Greetings,
Okay, it is officially Halloween, and though, like I said, I don't do the Halloween thing, I am giving you something scary today. Well, there is a witch. Sort of. Not exactly, but you see the creation of one. Look, today, I'm reviewing a 1990 TV movie called The Dreamer of Oz, which is a bio (TV) pic about the life of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum. And I think this could possibly be my favorite TV movie ever.
Now this one is quite different from your average TV movie. It is shot in a way that is so incredibly cinematic and colorful and larger than life, you'd swear it was meant for the big screen. Frankly, if they did take this and release it in a theater, it would look amazing. And I think I like it so much because I am a writer, and, for a writer, it is very inspirational and motivational. It's just fantastic. So let's get to it.
Though I referred to this as sort of a biopic, it does not take us though the entire life of L. Frank Baum. Instead, it focuses mainly on his life with his wife and sons, how he does whatever it takes to support them while keeping his passion for writing alive, and eventually creating the world of Oz.
The movie begins at the premiere of the film, The Wizard of Oz, in 1939. The press is clamoring over the cast of actors, Judy Garland and whatnot, but one young reporter notices an elderly woman and pulls her aside to talk with her. Turns out, it is the widow of L. Frank Baum, Maude, who is played fantastically throughout the film by Annette O'Toole (what's up, Mrs. Kent!), and I'm pretty sure in this scene she's got her old lady make up on. Anyway, Mrs. Baum is quite surprised but flattered that this young man even knows who she is. Actually, he is quite interested in learning about the true story behind THE story, so Maude begins to tell the tale of her life with her beloved husband.
At this point we flash back to eighteen hundred and . . . something, where we are introduced to L. Frank Baum, played brilliantly by John Ritter. I actually this is the best thing he ever did in his career. Anyway, we see the first meeting between Frank (yeah, I'll just call him Frank from now on) and Maude Gage, daughter of Matilda Gage, played by the great Rue McClanahan. Wow, I am being VERY descriptive about these actors. Anyway, Frank is hesitant to meet Maude because her mother is a serious nineteenth century feminist, and he finds her a little scary. But alas, Frank, who is a poor actor at the time, and Maude fall in love, mostly because of his ability to be so creative and make up these beautiful worlds to describe to her. There's some pleasant foreshadowing for you. Despite her mother's objections, Maude does marry Frank.
So throughout the film, we follow the life of Frank, Maude and the sons they would have. There is also a lot about all the jobs Frank had in order to take care of them. Like I said, he starts as an actor, but also, while his family lives in the Dakota Territory, he opens a store, and then goes on the road as a salesman. According to the film, it is this that takes a great tole on his health. Eventually, he takes his professional writing seriously, getting a book of children's stories published, with the help of illustrator W.W. Denslow, who would go on to illustrate the Oz books as well. Now it is that first publication that gets him some recognition and money, but he does not give up on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Through his persistence and hard work, it is one day published. Of course, there is mention of the books that would follow, but it is the first around which the film is centered.
One of the best things about this movie is how we see the Oz story being developed over the years. He tells it, piece by piece, to different people, be they his wife, his children, their friends, even his mother-in-law, who does warm up to him and his great talent. We also see how certain events and people he meets in his life inspire the story and the characters, from the munchkins to the Cowardly Lion to Dorothy herself. S he was writing his greatest work. sometimes, without even really knowing what he was creating. Again, as a writer, I love the way it shows that, if we pay close attention to our lives, we can be inspired enough to create something great, which is certainly something that L. Frank Baum did.
Honestly, the most disappointing thing about this TV movie is the fact that, after that initial airing, I don't recall that it was ever shown again. Maybe it's just where I live, but that is sad. And though I've tried, I also cannot find this thing on DVD. But I'm sure it's out there somewhere, so if you can find it, watch it. Seriously, it won't disappoint. It may not be as good as The Wizard of Oz, but hearing the stories of how that came to be, I think, can bring about the same nostalgic feeling of that classic movie. So go ahead, find it, watch it, enjoy it!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
A Friend To Die For or Death of a Cheerleader - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
I love Kellie Martin. I have loved her for over twenty years, ever since her days as Becca Thacher on Life Goes On, one of my favorite shows of all time. During her years on that show and all the years since, Kellie has more than proven herself as a great actress. Though she has shown up in a few feature films, it is most definitely her work on television that has garnered her the most success, through series and, of course, TV movies. Again, it was difficult to pick one, but there is something about this chosen one that makes it stand above all the rest. We'll get to that soon. So let's begin our discussion on A Friend to Die For . . . or Death of a Cheerleader. Yeah, here's the thing. When it aired originally, it was called A Friend to Die For, but, in later airings, up until the ones that air to this day, it is referred to as Death of a Cheerleader. Don't ask me why, but I thought I'd share both titles, so you won't miss it.
This is another one based on a true story, but the names and probably the locations were changed. And because it's true, I'll be going into more detail than usual. The film starts out with Stacey Lockwood played by Tori Spelling (groan! Sorry) knocking on the door of a house so that she can use the phone, because her friend "got a little weird". We see a lot of this from the perspective of an unknown person, then from the point of view of the man who was nice enough to drive Stacey home when she couldn't reach her parents by phone. After dropping her off and sitting in his car, he very vaguely sees the images of two people, including Stacey, then one person attacking the other, with said attacker fleeing the scene and jumping in a car. Not fully aware of what has happened, the man pursues the car of the attacker, but to no avail. Next, we see Stacey walking (somehow) to the home of a neighbor, where she tells them she's been stabbed, then collapses. After this, her parents come home to the flashing lights of ambulances and cop cars, then they are seen watching her die in surgery. Those last two scenes are, to be honest, very heart wrenching. You just can't imagine what it must be like for parents to come home to something like that. And knowing it is a true story makes it even worse.
So that was the opening, and since we know who dies within five minutes, it is not really a spoiler. The spoiler will be when I say who the killer is. And I kind of have to do that in order to truly speak on the fine acting performances. Plus, it's revealed pretty early on.
Okay, after that, we go back in time ten months to a living Stacey surrounded by her friends in a high school auditorium. And many rows back, we see Angela Delvecchio played by Kellie Martin sitting next to her friend Jill. It is in this scene where it's established that this high school is very, very dedicated teaching the kids to have a competitive edge in order "to be the best". No, seriously, the principal literally makes the student body shout out these four words. And who is the man telling them to do this? It is Principal Ed Saxe played by - wait for it! - Terry O'Quinn! That's right. Ten years before he was John Locke of Lost, he was a high school principal. Way to go, Terry. And he's not the only familiar face we see.
When we get a look at Angela's home life, we meet her sister, Terri, played by a pre-Drew Carey Show, Christa Miller, and their mother, played by the iconic Valerie Harper. Mrs. Delvecchio is clearly a very religious woman, constantly practicing her Catholic faith, and this does slightly play a part in the film.
The first half of this movie is centered around Angela's desperate attempt at popularity, which, especially in high school, can run a person's life. She wants to work on the school paper, be a cheerleader and join a "prestigious" club. She does succeed at that last one, but still remains an outcast even within the group. She feels as though all the work she has been doing has been for nothing, and becomes even more desperate for acceptance.
One night, Angela devises a plan to get Stacey to go to a party with her, in the hopes of winning her friendship and, in turn, the popularity she intensely craves. Things do not go as planned, though, as Stacey gets angry, calling Angela weird, and storming from the car. At this point, Angela begins to develop a massive fear that Stacey will convince everyone to turn against her and begins to follow the car in which she is riding. Now we see that Angela was the person watching in the shadows in the opening, and that she, in a fit of rage, is the one who stabbed Stacey. Afterward, she flees home, cleans the knife and breathes deeply in fear and realization of what she just did.
The second half of the film is full of the students and the town speculating about what happened and who may be the killer. Most of them believe it to be a girl named Monica who was clearly the greatest outcast in the school and the favorite target of Stacey and her friends. It also raises questions about the aforementioned obsession that both the school and town have with being the best. This entire time Angela is racked with guilt and terrified to tell anyone. She, like a lot of students, is questioned by the police, one of whom is played by James Avery (Hi, Uncle Phil!). They come to realize she is guilty but cannot prove it. In the end, Angela confesses, first to her mother in a letter, then to the police. And the scene where her mother finds and reads the letter is breathtaking. Kellie Martin is reading the contents of the letter in a voice over, while we see Valerie Harper silently reading it. Just the look in her eyes as she reads and the cry to her husband as she finishes is enough to break your heart.
Despite her confession, Angela is put on trial, since the prosecution wants her to be convicted of first degree murder, though the punishment is the same for second. The defense attorney shows that it was an crime of passion and not premeditated, therefore, Angela is sentenced to confinement until the age of 25. And that is where we end.
