May 8, 2024
BYOB
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BYOB: 235 Years Of Relative independence
BYOB Weekend: Hop, An April Fool’s Gag?
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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” â 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 â 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 â he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” â and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging â I was with her at that moment â 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 namedâ” “Yeah, sure â 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 Iâm on the phone with you now, after all thatâs 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 didnât seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. Thereâs not a case of that. He wasnât using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had â if that were what the accusation involved â 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. Iâm not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, âYou know, itâs not this, itâs thatâ? Because â let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, thatâs what it lacked. Thatâs 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
Hello!
hello
ello
lo
lo
How big do we think Return to Witch Mountain will do, and how much of a chunk, if any, will it take out of the b.o. of that film being mentioned in all the other threads?
Disney’s promoting the hell out of it, and even though I’m older than the target demo I think it looks quite fun.
Finally caught “The International.” Though the first half dragged a bit, that Guggenheim gun battle was worth seeing on the big screen. Also, alongside “Traitor,” fun to see non-Bond/Bourne international thrillers filming in truly international locations.
That said, if I was hiring an international assassin, I wouldn’t use the one guy with a leg brace that required easily traceable, custom-made orthopedic shoes that he wore to each fucking job AND whose brace meant that he was easy to find when he went through metal detectors at international airports.
Also saw “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li” last night (and actually ran into DP, who seems to have been at the “Watchmen” screening also at the Grove). Holy shit – Chris Klein’s Charlie Nash character should cameo in everything. Seriously – “You don’t want a ticket to this dance…NASH OUT!!”
Oh, and “suck” on the Horton Foote news. Caught “The Trip to Bountiful” for the umpteenth time last year at the Goodman Theater’s Horton Foote Fest in Chicago and just marveled at that amazing, well-thought show. Was around Foote a bit when we were working with the same producer a couple of years back (for him, on a project I still hope sees the light of day – “Durham Grill” aka “Main Street” that John Doyle is set to direct with Amy Adams/Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and he just came off as a workhorse. A total gentleman, but someone who was never going to rest on their laurels and who just really felt he had something to prove, Pulitzer, two Oscars (two decades apart!) for screenwriting aside. It’s easy to compare him to Ray Bradbury – somebody who just couldn’t stop typing and just wanted to tell stories in whatever medium (film, stage, television, prose) would have him.
Doubly pissed now I missed the “Dividing the Estate” revival by a handful of weeks.
Saw Blindness yesterday. It wasn’t as depressing as I thought it was going to be!
MarkVH posted about it in the spoilers BYOB but that PUBLIC ENEMIES trailer = FUCK YEAH. I might need to delay my self-hanging till after that drops.
Just too bad it’s not set in Miami or L.A. with like clubs and skyscrapers and shit instead of a bunch of old dusty buildings and Miller’s Crossing fedoras.
And don’t know why this is odd to me, but shooting a period film in obvious digital format just seems… strange?
Like, it gives the impression that someone’s there on the scene film the shit… WITH A CONSUMER HD VIDEO CAMERA… in 1933.
Just odd.
RIP Horton Foote
http://movingpictureblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/rip-horton-foote-1916-2009.html
Lex: it’s the camera Mann uses. If he used a different camera. The film might look different. It does give a “YOU ARE THERE” feel to me in the trailer. Which is cool for a period-piece in the 21st century.
Let’s not go sucking each other’s dicks yet, Curtis. That’s not exactly a new idea.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057982/
It’s awesome that Mann goes through the difficult task of making a movie thatthey spend all that money on, and use very expensive equipment, so it can come out to look like a low budget Discovery Channel special. Looks like a college movie at times!
i tend to agree with lex luthor’s sentiment re: the use of dv for ‘enemies’, but trailers are trailers and if anyone can make the format work for him it’s that brilliant bastard mann
If he’s still using the Viper or a similar camera in that line. The film will look like Miami Vice set in the 1930s. Which is fine by me.
well, i must admit i’m a huge fan of milius’ ‘dillinger’ with oats as the titular, hung-like-a-horse antihero, so mann and depp have some big shoes to fill
Yeah, it’s pretty tough to follow up Oates. He is the MAN.
