Gandolfini is dead

There was some sad news today, the actor James Gandolfini died of a heart attack while on holiday in Italy.  He played the primary character in the American TV series about gangsters called The Sopranos. I did watch a few episodes and must admit to liking the ones I saw. Gandolfini was loved as an actor and also because of the respect he gave everyone no matter what part they played, he treated all those he met with dignity. It will be a shame, but saying this he was a bit porky. Around the waist line so to speak.  I did see him recently in a musical called Romance and Cigarettes playing opposite Susan Saradon and Kate Winslett.  Which for a musical I liked as well. Especially when I normally consider watching musical stuff as gay.

Gandolfini was 51 years old. In the film I saw he smoked cigarettes profusely and died of cancer at the end. I guess he must of smoked in real life as well. He was overweight, and he obviously fell into the group of men who are likely to pop their clogs prematurely. I reflect on this prospect as 51 years is less than a stone's throw from my present age.  It makes me think I should be re-evaluating my lifestyle. Eating healthy, exercising more, losing weight, there's a good tyre round my own waist. I've finished a cup of tea and biting into a triple chocolate Swiss roll. For lunch it was beef in black bean sauce and ho fun. A very oily Chinese dish, but tasty. If I stand back and take a look at the set of cards I'm looking at, I'd be shaking my head and wondering if this fella was going to bluff it or fold, he could win or he could just drop dead. I know what I should do, but doing it is not so easy. Even though I have been out doing some kind of exercise three times this week, it's the eating bit which has to be tackled as well.

Sparkling Eyes reminds me she loves me and I should think of the future, think of Babyfro and Sparkling. Just as Sparkling has taken up the e-cigarette to quench her smoking habit. I should, I know I should. Gandolfini's death is now like the sword of Damocles. (Damn the sword).  Just waiting to be released. Oh well, there is one event none of us can escape from, and it's more a matter of how long we can stay alive. Or a matter of staying alive with your own marbles and knowing people you can get on with or haven't pissed off enough they don't talk to you any more. Knowing truly a lot of old people are shall I say engrossed in their own eccentricities.

I liked Gandolfini as an actor, I never got to meet him but the way he played his rolls, how he delivered himself on screen would suggest he'd of been an interesting person to talk to over lunch. Hell, I wouldn't want to talk to him while on the treadmill, he would of sweated and stank a bit, as all fat people do when they over exercise. Note to self, get some deodorant summer's on it's way.

The 2012 Oscars, where did I put my bucket

The Oscars have been given out to glamorous rich actors, with lots of crocodile tears and equally crocodile emotions.  Except for the wit of host Billy Crystal, nine times host.  When I saw him I thought there is someone who has had a little bit of surgery.  His forehead looked so stretched and large I kept thinking of some sci fi film I saw ages ago but couldn't quite put  a name to the title.  Billy presented well, you could tell he had put a lot of practice for his speech, and although rehearsed it was still funny, some of his lines were ironic, sarcastic and darkly biting all with smile.  This man was lathering up the irony like a fat American layering yet more peanut spread and jelly on his sandwich.  I wondered to myself how sarcasm, subtle biting wit and comment was such an British trait and how on earth would America appreciate his performance.  Fortunately it was beamed to the UK so we could appreciate it. Some of Billy's comments were:

"...Hollywood tradition that not only creates memories for the ages but also breeds resentment that lasts a lifetime."   

What a reflection this is of the movie industry and shallowness of actors. Further I couldn't help think this man must be a silent socialist.  The audience laughed, it was a true gag, I'm sure the politicians and bankers didn't though.

"Nothing can take the sting out of the world's economic problems like watching millionaires present each other with golden statues." 

Again although the acting profession is incredibly well paid, parts of it, not all of it I guess, it lives in a world of it's own. In another twist of irony revealing the cultural divide of black and white America he said:

"After I saw The Help I just wanted to hug the first black woman I saw, which from Beverly Hills is a bout a 45 minute drive."

And for one of Hollywood's greatest female actors he said:

"Please welcome the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Angelina Jolie."  It was Angelina who wore a black velvet dress which had a split up one side and in order to show her leg she strutted one hip out.  I suppose she thought it was the best way to get noticed, but the truth be said she probably needed a get a ride and was hoping to stop passing traffic.  Talking about dresses, I'll just add this one point.  Meryl Streep winner of an Oscar for a tragic and mind numbing performance of one of the world's most hated women, looked like she was wearing a pair of gold curtains for a dress.  You would of thought she could of got something a bit newer, I'll expect there is a store wondering where it's Chrimbo decorations have gone.  Meryl darling, you really don't want to ever interview in the UK and comment on that film, next time your guaranteed an egg if not a cabbage thrown at you.  Ignorance is not an asset, you should of refused the script.  Stick to singing on hot islands in the Mediterranean.

When looking at the comments and reviews of the Oscars ceremony they are remarkably mixed.  Some people seem to have taken offence to Billy Crystal, some not even sure who he is.This shows the incredible spread of views and varying levels of ignorance.  Oops there goes that word again.  At least there is one thing which can be said, it was entertaining.  I nearly filled my puke bucket.