April 30, 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” — 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
When Killers has a solid opening weekend and possibly surpasses Get Him to the Greek, will Katherine Heigl receive credit or will some claim that Ashton Kutcher actually had something to do with it?
Heigl should receive half the credit. Her last two starring vehicles have done well. To Kutcher’s credit, his last mainstream headliner (What Happens in Vegas), cracked $80 million domestic.
I’m thinking Heigl would deserve more credit. I still can’t believe the R-rated, awful-looking (and apparently quite awful) Ugly Truth opened to $27 million. By comparison What Happens in Vegas had a much bigger co-star and a PG-13 rating, and it opened to $7 million less.
The weather is pretty bad up here, David. Right now it feels like a nice January day…yuck.
Killers opening should be 80% Heigl, Kutcher is just Dermut Mulruney garnish. This should take Greek in a heartbeat, I can see males begrudgingly seeing Killers because of the hot girl, goofy guy, lite action combination, but I can’t think of a single female I know that would be dragged to Greek since it contains the two homliest looking actors working today screaming at each other.
Just noticed that Captain America is set to be released on July 22 next year, and I can’t help but wonder why. If any movie called for the Independence Day weekend (with the exception of ID4), it’s Captain America.
It would have the Valentine’s Day/Friday the 13th/The Omen 6/6/6 effect to push up its grosses.
I know they don’t want to mess with Transformers 3, but minus Megan Fox, I think the Cap would probably be able to beat it in a head to head competition over the July 4 weekend (and only over the July 4 weekend). Of course, one of them would get cold feet before the release date.
Isn’t Thor also next summer. They probably need to put some space between the two so they don’t step on each others toes.
a_loco, you do realize both Captain America and Transformers 3 are being distributed by the same company, right? No studio is going to release two guaranteed $75m+ grossing blockbusters the same weekend. Plus, as hcat points out, Paramount also has Thor next summer, so you give each film a few weeks to let the fanboys recharge before you hit them with another jolt of awesome action.
“Prince of Persia” is actually an entertaining movie. I’m surprised how much I liked it. (!)
I’m guessing 67 is Mike Newell.
Whoops, I shoulda realized Paramount was releasing both, and they probably don’t want to step on Bay’s toes. But fuck, July 4, Captain America, I’m Canadian and even I think that’s a no-brainer.
Also, Prince of Persia was fucking awful.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight. Time for the Lakers to win and inch closer to back-to-back titles.
Ashton is a toyboy — anybody who visits TV/showbiz sites knows that. Because of him and Cameron, “What Happens in Vegas” caused “Speed Racer” to crash and burn. Sweet!
There’s no way it can be worse than Sex and the City 2, a_loco.
Been saying that for months A_Loco… just switch Transformers 3 and Captain America. T3 will open huge no matter when it debuts, but the untested Captain America could really use the obvious boost that actually opening over Independence Day would bring it. Unless Paramount is concerned about scaring off overseas dollars by advertising a specifically American Hero, I don’t get the thinking.
July 4 wouldn’t make a lick of difference for the rest of the world, they could delay the release a few weeks internationally and it probably wouldn’t even matter, but still, I wonder if Marvel is pissed that Michael Bay is in there way.
CaptainZahn, you may very well be right. I’ve never seen a full episode or the first movie, but I’m kinda interested in seeing this one just to see how awful it really is.
And now we are left with The Golden Girl, Betty White. Sad.
Is Hayley Atwell really the one and only female lead in CAPTAIN AMERICA?
She’s beautiful and was awesome in CASSANDRA’S DREAM and THE DUCHESS (lesbian scene with Keira POWER)…
But, I don’t know, shouldn’t Captain America have some piece of prime bait as his girlfriend? Evans is pretty godly, and Atwell is both pushing 30 AND British… I don’t know, shouldn’t Captain America have a hot AMERICAN CHICK at his side, someone more on par with Alba in F4 or Dunst in Spider-Man both fame-wise and persona-wise?
She seems too old for Chris Evans and not really a cheesecake draw to add to the Marvel type atmosphere. They should have someone on the cusp of bigger fame who’s more girly and all-American, like Emma Roberts or something.
Again, Atwell is cool but she’s kind of like Rebecca Hall– intense, older-seeming worldly British chick who looks about 38 years old.
Is casting done Lex? It does seem like there’s usually more than one woman vying for the hero’s attention. Ms. Atwell is indeed quite fetching in The Duchess.
The only thing I’ve seen Atwell in is that awful AMC remake of The Prisoner (which definitely wasn’t her fault), where I remember her having an almost Christina Hendricks-worthy rack.
Also, Chris Evans is only 28? Fuuuuck, dude’s been around forever.
