April 26, 2024
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
haha that sounds like stunt casting (i confess i have no idea who Leah Remini is but i recognize her face, hopefully she’s not horrible, curious now, must look her up)
since i complained about no byob (and then apparently kicked an organised religion the curb – fuck yeah! organised religion is the devil) i feel pressure to at least post something. so re: the recent MCN piece about movies that give the most ‘fucks’ —
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_that_most_frequently_use_the_word_%22fuck%22
i’m quite surprised at ‘end of watch’ being so high on that list, since i just watched it for the first time the other night and didn’t even notice a gluttony of fucks, which i can’t help but think means i must be terribly desensitised and jaded
Funny, that’s exactly how I always imagined Leah looked. But with glasses.
JEFFREY WELLS SAYS…
Every now and again I whistle down the wind and shimmy up the right tree to retrieve the fattest coconut before anyone else. No one will give me credit, of course, but poor LexG/Ray Quick (an H-E pally) was nowheresville before H-E.
Why is this relevant? The moderately kind and occasionally true Drew McWeeny will be adding LexG to his roster at Hitfix effective 2.26.14 or thereabouts.
I gave Lex every chance to write for H-E, but what can you do? I wouldn’t meet his price, which was payment of some kind. That didn’t jibe. Sorry.
I wish Lex the best and I think his writing is more than the usual usual, but Darwin’s law, etc.
DREW MCWEENY SAYS…
We were going to announce this on OUR site, Jeff, but what the hell. You spoil movies for your readers routinely; why not spoil announcements too.
LEXG SAYS…
Not writing for ANYONE. NO IDEA how this got so far along without my knowledge.
100k
100k
100k
100k
100k
MEET THE PRICE AND BOW.
There was no BYOB earlier this week when this story hit, so better late than never.
Is it racist of me to think that if Armond White was, well, Caucasian he’d have been summarily fired by his online bosses, run out of NYC by a pitchfork-wielding mob and effectively banned from ever getting another journalistic job (print, online, you name it) for the remainder of his sorry life after his most recent NYFCC awards dinner fracas?
White continues to get away with the most egregious behavior, and has never paid the consequences for (any of) his actions. It’s really kind of mind-blowing.
Finally got around to Desolation of Smaug last night. I was bored during the first Hobbit and had been expecting more of the same, especially considering the reviews and word of mouth from my friends.
But I was very pleasantly surprised. I might be the only person who thought it was better than the first.
–50% decrease in speechifying
–Less wandering in the woods
–Fewer repetitive chase scenes
–More inventive action scenes– loved the barrels in the river
–The dragon was awesome.
I’m pretty tired of endless orc hordes, but even those battles moved a little faster and had more variety this time.
It still seems silly to stretch this out to three movies, but at least this middle chapter felt like less of a stretch than the first.
Eric: I think literally every review of SMAUG I’ve seen has said it was better than the first. Most said WAY better. We must be seeing different reviews.
But this is a thing I’ve noticed, where people who hold a majority opinion somehow think they’re in the minority. Usually it’s because of a media-skewed perception that “everybody” loves MAD MEN or GIRLS, when in fact only a couple of million people are watching. But THE HOBBIT has a respectable 75% on the Tomatometer, so you’re in good company, Eric, at least with the critics.
Maybe it was the Hobbit Frame Rate (h/t The Simpsons) but the pacing was awkward, the colo(u)rs were off, there was entirely too much skulking around the fishing village which looked like an indoor set, and the dragon doesn’t show up until 2 hours in. Then after a redonculous fight in which apparently hobbits and dwarfs can fall great heights onto rock without injury, the dragon says he’s gonna do something and then…..(insert trailer for Back to The Future 3)
I was really disappointed by Smaug. It really showed what an awful decision it was by Jackson to stretch this to 3 films. The movie has no beginning or end its just a collection of action scenes to tide you over to the third one. I find it funny how the first LotR trilogy was held up against the Star Wars prequel trilogy by fanboys as the example of how to do smart epic filmmaking with lots of special effects. Now Jackson goes off and makes a prequel trilogy with many of the same mistakes that they claimed of Lucas. Namely falling in love CGI at expense of story.
Huh, Yancy, I guess you’re right about the critics here. I see Rotten Tomatoes is 65% for the first and 75% for the second. Perhaps my expectations for the second movie colored my memory of what I’d read.
Of the four friends of mine with whom I’ve discussed it, though, it was unanimously negative.
“Funny, that’s exactly how I always imagined Leah looked. But with glasses.”
really Joe? haha how weird (maybe i should add i look nothing like that, as a toe-headed beach rat – well former beach bum, i’m all responsible and shit now but still a surfer girl at heart, and only wear glasses for reading in dim light)
movieman re: white, he probably would’ve had more serious career consequences if he did the same thing to Steve mcq and armond was caucasian, because then the words he used would have been redneck cracker hyper-racist, but as it stands, while his comments could still be regarded as racist it’s in the context of being abusive to his own race, so the sensibility is quite different (he’s just being a fucking insufferable, rude, sweaty ballsack – is that any better really? don’t know, but that he wasn’t fired is kind of incomprehensible, just being an unbelievably unprofessional, massive prick should be enough)
“insufferable, rude, sweaty ballsack”
You’re on fire. I loved this.
