19 Memorable Actors

I just saw "The Straight Story" on TV during lunch after painting this one. If you haven't, rent it, take a chunk of time and watch it. I'd seen it when it came out in the theaters and it hasn't lost its impact. Not at all what one would expect from the director of "Blue Velvet", but oh my goodness what a beautiful movie. Poignant. Everything succinctly said with no unnecessary off-topic dialog. And the soundtrack is gorgeous. I remember when I saw it in the theater I almost couldn't see because I was constantly welling up with tears. Did today too.

David Lynch is so good at casting his movies. It got me thinking about actors that have had a lasting impact on me. Some are comedic geniuses and some are dramatic powerhouses, some both! In no particular order:

Jack Nicholson
Marlon Brando
Johnny Depp
Steve Martin
Katherine Hepburn
Cary Grant
John Cleese
John Goodman
Christopher Walken
Kevin Spacey
Sandra Bullock
Gary Oldman
Brad Pitt
Bill Murray
John Turturro
Dustin Hoffman
Jimmy Stewart
Robert De Niro
Michelle Pfeiffer

Another odd list when I look back at it. Performances that have stuck with me though, for sure. Who'd be on your list? I really would like to know. Please give me comments and see the new-ish gallery layout when you:

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won't you?

Speaking Of Soundtracks

I saw a bit of Batman directed by Tim Burton yesterday and it reminded me how much I love soundtracks. I even took a class in soundtracks at UCLA that looked in depth at Pulp Fiction's collection of songs with dialog interspersed. Such great music! Over the years I've ended up buying some soundtracks that I love listening to even without the movie:

Passion: The Last Temptation of Christ by Peter Gabriel
Get Shorty by Booker T. (among others)
The Fugitive by James Newton Howard
Slaughterhouse Five performed by Glenn Gould
Jurassic Park by John Williams
Romeo is Bleeding by Mark Isham
Dick Tracy by Danny Elfman
Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me by Angelo Badalamenti
Elf

Had to get one great collection of Christmas songs in there! Those certainly are some powerhouse contemporary soundtrack composers. Good movies too. In any event, just another sampling of what has sunk into my pop culture subconscious for you.

I think I'm rounding the curve before the home stretch as far as setting up all my online accounts and profiles having done LinkedIn, Bestuff, and Flickr. I'll get there. I'd love to know how I'm doing, so if you haven't, please:

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and also leave me comments here! I'll respond, I promise.

12 Movies I'd Watch Anytime

Timeless, eh? Not many like Audrey Hepburn. I felt like painting movie stars who sang a little on soundtracks to films in which they starred was worth trying. Next, I'd like to do one of Marilyn on "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is just such a classic though. Again in my comfortable lounging position, when cable brought the world of movies into my living room, I indulged. Most were forgettable, but a few were those unbelievable pieces of art. Auteur directors giving iconic actors the opportunity to become part of our pop culture. Here're a few that I can watch over and over:

Philadelphia Story
The Big Lebowski
Casablanca
I Heart Huckabees
Halloween
His Girl Friday
Joe Vs. The Volcano
Fight Club
The Jerk
M*A*S*H
The Princess Bride
Feris Bueller's Day Off

Yeah, that's actually the list. Surprised me too! There are so many films that I think are amazing, but wouldn't watch over and over. Blockbusters, cult classics, screwball comedies, indie dramas, and animated masterpieces among them, I'll come back to movies I've loved for sure. This diverse group, however, are the ones that have become part of my pop culture sub-conscious and who I am. That's why I'm writing this blog after all, to tell you who I am, to get you interested enough in me to:

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What movies would you say are part of who you are?