Why Can't They Be Friends?

Angelina Jolie against her father, Jon Voight. Candy versus Tori Spelling. Jennifer Lopez facing Gwyneth Paltrow. Celebrity feuds are as frequent and well publicized as divorces in Hollywoodland; and usually much more messy. Since Bette Davis and Joan Crawford allegedly battled on the set of "Mommie Dearist", the media has lapped up every minor and greatly confrontational spat that goes on between the stars of the screen. While I'm sure many of the men in the world wouldn't mind a mud-wrestling match between Paltrow and Lopez, a mud-slinging competition can turn from ridiculous to pathetic before you can say "tabloid cover". It would be quite wonderful indeed to imagine that all the beautiful and glamorous actors and directors of Beverly Hills and LA floated about as gods and goddesses of our pop culture, yet for every Entertainment Tonight story chronicling Bono's charity work, there is another for Rosie O' Donnell and Donald Trump having a battle of the bad hair. While many of these feuds are blown greatly out of proportion by entertainment media outlets, one wonders why many celebrities, such as Trump and O' Donnell would allow their war of words to go so public. It does no benefit to eithers career, unless you count Rosie as being awarded "Most Annoying Celebrity" at Hollywood.com. Other than the somewhat tragic daddy issues of Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight, the most emotional reaction that the engagers of these arguments can expect from watchers is an eye roll and shake of the head.  

Most recently, two of the more talented living directors, Spike Lee and Clint Eastwood have found themselves in a verbal confrontation that most would have expected to be below the two legends. Lee took Eastwood's statement to "Shut his face" regarding Lee's remarks about the racial makeup seriously in Eastwood's films seriously. Come on, Spike Lee! This is Clint Eastwood! Out and about Hollywood Republican and Badass, he's not one to be subtle. "Shut his face" could easily be interpreted as "Ok, whatever" when said by a more passive person. This is the man, who, when asked about gun control, responded, "If there's a gun around, I want to be controlling it," and later on a CNN interview clearly stated how his mind worked, "I tried being reasonable, I didn't like it." Lee does have something of a point about the lack of African-American soldiers in Eastwood's war films, but his remark of, "First of all, the man is not my father and we're not on a plantation either," has all the tact and class of Eastwood's previous remark. Many a film fan would expect and hope that two such prestigious directors as Lee and Eastwood would be able so resolve, or at least pass over their differences instead of bringing them to national attention. One can only hope for a reconciliation, so that these two men can resume what they do best- making movies. 

Mamma Mia Here We Go Again

Since Catherine Zeta Jones purred out the opening lines of "All That Jazz" in 2002 with the movie version of the classic show "Chicago", Hollywood has seen a 'second coming' of the movie musical. The genre, one of the most popular in cinema, from the second Academy Award best-picture winner, "Broadway Melody" in 1929 , was all but wiped away in the 1980's and 90's; with the final nail in the coffin- "Xanadu", which was so sublimely awful, in addition, it all but totally destroyed the careers of Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton John. The woes of Xanadu are almost wiped from memory, and this summer, Meryl Streep, one of the remaining legendary actresses of Hollywood, is taking the leap into an adaption of "Mamma Mia!", a "jukebox musical" using the songs of ABBA to back a somewhat-flimsy, but still enjoyable story-line.

Over the past six years, both the silver screen and the Broadway stages have elevated each other to new heights. As often as movie producers have dipped into the ever-warming waters of material on the Great White Way, composers and book-writers have relied upon the support and ideas of their California counterparts. In recent years, the Grandest Canyon has played host to musical versions of "Legally Blonde", "Hairspray" (which was likewise adapted back into a movie musical following the success of the stage version), "Mary Poppins", "The Little Mermaid, "Spamalot", "Cry Baby", "Young Frankenstein", and even... "Xanadu". Fortunately, the recent production played off the campiness of the material in an extremely effective manner, and is even now nominated for the "Best Musical" Tony presented June 15th. Movie musicals are frequently frowned upon by the Broadway bloggers and snootier members of the theatrical community for being unoriginal and catered to blockbuster-seeking tourists rather than more sophisticated Broadway audience members. There may be truth in this, as in examining the list above, only "Spamalot", "Hairspray" and "Xanadu" have been met with critical and audience praise, though "Mary Poppins" and "Little Mermaid" continue to play to full houses weekly. Though no one can deny that Mel Brooks' adaption of "The Producers" effectively 'saved' the American musical in 2001, and pulled it through the depression following 9/11. "Billy Elliot", with a score by Elton John, arriving later this year, is rumored to follow in "The Producers" footsteps as a massive moneymaking hit. 

