Neil Patrick Harris to Host 2015 Oscars

Yesterday it was announce Neil Patrick Harris will be the host of the 2015 Academy Awards!

As you, faithful readers, might remember I mentioned 2 weeks ago in my review of Gone Girl my desire to see more of him.

"If I had one complaint it would be that we don't get nearly enough Neil Patrick Harris (Though he does have a fully naked scene, did I just bury the lead?). Even in this very serious role he is spectacular. But as with any book you can't film every word. So we get what we get of Neil Patrick Harris and will just have to hope that this role gets him more work in bigger parts in things to come."

You ask and you shall receive.

I do love Neil Patrick Harris. Calling him a triple threat is an understatement. He's stupendous on all fronts as far as I can tell. Maybe he doesn't floss or something but otherwise... perfection.

Neil has hosted the Tonys once and the Emmys twice. Neil has won five Emmys and received the Tony last year for his performance in Hedwig and The Angry Inch. All of this just to say which do you think he'll get first the EGOT (winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) for his performances or be the first person to host all four shows. Personally I think he should host everything from here on out.

Prepare yourself for some great Oscar watching this year people. Who cares what anyone is wearing or what films get nominated. What do you think Neil will do????

Gone Girl opens Friday Oct 3 #GoneGirl

The film of Gone Girl, the book club favorite, will be released this Friday, October 3. I got to see an early screening and I doubt if anyone will be disappointed. The cast does an impeccable job of portraying all the ups and down of these characters, who have to deal with the disappearance of their loved one.

If you haven't read the book you're in for quite a ride, but I think even those who know all the twists and turns will get caught up in the turmoil of each characters inner struggle to decide, did he or didn't he? Ben Affleck plays his role beautifully, dancing on the line of worried husband and dirty suspect.

Kim Dickens as Detective Rhonda Boney is brilliant and I loved her banter with Detective Jim Gilpin (played by Patrick Fugit who I will always LOVE from Almost Famous). Jim is ready to slap the cuffs on Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) from the word go. But as Rhonda says She's has never found the simpliest answer to be the right one, and so they must investigate deeper an deeper.

Tyler Perry is the only comedy relief in the film, as Nick's attorney Tanner Bolt. Loved his moments of levity.

If I had one complaint it would be that we don't get nearly enough Neil Patrick Harris (Though he does have a fully naked scene, did I just buried the lead?). Even in this very serious role he is spectacular. But as with any book you can't film every word. So we get what we get of Neil Patrick Harris and will just have to hope that this role gets him more work in bigger parts in things to come.

I'd say this is a great date night movie but maybe only if you are a solid couple. I would warn first dates away from it...

Broadway Casts I Want to Come To LA ATTN: @CTGLA @Pantages

Every year when the Tony's are on TV I watch and see all the Broadway shows I hope and pray will come to Los Angeles with their Broadway casts. Someday I hope to go to New York and see a shows there but until that day I cross my fingers, rub my rabbit foot (and artificial one, cause that's just cruel), and pray to the theatre gods that I will see some of these shows in the years to come on a stage near me with their broadway casts.

Last night's Tony broadcast left me with this list,so here in no particular order.

BEAUTIFUL
A musical about the life of Carole King. I love Carole King and I love the film GRACE OF MY HEART that was loosely based on her life. I heard about this play before it opened and I was hoping it would be great and I guess it is



AFTER MIDNIGHT
A musical about the Cotton Club. This looks like a great show full of all my favorite old standards. I'm guessing it's all the club scenes in the film THE COTTON CLUB only more so. The cast doesn't hurt either, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Fantasia.



A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
A distant heir to a family fortune apparently goes about clearing the intermediaries with what they discribe as, charm and a dash of murder. The number they did on the Tony's was hysterical.



HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
This is described as a rock musical about a fictional rock band with a transgender lead singer. There is a film I have never seen but have heard is also wonderful. It stars the unstoppable Neil Patrick Harris, who performed a number from the show that was brilliant.



I'm sure there are many great straight plays too, but I love the musicals. If you have any further recommendations please let me know!

The Smurfs 3D

The Smurfs in 3D opens tomorrow or today depending on your timezone. I got a chance to see it last week with my daughter and I have to say I enjoyed it and my daughter loved it. There are lots of laugh out loud moments for the adults in the audience as well as the kids.The cast is amazing with Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria being their usual insanely talented selves.

This movie gets two blue thumbs up

Company at a Theatre Near You

Very excited to see this nation wide screening of Company with Neil Patrick Harris and Patti Lupone.

Follow the link above for theatres near you, everywhere from Alabama to Wyoming!

I'll be seeing it here in Culver City if you care to join me.

Here's the press release:

Screenvision brings the New York Philharmonic's presentation of Stephen Sondheim's Company to movie theatres across the nation.

Neil Patrick Harris leads a star-studded cast which includes Patti LuPone, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Christina Hendricks, Craig Bierko and Martha Plimpton.

Company's plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. It's a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday.

The original Company on Broadway in 1970 was nominated for 14 Tonys ®, winning Best Musical, Book for Musical, Original Score, Lyrics, Set Design and Direction of a Musical.