Rock hits Broadway in "Hat"

The Details:  Chris Rock is set to make his Broadway debut in Stephen Adly Guirgis' new play "Motherfucker With a Hat"  (aka Hat).  Rock will portray an AA sponsor to a recovering addict played by Bobby Cannavale; who is love with a girl still in the grips of her addiction.  Opens at the Schoenfeld Theatre in April for a 14 week run.

What do we think about this?  I mean, its not a huge controversy or anything, but my initial response is kind of "ehhh...really?"  I make no apologies for the fact that I was late to the Chris Rock fan party...and even when I finally arrived, I remained on the outskirts of the room, and near the exit.  

Early on, when everyone was maniacal in his or her love for Rock, and called him a genius, while raving about his wit and observations on our culture...I was on the other side, feeling as if he swore too much, and really only had jokes about race.  Those jokes may have been smart and right, which may have made them all the more funny; but I often felt uncomfortable.  Perhaps it was the same as not being allowed (or wanting) to say the "N" word...it was as if I wasn't allowed to laugh at his observations.  I used to think about how much I liked Ellen's standup, and while she may have had a couple of "homosexual" jokes, or observations, 75% of them didn't require an intimate knowledge of what it was like to be gay.  

Now that I have established that that is how I felt -- I can admit that over the years, I have grown to like him a lot.  I had the amazing opportunity to meet him, and spend a few days in his company at Sundance Film Festival.  I was working for a woman that was in a documentary he made, called Good Hair -- therefore, we had many meals with him and his family, while working the press circuit and attending screenings at the fest.  Besides liking the film, I learned to admire and appreciate how he has evolved since having his children and becoming an adult.  I like his comedy more, and his sharp wit and discerning eye allow him to be a great documentarian.  

BUT -- the jury is still out in terms of his acting ability.  Maybe some of you out there can tell me where he has proven his ability to become a character?  Has he transformed into someone that wasn't pretty similar to "Chris Rock"?  I didn't see it, but I'm guessing his character in Death at a Funeral (his most recent film), was still just him in a goofy situation.... (I put him and Jerry Seinfeld in the category as comedian/actors.  I like them both, but when I watch them, I just see them...not a character). 


I would love to be proven wrong again...I like him both as a person and an entertainer.  I'm just not sure about this one -- theatre is even more serious than film/TV.  You can't edit out the bad stuff, and cover up the gaps in your craft.   I hope to go see it though and to be blown away.  Good luck, Rock!

 

In other news...a remake with potential

Ok folks, so those of you who are my age might not appreciate this, but Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Johnny Depp wants to remake theThin Man series.

For the whippersnappers: The Thin Man is a series of 6 films starring the supremely talented, smart, sharp, witty, sarcastic Myrna Loy as Nora; and the quirky, brilliant, dapper, William Powell as Nick Charles.  Nick is a detective, who despite his best efforts can't seem to retire from the business...the mysteries and corruption seem to unfold at his feet.  Some are better than others, the stories are often easily solved, but watching these two dance and play off one another on screen, while delivering some fantasmagorical one liners is a true thing of beauty.  (Side note:  in After the Thin Man, a very young Jimmy Stewart co-stars as an integral part of the story).  Plus the dog is A-MAZ-ING!

So Deadline says that Johnny is heading up this project...he wants it bad.  He is turning to Rob Marshall (very exciting to me) to direct; and they are in search of writers!    This is the important part people...the Thin Man movies are smartly written, they are sharp, witty, and verbose.  The double entendres and innuendos are thick...and in order to make them translate to an audience in the 2010 decade will be both tricky and of the upmost importance.

Usually I'm against remakes...particularly of good films.  Those that are remaking Footloose, I ask WHY?  Those that have mentioned remaking The Wizard of Oz or Gone with the Wind, I say, "you are fools", and those that are attempting to remake any John Hughes film, I demand, "DON'T YOU DARE!!"  That said, this idea excites me.  I think that it is a perfect series to remake, many people in my generation haven't seen it, and its been over 75 years.  But then again, Hollywood never surprises me in its ability to ruin classics.

Deadline Report

Current #1 Girl Crush....

That's obvious...Emma Stone, duh?

