the workings of a tv/movie nerd.

Billy Elliot The Musical:

I thought i would make a special post because I had the pleasure of going to see Billy Elliot The Musical in Sydney a couple of weeks ago. I Saw this AWESOME show with my sister and mum and we all enjoyed it  .

 This Musical had been out in Sydney for a number of months already, but it was beyond brilliant. Everyone knows the story of Billy Elliot Miner’s son Billy swaps boxing for ballet in a Durham county village fraught with tension over the 1984 miners’ strike that split the country between the working class and Margaret Thatchers Conservative Party revolutionaries.

The tale of an artist breaking through convention is hardly new to either film or musical theatre yet “Billy Elliot” seems to connect with audiences through its empathetic portrayal of very nonshowbiz working class types, and by showcasing some very talented juniors. There’s something quite magical about following the journey of a young teen through this kind of uplifting show.

Beyond Daldry’s very theatrical staging, Lee Hall’s expressive book and Elton John’s erratic yet ultimately endearing music, the show will always stand — or pirouette — on the competency of its young leads, who supply much of the vitality.

 Out of the 4 Australian boys Lochlan Denholm (Melbourne), Rhys Kosakowski (Newcastle), Rarmian Newton (Melbourne) and Nick Twiney (Sydney). I had the pleasure of watching Rhys and he was amazing in the role, a particularly joyful and technically proficient dancer. The troupe of ballerinas are an exuberant bunch, and, like Kosakowski, they blossom in form and enthusiasm through the show.

As Billy’s Mischievous, occasionally cross dressing pal, Michael, Joel Slater was an absoulute delight and a real highlight for the show. And the impact of the profanities spouting from the mouths of these babes was never likely to offend Oz sensibilities.

The older castmembers are great as well. Genevieve Lemon’s Mrs Wilkinson was a real joy to watch, she had so much energy and resemblence to the acutal character. All of the other performers were great and it was a really great musical to watch, one of the best I’ve seen, It’s still in Sydney at the moment but if it does come to Melbourne I think everybody should go c it, it was AWESOME!

I feel it necessary to make a special post after hearing the terrible news that Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment. After hearing this news about 30 minutes ago, I was shocked and fairly upset, so Im making this post to recognize his life as a son, a father, an actor and most importantly a good person.

Heath Andrew Ledger (April 4, 1979 – January 22, 2008) was an Academy Award-nominated Australian actor.

Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia, the son of Sally Ledger Bell,  a French teacher, and Kim Ledger, a race car driver and mining engineer. Ledger’s mother is descended from the Clan Campbell of Scotland and his father comes from a family well-known in Perth. The Sir Frank Ledger Charitable Trust was named after his great-grandfather. Ledger attended Marys Mount Primary School, in Gooseberry Hill, and later Guildford Grammar School and its preparatory school of the same name.

At the age of 16 Heath left school in order to pursue an acting career, his first major appearance was in the austrlian tv show “Sweat” (1996) in which he played a gay cyclist.

In 1996 proir to his film debut in the 1997 Australian movie Blackrock, Heath Ledger was involved in the short lived Fox Broadcasting Company fantasy-drama Roar. In 1999, Ledger starred in the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You and also had the lead role in the acclaimed Australian movie Two Hands, directed by Gregor Jordan.

From the 2000-2008 period he has been in a number of films including, The Patriot, Monster’s Ball, A Knight’s Tale, Ned Kelly, The Order, and The Brothers Grimm. In 2001, he won a ShoWest Award for the Male Star of Tomorrow based on his performance in The Patriot, and worldwide release of A Knight’s Tale. In 2003, he was named one of Australian GQ’s Men of the Year for acting.

In 2005 Ledger received a “Best Actor in a Drama” Golden Globe nomination for his acclaimed performance in Brokeback Mountain, in which he plays Wyoming ranch hand Ennis Del Mar, who has a love affair with aspiring rodeo rider Jack Twist, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. In the New York Times review of the film, critic Stephen Holden wrote:

“Both Mr. Ledger and Mr. Gyllenhaal make this anguished love story physically palpable. Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn.

