Got blocked by Simmons Bilt Instagram because my comment

[Harris HTM]

Great people as well. I was there with my wife a few years back and we were both impressed with the intelligence and basic decency of the folks we met. Nothing wrong with the Netherlands, either.

Thank you very much! I spent 26 years in Greece. Proud people, nothing to do with the stereotype bs used by populists in Europe during the crisis.

 

[ton312]

I'm in Chicago at the moment, and it's AMAZING!
It seems like a cross between San Francisco and New York but with less people.
Great food! ...and, for the first time in a few years I see people talking on the street instead of zombies staring at their phones.

It's a beautiful lake isn't it? Hopefully the decent weather is here for the duration of your stay!

 

[Seb Lucas]

Respectfully, I couldn't disagree with you more.

The guy is 55 years old and is in amazing shape, he is in better shape than most 18 year olds. The fact he would rather do his own stunts is awesome, how can it look "absurd" when he is actually doing the stunts himself? I find the typical actor that doesn't do anything remotely risky, yet portrays the "action hero" is whats absurd.

I cant stand the "Ageing gracefully" mentality, its the next best option to just giving up on life or just waiting to die....completely defeatist, we aren't talking about the plastic surgery addicts that "try to look young" we are talking about a guy that busts his ass and actually stays fit and healthy through effort, hard work and determination.

I agree with Edward on this and the sheer banality of those action hero roles. For me there's often a desperate sadness in TC's choice of roles - his palpable anxiety to stay relevant, young and bankable is more notable than any performance he gives. In fact these days, this often is TC's performance. I imagine it must be difficult for him to deal with aging and hope that the latest 25 year old co-star or girlfriend doesn't make him look too silly.

I like aging gracefully - but this doesn't mean giving up or turning into Jack Nicholson (not that it did him any harm) I am near to TC's age and weigh the same as I did when I was 19. A sensible diet and a good walk every day or two is all anyone needs.

 

[ButteMT61]

Just pray to God the Dave Matthews band isn't in town when you take that boat tour!

Right - you'd fall asleep and roll overboard

 

[Monitor]

I agree with Edward on this and the sheer banality of those action hero roles. For me there's often a desperate sadness in TC's choice of roles - his obvious anxiety to stay relevant, young and bankable is more notable than any performance he gives. In fact these days, this often is TC's performance. I imagine it must be difficult for him to deal with aging and hope that the latest 25 year old co-star or girlfriend doesn't make him look too silly.

So basically he shouldn't be enjoying his life?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Sorry Mon - can you clarify your question. It's early here.

 

[handymike]

It's a beautiful lake isn't it? Hopefully the decent weather is here for the duration of your stay!

Thanks Ton!
It is a gorgeous view!

 

[Monitor]

Sorry Mon - can you clarify your question. It's early here.

I mean... Okay, so TC can pretty much lead any kind of a life he wants, we agree on that. The roles he's choosing and the way he's going about it, he's clearly doing it because it's something he enjoys, not because he has to do it. So why should he stop doing the thing he loves - which ultimately only brings joy to people - just because it doesn't fit with someone's idea of how a human being should age? These roles, his life, who he is, it's all just fun.
On top of that, as PN mentioned, you'd have hard tome finding someone more dedicated and committed toward doing a job they do so how's any part of his life anything but commendable (except the Scientology bit, that's a bit wild but it's his choice - also, so far I haven't heard anything about Scientology Inquisition which already makes it better than some other religions in my book)?

 

[Benny Holiday]

Not got much to add about TC except I thought he was really good in the remake of War of the Worlds. I mean, we all know the ending but I was still scared on the edge of my seat through three quarters of that movie.

In other news, if any of you guys want a vacation in Sydney, now's the time because the weather is just about to edge into Spring which means it will be mild for about another month or so before it gets too stinking hot.

And in yet other news, and just 'cause I'm a cheeky fellow, I'll ask if anyone has been banned from any Instagram accounts lately? [insert evil laugh here]

 

[Sloan1874]

I'm in Chicago at the moment, and it's AMAZING!
It seems like a cross between San Francisco and New York but with less people.
Great food! ...and, for the first time in a few years I see people talking on the street instead of zombies staring at their phones.

Unfortunately, when I was there it was one of the harder winters they'd had in recent years. I remember waiting for their Winterval procession and watching a group of kids entertaining themselves by pouring hot coffee on the floor and timing how long it took to freeze! Very nice place, though, but I would avoid November onward....

