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
Waiter! More conch!
What – no opening night tix left for “Gypsy” tonight? For shame!
Be really interested to see what you think of the new Mamet in light of The Essay.
And am I the only one who read “a new musical from the ‘Drowsy Chaperone’ creative team” yesterday in Variety announcing next year’s Ahmanson slate and are now hesitant about re-upping the season tickets?
So I finally caught Southland Tales on Netflix.
Imagine a director who has a great passion for cinema and absolutely no storytelling talent to engage that passion.
That’s Richard Kelly… who’s shaping up to be the hipster geek crowd’s own Edward D. Wood Jr.
Finally got around to seeing “Juno” yesterday. Definitely overrated. Succeeds despite itself. Script is the clear weak spot.
Speaking of James Carville…what the hell was he doing in Assassination of Jesse James…he just about derailed the movie for me.
Today is the greatest DVD release in the history of cinema, of the greatest film in the history of cinema.
THE HIGHWAY, BITCH. Don’t forget to pick it up and let LOGGIA OWN YOUR ASS.
I liked SOUTHLAND TALES… at least in spots… I found Jon Lovitz surprisingly effective and menacing as a villain. I loved the Timberlake musical number. Gellar and The Rock were fun and totally game… Stifler was surprisingly moving. It’s of course an eyesore and hit-or-miss, but I enjoyed its kitchen-sink approach.
Anyone know why the Brothers Bloom’s release date got shifted? It was supposed to be out in April but has now been moved to October.
Also, any word on Charlie Kaufman’s new film coming out in the fall?
I await Wristercutters: A Love Story on my netflix. should be arriving shortly.
TuckP, I agree that Carville’s small role (while not a bad performance per se) was very off-putting. But that wasn’t nearly as bad as towards the end of the film when a guy with a guitar is sining the JESSE JAMES BALLAD in a bar…who could it be other than composer Nick Cave. Imagine a scene in a Spielberg movie where John Williams makes a cameo as a piano player at the end. yeesh.
But isn’t everyone SO caught up in this Fanboys fewd on AICN. what’s great about is how authentic the whole debate is and not some backwards way to savage a horrible movie. Man I’m losing hours of sleep over it, having that movie recut is like losing one of my best friends… sniffle.
TuckPendleton, I recognize your handle from the movie “INNERSPACE”. That’s Dennis Quaid’s character.
were you a massive fan? or are you being ironic? Big Joe Dante fan? I must know. Because when i saw that, I just can’t help but grin.
Hop —
I didn’t think Carville was bad, I should add: he’s just such a recognizable persona, esp. with that voice, that it’s impossible for him to “act” a role – I kept waiting for Tim Russert or Chris Matthews to appear next to him.
And yes, my little tribute to Innerspace. No irony. Love that movie. And to a 13 year old kid, Tuck Pendleton couldn’t have been any cooler. So that movie has always stuck with me. (And I also have a soft spot for Gremlins, speaking of Dante.)
Innerspace has been playing a lot on HBO lately. I agree, totally fun B-Movie. It’s hard not to enjoy it.
Ok, I’m starting to get pissed off with Netflix. Every single disc i have ever gotten skips at least twice at certain times. ALSO my 3 next films are: I am Legend (“very long wait”), The Mist (“short wait”) and La Vie En Rose (“long wait”). If your business is to send me films THAT YOU DONT HAVE, what’s the point. Blockbuster had all three of them today. Solution for netflix: buy more copies. Annoying.
I love the scene in Innerspace when Martin Short is in the doctor’s office and he keeps thinking the people on either side of him are talking before finally screaming out that he’s possessed. Man, I must have watched that movie a hundred times growing up.
And David, when you land in Bermuda, let me know if the Pickled Onion is still up and running in Hamilton. Haven’t been in years, but that was the first place I ever got fall-down drunk.
Aris —
If you are someone that keeps 500 titles in their queue, this may not be of help, but what I have found is that by keeping my queue only to the films I want, they always send the “short wait” etc. films. So in your case, I would remove everything from my queue but The Mist, I am Legend, and La Vie. That way the netflix system can’t skip over to another title with no wait. I agree it’s a pain to keep separate lists, but you won’t have to wait for those films this way.
(Of course, you’re totally right, Netflix should have more copies on hand…though it’s not a ton different from going to Blockbuster or your local Video Village and finding they are all out of what you want…)
This just in:
LOST HIGHWAY STILL OWNS YOUR ASS.
How’s everyone enjoying the 12 copies they bought today?
I’m cancelling my Netflix today.
I think saying the script in Juno is the weak spot of the movie is a really sorry attempt to seem like the hip contrarian cool kid, and failing miserably at it.
Unless you can back that up, and not with the poor and untrue “Everybody speaks the same lingo” excuse, you just sound like a hater.
I keep my netflix account open for the more obscure stuff or TV series’ and for new releases, I just *gasp* go to the local video store. Hollywood video freeking rocks. it never gets it’s due. they always surprise me with their selection and they have some kick-ass DVD sales. Most DVD’s are 2 for $20 there and I’m talking ones that are 2-3 months old.
Since someone mentioned movies we saw 100 times as kids (prolly cuz we had Showtime/HBO and sat around all summer watching movies) I’ll add too INNERSPACE….