Leah- Well, based on his writing, Armond is clearly a self-hating gay African-American w/ an unabashed fealty to right wing politics (and politicians: man, does he love him some George W. Bush!).
So dissing McQueen in the fashion he did seems perfectly in sync w/ his modus operandi/psychosis.
Perhaps NOW people will put their phones away when others ask them to.
Tampa Bay: Man killed after dispute over texting in theater.
Yes, it’s an utter tragedy that a 3-year old lost her daddy, but the guy’s actions and final words (“I can’t believe…”) indicate that he was willing to be a total dickhead in that theater because he thought he could get away with it.
Don’t for a moment believe this might affect the gun debate in any way, though–the fact that the detectives had to ask each other whether this was a “stand your ground” case shows just how bonkers the gun-lovers have become in Florida.
Why is a three-year old texting in the first place? Anyway, it’s just a case of needing more Better Guys with guns to stop the Good Guys with guns from freaking out when there aren’t enough Bad Guys with guns around.
Very humorous to see Madonna dragged into this–probably a lot more people would be saying “She deserved it!” if she had been shot for texting at “12 Years a Slave”.
And should that film be added to the “cultural vegetables” category if certain people can’t make it through–even at a big, whopping, highly-observed event like that–without whipping their phones out?
The one perplexing unknown I see in this story that could completely change the way theaters operate is what actually happened when the retired captain stepped out of the theater to find a manager. Did the minimum-wage teenagers manning the concession stand barely stifle their laughter when he asked them to do something about that guy texting during the previews? Did he actually find a teenage manager who more or less did the same thing? Or did he just walk out to the lobby, pace in anger for a few moments and said “Screw it” before going right back in? If any cameras show that either of the first two is right then the theater is in a whole lotta trouble.
Phone use in these venues is pissing off more than just Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig–millions of moviegoers have started reconsidering the point of moviegoing if they also have to put up with glowing text machines. And so some chains responded by saying that maybe we should encourage people to talk and use their phones?!?
They need to crack down, hard, and start throwing people out on their asses. Or just hire burly-boys whose mere size will make jackasses back down. No longer can they shrug and say “What can we do?”
I can’t see how the theater can be held responsible for even if they laughed in the old man’s face, you do not get to shoot people over arguements.
This is why they shouldn’t make violent movies for white people, it just gets them riled up.
Nothing makes me feel like I’m getting older more than being completely unmoved by any trailer for next summer’s blockbusters and then getting completely giddy over Non-Stop and Three Days to Kill.
The theater is completely and totally responsible if they were asked to defuse a situation and refused.
Some are arguing that it was a gun problem, but if the retired captain had a knife or a boxcutter or a pencil or even a shoelace it would be the same situation. The texter was acting like a jerk, wouldn’t stop when asked, and the theater either wouldn’t or didn’t do anything about it.
I’m just glad to see that the jerk quotient on the planet has dropped by one.
Jesus, Sam, I’m 100% anti-texting in the theater, but it doesn’t quite extend to being happy that a 3-year-old girl lost her father over it (and I realize you termed it a tragedy upthread). The guy who pulled the trigger obviously has issues that go beyond anti-texting, and the punishment he chose to mete out didn’t exactly fit the crime.
One thing — the article says it all went down before the feature even started. Don’t know if that means it was during ads or trailers or what. But it seems to me the trigger-happy psycho could have at least waited to see if the texter would stop when the film started.
Ditto this: “One thing — the article says it all went down before the feature even started. Don’t know if that means it was during ads or trailers or what. But it seems to me the trigger-happy psycho could have at least waited to see if the texter would stop when the film started.”
I hate the glowing lights as much as everyone here, but in Canada, we have Timeplay before the movie starts, where you play games with this theatre app and win a drink or some mundane crap. Just after it’s done, the ad comes on to put your phone away, and most times it’s sponsored by a phone provider. For the most part it’s adhered to here, and I have seen people ask others to put their phone away and they have quietly complied.
But talk about a scene for Falling Down 2, if there ever is one.
Falling Down was great but could’ve been better; all the whiny women, especially Prendergast’s wife, just sucked the air out of every scene they were in. And I really don’t understand why D-Fens had to die at the end (spoiler alert…oops)–just like Walter White, the guy was a hero.
But really, what are you supposed to do when a texter doesn’t put the phone away and the management–bizarrely enough–doesn’t step in? Call the police? Take the phone from his hand and whack him upside the head with it? Drop it on the floor and crush it with your shoe? Sure, shooting the guy may have been a tad extreme, but what other options were there?
“But really, what are you supposed to do when a texter doesn’t put the phone away and the management–bizarrely enough–doesn’t step in? Call the police? Take the phone from his hand and whack him upside the head with it? Drop it on the floor and crush it with your shoe? Sure, shooting the guy may have been a tad extreme, but what other options were there?”
