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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Gwyneth Paltrow Plastic surgery Boob Job

Gwyneth Paltrow probably have had done nose reshaping surgery. Back in the mid 90s, Gwyneth’s nose was much fatter. Her probocis was not too wide, nor was it a beak, but rather shapelessly fat. Now, her nose looks like it has been carved into a smaller, prettier shape. Her nose look great now, because it stands out as a distinct feature on her face. It looks much better than the overly cut, plastic looking, and desperate to be cute nose many celebrities have after rhinoplasty.

Gwyneth Paltrow Plastic surgery Boob Job
Gwyneth Paltrow Plastic surgery Boob Job

She also had breast augmentation surgery, since she had previously stated that she is not against it and she feels this it’s more of reconstructive surgery. "My stomach is rippling, my breast don't feel good. I've been trying to work it out. I want to do something about it....It is such a lot of hard work. And I've been breastfeeding, which has been causing me so much problems. My breasts feel so sore."

Reel Thoughts: Fly Me to the Moon!

Seattle is the best place to go to see fantastic shows before they blast off for Broadway, and Catch Me If You Can is the 5th Avenue Theatre’s latest hit. Based on the 2002 Steven Spielberg film that chronicled the amazing-but-true larcenous life of teenager Frank Abagnale Jr., who convinced people he was a Pan-Am pilot, a pediatrics doctor and a Louisiana lawyer, Catch Me If You Can is a retro-smooth musical cocktail that defines “cool.”

Hairspray composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s incredibly witty and lush score mixes perfectly with iconic playwright Terrence McNally’s book to hit all the film’s high points, especially in the first act. Director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell bring their best talents to the production, giving it a glossy, fun-filled 60’s TV variety show feel that is the perfect way to make the film sing and dance. The production design is absolutely breathtaking, like stepping into a Mad Men episode as scored by the Rat Pack.

Aaron Tveit, recently voted Broadway’s hottest man, is amazing as Frank Jr., all but erasing Leonardo DiCaprio’s long shadow in the role. He sings like the best of the crooners and he has charisma enough to power David Rockwell’s fantastic light show. From the moment he takes over the stage with his backup dancers to sing “Live in Living Color!”, you will not be able to take your eyes off him ... unless he’s making one of his many escapes from the FBI.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz, playing Tom Hanks’ dogged Agent Carl Hanratty, creates a whole new musical hero, the super schlub, a man with no life who nonetheless commands the stage whenever he appears. Carl is determined to bring down the elusive Frank, until he discovers that he’s only a kid. “Here I Am (To Save the Day)” is the perfect anthem for Carl’s dull-but-thrilling way of life, and the mile-a-minute patter never trips up the wily Butz.


Tom Wopat, resisting the urge to Christopher Walkenize his Frank Abagnale Sr., takes the role of a man with big dreams and little success and makes him heartbreaking. He sends Frank Jr. off to a life of crime with the tender “Fifty Checks”, a father-son bonding moment marred by the fact that he’s telling his son to spend until the checks run out, a lesson too many people have followed these days. Frank Sr. and his wife Paula (the gorgeous and glamorous Rachel De Benedet) do the unthinkable and divorce, sending their son’s perfect life crashing down and driving him to run away in search of “Someone Else’s Skin” he can inhabit.

Frank’s first miracle job snatch is also the show’s most fun. He becomes a Pan-Am pilot smothered in swingin’ stewardesses, leading to the fabulous production number “The Jet Set”. Every time Hanratty gets close, Frank escapes, racking up 2.8 million dollars in rubber checks along the way.

As act two opens, Frank has graduated to playing doctor, literally, among (as he puts it) a bunch of horny nurses. There he meets Brenda, a sweet candy striper played by Broadway belle Kerry Butler (taking over for the film's Amy Adams). The show drags at this point, if only because nothing involving Brenda’s N’Awlin’s family (Nick Wyman and Linda Hart) is half as entertaining as Frank’s high-flying Pan-Am adventures were. However, the drama of Carl discovering Frank’s broken childhood and becoming a pseudo father figure, as well as Frank Sr.’s sad downward spiral, have an emotional heft that is truly moving.

If tweaks can be made pre-Broadway, I would rewrite the entire Strong family outing part, including the odd number “Bury Me Beside the One I Love”, and give Butler, Wyman and Hart something more fun to do (and for the audience to watch) . Butler gets the “Eleven O’clock Number”, a soaring ballad called “Fly, Fly Away”, but because her part is under-developed, it packs no punch.


Still, Catch Me If You Can is a “Strange But True” tale that has become pure magic on the Seattle stage. I hope you’ll catch it, either there or during its sure-to-be triumphant Broadway run. The handsome Tveit may not sing “Come Fly With Me”, but you’ll definitely want to fly his friendly skies as he becomes a huge Broadway star.

Review by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Reverend's Reviews: A Nazi-Fighting Danish Cocktail

I was immediately intrigued by the title, Flame & Citron, chiefly because its second part is my fave flavor of Absolut vodka. Whatever the setting, Citron always catches my attention!

I was therefore edified to learn that Flame & Citron (opening in LA this Friday and expanding nationally) is a cinematic tribute to two Danish freedom fighters who took on the occupying Nazis for the better part of 1944. It is a very well-made and engrossing film, full of twists and turns and no shortage of double- and triple-crosses.


