Middle Aged?

I might be having a midlife crisis. I’m only having the crisis because I have recently realized I am middle aged!

Recently my folks and I went to see State of Play. In the movie, which was pretty darn entertaining, Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck played college roommates, and Robin Wright Penn played Ben’s wife, also from college. The older I get, the harder time I have judging people’s ages. However, I was pretty sure that Russell and Ben weren’t really the same age. In fact they are at least 10 years apart in age, so they would not have been college roommates, at least as traditional students. Robin could have been in college at the same time as Russell, but would be a “cougar” compared to Ben.

After viewing the movie, and I started wondering what celebrities my age actually look like. I checked with http://www.imdb.com to see which celebrities, from all walks of fame, are in my age range.

Below is a list of 100 people that were born within the year before and the year after me, so they are no more than 1 year older or younger than me. They are listed in order of oldest to youngest

Brad Pitt, Jennifer Beals, Lars Ulrich, Nicolas Cage, Jeff Bezos, Mariska Hargitay, Bridget Fonda, Laura Linney, Matt Dillon, Wanda Sykes, Juliette Binoche, Peter Berg, Rob Lowe, Tracy Chapman, Ian Ziering, Russell Crowe, Caroline Rhea, Crispin Glover, Djimon Hounsou, Hank Azaria, Melissa Gilbert, Stephen Colbert, David Eigenberg, Lenny Kravitz, Wynonna Judd, Courteney Cox, Doug Savant, Amy Brenneman, Joss Whedon, Courtney Love, Chris Cornell, John Leguizamo, David Spade, Sandra Bullock, Lori Loughlin, Vivica A. Fox, Mary-Louise Parker, Debbie Mazar, Blair Underwood, Keanu Reeves, Molly Shannon, Holly Robinson Peete, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Boatman, Calista Flockhart, Diana Krall, Robin Givens, Don Cheadle, Marisa Tomei, Teri Hatcher, Bobby Flay, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Eddie Vedder, Julia Ormond, Joely Richardson, Rob Zombie, Diane Lane, Alan Cumming, Sherilyn Fenn, Maura Tierney, Dr. Dre, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Cryer, Martin Lawrence, Kevin James, Adrian Pasdar, Linda Evangelista, Trent Reznor, Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Hurley, Kathryn Erbe, Slash, Jeremy Piven, JK Rowling, Sam Mendes, James Tupper, Embeth Davidtz, Peter Krause, Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Dillon, Marlee Matlin, Shania Twain, Lennox Lewis, Charlie Sheen, Moby, Bryan Singer, Kyle Chandler, Cheryl Hines, Luke Perry, Steve Coogan, Kelly Rowan, Jamie Gertz, Gavin Rossdale, Bjork, Ben Stiller, Katarina Witt, Jeffrey Wright and Shawn Christian.

If you don't know who someone is, make a comment or email me and I'll tell you what pop culture reference I used when including them. Not a bad group of peers. Sports figures still active in their sport were the hardest to find, but that didn’t surprise me. The group includes Oscar and Emmy winners, most of the cast of Sex & the City and many people in the hottest movies and tv shows on right now.

I bet most of the people on the list are having more trouble remembering names, getting their first pair of bifocals, took an actual typing class and really like Facebook. Or, maybe, that’s just me. If I don’t see you on Facebook, I’ll be out searching for my crisis dream car – a little red Chevette.

Btw, the picture at the top of the article was taken this week at the Cannes Film Festival. Not bad for a 45 year old guy in my opinion. Of course Mom says he's not the sweet young thing from A River Runs Through It anymore. I bet he's having a lot more fun now than he did then.

Oscar Hangover

My many fans demanded that I post this year's Oscar arrival picture! My date, as is au courant, was my father in a classic Fruit of the Loom t-shirt (we matched) and navy sweats. I did change my ensemble a wee bit by choosing to wear the Hello Kitty slippers that were part of the JClo Holiday collection.

As for the evening itself, we dined on salmon pate (spread), smoked salmon, sharp cheddar cheese molded into the shape of Montana (Chalet Market), potstickers with scrumptious ling ling sauce (Costco) and Wilcoxson's chocolate ice cream (local). Our adult beverages ranged from Berlinger's White Zinfindel (the wine for people who don't like wine per Sherri) and Our Daily Red.

The telecast was not exciting as many of the winners were expected. I was a bit surprised that Sean Penn won over Mickey Rourke, but I think he truly tried to be less jerky than normal and I agreed with his political statements. I missed seeing the acting clips, but appreciated the honorees receiving accolades from past winners. Kate Winslet was great! The supporting catagories were disappointing. I still wish Robert Downey, Jr. had won and I still don't see the big deal about Penelope Cruz or Vicky Christina Barcelona. It was fun to see the Slumdog Millionaire cast again, and they seemed to be truly enjoying the fairytale.

Hope you had fun and as the end of the show reminded us...keep watching movies as holy day is only 363 days away!

If buckycatt ran the Oscars

Tonight is the holy night of the year for buckycatt. It is Oscar night and purr usual I have seen as many of the films as I possibly could, what with living in the film wilderness of Montana. Throughout watching many excellent films worthy of nomination, I kept thinking of all the catagories that do not get awarded each year. Fortunately for ya'll I plan to share these missing catagories, and my picks for this year's winners with you. Please, hold your applause until the end.

Best Gratuitous Butt Scene -- James Franco in Milk (I would have nominated him over Josh Brolin for Supporting Actor)

Best "Feel Good" Movie -- Slumdog Millionaire (There was no other movie like it out there this year!)