For as much as Broadway chooses the more light-hearted and even soul-less selections out of Hollywood's catalogue, the most successful adaptions of recent movie musicals are some of the darkest seen in the Big Apple. "Sweeney Todd", released last winter with Johnny Depp starring, is one of the more commercially difficult Broadway ventures- typically a difficult sell to tourists due to its morbid and operatic plot-line. "Chicago"'s stage incarnation is even blacker and more cynical than its Oscar-winning movie version; with it's original production running just over two years, and losing the best musical race (honorably) to "A Chorus Line". Although this summer's "Mamma Mia", and last year's  hit, "Hairspray" are pure fluff and fun, upcoming projects look to follow the darker side of the genre. "Nine", chronicling a film-maker's struggle for connection and identity, (2009) will surely re-define the genre with a cast-list reading like a "Who's Who" for Hollywood, with stars including Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren. "Follies", a Sondheim creation chronicling the lost loves and haunted memories of aging and tormented chorus dancers, (allegedly 2009, but I'm betting on an extension) was one of the most mysterious and lauded flops in Broadway history, with no major revival ever mounted due to the enormous costs required in design. The original production has become something of a myth in Broadway culture, as one of the most perfect and wrongly-done musicals of all time. The age of Hollywood's song and dance men and their toe-tapping routines has faded, and (for now at least), the silver screen has developed a more sophisticated and refined taste and definition of when song should be broken into. I, for one, am mesmerized. Just nobody mention the word "Xanadu", and we should be looking forward to many movie musicals to come.

Drank: Slow Your Roll

I seem to have gone on some sort of a movie-blogging binge over the past couple of days, so I figure that today seems ideal to discuss the "pop" in pop culture. Well, only if you're in the western US. Otherwise the pun is lost on your who refer to this soft drink as "soda" or something of the like. You know, Coke, Mountain Dew, Pepsi- any of those carbonated beverages loaded with what Americans crave most: caffeine. Apparently though, in our increasingly fast-paced society, these conventional drinks just don't provide the level of energy that is required, so now whenever on strolls into a gas station they are confronted with towering fridges filled with brands such as Red Bull and Rockstar. Well, a Houston based company has apparently taken notice of our country's over-caffination, and devised an alternative. Notice- "alternative" rather than "substitute". It's called Drank and it's clever slogan is "Slow Your Roll". Drank is the anti-energy drink. 

Some of who hail from the South may be familiar with Drank in its primary manifestation as a recreational drug in the hip hop community. It usually is concocted with the use of cough syrup- and the excess codeine within it. Consuming an excess amount of Drank or cough syrup can cause an overly sedated and euphoric feeling with what some describe as "altered states of consciousness." Having personally sat next to a young man who daily chugged cough syrup as if it were his morning orange juice in an english course, from an outsider's perspective, it seems to lead to cold sweat, a pale complexion, and frequent trips to the bathroom. In fact, the drink leads to cardiac and respiratory arrest, a condition experienced by the very man who popularized the concoction and later died from its effects. 

The Houston-based Drank company is not illegally packaging cough syrup under a soft drink label. They (for what it's worth) have instead devised a mix of replacement ingredients; three of which are Melatonin, Valerian Root, and rose hips. For those without a degree in herbology, let me fill you in. Melatonin is a hormone already found in the human body. It has recently been utilized by companies as a dietary supplement- but only in the US. Use of the ingredient is still illegal in the EU and New Zealand. Melatonin is also frequently administered to those suffering from ADHD as a sleep aide, a treatment for depression and seasonal affective disorder and a fertility enhancement for women. It's basically a naturally occurring tranquilizer- with the small side affect of causing wildly vivid dreams to those who consume it. Valerian Roots go back in usage to ancient Greece and Rome as a mild sedative. In reality, the roots are not overly potent, and there are few side effects associated with them. Rose hips are a popular natural remedy to arthritis and urinary bladder infections. They are packed with vitamin C and sometimes used to cure colds. Drank certainly uses purely natural ingredients which suggest that it does what it advertises quite well. Of course, one might question the misuse of potent natural substitutes for chemical concoctions in both legal and ethical terms. However, for the moment, Drank is a new alternative to those pesky "energy" drinks for the consumer who just has too little to do. 