WARREN OATES FUCKING OWNS, the greatest line reading in ALL OF CINEMA is in BLUE THUNDER when he bags on SCHEIDER about “THAT SILLY LITTLE TWIT OVER IN ENCINO.” ALFREDO GARCIA commands you like FUCKING GENERAL ZOD HIMSELF.
NOW ON to the TOPIC AT HAND, encouraged by the SMOKE MONSTER:
HOLY FUCKING SHIT, I just saw a TV SPOT for ADVENTURELAND, where THE GODDESS OF THE FUCKING UNIVERSE, AKA KRISTEN STEWART– IS IN A POOL, WET, HOT AND AWESOME, and they show her CLIMBING UP THE POOL LADDER with her legs all wet and her LONG T riding up her ass.
TOTAL WHOLESALE ALL-TIME MEGARULAGE, WHO KNEW?
I thought this was some smart-ass weak-ass BULLSHIT where the STEW was in like two scenes and frumping, but I should’ve known, YOU DO NOT CAST THE STEW and not take advantage of her ETHEREAL PERFECTION AND BEAUTY.
ADVENTURELAND, MARCH 27H, I AM GOING TO SEE IT 34 TIMES IN THE FIRST SIX HOURS, AND START FUCKING BOWING IN THE AISLE WHEN K-STEW COMES ON SCREEN, and especially WHEN SHE’S IN THE SWIMMING POOL.
K-STEW 4 EVER.
Also, if anyone has a BONER or has popped four VIAGRA PILLS along with their six Solo Cups of Jim Beam and 17 beers (AS I HAVE), I would HIGHLY FUCKING RECOMMEND going over to YAHOO where they have a FEATURE STORY about MEGAN HOT-ASS FOX, the QUEEN OF ALL BONERS in ALBA’S ABSENCE, and BOW as you read about her TWO UPCOMING COMIC BOOK MOVIES.
I never heard of the heroes in question but they should make a movie with MEGAN FOX called “BONERWOMAN.”
It is physically impossible to look at or think of MEGAN FOX or JESSICA ALBA and NOT get a TOTAL RAGER.
HELLZ YES.
K STEW FOE LIFE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfjNnGnTslM
SING MY PRAISES AT THE WORST BLOG IN AMERICA:
http://lexowns.blogspot.com/
hey WHEN DOES THAT TATU MOVIE STARRING MISCHA BARTON OPEN?
I AM GOING TO WEAR A RUBBER TO THE THEATER WHEN I SEE THAT SHIT.
ROLAND JOFFE: GREATEST CAREER COMEBACK EVER, from BORING WEAK SHIT to filming HOT TRIM.
JOFFE FOR THE WIN.
SQUACK IN THE SACK
FROM FRONT TO BACK.
YES.
I’m on tv right now! Weird flipping around and seeing something you did years ago.
By the way, I’d like to reveal myself as Sylvester Stallone.
Sly.
You should have done more Copland, less jingoism. There still may be time for you.
I like money too much.
And come on, SOMEONE has to give Dolph some work!
“You should have done more Copland, less jingoism. There still may be time for you.”
I think the decision was due to his ill-advised hiring of me as his life coach at the time.
Hi. I’m Burt Reynolds.
I’m disappointed in you too Burt. The Boogie Nights experience was not well played.
Eric Roberts here. The Dark Knight was my Sin City. Now will somebody give me a Wrestler already? Thanks. And keep your filthy eyes off my daughter.
from “Strangely Believe It”
Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Dolph (gasp) Lungren are all in THE EXPENDABLES (2010).
SLy and Burt are not. (But Arne is).
I mean SLy is in it, Burt is not.
too much coincidence, you all working on the set?
I mean SLy is in it, Burt is not.
too much coincidence, you all working on the set?
EMMA ROBERTS OWNS.
I am going to throw down something for those of us who aren’t going to see the comic book movie this weekend: I was thinking of Michael Caine today, and it hit me: This dude is, seriously, the greatest film actor of his generation. He turns 76 this month. Here are ten random credits: ALFIE. GET CARTER. THE LAST VALLEY. THE IPCRESS FILES. HANNAH AND HER SISTERS. THE CIDER HOUSE RULES. THE QUIET AMERICAN. EDUCATING RITA. THE HAND. And — no damn kidding — THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. Now, who can match that in terms of versatility and consistency?
respect to Caine.
