list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Being There on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Being_There/2730/default.aspx Title: Being There
Year: 1979
Director: Hal Ashby
Plot: Having lived his life as the gardener on a millionaire's estate, Chance (Peter Sellers) knows of the real world only what he has seen on TV. When his benefactor dies, Chance walks aimlessly into the streets of Washington D.C., where he is struck by a car owned by wealthy Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine). Identifying himself, the confused man mutters "Chance...gardener," which Eve takes to be "Chauncey Gardiner." Eve takes him to her home to convalesce, and because Chance is so well-dressed and well-groomed, and because he speaks in such a cultured tone, everyone in her orbit assumes that "Chauncey Gardiner" must be a man of profound intelligence. No matter what he says, it is interpreted as a pearl of wisdom and insight. He rises to the top of Washington society, where his simplistic responses to the most difficult questions (responses usually related to his gardening experience) are highly prized by the town's movers and shakers. In fact, there is serious consideration given to running Chance as a presidential candidate. Both a modern fable and a political satire, Being There was based on the novel by Jerzy Kosinski and costars Melvyn Douglas, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Eve's aging power-broker husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 16
Number of Lists: 25
Number of blog posts: 8
Number of discussion threads: 5
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Tue, 12 May 2009 01:51:03 GMTBeing There1979Hal AshbyHaving lived his life as the gardener on a millionaire's estate, Chance (<a href="/players/P____64447/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Peter Sellers</a>) knows of the real world only what he has seen on TV. When his benefactor dies, Chance walks aimlessly into the streets of Washington D.C., where he is struck by a car owned by wealthy Eve Rand (<a href="/players/P____44255/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Shirley MacLaine</a>). Identifying himself, the confused man mutters "Chance...gardener," which Eve takes to be "Chauncey Gardiner." Eve takes him to her home to convalesce, and because Chance is so well-dressed and well-groomed, and because he speaks in such a cultured tone, everyone in her orbit assumes that "Chauncey Gardiner" must be a man of profound intelligence. No matter what he says, it is interpreted as a pearl of wisdom and insight. He rises to the top of Washington society, where his simplistic responses to the most difficult questions (responses usually related to his gardening experience) are highly prized by the town's movers and shakers. In fact, there is serious consideration given to running Chance as a presidential candidate. Both a modern fable and a political satire, Being There was based on the novel by Jerzy Kosinski and costars <a href="/players/P____19878/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Melvyn Douglas</a>, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Eve's aging power-broker husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide16Tag Target (>10)25853http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t10477k99ks.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Being_There/2730/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/3/26/41266.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 3/26/2009 10:01:24 AM
Body: Next week, Vin Diesel returns (along with Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordanna Brewster) to the Fast and the Furious franchise, which he’d abandoned after the first movie (he did have a cameo in part 3). When news first hit that he’d be reprising the role of Dominic Toretto for the fourth installment, simply titled Fast & Furious, most of us saw the actor as returning under a veil of shame. Because he initially departed the series with an inflated ego — and with it unrealistic salary demands — it does seem obvious that Diesel is now only desperately crawling back because his career failed to take off the way he’d hoped it would. This is quite sad considering not even Steve Guttenberg ever crawled back to the Police Academy movies, nor did Burt Reynolds ever get dragged back for a fourth Smokey and the Bandit. But there have been other shameful returns by stars to franchises they’d previously sat out of (whether the hiatus was of their own choosing or not). Only one of these may have been as desperate as Diesel now appears, but it’s worth looking at four additional actors and actresses who should be very embarrassed of their delayed reprisals. Karen Allen Returned to: Indiana Jones franchise with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Karen Allen’s absence from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade after playing the female lead in Raiders of the Lost Ark was not because she believed herself above those sequels. Her character, Marion Ravenwood, simply wasn’t written into them. And her return to the series was surely not because her career needed a boost. Her relative disappearance from films after 1990 was actually for personal reasons (she wanted to devote time to raising her son), not necessarily because she could no longer garner significant roles. So why is she on this list? Because even though it must have been quite tempting to again work with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford, especially in a role that is beloved by fans, she should have had a little more reserve, because she ended up looking like an easily employed, easily exploited actress. At least she didn’t have to swing through trees, and at least she didn’t receive the brunt of criticism with the film, but the latter fortune is also mostly because she’s given so little to do in the movie. Her participation in the film is largely forgettable, yet her association with the film is not. Instead of bothering with this very disappointing sequel, Allen should have held out for the more necessary Starman follow-up (continuing from where the TV series left off, of course). Sean Connery Returned to: James Bond franchise with Never Say Never Again (1983) Officially, it wasn’t exactly the James Bond franchise, because Never Say Never Again wasn’t made by EON Productions, though this clarification makes Sean Connery’s return to the role of 007 even more shameful. After Diamonds Are Forever, which had already marked his first delayed return as Bond (after the quick interruption of George Lazenby in the part with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), the actor claimed he’d never return to the role he’d originated onscreen (this led to the film’s title), but obviously he was offered enough money to not only reprise the character but also to slap EON’s Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in the face by agreeing to appear in an unofficial installment initially meant to directly compete head to head with EON’s own Octopussy, which starred Roger Moore as Bond. In agreeing to the film, Connery cemented his reputation for questionable career choices, most clearly influenced by big paychecks. Though he’d previously been enticed by huge offers, including the astonishing $2 million he demanded to come back to Bond for Diamonds, this time he showed a great lack of concern for fans of the Bond franchise through his apparent greediness. Given his love for big money, it’s surprising that he never sold himself out of retirement for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Maybe his asking price has just gotten so out of hand that even Lucas and Spielberg couldn’t afford him. Lorraine Gary Returned to: Jaws franchise with Jaws: The Revenge (1987) She hadn’t been onscreen in eight years, but Lorraine Gary’s absence from films following her appearance in Spielberg’s 1941 was reportedly her choice. Certainly with a husband as powerful as Sid Sheinberg (President of MCA, Inc. for more than 30 years), she didn’t really need to work, and yet for some odd reason she came out of retirement to reprise her role as Ellen Brody for the dreadful fourth installment of Jaws. According to a press release for the movie, Gary claims she was drawn to the script because of how well it explored her character, which deserved more development than Jaws and Jaws II had allowed for. Gary has also admitted that she was partly lured back with the appeal of playing opposite Michael Caine, romantically. But again, with a husband as powerful as Sheinberg, she probably could have been given a better film with which to come back and with which to make out with Caine. Now, she’s unfortunately more memorable for having starred in Jaws: The Revenge than for originating the role in the first film. Gene Hackman Returned to: Superman franchise with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) Somewhat like Connery (his A Bridge Too Far costar), Gene Hackman ended up returning to a character thanks to a change in producers. He abandoned the Superman franchise after the first film — though he’d shot some scenes for Superman II, so he does appear in the sequel — because Alexander and Ilya Salkind fired Richard Donner as the director of the second installment. So, when new producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus took over the series, Hackman was fine with reprising his portrayal of Lex Luthor. Surely there was a