In another review in Rolling Stone, Peter Travers wrote:

“Ledger’s magnificent performance is an acting miracle. He seems to tear it from his insides. Ledger doesn’t just know how Ennis moves, speaks and listens; he knows how he breathes. To see him inhale the scent of a shirt hanging in Jack’s closet is to take measure of the pain of love lost.

Ledger recieved numereus other awards for his outstanding performance in Brokeback Mountain, He also starred in Casanova opposite Sienna Miller that same year.

In 2006, Ledger was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2007, he was one of six actors to portray different sides of singer Bob Dylan in the film I’m Not There.

On July 21, 2006, Ledger was officially confirmed to play iconic comic book villain The Joker in The Dark Knight, the sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins, opposite fellow I’m Not There star Christian Bale. The film is set to debut on July 18, 2008.

He was filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus at the time of his death.

May your soul rest in peace Heath, you will never be forgotten.

#10- Christmas with The Kranks

When Luther and Nora Kranks only daughter leaves and goes to another country they both decide to skip Christmas this year and spend it on a cruise. Now they must survive, facing their neighbors, a house decorations contest and carolers. But when their daughter calls on Christmas eve and says shes coming home for Christmas, the Kranks really get into the meaning of Holiday Rush when they have 12 hours to get Christmas set up for their daughter and her fiancée.

This being at number 10 is a good christmas movie for me, but not the best. I always manage to watch christmas with the kranks, whether it is on purpose or by accident i dont know but all  i can say is it is a light, easy going christmas film, that will keep you laughing.

#9- The Polar Express

Santa Claus does not exist. Or does he? For one doubting boy (voice of Daryl Sabara and Tom Hanks), an astonishing event occurs. Late on Christmas Eve night, he lies in bed hoping to hear the sound of reindeer bells from Santa’s sleigh. When to his surprise, a steam engine’s roar and whistle can be heard outside his window. The conductor (voice of Tom Hanks) invites him on board to take an extraordinary journey to the North Pole with many other pajama-clad children. There, he receives an extraordinary gift only those who still believe in Santa can experience.

I like this christmas film because of 2 things, one because of the amazing special effects throughout the whole movie and 2 because it is a film that can be enjoyed by the whole family at christmas, whether you are young or old its a movie that makes you believe.

#8- National Lampoons Christmas Vacation:

It’s Christmas time – Clark decided to invite all the family to have ‘the most fun-filled old-fashioned family Christmas’, which nobody shall ever forget. When the first relatives arrive, Clark soon flees on the roof to rig the lighting. The one thing the loving father wants to surprise the whole family with is the installation of a pool, which he already ordered. Unfortunately, the bonus check Clark expects any minute is overdue – and tempers rise, but not only because of the check. A big event is the arrival of uninvited cousin Eddie with his family in their mobile home, as well as a little sledding afternoon with a new lubricant from Clark’s company, or his shifting relationship with the very hip and clean neighbours. Cousin Eddie chooses to top off all presents with his very own special creation, only intending to deliver a real reason to be jolly.

There is only one logical reason for me adding this to my list and that is……… IM AWESOME, nah just kidding, but seroiously who couldnt go through christmas without watching the good old griswalds on there christmas adventure, it is a christmas must, which will have your sides ripping.

#7- Prancer

Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished apple farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides the reindeer in her barn and feeds it cookies, until she can return it to Santa. Her father finds the reindeer an decides to sell it to the butcher, not for venison chops, but as an advertising display.

This film is only a small christmas film, it didnt really get  recognised that much, but i really love it, it’s just one of those christmas films that you really end up liking even though not too many other people do.

#6- How the Grinch Stole Christmas:

 Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss. Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. In Whoville, live the Who’s, an almost mutated sort of munchkinlike people. All the Who’s love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos which he equally abhors. Yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try befriend the Grinch.

Watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas is sort of tradition at my house each year, it just sends clear messages about the meaning of christmas and my whole family continue to enjoy it every year.

#5- The Santa Claus

Divorcee Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is disgusted to learn that his ex (Wendy Crewson) and her husband (Judge Reynolds) have tried – and failed – to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) that Santa isn’t real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas…then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he’s startled by Scott’s calling out and falls, the Santa impersonator disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he’s involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he’s taken to the North Pole and informed by a group who claim they’re elves that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad’s new job, though Scott’s convinced it’s a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food…Now he’s accepted it, there’s just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family?

