Yes, really, ‘This Is It’
When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It, the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
“It’s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,” he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn’t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson’s in-progress “This Is It” tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega’s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project.
Read the rest of today’s Game Plan, Yes, Really, This Is It.
Movie marathon
Quite a cinematic day for moi.
This morning I went to see the Michael Jackson film “This Is It” with the intention of writing a Game Plan column about it. That piece will go live on Friday, but suffice to say I loved the film and writing the column was a joy. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an appreciation for Jackson’s musical gifts.
This evening I saw a screening of “Precious” and, well, I couldn’t possibly do the intensity of that movie justice here. The acting performances were dead on, but Mo’Nique’s was particularly powerful. The summary of the film: In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
What the summary doesn’t say is how unthinkably abused she is and how graphic the film is. Worth seeing, but really worth thinking twice if you have been abused. I couldn’t imagine seeing it through that lens. Safe Horizon, which hosted the special screening, was wise enough to have counselors on hand if needed for anyone in the packed house.
A day of watching the big screen and being thoroughly entertained and touched to my core.
The Shriver Report
After making my way through the 400-plus pages of The Shriver Report, A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything (courtesy of Maria Shriver), I recalled an interview I had years ago with a woman who would potentially be my boss. What transpired and my thoughts now in today’s Game Plan: Thoughts on Women in the Workplace.
Class of ‘79
OK, it’s official. I’m heading to my 30th high school reunion on Thanksgiving weekend. The last one I attended was the five-year reunion, so I’d venture to say much has changed.
Bound to be a hoot …
The Church today
Maureen Dowd on Catholicism and nuns in particular:
Hard pressed to say what’s more interesting, the column or the comments on the column. The six-paragraph long comment blaming Vatican II, and liberalism, for the pedophilia scandal is jaw-droppingly creepy.
What a contrast between the beauty and expressiveness of the churches in Italy — which I just saw in August – and what this religion has come to stand for. Sad indeed.
Now this is volunteerism
I loved my volunteer gig this week at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Manhattan Designer House Tour. It occurred to me about halfway through my assignment that it was a side of volunteerism many people don’t consider — the highly enjoyable side.
Hence, today’s Game Plan: What Volunteerism Can Look Like.
Cake Boss, baby
How was the Cake Boss party at Destino in New York City tonight?
It depends if you like real people who just happen to work their buns off to run a terrific bakery (that would be Carlos of Hoboken) and let the TLC television cameras roll while they do it.
Or if your idea of fab finger food is scallops, shrimp, steak bites, crab cakes, balsamic chicken and meatballs (and I mean real meatballs like my mother makes).
Or if your idea of dessert is courtesy of said bakery and comes in the form of a little cream puff filled with chocolate mousse, a chocolate-covered strawberry and a red velvet cupcake.
Say it isn’t so.
Thanks to Dave for taking it all in with me. It was great to meet TLC folks Joanna and Dustin.
The new Cake Boss season starts next week — tune in!
Media matters
Given the big Fox logo on this very page, I found this so interesting. It’s a column by David Corn, a self-described “former liberal commentator on Fox News.”
Strongly disagree
This Game Plan column, I suppose, is my way of saying you never know what might happen if you call my home and ask me to participate in a poll. The National Association for Marriage (read: heterosexual marriage) is trying to amp up voter support in New Jersey.
My response: Home Intrusion and Marriage
My piece on peace
It is always satisfying to know something I’ve written is resonating. But it is tremendously gratifying to know that my piece about peace — Peace and Gray Area — remains the second most read story on FoxBusiness.com nearly a week after it went live.
Thank you to the thoughtful readers who have posted comments to it and to those passing it around.
