The City of Chicago has an annual summer event where movies are projected in Grant Park. Last night was the first time I attended, because they were showing ET, a childhood favorite of much of my generation, I hadn’t seen it many, many years. It’s not really the ideal environment to see in a movie in because you’re sitting in a park with thousands of people, many of whom, statistically, are assholes. People immediately behind us bore out the statistics. So it’s really more about picnicking with friends, which is a great thing to do, especially when there are high quality babies around. I was also curious as to why Spielberg chose to frame so many shots of random people walking in front of the main characters during pivotal moments. What kind of statement was he trying to make? He doesn’t have a reputation for being that avant garde. But anyway, the movie still made me cry a bit, which makes it art. This definitively proves that all the film critics who believe Spielberg to be a talentless hack are talentless hacks themselves (not that it needed much proving) and I must advise them to suck it. For their own good.
I’ve got lots and lots of writing to do tonight and the next couple of nights. I have until September 1 to finish the new draft of Activision, which is theoretically being produced by my friend Eric and his theatre company. I also have to finish the rewrite of Gods of the Earth, the dark and scary play that’s going up in mid-September. Rewrites and deadlines are awesome, they help me indulge the fantasy that I’m a real writer. Maybe someday I’ll be able to make people cry…
Rory, by the way, I've been in the process of destroying all illogical Canadian thought on the imdb board for the movie "Karla." posted under twostepaz.
"Ah, obviously my Internet sarcasm did not register"
David joked that saracas is wholly lost on my father. Lately, it has been discovered that I, too, lack the ability to discern sarcasm, internet or otherwise.
Does that make Henson the Holy Spirit? That's a nice way of thinking of him. Rob Reiner would be a holy court jester, don't you think?
Threatened? I saw it as a promise.
I didn't really notice the pouring water thing...But I was grateful that my tears brought out your nurturing side...
Star Wars...Hm, yeah. That'll only be twice the side of the crowd as ET...As Rob said, we could probably get a better presentation of Star Wars in his apartment.
Rory, I had hoped that my pouring water down Nora's back would've distracted you enough from the sad parts of the film. Alas, the planned note of levity didn't work (although I'd like to point out that no one poked you with a sharp stick as previously threatened).
If you thought "E.T." was fun, I can't wait until "Star Wars" at the end of the month. Do you mind saving me a patch of grass? You'll have to get there the night before, but you've been wanting to take off a day of work anyway. It'll work out nicely.
Who says Spielberg's a talentless hack???
Oh, lots of snotty pants film critics despise Spielberg, and Lucas, mostly for being popular. They are held responsible for the alleged downfall in American film from the “gritty, edgy, adult” movies of the seventies to the allegedly mindless blockbusters of the eighties and beyond. This is ridiculous oversimplification of course, and absolutely wrong, but it’s a widely held view among “intellectual” types. Trust me, I remain in the pro-Spielberg camp, for all the movies you mention. He was one of the icons of our youth! Him and Lucas and Henson are the Holy Trinity. Of course, none of them had anything to do with the Princess Bride…As for his last few, post-AI, (which I didn’t care for, the incredibly pretentious moment where the robot played by Jude Law looks up at the camera and says “I am, I was…” right before plunging to his death made me want to hurl things at the screen, there’s nothing about the android existential crisis that Asimov or Blade Runner or even Star Trek: The Next Generation didn’t do much better) I don’t think I’ve seen any of his last few movies, other than the Terminal, which was okay. The only one I have much interest in is Catch Me If You Can which I might rent sometime, though I don’t like Leo much either. I know you hate Tom Cruise but I’ve always found serviceable, not great or even all that good but serviceable.
Now his next movie is going to be written by Tony Kushner. That has potential.
Now, you complain about those assholes, but at least the majority of them aren't wondering if they put their "spit can" on the right or if that can is really their beer. I'd take Grant Park assholes any day over Southern assholes.
One of my prevailing thoughts on why Spielberg chose to use "wandering extras" during important scenes is that adults don't always appreciate what's going on around them -- that we're too busy with ourselves to notice anything strange and once we do, it's reached crisis level.
Ah, obviously my Internet sarcasm did not register, I was wryly noting the fact that lots of people were walking in front of the screen throughout the movie and joking that Spielberg put them there on purpose.
Anyway, my friend Rob, one of the people I saw ET with, was telling me that according to the trivia section on the IMDB, they had a terrifying sequel planned in which Elliott and the other children were kidnapped by bad aliens and ET (whose proper name was Zreck) had to rescue him. Shudder…Fortunately Spielberg’s better instincts prevailed.
Now, you complain about those assholes, but at least the majority of them aren't wondering if they put their "spit can" on the right or if that can is really their beer. I'd take Grant Park assholes any day over Southern assholes.
Who says Spielberg's a talentless hack??? True, I have been a bit disappointed with his most recent big cinematic directorial submissions (and casting choices -- but I've never liked Tom Cruise or Leo or even Jude Law, for that matter), but his talent shows through even when it comes to Animaniacs and Tiny Toons! And don't even get me started on his writing brilliance in such films as Goonies and Poltergeist (bet everyone forgets about that since Tobe Hooper directed it and 2 terrible sequels were made). When The Color Purple is mentioned, voices go hushed, almost in reverence to it -- much as they do when Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan are discussed. "Bad dates" is part of the twenty-something vernacular just as we all still have nightmares about velociraptors. Ugh... I could go on and on... but I must say that when my mom took me to see E.T. when it first came out, I remember crying during the movie and the whole way home... it affected me so much as a child that even as an adult, I've only been able to view it once since my first time. And Rory -- you know how many movies I saw that affected me in one way or another as a child -- yet E.T. is the only one that reverts me back to 3 years old.
One of my prevailing thoughts on why Spielberg chose to use "wandering extras" during important scenes is that adults don't always appreciate what's going on around them -- that we're too busy with ourselves to notice anything strange and once we do, it's reached crisis level. It's like the line in Bettlejuice when Lydia tells Adam and Barbara that, "The living usually won't see the strange and unusual. I myself am... strange and unusual."
