The Special One in the Tank, or a School of Fish

Half empty, half full. I'm not trying to be a pessimist or a mystic dreamer.

I'm just reflecting. One of things that is frustrating about today's world is that when we are in a small tank, it's easy to be special. Yet, in the big masses we're part of a collective and so unspecial.

I write this reflecting particularly on corporate America, but can apply it to many other scenarios.

In a corporate world many times we are "special." Perhaps we're the only man or woman fit for a certain job, or commended for a certain achievement.

We work hard. We come home tired. But sometimes we're even proud.

We are an important fish in our small fishbowl, but talk to another fish, in another fishbowl and your complicated special this and that is distant and not special to there small fishbowl.

And while I find something redeeming in the special fish in the small tank or the collective swimming of a school of fish all doing their thing in a collectively special way, it makes me...

...a little sad because I think of how unspecial some of our praised accomplishments are.

...it makes me feel free that we can just be us and not strive to be the special fish in a small tank.

...it makes me feel challenged to find a bigger tank to be a special fish in a big tank.

...it makes me contemplate what is really great.

Photo via Larry Smarr's Underwater Fish Photos.

Reel People: Michelle Williams is Marilyn Monroe

The film is My Week with Marilyn directed by Simon Curtis and a screenplay written by Adrian Hodges, based on the book The Prince, the Showgirl, and Me: Six Months on the Set With Marilyn and Olivier by Colin Clark.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jean Mortenson) was born in Los Angeles County Hospital on June 1, 1926, but was baptized as Norma Jean Baker, the surname of her mother's first husband, not the name of her birth father, Martin Mortenson. Mortenson was her mother's most recent husband's name but it is believed, and he was listed on the birth certificate. It is suggested by Marilyn Monroe, as well as the timeline of events, that this man was not her father. Monroe suggests it was another man, Charles Stanley Gifford.

Marilyn's mother, Gladys Pearl Baker placed Norma Jean in foster care due to her own mental instability. Marilyn would go to live with Albert and Ida Bolender. Gladys would try to get Norma Jean from the Bolender's many times, and finally succeeded when Normal Jean was seven. But a mental breakdown soon occurred with Gladys and Gladys was admited to a mental institution. Norma Jean became a ward of the state and was put in the care of Grace McKee, one of Gladys' friends.

Grace was captivated with Jean Harlow and would tell Marilyn how someday she would be a movie star. When Grace McKee was married to Ervin Goddard in 1935, Norma Jean was 9 years old, and was passed along to the Los Angeles Orphans Home, and then a series of foster homes. Adoption efforts were hindered because Gladys wouldn't sign adoption papers.

Grace and Ervin Goddard would even bring Norma Jean back into their home for a time, but after a series of attempted sexual assults by Ervin Goddard. Norma Jean was then sent to live with her great-Aunt Olive Brunings where it is believed she was sexually assaulted by one of Oliver's sons at the age of 12.

From the Brunings she was then sent to live with another aunt, Ana Lower. She lived her for a few years and it was one of her most stable times in her life. Yet, do to health problems she was sent back to the home of Grace and Ervin Goddard. When the Goddard's began talk of moving to Virginia it became a problematic situation of what to do with Norma Jean.

Norma Jean's idea was that she get married so she didn't have to be moved around, and this was agreed upon by her family and James Dougherty and his family. James Doughery was a boy in the neighborhood when he graduated from high school. They were married June 19, 1942. When Dougherty joined the Merchant Marine in 1943, Norma Jean moved into her inlaws home. Dougherty would ship off to the Pacific front of World War II in 1944.

Norma Jean got a job working for Radioplane Munition Factory during the war, and was discovered by an army photographer who shot a picture of her for Yank magazine. This led to a new career in modeling, especially after she bleached her hair platinum blonde. She would work for Blue Book Modeling Agency. Her husband would see her in a shipmates magazine, and wrote to her telling her that her modeling career would need to end when he returned home. Norma Jean ignored his letters and would file for divorce when he returned from overseas. They were divorced in 1946.

Ben Lyon with 20th Century Fox discovered Norma Jean, not liking her name changed it to Carole Lind (combining Carole Lombardi with Jenny Lind). This quickly changed when Ben and his wife spent time with Norma Jean and they decided on using the name Monroe (her mother's maiden name, as Jeanne Harlow used her mother's maiden name). The plan was Jeane Monroe, but do the high number of Jean's in film Ben suggest an alliteration and they settled on Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn's first film roles were small roles in 1947, her first as uncredited film operator in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim. Most the films were not released until 1948 after her contract expired with 20th Century, so she signed up to take some nude photographs, signing her contract as Mona Monroe.

She received a film contract in 1948 with limited work, most notably she was in a low budget musical Ladies of the Chorus.

She did get a role of some substance in the successful films The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve and following the film's release, her agent Johnny Hyde helped negotiate a seven year contract with 20th Century Fox in 1950.

Her career began to bloom, she enrolled in school at UCLA, and Monroe was even a presenter at 23rd Annual Academy Awards.

When nude photos taken before her career began taking off surfaced, she decided to be forthcoming about the photographs and explain her economic hardship and why she allowed the photos to be taken, and Hollywood and the press accepted Monroe's story with sympathy and began asking more questions about her past which drew out increasing Hollywood style sympathy.

In 1952, Joe DiMaggio began dating Marilyn Monroe. And after a few film successes (based in part on Monroe's rising star status and the opportunity for better roles), and by January 1954 they would get married.

It was during 1954 that Monroe took on reluctantly the role in the film There's No Business Like Show Business for the staring role in The Seven Year Itch. This film, famous for the subway grate the blows up Monroe's skirt was a filming spectacle that greatly bother Joe DiMagio and seems to be at least some part for their divorce that occurred in November 1954.

