February 7, 2008

Preview Review: Bernard and Doris
Bernard and Doris is one of the strangest love stories I've ever seen on TV. Honestly, the relationship between the beyond rich Doris Duke and her alcoholic butler Bernard Lafferty is so crazy that if it hadn't of actually happened, the person who made it up would be a fantastic fiction writer. Bob Balaban takes the events of their relationship that were known and creates a fantasy of what their day to day life might have been like. The spectacular Susan Sarandon takes on the flamboyant role of Duke with gusto and Ralph Fiennes plays Lafferty perfectly like a puppy basking in the love of its master. She was a difficult woman with no real friends and fired people on whim, and he was a penniless Irish drunk who had made his way around Hollywood working for Elizabeth Taylor and Peggy Lee. The film is a tour de force for Sarandon who in my opinion, is always great.

Film premieres on HBO Saturday, February 9 at 8pm.

Dumb Blonde, Smart Blonde
If you're in NYC on February 12 you might want to attend this event sponsored by NY Women in Film and TV (which I am a proud new member of)

Women have wanted to be blonde from time immemorial. Equated with youth and sexiness, blondes have always been centerpieces in the movies. There have been all kind of blondes -- smart blondes, dumb blondes, scheming blondes, sweet blondes, powerful blondes, and victim blondes.

Anita Loos created the dumb blonde in 1927 (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) and male writers perfected the genre. Women screenwriters improved on the genre, smartening their blondes up. Dumb Blondes, Smart Blondes will analyze the trajectory of blondes in film and television over the past 30 years. Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer film critic, will screen film clips to show the changing images of blonde-haired women on the screen and tube to determine whether they accurately reflect changing roles of women and the reality of their lives. The event will appeal to blondes and non-blondes alike.

Sign up Here: Dumb Blonde, Smart Blonde