An Open Discussion
I haven’t been blogging as much as I expected to from Bermuda… so instead of futzing around on some other post, feel free to use this one to bring up discussions that you want to be having while I am slacking off…
April 19, 2024
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
daves on spring break. ur wife know???
Bwahahahahahah
Bicycle Bob is a funny MONKEY!!!!!
Clap the cymbals Bob! Good simian!
u even more jealous of big dave, doogie? how many times do u have to show how jealous u are of him? we’re all waiting for another post trying to contradict him and be WRONG again. keep up the good work
Back to remakes, anyone looking forward to this Honeymooner recasting? I want to see Bewitched just for the fact that it has Will Ferrell in it.
What do you make of the breaking news item today about New Line and HBO Films buying Newmarket? The consolidation goes on…
can’t blame a company for selling and getting the big bucks. its why they get into the game
i can’t think of a worse actor than cedric. jackie gleason is rolling over in his grave
There are a few roles in the history of film and TV that just cannot be recast. A remake of Citizen Kane without Orson Welles? A remake of Singin’ In the Rain without Gene Kelly? A remake of “I Love Lucy” without Lucille Ball? Unconscionable! For my money, a remake of “The Honeymooners” without Jackie Gleason *or* Art Carney is equally absurd. I thought Cedric stole the show in Barbershop, so I don’t have a problem with him specifically. But The Honeymooners without Gleason? Get real. It’s a terrible, terrible, terrible idea. Worse than the recasting is that the humor will almost surely be updated to be compatible with modern social values. Bah! The characters and the dynamics between them are so ingrained the mindset of the times that I can’t believe it can all be transposed into a new cultural mindset without losing what makes it work. A better idea would have been to use the human truths in the Honeymooners as inspiration for a new set of characters. But, of course, that would not be as bankable.
If they make money, you will keep seeing those type of movies. All it takes it one of them to hit it big.
Mark, exactly what do you mean by “those type of movies”? Certainly you can’t be referring to film versions of TV shows, as there’s already been tons of those.
Oh, you must be talking about putting BLACK people in roles originated by whites. The horror! The horror! And it’s happening on TV too, with Ving Rhames as Kojack. Blasphemy! What’s next, Don Cheadle as Columbo?
I hope you’re not as prejudiced as your remark implies.
These films mostly suck, regardless of who’s in them. There have been few exceptions, like The Brady Bunch Movie which tried an ironic twist.
And also, this is karmic payback for Jackie Gleason appearing in The Sting II, in Paul Newman’s role, no less. Spin in your grave buddy, I ain’t listening.
Speaking of casting, any thoughts on Sony’s announcement of Thomas Haden-Church as the villain in “Spider-Man 3”? While which villain he will play hasn’t been revealed, most expect him to play Venom.
IMHO, I think Haden-Church is a very questionable choice. Obviously, villains have to be able to project evil. Willem Dafoe could pull it off. So could Alfred Molina. But Haden-Church? Has he ever shown himself to be believably capable of murder and mayhem? I’ve only seen him as cuddly and dopey.
Personally, I would have preferred the other casting rumor that was circulating a couple of weeks ago: Larry David as The Vulture.
Joe L mentioned influential movies somewhere in a recent post – somewhere is correct cos buggered if I’m actually going to look through that Lonely-white-male diatribe. Anyway – here’s a movie that will never get mentioned but I feel is worthy of some examination, especially when it comes to the emergence of the teen flick ala American Pie. The film CAN’T HARDLY WAIT – if you aint seen it, well dont hurry its not that great, its like a goofy cousin of SIXTEEN CANDLES – but what it does have – without a doubt, is the most influential cast of up and comers (tv and film) that any movie has ever boasted in recent cinema history. Forget brat pack – this flick is a teen empire recruitment poster.
ps – RING 2 is the death knell for the recent horror boom, which is apt cos this successful cycle started in 96 with Nakata’s original and now he’s capped the mofo with this chunk of crapola. All blame lies with Kruger though, not that, that’ll help Hideo get any future gigs in the US.
JBD, were you punking us? “Can’t Hardly Wait,” which came out seven years ago had “an influential cast”? Who? Jennifer Love Hewitt? Ethan Embry? Charlie Korsmo? Lauren Ambrose? Peter Facinelli? Seth Green?
A few of these people have done some good work over the past seven years (most notably Ambrose on “Six Feet Under”), but to say they were “without a doubt the most influential cast of up and comers (tv and film) that any movie has ever boasted in recent cinema history” I think is quite the overstatement.
no PUNK’D – i standz by it yo – no overstatement. It defines the new era of teen movie moreso than the BREAKFAST CLUB did for the Hughes period. btw you forgot to mention Selma Blair, Breckin Meyer, Jenna Elfman, Summer Pheonix, Jerry O’Connel, Eric Balfour, Jamie Pressly, Tamala Jones, Brandon Williams and the rest.
