BYOB
Been obsessing on building a DP/30 video blog most of the day… my apoogies…
Here is some space for non-Watchman discussion.
April 18, 2024
BYOB
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BYOB: 235 Years Of Relative independence
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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
Got to see Casablanca on a big screen today, at the AFI Silver. Happy happy, joy joy!!!!!!
Casablanca on a big screen? Really? THAT’S MADNESS!
I’m a wild and crazy guy!
That’s why you are tops! TOPS!
After watching “The Duchess” on a plane this past weekend, I think I’ve officially had it with English-made period true stories that have truly fascinating set-ups, but then kind of go nowhere. I think the biggest offender of late was “Miss Potter,” which I really, really loved up until ***SPOILERZ*** the death of Ewan McGregor’s character. Then, the movie lost all energy and just kind of trundled to an end.
Similarly, I found that with Apted’s “Amazing Grace,” that had a pretty interesting first half that really took an unknown story and brought it to film – but then didn’t do much with it (in my opinion).
In the old days of Hollywood, of course, they’d just fictionalize the hell out of everything – even historical films (while I like the movie somewhat, John Ford’s “Young Mr. Lincoln” is downright hilarious in how it portrays the 16th president), but now in the Information Age, there seems to be a bent towards not fictionalizing as much – even if it’s at the cost of drama. Look at all the articles focused on what’s accurate and what’s dramatized in “Frost/Nixon.” I have to admit, I found the play absolutely thrilling (which is probably why I found the film lacking) and never thought once about what I knew must be changes made for dramatic reasons.
I guess what I’m asking is, are we ready to accept movies with big second and third act problems in order to witness more historically accurate period dramas?
SJR: I would go with a “yes” on this one. Let me be real broad with this one. Life occasionally has second and third act problems. So why not make movies that are more reflective of life? It might not make for a great story, but this is the reality TV age. Where countless reality TV shows seemingly have second and third act problems. So art has a tendency to imitate life even if it creates movies that fall apart 45 minutes in.
CHE is a reason why you should. But I had no second or third act problems. I don’t know why this amazing film isn’t being honored Academy wise.
To answer SJR’s question, I think we should let art be art, and let history be history, except for cases of blatant inaccuracy or propaganda.
Most reality shows are garbage – not the best example.
Casablanca is also showing on the big screen at the Arclight Hollywood tomorrow night at 8 pm as part of their AFI 100 Years…100 Movies series. I’m guessing the AFI connection means the Arclight will have the same print that Blackcloud saw.
I saw the 50-year anniversary re-release at a small theatre in Carbondale, Illinois about 15 years ago. Great experience, even though the print in that instance wasn’t great.
It has nothing to do with their content, jeff. It has to do with what they represent. Life some time sputters along. Much like those god awful shows seem to do after they have their REALITY TV CLIMAX.
I do agree that we should let history be history, but this has always been the problem with films about historical events. Those events are not always thrilling. They are not always heart-stopping, heart-throbbing, and jaw-dropping spectacles. Occasionally you the two sides come together, something is signed, and that’s it. Thus explaining why some people find history boring because it’s not non-stop action like the movies make it out to be.
Yancy, I’m sure it has to be a different print, since the AFI Silver is showing it again on Thursday and, more to the point, is in Maryland. Over here it was screened as part of romantic movies series, which also includes Eternal Sunshine, Annie Hall, and It Happened One Night.
I enjoyed Amazing Grace very much. One of my favorite movies of 2007. The Duchess was okay, but I was surprised at how “internal” it was. It really focused on the family dynamics and downplayed the whole celebrity angle. Interesting historical connection which you don’t get from the flick: the Grey who is the Duchess’ lover is the same fellow who, nearly five decades later, was largely responsible for getting the Great Reform Act passed in 1832. That’s quite an interesting career.
That is interesting Cloudy.
