The Wedding Party That Never Ended
Six degrees of separation is remarkably prevalent to many things in our lives. No, it’s not a perfect scientific theory, but the more you talk with people and discover things about them, it’s usually mind-blowing how connected we all really are. The best part is you never expect it. You could be on a blind date and, halfway through, you realize a commonality that seemed entirely improbable.
How? When? With who, again?
The same applies to movies. And the 2005 fan favorite, Wedding Crashers (one of the best buddy comedies and most quotable films in recent memory) was the unlikely springboard to future collaborations and careers:
- It featured supporting actor Bradley Cooper, before he became an Oscar nominated machine
- Brought back Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell in a not-so-goofy comedy and led to the completely unrelated “sequel,” The Internship, in which the comedic trio reunited
- Inspired the on-screen romantic return in, Midnight in Paris with Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams (though in a different mood)
- Inspired the engaged coupling return of Bradley Cooper and Rachel McAdams in a soon-to-be-released movie, Aloha
Speaking of Hawaii, has anyone ever met Pierce Brosnan? Hey, just like the trailer below, you never know what someone is going to say…
Aloha arrives in theaters on May 29, 2015.
Boosted careers and created lasting partnerships, that’s what Wedding Crashers did.
By the Power of Grayskull, Fools Will Fall
Spoiler Alert: Content in this blog post is from the April 1, 2015 episode of The Goldbergs
When the creation of the Momager (Mom + Manager) isn’t the highlight of the show, that’s a sign the Goldberg family hit the right notes in their special April Fools’-themed episode (did you notice Barry’s t-shirt flash changes between the Flyers and Flames?). In a half hour that featured one of those pandemonium-filled free concerts in malls across America of yesteryear by the it performer of that time and a prank war that rivaled the Cold War, suburban Philadelphia could not be prepared for what would transpire.
The picture that developed from these events will haunt our dreams forever…
From pretending to destroy the cherished shoe of a 76er great to obliterating Castle Grayskull to removing all susceptible targets of destruction from one’s room to dismantling a video camera, Adam and Barry did not participate, but were heavily invested in winning April Fools’ Day. It got serious really quickly and elevated to a level that could have broken them. But, after completely confusing 3-4 major conflicts, Barry did manage to understand the importance of the Berlin Wall falling down.
A truce was necessary. Adam’s livelihood at school was saved (you’ll see).
Meanwhile, Erica was busy obsessing over the parties she and Tiffany would inevitably host together once they were both touring pop superstars. Like every girl alive, she dreamed of singing to thousands of screaming, adoring fans. Then came the “pusher” and the “smusher” (ie- Beverly and Murray). It was Beverly’s surefire parenting trick to encourage her children to do anything, but with a contingency (the practicality of Murray) to push them back to reality. Except in this case, Murray flipped the script on his speechless wife. The result was a labyrinth of role reversals between the three that eventually led to Erica’s fiscally tight dad giving his aspirational daughter $200 to follow her dreams in recording a demo tape.
The fluorescent t-shirts are ready for sale (contact the Momager for more information).
By having two older sisters, I never experienced the glorious prank battles between brothers. My sisters and I had an insane amount of fun together with unforgettable memories and sometimes the dynamic was like I had an older brother, but there was no Big Tasty rapping his horribly specific rhymes in my childhood. Regardless, I remember idolizing a famous singer/band and going into a record store and buying their CD (that’s the physical version of a digital download, young people) or, like Adam, enjoying everything amazing by Steven Spielberg.
I had/have dreams of one day acting in a Steven Spielberg movie. Crazy, right? Well, whether it happens or not, that’s a good thing. Just like Beverly and Murray, it’s important to promote the idea that anything is attainable. Murray “The Smusher” Goldberg put it best: He told his daughter that while there are millions of other girls trying to become a famous pop star like her, she needs to remember that she is an original.
And Tiffany Renee Darwish had to work hard to take the improbable journey to become Tiffany. Everything seems crazy until it happens.
Including this:
(The Goldbergs Twitter)
(The Goldbergs Twitter)
The Real Beverly 1, The Real Adam 0.
Everyday is April Fools’ Day with Beverly Goldberg.
Bazinga!
College kids today face countless challenges, some of which are incredibly daunting. There’s no telling what the future will hold.
“Will I pass the test?”
“Is there going to be an opportunity for me to do what I love for a living?”
“How will I pay for this?”
“I’m going to be in debt for the rest of my life.”
Fortunately, college kids show absolutely no shortage in the creativity department. Specifically, the young men and women at Aquinas College.
And teachers think students don’t pay attention to their rules…
Happy April Fools’ Day!
There’s Time to Discover Another Dimension
(io9)
“Confusion gives us the opportunity to find clarity’s stretched-out hand”
–Me
The above quote was inspired by today’s Blu-ray release of Interstellar. Fans of the emotional operatic space epic finally have limitless time to watch and re-watch the Christopher Nolan Sci-Fi classic in an effort to connect the dots together.
Have no fear, the nearly 3-hour gargantuan of a film (see what I did there) has a quick, entertaining pace.
The best movies leave the audience thinking about the story and its key message(s) long after leaving the theater. They strike a nerve (see picture above). Movies, regardless of how refined or goofy, need to have a purpose. And it’s the films that present something that’s larger than life that have the greatest impact and lasting impressions on people. This goes for Jaws, Jurassic Park, Titanic, The Godfather, Citizen Kane, The Sound of Music, Ghostbusters and The Breakfast Club (to literally only name a few).
Think about it: 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 and even 74 years later, modern society still talks about a wide-range of movies and their impact several decades later for a variety of reasons. This timeless fact is why release dates like today are so exciting. Watching Interstellar in your living room will be astonishing with its green screen-free visuals, pulsating soundtrack, excellent acting and exhilarating twists and turns. But, in the big picture, it’s the latest example of a great movie’s second-life. It will earn itself a permanent spot on people’s movie shelves. This is one of those films that will be enjoyed multiple times because there will always be something new (no matter how small) that will be seen with each viewing.
To help with that, Paramount Pictures included “3 hours of bonus features!” and an IMAX film cell with the Blu-ray and DVDs. My film analysis teacher in high school taught me that we need to see a movie 3-4 times to completely see everything the director wanted us to see. The story won’t change, but it’s fascinating to focus on different things to bring the experience together all the more. Example: Appreciating the intricate detail of the specific books that were placed on the bookshelf in the beginning of the movie. Or when Steven Spielberg recorded how Lincoln’s pocket watch would have ticked in the 1860s. And, quite honestly, to enjoy the movie all over again!
“My films, if people go to them worrying about whether they’ll understand and approach it like a crossword puzzle, they’re not going to get as much out of it. You’re meant to go along for the ride,” Nolan said.
Thankfully, there’s now no line for the epic ride of Interstellar.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 