Medium Rare Madonna

To see the end of this, Madonna's 50th Birthday, I am going to take a look at some of her lesser know tracks. Some are more widely known than other, but they all still deserve to be heard. Let's hope she releases an album of some rarities.

From her 'Emmy' days we have these three gems:
'(I Like) Love for Tender'
'No Time for Love'
'Laugh to keep from crying'
But as you will see on You Tube there are a lot more.

A very 'before it's time' version of 'Stay' from 1981. She was always ahead of her time. Also around this time ('True Blue') period she recorded 'Crimes of Passion'.

From the 'Erotica' album forward is where we get the best of the missing tracks. Left of the album was 'Dear Father'. Also on You Tube there are loads of demo versions from songs that did make the cut. Although she recorded 'Love Won't Wait' during 'Bedtime Stories' she never released it, instead it was given to Gary Barlow (Take That) to record.
It was the 'Ray of Light ' album that offers some of the most interesting tracks. The utterly brilliant 'Revenge', the sad and strangely compelling 'Gone, Gone, Gone', the ABBA cover of 'Like an Angel Passing Through My Room' and the slow and somewhat plodding 'Like a Flower''
And for something really fun, her are some of her 'Ray of Light' recording sessions recorded. Kind of cool to listen to the woman work.
'Ray of Light' sessions

Apparently recorded with Orbit for 'Music', 'Liquid Love' is possibly a better track than 'Runaway Lover' that made the cut. Strange how things work sometimes.

Most everyone has heard all the tracks from Confessions, but here they are again. They sound like b-sides, but are still interesting and deserve a wider release. 'Fighting Spirit' is a slower track that doesn't really fit in the confessions sound. 'Super Pop' is really just a lot of fun, would have stuck out like a sore thumb on the album, but glad it reared it's head. 'History' and 'Keep The Trance' are odd ducks. The former is a good track marred down by righteous lyrics, and the second is rather badly written.
Hard Candy was not the best album, so you can imagine the unreleased tracks not being that great, as you can see with 'Ring My Bell'

And finally a remix of "Give It 2 ME" that is far better than the ones released on the single:
Give It 2 Me (Fedde Le Grand Extended Mix)

Hippo Birdie 2 Ewes!

I still remember being driven to school by my mother and listening to the radio. We used to sing along to Air Supply (no judgement) and Chris de Burgh (judge) at the top of our lungs. One day, and I remember it clearly, the radio gave way to a sound that was like summer time to my ears. It was like frolicking and dancing and just being the happiest you have ever been in your entire life.

Dah da-da Dah Dah, Da Dah Dah, Da Dah……..Oh did I smile, and that song was of course ‘Holiday’ by Madonna. I was 8 at the time

I was in love.

It was as simple as that.

For the next few years my poor family had to deal with the ever changing posters on the wall, the video tape in the machine to tape ANYTHING remotely Madonna related on Entertainment Tonight. They rented me the concerts, and the video collections that I watched ad-nausea.
Even my mother who was partial to Michael Bolton and the like, had to admit that ‘Live to Tell’ was absolutely beautiful (she was slowly being converted to my cult). My cousin Carolyn and best friend Heidi shared my love, just not as fanatically. Cyndi, Tiffany, Debbie, Paula and Martika came and went, but Madonna was always there for me.

When I was 15 my sister bought me tickets to The Blonde Ambition Tour. Hence why no matter what I am forever indebted to her. There was my icon. The size of my pinky finger nail, swearing, dancing gyrating and driving me into a frenzy.

And you know what? I have stayed with her, and loved almost everything she has done (children’s books and ‘Hard Candy’ aside). Even her “English accent” never bothered me.

So today, of all days, I just wanted to take this time and wish a woman who has been as much a part of my life as any celebrity can be.

HAPPY 50th MADONNA!!!!!!!!

Why not revisit my “I LOVE Madonna” celebration on this, most holy day.

Anna Faris is just brilliant

She is such a gifted comedienne that even a still shot of her has me rolling around in the make believe aisles of my living room. Please give her something to match her talents, then again to do so would cause the poor girl to be in such demand she may die from exhaustion.

