Faye Dunaway vs. Hilary Duff: an unfair fight

Ok, call me slow but I just heard about the Bonnie and Clyde remake. And the blow-up it has created between Faye Dunaway and Hilary Duff. Before I go farther I will say this is like a fight between Muhamad Ali and a crackhead. But before I go there...

First off is my gripe about remakes. It just amazes me how Hollywood is looking backwards more every year we go forward. I really can’t believe that all the screenwriters in Hollywood are that lazy or incompetent. If they are, I don’t understand how they continue to be employed when there are huge numbers of hopefuls waiting to get their chance. Dennis Dortch is one such writer (and he directs) and I can’t see why he isn’t being given a chance at a bigger budget film for a new idea.

But with that said, the execs in Hollywood have decided to butcher (as virtually every remake in the past decade or so has done) yet another good movie. And based on the past ability of Hollywood to capture none of the qualities of the original film (revisioning is the current buzzword – which should mean diarrhea for the eyes) I expect that none of the cast, writers, director or executives have bothered to watch the full film. I’m not sure what you might call the Cliff Notes version of a film, but I would expect that may be all they know of the film.

Thus I am not surprised that Faye Dunaway may have stated that

“Couldn't they at least cast a real actress?”

Honestly they can’t. Because an actress of real talent (not a pop star with lots of exposure) might actually know the original film and want to be inspired by the work of Faye Dunaway. And that just won’t fit with the concept that it can be done better today than the original.

I don’t think even Las Vegas would take odds on this film being better, or Duff being half as good as Dunaway on a day she is ill. The chances of Hilary Duff or the new film getting 1 Oscar nomination, let alone the 10 that the original earned, is right there with Bigfoot walking into Times Square and dancing a jig – if current standards of remakes are exceeded.

In fact, as I had suspected, the new film is a revisioning. It will throw out much of the original film in favor of

“…news clippings of the famous Depression-era outlaws, found in an abandoned house on her family's property.”

Well at least some attempt at research and some level of involvement in the story has been attained.

Of course Duff had to respond.

“I think that my fans that are going to go see the movie don't even know who she is." Duff went on to say, "I think it was a little unnecessary, but I might be mad if I looked like that now, too."

What fans? At least Duff was smart enough not to compare her claim to fame, Lizzie McGuire, to anything any other actress has done. But she wasn’t smart enough to realize that Dunaway is 47 years her elder. Nor that Dunaway looks pretty damn good for her age, or that of a woman much younger. The same cannot be said of Duff.

And in case Hilary Duff can’t read, nor bothered to do a Google search she has achieved all of the following:

• Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot - Supporting Young Actress - Young Artist Awards
  
• Teenager of the Year – Rolling Stone
  
• Favorite Female Singer - Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
  
• Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film - Young Artist Awards
  

Not exactly prestigious. Nor overwhelming.

Faye Dunaway on the other hand:

• Started her career on the stage at age 21. By the time she was 26 she starred in the Oscar winning movie Bonnie and Clyde (which was just her 3rd movie and she gained an Academy Award nomination for the role).
  
  
• She has been in acclaimed movies including - The Thomas Crown Affair (and the remake 21 years later), Little Big Man, The Three Musketeers, Chinatown (another Oscar nomination), The Towering Inferno, Three Days of the Condor (a favorite of mine), and Network (won the Oscar).
  

Simply put, Duff needs to seriously get some acting lessons and experience before she deserves to insult her betters. Especially when they are right.

Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac - gone too soon

The past few days have been very sad on so many fronts. There was the surprising car accident that put Morgan Freeman into the hospital with a broken arm and shoulder. Then the Olympics were marred with the murder of an American father-in-law of the Men’s Volleyball Team coach. And now there is the back to back news of the sudden deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

This is a difficult week for many, and I offer my condolences to the families of all that are suffering.

Bernie Mac was just a few months short of being 51. Born in the South side of Chicago, he raised himself up from early childhood tragedies of losing his mother and the absence of his father. Though he started his comedy career in his teens, it was not until he was 32 that his career flourished. The perseverance that allowed him to follow his dream took him through a difficult road – at one time leading him to work for UPS and as a furniture mover. Yet it was this aspect of everyday struggles that helped to shape his comedy and give him an appeal that was as wide as the nation.

While I may not been the greatest fan of Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (his given name) in his stand-up comedy, I was among the millions that enjoyed his acting in movies as diverse as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Get on the Bus, Life, Ocean's Eleven (and it’s2 sequels), What's the Worst That Could Happen?. Even more people were able to learn of his ability in his television show, The Bernie Mac Show, in which he received 2 Emmy nominations, 2 Golden Globe nominations, and 7 NAACP Image Award nominations (of which he won 4) all for best comedic actor.

This says nothing of the fact that Bernie Mac was a father. While his fame came towards the end of his life, he raised a daughter with his wife that graduated from college with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. That daugheter is married and made Bernie Mac a grandfather.

He was too young to leave us all.

Isaac Hayes was also a young robust 65. He first came to national attention in the 1960’s and has never been far from the ears of the nation, even if many had no idea it was him. He was a writer, singer, musician, composer and producer of multiple albums, leaving an indelible mark in music that still is reflected to this day. He received the first Academy Award received by an African-American in a non-acting category for his soundtrack to the film SHAFT as well as 3 Grammy Awards. But that was not the only source of his fame.

From the 1970’s on Isaac Hayes could be seen on television and in movies. Some of his most notable mvoie characters included is possibly most famous – the Duke of New York from Escape From New York. But he was as comfortable in a comedy (I’m Gonna Get You Sucka) as in sci-fi (Johnny Mnemonic).

Of course his television roles were equally as diverse. He appeared on The Rockford Files, The A-Team and Miami Vice before he captured a role on one of the most popular television programs for the modern generation of kids South Park – where he voiced Chef.

But all of these accomplishments should be no surprise as Isaac Hayes was a man of diverse abilities. Like Bernie Mac, he lived through the death of his parents and being raised by his grandparents. He was poor in his youth, and picked cotton for a time. Yet he sang for his church since he was 5, and taught himself how to play 4 instruments - piano, electronic organ, flute and saxophone.

Isaac Hayes was also like Bernie Mac in that he too was a family man. Hayes had 12 children, and had 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Considering all of his accomplishments Hayes still found time for humanitarian work. He was involved with Youth for Human Rights International and One Campaign among others. In fact he was made an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district in 1992 for his humanitarianism.

All of this and the fact that Hayes had suffered from a stroke earlier in his life.

He too has gone from us too soone.

But I want to emphasize something about these public men, something that I am sure can be said of Todd Bachmann as well. They all gave of themselves and helped to improve the world we all live in. Their struggles and accomplishments are testament to the things we all can achieve in our lives.

From being poor, to losses in youth, to struggles in work we each can rise up and become the dreams we have, and help others to live out their dreams – or just live better lives.

I am sad today because of their losses, but I am also happy knowing that these men gave us all something that has enrichened our lives. Again I give my condolences to their families and friends.