Tom Hanks IS Robert Langdon

Tom Hanks IS Robert Langdon

by MichelleMcHatton

In honor of the latest Ron Howard/Tom Hanks release “Angels and Demons”, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of my favorite Hanks characters and movies from years past.

It was difficult to decide who my absolute fave character was.  After much pondering and reminiscing of all the Hanks’ films (I have seen almost every single film he has done), I had to go with Forrest Gump.

I realized a long time ago that the really great actors are those that begin in comedy (maybe even TV sitcoms), then prove themselves with a dramatic role–winning an Oscar in the process.  Tom Hanks is one of those actors.

I think the reason why Gump is my favorite Hanks character is because Hanks combines both his comedic and dramatic skills in his performance.  Of course sometimes when Gump is serious he actually ends up being funny without really meaning to.

As for my favorite Hanks movie, that was a tougher choice.  I enjoy the dramas as well as the comedies, right down to “Toy Story”.  I have to go with “Philadelphia” as my overall fave.

Broken down into dramatic fave, “Castaway” is my pick.  The comedies were a harder choice but I narrowed it down to “The Money Pit”.  As for “Sleepless In Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail”, once I get past Meg Ryan, I can really enjoy those cute romantic comedies as well.

And I’ve finally been able to watch the infamous “Bosom Buddies”.  I was a kid when that show was first on and was not allowed to watch it (although I wanted to!).  Some of it is stupid but a lot of the episodes really get me laughing.  I just have a hard time beliving that none of those women ever figured out Buffy and Hildegard’s real identities.  Couldn’t they see the resemblance to Kip and Henry?  Uh…how about those Adams apples, ladies?

Where have you gone Dom DiMaggio?

Where have you gone Dom DiMaggio?

by MichelleMcHatton

I’m not a big baseball fan. I’m not even a Boston Red Sox fan. But I knew of Dom DiMaggio. Not because he played outfield for the Sox, or that his brother was Joe, or that ironically his brother is the one who broke his hitting streak. I knew of him because of the story my husband told me about how he met Dom DiMaggio.

When my husband was 14 his father kept him out of school one day and told him he was going to take him to meet Dom DiMaggio. This was in 1978 or 1979. My husband’s father was a salesman, although at this point in time, I’m not quite sure what kind of job he had. Anyway, he was going to see Dom DiMaggio because he had done some job or project for him. I’m not quite sure and neither is my husband.  But he had some business with Dom.

My father-in-law introduced my husband to Dom by saying, “This is Dom DiMaggio, Joe’s brother”. My husband recalls shaking his hand and remembers Dom said “hello” to him, but that’s about it.

So naturally when my husband told me this morning that Dom DiMaggio died, I said to him, “The same one you met when you were 14?”

“The very same one.”

The thing is, the number of times my husband told me the Dom story, he never ONCE mentioned to me that Dom had played for the Sox. I just figured his claim to fame was being Joe’s brother!

How ironic is it that one DiMaggio would play for the Sox and the other for the Yankees? Weird…

What a read!

What a read!

by MichelleMcHatton

Need a good laugh?  Find yourself a copy of Jay Leno’s “Leading With My Chin” and sit back for a hilarious ride!

I’ve always admired Jay and his work; however, I admire him even more after reading this book.  “Leading With My Chin” was written in the 90’s and I’ve had the book since about the time it came out.  I’m just ashamed to say I never read it.  Until now.

Jay takes the reader from his humble beginnings in stand-up comedy (and the adventures he had along the way), to his rise to fame as host of The Tonight Show.  We also are exposed to the fascinating characters he met along the way (most notably Freddie Prinze and Andy Kaufman). 

A bonus for me is all the Massachusetts references, my favorite being the minor connection Jay had with legendary Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fielder.  Who would’ve known Fielder had such a love for fires?  I wonder if he was a closet pyro?  But Jay’s take on how he knew Fielder is hysterical!

“Leading With My Chin” is a long book but it’s a quick, laugh-till-you-cry read which will leave you wishing for more at the end.

