Still blah. Watching movies. Maybe movies will kill the blah.

[thehefner]

Did I mention that food poisoning sucks? Because it really, seriously sucks. The good news is that I'm pretty much able to eat and digest food like a normal human being again, but my brain still feels weak and groggy.

I was hoping by now to have delved back into the happy retreat of the Harvey Dent novel, steeling myself for the hardcore hack-n-slash revisions for THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES: HOW HEFNERIAN,* but instead, I've just spent the past couple of days catching up on movies. Here's what I've seen:



IN BRUGES: I find Martin McDonough a little one-note as a playwright (I love THE PILLOWMAN, but I find THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN and THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE to both be rather pointless bits of entertaining fluff punctuated by spatterings of nastiness) but this was rather unsurprisingly grand. But then, Brendan Gleeson being awesome is always a good thing. Plus, Ralph Fiennes is slowly morphing into Christopher Eccleston. That is neither good nor bad, it simply is.



EASTERN PROMISES: Better than I remembered it; a solid little film without too much to make it stand out other than that utterly badass naked bathhouse fight. It's gratifying to know that Viggo is a grower not a shower too.



GONE BABY GONE: The hype is true. Ben Affleck has reinvented himself as a damn fine director. This is all the more impressive considering that I think I kind of hate Boston crime stories. Or rather, I am painfully unimpressed by them. THE DEPARTED, MYSTIC RIVER**, BOONDOCK SAINTS... that atmosphere does nothing for me, and the plot twists alone should have derailed it for me. I imagine I'd probably dislike the book. But somehow, Affleck crafted a compelling and challenging character-driven crime drama, one with no easy answers that somehow also ends on a pitch-perfect note of grace at the last minute. Also, he gave the unspeakably awesome Michelle Monaghan her first decent role since KISS KISS BANG BANG, so there's that too.



THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE: Holy crap, young Eric Roberts is a very surreal sight, let me tell you. Is that his natural hair? Sorry, this was a great little film, one of Rourke's true classics and a testament to the powerful actors they both were and are, but every time Eric Roberts was on the screen, my brain kept trying to reconcile that guy with Sal Maroni. Good thing I haven't seen THE WRESTLER yet, or I think my head would have exploded. Even Mom didn't recognize either Roberts nor Rourke.



THE PAPER CHASE: A classic "teacher-student" movie, featuring future three-time George W. Bush portrayer Timothy Bottoms as the douchbaggiest protagonist that I've seen in recent memory. A good but very, very dry, somewhat-dated law school drama which I watched expressly for Harvey Dent research. Not sure what help it could be, since I've cut out all the law school days (even the scene where he debated with some blind, redheaded, hotshot New York law student!). That said, there was one term that I never heard before but just might come in handy. Locus poenitentiae: an opportunity to withdraw from a contract or obligation before it is completed or to decide not to commit an intended crime. In Latin, literally means, place of repentance. Yes, there just might be a place for that in the Harvey Dent novel, wouldn't you say?



Not sure what else is on the docket for tonight, although based on what's on On Demand, choices include HARD TARGET, CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, and BREAKIN' 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALLOO.



*When I told badmagic about how I needed to cut HOW HEFNERIAN down to sixty minutes--as per Orlando Fringe's required time limit--he became crestfallen and said, "What? Why? But I like the two hour version!"

To which I said, "Uh, Joe, it was only seventy-five minutes."

Which I think says it all, don't you?

**God I fucking hate MYSTIC RIVER. I skimmed through the book to see if it'd be any better, and I came upon the Laura Linney character's big speech, her goddamn Lady Macbeth moment, and I was filled with hate all over again. Fuck that book and fuck that movie. Not that I think it's actually bad, as much as just blah and mediocre, and there's just something about blah and mediocre things being hailed as brilliant masterworks of art that really just gets under my skin.

Comments

[cisic.livejournal.com]

I find Martin McDonough a little one-note as a playwright

I will NOT LISTEN TO YOUR BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

YOU WERE STILL DA BOMB IN CRIPPLE!

But really, between this and Stoppard, I will understand if you'll never want to speak to me again.

[cisic.livejournal.com]

Just go ahead and put me out of my misery by spending your next post dissecting the weaknesses of Shakespeare.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

*gasp!*

DO YE THINK ME SO LOW, WOMAN?!

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

I was not acquainted with the playwright in question, and was thus quite surprised by the plot convolutions of IN BRUGES.
It might be Colin Farrell's best work, although that's not the spire it should be.
Feel better. Guthrie commands it.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly recommend checking out THE PILLOWMAN, even in script form. Even though my lack of McDonough-reverence may have already ruined one friendship, I still do very much dig that play. Someday, I'd love to do a production of it ala BRAZIL, maybe with some Tim Burton touches here and there.

