flickerknickers
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Posts posted by flickerknickers
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If anyone is distressed by this topic, then pu-leeze: go to another, safer topic! Some of us love to argue and bicker and provoke and get our ideas out. Because this is only a message board, for Gawd's sake! It's not like the President is reading this or our opinions are going to destroy the world! As for the legitmacy of this topic and thread, heck yeah,it's justified. We're discussing Movie Stars! TCM is a Movie and Movie Star business. It's fun to vent and kick some of these high flying celebs in places where the sun don't shine. It's like people who want to censor or get rid of certain programming because it doesn't suit their sensibilities. A good solution to this complaint is to just change the channel. Same thing here. Start a counter-topic like All-American Stars (seriously) or something that you feel comfortable with. Now, with that said, just let me tell you some more good dirt about Sean and Babs and Clooney and...
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If you love the Gregory Peck classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird," then prepare yourself for a shock. Today's NY Post reports that George Clooney is trying to buy the rights to remake it--either as a movie or a Broadway play. Clooney wants to play the role of, eh, Atticus Finch--the role that Peck immortalized and received an Academy Award. Clooney needs a role like this badly. His movies have bombed all over the place. No more $25 million paychecks for mugging and crossing his eyes for the camera like he does in his latest disaster, "Intolerable Cruelty." Are we ready for this? Not me! Leave these classic movies alone for God's sake!
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Maybe someone could start a counter topic to this, Movie Joe. Something like, "Tasteful Stars Award for 2003." I agree that Reese Witherspoon and Ed Norton are two rarities in show biz today--geninusly nice people who know when to keep their mouths shut. The ones listed in the Tacky Taste folder are the egomaniacs like George Clooney, Senn Penn, Susan Sarandon, etc. who really believe in their little minds that they're so important that the whole world waits breathlessly for their pearls of wisdom.
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we've already got two great folders on this very topic: one's on movies that should have been made in Technicolor which is just part of a long, long string of great responses in the "Technicolor Delites". We've also got another long, fascinating thread in the "Black and White Beauties." This is either under the "Hot Topics" or "General Discussion" or "Favorites." These two folders should be revived and all those forgotten long gone but terrific poster people brought back.
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Who should receive the Tackiest Taste Award for 2003? This coveted honor would go to the star/stars who have behaved in a most Tacky Way during the last ten months. Could it possibly be Demi grabbing hold of her boy toy for a few more moments of fleeting fame? Maybe it could be Ben and Jen (Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez)for protesting about all the media coverage while making certain they were seen in all the public places? Or perhaps it was the gaggle of air-headed stars who suddenly wanted to be taken seriously as military experts as they bashed both President Bush and our military? (paging Sean Penn, Babs Streisand, etc.) We have an endless supply of Tacky Taste statuettes to give away. They're all in the shape of a turkey. Do you have a nominee? Tell us why?
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Martin Sheen, the ham who earns $12 million for showing up a few minutes in front of the camera for "The West Wing", is at it again. The NY Post reported today that he ranted and raved against President Bush and the military at a party this week in NYC. He said Bush should be impeached and "needs to be in rehab." Ben Affleck's new movie, scheduled to start shooting next week, was cancelled because the studio moguls said he's not worth a $25 million paycheck. After "Gigli" bombed and after "Daredevil" lost money, the moguls don't think Affleck has helped his case with all the ballyhoo about his affair with J-Lo. It didn't help when he knocked the President and the Troops at a recent left-wing rally here in NYC. George Clooney's latest bomb, "Intolerable Cruelty" has resulted in the arrogant, mugging star not being offered anymore $25 million roles. His stand against the troops and the President, delivered over cocktails in his $11 million villa in France, didn't help his image with most Americans. Sean Penn's latest crybaby movie, "Mystic River," may have resulted in a gushing, drooling article in Time Magazine--"America's greatest actor!"--but many audiences are howling at his over-the-top, scenery chewing performance. But these guys don't have anything to worry about. As Affleck giggled to one reporter: "We've all made a s_____load of money.!" But not enough to donate much needed items to our American troops who need such basic items like toiletries, cigarettes, writing materials to send postcards and letters home.
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Right on, Movie Joe. There've been remakes and sequels since the first movie ever made. But all of these new remakes are doing nothing but trying to rip-off the memory and reputation of past legends. And these new editions are bombing all over the place. "Meet Joe Black" with Brad Pitt cost nearly $150 million and never made a penny profit. "The Haunting" bombed and lost a fortune while the original has become a classic must-see. Curiously, the fantasy/horror genre has actually created a few remakes that actually transcended/or made fresh their source material. "The Thing" in l950 was great but John Carpenter's remake in l985 was equally as fabulous. "The Blob" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" remakes were actually better than the originals. "Topper Returns" was a sequel in l940 that was nominated for two Academy Awards because of its brilliant casting, story, special effects, photography, musical score, etc. So--no one's disputing Hollywood's practice of remaking classics or creating sequels. The junk being churned out now has only one goal: to make big bucks. To hell with the audience.
