"They Say I'm Crazy, But I Have a Good Time..."

Apparently, Nicholas Cage was arrested in the Big Easy this morning. He was charged with disturbing the peace ("Alice's Restaurant" style) and domestic abuse while filming a movie in New Orleans, and is scheduled to appear in court on May 31. Now, I know there are a lot of folks out there who hate on Nick Cage because of his acting, but let me just say that when properly cast - either as a recidivist hick, a tormented baker, or a treasure hunter - Nick Cage does a fabulous job. So I'm sort of hoping he can get his act together and keep from going downhill, as many of his celebrity predecessors have done in the past.

We have an odd fascination in this country with the misdeeds and shenanigans of celebrities. Why? I have no idea. The answer a lot of people give is that we love to see people more successful and talented than ourselves suffer and fall apart, but I think that answer is pretentious, disturbing, and totally beneath the human race, so I'm not going to back it up. Honestly, I think we just love good stories - and the fact is, a lot of those good stories start with mug shots. 

Below I have included a fascinating collection of celebrity mug shots. These photos prove the old adage, a picture's worth a thousand words. So come on, take a look - you know you can't help yourself. :)

LEFT: Legendary comic George Carlin, taken after he was arrested for performing his famous, groundbreaking comic routine about the Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Television. Sure, quite a few of these words are acceptable to say on TV today. But back then, something like this was considered pretty saucy.

RIGHT: Iconic blues singer (and member of the 27 club) Janis Joplin, taken after she was arrested for yelling obscenities during a concert. Charges against her were later dropped after it was determined that her tirades were an exercise in free speech. Seriously, if I had a nickel for everyone who was arrested for free speech issues in the '60s, I could buy Janis's fabulous car and turn it into my very own furniture set.

LEFT: Super talented former child star Haley Joel Osment, taken after crashing his car and subsequently being charged with drunk driving and marijuana possession. Osment has had quite a history of struggles with drugs and alcohol, but he has since cleaned up his act something fierce. Initially, he enrolled in a mandatory alcohol education class - as well as rehab - and, in 2010, graduated from the esteemed Tisch School of the Arts in NYC.

RIGHT: This one just tickles me. This is Bill Gates, folks - before he owned half the universe as the second richest man on the planet, Bill was just a nerdy kid who sometimes violated traffic laws. A kid just like you. If that carefree, slightly prophetic smile doesn't warm your heart, I simply don't know what will.

LEFT: And for our finale, Glenn Frey - nabbed for drug possession and public drunkenness. I chose the Eagles' front man to conclude this collection because one of his band members, Joe Walsh, wrote a song in 1978 that epitomizes the dark but humorous side of fame, "Life's Been Good." It's not only a great tune, but a truthful testament to the wild lives of celebrities. 

[Video: YouTube; mug shots: thesmokinggun.com]

I'm Sad as Hell, and I'm Not Gonna Take it Anymore...

It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the loss of one of America's great film directors, Sidney Lumet. The pleasant-looking old man behind such hardcore classics as "12 Angry Men," "Network," "Dog Day Afternoon," and "Murder on the Orient Express" died yesterday at age 86 in his home in Manhattan.

The man.

Whenever a director or actor from back-in-the-day Hollywood dies, I find myself becoming a little sad (or a lot sad, depending on my degree of attachment to the person's body of work). In this scenario, because Lumet directed a movie that would eventually be adapted into one of my favorite stage plays, I am a lot sad. Throughout his dynamic career, Lumet directed gritty, visceral films that raised the bar in Hollywood ("12 Angry Men"), painted compelling portraits of New York City ("Dog Day Afternoon"), and held a mirror up to the people and industries who distribute our media (the timeless, amazing "Network"). 

Oh, and did I mention that "12 Angry Men," a film that was once on the AFI list of 100 Greatest Movies, was his debut film? Right from the beginning he was a force to be reckoned with.

On the one hand, it makes me really sad to think that we've lost a director who contributed so much to the screen in his 29 years of work. But on the other hand, something like this reminds me that although an older, beloved generation of Hollywood is dying off, a new, promising generation is being ushered in. We may be losing the greats, but we're cultivating new ones too. It blows my mind to think that I'm part of a generation that saw a movie about Facebook get nominated for 6 major Oscars; a generation that saw an ex-stripper/phone sex operator take home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay; a generation that strives to break conventions and embraces rebirth. 

So, as sad as I am to know that Mr. Lumet is gone (I'll be wearing black today, which I have only done historically to mourn people I really love), I am excited and optimistic that my generation of directors will vie to meet his high standards. To quote of my favorite Disney movies, "it's all part of the great circle of life."

***

[Picture: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsmRIBNnP_K-RvKUFcToEZN9Hamg828hBN_0Qjykhs70o801S7lFCsNmFokkfh4jTx7W2bXp9gdfbPXPxoOtj6fQyW0VJ1BKb3vKB1eI5WBgoRr5TSfVjiQfwCY51cLelGC1chtS_4dGm/s1600/lumet,+sidney.jpg]

"Hunger Games" Adaptation - Hide Your Kids

This just in: Hunter Parrish of "Weeds" is apparently being seriously considered to play Peeta Mellark in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games," and Jennifer Lawrence has officially been cast as the lead role of Katniss.

First off, let me tell you that when I heard one of my favorite books of the last few years was being adapted into a film, I cringed. I personally think there's too much psychology and too big a world in "The Hunger Games" to fit into an hour and a half, and I'm almost certain they're going to water down the violence for a PG-13 rating (I do not approve of this because the violence of the story serves to illustrate how disturbing the entire concept is, which is the point). When I read the book, I initially envisioned a mini-series handled by HBO or Showtime, preferably with primarily unknown actors and someone like, say, Alan Ball to write the teleplay. I know what you're thinking, but I'm not too picky - I'm just an aspiring producer.

If you haven't read the books, start now.
But be warned: once you start,
addiction is imminent.

Anyway. I was - and still am - very wary of a film adaptation of "The Hunger Games." But now that I know a fabulous, non-mainstream actress has been cast as the b.a. female lead, and that her co-competitor may be played by a hot, understated actor... I am much more optimistic.

Film adaptations of books are an iffy subject with me. As much as I try to remind myself that books and movies are different things, and that we should judge film adaptations independently of the books, I still get way too emotionally involved and judgmental when books I love are adapted for the screen. Generally, I find film adaptations fall into one of three categories.

Category #1: The Rad-aptation

This is a rare and exhilarating instance where the film does the book near-total, awe-inspiring justice by capturing the feel and heart of the story. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's pretty amazing. For examples, see "Fight Club," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Bridget Jones's Diary," and "Holes."

Category #2: The Adaptation

In this category we have all the book-to-movie adaptations that aren't hideous, but aren't stellar either - they're either good but forgettable, or just ok. I feel like the majority of adaptations fall into this category. There are many examples, a recent one being "Eat Pray Love."

Category #3: The Bad-aptation

I think you know what I mean. These are the movies you come out of completely infuriated, because they totally change the meaning of the story and/or screw up - or completely leave out - the best characters and subplots, either through bad writing, casting, or overall direction. My most-hated example of this category is the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" franchise.

Here's hoping "The Hunger Games" ends up in Category #1.