#OH and �� why was martin scorsese in the film that was hilarious

[louismygf]

just recently watched this is us with my college friends

[friendofthecrows]

Had the most terrifying but in hindsight hilarious dream. So we were in Naples, filming the Goncharov remake, and somehow someone must have managed to arrange a meeting with Martin Scorsese because he shows up with a couple other people in tow.

And keep in mind in this dream we're like. on location. in Naples. and I had no prior warning whatsoever bc I guess someone else arranged it without talking to me. So either he traveled pretty far or he just happened to be in the area but like this is THEE guy and I am NOT prepared but I have to act like I am, and he's talking to me like I'm a professional filmmaker who Knows What I'm Doing when in actuality I'm just like a business and project management person who's been researching film stuff as I go and Char, our film director, is actively out with most of the crew filming a Katya and Sofia scene (I think it was boathouse?) so at this point, I'm already trying to suppress fight and flight.

Scorsese says he has some questions to ask, obviously trying to gauge whether this project is something worth getting involved in/supporting or if we're completely wasting his time. I offer to show him around while we talk, which he says sounds great. So we're walking around the grounds of the place we rented to be Mario's mansion, which also doubles as where everyone is staying so we don't have to separately pay for hotel rooms or equivalent, and while most of the crew is out along with the actresses playing Katya and Sofia, the other actors are here, which is important, because the actor for Goncharov insists on only sleeping outside, and just as Scorsese asks "Why do you think you're the right person to lead this production," we round a corner and I see Goncharov asleep like face down in the grass, still in the overcoat and everything. And I know he just sleeps like that, but Scorsese doesn't, and I'm worried (irrational dream logic) that Scorsese thinks he passed out while filming or something and that we're running a horrible sloppy production and overworking everyone and not paying attention to the actors' and crew's needs or that we didn't arrange space and are making actors sleep outside or worse that Gonch is DEAD, but Scorcese just steps over Gonch like it's no big deal and is like "well?" waiting for my reply. And I remember the question and am internally like "fuck, I DON'T think there's any particular reason(s) I'm the best person for this, I have no idea what to say." So I kind of bullshit an answer and definitely ramble a bit too long on it trying to justify, which is objectively not the best way to handle a question you don't know how to answer. Scorsese asks some more really difficult questions and I answer the best I can and he seems to receive the answers in a sort of lukewarm way like he's not particularly impressed.

Then it's dinner, and we've gotten Subway (i know) and the people who left to film earlier are back and eating with us, etc. Scorsese pulls out several small decks of cards, and hands one to each person at our table (about 7 of us). He explains that in his free time, he made a little card game based on Goncharov. The cards have a character card and then some others that cover have effects, items, and things like that. He's explaining to the others how to play, but all the stuff he's saying clearly does not line up with what's on my cards. I ask, and he goes "oh that's Magic The Gathering." This raises two issues. 1. I don't know how to play Magic The Gathering, never mind on my own like solitaire or with people who are playing an entirely different game. 2. These are clearly not Magic The Gathering cards. I admit that I don't know how to play Magic The Gathering. He seems kind of disappointed and then says that he's very busy and should head home as soon as dinner is over. I interpret this as me completely blowing it due to not knowing how to play Magic The Gathering, but I don't say anything about it, I just thank him for his time. BUT THEN he says he's available to meet again on Thursday at 2pm.

The dream immediately transitions to Thursday at 2pm and I'm in his office, presumably in America, which in hindsight I have no idea how I got from Italy to there but in the dream, this was Completely Normal. It's quiet and he has another set of the game from last time sort of discarded on a table, and while I'm trying to anticipate what he's going to ask and what to say I'm mostly staring at it thinking "what the fuck was I supposed to do with that." And all the sudden Scorsese breaks the silence by saying, "I have some advice for you. Have you ever studied martial arts?"

And then I woke up.

[saltysaltdog]

Sometimes when someone posts something about Goncharov I've never seen I get confused before I remember they fumbled the release so BADLY that of course there's other dialogue/scenes.

Like they wanted to throw in an extra vhs of behind the scenes/meet the crew to be sent off with the original Goncharov right? So they told the distributor to make copies and send everything off.

For foreign releases they just boosted the music to the point you can't hear the actors and sent if off with a script and some b-roll to help match up the mouths to speech. Not the worst, except they did that to English speaking countries too! So the whole film had to be redubbed in English multiple times. Oh but that's not the worst part.

They sent EVERYTHING off. All the b-roll from scenes, all the deleted stuff, all the bloopers, all the previous versions, the highest quality they could. And that's like, hundreds of hours of film. And sending all that to every distribution team is expensive. So they stopped that quick- except they screwed up again so some places only got the b-roll and previous scripts. So everyone had to piece together the movie from scratch its hilarious.

It's why the Japanese version is so comedic, at the beginning Matteo wasn't sure how upbeat he wanted goncharov so there were a few drafts before Martin Scorsese came on-board that were so much softer (maybe even harder) than the original release.

I personally saw the polish subbed version,(the mirror of it is now busted though ;^;) which really makes Katya more mysterious, since it hides her darker side until the betrayal scenes.

Honestly I really love talking about the disaster distribution of this film was. But I love how it makes the fandom so much more chaotic, since there's always something new to find. I love it. So if you see a link to it you gotta watch it bc who knows what version it is, you know?

[thedesperatehousehusband]

Oscar. 92 years young.

It’s time for the BIG ONE. The one we’ve been waiting for all season. The Academy Awards. The 92nd Oscars. The whole awards “season” culminates with tis slog of a night. Let’s see how this works without a host. It’s the second time they’ve done it and I didn’t hate it last year.