But my favorites in his + or – 10 generation are Jeanne Moreau and Harry Dean Stanton.
and sidney poitier
OK, Lota: Name 10 Stanton credits that match Caine’s in terms of versatility. Seriously. (And, mind you, I think Stanton was superb in Paris, Texas).
Of course, Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine were SO DAMN GOOD together in The Wilby Conspiracy…
it’s a matter of taste Joe, not a contest. I much prefer Stanton’s resume despite lack of Oscar bait. I adore him.
Where the lillies bloom (sad southern drama), straight time, escape from NY, Alien, repo man, paris,texas, last temptation of christ, wild at heart, the rose, the green mile
Sorry, Lota, that doesn’t match up. Next.
My personal preference, with the strong caveat that I have seen far fewer movies from this period than Joe has, would be for Paul Newman and/or Peter O’Toole and Faye Dunaway and/or Jane Fonda.
(please don’t hit)
Newman is a respectable alternative. Seriously.
Joe,
I’ll happily put my Gene Hackman up against your Michael Caine for the win.
Though Caine is a true PI..
The Muppet Christmas Carol is made of win.
I would choose Newman over Caine but then again I would give Newman the All-time title with Kirk Douglas coming in second, Caine would have to make the top ten mixed in with Pacino and some others. Though I haven’t seen nearly enough films to make an accurate ranking of all the different ages.
And if we were to seperate out comediens, I would say that Bill Murray is the most talented comic actor working today, with Peter Sellers taking the all time title.
Oh thank God, finally a thread I can post to. I was about to beat LexG to David Keith’s shower after catching up with this week’s Hot Blog.
I am totally with Joe Leydon in re: Caine. I was watching a weak Harry Palmer entry last weekend (Billion Dollar Brain, indifferently directed by Ken Russell — WTF?!) and had this exact conversation with my wife.
A few more incredible performances, even in otherwise forgettable films, to add to the list:
Deadfall (featuring a caper timed to coincide with an orchestral performance of a Hermannesque John Barry score)
Sleuth (in which he SHAMES Olivier as film actor)
The Man Who Would Be King
Deathtrap
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
A Shock to the System
Noises Off…
Last Orders
The Prestige
Unbelievable range, and towering performances in every decade since the 60’s. Newman is a close second, especially when you take into consideration his underrated comic chops in movies like Slap Shot. But Newman, as a leading man, never got to show anything like Caine’s range.
Might I add that lots of people, sans irony, think that Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge is the best on film.
And I left off Zulu because it seemed like overkill, but to me, that’s his breakout role. I don’t think he would have landed Alfie if he didn’t look like Adonis in that film.
I would personally take that list of Stanton movies that Lota posted over Caine any day.
But Caine ALWAYS delivers…although I don’t really see him as a guy of incredible range as others seem to. His movies were a huge range, but I guess I see him using the same speaking cadence and style in a lot of his movies. From Alfred to Scrooge to Alfie, he always seems in the same sort of Caine style.
Match that to, say, DeNiro going from Godfather to Taxi Driver to King of Comedy to Frankenstein to Cape Fear. That’s real range.
I love Harry Dean Stanton and agree that the films you mentioned do show great range for DeNiro (I am a particular fan of King of Comedy and think that his performance in Frankenstein is underrated… but Cape Fear is execrable, easily the worst Scorsese film I have ever seen, and DeNiro’s brutality doesn’t come close to the menace Mitchum exudes in the original).
But I’m not sure I understand your logic… isn’t Stanton open to the same characterization of “using the same speaking cadence and style in a lot of his movies” (you know, kind of mumbly and sleepy-eyed and wearily detached)? As far as DeNiro is concerned, if you have a preference for method acting, there’s no way to resolve what “real range” is in comparison to Caine.
