[The Irishman (2019)]

Thanks.  The scenes were DeNiro's Sherran was supposed to be much younger (say, early 30s) were jarring and unconvincing for me.

[The Irishman (2019)]

6 hours ago, VCRTracking said:

I think the de-aging works if you look at what the real Frank Sheeran and Jimmy Hoffa looked like. DeNiro and Pacino weren't supposed to look like they were in the movie HEAT again they were supposed to look like:

 Do you know what year this photo was taken?

[Race & Ethnicity On TV]

On 6/7/2021 at 8:03 AM, biakbiak said:

The Vanishing Half which is about passing is being made into an HBO series. 

I hope the series has more character development than I found in the first few chapters of the book.  I expected to tear through this novel, but found it less well developed (at least in its first few chapters) than I was expecting.  I'll pick it up again later for a fall book discussion group. 

On 7/2/2021 at 8:11 PM, DearEvette said:

 Anyone with Hulu, I totally recommend Summer of Soul a documentary of a little known summer music fest in 1969 in Harlem that basically featured anyone who was anyone in R&B and gospel music in the  60's.

Apparently, they filmed this and it sat in a vault unseen until now.  Questlove was tapped to put it together.  It is fantastic, imo.

Just watched this on Hulu and it was AMAZING!  I had to pause and catch my breath after some of the performances.  I also loved the interspersing of current reactions by people who were there, especially Marilyn McCoo and and Billy Davis of The 5th Dimension.  Rolling Stone has some reflections on that.

It was also sad and infuriating to think that this chapter of Black history was nearly erased.  Thank you, Questlove, for bringing it to us now!

[Friends - General Discussion]

On 7/6/2021 at 2:10 PM, LexieLily said:

Monkey Trainer Slams Schwimmer's Reunion Comments About Marcel.

Good grief. D. Schwimmer wasn't saying that he hated the monkeys, he was just recalling a humorous story that it was hard to work with a live animal on set, which was more than likely true.

Jeepers, that guy needs to take a chill pill!

[Shtisel - General Discussion]

Just watched the HBO movie Oslo, which is excellent.  What a treat to see Dov Glickman (Shulem) as an Israeli professor and Sasson Gabay (Nukhem) as Shimon Peres.  For those who have watched Unorthodox, be on the lookout for Jeff Wilbusch (Moishe) as well!

[Unorthodox - General Discussion]

Just watched the HBO movie Oslo, which is excellent.  Jeff Wilbusch (Moishe) plays an Israeli negotiator.  I didn't recognize him without his special dispensation iPhone, but my husband did.  😄

[Oslo (HBO/HBO MAX Movie) - General Discussion]

Just watched it tonight and thought it was very well done.  I want to do some background reading, then watch it again.  It was a particular treat to see Dov Glickman and Sasson Gabay from Shtisel in the cast as well as Jeff Wilbusch from Unorthodox. 

[Shtisel - General Discussion]

2 hours ago, Maysie said:

I followed that with Srugim, which was lighter and a fun watch, and it made me open my mind a bit more about what I was seeing. The characters in Srugim are religious, but not orthodox (at least that was my interpretation from my secular POV-there weren’t matches and sidelocks, but the wigs and skirts were expected). 

I believe the Srugim characters were Orthodox, in that they kept kosher and followed rabbinic law regarding sexual relations, prayer rituals, Sabbath observations, etc. They were not ultra-orthodox, which applies to the Shtisel family.  My husband and I watched Shtisel earlier and just finished Srugim last night.  I miss it already! 

[Friends - General Discussion]

When was Ross and Rachel's first kiss?

Quote

“I remember saying one time to David, ‘It’s gonna be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is going to be on national television,’” she said during the special. “Sure enough, the first time we kissed was in that coffee shop. We just channeled all of our adoration and love for each other into Ross and Rachel.”

But their characters actually kissed in the final episode of S1, on the balcony.  It was an imagined scene, as Rachel couldn't stop thinking about Ross while having a glass of wine with a doofus named Carl, but it was the first time those two actors kissed as Ross and Rachel.  

I think there was a very brief kiss in the laundromat episode as well.  But the S1-24 kiss (The One Where Rachel Finds Out) was passionate enough to send Rachel racing for the airport.

[In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths]

NPR's Fresh Air recently rebroadcast part of a 1995 interview with Clarence Williams III.  It's the first 20 minutes or so here.  It was a treat to hear him sounding so jovial and animated, as that's not what I associate with his characters! RIP, Clarence -- and your legendary 'fro!  😉

[In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths]

On 6/13/2021 at 5:59 PM, legaleagle53 said:

Sigh. My youth just keeps on dying, little by little. Ned Beatty dead at 83.

