See? This is Good Stuff!!!

This.

Is the type of review I wish every movie reviewer could write.

It is also the reason Pajiba is the best damn movie site on the inter-tubes.

I love you guys! (and I miss you all)

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!

THIS!!!!!!
Makes me very happy.

I own and enjoyed this, but I am very excited about the new project.

Discuss - please. . . . . . .

I stand In Awe

Atonement, the film.

Totally.

Fucking.

Brilliant.


. . . . .That is all.

Oh, and I want to have sex in a stogy British Library, but then, who doesn't?

Whoo!!!!!

I go pick up the kids today. They have been visiting their Mom for a couple of weeks. I am WAY past ready to have them home.

Here's to hoping I can take off a couple of days and enjoy them before we get into the hassle of back to school prep. It's pretty close.

Meanwhile, here's something to enjoy, and by all means, please do. The film was very, very disappointing to me when it came out, but it's growing on me, and this song was done very, very well. It translated to film beautifully.

I'm Going To See It Anyway. . . . .

Rarely have I enjoyed a film review that trashes a film I want to see, (and hope to love), as much as I enjoyed this one.

I knew I was going to love this bad review when I read:

The musical numbers look like they were choreographed by Corky St. Clair

I mean, after that, she's just daring me to see it anyway, right?

Well, I am an unabashed fan of musicals, be they on stage or forever embedded in celluloid.

So, have any of you seen it yet? Bee liked it. I'll bet I do to.

Is This a Good Thing?

Hmm . . .

I don't know how I should feel about this.

My all time favorite film in the entire world is being made into a musical.

If you've been reading this page for any length of time, you know my favorite film is A Fish Called Wanda.

On the one hand, I hate it when a classic is given an update or remade. AFCW is not just a classic, it is a perfect comedy film. The plot, the various subplots, the acting, the characters; All perfect.

On the other hand, It sure worked for Spamalot and The Producers, and I love musicals.

But how do you ever replace Kevin Kliene as Otto?

Discuss please.

h/t to Petulant

Rest In Peace, Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse has passed away.

This is how I'll always remember her. I wish they still made films this way. Could this be any more alluring? Could she be any sexier? Yet they show nothing.

Wherein I Find The Awesomest Thing In The History Of The Internet

This just may be the awesomest thing in the history of Awesomeness. I have looked like mad for the original page and context in which this appears, but I couldn't find it. I hate to just post someone else's writing, but it's awesomeness is such, that it begs to be shared.

Imagine if William Shakespeare wrote the screenplay for Pulp Fiction:



(Scene with Jules and Brett)

J: My pardon; did I break thy concentration?
Continue! Ah, but now thy tongue is still.
Allow me then to offer a response.
Describe Marsellus Wallace to me, pray.
B: What?
J: What country dost thou hail from?
B: What?
J: How passing strange, for I have traveled far,
And never have I heard tell of this What.
What language speak they in the land of What?
B: What?
J: The Queen's own English, base knave, dost thou speak it?
B: Aye!
J: Then hearken to my words and answer them!
Describe to me Marsellus Wallace!
B: What?
JULES presses his knife to BRETT's throat
J: Speak 'What' again! Thou cur, cry 'What' again!
I dare thee utter 'What' again but once!
I dare thee twice and spit upon thy name!
Now, paint for me a portraiture in words,
If thou hast any in thy head but 'What',
Of Marsellus Wallace!
B: He is dark.
J: Aye, and what more?
B: His head is shaven bald.
J: Has he the semblance of a harlot?
B: What?
JULES strikes and BRETT cries out
J: Has he the semblance of a harlot?
B: Nay!
J: Then why didst thou attempt to bed him thus?
B: I did not!
J: Aye, thou didst! O, aye, thou didst!
Thou hoped to rape him like a chattel whore,
And sooth, Lord Wallace is displeased to bed
With anyone but she to whom he wed.




Pure freaking genius. What I wouldn't give to see this actually filmed.
I think this guy wrote this, I found other passages on his site.

Once Again, He Does It Well

When I grow up. I want to write posts like this.

Remember The Quiz?

Hey! remember the movie quote meme?

Go check this out!

Boxer Rebel has posted clips from two of the films in my quiz.

More later . . . . .

It's Tuesday, I Should Post Something . . .

Sorry I haven't posted since Friday, between track meets, taking the kids to see their Mother for spring break, and missing deadlines at work, I haven't been feeling "bloggy".

Truth is, I'm pretty down these days. It comes in waves - I can't say what triggers it.

So some random observations:

Spitzer's an idiot, and yes, he should resign. Truly, the main thing he had going for him was his unimpeachable ethics. Now, not so much. I will NEVER understand the prostitute thing. (I may expound on this in a post later) Also, I wish his wife would have used the press conference to announce Divorce proceedings. (btw - this type of betrayal has nothing to do with attractiveness, sex, etc.... but DAMN, she's hot!!, and a Harvard grad! Eliot is an idiot!)