The show kicked off with a performance from Janelle Monae singing about “It’s Time to Come Alive”. I don’t know what the song was about it but I love her and her queer, African American self. Billy Porter made an appearance. He’s been strutting it allllll these shows. He looked batshit at the Grammy’s but tonight he looks normal, for him.

Steve Martin and Chris Rock DID NOT CARE. When people don’t give a shit, I love it. The Director category is missing vaginas. There were no black nominees in 1929. There’s one in 2020. Progress. Good shit. Eddie Murphy’s under the stage. Oooooh. They DO NOT CARE.

Regina King is butter. She looks amazing. Of course and as expected, Brad Pitt wins Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He’s won 100% of all the awards all season so this is the icing on the cake. Nice speech. I love him. I love this movie.

I love Mindy Kaling’s dress. She looks outstanding. Of course and as expected, Toy Story 4 wins Best Animated Feature. It really was incredible. Buzz & Woody are legends and now we can include Forky in that list of animated legends.

Josh Gad…..Idina Menzel. Pronounced just like it’s spelled. Take that, John Dumb-Ass Travolta. And that was kick ass. I totally loved the international take on Into the Unknown from Frozen 2.

Why, Diane Keaton, why? Isn’t it done with the whole Annie Hall thing? But the banter with Keanu Reeves was really quite funny. HOLY SHIT BALLS!!! Parasite wins Best Original Screenplay. Is this a sign of things to come?? I REALLY thought Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was going to clean up tonight. But maybe not. Is it going to be a Parasite night??????

What is Timothee Chalamet wearing? Is that a tracksuit? At the Oscars? Dude. What are you doing? I know you’re all fashion-y and shit but I’m not into it. Taika Waititi wins for Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit. A movie which I simply loved and adored. It made me laugh and cry.

Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig decided to go with the craziest thing they could find at the store. At least they’re funny. Because they look nuts. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood wins for Production Design. And that makes sense to me. It really looked amazing.

Loved the a cappella medley of clothes songs for Maya and Kristen to sing in advance of Best Costumes. Little Women wins. At least it won something because that’s likely going to be it. Normally the winner looks out of his/her mind when they walk on the stage. This woman looked downright sane.

What is this song that Chrissy Metz is singing? I have no idea what it is but she sounds really good.

I would like to thank Mark Ruffalo for just wearing a goddamn tux and looking fucking fantastic in it.

I absolutely hate Laura Dern’s dress but I love me some Laura Dern. She’s cleaned up all season so cap it off with the Oscar, why don’t ya? Of course and as expected. I don’t know why but it makes me teary-eyed EVERY time Laura Dern thanks Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. I just love it that she thanks her parents and references them as her acting inspiration each time she collects an award.

Ummmmm. What is HAPPENING?? Eminem didn’t show when we WON the damn Oscar for writing this song but he gon show up for a fucking montage??? What is HAPPENING???? I love this. Every fucking thing on the stage right now is unbelievable. THE AUDIENCE IS STANDING UP. THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE INCLUDING MARTIN SCORSESE IS STANDING UP. Eminem, motherfuckers.

Sound Editing goes to Ford vs. Ferrari. I’m unclear on what sound editing is.

Sound Mixing goes to 1917. I’m unclear on what sound mixing is.

Jesus Christ. Randy Newman is starting to look really fucking old. He still sounds like Randy Newman though, so I guess that’s good.

Thank you for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell for making some jokes. 1917 wins Best Cinematography. I’m going to remind you how little I care about 1917. In my shallow and small mind, it’s just basically Saving Private Ryan in World War I. That’s probably over-simplified but that’s what I get from previews.

Best Editing goes to Ford vs. Ferrari. I can dig it with all the car scenes. Thank GAWD it didn’t go to The Irishman. Because that movie wasn’t edited because it was 400 hours long. It was TOO fucking much.

Zazie Beetz looks AMAZING. Her dress is killer.

Cynthia Erivo is an amazing singer. She’s not going to win Best Actress so her only chance at the EGOT is Best Original Song. I’m not particularly feeling this song but strange things have happened.

Rebel Wilson and James Corden dressed up as cats from Cats. They don’t care. 1917 wins Best Visual Effects. Who cares?

I love that Ray Romana got bleeped. I do love when people get bleeped. Bombshell wins for Hair & Makeup. Which makes sense. John Lithgow isn’t exactly an overly attractive person but making him look like Roger Ailes, who is more or less the earthly embodiment of Jabba the Hutt, is worthy of an award.

Why is it now Best International Feature Film as opposed to Foreign Language Film? Of course and as expected, Parasite wins Best International Feature Film or Foreign Language Film. I guess that Bong Joon-Ho really likes the name change and what it symbolizes.

I know this is terribly un-LGBTQ of me but I just don’t care about Elton John and this song isn’t good.

Ummmmmm. Sigourney Weaver looks INCREDIBLE. If she’s had work done, it’s both discrete and expensive. It’s a testament when you stand next to people like Brie Larson and Gal Gadot and hold your own at nearly 70. Get it done, Sigourney.

Love this Icelandic woman winning Best Score for Joker. Love, love, love, love. There’s more than Bjork in Iceland. Great speech.

Elton John wins for Best Original Song and I don’t care.

OH SNAP. Bong Joon Ho wins Best Director for Parasite. Y’all, it’s looking good for Parasite. Solid, solid speech as delivered by this translator who DID NOT step it up for the Oscars. Still just a smart suit. I was hoping for more, girl.

I want so hard to get Billie Eilish. And I just don’t. But I always enjoy the In Memoriam. Kirk Douglas, 103 years old.

