Has this been the most oddly-busy-with-real-news end of August in movie news history?
Wandering LA, especially with the heat, is like wandering through a Quaalude sundae. Yet, there is a lot of stuff happening – including a more-active-than-usual Toronto prep – that isn’t just people dumping news, movies, staff, etc.
Triple Option on: BYO Oscar
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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” — 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
First Hillary, now Avatar. I thought this was funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAPyipuT-Jg
It’s like a standup telling a joke, then telling the same joke over and over again for the rest of his set with slightly different intonations. Zzzzzzzzzzz.
Have you seen that crazy keyboard cat? How about that Star Wars kid? Pretty funny stuff! What about that 9/11 tourist guy? I laughed till I cried.
LOL Catz!
Something I posted back in 2005:
“A few years ago, I interviewed the great German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl after he’d starred in (and directed)Conversation with the Beast, in which he played (no, I’m not making this up) a 103-year-old Adolf Hitler. He said, more in sorrow than in jest, he thought that, within another 50 years or so, people would be thinking of Hitler the same way we today think of someone like Atilla the Hun or Genghis Kahn. In other words, like some vaguely understood, all-purpose bogeyman. Future generations might appreciate he was a bad guy, but the precise nature of his evil will be forgotten, or at least not widely known. I can’t say I disagreed with Mueller-Stahl.”
Now, I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t laughed at any of these Downfall video gags on YouTube and elsewhere. This one actually is funnier than some others I’ve seen. But I find myself wondering: Maybe it won’t take 50 years…
On the other hand: Maybe they screen things like this for Hitler in hell, to make him suffer even more. If so, then, hey, bring ’em on.
“It’s like a standup telling a joke, then telling the same joke over and over again for the rest of his set with slightly different intonations. Zzzzzzzzzzz.”
What do you call your act?
The Aristocrats!
(Though I agree. Can’t anyone at least find another scene from another foreign film to do this with at this point?)
poland on aots live as i type…. pretty funny take on disney/marvel….
Another random thought: Was there some numerical significance to it being 2009 in movies this year? District 9, 9, Nine. Is there no remake of 10 on the horizon for next year? I know Joe’s affinity for some of these MILFs. Who’d you put in a remake Joe? And by the way Joe, just wondering who you think is the sexiest actress over 50?
Sexy actress over 50? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
18-24 are The Hot Years. That said, “10” is an excellent movie, and for some inexplicable reason (I was barely a teenager) back in the day I used to be a huge fan of all Blake Edwards’ thinly-veiled “Middle Aged Hollywood Rich Guy Has a Midlife Crisis and Cheats on His Wife In Malibu” movies.
The world is a poorer place for Julie Andrews never having made a comeback movie, like feuding rappers do, called FRYING PAN, in which a beloved female British Movie Star gets sick and fucking tired of her awesome director husband ogling young chicks and making movies about the joys of cheating and the thrill of blowing off the wife to down shots with Robert Webber.
Actally, I think someone really is planning to do a remake of 10. But I don’t think they would cast a MILF — more like just an ILF — in the title role. Hottest babe over 50? Where can I begin? Helen Mirren… Sigourney Weaver… Holly Hunter… Angela Bassett… Susan Sarandon… Diane Keaton… Bebe Neuwirth… Whoever’s on the cover of More magazine this month…
Maybe they could do a flick about a middle aged overweight supermodel obsessed white guy who spends his nights jerking off to cardboard cutouts, until one day in a whole meet cute scene, he is mistaken for a movie set security guard, and gets the shit fucked out of him in a vicious three way by an angry Susan Sarandon and Sigourney Weaver, and afterward, damaged so badly by this encounter, he goes on a killing spree, killing only women under the age of 24, because somewhere in his twisted psyche he realizes that they have absolutely nothing to offer. Just a thought Lexg. I’m gifting you this screenplay. Start typing.
That was unpleasant.
Also: I’m not middle-aged.
I could see them remaking 10 with Megan Fox.