Let me make it clear that I speak on this story strictly from the perspective of what is shown in this movie. I know these "characters" are based on real people, so whatever I said about them, what they felt, how they behaved, their motivations, has nothing to do with those real life people. I don't know about who they truly were and are, so I cannot speak on that. Here, I am simply commenting on how they were portrayed in the film.
I know I gave away a lot about this movie here, but I think it's all right, since the reveal comes early, and you can probably guess the outcome. Still, it is definitely worth the watch. It's a movie that can certainly get your attention and keep it. You might find moments of melodrama, but the story is so well portrayed by Kellie, Valerie and a lot of the rest of the cast, it can be overlooked.
So be on the look out for either A Friend to Die For or Death of a Cheerleader, because, with either title, it is one to be watched.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I love Kellie Martin. I have loved her for over twenty years, ever since her days as Becca Thacher on Life Goes On, one of my favorite shows of all time. During her years on that show and all the years since, Kellie has more than proven herself as a great actress. Though she has shown up in a few feature films, it is most definitely her work on television that has garnered her the most success, through series and, of course, TV movies. Again, it was difficult to pick one, but there is something about this chosen one that makes it stand above all the rest. We'll get to that soon. So let's begin our discussion on A Friend to Die For . . . or Death of a Cheerleader. Yeah, here's the thing. When it aired originally, it was called A Friend to Die For, but, in later airings, up until the ones that air to this day, it is referred to as Death of a Cheerleader. Don't ask me why, but I thought I'd share both titles, so you won't miss it.
This is another one based on a true story, but the names and probably the locations were changed. And because it's true, I'll be going into more detail than usual. The film starts out with Stacey Lockwood played by Tori Spelling (groan! Sorry) knocking on the door of a house so that she can use the phone, because her friend "got a little weird". We see a lot of this from the perspective of an unknown person, then from the point of view of the man who was nice enough to drive Stacey home when she couldn't reach her parents by phone. After dropping her off and sitting in his car, he very vaguely sees the images of two people, including Stacey, then one person attacking the other, with said attacker fleeing the scene and jumping in a car. Not fully aware of what has happened, the man pursues the car of the attacker, but to no avail. Next, we see Stacey walking (somehow) to the home of a neighbor, where she tells them she's been stabbed, then collapses. After this, her parents come home to the flashing lights of ambulances and cop cars, then they are seen watching her die in surgery. Those last two scenes are, to be honest, very heart wrenching. You just can't imagine what it must be like for parents to come home to something like that. And knowing it is a true story makes it even worse.
So that was the opening, and since we know who dies within five minutes, it is not really a spoiler. The spoiler will be when I say who the killer is. And I kind of have to do that in order to truly speak on the fine acting performances. Plus, it's revealed pretty early on.
Okay, after that, we go back in time ten months to a living Stacey surrounded by her friends in a high school auditorium. And many rows back, we see Angela Delvecchio played by Kellie Martin sitting next to her friend Jill. It is in this scene where it's established that this high school is very, very dedicated teaching the kids to have a competitive edge in order "to be the best". No, seriously, the principal literally makes the student body shout out these four words. And who is the man telling them to do this? It is Principal Ed Saxe played by - wait for it! - Terry O'Quinn! That's right. Ten years before he was John Locke of Lost, he was a high school principal. Way to go, Terry. And he's not the only familiar face we see.
When we get a look at Angela's home life, we meet her sister, Terri, played by a pre-Drew Carey Show, Christa Miller, and their mother, played by the iconic Valerie Harper. Mrs. Delvecchio is clearly a very religious woman, constantly practicing her Catholic faith, and this does slightly play a part in the film.
The first half of this movie is centered around Angela's desperate attempt at popularity, which, especially in high school, can run a person's life. She wants to work on the school paper, be a cheerleader and join a "prestigious" club. She does succeed at that last one, but still remains an outcast even within the group. She feels as though all the work she has been doing has been for nothing, and becomes even more desperate for acceptance.
One night, Angela devises a plan to get Stacey to go to a party with her, in the hopes of winning her friendship and, in turn, the popularity she intensely craves. Things do not go as planned, though, as Stacey gets angry, calling Angela weird, and storming from the car. At this point, Angela begins to develop a massive fear that Stacey will convince everyone to turn against her and begins to follow the car in which she is riding. Now we see that Angela was the person watching in the shadows in the opening, and that she, in a fit of rage, is the one who stabbed Stacey. Afterward, she flees home, cleans the knife and breathes deeply in fear and realization of what she just did.
The second half of the film is full of the students and the town speculating about what happened and who may be the killer. Most of them believe it to be a girl named Monica who was clearly the greatest outcast in the school and the favorite target of Stacey and her friends. It also raises questions about the aforementioned obsession that both the school and town have with being the best. This entire time Angela is racked with guilt and terrified to tell anyone. She, like a lot of students, is questioned by the police, one of whom is played by James Avery (Hi, Uncle Phil!). They come to realize she is guilty but cannot prove it. In the end, Angela confesses, first to her mother in a letter, then to the police. And the scene where her mother finds and reads the letter is breathtaking. Kellie Martin is reading the contents of the letter in a voice over, while we see Valerie Harper silently reading it. Just the look in her eyes as she reads and the cry to her husband as she finishes is enough to break your heart.
Despite her confession, Angela is put on trial, since the prosecution wants her to be convicted of first degree murder, though the punishment is the same for second. The defense attorney shows that it was an crime of passion and not premeditated, therefore, Angela is sentenced to confinement until the age of 25. And that is where we end.
Let me make it clear that I speak on this story strictly from the perspective of what is shown in this movie. I know these "characters" are based on real people, so whatever I said about them, what they felt, how they behaved, their motivations, has nothing to do with those real life people. I don't know about who they truly were and are, so I cannot speak on that. Here, I am simply commenting on how they were portrayed in the film.
I know I gave away a lot about this movie here, but I think it's all right, since the reveal comes early, and you can probably guess the outcome. Still, it is definitely worth the watch. It's a movie that can certainly get your attention and keep it. You might find moments of melodrama, but the story is so well portrayed by Kellie, Valerie and a lot of the rest of the cast, it can be overlooked.
So be on the look out for either A Friend to Die For or Death of a Cheerleader, because, with either title, it is one to be watched.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 29, 2012
A Killer Among Friends - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
I love people who are legendary for a reason and for a good reason. One of those people would be Patty Duke. She is truly a treasure and that is because she is fantastic at what she does and always has done as an actress. And, as an actress, she has done more than her share of TV movies. If you ask me, she is one of the faces that adds legitimacy to the entire genre. So it seems only right to include a TV movie that features her. It was tough to pick one, because many of them are very good, but I decided on one based on a true story, A Killer Among Friends.
In this movie, Patty Duke plays Jean Monroe, mother of three, with one grown son, one teenage son, and in the middle, a teenage daughter named Jenny. Jenny is played by Tiffani (Amber, at the time) Thiessen, proving early on in this small but pivotal role, that there has always been more to her as an actress than Kelly Kapowski. Remember the awesomely wicked Valerie Malone. Moving on. Jean is very close with her daughter, as well as all of Jenny's friends. She's kind of the cool, understanding mom that all the kids go to when their having trouble with their own mothers. Sadly, this idyllic life is shattered when Jenny is murdered, her body discovered in a quite a gruesome manner for TV at the time, I think.
The film follows Jean's desperate search for her daughter's killer with the help of Detective Patricia Staley played by Loretta Swit of M.A.S.H. fame and Jenny's best friend and single mom, Ellen Holloway played by Margaret Welsh. I love Patty's performance in this, because she perfectly shows the intensity that any mother would have in this situation without acting over the top like other actresses might. As time goes on in the story, we are pretty much drawn in to this amateur investigation of hers and Ellen's, giving us false leads and red herrings, enough that we are pretty stunned at the reveal of the true killer. Am I going to tell you who that is? Well, no. First, because they still show this movie on TV occasionally and, second, it's done so well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone. For that reason, I can't really give a ton of details about what happens in the plot either. There isn't exactly an out of the blue, killer reveal. All the pieces begin to appear and come together, almost forming a bridge to get us to the ending. And I love that.
While I can admit that at the reveal of the killer, you might say "I knew it!", but really that's not something you'll say in the beginning and then just wait for confirmation. The film does a great job of building the tension, where you have your suspicions, but then those perfectly placed red herrings throw you off enough that you get off track. That succeeds in letting the ending be kind of shocking. So this is basically just a very, well crafted, murder mystery. Even though it's true.
