With the release of 24 Hour Party People in 2002, Tony Wilson became a household name in the minds of the people in the know. The film became a biography of Wilson who is best known for managing such seminal bands as Happy Mondays and Joy Division but due to contracts not being up to legal snuff, Wilson was never able to profit much. But since the movies release Wilson has had a tough time due to a bout with cancer and has now put aside managing bands and concentrated on other projects. Most notably In the City a yearly festival and music industry conference which is having its premiere in New York City this year.
I’ve had a crush on Sandra Bernhard ever since her spread in Playboy years ago. But even before that I loved her comedy and her work in films like Hudson Hawk (Ball! Ball!) and her great role on Roseanne. But Bernhard is best known for her acerbic comedy showcased in the many CDs she has released. Her latest is Everything Bad and Beautiful, and it’s her best yet.
I didn’t ask to be born. None of us did. But there are still some really good things in life. Think about it! Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . and boobs. Anyway, it’s my birthday, so I think about these things, and dying. Out of all forms of entertainment, music makes me feel the most of alive. We should all go to a concert soon, together, and make-out. Until then, here are some songs that get the blood pumping.
“It was an important film to be made.”
– Chris O’Dowd
Chris O’Dowd’s breakthrough role was playing uber geek Roy Tenneman in the Emmy Award winning British sitcom The IT Crowd. His character is well endowed in the information technology department but not so blessed when it comes to social skills. It’s safe to say, however, that in real life the exact opposite is true.
The highly personable Irish actor, who’s starring in three upcoming films – The Boat That Rocked (written by Richard “Bridget Jones” Curtis), Hippie Hippie Shake (with Sienna Miller and Derek Jacobi), and Gulliver’s Travels (with Jack Black and Emily Blunt) – displayed a distinct lack of prowess when it came to dealing with digital phone technology during SuicideGirls protracted attempt to interview him.
The first time Chris called in, he’d just embarked on a hike in the cell phone black hole that is Hollywood’s Runyon Canyon park. Thus our conversation was unintentionally aborted just as it had begun. It would take a total of five phone calls, including two more entirely aborted ones, before our interview was complete.
The Wolfpack is back and in perfect form as The Hangover Part II opens in theaters and brings with it a sequel that rivals the original.
After a nearly half a billion dollar first film, director Todd Phillips brought the heat to amp up the energy for a second feature following Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug, this time as they travel to Thailand for a wedding. It’s Dr. Stu Price (well he’s really just a dentist) taking his vows this time, but he’s bringing his nearest and dearest to his fiancée’s homeland for the ceremony.
The weekend came and went with no signs of raptors or the rapture (except this). In fact, no apocalypse of any kind occurred, much to the disappointment of Harold Camping’s followers, and the delight and derision of most of the nerd population. That’s not to say that the CDC didn’t already have it – and you – covered, as they explained with the release of America’s official Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness 101 outline this last week. While there was no immediate need to put it to use, it’s very existence grants a bit of extra hope for the American citizen (except for those of us who can make out that massive gaping holes in the plan).
Little did I know that the Scottish guy that took over Howard Hessemans role on Head of the Class, Billy Connolly, would go on to become one of the funnier comedians working today. But over the past ten years Connolly has gotten more acclaim as an actor in films like Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Last Samurai and SuicideGirls favorite Boondock Saints. But his new film, Fido, showcases Connollys best role yet. Fido is set in an alternate universe in 1950s America. A mysterious gas came down to Earth and turned all dead people into zombies. After the great zombie war, secure towns have been established, and with the help of a special collar, zombies can become servants, and in some cases, peoples lovers. Connolly plays Fido, a zombie that has been brought into a family where the father is terrified of zombies. But the little boy in the family, Timmy, is being ignored by father and decides to adopt Fido as a pet. I got a chance to interview Billy Connolly during the Fido junket in Manhattan.
