Birthday Boy: He Goes to Rio

Depressingly multi-talented star Hugh Jackman celebrates today, a man so lovely to look at that I can even forgive him for being younger than me.

We see him here in full come-hither regalia from his stint as the original Bi-Coastal Crooner, Mr. Peter "First Mr. Liza" Allen, in The Boy from Oz. Having, once eons ago (as a tiny tot, of course), seen Mr. Allen in concert, I can attest that although he was a perfect volcano of showbiz charisma, he was nothing like so handsome as his impersonator, a performer who is welcome to Tenterfield my Saddler any time he likes...

Hugh

Jackman. Apparently he's going to be on television this evening. It won't get started until well into Monday for us, so I likely won't see any of it.

It all seems rather academic, in any case, since it turns out I've not seen a single one of the nominees. Was Mamma Mia! released this year? I think that's the only new movie I saw all last year, Bollywood, of course, excepted. Why isn't Mamma Mia! getting any Oscars?

The above, of course, is from Hugh's The Boy From Oz era; it seems apt, if only because he's more or less dressed as an Oscar. I always thought the casting in this was rather unfair; the real Peter Allen, while infinitely talented and a spectacular showman, in his wildest dreams by no means looked like this.

I can't even begin to justify running this photo, except, well, look at it. Some things need no justification.

Enjoy Oscar night. It's only starting to hit me that never again may we see an Oscar presented by a Real Star (i.e. one who made at least one movie before or during World War II), but at least Meryl's got a chance this year.

If at any point he takes off his shirt, I hope someone will let me know.

Dazzle

The headine on this story in the Telegraph read "Kidman Dazzles at Australia's London Premiere".

That's as may be; my first thought was, "Oh - yeah. There is someone else in that picture with Hugh. What?" Don't get me wrong; she does look good, and, for her, almost lifelike. But Hugh...

Upen Patel better watch out!