...now The Truth About Charlie.
The Truth About Charlie is a 2002 remake of the classic film, Charade (starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and an impressive supporting cast). The remake stars Mark Wahlberg and Thandiwe Newton.
The plotline behind the remake is exact to the original. In a nutshell -
"Regina Lambert" (Audrey Hepburn original, Thandiwe Newton remake) is on a short holiday following her wedding to "Charles" (Stephen Dillane). While on holiday, Regina meets "Joshua Peters" (Cary Grant original - Peter Joshua alias original, Mark Wahlberg remake). When Regina returns to her home in Paris, she finds that her luxury apartment is robbed and empty throughout and comes to learn that her husband has been murdered. This is when the charade - the truth about Charlie - begins.
"Charlie" was a millionaire known to three seedy criminals after his wealth. Since they could not come after him, they went after Regina. Regina reunited with Joshua when he happened to be in Paris and after explaining her situation, the two found themselves on the run. A catch, however, was glaring - Joshua had many aliases that ultimately led to...
...watch the film to find out!
Reviews and ratings were not great and really could not hold up against the 1963 original and the bar it set in classic Hollywood.
In the music industry, covering iconic songs for a new audience is intriguing. In the film industry, remakes must match or surpass the set bar. In this instance, the bar covered the actors, storyline, and score.
I would say the soundtrack to The Truth About Charlie is the best original.
Long story long, the end.
In this last Saturday in the month of January 2025, I am sharing an update to my personally curated Kollectin web storefront - where fashion meets Set List.
Led Zeppelin
Thomas Earl Petty
The Beatles were an all British band. They established the rock genre for later generations to explore, customize, and shape unique sound. The Rolling Stones followed with a punch of hard rock and performance.
Aerosmith is an all American band akin to The Rolling Stones just across the pond. Journey is all American, based on the west coast. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were defined by critics and fans as all American, based on the east coast.
Let's consider first Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers & second just Tom Petty.
The band formed in 1976 in Gainesville, Florida. The original lineup included -
Tom Petty - lead singer, rhythm guitar
Mike Campbell - lead guitar
Benmont Tench - keyboards
Stan Lynch - drums
Ron Blair - bass
This lineup would change over the years but the fundamental rock and roll sound that shaped the band into what fans will forever recognize remains. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
And then there was just Tom Petty, whose solo career was as impressive as the Heartbreakers. He recorded and released three solo albums with some of the Heartbreakers members contributing as studio musicians.
Of the three - Full Moon Fever, Wildflowers, & Highway Companion - the debut (Full Moon Fever) stands out the most as his most successful. So let's start at the top.
Full Moon Fever
The word "fame" is generally defined by Hollywood, Broadway, entertainment on a global scale, historic pop culture, modern pop culture, and certainly in many other formats.
In my last Fame post, I highlighted Princess Catherine Fashion Book. Kate Middleton came into the camera fore when she met Prince William at the university they both attended. The paparazzi began noticing her when she and William fell into a deeply in love relationship. When he proposed...when they wed...when they welcomed George and then Charlotte and then Louis...
As of her iconic Alexander McQueen bridal gown, Princess Catherine's every fashion choice has seemingly been more famous than herself! Catherine graces every clothing selection from couture to formal to casual. Charlotte is slowly catching attention when she and her mother blend in color and style.
I mentioned Louis earlier. His name reminds me of Louis Vuitton - an iconic and historic French fashion designer first heard of in 1854 and whose vision has since grown and branched out to accommodate every incoming generation. Louis Vuitton is most known for his LV monogram and luxury luggage.
The Louis Vuitton name established itself in the 21st Century when prominently mentioned in the last number of episodes of "Friends." The show, of course, heavily highlighted Bloomingdale's and Ralph Lauren with a one episode mention of Gucci. Yet, in the final season of the now forever syndicated program, Jennifer Aniston's character "Rachel" was prepared to jet set to Paris after accepting a position with Louis Vuitton. As related to Set List, the "Friends" theme song will always be around.
The Fame theme though is further relevant to my contribution to the name - Louis Vuitton Portfolio as sold on Amazon.
