Happy Belated Birthday to Warren Beatty

Shame on me! I completely forgot it was Warren Beatty's birthday yesterday. How could I have forgotten the birthday of one of the most beautiful creatures to grace silver screen? Seriously, was there ever a more attractive screen actor? Well... maybe Paul Newman, or Cary Grant, or Montgomery Clift, or Gary Cooper, or Ewan McGregor. Ok, Beatty's definitely in the top ten at least! Yesterday was his 72nd birthday, but he's still got it going on. He's actually still attractive, not like those other actors who are past their prime but still labeled sexy. I'm sorry but Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood haven't been sexy since the early seventies. Don't try to tell me otherwise. Anyway, speaking of Eastwood, I wish Beatty would follow his path, and start directing a bunch of movies again. Recently he's only been playing the part of Mr. Annette Bening, which I think is cute, considering how long Annette played the part of Mrs. Warren Beatty, but I still think he has a great movie in him. C'mon Warren, we need another Reds, Bugsy, or Bulworth!

Screen Goddess Top 5 - Greta Garbo

1. Camille (George Cukor, 1936)

2. Queen Christina (Rouben Mamoulian, 1933)

3. Ninotchka (Ernst Lubitsch, 1939)

4. Anna Karenina (Clarence Brown, 1935)

5. Anna Christie (Clarence Brown, 1930)

Sunday Blessings - Matthew Fox

This week's edition of Sunday Blessings is devoted to Matthew Fox, star of the series Lost, which is now more confusing and mind-bending than it ever was. Seriously, I have no idea where the show is headed, but I'm happy to go along for the ride. On the series, Fox plays Jack Shephard, who at one point was the defacto leader of the Losties, but having left the island now has no control over the group, much to his chagrin. The character is kind of screwed up, to put it mildly, but continues to be sexy, because Fox will forever be a hot piece of ass. Sorry to be so blunt, but he is. I was, of course, disappointed last season when he appeared shirtless with his chest hair all gone. Why would you do that? You're a hairy beast! Embrace it. Grow it back! Reportedly, Fox has said once Lost ends he won't do anymore television work, instead focusing on film. Um? Now I don't know if I would ever consider him a movie star. Commanding the small screen is much different than commanding the big screen. Just ask Jennifer Aniston... actually don't because I don't think she gets it either. Fox has never really grabbed my attention in any of his films, and that's saying a lot, considering how hot I find the man. If he wants to be a movie star, nudity might help, at least in my eyes. I'm just putting that out there. Praise Jesus!

Nicole Kidman Teaming with Woody Allen?

Yes please! It appears Ms. Kidman will be co-starring in Woody Allen's untitled 2010 film alongside Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Frieda Pinto and Nicole's BFF Naomi Watts. That's an interesting ensemble, to say the least. Woody is known for pulling some great performances out of his ladies - just ask Oscar winners Penelope Cruz, Dianne Wiest, Mira Sorvino, and Diane Keaton - so hopefully Nicole or Naomi will wow us again. Though imagine if it's Pinto who unexpectedly gives the best-in-show performance.

Samantha Who? I've Missed You

Christina Applegate's series Samantha Who? returned to air last night, and I couldn't be happier. I didn't realize how much I missed the series until watching last night's episode. It's by no means the greatest show on television, but it's always funny and has a great ensemble, which is highly underrated. Christina Applegate is hilarious as the amnesiac trying to reconcile her past self to become a better person, and the trio of Jean Smart, Melissa McCarthy, and Jennifer Esposito are game as her mother and friends, who use Samantha's amnesia for their own benefits. Funny ladies all. I only wish the series would have larger plotlines for the supporting actresses. Last night's brief storyline of Dena carrying out an email relationship with a soldier, who'd send her appliances, had be dying.

Screen Goddess Top 5 - Sigourney Weaver

1. Aliens (James Cameron, 1986)
2. Gorillas in the Mist (Michael Apted, 1988)
3. The Ice Storm (Ang Lee, 1997)
4. The Year of Living Dangerously (Peter Weir, 1983)
5. Working Girl (Mike Nichols, 1988)

The Death of Edie Britt

She keeps going and going. Strangulation couldn't kill her. A car crash couldn't stop her. It took a downed powerline to bring about the end of Edie Britt. Although, based on the preview, it appears she still might be alive for part of the next episode. Who is this woman....Rasputin?

