I have to admit, there is this slightest of chances that I might have seen Hollywood’s most recent TV-to-bigscreen adaptation had the cast, crew, and interviewed fans not reached estrogen critical mass.
Now? No.
Let me add that I can’t bring myself to mention the name of this movie, and that I would have only viewed it as a mandatory work assignment or to make up for some horrible transgression against my lady friend.
In the distance, there seems to be a chance for Hollywood to redeem itself, though.
Britain’s The Guardian reported yesterday that Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey will reprise their roles in theaters. This is a project in the early stages of preproduction, but if Marta Kauffman or David Crane happen to read this, please remember one thing. These characters aren’t twentysomethings any more. As you develop the story, you’ll have to keep that in mind of there’s any chance of success.
In her first post, I was glad to see that reading between the lines, she gets it. She understands. She realizes that blogging gives anyone, anywhere the ability to say whatever is on his or her mind.
In Biel’s case, she wrote about her new film from her fledgling production company and her non-profit, the Make the Difference Network.
I hope that as she continues getting her feet wet in the blogosphere, she pulls back the curtain and fills us in on what she thinks of her Palmetto State experiences.
Tell us, Jessica. What did you think of Columbia? What really happened with the constant production stoppages for Nailed? Would you like to have dinner?
Congratulations on your new blogging endeavors. With the recent departure of The Shot, South Carolina bloggers are looking for someone to fill the void.
You may have what it takes.
Besides, it could probably help you build your name ID among the two people who don’t know who you are.
On his show this morning, radio talk show host and long lost Jeffrey Sewell family member Don Imus host made, well, it was more than a slip of the tongue.
In a discussion about Adam “Pacman” Jones dropping his nickname in an effort to reimage himself, the “I Man” asked a series of questions.
I posted a transcript of the exchange and added the YouTube clip.
Here’s the transcript:
Guy 1: “Defensive back Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys. Here’s a guy suspended all of 2007 following a shooting in a Vegas night club.”
Imus: “Well, stuff happens. You’re in a night club, for God’s sake. What do you think’s gonna happen in a night club? People are drinking and doing drugs, there are women there, and people have guns. So, there, go ahead.”
Guy 1: “He’s also been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005.”
Imus: “What color is he?”
Guy 1: “He’s African-American.”
Imus: “Well, there you go. Now we know.”
I’m thinking he probably should have left out part of that. On the bright side, it looks like he found a pretty easy way to get out of a contract.
Cast member Mark Critch and a camera crew followed the ambassador from Ottawa to Columbia on a recent trip.
Critch, who has been described as the “Canadian Jon Stewart,” tried his best to bait SC’s former speaker, but he wasn’t successful.
I think when you watch this, you’ll see it as a Stephen Colbert piece where the interviewee couldn’t be brought down. As one person said, “It’s pretty funny stuff.”
The potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate came off in a way most aren’t used to seeing him. One thing’s for sure. America’s ambassador knows Canada.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you. Here’s a clip from a German talk show featuring Nicole Richie’s daddy singing one of his standards on helium. I know, it’s not going to make you hold your sides, but there’s a certain quality that still makes you want to watch.
I’m not a big Julia Roberts fan. There’s still a part of me that remembers the disparaging remarks she made about Abbeville, SC while filming “Sleeping with the Enemy.”
Just in case you don’t remember, in an August 1990 ROLLING STONE interview, the Smyrna, Georgia native referred to the small town as “horribly racist” and “living hell.” Julia, you should know the rules by now. Even if it’s true, you can’t say it unless you’re “from around here.”
Anyway, despite Roberts’ poor choice of words seventeen years ago, the girl can act. As the “sixth richest woman in Texas” Joanne Herring, she convinces ethically-challenged Congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) that his mission in life is to secretly fund and arm Afghan rebels against the Soviets during the communist invasion and occupation of the 1980s. With the assistance of blunt CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), an adept legislative aide named Bonnie Bach (Amy Adams), and a good-hearted committee chairman named Doc Long (Ned Beatty), Wilson turns a $5 million foreign aid appropriation in to a $1 billion dollar war ($500 million from the US and another $500 million from Saudi Arabia).
Adapted for the screen by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing), the film moves quickly and has some incredibly good laugh lines. The conversational chemistry links between Hanks and Roberts, Hanks and Hoffman, and Hoffman and Roberts are incredibly strong.
Even though “Charlie Wilson’s War” is an entertaining film, there is some preachiness there, and Sorkin wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not giving anything away when I say that the effort beat the Soviets, but Sorkin through Hoffman and the House committee tell us that by not learning from history, we will repeat it.
That part’s for the policy wonks to decide, though. I’m just here to talk about a movie I liked.
The key here is not walking in the theater with expectations that you will leave as an expert on little-known points in American history or archaeology. You’re not Indiana Jones and probably never will be. Just watch the movie.
This is a film that didn’t open to critical acclaim, but it wasn’t supposed to. This is not an award contender by any stretch, but that’s OK. Sometimes it’s fine to go to a movie just to have a good time.
You know what? I enjoyed “Book of Secrets.” It was a fun flick.
I don’t think it was pointless to cast folks like Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Justin Bartha with Academy Award®-nominees Ed Harris and Harvey Keitel or Academy Award ®-winners Helen Mirren and Jon Voight.
Basically, this sequel has treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) out to set the record straight and clear his great-great grandfather who is accused as one of John Wilkes Booth’s conspirators in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Trotting around the globe following a series of clues, Cage reignites the chemistry with his on-the-rocks girlfriend Abigail Chase (Kruger) and his wanna-be-famous assistant Riley Poole (Bartha).
All the while, bad guy Mitch Wilkinson (Harris) and Ben’s parents (Mirren and Voight) add to the character interaction, action, and comedy.
It’s a good movie. Go see it, and let yourself have fun.
I have to admit, there is this slightest of chances that I might have seen Hollywood’s most recent TV-to-bigscreen adaptation had the cast, crew, and interviewed fans not reached estrogen critical mass.
Let’s be honest. He probably won’t be 
Former “Hollywood Madame” 
I’m not a big Julia Roberts fan. There’s still a part of me that remembers the disparaging remarks she made about Abbeville, SC while filming “Sleeping with the Enemy.”
The key here is not walking in the theater with expectations that you will leave as an expert on little-known points in American history or archaeology. You’re not Indiana Jones and probably never will be. Just watch the movie.
