Bill O'Reilly...Factor host hails Tom Hanks a pin head! Pundits don't escape wrath...

Pin Head slight of day!

The other evening Fox's O'Reilly was quite adamant that Tom Hanks was a pin head.

Gosh, I've been wising folks up about the fact that life with the "Big" star is not a box of chocolates, whenever the puffy-looking dork takes the stage.

Frankly, Bill O'Reilly's jibes are more searing when he zeroes in on pundits he invites on the show to spout off about subjects they have failed to research or know little about.

O'Reilly doesn't take any prisoners in that regard.

Nope, without hesitation, he goes in for the kill.

For example, when an alleged female "analyst" appeared to discuss the pro's and con's of Barack Obama's Health Reform plan the other night, she goofed big time.

And, O'Reilly was there to jump on the gaffe, much to her chagrin.

When asked what were "three positive aspects" of the Health reform plan currently on tap, the twit stridently asserted that everyone would be forced to select a health plan.

What a ludicrous notion.

"It won't fly," O'Reilly stated matter-of-fact in so many words.

Oh it will, it will, she insisted as she arrogantly tossed back her head.

"It won't," he quipped, "because we have a U.S. Constitution."

The dizzy broad still didn't get it (and argued the point further to her detriment).

O'Reilly tried to explain that the government (even insurance companies) couldn't force people to buy a health plan (or participate in one).

In a nutshell, the whole concept was un-American, after all.

To save face, she quickly grappled with the dilemma, then offered up an off-point alternative.

"Well, they can't be denied insurance based on pre-exisitng medical conditions, then."

Typical of a handful of these big-mouthed "know-it-alls" - the dragon lady - was clueless.

The issues she was struggling to address, amounted to "oranges" and "apples", for heaven's sake.

Other guests faired just as poorly under the glare of O'Reilly's insightful spotlight.

Say what you will about O'Reilly, but the man has ba**s.

Tthat's why he's the King of the heap when it comes to getting to the nitty-gritty in the hardball realm of  dirty politics.

http://www.thetattler.biz

The Great Buck Howard...a laugh riot! But, Tom Hanks drags the film down...

For me - "The Great Buck Howard" - is hard to knock in many respects.

Well, when it comes to John Malkovich, for sure!

The seasoned pro is always a delight to watch in any role he chooses to inhabit - and in this instant case - he has nudged his way into the very heartbeat of the character hands down.

One mannerism nagged the he** out of me, though, by the time the credits rolled.

An over-the-top heart-warming handshake Buck Howard (played by Malkovich to near perfection) foisted on every character he crossed paths with in the well-written comedy wore a little thin quick as a wink.

In a nutshell, the poignant tale is about a once-famous mentalist (no, the artist is not a mere magician) who connives to worm his way into the big time once again before the elusive opportunity for a last gasp at the brass ring slips away forever.

A young man, bored with law school and pining to find is way in the great scheme of things, answers an ad one day - and before you can pull a rabbit out of a hat - the naive lad is gainfully employed as a road manager for the slightly eccentric stage performer who is not only a stickler for details - but above all else - a precise routine that doesn't play havoc with his sly game plan.

The new hire is likable enough, but most certainly a little wet behind the ears; in fact, it's written all over his cherubic face.

The actor (played by Colin Hanks) isn't your typical pretty boy lead turned out by one of the majors to test the waters.

As a matter of fact, he's average-looking, but in an appealing - "grows on 'ya" - kind of way.

When we were teens on-the-make oft swayed by raging hormones, we'd often rate a less attractive date by the number of beers you'd have to down before you'd hop into the sack with 'em.

In this instant case, that yardstick definitely applies to Buck's chief cook and bottle-washer.

For his big comeback, Buck Howard zeroes in on Cincinnati (cause they like him there) where he anticipates a stunning "effect" (he gets angry when his sleight-of-hand is referred to as a mere magic trick) he has just conjured from the depths of his psyche will nab him National attention and summarily catapult him back into the limelight on the Tonight Show.