Blackcloud: What? We’re not all in L.A.?! 🙂
Having no idea what the AFI Silver actually was, I just assumed it was the name of one of their local venues here. But yeah, that print’s not likely to be winging across the country twice in three days. I suppose there’s a good chance that whatever print the Arclight is showing was struck from the same source though. Unfortunately, I probably won’t get to find out because of other things going on.
EMMA ROBERTS can now legally OWN.
Hooray!
(Ducks in case Eric Roberts just reverted to Paul Snider mode with shotgun in hand.)
Now on the clock: Julianna Rose Mauriello
Well, if you’re in Toronto, Casablanca plays at the Bloor cinema a few times every year. As does quite a number of classic
But really, I wish the screen at the Bloor was bigger, it’s one of those theatres where the screen gets smaller for widescreen, so I saw Australia there today and it was tiny.
Australia fucking sucked, btw.
Now a response from Baz Luhrman: “Oh fuck you! I tried my damnest with that bloody movie, and nothing worked. If I went with Naomi Watts. Everything would be different, but I just had to cast a friend. Whose forehead is rapidly increasing. Bloody age. That’s all filler. Just rent or buy the special edition DVD or Blu-ray. I swear to god in heaven. The movie wont suck once I fix it in post-post. JUST GIVE BAZZY A CHANCE!”
Oh yeah: the new Watchmen spots are good stuff.
wow….crazy as a loon…jus’ sayin’
OK now it is time to talk about something important and movie critic related. Your undivided attention is demanded:
So I’m watching some Entourage episodes on DVD and getting fucked up out of my fucking mind, and I happen upon one I’ve never seen, this awesome masterpiece where Johnny Drama wants a pot-themed trucker hat and E-Douche and Vinnie have to make nice with Walsh for some puff-piece mag article, and Walsh shows up OWNING that sawed-off BITCH E. by wearing a BRIGHT RED “SUITS SUCK” Shirt. FUNNIEST SHIT FUCKING EVER, WALSH 4 LIFE.
But then I realized THE DOUCHE-ASS CRITIC/INTERVIEWER is *****ELVIS MITCHELL***** making a CAMEO.
ELVIS FUCKING MITCHELL WAS ENTOURAGE? That DOUCHE?
I want to know what Elvis’ BIG CLAIM TO FAME IS that he’s some respected FILM THEORIST AND HISTORIAN AND CRITIC; Guy’s kind of a nerd, and I CAN’T BELIEVE HE GOT TO ROLL ON THE SET OF PUSSYRAGE, I mean ENTOURAGE, the MOST SQUACKTESTIC SHOW EVER, where I imagine anyone who was so inclined could BANG 475 MODELS IN ONE FUCKING DAY.
Why is ELVIS MITCHELL A FILM CRITIC? I AM SMARTER AND FUNNIER. I AM MORE AWESOME.
Like, I have reverence about critics but some douches I FUCKING KNOW I’m smarter and funnier and more interesting than; Like, I have reverence for Ebert and Dargis and LYONS and Wells– you know, the GOOD SHIT….
But some motherfuckers seem like straight up part timer CLOCK PUNCHERS who don’t swear or light the fucking place up or have any enthusiasm and go fucking apeshit for certain movies and CALL PEOPLE OUT FOR BEING A BITCH-ASS.
Elvis Mitchell just strikes me as a dorky GLAD-HANDER like that tool Byron Allen, all soft spoken and agreeable; HE DOESN’T EVEN TELL ANY FUCKING JOKES or COMMAND THE SCREEN and he’s NOT AGGRESSIVE ABOUT HIS OPINIONS.
He can’t be but like FIVE OR TEN YEARS OLDER THAN ME, but I AM SMARTER, I AM FUNNIER, I AM MORE FUCKING AWESOME, and for FUCK’S SAKE FUCKING SURE I’ve never been on the set of FUCKING ENTOURAGE where the PUSSY MUST FLOW LIKE FUCKING AQUAFINA.
