Fifty and Furthermore's Blog

Too Old To Tango? Think Again

After my recent trip to Buenos Aires, I truly believe that if we are willing to risk a little, summon up our courage, and with a little spunk, FiftyAndFurthermores can do just about anything. My husband and I walked and walked this stunningly cosmopolitan and beautiful city. Of course we visited several of the mandatory tourist attractions. One of the "must sees" was our visit to the Carlos Gardel Tango show.

http://www.esquinacarlosgardel.com.ar/cg/index_eng.htm

Touristy, yes; but even as kitschy as the show may be, the dancers' grace is fantastic. My husband and I even decided to go the whole hog and sprang to have our pictures taken with the dancers. (Even though we felt a little silly, the picture is pretty cool.)

The image of the straight backed señors and the señoritas with sensual hips that moved at will, with gracefully curved backs that could lithely touch the floor; it was a seductive elixir. For a moment, I felt envious and wanted to look like that too. So my husband and I planned a dancing lesson of our own at a well known studio. Life intervened in the form of a sick stomach, so we didn't make it to our dance lessons this time. But between the vibrancy of Buenos Aires and the fabulous leather clothes, I just may have to return to obtain a pair of my very own hand made tango shoes and dance my way through my very own version of OZ. Robert Duvall*, here we come.

*Assassination Tango is a 2002 movie directed by and starring Robert Duvall, a crime thriller based on the Argentine tango.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_Tango

Source: Wikipedia, a quote from the rottentomatoes synopsis:

For Duvall, the making of Assassination Tango is the culmination of a long-held dream, combining two worlds he loves so much. In the tango, Duvall finds an amalgam of contradictions, which is what makes it so appealing and also parallels his character in the film. "Tango is sweetness. Some people call it sensual. Some call it sexual. Others would disagree because a mother can tango with her son, a father with his daughter. It's a very personal kind of thrust and a world that's very special."

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I Think I Can

Several months ago, three of the eternally young names in music - Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince - hit 50. Mick Jagger is now 65, the once accepted age of retirement. And Tony Bennett is 82.  Decades ago the word wondered how these talents were going to keep their prestigious and high paying jobs. But, they have endured. As long as they have age mates and new devotees and audiences keep coming, they will keep singing. Personally, I’m glad. When I wonder if I too should keep going, I look around me at people like these who are still going strong. Heck, we even have a once counted as down and out 72 year old running for president. It reminds me of one of my generation’s favorite books. The Little Engine That Could.  By Watty Piper and I chug along saying: “I think I can. I think I can, I think I can.”

KYRA SEDGWICK GREAT: OLDER WOMAN! RUBBISH

I finally succumbed to all the publicity about an over 40 woman being able to hold a wiz bang show on her own. As if this somehow shows that we are now entering an era where “older women” can be beautiful and talented. So this evening I watched Kyra Sedgwick in “The Closer” the most successful basic cable series of all time. Actually, I only caught about the last 2/3 of the show. I Like Kyra Sedgwick (I like her husband Kevin Bacon as well.) They are both fine actors and appear to be a couple who support each other—all too rare in Hollywood and in life. However, I fail to understand all the hoopla, not about the show, but about the fact that Ms. Sedgwick is over 40 (43 this August to be exact.) Ms Sedgwick does a fine job. She’s a very good actress who happens to play an appealing role. So she’s over 40?  Big deal. So are many others. If she is the example of an older attractive actress, we still have one helluva way to go.

http://www.tnt.tv/series/closer/

For example, what about Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep,  Dames Judie Dench and Maggie Smith, Olympia Dukakis and the seemingly eternal Angela Lansbury? These are all beautiful, talented women who happen to be way older than Ms. Sedwick and who are still going strong. Media misleads us if they try to push Kyra Sedgwick as an example of an older woman who has made good. She is a fine actress who hopefully a very long future ahead of her. But, call her an example of an older woman? It must be men in their twenties or “toy boys” who believe she is an example of “older”. Let’s give Kyra Sedgwick and her long running show their due. But, let’s be realistic about what we are talking about.

As a bit of irrelevant insiders’ useless information, I used to have a home in the The Berkshires. www.berkshires.org For those of you who are not native New Yorkers or long term city residents, I’ll let you in on a NY secret or at least a way of life. Those who reside in the city and have enough money tend to have a country place to escape to-small or large. Those who want to continue their rat race life and see and be seen tend to go to the Hamptons and other Long Island shore places. Those who want to kick back and live as normal a life as possible head for the hills; the Berkshires, even the Catskills but certainly not the Island.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick were spotted more that once at restaurants we frequented. I remember my kids wanting to get their autographs. “Sit” I insisted. Leave them be. They are here to be left alone. I have no doubt that both Bacon and Sedgwick in their jeans and Tee shirts would have been gracious to their young fans. At the same time, I think it was important to teach my kids and their friends that no matter who you are, even a “star” all they do is work at a job like most everyone else-albeit a high profile one.. And that even “stars” have a right to privacy.

At any rate, I liked Ms. Sedgwick in “The Closer.” Will I watch again? Only, if I happen to be around and have nothing else to do?  But will I become addicted? I doubt it.