Prodigal Twins Unite At Long Last!

I cannot express fully my delight and dismay at discovering that there's a film in production starring both Toby Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal. Finally. For years I've been confusing the two. I mean, is there any difference between them? Are they even separate humans? Like Latoya and Michael (though the human part is debatable) - have the two ever been seen together? Lord knows I haven't seen them together at the same time. But then I've never seen them apart, either. And that's just as scary...

Nevertheless, Tobey and his separated-at-birth twin Jake are to star in a new film called Brothers. Oh. Okay. That's not so interesting now. I mean they already look like siblings. Surely the real acting challenge would be to play totally unrelated characters or, even better, mother and son. Now THAT would be interesting.

In other gripping news, I booked that "creepy presense" role for 90210. Look out for another Emery creep crawling across your screens soon. I was also briefly put on hold for a "scary-looking, downright unpleasant convict" on Cold Case, but "they went another way". Ah well.

If anyone knows which way they went, please point me in the right direction. Maybe there's time to catch up. I can be scary and, now that the rent is due, I'm downright unpleasant!

Slumdog Millionaire

I wrapped my final day on Eleventh Hour at a glorious 10:30am and decided to treat myself to a movie. After all, I had worked that day; I just had the entire day left to slack off, guilt free. So I wandered in to an early showing of Danny Boyle's new film, Slumdog Millionaire. And walked out charged with energy.

It's not often a film moves me. I think most movies these days are either effects heavy shells of a story, or course, teenage boy humor. Slumdog is one of the most hauntingly beautiful films I've ever seen. It's centered around a boy, Jamal, who gets onto the Hindi version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and, remarkably, seems to know every question he's asked. More remarkable, is that Jamal is not any boy, but a humble, uneducated street kid, a so-called slumdog. Instantly, he is accused of cheating.

The film is told in fashback. We bounce back from the quiz show to Jamal's early childhood and discover how specific events shaped him and his knowledge. It's a simple device, but it works. I was drawn in instantly by the sheer honesty of the performances from a cast of young kids who are too young to have much, if any, acting experience. I am reminded of why I do what I do, when I see films like this. I'm also ashamed when I watch a 5 year old kid deliver a performace that is better than anything I could put out.

Slumdog is more than a poor-kid-makes-good tale. It's an extraordinary story of enduring love and the rights of passage. How the smallest choices affect our lives. It's an unflinching portrayal of extreme poverty and at the same time disarmingly funny. Beautifully shot, with a thumping soundtrack and characters you can't take your eyes off. So what if I was being played at times - I was happy to go along for the ride. And you will be too.

Go see it.