In 1955 Marilyn Monroe began dating the playwright Arthur Miller. Also during this time she received acting lessons from Constance Collier (who she met via Truman Capote). On New Year's Eve, Marilyn Monroe signed a four film contract with 20th Century Fox where she could do 4 films as the star over 7 years with the ability to reject script, director or cinematographer.

Her first film in this deal was Bus Stop (1956, directed by Joshua Logan).

She would shortly later marry Arthur Miller in 1956 in a hasty ceremony and Monroe would convert to Judaism shortly before. Then they would fly to England to met up with Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh to begin her next film.

Not part of the film deal, she made the British film The Prince and the Showgirl (1957, directed by Laurence Olivier). The film was known for some tension especially with some critique of Monroe's acting as she was highly coached by her drama coach Paula Strasberg. The film was highly acclaimed in Europe.

After filming she became pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage. She would never have a child.

She also during this time stared in Billy Wilder's film (not part of the four film deal) Some Like it Hot. Her role in this film would win her the Golden Globe.

Monroe would develop a dependency on persecution medicine and alcohol, and also began seeing a psychiatrist. She would also during this time do her second film in the film deal, The Misfits, directed by John Huston, and written by her husband Arthur Miller, but by the time this film was being made Miller and Monroe were divorced.

The third film in the 4 film 20th century film deal was Something's Got to Give directed by George Cukor, this began filming in 1962. She was pushing the envelop by filming nude swimming scenes and allow Life magazine to publish some semi-nude photos. She was fired when she didn't show up multiple days for filming.

It was during this time that Marilyn Monroe had the famous performance of singing "Happy Birthday" on May 19, 1962 at an early birthday celebration for John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden.

After a publicity tour, Marilyn Monroe died on August 5, 1962 Monroe would be found dead of poisoning/overdose with a probable cause being suicide, despite other rumors that circulated.

My Week with Marilyn

The film is based on the filming of the 1957 The Prince and the Showgirl. The film focuses on a week that Laurence Oliver spent escorting Marilyn around England after Arthur Miller left England.

In addition to Marilyn Monroe being played by Michelle Wiliams, the part of Sir Laurence Oliver will be played by Kenneth Branaugh.

Also portrayed in the film, Dominic Cooper plays fashion photographer Milton Greene, Julia Ormond plays Vivian Leigh, Dame Judi Dench plays actress Dame Sybil Thordike, Dougray Scott plays Arthur Miller, Eddie Redmayne plays Colin Clark, and Emma Watson plays wardrobe assistant Lucy.

Double Oscar nomination Michelle Williams will be playing the famous never Oscar nominated star Marilyn Monroe. Will Williams score an Oscar nomination or even a win for portraying this Reel (Real) Person?

Pre-Thoughts on the film "Seven Days in Utopia"

I recently shared some thoughts on the book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Day at the Links of Utopia by David L. Cook, PhD. I mentioned that this book was being adapted to film. It is currently set for release in August 2011.

As I read the book (a book designed as motivational fiction directed towards male golf enthusiast) I found some parts of the book easy to imagine as a film, while others parts seemed to be less than filmable. And when I say "less than filmable," I say this with the thought in mind that there were some very "talky" scenes that if filmed word for word would end up making this move the golf version of Before Sunrise.

I think the casting of this film seems right, with a cast that takes two of the leads from 2010's film Get Low, Oscar winner Robert Duvall and Lucas Black.

In the film, Robert Duvall plays the old inspiration golf instructor, who owns a small town Texas golf-course.

Lucas Black plays Luke Chisolm, a young golfer who wants to make the pro-tour but allows his emotion to destroy his best golf games.

Golf movies have a unique place in the world of sports films, and so it's hard to say what type of crowd this film might generate (will this attract the Legend of Bagger Vance Crowd or disappoint like Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius).

Another angle to consider is the looming question as to whether this film will carry the spiritually charged Christian message into it's on screen film conversion or will that be down played. If played up it could attract a crowd that is similar to this weekends recent released film Soul Surfer about Bethany Hamilton the Christan surfer with a lot of perseverance who lost her arm to a shark attack and continued to surf.

The character list for the film I'm seeing indicate that this film will probably have more plot than the actual novel, and so I'm curious to see what role is given to Melissa Leo and if it's of any substance as I don't recall a character named Lily in the novel, in fact, everyone is just background to what is the Johnny and Luke story. Will the film be the same or will it add more?

Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia

A few weeks back I started reading Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Day at the Links of Utopia by David L. Cook.

My wife saw me reading it and said... "What are you reading?" (much like she did when she saw me reading the Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel).

In the same way reading a science fiction comic (Cowboys & Aliens) was odd so was the thought of me reading this book (pictured right) that is clearly about golf, and who's image seems to reflect a special significance to Texas. But like Cowboys & Aliens, my interest was peaked upon hearing the book would be made into a film, to be directed by Matt Russell.

The book is fiction, and tells the story about a discouraged golfer who finds himself getting a chance to reconnect to the game, his life, and his eternity through an older gentleman in a small town, Utopia, Texas.

While fiction, the book is a summary of what is assumed to be much of the motivational teachings of David L. Cook, PhD, who is a motivational speaker and trainer known primarily for working with golfers as well as the San Antonio Spurs from 1996-2004.

As the title suggest, the story primarily takes place over 7 days, where the discouraged young golfer meets an older rancher (Johnny Crawford) who teaches him about various aspects of golf in unconventional ways that involve getting to the heart of his game, and believing in himself, and ultimately looking towards what his own eternity looks like apart from his golf game.

I must be honest, because the meat of the book, bookended between more narrative chapters, are motivational sections, some sections clearly did not interest me and I was ready to get through them. Of these the one that had me painfully churning through was a section where Johnny takes the professional golfer trout fishing. Maybe I deserve to loose my man card, but as both golf and fishing don't interest me the comparison between the two was pretty painful.

