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I was planning on giving you the scoop on the recent Golden Globes suites this week, but it just seemed way too shallow a column in the wake of the tragic death of Heath Ledger.
The loss of one so talented, beautiful and young is nothing less than devastating, even for those who knew him only through his brilliant film work.
The 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006) |
Since I first saw Heath in “The Patriot,” he’s been high on my list of crushes. This time, it wasn’t just his looks; he was a stunning actor. I’ve always felt he was robbed of the Oscar that he so richly deserved for “Brokeback Mountain.” I figured that the Academy voters assumed, just as I did, that he had many more such performances ahead of him.
My heart goes out to his family, especially his 2-year-old daughter, Matilda. There are really no words to express what the world has lost.
(BTW--in my humble opinion, as someone who’s had pneumonia twice, I can tell you that most people don’t realize just how life-threatening it is on it’s own, let alone when you combine it with any form of medication. My feeling is that Mr. Ledger did not take his own life, as some over-zealous outlets have been reporting, increasing his family‘s pain; rather that he probably didn’t realize how many sleeping aids he had ingested because pneumonia makes you so out of it, and you’re desperate to get some sleep. What a supreme shame.)
As part of my job for People.com, I’m sometimes assigned to write a story based on a celebrity’s blog. Last week, I had to write about a new post by John Mayer. As he always seems so deep to me, I was more than happy to oblige.
It was about not drinking and driving, a very worthwhile message. But, alas, we ran out of time for new stories that day, as two celebutantes had their offspring, so this very important message went by the wayside. I feel this message should get out, so I’m printing the story that I wrote that day in this column. I hope it saves at least one person’s life. Here it is:
 The Bucket List (2007) - John Mayer |
Hoping to influence his fellow night-lifers, John Mayer blogs about his own recent experience with not drinking and driving. He writes a simple story of his refraining from drinking while under the influence (which is essentially the title of it).
The story is thus: Mayer was out partying with his pals this week, and after one glass of wine, moved on to soft drinks, so he’d be able to drive himself, as well as others, home. He even turned down his favorite 16-year-old scotch! “Can’t do it,” he declines.
Upon finding out that a friend has taken over the Designated Driver duties, he does, indeed, indulge in drink.
At the end of the night, feeling “wonderfully buzzy,” Mayer notices that the DD “isn't in shape to drive either.” So what does the “hot/fugly” (his own appraisal) John Mayer do?
He could drive the “5 miles, mostly straight shot up the coast of Santa Monica, zero traffic” himself, though being a tad impaired. Instead, he does the right thing, and calls his sleeping roommate, Chad, at 2AM, and asks him to come to the rescue, which he does, like a “champ,” earning himself “a big high five” from JM.
Mayer states the point of the post is not “to earn golf claps, it's just that if I'm going to stand in any way as an ambassador of something cool or influential, this is more important than any pair of sneakers or a guitar.”
He words it for the beautiful people to understand: “You can be sexy again the next day when you wake up with the rest of your big, beautiful life in front of you.” Sounds like a new hit song for him, now, doesn’t it?
You can read his exact post, dated Jan. 12 (2 days before my birthday) on his website: www.johnmayer.com
Môme, La (2007) |
I just saw this excellent movie, and I must tell you that Marion Cotillard, as the French singing legend Edith Piaf, gives one of the absolute most incredible performances I’ve ever witnessed. It was breath-taking.
She was there in person for an after-screening Q & A, and she was almost unrecognizable from the film. This beautiful 31-year-old (now 32) plays the tiny (4’8”), not-what-one-would-call-petty icon from the ages of 19 through her untimely death at 47, when her tragic life caught up with her, making her look about 88. How was this portrayal possible?
Marion’s already won the Golden Globe, and a slew of other awards this season, as well. If she doesn’t also take the SAGs and the Oscars, I’m demanding a re-count. Not to get carried away, but this was the most heart-breaking performance since Meryl Streep in “Ironweed.” (That one was so painful that Mr. X had to stop watching and leave the room.)
My only regret about “La Vie En Rose” is that I insisted Mr. X come with, and now I know that he finally has a movie star crush. If he ever gets to meet Ms. Cotillard, I fear that I may be back on the market. But at least, I applaud his taste. (As I do with his current girlfriend--ME!)
Since I don’t think that the ads for this play at the Pasadena Playhouse come with a warning, I seriously feel it’s my duty to issue one before I proceed with the review. One of the characters smokes cigarettes for the ENTIRE DURATION of the show!!! No lie.
When everyone was complaining about it at intermission, I heard that there was a sign in the lobby, that I missed, stating that there would be the use of herbal cigarettes, which would be horrible enough. But I’m positive that it was tobacco, and it was dangerous and disgusting. The opening night audience coughed incessantly, with several members having to step outside for water.
There is no good reason for him to be doing so, except that the character in question was a real person and died of emphysema, which is mentioned in one short sentence at the end. In order to ensure that the audience doesn’t do the same, (not to mention the five other unfortunate actors!), the producers should have come up with some other solution.
I sat there with my scarf over my mouth the whole time, and was miserable. So, although I’m pretty sure “Orson’s Shadow” was entertaining, it was very hard to enjoy it while so uncomfortable.
Anyway, the title refers to Orson Wells, directing real-life legend Laurence Olivier and his second wife, Joan Plowright, while domestic drama ensues courtesy of his then-wife, Vivien Leigh. Quite a talented quartet, to be sure. If only their portrayers were the same.
It may have been the direction, but Charles Shaugnessey as Olivier was way over the top. And Bruce McGill, who seems like a nice guy, but whose acting never did anything for me, didn’t come close to capturing the incredible Mr. Wells. There just wasn’t anything Orsonian about his performance.
Shockingly (for me, because I’ve never been a fan of hers), Sharon Lawrence was the highlight as the fabulous Vivian Leigh. I have a feeling this part won’t come out right, (you guys probably know how honest I am by now), but the whole time I was thinking that her extreme nose job finally paid off!
Seriously--I’ve always gotten a tad queasy looking at Lawrence’s skeletal rhinoplasty result. But, she could never have played the tiny-proboscised Leigh if she hadn’t had this particular one. I’m not being bitchy--just honest. (Just as I could never play Barbra Streisand if I had had my nose changed!)
Anyway, I’ve been a fan of Austin Pendleton, the playwright, since I saw him in the classic film, “What’s Up Doc?” (starring the aforementioned Streisand. I didn’t even plan that sentence!) I recognize the merit of his writing. Without the smoke factor, and perhaps better acting and directing, what he was going for would probably have come to fruition.
“Orson’s Shadow” running through February 17
Pasadena Playhouse 39 S. El Molina Ave. Pasadena 626-356-7529
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
And lastly, I promise to write about the Golden Globes Suites next week; I’ll just combine them with the coverage of the ones for this week-end’s SAG awards.
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