Chrystal

Lisa Blount and George Hickenlooper

Lisa Blount died a few days ago at the tragically young age of 53. Among her list of much more prestigious movies she also appeared in the little seen film SOUTH OF RENO, which is one of the best movies I was involved with back in my screenwriting days. She also starred in a really terrific little chiller the year before, John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS. If you're looking for some Halloween styled viewing tonight, maybe you could give this one a try. It features some truly haunting imagery and Lisa turns in a terrific performance, as usual.

She won an Oscar a few years ago for a short film she produced and gave the most moving speech of the night as she discussed the ageism in Hollywood which had inspired her to explore avenues behind the camera in the hopes of staying in the game just a bit longer. You could feel the collective wave of fearful recognition sweep through the room. I always felt there was an underlying sadness in Lisa's performances. It's there in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN. It's there in SOUTH OF RENO. It's even there in PRINCE OF DARKNESS.

It's this sense of melancholia that always gave her performances that extra weight that would make you remember her long after the screen had grown dark.

It's hard to believe the week could get worse, but it did. George Hickenlooper died yesterday. He was only 47. He was a talented and prolific filmmaker. His film, CASINO JACK, starring Kevin Spacey opens soon. Below is the preview for one of his best, and most underrated films.

This is turning out to be a really terrible Halloween at my house and my heart is too heavy to wish you a Happy one. But I will wish you safe travel on your own roads. Life is short. Grab it while you can.

Think about this the next time the rich guys suggest you make things better for them so that their wealth can "Trickle Down" to us:

¹trick·le

 vi \ˈtri-kəl\

trick·ledtrick·ling

Definition of TRICKLE

1

a : to issue or fall in dropsb : to flow in a thin gentle stream

2

a : to move or go one by one or little by little trickle inb : to dissipate slowly trickled away

Examples of TRICKLE

1. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
2. Water was trickling out of the gutter.
3. People trickled into the theater.
4. Donations have been trickling in.

Origin of TRICKLE

Middle English trikelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use: 14th century

trick·le

   [trik-uhl]  Show IPAverb, -led, -ling, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.

to flow or fall by drops, or in a small, gentle stream: Tears trickled down her cheeks.

2.

to come, go, or pass bit by bit, slowly, or irregularly: The  guests trickled out of the room.

–verb (used with object)

3.

to cause to trickle.

–noun

4.

a trickling flow or stream.

5.

a small, slow, or irregular quantity of anything coming,    going, or proceeding: a trickle of visitors throughout the   day.

Origin: 
1325–75;  ME triklen, trekelen  (v.), appar. sandhi var. of strikle, perh. equiv. to strike  (in obs. sense “flow”) + -le

—Related forms

trick·ling·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 
4.  dribble, seepage, drip. 

How kind of them to allow us to share a few drips of their overflow. I can see why everyone who buys into this digs it so much. By all means, let's get them some more tax cuts.

Suckers.

That's not money-water you feel sprinkling down on the back of your neck.

That's a fat-cat taking a leak.

It happens....

Another night, another brilliant performance

Ecstasy!

Karma Brownies

Thank you, Scott Phillips...

...for pointing me in the direction of this hilarious cartoon. More about Scott and his new book in a day or two. Until then, just enjoy the movie.

USA TODAY