ANY WHICH WAY BUT LOSE
SUPERFUZZ
THEY CALL ME BRUCE
FOOTLOOSE
It seems like those movies were on everyday when I was a kid. Maybe even 2-3 times a day.
1981-1982 HBO was the SHIT when it came to rewatching the same movies 15 times a month, every month:
LOOKER
NIGHTHAWKS
GOIN’ APE
TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT
WOLFEN
THE SHINING
THE LAST CHASE
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
UP THE ACADEMY
CADDYSHACK
BLUES BROTHERS
PATERNITY
CANNONBALL RUN
ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN
BRONCO BILLY
INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN
And in the years 1984 and 1985, it’s entirely possible I saw REVENGE OF THE NINJA, THE STAR CHAMBER and CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER about 75 times each.
And summer 1986, I probably saw FLETCH over 100 times in the course of just three months.
That listing you provided speaks VOLUMES about you Lex…..fricking awesome dude! I was too much of a sissy to watch the “scary” ones more than once. Plus, some were rated “R” and that was something I was against as a youth.
I saw most of those movies as well….just reading that list reminds me of being hot and sunburned and parked in front of the TV at my grandparents house.
I don’t know if it was an HBO movie, or a small-release.
JUST ONE OF THE GUYS, woman dressed up as a man in high-school.
I must have seen that a movie 100 flippin’ times.
STAY TUNED with John Ritter. Easily saw two dozen times.
ADAMS FAMILY, ADAMS FAMILY VALUES just watched those on a loop.
and TREMORS. we broke the VHS tape, but I think I watched that twice a day for a whole summer.
Oh man, I used to love Just One of the Guys. As a little boy, there was no greater thrill than the moment when she “proves” she’s a woman by flashing her chest. Ahh, memories.
Also during that period, I must have watched Stripes and Spies Like Us a hundred times as well.
How’s this for a programming idea: HBO Retro.
HBO should consider adding a HBO Retor channel to their roster. The twist would be that they would program a different month from the past. What if June ’08 is the same as June ’84? They could play that month’s slate of programs. This wouldn’t be just movies, but stand-up specials, early HBO movies, and Fraggle Rock. They could even use the old intros and announcers. (Remember that intro of the camera floating over a small city and seeing the silver HBO logo come out of the sky?)
With the boom of ’80s nostalgia, I think this channel would take off. Anyone else remember the HBO movies Fortress or Draw!? How about those old Crlin specials? Or the early hourlong specials of Buddy Hackett and Robin Williams. Braingames. Psycho II. Terror in the Aisles. Poltergeist. Clash of the Titans. Early America Undercover reports. Twilight Zone–The Movie. The Toy. Mr. Mom. Real Genius. National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Would you watch HBO Retro?
Thx: right on. Cloudy is about as ivory as an ivory tower inhabitant comes. No wonder it took him so damn long to see Juno.
David, saw NOVEMBER last week. It’s corrosively hilarious. Nathan Lane is, as ever, a force of nature, and Laurie Metcalf is marvelous as his lesbian speechwriter with the world’s worst cold. Mamet’s best play in ages, and it will never date, because corruption will always be the mother’s milk of politics.
BTW, maybe I’m getting old, but for two weekends now HORTON has been #1, yet I didn’t see a single headline with the most obvious joke of all: “WHO”‘S ON FIRST.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cobKjqWOcFw
how can you guys list all those HBO mainstays and not mention KRULL or BEASTMASTER?
“No wonder it took him so damn long to see Juno.”
No, I just have better things to do with my life, including not spending every hour on the web making an ass of myself. Those sorts of things I leave to the masters. E.g., to IO.
Since IO referenced THX (one idiot calling on another?) I had to look up what THX said.
“I think saying the script in Juno is the weak spot of the movie is a really sorry attempt to seem like the hip contrarian cool kid, and failing miserably at it.”
I’m neither hip, nor contrarian, nor a kid. Obviously on the last, since I don’t act anything like you puerile brats. THX seems like an adult, so I’ll let him pass. As for IO, he seems either to still be in high school, or to have never left. He easily wins the prize for most infantile, brainless poster in the history of this blog. They can name it after him and retire it since no one else will ever qualify.
What’s wrong with the script? The “seasonal” three-act structure is too pat, the characters are underwritten, the Lorings’ story arc is telegraphed in their first scene, the Jennifer Garner character is the only one who seems to have a grip on the situation, the ultrasound scene is gratuitous, the relationship between Juno and her “boyfriend” makes no sense at all, the movie takes place in high school but has nothing to do with high school. I could go on, but I figure listing that many objections is taxing IO’s intelligence as it is. Unfortunately, I can’t dumb it down for him since I could never descend to his level of
stupidity.
“Unless you can back that up, and not with the poor and untrue ‘Everybody speaks the same lingo’ excuse, you just sound like a hater.
I have no idea what the lingo deal is. As for sounding like a hater, that’s much better than sounding like a fool.