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The number one movie two weeks ago was the remake of the l973 horror classic, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Friends of mine who saw it said it's a frame-by-frame repeat carbon copy of the original--except in this one, there was no wardrobe. Everyone wore the usual nothing costume of teen movies: jeans, halters and tee-shirts. Adrian would be turning in his grave. You have to ask yourself: why? Like MovieJoe, I've been horrified to discover how little our up-and-coming movie buffs know about movies. I talked to two NYU students who weren't even aware there WAS a l973 movie called "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." It's like that bizarre remake, frame-by-frame, of "Pyscho." Why? I just watched "28 Days Late," a British horror flick. It was made for almost nothing. Yet, it was so damned fresh, original, brilliantly acted, it made me realize again how wretched Hollywood has become. More remakes: "The Stepford Wives," a juicy l975 sci-fi movie with Katherine Ross, is now being remade as comedy, with Nicole Kidman and Bette Midler. There are FOUR remakes of "Frankenstein" in 2004! In Hollywood Reporter, an article says that for 2004, nearly 98 per cent of the films being made will be (1) remakes, (2) sequels to such garbage as "Bad Boys III," "Scream 6," "Godzilla III," "Mighty Joe Young III," "Road Trip V" etc. Get set for a wonderful year of watching nothing!
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On Halloween weekend, I love to curl up with my worn stack of Universal classics. I start with "The Black Cat", the "Mummy" and work my way on down. A real goodie is 'The Mad Ghoul' starring the hunky, gorgeous David Bruce as the Ghoul and the gorgeous Evelyn Ankers as the love interest. I like "The Werewolf of London", too. Another cult fave is "Tourist Trap," a l982 movie with a terrific cast and a shocking ending. "Eraserhead" would also fall into my fave category.
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If you need any more proof that Hollywood is undergoing a frenzy of cannablizing, Variety just ran a list of movie greats that are being remade. King Kong is undergoing a remake for the third time. It will naturally be updated and Ann Darrow will boast just one costume: a halter and a pair of jeans. Auntie Mame will once again be remade, this time with Nathan Lane essaying in drag the title role of this old war horse. A Star is Born is being redone with Will Smith and Beyonce starring in an all-black homage to this worn out property. West Side Story is being redone as a gangsta rap production, with a bunch of black thugs battling white thugs. Singin' in the Rain is being redone with John Travolta (Please, Aunt Pittypat, my smelling salts) in the Gene Kelly role. Casablanca will be redone with Ben Affleck ("I hate America") and his long-suffering paramour, Jennifer Lopez as the love interests. Eddie Murphy wants to do the Victor Lazlo role. Viva Las Vegas may be redone with Justin Timberlake and Lisa Marie Presley. Get it? Elvis Presley/Lisa marie Presley? She can't sing, she can't dance, she can't act. The teenie boppers will love her!
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I just brought the DVD edition of the original "The Haunting" and it's terrif! Richard Johnson, who plays the doctor, gives fascinating tidbits about the making of this movie. Julie Harris makes a strangely brief commentary--as to how depressing it was for her--and then she vanishes. Claire Bloom and Russ Tamblyn also put in some juicy behind-the-scenes vignettes. Producer/Director Robert Wise also discusses the production. The movie itself looks great and it's still as scary as it was when I first saw it back in l961.
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"Gigli" superstar and McDonald's trained thespian, Ben Affleck, accepted a Spirit of Liberty award Wednesday night from The People for the American Way in NYC. The NY Daily News reported that Affleck held his award in the air and looking sternly at the cheering crowd declared: "The Bush Administration..." has destroyed American liberties while murdering innocents in Iraq. He was described as showing more emotion than he has in such movie classics as "Hot Dog", "Amazon Women on Mars," and of course his masterpiece, "Gigli." Among those cheering him were fellow Sadam Hussein admirers Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. Penn had taken time out from punching photographers and running over reporters in his car to also denounce Bush for killing "minorities" in Iraq. Penn is also appearing all around NYC this week as he describes being punished by "right wing nuts" for visiting Iraq and praising Sadam Hussein and for running ads in the NYTimes that denounced Bush and American armed forces. Penn was reported yesterday as having punched out several more photographers when they tried to photograph him.
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Jack Carson was sooooo sexy and hot as Wally Faye in "Mildred Pierce." I always thought that Joan Crawford was nuts to turn him down. Yeah, he might have been a little on the sleazy side but that hot look in his eyes and his rugged torso would have had me all over him. But what did Mildred Pierce do? She married that washed out marshmallow Bruce Bennett and then she got hitched to that really smarmy Zachary Taylor. And she treated Wally Fay like dirt! Mildred simply did not have any taste in men!
