Thank You George Lucas

With all of the recent flurry of press coverage surrounding the noninvolvement of George Lucas in the new Star Wars universe I feel there is one thing missing.

A genuine thank you to the man who started it all.

It was Lucas who spent the better part of a decade coming up with the universe we are returning to on Friday. Lucas who made A New Hope absolutely on faith, with no inkling of future sequels in 1980 and 1983 as he was making it in 1976. He wisely left the directing chores to those sequels to others, while keeping his stamp on them by writing and producing.

Yes, it was also Lucas who came up with and directed the three prequels, the acts of a middle aged man desperately wanting to prove that he still had it. And production and effects wise, he did. But as was apparent from the first film in 1977, dealing with actors and getting performances out of them was not his strong suit. Credit goes to his Hail Mary Pass Foursome encompassing both trilogies (Guinness, Neeson, MacGregor and Portman) for sensing what was needed and just doing it.

Which brings us to the painful divorce. I am damn sure that JJ Abrams (the hot new wife..yikes) is grateful to be able to continue what Lucas started, having directed his "kids"  (Hamill, Ford,  and Fisher) in new adventures. I am equally damn sure that there's a silly Disney gag order preventing him or anyone else from commenting too effusively in George Lucas 's direction. The fact that the Mouse House turned down his new ideas and scripts points to that. Yet I am sure that an exceptionally intelligent and intuitive person like Lucas knows down deep that sometimes in long standing endeavours, change must occur to survive and thrive. I only hope two things: that the "writing room" approach for future sequels and spinoffs doesn't result in a bunch of bland movies. And that everyone involved always remembers who and where the magic came from.

So thank you, George Lucas.

Thank you.

 

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Pavarotti in Edmonton : November 25, 1995

20 years ago today, at about this time, I was on my way to the Edmonton Coliseum (now Rexall Place) to see Luciano Pavarotti, arguably still considered, even with his passing, one of the best singers in the world. Although I would not consider myself an avid opera fan, I had been to a few by then. And the fact that several of my family members were (and still are) involved in choirs meant that I had at least a basic familiarity with it going in. In fact, I was accompanied on this night by my uncle Laurier, himself no slouch in the vocal department, having a  doctorate in music and also vast experience giving vocal seminars all over the world. He has also led the College St. Jean choir in Edmonton for almost two decades. It was everything we both expected, with one unexpected yet hilarious surprise. After the instrumental break following the first verse of O Sole Mio, as the great man prepared to open his mouth in a pose not unlike the one pictured above, the voice of a spirited old Italian gent rang out in the dark to start it!

O. M. G. !

Talk about lifetime bragging rights for yourself and your descendants sir!

Did the maestro walk off in a fit? Thankfully no.

He just kind of smiled, politely put up his hand to silence the exuberant gentleman, and started it himself.

Say what you want about former Edmonton businessman Peter Pocklington and all his exploits, but I for one will always be grateful to the man for bringing Luciano Pavarotti to Edmonton because he was an avid opera fan. He risked a lot of money and lost some because the concert was not an exact sellout.  But Edmonton's place upon the cultural world stage was bolstered, as was my cultural education. Thank you Mr. Pocklington, thank you uncle Laurier, and most of all, thank you Maestro Pavarotti, for blessing our city with your presence and talent.

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Superhero Films : Where's The Wonder?

I was thinking the other day....



Do I really need to know what superhero movies are coming in 2020 from Marvel and DC?



Not on your life!



I would rather that that the current Hollywood system take the time to ensure that the best job possible by the best people available, as on display in this making of clip from the 1978 Superman.
Of course times were different then, with no 24-hour news cycle or Internet needing constant feeding. But that created an enviornment where we were allowed to anticipate and fully experience the films, before embarking on a three or four year journey of anticipation for the next one. Which we were happy to do, because knowing too much four and five years in advance frankly kills the awe and wonder these films should be inspiring.

And when Samuel L. Jackson admits in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he and the other actors in Marvel films are not as important as the films being an event, it is easy to picture Marvel  as a brightly-colored sausage factory unconcerned with anything but style as actors such as Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. try to fix stories and plots through the mighty force of their iconoclastic personalities.