I agree with you, Blackcloud. If we assume that every movie has weak elements and strong elements, then the strong elements of Juno are the performances (esp. Page and Garner), Reitman’s direction of the cast, and the music choices. Indifferent elements are the production design and cinematography. Glaringly annoying are the first fifteen minutes of the script and an overall lack of narrative cohesion. If the performances and direction didn’t compensate, the screenplay holes would be more noticeable.
Re: HBO, we didn’t have it at my house when I was a kid but my grandparents did, so that’s where I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, and Cannonball Run II for the first time.
The Movie Channel kicked HBO’s ass, LexG. They showed R-rated movies *during the day*! Nothing like coming home from elementary school and sneaking WOLFEN while your mom thought you were watching BATTLE OF THE PLANETS.
Adding to Lex’s list:
GHOST STORY (nude Alice Krige!)
DIE LAUGHING
MY BODYGUARD
MOTEL HELL
THE HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES
KILL OR BE KILLED/KILL AND KILL AGAIN
NEIGHBORS
SERIAL
COAST TO COAST
I’m not sayin’ those are all good movies, but I watched the shit out of ’em nonetheless.
Jimmy-
That’s a brilliant idea!!!
I liked the sidekick in “Juno.” Don’t know the actress, but she did a good job with a part that could easily have become a caricature.
I definitely remember HBO movies like DRAW! I think the first one ever was THE TERRY FOX STORY; They promoted the shit out of that like it was the arrival of STAR WARS or something.
Another gem was GULAG, the prison camp one with David Keith and Malcolm McDowell.
And Jason Robards IS Sakharov.
When JEKYLL & HYDE TOGETHER AGAIN dropped on HBO, I was the world’s biggest fan of Mark Blankfield.
Yeah, I remember HBO used to make a big deal about “only showing this feature at night.” I know they’re pay services and I’m well into my thirties, but those HBO salad days still have me conditioned to balk when Cinemax MoMax43 or whatever is playing hard-R flicks at noon.
On the SERIAL tip, I used to get that mixed up with SO FINE.
Also, how about KING OF THE MOUNTAIN, with HARRY HAMLIN? That was always on. So was BEYOND THE REEF, *whatever* that was.
And to this day I can’t see the ubiquitous character actor Stuart Pankin without thinking of Not Necessarily the News.
Sorry, I can’t stop posting on this topic, but…
TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS OWNS YOUR ASS.
Or was it TREASURE OF THE YANKEE ZEPHYR?
“the heist” was a great caper movie with pierce brosnan. i used to love those made for HBO movies. shame they don’t do them anymore.
and, jimmy, i’d copyright that idea.
Another bitch enters the ring to be dealt with… MCWEENEY STYLE!
“‘No wonder it took him so damn long to see Juno.’
No, I just have better things to do with my life, including not spending every hour on the web making an ass of myself. Those sorts of things I leave to the masters. E.g., to IO.”
Look everyone; blackcloud has made himself into a bitch. Let’s congratulate him on being another pompus asshole, who believes he’s actually better than me. When he responds like a little fat and tubby bitch.
“Since IO referenced THX (one idiot calling on another?) I had to look up what THX said.”
Oh please… you are responding as if your mangina had your thong run up it rather unexpectedly, bitch.
“‘I think saying the script in Juno is the weak spot of the movie is a really sorry attempt to seem like the hip contrarian cool kid, and failing miserably at it.’
I’m neither hip, nor contrarian, nor a kid. Obviously on the last, since I don’t act anything like you puerile brats.”
Do you really think a man responds this way? Do you? If so; you are even more of a bitch than I originally thought.
This is what’s so funny about you internet tough guys…. there’s nothing tough about you. You try to be witty, clever, and condescending, when all you come across like a total cunty bitches. If this is you being a big man. Try harder… bitch.
“THX seems like an adult, so I’ll let him pass. As for IO, he seems either to still be in high school, or to have never left. He easily wins the prize for most infantile, brainless poster in the history of this blog. They can name it after him and retire it since no one else will ever qualify. ”
You are responding LIKE THIS… BITCH! I am sorry that you truly lack the comprehension of a man with your letters, but you truly have to be one ignorant piece of shit to feel that way about me. You have to be all sorts of backwards and ignorant to make such ridiculous statements and you would have to be… A BITCH!
“What’s wrong with the script? The ‘seasonal’ three-act structure is too pat, the characters are underwritten, the Lorings’ story arc is telegraphed in their first scene, the Jennifer Garner character is the only one who seems to have a grip on the situation, the ultrasound scene is gratuitous, the relationship between Juno and her ‘boyfriend’ makes no sense at all, the movie takes place in high school but has nothing to do with high school. I could go on, but I figure listing that many objections is taxing IO’s intelligence as it is. Unfortunately, I can’t dumb it down for him since I could never descend to his level of stupidity.”
My level of stupidity? You arrogant little bitch. YOU CRITIZES JUNO FOR BEING A REALISTIC HUMAN STORY! That shit happens everyday. Your bitchy little response and other responses demonstrate the lack of empathy many of you have on this forum. This is why I bring up being a HUMAN BEING sword and pen, because many of you respond like a bunch of freakin bent hacks. Who come here to blandly discuss movie related topics. If you want to be bland. Go be bland, but Heat has never ever been a bland movie reviewer. Why you seemingly act as if this man is freakin Gene Shallat, and expect his blog to be that way… has to be one of those mysteries only a bitch could understand. We are all fortunate that Lex brings some spice to this rather boring — at times — sausage party.