Not that I’m saying the dude pulled anything off but TO BE ON THE SET OF FUCKING ENTOURAGE THE GREATEST FUCKING SHOW EVER is the AMERICAN DREAM, like CLIMBING MOUNT FUCKING EVEREST and I CAN’T FUCKING BELIEVE YOU RICH, SPOILED ASS MOVIE CRITIC FUCKS get to INTERVIEW CELEBRITIES and MEET FAMOUS PEOPLE.
Only famous people I ever met in 36 years have been athletes (WHO GIVES A FUCK, ATHLETES ARE FUCKING MEATHEAD IDIOT FUCKING TOOLS) and whatever hot chicks were on the set of whatever I extra’d on in like 1998, WHOO HOO.
If I was a FILM CRITIC and I GOT TO HANG ON THE SETS WITH MODELS and INTERVIEW ACTRESSES, I’d still be whacking it from an interview in 1999 and have a DECADE of catch-up jacking to pop off.
I WANT TO BE A FUCKING MOVIE CRITIC OR BE ON FUCKING SETS or better yet JUST BANG FUCKING FAMOUS WOMEN.
FAME FUCKING RULES ALL and I am BORED AS FUCK going to a FUCKING JOB where I sit at a desk and DO SOME BULLSHIT I FUCKING HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE it is BORING AS FUCK.
POLAND, YOU ARE THE LUCKIEST MOTHERFUCKER EVER.
WELLS, YOU ARE THE LUCKIEST MOTHERFUCKER EVER.
LOU Y. HAT CADDYSHACK THOMPSON, if you’ve ever INTERVIEWED ON FUCKING CELEB and GOTTEN PAID TO SAY LINES INSTEAD OF SOME EXTRA WORK SHIT, you should CAST YOUR FUCKING NUTSACK ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD because YOU ARE AN EXALTED GOD OF THE FUCKING WORLD and you best not FUCKING LEAVE L.A. because YOU HAVE STAKED YOUR FUCKING CLAIM HERE HOMES, KEEP ON THAT SHIT, DON’T BACK DOWN.
Even someone like BIG PERM who I generally don’t get along with and seems to dislike me immensely for NO real reason, this dude said he rolled with Shane from THE SHIELD at some film fest and THAT IS THE AWESOMEST SHIT EVER, the only fuckers I ever rolled with were some HAS BEEN FUCKS at some bullshit Valley acting class, or some D-list comics who’ve been on bullshit fucking sitcoms.
I want IMMEDIATE ADVICE HERE from people IN THE INDUSTRY. Like if this was the movie CRANK and someone TOLD ME I HAAAAAAAAAAAD to get my SAG card tommorrow, Feb 11th, HAD to go to audtions: What WOULD a headshot-less dayjob having motherfucker do? Where are open calls? How do you even get in the door?
I am serious. Imagine I am a DRUNKEN CHEV CHELIOS and someone threw down the GAUNTLET: Lex, get your SAG CARD within 24 hours, get cast in a movie in 24 hours, or you have to HANG YOURSELF LIKE DAVID KEITH IN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMEN, aka the MOST WATCHED SCENE EVER FOR ME.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
WHERE W0ULD YOU START?
WHERE WOULD I GO?
WHO WOULD I TALK TO?
I NEED A SAG CARD and a FILM ROLE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
Consider it a fucking PUZZLE or GAME; where would one EVEN START?
is this lex’s third strike?
Christ, instead of worrying about “strikes,” why don’t you just read the damn post in its entirety and recognize the incredible TRUTH and RESONANCE in it? It’s really specific and yet universal, and probably the main reason I piss people off in here is because these rants have the ring of truth… it is the unspoken, hidden, feared, shameful inner voice of almost every L.A. hanger on who’s not quite in the biz, or not quite where he wants to be, or not quite famous. It pisses people off because they don’t want to see THEMSELVES that way– out of state posers (probably with out of state plates) whose position in the biz is uncertain, people who talk the talk day and night selling themselves, laughing too hard at everyone’s jokes and crossing rooms to find who’s the most important.