Olivia Colman must have got a deal on all that velvet. Ooooof. But, dammit, she’s hilarious. Of course and as expected, Joaquin Phoenix wins for Joker. He’s not right. His speech was insane. Art imitates life……

Of course and as expected, Renee Zellweger wins Best Actress for Judy. This Texas accent has been present this whole awards season. I don’t get it and I don’t know why. Her speech isn’t meaningful at all. It’s just names. Blah. Well, now, we’re trying to make it meaningful but I’m not sure it’s working.

Let’s stand up for Jane Fonda, shall we? She’s a fucking movie star. She looks REMARKABLE. Don’t get me wrong. She’s 81 years old and has been sliced and diced every which way but loose but still….she looks bananas amazing. Best Picture, y’all. What’s it gonna be???? The anticipation is palpable!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddd the Oscar goes to: PARASITE!!!! I mean at this point it’s no surprise. First non-English movie ever to win Best Picture. I’m into it. I love it. The speeches are wonderful. I loved that Tom Hanks and Charlize were all like…Bring the light back up. Let them speak!

Peace out, Oscars. It’s time for bed.

[42inchtv]

Some Thoughts On The Best Movies Of 2019

Honorable Mentions: “Always Be My Maybe” (dir. Nahnatchka Khan), “Avengers: Endgame” (dirs. Joe and Anthony Russo), “Her Smell” (dir. Alex Ross Perry), “The Highwaymen” (dir. John Lee Hancock), “Joker” (dir. Todd Phillips), “Knives Out” (dir. Rian Johnson), “The Laundromat” (dir. Steven Soderbergh), “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story By Martin Scorsese” (dir. Martin Scorsese), “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (dir. Jon Watts), “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (dir. J.J. Abrams), “Toy Story 4″ (dir. Josh Cooley), “Triple Frontier” (dir. J.C. Chandor), “Under the Silver Lake” (dir. David Robert Mitchell), “Waves” (dir. Trey Edward Shults), “Yesterday” (dir. Danny Boyle)

10. “High Flying Bird” (dir. Steven Soderbergh) Steven Soderbergh loves process movies, films where collaboration has to take place in order to achieve a set goal. So, heists. Almost all of Soderbergh's movies have a heist element in the text -- often literally, as with the "Ocean's" franchise or "Logan Lucky"; sometimes deeper, as with "Magic Mike" or "High Flying Bird." This new Soderbergh joint is a fucking blast -- and right from the start, with Andre Holland rat-tat-tatting his way through a fancy lunch with an NBA rookie who's still wet behind the ears (Melvin Gregg, good stuff). On the face of it, "High Flying Bird" is a heist movie, one where we watch Holland's Ray and his dogged former assistant (Zazie Beetz) use shoe-leather to stop an NBA lockout and make themselves a lot of money in the process. But its deeper reading is about a disrupter trying to disrupt again without falling behind the curve (it might as well be about Soderbergh himself). The ideas presented in "High Flying Bird" are so modern its almost as if Soderbergh has seen the future, one where athletes democratize sports in the way so many other fields have been democratized by social media. The production and release of "High Flying Bird" -- it was shot on an iPhone and dropped on Netflix -- are timely too. Soderbergh continues to get over on all these guys, doing it better and faster than most people half his age. Maybe he loves heists so much because he's made a career out of pulling jobs on the unsuspecting for 30 years.

9. “Booksmart” (dir. Olivia Wilde) A classic right out of the box, even in spite of the ponderous discourse surrounding its release. “Booksmart” takes the one-crazy-night structure and core relationship of "Superbad" and mixes it with the heart and sincerity of "Lady Bird" to create a coming-of-age movie that transcends gender and time and finds room to turn Beanie Feldstein into a giant star. This is a god-level performance, paying off what everyone hoped would happen after she played the beta in "Lady Bird." She's the alpha here and tears the movie to shreds. Give her a goddamn Oscar.

8. “Parasite” (dir. Bong Joon Ho) There is always another bottom. “Parasite” starts as one kind of movie and becomes another and the deftness with which it transitions is but one of the many delights buried within what has become a landmark release. Two things to note, before hitting the next blurb: first, the ending montage is unforgettable, quite literally as I’ve often replayed it in my head during quieter moments; and second, the score is the best of the year.

7. “Little Women” (dir. Greta Gerwig) Bigger in scope and bolder in construction than “Lady Bird,” Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women” stamps her as one of the best filmmakers working today. No one is able to be as honest in depicting complicated human feelings and as unafraid to portray outright empathy amid conflict. The only downside to Gerwig hitting the rarefied air of an auteur is that she doesn’t seem to want to act anymore. But we’ll take the role switch if there are more movies like “Little Women” on the horizon.

6. “Marriage Story” (dir. Noah Baumbach) Noah Baumbach is never really mentioned when conversations turn to best directors; he’s always felt a tier behind the Tarantinos and Scorseses of the world. But given a second thought, it’s hard to imagine why. Baumbach has been knocking out four-star movies since the ‘90s and “Marriage Story” might be his best. (Thanks to Netflix, it’s also by far his most widely seen; my parents even watched this one.) The divorce drama turned meme generator is typical Baumbach: smart people arguing about life with a bite that doesn’t shy away from showing the underside of humanity. But it feels like his most complete film, a perfect marriage of his earlier cynical work and his buoyant Gerwig period. It goes without saying but let’s say it anyway: Adam Driver is remarkable in this one, giving the best performance of the year. But Scarlett Johansson matches him scene for scene, a reminder of the raw talent she displayed during the “Lost in Translation” years when she was basically Andruw Jones for actors.