“‘Unless you can back that up, and not with the poor and untrue ‘Everybody speaks the same lingo’ excuse, you just sound like a hater.
I have no idea what the lingo deal is. As for sounding like a hater, that’s much better than sounding like a fool.”
No… you just read like a bitch. Sounding like a fool? There is no pipe, you stupid smart motherfucker. Now understand this… you do not have it, you will never have it, and this means you should not play. If you decide against my advice. You must remember that I remain a man and you remain nothing more than a bitch.
“I agree with you, Blackcloud. If we assume that every movie has weak elements and strong elements, then the strong elements of Juno are the performances (esp. Page and Garner), Reitman’s direction of the cast, and the music choices. Indifferent elements are the production design and cinematography. Glaringly annoying are the first fifteen minutes of the script and an overall lack of narrative cohesion. If the performances and direction didn’t compensate, the screenplay holes would be more noticeable.
Re: HBO, we didn’t have it at my house when I was a kid but my grandparents did, so that’s where I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, and Cannonball Run II for the first time.”
One bitch agreeing with another. Now we are all squarsies… you two bitches!
What a tightly constructed, rigorously logical argument. Now that you’ve proven your point, I think you may rest on your laurels and not post for a nice, long time.
Jeff; you really do not want to put that opinion up to a vote. Why don’t you make like a tree and leave? Again; you two are bitches. If you want to post like men. You will be treated like men. Until then… please do not step to me with your silly tripe. It does not suit you. Oh it does because YOU ARE A BITCH.
Do you really think calling everyone who doesn’t agree with you a ‘bitch’ is anything other than childish, misogynist, and counterproductive?
Do you have any idea how you appear to the outside world?
“Do you really think calling everyone who doesn’t agree with you a ‘bitch’ is anything other than childish, misogynist, and counterproductive?
Do you have any idea how you appear to the outside world?”
1) Childish? Do you believe the way that you respond to me is anything more than CHILDISH? The same goes with Cloudy and you agree with him. Seriously; you have issues. The both of you do, and I am truly goofying on you for believing you are better than me.
2) Misogynist? Please. It has nothing to do with misogny. It has to do with putting down two people who want so hard to be superiour. When one term knocks them down to the level on which they truly exist.
3) Counterproductive? You have let insults of me and my family slide over the years, and have never once ever acted as anything less than a total ass to me. Please explain to me Captain Smarts, where you are trying to be productive?
And do you know how you appear to the outside world? A movie producer would most likely love to kick you in the nuts. Other people here believe you and your ilk to be some of the dopiest fucking posters on the entire net. Hell. I would wager people who discuss GOSSIP GIRL bring better discussion to their topic than you or anyone on your side has ever brought to this blog.
So please refrain from feeling sorry for me. When you are once again demonstrating the grand asshole that you have always been on your blog. You whacky bastard.
This blog actually, but it does not change the facts.
“This blog actually, but it does not change the facts.”
No, IO, that’s usually your job. Although I wonder how you can recognize facts at all. They seem alien to your world view. I bet Jeff and I would disagree about a lot of things. Except the fact that you are a simpering idiot. You might check out the comments on other entries. We are far from the only two who think you are a festering sore. You have numerous detractors (do you know what that means? look it up). We are just the most vocal about it. And really, “bitches”? Is that the best you can do? If so, your invective is as juvenile as your political opinions. Quelle surprise.
“You have let insults of me and my family slide over the years”
Huh? When has anyone ever said anything about your family? And what does that have to do with me?
Anyway, IOI, I don’t think you’re a bad guy, but you seriously need to chill out. Just as Lex always reads like he’s popping blood vessels, I can only imagine you hammering at a keyboard, fuming and screaming at your screen. Also you’re really skinny because your metabolism is jackrabbit high.
Blackcloud what’s your problem with me? Calling me an idiot?
By the way, your argument held no water.
You didn’t explain at all how the script didn’t work or what was wrong with it. You didn’t explain any obvious or logical plot holes. Or nor did you exemplify any structural weaknesses.
See, you and Jeff seem to suffer from the same problem. You both have such a need to be right, that you often confuse opinions as facts.
Saying the three act structure is too “pat” isn’t a problem. It’s something “you” don’t like about the movie.
And every other point you make follows suit. So you don’t really make any points at all.
But you sounded very smart and wordy with your long explanation of “why you didn’t like the movie”
The opening? What you don’t like about it; I see as grabbing the audience and getting their attention into this small story through sharp and witty dialogs in this ADD world..
Neither of us are “right”, it’s just our “opinion”
What? You didn’t like “Homeskillet?” Let me tell you something, I am 34, and heard that word first used by a buddy in 1990 as a Sophmore in high school. 18 years ago…
How flip is it?
In this internet driven/2 degrees of seperation world, how far-fetched is it that people less than 10 years difference in age, (Rainn Wilson’s clerk to Page’s Juno) wouldn’t use similar slang dialogue?
As for the term “Hater” and us rascally kids that use it..
