WHAT NOW?

Thanks, Mr. Pres!

Those of us who care about the arts were admittedly nervous as to the usual push for funding: after all, this is not exactly the environment for merrily handing out cash to non-essentials. But, I, among many, did continue to remind whomever I could our artistic legacy and future should not be sacrificed just because it isn’t an economic matter of life and death.

So: what would the Obama administration do? How would they show support for the nation’s also needy musicians, dancers, writers, painters and dramatists? Would they even care at all?

Oh yes, indeed: those savvy White House people have managed to do the right thing without having to hand out the big bucks. The recent evening with Stevie Wonder and friends wasn’t just a salute to one of our greatest musical legends, but was telecast, free, on PBS. Tonight’s “poetry jam”, featuring James Earl Jones, Michael Chabon and Broadway’s Lin-Manuel Miranda among others, will be broadcast live at www.whitehouse.gov. While they may be competing against Simon Cowell and those basketball playoffs, the effort and support is very much appreciated. Thanks, guys!

Hair

 Maybe we haven’t changed all that much: Diane Paulus’s glorious revival of the seminal ‘60’s musical still rocks both the house and the soul.

When I first saw this production, in New York’s Central Park, a full moon shone overhead, lighting up a cloudless sky. It was also September 11th: the memorial lights, shining from Ground Zero soared amazingly right behind the stage. And the intensity of the upcoming Presidential election, plus the uncertainty as to our future in Iraq permeated the crowd. Those of us lucky enough to get the free tickets to this hottest seat in town were psyched, sad, scared and much in need of cathartic community. And wow: did we get it that night.

So, I was especially curious to see how this Hair would translate its move into the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Would the audience interaction still delight? Would the new members to the cast be as infectious? Would I love the show as much as I did the first time?

The answers: yes, yes and yes.

Broadway baby Gavin Creel makes a wrenchingly sweet Vietnam bound Claude: he’s a dandy addition to the Park veterans Darius Nichols, Bryce Ryness and Kacie Sheik, just to name a few. He’s also a wonderful counterpoint to the arresting Will Swenson, who’s outstanding as Berger. It takes a lot of charm to run up the aisle of a theater, tickle some old guy under the chin and get away with it and each cast member seems to do just that. But while it’s grand to sing the praises of this group of actors and the infectious joyful angst they bring to each of their roles, we should not forget the piece itself. So many lesser stagings have just relied on the memorable score and wacky Hippie costumes; there is more to this piece than that. Nostalgic for sure, but Hair, at its core, is also a testament to the exuberance and disillusionment of youth, no matter what we label the generation.

                                                                    Ron Silver                           Natasha Richardson

Ron and Natasha

What a perfectly awful couple of days this has been. Ron Silver dying; now Natasha Richardson.

Ron was one of the most passionate people I have ever met. Talking with him was always, even if you met by accident in a hotel lobby or airport, an intense one on one. You didn’t just talk about Ron’s latest acting project: you got into world events, inequities of the Oscar nominations, and detailed explanations of the rich and powerful on the philanthropic circuit. Ron was interested and fully engaged in each and every aspect; his eyes would sparkle with a gleeful indignation. And, whether your views aligned with his or not, he would take time, ok maybe just a bit of it, to listen to what you had to say. I was glad to see so many bloggers and obits referencing not just Ron’s outspoken turns on politics, but also his devotion to his craft. Ron was a terrific actor, harnessing that passion into even the smallest role. But he also made it a point to take care of his fellow actors, serving as President of Actors Equity. Ron was exhausting, exhilarating and always in a bit of a hurry. Maybe he knew all he wanted to accomplish in so little time.

When I first met Natasha, I, frankly, was a bit nervous. Here was a beautiful, gracious young woman, just stepping onto the career ladder that had made generations of her family legendary. But Natasha could not have been more lovely, ushering me into her home, offering tea and settling in, legs tucked underneath her, for a good long chat. We had a ball. She even spoke, quite directly, I thought, about her parents: the devotion she maintained for her Aids stricken father, Tony, and the unfettered love she felt for her mother, the superbly talented and politically controversial Vanessa Redgrave. Natasha and I would see each other occasionally over the years, sometimes for structured interviews, sometimes just “around”, as New Yorkers tend to do. She always appeared serenely happy. My heart just breaks for her family.

Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins wants to make you the Biggest Winner. Given what’s going on in the world these days, that sounds pretty good to me.

I was always curious about this fire waking life coach: a magnetic looking man who attracted celebrity endorsements like flies to honey. How did he get Andre Agassi back to number 2 in the world, Bill Clinton to invite him to for a personal seminar and Quincy Jones to testify on his behalf? Was it all some very expensive secret, or was Robbins’ guidance something we could all benefit from?

So, when I got the e mail, offering an interview, I just couldn’t resist: here was my chance to, frankly, feel the guy out. Was he, as detractors like the famously detractful Amazing Randi says, a sham? Or is Tony Robbins the real thing?

I was only given a few minutes to find out. Robbins is, after all, a busy guy. His companies produce seminars, DVDs, and downloadable coaching. Tony also has just signed on with the same producers who’ve made The Biggest Loser such a success for a training reality show of his own on NBC. And the Anthony Robbins Foundation, which reaches out to a wide range of individuals and programs, is a one of the most highly respected charities in the country. So, considering the time element, I dove right in. Nice-to-meet-you-now-how-do-we-help-people-who’re-suffering-in-this-economic-crisis?

And here’s what Tony said:

Yes, everyone from the billionaire to the barber is feeling this, BUT: see things as they are, don’t make it worse than it is: don’t look for the worst possible scenario. Instead, think of crisis as crucible: it’s time to reformulate and focus on what’s important.

“OK”, I said, “but how do you do that?”

And then Robbins laid it out.

Step 1. Take control of your mind. Keep perspective, go to the library (it’s free) and do the research.

Step 2. Condition your body. (this is where his firewalk stuff comes in: as for me, I’d rather take a walk in the park)

Step 3. Get a role model.

Step 4. Make a plan.

Step 5. Put it into effect.

Or, to summarize, it’s all about attitude, strategy and action.

Pfew. But, sounds pretty reasonable, doesn’t it? Of course, there are details. And maybe Tony, himself, could be your role model (he has walked the walk on this). Check out his new DVD series, The Edge. Go to a seminar (if you call 866-768-7845 and mention my name, you can get a discount), or check out the web site, www.tonyrobbins.com/power. The title is The Power to Change Your Life Now. Sounds promising, doesn’t it?

August: Osage County

Whoever believes the adage “misery loves company” will surely get a kick out of the appreciative laughter that roars from the audience watching this family do its thing. Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play is still kicking strong on Broadway, even as its writer is toiling away at the soon to start filming screenplay. And what a grand thing that is.

Currently filling out the lusty cast, veterans John Cullum, Brian Kerwin, Guy Boyd and Frank Wood.  But, while the men are notable here, it’s the women who are the most fully realized and realize the most. A superb Johanna Day (who’ll look familiar to those who check out those judges on Law and Order) makes eldest daughter Barbara’s struggle supremely funny and powerful: and then there’s Estelle Parsons. An actress who has no bones about her age (she’s 81), this remarkable woman not only zips around the triplex set, but brings just the right venomous energy to her matriarchal motherlode, insuring the legacy of “Violet Weston” as a most vivid classic.

Michele Obama's dress

Yes, it’s all about the dress.

Full disclaimer: I thought Michelle Obama looked great, carrying off forward thinking designs I would never be brave enough to even try on, let alone wear out of the house. But especially in light of the however momentary glory of “Yes, We Can”, the talk about the dress has dragged us back into the days of “Not So Fast, Sister”.

Why the sniping about the color of the Toledo outfit? And those mixed reviews for the Wu gown? Fashion critics immediately dispatched to the cable networks, talons honed, ready to grab their own 15 seconds of fame, to be earned by injecting a note of superior negativity into the love fest that was the inauguration coverage. Even so-called ordinary women posted comments on line, tsk tsking about this or that. While professional garment industry veterans do have the knowledge and responsibility to comment on the First Lady’s important fashion choices (after all, her decisions will impact yet another industry that desperately needs a boost), I, frankly, am appalled by the glee with which some women have jumped on the nit picking bandwagon. Whatever happened to sisterly support? Can’t we honor that spirit for at least for 24 hours?