Every time this movie comes on, I definitely stop and watch. Though I've seen it several times and know the ending, I just can't pass up on the fantastic performances of the cast. Much like Patty Duke as an actress, this is certainly a TV movie that bumps up the genre in the area of credibility. So if you're ever channel surfing and come across this film, you should definitely stop and watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I love people who are legendary for a reason and for a good reason. One of those people would be Patty Duke. She is truly a treasure and that is because she is fantastic at what she does and always has done as an actress. And, as an actress, she has done more than her share of TV movies. If you ask me, she is one of the faces that adds legitimacy to the entire genre. So it seems only right to include a TV movie that features her. It was tough to pick one, because many of them are very good, but I decided on one based on a true story, A Killer Among Friends.
In this movie, Patty Duke plays Jean Monroe, mother of three, with one grown son, one teenage son, and in the middle, a teenage daughter named Jenny. Jenny is played by Tiffani (Amber, at the time) Thiessen, proving early on in this small but pivotal role, that there has always been more to her as an actress than Kelly Kapowski. Remember the awesomely wicked Valerie Malone. Moving on. Jean is very close with her daughter, as well as all of Jenny's friends. She's kind of the cool, understanding mom that all the kids go to when their having trouble with their own mothers. Sadly, this idyllic life is shattered when Jenny is murdered, her body discovered in a quite a gruesome manner for TV at the time, I think.
The film follows Jean's desperate search for her daughter's killer with the help of Detective Patricia Staley played by Loretta Swit of M.A.S.H. fame and Jenny's best friend and single mom, Ellen Holloway played by Margaret Welsh. I love Patty's performance in this, because she perfectly shows the intensity that any mother would have in this situation without acting over the top like other actresses might. As time goes on in the story, we are pretty much drawn in to this amateur investigation of hers and Ellen's, giving us false leads and red herrings, enough that we are pretty stunned at the reveal of the true killer. Am I going to tell you who that is? Well, no. First, because they still show this movie on TV occasionally and, second, it's done so well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone. For that reason, I can't really give a ton of details about what happens in the plot either. There isn't exactly an out of the blue, killer reveal. All the pieces begin to appear and come together, almost forming a bridge to get us to the ending. And I love that.
While I can admit that at the reveal of the killer, you might say "I knew it!", but really that's not something you'll say in the beginning and then just wait for confirmation. The film does a great job of building the tension, where you have your suspicions, but then those perfectly placed red herrings throw you off enough that you get off track. That succeeds in letting the ending be kind of shocking. So this is basically just a very, well crafted, murder mystery. Even though it's true.
Every time this movie comes on, I definitely stop and watch. Though I've seen it several times and know the ending, I just can't pass up on the fantastic performances of the cast. Much like Patty Duke as an actress, this is certainly a TV movie that bumps up the genre in the area of credibility. So if you're ever channel surfing and come across this film, you should definitely stop and watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Ron Clark Story - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
You know the cliche story of a teacher who goes to work at some school in a "bad" area and tries to teach a bunch of "bad" kids and ends up changing their lives forever? Of course you do. We have had about a thousand movies with that as the main story. At first thought, it may be considered overdone. However, the fact that some of them are based on real people makes me not be so critical. You do have to admire someone who takes on such challenges without even knowing that they might become famous for it. Well, today, you're going to hear about one of those people as I review The Ron Clark Story.
This TV movie stars Matthew Perry in the title role. And let me just say that I am so pleased they cast him in this. It lets us go back to his pre-Friends days, when I called him a great dramatic actor. That happened after I saw him on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 playing a guy who wasn't exactly the biggest fan of his own father. He was fantastic in that part. I was actually surprised when he showed up on Friends in a highly comedic role. He was great there, too, but I fear it led people to forget how good he was at drama. That's a main reason why I like this movie, with it coming out about two years after our goodbyes to Chandler Bing, because it reminded us, or showed some of us for the first time, just how talented Matthew Perry is at things other than comedy. Okay, enough kissing up. Let's get to the story.
This movie is about a teacher named Ron Clark who starts off working in a nice, safe school in North Carolina, but then decides to head off to the big, bad city of New York to teach at an inner city school. When he gets there, he specifically asks for the class full of "troubled" students. Needless to say, they do not exactly like this new teacher. Clearly, they just don't know how to react to someone who genuinely thinks they are intelligent and have potential. So they just do what you'd expect and misbehave.
Though it is a big challenge, Mr. Clark does all he can to try and win them over, using some very creative ideas, including a rap he writes about the presidents. Yeah, that's right. We get to see and hear Matthew Perry rap. Your reaction to this could probably go either way. Initially, I may have released a small eye roll, but then I thought, "Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do". After A LOT of resistance, the kids finally warm up to him, and eventually grow to really love him.
Once the kids start paying attention, we get to the core plot of the film, where he is trying to get them ready for state exams, whatever those are. During this time (but not necessarily in this order), he starts helping the kids outside of school, gets seriously ill, takes them to see The Phantom of the Opera, and even gets himself a forced love interest that doesn't exactly become one full on. I have a feeling this chick may have been added for dramatic effect, to show that he was a real person, not just a teacher. Hey, whatever. And of course, in the end, the kids do great on the test and we have a happy ending, where we get that typical text on the screen telling us more about the real life Ron Clark.
Okay, I can admit that, as much as I like this movie, it does have its flaws, naturally. It is, of course, predictable in the long run. I mean, was anyone really shocked that we got a happy ending? Oh, and they also throw in that obligatory well- behaved, likes to study, good kid in amongst all the "delinquents". Seriously, why in all heck is this kid in this class? It makes no sense. But, while I am discussing one of the kid characters, let me say something about the kid actors.
I am not exactly a huge fan of kids, particularly kids in the entertainment industry, but I kind of like these ones. They were all pretty decent. I know it's more difficult to play a kid when you are not one (speaking of 90210), but they were still good. Two of them did stand out, though. The first is Hannah Hodson, who plays Shameika. You could call her the main, I guess, antagonist, though I'm hesitant to call a kid that believe it or not. Still, she was the one who gave Mr. Clark the most trouble and was kind of the unofficial leader of the kids as they waged their little war against their new teacher. But then she ended up becoming very close to Mr. Clark. So this young young actress really showed a lot of range, and she did it well. Another stand out was Brandon Mychal Smith who plays Tayshawn. This character is very emotionally driven, particularly in some of his final scenes. He is a very talented artist who also comes from an abusive home, and, in the end, this kid really holds his own having to portray someone with this life.
But as good as the kids were, Matthew Perry was who truly carried this movie. He was funny and heartfelt and real. Basically, he was perfect in this role, and this story was one that needed to be shared. I certainly feel for really good teachers, especially these days, and it is good that the truly committed ones who try very hard to help their students fulfill their potential are more than just noticed.
Now I'm sure some people would call this movie a little sappy, but I do like it. I like to see people who do admirable things like this get some recognition for it beyond their weekly paycheck. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is a teacher or just really appreciates them. Or anyone who wants to see Matthew Perry in something even better than Friends.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
You know the cliche story of a teacher who goes to work at some school in a "bad" area and tries to teach a bunch of "bad" kids and ends up changing their lives forever? Of course you do. We have had about a thousand movies with that as the main story. At first thought, it may be considered overdone. However, the fact that some of them are based on real people makes me not be so critical. You do have to admire someone who takes on such challenges without even knowing that they might become famous for it. Well, today, you're going to hear about one of those people as I review The Ron Clark Story.
This TV movie stars Matthew Perry in the title role. And let me just say that I am so pleased they cast him in this. It lets us go back to his pre-Friends days, when I called him a great dramatic actor. That happened after I saw him on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 playing a guy who wasn't exactly the biggest fan of his own father. He was fantastic in that part. I was actually surprised when he showed up on Friends in a highly comedic role. He was great there, too, but I fear it led people to forget how good he was at drama. That's a main reason why I like this movie, with it coming out about two years after our goodbyes to Chandler Bing, because it reminded us, or showed some of us for the first time, just how talented Matthew Perry is at things other than comedy. Okay, enough kissing up. Let's get to the story.
This movie is about a teacher named Ron Clark who starts off working in a nice, safe school in North Carolina, but then decides to head off to the big, bad city of New York to teach at an inner city school. When he gets there, he specifically asks for the class full of "troubled" students. Needless to say, they do not exactly like this new teacher. Clearly, they just don't know how to react to someone who genuinely thinks they are intelligent and have potential. So they just do what you'd expect and misbehave.
Though it is a big challenge, Mr. Clark does all he can to try and win them over, using some very creative ideas, including a rap he writes about the presidents. Yeah, that's right. We get to see and hear Matthew Perry rap. Your reaction to this could probably go either way. Initially, I may have released a small eye roll, but then I thought, "Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do". After A LOT of resistance, the kids finally warm up to him, and eventually grow to really love him.
