Change Your Image
lonenote
Reviews
Big Brother (2000)
Dan Gheesling...Big Brother's Greatest Player?
When Big Brother 10 began, Brian and Dan swiftly aligned themselves with one another making a pact to go to the end. Unfortunately, the end came fast and furious for Brian, aka The Puppet Master, who was evicted from the house that very first week. Most houseguests, after commencing the game with a blow that harsh to the solar plexus might as well have packed their bags and followed suit. Most houseguests would have become next week's target and forced to do exactly that. Dan Gheesling isn't like most houseguests. Not only did Dan endure the second week, but he endured all the weeks, emerging as the winner of Big Brother 10 in a unanimous seven to zero win for that coveted half a million dollars.
Realizing he had some bridges to repair, Dan quickly relocated into a calm, quiet presence in the house letting drama kings and queens like Jessie and Renny take centre stage. His strategy worked. The spotlight was off him. His alliance with Brian on the back burner of everyone's mind. He was safe.
Week after week, Dan played the physically feeble competitor, forgoing POV wins, HOH wins, allowing others to shine and become targeted. Steven and Angie were the new targets and they respectfully followed Brian's exit out the Big Brother house.
Then came week four. The week of the twist. The week of America's Player. The week Dan started on his journey to become the best player of this season. He accepted the challenge of America's Player; not only completing all the required tasks, but surviving speculation and accusations by Libra and Michelle that he was a plant. And still, the charming Catholic school teacher wasn't targeted. The opposite happened. He became the vote everyone wanted.
Both sides of the house came at him. Which one would he side with? The one's determined to kick Memphis out the door, or those gunning for Jessie? Fortunately, America made the decision for him in voting out Jessie thus aligning himself with Memphis to create the unstoppable Renegades. Afterwards there was no stopping Dan. He played the house expertly. He knew his house mates inside and out and his strategy was unquestionably brilliant.
Dan never fell into the trap the others did. He kept his emotions in check. His temper guarded. His tongue was soothing and charming instead of dripping with venom. When Jerry was outing him as "Judas" to one and all he never retaliated. He let it all roll off his back, and rose above the catty name calling, the verbal abuse, and the threats. When he chanced the potentially backfiring game of Replacement POV Roulette he still remained calm under fire.
Ollie was riding high on his so-called untitled HOH win with the three part deal he had with Dan. The problem with a deal like that is you're one hundred percent dependent on the other party holding up their end of the bargain. Dan isn't The Man for nothing. He made Ollie think he was the fool, when in reality he was playing Ollie for the fool. Not only did he backdoor Michelle, he sent Ollie packing the very next moment. It was pure genius. His every move had you on the edge of your seat, chewing at your nails in anticipation of the outcome.
After that there was no hiding in shadows. He dominated the challenges, scraped through being on the block, took the impossible and made it happen, rescued the Renegades time and time again. He not only said what everyone wanted to hear, he made them believe he meant it. And even though it was Renegades to the end there could be only one Renegade who would walk away with the cash, and there was no way that Renegade could be anyone one other than Dan.
It was a win truly deserved by a player who truly played the game. Is Dan the best player of the season, or the best player in Big Brother history? In my eyes he'll always be epitome of Big Brother. Every player from here on will be looking to Dan's gameplay to reach the coveted final prize. Dan, you are truly The Man.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
A Film That's Long Overdue
Delysia LaFosse. If ever there was a stage name that suited a character better I haven't heard it to date. Amy Adams, who plays the kittenish starlet does an amazing job of taking what could be seen as a fickle, flighty, materialistic woman and endears her to us.
Gwenevere Pettigrew. What could have been portrayed as a dry, austere, stern woman is gentled into comedic brilliance by Frances McDormand's talent. With her uncontrollable hair and drab clothing she is a stark contrast to the glamour of the 1930's nightlife era.
The moment a sleepy-eyed Delysia answers Miss Pettigrew's courageous ring at her door you realize these two characters need one another. While Delysia's wants are more blatant, Miss Pettigrew's silent appeal is answered by the budding stage actress. In one day, Miss Pettigrew is transformed from homeless, jobless, starving street urchin existence to fashionably stylish, social secretary who awes everyone she encounters.
This exceptional dialogue-written, stellar-acted film is long overdue in coming. Set in the 1930's the viewer is plunged into a whirlwind of romance, social structures, fashion and the looming threat of war that seems more of an inconvenience to some than the sobering truth about the frailty of their frivolous lifestyle.
Adams and McDormand join forces to create a wonderful bond of friendship enriched with banter and comedic play that is riveting to watch. By the end you are wishing this film lasted longer than one day.
