- If you’re going to shave your head for a role, it had
better be a damn good one. That goes out to you, Stephen Merchant, and your
role in “Logan,” the latest Hugh Jackman-in-a-wife-beater spin-off of the X-Men
franchise. Merchant revealed that he had been cast in the sequel earlier this
year by sharing a video on Instagram of himself shaving his head for the role.
No one knew who his character was, but he followed that up this week with a
picture on Instagram showing himself made up as Caliban, an albino from the MCU
who has the ability to sense and track other mutants, as well as to channel the
emotions of those around him to enhance his strength. Director James Mangold
also shared a picture of Merchant as Caliban on Twitter, adding one more face
to Jackman's third solo outing as Wolverine and the second Mangold has
directed. They’ll be working from a script co-written by Michael Green, who
also worked on the screenplay for the upcoming sequel to “Blade Runner.”
Jackman and Merchant will be joined in the film by Patrick Stewart as Professor
X, “Narcos” actor Boyd Holbrook in an unknown role and Richard E. Grant, who is
reportedly playing a villainous mad scientist. Jackman has been playing Wolverine
since “X-Men” in 2000 and has now made eight appearances as the hairy, grunting
badass with adamantium claws hidden inside his calloused hands. Clearly, he’s
not worried about being pigeonholed or typecast as a half-man/half-beast with
massive sideburns and a massive chip on his well-muscled shoulder. Either that
or he loves massive paychecks for bloated Hollywood blockbusters………
- If you’re an ambassador representing your country on
foreign soil, it’s usually a bad idea to allege that forces within the country
where you’re stationed are trying to kill you. Oddly enough, residents of that
country tend to take offense to being characterized as would-be assassins. That
lesson is being driven home emphatically to Thamer al-Sabhan, who was Saudi
Arabia’s ambassador to Iraq but has now been reassigned months after he claimed
that Iranian-backed Shiite militias were plotting to assassinate him. A royal
decree issued by King Salman announced Thamer al-Sabhan would be a minister of
state for the Gulf region, but it was curiously silent on the reason for his
reassignment. Odds are that it’s a total coincidence that Iraq asked Saudi
Arabia in August to replace al-Sabhan as it said the ambassador's allegations
were without evidence and harmed relations between the two countries. The
allegations aren't super fat-fetched, as Iranian-backed Shiite militias have
fought against the Islamic State group in Iraq, raising worries in the
Sunni-ruled kingdom about Iranian influence there. Further underscoring the
drama, Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in January, so
having its ambassador causing problems and making waves several months later is
not what the Saudis had in mind. Just remember, though, just because you’re
paranoid doesn’t mean that
Iranian-backed Shiite militias aren't planning to kill you…….
- Columbus Blue Jackets center Gregory Campbell really
should hire himself a better agent - or at least one better versed in the art
of public relations. His current representation, Pat Morris of Newport Sports
Management, is shoveling a giant load of manure and it doesn’t smell all that
good, especially now that the Blue Jackets have suspended Campbell for failing
to report to Cleveland, its affiliate in the American Hockey League. As the
team tells it, it waived Campbell last week after failing to work out a trade
for the veteran center and when he went unclaimed, he was assigned to the AHL. As
such, it’s a simple case of a prideful player refusing to accept his demotion
to the minors and acting like a petulant child by stomping off to his room and
slamming the door behind him. But as Morris and Campbell see it, him going AWOL
is an act of kindness and professionalism borne out of his desire to not take a
roster spot from a younger player. "He's going to continue to skate on his
own and ponder his future," Morris said. "He was a young player at
one point in time, and older players didn't come in and take his position away.
He doesn't want to do that." The one piece of evidence working in his
favor is that by not reporting, Campbell is forfeiting his $1.3 million salary.
Still, trying to act as if this isn't an act of outright defiance and pride from
a veteran athlete who hates the idea that he’s no longer wanted or needed is
delusional at best………
- This is new. For many years, the Halloween costume of
choice on college campuses across America - for women at least - has been
slutty _______________ (insert your chosen profession here, i.e. ballerina,
cop, librarian, nurse, maid, etc.) and most people are OK with that. In fact,
most people - i.e. guys - enjoy those costumes. So it’s just odd that the
University of Florida is offering counseling to anyone who gets offended by any
costumes worn this coming Halloween. In a thoroughly ridiculous blog post, the
school urged students to “think about your choices of costumes and themes.”
Yes, because wearing a tight-fitting top, skimpy skirt and fish net stockings
to the kegger on Saturday night could scar someone forever. “Some Halloween
costumes reinforce stereotypes of particular races, genders, cultures, or
religions. Regardless of intent, these costumes can perpetuate negative
stereotypes, causing harm and offense to groups of people. Also, keep in mind
that social media posts can have a long-term impact on your personal and
professional reputation,” the post read. The good news is that anyone who is
truly rocked to their core by a costume they encounter as a classmate stumbles
drunkenly down the sidewalk at 3 a.m. can seek counseling at the wellness
center or alert the school’s Bias Education Response Team which provides
support to those who were impacted. “If you are troubled by an incident that
does occur, please know that there are many resources available. Please take
advantage of the 7 day a week presence of the U Matter, We Care program at the
University of Florida,” the post advises. Either that or grab a six-pack of
Keystone Light for yourself and drink away your sorrows like the majority of
the other students on campus will be doing……..
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