Once the kids start paying attention, we get to the core plot of the film, where he is trying to get them ready for state exams, whatever those are. During this time (but not necessarily in this order), he starts helping the kids outside of school, gets seriously ill, takes them to see The Phantom of the Opera, and even gets himself a forced love interest that doesn't exactly become one full on. I have a feeling this chick may have been added for dramatic effect, to show that he was a real person, not just a teacher. Hey, whatever. And of course, in the end, the kids do great on the test and we have a happy ending, where we get that typical text on the screen telling us more about the real life Ron Clark.
Okay, I can admit that, as much as I like this movie, it does have its flaws, naturally. It is, of course, predictable in the long run. I mean, was anyone really shocked that we got a happy ending? Oh, and they also throw in that obligatory well- behaved, likes to study, good kid in amongst all the "delinquents". Seriously, why in all heck is this kid in this class? It makes no sense. But, while I am discussing one of the kid characters, let me say something about the kid actors.
I am not exactly a huge fan of kids, particularly kids in the entertainment industry, but I kind of like these ones. They were all pretty decent. I know it's more difficult to play a kid when you are not one (speaking of 90210), but they were still good. Two of them did stand out, though. The first is Hannah Hodson, who plays Shameika. You could call her the main, I guess, antagonist, though I'm hesitant to call a kid that believe it or not. Still, she was the one who gave Mr. Clark the most trouble and was kind of the unofficial leader of the kids as they waged their little war against their new teacher. But then she ended up becoming very close to Mr. Clark. So this young young actress really showed a lot of range, and she did it well. Another stand out was Brandon Mychal Smith who plays Tayshawn. This character is very emotionally driven, particularly in some of his final scenes. He is a very talented artist who also comes from an abusive home, and, in the end, this kid really holds his own having to portray someone with this life.
But as good as the kids were, Matthew Perry was who truly carried this movie. He was funny and heartfelt and real. Basically, he was perfect in this role, and this story was one that needed to be shared. I certainly feel for really good teachers, especially these days, and it is good that the truly committed ones who try very hard to help their students fulfill their potential are more than just noticed.
Now I'm sure some people would call this movie a little sappy, but I do like it. I like to see people who do admirable things like this get some recognition for it beyond their weekly paycheck. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is a teacher or just really appreciates them. Or anyone who wants to see Matthew Perry in something even better than Friends.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 22, 2012
Top Ten Crossing Jordan Episodes
Greetings,
If any of you read my Top Ten list of Law and Order episodes, you may remember that I gave a pretty big shout out to my girl, Jill Hennessy. I loved her as Claire Kincaid on that show, and her departure left me sad and hoping for more from her, especially on a weekly basis. Well, it took five long years, but, in 2001, I finally got the thing for which I had been waiting when Crossing Jordan debuted on NBC. If you haven't seen it, let me give you some insight. Fair warning, this post may be long. Quite. But if you like this show, it hopefully won't be a problem.
This show centered around the lives of medical examiner's in Boston, and Jill starred as Jordan Cavanaugh. Frankly, I think she is one of the greatest female characters of all time. Jordan is very complex, to say the least. She can be funny, and she's very intelligent, definitely with a mind of her own and a pretty thick skin. I think that aspect of her character stems from her troubled childhood, which included a mentally unstable mother who was eventually murdered and a father who had become quite distant. Ironically, while I believe this is what made her tough, it also made her empathetic, sympathetic, and a woman who always had a small part of her that was still that little girl, just looking for love and security in her life. Finding that love and security was difficult since she also, understandably, developed trust issues, even though as an adult, she was surrounded by people who genuinely loved and cared for her. In short, Jordan Cavanaugh was and still is an extremely interesting character who always kept the fans enthralled. But as great as she was, Jordan was not the only one in this world. Here's a quick look at the others. Quick, because I want to get to the top ten task at hand.
Let's begin with Jordan's co-workers, starting with Dr. Garret Macy, played be Miguel Ferrar, son of Rosemary Clooney, quite possibly my favorite singer ever. Macy is the boss of the M.E.'s office and he tends to be very "by the book" and strict, though he is often influenced by Jordan's "out of the box" thinking. It is his willingness to do that which really shows the depth of their friendship and how much he trusts her instincts. Then, we have Lily Lebowski played by Kathryn Hahn. Lily eventually becomes the grief counselor, something I'm assuming is needed in a place like that. It was a good choice to have this happen to her character, since she always came across as the most sympathetic. Lily has close relationships with everyone, but especially Dr. Mahesh Vijay, who we all know as "Bug". They are great friends, but he clearly wants more out of their relationship. Bug pretty much fills the role as the (I hate to say this) science geek and he does so in a crowd of scientists of all places. But his character did expand and develop more over the years. Finally, we have Nigel Townsend played by Steve Valentine. Though I love everyone, Nigel is probably my favorite character. Most people would easily classify him as a little weird, with his ideas and style of dress. To me, he's just quirky, smart, fun and lovable. And Nigel usually provides the comic relief that people in this job need. I just love this guy a lot.
Outside of that office, we also have Detective Woody Hoyt played by Jerry O'Connell. He showed up in the first season, and his character just got bigger and more important to the show. Naturally, he became something of a love interest for Jordan, but there were a ton of ups and downs in their relationship, hinting at a romance, then doing it blatantly, trying and trying again at it, while always keeping their friendship intact. And speaking of Jordan's relationships, we also get her dad, Max, played by Ken Howard, who I absolutely love. He was fantastic on this show, playing the part just right. You can clearly see how much he loves his daughter, but there is always a bit of tension just under the surface due to their past. Oh, and he is pretty much the only person on this Boston set show that, in fact, does have the classic Boston accent. Other characters came and went over the seasons, some of which were played by fantastic actors and actresses, like Wallace Shawn, Lorraine Toussaint, Jeffrey Donovan and many others, but these are the most important.
Okay, maybe when I used the word "quick" a couple of paragraphs ago, I may have miscalculated. And now, finally, my Top Ten episodes of Crossing Jordan. As always, I may be giving spoilers, but nothing that will deter anyone from checking out the show. Here we go.
#10. "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Season 5) - Normally, I am not a fan of a cliffhanger ending for a season, but this episode was so well done, cutting off at just the right moment, that I had to include it. The tension built and left us with a strong hunger for what would happen next. I know I hate having to wait for the payoff or resolution, but it ended up being well worth that wait.
#9. "Fire in the Sky" (Season 4) - In season three, the very talented Jennifer Finnigan joined the cast as Dr. Devon Maguire for a handful of episodes that spilled into season four. Her character butted heads with a lot of her co-workers, not the least of which was Jordan. In this one, however, she is apparently and sadly killed in a plane crash. This one was interesting because, at the start, the M.E.'s were literally waiting for that plane to crash, because they knew it would. How? Guess you'll have to watch it. I think what I love about this one is that it is very emotionally charged for the characters, despite their efforts to put things aside for their work. But we really do see them coming to appreciate even more so their friendships with each other.
#8. "Crash" (Season 6) - This is the finale episode, and I'm sorry I have to follow up with another plane crash show. This time, though, it is most of our main characters on the plane. They crash in snowy mountains, trying desperately to survive and be rescued. Initially, this was going to be another cliffhanger ending that would pick up in season seven, but there was no season seven, unfortunately. Still, I think this was a good way to end the show. My only complaint is in who they chose to be a part of this accident. I understand why Lily wasn't there, considering she had just had a baby and was never involved in much field work anyway, but I couldn't figure out why the character of Kate Switzer was included. She came in this final season and was played by Brooke Smith. Don't get me wrong. I think she is a fantastic actress, and I did like her addition to the cast. But I thought, for this pivotal moment, it should have been confined to just the people who had known each other for so many years. The core family of the show, if you will. But that's a small complaint. I did hate that the show was ending, but we did get the one thing for which we had been waiting all these years. We finally saw Jordan and Woody professing their love for each other. FINALLY!
#7. "Secrets and Lies" (Season 1) - This was the two part finale of season one. Here, we get a lot of info about Jordan's childhood concerning her mother. It reveals some very important things, but it also sets up a lot more of the mystery that will come as the show progresses. We become even more invested in Jordan and the answers for which she will spend much time looking.
#6. "Revealed" (Season 3) - As I said, I love the character of Nigel, and in this episode, he is a main player. Nigel shows up at a crime scene, at which Woody has already arrived, where a body has been found in the bathtub of a locked apartment completely exsanguinated (their word, not mine!). Oh, and one more thing. The body has what appears to be bite marks in the neck. Naturally, being a man of science, Nigel believes that the obvious killer must be a vampire. I am dead serious, pardon the pun, about his thinking this is a legit explanation. What follows is a pretty funny episode, especially concerning exchanges between Nigel and Woody, and Nigel and Macy. And I loved seeing Jerry O'Connell in a Goth club. Just saying.
