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PCR #263. (Vol. 6, No. 14) This edition is for the week of April 4--10, 2005.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello, gang! While I unpack here are some news, notes and more on JAWS. Shall we begin?

LA FLORIDIANA
"William Moriaty's Florida" Near Completion
 by William Moriaty
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW
"Sahara"
 by Mike Smith
COUCH POTATO
My UFO Story....Long Time Radio Show Favorites Return After 20 Years!
 by Vinnie Blesi
CREATURE'S CORNER
Sin City....Countdown to Infinite Crisis
 by John Lewis
MATT'S RAIL
Go Ahead Wal-Mart, Make My Day....My UFO Story
 by Matt Drinnenberg
MIKE'S RANT
The Pope....Movie Notes....Next Week....Jaws: The Story, Part 13
 by Mike Smith
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THE POPE
It was with genuine sadness that I learned of the passing of Pope John Paul II this past weekend. I can still remember joking with friends upon his appointment after the death of Pope John Paul that he should have taken the name George Ringo. However, for the next 26 years he spread his message of peace and love all over the world. Following an assassination attempt in 1981 the Pope later met with the man who shot him and forgave him. It was while packing boxes this past Saturday that I heard the news. In what I consider a strange coincidence, I was folding a commemorative cloth given to those who attended his appearance at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1995 when his death was announced. Pretty weird.

MOVIE NOTES
Citing scheduling problems with his new television series, "House," actor Hugh Laurie has dropped out of the role of Daily Planet Editor Perry White in "Superman Returns." He was replaced by Frank Langella.

After several weeks of yes he is/no he isn't rumors concerning Pierce Brosnan returning to the role of James Bond it was announced that producer Barbara Broccoli has offered the role to actor Daniel Craig. Craig, best known as Paul Newman's son in "Road to Perdition," entered the mix after Clive Owen, who I think it perfect for the role, turned it down fearing it would hamper his choice of non-007 roles.

Phoenix will rise next summer! Famke Jansenn has confirmed that she will be appearing in "X-Men 3." Jansenn, whose character Jean Grey supposedly died at the end of "X-Men United," will return along with Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry in the new film.

NEXT WEEK
While traveling around the country in a custom RV promoting his new film, "Sahara," Matthew McConaughey found the time to sit down with me for a new installment of the "Crazed Fanboy Presents" interview series, which will appear in next week's PCR.

THE STORY OF JAWS - PART 13
This week we'll look at the third member of the shark hunting party - oceanographer Matt Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss was born on October 29, 1947 in Brooklyn, NY. His family moved to California where he attended Hollywood High. After graduation he began appearing on such television shows as "Ben Casey," "Gidget" and "Bewitched." In 1967 he made his film debut in "The Graduate." Though he auditioned for the title role, which he lost to Dustin Hoffman, Dreyfuss did get to utter a line as one of Hoffman's frat brothers. More television work led to an early stand out role as Baby Face Nelson in "Dillinger." That same year, 1973, he starred as the idealistic Curt Henderson in "American Graffiti." He followed that film with his first starring role in the Canadian produced "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz." It was after he wrapped this film that he was offered the part in "Jaws." Telling director Spielberg that the film sounded like one he would rather see then appear in, he turned down the role. However, convinced after seeing a screening of "Duddy" that he was terrible in it, he changed his mind and accepted the part. Of course he was praised for the film and Universal looked like geniuses for casting him in "Jaws." He followed "Jaws" with an appearance in one of the rare mainstream X rated films, "Inserts," then re-teamed with Spielberg for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Then even better fortune struck. Robert DeNiro had dropped out of the Neil Simon written production "Bogart Slept Here." The film was to chronicle the adventures of actor Elliot Garfield in Hollywood. With DeNiro gone, Simon rewrote the story to show how Garfield's career began and Dreyfuss was cast in the new story, now called "The Goodbye Girl." For his work in the film, 30 year old Dreyfuss became, at the time, the youngest winner of the Best Actor Oscar, an honor he held until 29 year old Adrien Brody won the award in 2003. Seemingly on top of the world, the next few years would bring personal problems and bad film choices Dreyfuss' way, beginning when he was forced to drop out of Bob Fosse's "All That Jazz" due to the strenuous physical demands the role required A much publicized car accident, with Dreyfuss admittedly under the influence of drugs, kept him off the screen for some time. Finally, director Paul Mazursky took a chance and cast him alongside Bette Midler and Nick Nolte in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills." The film was a smash and Dreyfuss followed it with acclaimed work in "Tin Men" and "Stake Out." He continued to concentrate on comedies in the early 90's and had another hit when he starred with Bill Murray in "What About Bob?" In 1995 he portrayed a composer turned high school music teacher in "Mr. Holland's Opus," which earned him his second Best Actor Academy Award nomination. In recent years he has appeared in more supporting roles, including Rob Reiner's "The American President." Dreyfuss had previously appeared as the uncredited narrator of Reiner's 1986 film, "Stand by Me." Last year he was scheduled to appear on London's West End in the musical "The Producers," but had to drop out due to a back injury. Dreyfuss has been married twice and is the father of three.

Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!


"Mike's Rant" is ©2005 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova.