Passing of the Player

Though I'm not a fan of most of his recent films, Robert Altman will always hold a special place in my movie conscience for The Player, the second-best movie of Tim Robbins' career (1. The Shawshank Redemption, 3. Top Gun, 4. Bull Durham, 5. The Hudsucker Proxy ... 38. Arlington Road, 39. Howard the Duck). A signature Altman film, it opens with a memorable 8-minute tracking shot and employs a huge ensemble cast and improvisational, overlapping dialogue, a style he also used to fine effect in MASH, Nashville, and Gosford Park.

Altman also directed a movie called Short Cuts, which features Lily Tomlin and Tom Waits working in Johnny's Broiler singing "Gotta get out of Downey, gotta get out of Downey." It's the only time I've seen Johnny's Broiler explicitly set in my hometown, albeit as a place from which the characters are desperate to escape. The movie also features a fully nude Julianne Moore, who I can say with certainty is a natural redhead. And now my blog will come up in searches for "nude Julianne Moore."

Earlier this year, Robert Altman received a lifetime achievement Oscar, and just in time, it turns out. He said in his acceptance speech that his career was far from over, but sadly, he died earlier today, at the age of 81. RIP.

Any Chappelle fans out there?

Today I was referred to this account of the events that led to the end of Chappelle Show. Whether it's legit or not, it makes for a fascinating read. If nothing else, it's a nice reminder of some of his best sketches.

This would be the natural place to post some of those sketches from YouTube, but I'm afraid that Oprah will come get me. Safety first.

Lost takes over JABSOM

Several weeks ago, Lost came to my school (John A. Burns School of Medicine or JABSOM for short) to film for the first episode in February 2007 after it takes its 3-month hiatus. After lecture at a nearby hospital, I rushed over to school in the late afternoon.
Apparently, it was a flashback for Elizabeth Mitchell's character:



My friends, Sherrie, Dean, and Suzanne, and I "studied" in the lobby of the research building as the crew filmed in our anatomy lab and other areas of the building. Guess who I saw?



Sherrie and I were so nervous at seeing Daniel Dae Kim that our hands kept shaking while holding the camera! Sherrie will never stop apologizing to me even though the picture I took of her and Daniel wasn't that much clearer!

They also filmed an accident in front of the school the next day... hmm...
Our school's director of the Willed Body Program got a small speaking part!



So, what is going to happen? What is the flashback about? As Jeremy would say, "Hehhehheh..."

What up wit it, vanilla face?

I attended a packed house Saturday night for Borat, and the guy in front of me kept banging his chairback into my knees from his gyrations of laughter. I didn't mind, because I would have done the same to the guy behind me if I weren't in one of the stiffback chairs.

According to the box office returns, this scene played out in theaters across the country. $26 million for a movie that opened on only 800 screens is mind-boggling. Let's see how it does on 2,500 screens next week.

The movie wasn't consistently funny, but when it hit, it hit better than anything I could remember in recent memory. I would love to recap the gut-busting moments, but that would detract from the experience for those who have yet to see it. Suffice to say, it's one of those movies you walk out of and immediately turn to your buddies and start recalling your favorite scenes (or the most horrifying).

The one I could have done without featured frat boys in the trailer. Not funny or insightful. Just a bunch of drunk morons. Boring. Otherwise, even the scenes that didn't work for great laughs still served a purpose. "We are a Christian nation, and we have always been a Christian nation!" screams one manic pastor, who should read up on the writings of the founding fathers. I immediately pictured Principal Rooney saying, "So that's how it is in their state."

Some of the scenes are staged to move the story along, but the ones that work the best are those inflicted upon the unsuspecting. And Sacha Baron Cohen doesn't hold back. He's clearly not afraid to do things that will get him punched or arrested. Sometimes that fearlessness is hard to watch, but you can't not watch, either.

Word is out that Bruno will be hitting the big screen next. It's Cohen's most overlooked alter-ego, but perhaps his best, and should make for a great movie. If it tops this effort, it'll be one for the ages.

Very nice! Sexy time!

Borat weekend is finally here!

Because of DanFran's birthday, I won't be able to watch it until Saturday night (stupid DanFran), but some friends went to the midnight showing this morning, and they said they laughed so hard their abs were sore. I believe it. Sacha Baron Cohen's Da Ali G Show, in which Borat originated, was always hysterical. The guy is a comedic genius, and he finally has a mainstream audience.

The movie is at 100 percent among the Cream of the Crop on Rotten Tomatoes (97 percent overall out of over 120 reviews), and Roger Ebert gave it four stars, calling it "the funniest movie in years."

I'm so giddy! And it'll be a great pick-me-up following the Stanford/USC game.