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Now in our seventh calendar year! PCR #353. (Vol. 7, No. 52) This edition is for the week of December 24--31, 2006.
THAT TIME OF YEAR In March I tracked down my birth family. Yes, as the result of one very exciting phone call I gained 10 brothers and sisters. Easter weekend was a blur as I traveled to Minnesota to meet brothers Jim, Nick, Joe and Dino along with sisters Debbie and Kelly. It was truly one of the greatest moments in my life EVER. Sadly, in September I lost one of my sisters, Kimberly, who passed away in Cleveland. I had never gotten to meet her face to face but we had talked on the phone and shared email notes. While attending her services I met brothers Anthony and Rocco and sister Terri. It's very funny how things happen sometimes. I've always been a believer in the notion that the good lord above has a plan for all of us and that things happen for a reason. In the 25 years I tried to find my birth family, a million thoughts went through my mind. My main concern was not to be a burden or a cause for discomfort for them. Things were much different 46 years ago when I was born. I don't fault my birth mother for the tough decisions she made. I was adopted by great parents who have both been very supportive in my discovering my family and for that I am greatly thankful. Experience #2 took place in June when I finally got to see Matt perform on stage to a wildly enthusiastic group made up of friends and strangers. The last time I saw Matt "live" was during a band rehearsal in 1984 so to see him sing and play with such authority was something I had wanted to be a part of since he and I used to sit by the water's edge in Tampa. I was also proud as heck to help distribute Matt's first CD. Bigger and better things await him in Maine and I hope to be there to see them as well. And now for my end of the year thank you's: Nolan B. Canova, my editor and friend, who each week gives me the opportunity to speak my mind and share my thoughts. We've come a long way from that little newsletter with the Oscar picks. It seems like only yesterday I was mocking M. Night Shyamalan.....oh wait, it was.
Matthew Drinnenberg, my brother. This past September marked 30 years that Matt and I have been friends. In that time he and his family have done more for me than I can ever repay. I'm so proud that you finally got your music heard this year. Can't wait for CD #2.
Phillip Smith, my son. As you continue on the path you create daily, I am always there with you. I am so proud of the achievements you have already made and know that I will be just as proud of the ones to come. I moved to Kansas to be a full time dad when you were a young boy of 11. Now you are a man of 22 and making your own strides in the world. I love you, son.
Juanita Craft, my honey. You are the final piece in the puzzle of my life. Thank you for your love and your trust. And for letting me turn the basement into "the JAWS room." I love you.
The Gammello Family. Anthony, Jim, Nick, Joe, Dino, Rocco, Terri, Debbie, Kelly and Kimberly. That I found you was truly a miracle. In the few times we have been together, it felt like we had never been apart. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms. I love you all.
Antwone Fisher. It was the film of your story that truly inspired me to search for my family. Thank you for that inspiration.
And, finally, the readers of the PCR. Every Thursday I gather my notes and thoughts together and spill them out on this web site. Thank you for all of the feedback, both positive and negative. Whatever your thoughts, you took the time to read mine and for that I am eternally thankful.
BLOWING OUR HORN PASSING ON TOP 10 MOVIE LINES "Enough is enough! I've had it with these mother fucking snakes on this mother fucking plane!" "You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior but everyday I hear people crying for one." "Please, God, don't let there be a "Jackass 3." "Hakuna Mutata, bitches!" "I wish I knew how to quit you." "Now the whole world will know you died scratching my balls!" "May George Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq." "Just a minute, I hear people wanting something...ME!" "I can say what I want. I've still got Nazi bullets in my ass!" What? You haven't peaked yet? NEXT YEAR
FIRST SEEN: Columbia Palace 9, Columbia, Maryland In 1987, Hollywood reeled at the news that 20th Century Fox had signed television actor Bruce Willis to star in a feature film for an unheard of $5 million. Willis, currently hot because of his role of David Addison on "Moonlighting," had appeared in two earlier films, "Blind Date" and "Sunset," which had done only nominal business. That Fox had invested that much money into Willis was joked about for months until the film he signed for was released. That film was "Die Hard."
It's the holiday season. New York detective John McClane has just arrived in Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his wife and family. He heads to his wife's office, which is located in the newly built Nakatomi Building. Given a place to change his clothes, McClane soon discovers that all is not well. And so it begins.
"Die Hard" is one of the most influential films in recent memory. The concept of one man against great odds was perfected here and carried over to other projects. "Speed" is basically "Die Hard" on a bus. "Under Siege" is "Die Hard" on a boat. Get the point? The film is filled with explosions and enough gunfire to make Charlton Heston smile. Part of the reason for the success of the film was the cast. No one plays "smirky" like Willis and that reputation was cemented here. Whether sarcastically replying "Glass?" to a big wig on the ground or informing him that he "wasn't the one who just got butt fucked on national t v," Willis gives the film an edge that it wouldn't have if you didn't find his character so believeable. John McClane is a man who believes in what he does and the possibility that he could fail never occurs to him. Cast as main bad guy Hans Gruber, Alan Rickman makes an impressive American film debut. All slick and smooth, Hans can charm people with the rest of them. However, make him mad and he slips into an evil monster who has no problem killing people. The rest of the cast is just as good. Bonnie Bedelia is strong as McClane's wife, Holly while VelJohnson is a cop that draws the assignment of his career. William Atherton gives journalism a bad names as TV reporter Dick Thornburg, a newsman who will do anything to make the news. With only two films to his credit ("Nomads" and "Predator"), McTiernan redeveloped the action film with "Die Hard." He found a way to make the audience part of the action, almost making them an extension of McClane. When McClane is hanging on a fire hose 80 stories above the ground, the audience is hanging with him, kicking along with him as he tries to break a window. He even managed to spoof his talents later with the over the top film "Last Action Hero."
"Die Hard" went on to make $81 million, making Fox's investment in Willis look like a steal. Willis made two more appearances as McClane in "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" and "Die Hard: With A Vengeance" and is currently filming a fourth film, "Live Free or Die Hard." 20 years later when there is trouble afoot, it's nice to know that John McClane is still around.
Well, that's it for this week AND this year. Please have a safe and Happy New Year. See ya!
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