Character in Focus: Cindy Jo Burrows, in "Mr. Destiny" (1990)

Rene Russo in lingerie in Mr Destiny: very sexy <3
(photo - Touchstone Pictures)

Mr. Destiny, released in October 1990 in US and in March 1991 in Brazil, is one of the movies (and TV shows) in which shows lots of alternative worlds. Recently, alternative worlds were shown in a soap opera called Espelho da Vida (Mirror of Life), written by Brazilian novelist Elizabeth Jhin. 

Rene Russo and Jim Belushi in action!
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Now back to the point: Rene Russo plays Cindy Jo Bumpers in Mr Destiny, and married to Jackie Earle, played by Jay O. Sanders (Tucker: A Man and His Dream, The Day after Tomorrow), who is also the company president in which Larry (Jim Belushi) works.Cindy Jo is also romantic and very sexy, because mainly of the clothes she wear.

 In one of my favorite scenes, she appears in lingerie, and Cindy says to her alternative husband Larry: "Happy birthday, darling...!"

Rene ready to kiss Jim Belushi. (pic - Touchstone Pictures)

In my opinion, Cindy Jo has this angelical face, contrary to Catherine Banning from The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), in which she has a femme fatale personality... But in both characters Rene Russo uses her sultry and sexy voice to show her sensuality. 

Rene Russo in the beginning of the movie Mr Destiny.
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Hope u like it.

loveuguys

xoxoxo

ME

Mr. Destiny (MOVIE REVIEW)

Official poster for Mr. Destiny, starring Jim Belushi.
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Director: James Orr. 

Producers/Writers: James Orr and Jim Cruickshank.

Main Cast:

Jim Belushi - Larry Joseph Burrows

Linda Hamilton - Ellen Jane Burrows/Robertson

Michael Caine - Mike the Bartender/Mr. Destiny

Jon Lovitz - Clip Metzler

Hart Bochner - Niles Pender

Bill McClutcheon - Leo Hansen

Rene Russo - Cindy Jo Bumpers/Burrows

Courteney Cox - Jewel Jagger

Rene Russo in lingerie: very seductive!
(Pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Release Date: October 12, 1990 (United States) / March 29, 1991 (Brazil)

Running Time: 110 min. 

Budget / Box Office: U$20 million / U$15,4 million (box office bomb)

Plot Summary: "Mr Destiny" consists in many of its comic and dramatic misadventures of Larry Burrows (Jim Belushi, from the series According to Jim), now with 35 years old. He blames all his life problems to a high school baseball championship defeat during his 15th birthday. 

One night Larry meets a bartender called Mike (Michael Caine, from Miss Congeniality and many other movies), who is also a guardian angel, and Larry's wish is granted: he is now rich and married with Cindy Jo Bumpers (Rene Russo), Leo (Bill McClutcheon)'s sexy daughter. In the beginning, Larry think his life is perfect, but soon he begins to miss his friend Clip Metzler (Jon Lovitz) and his wife in another life, Ellen Jane (Linda Hamilton), and also he makes an enemy in his alternate life, Jewel Jagger (Courteney Cox, from Friends). 

Jim Belushi and Rene Russo in action.
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

After discovering that Larry has agreed to union demands, Niles takes revenge, by telling both Cindy Jo and Jewel of Larry's dinner date with Ellen. He then plots to kill Larry at the office that night. However, company owner Leo Hansen arrives to deliver a note to Larry, announcing his termination at Cindy Jo's request, and Niles kills him by mistake. Discovering the note, Niles calls the police who attempt to arrest Larry for Leo's murder. Larry escapes while jealous Jewel creates pandemonium outside in her attempts to shoot him (and shoots out a number of police cars in the process), leading to a police chase. Larry is eventually cornered in a dark alley, but the pink glow of "The Universal Joint" comes on and he runs into the bar. Unable to find Mike, Larry attempts to make the "Spilt Milk" himself, the ingredients clearly aged.

