Over the weekend I took in a new movie (yes, I do see them occasionally). As noted on this site before, November through January is when I start seeing new movies again in anticipation of Oscar time and year-end festivals and top ten lists. Not only am I an Oscar obsessive but I am a film blogger and while I can live with not discussing the summer blockbusters I simply have to be in on the discussion of the festival and award winners at year end, like last year's No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. But I'm not here to do a review of the movie I saw (Happy Go Lucky directed by Mike Leigh) except to perhaps briefly mention how absolutely extraordinary Eddie Marsan is in the role of Scott, the driving instructor. It's a supporting performance so captivating that when he's on the screen he's all you see and when he's not you're anxiously awaiting his return. I sincerely hope he receives a nomination for his intense and driven performance. Anyway, like I said, I'm not here to review it. Rather I'm here to stroll down memory lane and talk about theatres, multiplexes and palaces and why they've been on my mind lately.
Most of my movie going experiences of the last couple of years have been at the renovated A.F.I Silver Theatre in downtown Silver Spring, MD. It's a beautiful old movie palace that the A.F.I. has lovingly restored and kept up in the fashion of the old palaces of yesteryear. There is a coffee shop/bar inside, a concession counter and the feel of quietude. It's not bursting with loud ads, music and the movies don't have twenty minutes of commercials and trailers before them. A few trailers of upcoming A.F.I. showings and that's about it. There are three screens but it's not a multiplex. They have the one large screen with hundreds of seats and then two miniature theatres off to the side that hold about forty people in a small intimate setting.
In jarring contrast, I saw Happy Go Lucky in the local multiplex and felt like heading for the exit before even taking my seat. Packed wall to wall with people, concession lines wrapped around the building, loud music playing in the lobby, commercial bombardments before the feature and the average ticket buyer age somewhere between 14 and 17. I started longing not just for the A.F.I. Silver Theatre but for the glory days of yesteryear when theatres had a single screen, movies played for one week and when they played longer it was because they were "held over" due to popularity. Sometimes, the theatre was enough to make the experience worthwhile even if the movie wasn't.
For instance, I have fond memories of seeing Christine with my brother back in 1983 even though I don't think much of the movie at all. We saw it at the Pinehaven, a local theatre that had a balcony section with big comfortable seats and ashtrays, yes ashtrays, by every seat in the balcony. I'm not glorifying smoking mind you, and I'm sure if I went back now I'd realize how badly it stunk in that balcony section, but it was nice to sit there with my brother, light up a smoke and laugh with and at Christine as it played itself out on the screen before us. The movie left little impression but the theatrical experience remains.
When I returned from Happy Go Lucky I started looking through UCLA's archive of historic locations (yeah, I do things like that) because I had remembered finding some beautiful photos of old theatres there before. Also, I had in mind the name Charles Lee, architect of many theatres in California, because I recently featured a photo of him at the grand opening of MGM's Western Building in December of 1928. As I perused the selection of photos and cross-referenced them on the Cinema Treasures website to see if they were still around I was dismayed to learn that most are now gone. That's too bad. I understand the need for multiplexes in a business driven by ticket sales but I wish every city and town made room for just one old fashioned palatial theatre. Below are some of my favorite photos discovered in my search and I'd be curious to hear from my California based readers if they've driven past any of these that remain standing or even seen a film in one. Some are still operational while others are closed but still standing. I love movie palaces of old. Multiplexes are necessary for business, but the old movie houses left impressions and created memories that in some cases far outlived the movies they showed. Enjoy the photos.
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First up is the Tower Theatre, designed by Charles Lee. It had it's grand opening in 1927 and according to that banner, was the first 1,000 seat theatre in America. Still standing in Los Angeles, but hasn't shown a movie since 1988.
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The Arden Theatre, pictured here in 1946, opened in 1942 and burned down in 1988. It was located in Lynwood, CA. Architect, Charles Lee.
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The Oxnard Theatre located in Oxnard, CA. No dates given on the Cinema Treasures site for this one except that it has been demolished and sat 900. The movie being shown is Judge Hardy's Children from 1938. Architect unknown.
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The Fox Theatre in Bakersfield, CA. According to Cinema Treasures it's still up and running. Anyone seen a movie there? I'd love to hear if they have maintained the original decor or not. Architect, Charles Lee.
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The Studio Theatre, Los Angeles, CA in 1931. Info given says "demolished" but provides no other dates. Architect unknown.
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Finally, Teatro Chapultepec, located in Mexico City, Mexico, pictured here in 1944(three pictures in all). Designed by Theodore Gildred and Charles Lee it has since been demolished. It's a crime.