For me, it comes down to how many different styles of film and filmmaking the actor in question can create a convincing performance in. Joe Leydon and I named at least 20 different films, all of widely divergent styles and tones, in which Caine seems comfortable and hits all the right notes. Stanton seems to inhabit similar roles in similarly-toned films throughout his career, although obviously you could name exceptions that prove the rule, and while I respect the range of films DeNiro chooses, I don’t see a lot of stage adaptations, screwball comedies, WWII actioners, or Woody Allen masterpieces in his repertoire.
I guess the test would be if you can line up ten films of either actor that match the range of tone and style that Joe and I have offered. I don’t think the list that Lota offered matches up — at least four of those roles feel pretty similar to me, and even his Paul in Last Temptation feels like the only things missing are a trucker hat and a cigarette — but I’m willing to admit that differences in taste have a lot do with preferences for certain actors.
I love Harry Dean, but isn’t this a bit apples and oranges re Caine, because of the simple fact that H.D. almost never gets to play a lead?
Another great Caine role: The Whistle Blower, a somewhat forgotten film. He’s also kind of awesome in his supporting roles in Mona Lisa, Blood and Wine and Little Voice. The hits just keep on comin’.
I didn’t say Stanton has range…he doesn’t. But I prefer that list of movies to Caines.
I forgot about Noises Off, Damn he was charming in that film. Educating Rita as well. He can make it look so effortless.
Have to admit I loathed the remake of Slueth but I can put that all on Branaghs head. And for as terrible as the Statement you could tell Caine was trying to the root of the character. It made an otherwise shit film bearable to watch.
I would be perfectly willing to split this by the Atlantic and give Newman and Caine regional titles.
And Bordwell, I’m talking about the ACTING range, not movie range. Tom Cruise has a huge range of different movies he’s been in, but I’d say he doesn’t have a ton of range. Same with Brad Pitt.
I discount stage adaptations because it doesn’t matter what the movie was adapted from. But you could argue DeNiro has done a classical piece..Frankenstein. And he has done screwball comedies…that’s the bulk of what he’s been doing lately. But never better than Midnight Run. And I’m glad DeNiro never did Woody Allen, I hate those movies.
well
there are some who would say that movies where deNiro *doesn;t* play the mumbly dude are complete crap (I wouldn;t entirely disagree with that), and he has done some extraordinarily bad movies which must have been for the money or something. I think his best is King of COmedy, just for showing a idfferent side and for showing that Jerry isn;t a slapstick imbecile on camera all the time.
DeNiro to me is the great actor of his generation, again IMUHO. I also think Hackman is up there with Deniro (also despite much horrible crap on his resume also) and older dudes that I so mentioned are great *to me*.
I LIKE Michael Caine alot, but I always see him as MICHAEL CAINE or some annoying Brit hippy or smart-mouthed Cockney mod as he has so often played. He has too much of a personality that comes through. He has been in Oscar bait, but no one can convince me that he is somehow a “better” actor than Stanton and in better movies. Oscar flicks are not better movies to me…most of them are tepid at best. In fact Caine has done so so many bad films, that I really admire Stanton’s TV and movie history better.
Just because Stanton isn’t a lead most of the time, doesn;t make him any less of an actor. I should have specified I wasn’t considering LEAD only.
I hope your ‘doesn’t match up, next’ was you being facetious, as I would never take you for being dismissive or condescending of another person’s opinions Joe. đ
I also think one of the greatest, but unsung, of his generation is Jeff Bridges, and glad that SAG gave James Earl Jones something. Too bad Ossie Davis didn’t have as many chances either, may he RIP, as he was class as well. Bubba HoTep.
Don’t even get me started on the women. None of them get rewarded properly, including Jeanne Moreau, the greatest to me.
i love, bridges, lota, the overlooked quiet achiever ranks right up there in my book
oops what a mess, can i do that again?:
i love bridges, lota, the often overlooked quiet achiever ranks right up there in my book
I’m waiting for TRON to come out in Blu-ray so i watch Jeff Bridges take his sweaty shirt off.
I don’t remember that bit when I was a kid, but over course after the DVD came out I discovered that nice part of the movie.
i bet ‘tron’ will look sweet-as on blu-ray