Reactions to A Nude Daniel Radcliffe

In a past post I mentioned that 17 year-old Harry Potter film star Daniel Radcliffe would be performing next March in Equus.

As I understand it, Equus is a play about psychology in which a young boy who blinds six horses with a metal spike.

The posting of this promted a variety of comments, some of those in refrence to the nude scene that Daniel would exhibit in the play:

"Animal abuse, naked teenage boys,sexual ectstasy..... in a stage play? Bleah. I guess that's why my uncultured heathen self has always preferred sunny musicals at the theater" --elasticwaistbandlady

"Equus is one of the worst plays I have ever seen. The writing and plot is muddled in a psychologyly disturbed actions of a boy who pokes out the eyes of a horse with an ice pick. If you're going to be nude in a play, at least make it a good play." --kimberly ann

"I'm disappointed in Harry Potter." --Sheri Ann

"I have read that there are several different versions of the play Equus and that there are versions where the character does not do the scenes nude. I haven't heard which version he is doing, but hopefully he will choose to do it clothed. I would hope that he would consider his image and the children that look up to him. " --Allison

"I agree with Allison... hopefully he will choose the clothed version for image's sake. I was disturbed to read about this last week - so much for the innocence of little Harry Potter." -- Grete

"Equus is by no stretch of the imagination a perfect play, but its writer, Peter Shaffer (who also wrote Amadeus) was certainly doing some truly bright things in the film: like discuss how each of us are fallen and broken and want to be healed. The boy's relationship with the horse is shocking because he believes it is his relationship with God. I agree that Shaffer's choices with sexuality were designed more to arouse than to provoke to thought, but I wouldn't count this move by Radcliffe as another Blue Room. " --Will

One of the things that Grete and Allison mentioned was that they hoped Daniel Radcliffe would perform the sexual horse scene with clothes on...

Well how about this quote?

"All the other actors who have played the part have done that, so for me not to do it wouldn't really be playing the part. It would be a watered down version. It wouldn't be the same. I'll be incredibly nervous, but I think, 'It's in the script; it's got to be done'. I'm terrified, but excited." --Daniel Radcliffe, as reported in the Herald Sun and reported on mugglenet.com

Thanks Allison for e-mailing me this information and keeping up with all things Harry Potter.

Related Tags: Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe, Nudity, Equus, London, Theater, Horses, Psychology

John C. Reilly Choosing Comedy

In recent years, John C. Reilly seems like he has consistently landed supporting roles in some the biggest critical successes of the year.

In 2002 alone John C. Reilly was a cast member in 3 best picture nominees: Chicago, Gangs of New York, and the Hours.

John C. Reilly has also appeared in other critically received films: Magnolia, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, The Thin Red Line, Boogie Nights and A Prairie Home Companion.

Yet John C. Reilly's film angle seems to be taking a comedic turn, which personally, I think is okay, because I think he's much better as a comic character than a serious one.

His role in Chicago (for which he received an Oscar nomination) was serious but still somewhat comical. And a few projects later his role in A Prairie Home Companion was also comical as he cut-up along side Woody Harrelson.

But Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was one of the first times I've seen Reilly be a regular slap stick cut-up and along side Will Farrell and the rest of the cast he did a good job.

Columbia pictures who produced Talladega Nights must agree that John C. Reilly's a funny guy and have in the past month gotten Reilly to sign on for two projects:

• Step Brothers will reunite the Talladega Nights trio of director/writer Adam McKay, Will Farrell and John C. Reilly.
• Walk Hard will bring John C. Reilly together with writers Judd Apatow (40-year old virgin) and young director Jake Kasdan (Orange County) to tell a fictional story of Dewey Cox a legendary rock star. (via)

It's an interesting turn, and with these types of projects on his plate, you have to wonder if the serious actor academy awards nominated actor is done with more dramatic projects?