Um…that term comes from hip/hop and has been used in common language as slang since at least 1982, so I’m sorry your obtuse world view has kept you from some common decades long cultural vocabulary.
Let me define the term for you, as I see it:
A Hater: One who diminishes the creative work of another out of petty envy; jealousy, greed or an emotional insecure need to be intellectually superior…All the while not having any equal creative work to show themselves…
Sorry, if I came across so harsh that I had to warrant your opinion of my intellectual prowress. It was not my intention…
I just assumed you understood the cultural reference and did not take any personal emotional offense. I guess my assumption was incorrect.
From now on, when addressing you, I will refrain from any slang and will try to use words of at least five syllables or higher so as to appeal to your need for intellectual superiority and help satiate what no doubt covers some type of emotional emptiness. Sorry.
I’d say “My bad” but I don’t want to confuse you any further.
Jeff-MickyD’s, saying there’s no narrative cohesion, isn’t a fact, it’s an opinion…
Just like your incorrect belief that your undergrad Washington college has a superior film school to USC
(Sorry dude; but when you’ve had to pay your own way through a school everyone else calls “University of Spoiled Children” plus the cost of the film school you gained entrance to on your own merit, and not through some high level contact or association, and you earn that degree through your own blood, sweat and tears… You’re not going to let it go…)
But I’m bummed you feel I’m intellectually beneath you Blacky, Because believe it or not, I LIKE YOU!
And I like JeffMickyD’s
(I used to go mental when he’d get all contrarian just to argue and not contribute anything to the discussion, but his own need to be right. But I’m over it, and now I’m a fan!)
LexG, I love you Dude. I really do..
The only time I have to put you in check for overamping on your HGH is when you go and glamorize Paris, and Lindsay and all these crazy actresses. Buying into the garbage that E! and TMZ,perpetuate not to make movies…but to sell magazines…
And those chicks have spread so many STD’s in this town through both sexes (remember there is a high Bi-sexual population in LA) that I used to have to make every chick I dated show me a clean STD test before they got to close the deal. Until I got locked down by my current girl.
Because Paris and Lindsay are Bi-Polar and crazy from Amphetemine psychosis and love to go and get the boyz that their friends like on a Valtrex prescription, so they can “brand” that boy as theirs, and now LA is a herpes cess pool.
But nobody ever talks about that dark shit because it kills careers and looses money. But when you glamorize it here, I just can’t stomach it.
Do you know how many 14 year old girls my Mom counsles as Psychologist that are sexually traumatized from emulating Paris and Lindsay, and Rock of Love and Brittany and WATCHING SEX AND THE CITY (there’s my problem with it Leahnz…)?
So, I have to put you in check, when you perpetuate that bullshit TMZ Myth.
There’s lots of hot girls that deserve those shout outs, but you always pick the diseased ones…
But I still love ya! (seriously, I really do enjoy your posts as of late, and can tell you’re a genuine talent when you’re not injecting HGH and going Randy MachoCamacho on us..)
In fact, let me be clear. Whatever they may think about me, I do enjoy the company and discourse from every regular poster here.
And a special white flag and olive branch to MutinyCo…
Come on, buddy. This game can be a small town, I’d hate to run into you in the real world discover you’re the worthy human being I know you to be, only to have us realize who we are and have our newfound camaraderie douched over a textual pissing match…
And T. Holly, I’m just going to say it. I don’t know who you are, but I’ve got a strong gut feeling you’re hot. I hope that not insulting, it’s your obvious intelligence about the craft and the game that gives me that vibe.
Martin S…You’re by far my favorite poster here. You don’t post all the time, but when you do, it’s always objective and it’s really good inside baseball. I have no doubt, whomever you are, you are a real player, a true talent in this game and worthy of real respect.
And Devin and Drew, I dig that you guys post here, and I enjoy both your respective writing and sincerely hope you guys get your chance in the Captain’s chair and get your shit made. I dig how you Pimped the system.
(For Blackcloud…”Pimp”…Translation: A nicer word for Capitalism…)
So, seriously, I dig everyone here. I’m sure whatever you dislike there is of me, is probably a bad tonal miscommunication.
How it sounds in my head as I type probably never translates as intended, and I’m sure many are guilty here of the same.
As for being a loser that posts here all day, well, yeah when I’m in front of the computer I’m here. Because believe it or not, all you posters help me with my writers block when I get it..
For those who complain about my posts being too long. Let me point out that scroll button on your mouse. Feel free to use it. Those that want to read, will.
That being said, I freely admit to having a very dysfunctional need to be liked by everybody, so since I’ve attracted so many detractors, I’m gonna follow Lex and either hold back on the fun posts, or just take a break from this place all together…
Well see. Someone always posts something worthy of discussion, that I freely admit my addiction to the red and white..
I wanna leave with a special shoutout to IO, who I never seem to have a problem with because we seem to share the same views on just about everything.
I get you man. I dig your passion, I get the intent. Don’t change buddy. If you ever make to LA, a beer is on me.
Now I’m going to practice what I preach and go work on practicing a need to be more kind, instead of a need to be right..
Cheers, to all the Hot Blog Homiez!
(Translation for Blackcloud: Greetings and Salutations to my new found, and not found, friend and acquaintances on The Hot Blog!)
