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Paul Newman plays a likeable rebel in "Cool Hand Luke"

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”

– “Cool Hand Luke”

Paul Newman’s “Cool Hand Luke” is an anti-establishment classic

Cinema has always been the realm of the rebel.

Renegades, revolutionaries, outcasts and social pariahs have dominated the silver screen ever since Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp kicked an immigration official in “The Immigrant.”

Over the years, the rebel ranks have expanded to include the likes of Marlon Brando in “The Wild One,” James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause,” Kirk Douglas in “Spartacus” and Peter Fonda in “Easy Rider.”

But perhaps the most memorable rebel of the modern era is the title character in 1967’s “Cool Hand Luke.”

A decorated veteran with a sunny disregard for authority, Luke (Paul Newman) is sent to a Florida prison camp as punishment for drunkenly lopping the heads off of parking meters.

At first, nothing can faze the unflappable Luke. As the endless brutality of camp life begins to wear on him, however, he grows increasingly desperate to escape.

“Cool Hand Luke” features some of the most memorable lines in moviedom (“Sometimes nothin’ can be a real cool hand,” “What we have here is ‘failure to communicate’”) as well as scenes that have become cinematic classics. I challenge you to watch Luke’s battle to win the grudging admiration of his fellow prisoners by eating 50 hardboiled eggs, and not feel inspired.

Much of the credit goes to Paul Newman, who brings an unmistakable charm to his embattled everyman. His solid supporting cast includes character acting greats George Kennedy (who won his Oscar for his role as chain gang top dog Dragline), Strother Martin and Harry Dean Stanton — plus a young Dennis Hopper.

Watch “Cool Hand Luke” at 7 p.m. tonight at the Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50 apiece.

You'll feel oh-so-cozy in a Tauntaun Sleeping Bag from ThinkGeek.com

Wondering what to get the sci fi geek on your list? Here are some suggestions

What do you get the geek who has everything?

Some holiday shoppers may find themselves struggling to answer that question.

Geeks, by and large, are a picky lot. And their preferences may seem peculiar to friends and relatives who aren’t, say, hardcore “Firefly” fans.

Fortunately, the folks at io9.com have plenty of gift suggestions for nerdy nephews, dorky dads and sci-fi obsessed spouses  — whether they’re fans of “Star Wars,”  “Transformers” or “Doctor Who.”

Pictured above is my favorite present — ThinkGeek’s Tauntaun Sleeping Bag, inspired by Luke Skywalker’s oh-so-cozy bed in “The Empire Strikes Back.” And you thought they smelled bad on the outside!

Seriously, though, this cute sleeping bag is a steal at $100. I  love the attention paid to even the tiniest details, from the plush lightsaber zipper pull to the “printed internal intestines.”

Other standouts from io9’s all-inclusive gift guide:

• Explore new planets with this totally awesome tricorder from “Star Trek: The Original Series.”
• Look and sound exactly like Optimus Prime from “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” with this voice-changing helmet.
• A must-have for “Terminator Salvation” fans: “How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips On Defending Yourself Against the Coming Revolution” by Daniel H. Wilson
• Now you, too, can enjoy a swig of the red stuff. “True Blood” vampires will love  Blood Caffeinated Energy Potion, served in a transfusion blood bag.
• Practice your “Zombieland” survival skills with the Zombie Shooting Gallery

Need more ideas for primo presents? The site also has a Sci Fi Fashion Gift Guide.

Suggestions range from a “Be Excellent To Each Other” T-shirt inspired by “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” to a trio of rad hats based on characters from the uber-popular Japanese cartoon “Naruto.”

You can find the awesome ninja socks mentioned at the bottom of the post at The Sock Drawer,  852 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.

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Image courtesy of ThinkGeek.com.

Movie posters have the potential to become an art form once more 

Back in the day, movie posters were works of art.

Designed and created with meticulous care, they featured stylish, stunning images of careworn cowpokes, grizzled soldiers, swinging hepcats and square-jawed super-spies.

Samurai sparred. Terrifying monsters menaced beautiful damsels in distress. Doomed lovers gazed out over sweepingly romantic vistas.

Today’s posters can look rather airbrushed and anemic compared to the majestic masterpieces of yesteryear. They tend toward tweaked-to-death digital images paired with second-rate lettering and cheesy special effects.

Luckily, a few folks are finding fresh inspiration in classic movie poster design.

Graphic designer Brandon Schaefer has created a series of amazing film posters, most of them for Friends of the Ashland Public Library in Ashland, Mass.

They range from subtle (“Innerspace,” seen here) to striking (“Blade Runner”, here).

