It is no secret that I am a huge lover of art. Specifically, I tend to favor modern and contemporary art over marble statues and oil paintings of zaftig nudes and bowls of fruit. All due props to Michelangelo and Matisse, that stuff doesn’t really ‘yank my chain,’ as they say; but put me in a museum full of Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans and Jeff Koons’ gigantic, painted steel Balloon Dog sculptures and I’m in heaven. Being blessed with someone like Geoffrey as a BFF, it only stands to reason that I would have become a bit fond of the Street Art — because if Geoffrey is any kind of gay, he is completely and totally GAY FOR THE STREET ART. Just being serious.
The biggest problem you generally encounter when Hollywood tries to make a movie about rock musicians is the overwhelming tendency to dilute reality and surrender to the cheese factor. Honestly, filmmakers have gotten it right exactly twice: first with Rob Reiner’sThis Is Spinal Tap – a work of blindingly brilliant satire – and later with Cameron Crowe’sAlmost Famous; which, though a work of fiction, would be hard to top for its feeling of authenticity, in my opinion.
It’s been pouring down rain all day here in NYC, so I finally succumbed to peer pressure and took myself to a showing of Avatar in 3D at a local theater ($18, please). As much as it pains me to admit, Avatar was a terrific movie experience. At one point during a major battle scene, the 3D was so convincing I instinctively reached up to wipe forest debris from my face. Realistic! Aside from having a great story and special effects from another planet, I understand the film is really pissing off the Right Wing Nut Jobs out there. I am not one to become obsessed with sci-fi/fantasy movies, but that is reason enough to see it as many times as possible! Avatar!
On This Date, October 30th in 1978: KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park, the made-for-TV movie starring KISS premiered on NBC. Despite the poor reviews, the film has attained a cult status. I remember watching this piece of crap with my parents in the same room and being beyond embarrassed by how bad it was and by the collectively shitty acting job KISS did. Today, it would probably be hilarious fun to watch with a gang of your forty-something friends, depending on how wasted you were. Actually, I’m putting that activity on my “To Do” list right now.
In light of Heath Ledger’s untimely passing, much has been said about his upcoming final film Is it just me, or does this look like it might not completely suck? And look, Tom Waits is in it!
