Amello

I'm making my way through the Hammer Films' series of Frankenstein films and just finished the third one, The Evil of Frankenstein. Peter Woodthorpe playing the hypnotist constantly gave me similar vibes to Mark Ruffalo's character in Poor Things. The characters themselves have obvious differences, but I couldn't help but wonder if maybe Ruffalo got some of his inspiration from Woodthorpe's performance. Probably a long shot, but interesting to think about.

I don't know if I'm about to express unpopular opinions, but I just watched Scream VI (finally!) and have to share my thoughts. (Sorry if there's a separate individual thread for the film, but I couldn't find it if so). 1) I thought Scream 5 seemed like the perfect denouement to the OG characters (Sydney, Gale, Dewey) and passing of the torch to the new generation that Gale's inclusion (and Sydney's if contract talks had went more swimmingly) was unnecessary. Of course, it's always good to see her, but she could have used a rest. 2) Only randoms and the killers died. Why? I love to gaze at Mason Gooding as much as the next homosexual, but if you're going to write a scene of him being stabbed a million times, then kill him. Why did Mindy survive? She's one of my least favourite main characters from any of the movies. Plus, Kirby surviving felt like a fitting nod to being the next Gale/cat with nine lives of the franchise, so Mindy/Chad also not dying felt repetitive and like TPTB were treating the audience with kids gloves. Now, I think it would have been horrible optics to kill the two black people, so I would have the survivors be Tara, Chad, and Kirby. I think most people would have been ecstatic at that outcome. 3) Dermot Mulroney felt like the killer right away, but I was genuinely surprised by the Quinn twist. Also, he gave an awful performance. Another shocking moment, I guess. 4) Lastly, and least interesting to note probably, but I have say Jack Champion is freaking adorable. He seems staged to be a star if he wants to be, IMO.

Thanks for the reminder. Her version of Send in the Clowns is still, and will forever be, my favourite. You can't beat an OG like that. Her voice was too uniquely wonderful.

I watched The Heart is a Lonely Hunter last night. I like to go into movies blind so I had no idea what it was about. What a beautiful surprise! Alan Arkin's performance is very engaging. It's actually the first Arkin performance I've ever seen (don't shoot!). What a disservice I've done to myself to never see him act. Great performances from all around him, too. This is one of those movies that once it ended it still stayed with me. I felt restless because I couldn't talk about it with anyone. I certainly teared up, and had to eat Oreos to center myself 😄. On a superficial note, I'm surprised Wayne Smith, who plays Sondra Locke's love interest of sorts, didn't have more of a career. He was beautiful!

With Tony Bennett's passing, the two surviving members of The Crew Cuts, brothers John and Ray Perkins, become the living artists to have the earliest US number one single with the song "Sh-Boom" in 1954.

Honestly, knowing how much of a nerd Joe M. is, I bet it was just a factor of two hot people realizing their personalities/interests were just too different. Neither seems like any sort of drama magnet.

With the passing of Ed Ames, the last remaining member of The Ames Brothers, Tony Bennett becomes the living artist with the earliest debuting number one single with his song "Because of You" from 1951.

Kirstie Alley - Look Who's Talking, It Takes Two, The Village of the Damned, Summer School, Fat Actress ... I grew up watching these projects on TV. I'll remember the actress fondly, no matter what the person may have been like. But saying that, if you saw her when she did Celebrity Big Brother, she was so likable on there that it's even hard to marry who she showed herself to be on that show with unfortunate things she said elsewhere. Still, she was so talented and obviously beloved despite all that so rest in peace, Kirstie Alley.

I watched Diamond Head (1962) the other night starring Charlton Heston in the lead. It's a film about him opposing his sister marrying a Hawaii'an because of his prejudices. I ended up enjoying it because, for one, it was very soapy, and I think knowing Heston's conservative views I kept waiting for the ball to drop on his more open-minded sister, played by Yvette Mimieux, whereby she would go crazy or see the error of her ways, but was pleasantly surprised by the ultimate outcome in terms of the films messaging. Shamefully, I didn't even realize Aline McMahon was playing the mother of the Hawaii'an brothers, but to my testament the image of her I have in my mind is of her from golden age films like Gold Diggers of 1933, but when I did realize it took a minute to wrap my head around for obvious reasons.

Stefano loved the thrill of playing mind games. Victor would destroy you as quickly and effortlessly as possible ... when written correctly, of course. He was a constant throughout my whole life. RIP John Aniston, soap opera legend!

I really hope Jasmine gets her Tatianna v. Raven reunion moment and chews Daya up at some point. We all deserve it see it.

Horrible news! Gone way, way too soon. Loved him in Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World, which he won the César Award for Best Actor. Gorgeous and talented. R.I.P!

With the passing of Betty White, Maria Riva, daughter of Marlene Dietrich, becomes the earliest Emmy nominated actor.

Congratulations are in order for Trixie Mattel, who has received a Critics' Choice TV nomination for Best Comedy Special! Hope she wins! BEST COMEDY SPECIAL Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix) Good Timing with Jo Firestone (Peacock) James Acaster: Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 (Vimeo) Joyelle Nicole Johnson: Love Joy (Peacock) Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American (Netflix) Trixie Mattel: One Night Only (YouTube)

Renée Dorléac (Simonot professionally), the mother of Catherine Deneuve, passed away on July 11, aged 109. She was the oldest living actor in the world. That distinction was then briefly attributed to Australian actress, Mary Ward, who passed away on July 19, aged 106. The distinction of the oldest living actor in the world is now American actress Marsha Hunt.