School's Out For Movies

    After many recommendations and ardent insisting from many of my closer friends, I broke my boycott on Nicolas Cage movies that I had been carrying since he single-handedly took down a hardcore superhero (Ghostrider) and a classic horror movie (Wicker Man) in less than a two year time frame. I begrudgingly rented a copy of National Treasure 2 from my local Blockbuster, and Ladies and Gentlemen, I can now state that the Nicolas Cage ban is once again in place. A flimsy and cliched action movie plot does one thing to insult my intelligence as a movie-goer, but blatant historical inaccuracy by a character in trust is quite another. Especially when the subject of attack is a topic of my own studious devotion; presidential assassinations. Nicolas Cage goes around spouting out complete misconceptions about the event, and other American historical occurrences in general in his dry and talentless voice. To save you all any unwanted pain, I'll mention just one that particularly irked me. The expression, "His name is mud". You don't hear it that often anymore except from cute old grandmothers or flustered mothers, but it merits addressing anyway. According to Cage's character, Ben, the saying originated after Dr. Samuel Mudd was convicted in the Lincoln assassination plot, thereby wrecking the past and future of his entire clan; and thus whenever a family member did an act to tarnish their relative's good names, their name would also be Mud. Cute, but not accurate. The expression had been in widespread use for a decade or two prior to the Lincoln assassination. What's more, Mudd really wasn't all that bad of a guy. In fact, he was actually pardoned for his involvement in the Lincoln assassination after helping out his fellow prisoners in a yellow fever epidemic. In fact, there isn't any truly solid evidence that Mudd was involved in the conspiracy at all- though every historian does have their favored point of view. 

This little etymological slip is really just a snowflake on the ice-cube that float in Hollywood's thriving tea of historical carelessness. I just thought I would point it out seeing what an interesting character Mudd was behind a faulty saying. Usually, Hollywood chooses to "muddy up" less intriguing subjects, you know, like gladiator fighting in the obviously titled Russell Crowe film, of the greatest playwright of all time in "Shakespeare in Love". Of course, seeing these events in their actual context would be excruciatingly boring, it's just frustrating when a horny teenager comes blubbering up to one thinking that they know all about ancient Spartan warfare, when really all they've seen are some scantily clad men running about yelling loud noises. Really, people. All it takes is a little visit to wikipedia to confirm your facts. Or you know...Encyclopedia Britannica, or something like that... 

Super Heroes?

If anyone who reads this blog was going through adolescence, or even taking their first dip into the "maturity" in 1978, I envy you greatly. Well, maybe there's a little pity there as well since the Bee Gees were going through the height of their popularity while Keith Moon left the world for rock-god heaven that year, but I'm jealous of you for your films; one in particular- Superman. The movie that promised, "You'll believe a man can fly!" and featured Christopher Reeve in all his wire-strung glory- not that anyone was looking for them back then. Seeing Reeve rise above the clouds and exemplify justice, freedom, the American Way and all that we Earthlings could only hope for in our dreams must have been miraculous, and I so wish I could I been there to feel it. Back in 1978, and the years in World War II that saw the birth and golden age of comic books, Superheroes truly were super. They represented the shining example of what we should all strive to become- flawless and beautiful in their perfection. Their powers were merely a blessing which allowed them to better carry out their noble duties and serve the patriotic people of their country. In this summer of 2008, with four major superhero movies arriving in cinemas during these months of sun and surf, seeing a man fly is no longer breathtaking and liberating; in fact, in these contemporary days, it is something of a curse.

Modern society seems to hate the extraordinary. We've become more and more cynical as our world sinks into an energy and environmental crisis, and it seems more plausible to see a protagonist grappling with moral ambiguity and revenge issues than to see one who is motivated purely by goodwill. When sacrifice is brought up, we would rather focus on what is being given up than what is being gained. Our current crop of cinematic heroes reflects this trend in the utmost. Tony Stark drowns away his troubles with alcohol, and must do great wrong before he can be inspired to do right. Redemption here is another key issue. These superbeings atoning for their past shows to us that though we are allegedly living in the end of times, we also may redeem ourselves. Bruce Banner as The Hulk is another similarly troubled Super- tormented by his government and his condition as he flees across the globe. Finally, a new entry into the Superhero cannon this summer is Hancock as played by Will Smith. Here we are looking at an alcoholic homeless bum who only agrees to reform his ways to wave away a prison sentence. Classy. Yes, I am aware of the age-old rule, "There is no drama without conflict," but I for one wouldn't mind believing that not only can a man fly, but do so out of the goodness of his own free heart.