#5. "Forget Me Not" (Season 4) - Again, this episode is focused on Nigel, but in a far more serious manner. Here, the daughter of his current girlfriend is kidnapped in the middle of the night, and Nigel tries desperately to find her with Jordan's help. I really like the way they carried out the story, and I liked the pay off and reveal in the end. But, hands down, the most entertaining part is Steve Valentine. He is truly at his best as an actor here. What with his usual peripheral and often light comedic role on the show, even hardcore fans may forget how good he is when it comes to dramatic acting. Thanks for the reminder with this one, Steve.
#4. "Slam Dunk" (Season 3) - Ah, and here it is. The obligatory episode where a character gets jury duty, is the lone holdout, and eventually sways the other jurors to see things her way. Yeah, I think a lot of shows have done this. I can think of at least three right now. But this one is a little different. Jordan is the one on duty, and we know we can trust her instincts as a medical examiner who is an expert at looking for evidence, as opposed to just someone who has a "bad feeling" that the defendant isn't guilty like the other jurors believe. We do get the typical Twelve Angry Men scenario in the jury room, but the exchanges between everyone are very well written and thought out. We even get a good motive as to why one juror refuses to vote Not Guilty. And, again, there is a great and unexpected reveal in the end.
#3. "Ockham's Razor" (Season 2) - This is an episode with the main story line seeming to be the investigation of a woman's death. The woman just happens to be the wife of a major rival to Dr. Macy, and he is the one who must lead that investigation. That story does play out greatly, but there is also something else going on here. Jordan finds some old, home movie type, film reels which feature her mother years before Jordan was born. I don't want to give a ton away with this story, since it is a pretty big part of the series, but I have to bring it up. Mostly because it includes my very favorite guest star in all of Crossing Jordan land - Michael T. Weiss. If you don't know who that is, go back and read my post, "The Great Pretender", which was a tribute to the show The Pretender, which starred Michael T. Weiss. And I was absolutely thrilled to see him. Eventually, we learn more about who he is and how he is connected to Jordan, and it is truly one of the best story lines in the series.
#2. "Digger" (Season 1) - This is another two-parter, and, speaking as a Law and Order fan, it is pure gold. Why? Well, we get a little guest star appearance by Chris Noth. That's right. After over five years, we finally get to see Claire Kincaid and Mike Logan together again. It was a joy. Now the main plot is about someone kidnapping women and burying them alive, and Jordan is working with an FBI profiler, played by Noth, to try and solve the case. However, there is a very humorous subplot, which obviously juxtaposes the feel of the main story, and it is centered on - you guessed it! - my boy, Nigel. Both stories together really make this episode priceless.
#1. "Strangled" (Season 2) - In my circle of, let's say, acquaintances, I tend to be the person who finds great group activities in which I can never get anyone to participate. It makes me long to have friends like the folks on Crossing Jordan, who would gladly take part in something like what they did in this episode. Now, starting in the first season, we are shown that Jordan and her dad, who is a former cop, do something special to help solve crimes. They partake in these reenactment or role playing activities to really get into the head of whomever the criminal may be. It helps her a lot with her job. In this one, though, it's no work and all play. Jordan invites everyone to her dad's bar to try and solve a forty year old case that Max was never able to solve at the time. Each character is given, well, a character from the original investigation to portray and try to come up with an answer. Do they? Again, better watch. You know, I do know some cops, and I've asked for them to get me some cold case files, so I can do something fun like this. No such luck yet. I guess I'll just have to watch this episode when I want my inner detective to be satisfied. Thank you, show!
Wow, that WAS long. Anyway, there you have it. Now, while I've only seen one season of Crossing Jordan available on DVD, all six seasons are streaming on Netflix. When that happened, I was ecstatic. I highly, highly recommend this show, especially to anyone who likes crime dramas with very rich characters and stories. It truly was and is an excellent show and should be appreciated and honored. I hope I'm doing my part to make sure that happens.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
If any of you read my Top Ten list of Law and Order episodes, you may remember that I gave a pretty big shout out to my girl, Jill Hennessy. I loved her as Claire Kincaid on that show, and her departure left me sad and hoping for more from her, especially on a weekly basis. Well, it took five long years, but, in 2001, I finally got the thing for which I had been waiting when Crossing Jordan debuted on NBC. If you haven't seen it, let me give you some insight. Fair warning, this post may be long. Quite. But if you like this show, it hopefully won't be a problem.
This show centered around the lives of medical examiner's in Boston, and Jill starred as Jordan Cavanaugh. Frankly, I think she is one of the greatest female characters of all time. Jordan is very complex, to say the least. She can be funny, and she's very intelligent, definitely with a mind of her own and a pretty thick skin. I think that aspect of her character stems from her troubled childhood, which included a mentally unstable mother who was eventually murdered and a father who had become quite distant. Ironically, while I believe this is what made her tough, it also made her empathetic, sympathetic, and a woman who always had a small part of her that was still that little girl, just looking for love and security in her life. Finding that love and security was difficult since she also, understandably, developed trust issues, even though as an adult, she was surrounded by people who genuinely loved and cared for her. In short, Jordan Cavanaugh was and still is an extremely interesting character who always kept the fans enthralled. But as great as she was, Jordan was not the only one in this world. Here's a quick look at the others. Quick, because I want to get to the top ten task at hand.
Let's begin with Jordan's co-workers, starting with Dr. Garret Macy, played be Miguel Ferrar, son of Rosemary Clooney, quite possibly my favorite singer ever. Macy is the boss of the M.E.'s office and he tends to be very "by the book" and strict, though he is often influenced by Jordan's "out of the box" thinking. It is his willingness to do that which really shows the depth of their friendship and how much he trusts her instincts. Then, we have Lily Lebowski played by Kathryn Hahn. Lily eventually becomes the grief counselor, something I'm assuming is needed in a place like that. It was a good choice to have this happen to her character, since she always came across as the most sympathetic. Lily has close relationships with everyone, but especially Dr. Mahesh Vijay, who we all know as "Bug". They are great friends, but he clearly wants more out of their relationship. Bug pretty much fills the role as the (I hate to say this) science geek and he does so in a crowd of scientists of all places. But his character did expand and develop more over the years. Finally, we have Nigel Townsend played by Steve Valentine. Though I love everyone, Nigel is probably my favorite character. Most people would easily classify him as a little weird, with his ideas and style of dress. To me, he's just quirky, smart, fun and lovable. And Nigel usually provides the comic relief that people in this job need. I just love this guy a lot.
Outside of that office, we also have Detective Woody Hoyt played by Jerry O'Connell. He showed up in the first season, and his character just got bigger and more important to the show. Naturally, he became something of a love interest for Jordan, but there were a ton of ups and downs in their relationship, hinting at a romance, then doing it blatantly, trying and trying again at it, while always keeping their friendship intact. And speaking of Jordan's relationships, we also get her dad, Max, played by Ken Howard, who I absolutely love. He was fantastic on this show, playing the part just right. You can clearly see how much he loves his daughter, but there is always a bit of tension just under the surface due to their past. Oh, and he is pretty much the only person on this Boston set show that, in fact, does have the classic Boston accent. Other characters came and went over the seasons, some of which were played by fantastic actors and actresses, like Wallace Shawn, Lorraine Toussaint, Jeffrey Donovan and many others, but these are the most important.
Okay, maybe when I used the word "quick" a couple of paragraphs ago, I may have miscalculated. And now, finally, my Top Ten episodes of Crossing Jordan. As always, I may be giving spoilers, but nothing that will deter anyone from checking out the show. Here we go.
#10. "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Season 5) - Normally, I am not a fan of a cliffhanger ending for a season, but this episode was so well done, cutting off at just the right moment, that I had to include it. The tension built and left us with a strong hunger for what would happen next. I know I hate having to wait for the payoff or resolution, but it ended up being well worth that wait.
#9. "Fire in the Sky" (Season 4) - In season three, the very talented Jennifer Finnigan joined the cast as Dr. Devon Maguire for a handful of episodes that spilled into season four. Her character butted heads with a lot of her co-workers, not the least of which was Jordan. In this one, however, she is apparently and sadly killed in a plane crash. This one was interesting because, at the start, the M.E.'s were literally waiting for that plane to crash, because they knew it would. How? Guess you'll have to watch it. I think what I love about this one is that it is very emotionally charged for the characters, despite their efforts to put things aside for their work. But we really do see them coming to appreciate even more so their friendships with each other.
