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Posted by Misha Henckel

When news of Whitney’s passing broke on Saturday afternoon, it hit hard. My teenagers were surprised.
“Mom, what’s the matter with you! Why are you crying?”
“You don’t understand,” I said. “It’s Whitney! Our Whitney! She is… was… everything. When I was growing up, she sang the soundtrack to my life, all our lives. She’s the greatest of them all!”
Whitney wasn’t striving to be a great singer. All she did was open her mouth and effortlessly, the most incredible music would pour out. Music that hit us right in our hearts and opened our souls, and gave deeper meaning to whatever we were experiencing. She brought to life the lyrics of others and inspired a legion of great artistes. It’s as if Whitney were a channel, a bridge to some place in the heavens where life is perfect, feelings are pure and souls dance free.
Remember that scene in “The Preacher’s Wife” where she’s singing “I Believe in You and Me,” and the angel Dudley (Denzel Washington) is watching, mesmerized. And you know that he can’t stop himself from falling in love, even though he shouldn’t, she’s just so utterly beautiful, so truly angelic herself. In real life, Whitney was probably more angel than human, a fragile songbird who struggled to adapt to life in this very challenging and often dark world.
As much joy as she gave us, her own life was likely very confusing, a harsh tangle with this reality. She’s in a softer place now, I’m sure. And her time here was not wasted. For two decades she shared of herself with us all, making our souls dance with the most beautiful voice ever known. She gave us many, many incredible moments in time.
Thank you, Whitney! We will always love you.

2.13.12 at 12:37 pm | She made our souls dance

1.31.12 at 12:28 am | With excellent and unpredictable choices...

1.22.12 at 5:27 pm | She's teaching us how to fight every single day

1.16.12 at 2:02 pm | No real surprises

11.24.11 at 2:13 pm | This is still the most amazing country in the. . .

11.10.11 at 11:46 am | Sometimes it's not what you do, but what you fail. . .

3.27.11 at 11:45 pm | She was a great role model for us all (12)

7.23.11 at 8:33 pm | " I love you mum." (7)

4.18.11 at 4:56 pm | And she can thank her lucky stars for that (6)






January 31, 2012 | 12:28 am
Posted by Misha Henckel

For an actor, there’s nothing like being recognized by your colleagues and peers. They are the ones who know what it takes to achieve excellence in the chosen craft. They know what it means to suffer years of rejection. They know how much hard work and “luck” is required for it to all come together. And last night, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, they were the ones who picked the right film and the right cast to celebrate. “The Help” got the recognition it deserves as one of the best movies ever made about the American journey. Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture winners Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard, Cicely Tyson and Sissy Spacek et al, came together to portray a story that hits you deep in the gut, pulls and tugs at your heart, and makes you want to weep. Every one of them committed so completely to their roles, that the audience is transported back to 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. You’re there and you’re living out the drama. For Davis, who also won for Female Actor in a Leading Role and Spencer, who picked up the award for Female Actor in a Supporting Role, it must seem like they’re in the middle of a dream. But they’ve worked all their lives for this recognition. And it’s heartwarming to see them being so embraced by their fellow actors. When Davis received her award there was not a dry eye in the house.
Now let’s see if the Academy follows suit.
For a full list of last night’s winners: http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/18th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards
Look for my Oscar series on the films nominated for Best Picture, very soon.
January 22, 2012 | 5:27 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

It was one of those events of the last year, that we could not get past: the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her remarkable fight to recover from that gunshot wound in the head. Today, Gabby announced that she is resigning from Congress. It is undoubtedly a great loss for Washington. A true representative of the people, someone skilled at bringing people together to get the nation’s work done, is leaving. But Gabby may, already, be doing her greatest work. All of last year, she and her husband, Mark Kelly, have shown us what true courage (and true love) look like. If we ever were unclear about how to respond when darkness comes our way, we now have no excuses. Gabby Giffords is teaching us how to fight, every single day, to rise above it. We can only be grateful…
January 16, 2012 | 2:02 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