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What are some of your all-time Halloween horror thrillers? Tell us why your faves simply have to be watched by the rest of us film nuts out here? Let me get the ball rolling by listing only a very few of mine. (1) Night Monster (1942) Hollywood's greatest character actors gather in a fog-shrouded mansion while a 'night monster' lurks without. (2) Mummy's Ghost (1943)A gorgeous Ramsey Ames is transformed into Princess Ananka but her boyfriend (Kharis the Mummy)has underground plans for her. (3)Brides of Dracula. Fabulous technicolor, costumes, sets and a most hunky vampire--David Peele. (3) Suspiria (1983) from Italian genius, Dario Argento, comes a stunning thriller with great clothes, camerawork, etc. Other goodies: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Zombie, Psycho, Invasion of Body Snatchers (the remake), Scanners, The Black Cat, The Howling, Doctor X, Mystery of the Wax Museum. Whew! Okay, now somebody else pick up the ball and run with it.
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Three cheers and a tiger--as Louella Parsons liked to say--to champion American hero, Bruce Willis,for actually going over to Iraq and entertaining our troops! Willis paid his own way, he paid for all of his entertainers who accompanied him, and he was thoroughly upbeat and patriotic! I watched the coverage on all the cable channels and I wanted to hug him for all his hard work. He told the guys and girls over there that when they find Sadaam, Willis would like to spend 5 minutes with him--and put an end to him. Willis followed in the footsteps of the new CAlifornia governor, Arnold S., who went to the troops in Iraq last summer and also boosted their morale. No wonder Arnold is now a governor! No ivory tower or Italian villas (a la George Clooney) for him. One more note about Bruce Springsteen: the New York press was full of outraged reader reaction over the anti-American garbage spewed out by Brucie. He's yet another limousine liberal who'll never dirty his dainty paws by traveling to Iraq and entertaining our troops.
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Hooray for the Mystery Science Theater! Even though the Sci-Fi channel shows the same ones over and over, it's great to watch over breakfast. My favorite: The Hands of ___)can't think of the rest of the title. The comments are hilarious. And I've said this before and i'll do it again: We Want Betty Grable Movies! When seen today, the Technicolor beauty of her classics are still knockouts--especially when compared to the drab, boring, life-like color used in today's films. It'd be super, too, if TCM could show some of Italian horror-meister Dario Argento's shockers--especially Inferno, Opera, Suspiria, Deep Red.
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Bruce Springsteen discovered to his dismay last week that he has hundreds of fans who refuse to listen to his anti-Bush, anti-American and anti-cops tirades from the stage. As the New York Post reported, Springsteen began his series of concerts here in NY and NJ last week. During the middle of the first one, he stopped the show cold and began a violently anti-American harangue. He urged his fans to impeach President Bush, to demand the withdrawal of troops from a war that "targets minorities" (?) and to demonstrate against New York Cops. He then sang the violently anti-cop song, "21 Bullets" that deals with the shooting death of a black man by NY cops last year. The singer never include any lyrics that the cops were all found innocent. The singer instead sang that these cops were worse than Nazi guards or the Ku Klux Klan. By this time, hundreds of concert goers shouted for him to shut up and sing (always a good idea for musical talent). Springsteen refused to do so. At that, hundreds of fans tore up their tickets and streamed out of the arena. They were joined by nearly 100 New York cops who had given up their personal time to escort Springsteen to the arena and provide security. Witnesses say Springsteen seemed a little baffled by this reaction. Maybe his syncophants failed to warn him that air-heads like Barbara Streisand and Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks are not exactly the best barometers of how Joe Six Pack and the salt of the Earth feel. By the way--has anyone ever noticed how much Springsteen looks like the Frankenstein monster when singing?
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At last, we're seeing a trickle of some of our faves on that little silver disc. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is now out with an elaborate extra disc with lots of extras. It's a beautiful restored print and I'm still going through the extras. The original l950 "Titanic" is also out in a beautifully restored print. The two commentaries are real letdowns, however. On one of them, Audrey Dalton and Robert Wagner are featured but they have very little speaking time. Most of it's filled with someone harping endlessly about the miniatures used in the picture. The second commentary is by so-called film critic, Richard Shickel. This guy sounds like he went down on the Titanic and never surfaced. He stammers and pauses and sounds like he's dead asleep. In one segment, he goes: "And, eh, eh, now, eh, Barbara, eh, eh, Barbara Stan-uh, uh-wyck, uh, mmmmm, she was an, uh, em,mmmmmmm, good,mmm, mmmm, uh, uh, act-mmmmm,uh, uh tress..." But buy this one anyway! Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb are fantastic. You'll be crying your eyes out at the end.
