie this year, let me know. Maybe I missed it!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Sean Who?

Nov. 16, 2006


As I sat watching Daniel Craig virtually obliterate the spectre of Sean Connery's 007, in ""Casino Royale,'' I realized why: Craig plays James Bond as he should _ rough around the edges, sharp-witted but not infallible; sexy but unlucky in love. In other words, Craig is real world, Connery was reel. Is Craig as hunky as Connery? Hmm, well in his Steve McQueen way, yes. It's a new dawn out there. What do you think?