July 4, 2008
Jesse Helms, dead on the fourth of July
Well, at least he won't have to live to see a black president. That would have given him a heart attack.
Posted by LYT at 12:57 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(2)] [Message Board]
July 3, 2008
How about Condi for Veep?
It won't happen, but I find it a fascinating hypothetical nonetheless -- what if John McCain picked Condoleeza Rice as his running mate?
It would send a hell of a signal. In another year, it would be a riskier move because it might send racists over to the Dems. But this year, it would say to the world that there is no room in either major party for people who hate blacks. It would say that even if the "Southern strategy" worked in the past, it was the wrong thing to do. And I think the McCain of old, the one smeared by Rove as having a black baby, might have embraced the "fuck you-ness" of it all.
It would also be an interesting way to court disgruntled Hillary voters who only want to vote for a ticket with a woman on it. It would practically force Obama's hand into countering with Hillary as his veep. Depending upon whether or not you think Hillary is political poison, that could be a good move.
It won't happen because McCain is trying to play everything safe, and also I don't think Condi's up to it. But it sure would make things interesting.
And incidentally, Hillary-ites, there will almost certainly be a female candidate in November -- Cynthia McKinney is the most likely Green party candidate. If you must cast an anti-Dem protest vote, pick McKinney, and as a bonus no-one can call you racist over it. She's more feminist than McCain, that's for sure.
Posted by LYT at 6:59 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(3)] [Message Board]
July 2, 2008
New old Jersey
Just watched most of Kevin Smith's JERSEY GIRL on TNT, with obviously edited profanity. So I don't know if this counts as a proper review, but at last I feel qualified to speak on it.
For those that don't know, this is the other movie (not GIGLI) where Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez get romantic, but she dies early on, leaving him with a kid. He's a hotshot publicist, and a thoroughly neglectful dad, and when his father (George Carlin) finally resists being a non-stop babysitter, shit hits the fan, as fatherhood and job-hood collide.
A few years later, Ollie (Affleck) is working as a garbageman alongside his pops. And he starts to fall for a video store clerk played by Liv Tyler.
That's about it, plotwise, and it's weird to see Kevin Smith working with such a conventional formula -- the sentiment of being a new father was clearly getting to him.
Now, while I admit that this movie works to a degree -- I'm getting sentimental about family ties the older I get -- it is also full of dishonesty, and that pisses me off.
-- Successful male publicists are usually gay, first of all. Trust me, I work with lots of 'em.
-- I do not buy for a second that Will Smith regrets his acting career because it takes him away from his kids. Especially since his son co-starred with him just over a year ago.
--Ben Affleck should never have to do crying scenes.
-- Liv Tyler, upon meeting Affleck's character only twice, suddenly offers -- nay, demands -- that he have sex with her, once she realizes he's in a long dry spell. I don't see that happening in reality for a garbageman, even one who looks like Affleck.
-- We get the usual "career-versus-family" shtick, and may I say I hate when successful Hollywood directors lecture the rest of us about how success isn't important at all. There need not be as much conflict between dad doing a job he loves and the kid being happy than is made out here. Kids are resilient, and while I don't endorse parents who move house all the time (been a victim of that, thanks), the idea that moving from Jersey to NYC so dad can do a job he's actually good at will devastate the daughter, who'll likely end up in an even better school if dad prevails, is ridiculous.
-During a scene where we get to see that Ollie "still has it" as a PR guy, Smith does something I find inexcusable: he doesn't let us see how. Rather than show Ollie actually spinning and winning townspeople over, he drops out the sound and makes the scene a montage, so we just have to take his word for it that Ollie's good, rather than actually seeing it in action.
Kevin, if you believe half the crap you're peddling here, quit making movies. Let your wife be the breadwinner, and spend every waking hour at home with your daughter (named Harley Quinn, alas). Otherwise, you're contradicting the message of your own film.
Posted by LYT at 2:11 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(1)] [Message Board]
July 1, 2008
I just had some professional headshots done
This one's all-purpose:
And this one's for villainous roles:
So, my filmmaker friends...if you got sent these, would you toss 'em, or keep 'em?
[these are far from the only images in the set, but among the best]
P.S. - the photographer, John Gilhooley, needs more business. If you think these are well-taken, and are interested in getting a good deal, contact him at johngilhooley.com.
Posted by LYT at 4:22 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(2)] [Message Board]
Final LAFF 2008 post...
Sample...
In the decades to come, when James Cameron’s dream of every movie being in immersive, lifelike 3-D becomes reality, perhaps people will watch JOURNEY and criticize its poor grasp of science, or the oddly creepy way it pits a 13 year-old boy and his 40 year-old uncle as romantic rivals for a 20-ish girl. Perhaps, like the unfortunate audiences who will see this thing in flat 2-D in some theaters, they’ll criticize the obvious lighting mismatch in the bluescreen scenes (see picture above). Maybe they’ll wonder how appropriate it is that a 3-D family movie gives us at least one decent look at a wet T-shirt in 3-D.But for right now, they’ll shut the f**k up about all of that, because the 3-D will blow you away.
Read the whole thing...
