'Dark Shadows' is AWESOME

I just got home from seeing Dark Shadows and it was tremendous. I read a tweet last night that said, "Tim Burton has done it again." I agree. The movie is visually spectacular. Johnny Depp never disappoints. Helena Bonham Carter is always magnificent. We don't get to see that much of Michelle Pfeiffer anymore, but it is wonderful when she appears on screen at any time and Chloe is a great little actress. Johnny Lee Miller is another super choice in his part. I just loved this movie.

'The Birds' , Tippi Hedren, Film Stories, Hitchcock

Last night was one of those magnificent nights again. I am truly fortunate to be able to attend all of these events. It's very true that if you want things to happen you have to go get them. I wanted to dive into the world of Movies, Books and Broadway and this I did.

Last night Robert Milazzo from The Modern School of Film interviewed Tippi Hedren after a showing of 'The Birds,' the Hitchcock film at the Cinema Village.

My Mom took me to see 'The Birds' and 'Marnie,' Tippi's other Hitch film when I was little. I was so scared that the birds were really going to come get us that I plotted where I was going to hide. My Grandmother had a closet that was made of metal. That was the place. Probably wouldn't have been able to breathe, but I figured since the birds could peck through wood and glass, metal was the only way to go. Anyhoo, watching that movie transported me back to being with my Mom and remembering how she kept telling me that Tippi was so beautiful.

She still is. She isn't just beautiful, she's funny and kind and amazing. I'm not going to put this in quotes simply because I'm a little in a hurry, but here's the jest of it to share with all of you interested film people.....
Hitchcock was obsessed with her and he said he would ruin her career. She didn't want any part of that and decided if that's what it takes, so be it. So he kept her under contract for 2 more years after 'Marnie' and she couldn't work. Worse yet Hitchcock's wife knew and wouldn't help Tippi. She  told her she was sorry she was going through that. Tippi told her she could make it stop, but Mrs. Hitch, for whatever reason, wouldn't.

Also on the set of The Birds she was lied to about mechanical birds being used. They were real.

Charlie Chaplin asked Tippi to be in his last film, 'A Countess From Hong Kong,' along with Brando and Sophia Loren. She was asked what Chaplin's style of directing was and she said that he acted out each person's part. He would go from Sophia's part, to Marlon's part. Marlon really didn't like that but he had to stick it out.

Stay tuned...more to come....

'The Avengers'

'The Avengers' officially opened yesterday and I've had the great pleasure of seeing it twice already. I went to a screening earlier in the week. It's one of those movies I can see many times. The audience last night was the best. They were so into it. They applauded when the movie started and several times throughout and when it was over. I love when you can feel the energy of the theater being all into what's up on the screen. The dialogue is so fantastic. Joss Whedon. Who does it better? No one. I've watched every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel repeatedly and what Joss does for those shows, he does for this movie.

I was once told in a screenwriting class that I should not write in pop culture references because not many people would know what it means. Feel free to add comments about this if you write because personally, I love pop culture references and Joss is tremendous at it. Iron Man makes one to Thor in the film, did you catch it? Get it? Love it? I did.

Next weekend.....Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's new film....'Dark Shadows.'
Wa hooooooooooooooooooooooo

Suzie with The Hulk

'Lonely, I'm Not' with Topher Grace and Olivia Thirlby

'Lonely, I'm Not" is here in NYC for a limited engagement, closing May 27th. It's playing at The Second Stage on 43rd between 8th and 9th and it's a comedy by Paul Weitz.

Topher plays a guy named Porter, who has been out of work for 4 years due to a breakdown. He was a super successful business man who pushed himself too hard, had crappy parents and a failed marriage. He meets a blind girl who is also super ambitious, and decides to give life another go.

Very entertaining and fun. Check it out!