Yeah that Can’t Hardly Wait thing has got to be a joke. There is no way in hell that is supposed to be serious. Right? Also, I am a big fan of both Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina, but I thought both were absolutely awful in their villain role. Dafoe especially. I was laughing hysterically in nearly every scene he was in. Terrible writing paired with some horrific overacting.
Stella, did you think Dafoe and Molina were miscast BEFORE you saw those films? I’m asking because I can’t even begin to see the relatively slight Haden-Church as a super-villain. These guys generally have to be bigger than life, and I don’t think he fits the bill. Of course, he could surprise everyone like he did in “Sideways.”
Well I hope he’s not Venom because they’ll royally mess up the backstory and they haven’t really done too much of that yet. You can’t have Venom without a ton of backstory really. But if he is Venom then his acting chops won’t matter much because he’ll be covered in CGI goo for 80 percent of his menacing screen time. I was hoping the Sandman maybe?
Sandman or the Scorpion should be the villian in
the film. IF they pull Wolf-Man out of their asses.
Morbius better show up and do something. If not
Scorpion or Sandman, then maybe KRAVEN! Someone
with very different motivations than the first
two villians in this series.
And anyone who dislikes Molina as Doc Ock. Absolutely
has to have a goofy nickname, and have faith in
the director of RINGU!
BURRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN!!!
I must confess that I stopped reading comic books back in the late ’70s, so I never got acquainted with Venom. The only thing I know about him is that his origin has something to do with an outer-space alien costume (or something like that), which I think is a bad direction for this series to move into right now. So I wish they would stick for the time being with the really old-school villains like The Sandman, The Vulture, The Lizard, Electro, etc. It’s worked for them so far.
With all due respect: If I were to list a movie of the past 25 years as being influential primarily for having a cast of teen/twentysomething up-and-comers, it more likely would be Coppola’s “The Outsiders” (1983), with Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio — and Sofia Coppola.
i guess we’ll see how good of an actor haden church is if he can pull off a bad guy. he must have impressed someone if they’re casting him this early. i’d be surprised if he doesn’t play venom since its one of the top spidey villians.
Dazed and Confused was a much more influential film than Can’t Hardly Wait. What did that movie gives us? A bunch of tv actors? Who is the movie star from that film? Seth Green?
The best John Candy Film:
Taking your bets….
Mine is without a doubt – Planes, trains and Automobiles, a minor comedic masterpiece and ultimately proves theres a uncapped market for thanksgiving films that is yet to be exploited.
Re Newmarket:
From what I read HBO/New Line (aka Time Warner) is buying only the distribution division. Newmarket retains its library and production unit.
Would New Line be able to take over distribution of current Newmarket release “Downfall”? That picture was #17 nationwide last weekend but its bookings are spotty. “Downfall” has a time-value hook (fall of Nazi Germany +60); if Newmarket or New Line won’t expand the run the film may lose box-office momentum.
I also see Fine Line being folded into HBO/New Line. Fine Line has been mainly inactive the last 2 years except for HBO product. “Birth” was a Fine Line project that eventually was released by New Line.
I’m guessing no one here remembers NED & STACEY. Even though it was a sitcom, Church still played one of the most self-absorbed, arrogant and heartless characters in recent TV history; Debra Messing’s anguish when he abandons her on their wedding night to go to a bar still chills me. I have no doubt he’d be just fine in any villainous role.
Church seems taylor-fit for a character like the
Sandman. A character that could be seen as one of
the more manic members of Spidey’s rogues gallery.
Plus, this could be that one time in comic book
films where the VILLIAN LIVES! Since Sandman has
been on occassion, a hero and a member of the
Avengers.
Being the Sandman fan that I am. About damn time
he got some major dap on screen.
Chucky in Jersey may be correct on the Fine Line forecasting. Fine line appears to be extending methods to round up new material, perhaps for making a case to keep going as Fine Line(?)or to bolster HBO? And which would be better for the moviegoer I wonder.
best candy movie? armed and dangerous followed up with uncle buck
church as a villian? not too worried. i think the guy can act
I must say I enjoyed Candy more as a sidekick than a lead. Especially with Tom Hanks. Volunteers and Splash. Funny movies. My favorite of his lead roles has to be The Great Outdoors. I don’t even know why. Just when he walks out of that restaurant after he eats the fat off the steak? Great.
Candy was on his way to becoming an even better actor too. Dramatic roles were in his future. He had the chops. He’d be a nice rival to Bill Murray right now.
That means the best film ever would be STRIPES with Candy and Murray.
I’d agree with that.
What did Sofia Coppola play in the Outsiders?
