Songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker has died. His most famous composition was "Mr. Bojangles", covered by artists across a wide range of genres.
Oh man, I’m sorry to hear that. I know that Ray Wylie Hubbard wrote it, but Jerry Jeff Walker’s rendition of “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother” has long been one of my very favorites.
Just read that Frank Bough has died. I know he was disgraced by his later exploits (which were mild by comparison with some stuff that has come out) but he was always the face of BBC sports.
^ I remember the launch of that BBC morning show. For some reason, the beeb doing a breakfast show was considered significant enough to be reported on Canadian news. I'm wondering if it was viewed as some sort of capitulation the the philistines, like when a staid old broadsheet starts running colour photos on the front page.
No! One of, if not the, fastest players ever - not surprising from a former national sprint champion. Wondrous to watch during the golden period of the 1970s.
(There might be great or terrifying things happening in the world, but surprise surprise, the front page of the Western Mail * was a large picture of JJ Williams, with a pull out about his career. Rugby is big news in South Wales)
* The Western Mail - “The National Newspaper of Wales”
(There might be great or terrifying things happening in the world, but surprise surprise, the front page of the Western Mail * was a large picture of JJ Williams, with a pull out about his career. Rugby is big news in South Wales)
* The Western Mail - “The National Newspaper of Wales”
And he was part of the national team in the glory days of the 70s, so there is an element of nostalgia there.
Link for Sean Connery. He was a great actor, and a sad loss.
I liked Connery, in films at least, but I'd hardly call him a great actor. I'd call him an iconic one, and one who's persona could fill a screen better than the average actor. But as far as basic ability, he was good, but not great. IMO, he was Kevin Costner with more charisma and machismo.
Link for Sean Connery. He was a great actor, and a sad loss.
I liked Connery, in films at least, but I'd hardly call him a great actor. I'd call him an iconic one, and one who's persona could fill a screen better than the average actor. But as far as basic ability, he was good, but not great. IMO, he was Kevin Costner with more charisma and machismo.
Yeah maybe. I think he played a single character most of the time, but did it well. Also, I wanted to focus on his acting rather than his personal life, where he was, it seems, a total shit.
Link for Sean Connery. He was a great actor, and a sad loss.
I liked Connery, in films at least, but I'd hardly call him a great actor. I'd call him an iconic one, and one who's persona could fill a screen better than the average actor. But as far as basic ability, he was good, but not great. IMO, he was Kevin Costner with more charisma and machismo.
When that movie Entrapment came out, a friend of mine observed that Sean Connery can't really carry a movie. When I said "What about Bond?", my friend replied that Bond films are not carried by Bond, they're carried by the gadgetry.
(I think there's a scene in Trainspotting where the characters have a conversation something along those general lines.)
Link for Sean Connery. He was a great actor, and a sad loss.
I liked Connery, in films at least, but I'd hardly call him a great actor. I'd call him an iconic one, and one who's persona could fill a screen better than the average actor. But as far as basic ability, he was good, but not great. IMO, he was Kevin Costner with more charisma and machismo.
When that movie Entrapment came out, a friend of mine observed that Sean Connery can't really carry a movie. When I said "What about Bond?", my friend replied that Bond films are not carried by Bond, they're carried by the gadgetry.
(I think there's a scene in Trainspotting where the characters have a conversation something along those general lines.)
I'd say he contributes to the film, though. In the Untouchables, I think his personality contributed more than the films main star. I'd say Bond is a mix of gadgets, trope and attitude. The actor provides the attitude, so whilst not carrying the film, is an integral part of it. This is why Lazenby and Dalton were failures at the part.
Could Connery carry a film by himself? No. Did his persona contribute significantly? Yes. In much the same way that Eastwood and similar do.
My Sean Connery isn’t James Bond; it’s three films between 1987 and 1990, in which he demonstrated the utter mastery of the Abbe Faria role, the older warrior who introduces a younger man to the ways of the world. Malone is the most literal interpretation of Faria; explaining Chicago to Eliot Ness before being sacrificed to a tommy gun. In Last Crusade he’s the absentee father, only tangentially interested in his son’s life, who nevertheless manages to convey how to let go while he still has a chance. Red October is as much about Ryan’s hero worship as it is about anything else, marked by their brief meeting at the end and Ryan’s somehow believable willingness to do just about anything (jump out of a helicopter into the North Atlantic, track down a KGB agent in a missile compartment) at Ramius’ command. That I saw all of these films between the ages of 13 and 17 undoubtedly helped drive the message home.
One of the most important tricks to being a successful film actor is knowing your range and accepting the best scripts on offer to you within that range. Sean Connery was pretty good at that, though not infallibly so.
There is a difference between being a successful actor and being a great actor. Connery was undoubtedly the first. The second would be a very difficult case to make.
What a shame! I loved him with Judi Dench in "As Time Goes By," and I know I've seen him in other roles over the years.
I enjoyed that as well. He's acted other kinds of roles, but that character, and his similar character in Butterflies, is how I'll always remember him.
Not yet been reported widely (given other world news right now), but Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi, has died. He was one of our greats. A brilliant, humane voice.
The Category is The end of an Era. The Answer is The show is in Jeopardy. For $400, what is the Question?