At the same time, while I'm not interested in golf, I am someone who is interested in mentorship, teaching, and helping others experience personal development I was able to enjoy the lay out of some his teaching styles and methods, and even get a sense of personal motivation from the concept of what it is like to be a Johnny, as a man who helps out another man in his life.

So perhaps there is something here for a variety of people.

Dr. Cook comes at the story with a relaxed and honest story, which also embeds into the tale a Christian evangelistic message as well. This element is honest, and I imagine that causes some to embrace this novel while others could have a tendency to shy away. It's blatantly included, just as much as golf messages about seeing, feeling and trusting are included. He also makes a passionate push for not only Jesus, but a change in golf putting to face-on putting style (his point, truth should always trump tradition).

At around 150 pages, and endorsements from motivational speakers (Zig Ziglar), NBA MVPs (David Robinson), Golf champs (To Lehman, Larry Mize, Stan Utley, Scott Simpson, Aaron Baddeley), and Christian authors (Max Lucado), it's an interesting book that crosses a handful of genres. This crossing of genres will either make you interested because it crosses one of yours, or you might pass it by because it seems the furthest away from your typical reading. In all honesty, I'm glad I read it.

Reel People: Leonardo DiCaprio is J. Edgar Hoover

The film is J. Edgar and is directed by Clint Eastwood and is written by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk).

John Edgar Hoover

J. Edgar Hoover was born in Washington DC on New Year's Day in 1895. He was born to Dickerson Naylor Hoover, Sr. and Anna Marie.

J. Edgar Hoover went to college at George Washington University, where he obtained a law degree in 1917. During his time in school he worked for The Library of Congress.

Upon graduating, Hoover would work for the United States Justice Department, quickly rising to a post of head of the general intelligence division for the Bureau of Investigation within the Justice Dept, which was one leap away from the post of deputy head (a position he acquired in 1921), followed by being appointed by the attorney general as the acting director of the Bureau of Investigation. This was formalized that year by President Calvin Coolidge making J. Edgar Hoover the 6th director of Bureau of Investigation, a bureau that had begun in 1908.

During this time Hoover would also become a member of the fraternal organization, the Freemason's where he held the highest degree, as a "Master Mason."

From the issues of WWI with attempts to deport radical leftist in the raids under the leadership of attorney general A. Mitchell Palmer, to in his initial years concentrating on prohibition and bootleggers. From here, Hoover would transition to the gangster wars of the 1930s. Because cars were stolen and driven across state lines, these gangster's like John Dillinger, because federal offenders and Hoover had the opportunity to go over them with federal resources.

It was during this time that the Bureau of Investigations was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation, marking Hoover as the first director of the FBI. Much of this was due to the high profile nature of the matters that Hoover and his G-Men.

From the time that Hoover became head of the Bureau of Investigation in 1924 to the transition to the FBI in 1935, Hoover would lead the FBI until his death, May 2, 1972. This made him by far the longest director of the FBI ever, with 5 other FBI directors appointed since his death (11 if you include acting, not appointed directors).

His FBI career became most marked by his efforts with gangsters, prohibition, a general denial of organized crime, wire taping, and spying.

Hoover's ability to move from the trends of the times meant he would go from prohibition, to gangsters, to German counter-intelligence, to soviets, to political radicals to the investigation of the death of President John Kennedy.

Because of Hoover's long running career the presidential cost of dismissing Hoover seemed too great, and so it was he served until his 1972 death. This meant he was director of the FBI under the presidents Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

He died of a heart attack and was buried in Washington D.C.

J. Edgar Hoover's personal life was somewhat of a mystery clouded by rumors of various relationships with people like actress Dorothy Lamour in 1930s or Ginger Rogers' mother Lela Rogers. But the largest rumor and point of disagreement between various biographers involves Hoover's sexuality, and the question of whether he was gay.

The speculation of Hoover's gay life also comes with the speculation relating to Hoover's closest friend Clyde Tolson who was the associate director of the FBI, a position he held in 1947, after having worked with Hoover on a variety of high profile cases in the earlier decades. His close working relationship with Hoover also seemed to lead to at least a friendship that meant that they regularly spent time together away from work including regular meals together, vacationing and going to night clubs.

When J. Edgar Hoover died he left his home and estate to Tolson. Tolson died shortly after Hoover in 1975 and is buried near Hoover's grave in Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC.

J. Edgar

The film J. Edgar is said to focus primarily on Hoover's earliest days including the Palmer Raids and the Lindbergh baby trial, as well as extensively on the potential relationship with Clyde Tolson, although how this relationship will be portrayed onscreen, particularly with a screenplay written by Dustin Lance Black, the gay activist who won an Oscar for his screenplay about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California.

Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Hoover, while the role of Tolson is played by Armie Harmer (known primarily for playing Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss in The Social Network).

Naomi Watts plays Helen Gandy, Hoover's secretary, whom he highly praised. Gandy is partially famous for her destroying many government records and documents belonging to Hoover after he died, documents that have led to much speculation about what Gandy was protecting. These documents were claimed to be personal property of Hoover.

Judi Dench plays the part of J. Edgar's mother Anna Marie Hoover.

Roles have also been cast for Charles Lindbergh (Josh Lucas) and the German accused of the death and abduction of the Lindbergh baby, Bruno Hauptmann (Damon Herriman).

The film will also feature portrayals of Norman Schwatkof (Dermot Mulroney), Robert F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, A. Mitchell Palmer, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.

With 3 nominations thus far, Leo DiCaprio is no stranger to the Oscar ceremony. In the role of this iconic and controversial figure will DiCaprio score another nomination and perhaps even a win for his portrayal of this Reel (Real) Person?

Watching Films From The Breen Era

Recently I have watched to films which have a level of complexity often not found in movies from the 1940s. These films were the The Big Sleep (1946) staring Humphry Bogart and Lauren Bacall and Kings Row (1942) staring Robert Cummings and Ronald Reagan.