big paycheck involved in addition to the appeal of new management, but with an ultimate budget of only $17 million (slashed from the planned $40 million), he couldn’t have gotten away with much. At least Christopher Reeve, in his deal to return to the series, was given the opportunity to star in a pet project, Street Smart. All Hackman ended up with was an embarrassing addition to his resume, one that displayed a lack of concern for Superman fans and a disappointing preference for pay over prestige. Peter Sellers Returned to: Pink Panther franchise with The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) Following The Pink Panther and its sequel, A Shot in the Dark, Peter Sellers declined to return to the series, and Alan Arkin took over the role for part 3, Inspector Clouseau. It made sense at the time, as Sellers was still doing quite well through the late 1960s. But after a number of flops in the early ‘70s, Sellers was wooed back to the franchise, obviously with the promise of a lot of money. And another two installments came about with reportedly increased paychecks. In fact, he was set to play Inspector Clouseau in another installment (the series’ seventh, his sixth), but he died before it went into production. Fortunately for his legacy, he also made the wonderful Being There before his death, so he didn’t go out completely on a desperation downturn. Like Sellers’ last few Pink Panther movies, the new Fast and the Furious installment will be a huge hit, but there is a cost of reputation and an increase of shame that comes with the returned wealth and popularity. Then again, Diesel probably isn’t sinking any lower than he did for The Pacifier, right? Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:01:24 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com3/26/2009 10:01:24 AMNext week, Vin Diesel returns (along with Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordanna Brewster) to the Fast and the Furious franchise, which he’d abandoned after the first movie (he did have a cameo in part 3). When news first hit that he’d be reprising the role of Dominic Toretto for the fourth installment, simply titled Fast & Furious, most of us saw the actor as returning under a veil of shame. Because he initially departed the series with an inflated ego — and with it unrealistic salary demands — it does seem obvious that Diesel is now only desperately crawling back because his career failed to take off the way he’d hoped it would. This is quite sad considering not even Steve Guttenberg ever crawled back to the Police Academy movies, nor did Burt Reynolds ever get dragged back for a fourth Smokey and the Bandit. But there have been other shameful returns by stars to franchises they’d previously sat out of (whether the hiatus was of their own choosing or not). Only one of these may have been as desperate as Diesel now appears, but it’s worth looking at four additional actors and actresses who should be very embarrassed of their delayed reprisals. Karen Allen Returned to: Indiana Jones franchise with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Karen Allen’s absence from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade after playing the female lead in Raiders of the Lost Ark was not because she believed herself above those sequels. Her character, Marion Ravenwood, simply wasn’t written into them. And her return to the series was surely not because her career needed a boost. Her relative disappearance from films after 1990 was actually for personal reasons (she wanted to devote time to raising her son), not necessarily because she could no longer garner significant roles. So why is she on this list? Because even though it must have been quite tempting to again work with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford, especially in a role that is beloved by fans, she should have had a little more reserve, because she ended up looking like an easily employed, easily exploited actress. At least she didn’t have to swing through trees, and at least she didn’t receive the brunt of criticism with the film, but the latter fortune is also mostly because she’s given so little to do in the movie. Her participation in the film is largely forgettable, yet her association with the film is not. Instead of bothering with this very disappointing sequel, Allen should have held out for the more necessary Starman follow-up (continuing from where the TV series left off, of course). Sean Connery Returned to: James Bond franchise with Never Say Never Again (1983) Officially, it wasn’t exactly the James Bond franchise, because Never Say Never Again wasn’t made by EON Productions, though this clarification makes Sean Connery’s return to the role of 007 even more shameful. After Diamonds Are Forever, which had already marked his first delayed return as Bond (after the quick interruption of George Lazenby in the part with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), the actor claimed he’d never return to the role he’d originated onscreen (this led to the film’s title), but obviously he was offered enough money to not only reprise the character but also to slap EON’s Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in the face by agreeing to appear in an unofficial installment initially meant to directly compete head to head with EON’s own Octopussy, which starred Roger Moore as Bond. In agreeing to the film, Connery cemented his reputation for questionable career choices, most clearly influenced by big paychecks. Though he’d previously been enticed by huge offers, including the astonishing $2 million he demanded to come back to Bond for Diamonds, this time he showed a great lack of concern for fans of the Bond franchise through his apparent greediness. Given his love for big money, it’s surprising that he never sold himself out of retirement for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Maybe his asking price has just gotten so out of hand that even Lucas and Spielberg couldn’t afford him. Lorraine Gary Returned to: Jaws franchise with Jaws: The Revenge (1987) She hadn’t been onscreen in eight years, but Lorraine Gary’s absence from films following her appearance in Spielberg’s 1941 was reportedly her choice. Certainly with a husband as powerful as Sid Sheinberg (President of MCA, Inc. for more than 30 years), she didn’t really need to work, and yet for some odd reason she came out of retirement to reprise her role as Ellen Brody for the dreadful fourth installment of Jaws. According to a press release for the movie, Gary claims she was drawn to the script because of how well it explored her character, which deserved more development than Jaws and Jaws II had allowed for. Gary has also admitted that she was partly lured back with the appeal of playing opposite Michael Caine, romantically. But again, with a husband as powerful as Sheinberg, she probably could have been given a better film with which to come back and with which to make out with Caine. Now, she’s unfortunately more memorable for having starred in Jaws: The Revenge than for originating the role in the first film. Gene Hackman Returned to: Superman franchise with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) Somewhat like Connery (his A Bridge Too Far costar), Gene Hackman ended up returning to a character thanks to a change in producers. He abandoned the Superman franchise after the first film — though he’d shot some scenes for Superman II, so he does appear in the sequel — because Alexander and Ilya Salkind fired Richard Donner as the director of the second installment. So, when new producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus took over the series, Hackman was fine with reprising his portrayal of Lex Luthor. Surely there was a big paycheck involved in addition to the appeal of new management, but with an ultimate budget of only $17 million (slashed from the planned $40 million), he couldn’t have gotten away with much. At least Christopher Reeve, in his deal to return to the series, was given the opportunity to star in a pet project, Street Smart. All Hackman ended up with was an embarrassing addition to his resume, one that displayed a lack of concern for Superman fans and a disappointing preference for pay over prestige. Peter Sellers Returned to: Pink Panther franchise with The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) Following The Pink Panther and its sequel, A Shot in the Dark, Peter Sellers declined to return to the series, and Alan Arkin took over the role for part 3, Inspector Clouseau. It made sense at the time, as Sellers was still doing quite well through the late 1960s. But after a number of flops in the early ‘70s, Sellers was wooed back to the franchise, obviously with the promise of a lot of money. And another two installments came about with reportedly increased paychecks. In fact, he was set to play Inspector Clouseau in another installment (the series’ seventh, his sixth), but he died before it went into production. Fortunately for his legacy, he also made the wonderful Being There before his death, so he didn’t go out completely on a desperation downturn. Like Sellers’ last few Pink Panther movies, the new Fast and the Furious installment will be a huge hit, but there is a cost of reputation and an increase of shame that comes with the returned wealth and popularity. Then again, Diesel probably isn’t sinking any lower than he did for The Pacifier, right? Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/christhilk/archive/2009/3/25/41252.aspx Post By: ChrisThilk