The flashing lights of the police cars appear and Larry surrenders, but instead of cops, a tow truck driver named Duncan enters (the police car lights now tow truck lights). Confused at first, Larry sees Mike back behind the bar and realizes he's back in his old life. Larry thanks Mike for everything and, upon exiting the bar, suddenly realizes that the deal with the Japanese investors is happening shortly. Driven by Duncan to company headquarters, Larry barges into the boardroom, decks Niles and exposes his scheme just as Leo is about to sign the deal.

Thinking everyone forgot his birthday, Larry returns home (which still has the muddy driveway and lawn) to a surprise party with his family and friends in attendance. Soon after, Cindy Jo and her husband Jackie Earle (Jay O. Sanders), the company president, arrive. Jackie offers Niles' job to Larry, plus a company car, a new Mercedes, and he accepts.

Back in the past, young Larry is about to leave the stadium, still upset about the loss, when he's approached by a mysterious stranger (Mike) who reassures him that everything will be all right. Larry thanks him for the reassurance, but walks off wondering who Mike thinks he's kidding.

Jim Belushi and Rene Russo in action. 
(pic - Touchstone Pictures)

Fun Facts: 

• The baseball scenes in this movie were filmed in Richard J Reynolds High School, localized in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 
• This is the second sports movie in which Rene Russo participated. The others were Major League (1989) (baseball), Tin Cup (1996) (golf), and Two for the Money (2005) (rugby). 
• The mansion in Larry Burrows lives in the alternative life was used before in Clue (1985).
• Jim Belushi played a baseball fan later in Taking Care of Business (1990). And also the first time in which he played along with a former model (now actress), later he played along with actress (former model) Kelly Lynch in Curly Sue (1991). 

Critical Reception:

• IMDB: 6,4/10 
• Rotten Tomatoes: 38% (mixed to negative; 16 reviews).

Hope u like it 

loveuguys,

xoxoxox

ME

Rene Russo's Fashion Lookbook: Black and White Clothes, Perfect for Any Occasion! (Part 2)

Rene Russo and Rose Gilroy : the "yin" and "yang" of the family.
(photo - Archive Pictures)

If master muse Rene Russo can be fashionable with black and white clothes, so does Rose Gilroy, "the princess of the family". Ms. Gilroy inherited the fashion love and her natural beauty specially from Ms. Russo. 

Rose Gilroy in a rocker version: everybody loves a black and white t-shirt with some ripped jeans.
(pic - Ungano + Agriodimas) 

Rocker fashion is adored by many people, and specially Rose and myself. In a photoshoot by Ungano and Agriodimas, Rose wears the typical of rocker fashion: a black and white t-shirt with no sleeves and a great pair of ripped jeans. It's sexy and clean at the same time. A great look for going out for a night in Los Angeles. 

Strike a pose moment: Rose Gilroy for a Le Lis Blanc fashion campaign, wearing a black
dress and some great acessories. (pic - Bob Wolfenson)

A very Rose Gilroy chic moment is when she did the Le Lis Blanc fashion campaign and photographed by the amazing Bob Wolfenson (Bob also took photos of Brazilian celebrities, specially for fashion and men magazines). 

And like Rene, Rose also adores some amazing accessories. Accompanied by a dress and some boots, she wears a hat and a "poncho", to cover herself from the heat from the desert. 

Rose Gilroy with friend Cazzie David for La Ligne fashion campaign!
(pic - Ungano + Agriodimas)

Rose, with collaboration of friend Cazzie David (who soon will launch a book), were fascinating in La Ligne fashion campaign, also with pictures taken by Ungano and Agriodimas. 

Coming from New York City, La Ligne is all about striped clothes, specially black and white. Combining striped blouses with jeans/leather pants and some high heels, it makes both girls casual and elegant. 

