The Artist

I'm in love.

I've got a serious crush on Peppy Miller, I'm smitten with George Valentin, and I'm head over heels for The Artist, a Harvey Weinstein film directed by Michel Hazanavicius.

French actor George Dujardin is Valentin, a silent film heartthrob who is the toast of Hollywood in 1927. He has a random meeting with Berenice Bejo (the wife of director Hanavicius in real life), a young actress trying to break into the biz. Their mutual attraction makes the screen sizzle, but Valentin is stuck in an unhappy marriage, with only his dog Uggy there to lend support.

The crash of '29 puts and the advent of "talkies" which studio executive Al Zimmer (John Goodman) decides is the future of film, puts Valentin's career in a tailspin. His fall from grace is mirrored by Peppy Miller's rising popularity. Valentin pours his own money into one final, ego driven attempt to prove the film world wrong--and loses everything.

I won't give away anymore details, but I will warn you that The Artist is MOSTLY silent, with a delightful and audible surprise at the end that makes the entire story make sense. It's subtle, but evident.

A strong supporting cast including James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller add to the fun.

So, it is indeed true that silence is golden. Especially when it comes to the Artist and the Golden Age of Hollywood.

This a film to put on your "must see" list. But shhhhh...do it quietly.

~ Ken Dunek

Life, at times....just doesn't seem fair

RIP Joe Paterno.....

You spent your life doing things the right way, and you would up being blindsided by fate.

A rush to judgment has clouded the memory of your illustrious career. But your legacy will show wins, championships, and molding men of character--year after year---generation after generation.

You reported an indiscretion to your superiors--acts so reprehensible you couldn't even fathom

what you were being told. But they vilified you for not doing enough--and then fired you with a phone call in the middle of the night.

We have lost a national hero. Let history judge who he was and what he stood for.

~ Ken Dunek

Judge Judy....Governor Chris Christie.....Ron Paul.....

Agree or disagree with them, they all provide refreshing honesty.

That's their appeal.

Eagles Epitaph 2011

The final outrage of the 2011 Eagles football season was today's Andy Reid post game press conference.

His glib attempt at humor and evasive nature was never more evident.

When asked if he WANTED to be here next season, he wouldn't respond either way--stating only he hadn't "thought" about it yet.

A reporter then asked him why this Eagle's (dream team) wasn't a playoff team. His smirking reply was that they were 8-8, and the other teams had better records. Where was the follow up here?....why does the media constantly let him off the hook without a follow up?

I want to see conviction. I want to see disappointment and outrage that his regime has not delivered a Super Bowl championship in 13 years.

I don't need clever repartee'...I can get that on Saturday Night Live.

Thoughts....

Say what you must...but Joe Paterno doesn't deserve to go out this way. And wasn't the Big 10 a little premature in taking his name off the championship trophy? The guy hasn't even had a chance to comment yet.

Brian Billick is a terrible color analyst for Fox TV. He makes the same points all game long and his language is garbled.

Indian Summer is sublime.....just don't get used to it. The blast of the hawk wind and chill of winter is right around the corner.

NFL players don't go the extra mile. Too many are worried about their next contract. Case in point Eagles WR Steve Smith falling down 1 yard short of a crucial first down.

Does anyone really miss the NBA?

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Crying Shame

I have no allegiance to Penn State.

I've been there only once, and did witness the incredible specatacle of a Nittany Lion football game with 100,000 plus all dressed in white in a foamy fervor supporting their team.

The face of that team, the town, and the University is Joe Paterno. But it goes much deeper that that. He was the beating heart, the blood, and the oxygen that made Happy Valley what it is, and kept it hale and alive.

Joe Paterno announced his retirement today, amidst a scandle that has not only put the world of college sports on it's ear, but has kicked all that admired what was once clean and pure smack in the teeth.

He reported what he saw to his boss, but said no more. He apparantly let his perverted lieutanant continue to have the run of the ship, even though he was no longer officially part of the PSU brass.

Coach Joe Paterno spent a career doing things the right way.....with one exception.

And now his glorious legacy is forever tarnished.

I guess even the best of fairy tales sometimes have inglorious endings.

Mighty Macs Mighty Good

I attended the world premier of the Tim Chambers film The Mighty Macs last night at the Kimmell Center in Philadelphia.

My suggestion is that you lace up your sneakers, load up on some hankies, and make a wind sprint down to your local theater on October 21st to see this groundbreaking film that chronicles the amazing story of tiny Immaculata College winning the 1972 NCAA Women's basketball championship.

This film stars Carla Cuggino as Cathy Rush, David Boreanaz as her husband (and former NBA referee) Ed Rush, and Ellen Burstyn as Mother Superior and takes you on a delightful journey back in time to the psychedelic days the early 70's when women's sports were hardly a blip on the radar screen. Cuggino, who plays a role similar to Gene Hackman in the epic hoops film Hoosiers, does an amazing job of capturing the frustration and passion that went along with the unenviable task of taking a cash strapped program with no facilities and turning it into a champion.

Chambers captures the essence of the emotion with his fast paced action and timely edits. The score (London Philharmonic) along with hits from the 70's provide an enjoyable backdrop to the G-rated action that any father would be comfortable taking his little girl to see.

Chambers has taken a stand and is taking on Hollywood to help bring the "family" back to family entertainment.

And to me...that's a slam dunk.