Heath Ledger's last film role unveiled at Cannes

5/22/2009

"...as human beings we are capable of making sense of situations based on the thinnest slice of experience."

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point.



HONORING LEDGER: Director Terry Gilliam had a bunch of choices when actor Heath Ledger died of an overdose while making the movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which was only half finished. With encouragement from some of Ledger's friends, he opted to complete the movie, which is now Ledger's last official film work. The movie was unveiled was at the Cannes Film Festival this week. (RL)

THE END: WIth Season 8 of American Idol wrapped up, we found this collection of observations, blogs, and down-right snarky criticisms to be kind of fun. (RL)


WHAT????!!!!????: Kris Allen wins American Idol? Say it ain't so. Ah, but it is and after a flimsy audition the clean-cut kid wins. Here's predicting that Lambert ends up having the more interesting career. That said, check out how the "dark horse" won and here's the nuts and bolts of how the evening went. (RL)


A THEME EMERGES: As Kris Alen and Adam Lambert face off on the finale of American Idol and wrestle their way through the dumb theme song written by judge Kara DioGuardi, it's obvious both these guys have talent. As in, maybe they've surpassed the show already and should just move on? Whatever the case, here's a wrapup of Tuesday to get you ready for tonight. (RL)

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: After a number of the contestants went down with various injuries, gymnast Shawn Johnson prevailed on Dancing With the Stars. Good for her. (RL)

HUNGRY? HERE'S MY CARD: Combine your need for a job with your love of beef jerky. That's the idea behind Meat Cards, business cards made from jerky that has your contact information lasered onto it. As this Web site points out, even if they don't get you steady work, they can at last provide a nice snack. (RS)


THE TENSION MOUNTS: So it ends. American Idol's seaon wraps up this week with the selection of the big winner. (Although, let's face it number two among these guys is sure to punch a ticket to success, too.) Adam Lambert and Kris Allen will duel Tuesday night and Wednesday and you can check Thin Slices both days and Thursday for your AI fix. Today we've got Rolling Stone offering advice to Lambert on what he needs to do to not lose. The blog Foxes on Idol goes on about the show in ways we don't quite understand. And the New York Times is calling the showdown a reminder of, um, Elvis Presley versus Pat Boone. Seriously. (RL)


SAY IT AGAIN, SAM: You know all those famous movie lines you hear quoted all the time? "Play it again, Sam"? "Beam me up, Scotty"? You know, those? Well, they're wrong. Here are the accurate versions, which will arm you to be really annoying when you're at a party and somebody tries to make a point by quoting their favorite line. (RL)

COMIC RELIEF: We all have this dream of digging a bunch of comics or baseball cards out of the attic and finding out they're worth big bucks. Alas, it never happens except for some people who took really good care of their collections.. (RL)

Rod Lockwood


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