Oprah's Last Show

Oprah’s last show had a personal touch to it. She talked to her audience and shared moments. She stood for the entire show. There were no guests, but there were many celebs in the Audience.

Since I don’t have cable I can’t watch OWN. The upside is that my evenings are free. I don’t have to rush home to watch Oprah at 4PM. I’ve been trying not to watch as much television, but there are some shows with useful information, The Doctors, and The Nate Berkus Show.

I also like watching the PBS channels. I happen to have three of those.

It’s weird that Oprah’s contract would end mid week. They could have completed the show on a Friday. They are now running reruns. That’s always good, I can watch those shows where I didn’t get home in time. Some of the shows are worth watching again and again.

You can’t say Oprah went out with a bang, but Oprah’s surprise spectacular was great. Beyonce gave a great performance. I was thinking Patti Labelle would come out to sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow and she did. Doing the moves only Patti can do.
There were many memorable moments.

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Coming Up: Thoughts from an Artist Part 2, What happens next?, Cutting back, Entering contests

River Phoenix

My Own Private Idaho

Sometimes I’ll watch a film and it will trigger a memory about an actor and I’ll feel like watching one of their films. That was the case recently when I watched Sneakers which starred Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix. It made me think of some of River Phoenix’s earlier work, The thing called Love, Stand by Me, Running on Empty, Mosquito Coast and My Own Private Idaho.

River Phoenix was like James Dean. There was something about him on screen that you were just draw to him. He really got into his roles and perhaps that could have been the downfall. Artists of any magnitude are a misunderstood people. Everyone has a different way of getting into their creative frame of mind.

The thing called Love makes me think of James Dean. River Phoenix’s performance is exceptional. I often wonder what things would have been like if he were still alive. Would he have been offered the parts that went to Leonardo Dicaprio? I think River would have been a great Howard Hughes. He brought a lot into the characters that he played on the screen.

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Tom Hanks Double Feature

I have to be in a certain mood to watch certain movies. There are films that I watch at least once a year and then there are those that I watch every three, four or longer before I see them again. I had been wanting to watch Cast Away, but its such a long film and all I remembered was Tom Hanks being on a deserted island talking to a soccer ball. The only reason I went to see the film was because it was Tom Hanks. I don’t think I would have seen this film if it had been any other actor.

Tom Hanks was on a role and he commands the screen when he does the right film. There were a few comedic roles that I didn’t care to see, but it really didn’t have to do with him. It had more to do with his co star. I was never a big fan of Shelly Long or Meg Ryan. I did however like Bachelor Party, Big, and Forest Gump, but that was mostly Tom Hanks.
There are certain comedies I like and some I don’t. I was also never a big fan of war films.
Watching Cast Away made me think of what I would do. It also reminded me how life sends us a curve ball and some people are forced to make decisions they wouldn’t normally make on their own. It’s important to go with ones heart. If you believe in something make it your cause no matter what anyone else says. I enjoy films that make me think. Of course there are times we want to watch a film to escape our own mundane lives.

The second feature was The Green Mile. Normally, I would stay away from a film based on a Stephen King novel or short story. I was not impressed with Cujo or Pet Cemetery. When the Langoliers made it to television I was disappointed, but the Stand changed my mind on adaptations of his work. I had listen to parts of The Green Mile on cassette when my sister-in-law was listening to it. I wanted to see how it would play out on the big screen and I must say it was done quite well. The cast was excellent. Tom Hanks, David Morse, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell, Michael Duncan, Bonnie Hunt and Patricia Clarkson to name a few. For me when you wait a long time to watch a film it adds to the excitement of trying to remember what’s going to happen. Remembering the first time you saw the film and whether you shared the experience with someone or if you went alone.

For many years I preferred to go to the movies alone because I liked watching movies and sometimes no one wanted to see what I was interested in viewing. Back then films weren’t coming out on VHS after one week at the movie theater. I made a wise investment in my movie collection. I love movies so its not important that I have Blu- Ray or DVD. Of course if I could afford it I’d probably get it, but I can’t. I still watch VHS tapes from time to time because the film may not be available on DVD or the price is just too high for a film that I can still watch on VHS.

