Does a Movie Really Need a Message to be Enjoyed?

Ivan says: "Ponder this ..."

• "Apocalypse Now"
• "Victor/Victoria"
• "Legally Blonde"
• "Crash"
• "Midnight Cowboy"
• "My Fair Lady"

Continued May 4th - 945P EDT:

The reason I ask is because I really LOVE these movies. Unfortunately, there's a whole contingent who would dismiss "Victor/Victoria" or "Legally Blonde" or "My Fair Lady" as a waste of time. I think the "contingent" has missed the point.

I truly believe in entertainment for entertainment's sake. So, as I've said before, it's really just a matter of preference. It's perfectly fine to want to be mindlessly entertained. Some folks think "Dukes of Hazzard" is entertaining and although that particular movie doesn't appeal to me, I can understand that it has some entertainment value to someone.

I'm always troubled by those who would judge entertainment -- how can anyone say what's good or bad for someone else? Entertainment is exactly like beauty -- it's in the eye of the beholder!

And speaking of "Midnight Cowboy" ... stay tuned for more.

Who the Heck is Stanley Tucci?

Ivan says:

So -- what are your thoughts on Stanley Tucci? He is definitely an underrated actor. Do you sense an "underrated actor" theme in my writings? Billy Cruddup, Stanley Tucci -- next we'll be talking about Liev Schreiber. It's always the actors who are not necessarily in the mainstream that catch my eye -- and of course, there are some who are universally "easy to look at" (but I'm not a Brad Pitt fan; I've said that before).

Listening to the radio this morning, WBGG, the #2 station in Miami, (this station gives radio a bad name), I hear one of the DJs announce, "I don't even know how to pronounce his name, who's this 'Lee-ev Shiber guy". I'm like, "WHAT?" I can't even imagine that someone on the radio in the 10th largest market in the US could be so stupid.

Anyway, Liev and Stanley were in the charming film, "The Daytrippers", with Hope Davis (one of my very faves) and Parker Posey, a quirky cutie! The story is funny ... Hope Davis drives from Long Island into NYC with her family in search of her husband, played by Stanley Tucci (Anne Meara is her mother, Parker Posey/Liev Schreiber as the sister and sister's boyfriend). They have a few adventures along the way and it's mildly amusing.

When they finally find Stanley, he's at an office party -- with his boyfriend. At this point, the story turns serious. But Stanley is so convincing as a married man with a boyfriend (I know it sounds crazy).

Stanley is also in the "The Core", a less than mediocre film -- it's a very contrived mix of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" meets "Fantastic Voyage". He plays a self-absorbed and arrogant world famous scientist -- who turns out to be a nice guy in the end. You might have also seem him on Broadway with Edie Falco, of "The Sopranos" fame, in "Frankie and Johnnie in the Claire de Lune" -- I'm sorry to say that I missed it.

Whenever I'm asked to name some of my favorite actors, I have a hard time answering because I think there's something to like about many, many actors -- and it's not just one thing that leaves an impression on me.

So, what brought me to the subject of Stanley Tucci today? Well, I just watched "Robots", an unabashedly cute animated film, and he's the voice of the father.

Question of the day: Can someone who thinks "Crash" is sensational also find something to like in a film like "Robots"? Oh, yes he can!

"And Then There's the Lovely James Spader"

Ivan said:

I haven't seen any nude celebrity pictures of him, but a long time and very close "friend" of mine from New Jersey tells me that James Spader is quite an eyeful, so to speak! I agree, James is definitely a cutie. "Less Than Zero", "Wall Street", "sex, lies and videotape", "White Palace", "Stargate", "2 Days in the Valley", and my favorite, "Secretary" ... which of course stars Maggie G., sister of Jake. Speaking of which, I'd like to see James and Jake get it on!

If you read the interview with Jake in "Details" magazine a while back, his statement about being labeled as gay was startling. I quote, "You know, it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual. It means I can play more kinds of roles. I'm open to whatever people want to call me. I've never really been attracted to men sexually, but I don't think I would be afraid of it if it happened." YES!!!!!!

Further to my original point, you certainly can't leave out Kevin Bacon, particularly if the discussion includes the amply endowed and one has a predilection for ogling nude men (doesn't everyone -- at least, everyone on this blog?)

But surely, we digress my dear. Although I'm beguiled by celebrities, I do try to avoid being a "star fucker" (that's one of my favorite phrases from "Six Degrees of Separation").

I haven't had much of a movie agenda lately, at least not recent movies. My TV, when I have it on, tunes only to TCM, IFC, Sundance and the new LOGO channel (the channel for gay programming). I truly like the LOGO channel but too bad it's supported by commercials ... I guess it's better than nothing though. They run "Die, Mommie, Die" and "Psycho Beach Party" quite a bit ... which are sort of like "John Waters meets Faye Dunaway and Gidget". Both come highly recommended for dévotées of camp!

Charles Busch is a pleasure to behold in these films as a faded singer and police lieutentant (respectively). I love the scene in "Psycho Beach Party" with "her" and Thomas Gibson, (of "Tales of the City" and "Dharma and Greg" fame) as Charles hangs out the car window while Thomas "bangs her like a screen door in a hurricane"!

A small treat from "Psycho Beach Party" ... the young Lauren Ambrose (Claire Fisher from "Six Feet Under") playing the "Gidget" role.

Oh Ivan "I Second That Emotion" !

...Enough Said!

Posted by Sylvia 4/14/06

"Love that Keanu Guy ... "

Ivan said:
And if he agrees to do the movie version, I hope he does the entire film naked! He's adorable!

Sylvia Asks:

Is it just me or could Keanu Reeves(right) play Jim McGreevey(left) in the movie that will inevitably be made based on McGreevey's book "The Confession"( being released this September)?

posted by Syl 4/13/06

Audio post by Syl:

Removed by Syl

"Awesome Performance, Anonymous Persona"

Ivan said:

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Bana, George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Billy Crudup. Who's Billy Cruddup, you say? As for me, I say, it's a downright shame he's not more recognized ... I just watched Billy again tonight in the movie "World Traveler" -- what an awesome performance. You may remember him as the drugged out rock star in Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous". The character was over the top and he pulled it off with an over the top performance -- call me naïve, but that's how I picture the life of a rock star. Billy's performance in "Almost Famous" was underrated and his performance in "World Traveler" would seem to be "Almost Unknown", since everyone I've asked, has never seen, or even heard of "World Traveler".

Billy's pushing 38 this year, but that certainly didn't stop George Clooney, who just a few short years ago was just another thirtysomething actor in a popular TV drama (when "ER" started, George was 33). Granted, Billy doesn't have George's looks, but he's still easy to look at and you can count on him to deliver the goods (could you say the same about George as "Batman"?)

In the same vein, there's Eric Bana as Hector in "Troy". Achilles may have killed Hector in mythology, but Eric beat Brad's butt senseless when you compare their screen presence in "Troy". Sylvia is a big Brad Fan (can't say the same for myself). Stay tuned for more on this subject.