"I found out what the secret to life is: Oscars"

I so thought I knew who was going to win this.
I so figured it would be the person I wanted it to be, but it wasn't. But I cannot really argue with the eventual winner.
Sentimentality won out in the end, and don't we all vote with our hearts when the time comes.
This was a rather good year for the Supporting Actress as it is usually the weakest acting category.
The winner (pictured) had a long and illustrious career, but Oscar only really took notice later in it. Always the last ones to jump on the band wagon.

With a disappointing 5% at the bottom of the heap we have Diane Lane in 'Rambling Rose'

In forth place we find Kate Nelligan in 'The Prince of Tides' with 10%
Third place sees the eventual winner Mercedes Ruehl with 18% of the votes for 'The Fisher King'.

The person I so thought would win is in second with 30% of the votes. Little Juliette Lewis in 'Cape Fear'

So the winner is (probably because Dean and Lee voted many times on different computers) is Jessica Tandy for 'Fried Gren Tomatoes' with 38%.

She was a worthy winner I guess, but I was more of a Lewis fan at the time, even if she did sport corn rows.

So onto 1992 Best Actress!

Here are the women you have to choose from:


Catherine Deneuve - Indochine as Eliane
Mary McDonnell - Passion Fish as May-Alice Culhane
Michelle Pfeiffer - Love Field as Lurene Hallett
Susan Sarandon - Lorenzo's Oil as Michaela Odone
Emma Thompson - Howards End as Margaret J. 'Meg' Schlegel

Can Emma out hat Catherine?

Please vote in the poll on the right hand side!

Creepy

Am I the only one who thinks mannequins are scary as shit, especially when monochrome?

I have to say this poster has intrigued me greatly. And it has Winona in it. You return girl!!

"Happy-Go-Lucky" trailer

This has been out in the UK for ages (and I missed it...such the twat that I am)

Does it just seem more and more right that Sally Hawkins gets a Best Actress nomination?

I mean all the other contenders at the moment are in such serious fare, there is always that bright comic spot in the top 5 for a lead actress, Ellen Page, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Diane Keaton, Renee Zellweger are all recent nominees who had been in a comedy. Add to this the fact that when Leigh makes a popular movie that wins awards, the lead actress gets nominated (Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake).

The year thus far.

Is it me or has 2008 been a slow year out of the starting gate?

Aside from the phenomenon that is “The Dark Knight” there has not been a lot to shout about, especially awards wise. We all know that the beginning of the year is the slowest part, but usually you have some strong contenders at this point.

In Best Picture we have “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E” as the only real films that have opened to awards worthy reviews. That’s right a superhero film and a cartoon, two genre’s the Academy has not readily embraced, although this year could easily see one of these nominated. As much as I loved “WALL-E” my money is on “The Dark Knight”. Not only is the director very well respected, but the film has been met with flat out raves and stellar box office. Never under estimate the power of ticket sales in an industry where profits have been steadily falling. Added to this, the film is popular, and a nomination may just help out the Oscar ceremony come back from it’s dwindling ratings.

Over in Best Actress, Cannes gave tremendous buzz to Angelina Jolie’s performance in Clint Eastwood’s “The Changeling/Exchange”.
Also garnering raves is Sally Hawkins in Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky”. Both directors are very good with their actors, and are respected by the Academy so either of these could easily happen.
Melissa Leo has also garnered great reviews for the small film “Frozen River”. A hit at Sundance, this film could very well see a nomination for it’s lead performance.
If I were to bet now though I would say the one to be in the top five would be Hawkins. Playing an eternally optimistic and bubbly woman could be a breath of fresh air amongst the heavy performances that will be cluttering up year end.

Best Actor has also been quiet. Only two actors have made the type of awards buzz you cannot ignore. Benicio del Torro won Cannes for the epic and gruelling “Che”. Even if the film seems a little long in the tooth and doesn’t get the support it needs for other categories, you can expect del Torro to make it to year end.
Richard Jenkins has been getting wonderful notices for “The Visitor”. The TV vet has had the breakout role of the year thus far, and everyone has sung his praises. The film is small and hardly anyone saw it, but that should not matter much. I do expect to see him in the awards race come year end. A nomination will be tricky, but a good campaign and precursors will make all the difference. I actually wouldn't be at all surprised to see del Torro left off in favour of Jenkins.