If I (or you) didn't love her already, after Zombieland and obviously, Superbad...well then Easy A cemented her in my heart.  The "I Gotta Pocket Full of Sunshine" scene would have been rewound and repeated if I hadn't been in a theatre; then add in the multiple John Hughes scenes and I was hooked.

So what is she up to now?  Well she is hosting SNL this week (can't wait to see how she does LIVE) and has signed on as Spiderman's love interest (no, not Mary Jane...Gwen!) in the new adaption of the series starring Andrew Garfield. Finally, to top off her upcoming projects, she also is attached to the 21 Jumpstreet movie...

And if that wasn't enough...how cool is this? Paul McCartney designed her latest tattoo. Apparently, her mom is in remission from breast cancer, and Blackbird is her favorite song, so Emma wrote him (like we all would) and asked him to sketch her some bird feet...AND HE DID!

If I were a boy...she would be my dream girl (who am I kidding she kinda is anyways...)

PS and who does she chose to date??  Kieran Culkin.  Inneresting....hmmm...

And these last two...well I just find them humorous:-)

Tidbits

Recently a friend from college told me that she gets most of her entertainment news from my Facebook postings and shared links -- which I found both flattering and slightly sad (sorry, Amy...but only because I don't post much:-))

Therefore, to make it less sad, I'm going to make more of an effort to post tidbits of upcoming projects that I find interesting (although, going to do my best to stay away from gossip and rumors).  So check back!

Here is the first:

Country Strong:
I first heard about this about a year ago...when GoOP was spotted in Nashville, and people started uncovering the news that she was playing a country music star.  I have hopes (not high ones, but hopes nonetheless) that this will be entertaining.  Despite her seeming to channel Taylor Swift in a few of the on stage clips...McGraw has a burly mountain man beard, and Garrett Hedlund looks mighty yummy (and Leighton Meester appears to be continuing her run as the bitch...will she ever break away?)

10 days on the West Coast

It's no secret that I love California.  It is like Texas, without the INTENSE heat and crazy right wingers (well there are some, but drastically fewer of them floating around).

This trip was no exception, and only solidified my love for the state in general, and reminded me of the the things (and people)I love.

LA:  I spent hiking, seeing the Social Network, eating, and reuniting w/friends who are so good, they might as well be family.

 


SF:  My parents met me in LA and we flew to Oakland to marvel at how much Otis had grown, and to meet the new addition...Lucy Ramona Chisom.  It was a mind-blowing trip ... mainly amazing ourselves at how much we could eat.  Caminos, Slanted Door, Hibiscus, Hangar One, North Face gear, Arizmendi, Hangar One/St. Georges Distillery, Yogurtland, Intermezzo, and the Pixar Exhibit (see previous post).

Pixar Obsession.

A few months back, around the time the Toy Story 3 came out, I caught a documentary of Pixar on A&E (I think?)...and the obsession began. 

 I fell in love with the way the company was ran, the players (particularly John Lassater), and the process.  They are the epitome of how movies should be made.  They take the time to cultivate stories, characters, and the world they live in.  They nurture creatives, building from the inside out, and taking the time to make quality films.  I applied for a job on the spot. 

I did get an email a few weeks later saying that they appreciated the resume, but that they were hiring someone else.  I figured it wasn't meant to be.  

Then this past weekend, while visiting my brother and his family in Berkeley -- we all went to the Oakland Museum to check out the Pixar exhibit.  It was...for lack of a better word...amazeballs.  First, it was incredible to take Otis (my 3 1/2 yr old nephew) around the exhibit and see it through his eyes.  As he turned each corner, he would audibly gasp at whatever new art appeared. They were his celebrities.  "ohhhh....its LIGHTNING..." or "Walllll-eeeeee"  But more than that, I was mesmerized by all that appeared in front of me as well.  Not only did I want to own everything I saw (it wasn't just the finished products, it was the thousands of different ways they got to that finished product...clay, collage, sketches, markers, wood models, photographs, etc...); it was also the realization that I liked everything they made....I never imagined animation being where I would end up career-wise (mainly because I can't draw), but the exhibit made me see that they are making the movies I always dreamed of making...the ones you watch over and over, the ones that transcend childhood to adulthood, the quality stories that are told better than anything else out there. 

And the obsession continued ... I bought the book of the exhibit, and promptly applied for two more jobs.  Keep your fingers crossed for me...and if you know anyone who works there...please let me know!

Check out these Pixar masterpieces: