Hollywood Today!

It doesn’t get much better than this. One of my favorite-ist actors and directors, Clint Eastwood directed one of my favorite-ist actresses ever, Angelina Jolie, in Changeling. It opens tomorrow in theaters and if I had a tent I’d probably go camp out just to be near them when they hit town.

I have a feeling the performances, settings, clothes, story - everything - is going to be remarkable.

The Soloist won’t hit theaters until March 2009, but this is one I’m very anxious to see. Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx are two of the best actors in Hollywood. This looks like a very powerful movie. Can’t wait - It’s hard to imagine that the election, Thanksgiving, Santa, and Cupid will all have come and gone by the time The Soloist gets to town.

I know it’ll be worth it, though. Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx will make certain of that.

I just hope they have their acceptance speeches ready when the Academy awards roll around.

Daniel Craig Photo
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Okay, I admit it, I was getting a little peeved that the newest James Bond movie wasn’t including the “Bond. James Bond” line or the “Shaken, not stirred” martini. I mean, I’m nothing if not a traditionalist and I HATE to have my traditions messed with.

It was honestly even getting in the way of my excitement for the movie.

Fortunately, USA Today ran an interview with Daniel Craig (this will be his second movie as James Bond) and he addressed these very things. I feel 100 percent better have resumed a fever anticipation for what looks to be an amazing movie.

Have I told you yet that during an early screening of Quantum Solace, the audience actually broke out in applause during a chase scene, and then again at the end of the film as the credits rolled? You don’t hear about that happening too often.

Below are the quotes by Daniel Craig taken from the USA Today article that ran last Monday:

“Everybody says to me, ‘Is Bond going to be Bond now?’ And I’ve been like, ‘Yeah, well, kind of.’ But he’s got a way to go yet.”

“He’s supposed to be this superspy, suave and sophisticated. But I didn’t want to start by copying what came before, but to get to that point by making it a real journey.”

Daniel Craig has signed to do at least two more James Bond films and says that eventually all of the familiar characteristics (my beloved traditions) will reveal themselves. He told USA Today that he hopes they will be more satisfying since they aren’t being delivered just because they have to be.

“I’m as big a fan as anybody of all his catchphrases and the martini,” he says, “But I want to find a new way of doing them.”

Fair enough.

Quantum Solace opens in theaters November 14.

So how do you feel, do you think Craig’s reasoning justifies it or should they have kept the characteristics in the movie rather than break with a tradition Bond fans love so much?

I dunno. Sometimes I’m utterly convinced that something’s fishy with major movie critics - as in those who are paid to give their opinions, as opposed to me and my price free words. I realize that two people can see the same movie and one come away thinking they’d just seen a winner and the other laughing at just how bad they thought it was.

For example, my husband and I often disagree on movies. He hated Wanted and Burn After Reading and I absolutely loved them. Wanted’s one of my favorite movies of all-time and B.A.R. was hilarious, with performances by Brad Pitt and George Clooney that I’ll never forget.

Heck, we don’t even agree on who the best James Bond is. B is for Brosnan and B is for Best - I’m just saying…

We completely agreed on Max Payne, though. We both thought it was one of the best movies of the year. Mark Wahlberg has always been one of my husband’s favorite actors, but I’d really never seen him in anything so I didn’t really even have an opinion about him one way or antoher. After Max Payne, though, I more than see what all the fuss is about. This actor has an intensity about him that puts him in a very special league with very special actors.

Normally I don’t read critic’s thoughts before going to a movie - because I don’t want to be swayed one way or another. However, there were several movies I wanted to see this past weekend, so I thought a little homework wouldn’t hurt. After reading about 4 bad reviews, I tried to convince Mr. “If Wahlberg’s in it, I must see it” that Max Payne might be a good one to miss.

He was having none of it.

So, off we went. I honestly was sort of looking forward to a bad movie and a bad review. I hadn’t taken my wrath out on a movie since The Love Guru and I was anxious to give the guru a little company. After some really cool looking trailers, the movie started. By the 10 minute mark, I knew that (as is the case so often) the critics had missed the boat. And the point.

This is an incredible movie with stunts and effects that I’d put on par with any movie EVER. There were about 6 different times when I thought, “That’s one of the coolest stunts I’ve ever seen.” In fact, the character of Max Payne is one of the coolest characters I’ve seen. He’s the sort of character (played by the sort of actor) that you want to see more of.

A few of the critics seemed unable to get past the darkness of the movie. One said that it was a good thing no one had to go to the restroom during the movie, because there wasn’t enough light on the screen to see. Frankly, I don’t care if a movie is dark - I don’t go there to read, I go to see a movie. And as for restroom visits, I learned several years back that going to the potty before a movie starts is the best way to fly.

The darkness set the tone. I mean, this isn’t Kung Fu Panda. The story is an intense storyline - dealing with life, death, revenge, violence… Just where would the lightness come in?

Without being unkind, I think maybe some critics (not all, of course) just didn’t “get” it. That, or, let’s be honest, Mark Wahlberg is somewhat of a controversial actor (from where I sit, he’s just outspoken, but some think that’s a negative). Maybe some critics simply have a closed mind when it comes to him.

