Hallelujah Hatrack

Dateline/
Los Angeles:

In today’s newspaper David Germain, AP Movie Writer, wrote the following:

 

George Bailey's brother proclaimed him the richest man in

Bedford
Falls. Now the story of the despondent businessman, who got a chance to see how ugly the world would be without him, has been proclaimed the most inspiring American movie.

Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life," starring James Stewart as the disillusioned George, led the American Film Institute's list of inspirational films revealed Wednesday in the group's annual top-100 TV special that aired on CBS.

"We all connect to that story.”

 

Dateline/Hartford, CT:

In his head today Steve, of Hotwire Reality, said the following:

 

“Well, duh…”

 

Seriously, this is the quintessential inspirational American film.  Yes, it can be considered hokey.  Yes, the acting of some of the characters is not Oscar-worthy.  But Jimmy Stewart absolutely nailed the part of George Bailey – an everyman playing the everyman.

 

In other news, I also read in the paper that a survey had been done asking people what famous folks they would most like to invite to a dinner party. 

 

The top men listed were Jay Leno (Huh?  He seems like a good guy, but out of everyone in the world, that’s the top pick…?), George Clooney (you’ve gotta be kidding me), and President Bush (OK, leader of the free world, I can see where they’re going with that).

 

The women were Condoleezza Rice (I suppose this is a good top pick), Angelina Jolie (as long as she’s not making out with her brother during the party, this could be OK with her humanitarian efforts she’s kind of interesting), and Jennifer Aniston (come on, you all are reading too much ‘People’ magazine).

 

After a very brief brainstorm (so I reserve the right to change the list when and if I come to my senses), here are mine:

Men

-I think that I would have to start with musician James Taylor.  Just seems to be a cool and laid back dude that could provide some insightful conversation.  (runner’s up in the musician category would be my favorite lyricist Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen)

-Next I’d go to literature and select John Irving.  Why, because Truman Capote is dead and because I’d love to get into his head to see where all of his oddball characters and scenarios come from. (runner’s up in literature would be Jonathan Safran Foer and Stewart O’Nan)

-The final male dinner party guest would be the Dalai Lama.  Why, because he’s led quite an interesting life and he could probably help chill me out a bit.

 

Women

-I would also have a musician, and my selection would be Patty Griffin.  Best female lyricist out there today – if you haven’t heard her stuff you are really missing out.  (runner up by a very close margin is Kate Rusby)

-Also a literature selection from the ladies, and it would be Sarah Vowell.  I love her style, she’s a fellow Cherokee, and although I don’t agree with her on all points I always feel that I’m smarter after I’ve read one of her pieces than I was beforehand.  Also, believe it or not, I love her voice (if you’ve never heard her, she was the voice of Violet in “The Incredibles”)

-The final selection would be actress Natalie Portman.  Reason?  I could say that she’s played some great roles (“

Garden
State” and “V for Vendetta”) and she has an interesting background – born in
Israel, but in reality, this pick is made for one reason: blatant selfishness on my part…  (runner up would be Scarlett Johansson)

 

 

Ok, so my buddy Tim and I were having coffee at the local Cosi this morning and the conversation turned to movies.  Now, having been a film major in college this is a topic that I don’t mind discussing at all.  Specifically we were talking about our favorite movies over the past year or so.  I decided to turn this into a Five for Friday:

 

-“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”  Emotional pain is not necessarily something that you want to rid yourself of – it is part of who we are.  This one stayed in my mind for months afterward.

-“Lost in Translation”  From what I can tell this is a love-it-or-hate-it film and the ‘love-its’ are in the minority – heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time and Bill Murray is brilliant.  When it was over I immediately watched it again.

-“Garden State”  Natalie Portman is oddly spectacular and the oddball story is beautiful – great soundtrack, too!  Another immediate repeat.

-“Crash”  Almost painful to watch, as there is some of all of the characters in each one of us.  Wonderful acting by the entire ensemble.

-“Capote”  Being a fan of Truman Capote (if you haven’t read “Other Voices Other Rooms” do yourself a favor) I might be a bit biased, but for Philip Seymour Hoffman to nail this as he did is definitely Oscar-worthy (and as an aside, after I saw him in “Magnolia” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” I predicted he’s one day win a little gold bald guy…he owned those films!!)

 

There, now you have something to do this weekend.