5. “Hustlers” (dir. Lorene Scafaria) From the opening tracking shot -- an unbroken take that follows newbie Destiny (Constance Wu in her best performance yet) as she tries to scratch together some cash during her first night at the klerb -- Lorene Scafaria makes her case for a Scorseseian tribute previously done best by Paul Thomas Anderson. But “Hustlers” isn’t a mere riff on “Goodfellas” or “Boogie Nights,” it’s a Trojan horse packed tight with big statements on the long-lasting ramifications of the 2008 financial crisis, the bonds of true friendship, and the way parenthood literally changes the mind of a parent (”motherhood is a mental illness,” Jennifer Lopez’s Ramona says twice during the film, first with a laugh and then later with a tear). It all culminates with a finale that doubles as a punch in the gut, with a monologue delivered by Lopez that should replace Ben Affleck’s juicy dialogue from “The Town” for aspiring actors on YouTube. Through it all, Scafaria controls every frame and sequence with confidence and ease not portended even by her previous solid work. It’s some masterful stuff, as is the way she’s able to tease out powerful performances from her motley crew of actors: Cardi B (lol sure), Lizzo, Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer, Wu, and, of course, J.Lo, who does Robert De Niro in “Goodfellas” better than anyone else who has tried since 1990.

4. “Us” (dir. Jordan Peele) Oh, hey, “Us” is awesome. A “Twilight Zone” riff mixed with a greatest hits of references (including but not limited to “Scream,” “Jaws,” “The Shining,” “Signs,” “Funny Games,” “The Cabin in the Woods,” and “C.H.U.D.”) that throws a bunch of big, lofty ideas into the batter. Chief among them: How the ruling class must be taken out by the disenfranchised and how the disenfranchised, after wresting power from that class, will not go quietly into the night. (Alternate take: Bury the unwoke person you were as a youth before they can come back and ruin your life.) It all works so well — thrilling and hilarious, often at the same time. Lupita Nyong’o is otherworldly here (best actress 2020) and Winston Duke does an outrageous Jordan Peele impression that should please dads everywhere. Highest praise: During a year when we celebrated the greatness of 1999 movies, “Us” would rank up there with the best of the lot.

3. “The Irishman” (dir. Martin Scorsese) I've never thought to cry while watching a Martin Scorsese movie. That's not the kind of filmmaker he has been previously -- and even the movies he's made that pack an emotional wallop do so with almost surgical precision. Perhaps he's getting softer in his old age, or maybe I am: on my third viewing of "The Irishman" (but really, let's call it what it is: "I Heard You Paint Houses"), I teared up on more than one occasion. The elephant in the room after its release became Peggy and the wrongly perceived lack of agency given to her character. But watching how her relationship with Frank unfolds from birth to death with so few words is the movie's greatest trick. The first time we see Peggy, as an infant, she casts her big eyes on dad; those same glances -- angry, heartbroken, disgusted, pitiful stares -- make up their entire relationship. Only once does Frank experience something similar: after he kills Hoffa (a 20-minute sequence that features little dialogue and no music; we stan), Frank is next shown watching from a church pew as Bill Bufalino gives away his daughter at the altar on her wedding day; it's an act of fatherly love and joy that he'll never experience, not after what he's done hours before. Frank knows it too; just look at his face. A fucking masterpiece from our greatest filmmaker.

2. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (dir. Quentin Tarantino) Speaking of masterpieces: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is Quentin Tarantino’s best movie in 20 years and his most introspective ever; cinema’s former enfant terrible has finally grown up. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” grapples with what happens when masculinity runs its course and when one generation loses prominence to the next. But it’s also just super hilarious — filled with moments that are best described as lol. This is the best performance Leonardo DiCaprio has ever given. It’s a remarkable tight-rope walk: he's an actor playing a slightly worse actor who himself is giving a performance and then having to also give another performance as the actor he's playing? As his sidekick-slash-lifemate, Brad Pitt is so effortless that it's almost redundant to praise him. And while there are other delights to enjoy among the cast (Margaret Qualley, Julia “tha God” Butters), let’s highlight Margot Robbie: She finds such warmth and grace within Sharon Tate that it's hard not to leave the film feeling a tremendous amount of sadness and regret. "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" might rewrite her history, but the real world did not. Unfortunately, this legend was never printed. But at least it exists in the movies.

1. “Uncut Gems” (dirs. Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie) What if the last 30 minutes of "Goodfellas" was actually 120 minutes and starred an all-time Adam Sandler, Mike Francesa, and Kevin Garnett, and prominently featured Billy Joel's "The Stranger"? The Safdie Brothers wrote and directed my fever dreams and it resulted in the best movie of 2019, 2018, 2017. This is a landmark; why bother writing anything else?