The HIGHS
Ricky Gervais, a bit tamer but delivering as expected, with a drink in one hand and expletives on his lips. He does his job, though, making sure nobody takes themselves too seriously.
Morgan Freemen is presented the Cecil B. DeMille Award, by Sidney Poitier and Helen Mirren, for his long and illustrious career. So well deserved and bringing some real depth to the evening. Now that he’s single again, he should hook up with Mirren and not just on-screen. They would make a very cute couple.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie doing their duty as Hollywood’s leading couple – the picture of elegance and sophistication. They didn’t take home any Globes but definitely get the nod for the “true match” award. And that’s no small feat.
George Clooney, accepting for Best Actor for the Descendents, takes time to acknowledge fellow nominee and good friend, Brad Pitt, for his significant humanitarian contributions. Clooney never forgets what’s really important.
Octavia Spencer, receiving Best Supporting Actress for The Help, quotes Martin Luther King (whose day is today) “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.” Thanks, Octavia!
The LOWS
Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet and Martin Scorsese are remarkable and who doesn’t love them. But things get a little predictable and, frankly boring, when they are nominated. Like last night, they always win.
Michelle Williams, accepting Best Actress for My Week with Marilyn - well deserved! But she seemed a bit too preoccupied with thanking her daughter. Award shows are not really the place to acknowledge your family so profusely. You should do that in private.
Kelsey Grammar, using his acceptance speech to acknowledge his current and, newly pregnant, wife - seems like he was trying too hard to make the point. Was it just part of the media war with his ex?
Seth Rogan, talking about his “giant erection,” may have made his co-presenter, Kate Beckinsale, crack up, but it seemed just tacky and inappropriate. Love you Seth, but leave the dirty jokes to Gervais.
Look for my upcoming reviews of the Oscar nominated films and my “deeply insightful” comments about our culture leaders this award season.
November 24, 2011 | 2:13 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

1. The Occupy Movement – it’s about time we got the courage to stand up to the vicious, greedy and destructive elements of our society.
2. Facebook, You Tube, Twitter and digital technology – we get to express ourselves, freely. How awesome is that!
3. Reality TV – the Real Housewives, the Kardashians et al. It’s important to get a good look at what you never want to be.
4. President Obama – the dude has had to deal with the impossible. I dare anyone else to take the job and do it better.
5. You’re an American – when last I checked, for all our problems, this was still the most amazing country in the world. Here you’re free to become everything you want to be.
Be grateful that you get to be you. Breathe, smile and reach out to someone.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 10, 2011 | 11:46 am
Posted by Misha Henckel

I know nothing about football and even less about college football, but like so many Americans, I was riveted to the TV screen, last night, as the shocking story unfolded out of Penn State. Who were these men? How could they condone the evil of Jerry Sandusky? How could they place the interests of a football program or a university, for that matter, over their obligation to protect tiny, defenseless, scared little boys who were being raped? What kind of institutional culture turns a blind eye to the darkest of crimes?
Last night, when the Penn State Board of Trustees fired Joe Paterno, they did it in the “best interests of the university.” Sounds to me like that’s just the same old attitude. They needed and still need to act “in the best interests of the victims.” The value of an institution, no matter how big or how influential is still not as significant as the value of one tiny child. By not acting to stop him, the university is as culpable as Jerry Sandusky for perpetrating these crimes. And Penn State can only redeem itself when it appropriately addresses the needs of those who suffered in this unfathomable evildoing.
I’m sure Paterno, meanwhile, never would have guessed that his career as winningest football coach in NCAA history would end this way. But that’s life. It will build you up and then take you down. And sometimes it’s not what you do, but what you fail to do that most defines you. Paterno’s greatness will most definitely be defined by how he acts, now. Will he speak up for the victims? Will he stand up for them and do whatever is necessary to help them? Will he now become an advocate for victims of child sexual abuse? Will he do his part in ensuring that this never, ever happens again at Penn State or any other institution? It’s up to him. For all of his winnings, this is his real opportunity to do something truly significant and meaningful.
November 1, 2011 | 2:43 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

