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.