Remember that now iconic slap scene of Sidney Poitier’s from the Best Picture of 1967, “In The Heat of the Night“?
If I could, I’d like to reshoot that scene today with President Barack Obama and Dick Cheney.
What do you think? Leave a comment. Have a great Memorial Day weekend.
I jumped at the invitation to be a friend’s guest to last night’s screening for critics of the new Disney Pixar animated feature called “Up” and I’m so glad I did. I needed an emotional lift and that family pastime was just the perfect boost. It’s so cool!
The two main people, the 78 y/o Mr. Fredericksen holding a thousand colorful balloons, and little Russell, the scout who is on a serious mission to do a good deed for an elderly person, are two of the most memorable and lovable characters I’ve seen in a Hollywood release so far this year. If you have a chance to catch critics on TV review “Up,” I suggest you skip them. Critics today reveal way too much about movies’ plots and surprises. Mr. Fredericksen (who looks like Spencer Tracy in his “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” years) is a lonely, sophisticated gentleman who needs an adventure. He surely gets one when he and Russell drift into South America like Dorothy Gale drifting over the rainbow. They encounter another old guy, one who resembles modern-day Kirk Douglas.
Way back in my college years, I was writing a paper and came upon a quote that stayed in my heart. I can’t recall who said it but it goes “Marriage is one of the only adventures open to cowards.” By cowards, he didn’t mean folks who run from any sign of danger like scared chickens. I’m sure he meant folks who have settled for a simple life and don’t make a bold statement in the world like astronaut John Glenn taking off in a rocket ship, Jackie Robinson taking on bigotry in professional sports or women like Katharine Hepburn, Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey shattering glass ceilings by taking on the tough world of show business their way. In that regard, Mr. Fredericksen is a sweet coward who had a great adventure.
He loves his house. However, there comes a point when the thing he loves keeps him earthbound. If he can’t let go of the past, that house will be like the chains on Jacob Marley in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Ed Asner does the voice of Mr. Fredericksen. A youngster named Jordan Nagai voices Russell and it’s one of most delightful cartoon voices since Thumper’s in Disney’s “Bambi.” He did a wonderful job. One of the elements that touched me — and there were several in “Up” — was the depth and poignancy delivered from simple dialogue in quiet moments between two characters just sitting and talking. Those kind of moments in real life are practically a lost art form because of technology. If thousands of helium-filled balloons actually carried a house overhead here in Manhattan, most folks wouldn’t notice because they’d be checking their Blackberry for messages about sample sales and “American Idol.” We’re blinding ourselves to the special things and people around us, near us. Russell talking about his dad — well, that kind of touching eloquence alone is a main reason why I’ll be paying to see this feature again when it opens.
Clever, inventive, fun, funny and very poignant, “Up” provides the kind of lift a lot of us need right now. Thumbs “Up” to Pixar.
Thanks to a good friend who’s taking me as her guest, I get to see Pixar’s “Up” tonight. Have you seen the trailer to that animated feature? It’s delightful! It has a cute Asian-American kid and a silver-haired, well-dressed old man who looks like he was inspired by Spencer Tracy in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” I’ll give you a review tomorrow.
The job hunt continues. This I’ve learned. Executives at Sirius Satellite Radio must have been instructed never to answer emails. A few years ago (notice the word “years”), I was a guest co-host on a weekday show hosted by writer/humorist Frank DeCaro. An executive dropped by the studio to meet and compliment me on my work. He hoped I’d come back. I did, several times. I emailed the executive that I’d be a good addition to his programming line-up as an entertainment contributor, a co-host or a segment producer. I emailed him several times through the years that I was asked to return to be a guest co-host on Frank’s show and appear on others. I never got a response. On Monday, two weeks ago, a former NBC exec I met urged me to contact a friend of hers who is also an executive at the same radio network. She felt I’d be a good fit for Sirius. Again, I was specific in pitching myself politely and briefly in an email. I included the former NBC exec/friend’s name. I got no response.
Producers with Oprah’s show not only responded to my emails but gave me tips for future job hunting. There was no job for me at Turner Classic Movies, but the Vice President of Programming not only answered every email, she made it obvious that she’d watched my interview demo reel by complimenting me on certain questions I’d posed to the stars. Personally, I think the Sirius executive branch could learn a thing or two on business etiquette from Harpo Studios and TCM.
I’m doing spring cleaning. I usually don’t but this recession has made it a necessity. I need to cut down the clutter in case I need to relocate for work. I think these hard times are forcing all Americans to re-think how much they need. Remember the house you grew up in? I do. Mine was a simple ranch-style house that my dad got with help from the G.I. Loan after WWII. We lived on a nice, suburban cul-de-sac in South Central L.A., just the five of us, before Mom and Dad divorced. Then we were four in that house. Starting in the 1990s, it looked as though the average American house for five or four was the size of the Von Trapp Family mansion on “The Sound of Music.” Also, you practically needed a step ladder to get into the SUV, which became the standard, gas-guzzling family car. This recession bitch-slapped us back into the reality that we can get by with less.
I’m off to work on reinventing myself so that I can gain employment. Wish me luck. The same to you. Come back tomorrow from my review of “Up.”
Who knew that, come the end of April, the new fashion statement for spring would be a blue surgical mask? As if we didn’t already have a full plate of drama with this recession, the increasing ranks of the unemployed, foreclosures and two wars, now swine flu has returned to give us that “I Love the 70s” feeling. Back in ‘76, swine flu shots were all the rage.
In 1976, we didn’t have 24 hour cable news outlets. This week, to me, TV news people seemed like they would not be professionally satisfied until Americans were running and screaming in the streets like people in a 1950s sci fi horror movie when the city has been taken over by a giant radioactive crab. Out of all the millions and millions of citizens in America, one poor baby died in Texas and network news poised us for a pandemic. As if we could afford the medicine. Hello!!!!! We’re all broke and looking for work!
Later this morning, New York’s Mayor Bloomberg reveals his new budget plan. Last night, local news anchors reported that the plan will not be pretty. More layoffs, higher taxes. The one bright light — teachers, cops and firefighters will not be subject to the layoffs. I usually watch the mayor. When he has a rough day and speaks to the press, he always sounds like Corky St. Claire in “Waiting For Guffman.” He’s had a rough week. He was really pissed at the White House fly-over in downtown Manhattan that no one remembered to tell him would be happening. It caused panic, understandably, when New Yorkers saw a low-flying passenger plane like they did on Sept 11th 2001. The mayor was mad and went very Corky. I expected him to say “Whoever in Washington forgot to tell me about this White House photo shoot stunt, I hate you and I hate your ass face!” Then he’d storm out of the press conference, scurry back to the Governor’s mansion and take a bubble bath just like Corky did when the Blaine Community Players pleaded with him to come back and direct them.
While he’s speaking on local TV this morning, I will be at an audition. Yes, I have an audition today. It’s a commercial project. Say one for me. I really want it. In the meantime, I really hope you have a good weekend. I think we all deserve one.
Rent “Waiting For Guffman.” A brilliant, hysterically funny mock-documentary on community theater.