In watching this films (both adapted from novels) it's very clear in watching them that there is something lost in the translation from the original text to the screen. Thanks the Internet, I don't have to rush out and buy a copy of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep or Herny Bellamann's Kings Row.

I didn't watch these two films back-to-back as companion films, but they really serve as great examples of films impacted by the Hays Code, in which in the name of decency these scripts and stories were edited with enough remnant of the original story to just be confusing.

You watch The Big Sleep and wonder why those people are clearing out the bookshop and why a big to do is made about the fake cover of the bookshop. What is that about? Hello, trusty Internet. Oh, the dead guy was a pornographer and he didn't sell rare books he sold pornography in connection with the mafia. Those scenes now make sense.

You watch Kings Row and you watch this crazy doctor guy lock up his daughter and wife in a house and you think what is up with that and why is that gift becoming crazy. Hello, trust Internet. Oh, the crazy girl was being raped by her father and the incest was being hidden giving the daughter the appearance of mental insanity when something different was going on. Those scenes now make sense.

I typically find a film that doesn't deal with these censored elements because frankly concepts like pornography and incest are topics that I do not want to see in a film. These topics were edited from scripts in this time, along with other such ideas of sex, mixed race couples, or other things that would be viewed as too objectionable for film, particularly at that time.

This was particularly strong for 1940s era film. The Motion Pictures Production Code (in place from 1930 to 1968) was at it's highest point of film content censorship when Joseph Breen was appointed head of the Production Code Administration (PCA) in 1934. He retained this role until retirement in 1954, and his influence is clearly seen in both of these films.

Perhaps it's because they came from novels and certain plot points were built into the stories and hard to work out without leaving vagueness and gaps to the film viewer. But in many ways it colors films from this industry, and whether that is a negative or positive thing, I have to imagine it depends, sometimes things like implied sexual relations seem far perferable to overtly sexual themed content.

But I do know that I wish these movies came with their own Cliff Notes-like insertions (or "Pop Up Video" style subtitles) that could be turned on during this films to explain what is clearly a gap in the film.

Or perhaps you could argue these gaps have their own sort of film magic behind them, because they create a complexity in a film that can be looked at with mysertery and potential, allowing the viewer to fill in the gaps on their own. In the film The Big Sleep this seems to work, where as the gaps in Kings Row only make for a disjointed story that comes across a jumbled mess of a film.

○Humphry Bogart image from Democatic Undergrond over a discussion of the hollywood cliche of woman becoming beautiful when they take off their glasses.
○ Ronald Reagan image from Kings Row from The Best Picture Project.

David Duchovny vs. Gillian Anderson: 2011 Edition

About 4 years ago I did a blog post simply titled: David Duchovny vs. Gillian Anderson.

In this post from early 2007 I outlined how in my assessment the clashing X-Files duo how it seemed like Gillian Anderson would have the strongest post-X-files career citing in addition to her praised TV-miniseries role in Bleak House also her role in the film The Last King of Scotland (2006).

At that time, Duchovny's credits worth mentioning were relatively limited. Yet in the past 4 years the tide has changed and where Anderson's been a sleeper, with stage performances and hardly any film credit worth mentioning, David Duchovny had a breakout cable TV series, Californication, that was just renewed for it's 5th season set to begin shortly.

While the Showtime drama has a more limited viewership than Fox's X-Files, the praise and award attention Duchovny has received has kept his name on the covers of magazines, appearances (and wins) at award shows, and buzz that undeniably exceeds Anderson.

Anderson will be in the movie theater again in 2011, although not a glamorous role, she will be in the 2011 film Johnny English Reborn. Hardly the direction I think Anderson seems interested in going professionally, but it will get views and remind people of her previous X-Files days in her role as a MI7 Agent.

More artistic, Gillian Anderson also is still apparently involved in the film The Smell of Apples a film that she apparently signed on to in late 2007 based on The Smell of Apples: A Novel by Mark Behr yet, this film is one I haven't really heard much about and at this film seems like a quiet film that's out of any sort of limelight. Of course all could change.

So despite my early 2007 impression, 4 years later in the Anderson vs. Duchovny race, Duchovny has surprised me with his reinvention, while Anderson has left me surprised that she hasn't followed through with expectations of her reinvention and transition to the big screen. We'll see what happens.

Cowboys & Aliens - Thoughts on the Graphic Novel

"Why are you reading that comic?" My wife asked. "That looks awful!"

"It's a graphic novel" I told her, trying to give the craft a fair shake, as I continued reading, Cowboys & Aliens by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Rosenberg's craft as chairman for platinum comics deserved some credit, and despite my typical lack of interest with the genre didn't mean I wasn't going to give it a fair shot. But, I'm admittedly not the comic-con type, so my wife had room to question my reading choice.

So, it didn't take me to buzz through the 100 pages...maybe I didn't take enough time to look at the artwork or absorb the story, but frankly, reading a book like this is mighty simple. In fact, the story was pretty simple. Sure there are some creative thoughts and mash-up of sci-fi and history with some puritan pioneers, soldiers, and homesteading opportunities in the American west. But ultimately, when this comes down to it, the stories relatively simple and non-inventive (beyond the premise of well...cowboys and aliens).

The title of the graphic novel is "Cowboys & Aliens" but a more complete telling of the title would be "How Aliens Taking Over Cowboys With Better Technology is Comparable to Cowboys Taking Over Indians in American History." Sure, it's not as an impressive a title, but ultimately, that's the story.

How this will translate to film with the upcoming science fiction Western coming Summer 2011 is a different question. From what I've read (and even comparing the character names in the upcoming film) I have a feeling that a lot of liberty was taken with the original story in it's translation to film. The character names are different and it seems that what's included in the story would have a hard time filling a film. Of course, we've all seen the film that allows weak dialogue and action sequences fill up plenty of time, so a pessimistic view might imagine this would be the case.

