Road to the Oscars: Trivia Tuesday

What film director and screenwriter from Kansas created a ballet that was based on Martin Luther King, Jr. called, Martin? The ballet premiered in 1969 and was later screened on national television.

The Essentials: Movies for Kansans (Part 1)

Never did I believe that I would become a life-long-Kansan. As much as I've resisted that thought in my youth and on our gloomiest winters, life outside of Kansas is unimaginable. So let's embrace the beauty, art, and talent that stem from our amber waves of grain, shall we. Inspired by the likes of TCM Presents: The Essentials, here is the Nikki Northstorm's Movie Essentials Series: Movies for Kansans.

Spring is upon us and I have the urge to run, visit Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, and watch, Running Brave. Running Brave, (1983) is a true story about Billy Mills, the only American, to date, to win the Gold in the Men's 10,000 meter at the Olympics. Mills attended Haskell and won a scholarship to run track and field for the University of Kansas and as depicted in the movie, had a hard time adjusting to life off the reservation and battling prejudices toward Native Americans.

Watching this movie was part of our yearly tradition around track season in order to inspire us enough to qualify for the Kansas Relays. Personally, this film is dear to me and I love watching the movie because the story is really good and the campus of Lawrence is so beautiful. Revisiting the lovely campus reminds me of the one year I did qualify for the Relays. Several themes including prejudices, inter-racial dating, and overcoming the odds are all quite common themes for today's sports movie genre; however, at the time the movie was made, these themes were deemed as "complex" and possibly fresh.

Even though Mills' win is a small part of Kansas history in sports, the movie is worth watching if you are a runner or love anything University of Kansas. To add more to your historic Kansas notes, our dear fellow Wichita East High alum, Jim Ryun, was one of two other Kansans to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and was Mills' teammate in 1964. This movie is not critically acclaimed and has its cheesy moments. Robby Benson plays the lead role and is best known as the voice of the Beast in the Disney's animated feature, Beauty and the Beast, and directing a couple of Friends episodes. For your random fashionable tidbit pleasure, Benson's most famous sibling is the Shelli Segal. The most notable of all the actors in the movie is Pat Hingle, who plays the famed track coach, Bill Easton. Please note Hingle. Oddly enough, he will have more of a Kansas connection in future blogs that I have lined up.

Since the movie is more than Mills' win at the Olympics, I'm not spoiling anything by posting this awesome Olympic footage of his fantastic finish in the 10,000 meter run here. It has been deemed by track enthusiast as the most exciting Olympic finishes to date.

The local video stores do not carry this movie. I did plan to check the local libraries regarding this copy, but I got sick and didn't have a chance to make the phone call prior to this post. I assume you can check this rare find through the inter library loan or better yet, Netflix.

Sunday at Confession

Oh Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my undying love for anything Anna Farris. Yes, I just said Anna Farris. Forgive me for thinking she is the funniest actress alive today. Yes, she is that funny to me. Have you seen her in any of the Scary Movies? Indeed, Scary Movie, my guilty pleasure, needs to be watched over and over if it is on TBS, Comedy Central, and HBO. She is quite genius. Yes, quite genius. She is the only actress that makes me laugh so hard, I have to leave and go to the bathroom. When asked if the nightly movie preference is, Just Friends, (please) well, you had me at Anna Farris. And man, if only I could watch her sing with Bono as back up so she could hear him sing all Bono-y.

As much as I tried to fight it, I refused to watch the likes of, The House Bunny, because, really, I shouldn't enjoy it, right? I did. My darling husband was watching it and I couldn't resist the lame-o movie, because she drew me in, again, with her Yoda voice to help her remember names. I have resisted from watching many other movies made with her in it and after researching I don't feel as guilty knowing she graduated with an English Literature degree, and was in the movie, Brokeback Mountain, and was an executive producer of the, The House Bunny.

As part of my penance, I will say three Hail Mary's and resist recording any of the Scary Movies, so I can watch it anytime I want and keep it longer than completely necessary. Because one time is just enough, right?

Women Who Stare at Clooney

This is a true blog.

I have three recurring dream themes in this lifetime. One is roaming through this three story house that is actually in the neighborhood where I grew up as a child in Wichita. Another is a wicked dream of paddling in a makeshift boat in the Amazon at night in crocodile infested waters. And third is hanging with my long lost friend, I assume from a past life, George Clooney.

Nope. Sorry ladies, the dreams are never that risqué. Actually, these dreams are quite chummy and less romantic. Nope, not obsessed with this actor either. I have not even seen all of his movies. Yes, he is one fine looking gentleman. And I heard, in person, his sexy voice is like butter and will stop you in your tracks. Even my brother, Nick Northstrom, has a healthy man crush and tries to copy his style along with the peppered hair look. Who wouldn’t have a little crush on this handsome piece of man candy? He is quite fantastic.

There are two distinct George dreams that I can remember the most. The other dreams are usually a casual wave to one another or chatting about this or that. We are only friends. The first one that I remember in full details to note includes our shopping excursion at TJ Max where I complain about the weirdly priced Keds. George puts his arms around me and gently tells me, “Oh Nikki, I’ll buy them for you.” The other memorable moment I can remember in full detail, I’m in a very posh red and gold decorated theater. I am walking through the balcony area with an unknown companion when I spot good ole George a couple rows down with an unknown female companion. I turn to my companion and say, “Oh, I just want to say ‘hi’ it’ll only take a minute.” There was some disbelief that I should go up to THE George Clooney. Upon approach George turns around and smiles with recognition and stands up for the hug. We embrace and I asked how he enjoyed the show that was not in the scene before in my dream. We sit down ignore our companions and discuss our opinions of the show. There was that feeling of an old friendship and I remember thinking, Oh yeah! I forgot. I do know George. We are best friends.

So imagine my surprise earlier this year that Mr. Clooney was working on the movie inspired by the book, Men Who Stare at Goats, by Jon Ronson. A book I actually read the year it was release. It is bizarre, unbelievable, and I couldn’t put it down. In conclusion, George and I have a wickedly, weird taste in books, obviously! Expect the strange in this movie, but I recommend the book. The movie, according to the trailers, looks completely different in tone of the book. Expect the book to be just as dark without the theatrics of comedy. It does have some funny subtle commentary by Ronson in which moves the audience along his unbelievable journey.

Yes, this Arthur C. Clarke lovin’ obvious fashionista is fascinated with all things strange and unexplained in this world. I blame my father for influencing my sci-fi upbringing. I also blame my head in the clouds imagination and the Rockwell Library for keeping their new age books in stock. This book has it all. Ronson became fascinated in certain aspects of the U.S. military and government after an interview with Uri Geller, self proclaimed telekinesis expert and unconfirmed U.S. psychic spy. Quickly, my 80s pop culture brain flashes back to a post Vietnam, government fearing book, Firestarter, by Stephen King. The only book my mom says gives her nightmares. Goats is similar and more frightening if half of what was presented by Ronson is indeed true.

You might want to refresh your memory in 2005 and know that certain presidential speeches were in certain military bases mentioned in the book after the Abu Ghraib scandal. So my obvious fashion tip of the week is, beat the rush and read the book before seeing the movie and its eye candy i.e. Clooney and Ewen McGregor. If ESP, psychic spies, UFOs, torturing the enemy by a big purple dinosaur and Fleetwood Mac, psychic spies, black ops, kinder gentler military a.k.a. 1st Earth Battalion, Jedi warriors, U.S. generals trying to walk through walls, goats dying by will ,interest you, then this book is right up your alley. Keep it classy and obvious, and yes this is a true blog, and no one gets hurt.

Check out the first chapter here!