Tina Fey or Sarah Palin?

Although TNT have issued their apology to politician Sarah Palin regarding the comments of Tracy Morgan made about Sarah Palin on an appearance on “Inside the NBA”. Former NBA star and now host Charles Barkley, asked the comedian whether Tina Fey or Sarah Palin host. Unexpectedly  Tracy Morgan replied “let me tell you something about Sarah Palin, she’s good masturbation material.”

Following the incident, TNT released this statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s unfortunate Mr. Morgan showed a lack of judgment on our air with his inappropriate comments.”

Encore Awards: Endings

I can't help but think of Countess de Mertieul when I think of great endings because Frears decision in Dangerous Liaisons is impeccable. What makes this anecdote more interesting is that my favourite ending from last year was ALSO in a Frears flick, and had to do with a face in the mirror too. Yup, Pfeiffer's chilling look into the mirror in Chéri sticks with me until the end. This year the endings have nothing to do with Frears, period pieces or aging women - but they're still brilliant. And even though films don't demand a great ending, sometimes they can turn a middling film into an excellent one with just a few minutes. Let's take a look at 2010.

           

Umm, spoilers ahead....obviously.

(Click on the pictures for reviews.)

THE NOMINEES

Agora directed by Alejandro Amenábar with Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Rupert Evans, Michael Lonsdale

I’ll admit, Agora is on the nose and Amenbar exploits the (alleged) brilliance of Hypatia – but all that’s important so that her death has that effect on you it must. Max Minghella’s talent is still in development through Agora but he’s best opposite Wiesz and the two manage to sell that moment where he strangles her to save her from being stoned alive. True, in reality her death was more harsh and less romanticised, but it’s a nice moment of humanity and sure that final cut to the earth from a far is a little extraneous, Amenbar has made his point.

              

Animal Kingdom directed by David Michôd with James Frecheville, Sullivan Stapelton, Ben Mendehlson, Jacki Weaver, Joel Edgerton

I’m hoping, against hope, that James Frecheville has a long career ahead of him. He plays J with just the right amount of detachment and that moment where he turns his gun on Pope is both surprising but logical. And that final shot of him hugging Weaver is beautiful. I still can’t agree that her Grandma Smurf is a relentless villain – she’s just especially devoted to her children, and it’s important that our final shot of her is one of her at her weakest.

             

The Ghost Writer directed by Roman Polanski with Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson

That entire final sequence of The Ghost Writer as we finally realise that Williams’ suave wife was behind everything is brilliantly played out, but that final moment as our ghost gets knocked down (off-screen) still takes the cake as the most surprising, riveting, exasperating and brilliant closing of the year. You can just imagine Polanski grinning at the audience there, and as vexing as it is its excellence is indisputable.

          

Rabbit Hole directed by James Cameron Mitchell with Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Tammy Blanchard

You keep wondering, how Lindsay-Abaire is going to close this piece with turning it into something overwrought and the decision he makes is perfect. Having Becca and Howie look to the future – scarred, but hopeful, sounds a bit too trite but together with Mitchell’s direction (and the beautiful chemistry between Eckhart and Kidman) it works. The peaceable scene of them sitting down there, ready for the future is just one of the most profound moments of 2010.

          

The Social Network directed by David Fincher with Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Rashida Jones

There is something obvious and glib even about having Mark spending his life hung up on a one girl, but I like this closing nonetheless. A) because it begins with Rashida Jones being all amazing as is her wont and because Eisenberg sells the confusion of Mark, and the irony – as obvious as it is – that he’s there waiting for a friend request to be accepted is just too good to ignore.