121 comments:
Just gorgeous. I used to have very vivid dreams of looking for my father when I was a kid and they often involved the sort of bland cityscapes you might find in an Edward Hopper painting or the balconies of great, old cathedral cinemas like the ones pictured here. (Oh, that Mexico City theater!) Even a piddling small town one-screen cinema had a bordello-like air of draggletail elegance about it that is sadly lacking in the functional shoeboxes of your local multiplex. As churches were once meant to do, cinemas inspired awe and perhaps even faith. I don't think the religious metaphor is the least bit glib. Old-time movie presentation even had the episodic character of mass, with the the opening prayer, the readings, the singing and the homily approximated by the newsreel, the cartoon, the short and the feature. I ought to try and see that cinema in Bakersfield before they turn the thing into a Yogurtland or a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
You should. If you click the Cinema Treasures link on it they say it shows classic films. And they have an exterior shot of it.
Even a piddling small town one-screen cinema had a bordello-like air of draggletail elegance about it that is sadly lacking in the functional shoeboxes of your local multiplex.
That's absolutely true. The Pinehaven wasn't a palace by any means. It was strictly "R" rated features for matinees and evening and then "X" showings from 10 p.m. on in order to abide local blue laws. When I say it probably stunk in the balcony area I wasn't just referring to tobacco but beer and wine as well, constantly brought it in a bag (no reason to bother hiding it, no one cared). And yet, I have some damn good memories of seeing movies there. Christine was the last. Shortly after that it shut down for good as three and four and six screen cinemas started to open at the malls around it and video took care of the "X" rated crowd.
That theatre in Mexico City is my favorite. Now that thing is a church! And I didn't take your church reference as glib at all. Some go to church for the dogma, some go for the guidance and some go just to get a sense of inner peace. Others find other ways to achieve this peace. For many of us it's a beautiful theatre.
Yes, those were the days. Or, at least, I guess those were the days. That Mexico City theater is amazing.
Yeah, it's beautiful. And Bill, my post title was inspired by your Affinity post of yesterday. Dayton, Ohio, 1903.
Oh, hey! I missed that. Shows what kind of a fan I am. Man, I suck!
Do you have any old pictures of the Uptown? It's been a while since I've been there (a really long while, actually), but I remember it being kind of...not run down, exactly, but a shadow of what it must have once been.
No, I did a quick search before this post (it's on Cinema Treasures as well here) but couldn't find any old pics. I don't think it's changed much but it does feel a little run down these days. I see a movie there about once a year probably, and it's still the biggest screen you can find outside of IMAX.
Awesome post.
We have a old, balcony-equipped theater here in Austin called the Paramount that shows old movies every summer. It's great. They show SOME new run flms, but very rarely.
The first thing that popped out in your desciption of the AFI Silver Theater was that they had a coffee bar!! I so wish that at least art house theaters had good coffee with some good cream available (non of that powdered crap). Maybe other theaters around the country do sell good coffee, but not here.
Anyways, I would imagine that the overhead in some of these older theaters is pretty expensive compared to what the chain theaters can afford. It's sad. I, like you, wish more of them would thrive.
But... I'm optimistic about it. Just like how vinyl LPs are surging in popularity again, I think the old movie house experience will resurface. I mean, sure, people will be watching movies on their iPhones from now on (ugh... that makes me shutter), but the more technology progresses the more we have the true believers clinging to the formats that art should really be appreciated in.
p.s. Eddie Marsan is outstanding. I agree that he must get nominated. Heath Ledger?? Give me a f*cking break when compared to Marsan's performance.
Fox, the AFI sells coffee, beer and wine at their bar. You can't take the alcohol into the theatre but if you get there early (and have money to burn - it is of course like any other theatre, very expensive) it's nice to sit down and have a drink of beer or a cup of joe before the show. Especially on a cold winter day.
I think renovated revival theatres are making a comeback. I'm a regular visitor at Cinema Treasures to get an idea of which ones are closing and which new ones are opening in and around where I live and it seems more and more cities are taking it upon themselves to put it to the voters to finance renovation of some old theatres and then the city gets a cut of the profits when it's in operation. I know from my own experiences, the AFI theatre is never empty.
And yes, you've seen Happy Go Lucky too? Wasn't Marsan effing amazing?!?! For me, he is the reason to see that movie. Just stunning.
people will be watching movies on their iPhones from now on (ugh... that makes me shutter)
Only slightly related but a news report of a recent Jonas Brothers concert made a point of - from the critic's vantage point in a balcony seat - how many people were taking in the concert through their cellphone cameras. We are dangerously close to losing touch with first-hand experience in this culture. I can be just as guilty of it with my kids, following them with the camera rather than just playing with them or even just looking at them, so I'm not preaching, just reminding all of us that eyes were meant to see, not view.
Right now we're in the infant stage of the technology. My first digital camera forced you to look through the eye piece to see what you were videotaping or snapping a picture of. Now with nice big viewfinder screens I can videotape a mountain hike by just holding camera forward as I walk, not missing out on anything with my own eyes.
Still, point taken. Sometimes I become so enamored of snapping pictures I forget to enjoy the moment, always thinking, "That would make a great shot." Yeah, it would, so put the damn camera down and take it in for Pete's sake.
