On Happy Feet

Of course I adore Happy Feet, the story of an Emperor Penguin named Mumble who is born with a natural ability to tap dance though without the ability to sing. The conflict begins on Mumble's first day of penguin school as every Emperor Penguin must discover their "heart song" to find a soul mate. As Mumble struggles to be himself among the penguin flock and societal norms,he bravely retains his individuality.

Australian Filmmaker George Miller (Mad Max and Babe) delivers a cinematically stunning film and an outstanding cast in Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Brittany Murphy, and the ever brilliant Robin Williams.


I loved Happy Feet though as the film weaves its way through multiple storylines, it loses its way in bringing them all together---nevertheless, Happy Feet enjoyably features Nicole Kidman as Mumble's Mom, Norma Jean, sounding delightfully as breathless as Marilyn Monroe, Williams lending his voice in two hilarious roles, penguin production numbers set to music by Prince, The Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, Queen and Paul Anka, and a global call for human aliens to leave the ecosystem alone.

You will definitely leave the theatre feeling happy!

Two clips below: Mumble with Gloria and the other new baby penguins learning about their "Heart Song" on the first day of penguin school and an introduction to Ramon (Robin Williams):

On Robert Altman

"To me, I've just made one long film."



Thankfully, he gave us some of the most brilliant filmmaking in history.

On Black and Blue

Another legend of rhythm and blues, Ruth Brown, passed away yesterday. I remember seeing a Saturday matinee of Black and Blue on Broadway some years ago. Ruth Brown, in a Tony award-winning performance, starred side-by-side with Linda Hopkins and Carrie Smith to deliver the lead singing roles. Tap dancing legends like Jimmy Slyde and Bunny Briggs danced to the music of Duke Ellington and Fats Waller, (Savion Glover's understudy danced his role that day), and a number of well-known jazz musicians played in the orchestra.

Black and Blue celebrated the period between WWI and WWII when Paris opened its arms and heart to black dance and music.

Ruth Brown often appeared in San Francisco, though I never saw her perform again, I do remember the fabulous Black and Blue . Ruth Brown, independent spirit and crusader for musician rights.


Photo Credit: Jack Vartoogian/FrontRow Photos

On I Have A Dream

Martin Luther King, Great Dreamer

"We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."


Excerpts from I Have A Dream Speech, Martin Luther King, August 28, 1963, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

On Ugly Betty

Betty Suarez, Great Dreamer.



Photo Credits: ABC Television

On Pursuit of Happyness

Dreams, hope, love, and triumph of the human spirit lifted Chris Gardner to provide a better life for his son. Based on Gardner's own story in San Francisco, The Pursuit of Happyness should be required viewing (and reading) for the haves,have nots, and anyone who thinks "they can't"---Tough breaks, lucky breaks, dreams do come true. Gardner recently appeared on The Josh Kornbluth Show here, one of the most inspiring and best interviews on the show to date, by the way.


P.S. Due in theatres Dec. 15th from Sony Pictures, expect an Oscar nod for Will Smith

On Enrico's Cafe

A lot of dreams were realized over the years at Enrico's Cafe on Broadway. Now another legendary character of international renown has closed it's doors due to lease problems and a steady economic decline. Buoyed by North Beach's Beat generation, Enrico's Cafe became a hallmark location for jazz and cocktails after opening in 1958. Tax problems plagued founder Enrico Balducci and Enrico's ultimately went out of business. Revived in the late 1990's by a group of investors, Enrico's and North Beach locations in general, have seen a steady decline in people coming there to dine, listen to music, and hang out. I remember my first time to North Beach and Enrico's back in the 1970's. At that time, Carol Doda's image still towered over the corner of Columbus and Broadway atop The Condor's sign, although the Purple Onion no longer hosted great acts like the Smothers Brothers, I remember walking by the Purple Onion, it may have been called by another name. Thankfully, Tosca's and Specks Bar both remain.

On Four Helping Hands

I have two 20th-21st Century marketing heroes, they're both in this picture. If I were an international pop star with lots of money and an ability to rake in more, I'd definitely figure out how to use my money to make a difference, there's so much one could do here at home and around the globe. You know, I use to believe a person could effect change one person at a time, today, I'm not sure this is true at all. If Oprah phoned, I'd take her call.

Photo: ABC

On Sand Art

Sand Sculptures from the International Fiesa 2006 held in Algarve, Portugal as photographed by Mario Proenca. Click on the photo film strip and wait a moment as the film loop loads, amazing creations!