Well, LexG, middle-aged is a relative term, right? I mean, I have been referred to as middle-aged — but, hell, I’m 57. The only way I could be middle-aged would be if I live to be 114.
If you’re a day over 35, in this generations eyes, you’re middle-aged Lexg. Deal with it.
“I could see them remaking 10 with Megan Fox.”
GOOD IDEA. Scratch that: GREAT IDEA.
To the powers that be, it’s been said that I have a real DUDLEY MOORE QUALITY. Keep that in mind.
Also, they should remake A FINE MESS but instead of the WORLD CLASS COMIC TEAM of DANSON AND MANDEL, they should make it like DANE COOK and JEREMY PIVEN. GOOD IDEA.
Also, don’t I get an award or something. Someone actually said something that Lexg finds unpleasant.
If I get a slot with Megan Fox in Toronto, I will think to myself, WWLA?
I’m trying to imagine Mrs. David reading this thread… asking her husband, “You want to get a WHAT with Megan Fox?” Hope the living room couch is a convertrible.
If I was in a remake of 10 with Megan Fox it would be more like “5 and a quarter” if you know what I mean.
Only 5 and a quarter, eh? That explains a lot…
(Sorry, Lex, couldn’t resist. I’m a bad person.)
Joe I think Lex is referring to seconds not inches.
Martin, I’m a bad person, but you’re worse. And, mind you, I mean that as a compliment.
“they should make it like DANE COOK and JEREMY PIVEN.”
And throw in Franco and Ciccio while you’re at it.
michelle pfeiffer…jus’ sayin’……
I’ll add on Julianne Moore, that blonde chick from Truman Show, most of the Desperate Housewives, and if I was really desperate Raquel Welch looks pretty good these days.
So how much money will Harvey Weinstein pay for a number two vote? For a number three vote? Will he pay out for a number four vote, or just for two and three votes? Which studios or dependents are likely to outbid Weinstein’s going rate for two, three and four votes?
This new ranking rule is going to result in so much graft it’s going to be absolutely amazing. the major papers should be appointing investigative reporters right now to try to follow and expose the graft as it happens.
good times, good times, the oscar race just became more entertaining. Biggest petty cash reserve, FTW!
For some reason I didn’t see Julianne Moore as an older woman, so I looked her up on IMDB. She’s 49. Man she looks good for her age. I remember her standing in all her glory in SHORT CUTS, working that iron, heating things up. She would have been about 33 at the time, but I’m sure she’s still got it. It seems that the more established actresses are more open to showing some skin these days. Diane Keaton, Kate Winslet, even Kathy Bates. (The last one I could have done without.)
Really?
http://twitter.com/HarveyFierstein
“And throw in Franco and Ciccio while you’re at it.”
Christian, you really think Lex has a clue who they are?
Sorry, Lex, but the Bible says you are middle-aged. To be specific, Psalm 90:10. That’s what Dante had in mind when he wrote the immortal opening words of Inferno, “Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita . . .” And that, more or less, is where the idea of being middle-aged comes from. So don’t feel bad if someone says you’re middle-aged because you’re 36. It’s literally true. Whether it’s figuratively true, on the other hand, is entirely up to you.
BULLSHIT.
I’m a man so MIDDLE-AGED it like 60.
For women MIDDLE-AGED is 35.
FACT.
Also: I watched TYSON tonight and it was FUCKING AWESOME, and the best shit ever is when Tyson FUCKING UNLOADS on that white dork who talks shit.
That shit inspired me, as did when Tyson said if you step up, he’s going to come at you with the FUCKING THUNDER. Which is why from here out, any and every fucking time Jeff McDouchebag or that no-talent hayseed broom-closet projector-fixer Bitch Douche come at me, I’m gonna respond ten thousand fold til they either shut the fuck up or apologize.
Every stupid fucking comment aimed at me gets a full fucking response, and if Poland doesn’t like it, he has to suspend Bitch Pussy the D.C. Wonder and his superfan McDouche.
BOOYAH! IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
I just took down every single YouTube video of myself!