That does happen, but in a round-about poignant way.

In a running gag throughout the film, the master of illusion boasts ad nauseam that he appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson sixty-one times.

In contrast, Howard has his knives out for Jay Leno, who hasn't even tossed a crumb his way.

About half-way through the fast-paced farce, Howard appears to go through some kind of epiphany, which ultimately transforms the aging trickster into a genuine old soul who at long last finds peace in his personal and professional life.

Along the way, Hank's character wrestles with his own demons, and ends up signalling by the closing act that - he, too - will come out alright.



One of the few scenes that didn't gel for me occurred at a pivotal point in the film when the actor's real-life father - Tom Hanks - sauntered into the picture and was paired in a scene with son Colin which I found downright distracting.



When the audience is forced to watch histrionics go down between the two, they can't help but compare Tom's finely-honed talent with that of his scene partner, marvel at how similar the thespians physical characteristics are, and so forth and so on.

Big mistake!

It wasn't until Tom disappeared into the woodwork that the story got back on track.

I expect that Mr. Hanks (senior) has to be faulted for that poor judgment call, since he took on the mantle of producer, as well.

To ensure that sonny boy got the part?

There's nothing worse than nepotism in Hollywood, except for the casting couch, of course.

There didn't appear to be any hint of incest here, so I rest my case.

"The Great Buck Howard" is not great, but most certainly, near great.

While eliciting wild guffaws from a captive audience, "Buck" manages to make a subtle statement about the vagaries of fame, the lack of manners in our "me"-oriented society, and a keen insight into the ugly underbelly of the human condition in America today.

I say, two thumbs up!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Tom Hanks...didn't want to do AIDS story! A Hollywood phony!

Maybe it's a sign of getting older, but now and then I slip into the past, and reflect on personalities I've crossed paths with.

Well, Tom Hanks was sure a piece of work!

Around the time he garnered rave reviews for "BIG", I struck up a relationship with a production company in my capacity as a Literary Agent.

My contact got in touch one day and noted that Tom was striving to change his image - find projects that would allow him to "stretch" his acting muscles - and show another facet of his talent to the industry besides the comedic bill of fare he was known for.

The task at hand was simple.

I was invited to submit a handful of one-line ideas, with the specific aim of developing seven potential film projects for the rising star.

I put the word out to my roster of talented writers - at which point - original pitches for full-length features began to pour in.

The top-notch ones were summarily forwarded on to the production company for Mr. Hank's consideration.

In spite of the width and breadth of the great ideas, my gal at the production office continued to return them marked "reject".

Heck, I could probably fair better than my gang of talented scriptwriters, I thought to myself one calm day.

Around that time frame, the AIDS crisis was just starting to unfold around the Nation.

Suddenly, it dawned on me that a touching script on the subject - featuring a name star - was ripe for the American market.

So, I keyed in my story idea on a piece of the Agency Stationary, and fired it off to the production company.

I waited excitedly for a response, but none was forthcoming.

That struck me as odd.

Normally, proposals were gleaned over and returned within a couple of days.

When a week passed, I picked up the phone to determine the status of the submission.

"I'll get back to you," the young exec responded.

Again, a strange turn of events, in view of my past dealings with Tom's "people".

Finally, I got a call that Tom "didn't want to do an AIDS story."

Curiously, the material was never returned.

Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Tom - in fact - was interested in sinking his acting chops into a drama about a lawyer afflicted with AIDS.

Yes, if you recall, Hanks signed on for "Philadelphia" and went on to win an Oscar for his performance - in a role - I developed!

When I turned on the television Oscar Night and witnessed the big phony at the podium, tearfully making heartfelt comments about "Angels", I was inclined to throw up!

I yelled at the screen.

"Tom, you thief!"

Yeah, what a piece of ka-ka.

Today, if I flick the dial on the television - and his smug face appears on the screen - I change the channel pronto.

In my books, Tom Hanks is boycott box office bum No. 1.

If life is a box of chocolates, he's the one that's hollow, that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

http://www.julianayrs.com