Hope u like it 

loveuguys

xoxoxo

ME

Rene Russo's Fashion Lookbook: Black and White Clothes, Perfect for Any Occasion! (Part 1)

Rene Russo in Thomas Crown Affair premiere, wearing only white clothes.
(photo - Time & Life Pictures)

Do you know about Ange ou Demon, a famous parfum by Givenchy? That's one of my favourite parfums I adore to use. Associating to fashion, "Ange" means a lighter color, so I chose the color white, and "Demon" means a darker color, so I chose the color black. Combining both colors, it's just the perfect combination and it shows lots of balance. 

Combining white and black clothes is just perfect for Ms. Rene Russo.
(pic - Jeff Vespa)

The best way to make the white top and black bottom look work is to choose interesting silhouettes and textures. In Rene Russo's case, her outfits have an amazing statement. It has a mix of diferent fabrics, a white cotton shirt with a leather pant. It makes her look very chic. 

Rene Russo in Thomas Crown Affair scene: A white shirt with a blazer and a strapless dress make
Rene look very sexy <3 ! (photo - MGM Pictures)

Rene stole the scene with fabulous clothes in The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). One of the, was a strapless dress with a white shirt underneath and a black blazer. It makes her look very sexy! And when she takes off her blazer, it makes her look way more sexier. 

Only black clothes make Rene Russo's style a little bit sad. So with a beautiful accessory,
like a black scarf with white polka dots, makes her a very chic woman! (Pic - Archive)

Rene Russo loves an accessory when she appears on movie premieres or on movie awards, she doesn't forget it, like in Just Getting Started, in 2017. Because of too many black clothes, that makes her look a bit sad, she decided to put a black scarf with white polka dots.

Or in Writer's Guild Awards, she wore a black leather dress with a bit of cotton fabric (showing a little bit of her bra underneath), wearing golden hoops and with a clutch, which is not shown in this pic below !

Work it out, girl ! 

One of my favorite looks of Rene is a beautiful leather dress. Sexy, but not vulgar.
(pic - Paul Redmond)

Part 2 will be published on May 13. 

Hope u like it. 

loveuguys

xoxoxo

ME

CHARACTER IN FOCUS: Lorna Cole, from "Lethal Weapon 3" and "Lethal Weapon 4" (Part 2)

Rene, Mel and Danny ready to beat the Chinese gang in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
(pic - Warner Bros. Pictures)

If in Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) was focused on the gun dealers, the following movie of the franchise, in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) was focused on Riggs, Lorna and Murtaugh against the Chinese gang lead by the Triad negotiator Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li, in his first Hollywood movie). And now LW4 counts along with Detective Lee Butters, played by Chris Rock, known in comedies like Nurse Betty (2000) and What to Expect What You're Expecting (2012). 

Rene Russo in 1998. (picture - Archive)

Now on LW4, Lorna is pregnant of Riggs (Mel Gibson), and she won't have that baby without marriage. What impressed me of Rene in this movie is when Ms. Cole-Riggs fought against the Chinese gang, and even pregnant, and this scene proved that Lorna has lots of courage and persistance.

Lorna Cole kidnapped by the Chinese in Lethal Weapon 4. (pic - Warner Bros Pictures)

At the end of LW4, after Wah Sing Ku's death in a battle with Riggs, him and Lorna marry in the hospital, just before her baby was born... and after Lorna's and Rianne (Traci Wolfe)'s babies were born, the Riggs family were happily ever after.

In a recent interview on People Magazine in 2017, Rene Russo told that doing Lethal Weapon 3 & 4 was very fun, and also that Mel Gibson (along with Pierce Brosnan and Kevin Costner) was a very good kisser. 

Hope u like it.
loveuguys.
xoxoxo
ME

CHARACTER IN FOCUS: Lorna Cole, from "Lethal Weapon 3" and "Lethal Weapon 4” (Part 1)

Rene Russo in action... ! (pic - Warner Bros. Pictures)

Everybody knows that Lorna Cole is one her best characters of Rene Russo's acting career (along with Catherine Banning from Thomas Crown Affair and Kate Mullen from Ransom), and she would only enter on the third movie from the franchise Lethal Weapon. Besides Lorna being of the Internal Affairs section of L.A.Police Department, she's also dedicated, romantic and chic at the same time. And believe me, Lorna Cole is way better than Sarah Connor from Terminator 2 (1991), and Thelma and Louise (1991). Rene Russo proves her femininity in this movie. 