But I will give director Jon Favreau and his Lost-script-writing-fiend Damon Lindelof the benefit of the doubt for now and cross my fingers that the big budget Sci-Fi/Western mash-up is pure cinematic magic. Here's hoping, because no one wants to be a doomsday-type of fellow about one of the Summer's biggest blockbusters.

Reel People: Rhys Ifans is Edward de Vere

The film is Anonymous. It is directed by Roland Emmerich (known for destroying the world in Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012). The script is written by John Orloff, known as one of the writers on the 2001 Band of Brothers TV-series.

Edward de Vere, 17th Duke of Oxford

Edward de Vere was born April 12, 1550 into one of the oldest earldoms of England. His father John de Vere, 16th Duke of Oxford, had a daughter (Katherine) from a previous marriage to his wife Dorothy Neville that had died in 1548. In addition to half-sister Katherine, he also had a younger sister Mary. But Edward was the only male.

Edward's father John, the 16th Duke of Oxford was known for a variety of activities, from being an avid sportsman to holding a company of actors in his regular circle. He was also involved with the ascension of Queen Mary I to the throne in 1553. He would die in 1562, and his son Edward, at the age of 12, would become the 17th Duke of Oxford as well as Lord Great Chamberlain of England, as the only male heir.

He became a royal ward to the young Queen Elizabeth I, and was placed in the household of William Cecil, who would later become 1st Baron of Burgley (who would be Elizabeth I's chief advisor for most of her reign). During this time in Cecil's household, Edward de Vere academic pursuits would expand to include English, Latin, writing, drawing, Anglo-Saxon studies, dancing and horseback riding.

It was during this time that Edward's half-sister Katherine would also challenge the legitimacy of Edward's Earldom, this would be an ongoing challenge until later when he would sue his livery. Despite the cause for question, the fondness people had for Edward is shown in his honorary degrees he would soon receive from the Queen from University of Cambridge in 1564, and the degree from the University of Oxford he received in 1566. He also was released without penalty for the death of a cook in Cecil's house that was killed while fencing. The coroner's report put the blame on the drunkenness of the cook, not on Edward de Vere.

Edward had previously been arranged by his father to marry either Elizabeth or Mary Hastings in 1568 at the age of 18, but this did not come to pass as planned, as records show Elizabeth married another man, and Mary died unmarried.

In late 1569 war broke out in Northern England over the legitimacy of Queen Elizabeth I's reign, and the Roman Catholic interest with replacing Elizabeth I with Mary Queen of Scots. He would receive the opportunity to serve in 1570 per his requests.

On December 16, 1571, Edward de Vere would marry William Cecil's young daughter Anna Cecil at Whitehall. His legitimacy was still partially in questioned, and it was until he made it a legal matter, was he able to enter his families property May 30, 1572.

It is clear from the record of history that Edward de Vere was quickly a patron of the arts and sciences with countless number of text prepared at this time citing dedications to Edward de Vere.

Edward de Vere also seemed to have an interest in travel, which was not actualized until 1575 which resulted in some interesting meetings in Statsbourg, France as well as Venice and Milan. This trip also resulted in an encumbrance of debts, a pirate attack, as well as a birth of a child that he was not informed of, and questioned the legitimacy of he relations to her.

Anna had given birth to Elizabeth July 2, 1575. Edward de Vere was mid-travel and did not hear of her birth until September of that year. When he returned home he would not live under his roof, but instead stayed at Charing Cross, where he was distant from his family in what is believed to have been caused by a message that Elizabeth was not his legitimate daughter.

In 1576 Edward published The Paradise of Dainty Devises, a collection of 8 poems he had written. During the years to follow he would also attempt to serve in war again, he would have numerous books dedicated to him, embark on further travels, experience courtier life, and be in some family drama as his sister Mary would try to make arrangements to see Edward's daughter Elizabeth.

There was some intense times in 1580 for the duke of Oxford as his loyalty to the Queen was challenged, as a French ambassador said that in 1776 Edward had converted to Catholicism, which led to Edward denouncing three of his catholic friends to the Queen (Lord Henry Howard, Charles Arundel, and Francis Southwell) and a series of attacks on Edward. Just when things seemed to have blown over for Edward, when other events in 1581 wold cause him to be banished from court.

On March 23, 1581, he found out that one of the Queens maids of honor Anne Vavasour had given birth to a son two days earlier, Sir Edward Vere. This caused Edward to be first put before counsel and under house arrest and eventually banished for the court. It was Christmas of 1581 that Edward de Vere would reconnect with his wife Anne Cecil.

In 1583, Edwards son to Anne Vavasour died, and Edward was allowed to re-enter court.

In 1584, Anne Cecil and Edward de Vere gave birth to another child, Bridget. Another girl, Susan, would be born in 1587. Another daughter, Frances, was probably born during this time as well but died as an infant. They also had a son who died in early infancy (Lord Bulbecke).

During this time in the 1580s Edward's financial situation got increasingly worse as he continued to sell off the family land and enter into many agreements that did not provide sustainable income. During this time his performance troupe, "The Earl of Oxford his Servants" did do decent as they became a widely traveling group with performances in London and across the court yard.

It also clear that during this time Edward was an active patron continuing during this time as well.

His wife Anne Cecil died June 5 1588, and was buried at Westminster Abby.

In 1591 Edward de Vare would marry Elizabeth Trentham, Elizabeth I's Made of Honour. Castle Hedingham, the ancestral seat of the de Vares would be sold to William Cecil in trust of his first wife and three daughters.

Edward and Elizabeth Tretham would have a son, and the Earl's only male heir February 24, 1593. Their son Henry de Vare would become the 18th Earl of Oxford.

Financially struggling Edward de Vare would try to obtain opportunities from the Queen to mine minerals, import oils, and with debt de Vare appears to have been busy fighting various legal issues relating to his financial quandary.

Queen Elizabeth I died March 24, 1603 and just a year and a few months later Edward de Vere would also die (June 24, 1604). He would die of unknown causes just days after helping his son-in-law Lord Norris regain custody of the Forest of Essex after years of battling for it.