By the way, my 17 year old did the camera phone shit at a Coldplay concert, front row, and blew out the speakers on the phone. I was pretty peeved but fortunately the warranty covered it free of charge.
Arbogast-
Well said, and timely too...
My niece was baptized this weekend, and I was disturbed at how many video cameras and digital camera were up near the alter snapping photos and filming away instead of ACTUALLY WATCHING the ceremony. And then, I think, how often do people actually watch home videos after all? I would prefer a good solid memory to a photo or video. I mean, I LOVE photos and videos, but I don't wanna sacrafice my memories because of it.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to stand above people and damn them b/c I am guilty of this too. For example, I now much prefer text messaging instead of talking to someone on the phone. In fact, I've come to hate phone conversations.
Jonathan-
I don't wanna give away too much before Top 10 Movie time, but Happy-Go-Lucky was the closest thing to a flawless film I've seen this year.
I now much prefer text messaging instead of talking to someone on the phone. In fact, I've come to hate phone conversations.
There are no awkward silences with texting. That alone endears it to me.
Fox, I didn't like it as much as you but I can understand the viewpoint given it's (I hate using this term but I see no other choice) slice of life, almost stream of consciousness flow, rather than a focused, plot driven conflict drama. I've read some kind of bitter reviews of the non-story and lead character but honestly I think a lot of that is coming from the fact that people are not accustomed to story telling in this way anymore. Agree?
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a curmudgeonly repsonse to multiplexes. I put up with them, but I hate them!!!
The best place to see a movie around here is the Catlow Theatre in Barrington, IL. Kind of a faded, once-grand, one-big-screen theatre that specializes in indy/foreign/second-run films.
I'm planning to see "Happy Go Lucky" on Monday afteroon, once my spate of holiday choir rehearsals/performances is over. Seems like all the early buzz was about Sally Hawkins, but most bloggers I read are singing Marsan's praises. I liked him in "Vera Drake," so I'm looking forward to seeing him in this one.
my 17 year old did the camera phone shit at a Coldplay concert, front row, and blew out the speakers on the phone.
Wow, it's hard to believe Cunégonde is already 17. Seems like only yesterday that she tried to hire me to kill you because you wouldn't take her to see Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis Tour. I guess we're both kind of glad she couldn't come through with the whole five yards.
And yes, I'm expensive but I'm worth it.
Jonathan-
Negative views of Happy-Go-Lucky seem to mention Sally Hawkins alot, or, the character of Poppy in particular. I can understand that, but I loved her character and her performance.
But I think you get to something that hasn't been mentioned as much. Perhaps this isn't felt as much in critical circles but more in casual filmgoers, and that is the "lack of a focused plot" that you brought up. When I saw it there seemed to be a uncomfortable ease with the pace of the movie. People weren't laughing while I thought some of the lines were dead hilarious (of course, it may have been hard for people to hear through the heavy accents).
But it's true. I tried taking my mom to see it, and she didn't go, but I know that if she went she would've scratched her head over "what was that all about?". I don't mean that as a jab at her or anyone else, it's just a normal symptom of casual movie watchers taking in conventional movie strutcure for so long.
I mean, the first time I watched Fassbinder it through me for a loop. But that's kind of fun. I love that. I love having to work at it sometimes.
Pat, fortunately most of the big year end releases play at the AFI too, so that's where I see most of them but for others I have to brave the multiplex.
Sally Hawkins is indeed excellent. I know many people get annoyed, intensely annoyed, at her giggling, hyper, never, ever, ever unhappy character (and I didn't like her much when the movie first started either) but the fact is she plays that character perfectly. It is an excellent performance.
However, with Marsan, and not to give any specific details away, his character builds from a point A to point B in a very visible way. I understand as an actor that that is sometimes much easier but he does it with such an internal coiled up intensity rather than over the top theatrics that it's breathtaking to watch. Yes, he has yelling involved with the character but it is delivered with such a feverish intensity that it doesn't just seem like an actor letting loose.
And Fox, that quivering with his face at the end, the way he wants to release emotion but doesn't - that's a lot harder to pull off and man does he ever pull it off.
Lately, our old movie houses have been turned into music venues. The newest is The Morse Theatre, an old nickelodeon/vaudeville/silent movie house. I never had a chance to visit it as a movie theatre, but I've been to it three times since it opened as a music venue.
The other, the Skokie Theatre, is also a music venue, though they have put on plays and shown silent movies as part of a Skokiewide street carnival. I wrote about it here.
My favorite moviegoing experience in recent years was in Milwaukee, at the Oriental Theatre (a Landmark theater). It has been cut up into three theatres, but the house is in extraordinarily great condition, preserving all the great 1920s design and artifacts. I saw The Host there. Here's what I said about the experience: "It was my privilege to view this film in the elegantly preserved Landmark Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Watching a humanivorous monster while flanked on either side by a total of six Buddhas, each with a glowing third eye watching me, made me feel very safe."