Related Tags: John C. Reilly, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Comedy, Drama, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Step Brothers, Walk Hard, Jude Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Actors, Upcoming Movies

Three: The Magic Number of Summer 2007

Summer of 2007 is brought to you by the number 3. Looking at the calender mny films next Summer will be offering up their 3rd Installment of their series or trilogiy.

Spider-Man 3 (May 4)
Shrek the Third (May 18)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (May 25)
Ocean's Thirteen (June 8)
The Bourne Ultimatum (August 3)
Rush Hour 3 (August 10)

I can't think of any other summer where 6 films were in their third installment in the same summer. And this isn't all we're talking about for sequels. Check out the other sequels, tetraquels and pentaquels.

The 2nd Installments:
Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer (June 15)
Evan Almighty (June 22) (a follow up project of Bruce Almighty)

The 4th Installment:
Live Free or Die Hard (June 29)

The 5th Installment:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 13)

Related Tags: Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ocean's Thirteen, The Bourne Ultimatum, Rush Hour 3, Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer, Evan Almighty, Live Free or Die Hard, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Upcoming Movies, Summer 2007

Gilead: A Strongly Recommended Read

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (published in 2003) is a nonfiction account of personal thoughts primarily focused on God and Jesus. The subtitle for this book is "Non-religious thoughts on Christian Spirituality."

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (published in 1989) is a fictional book told in the first person voice of an English Butler in his final days of life reflecting on his and his fathers years of service to Lord Darlington. Ishiguro won the booker prize for this novel.

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Gilead is a beautiful gem of the book. It's as two of my favorite contemporary books Blue Like Jazz and The Remains of the Day combine with it's own emergent properties to create this rich lush book called Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.

Gilead is told as a letter written by a old minister (who's father and grandfather were also ministers). The book is his letter to his young 6 year old son.

The book is highly reflective in a manner similar to the remains of the day. It is particularly similar because both Reverend John Ames (Gilead) and Stevens (Remains of the Day) both lived their lives in a way of service in a way that was a family tradition.

Yet, Gilead is also similar to Blue Like Jazz in a way that the character Reverend John Ames (Gilead) is unpacking his past experiences and thoughts as they relate to his understanding of God, just as Donald Miller does in Blue Like Jazz. Ames does not write his letter in a preachy way, but rather in a way that admits his own failings and his own lack of understanding, just as Miller does.

Gilead, the 2005 Pulitzer winning novel, is a beautiful gem of a book and one of the richest, most interesting, and touching books I have ever read. I highly recommend this book (as well as the other two books mentioned above).

Related Tags: Gilead, Novel, Marilynne Robinson, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller, The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro, Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Literature, Ministry, God, Church, Religion, Reflection, Old Age, Family, Heritage, Service, Loyalty

WTC comments: Remembering, Greed, and Americanism

In my recent posts about Nicolas Cage and the controveresial nature of the September 11 films United 93 and World Trade Center I have received some interesting comments worth special attention.

RWA feels that Oliver Stone's film World Trade Center "is important so that our children don't forget."

Tooners says: "I''ll never forget." And I think many would agree.
In another post RWA continues this thought saying: "People need to remember. It's a shame that people are already forgetting." I've heard these thoughts and words before, but I have a few questions...if people are forgetting about the event then maybe the just have alzheimers. But if it's not just the event you want them to remember, what is it? A feeling? Or something else?

KatieG doesn't have a problem with the films being made, but is bothered by some of the attitudes that go with the film. She writes some really great personal thoughts in the comment section of this post where she desribes what it was like as some one who lived 6 blocks from the WTC on the corner of Fulton and Gold Street for the summer of 2001.

I think KatieG says something wonderful when she says: "But should my fellow Americans really need to remember that day, I simply suggest you pick up a newspaper and read about the ongoing battles in Afghanistan, Iraq, now Lebanon...because this is all fallout from the day of 9/11."