Supporting Actress also only has two contenders thus far. Misty Upman in “Frozen River” seems unlikely at this point. If the film is going to be rewarded for anything it will be for Leo. The one sure fire nominee is Penelope Cruz for “Vicky Christina Barcelona” who is said to be sensational in the new Woody Allen film. Adding to this is the fact that many are saying it is a long overdue return to form for the director, who has released a few duds lately.

Supporting Actor…..well…it is all about Heath Ledger. And too right!

September will be an interesting month for releases as we have “Nothing But the Truth”, “Towelhead”, “Burn After Reading”, and “Blindness” . Plus many of the later ‘Oscar’ films will be having screenings to get the buzz-a-building so hopefully the best is yet to come. If not, how depressing.

"Doubt" Poster

Now this definitely look like an awards contender in a BIG way. You know when you see a poster and you can already imagine the FYC ads?

Julianne Moore is BLIND in love.

But you know she is not really!

The Blogging Blahs

As you may have not noticed I have been pretty quiet on the blog front. This is mainly due to some unexpectedly good weather here in London that just beckons me out doors.

I have been a social butterfly, going to various Pride events and parties and just basically letting my hair down, bank account be damned.

Also this is the time of year where the movie news, aside from a big trailer release, is just kind of blah. Oscar season starts picking up in September and that is when we will see some of the real contenders.

For those of you not familiar with Annamarina Marinca (Maffe Award nominee for 12008 for her superb performance in "$ Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days), well you should be. Go out now and watch "Sex Traffik" now! In doing this you will see she is one of the best actresses going on the international scene. She carries this mini series on her back and you feel her every emotion. I cannot remember being this excited about an new actress in a long time.
Also in this wonderful show is John Simm who would make a great Bilbo!

Once my social life eases up and the movies start a-coming I will be back in the swing!

"Appaloosa" Trailer

Could this do what "£:10 to Yuma" could not, and that is get an acting nomination. Not so sure about Ed Harris, but Viggo could indeed do this (he is so good at those silent roles) and perhaps see Jeremy Irons return to the fold.

"Rachel Getting Married" Trailer

Now this does look good. I was not really sure as for Anne Hathaway's Oscar chances until I have watched this, and now she, and the rest of the cast are looking like they will be serious contenders.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Trailer

Ummm..........yeah. Totally excited now.

THE RUG RATS BLOG-A-THON!!!!!

It is hear....and I have been partying and almost missed it! Priorities MICHAEL!!!

So the turn out has been great, and I want to thank everyone for entering. I was expecting 3 entries so I am ECSTATIC with the all of you who participated. You will all be getting thanks yous!


Lets get started:

Firstly we have an entry from the fantastic blog 'Runs like a gay" written by Ben. He takes a closer look at Oscar winner (Special juvenile award) Bobby Driscoll. Did you know his voice was used for Walt Disney's feature Peter Pan (1953) and an actual "acting" performance was filmed, then rotoscoped for the animated character? I didn't. Andy Serkis eat your heart out.

Next we have the brilliant José of "Movies Kick Ass" who writes about those pesky little children who lie and make up stories. I always relish it when a child is a villain....they are so evil. Liar Liar pants on fire indeed.

Embarrassingly, James of "Rants of a Diva" has written a wonderful post featuring a child performance in a film I have never seen. And it is a classic. James, I am puting this on my lovefilm list immediately!

One of the most interesting takes was from Manuel of "A Blog Next Door" who aims his critical and loving eye on those unsung hero's, Child voice actors. I would definitely have to add to that wonderful list Daveigh Chase who was absolutely brilliant in "Lilo and Stitch"

We have had liars, cartoons, and child actors of yester-year. So of course we have to go into the freaky. Those actors scarred for life by staring in Horror films. The Culture Kid looks at Danny Lloyd.

Then there is a film that has been dividing the critics, yet all say the same thing about this young little actress. Scott from He Shot Cyrus casts his eyes over Catinca Untaru in Tarsem's "The Fall".

Then some strange little person decided to join. So let him. Michael Parsons worships at the foot of Sara Gilbert.

Last, but most definitely not least we have the lover of the Supporting Actress Stinky LuLu who of course stays true to form, and reminds us of the diversity of the young girls who have all flirted with Oscar.



