It doesn't really matter what your answer to this question is. I personally love the guy. I have never voted for him but I have always agreed with what he had to say and am incredibly impressed with his record. Just a quick glance at his wikipedia entry proves that Ralph has had a lasting impact on the way we live our lives.
A new documentary, An Unreasonable Man, comes to LA this Friday. Ralph will be speaking at all 3 evening performances (4:30, 7:15 and 9:55) at the Nuart in West LA. Buy your tickets here for what promises to be an interesting night.
A few months ago, I was eating dinner at Canters with my good friend Mark and his brother and the conversation turns to Windy City Heat. Immediately upon saying the words Windy City Heat, they both starting laughing uncontrollably and quoting lines. Mark's brother Ben explained, "Windy City Heat is the best you have never seen. It is essentially a 10 year old practical joke on this one guy who thinks he is trying to be a action star, but actually is the butt of every joke possible."
The story goes like this: "The prank involves a poor schmuck named Perry Caravello who is duped
over a period of years into believing that he has talent and will soon
be cast to star in an action film. Of course, the guy has no talent and
pathetically few brain cells, so his duping in this elaborate hoax is
an act of cruelty almost unparalleled in TV comedy annals. It's nasty
and mean and ugly. Yet it's also undeniably a scream.
Dubbed a "real-life 'Truman Show,' " it's the
brainchild of exec producers Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, Daniel
Kellison and Doug DeLuca. For years now, this sap Caravello --
wild-haired, paunchy, moody and almost unfathomably dense -- has been
promised a starring vehicle by his comedian pals/tormentors Don Barris
and Tony Barbieri. With straight faces, they somehow convince the guy
that he's gonna be the Next Big Thing despite his complete lack of
talent, charisma or even a sense of humor.
Caravello is, in short, the perfect fool. Cameras both
hidden and exposed capture the fun and pain when Caravello is
inexplicably cast as the star of a supposed film called "Windy City
Heat," in which he portrays a character named Stone Fury, a hard-boiled
Chicago "sports private eye." It's all just a complete goof, of course.
But the real Caravello doesn't know that."
The joke takes on the dimension of pitiful, brutal art. Every actor,
every cameraman, every PA and every producer on this supposed film is
in cahoots to manipulate this unsuspecting, egomaniacal slob. He seems
like such a jerk in reality that it takes a bit of the sting off. And
talk about a moron. It doesn't seem to occur to him how odd it is that
the film crew around him have names like Susan B. Anthony, John Quincy
Adams, Frances Farmer and Burt Ward. And when the cameras follow him
off the set, it's only to collect bonus footage for the DVD. [Hollywood Reporter]
The movie was supposed to get theatrical release, but instead was regulated to some late night slots on Comedy Central. Comedy Central pulled it adding to the mystique. Next thing you know, some guy recorded it and passed it on to his friends and its a cult classic.
Immediately upon hearing the premise, I was turned off. Why would I want to watch a movie about a bunch of guys picking on another guy. I told Mark this. He agreed and then he saw it. He claims (boldly) it is the best movie of our generation. Its a movie you can watch again and again and still find humor in.
The movie was finally released on DVD yesterday. It's not on Netflix yet, but will be I am sure up soon. Until then, I will keep all of you posted for my Windy City Heat viewing party.
Finally. Finally. Finally. One of my favorite movies of all time (thank you Jordan) finally gets the DVD treatment it deserves. I can not talk enough about how great this movie is. This is Noah Baumbach's writing and directing debut. He made this, then the also underrated Mr. Jealousy and then took 10 years off and made "The Squid and the Whale" for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay. Noah Baumbach knows how to tell a story and what better story can I relate to than a group of college friends who graduate from college and decide to live in their small college town for one more year. Ah, what a life that would be.
"Paralyzed by postgraduation ennui, a group of college friends remain on
campus, patching together a community for themselves in order to deny
the real-world futures awaiting them. Academy Award–nominated
screenwriter Noah Baumbach’s hilarious and touching directorial debut
was one of the highlights of the American independent film scene of the
nineties, speaking directly to a generation of adults-to-be unable to
reconcile their hermetic educational experience with workaday
responsibility, and posing the eternal question, where do we go from
here? Stingingly funny and incisive, Baumbach’s breakthrough features
endlessly quotable dialogue, delivered by a stellar ensemble cast." [Criterion Collection Description]
Please see this movie and then email me and tell me what you thought. I love talking about this movie and more people need to see it. It's that good. This is a movie that grows on you and grows with you. It gets better as you get older. It's a movie that you will remember and yearn to watch again.
When the screen goes black at the end (after my favorite scene in the movie) and Freedy Johnston's Bad Reputation starts playing, you already feel nostalgic for a movie you just finished watching.
It is finally upon us. Snakes On A MotherFing Plane. While there is an endless amount of SOAP press lately, I came across my favorite review this morning in the WSJ. Trying to prove he can make any subject high-brow, Sam Schechner, describes Sammy J's key line accordingly: Mr. Jackson's repeatedly uses an Oedipal expletive to describe both the snakes and the plane. An "Oedipal Expletive?" Actually, I thought it was pretty creative.
So, what are your SOAP party plans for tonight? Whatever your plans are, make sure to stock up on plenty of plastic snakes to throw at the screen as necessary. Still looking for a party, check this list of opening night parties.
If you haven't seen SLJ's appearance on the Daily Show, you're missing out.
I want to leave you with my favorite SOAP-inspired game, Snakes on a Babe. Make sure to turn your speaker volume to 11.
Is this the coolest thing ever or the lamest thing ever?
You decide. I feel like this is a major example of Hollywood just trying to ride the coattails of something with buzz.
