Hey! Tim Allen is set to make his directorial debut – and star – in an independent movie about an ex-con whose life gets “crazy” after he gets out of prison, Crazy on the Outside. He tries to seduce his parole office and his life is manipulated by his sister. Doesn't this sound great? Yeah, I didn't think so either.

But then I heard about some additional casting. Jeanne Tripplehorn has signed on to play the single-mom parole officer who is the object of Allen's affections.

All I can say about that possible pairing is…ew. (And grossness aside, the ethical violation inherent in such a love match horrifies me.)

Of course, this wouldn't be her first movie pairing with an icky guy. She was with Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct and Tom Cruise in The Firm. And she's wife #1 in Big Love.

Hubby Bill Paxton is not icky, but the situation certainly is. Regardless, she's pretty much always watchable regardless of her romantic partner.

And even more watchable is the other actress who just joined the cast as the manipulative sister, Sigourney Weaver.

I'm trying to think if I've ever disliked her performance in a movie…and I'm coming up blank. I haven't liked every movie she's been in – and I was utterly perplexed that she had a throw-away part in Be Kind, Rewind, which I'm embarrassed to admit I saw a few weeks ago. But Weaver is always good. So, she might even make this wacky, ex-con comedy watchable.

One amazing thing about her is how versatile an actress she is. … continue reading

HBO's early renewal of Big Love for a third season is great news for those of us hooked on this compelling series about a polygamous family in Utah. Yes, I said a polygamous family in Utah. And you should watch this, why?

Well, here's the easy answer.

Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin play the three sister-wives at the core of the family. And they inhabit their parts so completely, it’s hard to imagine them in previous roles.

Tripplehorn, whose movie debut was as a psychiatrist in Basic Instinct (she was the one who did wear panties), plays Barb Henrickson, the first wife and only one legally married to Bill (played by Bill Paxton).

… continue reading

As a teacher and the sister-wife most visible in the community, Barb’s story feels all too familiar at times. A recent story line saw Barb’s nomination as her community’s Mother of the Year crumble when she was outed as a polygamist. Ouch.