The New Year started on a good note. As a tradition, I always spend the first day of the year with a special cigar, sometimes with friends, often alone, as I was this day.
It was an inspired selection from my humidor of Cubans, an aged smoke, a Hoyo de Monterey Limited Edition 2006, a fine torpedo that looked as good as it smoked, dark, oily, smooth.
It started out with a bit of an uneven burn, but is quickly evened itself out as the flavors began to kick in, a solid, tasty puro with a long, almost sweet finish. Complex flavors made this a superb way to start off the year. I have a couple more of these special Cuban stogies, will save a couple to share with one of my fellow cigar smoking buddies later in the year. As usual, I spent the hour thinking about the year that just ended, and more enjoyably, looking ahead to he new year and what it will bring. As I reflected on 2011, I made a short list of things I expect to accomplish, which now, almost a month later, I have refined and enhanced into my list of yearly goals and dreams. It’s going to be a great year, I can tell from the first smoke of the year and the wonderful feeling of anticipation that I now have.
ON THE SILVER SCREEN
Most of you who know me know that I am a movie aficionado, I see almost every major release from the major studios and many independent films as well, usually to the tune of 3 a week. Some may classify that as unusual, to me it’s not only a fantastic getaway that relaxes and stimulates me, it is a learning experience as I connect with the film on various levels and study the methods and components that make up a good film. Very often see films more than once in order to study different aspects and viewpoints of the films. I may watch with only an eye toward the director and his work, other times, I am studying the script, or the acting, or the pacing. The first time, I simply try to sit back and be entertained, with no thoughts about the construction of the film or any aspect beyond the simple first time enjoyment of the film.
With this in mind, I have been asked by many people to consider writing movie reviews for the films I see, and I must say, that seems like a whole lot more work than I care to invest. I will, however, give a shot at writing some short, 2 or 3 sentence discussion of my feelings towards the films I see, for what its worth. There are too many critics out there, some of whom have a pulse, and more than a few of them can actually write and make useful observations regarding the movies, so there is really no point in my throwing another hat into that ring, but if I can say some things about a few films I happen to see and give you a paragraph that might influence you or encourage you to see some movie or another, I’ll give it a shot and see what you think.
As for 2010, there were a lot of really mediocre films released, a bunch of what I call “popcorn movies” designed to appear to the lowest common denominator movie goer and provide a 2 hour escape with no real award-winning performances or content, just a mass marketed film that is designed to sell seats in as many theatres as possible as quickly as possible before word of mouth sinks the film. (Note: As I was out at the fabulous Connie Stevens show last night, I recorded the Golden Globes, and will watch them later, so these picks may not reflect winners…)
There were also some award-potential films, real special films by directors who hit it out of the park. For what its worth, here are the films on my short list of “The Best of 2010 Films”.
“Get Low” was an amazing film with Robert Duvall delivering an Oscar-worthy performance as the quirky, strange hermit who decides to throw his own funeral before he dies. Bill Murray lights up this Depression-era tale, this film will charm you from the very first scene.
“127 Hours” – a one-man wonder, James Franco is on-screen, in one place, for nearly the entire movie, yet he commands and inhabits the screen, and if he is not nominated for this one, I will not be watching the Oscars.
“The King’s Speech” – two phenomenal British actors, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush engage and spar throughout this film, creating a unique and fascinating relationship and a bond that goes beyond their respective classes. They are fun to watch and the excellent script weaves a most enjoyable story from the actual events the film depicts.
“The Social Network” – Facebook is a generation-changing life event, and this is the movie that captures the true meaning of that and the roots of the phenomenon. Jesse Eisenberg nails the character of founder Mark Zuckerberg (Time’s Person of the Year) and delivers a wildly satisfying, manic, fast-talking character who burns up the scenery as fast as he burns through friends as he creates Facebook and changes the world.
“Winter’s Bone” – this is one of those small films you may have missed, no big budget to market it, just a few wins in notable film festivals to spark word-of-mouth, this is a small film that has all the right elements; great script, fantastic acting, compelling characters. Sit back and enjoy.
The Kids are Alright” – Annette Benning and Julianne Moore both deserve to be nominated in this tale of a gay family and their two children and the impact they experience when the sperm donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) shows up.
Dr. Adele "ZZ" Zorn joins our team
Our newest column comes to us from Dr. Adele Zorn, or as we all know her, it’s ZZ, darling. If there’s an event happening in this fair city, ZZ is usually there. In addition to this monthly column, which starts with this issue, ZZ is also a much sought after dynamic speaker on all aspects of Human Sexuality. A columnist and author on the subject of sex, her columns have been widely publicized. Dr. Zorn has lectured throughout the United States and has been a guest on numerous national television and radio shows. She promises to write about sex for us in the future, and I can’t wait. Welcome to the team, ZZ…her first installment is in this week’s issue, along with all the usual suspects…enjoy.
And catch my talk show “Behind the Curtain” tonight (7 pm Vegas time) on www.VegasVideoNetwork.com with my special guest Charly Kayle from the popular morning show on KKLZ.