Research shows and studies indicate…

Research shows and studies indicate…

by MichelleMcHatton

just two of the phrases that keep me from reading magazines such as Prevention and Reader’s Digest.  Maybe if they put more energy into writing decent articles for their magazines, they wouldn’t have to fill up the pages with nonsense crap about how a “recent study” revealed this or how “30 years of research” indicates that. 

I read magazines for entertainment and to be informed; if I want to read about science experiments, I’ll peruse a medical journal.

Wild about “Wild Boy”

Wild about “Wild Boy”

by MichelleMcHatton

I hate to use this blog as a place to post my reviews of books, movies or music I’ve enjoyed or hated, but I felt after I finished this one particular read, it deserved some attention here.  Maybe this will be the start of an on-going thing.  Who knows?

The book I’m referring to is “Wild Boy” by Andy Taylor.  For those of you who are thinking “the sherrif from Mayberry wrote a book?  ‘Wild Boy’?  Was that about Barney?”, the answer is no.  This Andy Taylor is/was the guitarist for the phenonemal 80’s pop group Duran Duran.  If you are reading this and are/were a DD fan, I need not explain any further.  You may have already read the book yourself.  If you were not a DD fan, read on.

At one time in my life (say around 14, 15, 16) I was the ultimate Duran Duran junkie.  I slept, ate and breathed Duran Duran.  I will not go into the crazy details here.  They will make your head spin.  When I think about some of my crazy antics (none of which had to actually do with the band, mind you), I shake my head.  But reading this book really took me down memory lane.  And it also opened my eyes to what I would never have guessed (or dared to have thought) about the five guys I so admired.

First of all, I was highly impressed with Andy’s writing.  He comes off being very well schooled and quite intelligent.  Trust me.  I’ve read books by other rock stars (written by the rock star themself) and it was not as well written as this book.  Very well done.

Andy’s story takes us from Duran Duran’s beginnings, their ups and downs, highs (literally) and lows, illnesses (his own and his wife’s) to the end when Andy said “enough–let me off this crazy roller coaster”.  In reading all the tales, I find it hard to believe John Taylor is still alive today.  Out of all the members, I never thought he would’ve been the worst as far as drug problems went.  I always thought it would’ve been Simon.  Just goes to show you how much of a “real” fan I was, huh? haha.

I know Andy’s story is just his side of it.  It’s from his view.  I’m sure if the other four members wrote their own tales, some of what Andy wrote about would come out differently.  For instance, maybe Nick would be pointing the finger at Andy for bringing up problems with the lyrics instead of Andy pointing the finger at Nick for doing that.  Andy referred to Nick as the “Lyric Police” for his nitpicking Simon’s lyrics.  I’ll admit some of Simon’s lyrics are quite odd.  I’m still trying to figure out what a “lizard mixture” is and what the hell is “The Reflex” anyway?

The conclusion of the book at least clarified in my mind what I had originally thought back in 2005 when they were touring again:  they needed the cash.  I was right about that one.  Yet Andy and Roger were only going to be seeing a portion of the profits due to the fact that they had not worked with the band during the 90’s.  So I guess by this time Duran Duran really were not Duran Duran any longer.  They were just five individuals who needed some money and the only way they could get it was to go on tour again.

If they’re all still alive twenty years from now and need the cash, maybe they’ll tour for their 40th anniversary.  They’ll all be pushing 70.  Hey, if the Stones can do it, why not Duran Duran?

Still, this was a very entertaining read.  As a Duran Duran fan, I also followed them during their solo ventures and this book led me to drag out Andy’s solo album.  I forgot how much I used to love listening to “Thunder”.  It’s too bad he didn’t really reflect much on his solo career in the book.  I thought it was pretty good music.

I’m sure we won’t be hearing Andy any time soon on a new Duran Duran CD (unless they can talk him into that 40th anniversary tour); but I hope he does do his own thing musically and continues to do what he loves most.