I thought it was interesting that Flameskb didn't think the movie was too soon but disrepectful for a very unique reason: "As for the World Trade Centre, I don't think it's too soon, what I do think is that we'll never know the real truth (mainly, who knew what and who didn't stop it if they could and why....), so making a Hollywood tearjerker somehow feels disrespectful to me in that context..."

Jim thinks Stone's film is all about making money and "hoping to get eyeballs in the theatres." Typically, I think I'd agree with Jim, but I think making a movie like this is a huge financial risk, and Stone usually isn't the type of guy to completly sell out and make artless crude comedies. If you want to criticize Stone's intentions it would be that he's rushing a film like World Trade Center so that he can be credited with the first successful telling of the World Trade Center attacks. Thus AWG is going to be disappointed that Oliver Stone doesn't tackle conspiracy theories in this film.

Although Jim, I think Paula as a Canadian would agree with you as she classifies this film as a "flag-waver," something you can "wrap it in a flag, and then the American masses will eat it up as truth." Paula's probably right on this one, this film may not have world wide appeal like The Da Vinci Code or Pirates of the Caribbean. Wasp Jerky, from Illinois agreed with Paula, saying you don't have to be outside of the US to avoid the "flag-waver" films.

Spoke is reactionary towards Americans who forget that there are other struggles that he see's as at least being equally as important for American's to remember, he gives examples of Rwanda, the Republic of the Congo, and Chechnya.

So as Oliver Stone's film World Trade Center opens today some people like Pat and Augustus will vocalize their disdain for the tought of the film, while I believe that in the coming months this film will be viewed as a real success known to make grown men cry.

Related Tags: World Trade Center, Oliver Stone, United 93, Nicolas Cage, Film, Conspiracy, Controversy, Patriotism, Americanism, Money, Greed, Hollywood, Memory, Remembering, Forgetting, War, World, Movie

The Days Following the Death of Princess Diana

As this years upcoming film Bobby tells a personal story of the 22 people who were at Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, another movie this year deals with a tragic social figure dying and the days that followed.

The death of Princess Diana in 1997 was a horrible event that shocked the world, particularly the the people of England. And While Princess Diana was really no princess at all (she divorced Prince Charles in 1996) her sudden death on August 31st, 1997 sent the UK into shock.

Directer Stephen Frears (The Grifters, Mrs Henderson Presents) brings a unique and very modern history to life in the movie The Queen which tells the story of the days following the death of Princess Di, particularly as Queen Elizabeth II and Tony Blair try to figure out how to deal with the private tradgedy at a time when the public desire for a large scale event to mourn Princess Diana's death.

It seems rather interesting that a movie who's two main characters: Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) are both still living, and events from 9 years ago will be attempted to be retold.

James Cromwell plays the part of Prince Phillip and Sylvia Syms plays Her Majesty The Queen Mother. I am sure these characters will certainly be afforded some rich parts to demonstrate their acting skills, particularly the title character played by Dame Helen Mirren.

(Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth pictured top left, Helen Mirren at the 2005 Academy Awards is pictured on the right)

The Film will begins it limited release schedule September 30th, 2006.

Related Tags: Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Blair, The Queen, James Cromwell, Prince Phillip, Sylvia Syms, Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Casting, Upcoming Movie, Film, Death, United Kingdom, History 

WTC Less Controversial than United 93?

Earlier this summer Entertainment Weekly Did a story on the 25 most controversial movies.

On the list United 93 shows up as number 16. It's controversy is not for the film's content in itself but for the reason that many wonder if it it's too soon for a film about 9/11.

Don't you remember the outcry? I believe one of the first films a United 93 preview aired with was Inside Man, and the weekly's ran stories of people complaining and leaving the theater. It was a very touch subject back in April.

Yet now as World Trade Center is being released the talk and discussion is different. Stone's film appears to be heavier and more emotional in nature from United 93, but some how United 93 has broke the ice and people's disgust in Hollywood's timing seems far more subdued.

