I just finished reading Shawn Levy's book titled Paul Newman A Life. This is a book that caused a lot of controversy because it portrayed Paul as a drinker who loved whiskey and beer (no surprise). It also went into some detail about his affair with a writer named Nancy Bacon while filming Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This was of course while he was married to Joanne Woodward. I actually found the book a little slow and plodding. While the author did go into a lot of detail about Paul's start in the business and his eventual rise to super stardom I just didn't find it very interesting. He didn't talk too much about Paul's 6 kids but did relate the story of his son Scott's overdose. A lot of the information like his 10 Oscar nominations and only 1 win (for the Color of Money) and his life with his wife first wife are things I could have found out just by Googling his name. This book was done without the cooperation of the Newman family and its obvious even from the pictures that there was no none. Personally I always was a big fan. I loved him in Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler in his early years. In later years his performances in The Verdict and Absence of Malice were outstanding. When I got this book I was really looking forward to reading it but came away disappointed.
On Friday night I went and saw the movie The Ugly Truth. This is a romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler. The reason I went to this movie is because I have a theatre 1 block from my house that shows new movies for half the price of the multiplex theatres. So I basically go see anything there. This movie fits that perfectly. The plot (I guess you can call it a plot) involves Heigl as a news producer for a local TV station who has trouble getting dates who when Butler comes to work at her TV station uses him as her coach on keeping a new guy she has just met. Yep its pretty weak. There is a lot of talk about Heigl's lack of sex. While it does go into some detail (it even caused 1 couple to leave the theatre) I didn't find it very funny. There was a scene where Gerard buys her some remote control underwear (do they even make these things?) that is supposed to help with her lack of sex. Some kid picks up the remote in a restaurant and yes you get the picture. It just wasn't funny. I actually like Katherine Heigl but the script she was working with lacked imagination. Anyways unless you have a cheap theatre like me wait for video on this one.
Ultimate Bet has a Poker Show on which has Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth are coaches for 2 different teams in a poker challenge. This has to be one of the worst poker shows on TV. Who thought up this thing??? I just finished watching about 20 minutes of it and I am still shaking my head. While I like Annie Duke and I realize that she is sponsored by Ultimate Bet I just can't help wondering how she got talked into this. I generally will watch any poker show on TV but this thing is so bad even I can't watch. Get this thing off the air as soon as possible.
Well lets see I just finished reading a book I didn't particularly like, a movie that was sub par and a poker show that was just plain awful. Other than that its been a great weekend so far........................
Remember the movie Cool Hand Luke? He bluffed with nothing, then showed. "You had nothing," one said. "Sometimes nothing is a cool hand," said Newman's character. Terrific flick.
ReplyDeleteCool Hand Luke was a great movie and Newman played the part perfectly. Loved the poker scene.
ReplyDeleteI don't care what they say about Paul Newman in a tell all book, I love him. I think he was a fun actor, a handsome and generous man. So he drank, so he may have played up. What business is it of anyone's. Cool Hand Luke - loved the movie. Wouldn't it be nice if someone just wrote a really nice book about someone else. Oh, well, perhaps it might not sell though. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to have to put all the scandals in there to sell books. I admire Paul And Joanne for staying married as long as they did in the Hollywood fishbowl
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