[joeylikespizza]

Movie Buff Questions

1. Favorite action film? John Wick
 2. What movie(s) could you watch over and over and not get tired of? 10 things I hate about you (as you guys may have already noticed 😁)
 3. Any old school favorites (pre-70s)? It happened one night ❤ singing in the rain 💙 some like it hot 💖 the apartment 
 4. Top 5 directors? Christopher Nolan (easy answer) Martin Scorsese ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Terrence Malik (oh I can feel all the judgment) Ang Lee Danny Boyle 
 5. Favorite dead actor/actress? Heath Legder 💔 Paul Newman Gene Kelly Debbie Reynolds
 6. Favorite movie from the 90’s? You know the answer lol #10TIHAY
 7. Ever been/are you such a hardcore fan of an actor actress you watched/will watch any movie they were/will be in? Many in fact, but mostly Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Cate Blanchett 
 8. What movie are you looking forward to coming out the most? Now that John Wick 2 was released I’m in peace 
 9. Pixar or Dreamworks? …. I don’t really care
 10. Favorite animated movie? .. Up?
 11. Favorite musical? Singing in the Rain ☔️💙
 12. Are you against book-to-movie adaptations? Absolutely not
 13. Your guilty pleasure movie(s)? The Cable Guy. It’s soooo good!!
 14. Robin Williams or Eddie Murphy? Why can’t I just choose both?
 15. Favorite chick flick? The Hot Chick
 16. Ever watched a movie just because you heard the effects were awesome? Not that I remember 
 17. Favorite indie film? Trainspotting
 18. Favorite movie heroin? Cat woman 🙅 she’s a heroin to me
 19. Favorite movie action hero? Batman 
 20. Ever read a book so you could understand the movie? Nope
 21. Favorite kids movie? Because of Winn-Dixie, Little Manhattan ❤
 22. Favorite Disney movie? I’m not a big Disney fan 
 23. Favorite movie soundtrack? Those very shallow 90s high school flicks, like American Pie and Eurotrip
 24. Movie that makes you cry every time? Candy (2006)
 25. VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray? Dvd
 26. Best experience going to the movies When I went to watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I remember being so mesmerized and feeling like anything could be true, through those movie screens 
 27. Top 5 actors? Christian Bale Heath Ledger Gene Kelly Leo DiCaprio Geoffrey Rush
 28. Top 5 actresses? Cate Blanchett Hilary Swank Diane Keaton Michelle Williams Shirley MacLaine
 29. Movie you completely regret seeing? Movie 43
 30. Movie you wish was never made? Movie 43
 31. Movie your parent showed you? The Groundhog Day, Overboard, I Love You Phillip Morris (❤), and The Birdcage
 32. Last movie you watched? Logan, but the last thing I watched was a documentary called Too Young To Die about Heath Ledger 
 33. An overrated movie? I don’t believe in such a thing
 34. An underrated movie? Generation Um…, and The United States of Leland, and Velvet Goldmine are simply not popular enough 
 35. Favorite comedy movie? Omg there are so many, but Yes Man is definitely one
 36. Movie quote you live by? “Don’t let anyone ever make you fell like you don’t deserve what you want” - Patrick Verona, 10 Things I hate About You
 37. Movie quote that will always make you laugh? Any quote from The Hangover (I’m that shallow)
 38. Film(s) you’ve watched on a date? I watched Manchester By The Sea on a date, it wasn’t a great date
 39. Favorite cult film? The Big Lebowski is very special 
 40. Directors you’d like to see work together? I like the idea of directors working individually 
 41. Actors you’d like to see work together? Myself with anyone who works for feature films 😉🙃
 42. Films you wanted to watch, but never got around to watching? There are 101 films on my Imdbs watchlist at this moment. But Little Women, Harold and Maude, and many many others
 43. Favorite teen movie? 💖👐 10 Things I Hate About You 👐💖
 44. Top 5 favorite films? 10 Things I hate about you Candy (2006) Big Because of Winn-Dixie Cinema Paradiso (This list means nothing)
 45. Favorite superhero film? The Dark Knight 
 46. Favorite cop film? Chinatown (so good holy shit)
 47. Favorite road trip film? RAIN MAN 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
 48. A disappointing film from your favorite actor? Oh boy… let’s say I’m Not There, because there’s Christian Bale, Heath Ledger AND Cate Blanchett and I didn’t like the movie. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT 
 49. A disappointing film from your favorite director? I’m still looking for my favorite director 
 50. The first movie you ever remember watching in theaters? The first I remember was HP and the Philosophers Stone, but I know it wasn’t the first one
 51. A movie that was better than the book? American Psycho 
 52. Vin Diesel or Bruce Willis? I hate you so much
 53. A movie that not many have heard of that you’ve seen? Generation Um… (it’s brilliant) and Peace, Love and Misunderstanding, which is also very good
 54. A movie that changed the way you view the world? I guess all my favorite movies did that to me in a way. Generation Um… definitely, Candy, American Psycho, Because of Winn-Dixie, Big, Big Fish, there are so many
 55. Favorite sci-fi movie? I don’t love sci-fi but… Interstellar was amazing
 56. Movie you completely nerd-out over every time it’s mentioned? American Psycho or The Tree of Life
 57. Movie that you’ve seen all the behind-the-scenes action for? Never done that
 58. Movie where your favorite actor was the only good part? Two Hands, it’s not bad, but Heath Ledger shines through it it’s amazing
 59. Movie from an actor you hate that was better than you expected? Dallas Buyers Club (!!!!!!!) I was so annoyed bc people were saying Matthew McConaughey was gonna take the Oscars from Leo, and poor Leo was so good in The Woof of Wall Street
 60. Most visually stunning movie you’ve seen? I guess anything where the cinematographer was Emmanuel Lubezki
 61. A movie your parents introduced you to? I answered that in 31?
 62. Favorite genre? DRAMAAAAA
 63. Least favorite genre? Thriller 
 64. Comedy movie that you didn’t find funny? Movie 43
 65. Horror movie that didn’t scare you? I never even tried 
 66. Favorite remake of an old movie? Scarface, which is already an old movie
 67. A movie that started a passion for you? HP1, and also Good Will Hunting, it was the first “serious” movie I watched and it made me love movies
 68. A movie that sparked an interesting conversation? Any good movie
 69. The main movie you remember from your childhood? It takes two
 70. The first movie you saw on it’s opening night? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for what I remember. Done that with @qaneqi 💖 71. A move that made you ache for love. Candy (2006) 💔 you could’ve stopped at “ache”

[recentnews18-blog]

New Post has been published on https://shovelnews.com/why-we-need-the-unrivaled-honesty-of-comic-jim-norton/

Why We Need The Unrivaled Honesty Of Comic Jim Norton

Courtesy of Loshak PRJim Norton

With a looming deal on the horizon after signing a contract extension for his morning radio show, a role in an upcoming Martin Scorsese Netflix film and a standup tour in full swing, you can bet against comedian Jim Norton becoming yesterday’s tomatoes any time soon.

