Van Johnson, RIP

2 comments December 12th, 2008

Actor Van Johnson, who starred in such films as 30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO, THE CAINE MUTINY, A GUY NAMED JOE and STATE OF THE UNION, died Friday at the age of 92 of natural causes.

Johnson, whose long career also included episodes of LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE, QUINCY and a small part in Woody Allen’s tribute to classic movies, THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, almost died 55 years ago on April Fool’s Day. From the Associated Press obituary:

On April 1, 1943, his DeSoto convertible was struck head-on by another car. “They tell me I was almost decapitated, but I never lost consciousness,” he remembered. “I spent four months in the hospital after they sewed the top of my head back on. I still have a disc of bone in my forehead five inches long.” “A Guy Named Joe” was postponed for his recovery, and the forehead scar went unnoticed in his resulting popularity.

In defense of Tom Cruise

5 comments December 12th, 2008

Tom Cruise takes a lot of abuse on the Internet, but even the snarkmeisters over at the Best Week Ever blog feel the need to stand up for him — and they’re right. Sure, his public persona can be a tad, shall we say, over the top, but let’s give the guy some credit — he picks some pretty interesting projects. I don’t think Cruise is a great actor (for one thing, it’s almost always obvious that he’s ACTING), but I do think he chooses his movies with an eye to what’s interesting and not necessarily crowd pleasing. As the Best Week Ever gang points out, here are the movies he’s made in the past decade:

TROPIC THUNDER (2008)
LIONS FOR LAMBS (2007)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006)
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005)
COLLATERAL (2004)
THE LAST SAMURAI (2003)
MINORITY REPORT (2002)
VANILLA SKY (2001)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000)
MAGNOLIA (1999)
EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)

That’s not a bad list. I haven’t seen LIONS FOR LAMBS or THE LAST SAMURAI (did anyone?), but the only real clinker I see is MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II, which was pretty bad. Otherwise, Cruise’s movies are at worst interesting and at best excellent. I’d place MAGNOLIA, EYES WIDE SHUT, COLLATERAL and MINORITY REPORT at the top, but even a movie like VANILLA SKY, which I think fails in most every way, is fun to watch, and part of its appeal is Cruise’s larger-than-life personality.

In other words, maybe VALKYRIE won’t suck after all.

Wolverine is hosting the Oscars?

5 comments December 12th, 2008

OK, let’s give him credit — Hugh Jackman has done a lot more than play Wolverine in the X-MEN movies. He’s a star of stage and screen, and he’s helping save the land Down Under in the new movie AUSTRALIA. And, according to the Associated Press, he’s going to host the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. And, according to the story, he won’t be the only change …

With new producers, a new set director and even a new music director, the Academy has been hinting at an all new look and feel for this year’s Oscars telecast on Feb. 22.

I like Jackman, but I’ve always preferred someone funny to move the show along. Jon Stewart? Chris Rock? Steve Martin? Conan? Letterman? (Just not Whoopi — please!). Having a non-comedian taking the reins will take some getting used to.

Thoughts?

Friday Afternoon Videos

Add comment December 12th, 2008

Here’s something you don’t see every day: Jackie Cooper, Groucho Marx and Harpo Marx racing in cool mini cars! With Charles Laughton at the finish line!