Post To: ChrisThilk Blog
Post Date: 3/25/2009 7:01:33 PM
Body: Have you ever watched an acrobat and marveled at the control they have over their bodies? Just sat there and been amazed at how they can move their limbs in ways that you just can’t considering you count every time you don’t trip while walking up the stairs as a massive, massive success? That’s kind of what it’s like watching Peter Sellers in Being There. If you’re unfamiliar with Being There here’s a quick synopsis: A simple man named Chance serves as the gardener for an old man in Washington, DC. Chance has never left the house and has the intellect of a child, as well as being able to neither read nor write. One day the old man dies and Chance is cast out, only to find himself taken in by another rich old man who thinks Chance is some sort of nuts-and-bolts genius who’s able to take the most complex situation and reduce it down to its core elements. As part of that Chance winds up meeting the President, being quoted in newspapers he can’t read and making lots of influential friends who don’t realize he’s that slow. The movie, in all honesty, kind of hits that same joke over and over again. With anyone else playing the role of Chance it likely wouldn’t work nearly as well as it does with Sellers there. He brings it an incredible amount of genuine emotion that other actors simply couldn’t. It turns the character from someone to be pitied into someone you come to respect and root for. Being There received a bare-bones DVD release back in the early days of the format but now it’s gotten a Deluxe Edition release as well as appearing on Blu-ray. Even so, the only new addition to the disc is a “Memories of Being There” featurette that has interviews with the cast and crew. It’s worth watching but it might not be up to a “Deluxe” labeling. Still, Being There is a classic film that deserved a better release on disc and I’m glad Warner Bros. has provided just that. Definitely recommended. Originally posted on:Chris Thilk
]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:01:33 GMTChrisThilkChrisThilk Blog3/25/2009 7:01:33 PMHave you ever watched an acrobat and marveled at the control they have over their bodies? Just sat there and been amazed at how they can move their limbs in ways that you just can’t considering you count every time you don’t trip while walking up the stairs as a massive, massive success? That’s kind of what it’s like watching Peter Sellers in Being There. If you’re unfamiliar with Being There here’s a quick synopsis: A simple man named Chance serves as the gardener for an old man in Washington, DC. Chance has never left the house and has the intellect of a child, as well as being able to neither read nor write. One day the old man dies and Chance is cast out, only to find himself taken in by another rich old man who thinks Chance is some sort of nuts-and-bolts genius who’s able to take the most complex situation and reduce it down to its core elements. As part of that Chance winds up meeting the President, being quoted in newspapers he can’t read and making lots of influential friends who don’t realize he’s that slow. The movie, in all honesty, kind of hits that same joke over and over again. With anyone else playing the role of Chance it likely wouldn’t work nearly as well as it does with Sellers there. He brings it an incredible amount of genuine emotion that other actors simply couldn’t. It turns the character from someone to be pitied into someone you come to respect and root for. Being There received a bare-bones DVD release back in the early days of the format but now it’s gotten a Deluxe Edition release as well as appearing on Blu-ray. Even so, the only new addition to the disc is a “Memories of Being There” featurette that has interviews with the cast and crew. It’s worth watching but it might not be up to a “Deluxe” labeling. Still, Being There is a classic film that deserved a better release on disc and I’m glad Warner Bros. has provided just that. Definitely recommended. Originally posted on:Chris Thilk http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/2/3/40213.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 2/3/2009 5:01:28 PM
Body: Spout has a whole stack of DVDs that we’re raring to send out to some lucky winners today. Here’s what’s stacked up on our desk: Being There, the comedy classic starring Peter Sellers as a simple gardener mistaken for a high-society intellectual. If you’ve never seen it you’re missing out on one of the all-time great film performances. (Watch the trailer) Pride and Glory, with Edward Norton and Colin Farrell star as police officer friends set against each other in this gritty tale of intrigue and corruption. (Watch the trailer) The Sidney Poitier Collection: A four-disc set of some of the legendary actor’s finest roles, including Edge of the City, A Patch of Blue, Something of Value and A Warm December. Nights in Rodanthe, which has Richard Gere and Diane Lane finding love late in life in this adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. (Watch the trailer) Any Given Sunday, Director Oliver Stone’s tale of the Miami Sharks football team, including Al Pacino as the team’s head coach who knows that both life and football are games of inches. (NOTE: This is a Blu-ray release so make sure you have a Blu-ray player before winning this one.) (Watch the trailer) Full details and box art for each movie after the jump. So what do you have to do to win? It’s pretty simple - just follow Spout’s Twitter profile and send it an “@spout” response with “I Like to Watch” and the name of the movie above you’re most interested in winning. Winners will be selected randomly by noon on Monday, February 9th. Again, you have to be following Spout on Twitter to win. So get along and do that and good luck. –Chris Thilk, Director of Marketing Being There Isolated all his life in a Washington, DC, townhouse, Chance (Peter Sellers) knows only what he’s seen on TV. Cast into the world, he stumbles into the world of power brokers (including Melvyn Douglas in his second Oscar-winning role) eager for “sage wisdom.” You’ll like to watch. Own it on Blu-ray® and DVD 2/03/09! Being There © 1979, Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All rights reserved. Pride and Glory Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich star in a gritty, tension-packed tale of a multigenerational family of cops facing hard realities and tough choices. Set and filmed in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, Pride and Glory draws you into a grippingly raw real world…and into a house divided. Own it on Blu-ray® and DVD 1/27/09! Pride and Glory  © 2007 KUMAR Mobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. Projekt Nr. 1 KG TM New Line Productions, Inc. Package Design © 2009 New Line Productions, Inc. Distributed in the USA by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Sidney Poitier Collection This collection includes EDGE OF THE CITY – workmen Poitier and Cassavetes confront NYC  waterfront corruption; A PATCH OF BLUE – A landmark of social conscience filmmaking; SOMETHING OF VALUE – the clash of longtime friends mirrors the bloody Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and A WARM DECEMBER – A new city, a new life.  An American widower in London finds the perfect love. Own it on DVD 1/27/09! Titles No So Indicated Are Not MPAA-Rated. Special Features May Not Be Rated or Closed-Captioned or Subtitles. “Academy Award®” Is the Registered Trademark and Service Mark of the Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences. © 2009 turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All rights reserved. Nights in Rodanthe Richard Gere is Paul, a surgeon who long ago unwittingly traded family for career. Diane Lane is Adrienne, a devoted mother trying to move on after her husband’s infidelity. The stars of Unfaithful rekindle their screen chemistry in this rich tale of hearts’ awakenings from the bestseller by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook, Message in a Bottle). Own it on Blu-ray® and DVD 2/10/09! Nights In Rodanthe © 2008, Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Love Remains the Same Music Video © 2008 Interscope Records. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All rights reserved. Any Given Sunday (Blu-ray) Life is a contact sport and football is life when three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone and a dynamic acting ensemble explore the fortunes of the Miami Sharks in Any Given Sunday. Own it on Blu-ray® 1/27/09! Any Given Sunday © 1999, 2000, Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Full Contact:  The Making of Any Given Sunday © 1999 Home Box office and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Shut ‘Em Down Music Video © 1999 Warner Sunset/Atlantic Recording Corp. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All right reserved. