Father Knows Worst

Any fathers out there commiserate with Alec Baldwin?
Baldwin allegedly called his 11-year-old daughter a spoiled little pig because she didn't answer his phone call at an arranged time.
Did Kim Basinger release the voice mail tape to the press to get her ex-hubby in dutch with the courts over custody of their daughter?
Baldwin wants to take time out of movie and TV making to square away his life as a father and divorced man.
His bosses at "30 Rock'' want him to stay; Baldwin apparently has helped make the show a success.
Hmm, should Baldwin stick with the show or pursue getting his life in order?

Ugly American

Poor Richard Gere.
No sooner does he have his first hit movie in years, "The Hoax,'' that he runs afoul of the Indian press over kissing an Indian celebrity in public, and now an arrest warrant is out for him!
Gere is a regular visitor to India, so you wonder what came over him _ he must know better.
But is this much ado about not much _ arresting somebody for a public kiss, because it's considered"obscene?"

Dancing Dirty

I bet you didn't know that living right here in our midst (well, Monmouth County's midst) is an Academy Award winner.
Franke Previte of Middletown won the best song Oscar with his partner for "(I've Had) The Time of My Life'' from "Dirty Dancing'' (1987). When I inteviewed Franke several years ago, I actually held his Oscar; it's heavy!
For those who missed this sweet but just a little sassy memory lane movie the first time around, it will play May 1 and May 2 at the North Brunswick Commerce at 7:30 p.m both days.
Just think: every time they play that award-winning tune, Previte, who happens to be a very nice man, makes money on it; not bad!

The Real Deal

I bet most people who love movies can recite chapter and verse specific lines, scenes and performers who keep reminding us why we're such devotees.
Enter Ryan Gosling. He's a charismatic and smart actor from the Brando school, and it's a tremendous kick witnessing his talent coming of age.
I remember watching "The Notebook'' and thinking how much more interesting the flashback scenes to the '40s, with Gosling and Rachel McAdams were, than the contemporary action, with two enormously appealing actors, James Garner and Gena Rowlands.
Amazing.
Then last year, Gosling knocked me out with "Half Nelson,' and he's just as good in the new slick Hollywood thriller "Fracture.''
See for yourself. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Gosling and Daniel Craig (the latest Bond) are the most interesting young actors on the scene now.

Imus Meltdown

There is definitely a movie, let's call it a farce, in the Don Imus episode of insulting on the air black women basketball players (Rutgers University's outstanding team, which made it to the nationwide collegiate basketball finals last week).
The Imus character, aging and insular, tries to affect hip by using an "insider'' term for black hair _ nappy _ and a rap culture description for women _ ho's. Instead, he's revealed to be just another absurdly backward celebrity trying to appear vibrant and cool.
Rutgers' shining accomplishment remains. The movie's denoument: A smart broadcaster invites the Rutgers team and its coach on their show. They are intelligent and gracious, exposing Imus for the outdated boor that he is.
Playing Don Imus? Mel Gibson, of course.

Desperate

Every time I check the box office results and a movie that can only be called trash ("Blades of Glory'') opens big ($33 million first weekend), I realize how TV has lowered the public's expectations. If "American Idol,'' relentless re-runs of "SVU'' and barking news commentators are clocking high ratings, no wonder Will Ferrell's bottom-feeder comedy is a hit.
At least a good cartoon, "Meet the Robinsons'' did almost as well _ $25 million. Which means that kids are seeing the better quality movies these days.