Arbo, I thought it was odd when Cunégonde suddenly asked for 25,000 percent increase in her allowance that year. I almost gave it to her too, but the car broke down just days before and I had to drop a pretty penny to get if fixed.
Whew. Guess I dodged a bullet. Or whatever it is you use.
And Fox, that quivering with his face at the end, the way he wants to release emotion but doesn't - that's a lot harder to pull off and man does he ever pull it off.
Oh... f*ck yeah, dude! That whole sequence is tremendous. Even the way Hawkins plays off him, keeping a distance but still showing sympathy and concern for Marsan. Thinking about it is kind of making me tear up a bit. (Sorry, I'm an easy cry.) It breaks my heart thinking about him standing outside her apartment, fighting with his reluctance to love. And when he confronts her on it, well... my heart just breaks again.
I think we should start a Eddie Marsan petition.
And yeah, Pat, good call on him in Vera Drake.
Marilyn, I love winning stuff too, as I did with my raffle winnings at The Crowd. And that three hour dinner with Sam the Man - was that just you and him or part of a larger group?
I love the front of the Skokie Theatre, it looks great, so nickelodeanesque in it's appearance. And how cool that you mention Cinema Treasures too in an article from two years ago concerning the gutting of the Skokie Theatre. It's a great piece you wrote and if I hadn't posted this I wouldn't have known about it. Thanks for sharing.
It's true Fox, his character made me incredibly sad. For some people life comes easy (Poppy) and for others (Scott) it's an impossible hardship. Scott just doesn't know how to make that connection that needs to be made and when he tries and fails you just feel your insides churn.
Jonathan - I forgot about all the stuff I put in that piece. Yeah, I did win something - for I think the third time in my whole life...
Sam was there with a group of people who were part of making Off the Map, including its director Campbell Scott, at a private dinner a friend of mine arranged at the now-defunct Taos Talking Picture Festival.
As for Marsan, I agree that his performance was searing, but I didn't feel sorry for him. He reminded me of Aaron Eckhart's friend in In the Company of Men. Everyone thinks Chad's the biggest jerk in the film, but it is Howard (Matt Malloy) who comes close to raping a deaf girl. Scott may have been in an emotional prison, but he was piss-poor at coping with it, turning to racism and assault when things didn't go his way.
Don't give too much away now. Pat hasn't seen it.
You're a tough cookie Marilyn. While I do not condone his ends I still feel sorry for people that indeed have no coping mechanisms. So it's a different kind of sympathy. I don't like who he is but I wish I could teach him how to deal with life for his own sake.
Jonathan, then that makes you Poppy. I also didn't like her intrusive way of trying to reach people who maybe couldn't or shouldn't be reached. I knew a man who entered therapy, but the trauma he was trying to face was so overwhelming, that his life was falling apart due to the probing. He decided to quit therapy until he felt better able and in a better position from a work/home standpoint to deal with it. It really makes me mad when people start sticking their hands in your head without your permission, and that was the major criticism I had of Poppy.
I don't mean I don't like your impulse to help - that's what I meant about being Poppy. She just took it too far, IMO.
I agree with Jonathan on Scott (Marsan), and I love the way Poppy responds to him. She's disgusted by his prejudice, but she doesn't dismiss him so easily.
Leigh and Marsan do a great job of making Scott a complex character. He has a good person inside there wanting to live. You can sense it.
With In The Company of Men, I just despised those two guys the whole way through. But that's points to Neil LaBute being a misanthropic scumbag. Leigh actually cares about human beings.
Re Happy-go-lucky: I went to see it with some friends, and our first comment is how much Scott reminded us of our respective driving school teachers: marsan really nails the character. And yes, it is aterrific performance, and he embodies the about-to-explode lifetaime of disappointments and frustration that you empathise with him. The effects of Poppy's ultra-optimistic outlook on life are devastating on him: he can deal with selfish, bad-mannered teens, but Poppy's sunny tolerance of events is too much for him to cope with.
The thing is, in spite of the, hum, rough tension, between them by the end of the film, Poppy still tries to understand and calm him, but, unlike the boy she helps at her school, one feels that poor Scott is to grown up to be reached succesfully.
The effects of Poppy's ultra-optimistic outlook on life are devastating on him: he can deal with selfish, bad-mannered teens, but Poppy's sunny tolerance of events is too much for him to cope with.
I really like that observation of Gloria's, and it takes me back to that image of Scott staring at Poppy's apartment. He's slightly attracted to her optimism, but he's so obscured by it. It's like his timidly approaching something he always thought was forbidden. He stares at her house in a kind of bemused amazement.
Marilyn, I can certainly see having the opinion that Poppy takes it too far. She came dangerously close to not being a real character for me because of that. I think Scott helped her become more of a real person in my eyes.
And In the Company of Men I wasn't too wild about. I found the characters pretty despicable and wasn't of the general consensus that the movie was as excellent as many thought so I agree with you, Fox, on that one.