All the fans can thank Bitch Perm, whoever he is (no one that matters) and Jeff McMahon of Los Angeles, California.
Thanks for killing a career before it started, but congrats on the victory, fellas!
I also turned down a generous offer from Poland to spare Bitch Perm (whoever he is) and Jeff McMahon, Editor Extraordinaire, from ever having to see my fat, ugly, unfunny ass ever again.
I had no hard copies, so it’s all gone, folks!
YAY!
Wow. BAD IDEA.
Should be rubbing it in the haters’ faces…at least I would.
But as Obi-Wan said, albeit semi-sarcastically: You must do what you feel is right, of course.
That’s okay, Lou, because tomorrow I might be DELETING MYSELF from THE ENTIRE FUCKING PLANET.
But my last wish is for Poland or someone here to email me Big Perm’s credit list or identity.
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
“And throw in Franco and Ciccio while you’re at it.”
“Christian, you really think Lex has a clue who they are?”
Nah, I just love bringing them into a topic whenever I can. But the comedic results would be exactly the same.
I’m listening to NOTHING COMPARES TO U and about to begin my new career as a CUTTER.
Maybe I can go to a CUTTER SUPPORT GROUP and pick up some hot 19-year-old chick in skinny jeans.
CUTTING RULES!
Hey McDouche you look like fucking EDDIE DEEZEN on your shitty movie’s worthless website.
But at least you have a site. Someone hit me up with a link to Big Perm’s D.C.-based Audio/Video Department. D.C. IS HIS BITCH!
Wondering if either of you douchewads are more or less suave than this nasty picture of Kamiqueenie and his twinkly eyes grossly eating a hot dog I found on Twitter.
Lex, if you think middle age is 60 tthen you’re still middle age. being an alcoholic adds decades to you, man.
On a more mundane note, on the MCN home page, the link to the Jason Reitman story mistakenly gives the title of his film UP IN THE AIR as INTO THE AIR.
For the 10 remake, I vote Teresa Palmer. No cornrows though.
Sexy over 50: I think Kathleen Quinlan is holding up pretty well.
So Lex, bringing the thunder down on me is deleting all of your work? Don’t blame me for that shit, I wouldn’t have suggested you do that. If you have fans that like your stuff, what would you care what I say? I’m sure an actress over 35 wouldn’t stop working because you call them over the hill.
And don’t forget, I was ignoring you until you called me out. Then I had to bring the thunder.
This was unexpected, but it’s also getting pathological. I mean, can anyone out there honestly argue that Lex isn’t a self-obsessed, self-destructive, seriously emotionally damaged person intent on spreading his illness to as many people as possible? Maybe it was funny for a while, not anymore.
And now it makes sense that trying to do stand-up didn’t work. I bet that at the first heckler he ran offstage and shredded his notebooks.
Just for the record, I have no problem with people being self-obsessed or self-destructive. It’s the insisting parading of it in public to strangers (and the attempt to drag them down) that I find obnoxious.
Fuckin’ place is dead as dead tonight.
Christ, I’m all lit the fuck up and down to talk about movies but nobody’s on. Anyone just see Piven on Letterman followed by KUNIS on Conan? I don’t know which had me more excited. BOO YEAH.
Man I wish I had a prostitute tonight, but mostly I just want to E– a chick’s A or P, and I don’t think that’s advisable with a pro.
Less’n you’re packing THE WRAP. IF you know what I mean. YEP YEP. DENTAL DAM 4 LIFE.
Okay folks, I have a crazy, ridiculous and (as yet unconfirmed) disasterous rumour that has spread like a wildfire throughout the only Aussie cinephile community.
It is this:
Village Roadshow, the biggest and most prominant film distributor here in Australia have withdrawn Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker from its October 22 release and are now sending it DIRECT-TO-DVD!(!!! – because one exclamation point doesn’t do it justice).
Oh, but OMGYAY they finally gave The freakin’ Brothers Bloom a November release. Well fuckin’ done Village Roadshow. Just another reason to root for Bigelow and this film.