Rene Russo and Mel Gibson working together as a team...
(pic - Warner Bros. Pictures)

For many viewers, in 1992, it was a surprise when a woman sprung into action and showed she could fight as hard as a man. We take it for granted now, which is a positive side effect of the decades of action heroines we’ve enjoyed since. I suppose the trailer probably gave it away that Lorna could fight but I was still waiting for the full fight scene in the movie.

After half a movie of bickering with Riggs, this is also where Lorna proves she’s not just the sequel’s “girl of the week.” Riggs had a tragic love life full of women he couldn’t protect. While that was a macho ’80s idea of gender roles, a third victim lover probably would’ve driven Riggs to finally complete his suicide. Riggs needed a woman who didn’t need his protection, who could protect herself and go on the offensive. The world needed that too and Lorna Cole was there.

Rene Russo and Mel Gibson comparing their scratches...
(pic - Warner Bros Pictures.)

Riggs is genuinely smitten by Lorna. That was also revolutionary for a man not to be threatened by a powerful independent woman, and to celebrate her on top of that. The real subversive twist is not that Lorna can fight, but that Riggs recognizes that’s what he’s been missing in his love life. She also loves The Three Stooges so she’s perfect for Riggs.

When she fights, there are some good stunt double moves too. Today it would be an actress training for a few routines but this is a good mix of Russo and some pros making Lorna even more amazing. 

While Joe Pesci's Leo Getz lost space in Lethal Weapon 3, it was also for Rene Russo and Lorna Cole to shine bright !

The next part will be available on April 29.

hope u like it !

loveuguys!
xoxoxo

ME

Lethal Weapon 4 (MOVIE REVIEW)

The entire team is all here in Lethal Weapon 4. 
(credits - Warner Bros. Pictures)

Director - Richard Donner.

Produced by: Richard Donner & Joel Silver.

Written by: Channing Gibson, Jonathan Lemkin, Alfred Gough & Miles Millar.

Main Cast:

Mel Gibson ----- Martin Riggs

Danny Glover ---- Roger Murtaugh

Rene Russo ---- Lorna Cole-Riggs

Joe Pesci ----- Leo Getz

Chris Rock ---- Detective Lee Butters

Jet Li ----- Wah Sing Ku

Darlene Love ---- Trish Murtaugh 

Traci Wolfe ---- Rianne Murtaugh Butters

Rene Russo's Lorna Cole is kidnapped by Chinese bandits...
(credits - Warner Bros. Pictures)

Release Date: July 10, 1998 (USA) / July 24, 1998 (Brazil)

Budget/Box Office: US$100-150 million / US$285,4 million (box office success).

Plot Summary: In the last movie of the franchise Lethal Weapon, Riggs (Mel Gibson) is becoming a father and Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a grandfather, when both discover that Lorna (Rene Russo) and Rianne (Traci Wolfe) are pregnant. Due to department's insurance  carrier issues over the two sergeants, Captain Murphy (Steve Kahan) promotes them to captains.

The officers along with Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) come upon a Chinese immigrant smuggling ring after running an ocean-going vessel aground, though the captain of the boat escapes. In the subsequent investigation, Murtaugh finds Hong (Eddy Ko) and his family hiding from US Immigration officers to avoid deportation. Murtaugh offers them shelter in his home, and their families, along with Riggs and Cole, quickly bond. Hong reveals he is looking for his uncle, a skilled engraver, who had paid for their passage to the United States. Riggs discovers that Murtaugh's grandchild is with Detective Lee Butters (Chris Rock), which Murtaugh cannot possibly tolerate as he did not want his daughter to marry a police officer, and that Murtaugh still does not know who the father is due to the family hiding it from him.