And Gloria, I think it's true that Poppy thinks she can help anyone, which would be her major character flaw. With both Scott and the homeless man it's hopeless but I'm not sure Poppy understands that. I suppose it's possible to view the movie as an indictment of Poppy, given the inclusion of the homeless man scene. She doesn't help anything with him but doesn't get it fully and doesn't understand some people, just like Marilyn said, should be left alone.
By the way, I think I'm getting a better understanding of Poppy through this discussion. Marilyn has provided a counterpoint view with which to look at her that I hadn't given a lot of thought to yet.
I quite liked In the Company of Men because I think it encapsulated how our country embraced the winner vs. loser ethic. Chad's total scum, but he's a winner. He can do anything he likes because he's a winner and Christine is attracted to him because he's a winner - tall, handsome, Aryan.
Howard is a loser. He thinks he's competing successfully because Chad is his buddy. There are no friends in a winner vs. loser world; you're either on one side or the other, and there's no crossing over. He doesn't, however, realize this and thinks he has an equal shot at Christine. He becomes infuriated and tries to seize what, as a loser, does not belong to him.
This film isn't really about LaBute's misanthropy (though other films by him are). It's about gamesmanship taking the place of honest, human interaction.
Maybe the problem might be US theaters and audiences. I liked the Sony multiplex in Berlin where I saw Children of Men, and the Major Cineplex at Airport Plaza in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I saw several films. In Thailand, aside from the comfortable seats, great sound and big screens, I enjoyed the commercials with Tony Jaa for Mitsubishi trucks, Smooth-E Cream, and some Japanese soft drink.
The one "classic" movie theater in Denver that still shows movies, The Mayan, looks pretty, but has uncomfortable seating with little leg room.
Did you see this at the Majestic? It may be because of my generation, but I don't feel it's all that bad, especially compared to most multiplexes is the country. I haven't had too much experience with talking or cell-phone use, for example.
I think I've mentioned this in the comments before, but the best theater experiences I've had was actually in north Jersey, where there was a restored movie theater which was usually used as a Jehovah's Witness church, but they would show around 3 movies a month. I saw Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast there, and it was just incredible. Huge building with a huge screen, an opening organist, an appreciative crowd and popcorn for a dollar. It was great.
Marilyn, that's a good summation of the movie, I just didn't like it very much. I didn't think it was poorly made or anything, it just didn't appeal to me. I'll see it again eventually I'm sure (I saw it back when it was released) but it's not high on my list.
Peter - Well sure, I love Smooth-E Cream and Japanese soft drink commercials, who doesn't? Too bad the Mayan has uncomfortable seating. A fully renovated revival theatre can really pack 'em in.
KH, yes it was at the Majestic. I agree, as far as most multiplexes go it's not that bad. Still, I just don't like the atmosphere. Once in the theatre itself though it was fine. After all, there were only about 20 people in the whole damn place watching Happy Go Lucky while the other shit filled screens were packed. But I'm not bitter.
I haven't seen Happy Go Lucky. I have seen In the Company of Men, however, and many other Labute movies, and while I'd hardly call them all winners, I think calling Labute a "misanthropic scumbag" is pretty reductive. Fox!
Well, first of all, those photos of the old theaters made my day. Whenever I go to the AFI Silver and I'm confident something is playing in Theater 1, I always get there early just to sit in the room and look at it. Just awesome.
As for "Happy-Go-Lucky" ...
As at least Fox knows, I had serious Poppy issues.
I won't get into all of those here. But I wanted to expand on the Poppy and Scott relationship. As someone said, Scott doesn't have coping mechanisms. And that's sad. Meanwhile, Poppy is nothing but coping mechanisms. I don't think she actually copes, if you know what I mean.
That said, I have to disagree with Gloria. I think Poppy believes she's trying to understand and help Scott, but if she could take a not-so-subtle hint she'd have just shut the fuck up and taken his instrucion seriously.
While Scott's behavior is ridiculous (even early), Poppy's is disrespectful. And I don't think it's Poppy's sunny outlook that fascinates Scott. I think it's that she bothers to give him the time of day. I'd guess all his other students are intimidated, shut up and drive. She doesn't. And Scott confuses her persistence as some kind of acceptance.
Just my take.
I think calling Labute a "misanthropic scumbag" is pretty reductive. Fox!
Jonathan made me say it!
And I think anyone interested in Happy-Go-Lucky should check out Jason's take on it. I almost mentioned it here, but didn't want to misrepresent him. His view - while not totally in line with Marilyn's - offers another dissenting viewpoint.
I mean, I totally disagree with him... :) ... but disagreement makes for a better understanding of self.
By the way, I'm currently making a Neil LaBute documentary called Scumbag Millionaire to be released in 2010. It's gonna be Bill, Marilyn, and Jason's favorite film of the year.
p.s. Today is Jean-Luc Godard's birthday. He's 78. I love you, old man.
disagreement makes for a better understanding of self.