And then, there were the men on television: nearly all of whom I saw chose this part of the story to boast of their ignorance, tossing to the women on the set because, of course, they would be the ones to handle this “silly” little subplot. Like a man never noticed how a woman looked when she walked into a room. In this matter, here, again, the President has reminded us how a classy guy acts. Introducing his wife at the Neighborhood Ball, Mr. Obama beamed, “How good-looking is my wife?” Did you hear that, gentlemen?

Newseum

So many ironies, so little time. Just as Barak Obama’s election to the Presidency of the United States has revived newspaper passion (at least for a day, with lines of people waiting to buy copies of what they hope will be heirlooms), the industry itself is in terrible financial straights, laying off workers, pairing production schedules, canceling editions altogether. So it was not just gratifying, but a little sad, watching visitors to Washington DC’s remarkable Newseum gaze at the posted front pages from all over the world: after all, who knows if, a year from now, some of the these papers will even be in print?

Still, it is great entertainment and a wonderful, multi-layered experience to visit the impressive Newseum, an awesome 250,000 square foot glass structure (transparency, anyone?) located right near the more staid Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. Inside, not only do we get a breathtaking view of the US Capitol, but also a family friendly history of the news business.

Like the exhibits, say, at Disney, there are all sorts of “hands-on”, interactive experiences here, highlighted with a 4-D (your regular 3-D with moving seats) movie about journalists Nelly Bly and Edward R. Murrow. There’s also an area where you can be a TV reporter yourself and, of course, buy a copy of your big debut.

But the parts of the permanent collection that stirred me the most were clearly aimed at adult attendees. It’s pretty cool to look at pieces of the actual Berlin Wall; it’s more pertinent to hear how journalists covered the stories of it being built and then removed. So, too, is it wrenching to watch the film made about the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York, but also appropriate (to this museum) to include how a few of the journalists at the World Trade Center that day brought us what they did. Particularly fascinating is the short film accompanying the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs; not only do we see these famous, haunting pictures, but we meet some of the people who shot them and hear the stories that lead to their accomplishments. The tragically expanding wall of glass commemorating journalists killed in the line of their duty quietly highlights the devotion of those who literally gave all for their freedom of the press.

As a journalist myself, I was a bit nervous that this museum would be just a touch prejudiced, exposing an ego-centric “aren’t we great” attitude. Happily, the reigns have been pulled in. Mistakes are reported, some “bad guy” journalists are called out and there’s even an ethics center, allowing lay people to understand what some of the challenges are to the job.

While I would clearly be more of a receptive audience to a museum saluting the profession I love, there is no doubt the savvy concept of the Newseum would dazzle the average visitor, too. The bottom line behind the razzle dazzle is that there’s serious stuff going on in reporting the news; journalists are, in effect, reporting history and it is that history lesson that makes this museum as meaningful as it is darn good fun.

Tony Curtis’s new memoir, American Prince

Sex. Say what you want about Tony Curtis’s new memoir, American Prince, but, while the story here does include memories of his New York childhood, his early days as a rising star in the studio system, and lots of no bs about co-stars, basically, this is a story about sex. With people we’ve heard of.

Not that that isn’t kind of fun. Natalie Wood, Gloria DeHaven, Susanne Pleshette, Janet Leigh (the first of his many wives), and, most famously, Marilyn Monroe were among the countless women who found Curtis irresistible enough to, shall we delicately say, cozy up to. Many movie fans of the day, I’m sure, can relate, as this leading man was one of the leading box office heart throbs of his time.

What I found more interesting were the stories of how Hollywood worked back in the 50’s and 60’s, Curtis’s hunger for respect as an actor, not just a romantic leading man, and some of the very inside, and irresistible tidbits about Marlon Brando, Laurence Olivier, Frank Sinatra and the Betty Ford Center. And, especially considering the respect earned for his late in life paintings, I would have loved to have heard how Curtis discovered his passion and what it means to him.

Guess that’s not as “sexy” as recalling a roll in the trailer with a stunning costar, though.

Mickey Rourke

I’ll admit it: it was me.

I was the one who asked the question, to Mickey Rourke, at the New York Film Festival press conference after the screening of The Wrestler; the question about his reputation, the precariousness of his stature in the industry, how he felt about stepping back into the ring, as it were, and delivering one of the most haunting, powerful performances to hit the screen in years.

