LEATHERHEADS, Again

As hoped, the dh and I made it to Tinseltown for a seven o'clock showing of LEATHERHEADS, the first movie I've seen in a theater, I think, since COLD MOUNTAIN -- which is a shame actually, because until the last decade or so, I was a dedicated movie-goer. And I would be again if there were more films worth the trip. Apparently, it's my own fault -- I'm not a teenage boy.

But I digress.

I like "screwball comedies." I like the fact that I might see a place where I've actually been in a film. I like Renée Zellweger. I like George Clooney -- admittedly since I saw him in person. I don't like football. So you see, I went into this with more pros than cons.

I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed, despite the football thing and despite the comedic timing being slightly off now and then. I would have liked more focus on the romance and less on guys pounding each other into the mud, but that's the romance writer in me. This inner trait also allows me to declare here and now that Renée Zellweger and George Clooney have significant on-screen chemistry. I would especially recommend their dance in the speak-easy to writers and non-writers alike as a very fine example of how to depict almost palpable sexual attraction between a man and a woman without ever being in any way explicit -- something we could use a lot more of these days, in my opinion.

The bottom line here is that LEATHERHEADS is a light-hearted, entertaining movie. Like most movies (and books) it has some flaws, but I'm glad I went -- despite the grown man and woman two seats down who "moo-ed" when the cow came on the screen.

But that's another story.

LEATHERHEADS, The Movie, The Stars

What a revelatory day. I had no idea, at this late date, that I was a movie star groupie. The late Sidney Blackmer had been my patient when I was a student nurse -- twice -- and I'd seen cowboy star, Bob Steele, in person at the State Theater when I was three. I was...blasé when it came to celebrities. Really.

I was pretty sure I wasn't a George Clooney fan. I did know I liked Renée Zellweger (above) and had ever since I saw the "Show me the money!" movie. I liked her -- but did I like her enough to go stand and gawk when she and George arrived by vintage train to promote their new movie, Leatherheads?

Apparently so -- because despite the book proposal I should have been working on, less than fifteen minutes from their ETA at the restored 1920s depot (where some of the scenes in the film were shot), the dh and I decided to go. Amazingly, we managed to get to town, find a parking place, and hike down to the depot ahead of the train.

Let me say here that I am no photographer, and I have enough pictures of my own fingers and the cat from the ears up to prove it. Nevertheless, I am about to show you some of the photos I took on this exciting (I was soon to learn) occasion. You can see a larger version by clicking on any of them.

The crowd was daunting by the time we reached the depot:



And what a colorful crowd it was. Having never been to anything like this before, I had no idea that some people would actually show up in appropriate costume. And some not so appropriate. And the headgear. I was very taken by one lady's bright emerald green hat with feathers, and somewhat startled by another one which looked like a mirrored disco ball from the back. And then there was the man who was actually wearing a period leather football helmet -- the kind that inspired the name "Leatherheads." I assume he was a paid part of the PR/promotion effort, mostly because I don't know where a grown man would get something like that, much less wear it.

The train came shortly...











...and I took a stab at getting a photo of Renée and George as the train car they were in passed by -- in one of those bold hold-the-camera-high-and-shoot-what-you-can't-see moves. And I actually got it. Sort of. There's George peering out as if he's not the least bit scared of us, and you can just see Renée in the left window. She is so pretty. He is, too, for that matter. And at this point, I'm beginning to realize that this experience is going to be nothing like the ones with Sidney and Bob.






Which brings us to the taking of celebrity photographs in a mob of people armed with every kind of camera and picture-taking electronic device known to mankind, some of which had a telephoto lens the size of a water bucket. And they weren't afraid to use them, either.

I took most of my better shots while hanging off a wrought iron fence -- with the dh doing his best to keep me from falling. (I'm telling you this so you'll appreciate the effort if not the result.)

First, we have a photograph of George's hat:



(I know, I know. But, see, I wasn't brought up to whack people who are in my way no matter how much I might want to -- and believe me, I wanted to. I was getting into the spirit of this "groupie" thing.)









And here's one of George's sideburns:




(You have to admit this is a little better, right?)








How about this?




And here's George and the Giant Elbow:








(I can't tell you how hard it was to get this shot -- that elbow was formidable. George Clooney is pretty, isn't he? Forget what I said about not being a fan.)










Which brings us to Renée again:

She was so pleasant, chit-chatting and signing all manner of things, some of them living. Both she and George couldn't have been more gracious to the people waiting to see them. It was a truly enjoyable event. I don't know when I've had more fun. (And I loved her shoes.)


Leatherheads is in theaters on April 4. Maybe you'll want to check it out. I'm pretty sure I'm going.