Public Enemies

 

Johnny Depp’s charismatic lead performance can make you fall in love with a well-dressed bank robber and America’s most wanted.  This gangster flick had the right blend of action scenes, suspense and drama.  There were only enough tablespoons of bloody scenes to feel the realism of the movie and right amount of nervous tension without overly doing the sound effects.

 

John Dillinger: I was raised on a farm in Morrisville, Indiana. My mama ran out on us when I was three, my daddy beat the hell out of me cause he didn’t know no better way to raise me. I like baseball, movies, good clothes, fast cars, whiskey, and you… what else you need to know?

 

Billie Frechette: Why are you in such a hurry?

John Dillinger: Because when you’re looking at what I’m looking, you’d be in a hurry too.

 

John Dillinger: They ain’t tough enough, smart enough or fast enough. I can hit any bank I want, any time. They got to be at every bank, all the time.

 

John Dillinger: [nodding at money on a table] That’s your money, mister?
Bank Teller: [nervously] Yes.
John Dillinger: We’re here for the bank’s money, not yours. Put it away.

 

Melvin Purvis: What keeps you up nights, Mr. Dillinger?
John Dillinger: Coffee.

 

John Dillinger: We’re having too good a time today. We ain’t thinking about tomorrow.

 

John Dillinger: Well if it isn’t the man who shot Pretty-Boy Floyd. Good thing ’cause he sure wasn’t Whiz-Kid Floyd.

 

John Dillinger: [Approaching group of police officers] What’s the score?

 

[last lines]
Billie Frechette: They say you’re the man who shot him.
Charles Winstead: That’s right. One of ’em.
Billie Frechette: So why are you coming to see me? To see the damage you done?
Charles Winstead: No. I came here because he asked me to. When he went down, he said somethin’. I put my ear next to his mouth, and what I think what he said was this.

 

Chris Brown Apologizes

 

Chris Brown publicly apologized for the beating of Rihanna, releasing a video on his website on Monday (http://www.chrisbrownworld.com).

 

Brown was arrested in February following a pre-Grammy party when he fought with his ex-girlfriend R&B princess Rihanna in a rented sports car.  He was charged with felony assault.  Brown was said to have pushed Rihanna from the car and repeatedly hit her.  It came to a point where he almost choked her.  He fled from the scene leaving a shaking and crying Rihanna.

 

He turned himself on the evening of the Grammy Awards, where he was supposed to perform with Rihanna. 

 

 

In the two-minute video, he apologized to fans saying that he’s still seeking help and wants to live his life as a role model.  He said that he was not proud of what he did.  He also assures the fans that he has also repeatedly apologized to Rihanna.  Brown referred to the beating as “the incident.”  He calls his conduct “inexcusable” and says his mother has taught him better. 

 

Brown in an earlier interview confessed that he witnessed domestic violence growing up.  Before the beating, Brown was considered a squeaky-clean R&B up-and-comer. He rose to prominence after the 2005 hit “Run It!” He was nominated for a Grammy for “No Air” with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard’s top artist in 2008.  The incident has clearly damaged his reputation.  Brown lost sponsorship deals, radio stations stopped playing his music and other artists condemned him after the attack. 

 

“I felt it was time you that heard directly from me that I am sorry.  I saw firsthand what uncontrolled rage can do,” he tells viewers. “I have sought and am continuing to seek help to ensure that what occurred in February can never happen again.  I intend to live my life so that I am truly worth of the term ‘role model. “

 

Chris Brown will face sentencing on August 5, 2009, which will likely be 5 years of probation and 6 months of community labor.

 

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The Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson Dies at Age 50

 

Legendary music icon Michael Jackson was found dead at his Los Angeles home, Thursday. 

 

The King of Pop, the biggest celebrity world over, was suspected to have died of cardiac arrest.  The Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call placed around 12:30pm.  The responding paramedics performed CPR trying to revive the star (ET has an exclusive photo).  He wasn’t breathing when he was found and was immediately rushed to the UCLA Medical Center in LA.  The cause of Jackson’s death is still sparse and uncertain.  Some reports speculate that it might have been an overdose of prescription or certain substances.  Michael Jackson didn’t have any symptoms of cardiac problem or any heart illnesses and resuscitation would have been able to revive himThis sudden tragic death shocks all music fans and there is outpouring of sympathy for the loss of Michael Jackson.