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Previous Strange Culture Articles About United 93 and World Trade Center (often the comments are very interesting in retrospect):

Primary Mention:
7 Aug 2006: Diverse Cage Thoughts
26 Mar 2006: two of the 1st 9/11 films ever
3 Apr 2006: baby got back & other msnbc tidbits
30 Apr 2006: update: united 93, blak, survivor, jesus camp, ect.
6 May 2006: open letter to paul greengrass (director of united 93)
8 May 2006: united 93: 20% played themselves & 31% played on law & order

Minor Mention:
17 May 2006: update: da vinci movie, aras, muffins & nepotism
30 Jun 2006: oscar best picture nomination predictions
3 Jul 2006: community: sustainable relationships

Related Tags: World Trade Center, United 93, Movie, Film, Controversy, 9-11, September 11, Perception, History

Diverse Cage Thoughts

My wife has mentioned a few times that she's not really interested in the seeing the movie World Trade Center because she thinks Nicolas Cage is a poor actor.

She's says that in most films Nicolas Cage looks like he's just out of it, and it botheres her.

She mentioned this the other night with friends that the only movie of his she liked was Raising Arizona.

I responded that I thought he did an excellent job in the film Adaptation, and while I didn't enjoy Leaving Las Vegas very much, he did an excellent job in the role.

Then different people started chiming in with their favorite Nicolas Cage film, whether that was Con Air, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Family Man or It Could Happen to You.

But Cage, who got his first breaks with a bit part in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and a role in his Uncle's (Francis Ford Copolla) film Rumble Fish really has jumpstarted Cage with an interesting career of diverse collection of films and a unique fan base.

Personally, I don't really get, but Cage gets the roles. He is already slated to star in a number of projects, of which the most buzzed about film is Ghost Rider where he will play Johnny Blaze.

Related Tags: Nicolas Cage, World Trade Center, Celebrities, Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Rumble Fish

The Bump Key Method

Have you heard the recent story about TOOOL (The Open Organization of Lockpickers)?

Toool is an organization in the Netherlands that for sport tries to pick locks. (For the intention of breaking the puzzle, not for the intention of crime).

TOOOL has recently exposed a new simple method for unlocking locks.

Basicly, as I understand it, they use a key that is normally made for that type of locks, but it is shaved off with the deepest grooves and shorter at the front. The "lockpick" then can stick the ill-fit key in, and bump it wit something like a hammer. Then the key can be turned and the door can be opened.

This youtube video from the Netherlands demonstrates the technique as well as shows how it works.



I know that many car locks contain small computer chips in them to get the engine to start, but for doors to houses, offices, and so forth, there is no machine that you're turning on. It makes you wonder how locks might change and adapt in the very near future.

You wonder if we will have key cards to open even things like our houses? This would seem like an interesting new industry and sociatal adaptation as I would guess there would have to be companies responsible for home lock system technology, if such a system were adapted. Or perhaps another new system will be adapted.

Related Tags: Bumpkey, Bump Key, Security, Locks, Lock Smith, Safety, Technology, TOOOL, you tube, Netherlands

The Other Bobby Movie

While others discuss Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, I want to discuss a different Bobby movie. In fact I want to talk about the movie called Bobby directed by Emilio Estevez coming out this November.


Emilio Estevez's film Bobby takes place on June 6th, 1968 on the day that U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assasinated. The film seems to focus on 22 people who were at Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel where RFK was killed.

The extensive multi-character film cast looks like the cast of Robert Altman's Gosford Park with the most bizarre assortment of film stars including: Helen Hunt, Martin Sheen, Anthony Hopkins, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Joshua Jackson, Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, Lawrence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Ashton Kutcher, Emilio Estevez, Heather Graham, Nick Cannon, Shai LaBeouf, Freddy Rodríguez, and Harry Belafonte.

