Literacy, It's A Thing

Funny Bunny
James Corden

With Peter Rabbit opening February 9th the voice of the famed hare, James Corden took to the bunny trail to read the book the movie is based on to a group of school children.

He also announced Blue Jacket Day which drops on February the 3rd. The directive of the day is to promote literacy amongst kids. You read correct, on that day parents are to take their children to the, "gasp" library!

I remember in days of yore I went to the library quite frequently as a child. I actually won a library summer reading competition believe it or not. "Yes" I was the kid who read the most books that summer out of all the other ones participating. I don't recall how many that was, but I kicked some bookworm ass! 

Moving on...literacy it's a thing, mic drop!

For more info on reading and literacy hit up Reading Is Fundamental at:
https://www.rif.org/press-releases  

Film Buff Friday: Basket Case

What's in the basket...???

BASKET CASE - LIMITED EDITION [Blu-ray] (2/27)

THE TENANT IN ROOM 7 IS VERY SMALL, VERY TWISTED, AND VERY MAD.

The feature debut of director Frank Henenlotter (Brain Damage, Frankenhooker), 1982's Basket Case is perhaps his most revered - a riotous and blood-spattered midnight movie experience, now immortalized in a lavish new 4K restoration by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Duane Bradley is a pretty ordinary guy. His formerly conjoined twin Belial, on the other hand, is a deformed, fleshy lump whom he carries around in a wicker basket. Arriving in the Big Apple and taking up a room at the seedy Hotel Broslin, the pair set about hunting down and butchering the surgeons responsible for their separation. But tensions flare up when Duane starts spending time with a pretty blonde secretary, and Belial's homicidal tendencies reach bloody new extremes.

Filmed on a shoestring budget against the backdrop of 1980s New York (where the movie would become a staple of the infamous 42nd Street grindhouse circuit), Basket Case has clawed its way from its humble origins to become one of the most celebrated cult movies of all time.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

* Presented from a brand new 4K restoration from the original 16mm negative by MoMA

* High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

* Original Uncompressed Mono Audio

* Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

* Brand new audio commentary with writer/director Frank Henenlotter and star Kevin Van Hentenryck

* Basket Case 3-1/2: An Interview with Duane Bradley - Frank Henenlotter revisits Duane Bradley decades after the events of the original Basket Case

* Seeing Double: The Basket Case Twins - a brand new interview with Florence and Maryellen Schultz, the twin nurses from Basket Case

* Brand new making-of featurette containing new interviews with producer Edgar Ievins, casting person/actress Ilze Balodis, associate producer/effects artist Ugis Nigals and Belial performer Kika Nigals

* Blood, BASKET and Beyond - a brand new interview with actress Beverly Bonner

* Belial Goes to the Drive-In - a brand new interview with film critic Joe Bob Briggs

* Outtakes Featurette

* In Search of the Hotel Broslin - archive location featurette

* Slash of the Knife (1972) - short film by Frank Henenlotter

* Belial's Dream (2017, 5 mins) - brand new Basket Case-inspired animated short by filmmaker Robert Morgan

* Behind-the-scenes of Belial's Dream

* Trailers, TV Spots and Radio Spots

* Extensive Still Galleries

* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet with new writing on the film by Michael Gingold

Order on MVDshop.com or Amazon

Michael's Musings

Fighter
Michael Shinafelt

" 'Cause it makes me that much stronger, Makes me work a little bit harder, It makes me that much wiser, So thanks for making me a fighter" - Fighter, Christina Aguilera 

We've all got battles to pick and choose from on a daily basis. Your strategy is always different for each one you plan to fight.

Pick wisely and make sure you know WTF you're doing grasshopper. 

Time to let the sh!t fly!

When I'm in the mood for International I expect to be delighted

My favorite RHOBH quote of the season thus far: "Dorit is a bottomless pit of bullshit" - Camille Grammer

Let a prick enjoy their bagel & mimosa in peace!

Speaking of pricks, Donald Trump. Yeah I know it was an easy shot, but I couldn't resist

No matter what, no one wants your pity boner

Just when you thought DSL was an acronym that referred to your computer, along comes Dick Sucking Lips to confuse the F#ck out of you. Beware the next time someone uses DSL it may not mean what you think...

Create art, destroy monotony 

I spoke to a customer service rep this past week named "Sunshine" 

It looks like Allison Janney is a shoo in for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for I, Tonya

Too bad Margot Robbie won't win, I thought she was brilliant as Tonya Harding

I tend to wake up at 4 am on my own. The more you know.

Cloned Monkeys would have never enabled a government shutdown

On that note: "Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love."

Here I am at
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

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"Smiles Everyone, Smiles..."

You Get A Star!
l-r
Mickey Mouse, Katy Perry & Minnie Mouse

Do you know where the quote in my byline comes from today? If you do, then you are old. It comes from the TV show Fantasy Island which premiered January 14, 1977. The line was uttered every week by the character Mr. Roarke played by the late Ricardo Montalban. 

This quote popped into my head (yes, I am old(er) not old) when I spotted this photo of Katy Perry attending Minnie Mouse's star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mickey Mouse was there too, naturally.

Minnie has been playing the Hollywood game for 90 years it's about time this ageless beauty got honored, she's more than earned it!

Honestly I have no other reason for posting this today than whimsy and smiles.

So there!

As Mr. Roarke would say "Smiles Everyone, Smiles..." may you have an enchanting day!

Minnie on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_Mouse  

The Woman Behind The Mask

Peek-A-Boo
Guess Who?

Here is a pic of one of last night's SAG Award nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Mini Series or Television Movie.

She posted it to her Instagram page with the caption: "Who's ready for the SAG Awards? #sagawards #biglittlelies" 

The nominee also went home empty handed. If you guessed Laura Dern, you guessed correctly. What's that? Do you win something? Uh, no.

While I did not watch the award show, I do enjoy seeing the photos post all the pomp & circumstance. 

Particularly of celebrities preparing for their big night who do not shy away from making themselves look silly. 

Thus my SAG Award for Best Instagram pre-show selfie goes to Ms. Dern!

Keep on doing you Ms. Thang!

Laura on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lauradern/?hl=en

Fashion, Turn To The Left...

Designing Duo
Heidi Klum & Adam Lambert

Fashion it inspires, it's creative and it can make for some interesting bedfellows. Case in point, behold this capture of Heidi Klum enjoying the company of Adam Lambert at Morais Collection 6 Fashion Show in the City of Angels.

Both from very different sectors of the Entertainment world yet their paths crossed all in the name of fashion. 

Heidi is looking rather low key for her in this photo and Adam is looking low key for him as well, but yummy nonetheless. 

Now the real question is, what did these two exchange sound bites about? I will venture a guess and say they exchanged tips about...fashion!

Heidi on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/heidiklum/?hl=en

Adam on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adamlambert/?hl=en