FeverDog

I hadn't seen True Stories since the early-late '80s and didn't remember how great the movie looked. So I was pleased this documentary featured its director of photography, Ed Lachman. I wasn't familiar with his work, so I thought. But looking through his credits here at IMDb it turns out he's shot many movies that haven't gotten enough praise for their cinematography. Making Mr. Right, Less Than Zero, The Virgin Suicides, Far from Heaven, Wonderstruck - they all look great. So Lachman's appearance in a movie's credits will now increase the likelihood of me seeing said film (like if Philip Glass is doing the music).

Praise also goes to casting director Victoria Thomas for pushing David Byrne to cast John Goodman. I knew he was in True Stories but didn't remember how sweet, lovable, and super cute his character was. He really brought a lot to make Louis an attractive man. Good job, Miss Thomas.

My only other comment is about the annoying way? that Adelle Lutz? speaks with an upward inflection? Props, though, to her costuming in Making Mr. Right (I love that movie) and bit performances in Beetlejuice and Something Wild.

Totally awesome! Filled with appealing unknown (to me) actors and tons of great period music. Funny as hell and really sweet. I want to watch it a million times.

There's a scene where a few of the guys are passing a bong around and in the background is a Pink Floyd song I've always loved but never heard in a movie before. ("Fearless"). How can you not love a movie where a bunch of dudes are passing a bong to Pink Floyd? An offhand line took a beat to sink in but had me guffawing maybe a bit too boisterously once it hit me. One guy hopes the Astros win the World Series that year, and this Philadelphia baseball fan roared! (Look up the 1980 MLB postseason, kids.) It truly is a spiritual sequel to D&C but, since the characters are a bit older, there's a bit of nudity thrown in, which I absolutely approve of.

And since the main characters are college baseball teammates, there are many good-looking, athletic men in half shirts and short shorts and jock straps to look at for two hours, if that's your bag. It's totally mine.

Some reasons I love contemporary movies set in the seventies and eighties are the costumes and hairstyles. They make the movie that much more entertaining.

The female lead is played by Lea Thompson's daughter. Damn I'm getting up there when Lea Thompson has a child old enough to play a college student.

When you see this movie, stay through the credits. My favorite D&C callback may be the way the cast is credited, this time to The Cars instead of Foghat. If the best movies become illegal then Everybody Wants Some!! is under arrest.

What a nice change: a movie I first saw as a wee lad and remembering liking then, only to revisit it decades later and liking it more (for the opposite reaction, see PLAYING FOR KEEPS).

The movie popped up last Saturday afternoon on pay cable so I decided to why not see if it holds up, instead of watching a block of "Scrubs" on Comedy Central again. My main memory was the fabulous production design and costuming, like back then the movie was set in an alternative '80s galaxy with cute convertibles and kitchy-cool high heels.

I enjoyed it before, but this time I literally ROARED with laughter! I guess I paid more attention to the acting this time 'cause I sure didn't recall John Malkovich being so absolutely heedlessly hilarious playing an automaton trying to pass as human. Watch his body language, the way he walks and processes the world around him. Comedy ain't easy, but the Malk is committed and focused, and really brings Ulysses to (pseudo) life. Bravo, you idiosyncratic weirdo.

Ann Magnuson is terrific too - she's easily believable as a smart PR drone with an effed up love life. Why didn't she become a big star? I remember her on the show "Anything But Love" and there again she clearly exuded competent business acumen. Where you been, girl?

There is one character in MMR that was difficult to watch when I was 13, one that remains an uncomfortable viewing experience today. That's Laurie Metcalf's desperate single gal looking for love with the wrong man. The humiliation she endures during the mall date wasn't funny then, and it's not funny now. I dunno, I just felt, and feel, awful for her; she's so forlorn and sad it's a bit depressing - I had to turn away. Poor thing.

But anyway, I had to have the DVD to show my mate - we watched SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK last week and neither of us were able to make a lick of sense of it, but then the mate revealed he's never seen ADAPTATION, so by the powers of the Philadelphia Library we're watching it this weekend. (How could he have never seen it? He's a big Tilda Swinton fan!) It's Malkovich Week at Casa de Ogorek (I wonder if he's seen PLACES IN THE HEART or IN THE LINE OF FIRE). Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich.

One last thing: my newest DVD reads, "Ann Magnuson (PANIC ROOM)"...really? That's what FOX/MGM hopes to remind us of who she is? Well, I guess that'd be less embarrassing than "Ann Magnuson (GLITTER)"...