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It’s been one of those days…
After getting so much new content together for Monday, exhaustion was the only response. But that didn’t keep me from a 9am meeting on a great new project that I can’t write about just yet.
Then The 8-Minute Man, so named because of his Eight Legged Freaks walkout, struck. (He is even quicker when it comes to women… he exited The Sweetest Thing within three minutes.) For those of you who read yesterday’s 24 Fights Per Second column, intended as a daily, you might be expecting not only another piece today, but an improvement, as we get comfortable with the format. Alas, Jeffrey walked out on today’s effort within 8 minutes, having not uttered a single idea.
Then it was time for back-to-back screenings, one in the Fairfax district, the other in the valley, causing me to drive like a maniac… that is to say, like normal, but faster. And I can’t write about either film just yet either.
One of the things that enraged Jeffy is that there isn’t much to write about this week. Which should be okay with him. He’s on vacation. But it still makes him cranky.
Guess what? I have a 10 a.m. screening today, followed by a 5p and a 7:30p. So it will be another one of those days. Therefore, I will keep today’s column obscenely brief and try to rest up so that I can see three movies, write a column, hopefully do a 24fps and solve the crisis in the Middle East all before a late supper with Madonna. (I made up that last one.)
BEAUTY: I was sitting on the couch, doing some work on the computer and I hear the opening music from Almost Famous and I’ll tell you, I was just plain thrilled. It was like warm cider on a cold night. I was once again reminded about how wonderful Cameron Crowe’s work is… how special his human touch can be… and how much I like Untitled.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: The New York Times’ roll continues. I have five different stories that I think you’ll be happy you read.
A great story by Beth Pinsker about Larry Meistrich, formerly of The Shooting Gallery, creating a distribution circuit… on DVD. The basic idea is that you join the club and you get your monthly otherwise undistributed quality DVD. The only downside is the price tag of $189 a year. $17 bucks a DVD isn’t bad price. But for a few dollars mre, you can get pretty much any DVD you want. But don’t mind me… read the story here.
Speaking of DVD, Rick Lyman suggests in his report that VCRs may be an endangered species. Read that here.
Bernard Weinraub looks at the Hitler mini-series, which leads a parade of dramatic stories about Hitler, on the big and little screen. Interesting issues worth examining... and reading here.
This story by Adam Liptak is just plain great. Some guy decided to bill the government for his time as a juror at his full rate. And the judge turned around and countered with a firm hand. What is beautiful about this is that the two men are on completely different philosophical ground, but they are both passionate and reasonable in their arguments. It is possible to disagree and not be an idiot… really! Read it here.
Finally, an interesting piece on experimental film by John Rockwell. A good lead in to the festival insanity to come in the next few weeks. It’s here.
THE WORST: The may not have been a crappier movie this year than Van Wilder. It makes dog shit look like a Carvel cone. But their ad campaign for the DVD bothers me even more. The big sales tool? A menu option that allows you to see a woman’s breasts! HA! Genius! I like a lovely set of yabos as much as the next guy, but how infantile is that? Who is their audience, that they would buy a DVD for THAT?
BOOK CLUB READER’S CHOICE: DeNiro in Goodfellas writes: “You're gonna have to get the following books onto the Book Club list, and quick, if you expect us to take it seriously! :)
1. Thinking in Pictures: The Making of the Movie Matewan -- by John Sayles
2. The Devil's Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood -- by Julie Salamon
3. Final Cut: Art, Money and Ego in the Making of Heaven's Gate, the Film that Sank United Artists -- by Steven Bach
5. Do the Right Thing: The New Spike Lee Joint”
DEBATE STARTER: The Cracker writes: “You mentioned Reservoir Dogs on DVD. They also just released Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown as well.
I must have seen Pulp at least a dozen times circa 1994/1995. I saw it so many times I thought I had half the dialog memorized. I was so excited to sit and revisit this movie again after more than half a decade. And you know what.......two hours and thirty four minutes can be a very long time indeed.
There has been plenty of jokes about Tarantino's influence on film. In the case of Pulp, (IMHO) it's had such an impact that I now cringe watching it. Sitting there, watching this DVD, I realize that every form of storytelling has embraced the essence of this film (especially dialog and narrative structure) way too much. Whenever I do see it's influence creeping into a movie or TV show I usually end up rolling my eyes and checking my watch.
This movie has turned into concentrated "roll your eyes and check your watch" material. It's almost depressing David. When someone comes along who's so fresh and innovative......only to find that their success has had a horribly negative overall impact of film in general.
If I was a smart guy I'd probably have a great analogy right now but I'm not that guy.
But it's almost like how Die Hard was. Becoming Die Hard on a bus.....on a train....on a ski slope......on an island......on your biggest headache! Brawny Rambo's becoming smart alec Afflecks over the course of the next decade.
Will the Matrix end up this way too! It's really scary man......very very scary.....
Watch it again sometime and be ready to be creeped out.”
IDOL ADD: SES HER writes: “A random fun fact to along with your Idol Thought---
Justin Guarini is related to Samuel L. Jackson by marriage. Justin is Sam's wife, actress LaTonya Richardson, first cousin, once removed (LaTonya and Justin's mother are first cousins).
Hmm, I may be the reason Christina and Tamyra are gone. I'm young (a few years removed from the show's targeted demographic) and black, but my sense of shame from fanatically watching American Idol every week keeps me from calling in to vote. I have to have a limit :-).”
A GAS AND AN ASS: Aunt MAE writes: “I must say that the most recent unforgettable movie experience I had was after watching Amelie for the first time. My heart was so full of joy after watching it! It even made me start dating again :-) It is films like that makes me a movie junkie. I end up wanting another fix of happiness.
On another note, dial down the hostility toward Liz Hurley. I got dragged into seeing Serving Sara this weekend and the only thing that kept me from cringing into a tiny ball was watching her. I mean the movie was terrible, but casting her in that role at least gave me something to look at. In fact, there is one wonderful long take where you just watch her walking away in that tiny red skirt...I swear that shot lasted a solid minute. The hormone flush sustained me for a good 15 minutes. So you can put that down as different unforgettable movie experience: Liz Hurley in a tiny red skirt.”
E ME: Have you looked at the Toronto Preview? What sounds good to you?