Centuries later interest in Edward de Vere would rise to prominence in what has become known as the Oxfordian Theory of Shakespearean Authorship. In 1920 J. Thomas Looney published "Shakespeare" Identified in Edward De Vere, Seventeenth Earl of Oxford, which proposed that Edward De Vare was the true author of the works traditionally attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-avon. This theory has both been widely supported and not supported by various scholars and researchers.

Anonymous

In addition to Rhys Ifans playing the central part of Edward de Vere, Jamie Campbell Bower will play a younger version of Edward de Vare in the film as "Young Oxford."

The role of Queen Elizabeth I is played by Vanessa Redgrave, while the younger incarnation of Elizabeth is played by Joely Richardson casted as "Princess Elizabeth Tudor."

David Thewlis plays William Cecil. Rafe Spall plays the part of William Shakespeare.

Sir Derek Jacobi, plays the role of "prologue" as he has done in previous Shakespearean film interpretations.

The film, as the title indicates, creates a cinematic case for the Oxfordian Shakespearean theory presenting Edward de Vare, 17th Earl of Oxford as the true author of Shakespearean works. With the sure potential for historical qualms associated with the different perceptions of this theory of William Shakespeare could impact the perception of this film.

Will Rhys Ifans receive an Oscar nomination and perhaps a win for his portrayal of this Reel (Real) Person (Even if the accuracy of the biographical history is under question)?

Double Best Actress Winners - Potential Candidates for 2011

There certainly seems to be a glass ceiling of only a potential for actors and actresses alike to receive multiple Oscar wins in the acting categories. Usually it stops at two awards, and when it comes to the lead categories for both men and women, the opportunity to win two lead acting trophies is certainly an honor, it's not an impossibility. But only Katherine Hepburn has ever received more than two lead acting trophies, and she received four.

After Katherine's record 4 wins, 11 actresses share the honor of having double Oscar wins in the lead actress category: Luise Rainer, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Vivian Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Glenda Jackson, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Jodie Foster and Hilary Swank.

Unless Jodie Foster's role in the film The Beaver, picks up major traction, I would imagine there is no change of any of the previous double nominees getting a nomination or win this upcoming year based on their current film commitments and release schedules.

But that doesn't mean we should completely overlook the potential of the 12th two time winner joining the list. Here's my analyst of the potential previous winners who could take the stage Agna in 2012 based on their work this year.

Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard or Gwyneth Patrow, Contagion

Previous Win: The Reader, 2008; La Vie En Rose, 2007; Shakespeare in Love, 1998

The genre and subject of the film (action thriller, deadly disease outbreak) doesn't match up with typical award material, but for some reason I always consider Steven Soderbergh's chances even though his award breakout year of 2000 (Erin Brokovich & Traffic) hasn't come close to being repeated. That being said, Soderbergh's assembled a talented cast of "in" actors with proven Academy success (in addition to Kate Winslet is the talented Mr. Ripley crowd of Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law as well as Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburn and John Hawks). Go ahead, count the nominations amongst the crowd.

Charlize Theron, Young Adult

Previous Win: Monster, 2003

Jason Reitman twice Oscar nominated for his limited feature length directing career (Juno, Up in the Air), works again with Juno scribe Diablo Cody to put together this film. Like Reitman's other films this story is a contemporary original piece of work, but the academy has looked favorably at least in terms of nominations when it comes to these roles and performances in these films. Charlize might have a great opportunity to pop to the top of the list if it's the right performance and the right role.

Helen Hunt, Aline & Wolfe

Previous Win: As Good as it Gets, 1997

The story of an affair between the author Thomas Wolfe and an older socialite Aline Bernstein. The film is directed by Lajos Koltai (Oscar nominated director for Malena). Aline is a biographic character, so that certainly can't hurt, and Koltai's small films tend to highlight the female performers.

Frances McDormand, This Must Be The Place

Previous Win: Fargo, 1996

I can't really figure out how This Must Be The Place figures into award season, and I think generally I assume it doesn't despite the star power of Sean Penn in the lead role and the connection of the film to WWII/holocaust themes. McDormand tends to be listed as a co-star of this film along side Penn who plays a rock star who discovers his estranged father was humiliated at Auschwitz and he attempts to track down the SS officer responsible years later. Where McDormand figures in, I can't be sure. Where this film figures in, it's hard to tell as well. So, I'll at least list it here.

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Previous Win: Sophie's Choice, 1982

Streep does have a supporting actress win to match her lead win (supporting actress win 1979 for Kramer vs. Kramer) and yet she keeps on getting nominated for the award show, writing speeches. And while she holds records for her multiple nominations, her two trophies (1 supporting, 1 lead) seems to exclude her from another win. The role in this film is a biographical portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and I'm sure the role will garner some attention. Yet, another win...I won't hold my breathe.

Pictured above are the actual Oscar trophys in the Katherine Hepburn collection.

Reel People: Robin Wright Penn is Mary Surratt

The film is The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford with a screenplay by first time motion picture screenwriter James Solomon.

Mary Surratt

Mary Elizabeth Jenkins was born in 1823 in Waterloo, Maryland. She had two brothers, and due to the death of her father Archibald Jenkins at her age of two grew up without a father. She was sent to the Academy for Young Ladies, a private Catholic boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia as a child.

In 1839 Mary married. She was 16, and her John Harrison Surratt, a Roman Catholic farmer, was 27. History is not favorable to John Surratt, typically classifying him as a drunkard who despite his desire to pursue many financial endeavors (including operating a grist mill, post office and tavern) his alcohol consumption limited his ability to succeed and care for his family. He is often cited as being abusive towards Surratt.

Mary and John had three children, there first Isaac was born in 1841 when Mary was 18. Her other children Elizabeth Susanna (Anna) and John Jr. were born shortly after.

