1000 Times, Yes

*Blip*

What was that sound? Oh, that was Holly Hunter, who is now on my radar.
....


Holly Hunter was the guest on Craig Ferguson's show tonight (well, technically, this morning).

At one point during the interview, she mentioned that she was watching a lot of Charlie Chaplin lately. Ferguson didn't seem to know what to say to that and kind of laughed and made an uncommitted joke.

Hunter then said something like, "Forget Chaplin. Let's talk about Keaton. Buster Keaton." Ferguson obviously isn't terribly familiar or fond of the silent era, because he was still at a bit of a loss for words. I think he asked what she wanted to talk about relating to Buster Keaton.

Hunter asked (paraphrasing), "Well, is he better than Chaplin?"

Ferguson didn't have much of a response. He said he hasn't really given it much thought, but didn't Keaton's career die sometime in the 1920's? Holly Hunter told him he should look them up again. He then moved the conversation on by saying he watches Marx Brothers with his kid.

I would like to take this moment to answer Hunter's question, on behalf of Craig Ferguson:

Yes.

The Fall and a Birthday Wish

To steal Craig Ferguson's line, it's a great day for America. Why? Because Buster Keaton was born on this day in Piqua, Kansas in 1895.

I, for one, intend to celebrate with a marathon of Buster's movies, a couple games of cards, and possibly a Buster-related purchase on eBay (what better day to treat myself to a birthday wish, since I can't treat Buster to one?).

For anyone interested in watching a new or different sort of a movie in celebration and commemoration of Buster Keaton, I recommend viewing Tarsem's The Fall, starring Lee Pace and newcomer Catinca Untaru.

The Fall is a beautifully filmed and acted story about Roy (Pace), a stuntman from the silent era who has become paralyzed from the waist down due to a stunt gone wrong. His heartbreak over the loss of his love compounded with his new handicap has led him into a spiral of suicidal depression. Enter Alexandria (Untaru), a young girl wandering the hospital with a broken arm. Roy captures her attention with a fantastical story that is an allegory for his own life. As Alexandria urges the story forward, however, it becomes uniquely theirs. In her innocence, however, Alexandria doesn't realize that Roy is using her interest in him and their story for ulterior motives.

It is a well-acted, charming little movie with stunning visuals. The film is a nice tribute to the silent era of film making, and I would recommend viewing it on that alone. I recommend it here, in particular, because Buster Keaton also makes a cameo of sorts.

I've got to get to celebrating, so that's all for today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUSTER KEATON!