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:01:28 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com2/3/2009 5:01:28 PMSpout has a whole stack of DVDs that we’re raring to send out to some lucky winners today. Here’s what’s stacked up on our desk: Being There, the comedy classic starring Peter Sellers as a simple gardener mistaken for a high-society intellectual. If you’ve never seen it you’re missing out on one of the all-time great film performances. (Watch the trailer) Pride and Glory, with Edward Norton and Colin Farrell star as police officer friends set against each other in this gritty tale of intrigue and corruption. (Watch the trailer) The Sidney Poitier Collection: A four-disc set of some of the legendary actor’s finest roles, including Edge of the City, A Patch of Blue, Something of Value and A Warm December. Nights in Rodanthe, which has Richard Gere and Diane Lane finding love late in life in this adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. (Watch the trailer) Any Given Sunday, Director Oliver Stone’s tale of the Miami Sharks football team, including Al Pacino as the team’s head coach who knows that both life and football are games of inches. (NOTE: This is a Blu-ray release so make sure you have a Blu-ray player before winning this one.) (Watch the trailer) Full details and box art for each movie after the jump. So what do you have to do to win? It’s pretty simple - just follow Spout’s Twitter profile and send it an “@spout” response with “I Like to Watch” and the name of the movie above you’re most interested in winning. Winners will be selected randomly by noon on Monday, February 9th. Again, you have to be following Spout on Twitter to win. So get along and do that and good luck. –Chris Thilk, Director of Marketing Being There Isolated all his life in a Washington, DC, townhouse, Chance (Peter Sellers) knows only what he’s seen on TV. Cast into the world, he stumbles into the world of power brokers (including Melvyn Douglas in his second Oscar-winning role) eager for “sage wisdom.” You’ll like to watch. Own it on Blu-ray® and DVD 2/03/09! Being There © 1979, Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All rights reserved. Pride and Glory Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich star in a gritty, tension-packed tale of a multigenerational family of cops facing hard realities and tough choices. Set and filmed in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, Pride and Glory draws you into a grippingly raw real world…and into a house divided. Own it on Blu-ray® and DVD 1/27/09! Pride and Glory  © 2007 KUMAR Mobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. Projekt Nr. 1 KG TM New Line Productions, Inc. Package Design © 2009 New Line Productions, Inc. Distributed in the USA by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Sidney Poitier Collection This collection includes EDGE OF THE CITY – workmen Poitier and Cassavetes confront NYC  waterfront corruption; A PATCH OF BLUE – A landmark of social conscience filmmaking; SOMETHING OF VALUE – the clash of longtime friends mirrors the bloody Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and A WARM DECEMBER – A new city, a new life.  An American widower in London finds the perfect love. Own it on DVD 1/27/09! Titles No So Indicated Are Not MPAA-Rated. Special Features May Not Be Rated or Closed-Captioned or Subtitles. “Academy Award®” Is the Registered Trademark and Service Mark of the Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences. © 2009 turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All rights reserved. Nights in Rodanthe Richard Gere is Paul, a surgeon who long ago unwittingly traded family for career. Diane Lane is Adrienne, a devoted mother trying to move on after her husband’s infidelity. The stars of Unfaithful rekindle their screen chemistry in this rich tale of hearts’ awakenings from the bestseller by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook, Message in a Bottle). Own it on Blu-ray® and DVD 2/10/09! Nights In Rodanthe © 2008, Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Love Remains the Same Music Video © 2008 Interscope Records. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All rights reserved. Any Given Sunday (Blu-ray) Life is a contact sport and football is life when three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone and a dynamic acting ensemble explore the fortunes of the Miami Sharks in Any Given Sunday. Own it on Blu-ray® 1/27/09! Any Given Sunday © 1999, 2000, Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Full Contact:  The Making of Any Given Sunday © 1999 Home Box office and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Shut ‘Em Down Music Video © 1999 Warner Sunset/Atlantic Recording Corp. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. All right reserved. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/New_Movies_2_6_CORALINE_PINK_PANTHER_2_and_I_M/216/40159/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: spout
Post To: Coming Soon
Post Date: 2/2/2009 3:15:25 PM
Body: 2/2 -- It's Groundhog Day! Well, the little bugger saw his shadow, so we're in for another six weeks of winter. But he also smelled his own breath, so we're in for some good movies before spring! Not surprisingly, the groundhog wouldn't just come out and say which movies are going to be good--but he did give some short, zen-like predictions. Check 'em out below. 1. Pink Panther 2 -- Watch the trailer. I think Steve Martin is one of the smartest and funniest comedians alive, but each of his new movies makes this a little harder to remember. Don't get me wrong, Pink Panther (2006) is decent slapstick with a handful of especially funny moments. If the sequel is any better, it'll be worth the price of admission. THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "My dandruff is really quite edible." (That means the film may seem off-putting, but is actually pretty good.) 2. He's Just Not that Into You -- Watch the trailer. This looks less like a story than An Evening of Stars Getting Together and Not Getting Together. Have you seen the mash-up video Christian Bale Is Just Not That Into You? THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I quench my thirst with my own drool." (That means he's attracted to Jennifer Connelly, and laments that, alas, they can never be together. If you wanna have fun or just feel close to Ms. Conelly, Recast DARK CITY.) 3. Fanboys -- Watch the trailer. This movie started a brawl between the badasses of Star Wars and Star Trek. Vote for your favorite characters to help them survive the brawl. Fanboys has been hanging around since 2007, so I'm kind of wary. Nevertheless, it's full of good people (Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, and Kristin Bell in Princess Leia's golden bikini, yikes!) THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "These darn saddle sores just won't heal!" (He's tired of all the delays, and hopes the film lives up to his expectations. It also means, would I please hand him my lip balm so he can give some relief to his rump?) 4. Coraline -- Watch the trailer. I've read the book by Neil Gaiman and it's pretty good, sort of Alice In Wonderland meets The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hey, that's what the trailer looks like, too! THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "Does a Coal Monster poop diamonds?" (This must be some kind of stock phrase among groundhogs. Do any of you know what it means?) 5. Push -- Watch the trailer. The director of this thriller made Lucky Number Slevin, which was pretty good. On the other hand... THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I have blood in my stool." (This is far too vulgar to translate, and he knows better. I kick him lightly in the saddlesores and he scurries back into his hole.) ________________________________________________ NEW TO DVD 2/3 There are a bunch of Friday the 13th special editions coming out, some on Blu-ray. I was thinking about seeing the new Friday the 13th next Friday, but then my appetite for slasher films was ruined by the horrid My Bloody Valentine 3-D. 1. Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- Watch the trailer. Since it stars those two delightful cats--Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks--I'm surprised it bombed so bad in the theater. I haven't seen this yet; any opinions on whether it deserves a look? 2. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- Watch the trailer. Don't you just wanna pinch Michael Cera's cheeks? 3. Redbelt -- Watch the trailer. A good but flawed film from David Mamet about honor (and the lack thereof) among professional Tae Kwon Do competitors. I learned from this film that the only belt higher than blackbelt is redbelt...and if I'm not mistaken, there's only one Redbelt at a time. 4. Bottle Shock -- Watch the trailer. Starring Bill Pullman and the superb Alan Rickman, this comedy-drama's set in 1976, within the world of wine-making and wine-tasting. If you've ever been to a wine-tasting, you know there's plenty to make fun of there. The best comments I've ever heard at a wine-tasting. I'm not making these up: (1) It's a bit austere in the mid-nose. (2) Ooh, I'm almost sensing a bit of effervescence that isn't really there! 5. The Secret Life of Bees -- Watch the trailer. Wow, that Dakota Fanning is everywhere these days. Yesterday I saw Dakota down at the DMV, trying to get her driver's license. I'm like, "What do you need that for?" And she's like, "I'm not gonna drive! They're just photographing me! My agent made this deal so that my picture goes on every new photo ID in America." Just an FYI, if you're going to get a license or passport. 6. Assault on Precint 13 (re-release) -- This is one John Carpenter classic I haven't seen. Any opinions of it? 7. Being There (re-release) -- Watch the trailer. I'm a fan of Peter Sellers, but I haven't seen this one. By the way, we're giving it away. Find out how to win.
