Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Just home from opening night of 'Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway'

Schwing! Schwing! Schwing! I don't know if I have words to describe this night. If you were lucky enough to see Hugh Jackman in the Boy From Oz, you will have an idea of what I'm trying to convey. How can one human being have so much talent, energy, beauty, be able to sing, to dance and to share his very essence of the love he has for doing all that entertaining with his audience?

He does. He does all of that and more. His voice is pure and I'm ready to buy the CD, but it wasn't for sale yet. Hope there is one. His dancing was fantastic.
He shared fun stories and did a little bit of everything and did it to pure perfection!

His choice of songs was superb. Deb, his wife, was there and he introduced her. She's a beautiful lady. I won't give away the details in case you're going.
But if you're even near NYC, you'd be cheating yourself to miss Hugh back on Broadway!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

'The Ides of March' is one more shout out against corruption

It's everywhere I turn. There's a message sounding out loud and clear. There are documentaries about the 1% who own it all and there's #occupy Wall Street going on. There are movie and tv shows shouting about the corruption and 'The Ides of March' is the newest. The message I got from this movie was, even if you're idealistic and good, if you're in politics, they'll get you.

But....I watched X Files last night and Scully was having none of it. A season 4 episode where she's brought before congress to tell them the whereabouts of her partner, Fox Mulder aka Spooky Mulder. She's composed and determined and she ain't talkin'.  Hoorah

Whoda thunk I liked 'Moneyball' better than 'Ides' and of course I liked 'Real Steel' better. Not to say I didn't love all performances and actors in all the movies. I did. It's just that like the rest of you, I'm ready to NOT LISTEN to what someone of authority says. I'm ready to stand up for what's right! I'm ready to stare them in the eye like Scully!!!! So the movies that reflect this feeling seem to be the theme of the day. Come out of the theatre rooting for the underdog.

'Ides of March' movies are the reminders of what's wrong with this world!!!!!

An encounter with David Duchovny aka Mulder.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Real Steel and Hugh Jackman back on Broadway

Oh what a night!!!! In many ways a very surprising night. I had my ticket all ready to go see Hugh Jackman talk about his new movie coming out, 'Real Steel.' What I wasn't ready for was all the bonus events that took place. I didn't know that Shawn Levy, the director of the movie would be there. I had honestly never heard of Annette Indorf, the director of undergraduate film studies at Columbia University. And I didn't know I was going to see an advance screening of the entire film! Okay, one more thing to add. I went to the box office to collect my ticket and they asked me if I'd like to upgrade and move to the 3rd row. Yes! So they all sat in front of me when the movie ended and I was enthralled.

Annette Indorf is a fascinating lady and she voiced my thoughts when she said that she wasn't that excited about 'Real Steel' by the trailers. I wasn't blown away by them either, but knew I'd be there on opening day anyway. It's Hugh Jackman on screen. Annette said she had been pleasantly surprised. I was as well.

Shawn Levy and Hugh talked about making the movie, about using real robots (Steven Spielberg's idea) and about the relationship between the boy and Charlie (Hugh).

I don't want to give any of the plot away, but I do want to say that this is a great movie and it gets better and better as it goes. You get deeper and deeper into the characters. A The lady next to me was actually doing upper cuts with the robot.

 As a writer the three on stage were talking my language, fueling the fires. That's why it's hours past bedtime and I can't think about sleeping. That and one other detail I haven't mentioned. Hugh Jackman had his arm around me for the pic. I don't think I was breathing.

And if all this isn't enough Hugh will be back on Broadway at the end of the month with an 18 piece orchestra. I saw him in Boy From Oz and as I told my daughter, "That was the best time I've ever had in my entire life." The next best time was 'Steady Rain,' where he stared with Daniel Craig.

I am grateful. I am grateful. I am grateful!!!!!!!!


Saturday, October 1, 2011

Moneyball is one GREAT movie! This reel is real!

'Moneyball'   What a movie! What a message! Aaron Sorkin can write a script! 'Charlie Wilson's War' and 'Social Network'
and now "Moneyball,' to name a few. I guess this is a spoiler so read no more
if you don't want to know anything about the movie.

I love the message of 'Moneyball' because it's going against the grain. It's having the guts to stand up for what you believe. It's knowing what doesn't work and stepping into the unknown because somehow you just know it's the right thing. It's saying, Screw your money. Screw your old ways. And screw you. And then the ultimate great thing that made this movie work for me was,
temptation didn't get him in the end. That ghoul came dangling that carrot and he said no to it.  It boils down to fake or real.