It’s BRUTAL FUCKING HONESTY that says I’m not gonna make it, you’re probably not making it, and in all likelihood, YOU WILL NOT make it. You’re not famous. Your credits are probably bullshit. You’re probably overextended and as such the LAST THING ANYONE in this town wants to hear is that persistent, feared voice, THE VOICE OF LEX, that reminds them of their precarious lot in showbiz.
Think Tom Hanks or Michael Bay (or even a Leydon, Wells, or Poland) would sweat these rants? Nope. But they DEFINITELY strike an unpleasant chord anywhere where HANGERS-ON, CON MEN, LIARS, FAKES, and nobodies tread, bullshit artists with SPEC SCRIPTS that NOBODY ASKED FOR, pimping shit unsolicited and cold-calling like a cheap whore to suck as much as dick as possible to get in the gate.
Fuck all that.
The rants you blithely skip over because YOU DON’T LIKE CAPITAL LETTERS or YOU DON’T LIKE REPETITION are exposing your very rotten soul.
Tom Hanks would probably pay for you to go to rehab before he went back to his giant mansion, paid for by being a professional working actor who people actually like.
Lex and Me: making this blog interesting for like fucking ever!
I actually think LexG is making a bunch of great points and – though I know I’m taking my life in my hands – I’d like to speak to them.
When I moved to L.A., I worked a 9 to 5 and tried my hand at being a hanger-on. I was trying to get specs read, trying to meet with managers and producers, but I couldn’t do it. I was working that 9 to 5. It’s why actors are waiters – it’s an evening job.
So, I looked around and found the one evening/weekends job I thought I could get into – film reporting. Like with waitering, it gave me mountains of time to spend writing and meeting. I also took a job as a reader for a foreign sales company to get a couple of extra bucks, which just meant I had free access to tons of scripts and got to see why things did and didn’t get made.
The reporting had the side effect of getting me to interview producers, writers and directors and see how that job worked from the inside-out. Even moreso, when doing the reviewing side of it, I was forced to watch EVERY SINGLE LAST FUCKING MOVIE HOWEVER AWFUL OR GREAT came out and see everything from how they were marketed to how – sometimes – they became a monstrosity.
And, eventually, I wrote the right spec that got me the right assignment that let me quit and now I work as a screenwriter.
My answer to how to become Elvis Mitchell is to start trying to become Elvis Mitchell, see how it works from the inside-out, then bail out and do your own thing because Elvis Mitchell is already Elvis Mitchell.
Or a better metaphor might be, sneak onto Elvis Mitchell’s escalator and then hop off when it reaches the floor you want to be on – whether that’s hanging out on the set of “Entourage” or adapting obscure European horror novels that never get made into movies 🙂
I’m with SJR….in L.A., you are whatever you say you are if you get around the right people to have it resonate with. Having a 9-5 regular job makes it tough but it you can write for a site or start a blog or do *something* to get your name out there, you can get a foot in the door.
Just saw the logo for Inglourious Basterds. Just a question: why the incorrect spelling??
I’ve said this before, but it’s really hard to have any sympathy for Lex in his wail of anguish for ‘never making it’ because, by all accounts, he never even really did any of the work. No acting lessons, no going out for auditions, no screenplay submissions anywhere, just ranting and whining. He thinks he’s the voice of everybody who tried and couldn’t make it? Bullshit. He never tried.
Maybe it’s wrong of me to say this and I didn’t say it then because it wasn’t relevant…but that week at Sundance I was also invited to a special house party with Piper Perabo and hung out with her and Jeff Goldblum (awesome) but unfortunately also with some assholes from The Real World.
Just so everyone knows!
Oh, and about Inglorious Basterds…I really want to see that movie! Tarantino has disappointed me ONCE…Death Proof. Anything besides that, I’ve either loved or liked.
Christian, “Che” didn’t feel the Oscar love because the film glorifies a commie and we all know AMPAS are a bunch of reactionaries.