The Bayonne, New Jersey native can be seen performing stand-up comedy live across the country on his Kneeling Room Only tour and can be heard weekday mornings between 7 a.m – 11 a.m. ET on SiriusXM’s Jim Norton and Sam Roberts show.

Norton, along with Roberts, hopes to have a new contract wrapped up by the end of the week after signing another round of extensions to stay on the air while the details get worked out.

“Jim is like undeniably one of, if not the funniest guys in radio,” Sam Roberts, Norton’s morning show co-host said. “It’s such a blessing to be able to do a show with a guy like that because it’s not the type of thing where we have to sit there for hours on end and try to find the humor in something or fake that we like each other, or fake chemistry or anything like that.”

Working out a lucrative long-term deal would not only be in Jim and Sam’s and the fans’ best interest, but SiriusXM’s as well. You’d have to be locked in an asylum to not appreciate the strides the team has made in just two years.

Even with the abundance of audio content from terrestrial and satellite radio, as well as podcasts, Jim and Sam offer unconventional originality and immeasurable levity beyond comparison.

The show’s absurdly long intro – which serves as one of the many delightful running gags – has you eagerly awaiting the co-hosts take on what happened the day before and in today’s early morning hours. The dressing down of staff can be as compelling as Jim and Sam’s unique and unequivocally funny perspectives.

Then there’s Jim’s characters: Chip Chipperson (a dim-witted Norton character who lives with his mother) and Edgar Mellencamp (an elderly man with a dry mouth) to name a couple.

“Chip comes from Jim’s heart,” Roberts said of Chipperson. “And that’s why Chip is the most lovable and people, whether they know it or not, I think are sensing that.”

Chip has also found people’s hearts in becoming a sensation outside of Norton himself. The Chip Chipperson Podacast has a loyal following that sees its live shows sellout a variety of clubs and theaters.

“Norton thinks that Chip will outlive him as a personality,” comic and frequent Chip Chipperson guest Kevin Brennan said. “I actually like Chip more than Norton if you can believe that.”

Brennan has a theory on why the radio and podcast character has taken off.

“Chip’s crazy,” Brennan said. “Chip says whatever. He’s insulting, he’s offensive, he’s ridiculous and I love it. I just think it’s hilarious. He’s so funny because he still has Norton’s mind. He’ll say stuff that’s really funny off the top of his mind that he just came up with. That character is hilarious. I like mean comedy, that might be a reflection of my childhood.”

The success achieved by a character Norton started out doing to annoy an ex-girlfriend and amuse himself when he was alone (still does) has come as a surprise to Jim.

“I’m really happy,” Norton said. “I hope it keeps going. I hope it’s not a temporary thing. Of course I’m shocked. The fact is that we all have Chip in us. We all kind of stink on some level. And Chip embraces that and is that. It’s awful jokes, so it’s really fun. It’s fun to pick the worst jokes you can think of.”

Because Chip and Jim are separate people, there is an art to interacting with Chip for the success of a radio bit or the podcast.

“I’ve learned to just treat his characters like real people,” former co-host of the Opie and Anthony Show, Anthony Cumia said. “Chip Chipperson of course, a very popular character. Whenever I do his show and there’s somebody who’s never done it before, there sitting there and going, ‘What is this like?’ I go, Just imagine you’re doing a talk show that’s hosted by a [very slow] person, because that’s pretty much it.

“Then they’re like, ‘Oh, okay I guess I could go with that.’ I’ve just learned to really treat them like they weren’t Jim, and how would I react to somebody that really acted like that. Opie never really got a line on how to [interact with] Jimmy’s characters.”

Following the Opie and Anthony Show’s departure in July of 2014 after Cumia was fired for using racist language on Twitter, Jim and Gregg “Opie” Hughes tried to pick up the pieces and continue on with a new incarnation of the show.

Comedian Jim Norton participates in the BUILD Speaker Series to discuss the Netflix comedy special, “Mouthful of Shame”, at AOL Studios on Thursday, April 13, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

The duo continued for about two years before Jim and Sam paired up and Opie tried a show of his own.

“Look, we worked together for a long time,” Norton said of the partnership he had with Hughes. “The relationship deteriorated. It happens. I feel like I was very loyal for a long time. I’ve been very, very reverential to O and A, what they’ve done for my career. I’ve been very publicly appreciative of him.”

Hughes was fired by SiriusXM in July of 2017 after taking a video of producer Roland Campos going to the bathroom. 

There were only a couple dustups while Jim and Opie were on the air together and it’s only recently that Norton has been more vocal about what it was like working with Hughes, especially on Jim and Sam.

“It’s one of those things where he’ll throw a jab, then I throw one,” Norton said. “Or I throw one and then he throws one. I think that’s basically what it is. We both wanted to for a long time, but we weren’t able to. So it’s kind of fun to do when there’s a reason for it.

“He’s doing his show and I’m doing my thing with Sam. There’s really no reason for us to even think about each other. So it’s not like we do it all the time. It’s occasional.”