But the names that I just listed are the names that appear on the poster...don't tell me...Elijah Wood will be playing the part of Sirhan Sirhan and Martin Sheen will be playing the Senator.

Not so, not so.

Actually unkowns Dave Fraunces will be playing the title role of Bobby and David Kobzantsev as Sirhan Sirhan. Neither of these people's names appear on the poster, so it seems reasonable to assume the plot of this movie has far more to do with the party guest than the actual assassination event.


Not to many people are talking about this film now, but it has touches of some of last years big movies. You have a multi-character story (like Crash) you have a modern history event (like Good Night, and Good Luck, although it really takes place more in Munich time period or even the time period of Capote). And yet when I see the early images of this film, it also reminds me of Walk The Line. And while the story is probably not accessible as the love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter, I feel like if Emilio nails it right, Bobby could be a movie that is embrassed by critics and the general audience.

I'll be really interested to see how the buzz for this film builds, and I think it has tremendous potential and hope that it is an enjoyable film.

---
Notes: I am glad that we did not try to guess who would play the part of Robert Kennedy as we've done with other upcoming films, we would have all failed misserably.

Also, I've mentioned this film briefly in past post about Joshua Jackson's future projects as well as Lindsay Lohan's future projects as well.

Related Tags: Bobby, Emilio Estevez, Robert F. Kennedy, RFK, Helen Hunt, Martin Sheen, Anthony Hopkins, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Joshua Jackson, Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, Lawrence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Ashton Kutcher, Heather Graham, Nick Cannon, Shai LaBeouf, Freddy Rodríguez, Harry Belafonte, David Kobzantsev, Dave Fraunces, assassination, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, Sirhan Sirhan, Academy Awards, Award Buzz, Upcoming Movies, Film

On Beauty and our Critical Culture

My friend Jon has mentioned a few times how most blog post and comments come from people who are critical and what to complain about something. Our criticism can be about art, politics, life, social issues, religion, current events, entertainment or any other trivial pursuit category.

And it seems to me that in modern times our society highly values being critical. And of course, almost my definition, we can't be critical unless we say some things are negative.

Schools encourage us to write papers that use critical sources, and as non-professionals we are expected to examine the criticism of professional and say what is good and bad about it.

We take music appreciation and art appreciation. Yet it seems that the primary goal of these courses is to make us see unrefined quality in the contemporary and popular music and art. These classes in turn are filled with disappreciation.

We read movie and music reviews, sometimes to find something new that we like, but often to validate our own lack-of-interest and critical perspective.

And there is a point where criticism is one way to have higher thought, but on the other hand it's carry over into society makes us people who over-evaluate and find minute criticisms in people. We are often a Seinfeld generation where we character type people by their uniqueness. "He's a close-talker," or "She has really large nose, I don't think I could date her."

And we create archetypes for normality, and compare everyone and their failings to that. It becomes socially divisive as some people choose Target over Walmart or a local coffee shop over Starbucks as people try to avoid being "that type of person."

And then there's things like myspace and social networks were people openly evaluate their relationships deciding who should be in there "Top 8" or be mentioned in the list of 100 ridiculous questions.

Hear me out, criticism is healthy, evaluation is healthy, but I think it must be balanced with something. I think that something is beauty. That we might be able to see something and say that's beautiful, and not just because it's a mountain peering over a lake, a proportionate supermodel or tiny baby.

No, we need to look at eachother, and the way we interact and the general tic-tock of life and find beauty in it.

In the 1950 film Harvey, James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd says:
Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me.

I want to be smart, and I know a lot of smart people. But if being smart means being critical at every turn, then I don't know if I want to live my life. If I believe God is the starter of everything, the maker of everything, then I should search for God and the beauty that I can uncover all around me.

If there must be a tradeoff, I would rather learn to be pleasant than smart -- searching for beauty over criticism.