As I was watching Ruth Madoff on 60 Minutes, this Sunday, I found myself scrutinizing her visage. What I kept seeing was a woman who had lived a lavish life off the spoils of her husband’s crimes. For all the trauma she’d been through in the past few years, she still looked too well put together to possibly be contrite for whatever part she had in Bernie Madoff’s evil schemes. And, frankly, she seemed complacent. I struggled to muster a shred of compassion. Only when she spoke of her son, Mark’s suicide, did I believe that she had truly suffered, and that somewhere, behind that face, was a soul.
I was troubled by how cold my heart was to Mrs. Madoff - whatever her transgressions. I have always believed in teshuvah*, and the idea that anyone, no matter how terrible their past actions, could become a better person. So why had I eliminated that possibility for Mrs. Madoff?
The following morning, news broke that, only 72 days after her nationally televised “fairytale” wedding, Kim Kardashian had filed for divorce.
I snickered, “Duh!”
While I was silently congratulating myself on having always known that that marriage was an entirely ridiculous idea, if not just another reality TV charade, another part of me was observing just how willing I was to be brutally judgemental. Truth is… I know nothing of Kim Kardashian’s situation or what she’s going through. I don’t think it’s smart to get married to someone after only a few months of knowing them, or to play out one’s relationship in front of the media. But beyond that, what could I say?
So what was I to conclude about these two women?
Mrs. Madoff, for many years, was a highly regarded member of New York society. She was someone who had done everything right. She and her husband had “made it.” They were examples of the American Way – work hard, build yourself up, become a success. Kim Kardashian, too, is a great American success story. Four years ago, she was selling clothes in a boutique in the Valley. Today, she is one of the wealthiest, most recognized women in the world. They both epitomize success, in a society that is driven by the notion of transcending “lowly” beginnings and finding riches and public acclaim. Simply put, Ruth Madoff and Kim Kardashian are victims of greed. But so are we. We’re all trying to “make it” in one way or the other. And who knows how we would act if we had that kind of money, fame or acclaim.
* teshuvah - (literally “return”) the way of atoning for sin and making new beginnings
October 4, 2011 | 1:16 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

When Amanda Knox was set free on Monday, exonerated of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, she must have walked out of that Italian courtroom in disbelief. For four years she had been vilified and dehumanized, accused, and then imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. If she lost her appeal she was looking at an even longer sentence than the one she initially received. I cannot even imagine what it must have been like for her, knowing that if she lost she would be spending the rest of her life in prison.
I watched her final plea before the jury yesterday morning. It came from her soul. You could feel it, and I guess the jury did too.
The Amanda Knox story makes me think of all the people who are wrongfully accused, whether in a court of law, the court of public opinion, or even in the quiet of our own minds. It is one of the more tragic aspects of the human condition that we so often feel the need to condemn and ultimately to destroy others as a means to our own validation. Undoubtedly, some people are up to no good, and we may at times need to be on our guard, but we must temper that with the understanding that as humans we are not omniscient, and we can be very, very wrong in our evaluation of others.
Twenty four year old Amanda Knox was wrongly accused and condemned, and yet with overwhelming odds against her, she fought back, and won. Truth triumphed in Perugia, when it so easily could have gone the other way. In a world where, too often, the truth is denied, goodness is brushed aside and evil is rewarded, the Knox victory is a victory for us all.
Shana tova!
August 3, 2011 | 8:26 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