"Alex, the Question is: Because you are no longer with us." RIP Mr. Trebek
Jerry Rawlings, the dictator-turned-elected-president of Ghana, 73.
I always heard him talked up as a benevolent despot, who made his nation into a utopia relative to much of the rest of Africa, or indeed the global south generally. But I'm reluctant to go too far in praising him, because, as an expat, nothing grates like hearing the leaders of a nation you know something about either romanticized or demonized by semi-informed outsiders.
That said, I know people who have actually been to Ghana, and sing its praises, and I also have the general impression this is at least partly owing to Rawlings and his policies(even if shooting people for embezzlement is a little out there). So I'll go with a cautious RIP on this.
I have seen many people say that O'Conner was genuienly a lovely person. His style was a little to "safe" for my liking, but I know he was well liked, he was good at what he did.
Any TV entertainer from that era who can still be celebrated is, I think, quite special, so a sad loss. RIP Des.
Comments
RIP. His humour style was from a generation before mine, but that doesn't detract from the fact that he was funny, he was a lovely man.
Rugby legend J J Williams has gone too.
Gorffwyswch mewn Heddwch JJ.
Which Google tells me means "Rest in Peace".
* The Western Mail - “The National Newspaper of Wales”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36963874
And he was part of the national team in the glory days of the 70s, so there is an element of nostalgia there.
He came to Belfast at David's invitation to give a recital in the Cathedral, and was very good company in the pub afterwards.
A musician and a gentleman - may he rest in peace.
1 Simon Toad 36 2 1
2 Hedgehog 34 2 2
3 Spike 27 2 0
4 Priscilla 23 1 0
4 Schroedingers Cat 23 1 0
4 Sipech 23 1 0
7 Croesos 20 1 1
8 Leorning Cniht 19 2 0
9 jedijudy 18 2 2
10 Wet Kipper 10 1 0
11 la vie en rouge 9 1 0
12 Eigon 4 1 0
12 Phantom_Flan_Flinger 4 1 0
14 McMaverick -6 2 2
15 Baker -8 1 1
1 Leorning Cniht 41 3 1
2 Simon Toad 36 2 1
3 Hedgehog 34 2 2
4 Spike 27 2 0
5 Priscilla 23 1 0
5 Schroedingers Cat 23 1 0
5 Sipech 23 1 0
8 Croesos 20 1 1
9 jedijudy 18 2 2
10 Wet Kipper 10 1 0
11 la vie en rouge 9 1 0
12 Eigon 4 1 0
12 Phantom_Flan_Flinger 4 1 0
14 McMaverick -6 2 2
15 Baker -8 1 1
Yeah maybe. I think he played a single character most of the time, but did it well. Also, I wanted to focus on his acting rather than his personal life, where he was, it seems, a total shit.
But Sir Sean certainly made the role his own, and gave us a great deal of entertainment along the way.
As Wesley said, may he resht in peash.
When that movie Entrapment came out, a friend of mine observed that Sean Connery can't really carry a movie. When I said "What about Bond?", my friend replied that Bond films are not carried by Bond, they're carried by the gadgetry.
(I think there's a scene in Trainspotting where the characters have a conversation something along those general lines.)
Could Connery carry a film by himself? No. Did his persona contribute significantly? Yes. In much the same way that Eastwood and similar do.
One of the most important tricks to being a successful film actor is knowing your range and accepting the best scripts on offer to you within that range. Sean Connery was pretty good at that, though not infallibly so.
What a shame! I loved him with Judi Dench in "As Time Goes By," and I know I've seen him in other roles over the years.
I enjoyed that as well. He's acted other kinds of roles, but that character, and his similar character in Butterflies, is how I'll always remember him.
Sad - Butterflies and Reggie Perrin are the essence of how I will laways remember him.
In any case, sadly missed. A consummate Hey It's That Guy. He was in everything.
"Alex, the Question is: Because you are no longer with us." RIP Mr. Trebek
When we lived in Canada I railed about the quality of North American television, but David and I were both hooked on Jeopardy.
Mr. Trebek always came over as a total gentleman - may he rest in peace.
1 Leorning Cniht 41 3 1
2 jedijudy 38 3 2
3 Simon Toad 36 2 1
4 Hedgehog 34 2 2
5 Spike 27 2 0
6 Priscilla 23 1 0
7 Schroedingers Cat 23 1 0
8 Sipech 23 1 0
9 Croesos 20 1 1
9 Lyda 20 1 0
9 piglet 20 1 0
12 Wet Kipper 10 1 0
13 la vie en rouge 9 1 0
14 Eigon 4 1 0
14 Phantom_Flan_Flinger 4 1 0
16 McMaverick -6 2 2
17 Baker -8 1 1
I make no further comment.
I always heard him talked up as a benevolent despot, who made his nation into a utopia relative to much of the rest of Africa, or indeed the global south generally. But I'm reluctant to go too far in praising him, because, as an expat, nothing grates like hearing the leaders of a nation you know something about either romanticized or demonized by semi-informed outsiders.
That said, I know people who have actually been to Ghana, and sing its praises, and I also have the general impression this is at least partly owing to Rawlings and his policies(even if shooting people for embezzlement is a little out there). So I'll go with a cautious RIP on this.
Any TV entertainer from that era who can still be celebrated is, I think, quite special, so a sad loss. RIP Des.