Or, maybe they felt the need to chase a little movie ranting around the page. Maybe their “Love Guru” column was getting left out, too.

I don’t know - but I DO know that Max Payne is a darned good movie - one that I can’t imagine an action movie fan not loving. It stormed its way into being one of my favorite movies - not just this year, but ever. As I’ve said before, I often judge a movie by asking myself if I’d ever see it again. I loved Wanted and Iron Man so much that I made return trips. I most certainly would do the same with Max Payne… In fact I’d love to see it again. When there’s so much action, I think a second time would be a great idea.

Not only was Mark Wahlberg sensational as Max Payne, the rest of the cast was superb as well. Mila Kunis has secured herself future leading lady roles and I’ll line up to see anything she’s in. Beau Bridges was also perfect as were Ludacris. Yes, that Ludacris, the rapper - although I now think of him as an actor who happens to sing rather than a singer who happens to act. He more than held his own and I hope to see him in a lot of future films as well.

Chris O’Donnell has fought off the “Robin” curse and turned in a wonderfully tortured performance. He did a great job losing himself in his character. I wish he’d been on the screen more. Someone else I wish had been on the screen more was Olga Kurylenko. I really love this lovely actress. You may remember her as the leading lady in Hitman. She’ll also be in the new James Bond movie.

Nelly Furtado turned in a fantastic performance - albeit she was just in one scene. But, WOW. She has some serious natural talent that I’m certain will be explored in future movies.

Finally, Amaury Nolasco - a 30-something year old actor from Puerto Rico did a great job as a menacing, scowling villain. He was actually on a 2004 list by USA Today of the 26 guys to watch, alongside Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher, Josh Harnett and Jake Gyllenhaal, to name a few.

I honestly have nothing bad to say about this movie. Like all movies, some will like it, some will love it, some will hate it - but as for me, I’ve got nothing but love for it.

Batman- The Dark Knight 2009 Calendar
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Perfect gift idea (AFTER getting one for yourself, of course.)

FRONT VIEW:

Batman- The Dark Knight 2009 Calendar
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Why soooo serrrriousss about Dark Knight posters? Because they’re hot, for one thing. For another, Heath Ledger’s Joker will go down in movie history as one of the most mind-blowing performances ever. As if that’s not all, these are all collector’s items that no Heath Ledger or Batman fan would be caught without.

When this movie hits DVD, I’ll be in the front of the line - buying at least 2. Yeah, I have it bad. I know.

The Dark Knight Door Poster
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The Dark Knight Poster
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The Dark Knight Poster
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The Dark Knight Poster
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The Dark Knight Poster Set
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The Dark Knight Poster Set
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The Dark Knight Poster
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The Dark Knight Poster Set
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I saw the Taken trailer for the first time tonight and can’t wait to see the movie. It stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace (ex-Shannon, LOST), and Famke Jannsen. Neeson plays an ex-spy who’s skills are called upon to save his daughter (Grace) who has been kidnapped and forced into slave trade.

The movie comes out January 23, 2009.

Catwoman Double-sided poster
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We might as well admit it - even raise a mug of coffee and toast to it - 40 IS the new 30. Recently, Johnny Depp (and other 40ish actors) dominated a “Sexiest man alive” poll in Cosmo magazine. Now, gorgeous Halle Berry has added another accomplishment for the fab 40’s.

Halle Berry was named “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine - a choice that’s completely impossible to find fault with. So, in her honor, today is Halle Berry Day on Hollywood Yesterday. You can’t be that fine and talented and not get recognized for it.

Did You Know?
Halle Berry was born on August 14 (my birthday as well!) in 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Halle has an older sister named Heidi but, unfortunately, the sisters are estranged.

Representing her home state of Ohio, Halle Berry won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant in 1985.

In 1986, she was the runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant.

Her first TV series was Living Dolls. On set, she earned a reputation for her tireless commitment to her craft. She became known as an actress who didn’t just “play” a role, she became the role - even after the cameras stopped rolling.

Halle Berry is a type 1 diabetic.

In high school, Halle was in the honor society, was editor of the school paper, and class president. Naturally, she also crowned prom queen.

Halle Berry was the first African American actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

Her amazing dress for the 2002 Oscars ceremony was voted the most popular from the first 75 years.

On Febuary 26, 2005, she showed up in person to accept the Razzie award for Worst Actress for her role as Catwoman. She was the first actress to ever do so! Accepting the award, Halle Berry smiled her beautiful smile and said “Thank you and I hope to God I never see you guys again.”

She was one of only three actresses (Faye Dunaway and Liza Minnelli) to win both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Razzie Award for Worst Actress (And Faye Dunaway even shared her award - with Bo Derek).

Her favorite actresses are Dorothy Dandridge, Jodie Foster and Whoopi Goldberg.

The dedicated Halle refused to bathe for two weeks in preparation for a role as a crack addict in Jungle Fever (1991).

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 3, 2007.

Halle was saved from choking (on a fig) by the best Bond ever, Pierce Brosnan, while shooting Die Another Day.