"Aquaman," one of Hollywood's hottest inside jokes, might make the move
from fiction to reality. As a key plot line in HBO's "Entourage," the
"movie" directed by James Cameron shattered box-office records (a feat
that got it a real ad in Variety), turned an unknown actor into a
$20-million movie star and sparked a fight over a sequel.
But now, informal talks have been launched about the feasibility
of making a real Warner Bros. "Aquaman" movie. In one of the strangest
twists of this life-imitating-art tale, the talent agent at the center
of the emerging "Aquaman" deal is Ari Emanuel, the brassy Endeavor
partner on whom "Entourage" agent Ari Gold is based.
Warner Bros. said Thursday that the studio "is not currently
developing" an "Aquaman" project. But according to four people familiar
with the idea, conversations already have been held about the
character's film rights, controlled by DC Comics, itself a part of Time
Warner Inc. One top filmmaker's name also has surfaced as a potential
"Aquaman" director — "Charlie's Angels" alumnus McG. The director is
finishing the football film "We Are Marshall"; his reps declined
comment on the "Aquaman" prospects.
My first exposure to Leonard Cohen was through Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah." When I first heard Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," I hated it. I didn't understand it. It was too weird for me. I didn't like his whole talking thing. But, over time, his albums stayed with me and I enjoyed them more and more. I came to love his lyrics, particularly on songs like "Suzanne" and "Chelsea Hotel No. 2." For a while, The 2 disc Essential Leonard Cohen was a fixture in my car, perfect for sitting in traffic with the windows down.
I was incredibly excited to see the Lian Lunson documentary, "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man." Partially because it was about the great LC and partially because the guest stars read like my ipod: Antony, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and U2. I saw the movie last night and loved it. It is a great mix of documentary and concert film. The performances of the artists covering Leonard Cohen are great. Antony's "If It Be Your Will" was particularly moving as was Rufus Wainwright's "Hallelujah" (although secretly I was hoping they would dig up some old footage of Jeff Buckley performing it live). But the best performance of the movie was an incredible version of "Tower of Song" with Leonard Cohen backed by U2.
The soundtrack comes out tomorrow (July 25th) and should be incredible. It includes all the songs played in the movie plus some extras. I am looking forward to this one.
First of all, I appologize to Dan. Listen, my cousins are in town and we were looking for something to do after dinner. I was trying to persuade them to see a different movie, but when I realized that wasn't in the cards, I settled for the best movie out there right now. And no. I saw it with the regular folk. I'm still down for IMAX 3D (which is going to be awesome).
Back to Superman Returns. It's fantastic. If you're a Superman fan, like the Chone, you'll love it. Singer brings Superman to the present day while greatly respecting the tone, personality, and feel of the classic Superman movies.
He also develops an entirely new angle of the classic story. But I will not spoil, only tease. One question I have is in regards to the classic Action Comics issue #1 cover. Apparently there's a scene that pays homage to that iconography. I only learned about it after the fact, and wasn't looking for it during the movie. I'll keep my eyes out for it when I watch it in 3D with Dan and Alisha.
I have never been to a film festival before. I dream of Sundance sometimes, just because I think it would be neat thing to do. The LA Film Festival started yesterday and while I don't know if will satiate all that I hoped a film festival can be, there are a couple of movies that I am looking forward to seeing.
Chalk
As a former teacher, this looks incredible:
Film Description: "Take a peek inside the teachers’ lounge in this hilarious glimpse into
the awkward lives of high school teachers. Drawing from the
mock-reality show style of “The Office” or “Arrested Development,”
writer/director Mike Akel and writer/co-star Chris Mass, both actual
teachers, mix comedy with a bittersweet commentary on the obstacles
facing our public school teachers. Surrounded by wonderfully deadpan,
real life students, the cast delivers ingeniously subtle performances
as teachers struggling to win “Teacher of the Year,” decipher school
policy, or just make it until the bell rings."
PLAYING: Sunday, 6/25, 9:15pm @ Italian Cultural Institute, Tuesday 6/27, 7:00pm @ Laemmle Sunset 5 and Saturday 7/01, 2:00pm @ Laemmle Sunset 5.
Old Joy The LA Weekly gave this movie a glorious review and said it is a film about "our inability to stop time, and about the search for sanctuary in an increasingly chaotic world." And Will Oldham is in it!
Film Description: Two old friends — one settling down as an expectant father, the other
leading a free-form existence — go for a weekend camping trip together.
Amidst the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, it becomes apparent
that their lives are heading in different directions. Anchored by
delicately understated performances by Will Oldham (known for his
musical work as Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Palace) and Daniel London, Old Joy is a quiet, powerful look at the ways in which people change and time marches ever on. PLAYING: Friday 6/23, 5:00pm @ Italian Cultural Institute and Sunday 6/25 @ Landmark's Regent
Brothers of the Head I kinda have a thing for faux rock documentaries. Film Description: Spirited away from their home by an unscrupulous music promoter, Barry
and Tom are brooding conjoined twins being groomed to become the “next
big thing.” But the more outside forces conspire to control the
brothers, the more they learn to fight back, transforming their musical
sideshow into a fierce proto-punk missive against the world. This
pseudo-documentary perfectly captures the rebellious, dark side of the
1970s London music scene, while real-life twins Luke and Harry
Treadaway give fiery performances as complex and innovative as punk
music itself. PLAYING: Wednesday 6/28, 4:45 @ Laemmle Sunset 5 and Saturday 7/01, 10:00 pm at Mann Festival Theater
Any movies I am forgetting? What are looking forward to seeing?
As an update to Dan's earlier post on "An Inconvenient Truth," it turns out that Al's entire presentation was done on Keynote, not PowerPoint. Granted, Al is an Apple board member, however, besides Steve's big presentations, you never really hear much about this great piece of software. Check out how Al made his presentation, "An Inconvenient Truth," here.
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