]]>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:15:25 GMTspoutComing Soon2/2/2009 3:15:25 PM2/2 -- It's Groundhog Day! Well, the little bugger saw his shadow, so we're in for another six weeks of winter. But he also smelled his own breath, so we're in for some good movies before spring! Not surprisingly, the groundhog wouldn't just come out and say which movies are going to be good--but he did give some short, zen-like predictions. Check 'em out below. 1. Pink Panther 2 -- Watch the trailer. I think Steve Martin is one of the smartest and funniest comedians alive, but each of his new movies makes this a little harder to remember. Don't get me wrong, Pink Panther (2006) is decent slapstick with a handful of especially funny moments. If the sequel is any better, it'll be worth the price of admission. THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "My dandruff is really quite edible." (That means the film may seem off-putting, but is actually pretty good.) 2. He's Just Not that Into You -- Watch the trailer. This looks less like a story than An Evening of Stars Getting Together and Not Getting Together. Have you seen the mash-up video Christian Bale Is Just Not That Into You? THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I quench my thirst with my own drool." (That means he's attracted to Jennifer Connelly, and laments that, alas, they can never be together. If you wanna have fun or just feel close to Ms. Conelly, Recast DARK CITY.) 3. Fanboys -- Watch the trailer. This movie started a brawl between the badasses of Star Wars and Star Trek. Vote for your favorite characters to help them survive the brawl. Fanboys has been hanging around since 2007, so I'm kind of wary. Nevertheless, it's full of good people (Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, and Kristin Bell in Princess Leia's golden bikini, yikes!) THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "These darn saddle sores just won't heal!" (He's tired of all the delays, and hopes the film lives up to his expectations. It also means, would I please hand him my lip balm so he can give some relief to his rump?) 4. Coraline -- Watch the trailer. I've read the book by Neil Gaiman and it's pretty good, sort of Alice In Wonderland meets The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hey, that's what the trailer looks like, too! THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "Does a Coal Monster poop diamonds?" (This must be some kind of stock phrase among groundhogs. Do any of you know what it means?) 5. Push -- Watch the trailer. The director of this thriller made Lucky Number Slevin, which was pretty good. On the other hand... THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I have blood in my stool." (This is far too vulgar to translate, and he knows better. I kick him lightly in the saddlesores and he scurries back into his hole.) ________________________________________________ NEW TO DVD 2/3 There are a bunch of Friday the 13th special editions coming out, some on Blu-ray. I was thinking about seeing the new Friday the 13th next Friday, but then my appetite for slasher films was ruined by the horrid My Bloody Valentine 3-D. 1. Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- Watch the trailer. Since it stars those two delightful cats--Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks--I'm surprised it bombed so bad in the theater. I haven't seen this yet; any opinions on whether it deserves a look? 2. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- Watch the trailer. Don't you just wanna pinch Michael Cera's cheeks? 3. Redbelt -- Watch the trailer. A good but flawed film from David Mamet about honor (and the lack thereof) among professional Tae Kwon Do competitors. I learned from this film that the only belt higher than blackbelt is redbelt...and if I'm not mistaken, there's only one Redbelt at a time. 4. Bottle Shock -- Watch the trailer. Starring Bill Pullman and the superb Alan Rickman, this comedy-drama's set in 1976, within the world of wine-making and wine-tasting. If you've ever been to a wine-tasting, you know there's plenty to make fun of there. The best comments I've ever heard at a wine-tasting. I'm not making these up: (1) It's a bit austere in the mid-nose. (2) Ooh, I'm almost sensing a bit of effervescence that isn't really there! 5. The Secret Life of Bees -- Watch the trailer. Wow, that Dakota Fanning is everywhere these days. Yesterday I saw Dakota down at the DMV, trying to get her driver's license. I'm like, "What do you need that for?" And she's like, "I'm not gonna drive! They're just photographing me! My agent made this deal so that my picture goes on every new photo ID in America." Just an FYI, if you're going to get a license or passport. 6. Assault on Precint 13 (re-release) -- This is one John Carpenter classic I haven't seen. Any opinions of it? 7. Being There (re-release) -- Watch the trailer. I'm a fan of Peter Sellers, but I haven't seen this one. By the way, we're giving it away. Find out how to win. http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Movies_Spout_Needs_to_Watch/643/39535/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Community Recommendations
Post Date: 1/14/2009 3:11:06 PM
Body: [quote user="csprague"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="csprague"] So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting. 1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone. 2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch. 3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day. So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us, but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions. the unpopular movie-picker, Christi [/quote] Do you have a list of everything you've watched so far? And even better, to go along with the list, which selections seemed to be the most successful? [/quote] Here's a list of all the movies we have watched so far: http://www.spout.com/films/1287614/ViewFilmList.aspx The popular stuff was either the fun documentaries like Just for Kicks or Wordplay, or classics like It's a Wonderful Life. The Unpopular stuff was I'm Not There, Being There, and The Rules of the Game. [/quote] Thanks. Here are the first two movies that popped into my head with those qualifications The Devil and Daniel Webster - a classic1) I doubt many people have seen it. I would consider it a "classic" but even many people who watch a lot of older movies or classics may not have seen it.2) There's nothing that will make people too uncomfortable. But it does certainly allow for a lot of reflection.3) No subtitles4) Runtime: 107 minutesLike It's a Wonderful Life it has supernatural elements and lessons learned. Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story - a fun documentary1) Not many people have even heard of this one2) There's a lot of fun quirky people in this. Nothing that will keep people from coming back.3) No subtitles, except for a few fun sing-a-longs4) Only 58 minutes long!I just watched this one recently. It's quite fun! I actually love The Rules of the Game, but I didn't as much the first time I watched it. I would recommend to anyone not sold on it to listen to the commentary and watch all of the special features on the Criterion Collection DVD set. You will get a better understanding why this is often called the greatest movie ever made. I also liked Being There, but it wasn't necessarily my absolute favorite. I think it takes a certain kind of appreciation. I'll give some more suggestions later if you'd like
]]>Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:11:06 GMTRisseladaCommunity Recommendations1/14/2009 3:11:06 PM[quote user="csprague"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="csprague"] So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting. 1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone. 2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch. 3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day. So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us, but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions. the unpopular movie-picker, Christi [/quote] Do you have a list of everything you've watched so far? And even better, to go along with the list, which selections seemed to be the most successful? [/quote] Here's a list of all the movies we have watched so far: http://www.spout.com/films/1287614/ViewFilmList.aspx The popular stuff was either the fun documentaries like Just for Kicks or Wordplay, or classics like It's a Wonderful Life. The Unpopular stuff was I'm Not There, Being There, and The Rules of the Game. [/quote] Thanks. Here are the first two movies that popped into my head with those qualifications The Devil and Daniel Webster - a classic1) I doubt many people have seen it. I would consider it a "classic" but even many people who watch a lot of older movies or classics may not have seen it.2) There's nothing that will make people too uncomfortable. But it does certainly allow for a lot of reflection.3) No subtitles4) Runtime: 107 minutesLike It's a Wonderful Life it has supernatural elements and lessons learned. Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story - a fun documentary1) Not many people have even heard of this one2) There's a lot of fun quirky people in this. Nothing that will keep people from coming back.3) No subtitles, except for a few fun sing-a-longs4) Only 58 minutes long!I just watched this one recently. It's quite fun! I actually love The Rules of the Game, but I didn't as much the first time I watched it. I would recommend to anyone not sold on it to listen to the commentary and watch all of the special features on the Criterion Collection DVD set. You will get a better understanding why this is often called the greatest movie ever made. I also liked Being There, but it wasn't necessarily my absolute favorite. I think it takes a certain kind of appreciation. I'll give some more suggestions later if you'd like http://www.spout.com/blogs/lmstanley/archive/2008/10/23/36612.aspx Post By: lmstanley
Post To: lmstanley Blog
Post Date: 10/23/2008 9:34:33 AM
Body: This movie was a little too slow moving more my taste. It was hard to stay interested...although I think that I was one of the few watching it who did stay awake. I was a bit perplexed at how Chance or Chauncey got by. I kept on waiting for him to be discovered for what he truly was, a not-so-bright, sheltered, homeless gardener, which never really happens. And then the end completely threw me off...(SPOILER) as he walks on water. WHAT!?? Any ways, I think that Puhnner said it best...just go to the end and watch the out-take. It is perhaps the most entertaining part of the whole film.