#8. "Crash" (Season 6) - This is the finale episode, and I'm sorry I have to follow up with another plane crash show. This time, though, it is most of our main characters on the plane. They crash in snowy mountains, trying desperately to survive and be rescued. Initially, this was going to be another cliffhanger ending that would pick up in season seven, but there was no season seven, unfortunately. Still, I think this was a good way to end the show. My only complaint is in who they chose to be a part of this accident. I understand why Lily wasn't there, considering she had just had a baby and was never involved in much field work anyway, but I couldn't figure out why the character of Kate Switzer was included. She came in this final season and was played by Brooke Smith. Don't get me wrong. I think she is a fantastic actress, and I did like her addition to the cast. But I thought, for this pivotal moment, it should have been confined to just the people who had known each other for so many years. The core family of the show, if you will. But that's a small complaint. I did hate that the show was ending, but we did get the one thing for which we had been waiting all these years. We finally saw Jordan and Woody professing their love for each other. FINALLY!
#7. "Secrets and Lies" (Season 1) - This was the two part finale of season one. Here, we get a lot of info about Jordan's childhood concerning her mother. It reveals some very important things, but it also sets up a lot more of the mystery that will come as the show progresses. We become even more invested in Jordan and the answers for which she will spend much time looking.
#6. "Revealed" (Season 3) - As I said, I love the character of Nigel, and in this episode, he is a main player. Nigel shows up at a crime scene, at which Woody has already arrived, where a body has been found in the bathtub of a locked apartment completely exsanguinated (their word, not mine!). Oh, and one more thing. The body has what appears to be bite marks in the neck. Naturally, being a man of science, Nigel believes that the obvious killer must be a vampire. I am dead serious, pardon the pun, about his thinking this is a legit explanation. What follows is a pretty funny episode, especially concerning exchanges between Nigel and Woody, and Nigel and Macy. And I loved seeing Jerry O'Connell in a Goth club. Just saying.
#5. "Forget Me Not" (Season 4) - Again, this episode is focused on Nigel, but in a far more serious manner. Here, the daughter of his current girlfriend is kidnapped in the middle of the night, and Nigel tries desperately to find her with Jordan's help. I really like the way they carried out the story, and I liked the pay off and reveal in the end. But, hands down, the most entertaining part is Steve Valentine. He is truly at his best as an actor here. What with his usual peripheral and often light comedic role on the show, even hardcore fans may forget how good he is when it comes to dramatic acting. Thanks for the reminder with this one, Steve.
#4. "Slam Dunk" (Season 3) - Ah, and here it is. The obligatory episode where a character gets jury duty, is the lone holdout, and eventually sways the other jurors to see things her way. Yeah, I think a lot of shows have done this. I can think of at least three right now. But this one is a little different. Jordan is the one on duty, and we know we can trust her instincts as a medical examiner who is an expert at looking for evidence, as opposed to just someone who has a "bad feeling" that the defendant isn't guilty like the other jurors believe. We do get the typical Twelve Angry Men scenario in the jury room, but the exchanges between everyone are very well written and thought out. We even get a good motive as to why one juror refuses to vote Not Guilty. And, again, there is a great and unexpected reveal in the end.
#3. "Ockham's Razor" (Season 2) - This is an episode with the main story line seeming to be the investigation of a woman's death. The woman just happens to be the wife of a major rival to Dr. Macy, and he is the one who must lead that investigation. That story does play out greatly, but there is also something else going on here. Jordan finds some old, home movie type, film reels which feature her mother years before Jordan was born. I don't want to give a ton away with this story, since it is a pretty big part of the series, but I have to bring it up. Mostly because it includes my very favorite guest star in all of Crossing Jordan land - Michael T. Weiss. If you don't know who that is, go back and read my post, "The Great Pretender", which was a tribute to the show The Pretender, which starred Michael T. Weiss. And I was absolutely thrilled to see him. Eventually, we learn more about who he is and how he is connected to Jordan, and it is truly one of the best story lines in the series.
#2. "Digger" (Season 1) - This is another two-parter, and, speaking as a Law and Order fan, it is pure gold. Why? Well, we get a little guest star appearance by Chris Noth. That's right. After over five years, we finally get to see Claire Kincaid and Mike Logan together again. It was a joy. Now the main plot is about someone kidnapping women and burying them alive, and Jordan is working with an FBI profiler, played by Noth, to try and solve the case. However, there is a very humorous subplot, which obviously juxtaposes the feel of the main story, and it is centered on - you guessed it! - my boy, Nigel. Both stories together really make this episode priceless.
#1. "Strangled" (Season 2) - In my circle of, let's say, acquaintances, I tend to be the person who finds great group activities in which I can never get anyone to participate. It makes me long to have friends like the folks on Crossing Jordan, who would gladly take part in something like what they did in this episode. Now, starting in the first season, we are shown that Jordan and her dad, who is a former cop, do something special to help solve crimes. They partake in these reenactment or role playing activities to really get into the head of whomever the criminal may be. It helps her a lot with her job. In this one, though, it's no work and all play. Jordan invites everyone to her dad's bar to try and solve a forty year old case that Max was never able to solve at the time. Each character is given, well, a character from the original investigation to portray and try to come up with an answer. Do they? Again, better watch. You know, I do know some cops, and I've asked for them to get me some cold case files, so I can do something fun like this. No such luck yet. I guess I'll just have to watch this episode when I want my inner detective to be satisfied. Thank you, show!
Wow, that WAS long. Anyway, there you have it. Now, while I've only seen one season of Crossing Jordan available on DVD, all six seasons are streaming on Netflix. When that happened, I was ecstatic. I highly, highly recommend this show, especially to anyone who likes crime dramas with very rich characters and stories. It truly was and is an excellent show and should be appreciated and honored. I hope I'm doing my part to make sure that happens.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 20, 2012
The Wonder of the Rosenbaum
Greetings,
We all have secrets. I can admit that even I have things I like to hide away. But one thing that I have never kept hidden is my love for one Mr. Michael Rosenbaum. I made that abundantly clear when I did my Top Ten Smallville episodes list. Yeah, I was not shy when it came to giving him some massive accolades, and I had really had no reason to be. Not when it comes to Smallville anyway. He was nothing short of brilliant on that show. Still, as we all know, the careers of even the best actors have mountains and valleys, some more than others, and Michael Rosenbaum is no exception. But if you never slip and fall, it usually means you were never brave enough to take a risk . . . or it means you're Daniel Day-Lewis. Having said that and due to my great admiration for this man both as an actor and a person, I decided to throw him one of my infamous (they are to me) tributes. And away we go.
Okay, we may as well just start with the thing from which everyone knows him - Smallville. I think anyone who is even slightly informed of Michael's career would agree that the work he did on this show was probably his best. Of course, I spoke about it a lot on that aforementioned Smallville post, but I'll expand some here.
Now the show was technically on for ten years, but our dear Michael only graced us with his fine portrayal of Lex Luthor for seven, so those last three years, while not bad, could have been better had he been there. Of course, we would have missed out on the excitement of his return in the final episode, but I still kind of wish we had not been told of this return, because I would have loved to have been watching that night and gotten totally surprised. But I have no other complaints. To be honest, his appearance in that last show truly did remind us of what a talent he is. It cannot be easy portraying so well a character whom we all know will one day be a very bad man and still make us all love him and even root for him to do the right thing and be happy in his life. You know what else isn't easy, I bet? Portraying a character that has already been played by Gene Hackman. For real, he should have gotten a slew of awards just for not passing out every day at the prospect of having to do that. And if he had, I'm sure we would have heard about it, because, as we all know, Tom Welling is a blabbermouth. Kidding . . . I hope. But maybe playing the character in a different way, less for laughs and whatnot, made it easier. Kind of doubt it, though. Bottom line is, Michael was fantastic on this show, and I could go on for hours about that fact. I don't want to be that obsessive here, though, so may I suggest you watch some reruns if you don't believe me.
Since we're on the subject of TV shows and superheroes, let me tell you that Michael Rosenbaum's experience with these two things is not limited to the Smallville world. He has been quite successful as a voice actor, most notably was his portrayal as The Flash on the Justice League cartoon series. So here, he got to play a hero instead of a villain in training, and he was a very fun-loving character, the young guy of the group, occasionally annoying the other members, especially Batman. But Batman's always in a mood, so how could we ever tell? And, very recently, Michael was gracious enough to show up again in the latest DC cartoon movie, Justice League: Doom. I suppose mention of that can be a nice segue into some talk of his movie career. This may be a bit of a bumpy trip.
If I could sum up the movie career of Michael Rosenbaum in three simple words, they would be . . . good, bad and ugly. And by sheer coincidence, those words bring us to one of his first movie roles, or possibly his VERY first, in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil directed by Clint Eastwood. You understand the connection. Now I know there are no small parts, only small actors, and he proves that here. It has been a while since I've seen this one, but, if memory serves, he did not have a ton of screen time. Still, being in a film directed by such a legend is a good add on to any resume.
