Category: Movies

So Who’s the Crybaby?

Posted on by

1. Brian’s Song (1971) – Yes.
2. Rudy (1993) – Nope.
3. Saving Private Ryan (1998) – Yep
4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) – Kind of.
5. The Natural (1984) – Never saw it.
6. Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Nope.
7. Shindler’s List (1993) – Nope.
8. Old Yeller (1957) – Yes.
9. The Pride of the Yankees (1942) – Nope.
10. Terms of Endearment (1983) – Never saw it.
11. The Iron Giant (1999) – Close…
12. Philadelphia (1993) – Nope.
13. Big Fish (2003) – Nope.
14. Million Dollar Baby (2004) – Yeah.
15. Life is Beautiful (1997) – Never saw it.
16. Love Actually (2003) – Never saw it.
17. Rocky (1976) – No, but when Mick dies in “Rocky III”…
18. The Pianist (2002) – Never saw it.
19. Mystic River (2003) – No.
20. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) – No.

So, you’ve read the list. Who’s the bigger crybaby?

 

A Lot Can Happen OVERNIGHT

Posted on by
“Overnight” is a documentary that covers the rapid rise and fall of Troy Duffy, who in 1997 scored a million dollar deal to direct his screenplay, “The Boondock Saints” for Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax pictures. Duffy’s story was the stuff of legend. He was a bartender and part time musician who had written a screenplay that was getting lots of notice. When the dust settled Duffy was given over a million dollar deal that included his band getting to do the soundtrack for “The Boondock Saints,” Duffy getting to direct WITH FINAL CUT and the bar that Duffy worked at purchased for him.

Most people in this position would count their blessings and hope that they could live up to the hype. Not Duffy. It was amazing to hear him talk down to his friends and family. To hear Duffy tell it, his talent was going to take them all to the top. He thought nothing of making sure that his mother knew that HE was right and his brother would have to listen to him now. Duffy made sure that everyone in his band understood that he was in charge and thanks to him they would be able to make a living with their music. He was ego gone mad… burning bridges and destroying friendships. And before too long Duffy alienated the man who made it all possible, Harvey Weinstein.

Soon the movie deal was dead in the water… same with the soundtrack. To Duffy’s credit, he regrouped and found some backers to finance “The Boondock Saints” which he directed [at a greatly reduced rate]. And his band did get an album produced. It sold 690 copies... TOTAL. “The Boondock Saints” was made but when Weinstein and Miramax passed on it, so did every other company in Hollywood.

“The Boondock Saints” was never given wide theatrical release and eventually made it’s way to cable tv and video. Where a funny thing happened… it’s popularity began to build. Word of mouth spread and it became even more popular. Unfortunately the deal that Duffy agreed to in order to get the film made did not provide him any compensation for video or dvd. Duffy’s advance from Miramax was long gone as was his payment for “The Boondock Saints.” To this day he’s never gotten another project made.

Just as quickly as his star had risen, it fell… “Overnight.”

007 Guesses Who is Back

Posted on by
I was a huge fan of the last James Bond film “Casino Royale.” I thought Daniel Craig perfectly nailed the thugish qualities needed for the early Bond — you know, the Bond he was before he became the ultra-cool superspy.

Of course I am looking forward Craig’s next outing as 007 despite the somewhat blah title “Quantum of Solace” and the fact that a new director is at the helm.

I was surprised to see a teaser poster and a behind the scenes video for QoS today at AICN. Click HERE and you can be just as surprised.


Cloverfield Thoughts

Posted on by
I had mixed feelings going in to “Cloverfield.” I really liked the trailer and some of the hype boosting the movie. I thought the idea of a story told through a “found” video camera was interesting. By the same token, I knew that using the conceit of “the “video” would be limiting. But in the end, who doesn’t want to see a giant monster tearing up the city?

The Good: Once the action [finally] gets started and no one knows quite what is going on – seeing glimpses of the monster tearing junk up – crossing from the leaning building onto the stable one – a giant monster tearing up the city

The Bad: The movie takes forever to get crackin’ – being limited to just “the video” – what happens to people bitten by the little critters – the love story – what happens to the cameraman

The Ugly: People in the theater getting motion sickness – the monster – being limited to just one view of all the action

Overall I’m glad I saw “Cloverfield” although I must admit I was disappointed when I left the theater. “Cloverfield” won’t make it into my movie collection, and I have no desire to see it again… although I wouldn’t mind fast-forwarding to some of the good parts. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a giant monster tearing up the city?

Maybe It’s the Poster

Posted on by
Unfortunately these days it’s rare that a movie uses actual artwork to attract viewers. Perhaps that’s why I have an interest in “Hellride.”

Then again maybe it’s because it’s about a biker gang out to avenge the murder of one of their own. Maybe it’s because it’s got a mix of horror thrown in. Or maybe it’s because it stars Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones and Dennis Hopper and is “presented by” Quentin Tarantino.

Then again, it could be simply because I like the poster.

Doomsday: Drive-In Appropriate

Posted on by
The trailer for “Doomsday” makes it look like a riff on “Escape From New York” and I loved “Escape From New York.” I don’t think that I’ll love “Doomsday.” It’s more like one of the movies that I’d go to see at the drive-in where it would be playing with a couple of other movies. Many times none of ’em would be well worth seeing except as part of a triple bill.

Man, I miss those days.