But over in  the Lucasfilm division, there may still be room for awe and wonder, as JJ Abrams, director of The Force Awakens, still knows how to keep a few secrets. We don't know if Luke Skywalker is good, bad or even in the film. And that's a good thing. I certainly don't mind waiting till opening weekend to find out. Bring on the wonder!

MTNG

Edward Dmytryk: Hollywood Maverick

Edward Dmytryk was a Canadian-born filmmaker known for classic Hollywood hits such as Crossfire (1947) and The Caine Mutiny (1954). Here in this clip from 1985 he discusses his troubles with the Hollywood Blacklist, as well as the frustration of trying to get films made in his late career when filmmaking decisions were left to those with no experience in film. Dmytryk was luckier than most, as he did not have to leave the US or write or direct under a pseudonym.



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RIP Jim Perry: Canadian Icon

Yeah, yeah I know. Jim Perry was from Camden, New Jersey. But my point is that Definition, the show he hosted on Canada's CTV from 1974 to 1989, was definitely a Canadian institution at the time. I remember vividly watching this either during the summer or if I was sick at home, as it aired daily at 12:30 following The Flintstones on CFRN in Edmonton. And it sharpened my preteen brain more than school did at the time. Not really blaming the school, but the medication I had to be on at the time.



Following a five-year battle with cancer, Perry died Thursday at the age of 82. Rest well sir. You were a part of our national fabric and will be missed.



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RIP Cory Wells

Singer Cory Wells, who was one-third of the very unique vocal blend that characterized the band Three Dog Night, died October 20 at age 74. Here he is singing Shambala, one of the classic tunes on which he sang lead.





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Mary Poppins Remake? Hell no...

With this post, I may reveal myself to be just as much of a fuddy-duddy as the former mayor of Vancouver.



That's fine. I don't care.



But the news that Disney, fresh off of promising us a new Star Wars movie every year from now until the end of time, has decided to dust off all their old classics and remake them, beginning with Mary Poppins. Directed by Rob Marshall, a former choreographer who has proven, thanks to Memoirs of a Geisha and the last Pirates of the Caribbean instalment, that he knows how to shove sausage in a machine, shine it up, and make it look good. So he has two choices, as I see it:



1) Offer up a flashy, but totally listless shot-by-shot remake, which will be boring.



2) Try to "explain" the magic of the original (Mary's mother always yelled at her, Bert's undiagnosed ADHD). Which. Will. Be. A. Total. Disaster.



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Holy Cow, Man!

For anyone who ever thought that we in Canada just boringly watched the American cultural upheaval from the outside looking in, witness Vancouver mayor Tom Campbell doing his best impression of a southern Baptist. Full disclosure: I was born in 1971, but, student of pop culture that I am, this is utterly fascinating. I'll even give him a pass on his use of the word retarded, since that was the unfortunate term in use at that time. Truth be told, it was still in use as I was entering school in the mid-1970's. But as a counterculture statement, it is interesting.



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Rest Well, Omar Sharif

With the passing Friday of Omar Sharif Friday in Cairo,  I got to thinking, that with people like him and  Peter O'Toole now gone, there are now no great, flashy international movie stars left, at least not those who are talented enough to know (and keep learning) their craft.

Ryan Gosling? Nope.

Channing Tatum? There's a chance a few years down the road, given his work in Foxcatcher, and even The Vow. I'll even give him Magic Mike, because there's nothing wrong with exploring your storied past if you have one, and after all, every actor has to eat, as even Mr. Sharif knew, while waiting for That Part. I give you The 13th Warrior, ladies and gentlemen, from 1999:

But there was greatness left in him in 2004, with his role as Sheikh Riyadh in Hidalgo, the mentor and friend to Viggo Mortensen's Frank T. Hopkins:

Which brings to mind Mr. Sharif's breakout role in 1962's Lawrence of Arabia (I've often wondered if he minded that his Sherif Ali, though certainly commanding onscreen, wound up somewhat secondary to Mr. O'Toole's Lawrence).

Rest in peace, sir,

Post-Mad Men Afternoon Delight

Not having seen the Mad Men finale yet, when I saw "Coke" in several recaps, I thought "What a perfect way to end this show". And a lot better than throwing Don out the window, I must say!