Yeah I figured Evans was 28 when he was in Not Another Teen Movie nine years ago.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to see SATC 2 without alcohol of some kind in your pocket, a_loco.
Better yet, have a good strong drink from a “Shrek Forever” glass first.
Chucky, try and get some medication or therapy for the Asperger’s.
I have a new, unprovable theory that Chucky is:
Over 60.
Hearing impaired.
heh
http://onephotoreviews.tumblr.com/
I am proud to say that those “Shrek Forever” glasses were made in Noo Joisey. Have jeffmcm and LexG gotten theirs yet?
So David’s suggestion that Splice could surprise and make $30+ million this weekend is looking quite silly right about now. Looks like it might do around $7, $7.5 if they’re lucky. Marmaduke is bombing, too.
Splice just does not seem that interesting. Oh wow, scientist made a human/animal hybrid and it’s evil. How original.
Any movie featuring Sarah Polley is interesting.
I love Sarah Polley, she’s a great example of Canadian awesomeness, and Adrian Brody has an exceptional nose, but this movie just came across as hokey to me. The hokeyness stemming from the whole “OH MY GOD, WE CREATED A FREAKIN MONSTER” bollocks. Why is it always a monster? Why not someone named Steve? Steve.
What’s interesting to me is that Splice is running at over 70% from 100+ reviews at Rottentomatoes… yet apparently got a D Cinemascore.
Leaving aside questions of Cinemascore/RT’s validity, influence of critics, Splice’s actual content etc. how does this happen? How does one group (apparently) love it so much while another group (apparently) hates it? It’s certainly not unusual for movies to be fairly scattergun with love/hate appeal, but for such a clear delineation between “insiders” and general public… it’s almost like there were two completely separate campaigns going on.
Chucky, I don’t understand how your brain works. The fact that I don’t care for you and think there’s some defect in your head does not, in any way, translate to me loving the Shrek movies. It’s a total non sequitur. I liked the first one well enough, hated the second, skipped the rest. You are crazy.
Hated the second and skipped the rest? [passes out]
Who else is watching the MTV movie awards?
K-Stew, Aguilera, Biel, Katy Perry… it’s gonna be HOT.
I have 24 beers and a box of Kleenex.
DO NOT DISAPPOINT.
(So far it’s nothing BUT disappointment with the pre-show, hosted by fucking SWAY and SNOOKIE.
Is SWAY the single worst “broadcaster” in the world? Dude’s been on MTV for 15 years and still packs all the charisma and vocal varation of canned tuna. And keep SNOOKIE the FUCK away from all these actual celebrities.)
Pattinson, Stewart, and Lautner are like a perfect storm of terrible.
MTV Movie Awards ‘Eclipse’ clip
Zahn, you will BOW TO HER.
How can a man appreciate the beauty and wonder of MOMSEN POWER yet naysay K-Stew?
Try being more consistent.
I’m sorry, I just can’t abide famous people who complain about being famous all of the time.
http://www.gossipcenter.com/kristen-stewart/kristen-stewart-flaunt-fabulous-368677
Kristen Stewart starred in Catch that Kid. I doubt after that film rolled out and bombed, that she imagined a career like she has had. Seriously, look at this http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829576/ and notice the jobs she has taken over the last few years. Outside of Twilight, you seem to have an actress who wants to just be a character actor and now she has become the biggest actress in the world to a lot of people and she’s dating one of the hottest men on earth to those same people.
If anything, she decided to do a film franchise that ended up severely messing with her life. I’m sure she’s enjoying not being broke but that does not mean she’s enjoying all of the press, which is again very understandable because no one in here would enjoy it either except for Lex.
I guess I don’t really get your point. If she didn’t want to be famous, why take the Twilight role? She says she knew what being famous would be like, but apparently she went for it anyway, and now she’s bitching about it all of the time.
That doesn’t give scumbag paparazzi the right to invade your private/public space 24/7. Sorry.
CATCH THAT KID ruuuuuuules.
Also BOW TO K-STEW in UNDERTOW.
YEP YEP.
CaptainZahn wrote: If she didn’t want to be famous, why take the Twilight role?
Captain, no one knew how big Twilight was going to be. No one. Go read the prognostications from this very blog about that film’s profitability and realize that she took a chance at a franchise, and it turned out to be big. Again, it’s an easy point to get if you just look at her filmography. The girl got famous when she did not see fame coming. This happens often and I feel for her feeling as violated as she does.
I don’t think she “took a chance” as much as she “took a payday”. It was a moderate-ish budget from a mini-major, and given her nonplussed reaction since it hit the bigtime I’m guessing she was just going to use it so she wouldn’t be living off ramen between arthouse flicks.