On April 9, 1944, Nazi forces marched into Copenhagen and immediately imposed martial law on those citizens they didn't imprison or kill for resisting them. Bent Faurschou-Hviid (played by Thure Lindhardt, mostly recently seen as the Vatican Archives' chief protector in Angels & Demons) and Jorgen Haagen Schmith (Mads Mikkelsen, best known in the US for his turn as Le Chiffre in Casino Royale) resolved to force the Nazis out of Denmark by any means necessary. They quickly became known publicly as Flame (for Bent's rare, red hair) and Citron (perhaps for Jorgen's more acidic personality).

From the start, the more intense Flame has few moral qualms about their resistance efforts. "We're not killing people," he says, "but Nazis." Initially, he draws the line at killing women. Their ethics threaten to change, though, as he and Citron find themselves receiving increasingly questionable orders and making murkier alliances.

Citron has a wife and little girl he rarely sees but remains protective of; he is the more rational between him and Flame, as well as the sweatier of the two. United in their hatred of oppression in any form, Citron and Flame develop in time a seemingly-psychic connection. The two were awarded the US Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1951.


The talented Ole Christian Madsen directed and co-wrote the screenplay for Flame & Citron with Lars K. Andersen. Jorgen Johansson's cinematography is extraordinary, and the production design by Jette Lehmann captures the time and a war-ravaged Copenhagen perfectly. Hummer Hojmark, special effect coordinator, provides subtle but significant support.

Although the film is a little on the long side, clocking in at 130 minutes, it is worth watching as both history lesson and inspirational — if violent — entertainment. One can be justifiably critical of Citron and Flame's take-no-prisoners approach to securing freedom, but it's hard to quibble with Flame's sense of moral certainty in the face of oppression: "I know I'm doing the right thing; it's the only right thing."

UPDATE: Flame & Citron is now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Amazon.com.

Click here to watch the trailer for Flame & Citron.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Br-Hoot-Al Legend





Owltacular, Jeff Gogue!

Renata Litvinova. Goddess: How I Fell In Love...

Every so often I discover a new person that sends my pulse racing. Usually this occurs as a product of spectacular personal style or elaborate interview in Vogue. One discovery set itself apart: Renata Litvinova. One of the brightest stars of Russian cinema, she is known for her unusual, almost eclectic speech manner, her utterly divine style and profoundly deep work as an actress, screenwriter and director.
My discovery of Renata happened back in 1994, in the very beginning of her career.While being sick with violent flue I accidentally switched TV to the channel with the movie named "Passions" . I immediately knew I was a witness to the birth of a true Movie Star.
Inspired by the Style of Renata I have created this hat. I named it "Renata.Goddess: How I Fell In Love." It became one of the most beautiful hats of my last Collection "Russia Divine.Tribute". Made entirely by hand, 6 weeks of production, close to 250 yards of silk ribbon which was colored by hand ( afterwards I had to cut out pieces of silk that had, in my opinion, the most beautiful combinations of reds). Undeniably, one of the most difficult hats I have ever made. I am very proud of it!:-))At 42 years of age Renata is not only a Style Icon. For those of you who are not very familiar with customs and traditions of Russia, I especially would like to stress how unusual this fact is. Women in Russia are considered to be old by the age of 30. When you do realize it, the fact that 42-year old Renata not only managed to be regarded as the most stylish lady of the Russian cinema, but also became the cover girl for many glossy magazines such as Vogue, for example, is a small Revolution with in itself.
I often thought that it is impossible not to look at Renata: she is one of those rare individuals who hypnotizes audience with her beauty, manner of speech, movements. When I first heard that Litvinova is launching her own line of clothes, I have to admit, I had my doubts.
After all there are so many examples of mediocre clothing lines produced by celebrities. Renata became an exception to the rule. Her line is simply divine. Pencil skirts,fantastic blouses," retro" dresses, elegant, slick, very Renata, with fabulous accessories such as hats (!!!) and gloves. But what even more fantastic is the quality and craftsmanship of each item. I am looking forward to my next trip to Russia: can not wait to see with my own eyes new fabulous collection by Renata Litvinova.
The style of Renata is what I describe as Old Glamor. She adores red lipstick, vintage hats, veils, she loves the aroma of "Red Moscow" perfume (I thought it would be interesting for you to know that despite the fact that communists made "Red Moscow" the official perfume of the Empire of Evil, the recipe of this perfume was made by one of the best perfumers of the time, the perfumer to Her Majesty Empress of Russia Alexandra Romanov , Henri Brocard . The recipe was stolen by Bolsheviks during the Revolution and the perfume was named "Red Moscow".)
On the personal note: I was always immensely inspired by women with multiple dimensions to them , who were able to extend their personal Empire to the stratosphere. Renata, in my opinion, is one of the rare individuals who posses that special knowledge of how to live your life without being afraid to cross the borders of boundaries.She is truly an embodiment of inspiration itself.
Divine RenataRenata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova
Renata Litvinova

Important!*** Thank you for participating in the Contest. There is still time to submit answers, please, refer to the post below. The lucky winner will be announced on August 17th! Good luck to all :-)))

strange rocks



















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