Who's Gonna Play Frank??

I loved the news this week that Martin Scorsese is set to make a biopic about one of my favorite celebrities of all-time: Francis Albert Sinatra.  Even better is the talk about who will play the chairman of the board on the big screen.  Of course, huge stars like Leo and Depp have been thrown around to take on the role, but a random poll in People Magazine has a 5 person list that includes Robert Pattinson from Twilight and Joe Jonas.  WTF!??!?!  There would be riots if some half-assed celeb got the chance to play Ole' Blue Eyes.

A good compilation of candidates can be found on Rolling Stone.  Here's my top 5 choices:

1) Leo DiCaprio - I still think he's severely underrated for how talented he is, and it is already proven that a Scorsese/Leo collaboration is good thing.  His portrayal as Howard Hughes is magnificent and the con man feel of "Catch Me If You Can" kinda works with Sinatra.

2) Johnny Depp - He is consistently one of the biggest movie stars in the world and would bring an excellent aura of importance to playing Sinatra, but he doesn't have the full charm of Frank that Leo does.

3) Sean Penn - Obviously, he's a little older but I think he has a good look for the older Sinatra. (who knows even what years of Sinatra's life this movie is going to cover).  With Benjamin Button technology out there, making Sean look younger for early life stuff would not be a problem.   Plus, he's got the acting hardware to back this choice up.

4) Edward Norton - Maybe not to the most likely choice, but the guy has wonderful acting chops.  Also, he's been doing too many random projects lately and needs something like this back in his wheelhouse.

5) DARK HORSE ALERT:  Chris Pine - Fresh off Star Trek, this guys has a PERFECT look for Frank.  He's the only lesser-known star that I think could actually pull this off.  If the star power isn't there, the look and feel needs to be authentic and I think would be with this guy.

Ok...let the debate begin.

Obama Displays Class to the Graduating Class of 09

President Obama gave the commencement address at Arizona State yesterday.  

{Quick side note/bragging: It so awesome to have a President (sitting or former) give your graduation speech.  Here's an article about President Clinton's speech at my Syracuse graduation in 2003 :)}

Back to Obama.  For those who don't remember, there's been a bunch of hoopla over this ASU speech since the university decided not to give the President an honorary degree.  Fats forward to the speech, Mr. Obama -- not surprising at all -- took the high road when he addressed the university's decision: 

"In all seriousness, I come here not to dispute the suggestion that I haven't yet achieved enough in my life. I come to embrace it; to heartily concur; to affirm that one's title, even a title like President, says very little about how well one's life has been led - and that no matter how much you've done, or how successful you've been, there's always more to do, more to learn, more to achieve."

I cannot imagine any other President in recent history admitting that having the title of "Most Powerful Person in the Free-World" says a little about how well they've led their life.  Is there any one on this planet with more humility than this guy?  He's amazing. 

Another great excerpt from his speech: 

"Many of our current challenges are unprecedented. There are no standard remedies, or go-to fixes this time around.

That is why we are going to need your help. We'll need young people like you to step up. We need your daring and your enthusiasm and your energy.

And let me be clear, when I say "young," I'm not just referring to the date on your birth certificate. I'm talking about an approach to life - a quality of mind and heart.

A willingness to follow your passions, regardless of whether they lead to fortune and fame. A willingness to question conventional wisdom and rethink the old dogmas. A lack of regard for all the traditional markers of status and prestige - and a commitment instead to doing what is meaningful to you, what helps others, what makes a difference in this world."

The full speech can be found here.

A Family Affair

I'm actually excited about "The Addams Family" coming to Broadway (The casting was officially announced this morning). It's probably more likely that this will end up being an overproduced musical in the vein of "Young Frankenstein" but it's kinda hard not to get excited for 2 of the best people I have ever seen perform live on stage: Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.  Previews start March 2010!

Biden's Gaffe in Newsweek

Just got this week's Newsweek in the mail and like always I flip to the Perspectives page right away.  I loved this cartoon from Mike Luckovich (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Come See Urinetown!!!!

As many of you know, I'm an Assistant Director at my alma mater, St. Joe's Prep.  Our latest production of "Urinetown" opens this week.  It's the 30th production director by Barrymore Award Winning Actor, Tony Braithwaite.  The Prep's drama program is very strong and this promises to be one of the best productions in school history.

As legendary LaSalle Univ. and current SJP basketball coach "Speedy" Morris once said, "The theater program at the Prep is the best coached team at the school."  Come see what Coach Morris and thousands of Cape and Sword followers already know -- there are high school students in your backyard putting on professional level entertainment.  Come support local arts, and who knows, you may see the next Mike Rady (SJP Drama '96-'99).

Get your tickets here.

Just When I Thought I Was Out....

He pulls me back in.  The trailer for the new Francis Ford Coppolla movie "Tetro" is out.  The style of it looks pretty bad ass.  My fear about this movie is this: it could be so amazing that it makes us forget about FFC doing "Jack" or it could be 2 hours of pretentious garbage.  Here's hoping for the former.

What I'm LOVING This Week...

Lots of videos.....

1)  More buzz about Black Dynamite, the hilarious looking blaxploitation film.  Pop candy (includes video clip) saw a screening of it this week and it opens Sept. 4th.  Can't Wait!

2)  I may be in the minority here, but I got really excited to see Julie and Julia after seeing the trailer.

3) Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury sing "Bosom Buddies."  Wonderful stuff.  Thanks AXB for passing this around.

4) Sister Mary Scullion, a nun in Philly, is among 'Time 100' most influential.

5) How is Adam West dealing with these tough economic times??

Batman Garage Sale with Adam West from Adam West

6) Watch Nyle Let the beat build.....this video was all done in one take!!!!!!!  You don't have to like hip hop to appreciate this shiznit.  Oh yeah, he's just an NYU senior.

7) And finally, not to down play the scariness of Swine Flu, but click here to find out if you have it.  At least the government hasn't gone into the vault and put some of these awful, but very funny PSA's about Swine flu from the 70's back on the air.