I saw this film Sunday on cable. I didn't expect to like it, but I did. It reminded me how talented Natalie Portman is, and how I wish she could find some decent roles.

Oil at 109 a barrel. It was below 20 when Shrub took over. Guess those secret energy policy meetings really worked out huh? Btw - that task force was set up his second week in office. "Heck of a job Bushie"


A little obvious maybe, but practical nonetheless, 20 tips for reducing stress.

And finally, not because it is the soundtrack to this post, it isn't, it is far too optimistic, but because I wish it was:

The Movie Quote Meme ***UPDATE***

Ok - I didn't think it would be this hard!! The hardest one was, (I thought) #6.
I've added a few hints. FINAL HINTS!!

Shamelessly stolen from:

Tart
Minstrel Boy
Boxer Rebel



NO CHEATING!!!

Instructions: Look up 15 of your favorite films on IMDb and take a quote from each. List them below. When someone guesses the quote correctly, cross it off the list. Leave a comment with your answers. And NO CHEATING.

Did I mention NO CHEATING?? Most of these are EASY.

1.

If you have the tooth of a whale, you must have the jaw of a whale to yield it.Whale Rider(Boxer Rebel)

2. - I thought this would be an easy one! It is from my all time favorite film.

I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future. A Fish Called Wanda (Erica)


3. - A quirky little indie film, but brilliant. No Cowbell needed. If this film had a soundtrack LP, there would be lots of Bad Company on it. I don't think there is one available, but I'd buy it if there was. The female lead in this film is better known as a TV star, but she is awesome in this (updated) iconic roll. . . . "Damn Spot" SHAKESPEARE NEVER IMAGINED THE 70'S, BUT HE WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS. IT CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF THE PLAY. AMBITION, GREED = DOWNFALL.

We're not bad people, Mac... just underachievers who have to make up for lost time. Scotland, PA. (Boxer Rebel)


4. - Maybe the hardest on the list - Foodie's should know this film.

Hey, hey, fucking guy! What this is: "too much"? HEY! It is never "too much"; it is only "not enough"! Bite your teeth into the ass of life and drag it to you! HEY! Big Night (Bekitty)


5. - A Classic, star director and a bevy of stars in it. Lots of good quotes in this one. Most of them would give it away. KEEP TRYING!!!! A Mother and daughter in real life play Mother and daughter in this film. Kathleen Turner is glad she wasn't in it. OK READERS - WHO PAYS ATTENTION? WHAT DAVID LYNCH MOVIE AM I?

My dog barks some. Mentally you picture my dog, but I have not told you the type of dog which I have. Perhaps you even picture Toto, from "The Wizard of Oz." But I warn you, my dog is always with me. WOOF! Wild At Heart (Bee)

6.

We're more of the love, blood, and rhetoric school. Well, we can do you blood and love without the rhetoric, and we can do you blood and rhetoric without the love, and we can do you all three concurrent or consecutive. But we can't give you love and rhetoric without the blood. Blood is compulsory. They're all blood, you see.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Boxer Rebel)


7.

Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Bull Durham (Tart and exacalacalac)


8. - Thought this would be easy - the person who spoke this won a freaking OSCAR for this role. If you haven't seen it Shame on you!!

You didn't want a blowjob so the least I could do is get you a tie. Mighty Aphrodite (Angelos)


9.

Imagine you're a deer. You're prancing along. You get thirsty. You spot a little brook. You put your little deer lips down to the cool, clear water - BAM. A fuckin' bullet rips off part of your head. Your brains are lying on the ground in little bloody pieces. Now I ask ya, would you give a fuck what kind of pants the son-of-a-bitch who shot you was wearing? My Cousin Vinny(Thunderbird)


10. - Not mainstream, but if you read my blog, I'll bet you've seen it. Great ENSEMBLE work.

If there's an empty space, just fill it with a line, that's what I like to do. Even if it's from another show. Waiting For Guffman (Angelos and Maurinsky)


11. Oldest film in my list. Iconic Hollywood actor. He doesn't say all that much, but there are a ton of quotable lines in it. SELECTED FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY IN 1996. - THE ACTOR/DIRECTOR IN THIS FILM CALLS IT HIS FAVORITE. THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA CREATED A RULE AFTER SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THIS FILM. - CONSIDERED A "REVISIONIST" WESTERN.

To hell with them fellas. Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms. The outlaw Josie Wales (Thunderbird)


12.

Well a sure and steady hand did this. This ain't no squirrelly amateur. This is the work of a salty dog. You can tell by the cleanliness of the carnage. Now a kill-crazy rampage though it may be, all the colors are kept within the lines. If you was a moron, you could almost admire it. Kill Bill (Disgruntled Chemist)


13. - Least mainstream film, but the quote gives it away!! This actor is a favorite on the blogs.