As if you could’nt watch The Santa Claus, we own it on dvd along with the other 2 and love them to death! every year we watch or rather my brother and sister must watch it! we all love it with all of it’s laughs, love and Santa!

#4- Home Alone

Kevin McAllister, 8 years old is accidentally left behind while his family rushes to the Airport to go to France for their Christmas vacation. Kevin learns that he made his family is gone. He spends his first day having fun in his house. Kevin learns that Mav and Harry (The Wet Bandits), two crooks are trying to rob his house. Kevin fends for himself and protects his house from the thieves, by setting traps everywhere. Meanwhile, Kevin’s mother discovers that they left Kevin in Chicago and tries to go back to Chicago while the other members of the family stay in Fance.

 I Always end up watching Home Alone at least 2 months before christmas each year, i dont know why this is but i just get cravings for this movie, we own the complete 4 movies and always end up watching them all before christmas day has begun, who wouldnt want to hear Kevin scream AHHHHHHHHHH!

#3- A Christmas Story

It’s 1940, in the northern Indiana town of Hohman. 9-year-old Ralph “Ralphie” Parker wants only one thing for Christmas — an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock. Between his younger brother Randy and having to handle school bully Scut Farkus, Ralphie doesn’t know how he’ll ever survive long enough to get the BB gun for Christmas. When Ralph asks his mother for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, she says, “No, you’ll shoot your eye out”. When Mrs. Shields, Ralph’s teacher at Harding Elementary School, assigns the class to write a theme about what they want for Christmas, Ralph sees a golden opportunity to express his desire to have a Red Ryder BB gun. Ralph gets a C+ on the theme, and Mrs. Shields has written “You’ll shoot your eye out” on the theme. Ralph’s next plan is to ask Santa Claus for a Red Ryder BB gun, and how does Santa respond? By saying “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” By this time, Ralph has had enough of that. When Scut Farkus and his sidekick Grover Dill start in on Ralph while he’s on his way home from school that day, Ralph knocks Grover Dill to the ground, beats Scut’s face bloody, and then pounds Scut’s head on the snow-covered ground several times. Ralph thinks he’ll never get the BB gun for Christmas now. And all of the other kids are going to be getting what they want for Christmas. But someone may have planned a surprise for Ralph.

I Absoultely Completely LOVE 2 DEATH this film, i just cant describe it because this movie rocks and defeneitely deserves the amount of love people have for this Original, Traditional, One-Hundred-Percent, Red-Blooded, Two-Fisted, All-American Christmas film.

#2- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

At the Macy’s Department Store Thanksgiving Day parade, the actor playing Santa is discovered to be drunk by a whiskered old man. Doris Walker, the no nonsense special events director, persuades the old man to take his place. The old man proves to be a sensation and is quickly recruited to be the store Santa at the main Macy’s outlet. While he is successful, Ms. Walker learns that he calls himself Kris Kringle and he claims to be the actual Santa Claus. Despite reassurances by Kringle’s doctor that he is harmless, Doris still has misgivings, especially when she has cynically trained herself, and especially her daughter, Susan, to reject all notions of belief and fantasy. And yet, people, especially Susan, begin to notice there is something special about Kris and his determination to advance the true spirit of Christmas amidst the rampant commercialism around him and succeeding in improbable ways. When a raucous conflict with the store’s cruelly incompetent psychologist erupts, Kris finds himself held at Bellevue where, in despair, he deliberates fails a mental examination to ensure his commitment. All seems lost until Doris’ friend, Fred Gaily, reassure Kris of his worth and agrees to represent him in the fight to secure his release. To achieve that, Fred arranges a formal hearing in which he argues that Kris is sane because he is in fact Santa Claus. What ensues is a bizarre hearing in which people’s beliefs are reexamined and put to the test, but even so, it’s going to take a miracle for Kris to win.

For me, in many ways this is a perfect movie, just like gone with the wind, a little gem, beautiful, warm and nothing less than a keeper.

NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!

Drum roll please. boomboomboom!

#1- It’s a Wonderful Life:

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George’s modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George’s Uncle Billy loses the business’s $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born. In a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in sex and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable. He realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one.