Seriously, you all rock.
THX, I appreciate (I think) what you said, and I honestly dont think I have a ‘need to be right’. I think there’s a lot lost in tone in the blog format. When I explain what I don’t like about Juno, I think it should be assumed that it’s ‘just my opinion’ just like whatever you said is ‘just your opinion’. As David Poland once said to me when I commented about something annoying that he had said being ‘just his opinion’, “Of fucking course my opinion. What am I, the Pope”?
And anyway, if all we did was discuss facts, what would we talk about?
BTW, I didn’t go to school in Washington, D.C. or state.
THX, of course it’s my opinion. I never said it wasn’t. I know what a hater is and all the other stuff. When I said I didn’t know what the slang thing was, I meant what you said about people not liking the lingo in the movie. I guess people have raised that objection, but not me. By the way, I wasn’t calling you an idiot. That didn’t come across very well, but that was aimed solely at IO. Sorry you got dinged in the crossfire. It was clumsy of me.
Thanks for that, Blackcloud. All good.
Jeff, you get me. And where ever your undergrad may be, I do concede that they did obviously give you a very solid film education…
I jumped back in before I really got back to work because I forgot…
Scooterz!!!!
I’m genuinely sorry I hit that trigger. I should have been more considerate.
Oh, and Dave, many thanks for the forum. I really appreciate you letting things fly here and having a no banning rule. It makes things “exciting” and for me, the most successful of your ventures…
But I have to ask with tears in my eyes, why do you ignore me so about whether or not you’ve seen Battlestar? It’s okay if you didn’t like it and don’t want to say. It’s not for everyone, like….THE WIRE! (kidding, still haven’t seen it)
Back to work..
Blackcloud; a simpering idiot? Again… you are a bitch. I am sorry you are an educated fuckwit, who lacks any street sense, and denotes the way I am using that word. Too damn bad, but please do not act as if everyone loves your boring bullshit. You suck. Jeff has sucked for years now. Lex all by himself brings this blog back to life from you tired ass bitches. So you really need to stop acting as if you are superiour. While you are a bitchy little man (probably not all that “little” because this is the internet). Seriously; you would have to be a mental to post the way you do, and believe you are not an idiot. It’s astounding the level of denial you and jeff have. Now let’s move onto the SUMMER! Woo!
Cheers to you as well THX.
IO managed to mention me and I didn’t even post anything on this thread. Did every time I humiliate you in the past show up in your nightmares? Once I leave this site, thoughts of dealing with assholes like you doesn’t occupy my time.
IO, you are still an asshole and nothing in the world will change that. You’ve clearly lost it every time I throw your cheap insults back into your face. You are the perfect example of someone who loves to dish it out, but becomes a crybaby when it’s his turn to take it.
Now your new tactic is to accuse others of personal insults. You, of all people?! So, when you personally insult others, it’s insult comedy. But when you get insulted, it really is personal and you turn into a little girl because you can’t keep up without resorting to calling other posters cunts and bitches.
And really, dude, you’re just not funny. The only humor you bring to your postings is unintentional when the others here laugh at how completely ignorant and pathetic you sound. Your meltdowns are not even as funny as before, as I’m beginning to pity what a loser you really are and whether you really do have a genuine mental illness.
By the way, any time you want to take up my previous challenge and stop hiding behind your identity, let me know. I’m certainly wondering where some of your racist remarks are coming from and if you’re as brave as you’ve clearly deluded yourself to believe. Otherwise, you’re still a coward behind a keyboard.
IO, I think you have a lot of free time on your hand. What an empty life you must have that you find the time to post something stupid on this blog seemingly every day just for the sake of promoting how ignorant you are. Do you even have a job or do you just consider yourself a professional internet troll?
P.S. The script for “Juno” was its weakest aspect.
Ah, SERIAL = First time I ever heard the word “cunt” said aloud. So long ago…
Remember OVER THE EDGE with a young Matt Dillon — HBO aired it repeatedly back in the day? Bored/disaffected youths barricade themselves in the local high school. Combined my love of anarchy/apocalypse and teen coming-of-age stories and cemented it for all time as a “great” film.
And for you theatre types: HBO had an amazing special called SHOWSTOPPERS that showcased great moments from Broadway musicals. Totally opened my 14-year-old eyes to what the art form was capable of.
Today I mourn Al Copeland, the visionary who gave the world Popeyes Fried Chicken (named after Popeye Doyle of The French Connection, not the spinach-chomping sailor). Love that chicken from Popeyes…
Let’s not forget Richard Widmark.
Ahhhh, Netflix!
Did anyone else run into problems logging onto their website Monday? I never received confirmation that they received the movies I mailed back last Friday–or confirmation about which dvds they were shipping this week. By the time the site was finally back in operation, all of the new releases I had listed at the top of my queue (Demme’s Jimmy Carter doc; the French-language horror flick “Them;” Tild Swinton’s quasi-doc “Strange Culture”) had “very long wait” next to them. Incredibly frustrating.
Even worse is when they ship you a movie from some farflung location which means that it sometimes takes an entire week to reach you.