Halle and her longtime boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry, became the parents of a daughter named Nahla Ariela Aubry on 16 March 2008.

Halle Berry Quotes:

“This moment is so much bigger than me, This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll… It’s for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett Smith, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox… and it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance, because the door tonight has been opened.” - During her Oscar acceptance speech.

“There’s art and there’s commerce. You have to find a way to mesh the two. It’s important to do the little movies just for the love of the art. But it’s those big movies that take you around the world and make you globally famous.”

“I want to be the next Spike Lee. I want to help other black folks to get into Hollywood and be successful in Hollywood.”

“What is my real purpose here? I’ve looked at what I do. I make believe and make movies. I entertain people and get paid for it. Sometimes it seems like such a shallow existence. How insignificant in the scheme of life.”

“I never wanted to be a model. My modeling career was nothing but a stepping stone to my acting career and that’s all I ever saw it as. A pointless rock in the river that has to be stepped on in order to get to the meaningful oasis of acting.”

(While pregnant) “I am three times the girl I used to be. This is the second red carpet where I didn’t have to think about sucking in my stomach - because I can’t!”

According to a new survey in Britain’s Cosmopolitan Magazine, Johnny Depp is the sexiest man in the world.

The pride of Owensboro, Kentucky finished above some pretty impressive competition, and prooved something we already knew: Men under the age of 40 have nothing on men over 40.

George Clooney came in second place, closely followed by Jake Gyllenhaal at third.

Daniel Craig was fourth and Brad Pitt rounded came in at number 5.

Vin Diesel - Action Framed Art PrintBuy at AllPosters.com

I’m sure you’ve seen the hilarious “Random Facts About Chuck Norris” lists. There are lots of Vin Diesel lists springing up now and they’re every bit as funny. If you’ve never seen these lists before, you’ll get the gist right away.

• If you rearrange the letters in Vin Diesel it reveals his credo: “I End Lives.”
• When Vin Diesel goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.
• When Vin Diesel was born, the nurse said, “Holy crap! That’s Vin Diesel!” Then she had had sex with him. At that point, she was the third girl he had slept with.
• There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Vin Diesel allows to live.
• Vin Diesel once walked down the street with a massive erection. There were no survivors.
• Vin Diesel can divide by zero.
• In fine print at on the last page of the Guiness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Vin Diesel, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone has ever come to matching him.
• Vin Diesel built this city. He built this city on rock and roll.
• Vin Diesel can look directly at nymphs, and they like it. (From http://www.masterninja.com/lists/?name=vindiesel)
• Vin Diesel is the only one who may touch The Last Unicorn.
• Vin Diesel does not just order a steak - he unhinges his jaw and eats the entire cow.
• For every Vin Diesel there is an opposite Vin Diesel. Vin Diesel heard about this and promptly destroyed his opposite self. This created a paradox that unraveled the space-time continuum. Consequently, we are currently living inside Vin Diesel’s imagination.
• Vin Diesel wears a cup not to protect himself, but to protect the players on the other team.
• Crop circles are Vin’s way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie the f- down.
• When Vin Diesel deletes files from his computer, he doesn’t send them to the Recycle Bin. He sends them to hell.
• Vin Diesel sleeps once every 2 weeks, for half an hour, standing up, with his eyes open, and he looks pissed off.
• The popular videogame “Doom” is based loosely around the time Satan borrowed two bucks from Vin Diesel and forgot to pay him back.
• Dairy Queen used to be Dairy King before Vin Diesel made it his bitch.
• Vin Diesel is the only one who can “try this at home.”
• The word “lesbian” derives from an old Latin phrase that roughly translates as “She who has not yet been introduced to Vin Diesel.”
• Vin Diesel doesn’t have a computer. Just a basement full of Asian kids that memorize numbers.
• In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Vin Diesel could use to kill you, including the room itself.
• Vin Diesel always asks for the same Christmas gift: A box of Smurfs and a sledgehammer.
• Vin Diesel is the reason Waldo is hiding.
• Vin Diesel can predict the shuffle of his ipod.
• When Vin Diesel gets pulled over he lets the cop off with a warning.
• Vin Diesel can watch a season of “24″ in just three hours.
• The book “Wost Case Scenario,” discusses ways to run from many different deadly animals. The page entitled “Running from Vin Diesel” simply says “Good luck.”
• If at first you don’t succeed, you must not be Vin Diesel.
• Vin Diesel doesn’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Tall buildings duck under Vin Diesel.
• Vin Diesel irons his shirts while he’s still wearing them.
• Vin Diesel’s hair is too afraid of him to grow.
• Vin Diesel once talked an Amish housewife into buying a toaster.
• When the girl from “The Ring” climbed out of Vin’s TV, he stood up, cleared his throat, stretched calmly, and booted her straight back in.

Sources:
Vin Diesel Facts
Master Ninja Lists

** You can check the sources above for more facts - some I just couldn’t bring myself to include in the post. Funny? Definitely. PC? Not so much. I know, I know, Vin Diesel doesn’t give a F- about PC….