The Bachelorette (2003)
Bachelorette Deanna - What Did She Want?
As the season began we cheered when spunky Deanna Pappas returned to the forefront of reality television to overcome the wounds left by Brad Womack after he said goodbye to her during his Bachelor run. She seemed focused, determined, and professed to know exactly what she was looking for in a man. She repeatedly claimed to want a stable, steady man who knew what he wanted and was ready to commit and start a family. After all, a woman who wants three children by the time she's thirty and is already pushing twenty-seven doesn't have a lot of time to waste fooling around with potential wannabes. Despite her self-assured statements, week after week, we grew more and more confused by her decisions.
First, there was the gasp heard around the message boards when fan favourite Richard was denied a rose on his one on one date with Deanna. There was the jaw dropping farewell to the adorable lawyer Fred, who had the distinction of being part of a double exit night. There was the ever present class clown Twilley, who for some mystifying reason managed to endure until the final five even though he and Deanna clearly did not have an ounce of chemistry. After knocking off twenty-one potential suitors we arrive at the final four men. A mish mash of personalities, all very different from one another.
Graham, aka "Smoking Hot", was the first of the final four to receive the proverbial boot. It was clear why Deanna had kept him around for as long as she did. He was not ready to jump into marriage, was not ready to start a family, but he had a sexy charisma that willed Deanna's lips to his. There was no lack of chemistry between the two. What there was was a lack on Grahama's part to shower Deanna with constant attention and bend to her every whim. For when they were not making out, they were busy arguing. I found his departure the most chastising I've ever seen. It was not done with any sort of dignity or appreciation on Deanna's part for having put himself out there for her. Up until the moment the pro basketball player climbed into the limo she berated him for not meeting her expectations and disappointing her.
Jeremy, while equally attractive as Graham, took a polar opposite approach in winning Deanna. He gave her exactly what she claimed to want. He constantly flattered her with his time, his attention, his compliments and made it a well known fact that he was there for her and her alone. He seemed the perfect match. Serious, but with a playful nature, stable in his career, home, close to his family, and without question in love with Deanna. He received rose after rose, more than his share of one on one time, yet in the end he was not what Deanna was looking for. To paraphrase her: he was only good on paper but not in actuality. He was sent home broken-hearted leaving us wondering, "What exactly does Deanna Pappas want?".
Then came, "The Men Tell All" where we see a very contradictory Deanna from the woman who had continually said to the men: "I know what you're going through. I went through the same thing. I know exactly how you are feeling." This woman, did not display an abundance of compassion or understanding for her rejected suitors. She was cutting to Jeremy, who was obviously still hurt and had feelings for her, and the fact she still held a grudge against Graham - the one man she claimed to be falling in love with during the show - was evident. Even Brad Womack, who rejected all of his twenty-five potential matches was not this cold when faced with the women's questions.
The final two men could not be more contrasting to one another.
Jason, the thirty-one year old account executive was a single parent who combined stability with an adventurous side. He had a quick, genuine smile, was handsome, caring, fun, considerate, attentive and couldn't be more perfect for the Deanna who started off on this journey. In Jason, Deanna already knew what a wonderful father he would make for there was no faking that emotional reunion he had with son Ty during the show. Jason was clearly a man who respected and adored his family, and had won over Deanna's own father and family members during the hometown visit. Deanna really couldn't go wrong in choosing Jason.
Jesse though, the twenty-six year old professional snowboarder who had been portrayed as potential future buddy-for-life material literally came out of the editing blue and blew Jason and every other man out of the balmy waters of the Bahamas. For weeks, we saw not a single kiss, or steamy hot encounter between Jesse and Deanna. Camaraderie, friendship - yes. Passion - no. We listened to Jesse hem about the thought of starting a family so soon, haw about the idea of jumping straight into marriage. Then came the Bahamas and suddenly the very stay-in-the-background snowboarder was leading man material. He was grabbing all the air time, cuddling with Deanna on the beach and taking romantic horseback rides through splashing waves. For their final date he spent an idyllic, romantic day with her on a secluded island while Jason sat immobilized on the ocean floor surrounded by man-eating sharks.
The guy least likely to managed to be the one. Jesse received the final rose, the final kiss, and will be joined in matrimony to Deanna on May 9th, 2009. Is it for real? Will it last? What will the relationship be like once the cameras are turned off? Will Jesse keep his hair short to please Deanna's dad? It's hard to say. We do know one thing for certain though, if they make it to their wedding and it's televised...ABC will have one heck of a sweeps week.