I thought he always looked younger than his 71 years, but I guess I've missed these more recent pictures of him?

RIP: Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen died Sunday, aged 84. He starred in many great films, none greater than Airplane!, a top-5 all-time comedy and the No. 1 movie using an exclamation point in the title.

Repossessed:

Naked Gun 33 & 1/3: The Final Insult:

Sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet:

Airplane!:

Surely you'll be missed, Shirley.

Jason Schwartzman

Wish I liked him but I don't! Is there something I'm missing about this guy? I've been watching Bored to Death and it's not great. Watching it is like watching an Encyclopedia Brown "mystery" come to life. Except with adults. Zach Galifianakis & Ted Danson are funny - but even they can't save the show. Jason Schwartzman is playing the same twerpy character that annoyed me so much in Rushmore. People seem to really like that movie but I couldn't finish it. Jason's character was like a less funny Clifford.

He was recently on Fresh Air. You should really listen take a listen. I think we all know that he is cousins with Sofia Coppola and Nicholas Cage. I didn't know that his mom is Francis Ford Coppola's sister, Talia Shire. She was best known for her roles as Connie in the Godfather movies and Adrian in the Rocky movies. Terry Gross tries to pull something - anything! - from him to talk about growing up in the Coppola family. Jason Schwartzman completely dismisses it. I can understand that he wants to be judged on his own merits, but seriously! He got his first audition with Wes Anderson from a family friend. I feel like he can't deny that it helped to be part of a successful Hollywood family. I guess I would like to see him embrace them more because I don't believe he is that talented to begin with. At least if he embraced and thanked them I could understand why he is famous.

Other things to listen for in the interview - Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman bonded over their love of an album called Pinkerton from a band called Weezer. CrAzY. He also co-wrote the song for Bored to Death. The song and his describing of "his process" for writing it pretty much sealed the deal that I am not a fan.

Will this Wednesday ever end??????

I know - this site has really "jumped the shark" and "everyone and their mom knows about it", but I used to love fluffernutter sandwiches.

*~*~*~* CrUsH @lert *~*~*~*

Well ladies and germs, my crush is none other than the fabulous Bill Pullman. Do I even have to talk about how great he is? We loved him as Kat's dad in Casper. And we loved him as the furniture-making, bad-with-words-yet-charming Jack in While You Were Sleeping.

The thing about Bill is that he could walk down the street and maybe not even be recognized, yet he's done a million movies. I also loved him in a League of Their Own, which holds a special place in my heart. It was really moving when I saw it in the theater, especially because I was eight!

Bill is classically handsome, always has great hair, and yet still looks approachable and friendly. And some how, deep in my heart, I just know he's a great guy! Here's a pic of him with his lovely wife, you go Bill!

Movies in prison 2

The other day I published the list of ladies to watch on screen while languishing in prison for a life sentence. It was a crime I didn't commit. The warden likes me; he asked for a list of 5 women in film. He got all their movies. Today the warden is going for the men. If you know me, you know who'll win. If you don't know me, you'll be glad of that. Here's the list:

Most likely to make this list someday: Johnny Depp. Except for the second Pirates movie, I have never seen a Depp movie I didn’t enjoy. That includes most of his oeuvre. His weirdness appeals to me, another weird guy. How does he not have an Oscar?

#5: James Stewart

Everybody loves Jimmy Stewart. He’s the nice uncle you wish you had. Or Grandpa. He’s got roles in at least 3 “Greatest ______ Movie of All Time.” He’s one of the most-impersonated actors ever. If Frank Capra and Alfred Hitchcock love you, you’re a great actor and you will appear in great movies. He's the most likely to calm that prison riot raging outside your cell.

#4: Tom Hanks

Saving Private Ryan and Toy Story are terrific. I’ve seen Apollo 13 more times than any other movie. But Tom gets credit for his ability to make me chuckle, like he did in Big, The ‘burbs, and The Money Pit. Plus, he loves space. I hope he appears in more space flicks in the future. If I want to imagine myself as far away from my hellish prison life as possible, I can't go further than space.

#3: Michael Caine

I was surprised too when he ended up here. But he knows how to entertain with movies like A Bridge Too Far, Alfie, and The Man Who Would Be King. I’ll level with you. He makes the list for The Dark Knight. Batman, will you spring me from this nightmare?