Here is mine (part two)

Ariel: What are transvestites?
Christy: A man who dresses up as a woman.
Ariel: For Halloween?
Christy: No, all the time. All the time.
Ariel: Why?
Christy: It's just what they do here, OK?

When I decided to host my little blog-a-thon I already knew which child performances that I would write about. I knew I wouldn’t right a long essay, but I just wanted to watch the film again and be captivated like I was when I first watched it.

I want to right about the formidable talent of these two young performers.

Sarah and Emma Bolger in “In America”

In America is the story of an immigrant Irish family, who move to New York City to start a new life after the death of their youngest child (Frankie). They move into a rundown top-floor apartment in a seedy neighborhood. The father (Paddy Considine) is an actor trying to realize his dream. His wife (Samantha Morton) gets a job in an ice cream parlor. Their two daughters (Sarah Bolger & Emma Bolger) attend Catholic school, and make friends with everyone in the neighborhood.

This is the first, and since, only time I have lost the plot and blubbed in a movie theater. I blubbed within the first 20 minutes and didn’t stop until 2 hours afterwards.
This is mainly due to the realistic and moving performances of these two young sisters.

The Narrator, Christy (Sarah) is the quiet older sibling, viewing life through her camcorder while observing her fathers struggle with his grief and her mothers dignified despair. She plays with her sister Ariel (Emma) and makes friends with the sleazy people in the neighbourhood to keep the appearance of normality for her parents. However Christy wears her heart on her sleeve and her pain is constantly displayed on her face. She mourns the loss of her brother and feels her parents pain, yet tries to keep everything together for Ariel.


Her father has emotionally cut himself off since Frankies death, no longer playing with his daughters they way he used to. This hurts Christy to no end, and when she finally allows her tears to flow and her father asks “what’s wrong little girl” Christy finally taps into her grief and anger:

“Don't "little girl" me. I've been carrying this family on my back for over a year, ever since Frankie died. He was my brother too. It's not my fault that he's dead. It's not my fault that I'm still alive.”

Sarah Bolger carries the emotional weight given to her like a pro, never going for schlocky sentimentality and grounding the film when it attempts flights of fancy. Her watchful gaze as she sees all around her tells the story. It is her eyes, that although she is smiling, look tired and worn out. She has taken her families weight on her back, and you know she will continue to do so.
Long after the credits roll you remember her sad beautiful face and the movie she carried.

As good as she was, it must have helped having her real life sister playing her sister in the film. Of course the chemistry was fantastic, but Emma Bolger, who was no more than 7 when the movie was filmed is equally as superb.


Ariel is a free spirit. She has no fear and runs around making friends with everyone she meets, never prejudiced by anything. She plays and laughs and is your typical 7 year old, that is until she wakes up from a nightmare terrified and screaming.

Ariel: I'm scared.
Johnny: Don't be scared.
Ariel: Everyone's dying.

As she stands there screaming and crying, her father trying desperately to console her she says those lines, through a childs hysterical tears. I have no idea how an actress so young can tap into imaginary pain and make it so real. She, like her sister never once go for the Dakota Fanning “Lets act like I’m wise beyond my years” style of acting, and that is how this film works.

These two little girls are trying to deal with the loss of their brother while watching their parents slip away into sorrow and they make every moment of it believable.

Rug Rats Blog-A-Thon

Here is my entry - Part one.

The rest of the entries will be posted at 00:01 hours on the 28th! Thank you all for writing!

when it comes to child performances, people are very divisive. Some people HATE them, some people LOVE them. I am in the middle. There are some great child performances out there. But for every realistic and believable one there 5 Katrillion wooden or completely over the top ones.
Which is why, when one stands out it is cause to sit up and notice.

For my first entry I am going with an actress from a TV show, because I have been re-watching it on DVD and forgot how brilliant it really was.

"Roseanne" was a TV show I always loved, even the silly last season. Mainly because Roseanne Barr was such a fantastic actress, something no one ever remembers, due to her crazy private life. With her on screen family she got some terrific actors, but the one who sparred with her wise cracks the best and stole the show was always Sara Gilbert as Darlene Connor. The mother daughter relationship between the two actresses was completely organic and believable. This is due to Gilbert not playing a copy of Roseanne, but a hybrid of her mothers wit and humor and a sports loving tom boy.

