LIZA MINNELLI AND CHER WEIGH IN ON MADONNA'S FALL
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Madonna |
MADONNA --- By now, you've not doubt seen the horrific spill that Madonna took on stage at the Brit awards earlier this week in L. A. The Internet blew up with both positive and negative remarks – some seemed to take glee in the fact that it happened at all, while others, including Cher and Liza Minnelli even weighed in, countering that it’s something every performer dreads, but the fact that she got right up and continued attested to her professionalism.
I think it's a sad state of affairs when something like this happens and people actually take joy in it. Call it the TMZ-factor or whatever, but it’s definitely not right.
Truth be told, obviously something went askew, but she got right back up and continued the performance. Face it; she’s a pro … always has, always will.
KEATON’S MOMENT --- Not to continue on a rant with the web, but this week featured a moment that was dubbed the saddest moment of the recent Oscars-event. The Best Actor Award was about to be announced and a camera cut to Keaton sitting in the front row, allegedly pulling out a slip of paper obviously with his speech on it.
They called out another name, yet the camera held on Keaton … now, putting the paper back in his jacket pocket.
I thought Keaton should have won; he won mostly everything else (in fact, the movie Birdman won some 154 awards!). The movie was just amazing; an amazing treatise on fame. Maybe it scared the Hollywood-elite … who knows.
Keaton gave the performance of a lifetime.
WILSON’S LOVE & MERCY --- I’m a huge Brian Wilson fan, are you? The forthcoming movie Love & Mercy is an biographical film directed by Bill Pohlad about musician and songwriter Wilson of the Beach Boys.
The film, deriving its title from the 1988 song by Wilson, is presented in a parallel narrative covering two specific time periods of Wilson's life: the 1960’s and the 1980’s.
Actors Paul Dano and John Cusack depict the young and old Wilson, with Elizabeth Banks as Wilson's second wife, Melinda, and Paul Giamatti as psychotherapist Dr. Eugene Landy.
It will be released on June 5, 2015.
DANNY PACINO --- In Danny Collins, starring Al Pacino, an undelivered letter from John Lennon inspires a heartfelt journey to rediscover family, find true love and begin a second act.
Danny Collins opens in select theaters this March, starring Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner, Annette Bening & Christopher Plummer, directed by Dan Fogelman and features songs by John Lennon.
SMITH SHINES IN FOCUS --- It’s not the big-brash Big Willie Style, but Will Smith’s new movie Focus (with the hotter-than-hot) Margot Robbie, is a slow-burn, gem of a movie.
Smith essays veteran-con-man Nicky, who manages to train newcomer Jess (Robie), as well as falling for her. Smith’s nuanced performance almost harks back to Cary Grant’s 1955 gem, To Catch A Thief. It’s a great star turn for sure.
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, wrote and directed this movie, and while it’s not up to their last masterpiece, Crazy, Stupid, Love, I just adored it.
With a terrific soundtrack including music from Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, and It’s A Beautiful Day (“White Bird”), it’s just perfect. Highly recommended for sure.
CLOSING NOTES --- One last Oscars note: I think the writers let Neil Patrick Harris down. The jokes were tired and not even funny. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have done a great jobs these last few years - next year, new blood for sure ...
It took a long time to get off the ground, but the big screen adaptation of David Ebershoff's novel The Danish Girl is finally in production. The fictionalized account Lili Elbe's life feature Oscar-winner Eddie Redmanye in the title role and reunites him with his Les Miserables director Tom Hooper.
Elbe is known as being one of the first people to have sexual reassignment surgery (or at least have it publicly revealed). The movie centers on her relationship with her wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander) and how her transition affected their lives.
The project has been in the works for years with Tomas Alfredson and Lasse Hallström both attached to direct at one time and Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard and Charlize Theron all potentially on board to play Elbe.
The film also features Amber Heard and Matthias Schoenaerts and is expected to be released later this year.
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