I was dreamin'. Dreamin' my dick was out and I was checkin' to see if that infected bump on the head of it had filled with pus again. If it had, I was gonna name it after my ex-wife Priscilla and bust it by jackin' off. Or I'd like to think that's what I'd do. Dreams let you think like that. Truth was, I hadn't had a hard-on in years. Bubba Ho-Tep (Erica)


14.

Lesbian? Her birthday's in March. I thought she was a Pisces. Bend It Like Beckham (Anne)


15. - The person who said this has since become quite a big star after stealing the show with this role.

God loves you just the way you are. But He loves you too much to let you stay that way.
Junebug (Anne)

Keep trying!!

You Have An Assignment

Attention all readers of this blog -

You Have An Assignment


Go rent, (or find on cable)

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Watch it, then come back here to discuss.

I have several theories/questions.

Fascinating film.

As I watched it, the one thing that kept coming into my thoughts was The Power And The Glory.

I haven't quite yet decided why, other than the setting. Perhaps there are parallels between Pete and the whiskey priest?

That is only scratching the surface. Layers and layers in this one.

Excellent!!

This is a great result, because this is one of my all time favorites!!!! I mean, how can you not love a film where Laura Dern tells Nicholas Cage:

I swear Sailor, you've got me hotter than Georgia asphalt!

So take the Which David Lynch Movie Are You quiz:

Which David Lynch movie are you?

you are: wild at heart
Take this quiz!

ht:Blue Gal

What A Waste *** UPDATE

Yet another talented young actor is gone.

Heath Ledger was found dead today in New York.

Please, please, please people, moderation. He was only 28 and tremendously talented.

God I hate this.

****UPDATE:

I thought I'd add this beautiful quote from the father of his Ex-Fiancee' (and Mother of his daughter) Michelle Williams:

"I think Tennyson got it right in the poem when he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends, and oh what a beautiful flame he made, that was Heath, what a beautiful flame he made and a great talent."

"My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family."

"The saddest thing is his daughter whom he just loved dearly."

And The Nominee's Are . . .

Academy Awards Nominations are in. My comment to follow when I get time.

What have you seen?

Thoughts, predictions, hopes?

1. Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

2. Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."

3. Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"; Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."

4. Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."

5. Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."

6. Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

7. Foreign Film: "Beaufort," Israel; "The Counterfeiters," Austria; "Katyn," Poland; "Mongol," Kazakhstan; "12," Russia.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"; Sarah Polley, "Away from Her"; Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

9. Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno"; Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, "Ratatouille"; Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Persepolis"; "Ratatouille"; "Surf's Up."

11. Art Direction: "American Gangster," "Atonement," "The Golden Compass," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "There Will Be Blood."

12. Cinematography: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "Atonement," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

13. Sound Mixing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old Men," "Ratatouille," "3:10 to Yuma," "Transformers."

14. Sound Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old Men," "Ratatouille," "There Will Be Blood," "Transformers."

15. Original Score: "Atonement," Dario Marianelli; "The Kite Runner," Alberto Iglesias; "Michael Clayton," James Newton Howard; "Ratatouille," Michael Giacchino; "3:10 to Yuma," Marco Beltrami.

16. Original Song: "Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova; "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "Raise It Up" from "August Rush," Nominees to be determined; "So Close" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "That's How You Know" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

17. Costume: "Across the Universe," "Atonement," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "La Vie en Rose," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

18. Documentary Feature: "No End in Sight," "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," "Sicko," "Taxi to the Dark Side," "War/Dance."

19. Documentary (short subject): "Freeheld," "La Corona (The Crown)," "Salim Baba," "Sari's Mother."

20. Film Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Into the Wild," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

21. Makeup: "La Vie en Rose," "Norbit," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

22. Animated Short Film: "I Met the Walrus," "Madame Tutli-Putli," "Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)," "My Love (Moya Lyubov)," "Peter & the Wolf."

23. Live Action Short Film: "At Night," "Il Supplente (The Substitute)," "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)," "Tanghi Argentini," "The Tonto Woman."

24. Visual Effects: "The Golden Compass," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Transformers."

Food Porn . . . . .

Being a proper Foodie, how have I never heard of this film?

Have any of you ever seen Tampopo? Here are two clips from this film.

I must see it.

h/t to Jaden

YES, YES, YES, YES!!!!!!

Ceiling cat has waved his paw!!!!

Peter Jackson has agreed to produce The Hobbit.

It didn't look like it was going to happen. It will apparently be two films!!!!!!!

Pinch me.

Suck It Bill Donahue!

Ha Ha Ha Ha HA!

I'm taking the kids to see The Golden Compass!!!!

We are leaving right now!!!!!

Happy Syncretism Day!!!!!!!

Actually, today is Saint Crispin's Day. Notable to me mostly because it is the one day a year I am pretty much guaranteed to hear this:





Please, no Branagh bashing here. Brave Sir Robin likes him.

Also notable because it is my oldest son's middle name. Before you ask, he was named after a high school friend who died, not the Saint, who incidentally probably didn't exist.

In any event, fictional or real, we have him to thank for Shakespeare writing this glorious passage:

If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.