Oh, my -- I somehow missed this news until just now.  As the article states:

Quote

On television, Beatty was at his best as Det. Stanley “The Big Man” Bolander on NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street 

Time to pull out the DVDs and salute both Ned Beatty and Yaphet Kotto.  😪

[The Comey Rule - General Discussion]

I've finally resumed an exercise regimen that allows me to catch up on podcasts.  😊 Today I listened to Jeff Daniels interviewed by John Heilemann on Hell or High Water.  It's from Sept. 2020, just before The Comey Rule aired.  He talks about that mini-series and many other things.  Well worth a listen.  

[TCM: The Greatest Movie Channel]

On 6/12/2021 at 2:17 AM, VCRTracking said:

Here's a great Newman story from a recent Graham Norton Show:

OMG, that is terrific!

[Friends - General Discussion]

20 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

The sketches on 30 Rock were deliberately awful too, though.  It's not like they were good.  The actual show was good though.

Yeah, I think Tina was kind of winking at us about the quality of TGS, while Sorkin thought they were writing actually good material for Studio 60.  But this doesn't have a lot to do with Friends.  😄

[Friends - General Discussion]

On 5/31/2021 at 8:42 AM, Ms Blue Jay said:

I liked Studio 60 also.  I don't remember being able to get into his other shows, but I definitely tried at least the pilot of all of them.  I watched Studio 60 all the way through and I would have watched more if it stayed on the air.  I think the popularity of 30 Rock at the same time (and about the same topic) crushed it.  I gotta wonder if Aaron Sorkin hates Tina Fey ;). 

I think the difference was that Fey knew the world she was writing about and Sorkin didn't.  Much of Studio 60 didn't ring true to me.  Sarah Paulson is a good actress, but she did not come across as the comedy genius the show said she was.  And that whole HMS Pinafore "apology" sketch?  Eye-rolling.

On 6/1/2021 at 8:24 AM, Danny Franks said:

But I do think [Matt] and Lisa are the ones aging the most naturally and still look the best. 

Definitely true for Kudrow, but I think Schwimmer looks best among the men.  Matt could take some work-out lessons from him.  ;-)

I love Kudrow's interviews about Friends for EmmyTVLegends.  This is probably the one to start with. She's obviously a smart woman and very thoughtful about her work.  She also seems very grounded.  Interesting that she's the only one of the cast who's had a lasting marriage -- to someone not in showbiz. 

[TCM: The Greatest Movie Channel]

On 6/2/2021 at 7:25 PM, Milburn Stone said:

The suits might not even know what's in the back catalogs they do own.

I've read that this is why some movies (such as Silkwood, a favorite of mine) are not available for streaming -- it's not clear who owns the rights.

On 6/3/2021 at 9:55 PM, Sarah 103 said:

I realize this boarders on tasteless and is the definition of the shallow end of the pool, but Paul Newman clutching the pillow is one of the highlights of the movie for me. I love the way he enjoys making her crazy. 

Happy to join you in the shallow end.  I had that scene saved on my DVR for years!  What can I say?  I love a nice torso.  🤤  (See also Stuart Wilson as Ferdinand Lopez in The Pallisers.  Hoo-boy!)

[TCM: The Greatest Movie Channel]

While some of the business press has used sloppy language, there is a corporate entity called MGM Studios, and it appears this is what Amazon purchased. Per the wikipedia link I provided above:

Quote

Today the company produces feature films and television series, purchases films for distribution and distributes its own pictures. In films, the company produces the Rocky and Creed franchises, and the James Bond franchise. Recent productions of MGM Television include The Handmaid's Tale.

According to this article, what the purchase means for amazon Prime streaming content isn't immediately obvious: 

Quote

 

But -- thanks to the byzantine nature of video licensing and ownership -- Amazon's purchase of MGM may not necessarily mean new MGM movies will come straight to Amazon Prime Video exclusively. Nor does it mean that Prime Video is automatically going to get a huge influx of all the classics you associate with MGM's roaring lion intro. Amazon said Wednesday it didn't have any comment about MGM's library of content or access to it on Prime Video or anywhere else.

Take the James Bond film franchise. MGM helps produce James Bond movies, including No Time to Die, the next installment set to hit theaters Oct. 8. But creative control of Bond films resides in a small production company unrelated to MGM called Eon Productions; the people calling the shots are essentially a sister and brother whose father passed down creative control over the franchise. That company makes the big decisions, like when should the next Bond film come out, who will be the new Bond, whether Bond should get a TV series. 

MGM's new films also have a licensing arrangement with ViacomCBS' Paramount Plus, which is set to stream films like No Time to Die, House of Gucci and Creed III, after their full theatrical releases and a window of time when they're exclusive to Epix. The terms of MGM's licensing deal with Paramount Plus aren't publicly known, including whether Paramount Plus gets any exclusivity over the streaming availability of the movies. It's also unclear what would happen to Epix's exclusive domain over streaming some new MGM movies first if Amazon, say, reinvented Epix as a part of Prime Video. (Paramount Plus didn't respond to messages seeking comment on streaming licenses.)