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I'm in Chicago at the moment, and it's AMAZING!
It seems like a cross between San Francisco and New York but with less people.
Great food! ...and, for the first time in a few years I see people talking on the street instead of zombies staring at their phones.

Chicago food is really incredible.

 

[daw]

Thanks Ton!
It is a gorgeous view!
View attachment 82376

Handymike,

If I'm not mistaken, that photo's a view from the Four Seasons Hotel on Michigan Ave-I recognize that view. Awesome!

 

[handymike]

Yessir!
Wow, you have a great eye.

 

[Stand By]

Sorry to be so absent of late (been very busy moving house this summer) and late to this thread (what a good diversion from a world that's losing its grip and needs to calm down and take a pill) - I have a new boss and contract and my salad days - of having free reign on the internet and email access as I work - have officially been eaten away. So now all I have is my new iPhone at home to look in on TFL... c'est la vie. And it's called not getting fired.
But got to say, for my money, TC is my favourite actor. He brings his A-game to each role and he's in my favourite film, Vanilla Sky. That scene where he's in bed with Penelope Cruz and is so in love as he makes love - and in the next moment she becomes his ex Julia and the shock and disbelief and sheer inability to rationalize it to himself and she's laughing (at him) and he starts laughing as it's utter fear and terror that he's feeling and laughter becomes a response - and I do believe he acts perfectly what it must look like to lose one's mind. That's talent. It's second only to Claire Danes in Homeland imo (and she deserves an Emmy nod for each season for her amazing performances).
But he's clearly a perfectionist to his craft and very, very driven. It'll take an accident like this to slow him down and teach him to ease up a bit.
But as much as I like his films though, Going Clear showed him in a new light. Oh dear.

 

[ton312]

Right - you'd fall asleep and roll overboard

That would be a shitty thing to have happen! LOL.

 

[ton312]

Glad to see my beloved and often much maligned city get some love here! Man this thread literally has everything you could ever want from the internet. Well almost anyway.

 

[Fanch]

I was going to mention that I'm heading up to the Jersey shore tomorrow, but, um, I think I'll just let well enough alone. BTW, I just finished a fantastic book, written in 1918 or so, that was more or less based on Capri. It's called "Southwind", by Norman Douglas. Now I'm dying to go there.

Capri/Anacapri is an incredible destination but maybe best to visit at an offtime due to crowding. There was an article I think in the WSJ just recently about how popular and crowded the island is. It seems the mayors of Capri and Anacapri are at odds with each other. As I recall the conflict is the mayor of Capri wants to limit tourist traffic, but his cousin doesn't want the income of Anacapri affected. However, to get to Anacapri, tourists must arrive by boats being restricted by the mayor of Capri. To add to the story, the two mayors are cousins!

 

[Azog]

I don't post often but wanted to add a few thoughts on Tom Cruise.

I enjoy his movies, I think he does great at conveying the intensity of the situations his character gets into.

It seems like he wants to get as many movies made as possible before the inevitable happens that he is not able to make them anymore. I wonder what kind of roles he'll be playing in his 60's and beyond?

As it was alluded to in a earlier post, with him doing his own stunts it can be a great liability for the movie's production. Breaking bones in his ankle has pushed the release date of the movie back several months as production waits for him to recover. If a stuntman broke some bones production could continue.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Unfortunately, when I was there it was one of the harder winters they'd had in recent years. I remember waiting for their Winterval procession and watching a group of kids entertaining themselves by pouring hot coffee on the floor and timing how long it took to freeze! Very nice place, though, but I would avoid November onward....

Holy frostbite Batman, if a Scotsman considers it cold, then it must be REALLY cold!

Ton who maligns Chicago? It's on my list of places to see, one of the big famous US cities with great history (and now I find out great food as well!).

 

[ton312]

Holy frostbite Batman, if a Scotsman considers it cold, then it must be REALLY cold!

Ton who maligns Chicago? It's on my list of places to see, one of the big famous US cities with great history (and now I find out great food as well!).

Maybe it's mainly here in the states. Sadly portions of the city have an epidemic of gang violence that creates a dark cloud over the city as a whole. These areas are actually quite remote and a tourist would never ever find themselves there (nor would I as a 20 plus year resident) but it is a problem and one that multiple city admins have failed to answer.