As the American civil war began, the Surratt family, like many others in Maryland found their sympathy's torn as their state sided with the Union, but culturally as farmers with slaves found themselves sympathizing with the South.

John died in 1862 after over 20 years of marriage, and Mary was left with John's financial burden with limited ability to enforce the loans that John had made to others. As a result she leased the family farm and tavern to a former DC Policeman John Llord, while her and her children moved into a town home in DC left by John's family. Mary converted this townhouse into a boarding home.

On April 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at the Ford Theater. What followed was the arrest of anyone who was believed to have had a part in the assassination and Mary Surratt was included in that group along with Louis J. Weichmann, Junius Booth, John T. Ford, James Pumphrey, John M. Lloyd, Samuel Cox, Thomas A. Jones, Samuel Arnold, George Atzerodt, David Herold, Samuel Mudd, Michael O'Laughlen, Lewis Powell, Edmund Spangler, and Mary Surratt.

Eventually the list of potential conspirators was narrowed down to eight, including Mary Surratt who amongst other possible connections stored the firearms used in the shooting on her property. Mary Surratt was said to have gone to her tavern and spoken to John Lloyd the day of the murder and advised him to prepare the weapons which were then picked up later that day by John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice David Harold.

Arrested April 19, 1865, the military commission trial would begin May 9, 1865. Mary Surratt alleged she was innocent and not involved with the conspiracy. She is also notable in the trial as the oldest person on trial, as well as the only woman. The verdict was delivered on June 30, 1865.

All defendants were found guilty, and four of them were sentenced to hanging including Mary Surratt (the other sentenced to death by hanging were Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt).

President Andrew Johnson signed her death warrant and she was hung on July 7, 1865.

The Conspirator

The film stars Robin Wright Penn as the lone female conspirator. Evan Rachel Wood plays her daughter Anna and Johnny Simmons plays her son John, Jr.

The film's co-star is James McAvoy who plays Fredrick Aiken, a young war hero who reluctantly defends Surratt in the conspiracy trial. Alexis Bledel plays the role of Aikens wife (Sarah Weston) and Tom Wilkinson plays the role of Reverdy Johnson the former attorney general who is Aiken's mentor. Justin Long plays Nicholas Baker, Aiken's best friend.

In the rest of the court room, Danny Huston is prosecuting attorney Joseph Holt. Kevin Kline is Edwin Stanton (Lincoln's secretary of War).

Stephen Root plays John Lloyd, the tavern renter is also plays the role in the story as the principle witness for the prosecution.

Robin Wright Penn has never received an Oscar nomination and the role of Mary Surratt certainly has the potential to have the dramatic and historical quality to entice audiences and critics. Will Robin Wright Penn receive an Oscar nomination and perhaps a win for his portrayal of this Reel (Real) Person?

Double Best Actor Winners - Potential Candidates For 2011

No male has ever won more than two lead actor Oscars. But nine men share the record of having won twice.

The nine men are (in order of second win):

1. Spencer Tracy, 2. Fredric March, 3. Gary Cooper, 4. Marlon Brando, 5. Dustin Hoffman, 6. Tom Hanks, 7. Jack Nicholson, 8. Daniel Day-Lewis, and 9. Sean Penn.

Sure, the right role and film could allow one of these men to make history with a 3 lead win, but I imagine that each of these men has an extra hurdle to transcend, much the same way Meryl Streep does, in that picking up that 3rd lead trophy is highly unprecedented.

Of the 9 double winners, Tom Hanks directs, writes, stars in his feel-good Summer flick Larry Crowne, where as Sean Penn has some more award friendly potential projects (the anticipated Tree of Life, and the smaller film This Must Be the Place).

But that doesn't mean there's not room for a 10th man to join the double win team. So with that lengthy preface and background...

Here's the contenders from the cinema of 2011:

Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Americana

Previous Win: Capote, 2005

I honestly could see Hoffman picking up a supporting nomination for some of his upcoming work before another lead role, particularly one that matches his skills like Capote did. But at this time, he is rumored to play the lead role opposite Kate Winslet in Americana as an 1860s confederate slave owner who flees to Brazil to escape his past. It could be the right type of film, but will it come out, will it be this year, and will it star Hoffman?

Adrian Brody, Detachment

Previous Win: The Pianist, 2002

I typically wouldn't immediately consider a comedy-drama about schools told through the eyes of a substitute teacher (Henry Barthes played by Brody) a Oscar type of performance, but when Tony Kaye the popular music video producer and film activist most famous for directing American History X makes a movie about the decline of the American education system, I have to think Brody might be worth at least looking for.

Russell Crowe, The Man With The Iron Fist

Previous Win: Gladiator, 2000

As ridiculous as it is to include Crowe her on this list and for this film, I can't help for the off-beat chance something crazy happens. The Man With The Iron Fist is the debut film of musician/actor RZA (co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan) in a script RZA wrote with violent screenwriter/director Eli Roth. The martial arts film in fuedal China is about a blacksmith who puts himself in a position where he must defend himself. I write all of this thinking I should delete, but again, I can't help but include it.

Geoffrey Rush, The Eye of The Storm

Previous Win: Shine, 1996

A high concept Australian film about an old lady in control of everything (played by Charlotte Rampling) tries to also control her death. Geoffrey Rush co-leads as one of the children alongside Judy Davis and Rampling. The film is based off of the book with the same name by Australian Nobel Prize laureate Patrick White.

William Hurt, Late Bloomers

Previous Win: Kiss of the Spider Woman, 1985

I don't expect Hurt to show up as a nominee here or anytime soon, although with the right role it could be a nice surprise. In this film Hurt plays an aging husband opposite Isabella Rossellini, as they struggle in their marriage and their three grown children try to keep them together.

