The array and scope of Stooges mania is mind-blowing. Personal items, movie props, rare photos, movie posters, artwork, vintage novelties and artifacts from the early 1900s onward are included.
I was there for over an hour just chuckling. Oh Moe, Larry, and my fave Curly.
www.stoogeum.com
I did not know that he was big time in the advertising world during the "Mad Men" era. He wrote the tag line, "I'm a Toys R Us kid."
from the cover blurb - He worked at a mental hospital, where he met the singer James Taylor and the poet Robert Lowell.
He once watched James Baldwin and Norman Mailer square off to fight at a party.
Dolly Parton sang Happy Birthday to him over the phone
The man has a lot of stories to tell. Just the author talks with President Clinton make for good fodder. This memoir has lots of one to two page anecdotes covering a bit of childhood, a lot on advertising, plenty of name dropping incidents, and writing, writing, writing. He writes of his two loves - his first wife, Jane, who died and his second wife Sue who "puts up with him".
At least on paper, James Patterson appreciates his life and has a sense of humor about his writing life. He writes as if he is talking to you, and I was glad I got this book from our local library.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor is in on the joke and plays him to perfection. He's just a fine specimen of a man. 'Nuff said.
Natalie Portman as Jane/Female Thor is always a good actress. Christian Bale as Gorr, the villain, was suitably creepy (though yes, Ralph Fienes as Voldemort was even creepier. Their looks are similar), Tessa Thompson as King Valkyrie gets her due. And Russell Crowe as Zeus - hilarious casting and stole the show.
It's summer in Texas. We are crazy from the heat and do not need deep plot right now. Do we want to laugh? Yes. Be entertained? Yes. Did we enjoy Thor: Love and Thunder? Absolutely. Pure movie joy with no useful purpose in life. Easy to forget...sure. Does that matter? NO. It's summer, folks!
I know there have been yucky ratings, etc. However, we felt fine with how the movie followed the book. We were good with the casting - Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya (exotic enough as the Marsh girl), Taylor John Smith as Tate (such a good sweet man), Harris Dickinson as Chase (boo hiss, good looking creep jerk), and David Strathairn as the lawyer Tom (always perfect folksy likeable).
A man is found dead in the marshlands of North Carolina. Who else could be the killer but that crazy girl who's lived out there? And the movie rolls from there. We go to her past and troubled family. We watch her raise herself, become an accomplished naturalist/artist. We watch her grow from a lovely little girl to an exotic young woman. We see the men sniff around looking for some trouble. She's a bit of an innocent lacking some guidance. But she knows the marshes and she's smart.
The book is better, I think, due to the writing. I thought the descriptions were extraordinary and I hated to see the book end. The movie was faithful, the plot moved along, the acting was fine, and the conclusion still had a punch.
Summer success for a movie with the ladies. Plus lunch afterwards. Sweet!
Too long!!!!! That's my big problem with this film. Edit, edit, edit.
Yet, I still give it a summer crazy from the heat rating of B-/C+ The kid playing Elvis, Austin Butler, did a credible job. Tough to do someone SO famous and unique. He pulled it off okay.
Tom Hanks was suitably creepy as Colonel Tom Parker.
Elvis was Elvis was Elvis - the glittery jumpsuits, the pills, the bigger than life persona. It's a sad story with a great soundtrack.
Minions: Rise of Gru is silly, stupid fun. That's really all the description needed. Steve Carell voices Gru and his pitch, intonation, etc adds to the ridiculousness of this character. Gru is eleven in this movie and wants to join the Supervillain 6. His favorite villain has been kicked out, Gru has stolen the magic power stone, and now everyone is battling for the top spot.
There are chases, evil plots, and of course silly minions trying to help their boss, Gru. Oh Kevin, Otto, et al - with their weird yellow bodies and crazy language skills. Ray and I couldn't help but laugh.
We were amused, and got our money's worth of movie and cool air. Aaahh - Summer matinee!
