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KPBS Film Club reviews IL DIVO, WHATEVER WORKS, PUBLIC ENEMIES, THE HURT LOCKER and PONTYPOON

July 9th, 2009 by Scott Marks

Toni Servillo in “Il Divo”

Wendy, I’m home!

After a viscous virus that lasted fifteen day and spanned three Staples stores my computer is finally clean. Real clean. Like my conscience. Nice to be back.

So much has happened in the past two weeks, but nothing was more shocking than the passing of an architect of entertainment, an international icon who redefined an art form, and an industry giant. Of course, I refer to Kaiser of Copycats, the late, great Fred Travalena. The impressionist was dubbed “The Man of a Thousand Faces” for his uncanny ability to ape not only celebrity voices, but their anthroposcopy as well.

Mr. T died three days after Farrah Fawcett and already there is talk of a “Good Sports” curse. Mr. Travalena starred opposite Ms. Fawcett in the series premiere. In addition, the 1991 sitcom starred William Katt whose career died ages ago. There is also a Michael Jackson connection. Travalena appeared as Jacko on the 1992 MTV Music Video Awards. I have yet to unearth a link to Gale Storm or Billy Mays.

The impersonator will always have a warm spot in my heart for a blinding display of in-joke absurdity. Jim Nabors as played by Fred Travalena as played by Dave Thomas on SCTV’s “The Merv Griffith Show” was the first thing that came to mind when news hit of the entertainer’s passing. Fred Travalena was 61.

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While Michael Jackson was being interred I was in mid-turd watching “Adam,” a Lifetime disease-of-the-week movie erroneously being released in theaters. I only caught swatches of the funeral and if there is humor to be found in tragedy, take a look at the ghoulish getup Corey Feldman wore.

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This month’s Film Club aired on June 30. I am proud to say that business for “Il Divo” rose dramatically after Beth and I gave it an audiogenic bj. Sadly, the show aired on a Tuesday and Landmark’s bookings are put to bed on Mondays. The film only lasted one week at the Ken.

Kudos to Beth for unearthing “Pontypoon,” a Canadian zombie film (without any onscreen zombies) currently playing On Demand.

Fred Travalena on “Merv”

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Random thoughts on Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Richard Nixon and “Il Divo”

June 26th, 2009 by Scott Marks

Last month my computer died. This month, my new computer caught a virus. It’s in the shop, as they say, and I should get it back by Tuesday. AAARGH! If I’m gone over the next few days, you will know why. In the meantime here are a few random thoughts concerning movies and names in the news.

For those of you living in San Diego, Paolo Sorrento’s “Il Divo,” my vote for best picture of the year (until “Shutter Island” arrives) opens today at Landmark’s Ken Cinema, It’s a whopping tale of a stagnant leader the likes of which I haven’t seen since Bertolucci’s ”The Last Emperor” and at 105 minutes it’s tied with “Land of the Pharaohs” as one of the shortest epics on record. Unless you are an expert on Italian politics, this will require a second, third and fourth viewing.

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An earlier tape finds Bob wishing Mr. President a Happy Birthday

News arrived earlier in the week that fresh excerpts from the Watergate tapes were going to be released. I sat through an hour of Anderson Cooper to find one 30-second clip concerning Nixon’s thoughts on abortion read by the host.

Thursday I was all fired up when Chris Matthews took to the airwaves with actual audio portions. First thing out the gate, Bob Hope, right here!

Hey, Bob put in a call to the Oval Office and he and President Nixon talked briefly about the 1973 release of POWs:

NIXON: You know, it makes—you know, after all the business that you and I have taken through the years, it makes you feel pretty good, doesn‘t it?
BOB HOPE: Oh boy. Oh, it‘s just—it‘s (AUDIO GAP) a thrill. It‘s just a thrill.
NIXON: And the main thing is, apart from—apart from the personal thing, Bob, it‘s so good for the country. The country could not lose this war.
(INTERFERENCE)
NIXON: We had to win it.
HOPE: What they did for this country, you know, this—and it emanates from you, your strength and how right you were.
NIXON: Our enemies respect us. Our allies now trust us.
HOPE: Isn‘t that something?

Minutes after this tape was broadcast, Michael Jackson was dead.

A source close to RH2 Entertainment, who begged that his name not be divulged, told EC that Mr. Hope was reluctant to let this news leak out. In light of that “commie punk Obama’s” efforts to undo George W. Bush’s fine work, Mr Hope felt that if this information were to fall into the wrong hands it would bring about a speedier resolution to the war.

Hope needed a diversion. Instead of bringing down another public landmark and risking the lives of thousands of Americans, Ol’ Ski Nose put out a hit on the Gloved One.

Bob was there to meet MJ at the Pearly Gates. The two shook hands and as Bob patted Jacko on the shoulder he leaned in and whispered in his ear, “I thought it would be a good career move for you.”

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Was there a greater, more subliminally seductive masturbatory aid in the 70s than this poster. (Look carefully and you’ll see the word “S-E-X” airbrushed into Farrah’s locks.) Farrah Fawcett did for hair what James Dean did for red jackets and John Travolta mechanical bulls.

She was beautiful, but sadly forgettable. I never watched more than a few minutes of “Charlie’s Angels” and her film career wasn’t much to speak of. (The only two Farrah features I own are “Myra Breckinridge” and “Cannonball Run 2.”) Her beauty made such a strong impact that she remained in the headlines throughout her career. Sadly, the last decade was marked by news of scandal and sorrow in her relationship with Ryan O’Neal. She was the textbook example of what happens to a starlet once they lose their looks. Megan Fox take heed.

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So many people asked me why the Academy decided to up the stakes from 5 best picture nominees to 10. It’s so obvious. There are still a lot of fans out there that insist on seeing every best picture nominee. Since the industry has fallen on hard times Sid Ganis and the boys at Oscar, Inc. decided to boost attendance by doubling the amount of nominees. Don’t buy into this nonsense that the Academy was pressured into expanding the field by those who believe the best picture should be the biggest blockbuster. They could nominate 50 films and “The Dark Knight” would still not take home the gold.

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See you next Tuesday, unless they fix my computer sooner.

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