Sunday Blessings - Nathan Fillion

Today's edition of Sunday Blessings is devoted to Nathan Fillion, star of ABC's new series Castle. However, no matter how many television series or films he appears in, Fillion will forever be, in my eyes, Captain Tight-Pants. Sigh....I really liked Firefly. The character's actual name, of course, was Mal Reynolds, but the nickname given to him by Kaylee (I believe, but I might be wrong) fits perfectly. Fillion filled out those tight pants nicely, and anyone who watched the episode "Trash" on DVD, also knows he doesn't disappoint when not wearing them. As I mentioned earlier, he's currently on the series Castle, playing the role of a novelist who helps a detective, played by Stana Katic, solve crimes. While Fillion is entertaining, he oozes charisma without really trying, the show itself is only so-so. The series wants to develop a love-hate relationship between the two leads, eventually having them become a couple somewhere down the line. Fillion plays the role of pursuer/aggitator well, but Katic has very little chemistry with him. She's sort of lifeless in the role, and the premise is kind of annoying as it draws out the potential courtship of the characters. The series would be much better if Katic and Fillion just got it on right away. That way the show could explore the repercussions, and depict a love-hate relationship where there is at least sex. Who wouldn't want to see a half-naked Nathan Fillion is bed every week? No one I tell you. Praise Jesus!

Battlestar Galactic - It's All Over

...well technically not really, since there's still the TV movie The Plan, but that's a flashback/prequel. The storyline is officially over, after last night's series finale. I'm trying not to cry, trying to keep it together. Sigh. It was a great finale to a great series. That's not to say it was perfect. The ending on Earth was kind of drawn out for longer than it needed to be, at least in my opinion. I couldn't remember if I was watching Battlestar Galactica or the end of The Return of the King. Overall it was a great conclusion. The epic scale, alone, was awe-inspiring. What I really appreciated was the writers/producers ending the series in a way that almost guarantees no future sequels, which could cheapen the series. Prequels, on the other hand, are fair-game. There already is a series lined up, Caprica, about the young Adama, which if it's half as good as Galactica, will be an entertaining show. Sigh. I'm going to miss this show. Anyway, here are a few of the moments I enjoyed most from last night:

• the heart-stopping attack on the Cylon colony
• Athena killing Boomer
• Tyrol discovering what happened to Cally and killing Tory
• Cavil offing himself in panic
• Starbuck jumping the ship to "Earth"
• Helo, Athena and Hera together as family
• Starbuck as angel? and vanishing
• President Roslin's last moments and Adama at her grave
• 150,000 years in the future and Hera as "Lucy"

Wednesday Night Hotness

Last night's television sure featured a lot of eye-candy. First, 90s hottie Dan Gauthier guest starred as the Ajira co-pilot on Lost, only to be killed five minutes later in the plane crash. Does anyone else remember him popping up on every television series during the mid to late nineties?Life on Mars had Jason O'Mara shirtless with a ton of facial hair and a black eye. Total hotness. Plus the episode allowed him to speak in his actual Irish brogue. The accent, of course. makes me swoon. I'm going to miss this show, particularly O'Mara. On Make Me a Supermodel, my favorite contestant, Jonathan, was first featured wearing football shoulder-pads and then a cod-piece. Sigh. You know everyone keeps going on about how Branden is the hotest guy there, but I'm sorry he's not. At least I don't think so. Way too young for my taste. In the end, I really hope Jonathan takes the prize.

Carol Burnett on Last Night's Law & Order: SVU:

Camptastic!!!

Praying for Natasha Richardson and Her Family

There are still conflicting reports about the actress's condition, but hearts and prayers go out to her and her family.

Screen Goddess Top 5 - Meryl Streep

A new weekly feature to this blog, Screen Goddess Top 5 will list what I consider the five best performances of a particular actress. To start this off, I'll begin with whom I consider to be the greatest living actress, and perhaps my favorite actress of all time, Meryl Streep.

1. Sophie's Choice (Alan J. Pakula, 1982)
2. Silkwood (Mike Nichols, 1983)
3. The Bridges of Madison County (Clint Eastwood, 1995)
4. Adaptation (Spike Jonze, 2002)
5. The French Lieutenant's Woman (Karel Reisz, 1981)

Greatest Moment of The Amazing Race Ever

Host Phil Keoghan in his underwear

Sunday Blessings - Michael Trucco

The series finale of Battlestar Galactica airs this Friday, and in honor of this, I'm devoting Sunday Blessings to Michael Trucco, otherwise known as Sam Anders, husband of Kara "Starbuck" Thrace and cylon. I previously did a post on co-star Jamie Bamber, and decided to pick Trucco, out of the remaining cast, because this will probably be the last opportunity to do so. Not to sound like a jerk, which I will anyway, but I wouldn't consider him a great actor. He's mainly eye-candy, and actors known more for their looks than their talent have a harder time finding decent work once they reach a certain age. I'm not saying it's a fair deal. We have to put up with a bunch of starlets running around in films and television with no real talent, so why can we not have just as much male eye-candy. Plus, most men don't achieve full hotness until they're in their mid to late thirties, at least I think so. But regardless, I don't expect Trucco to get any great acting gigs in the future, so let's appreciate him now. The man is quite a looker, with a rocking body, but what I think gets me most is his eyes. He has a piercing stare, which would probably make me buckle under if I were to see him in person. With regards to the show, I'm really liking the arc of his character. Sam Anders went from simply being Starbuck's lover, though probably not the love of her life, to finding out he's a cylon who used to live on Earth and helped to create the other cylon models. Now he's in a coma, only able to "communicate" when plugged into the cylons' technology, but I'm guessing there's more to the story, based upon the flashback of him on Caprica from this past Friday's episode. Sigh. Oh gods I'm going to miss this series when it ends. After watching series like this, Mad Men, Lost, and even to a certain extant Damages, it's hard to watch other programs. I just wind up thinking to myself, "Really, that's all you got?" Anyway, let's praise Jesus for Battlestar Galactica and the hotness that is Michael Trucco. Amen.