Question: If, say, my usual Cleveland, Ohio location is out of a particular title, wouldn’t it make sense to check with Columbus, OH or Pittsburgh, PA before Santa Rosa, Cali-fucking-fornia??? Amazing. And the fact that there’s no one accountable for their screw-ups (just try to get somone on the phone!) only makes the service an even bigger pain in the ass.
I use Netflix for the tough-to-find titles (all of the movies listed above) you can’t see theatrically outside of a few major cities–and which most chain video stores won’t stock. If Netflix can’t provide that service, it’s probably in my best interest to just drop it altogether. I mean, my life wouldn’t be any poorer without ever having seen “G.I. Jesus” (which I did receive last week–on a defective disc, no less), would it?
i didn’t try to log on to netflix on monday but i read tuesday that they’d crashed….today i got an email apology for their glitch and the promise of a 5% credit to my account…..
as someone suggested earlier, i keep a pretty short queue and expect that’s the reason that even ‘very long wait’ titles don’t take that long to arrive….
the one time i had an issue (empty envelope, no disc) they answered the phone after about five minutes of being on hold…..
after two years of subscribing, i can’t imagine not having netflix….
well, thx, since you addressed me directly in trotting out that dead old horse, maybe the problem is crappy parents allowing their young daughters to watch a tv show that is clearly made for adults, and is no doubt rated as such; even here, where our film and tv classification is very liberal, ‘sex and the city’ is rated ‘adults only’, and i can’t imagine that the american rating system is more lax. instead of blaming a tv programme that kids have no business watching for sexual confusion, how about looking at parental responsibility for a change
Guys, IO didn’t just call you a bitch. He called you a “cunty bitch”, which far more imaginative, is it not?
“Jeff; you really do not want to put that opinion up to a vote.”
As the others said, there are plenty of people here who dislike the way you write on here. From insulting anyone who has a slightly different opinion to yours, to feverish blood-boiling exchanges about completely random stuff. I don’t care if you own all, I really don’t.
And to think, this entry was going so well (it was even fun seeing Lex actually involved in a rational conversation) but then you had to go and ruin it by being way too opinionated for own good. It’s the internet, mate. Get a grip and just calm the hell down. Nobody would care if you didn’t seem to take everything so personally.
STOP-LOSS.
“LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Is this movie gonna OWN MY ASS? I bet 21 is gonna OWN MY ASS.
This is my first time checking the blog for a while, but I’m aghast! Why does Poland even let this IO guy post on here???
And Inner Space rules! I didn’t have cable growing up so I had to get by on horribly spliced WGN movies. I probably saw Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure about 1,000 times from ages 10-12.
Leah, you’re absolutely right, it is the parents responsibility above all else.
The problem is, there’s too many latch-key kids here in the USA and SATC is so syndicated, and on the web, there’s many many ways to catch that show without parental knowledge and consent.
Maybe if they tried to write the show women as real women; instead of men with breasts and a vagina…Maybe younger women wouldn’t be all over Girls Gone Wild; prostituting themselves for quick cash, or my favorite, the new 8th grade thing of only having anal and oral sex, because it keeps you a “virgin”
At least when I was 13, and those few kids that were having sex, they had it the proper way and used condoms…
And we had to walk uphill to school both ways!!
“And we had to walk uphill to school both ways!!”
The snow, THX, you can’t forget the snow!!
“[T]he new 8th grade thing of only having anal and oral sex, because it keeps you a ‘virgin.'”
That’s not actually all that new. Maybe at the 8th grade level it is, but for older teenagers it’s been around forever. Of course, I haven’t been a teenager in forever, so I don’t really know what’s going on with them now. And I probably don’t want to.
I read something recently that pointed out that, as far as risk-aversion goes, for teenagers to engage in oral sex is not a bad thing, regardless of how they label it, because it is indeed lower-risk for the transmission of STDs and zero-risk for pregnancy (which is all that teens are really worried about). Anal is a different ball game, of course. But blaming teens for not having vaginal sex isn’t necessarily required.
What a delightful conversation day this has been.
I don’t post often but the discussion of early 80’s HBO hit home with me. I’m 37 and had the same experiences with the already oft mentioned titles. And it no doubt had an effect on my development as a movie geek.
But there is one title I remember watching dozens of times. It is the one title I most associate with early HBO. That movie is the bizarre yet still creepy James Brolin chestnut THE CAR. Now, i also recall seeing it at the drive-in with my parents at a double feature with, I think, some early Chuck Norris picture, or maybe it was just some generic king fu thing. So the movie followed me. Just like that damn car did to the bike rider on the bridge, now that I think about it.
Point is, the movie was on all the time. And I watched it everytime. And it scared me. I was thrilled when Anchor Bay released the dvd a few years ago. I had not seen it since those HBO days, but the thing always haunted me. And when I watched it as an adult–a reasonably well adjusted adult, too–it still gave me shivers. Why??? The idiocy of the movie is apparent to me now. It’s preposterous. I gues it’s just kind of residual chills, something I can’t even control. THE CAR is hardwired into my movie viewing psyche. That’s even more preposterous than the movie, but it’s true and I’m not the only one. Hell, i can’t even think about those little monsters that dragged Kim Darby into the basement in 1973’s DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK…and that was just a silly (and a TV movie). The other that struck about THE CAR is how straight, serious and solemn it is. I can’t think of one instant of humor (intentional, anyway). It’s almost a beat for beat remake of JAWS, in structure and tone, but JAWS has laughs all over the place.