Robert Duvall, Seven Days in Utopia

Previous Win: Tender Mercies, 1983

The role Duvall plays in the co-lead would probably be pushed supporting in any circumstance that puts this film on the radar, but only in the most sentimental move or surprise popularity of this inspiration golf film would we find Duvall even having a chance, although I'm sure he will perform well in the character. The film based on the book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links in Utopia pairs an older teacher (Duvall) with a young man trying to make it on the pro-tour (Lucas Black).

Richard Dreyfuss, The Big Valley

Previous Win: The Goodbye Girl, 1977

Richard Dreyfuss plays lead opposite Sara Paxton, Jessica Lang, and Aiden Quinn in a remake of the Barbara Stanwyk Western The Big Valley that aired on ABC for four seasons between 1965 and 1969. This film western like the original series takes place in Stockton, California in 1879.

Last Year's Related Post Can Be Found Here. See who we were talking about becoming the 10th double winner last year.

*note: Jack Nicholson has the distinct honor of being the only one of the 9 who has a third trophy, his being for supporting actor does have a supporting actor trophy won for Terms of Endearment.

Everyone's Got Food Rules

Recently I was spending a short weekend getaway with a group of friends and meals were shared, and divided up. Some had breakfast, dinner, lunch, and so forth.

In the preparation of meal (I had lunch) I found myself at a unique juncture (that I find myself finding more and more in these experiences) in that I'm uncertain of other people's "food rules."

This concept of "food rules" even came up in a number of ways as we talked and shared notes over the weekend in our shopping strategies and eating rules.

I would imagine a decade or so ago the primary concern in preparing food for others would be their taste preference, and extreme dietary requirements or preferences (low sodium, fish on Friday, or vegetarian) would be known factors. Yet, the width of individual food rules is wide.

I've created a list of "food rules" below that are suddenly new concerns, even on the simplest things like bread and eggs you run into a number of potential factors.

• Bread: Whole Wheat? Whole Grain? Stone Ground? Organic? Gluten Free?

• Eggs: Hormone Free? Free Range? Organic? Or cost-effective cheap white eggs? (And don't even start with egg grades)

• Fruits & Vegetables: Organic? Raw or Cooked? Local?

• Meats: Organic? Grain-Fed? Previously Frozen? Hormone Free? Cuts?

• Milk: Whole, skim or somewhere in between? Raw? Pasteurize? Organic? Soy, Almond or Rice? (And don't think these same questions won't get repeated with coffee creamer)

Then apart from these new types of concerns listed above, many people are in the middle of certain specified diet regiments whether that high protein, low fat, low sugar, high fiber, low cholesterol, limited protein, high antioxidant, low sodium or any other combination of factors.

So unintentionally you could easily offend someone or break their rules if your eggs are made with non-hormone free eggs or your casserole dish contains rice and is not low-carb, or your morally opposed to eating chicken that is not free range.

These foods that find themselves along the perimeter of the grocery store seem to becoming more and more specific to individual eating rules, no longer is it just lettuce, chicken breast and milk. The possibilities, and the potential for strong preference is an overwhelming reality of our current eating habits.

By the way...is that coffee fair trade?

Reel People: Liya Kebede is Waris Dirie

The film is Desert Flower, directed by Sherry Hoffman based on the autobiography by Waris Dirie titled Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad.

Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie was born in Somali, probably around 1965 to a nomadic people group. She was one of 12 children.

As was common to her people group, Waris experienced as a young child (somewhere between 3 and 5) a procedure that is usually referred to as female circumcision, female genital mutilation or female genital cutting. In the case of Dirie and her sisters, the external female genitalia was removed and vaginal opening was stitched up leaving only a small opening for the passage of bodily waste. The intention of the procedure was to ensure down that Waris, as well as other females, would not be able to experience pleasure later in life through sexual intercourse, thus eliminating the temptation to dishonor their families and future husband by engaging in sexual acts before marriage, or infidelity during marriage. It also would require her husband to remove the stitching with a knife when they were married.

At the age of 13, Waris was set up with an arranged marriage to an older man, and in a bold move, Waris would first go to Mogadishu where her sister live and the found a way to go to London to serve as a maid in the home of her uncle. Through a series of events with her family she ended up having to move out and live at a YMCA while she made ends meet working at a McDonalds fast food restaurant.

In a chance meeting, photographer Terrance Donovan, a renowned fashion photographer from England reached out to Waris about her interest in modeling. who had contacted her with the opportunity to model. This modeling opportunity included being featured in the prestigious Pirelli Calendar in 1987.

From there, Dirie had an active modeling career regularly appearing on prestige runways in Milan, Paris and New York City. She was featured in magazines like Elle, Glamour, and Vogue.

She did ads for Levi's, Chanel and Revlon. She even had a very minor part in in 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights directed by John Glen.

In 1997, Dirie did an interview for the magazine Marie Claire with Laura Ziv where she for the first time shared about her experience with female genital cutting that had been performed on her as a child. From here, the story quickly spread including a number of interviews, and a position with the UN as an ambassador for the abolition of female genital cutting.

It was at this time she ended her modeling career so she could focus on her humanitarian efforts.
The interest in Dirie led to her first book, Desert Flower, published in 1998 that became a best seller. She traveled to Somolia to pay a visit to her mother. She would later right additional books best sellers including: Desert Dawn (2004); Desert Children (2005).

In 2004 a stalker (Paolo Augusto), had stalked Durie 1000 miles across Europe and eventually came into her home in Austria. In March of 2008, there was another incident with Durie when she went missing for three days in Brussels, but was found by a policeman.

No longer a model, Wirie Durie continues her humanitarian work, as a citizen of Austria (citizenship was granted in 2005).

Desert Flower

The film Desert Flower features model Lya Kebede in her first feature length role having, performed some other previous film roles, but is more well known as a model, being Estee Lauder's first female model of color. She is from Ethiopia.

The film also features performances by Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall and Anthony Mackie.

Will Ethiopian actress Liya Kebede gain critical attention or even an Oscar nomination/win for her role her portrayal of this Reel (Real) Person?