Gena Rowlands - A Woman Under the Influence

Why did I wait so long to discover Gena Rowlands? She's one of those actresses whose masterpiece performances I've never really explored. I've seen her in a number of films, usually believing her to be a good actress, but was only ever wowed by her in Hysterical Blindness and Another Woman, which could be considered one her greatest roles. Her collaberations with husband John Cassavetes were left unseen by me, until last night when I watched A Woman Under the Influence. It's a brilliant film, and Rowlands' performance as a mentally unstable woman, is heart-breaking - easily one of the best performances of crazy ever on film. I now understand all the hype about her, and I cannot wait to see Opening Night, another collaberation with her husband. As for 1974, the year the film was released, it must have been a great year for actresses. I've seen three of the five performances nominated for Best Actress (Rowlands, Dunaway for Chinatown, and Burstyn for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), and all three I'd consider brilliant, and some of the best performances ever. I wonder about the other two.

Pinocchio - 70th Anniversary Edition

Definitely worth purchasing, if you're a fan of classic Disney animated films. And, by the way, who isn't a fan?

American Idol - I Hate to Admit It

I didn't really want to post about the show, since I hate to admit I actually watch it. I'm aware of the fact it's a bad show. It's often mean-spirited and shallow, the judges have little, if any, constructive criticism, it promotes mediocrity rather than artistry, and it's very apparent the show is manipulative. Essentially, it's a glorified karaoke contest disguised as a serious talent competition. The sole purpose of the show is to make the producers a lot of money, rather than influence the musice industry. Inspite of all that, I still watch the show, which i'm embaressed about, but at least I understand the show for what it is, and I'm not even a loyal viewer. I never watch the audition episodes, since they only exist to humiliate people on national television, and I didn't watch last year's finale, since I thought the two remaining contestants were boring, and I had no real investment in either of them winning. As for this season, the only one I'm genuinely interested in is Allison, who has shown real personality and stage presence. I think she deserves to win just for her joke about not cutting herself, which had me dying laughing I also kind of like Kris, but that's mainly because he's adorable. Hey, the best reason for watching reality television in cute guys.

Why Did I Sit Through This?

Blame it on having a 3 year old nephew. But, um...Jamie Lee Curtis...why are you in this film?

Jake's Prince of Persia....DAMN!

Although, shouldn't he be hairier? He is Persian afterall. Hmm. This is going to be the most unintentionally gay movie since 300. But the fact that the studio keeps leaking out photos of a shirtless Jake Gyllenhaal, might mean they're actually trying to get the gay audience. Again, it did help 300's box office.

Don't Mess with Nora Walker...

Cause she will cut a bitch!

Sunday Blessings - Watchmen Edition

For today's edition of Sunday Blessings, the feature in which we praise Jesus for providing us with a hot piece of man tail, I decided to devote the post to the men of the just released film Watchmen, who apparently all seem to be connected to the talented Mary-Louise Parker. Hmm? At first I thought I would just do a post about Patrick Wilson, who plays Night Owl, but I thought to myself, "Hey, what about Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode, and Billy Crudup? I can't forget about them!" They're all yummy in their own sort of way. Patrick Wilson is the all-American boy, who thankfully has no qualms about nudity - Angels in America, Little Children - all good! Jeffrey Dean Morgan has a rough, sexiness about him, although he seems to be stuck in the tamer chick-flick genre of film and television. Matthew Goode is the British, aristocratic naughty boy type, but I might just be forever liking him to his Match Point character. Then there's Billy Crudup, whose sex appeal I sometimes forget, but was reminded of as he made the talkshow rounds promoting Watchmen. The man has charisma to spare. Why doesn't Hollywood do more with him? Earlier I had mentioned the Watchmen were seemingly all connected to actress Mary-Louise Parker, and here's where we can begin. Crudup was partnered with Parker, but broke up with her while she pregnant with their son. Afterward, Parker dated Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who also played her deceased husband on Weeds. Then there's Patrick Wilson who played her closeted husband in the miniseries adaptation of Angels in America. So there you go. As for the film, I doubt I'll go see it in the theatre. Judging by the reviews, I was probably right with my suspicions of Zak Snyder lazily being faithful to the graphic novel, and after 300 and this, I think we can all agree Snyder's got some issues. And to think, after the remake of Dawn of the Dead, I was so hopeful for his career. I got distracted; what was I talking about? Oh yes...hot men. Wilson, Morgan, Goode, Crudup - hot. Amen!