On Campari

Enjoy this Italian commercial from 1968!

On Other People's Art Collections-Part 2

You probably read earlier this week about gillionaire Steve Wynn's accidental desecration of Picasso's "Le Reve." While showing the painting to pals like Barbara Walters, Nora Ephron, Louise Grunwald and others, Wynn gestured (he has an eye disease which alters peripheral vision) and placed a hole through the canvas. This incident occurred just after he had agreed to sell the painting for $139M to a hedge-fund broker who apparently collects art. What is this trend with hedge-fund brokers paying gillions for art these days? Wynn reportedly will keep the damaged Picasso for now. It appears that he paid $48.4M for it at auction in 1997.

On DreamGirls

Advance buzz on the film version of Dream Girls is positive all around. Who can forget Broadway's Jennifer Holiday? Otherwise, I didn't particularly embrace the music. The cinematography looks rich here on the clips. Definitely a film to see on the big screen.

On the Booker Prize - Gabcast

Congrats to Kiran Desai winner of this year's Man Booker Prize for her second novel The Inheritance of Loss. Desai becomes the youngest woman to win the award since The Booker Prize was founded in 1968. The prize is open to writers of Britain, Ireland, and Commonwealth of the former British Colonies. Desai credits her mother, writer Anita Desai: "the debt I owe to my mother is so profound that I feel the book is hers as much as mine. It was written in her company and in her wisdom and kindness."

Photo Credit: Sara Lee, The Guardian

On Other People's Art Collections - Gabcast

DeKooning's "Police Gazette" an abstract from 1955.

The New York Times reported today on gillionaire entertainment mogul David Geffen's private auction sale of a DeKooning ($63.5M) and a Jasper Johns ($80M) to two hedge-fund gillionaires. I don't even want to begin to think what DeKooning or Jasper John's actually sold these works for the first time around. Maybe it's me, my mind remains boggled about one's attachment to things when I attempt to place this into a global perspective.

Jasper John's "False Start" from 1959 ------------>

On The Queen

Stephen Frears' THE QUEEN is a definite must see if only to marvel at Helen Mirren's breathtaking performance as HRH. Mirren and the cast gobbled up Peter Morgan's screenplay as if it were a bowl of the freshest English Devonshire Cream. Morgan performed extensive research by watching reels of film footage, consulting biographers and through interviews with personal sources who had ties to the Palace and Number 10 Downing Street. The result provides a plausible story based upon what could have happened with what did happen in the hours and weeks immediately following Diana's death.

Mirren remains absolutely fearless on screen in every role she undertakes. Not only in her portrayals but in the choices she makes as an actor. I really thought I was watching HRH with only a few moments of no, it's Helen Mirren's interpretation of the Queen. Mirren deftly gives one of the most poignant performances of her film career.

"Given the iconic status of the Queen, I was terrified," says Mirren."I was probably more nervous about this role than almost any other role I've ever done." To prepare, she researched, watched videos and gathered key cast members at her home to help begin creating "a sense of the Royals as family."

"Of course you also have to get certain things right, the hair, the hands, the stance,the walk, the voice. I had photographs of the Queen in my trailer and watched tapes all the time. It was a bit intimidating, because each time I watched them I would feel I was failing her, failing the inner person and you are constantly trying to get to the inner person," says Mirren.

This brings us to the essence of Mirren's approach to any performance. In her Queen, she explores the depth of human emotion: humor, compassion, sadness, doubt, resignation, leadership, and great strength. We see the depth of Helen Mirren as an actor and the kindness and respect with which she approached the Queen.

"There was one piece of early film, a simple little thing of about one minute of Elizabeth at about 12, getting out of a car and walking forward to shake someone's hand. I found it touching. I watched it over and over. The more I studied her, the more extraordinary she became as a person. She's not like Tony Blair, who's so forward. She's back within herself, but it's not a neurotic place or a confused place, it's a very steady place, quite a confident place. It's a place of incredible self-discipline--and then she steadily comes out from that point and that's the person I was constantly trying to fight my way towards," says Mirren.

We are moved watching the Queen, bound by tradition, pomp and circumstance, as she finally acknowledges that she's lost touch with what the people of her country are thinking and feeling.

The film causes us to reflect on how the life and death of the world's most famous young woman in 1997 forever changed the relationship between the monarchy, the government and the people of the United Kingdom.

THE QUEEN belongs to Helen Mirren. I am pretty sure HRH would be pleased.

Source Quotes & Images: Miramax Films Press Kit
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