I don’t think any film short of Dazed and Confused can hold a candle to any of the old Hughs films. Considering I was in JR. High when Sixteen Candles came out and Molly Ringwals utters the “F” word in the first 20 mintutes, and that film was PG, life feels a lot more puritanical all of a sudden.
stripes is a comedy classic
One reason “Stripes” is so great: Warren Oates, one of the greatest character actors in the history of movies. Years ago, I had some opportunities to interview him — and he expressed absolute awe in regard to working with Bill Murray on “Stripes.” He thought Murray was one of the funniest and most inventive actors (if not THE funniest and most inventive) he ever met. Well, obviously, this was a mutual admiration society. When Murray went through a period when he was doing a cluster of brilliant comic supporting turns — “Kingpin,” “Mad Dog and Glory,” “Ed Wood,” etc. — I joked that he was turning into Warren Oates. But Murray was completely serious when he said, “Comparing me to Warren Oates is one of the greatest compliments anyone could ever pay me.”
As for John Candy: He was pretty damn good in “Cool Runnings,” which IMHO may still be Jon Turteltaub’s best movie.
I like watching Candy in JFK. Just to see a completely different person. The guy did have some good chops.
i’m a harold ramis guy. what a writer. murray owes him a debt of gratitude
Nothing compares with Groundhog Day. Maybe Caddyshack. Its is close. Classics.
Once again, David has permitted his irrational hatred of the New York Times to cloud his judgment. At least, that’s the only explanation I have for this snarky MovieCityNews.com link for a Sunday NYT story: “A Drew Barrymore Film, A Will Ferrell Film & Three Films That Will Barely Be Seen = An EWesque Trend Piece.” One of the “three films” that he predicts will “barely be seen” by audiences: “Hooligans.” Now I’m sure it’s entirely possible that this movie — which earned both the top jury and audience awards at the recent SXSW Film Festival, the only time both fest prizes have gone to a single feature — won’t gross as much as, say, “Win a Date With Ted Hamilton,” to name one of the many films for which Dave has predicted box-office success. But it strikes me as more than a tad foolhardy to dismiss out of hand a movie that (a) stars Elijah Wood, who presumably can attract at least a fraction of his “Lord of the Rings” audience; (b) currently is being championed by filmmaker rep Jeff “The Dude” Dowd; and (c) already is generating great reviews not only in trade papers but also among on-line reviewers. (See http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=11709&reviewer=128 and http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=7190.) I mean, has Dave even seen “Hooligans” yet? Did he practice the sort of fact-checking he often criticizes the NYT (and others) for not doing? Or is this link just another indication that, whatever his many strengths as a commentator and critic, David simply can’t be trusted when he’s talking/writing about the NYT?
With regards to Spidey 3, Sam Raimi has repeatedly said he has no interest in telling Venom’s story…so ya, unless he’s changed his mind between Spider-man 2’s release and now I think we can safely rule out Venom as the villain in the next film.
I have always kind of wondered about David’s nasty gibes at the NYT in his headlines: “The Paper of Wreckerd” and such… What gives, Dave?
I would say that the point, Joe, was not about whether Hooligans will do any business – and Jeff Dowd only sells the movies, he doesn’t market them… and no, Elijah Wood doesn’t guarentee any box office at all at this point – but whether a trend piece was called for.
As for my feelings about the NYT, it is, as always, on a story by story basis. The paper has been very sloppy in recent years and when it is printed there, it’s repeated everywhere… even if they are completely wrong.
I find it amusing that I get shit for calling out the errors but none of you seem to worry about all the errors that really count… the ones in NYT’s stories. (Note: Things have improved in recent months… and there has been less toughness in the headlines accordingly, seems to me.)
I’m sorry, but the real point is that Dave has blithely decided that three movies he has never seen won’t be seen by many people. What, specifuically, has he based this snap judgment on? That they were written about in the NYT? Jeez. He can argue all he wants, but the fact is that these are his words — “will barely be seen” — not mine or anyone else’s. He’s also willfully overlooking that another one of these three films (“The Game of Their Lives”) will be sold as “from the makers of ‘Hoosiers’ and ‘Rudy'” — which, as anyone who ever listens to sports-talk radio can tell you, will count for a lot with many ticketbuyers. Let’s face it, Dave: You took a cheap shot. And when you take enough cheap shots, you wind up looking cheap. And that can only undermine your credibility. Judging from Jon S.’s posting, I’m not the only one who’s noticed that this is part of a pattern.
Joe… appreciate your support of the films… but you’ve got a bit of a wild hair up your ass here. I’m not saying the films are bad or that NO ONE will see them.
Putting aside My Big Fat Greek Weddding, I believe that the highest grossing film in the history of IFC was Y Tu Mama Tambien with just under $14 million. Maybe you think that The Game of Their Lives will be a phenom as both those films were. But few films that sit in the can for a year or so and can’t even get into Sundance have that good fortune.
