Blogging In Plain Site

Super Badass

Given that I can't stay on top of movies in theaters let alone movies that come out on DVD six months later, I am hardly a cultural lighthouse. But, I will say that Super Bad is the funniest movie I have seen in 2 years. Jonah Hill, brilliant. McLovin (Get him, McLovin!) and the Cock gallery. Simply awesome.

Fast Ship? She'll Get You to Alderan, Old Man

Dumpster diving through IMDB, I read that Bill Murray was considered for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars. Stop for a minute and try to imagine how THAT would have played out on screen.

 

"Listen, man I didn't just fall onto this rock, I've burned some tires in this system, you know, people know me here... Tell Jaba I've got his goddamn money. Chewie why don't you finish off this little rat bastard green nut job and get me another Campari from the bar, will ya, pal? Hey Greedo, what's with the straight face? "

Wes, You Lost Me At Hello...

My last day off, I ducked out of my routine and checked out the Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. I am a gigantic Wes Anderson apologist - I even loved Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and I filed this movie in the WTF file. My whimsy gene was underwhelmed. Wes Anderson essentially got a budget to whack off.

If you know me and I'm panning a Wes Anderson movie, believe me and don't see this flick. Even on DVD. I did like the soundtrack, though.

Excuse Me, Mr. Tall American? (Why I Love John Wayne)

Call it geeky, cause it is, but I have an affinity for some old movies. The explanation is easy. When I was growing up, those movies were on TV, so you know...I watched them (I don't know if another generation ever will, btw or know their influence). And, my Dad liked them and I'm learning as a new father how much the things you like can transfer to your kids. So my Dad was into John Wayne and presto, I find myself liking the man as well.

Netflix, being the ultimate fetish pool for film, sent me a John Wayne favorite, The Alamo. Maybe it was because of my recent trips to San Antonio but I felt like watching it. Jen just rolled her eyes and went upstairs to do laundary.

I'll get right to the point: i like John Wayne because...

a) The way he drinks: He kind of staggers into everything at an unrecoverable angle like a man who's body parts have been asleep for a year; and drinking is no exception. He always has a tall bottle of "liquor" in one hand and a dusty shot glass in the other. He always blows the dust out of the shot glass (which is ironic as he's usually covered in grime of some sort) and RAMS the end of the bottole of "liquor" into the bottom of the little shot glass with a large CLANK! His generous pour has hardly been discharged as he swings the shot glass up to his lips, slugs it down  and repeats. During each slug his bottle remains pointed at the table, spilling booze onto the table like 8th grade secrets. One wonders why he simply doesn't drink from the bottle. But that's a whole other show.

b) He seems to like drinking: "Well, my name's Davey Crockett. I sure heard a lot about you! I'd be honored to buy you a drink...or eight or ten."

c) He usually seems drunk or hungover

d) The speeches: This speech is verbatum and it blows my mind that it would be consumed by ready ears, eyes and hearts - and we think we have it bad with W today...

"Step down off your high horse, Mr! You don't get lard lessen' you boil the hog. 'Republic.' I like the sound of the word. Means people can live free; talk free; go or come buy or sell be drunk or sober (see, he works drunk into a speech about Texas becoming a Republic. I love it!), however they choose. Some words give you a feeling...'Republic' is one of those words that...makes me tight in the throat. The same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first steps, or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound like a man. Some words can give you a feeling that makes your heart warm. 'Republic' is one of those words."

For what ever reason, I am so tickled seeing the world through his whiskey colored lenses. He never gets in a shoving match or a little buzzed. He is full on brawl, bottom of the bottle, eat the worm hammered or blowing someone's brains out.

I bet it was fun to be John Wayne.

Which, in a slight bend to the bizzare, reminds me of my second favorite quote regarding John Wayne from Repo Man:

"John Wayne was a fag."

"THE HELL HE WAS!"

"He was too, you boys. I installed two way mirrors at his pad in Brentwood and he come to the door wearing a dress."