That damn movie is really in class by itself.
Anyway, didn’t mean to turn this into an critical discussion of THE CAR, but that was one at least every other day. So was ORCA and THE WHITE BUFFALO, but I knew those were trash even at a young age.
Also, I profess to be a huge Joe Dante. GREMLINS is in my top 10 favorite movies of all time, maybe even top 5 if I really debate it. It was enormously formative, and was the first movie I remember following from first hearing about it, through production & then salivating over it’s release. I still my official Gremlins movie magazine stored away in mint condition, and intend to put my 3 kids through college on it. EXPLORERS is underrated. INNERSPACE, another of my all-time favorites. I remember walking from my house to the Wintergarden Theater in Jamestown, NY with 2 friends, a hot summer friday night, opening night, and having a blast. It should have been massive. Bob Picardo steals the movie.
Joe Dante, for me, is one of the great lost talents. I don’t know why he hasn’t made anything since SMALL SOLDIERS ( which wasn’t thaaaaaat bad, people). GREMLINS 2 is a sensational sequel, and that, too, should have been bigger than it was. MATINEE, too. That’s a geek love letter if ever there was one. I hope one day he gets another shot. I also hope that one day The Stone Roses will reunite and make a third album that recaptures how transcendantly perfect they were until the recorded the second album. I don’t plan on either happening, unfortunately.
I’ve said enough. Back to the lurk dimension for me.
Dante made Looney Tunes: Back in Action in 2003, and a couple of Masters of Horror episodes. But yeah, he’s great.
CleanSteve, now you’re gonna make me go buy THE CAR. Sounds AWESOME.
Heh, I actually kinda like White Buffalo, but didn’t see it till many years on; My formative Bronson was DEATH HUNT, opposite Lee Marvin. Amusingly, that’s STILL on TV every other night, courtesy of AMC or FMC.
OK, because I couldn’t help it, and because I’ve remembered what might be the ULTIMATE “3 times a day on HBO for a year, never seen again” movie of the early 80s…
I give you Ryan O’Neal…
Omar Sharif…
Ann Archer…
…I give you GREEN ICE.
Boy, I forgot all about LOONEY TUNES. I recall thinking the movie had it’s moments, but I have no idea what they were.
And I discount Masters of Horror. John Carpenter–pound for pound probably my favorite director–did 2 episodes, too (the episodes co-written by McWeeny, no less). I didn’t like any of the episodes produced and consider the entire venture ill-conceived, marred by poor choices in material and lackluster production. I was all for. I’m a horror geek. And despite the fact that I went out of my way mention McWeeny’s name, I don’t care that he and Scott Swan got work. I just wish the work everybody did was better.
Then again, it’s work, isn’t it? I’m sure Dante is happier directing those than nothing at all. I would like, however, to see him get on board something substantial, or with real potential. A real Joe Dante style major release. that’s what I meant.
Also, I should clarify that in the pre-internet days of 1983-1984, “following the development” of GREMLINS (or any movie) meant reading Starlog, Fangoria, etc. Of course, everybody knows that but when I read it back to myself after posting it I chuckled to myself.
GREMLINS was still very much a mystery when I actually saw it. as much as I enjoy following production minutae on all them films I’m interested in, there’s a lot to still be said for the thrill of seeing something you knew little or nothing abou. I suspect I’m preaching to the choir on this blog, though. It’s the sort of the same idea behind the ALIEN being far more frightening when it was still mostly fractured images in my head rather those I can acces within seconds online, or freeze on a dvd and find all the previously hidden flaws.
Check out THE CAR, Lex. I think overall it was your basic 70’s post-EXORCIST/ROSEMARY’S BABY occult programmer. Except it had Satan’s big black Sedan, and Beelzabub layed on the horn before he ran you over or drove through your girlfriend’s house.
Damn, I just remembered that the car Bender turns into in the Futurama episode “The Honking” appears to be an homage the car in..er..THE CAR.
Now that this thread has turned into a real discussion again, I think it would be cool for HBO to run a Retro Channel. They should even go as far as to have the old logos up between movies. Present the channel as a kind of time warp.
I didn’t get HBO until 1999, so it would all be new to me.
thx, i take your point about kids being able to clandestinely access adult material, but are you honestly blaming ‘sex and the city’ for the ‘girls gone wild’ thing? (and don’t even get me started on ggw, possibly the most vile, insideous, mysogonistic crap ever produced by possibly the biggest, sleeziest creep ever born…) i must say, as a woman i find that somewhat ridiculous and even naive; look to the proliferation and ‘mainstreamisation’ of pornography that saturates society rather than a woman’s tv comedy for the ‘ggw’ craze; it’s seems a bit rich coming from (i assume) a man to blame a woman’s show and not man’s porn
Yeah, CleanSteve, a real Joe Dante movie would be great. It would have to be a low-budget horror movie in the vein of The Howling or Piranha all over again, but I’m sure he’s got it in him. He’s one of my underrated favorites too.
Ha.