Most Likely to be Robbed by a Dead Guy -- Robert Downey, Jr. in Tropic Thunder (Heath Ledger was better in 10 Things..., Monster's Ball or Brokeback Mountain)

Person I'd Most Like to See Give a Speech -- Brad Pitt (His understated CGI laden performance doesn't deserve to win, but I'd love to see him give the acceptance speech)

Best Movie Couple -- Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road hasn't made it here yet, but basically I would watch these two read the phone book to each other)

Robbed of a Nomination (multiple winners) -- Clint Eastwood (Best Actor for Gran Torino); Bruce Springsteen (Best Song for The Wrestler); and Michael Sheen (Best Support Actor for Frost/Nixon)

Why Were They Nominated? -- Penelope Cruz in the worthless Vicky Christina Barcelona; Peter Gabriel for Down to Earth from Wall-E (boring song); and the previously mentioned Josh Brolin in Milk (he deserved a nomination for No Country for Old Men much more!)

Tonight's Ensemble -- I will be wearing a Just My Size aqua and white tracksuit with a white fruit of the loom t-shirt. My shoes will be blue flats from Ross Dress for Less. My bag will be turquoise and fuschia from The Bag Lady (aka Aunt Judy). My lipstick and gloss will be by MAC for Hello Kitty. My earrings will be from Lia Sophia. My rings will be from eBay (aquamarine for and citrine for the nephews). And my necklace will be Sagittarius and Turquoise by Far Fetched.

Miscellaneous - Grandma's favorite movie of the year P.S. I Love You. Best surprise of the year Tropic Thunder. Movie I'm most sorry not to have seen by today The Reader.

Enjoy the show everyone!

Cat etiquette

Dear Ms. Kitty Manners -

I am writing to you today to ask your opinion about a couple of cat etiquette issues. My two cat family members, Onyx 12 and Maggie 11, and I have recently moved into a spacious two-bedroom apartment. Because everything in our home is new and/or fresh from relocation, I have become more aware of some possible rude behavior from my recently relocated cat companions.

First, do you believe it is a bit cheeky for one or more cats to use their commode and immediately return to bed, thereby depositing numerous grains of litter on our sleeping space?

And second, do you think it is necessary for Maggie to revisit her luncheon on our new/old livingroom couch instead of in an easier-to-clean or less public area? I especially find this infraction heinous as it may well have been done on purpose and with malice!

Believe me Ms. Kitty I did raise my pre-teens to have more couth than these examples would suggest. Please advise if the above behavior is in fact worthy of demerits and/or reduction of kitty treats?

Thank you for your time, and may your cats refrain from grooming their intimate areas in your front picture window just as company arrives at your genteel home.

Sincerely,

Buckycatt, Livingston MT

Books, tomes, volumes

I looooooove books. I've been packing my beloved books all week for moving to my new apartment. So, I thought for a little long weekend levity I'd give you the final tally: I am taking with me 23 boxes of mysteries, histories & romance (w/ a lot of miscellaneous in between). And there are another 8 stuffed, lawn & leaf sized garbage bags for an upcoming garage sale. You try correctly typing garage & garbage in the same sentence. Anyway, I'm glad they are packed but I will be even happier when they are all up the 15 stairs and the others have been sold. Then I will have $$$ to buy more, new and different books. Such as the ones on my attached Amazon wishlist



Happy reading!

Burn After Reading

Could this be the funniest movie all year?



I love Coen Brothers movies, Brad Pitt & George Clooney so I think it stands a good chance of being Hi-larious. The trailer sure is. Enjoy & Happy 4th of July.

Rom-Com Results

Well, thanks for hangin' out twiddlin' your thumbs while I tallied all the results from the romantic comedy movie survey I started back in May. As July dawns, I am finally ready with the results:

58 of you were kind enough to respond and a total of 40 films received at least one vote. The 40 films in alphabetical order are:

10 Things I Hate About You
6 Days, 7 Nights
A Fish Called Wanda
The American President
As Good As It Gets
Benny & Joon
Big
Blast from the Past
Bridget Jones's Diary
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Bull Durham
Continental Divide
Dangerous Liaisons
Enchanted
Fools Rush In
Goodbye Girl
House Calls
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
It Happened One Night
Love, Actually
Moonstruck
Much Ado About Nothing
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Pretty Woman
Pride & Prejudice (1940)
Princess Bride
PS I Love You
Serendipity
Shakespeare in Love
Shallow Hal
Sliding Doors
So, I Married an Axe Murderer
Sweet Home Alabama
Under the Tuscan Sun
The Wedding Singer
What Happens in Vegas
When Harry Met Sally
The Wiggles (children's film)
While You Were Sleeping
You've Got Mail

As for the "winners", in 3rd place were Love, Actually and Moonstruck.
2nd place was a 3-way tie between How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Pretty Woman and When Harry Met Sally.

And the winner -- beloved by men and women alike -- The Princess Bride!! This 1987 film directed by Rob Reiner from the book by William Goldman, stars Robin Wright (before she added the Penn) and Cary Elwes as the romantic couple. It also includes a bevy of classic comics such as Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane and Christopher Guest. All, in all, a witty script, inventive action, an adorable child "narrator", and just a smattering of romance made this film the clear winner.



My personal favorite was Sweet Home Alabama. How could I not choose a movie the begins at Tiffany's where Reese Witherspoon gets to pick out an engagement ring. Both of the male protagonists are very likable -- Patrick Dempsey is um, er "dreamy" and Josh Lucas's southern accent gets me every time. Reese makes an engaging, sympathetic heroine and there are lots of cross-cultural laughs along the way.

Thank you again all for participating in this interesting experiment. If you would like to have a copy of my Excel spreadsheet listing many additional romantic comedy films, as well as the year they were released and the romantic leads please email me.

Til then, see you at the movies. We'll laugh, we'll cry and maybe someone will fall in love -- at least on the silver screen.