Triple Option, that was AWESOME.
They should seriously make that movie. I’d go see it. K-STEW 4 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER.
Also, all should read this. The payoff at the end is so disarming, it could power the sun it’s so adorable.
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/kristen-stewart-enjoys-the-mtv-movie-awards-a-photo-essay/?partner=rss&emc=rss
robert pattinson has a huge face
it reminds me of stallone’s ‘weaver’ in ‘antz’
My two cents on this Kristen Stewart thread: It’s human nature to look at the pros and cons of one’s current status in life relative to what it *is*, not relative to how the average person has it. If you’re hungry, you’re worried about eating. If you’re eating well but lonely, you’re worried about being lonely. If you’re eating well and in a happy relationship, you’re worried about paying the mortgage. If you’re eating well, in a happy relationship, and rich, you’re worried about politics. And so on. Of course different people will have different priorities, but the idea is the same: it is fundamental to human nature to want more than we have. That’s why they say money and fame don’t buy happiness. There is always going to be something to worry about.
Obligatory movie tie-in: This is exactly the aspect of human nature portrayed in The Seven Samurai, where the villagers are worried about their safety and not at all about their poverty…until the samurai neutralize the threat to their village. Then their financial woes bubble up to the forefront and become the new concern. Shouldn’t they be thankful they are safe now? Yes, but it would run completely against the grain of human nature to expect that gratitude to supplant their other concerns.
Most of us are less rich and famous than Kristen Stewart, and so it’s easy to dismiss any complaint she might make about her situation — regardless of what, specifically, it is — and say she should be thankful her life is so blessed. But there is not one of us who would be completely content (no matter what LexG thinks) in her shoes. It just wouldn’t be human.
That doesn’t mean she can’t be thankful, and maybe she is. Acknowledging that a blessing has a downside does not necessarily constitute ingratitude. It doesn’t mean you have to care about her complaints, either. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you’d be any different. There isn’t one single person alive who doesn’t want something they don’t have. We wouldn’t survive as a species if we weren’t always bothered enough by our current situation — whatever it is — that we’re always working to improve it.
Lex refuses to watch SEVEN SAMURAUI so he won’t get your point.
He may watch Three Amigos, so there’s hope he might get the point!
“That doesn’t give scumbag paparazzi the right to invade your private/public space 24/7. Sorry.”
Well, that we can agree on.
I don’t know much I buy the argument that “nobody knew Twilight would be big.” Maybe she didn’t know it would be as big as it is, but she was signed for more than one movie, wasn’t she? In any case, she definitely had to know that it wasn’t high art when she read the script and signed up for it.
“It doesn’t mean you have to care about her complaints, either. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you’d be any different. There isn’t one single person alive who doesn’t want something they don’t have. We wouldn’t survive as a species if we weren’t always bothered enough by our current situation — whatever it is — that we’re always working to improve it.”
You’re not wrong, but when you’re a celebrity, the general public just plain doesn’t want to hear you bitch about being famous. It’s one thing to complain about the paparazzi every now and then, but Stewart already has a prickly personality, and when she complains all of the time, it’s not endearing. Most celebrities know not to do this. In all fairness, though, Stewart is young, and she’ll probably learn.
Especially when the annoying thing you have to put up with is earning you tens of millions of dollars.
Thanks Lex!
I actually wasn
Jeff, if she is earning tens of millions of dollars. I would be shocked. I would imagine paying the talent is pretty low on the list for Summit.
jeffmcm: Way to miss the point there dude.
Sam: I got the point, I just happen to disagree. When you’re making more money than 99.99% of all humans who have ever lived, and doing so in a profession that requires you to be constantly in public, the wise thing to do is keep your complaints to yourself. Granted, she’s still only 20 years old, so she deserves a certain degree of slack.
IOI, the two movies so far have grossed a combined $1.1 billion dollars, on reported production budgets of about $87 million. And from watching the movies, it’s obvious they aren’t spending too much on locations/effects/etc. So I think it’s not unreasonable to figure that the two leads in a billion-dollar franchise have good enough agents to get them a reasonable chunk of back-end money. And you know, a quick Google search pretty much confirms that.
Jeff, hold on for a minute. There have been countless times that I have made references and you refuse to use google to figure them out but you use google for this? Wow. You really do dislike.
If they are getting paid back-end then they are getting paid back-end and I doubt it’s Tom Cruise MI-2 back-end. Nevertheless, you slamming the locations and the effects, makes me wish someone from the great Pacific northwest would come over to your house and lecture on the beauty that is that area and chide you for your dismissive tone towards the effects. You seriously need to be chided.