Kate Middleton has risen from middle class obscurity to become The Duchess of Cambridge, future queen of England, and one of the most recognizable women in the world. Today, she landed at the top of Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List. Some people may think that she’s just a pretty girl who got lucky and married a prince. But I’ve been following her for a number of years, observing her choices and there’s quite a bit more to her than that. I would say that this is young woman who is not afraid to follow her path. She’s taken some big risks and, yes, for a while there was some doubt as to how it would play out. But things have certainly worked out for this ordinary girl from Berkshire. So what is her secret to success? What is the “Kate Middleton Method?” I’ve listed 5 steps below that I believe led to her success, steps we can all use in our own lives.
1. Know your worth, believe in yourself, and set your sights high. Kate never questioned whether she was worthy enough to be William’s chosen. Didn’t matter that she was just a “commoner.” It is very unusual for someone who is not royalty or not a member of the aristocracy to marry the future king of England. But Kate did not let history, or tradition get in the way of what she wanted. Girl’s got chutzpah!
2. Be patient. They teased her and called her “waitey Katey” but Kate was patient and smarter than a lot of women would be in that situation. It may have seemed that she was being a bit of a doormat, but she knew what she was about. She was born to step into the role she’s in and she was willing to sacrifice for it. Ten years is a very long time, especially when you’re in your twenties. Kate proved she has what it takes to stay the course.
3. Be true to yourself. It’s so easy to be blown every which way with the wind. But Kate always seems to know who she is and what she is about, and what is right for her, regardless of the critics. And thank goodness! It is the only way she could have withstood the pressures that come with joining the British royals… paparazzi, tabloids and the like.
4. Be humble. Humility is so important. An out-of-check ego can ruin the best of opportunities. Kate is always graceful, appropriate, unpretentious, and doesn’t seem to take herself too seriously.
5. Dress the part. How you dress tells others how you feel about yourself. Being well dressed is not shallow. It’s a crucial component in how you present yourself and demonstrates self respect and respect for others. Kate has certainly dressed impeccably at almost every turn. On the recent trip to LA she made our Hollywood celebrities look simply trashy. She deserves to be at the very top of the International Best Dressed List.
Life is not easy these days, for anyone. Whether it’s finding a new career or job, building healthy and happy relationships, or fulfilling our dreams, I’d say Kate Middleton’s Method is tried and true. Give it a shot!
July 23, 2011 | 8:33 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

According to Britain’s Daily Mail, Amy Winehouse died from a suspected drug overdose. Police say that these reports cannot be corroborated until the autopsy takes place tomorrow. Sources say that Amy was inconsolable after the recent split from Reg Traviss, her film director boy friend. Amy’s mom, Janis has reportedly said that the two spent an enjoyable Friday together, and when they kissed goodbye, Amy said, “I love you, Mum.” Amy’s Dad, Mitch, a musician himself, who was on tour in New York, returned home immediately upon hearing the news.
July 23, 2011 | 5:26 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

As we await a statement from the singer’s family at this deeply sad moment, it may be appropriate to ponder why someone so gifted could not find peace as she lived. Often it is those who are truly talented who are the most fragile, unable to adjust to the order, the structure, the rigors of life. Drugs and alcohol become a means of dealing with a world which we all know to be pretty messed up. Our lives continually proffer events that are challenging, with which we struggle to cope. Some of us are just better at this than others. Amy wasn’t.
We are all saddened, I’m sure, by the loss of this young life, and of such a creative being. She had so much to offer. We had hoped for more from Amy… Perhaps a recovery from addiction, more great music, a life filled with love and happiness. Rest in peace Amy!
This photo of Amy which I previously used in a blogpost some weeks ago tells us so much about the singer - the beautiful, insightful, gentle soul she really is…
July 18, 2011 | 11:27 am
Posted by Misha Henckel