Related Tags: beauty, criticism, intelligence, blogging, negativity, society, critical, happiness, Seinfeld, Harvey, James Stewart, myspace, top 8, God, art, film

The Unprofessional Life of Lindsay Lohan

Earlier in the year I reported that Lindsay Lohan had some conflict on the set of the movie Bill(2007) under directors Bernie Goldmann and Melisa Wallack, at which point Lohan said she was only going to work with big name directors. At which point, her role was given to Jessica Alba.

Lindsay is currently filming Georgia Rule under director Garry Marshall (Raising Helen, Runaway Bride, Pretty Woman). But after Lindsay missed an entire day of filming and came late to work (due to excessive partying) Morgan Creek Productions CEO, James G. Robinson. The Smoking Gun has confirmed the letter (click on letter to right for full text) where Robinson writes that they refuse to accept bogus excuses for her behavior.

In the letter Lohan is described as discourteous, unprofessional, and irresponsible. Robinson threatens to sue Lohan for damages as well as other further action.

Lohan's Mom, Dina Lohan, came to Lohan's defense saying that the tone and claims of Robinson's letter were out of line. Yet, perhaps this mother of a child star needs to realize the 20-year-old is past child star privaledges.

And Lohan's tardiness is piling up as she has also been sacked by Island Records. Island Records says that because Lohan has failed to promote her record in the UK they are not going to be releasing her album Speak, or continue to carry her on their label.

Trying to create a positive image spin, Lohan's boyfriend, restaurant owner Harry Morton (reported to be the half brother of bounty hunter Domino Harvey) has requested that Lohan cut back on her drinking because of his family history. Lohan is reported to say that she will be staying away from alcohol all together.

Lindsay has been given some big breaks with the opportunity to be in this film with Jane Fonda, and Felicity Huffman, as well as co-star in Altman's Prairie Home Companion, Emilio Estevez's star studded film Bobby , A Woman of No Importance with Annette Benning, as well as a few other projects.

Get it together Lindsay, while you have a chance. Even Shannen Doherty (90210) is criticizing your behavior.

Related Tags: Lindsay Lohan, Garry Marshall, Georgia Rule, Morgan Creek Productions, Alcohol, Booze, Partying, Dina Lohan, Harry Morton, Island Records, Speak, Bobby, Bill, A Woman of No Importance, Shannen Doherty, Movies, Gossip, Entertainment, Child Star

Batman Begins 2 is The Dark Knight

According to the press release that just came out, Heath Ledger is The Joker. It is no longer a rumor. But the title of the film is not The Joker (as Michael Caine led us to believe), the new title for the Batman Begins Sequel is...

The Dark Knight

Production is to begin early January.

Also there is supposed to be two villains in The Dark Knight and rumor has it that Phillip Seymour Hoffman could be playing the Penguin.

Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman all are to be returning, although I haven't heard word yet on Katie Holmes.

Previous Post on StrangeCulture: The Joker and Batman Begins 2, The Joker: Are you Joking?

Related Tags: Batman Begins 2, Batman Begins, Sequel, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Christopher Nolan, The Joker, The Dark Knight, Katie Holmes, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Penguin, Superheroes, Comics, Rumors, Film

4 Things I Liked about Lady in the Water

Last night saw Lady in the Water and I really enjoyed it.

Now I know some people have there complaints but I think the reasons I liked it primarily were:

(1) It was fun and entertaining, but still a little atypical and unique.

(2) Fun portrayl of simple comic characters.

(3) It is a film that can be added to canon of art and media dealing with concepts of community.

(4) It touched on my own most touching film theme: The Average Person is a Hero, Not Because They're Trying to Be A Hero, but because they're in the right place at the right time and have the personal character to stand up to the task.

Previous Post of interest: Strange Culture: Is M. Night Shyamalan afraid of Water?

Checkout Kimberly Ann's post on Lady in the Water, she discusses her distraction with the magnitude of Shyamalan's role.

Related Tags: m night shyamalan, film, lady in the water, fun, atypical, heroes