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The Wilder Side of Life
Gene Wilder died on August 29, 2016.
His death still hurts and remains tragic because of the comedic characters he played, most especially Willy Wonka on the silver screen. And what made his portrayal so memorable and beloved by millions of kids and adults alike is that he possessed a very real three-dimensional quality (and bizarre new dimensions that looked other-worldly in some scenes) that was projected through a wacky two-dimensional character written in a book and screenplay.
Like his famed–and sadly fictional chocolate an candy factory–there was always something more there. There was something genuine lingering above the circus-like atmosphere and quintessential ’70s sets.
Back in March 2007, Gene Wilder gave an interview about his life and career. Portions of this conversation were animated into a condensed video series for PBS Digital Studios called “Blank on Blank.”
The reason for posting this interview today of an actor who died in 2016 is the same as why we will spontaneously watch ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ that was released theatrically in 1971:
A random curiosity for wonder and reassurance of this thing in life called pure imagination.
Lloyd Christmas Is About To Lose His Mind Again
The Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy-led ‘First Man’ from 2018 revisited the historic Apollo 11 mission that culminated in the United States landing on the moon on July 20, 1969. The film’s director Damien Chazelle and his set crew beautifully recreated the moon’s surface and chronicled the first step by Neil Armstrong as well as a surprise, deeply reflective walk that personalized a grand moment that is now–impressively–more awe-inspiring.
Hollywood can dramatize and expertly recreate historic events. And yet a documentary tells a true story in masterful, artistic ways that are, at times, indescribable.
‘Apollo 11’ is one of these realities.
Director Todd Douglas Miller and major motion picture distributor Neon aims to do just that with its recent official trailer.
An exact release date has not been determined for ‘Apollo 11.’ Although it’s fair to say that people will surely mark their calendars when this exciting and informative documentary finally takes off into a theater near you.
Happy Monday!
Boring and uninspiring:
Super Bowl 53 and its Halftime Show.
This sentiment extends to about 91% of the commercials during the breaks in the game. People were paid big money for these ads?
Having said that, there were a couple of inspirational ads last night during the Super Bowl. The best was the heartwarming Microsoft gaming controller for kids with disabilities that is the extended version of an already heartwarming ad featuring the focus of last night’s Super Bowl commercial.
In terms of clever commercials, the Hyundai elevator ad starring Jason Bateman was well written and imaginative.
The Peanuts ad with a surprise cameo by Charlie Sheen providing the apt tag line “And people think I’m nuts” was just good fun.
A moderately funny commercial (or separate storyline of a full-length commercial) starred Harrison Ford and his dog. Suffice it to say that automatic ordering is a dangerous thing with Amazon’s Alexa. Unfortunately, Amazon has not posted this sidekick commercial online.
Now the winner for most bizarre yet creative Super Bowl 53 commercial goes to advertising giant Ogilvy with its throwback ad of sorts for Burger King featuring a retro/living appearance by the equally famous and bizarre American artist Andy Warhol from a past documentary who is unwrapping and eating a burger from the aforementioned burger chain. The commercial was almost silent sans unwrapping sounds and a barely audible “it doesn’t come out” by Mr. Warhol concerning the Heinz ketchup bottle. The 45-second commercial simply ends with #EatLikeAndy.
Will Burger King earn 15 minutes of fame from this Super Bowl ad? Time will tell.
This Andy Warhol ad is weird and kind of good, like Burger King.
But there was an ad (well, a reaction to a recent ad) that aired a couple days ago that should have aired last night. And it was nostalgic gold that made ‘Home Alone’ fans–one in particular–smile.
Bonus points if you get the gold reference.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
‘Rush Hour’ Isn’t Over Yet
“We’re working on a few things on the script right now, so we’re trying to get into production. But we’re working on it and trying to get it going. Jackie Chan wants to do it, I want to do it, [the] studio wants to do it, so we’re trying to get it together.”
-Chris Tucker
Yes, yes and yes.
We understand the words coming out of Chris Tucker’s mouth.
The hilarious Chris Tucker (Detective Carter) recently commented about a ‘Rush Hour 4’ movie and indicates that he and his action costar Jackie Chan (Chief Inspector Lee) are ready to reprise their roles.
This is a good day.
Hopefully, the search for a new director for the fourth installment in this popular ‘Rush Hour’ film series has already been underway and, at best, already determined. The next hope is that this fourth movie will materialize in the near future–the next year or so–with the original humor and action stunts from the first three yet with a fresh and successful take that will spark a fifth and sixth film to round out two trilogies of sorts.
If ‘The Fast and the Furious’ can have double-digit movies, then ‘Rush Hour’ can certainly be resurrected for a few more.
And in this age of absurd hyper-political correctness, we need Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan to team up once more to remind us to relax, have fun and just laugh.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 