Rourke’s answer, the one with all the passion and anguish, has been tearing up the internet ever since. Yes, he has addressed his past issues of abuse, pain and insecurity with some other outlets, but none, I guess, reached this many hungry journalists, all of whom were looking for a story.

I have never raised my hand in a press conference before. Frankly, I’ve been spoiled by my years of one on one, very personal conversations. I’ve gotten lots of people to talk about lots of things. That’s what I do. But the movie press world doesn’t work that way anymore. And, when the questions at yesterday’s event bored in on the details as to whether Rourke really took those staples to the body (yes, he did, by the way) and how did Marisa Tomei learn to pole dance, I just couldn’t help myself. There was an elephant in the room and I, for one, just couldn’t ignore it.

Mickey Rourke burst into star status with memorable turns in movies like Diner, Rumble Fish and The Pope of Greenwich Village. As his personal life began to spin out of control, so did his film career. I saw a glint of the old Mickey when he showed up, almost unrecognizable, as Marv in Sin City. But this achingly good performance, as the battered performer, desperate to hold onto his dignity, puts Rourke back in the big leagues, big time.

I made it a point to grab a more personal second with the actor, as he was being escorted from the arena; I mean the press conference, surrounded by handlers. I thanked him for being so open, so direct about his struggles and his appreciation for the opportunity he has been given once again. I also told him I hoped he hadn’t felt pushed too far by my question, in too vulnerable a situation. Grabbing my hand, Rourke smiled and promised, “no, it’s ok.” I mean, I f…ed up and it’s great that I can play the game now. I guess I just gotta toe the line, behave, you know?”

I suppose I do. I hope he can. We all need someone to believe in us and with this performance, Rourke, once again, is going to have a lot of people in his corner.

Paul Newman

Perhaps my earliest and strongest memory of Paul Newman was not as a galloping cowboy, a disappointed contender or a hustling pool shark. I think, instead, it was of Paul Newman the political activist, the man who showed up at a fundraiser for a candidate who never made it to Congress, a decent man who needed some star power, and Newman gamely traveled Connecticut to lend his.

Not that I was at the party. I was too young, but my parents and all their friends (even the Republicans) got all dressed up and paid their way into a neighbor’s living room. Not to listen to the candidate, mind you, but to be close to the icon, those blue eyes whose actions were to speak louder than the few words he muttered when he stood up and made his introductions.

Many years later, I mentioned this to Mr. Newman (or Paul, as he preferred I call him, but somehow, I just couldn’t). Shockingly modest about his own artistic accomplishments, once we got onto politics, the fun began. And boy did those blue eyes sparkle. So much has been said about Newman’s underappreciated acting, his remarkable philanthropy and game sportsmanship. But I will never forget the infectious passion he had for politics. As we all will in so many other ways, I will also miss him for what he might have brought to the teetering political table today.

Albert Clayton Gaulden

Since the world does not revolve around movies alone (shocking, I know), I did get just a wee bit concerned, watching President Bush announce he was sending troops on a humanitarian mission to Georgia. The old “once-they-go-in” think. But then the phone rang and my friend, Albert Clayton Gaulden, put my fears to rest. “No”, he said. “The Americans are not going to go in to this situation.”

Albert does have a way of cutting to the chase. Author, lecturer and founder of The Sedona Intensive™, Gaulden describes himself as an astro-intutitive. As much as I understand that title (he begins talking to you, astrology chart in hand), I much prefer his other “handle”: that of transpersonal psychologist. Because Albert, who has been in recovery himself  for coming on 29 years, approaches all subjects with compassion and a surprising bluntness. He just doesn’t let you get away with stuff. When the subject of Oprah Winfrey’s thyroid-influenced weight gain comes up, Albert is careful to note that he knows Oprah’s got “a great heart” and “she does some very wonderful things”, but also makes no bones about the fact that “it isn’t your thyroid, girlfriend, it’s the fried chicken.”