In some cases, in fact, the posters far outshine the actual movies. Who wouldn’t prefer Schaefer’s sexy, stylish noir-style poster for “The Shadow” to Alec Baldwin flop?

Below are a few of my favorites. You can see more at Seek & Speak; I also recommend checking out Schaefer’s Flickr photo stream.

 ”Ghost Busters”

“The Life Aquatic”

“Network”

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

“Planet of the Apes”

“Singin’ In the Rain”

“Sleeper”

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Thanks to io9.com for the tip.

Celebrate Inauguration Day with Barack Obama and pals

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America.

As millions watched this morning, Barack Obama took the presidential oath of office to become our nation’s first African-American president. I witnessed the historic event on NBC, simultaneously moved and relieved I wasn’t standing in the subarctic chill of the Capitol.

In celebration of Inauguration Day, here’s an assorted grab-bag of Obama goodies.

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One of the most striking images to emerge from the 2008 presidential race was the Obama poster created by Los Angeles graffiti artist Shepard Fairey.

The image captured the momentous nature of Obama’s campaign, and set a new standard for presidential portraiture. It also recalled one of the boldest graphic design trends of the past — the stylized Communist propaganda posters created by artists in the Soviet Union and China.

Now you can create your red, blue and cream portrait modeled after the Fairey poster, thanks to Paste magazine. Just download a photo of yourself, your dog or your favorite pop culture icon and watch the Obamicon generator works its magic. It’s all right here at ObamiconMe.com.

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I’ve also seen bales of great photographs chronicling Inauguration Day.

The Boston Globe offered this fascinating look at the up-to-the-minute preparations at the U.S. Capitol.

Taking a photographic record of the actual event were The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. Great photos, all.

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Presidents and their personal foibles are a popular subject for Hollywood. From “Young Mr. Lincoln” to “The West Wing,” the movies have explored what makes the political machine — and our commander-in-chief — tick.

Here are some presidential films for your viewing pleasure this Inauguration Day:

“Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Start Loving the Bomb” (1964): It’s all about Peter Sellers, whose character, President Merkin Muffley, was named best fictional president by CNN.com.

“All the President’s Men” (1976): Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, uncover the Watergate scandal that leads to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.

“Bob Roberts” (1992): Tim Robbins’ satrical mockumentary follows a conservative folk singer’s climb up the political ladder.

“Dave” (1993): When the president slips into a coma, a celebrity impersonator must masquerade as the commander-in-chief. Very cute.

“The American President” (1995): Political sparks fly when a widowed U.S. president and a lobbyist fall in love.

“Wag the Dog” (1997): A spin doctor and a Hollywood producer (Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman) scramble to cover up a presidential sex scandal.

“Air Force One” (1997): Watch tough prez Harrison Ford battle terrorists in this mid-air action flick.

“Primary Colors” (1998): President Bill Clinton was the real-life model for John Travolta’s smooth-talking Southern governor. Based on the best-seller by Anonymous.

“John Adams” (2008): This brilliant HBO mini-series follows the life and times of our nation’s second president.

“Frost/Nixon” (2008): Oscar buzz surrounds this tense drama, which pits former president Nixon against a British television journalist.

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With the Obamas and Bidens groove the night away at the tenth and final inaugural ball, locals will be celebrating the occasion in their own way.

The Central Coast Inaugural Ball kicks off at 5:30 p.m. tonight at The Graduate, 900 Industrial Ave. in San Luis Obispo.

Guests are encouraged to dress in formal attire or historical period costumes. The event includes a DJ, dancing, free appetizers and desserts and a drawing for a Genuine Buddy scooter as well as Obama memorabilia.

Tickets to the event, which runs until 9:30 p.m., are $10.

The Inaugural Ball is co-sponsored by San Luis Obispo Grassroots Democracy, Democratic Women United and the SLO County Democratic Central Committee — with the cooperation of the SLO County Obama Team.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.slograssrootsdemocracy.org and/or www.barackobama.com and click on “events.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley celebrates the inauguration with a dance party in Orcutt.

The bash begins at 7:15 p.m. with a video of President Obama’s inaugural address. The festivities continue with snacks, a no-host bar and dance music provided by Dr. Danger, a local band that plays blues, honky tonk, doo-wop and psychedelic rock.

Tickets are $10 at the door, $6 for voting age students. Eventgoers are also asked to bring a donation for the local food bank.

The inauguration celebration will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the YOYO Hall, 725 Foster Road in Orcutt between Broadway and Bradley. Call 349-2708 for more information.

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Image by Shepard Fairey.