I am a quiet Democrat with firmly declared opinions. I am also a notorious fence sitter on such topics as the death penalty, ethical decisions that could lead to me being a whistleblower, and other political issues I can't quite recall at the moment.
I am a proud Democrat in a country defined as a democracy. I don't always agree with presidential policies but I respect the position. Donald Trump is the most controversial figure in the White House role perhaps second to Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. Trump is either despised or praised. He is either damaging to the United States or followed by loyalists furthering a divide.
In the White House, Congress, and perhaps even the Supreme Court, if one is not a loyalist...don't bother knocking on his door.
In the general public, if one is not a loyalist...don't bother with civil discourse. The United States is more divided now than - and I dare say - when the South broke off through the Civil War.
And so I say "Save a Prayer."
United States of America
National Anthem
Dear readers and passersby,
I am thrilled to announce my new publication inspired by the one and only...
A few years ago, I came across a music related website called MuzicNotez. The site primarily offers reviews of and interviews with artists. I thought I could submit Set List posts in alignment with what the site accepts to publication but apparently that would seem redundant and unoriginal. Fair enough so I opted out of the opportunity.
With that said, I recently discovered the offer of affiliate marketing. MuzicNotez truly is an intriguing source for both musicians and budding writers. I hope to keep in touch as an affiliate.
Consider below -
Over the past several months, I have explored a wide variety of themes to design journals and notebooks - music, birthdays, holidays, fashion, Hollywood, royalty...
...Let's consider royalty and Hollywood. In my launch Fame-themed post, I shared a fan book dedicated to the A-list actor, Luke Cunningham Wilson. I traced his film career to date and television roles & appearances. Yes, I really am quite the fan.
...As I am with Catherine, Princess of Wales. Her grace, natural beauty, approach to life separate from royalty and life as a royal, admirable marriage, precious motherhood, and always of course fashion sense makes Kate Middleton the ultimate icon in every way for our generation and beyond. Kate Middleton defines fame.
With that said, explore Princess Catherine Fashion Book.
Princess Catherine Fashion Book
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1980s Hollywood classic with the perfect blend of script, actors, accent music in a variety of scenes, performance, mix of comedy and action, playing off each other's reactions to heighten each scene, and more than I can name here. Let's go back to music.
The introduction of synthesizers revolutionized rock music in the experimental age of the 1980s. I think of Nick Rhodes and how his configurations set Duran Duran up for commercial success among fans (even if there is constructive criticism).
The soundtrack to the film, Fletcher, starring Chevy Chase took note of its contemporary. In fact, if you close your eyes and listen to the film's soundtrack, you might be frustrated that it is not linked to Beverly Hills Cop.
Let's get up to speed with Beverly Hills Cop II, a sequel that really should have stopped there (so sorry to Eddie Murphy and the cast). The new soundtrack is as impressive as that of the first but with an added punch of dance rock and hard rock.
"Axel F" defined the first film. "Shakedown" defined the second.
...and go from there.
In the 1920s, the jazz scene saw flappers dancing to the Charleston in big name cities across the nation. The jazz age impacted pop culture, fashion, testing the law after the passing of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constituti0n, and so much more.
In the 1930s, the jazz scene defined the big band concept. So let's go from there.
Influential bandleaders include Count Basie, Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw...to name a few.
Duke Ellington and his band are especially known for such swing jazz songs as "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", "Caravan," and many more.
"Body and Soul" - A feature in the Broadway show, Three's a Crowd ... Coleman Hawkin's rendition became a commercial hit and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1973 ... Most recorded jazz standard of all time
"Embraceable You" - A feature in the Broadway musical, Crazy ... Composed by George Gershwin & Lyrics penned by Ira Gershwin ... Introduced by Ginger Rogers ... Billie Holiday's rendition (1944) was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005.
"Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles's version on The Genius Hits the Road (1960) was a No. 1 hit, won 2 Grammy Awards, and is the defining rendition.
"I Got Rhythm" - A feature in the Broadway show, Girl Crazy ... Composed by George Gershwin & Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Other notable compositions include "Memories of You," "Mood Indigo," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and many more.
Noteworthy standards by year in the 1930s decade are listed on Wikipedia. Follow for more.
"40" - U2
Live in Chicago - 2005
"Night Boat" - Duran Duran
Live from London - 2005