Patrick Wilson

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Matthew Goode

Billy Crudup

Sita Sings the Blues (Nina Paley, 2008)

After watching Sita Sings the Blues, a wonderous, funny and at times beautiful film, I really hope someone in Hollywood gives director/animator Nina Paley a decent sized budget to make a film. Sita, an adaptation of the Ramayana, was a burst of energy, with its varied animated techniques including rotoscope, handrawn, shadow puppets, and 2D computer animation. While it doesn't all work, the film retains a sense of magic that is lacking in many of today's overabundant animated films.

Frak! I'm Gonna Miss You.

It Happened One Night (Frank Capra, 1934)

For a film from 1934, I was surprised by its sexiness. The scene in which they undress in the hotel cabin - steamy! While describing how every man undresses differently, Gable proceeds to remove his clothing in front of Colbert, who appears to enjoy the sight. Apparently the fact that Gable didn't wear an undershirt in the scene, created a fashion stir, causing men to give up their undershirts, as well. Following Gable's undressing, Colbert removes her clothes, thought not in front of him, while backlit and in shadows. I don't want to be one of those people who complain about today's cinema in comparison to older films, but I have to be honest and say current filmmakers could learn a lot about depicting sexual desire from It Happened One Night.

Jamie Bamber's PETA Ad

Hey, it brought the issue to my attention.

HMM?

Currently reading the graphic novel Watchmen. Uhh....hmm?

Make Me a Supermodel Returns

And I couldn't be happier about it! I actually think the series has a higher quality about it than America's Next Top Model, and depictsthe modeling industry more realistically. Now I loves me some ANTM, but the show's all about Tyra and Tyra being proud about raising girls' self-esteem. Many of those girls would probably be tossed out of a modeling agency if they set foot in the door. Make Me a Supermodel also has going for it cute boys. I firmly believe cute boys make any reality show better. As of right now I'm all about Jonathan - oh, the abs on that man - but he could quickly turn out to be an annoying a**hole, and I'd be routing against him. Such was the case with Perry last season. With last night's premiere, I'm kind of disappointed Ken was elimated first, not because I thought he had great modeling potential, but because he had an amazing ass, which judge/former model Jenny Shimizu (love you!) thankfully pointed out. Now we won't be able to see it shown off. If there's one thing that makes this show great, it's the fact they show bare ass. Can I get an Amen!

Farewell, Ken's ass - We hardly knew ya!

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Michael Chabon's novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay came out way back in 2000, and I finally got around to reading it this past week. Chabon's one of those authors who I thought I'd really enjoy, but I never actually read anything they wrote. My interest started back when I saw the film adaptation of his novel Wonder Boys, before going off to college in Pittsburgh, where the novel /film is set. The film, and I would therefore presume the novel as well, represents the city so perfectly, that I thought it would be nice to further explore Chabon's works. Cut to seven years later, and I still hadn't read any of his novels. Embarrising, I know. Anyway the novel, which isn't set in Pittsburgh, but in NYC primarily, details the lives of two Jewish cousins who head into the comic book business and quickly achieve success during the Golden Age of comics, before losing much of it by the end of that era. It's a genius work, interweaving their lives with their characters, and how, at times, they have superhero personas themselves. By the end of the novel, it was if my heart was ripped out (cliche, I know). I'm just saying, I love it, and would highly recommend it to anyone. Apparently director Stephen Daldry was, for a long time, attached to a film adaptation of the work, which never came to fruition. I would actually like to see the novel made into a film, but having Daldry as the director would make me nervous. On the one hand, he wouldn't shy away from the gay stuff (as evidenced by The Hours), but on the other, I don't think he could successfully handle the grand scope of the novel. If I were to make it into a film, I'd turn it into a giant three epic along the lines of Reds or Doctor Zhivago. While some people would have qualms about that, I think it would be the best way to handle both the intimacy of the relationships and the grand scale of the plot.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Um....not particulalry interesting. Maybe it will get better once he loses the look of sheer terror. Seriously he looked so nervous, as if he were about to puke at any moment. I was never a big fan of his to begin with, anyway. His constant need to mug at the camera on SNL was annoying, and Tina Fey essentially carried him on the Weekend Update segment. I'll stick with my Craig Ferguson before bed. The guy got a genuine laugh out of Paris Hilton, so you know he's talented.