"60"

It seems implausible now, but fame did not come to Jack Nicholson quickly. In 1969, after a decade of trying to break through as a movie star, the 32-year-old was slowly acclimating himself to the idea of giving up the stage and working behind the camera.

Though the celebratory pomp won't literally explode (with a 21-cannon salute!) until her "Official" birthday in June, it’s today that Queen Elizabeth II actually turns 90, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her Majesty still rides horses, carries out Investitures (those big ceremonies where diplomats and Rolling Stone singers become Knights), and brightens over 400 engagements each year with her little-legged corgis and big hats. 

Grow out your sideburns, dim all the lights, pour the wine, start the music. What the world needs now is to love Burt Bacharach again. Why? Beyond a massive songbook that stands the test of time, an off-Broadway show called “What’s It All About,” filled with hip, talented, and attractive 20-somethings, closed recently after a wildly successful run. Every night, it was filled wall to wall with Bacha-maniacs, yes, but also music lovers ages 15 to 85. It was a modern re-imagining of, and reverent tribute to, Bacharach’s awe-inspiring musical legacy.

I always tell people: you don’t have to be five (or high) to love Hayao. It might help, but you don't need either to enjoy some of the best animated films ever made.  Just as Disney is the preeminent maker of American animation, Studio Ghibli is the first name in Japanese feature-length and short-form animation (anime). And for decades now, the visionary at Studio Ghibli has been the gracious, gentle, and gregarious Hayao Miyazaki.    He even has his own parking space on the studio lot, though it’s reportedly a small one. 

You can’t help but be moved by the tragic life of actress Gene Tierney. Though endowed with astonishing beauty and talent that won her early fame, a series of misfortunes would eventually bring her to the brink of suicide.

Previously obscured in my hazy memory, 1994 comes back like lightning when I review the happenings of that year. Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. O.J. Simpson took us on the most famous ride ever in that white Bronco. Creating the ultimate rock and roll union, Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley. Kurt Cobain committed suicide.

The best movies are a breed apart – exceedingly rare, and born of compelling human stories well told. A superb drama has the power to change how we see the world, while a first-rate comedy can provide sublime entertainment that nourishes both brain and spirit. Today, too many exceptional films are hiding in plain sight, obscured by big commercial titles that may divert us in the moment, but offer little lasting impact, insight or enjoyment.