FINALISTS: Black Swan doesn’t plays any games about where it’s heading – even if we’re not willing to actually believe it until we see it. That latter portion is Natalie’s strongest sequence and it should be because it’s essential that sells those final moments – and she does, but more importantly so does Nina; it’s at the end of The Runaways where Fanning impresses me most and it’s a beautiful moment for the entire film, we’ve already got the feeling of a career cut-short but not unfortunately so and the serenity with which Cherry accepts her fate is impressive but not as impressive as the poise with which Fanning delivers that final bit;

            

SEMI-FINALISTS: Blue Valentine is harrowing, especially in the latter half but Derek Cianfrance pulls back for a few moments to give us a closing scene that’s just as profound in its depressing nature but very serene – and of course Gosling NAILS it; Hooper’s direction comes out best in the bookends of the The King’s Speech and it’s nice that he ends it on a note that you wouldn’t think of. He doesn’t go where you’d expect with the story but ends it at a moment that’s perfect in its sedateness; you sort of get where Veronika Decides to Die is going but can you blame me for being manipulated by its decisions. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jonathan Tucker are perfect together and that emotional closing ends up being the perfect release to all that tension. 

          

Which ending left you thinking long after the credits rolled in 2010?

Space Shuttle Challenger marks 25th anniversary

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger NASA commemorates.

(L to R): Mission Specialist, Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist, Greg Jarvis and Mission Specialist, Judy Resnik. Front row (L to R): Pilot Mike Smith, Commander, Dick Scobee and Mission Specialist, Ron McNair.

Wayne Hale, a former space shuttle program manager and flight director who was working at NASA during both space shuttle accidents said:

"It just always gives us pause at this time of the year, those of us that are in the industry, to reflect on our sad experiences in the past and the lives of those that made such a great contribution to our country,"

It says from Fox News,

While an accident review board never conclusively determined what ignited the fire, a series of design flaws were blamed for making the module so flammable and difficult to quickly escape from. The investigation into the disaster delayed the Apollo program by more than a year-and-a-half and led to redesigns for the Apollo module, as well as procedural changes at NASA.

"We have not forgotten the lessons from Apollo, and I sure hope we as an agency don’t forget these lessons we have learned," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space operations.

Christa Mcauliffe was one of the crews who died from the accident. The space shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after lifting off on the orbiter's 10th flight on Jan. 28, 1986.

Gladys Horton, Mr. Postman singer died at 66

Gladys Horton, member of the classic Motown female group Marvelettes popularized the song Please Mr. Postman died at the age of 66.

The cause of death of Gladys Horton is still unknown but  it was reported that she was still recovering from complications due to a stroke she suffered last year, her son told the Associated Press.

The quartet Marvelettes successfully make it to the recording business after their second audition in which they sang 'Please Mr. Postman,' which became a hit. The song was co-written with Dobbins' friend and songwriter William Garrett. The song became famous included its album which skyrocketed to the top of the charts.

"My mother died peacefully," Horton's son, Vaughn Thornton, said Thursday morning in a statement released by the Motown Alumni Association. "She fought as long as she could." She is survived by Vaughn and another son. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Watch Gladys Horton and fellow member of the Marvelettes performing Please Mr. Postman.

The King's Speech | Review

Them British and their stupid royal movies again. For once I just want them to make one bad royal movie. Oh do one about Prince Harry and get Simon Pegg to play him. Now that would be awesome.

So The King's Speech. The frontrunner of the Academy Awards with 12 nominations. Personally I loved this movie for everything it is but I don't want it to win Best Picture for several reasons. I'll talk about them later. But I can't deny that Speech is a beautiful film. Lovely. Wonderful. Masterpiece, really.

In the film, Colin Firth plays the soon to be King of England who is in a lot of ways fit to take up the role as leader of the nation. He's caring, responsible and always answers the call of duty. The only problem is he's a stammerer. I mean he can't talk for shit. He can't even tell his daughters a bedtime story without choking himself. So his wife played by Helena Bonham Carter seeks the help of a speech therapist played Geoffrey Rush and the three embark on a task to cure his speech impediment as the weight of responsibility to his family and nation becomes heavier and war with Germany draws closer.