Leave. Everybody goes home grumpy but alive and gets to sleep in a nice warm bed instead of a morgue slab and a prison cell. Pretty good other option right there.
Sam: Um, yeah, even though calling the police, taking the phone and/or destroying it are not great options, I’m guessing most people would prefer one of those to a shooting. Including you, if you were sitting next to the texter. I’m also guessing from the phrase “a tad extreme” you’re just taking the piss. At least I hope so.
Sorry, just walking away is not an acceptable solution. Try again.
And I have to congratulate the retired captain for a) asking the jerk to put the phone away, and b) going to get a manager who would repeat that message more forcefully, because there have been times during a movie when someone briefly whipped a phone out when I imagined lunging out of my chair and snapping the offender’s neck without warning. But it’s just a fantasy, a little Walter Mittyesque thrill to soothe the rising anger and send it packing.
BTW, the only way I’d be found sitting next to a texter is if they were a complete stranger who evaded my angry stares; if I knew a shot was coming I’d just plug my ears and hope no blood spatter lands on me.
“Sorry, just walking away is not an acceptable solution. Try again.”
It’s more acceptable than sitting in a prison cell knowing you killed a guy ultimately over a text message; knowing that you also shot the man’s wife and could have put a bullet hole in the head of some poor SamLowry motherfucker sitting in the theater minding his own business too; knowing that your own wife is a fucking 24 hour a day wreck now from wondering what the hell’s going to happen to you; feeling like an old fart who lost his shit and shot an unarmed man, hoping you might get off on this, but knowing there’s still a chance that you’re going to go to state prison as an ex-cop and ALL the wonderful solitary time you’ll be doing for your own protection if you are convicted…
Your vicarious elation aside, that poor bastard would MOONWALK away from the theater right now if he had a second chance.
“Sure, shooting the guy may have been a tad extreme, but what other options were there?”
Sam, you’re insane. Stop.
Wait, Margot Robbie is 23?
Gawdammit, I am *old*.
After all of the endless love for Inside Llewyn Davis among the critics, it’s kind of amazing that it got nothing more than a sound mixing nomination this morning. I thought this would be a Best Picture also-ran LOCK.
Not sure what shape you are in Sam but being a tad bit older than the victim, and certainly not the toughest guy, I still like my chances against a senior citizen with a knife, let alone a shoelace.
But let’s talk about rudeness, in a sociopathic context so you can relate, who was ruder the texter who maybe ruined some previews or the shooter who led the movie to be cancelled? You don’t think everyone just settled down and they ran the film after that? The babysitters parking fees giant popcorn combo cost all down the drain because some old man just HAD to indulge himself in wasting punks ruining everyone’s evening if not the theater going experience forever (a good half of those people will likely never feel comfortable in a theater again).
And it’s spelled t r a v i s b i c k l e not Walter Mitty, you were way off.
Never mind, I was looking at a website list of nominees that didn’t have the Best Cinematography listed right and I didn’t that ILD got a nom there.
Pretty much liking the nominations.
Amy Adams is the new Peter O’Toole, as this will make her 0 for 5 on nominations. Hopefully she’ll Winslet her way out of the desert soon, perhaps with her role as Margaret Keane this year.
37 career aggregate nominations for the ladies in the Best Actress category. The 15 actors in the other 3 categories have a combined 28 career noms.
Lawrence has her 3rd nomination at age 23, a full decade younger than Meryl Streep when she received her 3rd. Susanne Bier’s “Serena” will be her attempt for a 4th this year.
“Amy Adams is the new Peter O’Toole, as this will make her 0 for 5 on nominations.”
Are you sure about that? Blanchett could beat her, but is there really any passion behind that choice? Bullock won for The Blind Side already recently, Dench’s film doesn’t seem to have the muscle to win, and nobody probably feels the need to give Streep another trophy here. I think this one is between Adams and Bullock, and Adams probably also has an “it’s her turn” advantage.
Blanchett has so thoroughly dominated her competition in the run-up that I think it would be an upset of truly historic proportions, say Hilary Swank over Annette Bening, or “Crash” as Best Picture to win here. I also think there’s a sense that “it’s her turn” applies to Blanchett since she doesn’t have a lead statuette and is regarded as one of her generation’s greats. It’s hard to ponder a world where Jennifer Lawrence is more acclaimed by the Academy than Blanchett, at least for now.
Everybody here seems to be overlooking the obvious:
Why did he bring a fucking gun to the movies in the first place???
“Why did he bring a fucking gun to the movies in the first place???”
because he’s out of his fucking mind? i don’t get it, when will enough be enough? it seems like people just shrug their shoulders and accept that you can get gunned down by some gun-toting lunatic anywhere, anytime – c’est la vie, life in the US of A under the thumb of the gun lobby and weapons of death industrial complex… rise up as the people of a democracy, don’t just sit there and take it like a bunch of whiney pre-schoolers held to ransom in your own country by gun nuts, christ what’s wrong with this picture, DO SOMETHING
Unfortunately, the only thing one can do to change things in this country, would be to bring a gun to the party, as it were. [i’ll just put on my zombie scarf]