#2: Sean Connery

There was never any doubt about him. I’ll watch anything he’s in. Like the third Indiana Jones, Highlander and The Rock. He’s always cool on screen, and that voice, I love it. And wasn’t there some fellow named Bond? Speaking of voices, number 1 is…

#1: Arnold Schwarzenegger

I said you didn’t want to know. Arnie will replace Stewart as the most-impersonated actor ever. Well, “actor.” Would you call his performance in Twins and Kindergarten Cop acting? I love his ability to defeat machines, aliens and even Satan. As if a puny human could pose a threat. I watch everything he’s in. I wish he wasn’t off trying to save the real world.

*~*~*~* CRUSH @lert *~*~*~*

Too many crushes lately!! This one couldn't go undocumented when I found out that Neil Patrick Harris is going to be a guest judge on American Idol next year! As if I didn't love him enough already!! Confession: I watch How I Met Your Mother and I like it. It can be a little cheesy at times, but overall the show is fun to watch. More fun than Friends' reruns or any other sitcom on these days. The gimmick about who the mother will be keeps me interested, but it's Neil Patrick Harris' character of Barney that keeps me tuning in.

Pic via

He hosted the Tony Awards this year, which I didn't see but heard was hilarious. I'll bet! So I'm excited to see him host the Emmys. You need a good host at these things or else they really do feel like 4 hours. I don't want to brag, but Neil Patrick and I are practically related. We sat in the same room together. Yes, it's true! Senior year of college I was in New York and my friends and I were having brunch and in walked Neil Patrick Harris. HE SAT NEXT TO US. AND ORDERED A STRAWBERRY WAFFLE. I was caddy corner to his seat so I was trying not to make eye contact, but that's almost impossible. Especially since he was with what looked like his boyfriend at the time and he hadn't come out yet. Also, since it was 2006 I'm not sure if How I Met Your Mother was on, but I hadn't seen the show yet. I'll remember that brunch 4eva.

ps - Barney's blog.

Video from CBS. No copyright infringement intended.

Movies in prison

As you know, there are few things I love more than a movie list. This time, I’m talking actors (and actresses, but I’m using the term for both). The premise: I’m in jail and only allowed to watch the movies of 5 different actors. Whom do I choose?

I wanted a list of talented and varied people. These are not lists of my 5 favorite or best actors, but 5 actors whose films could entertain me the longest.

First the women. Let’s go:

Most likely to make this list someday: Kate Winslet. She has several Oscar nods, a range of films, and a beautiful body. She’ll act for another 30 years.

#5: Marilyn Monroe

She is the most iconic actress who ever lived. I’ve seen just a couple of her films, but I think I could stand more (wink). She was the master of the innocent sex-bomb. Has anyone pulled that off before or since half as well? She’s not the greatest actress, but in everything she did she was hot. That’s enough to fuel my interest and erase my memories of my prison cellmate.

#4: Katherine Hepburn

She won four acting Oscars, more than any other woman or man. Her voice is as iconic as Marilyn’s body. People love her because she commands attention on screen. Whether she was paired with Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Jimmy Stewart or Humphrey Bogart, Hepburn held her own. Her career lasted so long; it means I’ll have plenty of films to plough through during those boring years after I’ve read everything in the library—twice.

#3: Julianne Moore

One of two working actresses on this list. She’s mostly there for her turn in The Big Lebowski. I’d watch it every day and not tire of it. She acts in comedies, thrillers and powerful dramas. I can choose funny or serious, depending on whether or not I won that cafeteria fight that day.

#2: Bette Davis

With more than 100 IMDb film credits I could spend months watching all her flicks the first time. With movies like All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? I could come back for more. Her personal life fascinates as well. When she learned her brother-in-law was a recovering alcoholic, she sent him dozens of liquor cases as a wedding gift. A personality that deranged is bound to seep through on screen. I would take tips from her about how to psychologically destroy the cell-block guards.

#1: Faye Dunaway

Eighty movies and counting. Faye looks like one of my grandmothers. An interesting side-note for the woman who starred in Chinatown and Network, two of the best-scripted films ever made. I love Network; it’s a comedy of the blackest kind. Her best movies are pure joys, enough to black out the nightmares of the prison shower.