Tuesday, November 30, 2010

An Evening Conversation with Jane Pauley & Meryl Streep

"Ich kann nicht wählen"

"I had a farm in Africa"

"I like my job, Sharon"

"Do you love her?"

"I'm still here"

I got a hole in one last year.  I was golfing with my brother (jealous witness) and his friend (witness to my brother’s jealousy) and a husband of a girlfriend.  I had purchased a foursome at a country club near the neighborhood I grew up in.  I purchased it at a silent auction to benefit an organization that helps family members of those with cancer.  My dad belonged to this club and he also died of cancer...this bid was a no brainer.  So, I assembled the foursome and proceeded to get a hole in one.  Amazing.  When I told my friend, she, who always thinks I’m extra lucky, asked if a piece of cake fell out of the sky as well…..

This November, more cake came out of the sky.  In the same week, I saw Barbra Streisand being interviewed live and then Jane Pauley interviewing Meryl Streep in person at the IU Auditorium in Bloomington, IN.  For a woman who grew up idolizing women of television and film, I was worried it was possibly the end of the world.


This special event in Bloomington was free and tickets were distributed almost instantly.  I was lucky enough to get four tickets and decided to take my mom and two buddies.  We travelled by car from Indianapolis to Bloomington and arrived on campus before the doors opened.  I was shocked to see the lines of folks stretching around the roundabout fountain on sidewalks.  Since the tickets were free, they were also GA (general admission) and so I think these folks meant business about seeing Jane and Meryl up close.  We ended up on the last row of the main floor.  We couldn’t see their faces, but their voices were perfect as the entire event was a literal interview by one of our country’s most famous television journalists and one of the world’s best actors.

Jane received a laugh right off with her first question of “how cool is it to be married to a Hoosier?”  Most of the audience knowing Jane is from Indianapolis as is Meryl’s husband, Don Gummer.  The conversation then led to them discussing how their lives mirror or overlap, for example, Jane’s husband, Garry Trudeau was at Yale the same time as Meryl.  From there, some time was spent on Meryl’s second career as a mother and how she has been able to maintain some level of separation between her world famous acting and persona to that of a mother of four.  At one point, we discover that even Streep has had a mini-van.   

I really enjoyed how Meryl talked about the fact that three of her children are pursuing acting.  Pauley basically asked if Meryl wants the same level of success and fame for her kids.  Streep said she hopes they have the kind of success where they are able to do great work, but can also walk the streets and maintain a level of anonymity.  I feel terrible for not remembering the actors she referenced, but basically the types of careers really good stage actors have.

Another standout moment was Streep’s telling of a story of fear when shooting Out of Africa, starring Robert Redford (who I also saw earlier in the week) and directed by Sidney Pollack (another Hoosier).   The story was about her real terror in doing the scene where she works with a lion and a whip.  Basically, the lion was not restrained and reacted wildly to one of the takes with the whip, resulting in a horrified Streep, but a pleased Pollack since he got the shot he needed.

I most liked Streep discussing her method, or lack of one when it comes to her craft.  She jokingly reviewed her time at Yale with instructors changing approaches with each year and Streep ultimately attributing her skills to the fact she’s a good observer of life.  She thinks that observing and wanting to learn about all and everything will only make you a better actor.  She also admitted she rarely feels like herself in interviews, including the session I witnessed.

By the end of the interview, Meryl was answering a few call out questions from the audience and the rest of us relished the fact we had intimate access to two modern day pop icons.  Aside from the magnitude of their fame, their “normalcy” resonated most with me.  I am so pleased when I finally meet or see the people I’ve placed on pedestals turn out to be nice folk.  Even in a live interview or talk, the best actors/writers/singers can’t hide egos, vanity or neurosis.  Ms. Pauley and Ms. Streep presented like sheer pros, but we all knew they would probably rather be at home with a good book and glass of something or other….but they came and delivered and by the end, we all felt like old friends.

I’m ready for my cake now.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Two Film Reviews -- Fair Game & RED

Fair Game stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.  Based on a true story, this film chronicles the unveiling of a covert CIA agent named Valerie Plame (Watts) by members of the White House under George W. Bush’s administration.  This illegal reveal was nudged by an article Plame’s husband writes for the New York Times.  Joe Wilson (Penn), a former diplomat, had visited Niger on a mission for the CIA and when national leaders were discussing the threat of WMD in Iraq, Wilson’s findings in Niger negated their “evidence.”  Basically, this movie is a glaring reminder that we really didn’t need to go to war with Iraq.  There were no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). 

The movie is good, not great.  I would have liked to see more of Plame at work, on missions in other countries.  The little we do see is fascinating and Watt’s performance is so good, you really want to see more.  Penn is always a pleasure to watch, but it’s also annoying that his character’s ego and drive to uncover the truth ruins his wife’s career in the CIA.  If you don’t get to the theatre to see this, it’s definitely worth renting.  If you’re a Bush/Cheney/Rove loyalist, you may want to skip it.  Sidebar, the make-up for the Rove character is hysterical.



I only went to see this for Helen Mirren, and that’s the only reason anyone should go.  Once you’re there for her, you’ll be like me and say “I wish there were more scenes with Helen.”  An added bonus is John Malkovich.  You may also say “I wish Helen and John had their own movie.”  

Welcome to my new blog!

Thank you for finding my blog!  I will be honest, this is all new to me, but that’s typical when it comes to the modern world of communication.  I recently purchased a new flip phone – that’s right, I like them – that has a full keyboard for texting.  You can imagine my pain in responding to texts before this purchase.  I digress.  This blog will contain reviews from my attendance at concerts, lectures and book readings.  I also hope to reflect on other entertainment topics, with the occasional thoughts on politics, other cultures and art.

While I don’t want to convince readers that I’m an authority on popular culture, I will say my past and present endeavors have given me enough experience to be “dangerous.”  In other words, I kind of know what I’m talking about.

In high school I was a thespian.  In college I studied television production and writing.  It was during my time as a university student that I realized criticism was an actual thing.  I really enjoyed all of my comparative literature courses, focusing on film theory and criticism.  I always wished I could earn a wage from watching and then thinking about movies – but I was scared to go down that path.  Instead, when I graduated from college, I looked for jobs that could get me close to the topics I loved, but would also pay me and give me health insurance.

I won’t bore you with details of my work to date, but here’s a big run on of professional experience…..public television, state fair marketing & promotions, NBA arena work, performing arts and currently transportation – with this last one, insert sound of needle scratching on a record.  It’s my current job in public transportation that enables me to discuss politics and government funding as well as people management.

In addition to my work experience, I also perform on the side….sing, that is.  I’m in a duo that does cover tunes from Sedaka to Prince and Michael Jackson to Van Morrison.  Am I good?  I’m funny and entertaining and when you’re out on a Friday night having a few drinks after work, I’m what the Dr. has ordered.

I live in Indianapolis, so many of my posts will reference my hometown.  I hope you enjoy my perspective.  If I had started this 10 years ago, I’m sure my reviews would be a little snarky, but I’m not.  I’ll be pretty positive and fair as I usually know what I’m getting into before I even go somewhere, see something or visit. 

I recently started blog reviews as the Occasional Reader for the Reader For Life blog.  You’ll often see some of my postings housed on that site as well.  If you’re all about books, then you should follow Reader for Life for the regular reviews of books, readings and book store visits.  Enjoy.