]]>Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:34:33 GMTlmstanleylmstanley Blog10/23/2008 9:34:33 AMThis movie was a little too slow moving more my taste. It was hard to stay interested...although I think that I was one of the few watching it who did stay awake. I was a bit perplexed at how Chance or Chauncey got by. I kept on waiting for him to be discovered for what he truly was, a not-so-bright, sheltered, homeless gardener, which never really happens. And then the end completely threw me off...(SPOILER) as he walks on water. WHAT!?? Any ways, I think that Puhnner said it best...just go to the end and watch the out-take. It is perhaps the most entertaining part of the whole film. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Watchin_Wednesday/Oct_15th_Being_There_1979/624/36290/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: Movie Watchin Wednesday
Post Date: 10/14/2008 1:23:57 PM
Body: Being There (1979) Directed by Hal Ashby Starring Richard Basehart, Melvyn Douglas, Richard Dysart, Shirley MacLaine, Peter Sellers, Jack Warden Having lived his life as the gardener on a millionaire's estate, Chance (Peter Sellers) knows of the real world only what he has seen on TV. When his benefactor dies, Chance walks aimlessly into the streets of Washington D.C., where he is struck by a car owned by wealthy Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine). Identifying himself, the confused man mutters "Chance...gardener," which Eve takes to be "Chauncey Gardiner." Eve takes him to her home to convalesce, and because Chance is so well-dressed and well-groomed, and because he speaks in such a cultured tone, everyone in her orbit assumes that "Chauncey Gardiner" must be a man of profound intelligence. No matter what he says, it is interpreted as a pearl of wisdom and insight. He rises to the top of Washington society, where his simplistic responses to the most difficult questions (responses usually related to his gardening experience) are highly prized by the town's movers and shakers. In fact, there is serious consideration given to running Chance as a presidential candidate. Both a modern fable and a political satire, Being There was based on the novel by Jerzy Kosinski and costars Melvyn Douglas, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Eve's aging power-broker husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
]]>Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:23:57 GMTseelyMovie Watchin Wednesday10/14/2008 1:23:57 PMBeing There (1979) Directed by Hal Ashby Starring Richard Basehart, Melvyn Douglas, Richard Dysart, Shirley MacLaine, Peter Sellers, Jack Warden Having lived his life as the gardener on a millionaire's estate, Chance (Peter Sellers) knows of the real world only what he has seen on TV. When his benefactor dies, Chance walks aimlessly into the streets of Washington D.C., where he is struck by a car owned by wealthy Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine). Identifying himself, the confused man mutters "Chance...gardener," which Eve takes to be "Chauncey Gardiner." Eve takes him to her home to convalesce, and because Chance is so well-dressed and well-groomed, and because he speaks in such a cultured tone, everyone in her orbit assumes that "Chauncey Gardiner" must be a man of profound intelligence. No matter what he says, it is interpreted as a pearl of wisdom and insight. He rises to the top of Washington society, where his simplistic responses to the most difficult questions (responses usually related to his gardening experience) are highly prized by the town's movers and shakers. In fact, there is serious consideration given to running Chance as a presidential candidate. Both a modern fable and a political satire, Being There was based on the novel by Jerzy Kosinski and costars Melvyn Douglas, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Eve's aging power-broker husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/30/34564.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/30/2008 8:00:26 PM
Body: Jeff Goldblum is at Telluride to promote his new film, Adam Resurrected, directed by Paul Schrader. The film follows the story of a Holocaust survivor who also happens to be a clown. Committed to an asylum after the war, he becomes a ring leader of sorts. On the opening day of the festival Goldblum was graciously hugging young fans and striking odd poses for snap-shots. We got a chance to ask him about his media intake, which includes a substantial amount homework from Schrader. Spout: What movies have you seen and enjoyed lately? Jeff Goldbloom: I’ve gone to the movies theaters recently and saw two movies I really enjoyed. The Woody Allen movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, I had a very very good time at that, loved that. Then I saw this documentary called Man on Wire. It’s really, really good, I enjoyed that to no end. Spout: Have you been watching anything lately on television that has compelled you? Goldbloom: The Democratic Convention. Spout: Yes, I see your Obama t-shirt there, that was pretty good stuff. What about on the internet, in terms of reading or watching any video online? Goldbloom: Hhhmm, haven’t seen much of that recently, that I can say. Spout: If you were on a desert island, and you had five pieces of media, they could be books, they could even be websites, they could be movies, to entertain you until your death, and you are all alone, what would you bring with you? Goldbloom: Oh God, very difficult. I’m reading now Talks With Ramana Maharshi, I guess I’d bring that. I like… let me see… let me see… oooooh… oooooh… Spout: What about a movie, a favorite all-time film that you will never get sick of? Goldbloom: How about Rosemary’s Baby, or Being There. I like those movies Paul Schrader suggested I see before we made Adam Resurrected: Rules of the Game, Tokyo Story, l’Eclisse by Antonioni, Masculin Féminin by Godard, Vertigo, his favorite Hitchcock, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul… Spout: That is a great movie, we (FilmCouch) discovered that about a year ago, I don’t know how Paul found it, but it’s incredible. Goldbloom: Yeah, it’s really something. Seven Men from Now, Budd Boetticher, he puts that on his recommended list. Spout: That’s a great list, thanks for your time. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:26 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/30/2008 8:00:26 PM Jeff Goldblum is at Telluride to promote his new film, Adam Resurrected, directed by Paul Schrader. The film follows the story of a Holocaust survivor who also happens to be a clown. Committed to an asylum after the war, he becomes a ring leader of sorts. On the opening day of the festival Goldblum was graciously hugging young fans and striking odd poses for snap-shots. We got a chance to ask him about his media intake, which includes a substantial amount homework from Schrader. Spout: What movies have you seen and enjoyed lately? Jeff Goldbloom: I’ve gone to the movies theaters recently and saw two movies I really enjoyed. The Woody Allen movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, I had a very very good time at that, loved that. Then I saw this documentary called Man on Wire. It’s really, really good, I enjoyed that to no end. Spout: Have you been watching anything lately on television that has compelled you? Goldbloom: The Democratic Convention. Spout: Yes, I see your Obama t-shirt there, that was pretty good stuff. What about on the internet, in terms of reading or watching any video online? Goldbloom: Hhhmm, haven’t seen much of that recently, that I can say. Spout: If you were on a desert island, and you had five pieces of media, they could be books, they could even be websites, they could be movies, to entertain you until your death, and you are all alone, what would you bring with you? Goldbloom: Oh God, very difficult. I’m reading now Talks With Ramana Maharshi, I guess I’d bring that. I like… let me see… let me see… oooooh… oooooh… Spout: What about a movie, a favorite all-time film that you will never get sick of? Goldbloom: How about Rosemary’s Baby, or Being There. I like those movies Paul Schrader suggested I see before we made Adam Resurrected: Rules of the Game, Tokyo Story, l’Eclisse by Antonioni, Masculin Féminin by Godard, Vertigo, his favorite Hitchcock, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul… Spout: That is a great movie, we (FilmCouch) discovered that about a year ago, I don’t know how Paul found it, but it’s incredible. Goldbloom: Yeah, it’s really something. Seven Men from Now, Budd Boetticher, he puts that on his recommended list. Spout: That’s a great list, thanks for your time. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/1/33404.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/1/2008 2:01:40 PM
