Michael's Musings

Analyze This
Michael Shinafelt

"Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility" - Sigmund Freud

This quote from the great Sigmund Freud is an astute one. It also accurately defines the current  State of The Union better than anything that was stated during that "speech." 

What? Did I watch you ask? No, I didn't subject myself to it, Michael ain't got time for that bullshit I keep moving...Here is my weekly invoking of my right to free speech.

Leave your ageism at the door

I have douchebumps!

Did you know I am an emergency butt hole technician???

Let's discuss the Grammy's, shall we?

Elton John & Miley Cyrus' collaboration on Tiny Dancer was amazing!

Kesha really nailed it with her performance of Praying, you go grrrrrrl...

Lady Gaga always does an award show good

But WTF with all the Grammy gold bestowed upon Bruno Mars? Seriously Grammy voters you considered his limp efforts to be the overall best of 2017?! 

Next year I am going to cut an album of me singing in the shower

No, I'm not going to behave myself 

Fact: one of my favorite songs is False Alarm by The Weeknd 

Shout out to Robert Krzeski for posting this gem - "If you can't be a good example, you'll have to be a terrible warning" 

Red wine is always fine

Be safe and always have fun with your bananas 

Follow me at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

Perfectly Unconventional
Jared Leto

Since he showed up to the Grammy's wearing a gender bending outfit by Helmut Lang designer Shayne Oliver complete with high heeled boots, I have Jared Leto vibes this week.

Jared has kept a pretty low profile post his Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club with the exception of portraying the Joker in Suicide Squad. Yeah, I know he was in Blade Runner 2049 but he was on the down low about it.

While Leto is a pretty man, he is definitely one of the more quirky/unique actor/rockers in Hollywood. 

Honestly I wouldn't want him any other way. I generally don't go for the pretty ones unless there is that certain something that sets them apart, Jared has that and well a big you know what (look it up online, he does!) You just know he would be a freak in the sheets and keep you entertained for hours with his non-linear stream of consciousness musings.

I used to see him wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses sitting against a wall at Gold's Gym Hollywood on his cell phone from time to time. Uh, that is not a disguise Mr. that draws attention, not deters it.

Jared has the "IT" factor (no I'm not referring to Pennywise) in spades.

Moving on, it's time to get your hump on and enjoy the image of Jared nude above...Woof!

Jared on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jaredleto/?hl=en  

Imagination

Peacock
Lady Gaga

"It was just my imagination runnin' away with me" - The Temptations, Just My Imaginatiion

I woke this morning after dreaming of things that were fantastical, magical and imaginative. Then I found this image of Lady Gaga on the WWW and declared it my creative inspiration for the day.

This stylish outfit is everything dreams are made of and our Lady of Gaga pulls it off magnificently!

Whoever her stylist is, whether it be her or someone she hired deserves high praise for this retro/modern hybrid. 

Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, isn't that Sir Elton John on her shirt? 

Whatever the case may be today I declare we should all bend it like Gaga. Because Lady Gaga's have more fun!

Lady Gaga on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ladygaga/?hl=en  

Dreams Do Come True!

When Willow Met Rihanna 

After a very underwhelming Grammy telecast last night (yes there were a few great moments, but...) comes my favorite part of any award show. "Yes" this is where I honor my favorite Instagram or Twitter moment from last night's festivities. 

This year the honor goes to Pink for posting a photo of her daughter Willow with Rihanna on her Instagram captioning it: "Dreams come true. My daughter lives for this woman. So do I" 

Awwwwwwww...there really is something charming about kids getting to meet their idols, no?

This pic is too precious for words. Thus I will halt the use of any more adjectives to describe it right here right now.

Now tell me again why you don't like Mondays???

Pink on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pink/?hl=en

Praise The Lorde

Angelic
Lorde

It's Grammy Sunday and time to give thanks. What better way to do it than to offer up praise to Grammy Album of the Year nominee Lorde. 

If there is paint drying that I can watch somewhere I will not be tuning in. That being stated there is much speculation as to why Lorde is the only Album of the Year nominee not performing since she is in town and has been belting out her latest efforts everywhere else.

Werd has it that she unlike the other nominees in her category who are male, she was not offered a solo spot. She was approached to take part in the Tom Petty Tribute singing American Girl...WTF?!

How weird would that be coming from a Kiwi? For those of you not in the loop that is a common nickname for people originating from New Zealand.

It's a shame Lorde won't be taking to the Grammy stage to croon, so let's offer up our gratitude for her music and praise her!

Lorde on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lordemusic/?hl=en

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