Hoooligans may be great… but no distributor yet.
The Goal is associated with Spike Lee because the first time director designed the credits for Do The Right Thing… there is no financing yet.
That leaves the Drew Barrymore vehicle and the Will Ferrell vehicle… not even the three that EW generally requires to proclaim a trend.
Of course, all of this is begging the very simple, not terribly hostile point. There is no legitimacy regarding a wave of sports movies. (The might, however, be a story in the ongoing failure of soccer movies in America, including the never released original version of Fever Pitch, Duvall’s A Shot At Glory and the barely released Brit remake of The Longest Yard, Mean Machine… ironically produced by Brad Grey and with domestic rights at Parmaount.)
The story represented the Times pandering to the EW sensibility. You are free to like that… and I am free not to.
By trying to turn it into some issue that I have about the NYT, you avoid the actual discussion. Clever, but lame.
As I’ve said, Dave: Part of a pattern, part of a pattern. And, as I’ve also said: I’m not the only frequent reader who has noticed: When it comes to the NYT, my friend, you have an entire toupee up your ass. Want to prove me wrong? Easy: For the next five months — say, from Friday to the end of August — you don’t make a single catty/bitchy/snarky comment about any NYT story or writer on MovieCityNews.com. Just neutral-language links to important stories. Go ahead and attack the entire paper in your Hot Button column, eviscerate every writer on the NYT staff on this blog. But on the page where you list the actual links — just the facts, sir. Know what? I bet you can’t do it.
Latest link headline to a NYT article: ” They Found A Way To Make A Puff Piece On Liz Smith Into An Indictment Of Blogs… As Though Wonkette Is More Influential Than US Magazine, The Star Or Page Six.”
You were right Joe!
By the way, I’ve heard bad things about the Times elsewhere from people I trust, so I’m not going to try to defend them too much myself….
the times is crap now. everyone knows this. they can’t even blame it on jayson blair anymore
Atention Bill Murray fans: Just received this news release via e-mail:
The hilarious military-based comedy STRIPES arrives in a brand new Extended Cut DVD on June 7 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Extended cut? Does that mean we’ll see more of Warren Oates?
Joe –
What kind of asshole would I be to limit MCN to some sort of silly challenge.
We link to the NYT 10-20 times a week. 2 or 3 headlines are tough. And the fact is, they fuck up a lot these days.
Again, instead of arguing headlines, tell me that the observation is inaccurate. Do you think the Liz Smith story was really about bloggers? Do you really think that the current state of gossip is because of the web?
I wish there was never a cause to say anything but nice things about the NYT coverage… I surely do… but if it is bad, it’s bad… if it’s good, it’s good.
When people get a feather up their ass, everything tickles. Be a little more discerning… because that’s what I am being.
David: What kind of asshole do I think you are? Well, gee, that’s a loaded question. But speaking of backsides: I do notice that this is the second time when you’ve felt compelled to focus on my ass (first with a wild hair, now with a feather) in one of your replies. Never mind that this is such a lame response, it proves I’ve hit home (as has Jon S.) I feel compelled to ask: What is this obsession you have with my ass, David? I mean, there’s quite a lot of it, so it’s hard to miss. But geez, fella. As Waren Oates told an amorous male hitchhiker in “Two Lane Blacktop,” I’m not into that. Mind you, that’s simply stating a preference, not passing a judgment. But holy smokes! Everytime someone criticizes you, you’re gonna make a remark about his/her ass?
Exactly.
Remind me never to get into the shower with you if we ever wind up in the same Turkish prison together.
whos that invite to leydon? u planning on smuggling hash?
Bob: On the advice of my lawyer, I respectfully decline to answer that question.
All this ass talk between straight guys is starting to remind me of “Pulp Fiction.”
zed’s dead
Or, as Ace Ventura might say: Excuse me while I ass you this question…
I saw a lady praying at Wendy’s before she enjoyed her Biggie BLT Salad. Was she praying that there wouldn’t be a finger show up in her greens? Maybe she was praying that I wouldn’t come over to her table and ask to sit down. I thought she’d went into a diabetic coma, but no…she was praying alright. Maybe she was praying that she’d be able to muster up enough of a gag reflex to barf up the salad. She looked like a bullimic man hater to me.
If you want to waste 15 minutes of your life…visit frankcaliendo.com If you value your time, get sloppy drunk and watch Johnny Quest. Hadji is hilarious when your in the piss. When will Peter Tork release his next album? Did hear that Mickey Dolenz was a real A-hole in person. F— Mickey Dolenz and all that he stands for. Monkey boy!
“Elizabeth Montgomery didn’t age well.” A friend of mine stated this while drunk at a kegger back in 87′–before she passed away. What a profound statement. Sort of Nostrodamus-esque. Dick Sargent?