Hulu Hooping is Back in Style!

As the youtube revolution that has spanned the past three or four years continues to make stars out of anyone and everyone who possesses talents ranging from a talent in etymology to lip synching on demand. There is (occasionally) genuine talent to be found and knowledge to be shared (though straight and female, I am an ardent fan of hotforwords), yet finding those diamonds in the rough can be an arduous task of shifting through mountains of dreck and lunatics speaking in diatribes to their webcams. youtube has become the contemporary equivalent to knocking on doors at a talent agency, and this time, any schumck can take up the part. If amateur hour on the internet is your deal, youtube is like the virtual Apollo, but if you choose where to waste your time with a little more class and discretion, hulu.com is the place for you.

Hulu is a site which compiles the individual seasons and episodes that have previously been available on network sites such as abc.com and nbc.com; bringing an impressive arsenal of shows both modern (i.e House, The Office and Family Guy) and vintage (Fame, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alfred Hitchcock Presents). All the videos are legitimate and professional; there is no need to worry about the constant deleting and difficult as on youtube. The shows are formatted in one high-resolution presentation with the small hinderance of about 4 commercials per hour. It's less than you would see on a network television airing, and it helps maintain the costless featuring of the material. While watching old TV programs might not be your fix, hulu also shows dozens of movies from across the decades. Some of these are classic and much lauded, such as Moonstruck, Some Like it Hot and The Big Lebowski, while others are somewhat...pathetic. I'm thinking of you, Hercules in New York. So much for wading through the dreck. 

Some may point out that the site is just another clever form for advertisers to spread their word in a tivo, spam-conscious society, but I for one can tolerate a couple of car commercials in exchange for some on-demand viewing. Hulu is one of those rare inventions that benefits both the money-challenged slacker as well as the power-hungry capitalist executive. Hopefully the site can overcome its somewhat dopey name and rise to the challenge of providing to the world more of what 99.9% of its population craves: free stuff. 

A Universal Loss

Today was a monumental day in the history of the movie industry. We have suffered a loss so profound and tragic that I still find it difficult to comprehend. As of today, the clocktower square set and the King Kong "House" on the Universal Backlot no longer exist. Today, we must remember the lives of these two landmarks and look back on all the wonderful times we had in one another's company. 

The clocktower that became famous after appearing in the classic eighties movie, Back to the Future seems to suffer continuous dangers and threats other than Doc Brown's ungraceful foot and freak lightening storms. The set, as it stood before dawn this morning, was not the exact structure upon which Christopher Lloyd saved the space time continuum, but rather a replica. The original building burned down in a backlot fire. No- this is not some paranormal altering of the temporal universe by Biff Tannen. In August of 1990, the entire square was devastated by the blaze, but miraculously, the clocktower itself survived. The area was reconstructed and has since been used in films and television series including Bruce Almighty, Gremlins and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You would think that such a popular and useful shooting location would be well-kept and preserved, but in September of 1997, another backlot fire destroyed the area almost completely. Both times, clocktower square was rebuilt for future films to utilize and tourists to gawk at as they passed it by. On a side note, whilst the cast and crew were not able to use the original set in the third installment of Back to the Future due to the 1990 fire, an alternate was constructed in Sonara, CA. After production was completed, the structures were left up at the request of the area head. However, in 1996, the Sonara clocktower was struck by lightning and burned down. 

The King Kong warehouse has a somewhat less colorful history, yet has become just as popular a sight for visitors to Universal Studios over the past two decades. The building was part of the Universal backlot tram tour (along with the clocktower); constructed specifically for the purpose of entertaining tourists in March of 1986. The tram bearing passengers would approach the building as guides commented on the scent of bananas in the air around them, and would subsequently be witnesses to Kong's wrath as he destroyed New York City around the vehicle. The animated monkey was at the time the world's largest animatronic figure standing thirty feet tall and weighing seven tons. Just a year after he was built, a 1987 fire destroyed many sets around the building, but Kong was fortunately spared. 

It is almost guaranteed that Universal will rapidly begin on reconstruction of the now infamous Clocktower Square. At the present time, reports indicate the the tower itself was spared the worst of the damage. As for Kong; the backlot entertainment undergoes frequent renovations based on current projects and trends. Universal may choose to resurrect the giant ape, but it would be my guess (and hope) that they will pioneer a new sight for some of the park's 25,000 daily visitors. Or maybe, another on-site fire house.