No it doesn't.
damn you Krauthammer!! You and Arbo should have a beer together.
I disagree, they shouldn't.
I disagree, they shouldn't.
Are you jealous, or just trying to understand yourself?
Jason, that's a good take on Poppy. A part of me did feel that she was being quite inconsiderate of Scott early on. And I'm always a little suspect of someone who's too happy all the time. What are they repressing? I kept expecting something to happen to force Poppy's real emotions to the surface but it never happened. Nevertheless, just because I didn't get what I expected doesn't make it a bad characterization. In fact, much of the movie surprised me. But I would have liked to have seen a little more growth as a character on Poppy's part. She's the same from beginning to end which I think is why I find Scott so much more interesting.
And Poppy's sister's husband. I thought he was hilarious for the brief time he was on the screen. Poor guy just wanted to play Sonic.
Are you jealous, or just trying to understand yourself?
Enraha, Fox. Enraha.
I think calling Labute a "misanthropic scumbag" is pretty reductive.
I'd say he's more of a douchebag. Seriously, has he done anything good? Everything of his I've seen to date has been bloated by academic self-importance and is laughably transparent in its desire to shock. Your Friends and Neighbors - shit. The Shape of Things - shit. The Wicker Man - shit. I haven't seen In the Company of Men, though and I loved the novel Possession too much to see any movie of it. Should I give Nurse Betty a try?
I think Nurse Betty is pretty interesting, but you probably shouldn't take my advice, as I liked two of the movies you referred to as "shit".
Oh, but if it helps, Labute didn't write Nurse Betty.
I liked two of the movies you referred to as "shit".
Hey, you're within your rights to like something that isn't any good... I like a lot of movies that are bad!
Hey, you're within your rights to like something that isn't any good
Oh, thank God.
You do know though if you're ever convicted of a felony you lose those rights, so be careful.
I never saw The Wicker Man remake. I felt it best to avoid it.
Enraha, Fox. Enraha.
HAHA!! Well played, Lapper!
The Arden is just beautiful. Very Art Deco.
"Step away from the bike."
Neil La Bute wrote that.
Hello,
A humble request...
Do you, by any chance, happen to know who Secret Dubai (the blogger: secretdubai.blogspot.com) is?
http://whoissecretdubai.blogspot.com/
Larry, I love that pic of the Arden. S. Charles Lee was quite the architect of theatres. It wasn't until I read up on him after posting that Grand Opening pic last week that I realized he became famous for his theatre designs, and deservedly so.
"Step away from the bike."
Neil La Bute wrote that.
That's poetry, man. Poetry.
Do you, by any chance, happen to know who Secret Dubai (the blogger: secretdubai.blogspot.com) is?
Oooh, oooh, I know this one! Wait, really, I know it. Hold on, let me think. Um...
It's Jimmy, right!
Neil LaBute lives not to far from me. Do you want me to go egg his house?
Seriously, he puts on plays here and stuff, but I never see them. After Your Friends and Neighbors (shit indeed), I had no use for him. In the Company of Men is his one-hit wonder for me.
Poppy didn't have much time to grow, did she. The whole movie takes place in the course of about 3 or 4 weeks, dunnit?
And I am writing a play - seriously. All of you will be featured in it in some way (but how I'm not telling). So just continue your perfectly acceptable worship of me, and you'll come out fine!
I liked Your Friends and Neighbors...I hope I can still be in your play.
Is Jimmy the Secret Dubai going to be in your play?
And in the play make sure I am the totally cool badass ringleader of the gang of bloggers from the wrong side of the tracks.
And make Fox the guy who rats us out to the cops.
And make Arbogast the shit kicking cop who's trying to hunt us down. I'm thinking something like Tom Sizemore in Natural Born Killers.
And Rick has to be the priest who keeps trying to get Bill and I to listen to our better angels and stop all the madness. Then Bill looks at him and says, "Back off Padre, this ain't your fight."
And Sheila is the big sister of Krauthammer, working two jobs to support her brothers and sisters and trying to keep Krauthammer out of the gang.
Naturally Larry is the newspaperman who's seen it all and knows it can only end in violence.
Oh, yeah, I want to be the straight-up lunatic best pal of Jonathan's. I'm his right-hand man, but I have a death wish, and I get him in deeper in the shit (possibly by killing Fox and/or Arbogast) than he ever meant to go.
Kimberly is Bill's former girl and doesn't want to betray the gang but Arbo's got the goods on her dad, Dennis, who's been clean for years.
Arbo: "It's your choice doll. Tell me when the gang's next big score is or Daddy gets framed with murder."
Kimberly: "Go to hell copper. I ain't givin' you nothin'!"
Arbo: "We'll just see about that won't we?"
Kimberly: "What are you gonna do?"
Arbo: "I heard a bookie got shot last night on the South side. Someone said a guy named Dennis was upset at him for cheating him on the numbers. I'm just saying."
Kimberly: [lunging at Arbo] "Why you son of a bitch!"
