About Those Reality Shows…

Ok, ok, I admit it. I watch them – but, usually only 3: ” Top Chef”, on Bravo, will return in a few weeks, “Project Runway” (new season, now on Life Time), has come back to NYC after a season in LA, and “House Hunters”, on HGTV, which I’ve admitted to in a previous post.

On the surface, it is all fun, fluff stuff – but sometimes I’m not so sure.

Awhile ago, the realities of food and fashion TV shows were discussed in a “New York Magazine” article called: “The Near Fame Experience”. It was *revealed* that these shows often manufacture the “reality”. Noooooooo!

The winners don’t always win and the losers don’t always lose, it’s just a matter of who can make the most of the 8 to 10 weeks of the TV high tension exposure. The participants got an opportunity to compete, display their skills and meet some people who make a good living doing what they themselves want to do – but, now what? What would I do/ who would I be/ what would I have at the end of it all? And, could all this stress be parlayed into a job – really? Fun, vicarious questions.

Whether on the small screen or in their living rooms, you get the feeling that these contestants behave/react with the same underlying motivations that they would on any challenging day. People always tell you who they are eventually, but these people do it while strapped to microphones. Not always pretty.

In either show, it is so interesting to see: Who will be the “sabotager” or the “sabatogee”? Who’s got the “poor me” story? Who’s got the “ya gotta be strong to be standing at the end” routine? Who self destructs? Who can ramp it up? Pres. Nixon’s Attorney General, and the husband of Martha Mitchell, said prior to the Watergate conflagration, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That can be impressive to watch.

Yes, I enjoy “Top Chef” & “Project Runway”. Besides being fascinated and entertained with what contestants can do with some sprigs of rosemary and buffalo meat, or some pipe cleaners and a garbage bag – there can also be life lessons. In reality, *we* are truly amazing.

BTW – My favorite version of the “what were you thinking?” question: judge to aspiring “Top Chef”- “Did you taste this before you sent it out?”.

February 8, 2010February 8, 2010

Actors As Multi-Taskers

Just in case you haven’t noticed, its award season again- Red Carpets, Gold Statues and lots of speeches. SAG, Directors Guild, Golden Globes, People’s Choice and of course the Academy Awards on March 7th. As it has been said, “just to be nominated is an honor” – yes, to be singled out among so many is certainly an accomplishment, but there is no denying the specialness of an actual “win”.

Quite a few of the winners are actors that wear multiple hats. They are often nominated for directing, acting, and/or writing in the same year. Impressive.

If everyone has at least one good book in them (The rule: “write what you know”. “Write about what is real for you”, etc), then to paraphrase, every good actor has at least one great directing job in them. Quite a few of them have won Academy Awards for their efforts. These actor/directors don’t always put together a movie about what they themselves have experienced, but they do direct films with subjects that you can tell they are passionate about:

*Warren Beatty* Beatty was nominated for 4 academy awards, best Director/Picture/Actor/Screenplay for “Reds” 1981 – a film about John Reed who went to Russia in 1917 to report about the revolution. At one time, many thought Communism to be the utopia of the people and Beatty was able to bring a lot of that era to life. He won for Best Director.

*Robert Redford * “Ordinary People”, 1980, Best Director for this dysfunctional family drama. (Also gave us a good movie called, “Quiz Show” 1994 – I’m dating myself, but I remember that scandal from the early days of television)

*Kevin Costner* Early in his career, Costner was cast as the dead friend in “The Big Chill”. I’m sure realizing there was no where to go but up, he gave us “Dances with Wolves” 1990, Best Director, Best Picture.

*Clint Eastwood* Much more than just a squint eyed cowboy with no name and a cigarillo, he has won critical acclaim for tons of films and was nominated several times, same film, for Best Actor/Director/Picture. Eastwood won Academy Awards for “Unforgiven” 1992 and ”Million Dollar Baby” 2004. (“Mystic River”, 2003 did not win, but it is still brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.)

*Ron Howard* And, of course, can’t forget “Opie” (Andy Griffith Show) /” Richie Cunningham” (Happy Days). He won Best Director in 2001 for “Beautiful Mind”. He was nominated again, Director/Picture for “Frost/Nixon”. (I thought another of his movies, “Apollo 13” was awesome. I remembered how the space flight ended, but I was still totally wrapped up in the drama of it all.)

There are probably other terrific movies directed by actors, but these are just some of my Academy Award winning favorites.

*BTW: Good Luck to Lee Daniels who just received a Best Director Academy Award nomination for “Precious” – which was also nominated for Best Picture. Excellent

February 5, 2010February 1, 2010

Cartier – Rocks Galore!

If you like baubles, bangles and beads, (or, you’re just a rock hound) the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco will excite you with “Cartier and America”.

Cartier legion of honor

“Cartier came to fame as the “King of Jewelers” during the Belle Époque for his beautifully made diamond and platinum jewelry created for the courts of Europe and Americans of the Gilded Age. “

An example of the Cartier genius is shown here – “Tutti Frutti” Necklace, 1936 Paris – made with platinum, white gold, sapphires, rubies, diamonds and emeralds. (I think this can be worn today and it would fit right in).