What ticks Gaulden off the most is lying. And he thinks we all have had enough of that, both in what we expect from ourselves and from our leaders. Drawing from the Bible, Albert believes the love of money is the root of all evil. But there’s good news, too. We are about, he believes, to go into what he calls a “massive reconstruction”, getting back to the fundamentals that made America what it is, not the living on credit mentality that has been building in our society since the 1960s and 70s. “We aren’t victims,” he states. When emotion is what he calls falsely identified, that leads to over consumption. Or, as he plainly puts it, “it ain’t what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you!” He predicts Americans are really hungry for community, a kind of less is more perspective. It will take another year or so, but the price of oil will drop into the $80 region, we’ll also be paying $2.80 - $3.00 a gallon again then, too.

OK, smart guy, so let’s go for the big cahuna: who’s going to be the next Presdient of the United States? Gaulden has done the charts, read the stars and come up with some interesting points. McCain, he feels, is not a happy man, has a tough time trusting emotions and feelings, and has difficulty with women. Obama has greater momentum. And he, according to Albert, is going to win the election.

So what about all the “experts” who say this country is afraid to elect a black man, I ask.

“I grew up in the South”, Albert says. “We can cross the threshold; I think we’re ready.

I believe in the American people. And I keep telling people Obama will live to serve two terms. And you know what I mean by that!”

“Is Barak perfect?” he continues. “Absolutely not. But does he have great integrity? Will he surround himself with great people? Absolutely. That’s one of the things I like the best about him; he and Michelle? They’re the real thing. And those little girls? They all love each other. It’s a real family.”

But here’s the kicker. I told Albert people might take all of this the way they take so many other prognosticators; he’s a Democrat, spreading the word for his guy. “I’ve never voted for a Democrat, until I promised a business partner I would vote for Gore. I even voted for Bush, for every Republican, except that one time, till this time. But this time, it’s different”.

Deepak Chopra

It’s been several days now and I still can’t get my conversation with Deepak Chopra out of my mind.

Ostensibly, of course, we sat down in his New York office to talk about his new novel, Why is God Laughing?, but when you chat

with Chopra, no good conversation (or good topic) goes unturned. The breadth of his knowledge and experience is astounding and what

fun it was to bounce from subjects like happiness to healthcare in America, back to the seriousness of comedians, onto a recent study he was involved with that focused on international relations. Some highlights: Deepak’s actually a funny guy. And he loves a good joke as much as I do.

But, the world isn’t all fun and games. I started out small, asking how a person can be a responsible citizen, open and aware, and yet

protect himself from an almost contagious panic about things like our safety, economy and environment. OK: not your usual chitchat,

but Chopra dove right in, explaining anxiety comes from fear and that fear is a product of our society. We make a lot of money from

fear, selling everything from too many pharmaceuticals and too many blood tests to too many guns and horror movies. If a person’s goal is happiness, not naiveté, that can be reached several different ways. One is by employing bio feedback, a method Chopra insists can be accomplished in ten minutes. But there are do-it-yourself alternatives, such as meditation and exercise. A happy person feels confident, safe and able to be productive.  And that leads to prosperity, as you define it for yourself. Get it?

What about the state of our physical health care in America? Deepak’s take? Not what I expected. Instead of ruminating on the lack of availability of insurance, the high cost of medicines and the like, he offered up a different perspective. Yes, he reminded me, he has seen women go into the fields, crouch down and have their babies. They don’t know they are supposed  to be in debilitating pain, screaming for epidurals. And, sure, pharmaceuticals can be an excellent road to wellness, but, once you’re on the right road, doing well, why do you have to show up for blood tests and exams every three months? Go once a year, maybe even once every five years. As an endocrinologist, he feels that can be enough.

And then there’s the little matter of world peace. As a member of the faculty at Gallup University, Chopra was involved in a survey done by the venerable polling group. In it, they questioned citizens of the Mid-East, asking what they felt would help mend relations. The answer, essentially, was conversation; long standing enemies talking, treating each other with respect. When I reminded him that Senator Obama got in trouble on the campaign trail for suggesting such a thing, Deepak smiled. “When President Obama takes office, hopefully, he will be able to fulfill his mission”.

Hmmm….messages of happiness, confidence, respect and a joke or two? Could it be Chopra’s the real love guru, indeed?

We Can Solve the Climate Crisis        

                 What do you think deserves more attention? Let me know at:

         Joanna@themovieminute.com