And you definitely shouldn't expect Amazon Prime Video to get those classic made back in the heyday of the Hollywood studio system -- think The Wizard of Oz and Singin' in the Rain. Those movies stream over at HBO Max now because the service's parent company, WarnerMedia, has owned them for years. Amazon would have to bring WarnerMedia to the negotiating table if it wanted to claw them back. 

 

 

[TCM: The Greatest Movie Channel]

There is an entity called MGM Studios.  Here is the investor relations page.  Contact info at the bottom says:

MGM Studios
245 N Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Here's the wikipedia description of the company.

Quote

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, initialized as MGM; often referred to as Metro; common metonym: the Lion or Leo)[1] is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of feature films and television programs. One of the world's oldest film studios, MGM's corporate headquarters are located in Beverly Hills, California.[2]

 

[TCM: The Greatest Movie Channel]

As a Prime subscriber, I'm glad the MGM content is going somewhere I can access it!

[In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths]

Re Kevin Clark's death, the Chicago Sun-Times reported:

Quote

 

Clark was riding a bicycle early Wednesday when he was struck and killed at a notoriously dangerous intersection on the Northwest Side. He was hit by a Hyundai Sonata around 1:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of North Western Avenue, Chicago police said.

Paramedics found him on Logan Boulevard and took him to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:04 a.m., according to the Chicago Fire Department and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

 

That intersection is less than 2 miles from my home, but it's one I'm able to avoid.  While Chicago has installed a lot of bike lanes in recent years, there is still a lot of confusion between drivers and bikers about right-of-way and basic courtesy.  I've seen a lot of bad and risky behavior from both groups.  I'd imagine that biking at 1:20 AM heightens those risks.  

Very sad circumstances.  😢

[Shtisel - General Discussion]

On 8/26/2020 at 2:12 PM, ItsJessMe said:

If you want a similar series, watch Srugim, about modern orthodox singles in Israel.  I ADORED that show!

Thank you!  We are a few episodes into the 2nd season of Srugim and loving it.  Even when I can see what is coming, the show portrays it so honestly and unsentimentally.  It's lovely.

[S46.E20: Anya Taylor-Joy / Lil Nas X]

On 5/23/2021 at 9:18 AM, Quickbeam said:

My husband hates this show but loves WU. He laughed a lot. His favorite skit was the Bra Barn. He was almost crying he laughed so hard. Anya is so much better looking than her Gambit persona. 

I find her jarring with blonde hair, even though it's her natural shade.  I think she looks better with darker hair. 

On 5/23/2021 at 9:40 AM, ahisma said:

Nailing him, even over her shoulder without looking! That really was the highlight of an overall great night.

That was some impressive no-look wine tossing!

On 5/23/2021 at 3:37 PM, Crashcourse said:

I know Lil Nas X thought he was being sexy with the crotch grabbing and gyrations, but the young'un just had me laughing.  Bless his heart.

Another "musical" guest I skipped over.  Good lord.

[Somebody Feed Phil - General Discussion]

On 7/7/2018 at 7:06 AM, ElectricBoogaloo said:

I have to agree with Phil - Venice may have a reputation for being full of tourists but people go there because it's gorgeous.

Everything he ate in Venice and Modena looked so fucking delicious!

There were a few seafood dishes that looked gorgeous but I could not eat -- oysters, mussels, and squid are just too pungent for me!

On 7/7/2018 at 2:54 PM, Quilt Fairy said:

I had to laugh, Phil's famous pork chop looks almost exactly like the breaded pork tenderloin that I order at a Bohemian restaurant by my house.  Except they serve it with a ton of brown gravy to pour over it.  Next time I bring one home I'm going to cut off a piece and try some white vinegar on it.

And now I really want to visit Venice. 

I've been to Venice briefly 3 times and can't wait to return!  As much as I love it, though, I have never associated Venice with great food.  That pork chop could change my mind.  I think I could die happy after devouring one of those!  But this summer I also want to try making some of the cold vegetable dishes the owner had Phil try first.  I remember an assortment of such dishes at a lunch buffet in Florence -- just delectable!

[In Memoriam: Entertainment Industry Celebrity Deaths]

58 minutes ago, ifionlyknew said:

I think I first really became of Charles Grodin in Lost in America with Julie Hagerty. 

You're thinking of Albert Brooks who, fortunately, is still with us at almost 74.

[Dear Evan Hansen (2021)]

Personally, I'm thrilled that Platt's performance as Evan Hansen will be captured on film.  He is a unique and powerful talent.  I had the pleasure of seeing him as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon in Chicago when he was 19 or 20 and was blown away.  Judging by the trailer, I think complaints about his age relative to this role are exaggerated.  Judge Reinhold and Robert Romanus were in their mid-20s when Fast Times at Ridgmont High came out.  Anna Camp was almost 30 when she filmed the first Pitch Perfect, and Anna Kendrick was almost 27.

 This Vanity Fair article gives some insight into the movie version of DEH.  I'm looking forward to it.