 

 

Coincidentally, Jessica Zafra wrote in her column in the Philippine Star a Michael Jackson feature today.  On Larry King Live and Anderson Cooper, Michael Jackson’s friends sends their deepest sympathy, Quincy Jones, Randy Jackson, Sheryl Crow, Cher, among others.  Donna Sommer will dedicate her concert to Michael.  Madonna says he was one of the greats and truly an inspiration to her music as well.  I wonder how Macaulay Culkin and Chris Tucker feels.  They were pretty close to Jackson. 

Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Brother, with a heavy heart faced media at a press conference releasing the cause of Jackson’s death.

 

 

 

Michael Jackson first rose to stardom in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the Jackson 5.  He was that little gifted boy with so much energy performing with the music group that he formed with his four older brothers.  Their famous hits include “ABC” and “I’ll Be There” that has so many renditions from other artists.

  

The 1982 album “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time having sold over 50 million copies worldwide.  The much famed album includes top charters “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and the most recognizable song to the world, “Thriller.”  Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake music are from Michael Jackson’s influences.

 

 

Jackson’s career started to tarnish with a series of scandals.  From his universal popularity in the 1980s, his stardom started to decline with a series of surgically altered appearance.

 

 

Michael Jackson popularized so many dance moves such as the moonwalker, pulling up the pants and the crotch-grabbing dance moves.  Justin Timberlake’s voice reminds me of Jackson’s high-pitched voice that is punctuated with squeals and titters.  He was the ultimate performer, if not the best dancer… King of all Generations and probably all genres for me… He was admired for his songs but Michael Jackson was also very instrumental in uniting Black and White together.  The soulful lyrics of They Dont Care About Us, Heal the World, Boogeyman, Man in the Mirror, Black and White transcends across nations.  Someone said that Michael Jackson’s death is like passing of an era.  I totally agree.

 

I am deeply saddened by the loss of the King of Music, Michael Jackson.  He was an all-out performer and has changed the music scene.  My bucket list includes watching a Michael Jackson concert.  I was so ecstatic to learn that he was doing a final run of concert series in Europe starting with London.  There were even talks that he might do one in Asia.  There are only three legendary icons for me, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson (and probably Beatles as a group).  The only female counterpart I can think of that is on the same level is Madonna (who is also in my bucket list of performers I want to watch).  They are the only artists that really made such enormous impact that shifted music landscape.  His legacy in the music industry and the inspiration his creativity brought will remain in music fans’ hearts generation after generation. 

 

Final Curtain for Michael Jackson

 

Michael Jackson Feat. Usher and Chris Tucker (Chris Tucker was super funny)

Michael Jackson’s Best Dance Moves

They Don’t Really Care About Us Music Video (Prisoner’s Version) 

 

 

Iran Elections, Social Media, and the Death of Michael Jackson

Rest in Peace, MJ!

 

 

Chris Brown and Rihanna REUNITED?

A huge controversy surrounded RnB couple, Rihanna and Chris Brown early February.  There’s buzz that the two are back together again. 

 

According to PEOPLE, three weeks since the alleged “beating” incident, “Run It” singer Chris Brown and “Umbrella” singer Rihanna  are back in each other’s arms.  They are supposedly taking time off from the whole media fracas and spending time together at one of Sean “Diddy” Comb’s houses.

 

 

From People:

 

Adds the source: “While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves.”

 

In its latest issue, PEOPLE reports that Brown called Rihanna on her 21st birthday one week ago. “He called to wish her happy birthday,” a source told the magazine. “They’ve reached out to each other. It’s been mutual.”

 

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Chris Brown and Rihanna Missing in Action at the Grammys

The 51st annual Grammys was stricken with controversy as talks buzzed about Chris Brown’s booking the night before.  Rihanna and Chris Brown, who held a back-to-back concert recently in Manila, were slated to perform during the Grammys.  The two however were nowhere in sight during the awards night.  The rumored couple got Grammy nominations and were scheduled to perform but incidents pertaining to a domestic violence battery the night before made Chris Brown a suspect.  The LAPD booked the R&B singer with possible assault charges.

 

 

(Photo source is www.eonline.com)

 

On other key event notes: A very pregnant MIA sang on stage with the hiphop ensemble of rappers Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, my HipHop crush of the moment –TI and Mr. Drop-out Kanye West.  Miley Cirus with close friend Taylor Swift (who I find really charming especially during her guesting in Ellen last year) sang a duet of the latter’s “Fifteen.”  The Jonas Brothers had a stage performance with Stevie Wonder.

 

**Update** Rihanna is the supposed victim/companion when the incident happend. 

For more details, visit E Online: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b99069_chris_brown_arrested_after_alleged.html

 

 

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