Bill's always flashing his gun and threatening the other bloggers.
Jonathan: "Easy Bill we gotta play it cool, the pigs are on our tail."
Bill: "Then the pigs can eat my lead. Right after I take care of a little business." [grabs gun and goes off to kill Fox]
Jonathan: "It ain't worth it Bill! I'm the leader of this gang and I say stop!"
Bill: "I ain't got no leader pal. Bill walks alone."
Sheila: Krauthammer, I saw you down at the docks with them two punks again.
Krauthammer: Aw, quit spyin' on me, Sis! You ain't the king of me!
Sheila: I'm trying to protect you! Don't you see that!? Them two guys ain't no good! No good at all! You'll end up gettin' yourself killed!
Krauthammer: Aw, blow it out yer ear! Ya sound like an old maid! Ol' Jonny and Bill are a couple'a good eggs. It's that slimy no good Arbogast who keeps smearin' 'em all over town.
Sheila: I don't like Arbogast any more than you do, but your sainted mother woulda had a thing or two to say about them two punks herself!
Krauthammer: Quit bringin' up Ma, why don'cha!?
(Krauthammer runs off stage, sobbing)
Fox: "Jonathan, Jon, Jonny!!! Ya gotta call off Bill! He thinks I ratted you guys out! That ain't true man. I... I... I wouldn't never do nuttin like dat, never!"
Jonathan: "Fox, I'd love to help but I can't control Bill once he gets an idea about something in his head."
Fox: "He'll listen to you Jonathan, ya just gotta tell him to back off. He'll listen!"
Jonathan: "Like that time I told him to take the fall for me and do three months in the hole so's uh... uh... who was it?"
Fox: "Piper, it was Piper. Bill took the fall for you so Piper could get the shipment you guys had to Mexico 'fore the Feds showed. If you'd gone down the deal woulda fallen through."
Jonathan: "That's funny. Outside of Piper, Bill and myself only one other person knows that story."
[Fox fidgets, starts to sweat nervously]
Jonathan: "Arbo. We gave him a cut of the deal so he'd take Bill instead of me. He always was a dirty cop."
Fox: "No, no Jonathan, you musta told me that story."
Jonathan: "I never said a word. I ain't no rat. Bill?"
Fox: "Jonathan, nnnoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!"
Rick: William, I haven't seen you in church lately.
Bill: Oh yeah? I musta been busy or somethin'.
Rick: Oh? Busy doing what? If you don't mind my asking.
Bill: I do mind, Padre. Why don't you worry about all them sheep you already got eatin' outta yer hand, and let me mind my own business?
Rick: I might, William, except that I care about you, as I care about my parishoners.
Bill: Huh? But I ain't one'a yer, whaddayacallem's...patricianers.
Rick: Parishoners. No, but I wish you would be. You fancy yourself a rebel, William, but Jesus was a rebel, too. I think if you just...
Bill: Aw, cram it, Padre! I heard all that tired old Jesus music in Sunday School when I was a kid! I didn't like the rhythm then, an' I don't like it now, see!?
Rick: I wonder if you actually listened...
Bill: ...Huh??
Rick: William...are...are you bleeding?
Bill: Huh? Wuh? Where??
Rick: On your hand.
Bill: Oh. No, Padre, don't worry. That ain't me.
Rick: ...Saint's preserve us.
Bill (coldly): I gotta go, Padre. I'd say see you in hell, but I guess you got a first-class ticket somewhere's else.
(Exeunt)
Rick would never say saints preserve us!
Did you guys hack into my computer? This is piracy!!!!
Rick would never say saints preserve us!
It's called artistic license. And Jonathan and I got into print before you, so we win!!
By the way, I'd like our play to be called Down These Lonely Streets.
I see a Pulitzer in me and Bill's future. We'll be like Moss Hart and George Kaufman. This is great. Marilyn, any other ideas Bill and I can steal?
I was planning to call mine The Best Play Ever Written. It's called marketing early and often. Your play, well, your women characters aren't very believable. That will probably work in your favor, though.
Regarding realism, Marilyn, I beg to differ. I think Jonathan and I have really captured the grit of the streets as experienced by men and women.
So we don't get to know anything about your play other than the title?
My play is a more intimate, character-driven study of a painfully shy civil servant who is in danger of losing his job because the H.R. department finds out that he's working under a pseudonym. He has coffee with his extremely intelligent friend "Sheila," because ever since he was a little boy, he's gotten his best advice from women. She asks if he posts semi-nude women in his workspace, a charge he denies, saying it is that bootlicking guy B(r)ill who just wants to appear to be one of the boys. He's really having a torrid affair with a "foxy" guy with a Spanish accent. The shy guy decides he might be able to hang onto his job by blackmailing B(r)ill. But then things go horribly wrong as a shark with a penchant for horror movies is transferred from Homeland Security, bringing his swinging assistant Kim with him.
I'm working Rick into a redemption scene, but I'm just not sure who to redeem yet.