I'm working on it, pally. Bit by bit!

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

Remember: if you drink Gatorade to rehydrate, AVOID the cloudy stuff. It contains bad chemicals, bromides.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

What's the cloudy stuff? Isn't all Gatorade opaque? I have some of that clear G4 stuff, or whatever it's called... the low-calorie Gatorade, left over from my road trip.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

White rice and cranberries do magic when you need to eat but are too sick from throwing up. This I discovered when I ate bad Chinese food Christmas before last and spent the next week and a half too sick to move. YAY

Haha, I totally vote for Jean Claude Van Damme (though it is a hard choice between that one and Breakin 2). I kind of want to see JCVD myself for the crack value, but I think it could be too painful to watch. Most of his movies are. XD

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good idea! I have neither now, but tomorrow, I may need to make a cranberry run. Or at least have some juice. And vodka, thereby ruining any good it might do.

Oh hell, if JCVD is playing anywhere, I'd be happy to brave it with you! I think he's very much in on the joke, which seems to be the point! Also, HARD TARGET is Van Damme... directed by John Woo... versus LANCE. HENRICKSEN. So that's definitely something.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Lance Henricksen, hahahahaha, yes. I think vodka might be necessary for that one.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me, I need to rewatch NEAR DARK. Ever seen it? If not, mooooooovie night! Well, that and DAREDEVIL.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have not, though it has been on The List for quite some time.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

It has three of the ALIENS Marines playing skeezy redneck vampires, and it's directed by the director of POINT BREAK! Win-win!

I'm totally serious about DD especially, though. If only so I can actually believe my own memories when I say it's really watchable.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Point Break? AHAHAHAHAHAHA "You want me so bad it's like acid in your mouth!"

NEVER. GETS. OLD.

Would you believe, despite my best efforts (even when the movie was in theaters!), I had never seen that movie before this past December?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I invoke it even though I... *shamefully*... still haven't seen it!

Really, I just need to have a triple feature of that, BAD BOYS II, and HOT FUZZ.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Shit just got real!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

This is about to go OFF!

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Yarb!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

... n... nyarb?

true story!

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Alright, so this comes full circle. XD Ohnoes.

I learned the cranberries/rice thing above when I got sick Christmas before last, and I had just bought the Hot Fuzz DVD a few days earlier. Was stuck in town, so I spent the day watching the extras with some friends before we went to eat Chinese downtown. We were particularly amused by Nick Frost cramming an entire chocolate birthday cake down the toilet.

Then later that night we watched a bunch of horror DVD's, and all there was to eat in the house was chocolate cake. I laughed. Then I got sick at about 10 and spent the night recreating Nick Frost's toilet/cake experiment. I haven't been able to watch that DVD since without wincing. Nick Frost gave me norovirus.

Re: true story!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

hahaha, man, you should win some kind of award for this full circle! Here, have a Starro cupcake, exempt of any "fuck you"s. Because I care!

Egad, don't watch SHAUN OF THE DEAD or you'll be a zombie!

Re: true story!

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's in there, on the shelf, just next to Hot Fuzzzzzz..braiinnsss

[jcsbimp.livejournal.com]

I am glad you discovered GONE BABY GONE. When I saw it a year or so ago, I put its plot twists and its moral dilemma right up there with Touch of Evil. I still think so.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

It's gonna need a few more years before I can put it up that far. I still think the plot is possibly a little improbable and difficult to swallow, but the character stuff and moral dilemma made it work. I'll definitely be revisiting it down the line, but I know if I tell my brother it's on par with TOUCH OF EVIL, his head will explode.

[swimpenguin.livejournal.com]

I was tickled with joy (and sadness) by In Bruges-somehow not at all what I thought it would be when I started it, and that rocked.
Gone Baby Gone was very good-have you caught Affleck's 'last' good acting gig as George Reeves in Hollywoodland? Not a great movie but he nails the role.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Definitely check out McDonough's play THE PILLOWMAN if you can. I get the feeling you especially would dig it.

I have not, actually! I keep hearing it's not that great, and really, the only reason I'd see it would be for Affleck. Maybe I'll catch it on cable sometime.

[lairdofdarkness.livejournal.com]

I watched In Bruges last Saturday and I thought that about Mr Feinnes too.
Weird
As for the next movie you shoudl watch, I think you know it has to be Breakin 2 Electric Boogaloo
as if you had to ask!!

Hope you feel better soon sir

[jackolantern.livejournal.com]

If you want to see another decent pre-plastic-surgery Mickey Rourke performance, I'd recommend Johnny Handsome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Handsome).

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

...pointless bits of entertaining fluff punctuated by spatterings of nastiness....