Just after this movie came Urban Legend, where he played a guy named Parker. Clearly, this film was part of the teen horror film bandwagon that came along after Scream, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't too critically acclaimed. But I always found this movie quite enjoyable. The idea was original, as far as I was concerned, and the cast was good . . . for the most part. Yes, the least part is exactly who you think. But I thought Michael stood out in the crowd in this one, even though he was most likely one of the least known members of the cast. Not bad at all.
About four years later came a film that I'm sure most of you have, sadly, not seen, Poolhall Junkies. This is all about a guy named Johnny who is obsessed with pool and Rosenbaum plays . . . not that guy, but his younger brother, Danny. The cast in this one is pretty impressive. To be honest, I never heard of the guy who plays the lead, but we do get Christopher Walken, Chazz Palminteri, Rick "call me Ricky and I'll punch you" Schroder, the legendary Rod Steiger, in his last role, and Allison Eastwood, daughter of Clint, who was also in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And it is that stellar cast that made me enjoy this quite a lot. But we are talking about Michael Rosenbaum here, and not only does he fit in with these amazing actors extremely well, he also gives a little something extra - he sings! He sings, and it is awesome. Probably my favorite scene in the movie. Seriously, that better had not been someone else's voice dubbed in! But considering how good I am at research, it probably was.
Now I can't help but give a shout out to a film called Father of Invention. Again, Michael didn't have a huge part, but there was one scene that was very . . . interesting. See, the star of this is Kevin Spacey who, as we all know, played Lex Luthor in Superman Returns. In this particular scene, they have a big fight. Yes, one Lex is fighting with another. It was like watching a chicken peck at itself in the mirror. Watch the film just for that.
Okay, that was the good. Now we must move on to the bad. Where to begin? Well, let's start with Sweet November, a film many people refer to as a snooze fest which stars two of my least favorite people, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. But what about Rosenbaum? Who did he play? Well, he played Brandon. Unless he was in drag, and then he was Brandy. No, seriously. And apparently, he enjoyed this wardrobe so much that he then moved on to Sorority Boys, where he got to break into the lady closet for nearly the entire film. I can't even get too deeply into this one because it brings me such sadness. Call me judgmental, but I do not like seeing one of my major crushes in this state of apparel. At least, in Bringing Down the House, he only had to don what I'm certain was a bad wig, thanks to the daily head shavings for Smallville. And finally, I think the title Kickin' It Old School speaks loudly enough that I need not say a word. I'm harsh, because I care.
Let me end the movie talk on a high note, hopefully. According to my sources, Michael is currently working on a new film called Back In the Day. And not only is he acting in it, but he is also the director and writer. What? He's a writer, like me. I knew we were soul mates. Kidding. I can't be that crazy. But it is very nice to know that he is expanding himself so he can share with us his other talents. If his directing and writing is even in the neighborhood of how good his acting is, then I have very high hopes for this production.
I know I took some hopefully humorous jabs at Michael Rosebaum in this post, but I certainly was not kidding about his talent. This man is extremely gifted, and there is no doubt about that. Also, from what I've seen and heard, he's just a genuinely good guy. So I do have great admiration and respect for him. As with all the people I admire, I wouldn't mind having the privilege of meeting him someday. There are many reasons as to why, and I've mentioned many right here. Yet, there is one reason that sits high above the rest. There is one of life's great question's that pertains to the most famous character he has portrayed, one I spoke of in this very article. I feel that only a person as closely related to this character as he can even attempt to answer it. It is a question that I'm certain, men, women and children alike have pondered for nearly a century. What is that question, you may ask? Simply this: "Why does Lex Luthor have eyebrows?" Do NOT tell me you never wondered that. Seriously, I need an answer, and I hope my beloved Michael Rosenbaum can be the chosen one to give it to me. Oh, well. Someday.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
We all have secrets. I can admit that even I have things I like to hide away. But one thing that I have never kept hidden is my love for one Mr. Michael Rosenbaum. I made that abundantly clear when I did my Top Ten Smallville episodes list. Yeah, I was not shy when it came to giving him some massive accolades, and I had really had no reason to be. Not when it comes to Smallville anyway. He was nothing short of brilliant on that show. Still, as we all know, the careers of even the best actors have mountains and valleys, some more than others, and Michael Rosenbaum is no exception. But if you never slip and fall, it usually means you were never brave enough to take a risk . . . or it means you're Daniel Day-Lewis. Having said that and due to my great admiration for this man both as an actor and a person, I decided to throw him one of my infamous (they are to me) tributes. And away we go.
Okay, we may as well just start with the thing from which everyone knows him - Smallville. I think anyone who is even slightly informed of Michael's career would agree that the work he did on this show was probably his best. Of course, I spoke about it a lot on that aforementioned Smallville post, but I'll expand some here.
Now the show was technically on for ten years, but our dear Michael only graced us with his fine portrayal of Lex Luthor for seven, so those last three years, while not bad, could have been better had he been there. Of course, we would have missed out on the excitement of his return in the final episode, but I still kind of wish we had not been told of this return, because I would have loved to have been watching that night and gotten totally surprised. But I have no other complaints. To be honest, his appearance in that last show truly did remind us of what a talent he is. It cannot be easy portraying so well a character whom we all know will one day be a very bad man and still make us all love him and even root for him to do the right thing and be happy in his life. You know what else isn't easy, I bet? Portraying a character that has already been played by Gene Hackman. For real, he should have gotten a slew of awards just for not passing out every day at the prospect of having to do that. And if he had, I'm sure we would have heard about it, because, as we all know, Tom Welling is a blabbermouth. Kidding . . . I hope. But maybe playing the character in a different way, less for laughs and whatnot, made it easier. Kind of doubt it, though. Bottom line is, Michael was fantastic on this show, and I could go on for hours about that fact. I don't want to be that obsessive here, though, so may I suggest you watch some reruns if you don't believe me.
Since we're on the subject of TV shows and superheroes, let me tell you that Michael Rosenbaum's experience with these two things is not limited to the Smallville world. He has been quite successful as a voice actor, most notably was his portrayal as The Flash on the Justice League cartoon series. So here, he got to play a hero instead of a villain in training, and he was a very fun-loving character, the young guy of the group, occasionally annoying the other members, especially Batman. But Batman's always in a mood, so how could we ever tell? And, very recently, Michael was gracious enough to show up again in the latest DC cartoon movie, Justice League: Doom. I suppose mention of that can be a nice segue into some talk of his movie career. This may be a bit of a bumpy trip.
If I could sum up the movie career of Michael Rosenbaum in three simple words, they would be . . . good, bad and ugly. And by sheer coincidence, those words bring us to one of his first movie roles, or possibly his VERY first, in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil directed by Clint Eastwood. You understand the connection. Now I know there are no small parts, only small actors, and he proves that here. It has been a while since I've seen this one, but, if memory serves, he did not have a ton of screen time. Still, being in a film directed by such a legend is a good add on to any resume.
Just after this movie came Urban Legend, where he played a guy named Parker. Clearly, this film was part of the teen horror film bandwagon that came along after Scream, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't too critically acclaimed. But I always found this movie quite enjoyable. The idea was original, as far as I was concerned, and the cast was good . . . for the most part. Yes, the least part is exactly who you think. But I thought Michael stood out in the crowd in this one, even though he was most likely one of the least known members of the cast. Not bad at all.
About four years later came a film that I'm sure most of you have, sadly, not seen, Poolhall Junkies. This is all about a guy named Johnny who is obsessed with pool and Rosenbaum plays . . . not that guy, but his younger brother, Danny. The cast in this one is pretty impressive. To be honest, I never heard of the guy who plays the lead, but we do get Christopher Walken, Chazz Palminteri, Rick "call me Ricky and I'll punch you" Schroder, the legendary Rod Steiger, in his last role, and Allison Eastwood, daughter of Clint, who was also in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And it is that stellar cast that made me enjoy this quite a lot. But we are talking about Michael Rosenbaum here, and not only does he fit in with these amazing actors extremely well, he also gives a little something extra - he sings! He sings, and it is awesome. Probably my favorite scene in the movie. Seriously, that better had not been someone else's voice dubbed in! But considering how good I am at research, it probably was.
Now I can't help but give a shout out to a film called Father of Invention. Again, Michael didn't have a huge part, but there was one scene that was very . . . interesting. See, the star of this is Kevin Spacey who, as we all know, played Lex Luthor in Superman Returns. In this particular scene, they have a big fight. Yes, one Lex is fighting with another. It was like watching a chicken peck at itself in the mirror. Watch the film just for that.
