Macho Man - Burt Reynolds

Deliverance
Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds passed away yesterday at the age of 82. He was an actor, a movie star and manly perfection. Which he proved time and time again in the roles he played.

Nobody did it better than Burt. He first came to my youthful attention for the infamous film Deliverance which I have to revisit since I viewed it when I was way too young to fully comprehend it.

I was however hooked on Burt a few of my favorite Reynolds films, beside Deliverance? Starting Over, Sharky's Machine, Boogie Nights, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to name a few...

Oddly enough I never saw any of the Smokey and the Bandit movies. For some reason they never appealed to me. 

But the thing that will always stick with me most about Burt was his iconic nude centerfold for Cosmopolitan. Wow! Seeing that as a young impressionable gay man was quite stunning. Words can't describe how that shaped my world, but trust me, it did.

R.I.P. stud.

Burt on IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000608/?ref_=nv_sr_1   

Michael's Musings

Tell Everyone What Your Really Think
Michael Shinafelt

Hello minions I just got in from a screening of The Nun at the Arclight in Hollywood. Honestly I am feeling completely underwhelmed especially since the horror opus from which it sprang, The Conjuring was actually good. Basically I'm stating that The Nun is lame.

Apparently this is my week for "The" films because Tuesday night I took in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds under the stars on the rooftop of The Montalban Theater.

In other news...

I'm Team Nike

Op-ed is the word

This isn't my first time at the human doll rodeo!

Why is it when I see the acronym for The Real Housewives of New York, RHONY I think "Real Horny?!"

All hail the New York Times

Byline of the week - "Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop to Pay $145,000 in Vaginal Egg Settlement"(this is wrong in so many ways, think about it, but not too much)

Boooooooo! Kyle Richard's American Woman has been cancelled after only one season

Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick, Colin Kaepernick, Colin Kaepernick 

I'm looking forward to the new Halloween movie, I'm sure it's better than The (F#cking) Nun

A woman while sitting across from me on the bus the other day was sucking on a dildo, the more you know

There's a new sensation that's sweeping the nation: Name That Author

Silent Disco, beware of the music that no one can hear...

What now Little Bunny Foo Foo?

You've heard of the 12 Monkeys, now there is the 45th Buffoon 

Time to get oiled up with me at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

He Is The Champion
Freddie Mercury

"Farrokh Bulsara, known professionally as Freddie Mercury, was a British singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. He was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range." 

Happy Birthday to Rock Pioneer Freddie Mercury who would have been 72 today. Honestly I don't get the impression Freddie would have wanted to have lived that long. He was born to be a legend and I think he knew it.

Freddie is, and always will be a Rock-N-Roll as well as a Gay icon. Nobody, and I mean no one other male singer (with the exception of Adam Lambert) has come close to matching his vocal prowess.

Mr. Mercury is also the subject of an Oscar bait film opening November 2 bearing the title of one of Queen's classic songs Bohemian Rhapsody. 

Starring a perfectly cast Rami Malek of Mr. Robot fame as the rocker. 

Here's an overview of what the bio pic will cover:

All Hail The Queen
Freddie Mercury

"Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day."

 It's time to Hump Day & Chill with Freddie, he will, he will rock you!

Freddie on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mercury 

Seeing Red

The Women In Red
l-r
Dakota Johnson & Tilda Swinton

Since the Venice Film Festival happened the WWW has been flooded with impressions from it. This is one I found particularly striking, call it seeing red.

Why look it's Dakota Johnson & Tilda Swinton sauntering down the red carpet for a screening of their horror flick Suspiria. Look how red they both are, they match the carpet, but what about the drapes?!

Perhaps it's because there will be blood in the horror remake. Or maybe it's because they are red is the color of passion and they are both feeling quite heated. Then there is always the "just because" factor, you know, because they can and wanted to draw as much attention to themselves and their project.

Whatever! It's all fun and games until your film is poorly received, which luckily for this twosome it wasn't.

Off I go, I am seeing red at present of a totally different nature...

Suspiria on IMDB -
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034415/  

Monday Motivation

What's New Pussycat?
Michelle Pfeiffer

"I am Catwoman hear me roar" - Michelle Pfeiffer "Catwoman" Batman Returns

For some reason my Monday Motivation thoughts have wandered to that time I saw the great Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in the interesting, yet highly flawed Batman Returns directed by Tim Burton.

Well I actually know the reasons. Having lost 50 lbs my mind has been preoccupied with fitness and health. Not to mention a take no prisoners attitude. 

Michelle who stole Batman Returns as Catwoman embodies all of these qualities. Her Eff U attitude and perfectly fit body rocked that skin tight catsuit and caused quite the commotion.

Thus today, Labor Day 2018 Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman is my spirit hybrid. What? She's not an animal she's a human being taking on the qualities of one, so she is not a spirit animal, more a hybrid. Like the Toyota Prius. 

Have a groovy LD minions! 

Michelle on IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000201/

Sunday Schwing!

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A Star Is Born

With Stars In Their Eyes
Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga

OK, a star really hasn't been born, more like rebooted, Lady Gaga 3.0, or is it 4.0? Anyone?

While the initial trailer online for this opus was, to me a neutral affair, the reviews from the Venice Film Festival have been anything but. 

Everyone is going gonzo for Gaga & Bradley Cooper in what is the 4th take on a timeless theme and film. 

Here are some quotes from those in the know who have seen it at the Fest -

Owen Gleiberman, Variety:

"A Star Is Born is that thing we always yearn for but so rarely get to see: a transcendent Hollywood movie."

 Stephanie Zacharek, Time:

"Cooper’s version proves there’s always a way to freshen up old material."

 Peter Bradshaw, the Guardian:

"He appears opposite a sensationally good Lady Gaga, whose ability to be part ordinary person, part extraterrestrial celebrity empress functions at the highest level at all times… Cooper is arguably prettier than Lady Gaga, but she is the one who commands your attention: that sharp, quizzical, leonine, mesmeric face—an uningratiating face, very different from the wide-eyed openness of Streisand or Garland."

With the film opening October 5th, Warner Brothers suits obviously knew it was going to get good reviews. Thus they showed it out of competition the Venice Film Festival to create buzz.

You'd better work!

A Star Is Born on IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517451/