No matter who he’s been on-air with, stand up comedy has always been a constant in Norton’s life.

Audiences fortunate enough to see Norton perform live in person are seeing the comic do what he’s best at. Despite Norton’s brutally honest, self-deprecating humor, the stand up chops he’s sharpened from almost thirty years of performing give him the confidence to prowl the stage like a panther.

“First of all, I love Jimmy,” comedian Russell Peters said. “He’s very funny, very astute and he’s a big student of the game.”

Comics like Norton are at a premium. Rawness and honesty are desperately needed to sift through vile dishonesty politicians spew out and the fraudulently indignant hypocrisy social media lynch mobs muster up on a daily basis.

“It’s his honesty onstage that keeps him where he is,” Peters said. “And I always try to tell comics, the more honest you are onstage the easier this job is to do. Keith Robinson told me that 20 years ago and I never forgot it. He’s not hiding anything.

“People are coming to see comics for the honesty. That’s what they want. That’s what the world is lacking right now. The news isn’t being honest. You can get two different types of news nowadays. How f***ing weird is that? You remember back in the day [when] news was news? Now you can have pro-Trump news or anti-Trump news. I’m like, Why can’t we just get news news?”

“He’s risky,” Brennan said of Jim’s stand up. “He’s always been risky. I hadn’t seen him in a while, because he’s been working mornings a lot. And he works the earlier shows usually, especially during the week, the weekends [he’s] on the road. But I saw him do a full 20-minute set or 25-minute set probably in July and it was f***ing great.

“I was kind of blown away by how good it was just because I know he’s so busy. He’s got a great work ethic so he does the morning show and he’s always on the road, he does Chip Chipperson. He’s just extremely busy.”

Peters and Brennan aren’t the only comedians regarding Norton as the Toast of the town.

“I love Jim,” Norm Macdonald said. “I love Anthony Cumia too. I think he’s a fantastic broadcaster, and those two together were great, now they have separate shows, but they’re both so good they can each have a show.

“It’s very hard to do radio for two, three hours a day, really hard to be funny I mean. Larry King used to do it all night long, but he didn’t have to be funny. Jim is just one of those unfiltered guys that just says whatever is on his mind, doesn’t second guess himself and he has a lot of passion for his opinions and that’s what makes, I think, for great radio.”

Jim Norton “Kneeling Room Only” tourCourtesy of Loshak PR

Norton examines his own life and career with the same honesty and self-loathing humor you can see in his act or hear on the radio show. When asked if after all the success he’s currently having he’s one good project away from hitting it big, he responded:

“No, I’m one bad project away from killing myself,” Norton joked. “I hope something happens. I never wonder, Where’s my spot? I never expect anything. The more good things that happen the better, but I never expect anything. I really don’t. I hope something good comes of it, but I never expect anything great to come.”

Something great that did come is the Netflix film the Irishman (2019) directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. Norton filmed a scene where he plays one of his idols, the late comedian Don Rickles, performing at a night club.

“I love Rickles,” Norton said. “So it was really, really fun to play him. I tried to do it justice. The lines were written, which was easier.”

While shooting his scene, Jim worked with De Niro a second time (the Comedian), a third if you count De Niro appearing in the intro to his last standup special Mouthful of Shame.

“At one point, because De Niro wanted to hear material he hadn’t heard, they said, ‘Mr. De Niro is requesting that you just do your act.’” Norton said. “Because the camera was on him, so he just wanted to see my regular material just so he could laugh at it, so any shots of De Niro, if there’s any of him laughing, it’s at my regular jokes.

“It’s really weird, I was just talking to him and (Joe) Pesci. I mean there was an audience, but I was just looking over at De Niro and Pesci which was kind of surreal. It was great though because afterwards [Pesci] goes, ‘Hey, you were funny, man.’

“He was really cool and Scorsese is a really relaxed guy. I wasn’t nervous around Scorsese because I had met with him already and we had sat in his office and talked. And I wasn’t nervous around De Niro because I had done something with him, so Pesci was like the only one. It was still so much fun to do it with him. I didn’t let myself panic and get too nervous.”

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottking/2018/10/24/why-we-need-the-unrivaled-honesty-of-comic-jim-norton/

[thedesperatehousehusband]

Golden Globes. Awards Time. Back At It.

Tis the season for awards. In 2019 I missed blogging the ENTIRE awards season due to travel. Seriously, I missed the entire season. I cannot even explain how hectic the first three months of last year were. Fucking insanity.

But, bitches, I’m back and I’m ready to blog the shit out of the 2020 awards season.

The Golden Globes are kind of a mess. They’re a little sloppy. They’re a little drunk. They’re a little odd. But who doesn’t love them?

Ricky Gervais was amazing. He does not give a fuck. Not a single fuck. He literally told the stars to not make political statements, thank their agents and get the fuck off the stage. Bless him. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson both looked offended. Adam Driver laughed a bit. Martin Scorsese laughed a touch. Bobby DeNiro politely chuckled. That’s the kind of uncomfortable shit I like to see at an awards show.

The TV awards have been weird. Rami Youssef won for his self-titled show. Stellan Skarsgaard won supporting actor for Chernobyl which I don’t care about. Succession was the best drama. I half care about that because it’s a soapy show about rich people behaving like shit and also features Kieran Culkin and I do love a child star who figures his or her shit out and transcends child stardom into an adult career. Phoebe Waller-Bridge won for actress in a comedy. I truly do not believe Fleabag is a comedy primarily because it’s not funny, in my opinion. Maybe I just don’t get it.