Speaking of “Che”, the Clairidge Cinema in Montclair NJ runs Part 1 starting this Friday.
Chucky, don’t you think it would be appropriate to claim that ‘Che glorifies a commie’ at some point AFTER you have seen it? Otherwise you’re just spreading around rumors and unsubstantiated information.
And I’m not clear on your stance – are you both anti-Commie and and anti-Academy? In the same degree?
Chucky, that is my feeling as well. I think some might think that the Academy was being too radical if they nominated CHE. Imagine what FOX News would do with that…”Tonite: Commies In Hollywood!”
It’s still an awesome achievement.
I figured the Academy ignored Che because (a) they didn’t watch it, (b) it didn’t get much awards traction from the distributor, (c) it was too long and tedious (even though I liked it), and then all the way down in D place is the politics.
David Poland: Once again, I ask you to PLEASE ban this piece of shit from your blog. Are you only concerned with hit counts? Because whatever you lose in traffic you will gain in respectability.
This borderline-racist, aggro-pathetic bullshit can not be the purpose of this site. Every time you give Lex a warning he comes back just as bad, if not worse.
Tell him to create his own blog, the fucking morons who champion him here will follow.
People, stop defending this sorry excuse for a human being and let him kill himself already.
So apparently Spielberg is going to be doing a Munich-style rapid turnaround, and will have Lincoln ready for this Christmas. Does anyone else think that the box office of Taken may have played into this sudden ramping up of a project that has been gestating for at least four years?
You can’t be Elvis Mitchell unless you’re black, dreadlocked, and named Elvis. He’s one film critic whose appearance and name you remember every time.
Lex, get some headshots. Unless you have good connections, you won’t likely get a SAG-eligible role without them.
AFI Silver saved my life. If any one of you LAers ever is in the DC area, definitely check it out, and Silver Spring.
Also Lex that was awesome, I’m only calling you PussyRage from now on. I would suggest that as a new handle when you get banned.
Kind of off topic, but Lazarus reminds me of the kind of guy who goes to a really crowded party by himself (or herself?), wanders around secretly wishing someone would talk to him (her), realizes after about a half-hour that no one is going to and that he (she) has no friends at the party, and so proceeds to seethe in the corner bitterly judging everyone, drinking more and more jungle juice to dull the pain and shame until finally they wander into an empty bedroom upstairs and hang themselves in the closet with a note that says “You all could have prevented this if you hadn’t been such pieces of shit!”
In other words, a lame, tedious wet blanket.
Regarding the trailer for “Inglorious Basterdeders,” or whatever stupid way it’s being spelled:
I’m officially done with Tarantino. That’s the most disappointing trailer I’ve seen in years.
Brad Pitt’s completely irritating, borderline-incomprehensible speech, which should finally end that argument over whether Tarantino can actually write or not.
That douchebag director of Hostel standing around like he’s some kind of bad ass.
A Hitler joke that feels so old and hackneyed, it would embarrass Mel Brooks.
A tone that panders to the worst elements of the revenge-minded, torture-loving teenage audience that thinks 300 is the best movie of the decade
And the fact that despite his last movie being an epic flop (with his name plastered all over it), he’s still the star of this trailer. You haven’t seen war until you’ve seen it through the eyes of Quentin Tarantino?????? Really????? Go fuck yourself.
And grow up, dude. There’s a reason why the Coens, Fincher, PT Anderson, and Aronofsky win awards while you’re busy hanging out with the director of fucking Hostel.
Such a disappointment.
My thoughts on IB trailer:
First off I read the script, or what I was told by my source pretty difinitive evidence was the shooting script. And it closely mirrored this trailer, so I come from a different pov. BUT, as DP has written about extensively scripts are not movies and neither are trailers and I agree.
That being said, IB looks like another fanboy movie. Probably a well-shot, well-cut fanboy movie, but one neither the same. I’m also highly suspicious of Pitt in the lead role. But if the film follows the script it’s honestly a co-lead. There are at least three main characters in this film.
