It’s a new frontier! The entire Star Trek series catalog is yours to discover exclusively on Paramount+. Read on for more details.
Released in 1995, Lord of Illusions is a film written, directed, and produced by Clive Barker. It is a cinematic adaptation of his short story “The Last Illusion,” published as part of his seminal Books of Blood anthology in 1985. Below is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Lord of Illusions, including thoughts from the master of horror himself: Clive Barker.
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Quantum Leap, one of the greatest TV shows of all time, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. For five seasons and nearly 100 episodes, this revolutionary show tackled a variety of topics, including important social issues in a unique way. It was humorous, moving, enlightening, and always compelling due, in large part, to the strong dialogue and fantastic acting. Not only were Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell phenomenal in their roles, the supporting cast was equally impressive. If you’re new to Quantum Leap or simply interested in revisiting this iconic series that was ahead of its time, you should read Beyond The Mirror Edge: The Observer’s Guide To Quantum Leap by Matt Dale.
Behind the Candelabra is the best film I’ve seen this year. Going into it I knew practically nothing about Liberace other than that he was a campy, closeted pianist from years gone by. The moment I saw one of my favorite actors – Scott Bakula – in the beginning of the movie, I knew I was in for something special. Behind the Candelabra is filled with shocking moments that I don’t want to spoil. But at its focal point is a love story between Liberace and Scott Thorson.
The music in the film was outstanding. While he may be remembered for his over-the-top outfits and larger-than-life personality, Liberace was a tremendous pianist. Michael Douglas, who should win an award for his role in this movie, did a fantastic job of portraying Liberace’s musicals talents and passion for the business. The songs that appear in the movie run the gamut, everything from “Begin the Beguine” to “The Impossible Dream.” It’s a musical feast for the ears.
The stellar supporting cast included Rob Lowe as a frightening doctor, Dan Aykroyd as Liberace’s manager and an unidentifiable Debbie Reynolds as Liberace’s mother, Frances. The chemistry between all of these actors and actresses helped bring this fascinating story to life in a way that kept me glued to the screen the entire time.
I can’t say enough good things about this movie. It opened my eyes to Liberace’s musical talent, as well as his infatuation with young men and himself. But despite all his flaws, I wound up caring about his fate at the end of the film. The most moving interaction involved Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the final 15 minutes of movie; it was so good that I watched the scene a second time before finishing the film. And what made it so good was the fact that the feelings these two individuals had for each other was palpable. In a cinematic world filled with superficial dialogue and paper-thin characters, this was no small feat.
Behind the Candelabra was an excellent movie about an extremely talented man. I recommend you stop what you’re doing and watch this film right away; it’s a riveting tale that you won’t soon forget.
Below is the trailer for Behind the Candelabra and a look at how the film was made.
Earlier in the year I attended my first Philadelphia Comic Con. Once I heard that all five Star Trek captains, including William Shatner and Scott Bakula, were going to be there, I knew I had to go. I grew up watching Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett on Quantum Leap and loved William Shatner as Denny Crane on Boston Legal.
As evidenced by the image above, I jumped at the opportunity to get a photo with these two legendary thespians, and it turned out great. After having our photo taken, Scott Bakula turned to me, shook my hand and thanked me. This caught me off guard because I was about to thank him. He was as nice as could be, and Shatner was his usual charming self. Once the hard copy of the photo was printed, Bakula and Shatner autographed it for me.
Meeting a celebrity is an unpredictable experience. You never know if the person you’re going to meet will live up to your expectations or let you down. Thankfully, I left this event with greater respect for these two men.
Have you ever met a celebrity? If so, who did you meet and how did it go?