Foreign language film went to Parasite after being presented by the always bland Sienna Miller. I just don’t get why she’s a thing. But Parasite is FUCKING amazing. The director’s speech was FUCKING amazing. We two trillion percent loved this movie.

Pierce Brosnan is aging well. He’s here to introduce his sons who are sharing the Golden Globe ambassador duties in 2020.

Kate McKinnon is making me cry. The Ellen clip reel also made me cry. Jesus Christ. Oh, and also, Carol Burnett looks incredible. I love that woman. I love Ellen. Who doesn’t? It’s insane to me to think that it was 1997 when she came out on TV and then was basically blacklisted for doing so. How stupid is that shit? But she’s really come out on top. So I guess it’s really a big middle finger to a whole lotta dumb asses, no?

Back to TV awards. Brian Cox wins for TV drama actor in Succession. I’m getting more intrigued by this show.

What are Ewan MacGregor’s shoes? I’m not feeling them. But Margot Robbie looks kick ass and so does her dress. Thrilled for Quentin Tarantino winning screenplay because Once Upon a Time….in Hollywood is awesome. It’s definitely one of my favorite Tarantino movies.

What the fuck is Missing Link and how did it win for Animated Feature?

Brad Pitt and Leo are fucking movie stars. That’s it and that’s that.

What in the ever-loving fuck is Gwyneth Paltrow wearing? Is it fur? Is it lace? Why is it copper? Why is the necklace underneath the lace? Ugh. Disaster. But very happy for Laura Dern winning supporting actress. We watched Marriage Story over the holiday break and it’s hard to watch but the performances are stellar. Laura Dern is butter.

Is Nick Jonas wearing a bolo tie? What the fuck is the thing around his neck? Priyanka Chopra is gorgeous. Fleabag wins for comedy series. I stand by previous assertions that this show is not a comedy. Am I way off base? Convince me I’m wrong.

Jason Momoa and Zoe Kravitz presenting together is cute. I don’t why what Patricia Arquette won for. The Act? What the fuck is that? Why is she wearing sunglasses? What are her boobs? She got political as Arquette’s are known to do. Olivia Colman wins for actress in a TV drama. She’s nuttier than a fruitcake. Her dress is nuttier than a fruitcake as well. I love that she just admitted to getting a little boozy. Because that’s the damn point of this show. Everyone should be tipsy. Not wasted because it’s still on TV but definitely buzzed.

Charlize Theron’s dress is weird. Her necklace is slick though. I think she’s an odd choice for introducing Tom Hanks and his Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award. There’s GOT to be better friend to present this. Denzel? Gary Sinise? Sally Field? Whatevs. The clip reel was stellar. People REALLY seem to love him. Oh, they just panned to Beyonce. Her dress looks like it’s eating her. But back to Tom Hanks…..his speech is lovely. He’s super emotional and it’s making me emotional.

Ricky Gervais is really hot on the fact that no female directors were nominated for best director. The audience isn’t having it. Sam Mendes just won for 1917. FOR REAL? Of all the directors nominated, I would have assumed he would be the last one to win. How? He’s basically directed a the World War I version of Saving Private Ryan, right? I dunno if we’re going to see that one. I just don’t care. Primarily because we’ve seen this movie before WITH TOM HANKS.

What is up with boobs tonight? Salma Hayek is busting O-U-T. Tiffany Haddish is crazy. I think she’s hilarious. I cannot wait to watch her Netflix stand up special entitled Black Mitzvah. Even the title is a riot.

Some Icelandic woman just won best score for Joker. I’m sure she knows Bjork. Who is insane.

I’m unclear on what J. Lo is wearing and is A-Rod present? I’ve really come around on J. Lo. She used to really drive me crazy. She doesn’t anymore.

Very happy for Brad Pitt for winning supporting actor.  Like Brad a lot and I think he’s long been an underrated actor. I think he’s going to get his allllll awards season. And that category was stacked with MOVIE STARS. But good for Brad.

Chris Evans is hot. I don’t care who knows it. He’s fucking hot. And so is Scar Jo. She looks incredible.

Wait. How did Taron Egerton just win for actor in a musical or comedy over Leo and Eddie Murphy? OK. Do I need to see Rocketman? I just don’t want to because I super, duper do not care about Elton John. I know it’s kind of gay sacrilege but he’s just not my favorite.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Awkwafina just won for comedy actress in The Farewell. Have you seen this movie? It’s WONDERFUL. Legit wonderful. It’s funny. It’s touching. It’s just a sweet story. We loved this movie.

For a moment I was concerned Rocketman was going to win for best musical or comedy but, thankfully, Once Upon a Time…..in Hollywood won, as it should. These wacky Hollywood Foreign Press nutjobs like to really throw curveballs.

Glenn Close is looing resplendent in velvet. Joaquin Phoenix takes home best actor for Joker. I had VERY low expectations for that movie and upon exiting the theater I would actually call it a film. It was really good. But Joaquin is really blowing it with his speech. Is he high? Is he drunk? Or is just that weird? This is sooooooooo awkward. It’s stressing me out. Thankfully he responded to the playoff music.

Renee Zellweger is back in Judy and she’s winning awards. She really transforms for this part and it’s a very stressful movie. Why is she sounding so hokey? I guess she’s from Texas but is this normally how she talks? Oh, they’re going to play her off too. Apparently the HFPA and NBC are done with this how. I am as well. It’s been a bit of a snore apart from the monologue, Tiffany Haddish and Amy Poehler.

And 1917 wins best drama. I’m stunned and I literally do not care. I do not care one iota.

With that, awards season is off to the races. Let’s do this!!!!