Eli Roth’s casting was going to get a big backlash from the start.
I honestly don’t know what to make of it. I wasn’t on the Kill Bill or Grindhouse bandwagon either.
Laz: do you bring the counts? Doubt it. I bring them, Lex brings, and the rest of you do not. We stir the drink.
However, your rant, is fucking bullshit. It once again represents the problem that I have with many of you. You are just fucking mean. Post whatever you want about Lex, but he’s not mean. Heck; I referred to someone as a vag. Is that mean? Hell no; compared to how they referred to me.
So if you motherfuckers want some of us to be kind. STOP BEING FUCKING MEAN ASSHOLE. I have stated this before, and I am now stating it again.
Stop being mean. Laz has gone over the fucking line. Ban this piece of shit, and let the rest of us discuss whatever the fuck we discuss.
If I’m “anti-Commie and and anti-Academy” then the 2 “Che” fans make this worth their while …
Who’s first to conquer living space
It’s in-con-trovertible
That the first to conquer living space
Is the Cas-tro convertible …
I’m also underwhelmed the Inglourious Basterds trailer, especially since Tarantino’s trailers are usually so appealing. The casting is odd, the monologue is glib, and it has the feeling of another film where Tarantino is indulging his fetishes.
I think Pitt is a good actor, but Roth can’t act, Novak is the weakest actor on The Office, and I don’t believe for a second that either Novak or Levine could physically scalp someone. Odd– Tarantino has always been able to populate his films with great actors.
Oh yeah… if you cannot tell… it’s called being facetious. I just have a problem with people being referred to as PIECE OF SHIT, then stating that same person should DROP DEAD because of A POSTING ON A BLOG? REALLY LAZ? REALLY? SERIOUSLY?
Hey, don’t be mean to IO! The guy who likes to call people cunts when he disagrees with them!
IO, you sound like a whiny baby. And if Laz went over the line, what is it when I suggest that I’d openly celebrate your drunken mother rolling over on top of you after a a 20 second blowjob which is the longest you could hold out before blowing your wad, and then smothering you to death?
Perm: Hey, lay off the mom references. Not classy. (OK, funny. But not classy.)
LexGesus
If you honestly hung out with some of these stars you’d be less than impressed after awhile. Some are fun down to earth and some are neurotic shits wrapped in a cancer coat. Just like any social group. Clooney and Pitt are complete assholes no matter what appearance they give off in interviews, while people like Frances McDonald and Mark Ruffalo are just beautiful real people. You’re way better off fantasizing because the reality will have you dangling like David Keith faster than you dropping a load at Alba’s youtube stare down clip.
You want some fame in 24 hours. This is how you do it.
Film your drunken rants to cam and post the youtube links here. If you’re entertaining then you might get some traction. Or at least a talking head spot on one of those E! specials, like 10 Hottest Teen Squacks.
I kinda liked the Inglourious Basterds trailer. I am a fan of Tarantino and thought Kill Bill was brilliant, which most of the posters on this blog disagree with. Eli Roth’s presence in it does have me worried though.
I know the last thing people want to discuss is more Batman news but Nolan just decided not to jump right in for 3 and is directing another movie instead. IO, your thoughts?
JBD: Sorry, but Brad Pitt has done too much for New Orleans for him to be anything but a great human being. And George Clooney has been too gracious to me, without any real need to be, for him to be anything but another great human being. If you tell me they are assholes, I have to ask: Were they assholes to you, personally? If so, well, again, sorry, I can only assume you deserved it. But, then again, I’ve met them. I haven’t met you.
i have to agree with leydon on all counts…i’ve interviewed both clooney and pitt many times (1-on-i’s, round-tables and tv) and they have never once been anything less than gracious and charming…and genuine…i would also like to know the circumstances when they were assholes (just out of curiosity)….
I met Brad Pitt once too…he was a real nice guy, and I was a total nobody…not interviewing him or working on the film at all. Just happened to be on set.
