June 13, 2003

I’ve rarely been so happy to see a weekend come…

The week has been loaded to the gills.  I’ve seen nine movies between Monday and Thursday.  I’ve had two wild arguments with industry people I like and respect a lot over publicity philosophies that are too ingrained to budge right now.  I’ve dealt with all that Ain’t It Cool crap.  (“Sorry… what I meant to say is, ‘Do what you want. I can’t believe I took a moral position on theft either!’ not, ‘Shame on you.’”)

I wish I could tell you that the L.A. Film Festival was rocking my world.  So far, the only film that was really compelling was Fox Searchlight’s Thirteen.  The ambition to be another Sundance was not well served by opening with a middling piece of well-acted festival fluff that might make it as a Showtime movie.

I saw the IMAX Matrix Reloaded and it was spectacular, even if it brings a whole new perspective on movie star acne.  I’ve already suggested to one person at WB that they press screen Revolutions on IMAX.  Seeing the film again has answered a few more questions and revved me up for the Reloaded Revisited piece that I have been promising forever.  I will try to get it done this weekend.

If you are seeing the new commercials for The Hulk, you are getting a much better sense than ever before about what the film is all about.  I won’t be writing about the movie until I have a chance to see it again.  But I will say that the third act Hulk is as believable a piece of CG as has ever been created, including the ocean of The Perfect Storm.  Don’t bother writing me to tell me about the Super Bowl commercials anymore, okay?

Is Hollywood Homicide really a $20 million opener?  Well, if Rugrats Gone Wild is also, who knows?  I don’t see Dumb & Dumberer hitting eight figures. 

I loved Gregory Peck in Other People’s Money… The Boys from Brazil… The Omen… To Kill A Mockingbird… The Guns of Navarone… On The Beach… Gentlemen’s Agreement… Duel In The Sun… The Yearling… and more.  He has already been missed.  The sigh will be a little deeper now. 

And so I go… have a great weekend… I have four movies on my schedule and I’d love to see Hollywood Homicide too…

READER OF THE DAY:  NOT RACHEL’S BEAU writes:  “CRIMINAL LOVERS has stuck with me from the moment i sat through it-it is so intense and utterly amazing-since then i have seen all his films and am waiting, anxiously to see Swimming Pool.

Charlotte Rampling is a terrific actress.  I have only begun in the past few years to know of her.  Please do not miss Aberdeen and Signs and Wonders.

I hope your meeting with Mr. Ozon will be totally wonderful and would be very interested to hear about it.  I did get to see and hear him last year at the boston festival of film-with 8 Women/it was short –but a total sit-interview with him would be a treat.

now to another topic/a few months ago i asked if you know the title of a film, i was very vague with details.  because of this you were not able to come up with it-I ran into in on IFC- it is called Sunday and if you have not seen it it is a short, sweet wonderful film.”

And THE BRUTE has something to say about the L.A. Times’ coverage of the industry and the recent report that they would soon convert to a pay site (Remember, all ROTD opinion are opinions of the ROTDs and not necessarily that of David Poland, The Hot Button or anyone who doesn’t want to piss the L.A. Times off): 

“While you're on the subject of lame writers (Anthony Lane, a critic for people who don't go to the movies), isn't it time to ask LA Times editors why Patrick Goldstein is able to get away with writing one column a week, and one additional feature every six weeks, but isn't required to be interesting or original in either? Opinions don't shape his columns, just the quality of the food being served during his interviews with the Neal Moritzes of the world ... er, make that the 310 area code.

Typically, these "My Lunch With Patrick" columns are one-on-ones with Hollywood know-it-alls who already are overexposed. There's no insight ... ever. Meanwhile, poor Susan King is forced to write six times as much copy, probably for a third of his pay. Manohla’s Internet column is far more valuable, and it's only available to a fraction of daily Calendar readers. Brian Lowry writes a weekly column AND is required to toil as a reporter, as well.

Welfare for the rich ... what a concept. If the LA Times is going to start charging for Internet access to its files, it might want to consider giving us a bit more for our money.”

E ME:  What will your weekend look like?

Ain't It Conscious News, Part 1
Ain't It Conscious News, Part 2