RIP Paul Newman

Hollywood legend Paul Newman, the cool "anti-hero" in such films as Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Color of Money, died this past Friday of cancer at his Westport Connecticut home. He was 83 years old. A lot of the younger generations may know Mr. Newman as the guy whose face is on Salad dressing and pasta sauces, but he also owned a racing team and was a great philanthropist. But perhaps what made Paul Newman a rarity by today's Hollywood standards was that he was married to actress Joanne Woodward for over fifty years. Considering some celebrity couples are already thinking about divorce before the ink on their marriage license is even dry, that is something to take pride in.

R.I.P. Mr. Newman, you will be missed.



How could ANYONE who has seen Butch Cassidy forget this scene?



Paul Newman in The Color of Money

Odds and Ends

That's Connery. Sean Connery
The man who is best known for his role as James Bond will be unveiling his memoir Being a Scot on August 25 at a book festival in Edinburgh.

Two more for Lehane
After the success of the film versions of two of Dennis Lehane's books, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, two more books are primed to be translated into film. Up next is The Given Day, a novel set during the 1919 Boston Police riots. Universal and director Sam Raimi (both of Spider-man fame) are set to work together on the film version of the book. Also, production on Shutter Island is just about complete. The movie reunites Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, who last worked together on The Departed.

Odds and Ends

Fleming, Ian Fleming
For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond is the the latest exhibition at The Imperial War Museum in London. So, if you're a Bond fan who lives in London (or just feel like going there) be sure to stop in to see it. The exhibition is scheduled to run through March 2009.

It's kind of like...Coke buying out Pepsi
Super bookstore chain Barnes and Noble reportedly has been eying the bid to buy out rival Borders Group.

"No time for love, Dr. Jones"
Actually, there seems to be plenty of love for Indy. Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the first in the series in nineteen years, grossed $56 million dollars in it's first two days. On his blog, The Man in Black, author Jason Pinter gives a good round up of the movie. WARNING: The post contains spoilers. Don't read it unless you've seen the movie. And just for fun, don't forget to check out the official Indiana Jones Web site.

Odds and Ends: Movies about writing/writers

There are so many movies involving writers out there. Listed below are some of my favorites in no particular order.

1. Citizen Kane
2. Deathtrap
3. Misery
   
4. Adaptation
5. Throw Momma from the Train
6. Stranger than Fiction
7. Kafka
8. Barton Fink
9. Secret Window
10. Capote

If you have any favorites, please feel free to add them.