If you haven’t yet seen the last of the Harry Potter franchise, you should. It’s a superb adaptation of the book, and the viewer will find that the saga comes to a most satisfying conclusion. My 14 year old daughter, an obsessive Potter fan, turned to me as the credits rolled and said that she was sad.
“Why? The movie was great!”
“Yes, but it’s over now. There are no more Harry Potter films to come.”
Well we will simply have to resort to watching the eight films, over and over, and over.
While I loved every single one of them, The Deathly Hallows 2 has the best performances yet from Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. As it should, they began this journey as children who had never acted, and now they have undoubtedly come into their own as thespians. Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort) again deliver brilliant performances. I think that Alan Rickman is a genius and he has not gotten enough recognition for his work in this franchise. Fiennes too, had the impossible job of playing the pinnacle of all evil, and he did a remarkable job for which he has received insufficient credit.
Truth is the entire cast delivered, as did the writers, director and producers.
This is a story that ends with the triumph of good over evil. Little Harry Potter, who has the seemingly insurmountable task of bringing down Lord Voldemort, makes the ultimate sacrifice and is victorious. But Harry is not the only one who shows great courage and bravery, dedication and commitment. Defeating evil cannot be accomplished by only one person. Many, many people must stand up and fight for what they know in their souls is right, even when it is so much easier to give in. In the final Harry Potter film, we see many characters show up in their truth:
Harry faces death, and in surrendering to his fate, finds his true power.
Hermione, the true genius for the entire series, finally allows herself to fall in love.
Ron finds his brilliance and takes the lead at critical moments.
Neville Longbottom emerges a true hero.
Draco Malfoy finds that he is not as evil as he has long pretended.
And Severus Snape is revealed as the most loyal, truest and bravest of them all.
For me, Snape is undoubtedly the most intriguing character. He is the silent strength, Dumbledore’s true ally and confidante and ultimately, the backbone on which the entire plot hangs. Snape’s willingness to sacrifice himself for true love proves him to be perhaps the greatest hero of a series filled with heroes.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the poignant conclusion to a journey filled with challenges, suffering, loss, and the battle against greed, power and darkness. What our heroes find in the end is that humility, honesty and the simple joys are what makes life truly fulfilling.
July 7, 2011 | 9:41 am
Posted by Misha Henckel

I know a lot of people are deeply outraged by the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial. They believe her acquittal is an overwhelming failure of the justice system. She murdered her little daughter and should have been incarcerated for life or received the death penalty. We may never know how little Caylee Anthony died or to what degree, if any, her mother or her grandparents, for that matter, were involved in a cover up. But as I watched the trial, what I saw was the great family tragedy that this really is. I found myself in the shoes of Casey’s parents. What must they have really been living through these past few years? This was literally hell on earth. The greatest kind of pain. They raised a daughter who then had a little girl, and instead of the joy of family gatherings, seeing their daughter grow into a wonderful woman and mother, and their granddaughter delight them as she too grew up, this was the outcome. Death of a little child and so much uncertainty as to what role her own mother played in it. And then to have it all unravel in front of the world. Yes, hell on earth indeed!
I don’t believe the Anthonys were truly bad parents, and I don’t believe that Casey Anthony killed her daughter. I believe the Anthonys’ failure as parents was that they put image, appearances, and the façade of life before truth and honesty. And Casey did not have the inner strength to speak the truth.So when faced with having to reveal that a horrible accident had happened to her baby, Casey Anthony just couldn’t handle it. As mothers we always feel responsible if something happens to our kids, doesn’t matter if we had nothing to do with it. Right, moms? So Casey created a massive web of lies rather than face the fact of the death of her daughter. She proceeded to engage in bizarre and peverse behavior. These were unambiguous symtoms of being in absolute denial. The idea that she was responsible for her little girl’s death, however indirectly, was and is not something that she is capable of bearing. And for her, these last three years must have been nothing but a desperate clinging to some belief that she is still a good person. I don’t think she has even begun to truly acknowledge the death of her child.
This is a terrible, terrible family tragedy! One that we all hope would never befall our families. The Anthonys, all of them, deserve our compassion, our commiseration, and our prayers. Now that Casey is free, what she and her parents need is massive amounts of psychological support. They have lost their little Caylee, their family has been decimated, and it will in all likelihood not recover. But as individuals they can begin to heal, and maybe one day find some small degree of peace. This is what we should want for them.
June 28, 2011 | 10:39 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel
Princess Catherine doing the wave at Wimbledon's Centre CourtFor most Americans, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is irrelevant - just a pretty face, a new member of the British monarchy, which itself is seen as no more than a relic of days long gone. But that may simply be a knee-jerk reaction. Truth is Kate Middleton is HUGE! She is the unprecedented middle-class addition to a long-standing, “aristocratic” institution which by joining, she has just revitalized and made incredibly relevant. Because of her, the British royal family is guaranteed to last for at least another century, maybe much longer. And if that is the case, Kate is more important than ever.
She is married to the second in line to the British throne, which means someday her husband will be head of state of what is still perhaps the most influential, western European country. True, he will be a figure-head, but one significantly more well known, and well-liked than any elected British prime minister will ever be. Likewise, the Duchess, already one of the most recognizable faces in Britain, will someday be queen. Unlike say a Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama, both highly accomplished, supremely remarkable women, Kate’s role does not have a term limit. She is here to stay.
Kate’s already proven herself to be intelligent, calm, practical, patient, engaging and a woman of the people, not at all like so many of our political leaders (or those in Britain for that matter).She’s going to be around for another 50/60 years at the very least, and given her prominence can probably have more impact on world politics than any other woman this century. Sure for now, she’s setting fashion trends, causing dresses to sell out, and getting her husband to do the wave at Wimbledon, but my hunch is that she’s not going to stop there. Like her remarkable mother-in-law, the late, great Princess Diana, Kate Middleton can very well become a huge force for good.
The world is smaller than ever and heading further in that direction, yet divisiveness is rampant and conflicts continue to rage. What we need are global figures who can bring peoples together. We need individuals who can inspire us to reach across boundaries and find our commonalities. The British monarchy may indeed be a relic of the past, but if they’re going to stick around, and if enough people really like them - as it seems people do - then maybe Prince William and his exceptional wife, Catherine, can be a part of helping create real change in a world that desperately needs it.
June 20, 2011 | 11:58 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