Posted by LYT at 12:18 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
June 29, 2008
LAFF is over now
But there'll be one more post. It will involve JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3-D and AMERICAN SON. The two movies have nothing else in common. More later.Posted by LYT at 10:32 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
Hellboy II
I've seen it. I've spoken on it. Need to know more?
Okay, just a sample...
Broom reads Hellboy a bedtime story, which we see enacted by CGI wooden dolls, that establishes what the plot of the movie will be – an indestructible army commissioned by elves and mythical creatures once laid waste to humanity, but was then buried (in Northern Ireland near Belfast, ironically enough) after a peace treaty was signed. The only way to revive said army is by the reconstruction of a golden crown, whose parts are divided between humans and elves.Enter the present day, and one very pissed-off elf named Prince Nuada (pronounced Nu-WAD-da), who’s like an evil Legolas after a 6-day meth binge, and so fast that he can slice a raindrop in half with his sword. He’s played by Luke Goss, who was also the main Reaver in BLADE II (alongside Ron Perlman), and a surprising choice for badassitude considering his past…
Posted by LYT at 11:52 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(9)] [Message Board]
June 28, 2008
Catch-up LAFFers
Two posts since last we spoke.
One of them is here...
and the other is here...
Posted by LYT at 11:44 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
June 26, 2008
Key -- Largo
Quick and to the point: New LAFF post is HERE
Posted by LYT at 11:07 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(2)] [Message Board]
Not a post about the Dakota Fanning rape movie.
Well, not quite, anyway. More LAFF craziness...
So I went to see the apparent world premiere of WINGED CREATURES, and must report that Dakota Fanning does not get raped in it. She starts quoting lots of scripture, which is a far less awful fate. (The rape movie is called HOUNDDOG, it turns out.)I want to know how it is that scary RING girl Daveigh Chase is now 18, hot, and legal, while Dakota Fanning doesn’t seem to have aged at all, ever. She’s still only 14, apparently, but hasn’t she ALWAYS been, like, 14? Or does it just feel that way because she’s made 30-some movies? (seriously, 37 acting credits on imdb. Some are TV, but still…)
Posted by LYT at 1:53 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(2)] [Message Board]
June 25, 2008
Village Voice reviews Wicked Lake
Nothing positive to say. But it'll probably be the only review that singles me out.
Though calling me a "former" contributor just might be wistful thinking...
Posted by LYT at 3:47 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(6)] [Message Board]
June 24, 2008
LAFF again
Fans of Fight Club will want to read this one...Wry narration kicks in, courtesy of Sam Rockwell as our protagonist Vincent Mancini (“hero” would be the wrong thing to say), and no doubt your mind is already thinking FIGHT CLUB – same setting, same style, same author. And yet, crucially, no hitting, and a different director. There are no crazy jump-cuts or digital effects (just one neat bit of rear-projection, and yes, “rear” in this case is a double entendre), but there is a whole lot of fucking. Vincent, you see, is a sex addict, and even though Sam Rockwell may not seem like the studliest actor in the world, he is a fast talker, and that’s half the battle when it comes to scoring sometimes (the other half, at least here, is to find women who share the addiction).
Posted by LYT at 1:02 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
Not at home...
I'm staying in west L.A. for a few days, so if you're calling my home number and getting no response, it's cuz o' that...
Posted by LYT at 1:12 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
June 23, 2008
Attention Readers!
If you are going, or have gone, to Comic-con and would be willing to talk to a reporter about the way hotels suddenly up their prices during that time, drop me a line, or comment below with your email..
It's not me writing it, but a friend. He just doesn't know a lot of comic nerds. I reckon a few must be reading here.
Posted by LYT at 12:48 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
Boogeymen
So yeah, I managed to work a wrestling reference into a piece on documentaries about a Republican and a Nazi. Stretch, I know, but I needed an excuse for a good picture...
Posted by LYT at 12:37 PM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
Shit fucking piss tits cock cunt motherfucker!
Rest in peace, George Carlin.
I also aim those seven dirty words at my credit card bill. At least my car is now running better than ever, but $2000 of extra debt really doesn't help right now.
Having a running car, though, is a must, since everything is now a commute. Pay attention, kids: living next door to work is only great until you stop working.
Meanwhile, here's another LAFF blog.
And some pictures.
Posted by LYT at 2:26 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(0)] [Message Board]
June 22, 2008
I win (update with judges' comments)
This is a really, really sweet victory, for obvious reasons.
Congratulations also to my fellow ex-OCers Janine Kahn, for her amazing work on the OC Weekly blog (I told her we'd beat REASON, and we did -- sorry, Matt Welch!); and Derek Olson, honorable mention for his cover story on an unusual art curator.
There's nothing quite like hearing Harry Shearer read words you've written, especially when those words are: "What possible benefit is there for Megatron, a giant robot with a huge blaster on his arm, to shrink down to a tiny handgun?"
The article in question is HERE
UPDATE -- According to LA Observed, here's what the judges said: "An easy, fun read. Thompson brings a knowledge of the genre into play to point out the strengths and weaknesses of the film."
Posted by LYT at 2:36 AM [Link] [Backtalkers(15)] [Message Board]