Ha. Welcome to the Irish experience. I love my ancestral homeland, but I'm not generally such a fan of the literature for exactly that reason.

EDIT: Also, if you expand on the locus poenitentiae, and talk about a place of regret or repentance, expect to occasionally be challenged, because it's a big "false friend," looking, as it does, like the English word for "potential." You can tell them the word they're looking for is materies, materiei: means, occasion, a condition effecting an action; a latent ability or potential.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

And yet, I love Eugene O'Neill! Or maybe that's just Irish-American. I've always liked his brand of "Irish-American depressing" far more than Tennessee Williams' "Southern depressing," and even a little more than Arthur Miller's "Jewish depressing."

Well, I'd worry about throwing around a big lawyerly word without understanding it in depth anyway. I want Harvey to sound more like a lawyer, but sometimes I fear efforts like that just might backfire. If I do use it, though, I'll keep that in mind. How funny, though, that "place of regret or repentance" is often mistaken for "potential." Ha. Now there's really something there...

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's having grown up with the ethnicity, from where I sit, Irish Americans in the late 19th/early 20th century could be even worse, pining for a lost magical land where... they... um, starved. And were beaten and had their stuff (and homes) stolen. Frequently. For me, O'Neill is sitting for three hours watching my distant relatives and wanting to smack each and every one of them. Repeatedly. Not even Katherine Hepburn's turn in Long Day's Journey Into Night can make me like him.

In fact, it may be that attraction/fascination with something different that draws me to Miller. The Crucible is very Old Testament (as the Puritans were, but not the point here), and it's my favorite "modern" play.

As for Williams, well, for me, watching his stuff is kind of like watching a soap opera. I keep waiting for the twist, and he rarely disappoints. (Except for The Glass Menagerie which has always been, however good the actors or the director, just two and a half hours of my life I'm never getting back.)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I totally get that sense of uncomfortable familiarity. For my part, the thing about O'Neill is that I get the feeling he wants to smack them too (for me, it's the child of the alcoholic, I think that's the factor he writes from that appeals to me), and those feelings at least come to the surface in his plays.

Which is more than I can say for Tennessee Williams. God, I just want to smack every single character in STREETCAR and GLASS MENAGERIE. They consistently fight against making me care about them.

Is CRUCIBLE indicative of Miller's work in general, though? I've only read/seen that and SALESMAN, but I thought his other great plays were modern dramas. It was SALESMAN in particular I was invoking in the "Jewish depressing" category.

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

*plunks literary critic hat on head*

Well, yes. John Proctor and Willie Loman actually have a lot more in common than you would think at first glance. Both are dissatisfied with their lives. Both look outside their marriages for excitement, while still loving their wives very much. Both ultimately wind up martyring themselves for the greater good--John for the community as a whole, Willie for his family, an action also taken by Joe Keller in All My Sons. This emphasis on family is also seen (and possibly perverted) by Eddie Carbone in A View from the Bridge. Comparisons between Linda Loman, Beatrice Carbone, and Elizabeth Proctor would make a hell of an MA thesis.

Now, I admit that I only know as much about Jewish thought and philosophy as I've picked up from my best friend over the past 10 years. But the emphasis on family, and the protection of the family, is hugely important, as it is for many ethnicities. The theme of martyrdom is also a theme in Jewish philosophy and thought as well. All of Miller's wives are also "good wives," who stick by their husbands no matter what, their loyalty rising above just about every other commitment and relationship in their lives.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I have nothing to add to any of that. Neato analysis, and something I'll definitely try to keep in mind as I watch and rewatch Miller in the future.

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad I could contribute.

And, just because I'm a little obsessive about this sort of thing, I wanted to add, "...which I think is seen as the ideal, as it is in Christianity, because of the Old Testament passage about wives cleaving to their husbands, etc." to the end of my last sentence.

[bitemetechie.livejournal.com]

You. Get better. That's an order. Don't make me smack you around with some Loeb, now. You know how those cliches bruise.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

NOOOOO, I'm okay, I'm okay, I swear!

Ugh, they just announced that they're going to adapt Loeb's SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES comic to animated DVD. God help us all.

[bitemetechie.livejournal.com]

No. Oh no. NO OH GOD NO NO NO NO.

I just finished that and ranted for days! (It was almost as magnificent as the Hal Jordan related sputtering of a few days prior--it's a long story). No! NO NO NO NO NO!

Well...I thought the new series of DC animated movies could do no wrong. I guess I was mistaken.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaaand there's also been talk of animating THE LONG HALLOWEEN too. My pain, it never ends.

[bitemetechie.livejournal.com]

...

I have to go bang my head on the nearest available hard surface now. Excuse me.