Body: Andrew Sarris may be one of the most influential American film critics, but here’s a claim, located within his recent review of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, that may not hold up to some of his better-remembered theories: “Even when we confront 40-year-old virgins of either gender, movies refuse to show them compensating for the lack of a sexual partner. There is lasting shame involved in this spectacle.” Not to ever, ever profess superiority over Sarris, but I’ve nonetheless compiled today’s list as a way of proving the man wrong. There are actually tons and tons of masturbation scenes found in non-porn movies, from the low brow to the high brow, from as indirect as the boy wizard playing with his wand under the covers in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to as direct as the non-simulated masturbation in Michael Winterbottom’s 9 Songs and John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus (which would probably feature my #1 pick, from the sound of it, if I ever bothered to see it). The following 10 films are some of the most memorable masturbation scenes, excluding any movies that might be considered examples of, in Sarris’ words, “the fringe exploitation genres” (I’ve even gone so far as to leave out mainstream horror like The Exorcist, considering it’s crucifix masturbation is far from the self-pleasuring moments Sarris is clearly interested in). Oh, and I’ve attempted to chart these films artistically from lowbrow to high. 10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Everybody remembers this scene because of the fantasy: Phoebe Cates emerges from a swimming pool in slow motion and removes her bikini top. And then Cates’ character walks in on the fantasizer, Judge Reinhold, for one of the most awkward moments in the history of awkward comedy. There’s been plenty of uncomfortable scenes of guys being caught in the act, including those moments in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children and the most obvious masturbation movie, American Pie. 9. Léolo - Speaking of masturbating with food, not even pie-fucking beats the scene in this French-Canadian gem in which our young titular hero decides that his real father is a man who jerked off with a tomato, which later impregnated Léolo’s mother when she fell onto it. There are other less memorable masturbation scenes involving liver and chicken, too. Yum! 8. Spanking the Monkey - I always found the masturbation scenes in this movie so interesting because of how clean a “job” Ray Aibelli (Jeremy Davies) does with his personal business. I guess when you’re probably fantasizing about your mother, your mind is dirty enough, and so (seemingly) uncomfortably jacking off while sitting on a toilet is the best way to go. But couldn’t he just do it in the shower, like Kevin Spacey in American Beauty? I’m surprised that Sarris forgot about this one, since the title alone refers to the act. 7. The Squid and the Whale - If I have to select one movie involving a little kid masturbating (and writing this sentence has already got me feeling immensely ashamed), I pick this one over Todd Solondz’ Happiness (”I came!”), because while both scenes in question are quite disturbing, the one featuring the real-life son of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates jerking off in a library and then wiping his hands off on some books is at least a little amusing. A lot amusing if you take into account his mother’s appearance in movie #10 above. And if you need another little kid masturbating movie to choose from (I’m not judging), Babel has one too. 6. But I’m a Cheerleader - That Natasha Lyonne sure loves to masturbate! is a quick response to the realization that she pleasures herself in both this film and the earlier Slums of Beverly Hills. The reason that this movie is the more significant of the two is because the masturbation scene is very tastefully done, and yet in its original form, it controversially garnered the film an NC-17 rating, only because, as argued in the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated, it deals with both homosexual desire and female sexuality. The main evidence: American Pie was released in the same year with an R rating. 5. Mulholland Drive - A less beautiful yet no less exploitive depiction of female masturbation occurs in David Lynch’s enigmatic film. Despite the fact that guys tend to enjoy watching a girl pleasure herself, only the most sadistic of men could be turned on by Naomi Watts crying and painfully attempting to get off. 4. Bad Lieutenant - When I first heard about the scene in which Harvey Keitel’s corrupt cop masturbates in front of two teens in a car he pulls over, I thought it had to be the most debauched scene in film history. Of course, I was only 15 when it came out and wasn’t yet familiar with a lot of cinema. By the time I actually bothered to watch the scene many years later, it was less shocking than I expected. Still, as far as depraved things a character can do in a movie — at least in theory — it’s up there, and it’s certainly one of the first scenes that comes to mind when I think of movie masturbation. 3. Amarcord - Oh, right, here’s another movie with little kids masturbating. But it’s a Fellini movie, so obviously it’s incomparable to the three referenced earlier. Although an amusing scene, featuring a bunch of kids masturbating in unison in a car, it’s much less disturbing, as it simply displays the act as a part of growing up. 2. Being There - “I like to watch.” Hopefully you’ve seen this wonderful film, and that’s all I need to say. But just in case you’re not familiar, here’s the scene: Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) attempts to seduce the rather simple Chauncey Gardner (Peter Sellers), who responds by saying, “I like to watch.” Of course, he means the television, but Eve takes the statement to mean he wants to watch her pleasure herself. And so she proceeds to humiliate herself on the floor while Chauncey hilariously takes enjoys an exercise show on the TV. 1. Adaptation - Really, the whole movie is one big masturbation scene. There is a literal masturbation scene, though, in which Charlie (Nicolas Cage) fantasizes about Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), and it’s pretty good on its own. But it takes the top spot for affirming that screenwriter Charlie Kauffman created the literary equivalent of beating off. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:01:40 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/1/2008 2:01:40 PM Andrew Sarris may be one of the most influential American film critics, but here’s a claim, located within his recent review of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, that may not hold up to some of his better-remembered theories: “Even when we confront 40-year-old virgins of either gender, movies refuse to show them compensating for the lack of a sexual partner. There is lasting shame involved in this spectacle.” Not to ever, ever profess superiority over Sarris, but I’ve nonetheless compiled today’s list as a way of proving the man wrong. There are actually tons and tons of masturbation scenes found in non-porn movies, from the low brow to the high brow, from as indirect as the boy wizard playing with his wand under the covers in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to as direct as the non-simulated masturbation in Michael Winterbottom’s 9 Songs and John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus (which would probably feature my #1 pick, from the sound of it, if I ever bothered to see it). The following 10 films are some of the most memorable masturbation scenes, excluding any movies that might be considered examples of, in Sarris’ words, “the fringe exploitation genres” (I’ve even gone so far as to leave out mainstream horror like The Exorcist, considering it’s crucifix masturbation is far from the self-pleasuring moments Sarris is clearly interested in). Oh, and I’ve attempted to chart these films artistically from lowbrow to high. 10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Everybody remembers this scene because of the fantasy: Phoebe Cates emerges from a swimming pool in slow motion and removes her bikini top. And then Cates’ character walks in on the fantasizer, Judge Reinhold, for one of the most awkward moments in the history of awkward comedy. There’s been plenty of uncomfortable scenes of guys being caught in the act, including those moments in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children and the most obvious masturbation movie, American Pie. 9. Léolo - Speaking of masturbating with food, not even pie-fucking beats the scene in this French-Canadian gem in which our young titular hero decides that his real father is a man who jerked off with a tomato, which later impregnated Léolo’s mother when she fell onto it. There are other less memorable masturbation scenes involving liver and chicken, too. Yum! 8. Spanking the Monkey - I always found the masturbation scenes in this movie so interesting because of how clean a “job” Ray Aibelli (Jeremy Davies) does with his personal business. I guess when you’re probably fantasizing about your mother, your mind is dirty enough, and so (seemingly) uncomfortably jacking off while sitting on a toilet is the best way to go. But couldn’t he just do it in the shower, like Kevin Spacey in American Beauty? I’m surprised that Sarris forgot about this one, since the title alone refers to the act. 7. The Squid and the Whale - If I have to select one movie involving a little kid masturbating (and writing this sentence has already got me feeling immensely ashamed), I pick this one over Todd Solondz’ Happiness (”I came!”), because while both scenes in question are quite disturbing, the one featuring the real-life son of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates jerking off in a library and then wiping his hands off on some books is at least a little amusing. A lot amusing if you take into account his mother’s appearance in movie #10 above. And if you need another little kid masturbating movie to choose from (I’m not judging), Babel has one too. 6. But I’m a Cheerleader - That Natasha Lyonne sure loves to masturbate! is a quick response to the realization that she pleasures herself in both this film and the earlier Slums of Beverly Hills. The reason that this movie is the more significant of the two is because the masturbation scene is very tastefully done, and yet in its original form, it controversially garnered the film an NC-17 rating, only because, as argued in the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated, it deals with both homosexual desire and female sexuality. The main evidence: American Pie was released in the same year with an R rating. 5. Mulholland Drive - A less beautiful yet no less exploitive depiction of female masturbation occurs in David Lynch’s enigmatic film. Despite the fact that guys tend to enjoy watching a girl pleasure herself, only the most sadistic of men could be turned on by Naomi Watts crying and painfully attempting to get off. 4. Bad Lieutenant - When I first heard about the scene in which Harvey Keitel’s corrupt cop masturbates in front of two teens in a car he pulls over, I thought it had to be the most debauched scene in film history. Of course, I was only 15 when it came out and wasn’t yet familiar with a lot of cinema. By the time I actually bothered to watch the scene many years later, it was less shocking than I expected. Still, as far as depraved things a character can do in a movie — at least in theory — it’s up there, and it’s certainly one of the first scenes that comes to mind when I think of movie masturbation. 3. Amarcord - Oh, right, here’s another movie with little kids masturbating. But it’s a Fellini movie, so obviously it’s incomparable to the three referenced earlier. Although an amusing scene, featuring a bunch of kids masturbating in unison in a car, it’s much less disturbing, as it simply displays the act as a part of growing up. 2. Being There - “I like to watch.” Hopefully you’ve seen this wonderful film, and that’s all I need to say. But just in case you’re not familiar, here’s the scene: Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) attempts to seduce the rather simple Chauncey Gardner (Peter Sellers), who responds by saying, “I like to watch.” Of course, he means the television, but Eve takes the statement to mean he wants to watch her pleasure herself. And so she proceeds to humiliate herself on the floor while Chauncey hilariously takes enjoys an exercise show on the TV. 1. Adaptation - Really, the whole movie is one big masturbation scene. There is a literal masturbation scene, though, in which Charlie (Nicolas Cage) fantasizes about Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), and it’s pretty good on its own. But it takes the top spot for affirming that screenwriter Charlie Kauffman created the literary equivalent of beating off. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_TOP_5_MOVIES_TO_TEACH_AN_ALIEN_ABOUT_EARTH_WE/563/32143/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: filmgal81
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 7/4/2008 7:59:07 PM
Body: I can not speak for why others chose Forrest Gump, but I can tell you why I chose it as 1 of my 5. I think the film represents American humor, and covers several decades of history in an unsuperficially light snapshot. Also, I think the film exemplfies a great part of the human experience for many people: someone not particularly bright who is able to not just survive in this world, but excel, and mostly by sheer dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time. Forrest Gump is the dramatization of the mediocre man made good- it is the story of how a person like George W. became president and why there are STILL (!) people who believe Obama is a muslim terrorist ( but i digress). Forrest Gump epitomizes the cultivation of "just folks" syndrome- how the Everyman does not need a " fancy book education" or even a lot of "plain 'ol smarts" in order to be taken seriously and followed by millions -because it is not about what you know but who you know and who will listen. Now, Forrest Gump just happens to have a good heart, so it all works out in the end and no one begrudges his sucesses because it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. But this story, in many ways, reminds me of a more lighthearted version of the film Being There, showcasing how easily a person a can float through life on other people's assumptions and the right connections. The American Dream. [quote user="SkyPilot"] A few movies were mentioned more than once, and the two most-selected are Forrest Gump (4 votes) and The Seventh Seal (3). What do you guys think about that? Has democracy spoken -- are these the two films that best represent human experience? [/quote]
]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:59:07 GMTfilmgal81Filmgaming7/4/2008 7:59:07 PMI can not speak for why others chose Forrest Gump, but I can tell you why I chose it as 1 of my 5. I think the film represents American humor, and covers several decades of history in an unsuperficially light snapshot. Also, I think the film exemplfies a great part of the human experience for many people: someone not particularly bright who is able to not just survive in this world, but excel, and mostly by sheer dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time. Forrest Gump is the dramatization of the mediocre man made good- it is the story of how a person like George W. became president and why there are STILL (!) people who believe Obama is a muslim terrorist ( but i digress). Forrest Gump epitomizes the cultivation of "just folks" syndrome- how the Everyman does not need a " fancy book education" or even a lot of "plain 'ol smarts" in order to be taken seriously and followed by millions -because it is not about what you know but who you know and who will listen. Now, Forrest Gump just happens to have a good heart, so it all works out in the end and no one begrudges his sucesses because it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. But this story, in many ways, reminds me of a more lighthearted version of the film Being There, showcasing how easily a person a can float through life on other people's assumptions and the right connections. The American Dream. [quote user="SkyPilot"] A few movies were mentioned more than once, and the two most-selected are Forrest Gump (4 votes) and The Seventh Seal (3). What do you guys think about that? Has democracy spoken -- are these the two films that best represent human experience? [/quote] http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspxromance
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