“Cartier and America” – until May 16, 2010

Legion of Honor – Lincoln Park
34th Avenue & Clement Street, San Francisco, CA

February 4, 2010February 8, 2010

DVD: “A History of Violence”

Don’t let the name turn you off – “A History of Violence” is a movie that is as much about blood as it is about a family that stays together despite outrageous mayhem.

It opens as 2 men go to great lengths to avoid paying a motel bill and the plot escalates from there.

We meet an owner of a small diner, played by Viggo Mortensen, who comes to the aid of his employees when they are threatened by the 2 motel thugs and becomes something of a hero. His violent response is so quick, so natural and so effective, like second nature?

He becomes a local celebrity and his extreme action in self defense gains interest even outside of his small community. Some guys from out of town pop up to look him over, the accomplished actor Ed Harris is great as the leader, and insist on calling our hero by another name, which he denies, but, he gets this haunted look in his eyes. (Whenever I get to these “UhOh!” moments in any movie, the theme from “Jaws” starts to play softly in my head for a few seconds.)

So, who is he really? These sinister men, former “friends”, refuse to go home. Are they threatening him, are they threatening his wife, played by Maria Bello, and kids? What becomes clear is that our small town diner guy does not want to be found and does not want his family to know how he got his skills.

The family rallies around their dad, or rather they rally against those that want to take him away even though they’re not quite sure why – they want him to remain the man he is in their lives, not go back to whoever he was. As a father, he also wants to protect his family and the nice quiet life he has invented for himself.

He closes the diner and takes a trip. He drives back East into his old life to erase it however he can. It’s easier said than done. Who is tracking him down and why? We are introduced to his evil, vengeful brother, played with much fun by William Hurt – and the battle is on.

After much chasing, fighting, and shooting, the father returns home to have breakfast with his family. No one asks where he’s been or why he looks like he’s been put thru a meat grinder. They just pass the eggs.

Written by Josh Olsen and directed by David Cronenberg, the cast is terrific. I enjoyed “A History of Violence”, 2005 (now on DVD) – good movie!

February 1, 2010January 31, 2010

Newspaper Movies

Are you still lucky enough to live in a 2 + newspaper town? Local papers are folding, pun intended, all over the country. My S.F. Chronicle is supposed to be on its last legs (but, true, this is being reported by T.V. news anchors). Many papers are choosing other options to daily publishing, like becoming internet only or like the New York Times, charging for internet access.

This sad scenario is being repeated everywhere. Has the daily become obsolete due to technology? Is it because of short attention spans, due to video games, to all day cable news talking heads, to just plain lack of interest?

Well, if newspapers go the way of the 8 track, we still have movies that show “newspapering” as not only necessary and vital, but sometimes a very noble profession. I’m sure there are tons more, but I’ve seen and liked the films below (Thank goodness for DVDs).

”His Girl Friday”, 1940 – Editor tries to keep ace reporter from leaving (film adaptation of 1930’s comedy by MacArthur & Hecht)

”The Front Page”, 1974 – same plot, but this time with Jack Lemmon & Walter Mathau, directed by Billy Wilder

”Call Northside 777”, 1948 – .James Stewart and Richard Conte in a true story, told in documentary style, about a newsman racing to save an innocent man on death row.

“Deadline – USA”, 1952 – Humprey Bogart as a crusading editor, of a closing newspaper, on a mission to expose a local gangster

“All The President’s Men”, 1976 – Robert Redford & Dustin Hoffman (Watergate and the Washington Post reporters Woodward & Bernstein)

Progress is terrific, but, I still like newspapers – I like turning pages and getting ink smudges on the tips of my fingers.

January 31, 2010January 31, 2010

The “R” Word – Retired: It’s Been 3 Months

Like most of the kids I knew, I started working when I was in High School and continued thru colleges and relocations. After my latest job, 10 years with an internet company, I decided to give away the alarm clock. It was time for me to retire. Like Ediaf Piaf, “Non, je ne regrette rien“ – I have no regrets.

As it was, I was older than my parents when they were able to stop working, I didn’t want to “hang in there” any longer. I wanted to stop reading those newspaper columns devoted to “How to Retire Comfortably”, “Where to Retire Comfortably” (Although, all the seniors I know are not relocating, they continue to “rock” in place – no pun intended), “How to Keep Life Interesting” (comfortably), etc. It was time for a change. I knew it in my bones.

The word “Retirement” covers a varied set of situations. Today it means lots of things to different people – the traditional “thank you/gold watch” scenario doesn’t apply now. I was not sure how I’d handle not having someplace to go every morning after 40 + years. Would it take time to adjust – like the 7 stages of grief or would there be relief/ euphoria? (I think it really depends on the relationship that you had with the work you were doing.)

It has been 3 months. Am I bored yet? No. I’ve kept busy and I do not miss a “job”. I’ve been a little like the ground hog Punxsutawney Phil – sticking my head up to test the smell of spring – in my case, the smell of what’s next?

I am grateful for the opportunity to have some time to pay attention to what is important to me. And, whether we are working or not, I truly feel we are here to contribute to life in any way possible. My intention is to continue doing just that.

There will be adjustments and challenges, of course (I am supremely thankful for rent control), but I will manage. I am a proud senior citizen.

Now, if I could just stop waking up at 5:30 in the morning…

According to Sandy

Posts

Actors As Multi-Taskers

Cartier – Rocks Galore!

DVD: “A History of Violence”