-3/23/23 Grade A+

And we're back. Good to be here. Welcome all. Welcome to another addition to my weekly blog. That's right, weekly. Why? Because that's just the right amount of gibberish from me that I felt you could handle. Small doses of Bainacy to keep you well informed as to the oddities within my head. Some get out, some don't, trust me, you should be glad that some stay safely locked away inside. They might just put me away if I turned the tap on full throttle. Sometimes it seems like a bit much to punch out a blog once a week.

"Once a week? That's not a lot," some of you might be thinking.

It is in fact a love/hate, self appointed weekly task (Wednesday being my personal goal to publish) that seems to roll around quicker than anticipated. Why Wednesday? I could tell you that the stars align properly mid-week and writing on the day historically dedicated to the Norse god Woden brings about good fortune to the scribe but a simpler more believable reasoning seems to hold the truth ... totally random day. Something to say, something to put before you. My time to feed your brain. It might be junk food but here you go ... let's eat.

Anyone who knows me, personally, knows that I am in fact a quiet individual. In a crowded room of people, I would be the back of the room guy (my desired noun, thank you very much). I guess by putting out a weekly blog it's my escape from always keeping my trap shut. My time to spew, regardless if anyone is reading these or not. It does rob me a bit, though.

"How? you ask.

It does take time away from my actual writings, my books. That is the downfall. I have many stories that a crying for me to finish. Anyway, I'm here now so lets do the damn deal and get this labor of love written. One, two, three, hit the gas, GO!

Let's talk movies. More specifically, movie actors. I've noticed in my days that people have a fascination with lists. Now, I'm not talking about no honey-do or grocery lists here. I'm talking about movie actor list. A fun list. My list. Today I'm going to give you a list of my top 3 choice actors. Grade A entertainers. My wife and I will often watch a movie and grade the actors/actresses on a scale from A through F. A being top shelf, cream of the crop, artist extraordinaire in what the do. Now an A is usually someone who has proven themselves over a period of time. A healthy portion of quantity and a whole lot of quality. Someone who has tackled some roles and made them their own. Sometimes we might be on the fence a little and split an A actor (A+ or A-) but rarely will we ever split any grade below that. There's not fence walking with my top 3, though. No splitting going on here. I see each of them as an A+ ... period. So, without further ado ...

#1 Denzel Washington.

Come on now, A+ actor? Damn right he is. I put this man at the top of my list because he completely brings the game in what he does. He has had some great roles and I think he is just top notch. I've watched some interviews with him in the past and the one thing that always comes to mind is when the media (buzzards lurking in the mire) tried to race bait the man and get him to speak out pertaining to a specific narrative. He shut them down with class and chose the higher ground. Impressive. Some of my favorite Denzel movies are John Q, The Taking of Pelham 123, Safehouse, Flight, Unstoppable, The Book of Eli, and The Equalizer(s). Kudos to you Denzel. Truly an entertainers entertainer. Still waiting on that BBQ invite there buddy. I'll bring the margs.

#2 Morgan Freeman.

What can you say about the man? He has played everything from God (Bruce Almighty) to a prisoner (Shawshank Redemption) to a doctor (Outbreak) to the president (London Has Fallen) and many, many more. His acting career has spanned across many decades and the movies he's made have entertained us all with some Grade A quality. Oh, my bad, Grade A+ quality. I'm old enough to remember him during his time on The Electric Company and that my friends is going back a long way, back to the 70's. Give the man a role and step back, he's gonna nail it. Don't believe me? Google the man and watch some of his movies. He's earned the respect. Freeman makes my #2 slot and for good reason.

#3 Gerard Butler

Did you see this one coming? Yes? No? Well, he's here. My number 3 choice goes to the man who isn't afraid to arrest his own ex (The Bounty Hunter). I really like him as an actor. I think he's done a lot of really good stuff over the years. 300 (awesome), P.S. I Love You (Tear jerk'r but one great movie), Law Abiding Citizen (damn good watch), Olympus/Angel Has Fallen (quality work), and Greenland (worth the couch time). Yes, ol G. Butler makes the grade, in my opinion.

OK, let's not leave the ladies out here. My top 3 is all men but that doesn't mean I'm sexist or anything, right? Absolutely not. There are many fine actresses who have chiseled their names into Hollywood's who's who. Susan Surandon, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, just to name a few. But there's one lovely lady I feel has made her mark in the movies and deserves a worthy mention to this list. You loved her as a football mom in Blind Side. She drove the hell out of bus in Speed. Her tough shell was no match for Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal. And she rocked the badge in a dress for Miss Congeniality. A lady with great talent and legs, Sandra Bullock

And 3 + 1 = Grade A to the 4th power. My top 4 actor/actress picks. To each his/her own and this is my own.

Well, labor of love, short and simple today. Moving on to other adventures. Perhaps one day my book Caesar's Move will have a famous face attached to it for all to see. One can dream. The vision within my mind (as I wrote it) held much different faces than any of my top actor choices. Oh, what the hell, throw some vision pics in for good measure. OK, here it is. Bam, Bam, Bam, 3 pics of who I imagined my trio of crime fighters to look like.

Casey Harwell - David Boreanaz

Patricia Storer - Virginia Madson

Jayce Cartadoni - Chris Hemsworth

Marcus Russell - Bradley Cooper

Caesar - Now, Now. Can't give everything away. Save some for those who haven't read the book yet. And if you haven't ... visit the link below and check it out.

For those of you who have already plundered through my book, what do you think? Do these faces match up in any way to the images in your head as you read? A little? Not so much? I would be interested in learning who you did imagine. Drop me a reply and let me know.

Until next week, get your read on, your love on, and stay positive. Feed that brain. You owe it to yourself.

Angelo

Check out/pick up Caesar's Move at angelobain.com