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We have an identical folder on this very topic that has dozens of entries. why start another one?
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The most grotesque Vietnam War movie to ever be made would have to be 1978's "Coming Home." This story of problems facing Vietnam vets starred one of America's most treacherous traitors of them all: Hanoi Jane Fonda. This role rightly outraged veterans everywhere and many Americans. Director Hal Ashby later admitted that the whole movie was cast in a daze of marijuana smoke and at the time it was considered hilarious to star one of the most hated women in America to portray an ardent, all-American housewife. Even today, television images of Fonda giggling, mugging and literally dancing with the enemy during the war and actually encouraging the enemy "to force our boys to see the light" can make even the most radical anti-war protestor squirm in disbelief. The left-leaning Academy Awards that year gave Fonda a Best Actress Award. She threw a hissy fit at the ceremony when "The Dear Hunter" won Best Picture because she felt "Coming Home" was the most honest of the two Vietnam movies. She said this with a straight face. For her treachery and hypocrisy, she became a multi-millionaire and even more of an air-headed personality. I remember a college professor at the time telling us that if he had a daughter, he'd want her to be like Jane Fonda. I spoke up and said that if such a nightmare ever occurred, I'd help kick his **** out of the country. He kicked mine out of his classroom. And we've still got "Coming HOme" on DVD to remind us of an era when lunacy ruled the movies.
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"Auntie Mame" is being remade as a vehicle for Queen Latifah. The producers thought it hip to redo this upteenth remake with a black cast. Can Hollywood EVER come up with any new ideas for musicals anymore? We've had "Auntie Mame" with Roz Russell, "Mame," with Lucille Ball, "Mame", the TV special, "Auntie Mame, "the TV special. Besides "Footloose," plans are being made to now remake "Flashdance", "A Chorus Line" and "West Side Story." Pu-leeeze, give us all a break! There HAS to be some original ideas floating around! I'm getting so sick of nothing but remakes, sequels, comic book characters.
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Let's add Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Harrison Ford to our gallery of anti-American bashers. Depp told a popular German magazine last week that he would never ever consider living in America again because "it's a stupid nation with a stupid President." He also expressed horror his two illegitimate children would ever come here to live. Depp conveniently forgot to mention that he thinks nothing of receiving $20 million American dollars for each movie he makes. He now lives in France where "they appreciate my artistic abilities." Yep, France is also the same nation that thinks Jerry Lewis is America's greatest actor. George Clooney also told European press that President Bush is a "nightmare". Clooney's managers and PR people threw a lavish media blitz in the actor's new $12 million villa in Italy where our star was lovingly photographed mugging for the camera and making faces. Notorious curmudgeon Harrison Ford was also in Europe flogging his latest mega-bomb, "Hollywood Homicide." Harrison received a $25 million paycheck for this atrocity where he's shown pedaling a child's tricycle after a group of thugs. Harrison, sporting a new gold earring, also said President Bush is "horrible" and it's a shame we're "killing thousands of innocents in Iraq." Yep, maybe so, but Harrison and the other anti-American stars seem to forget 3,000 Americans were murdered in one day on Sept. 11 and these people weren't at war with anyone.
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I've just discovered that instead of the Fox Movie Channel beginning its Charlie Chan Festival Sept. 13, they're actually only showing FIVE chan movies! And these have been censored and re-edited, by Fox executives at the request of the Asian pressure groups, so as not "to offend our viewers with racially insensitive images." Huh? You'd think they were running Nazi or Taliban recruiting movies instead of 60-year-old entertainments that delighted audiences then and now. I'm going to avidly watch these "panel discussions" after each Chan showing to see why these charming movie antiques are so offensive to today's modern audiences.
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I still adore AMC's Bob Dorian who vanished off the radar a few years ago. Bob Obsborne is okay but he always seemed slightly nervous and "tight" and not very spontaneous. I would suggest having a group of rotating hosts and hostesses, perhaps having some of the really young film buffs--but, this might not seem possible. When I met with a group of bright-eyed young kids at New York's Film School last spring, I was in shock over what they DIDN't know about film history. The names Bette Davis, Michael Curtiz, King Vidor, Clara barely registered. One film major actually asked me if Bette Davis was the Mrs. Olson character from the Folger Coffee ads! As for Gloria Swanson, they all asked: "Uh, Gloria who?" But--they knew every frame of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)and PULP FICTION (1996).
Movies you're supposed to like, but don't
in General Discussions
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We've already got an identical folder to this one, entitled "Over-Rated Movies" that has some wonderfully deconstructive views on such over-rated bores as The English Patient, Ghandi and Chariots of Fire.