Joe, I’m afraid I can’t care about being classy as long as I’m being at least mildly amusing. But…I like you, so I’ll lay off IO’s mother starting right now. Hold on, let me just climb off her…this may take awhile, both to scale the mountain of blubber, and my hands and feet keep sticking to her skin because of all the half eaten cupcakes strewn all over her torso. I’ll get back to you guys later!
Joe you’re press right. You work for Variety right.
Yes I bet they were very gracious to you, giving you more face time with them. Let me know when you’ve seen them being real away from journalists pens and cameras. You know, with the regular little people. And don’t get me started about celebs and their causes. Look I’m sure his developer friends love the extra work coming their way. The reality is that he’s a front person for a org of ‘hidden’ investors. Same as other celebs who are part of others larger plans. Yes good work does comes out of it and for that I understand your happiness. But don’t be so naive that there aren’t other agendas at play. I’m sure a lot of unknown people have also done stellar work for The Big Easy, all without the same amount of column inches. Some of them work tirelessly for years. Habitat for Humanity has built over a hundred homes in New Orleans. St. Bernard has built around 150 homes. Brad has built only 6 at last count. Do the math and then guess who got more magazines covers for their ‘good cause’.
Now go and watch Salma breastfeed another starving kid again.
Well, I don’t know if a single “real world” anecdote about Clooney proves anything, but I met him in a friggin’ Taco Bell once and he was very nice. True, this was a long time ago (he was still on ER), and I didn’t slobber over him, just said something like “Hi, love your work, I’m a fellow Kentuckian.” But he smiled real big, thanked me, patted my shoulder. In my experience, celebs only get that deer-in-the-headlights look or cop an attitude if they sense you’re about to make a scene and draw extra attention to them.
JBD,
I’d say it would depend on what the circumstances of your Pitt/Clooney encounters were. I think most celebs, like the rest of us, tend to act one way around people we know well and feel comfortable around, another way in work situations (which for Pitt and Clooney is what interviews with press are) and another way around people we don’t know at all.
I have no idea what it’s like to be a Pitt or a Jolie or a Clooney … constantly harassed by asshole paparazzi everywhere you go, unable to even pop up to Starbucks for a coffee or take your kids to the park without someone taking your picture, people staring at you everywhere you go, random fans approaching you all the time for a picture or an autograph when you’re just trying to have dinner out or whatever. I get that they choose to have careers that put them in that position, and they benefit by having tons of money, but man, I’d hate that, seriously. And if I ever had to deal with it, I might occasionally be an asshole about it too. I’m just saying.
And Lazurus.
Much as I sometimes agree with you about Drunken-Lex, Sober-Lex (and occasionally, Mildly-Intoxicated-Lex) does have some astute and insightful observations. And due respect to your opinion of him, but David does temp-ban Lex when needed, and otherwise, he adds color and entertainment value to this blog, however much he can get on my nerves at times. Nonetheless, as someone who’s had a couple of very close friends commit suicide, I have to add that your comment was out of line.
I don’t care how much of an asshole someone is (and trust me, Lex is a long, long ways from being the Biggest Asshole on the Internet), suggesting that someone should kill themselves because you don’t like their rant in the comments of a blog is … well, kind of an asshole-ish thing to do.
Again, just saying.
Kim you have a nice way with words. blanket statements like the ones I made are ridiculous but my case might be helped if I could get into more detail. And if I ever meet you or Joe in person, I’ll provide the context from which the generalization sprang from.
Lazurus, it is harsh to hope someone kills themself. Probably best to just wish them an accidental death, like maybe you could hope a satellite would fall on Lex.
JBD: The few times I’ve been in contact with George Clooney — well, I seriously doubt he knew I had any connection to Variety. (Remember: I’m a stringer, not a staffer.) I mean, unless somebody told him I was one of the first film critics who praised him in “Red Surf.” But you can see our three close encounters if you want to look at YouTube.
