Recently in Art & Entertainment Category

I photographed artist Dale Chihuly’s amazing glass sculpture exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix yesterday. The exhibit ends on May 31st and I wanted to see it before it left. I also got some good shots of the plants and surrounding landscape.

Here’s an obvious song choice for Adam Lambert. If he performs this one, he will sell millions of iTunes downloads and his version will become the greatest gay anthem EVER! I think an updated version with a rock spin would bring down the house. But would Lambert have the guts to do it?

Unfortunately, this week’s theme is “Rat Pack Standards” and I don’t think I’ll tune in to watch Danny Gokey sling a trench coat over his doughy shoulder and attempt to croon like Sinatra. Ugh! What are the Idol producers thinking? 

My friend Glen and I saw Slumdog Millionaire this afternoon. The movie made me cry like an idiot — which can only mean that it was very, very good. I’m not one of those sappy people who cry at the drop of a hat.

Slumdog Millionaire took me to a place that I’ve never been, the slums of India. It is about an Indian boy who grows up in the worst possible conditions. Then, he becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

The difference between life in America and life in India is made obvious by what winning a TV game show means to the common folks. It won’t simply mean being able to buy a bigger house and a more expensive car. For the hero, winning means the freedom to be with the girl he loves. This is a film that enlightens us about just how difficult life can be in other parts of the world.

I absolutely fell in love with the young actor who played the main character. Dev Patel is certain to become a big star in American films. He’s not a typical leading man. But, he’s got more charm and natural ability than any young actor I’ve seen in years.

For those of you who don’t like “foreign” films, don’t worry about this one. It is 90% in English and you won’t have any trouble understanding the actors.

Like all Indian films, it does have a big dance number. However, it is performed during the closing credits rather than in the middle of the movie. Personally, I don’t think putting the dance number in the middle of the film would have been a mistake. It could have been a dream sequence or something.

Slumdog Millionaire gets a rating of five Ganeshas!

 

Related articles:

• “Slumdog Millionaire” Named Best Film By National Review
• ‘Slumdog’ highlights India’s forgotten poor
• Film Review: Slumdog Millionaire
• Danny Boyle on Slumdog Millionnaire

Yesterday, my friend Mike and I visited the Marsh Building in Monterey. I’ve always been fascinated by this strange example of California’s unique architecture. The building was constructed in 1927 at what was once the “gateway” to downtown Monterey. It is located right next to San Carlos Cathedral, the first church built by Spanish missionaries in California. It was built to house an asian art gallery and furniture store and given an over-the-top design to attract tourists. I’m willing to bet that the Catholic Church was not too thrilled about having the view of their cathedral obscured by what probably looked to them like a “pagan” temple.

Several years ago, the Catholic Diocese of Monterey purchased the Marsh Building and announced plans to tear it down and replace it with a parking lot for the cathedral. That was when several people organized to have the building declared an historic landmark. While the debate regarding the future of the Marsh Building heated up, the Diocese allowed the building to crumble in disrepair. It got so bad that tiles were falling off the roof and the sidewalk surrounding the building had to be fenced off.

Then, Jerry Janssen, a dealer in Asian antiques who had a lifelong affinity for the Marsh Building purchased it. He has since restored the building to its former glory and created a home for Orientations, a store and art gallery featuring fine Asian antiques and works of art.

Here are my photographs of Orientations at the Marsh Building and the surrounding area:

 
 
  
 

Oh, brother! There’s an article on SFGate.com’s Daily Dish about Hugh Jackman using rumors about his being gay to pick up girls.

Jackman: ‘I Used Gay Rumors To Pick Up Girls’

Australian actor Hugh Jackman is glad people assumed he was gay in his youth, because it gave him the chance to act like a “vulture” and pick up single girls.

Rumors that the “Australia” hunk was gay swirled when he starred as gay performer Peter Allen in a Broadway production of “The Boy from Oz.”

The speculation surrounding his sexuality peaked when his actress wife Deborra-Lee Furness took on the role of rumor-crusher, telling everyone that her man definitely wasn’t into same-sex relationships.

More…

What is even more amusing than the article are the comments that people have made. One of them inspired the title of this blog post. I don’t care. I’m still keeping this photo on my hard drive:

Related articles:

• Does Deborra-Lee Furness make Hugh Jackman great?
• Hello, sexy!
• Hugh Jackman’s Wife Does Not Like Gay Rumors
• Hugh Jackman: People’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’