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Now in our eighth calendar year!

PCR #391. (Vol. 8, No. 38) This edition is for the week of September 17--23, 2007.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello, gang! Bits and pieces from the week. Shall we begin?

The Tampa Film Review for September  by Nolan Canova and Chris Woods
MOVIE REVIEW
"3:10 to Yuma"  by Mike Smith
ODDSERVATIONS
Movie Premiere: Secrets of a Medicine Man Documentary  by Andy Lalino
FILMLOOK
Reviewing a Reviewer: The Bob Ross Story  by Paul Guzzo
FANGRRL
Book Review: Rant by Chuck Palahniuk  by Lisa Ciurro
RETRORAMA
Loose in Las Vegas: Ray Steckler Update  by ED Tucker
MIKE'S RANT
Ocean's 14 .... Barry Bonds .... Sid Won't be There .... No Shadow Puppets This Year .... She Was So Drunk (How Drunk Was She?) .... Bond. James Bond .... Whatever Happened To -- ? Chapter 28: George Dzunda  by Mike Smith
Archives of Nolan's Pop Culture Review
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OCEANS 14?
Gotta hand it to OJ Simpson who, like Mary Tyler Moore before him, has a knack of filling the world up with his smile...from his mug shot! Oh, the sweet irony if the Juice spends the rest of his life in prison for something as petty as trying to get back some autographed footballs. Can you say karma?

BARRY BONDS
Since I still despise the man thought I'd share this fun tidbit. The man who bought home run ball #756 is holding an online poll to decide its fate. That's right, if you head over to www.Vote756.com you can choose one of the following:

  • a. Give the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame
  • b. Take a huge black marker and put a giant asterisk (*) on the ball. Donate to Hall of Fame.
  • c. Put the ball on a rocket and let it loose in space.

I'm voting "b" myself.

SID WON'T BE THERE
If you happen to be in London this coming November 8 you could find yourself with tickets to see a one night only reunion concert of John Lydon, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock, best known as the Sex Pistols.

NO SHADOW PUPPETS THIS YEAR
Happy to see that Jon Stewart will once again host the Academy Awards next year. Excellent choice.

SHE WAS SO DRUNK (HOW DRUNK WAS SHE?)
Sad to report the death of "Match Game" regular Brett Sommers, who passed away at the age of 83 this week due to complications with colon and stomach cancer. Sommers married Jack Klugman in 1953 and the two separated in 1974 but never divorced.

BOND. JAMES BOND
Also passing away, English author John Gardner who, with the blessing of Ian Flemming's estate, wrote 16 James Bond novels. Mr. Gardner was 80.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...?   CHAPTER 28:    GEORGE DZUNDZA

WHERE YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM: "The Deer Hunter," "Law and Order"

I first discovered George Dzundza (pronounced Zuhn-za) when he played local bar owner John in "The Deer Hunter." There is a scene at the end of the film where John is alone in the kitchen making breakfast for those that attended Nick's funeral. Without warning John begins weeping for his friend. A very powerful scene in a film filled with many of them. Actually, Dzundza was a struggling actor long before "The Deer Hunter," appearing on such shows as "Kung Fu," "Starsky and Hutch" and "The Waltons" prior to "The Deer Hunter." He followed the Oscar-winning film with appearances in a string of made for television films, including "Salem's Lot," "Skokie" and "The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck." He worked steadily through the 1980s and then landed a starring role as Detective Max Greevey on a new show entitled "Law and Order." Though the show is now in it's 17th year, Dzundza's character was written out (he was murdered in his driveway) after the first season. This became a trend for the actor, who was also dismissed from "Hack" and "Jesse" after one season. In the 1990s he appeared in films like "Basic Instinct" and "Crimson Tide," while lending his voice to several animated projects, including "Batman: The Animated Series" and various "Superman" projects, where he portrays Perry White. He continues to work steadily, appearing most recently in several episodes of "Grey's Anatomy."

Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!



"Mike's Rant" is ©2007 by Michael A. Smith.  Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2007 by Nolan B. Canova.