Life is just no fun at all for Amy Winehouse. The Grammy winning singer can’t seem to get a grip on her addictions. And this weekend, in Belgrade, her problems spilled out onto the stage for the world to see. Not that we hadn’t already seen it all. But I am sure we hoped that she had been getting the help she needed. Clearly that was not the case. According to reports, she was an hour late, forgot her lyrics, mumbled, stumbled, and was generally a complete mess. You can check it out, it’s all over YouTube. But you won’t laugh. This is too desperately pathetic to be even remotely funny.
Look here Amy. Whatever is troubling you, it’s time to really address it. You’ve been to rehab now, many times, but you’ve got to really want to change for the treatments to work. Others have made it back from the most depraved of addictions. Think: Russell Brand or Tatum O’Neal. You need to reckon with yourself, with life, and yes, with death. You need to want to live. You need to care enough. You need to give up the career for now, and to stay in rehab for as long as it takes.
They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, “No, no, no”
Yes, I’ve been black but when I come back you’ll know, know, know
I ain’t got the time and if my daddy thinks I’m fine
He’s tried to make me go to rehab, I won’t go, go, go…
June 12, 2011 | 11:58 pm
Posted by Misha Henckel

It was sweet watching the Dallas Mavericks drub the Miami Heat. On paper, of course, Miami should have won. Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh? That was a major talent haul designed to do nothing less than bring the title back to South Beach. Instead it was the heart, determination, and true teamwork of Dallas that prevailed. Led by the genius of Dirk Nowitski, the Mavericks took the NBA title for the first time in franchise history. And it was a well deserved victory. Miami, on the other hand, were unable to perform at their true level. Somehow their team spirit was not strong. There was not the purity of effort, the trust, nor the humility required for them to become champions. And, Lebron James simply did not deliver! His ego continues to get in the way of his ability. And nothing is going to change for him, unless and until, he realizes that he is the source of his own failure. He’s just not that great of a player and he needs get over himself. Then and only then, will he have the chance to be a champion.
It’s easy and kind of fun to laugh at Lebron, but we should also learn from his mistakes. After all most of us are in need of a good dose of humility if we are to succeed in our own endeavors.
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