This takes me immediately back to my late 70s childhood. I was not quite born when this first aired in 1971, but this and a couple of other variations aired throughout the decade and into the early 80s. For those feeling the midday blahs,  this could be the perfect pick-me-up. Have a great day!

 

MTMG

 

 

 

Love And Mercy Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lioWzrpCtGQ

Finally after more than thirty years, Brian Wilson, the musical genius who gave all and then some so the Beach Boys could have rapid and continued success, finally gets his own biopic, entitled Love and Mercy. As Younger Brian and Older Brian are essentially two very different sides of the same coin, it is only fitting that each one is played by a separate and distinct actor, respectively Paul Dano and John Cusack. Based upon this trailer, stellar work appears to be turned in by Paul Giamatti as the controlling Dr. Eugene Landy, and by Elizabeth Banks as Melinda, Wilson's current wife, who not only understands and appreciates his genius qualities, but also helps him find his human, life-embracing side as well. I cannot wait until this opens in June.

And this is just my humble Mikey The Movie Guy prediction, but I believe that Love And Mercy has just the right amount of underdog Americana that has won Best Picture in the past.

So I'm saying that Love And Mercy will win Best Picture next year.

MTMG

RIP Lesley Gore

Probably the best way to remember Lesley Gore, who died yesterday at the age of 68.


Here's another way You Don't Own Me had massive impact, in the 1996 hit The First Wives Club, starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton:




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Incredible Interstellar

An absolute testament to the power of the human spirit to dream, and to achieve. Shame on the Academy for not acknowledging Interstellar with a Best Picture nomination. But then again, in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey wasn't exactly understood in all quarters either. Matthew McConaughey leaves behind the "all right, all right, all right, all right" persona to deliver a captivating and at times heartwrenching performance as an engineer who must use his engineering skills in space to save mankind, even as he leaves his family behind.

A strong dose of quietly heroic, stoic piece of filmmaking from the Nolan brothers, Christopher and Jonathan, they of Inception and the Dark Knight trilogy. Did they write it? Or did they improv it? If they are brainiacally talented enough to do the latter, all the more power to them. I don't really care. What I do care about is the fact that ordinary humans are doing extraordinary things. Without benefit of capes.

Of course the ideal place to have seen Interstellar is in a theater. But economy and home technology being what they are, you can have just as fascinating and captivating a time at home when Warner Brothers releases the Blu-Ray and DVD on March 31.

MTMG

RIP Richard Kiel

A great interview on the UK's This Morning program, with late actor Richard Kiel, best known for playing the villainous Jaws in the two James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979), a blatant Star Wars cash-in which nonetheless deserves mention for ultimately turning Jaws into a nice guy (according to Kiel, at the insistence of director Lewis Gilbert's young son). Mr. Kiel, you brought a unique seven-foot presence to the screen, and you shall be missed.

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Tommy Lee Jones, circa 1978

Yes folks, in 1978 Tommy Lee Jones was too sexy for his shirt, in The Betsy. Here he is trysting with Lesley Anne Down:



One of the last pulpy potboilers made from a Harold Robbins novel, the plot concerns a wealthy family headed by Sir Laurence Olivier, and their desire to make the world's fastest and most efficient car ever.
Soapy 70's cheese to be sure.

MTMG

Mike Nichols:Master of Mores

You think you've got problems? George and Martha have you beat! Stage director Mike Nichols' film debut, in which he shows us the underside of a marriage in peril. You can't get more real than real-life marrieds Elizabeth Taylor.and Richard Burton.George and Martha scream and fight, and fight and scream, but according to Nichols on the DVD commentary track for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, they do it because they love each other. Not sure if I agree with that one wholeheartedly (more meds less booze maybe Martha?). But great art inspires great conversation, and they're still talking about this one.



Think of Ann-Margret as just the perky star of Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas? Nichols got so much more out of her in 1971's Carnal Knowledge, in which she played Bobbie, the long-suffering wife of the loutish Jonathan (Jack Nicholson).




OK, time to go a bit lighter. Nichols also directed Nicholson and Meryl Streep in Heartburn in 1986. Although somewhat less in stature and substance than his other work, the script (by Nora Ephron from her novel) does a great job of capturing:

People. Actually. Talking. Intelligently.

With no reality TV camera in sight.


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