As for Brad Pitt: I don’t care precisely how many houses he’s responsible for building in my home town. However many he did, it’s more than you and most other people helped build. That counts for a lot in my book. It’s been a while since the two of us sat down to talk. But when we did, he was very polite and professional with me.
Look: If Pitt’s done something to you, personally, or if Clooney has done something bad to you, personally, let’s hear it. But if you want to introduce gossip, well, excuse me, but that simply doesn’t jibe with my first-hand experience.
HWV: I am not mean. I have never been mean. Vicious maybe, but never mean. Again; I get it worse than anyone on this blog, and when I retaliate in kind. You all start getting snippy. Seriously; you attacking my mom is nothing new around here, but I hope you enjoy doing so. You miserable small dicked… cunt.
Monco: PRESTIGE. Do not play.
Kim sums it up, but this blog is populated with people who overreact to everything. Again; no one ever defends. All they do is attack me. So if you got a fucking problem, then stop being a mean asshole. If not; Merry Xmas you lousy cunts!
Kim was talking about Lex, not you.
The thing is I would expect a certain level of attitude at other places, but for whatever reason I thought The Hot Blog was a bit more… mature. Alas, at times it resembles AICN.
Kamel: Too true, I’m afraid. BTW: Seriously, are you OK? I truly hope no one close to you has been harmed and/or displaced by the fires. I hope they catch the bastards who started the fires, and punish them severely. In the meantime: I have friends and relatives Down Under, and I’ll remember them in my prayers.
“Who’s first to conquer living space
It’s in-con-trovertible
That the first to conquer living space
Is the Cas-tro convertible …”
Chucky, this is the second (or third?) time that you’ve posted this little ditty, and while I’m sure you gave yourself a good chuck-le, I don’t mind saying that I find it meaningless. Do you like Castro and Che? Do you not like Castro and Che? This jingle spreads no light on the subject either way.
It’s time to get LIT THE FUCK UP!
I WANT TO WORK AT THE FUCKING REELZ CHANNEL. They should have a show where they have me review movies WHILE I’m getting drunk, like I could start talking about UNDERWORLD/LYCANS while I down three shots in quick succession and then by the time I get to UNIVITED I’m speed-bounding beers and acting/looking like CHEVY in Modern Problems when did that giant fucking LINE.
Re: Inglourious Basterds. I agree that the trailer is not up to Tarantino’s usual standards, but it also doesn’t give much of the movie away. Having read the script, I would actually put The Basterds as closer to secondary characters. And, for those of you concerned about Brad Pitt’s speech, what you see here is actually excerpts from a much longer speech, so the usual rhythm of Tarantino’s dialogue is broken up. I get the impression he didn’t cut this trailer, but I could be wrong (obviously).
We get a brief glimpse of the main character, Shoshana, as a young girl, but no shots of her older version. I also think that the main bad guy (other than Hitler) is missing in action.
I still don’t know what kind of vibe the film is going to have, but it is an INSANE script. No trailer is going to do it justice at all.
Joe, thanks for the kind words. It’s sad reading and watching it all unfold, but thankfully I don’t know anyone who was harmed.
In fact it was Sam the Koala that got me the most. 🙁 poor gal.
awww, kam, my heart is breaking for you guys 🙁
i think i can safely say you have the deepest sympathies of our entire country (and we’ve sent a bunch of firefighters your way, too, god i hope it helps!)
BUMPED so EVERYONE can see LAZARUS’ *class act* post above.
EVERYONE needs to remember this. LAZARUS, please post your real life info so people know who would say such a classy thing.
Is there a way to follow LAZ’s IP address based on his ABOVE POST?
EVERYONE must read LAZARUS’ SUICIDE encouragement above.
IT’S ON HIM.
^^ YEP YEP DIS GON BE BUMPED! All day, EVERY DAY, so everyone can see the MORAL HIGH GROUND of one poster LAZARUS (aka BITCHARUS.)
At least explain the SCREEN NAME LAZARUS. Is it a religious thing? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.
WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH DAVID, LEXY BAD.