\

This is a great movie. Wonderful testament to the subtlety and artistry of British filmmaking. There are many things I loved about The King's Speech. Every part was well envisioned, written, acted, shot and executed under the keen direction of Tom Hooper, who has succeeded in turning a 5 minute speech into a lighthearted and endearing buddy movie on top of a serious family soap opera drama.

Watching Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush play off each other was such a privileged to see. A buddy movie is really the best way I can describe The King's Speech because here's just such a great sense of camaraderie between these two and the film earns that with great development and acting from both these guys.

Colin Firth is going to win the Oscar for this role. He was phenomenal in this. I already felt he deserved to win for A Single Man if it wasn't overshadowed by Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart but he was absolutely wonderful playing a tormented, frustrated royal with such control and subtlety. People may say that it was easy for him to play a stammer but even the way he stutters through the dialog had such great emotion in it. You an literally feel his frustration, his disappointment in himself each time he chokes on a word and it's hard to watch sometimes.

Geoffrey Rush on the other hand is the Dickey Ecklund to Colin Firth's Micky Ward. He's just such a powerhouse maverick in this as the speech therapist who shoulders the King of England through one of the hardest times for him and his country. And he is so laugh out loud to watch. I think it's a shame Rush has been typecast-ed as a supporting role because this is also very much his movie.

But it's also hard to overlook the grand supporting performances in here. It's nice to see Helena Bonham Carter do something that isn't all Tim Burton-y like in Alice In Wonderland. You almost forget what a warm person she could be. Guy Pearce is wonderfully casted to carry on this whole side story of the royal family's struggle between protocol, love and duty in a great yet sublime soap opera drama. And Timothy Spall who surprised me the most playing a very convincing Winston Churchill.

Also great kudos to Tom Hooper who has matured as a director who really knows how to frame shots. The beginning of this film was amazing. It captures the feeling of stage fright right down to a T. And there's so many elements in here that usually would never work in a British period piece like the whole comic area of Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth's interaction. So good job Mr. Hooper. Now lose to David Fincher next month.

Now, why I say The King's Speech shouldn't the big gold is because quite frankly, it is just another generic, dry Oscar movie. The problem with The King's Speech is that, though it is a great film.. it is going to be forgotten in next year's Oscar. Just like The Hurt Locker. People are going to be talking about Avatar and District 9 for years to come but no one is going to remember that movie because it doesn't have that long of a shelf life. And the same applies to The King's Speech. I don't see this movie outlasting The Social Network or Toy Story 3.

But I can't deny t is a great film. And for what it's worth.. It does add another name to the list of great cinematic films. And as a final word to it, I say, "FUCK ASS. BALLS. BALLS. FUCKITY. SHIT SHIT. FUCKING WILLY. WILLY SHIT AND FUCK and…. tits."

RATING: 8/10

Charlie Sheen with hiatal hernia

Following the Charlie Sheen hospitalized post, it has been reported few minutes back that the actor was diagnosed with hiatal hernia which he had for years.

As defined from medicinenet.com, hiatal hernia is an anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest. Although hiatal hernias are present in approximately 15% of the population, they are associated with symptoms in only a minority of those afflicted.

Hiatal hernia is caused by a larger-than-normal esophageal hiatus, the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdomen; as a result of the large opening, part of the stomach "slips" into the chest. medicinenet.com

Charlie Sheen will be spending a night at the hospital with his current situation.

Charlie Sheen hospitalized with serious case

According to TMZ today, Charlie Sheen hospitalized and it's serious. Sheen was taken out of his home with a stretcher around 7AM and brought to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A.

Stan Rosenfield, Charlie's publicist says that Sheen was having an abodominal severe abdominal pains which makes them call 911 for help.

Martin Sheen father of Charlie, mother Janet Templeton are Denise Richards, Charlie's ex-wife are all in the hospital to check on Charlie's situation.

According Charlie's neighbors, the actor threw a party night before Charlie Sheen hospitalized due to severe abdominal pains.