Okay, that was the good. Now we must move on to the bad. Where to begin? Well, let's start with Sweet November, a film many people refer to as a snooze fest which stars two of my least favorite people, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. But what about Rosenbaum? Who did he play? Well, he played Brandon. Unless he was in drag, and then he was Brandy. No, seriously. And apparently, he enjoyed this wardrobe so much that he then moved on to Sorority Boys, where he got to break into the lady closet for nearly the entire film. I can't even get too deeply into this one because it brings me such sadness. Call me judgmental, but I do not like seeing one of my major crushes in this state of apparel. At least, in Bringing Down the House, he only had to don what I'm certain was a bad wig, thanks to the daily head shavings for Smallville. And finally, I think the title Kickin' It Old School speaks loudly enough that I need not say a word. I'm harsh, because I care.
Let me end the movie talk on a high note, hopefully. According to my sources, Michael is currently working on a new film called Back In the Day. And not only is he acting in it, but he is also the director and writer. What? He's a writer, like me. I knew we were soul mates. Kidding. I can't be that crazy. But it is very nice to know that he is expanding himself so he can share with us his other talents. If his directing and writing is even in the neighborhood of how good his acting is, then I have very high hopes for this production.
I know I took some hopefully humorous jabs at Michael Rosebaum in this post, but I certainly was not kidding about his talent. This man is extremely gifted, and there is no doubt about that. Also, from what I've seen and heard, he's just a genuinely good guy. So I do have great admiration and respect for him. As with all the people I admire, I wouldn't mind having the privilege of meeting him someday. There are many reasons as to why, and I've mentioned many right here. Yet, there is one reason that sits high above the rest. There is one of life's great question's that pertains to the most famous character he has portrayed, one I spoke of in this very article. I feel that only a person as closely related to this character as he can even attempt to answer it. It is a question that I'm certain, men, women and children alike have pondered for nearly a century. What is that question, you may ask? Simply this: "Why does Lex Luthor have eyebrows?" Do NOT tell me you never wondered that. Seriously, I need an answer, and I hope my beloved Michael Rosenbaum can be the chosen one to give it to me. Oh, well. Someday.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Like a Man / Adam Cohen - Album Review
Greetings,
A while back, I did a list of my favorite singing offsprings, the children of famous singers who may or may not have become famous themselves. I thought it best to explain why one of those lesser known prodigies made the list with an album review. So today, I will be giving my thoughts on the Adam Cohen's Like a Man.
Okay, if you haven't figured it out yet, Adam Cohen is the son of Leonard Cohen. And if you don't know who Leonard Cohen is, stop now because you are no longer allowed to read my blog. For the rest of you, I'm happy to say that Adam Cohen is one second generationer who has managed to balance embracing his legacy with maintaining his own identity. That is something that takes skill, and he certainly has it.
Now Like a Man is not his first album. He has done other work, both for himself and others. Actually, it was writing for other artists that got him most of his success in the past. I've heard some of his past efforts and, to be honest, while I could certainly hear the spark there, he had yet to reach his height of potential. Thankfully, he has done so on this album. Let's begin, shall we?
The album begins quite gently with the song "Out of Bed", which is a good precursor to the mood of the rest of the tracks. The music is great, but I love the story being told with the lyrics. I find them almost humorous, and I hope that's okay, since it seems to be about a guy who would do anything for the one he loves, if he could just get around to doing it. Isn't that just like a man? Speaking of which, let's move on to the title track. This one is even more mellow than the opener, but the melodies are more strongly driven and almost fight against the calmness of the music. But in a good way. Next up is "Sweet Dominique" which I love because the lyrics tell a good story and are very visually stimulating. I love a song I can see. And the use of the words "kisses deep" certainly hearken back to the work of his father. Or am I the only one who noticed that?
Now not everything on the album is all that mellow. In fact, one of my favorites is one of the more, for lack of a better word, pop sounding tracks. "What Other Guy" is more up beat than some of the other songs, and the lyrics talk so much of a man who really knows his lady, I can't imagine any woman not loving this. Especially any woman who has a man who MIGHT buy her flowers once a year, and when he does, they're ones she's allergic to. I mean, come on, guys. Speaking of the pop world and the repetition and derivativeness of it, we also get a song called "Beautiful". Everyone gives us a song called "Beautiful". Lucky for Adam, though, he manages to be more lyrically creative than most, so he gets a pass. He also gets one because the song is - let's just say it - beautiful.
And then the album closes with a song called "Stranger". Should I ever make a top ten list of the best closing songs, this one definitely has a shot at making it. It is a very thoughtful and even comforting song. And, forgive me for sounding sappy, but it's one of those songs that makes you feel not so alone. I think that this and "Out of Bed" are the perfect bookends for the entire album.
Like I said, and I hope no one minds me saying it again, Adam Cohen's work is certainly reminiscent of some things his father did, but I would never confuse any music from one of them with that of the other. I must say, though, one of the most interesting gifts that Adam has is his voice, and it can also be compared to that of his father's. You can really tell that they are related by listening to it, and yet, because they have each lived their own lives and experiences, you can feel those subtle differences that set them apart from each other. Sometimes it's not only what you have, but it's what you've done that makes you who you are as an artist. And everything about this album really gives great insight on who Adam Cohen is.
So, obviously, I am recommending this album, especially to those of you who like music that is not too harsh and that has lyrics with which you can really take your time and slowly drink in. It truly is a work for other writers and true listeners.
Since I am both of those things, I love it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
A while back, I did a list of my favorite singing offsprings, the children of famous singers who may or may not have become famous themselves. I thought it best to explain why one of those lesser known prodigies made the list with an album review. So today, I will be giving my thoughts on the Adam Cohen's Like a Man.
Okay, if you haven't figured it out yet, Adam Cohen is the son of Leonard Cohen. And if you don't know who Leonard Cohen is, stop now because you are no longer allowed to read my blog. For the rest of you, I'm happy to say that Adam Cohen is one second generationer who has managed to balance embracing his legacy with maintaining his own identity. That is something that takes skill, and he certainly has it.
Now Like a Man is not his first album. He has done other work, both for himself and others. Actually, it was writing for other artists that got him most of his success in the past. I've heard some of his past efforts and, to be honest, while I could certainly hear the spark there, he had yet to reach his height of potential. Thankfully, he has done so on this album. Let's begin, shall we?
The album begins quite gently with the song "Out of Bed", which is a good precursor to the mood of the rest of the tracks. The music is great, but I love the story being told with the lyrics. I find them almost humorous, and I hope that's okay, since it seems to be about a guy who would do anything for the one he loves, if he could just get around to doing it. Isn't that just like a man? Speaking of which, let's move on to the title track. This one is even more mellow than the opener, but the melodies are more strongly driven and almost fight against the calmness of the music. But in a good way. Next up is "Sweet Dominique" which I love because the lyrics tell a good story and are very visually stimulating. I love a song I can see. And the use of the words "kisses deep" certainly hearken back to the work of his father. Or am I the only one who noticed that?
Now not everything on the album is all that mellow. In fact, one of my favorites is one of the more, for lack of a better word, pop sounding tracks. "What Other Guy" is more up beat than some of the other songs, and the lyrics talk so much of a man who really knows his lady, I can't imagine any woman not loving this. Especially any woman who has a man who MIGHT buy her flowers once a year, and when he does, they're ones she's allergic to. I mean, come on, guys. Speaking of the pop world and the repetition and derivativeness of it, we also get a song called "Beautiful". Everyone gives us a song called "Beautiful". Lucky for Adam, though, he manages to be more lyrically creative than most, so he gets a pass. He also gets one because the song is - let's just say it - beautiful.
And then the album closes with a song called "Stranger". Should I ever make a top ten list of the best closing songs, this one definitely has a shot at making it. It is a very thoughtful and even comforting song. And, forgive me for sounding sappy, but it's one of those songs that makes you feel not so alone. I think that this and "Out of Bed" are the perfect bookends for the entire album.
Like I said, and I hope no one minds me saying it again, Adam Cohen's work is certainly reminiscent of some things his father did, but I would never confuse any music from one of them with that of the other. I must say, though, one of the most interesting gifts that Adam has is his voice, and it can also be compared to that of his father's. You can really tell that they are related by listening to it, and yet, because they have each lived their own lives and experiences, you can feel those subtle differences that set them apart from each other. Sometimes it's not only what you have, but it's what you've done that makes you who you are as an artist. And everything about this album really gives great insight on who Adam Cohen is.
So, obviously, I am recommending this album, especially to those of you who like music that is not too harsh and that has lyrics with which you can really take your time and slowly drink in. It truly is a work for other writers and true listeners.
Since I am both of those things, I love it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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