darkblue

True journalism is in a lot of trouble now. Cable "news" has become the "mainstream media" and it's thoroughly, totally owned by the corporate state. I'd prefer (strange to say) that its incompetence was a product of our declining education, but it's even more dire - more nefarious - than that. Systemic corruption has become nearly all-encompassing in this increasingly fascist empire.

Profit has always been the driving force behind "Hollywood." I don't forsee "Hollywood" ever abandoning the capitalist model in favor of the socialist model that you are proposing. Yes. And besides, it's not Hollywood that needs to change - it's "fans". Unfortunately, when it comes to a distressingly large percent of American people, the only way they're ever gonna get any smarter is if they die and come back as turnips.

Had to hide all those blue veins and razor stubble, ay.

I used to see Belly's album in the Columbia House catalogue all the time and wondered what they sounded like. That 'Feed the Tree' song is decent, so I looked them up - they were a rather short-lived group. Only 2 albums, the second of which didn't sell very well and caused their demise. But, from reading the AMG reviews, their second album actually sounds like it might be better than their first - more rock oriented.

He re-recorded it in '68 for his 'Even Stevens' album. This is that updated version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TfrOLrg7l0

Or success. I think Frazey is a unique singer as well. So nice to hear a singer that doesn't go for that tiresome trilling style so many use to convince people they can sing.

Ridiculous show. Just plain stupid that people would watch more than one episode of something like that. And yet it runs for years. What a world.

At first I thought he was just a novelty-song clown, but then I heard "Funny Man" in 1963 and realized there was more than that. In 1968, he released an album called "Even Stevens" that featured all-original compositions, produced by Fred Foster (Orbison's producer throughout his Monument years). Some critics were calling Stevens a veritable genius back then. In any case, he's a gifted vocalist - never more so than when he gets serious.

She's doing great. She gave this punk every chance in the world to grow up but he couldn't do it. 32 years old, still trying to make a living at IT - still living with his parents and saving nothing. Meanwhile my 30 year-old kid is a licenced professional, has a position with a University, is a full partner in a private therapy practice - counselling families and couples and individuals, and owns her own Condo in North Toronto (well, carrying a mortgage anyway). Trust me - she's in good shape. She ended it finally when she just couldn't take another of his selfish tantrums. I'm really glad to see her finally move on from that brat. And when I spoke to her a few days ago, she said she was feeling pretty darn good about having liberated herself from his accusing, self-serving nature. So, it's already better.

Reminds me of the stupid opinion I read somewhere around here that "Liberal messaging" is the same thing as how Conservative morality-mongers ruled the movie industry for 30 years. As if we're supposed to believe that the cops will seize property, close theatres, jail people, for showing something too Conservative nowadays. There's no comparison about the amount of control that was forced upon society back then to the freedom to be as truthful with one's art as one wishes to be from 1970 to the present.

Guy Maddin's 'The Saddest Music in the World' (2003). Peculiar, fascinating movie, featuring some international actors along with homegrown Canadians in a story about a beautiful beer queen who has no legs (Isabella Rossellini) who hosts a competition in Winnipeg to find which nation has the saddest music. Truly a unique film.

Brilliant 2 parter. What a cast! What performances from that cast!

Has anyone mentioned "nix"? As in "nix on that" or "nix that"? I remember Bogart saying it in 'The Petrified Forest' when he was reminded that he was supposed to kill Leslie Howard. I believe he said "Nix on that, pal".

The executive in charge of the campaign ads was found to have illegal porn (child?) in his possession. Apparently that was used to conduct a search of Jarred's property as well. I don't believe Jarred has been charged with any crime, though.

It's really a movie that belongs to the 30's/40's in both style and substance. A throwback to the Universal horror era output. It's like a 1941 movie but made in 1956.

I was gonna crack about your aversion to using soap and water in your ears, but I'll admit that it may take a listen or two to capture her diction completely. As for the other criticisms - "scantily created, uninspired music" - not much point in arguing with someone who knows nothing about the qualities of a really good song. For anyone else who would like to know what's being sung, here are the lyrics. Reading them while listening reveals everything - and once you're aware, the song (and video) just gets better with each listen. I love the r&b arrangement with just a hint of country. And it's so nice to see real women in a video for a change. I was taking every hit from you you drive by shooting son of a **** and I'm done Oh whoa, I'm done Who told you you could rewrite the rules and do you really take me for a god *amn fool 'cause I'm done Oh whoa, I'm done And you can drag me out before some authority If that's what you have to do to feel like you can punish me but I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't keep the peace anymore With your dogs, with your dogs, at my door You've been punching my weaknesses, slandering my name you spent all your time trying to place your blame and I'm done Ohhh, I'm done I used to think I hold the best parts of me, but sew the holes in your life and the cracks in your seams and I'm done Oh whoa, I'm done. And I'm sorry that you don't like your life I fought for my own victories and for the beauty in my life My joy, my joy, my joy takes nothing from you no, my joy, my joy takes nothing from you Well, you criticize my numbers, you hammer out the rules wait for me to **** up, and find yourself some proof and I'm done Oh whoa, I'm done. You just soak in the hatred of a sorry line yeah, you hide behind decorum and a fake smile and I'm done Oh whoa, I'm done And you can drag me out before a judge in authority if that's what you have to do to feel like you can punish me but I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't keep the peace anymore With your doubts, with your doubts, in my door Well I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't keep the peace anymore With your dogs, with your dogs, at my door

My kid recently broke up with her boyfriend of nearly 5 years. Last week she heard this on the CBC station while she was driving and she said it just seemed to leap out at her. As soon as she got home she looked up the video and sent it to me. Terrific song.

Speaking of decomposition - I understand that a very rare print containing the extra couple of seconds of Dracula's decomposition in the Hammer version was found in Japan. Do you know if this footage has made it into any new releases of the movie?

Really fun one, that. I love the scene where Vincent goes into a Zen trip while holding up pails of cement and McGavin gives him hell. Boy, that Vincent was ripped. Too bad about turning into such a drunk.

Seems to be doing her best Ann-Margret in that one.

I like Elliot Gould a great deal. He's very natural and very cool. His persona is kind of restrained - very pleasant to watch. Those are nice qualities in an actor.

I managed to get 'The Black Sleep' from a TCM showing a couple of years ago. It was one of those long sought after movies after some 50 years - since I'd caught the last 10 minutes of it way back in 1961 and had nightmares because of it. Turns out, the last 10 minutes was all the good there was. The rest was pretty s-l-o-w.

Why condolences? Congratulations would be more appropriate. It means I'm a lot more discriminating than most.

Yes - and as I said, I much prefer 'The Long Goodbye' to every other Marlowe movie. It plays much better - more natural - more believable - more relatable. Just like it usually is with modern movies when compared to studio-era movies.

But I love movies. I'm just honest - and realistic - about them. A primitive, constrained and inexperienced industry naturally produced mostly primitive and constrained movies. Everything gets better with experience, innovation and freedom of choice. Maybe you should join a rap board. Your hate might go over better there.