Okay i know what your thinking, this is everyone’s all-time-favourite christmas movie, but really it is a classic and nothing less than wonderful and beautiful. Jimmy Stewart is a Capra-ish everyman role primed and honed to pluck the strings of your heart. And it gets better every time you see it. It makes me cry every time and  i always want to watch it more.

 Hope you like my list, Merry Christmas and may you have a good new year, xxoo.

I decided i would do a post of actors who have died young, who were growing up to be fantastic actors, i decided to focus on 2 great ones, James Dean and River Phoenix.

River Phoenix:

River Phoenix was a fantastic actor and person, to me at least. River Jude Phoenix was born in a samll town of Madras, Oregon and travelled quite a lot with his family, though in the late 70s his family settled in Florida and then in California.

River started acting professionally when he was 10 where him and his sister Rain did audience warm up for the television show Real Kids, eventually agents noticed him and he was set up to do commerecials gradually leading to TV movies and a recurring role in the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

River has been in such films as:

Joe Dante’s Explorers

Rob Reiners Stand By Me, He co-starred with Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast and also portrayed Indy (Harrison Ford) as a young boy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Additional credits include I Love you to Death and Dogfight.

River was named Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his starring role as a narcoleptic street hustler in My Own Private Idaho. In 1988, at age 17, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor following his role in Running on Empty.

Phoenix’s final credit was a metaphysical Western, Silent Tongue, written and directed by Sam Shepard. Before his untimely death on Halloween night, 1993, Phoenix was set to play the interviewer in Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. He had also nearly completed work on the independent thriller Dark Blood, with Judy Davis.

River Phoenix died on October 31, 1993 of a drug overdose.

I will always look to river phoenix as someone who i thought was great and would have been still amazing, he was an amazing person and an outstading actor and if he were still alive today he would still be great.

James Dean:

James Dean lived a short life as he was only 24 years old when he died in a car accident.

Even though James Dean only starred a few roles as an actor his roles are still recognized today with great satisfaction.  James is probobly best known for his role as Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause,  he then went on to do East of Eden where he played an awkward loner named Cal Trask and then went to do Giant in which he played Jett Rink the surely, racist farmer.

James never had quite an easy life as he was shifted between his divorced parents and in the 1940s his mother died of cancer after this he went to living with his aunt.

In high school, Dean’s overall performance was mediocre, but he successfully played on the baseball and basketball team and studied forensics and drama. After graduating from Fairmount High School on May 16, 1949, Dean moved back to California with his beagle, Maxx, to live with his father and stepmother.

He enrolled in Santa Monica College (SMCC), pledged to the Sigma Nu fraternity and majored in pre-law. Dean transferred to UCLA and changed his major to drama, which resulted in estrangement from his father. While at UCLA, he beat out 350 actors to land the role of Malcolm in Macbeth. At that time, he also began acting with James Whitmore’s actng workshop. In January 1951, he dropped out of college to pursue a career as an actor.

 Dean was driving west on U.S. Highway 466 (later California State Route 46) near Cholame, California when a 1950 Ford Tudor, driven from the opposite direction by 23-year-old Cal Poly student Donald Turnupseed, attempted to take the fork onto California State Route 41 and crossed into Dean’s lane without seeing him. The two cars hit almost head on. According to a story in the October 1, 2005 edition of the Los Angeles Times, California Highway Patrol officer Ron Nelson and his partner had been finishing a coffee break in Paso Robles when they were called to the scene of the accident, where they saw a heavily-breathing Dean being placed into an ambulance. Wütherich had been thrown from the car, but survived with a broken jaw and other injuries. Dean was taken to Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 5:59PM. His last known words, uttered right before impact, are said to have been “That guy’s gotta stop… He’ll see us.”

James Dean was a great icon for all people that love great actors although he did die young for as long as he was alive he really shone as an actor in hollywood and showed it all the movies that he was apart of, i will always look towards James Dean as a teenage icon for me and was just an amazing person to me.

“Dream as if you’ll forever, live as if you’ll die today”.

I choose both of these actors because they were great actors who still would have been great if they were still alive, i will always look towards them for guidance with film. RIP River Jude Phoenix and James Byron Dean.