The episode that totally sold me was "Brain-Dead Poets Society". Darlene has to write a poem for school, but doesn't want to. Roseanne is ecstatic because she get to re-live her lost dreams of being a writer through her daughter. When Darlene refuses to do it, it set up one of the cleverest jokes on the season.

Darlene Conner: (shouting) I don't want to be expressive! I couldn't care less about poetry! I just want to graduate high-school, so I can get on with my life, so I can get a job, and get out of this hell-hole town!
Roseanne Conner: But if you could be expressive, what would you say?

Darlene ends up writing the poem and it ends up being selected to be read aloud at an All Culture Night event, but opts out.
Roseanne, really wants to hear Darlene's poem and lays the pressure on. Much to Darlene's dismay, she winds up on stage at the Culture Night, to read her poem, a poem that would render Roseanne in painful emotions.


The acting from Roseanne in the last scene is impeccable, but it is Gilbert who stands out. Wise cracking and foul mouthed Darlene stands on the podium and stares out at nothing. She reads the poem in complete monotone, the way all kids do when public speaking. That dull emotionless voice that is only wishing for this moment to end.
If this wasn't impressive enough, the way her voice slightly changes during the heart breaking finale of her poem is. Getting ever softer and sadder she deals with the embarrassment of standing in front of peers and parents in an ugly dress pouring out her thirteen year old heart, by withdrawing into her head and her voice. Darlene as we know it has disappeared and the real one, with all her insecurities is left.

To Whom It Concerns: Darlene's work will be late, it fell on her pancakes and stuck to her plate.

To Whom It Concerns: I lost my assignment, maybe I'll get lucky, solitary confinement.

To Whom It Concerns: My mom made me WRITE this, but I'm just a kid, so how could I fight this?

To Whom It Concerns: Darlene's great with the ball, but guys don't watch tomboys when they're cruising the hall.

To Whom It Concerns: I just turned thirteen, too short to be quarterback, too plain to be queen.

To Whom It Concerns: I am not made of steel, when I get blindsided, my pain is quite real.

I don't mean to squak, but it really burns. I just thought I'd mention it:
To Whom It Concerns.

I dare you to watch it and not get just a little misty eyed.

It is no wonder she was nominated for a prime time Emmy. The acting praise was always heaped on Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman, but with episodes like this Sara Gilbert proven she was one of the best.

Mini review "The Dark Knight"

Wow.... what can I say... wow.

First the negative. Nolan does not write women well. That being said Maggie Gyllenhall did wonders with a paper thin character. You can understand Wayne falling for her over Katie Holmes portrayal.

Saw it at Imax, and unless you have a great seat at the back the action scenes look a little bit like a jumbled mess.

The good.

Batman has always been my favourite superhero because he is simply a man. True he is a man with a lot of cash at his disposal, but Nolan has created a world so gritty and real that most importantly, the viewer can relate. People are driven to do what they do because of the world they live in, and the way they choose to handle it makes them either villains or heroes. Sure the action never lets up, but the story was so intense that you didn't mind the roller coaster ride. I mean after 3 pints of beer before hand I was busting to pee from the beginning, but forgot about it 1/4 way through.

Obviously, for me, the best thing about the film was Heath Ledgers funny, frightening, intense and brilliant portrayal of The Joker. The Joker has always been this campy villain, but what Ledger does is strip him of the camp and just make him a bloody scary anarchist. I man so swathed in his own pain that he no longer feels it. He feels no remorse for what he does and does not fear his death. The ticks and mannerisms only add the the menace. You have no idea when he is going to go off.

If Javier Bardem can win an Oscar for his portrayal of a cold killer in "No Country For Old Men" the Heath should not have a problem with this. Out right brilliance. If I see a better male performance this year I will be so happy.

The Film A-

If there is one thing I would change it would be something that happens at the end. But I can't talk about it here because there are people who haven't seen it.

SPOILER!

Highlight below if you are curious.

When he two ferries are in the harbour. It would have been been shocking, and also play right into the Jokers point that people all have that dark side if the big tough black prisoner on the prisoner ferry has chucked the bomb detonator into the ocean, but the nerdy white man had gone ahead. Would have said a lot about society and the world we live in today. The corporate white guy playing God with peoples lives. It would not have been happy, but it would have made a valid point