Continued investigation of the smuggling ring leads the officers to "Uncle" Benny Chan, a crime boss operating from a Chinatown restaurant. There, they are introduced to high-ranking Triad negotiator Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li). Chan forces them out of his restaurant when the officers show no probable cause. Outside, Riggs spots the escaped captain and tries to give chase but fails to capture him. However, Ku later intercepts the captain and kills him as punishment for attracting the police's attention. Chan and Ku take steps to eliminate all those in on their plans.

Hong is able to contact his uncle, but this leads the Triads to Murtaugh's house. Ku and the Triad thugs kidnap the Hongs, tie up Murtaugh, his family, Riggs and Cole and set the house ablaze. Ping, Hong's grandson, has evaded capture and helps to free the others in time. Though Riggs and Murtaugh chase down and kill some of the Triad, Ku escapes. Ku brings Hong to his uncle at a warehouse, where he has been engraving plates for a counterfeiting operation for Ku and Chan in exchange for transit for his family. Ku kills Hong in front of his uncle to assure his continued work.

Lorna, Riggs and Murtaugh in action...
(pic - Warner Bros. Pictures)

The officers attempt to shake Chan for more information, but are unable to get any leads until they discuss what they know with Detective Ng (Calvin Jung), who has worked on cases involving the Chinese government before. Ng recognizes that Ku must be trying to negotiate with a corrupt Chinese general for the release of the Four Fathers, high-ranking Triad members that include Ku's brother (Conan Lee). New information leads them to the abandoned warehouse where they find the bodies of Hong, his uncle, and Chan, the latter two killed by Ku after they served their usefulness. Knowing that Ku plans to use counterfeit money, the police intercept the exchange between Ku and the general, telling the general the money is fake. A firefight breaks out between the Triad, the general's private army and the police, and most of the Triad and army are killed. Ku attempts to escape with his brother, but his brother is shot and killed by Murtaugh. Riggs and Murtaugh pursue Ku to a pier where they engage him in a brutal fistfight. Murtaugh impales Ku through the stomach before the pier collapses and sends Riggs and Ku into the water. Riggs is able to find a Kalashnikov assault rifle and finish Ku, while Murtaugh arrives in time to help rescue Riggs from a piece of concrete that had pinned him underwater.

Later, Riggs visits his dead wife's grave and asks her for advice about his impending marriage with Lorna, about which he still has doubts; Getz arrives and offers a heartfelt childhood story (where in the process, he admits that Riggs and Murtaugh are like his family) that gives Riggs both a new light on the situation and a new perspective of Getz, himself. They learn Lorna is about to give birth and race to the hospital, where Riggs and Lorna are ceremonially married by a rabbi just before she enters labor. Their son and Rianne's daughter are born, and Murtaugh accepts Butters as his son-in-law. Murphy gives Riggs and Murtaugh their rank of Sergeant back since the city is insured again and Hong's family is granted asylum.

Chris Rock's Lee Butters doing all the instructions to Murtaugh, Lorna and Riggs.
(pic - Warner Bros. Pictures)

Fun Facts about the movie:

• First movie of Chinese actor Jet Li in Hollywood movies. 
• Almost 20 years after Lethal Weapon 4 started, Rene Russo, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover reunited together for a Lethal Weapon 30 Years Special, on 2017. 
• After Lethal Weapon 4, Joe Pesci (Leo Getz) announced his provisory acting retirement. 
• For this movie, Joe Pesci and Chris Rock were hired on the last minute. 
• In the Lethal Weapon 4 premiere moment, Mel Gibson about Rene Russo on Rosie O' Donnell show: "I consider her as my trophy for my crime, when I left... the head !" and showed a Rene pic in her teenage years.
• Still like the other Lethal Weapon movies, Lethal Weapon 4 was among the top 10 grossing films in 1998. 

Critical Reception:

• IMDB: 6,6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 52% (mixed reviews).
• Cinemascore: A- (A+ to F)
• Metascore: 37/100

Awards: 

Rene Russo won the "Supporting Actress-Action/Adventure" award on Blockbuster Entertainment Awards in 1999.

Hope u like it. 

loveuguys.

xoxoxo

ME