#8 Christopher Plummer

Posted: 16/01/2012 in Film Stars, Men
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A movie aficionado, I become a slave to the Golden Globes and Oscar Awards when they come around each year. I’ve been to the Toronto and Tribeca Film Festivals – and have the bucket list of the rest around that world I still need to attend.

Some people watch the awards shows and attend the festivals to see the stars. To find out about the latest styles, trends and gossip. Maybe I’m a nerd, but I’m not that interested in those parts. I like the moments unanticipated – who is going to say something compelling (and hopefully unscripted?) What film that you’ve never heard of will stay with you long after it leaves the festival and may never again see the light of day?

Tonight, on the Golden Globes, Christopher Plummer won an award for his performance in Beginners, a film I watched twice this year. I may watch it a third time. If you haven’t yet seen it,  I encourage you to. Plummer’s character made me think about the short life we have and how we have a chance every day to make changes that will help us feel happier, more fulfilled. Plummer accepted his award with grace, an ounce of nostalgia and statuesque yet unpretentious nobility.

And if you don’t remember him by name, he’s *that* Christopher Plummer, of The Sound of Music fame. And yes, I like that film too.

A good short note from Plummer: “I’m too old-fashioned to use a computer. I’m too old-fashioned to use a quill.”

But he’s not old-fashioned. He’s just a class act.

#7 Maurizio Cattelan

Posted: 03/01/2012 in Artists, Men
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A few days ago, my very good friend Kerry Maurizio Cattelan Guggenheimand I went to the Guggenheim Museum to check out the latest Maurizio Cattelan exhibit.

I confess – I was not familiar with said artist. But he’s based here in NYC, an Italian and seemingly pretty cool, so at least we have that in common.

He is known for his satirical sculptures, particularly La Nona Ora (The Ninth Hour), depicting the Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite.

Words do not do most art justice, so I’ve included a photo. But know this – the key takeaway was about perspective – that what we see might not always be what is. Whether an art joker or not, Cattelan offered us a new way to look at the world  as we kicked off the New Year, with an invigorating, fresh perspective.

If you get a chance to check it out, I highly encourage it. It’s at the Guggenheim through January 22nd. You don’t need to be an art oficiando to appreciate this. Just an hour from your day will make you laugh and think. Which is what counts.

Cattelan’s brilliance definitely gave us some fun that day.

Here’s a quote directly from him that sums up how he sees his art and approach – a pretty realistic guy if you ask me.

“I was a loser, most concerned with making a living. It took me 30 years to understand… I had to reinvent a system, find a way out, and set some rules that could work for me and a few others. I guess in the end that’s what we all are trying to do.”

#6 Mark Twain

Posted: 01/01/2012 in Authors, Men
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Here’s a simple one to kick off the New Year. My lifelong favorite quote is from Mark Twain. I hope you like it.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” –Mark Twain

#5 Gertrude Stein

Posted: 27/12/2011 in Authors, Women
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The first time I went to see Midnight in Paris, I walked out. Too slow, didn’t grab my attention and I’ve been to Paris seven times, so I thought I knew it all. Snore.

Fast forward to last week when I tried again on Netflix. Loved it. From the literary themes and introspective discussion to the time travel and timeless lessons about relationships — all of it was covered with wit and enthusiasm.

And, I was reminded of Gertrude Stein, played by Cathy Bates in the film. An American poet and writer, Stein lived in France, held salons that lent themselves to vivacious cultural conversations and continued to write – her works are  often cited as among the first to demonstrate the ‘stream of consciousness’ style. And she was cool — Stein was friends with Ernest Hemingway and Picasso — two masterful portraits of brilliant fun that deserve their own entries. She surrounded herself with electric creative energy that makes many of us writers in today’s 9-5 conundrum want to escape to another time and place.

My favorite Stein quote says it all: “Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.” Second up: “I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences.”

For those of you who can relate to either or both of the above, you understand why she’s acknowledged among the brilliant minds here.

#4 Epictetus

Posted: 04/12/2011 in Men, Philosophers
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Greek sage and philosopher, Epictetus, could teach us a thing or two about calmness and control amidst the outside world’s external, maniacal and unpredictable events.

Easier said than done, my friend. However, he also advocated that human beings have a duty to care for all fellow humans in order to achieve peace of mind. Simple stuff that we in today’s world often over-complicate and endlessly analyze.

Not to say we can’t glean some applicable nuggets from his sage advice. More modern day folks like James Joyce and J.D. Salinger cite Epictetus in their literature. I find him to be a bit more accessible, in context and relevant in those forms.

I’m sure Epictetus had some fun in his day – what great mind doesn’t – especially since the pursuit of happiness was much of his life’s work. We’ll leave it with one of his more well-known quotes:

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Gratitude, friends. That’s what he’s talking about.

#3 Queen Catherine of Aragon

Posted: 25/11/2011 in Royalty, Women
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Catherine of Aragon“Keep your heart with a chaste mind” ~ Queen Catherine of Aragon

While I never personally knew Catherine of Aragon, I unabashedly involved myself in her world  a few years ago after succumbing to the historical fiction bug.

She, unknowingly, has a fan in the 21st century. A fan that admires her discretion, grace, beauty and literary intelligence – all maintained of the highest order amidst political, personal and religious chaos. Not unlike today.

We all live in flavors of chaos, but having your husband (Henry VIII) leave you for a lot of other wives in the mass public setting that is the world might put any honest women over the edge. Not Catherine – she kept her poise – and right up until her death, her unwavering respect for herself.

I can’t say with confidence that she had loads of fun, given the craziness surrounding her, but I’m sure she made the most of it, given her ability to be discrete. Or maybe she just laughed at the circus itself.  But she’s a lesson to us all – elegance and grace, particularly in times of veritable ridiculousness, are underestimated virtues of brilliance.

#2 Jimmy Page

Posted: 19/11/2011 in Men, Musicians
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Jimmy Page“I always believed in the music we did and that’s why it was uncompromising.” ~ Jimmy Page

My first concert was a Robert Plant/Jimmy Page gig. Of course, I admire both of them – their collective artistic talents and the impact they’ve had on the music scene are unmatched.

But Page reminds me of someone who, if he wasn’t busy being one of the world’s preeminent guitarists, magical songwriters and worshiped founder of Led Zeppelin, could also have been a stellar friend to have beers with on Saturday nights.

Alas, Page succinctly captures the intent of his broader legacy much better than I ever could in a 1993 interview with Guitar World:

Many people think of me as just a riff guitarist, but I think of myself in broader terms . . . As a producer I would like to be remembered as someone who was able to sustain a band of unquestionable individual talent, and push it to the forefront during its working career. I think I really captured the best of our output, growth, change and maturity on tape – the multifaceted gem that is Led Zeppelin.

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