Tom Hanks has given a plethora of films and incredible performances. Cast Away and The Green Mile are excellent, but his body of work shows a broader range and that he isn’t afraid to take on a role that he knows he can breathe life into.

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Sounder

I had this film in my collection for many years. I bought it by accident because I saw the title and just assumed it was the original. This is a remake which is directed by Kevin Hooks who played the young boy in the original. I had no idea they had remade this film and why? I’m not crazy about remakes unless they are going to do a better job. Cicely Tyson was great in the original. I remember we went to see this film as part of a school field trip. It was something they felt it was important for us to know. On the surface the film didn’t stick with me because I really didn’t remember much about the film except that the Dog was named Sounder and even that had escaped me. The film was about determination and not giving up. Paul Winfield who played the father in the original, also makes an appearance as the school teacher.

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Tickets

A friend that I met ten years ago at a film festival party sends me some of his movies from time to time when he is finished looking at them. Since I love film, I never pass up any movies regardless of what they are about. Watching film is very inspirational and I admire anyone that can do something I haven’t done yet.

Tickets is an interesting film that is set on a train in Italy. It brought back memories of my train ride from Milan to Pordenone. The film follows several characters and their slight interaction as the story captures them from different points of the train ride and their connection.

Each segment had a different director. I was not familiar with any of the stars that appeared in the film, but it was quite entertaining. Riding a train in Europe is quite the experience. You get to see people from all over going to their next destination or returning home. There are many languages being spoken from time to time. The scenery can be breath taking depending on how long of a ride you’re taking.

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Movies as they relate to me

David Lynch - Whether or not I saw a film had nothing to do with the director in most cases, but I do realize there were certain names affiliated with a film that would make me want to see them.

Most films I saw was mainly because of a star or the premise, but Irwin Allen was a name that stood out for me and so I wanted to see the films where his name appeared in the credits. The same went for Dino De Laurentis.

I sat in front of my computer looking for CBS to see the turn around on television shows and I stumbled across Twin Peaks. I was not a fan of the series, but I liked some of the stars and I had seen most of David Lynch’s films. Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart. A lot of it had to do with the stars that he worked with. Since I saw Making Love I was a fan of Michael Ontkean. It had taken a long time for him to surface again after making such a controversial film.

I watched some of Twin Peaks and I realize I like the quirkiness of his characters. It reminds me of some of the characters I’ve created. David Lynch taps into the surreal or our dream state and brings it into reality.

I like David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and David Fincher to name a few.

Last night I decided to watch a film I hadn’t seen in years, Philadelphia which starred Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his portrayal of a gay lawyer with AIDS.
The film brought back a lot of memories of friends that were a part of my life and are now gone on to a new life.
The film holds up, but there are a few scenes that make the film dated.

I’ve seen some great films that haven’t gotten a large release or haven’t made it to DVD. The Users with Jacklyn Smith and Tony Curtis has never come to DVD. It took a very long time before Bad Boy Bubby made it to DVD. Chain of Desire hasn’t made it to DVD. I’ve never seen Last Exit to Brooklyn on DVD as well as Love and Human Remains.
I really enjoy movies, it’s a great escape and it can also be inspiring.

Here are a few film recommendations: The Experiment with Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, Primal Fear with Richard Gere and Edward Norton, Love Come Down with Larenz Tate and Deborah Cox, Far North, Antichrist with Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsburg, Gilda with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford and Little Man Tate with Jodie Foster.

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Primal Fear

This film has a list of stars including Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Frances McDormond, Laura Linney, Maura Tierney, Andre Braugha and Jon Seda and others.

I've a;ways enjoyed this film and I usually watch some films once a year depending on the length and time that I have. Sometimes I'll watch a few movies over the weekend since I have become addcted to a few television shows. I don't do cable so I don't record anything to watch later.
From time to time I might make an acception and watch a show the nect day on the Internet if it is available.

Primal Fear is one of those investigative dramas that centers on a trial of a teenager who appears to have multiple personalities. There are lots of twists along the way.
The performances by all of the actors is great, but Edward Norton sets the bar high for himself. He's done a few films where he has given great performances, but sometimes its hard to top certain performances.
My favorite Edward Norton films are American History X, Fight Club and I like The Score.
Recently he made a film called Stone in which he acts opposite Robert DeNiro again. It'a another film with several twists and it has a surprise ending.

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