Hey! I post pictures of semi-nude women from home, and I do it for you!!!
It's all dramatic license, dear Bill.
I'm not going to go see your play. I'm going to go see that new production of Down These Lonely Streets instead.
Hey! Painfully shy? I'm the life of the party! No, seriously, I'm the guy who works the crowd and gets people laughing, joking and having a good time. So you have to change that. And make sure the guy who plays me is Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. For realism's sake.
And don't get resentful when Down These Lonely Streets wins every possible dramatic award out there. Cause it will.
Man, I can practically taste that Drama Desk award.
I've already sold the film rights, boys. The title of the films will be The Greatest Movie Ever Written, of course.
My lawyer will be in touch with you about royalty negotiations.
Bill, you're my lawyer right?
I think so. What are "royalty negotiations"?
Also, I just sold the Burmese distribution rights for Down These Lonely Streets. Check and mate.
I've sold the Chinese rights. As Carl Sagan would say, "A BILLION people." Put that in your Burmese waterpipe and smoke it.
China may be more populous, but Burma is where shit happens these days, movie-wise. It's like Aspen.
PS - I think I would really enjoy writing Down These Lonely Streets to completion.
I have to admit, it's a great noirish title, even a little Algrenesque.
Go ahead and do it. But I get re-write approval.
I can't believe Fox missed this whole thing. Oh well, I'll take his royalties too.
I may have ripped off that title. Not consciously, but I can't believe Down These Lonely Streets hasn't been used before.
I once wrote scenes for a fake biopic about Raymond Carver (to be called, I believe, One Last Thing). It started to feel too much like a real biopic, so I stopped.
I can't believe Bill made me the snitch. Man, that guy sure holds grudges, don't he?
I'm also bummed b/c snitches don't generally get love scenes.... unless you mix in the motivating factor of me having an affair with Jonathan's wife (his movie/play wife, not the real one... no disrespect) as reason for him shooting me.
No, Fox, I shoot you. For being a snitch. And also because I'm crazy and uncontrollable and have a death wish.
He's really having a torrid affair with a "foxy" guy with a Spanish accent.
Remember how Marilyn said she found latin men sexy? I think she has a crush on me! HAHA... in your face Bill and Rick!!!
Fox - Remember, too, that I wondered if you were sexually "confused"? That kinda dampens my enthusiasm, though I'd still like to hear about Venezuela.
in your face Bill and Rick!!!
When did Rick get involved in this? Fox, don't make Bill kill you again.
Fox thinks Rick and are are Jules et Jim.
cuz Rick and Bill always fight over Marilyn. You should see it when she comments at Rick's place. He practically rolls the red carpet out for her!!!
Marilyn-
I think I'm still pretty confused. I was looking at seancody.com last night and then all of the sudden I was like "WHOA! What am I doing!!?!? I'm married!!! (and "married" = not gay, you know.)
Well, I'm convinced.
You should see it when she comments at Rick's place. He practically rolls the red carpet out for her!!!
That's because Rick's scared of her. Which I'm not, at all.
NO ONE EXCEPT MARILYN READ THIS NEXT PART OF THE COMMENT.
Marilyn, I was just joking. Please don't be mad at me. [trembling] P-p-please.
I stopped reading when you told me to, and I must say, Jonathan, I'm very impressed by your courage.
Yeah, I mean anytime we're hanging out at Coosa Creek Rick is arguing with me or Bill or whomever, and then Marilyn can come in and say "Conan The Destroyer is the best movie ever made." and Rick's all "Oh my god, Marilyn you are a genius!"
It's really awkward.
Thanks Bill.
NO ONE EXCEPT MARILYN READ THIS NEXT PART OF THE COMMENT.
Marilyn, I was just thanking him because it's considerate. Please don't be upset, I still know my place.
Marilyn, I was just thanking him because it's considerate. Please don't be upset, I still know my place.
Now we know where "Lapper" comes from.
Sorry... I read below the line!!!
Jonathan is the most charming lackey I've ever had. You all could take a lesson from his example. Remember, Fox, sniveling is very sexy.
Thank you Marilyn.
Damn you Fox for reading below the line! I'll get you for that!
As long as it's okay with Marilyn.
"Son of a bitch? ... Slimy no-good... Why don't people like me? [Bends to wipe brains off shoe with an old sock.]
Lapper: "Hey, isn't that one of Fox's tube socks?"
Arbogast: "Not anymore." [sucks teeth]
It's true, Fox's tube socks are memorable. The way he wears them up over his knees with the retro double red stripes around the top. I'm going to pick me up a pair in memory of him.
I met and fell in love with my husband in beautiful old movie palace - The Castro Theatre in San Francisco - so these gorgeous buildings hold a very special place in my heart.
You've inspired me to write-up my love connection at the Castro. I'm not sure that I'll have the nerve to share such a personal story on my blog, but Valentine's Day is coming up in a couple months and I may get over my hesitation by then.
On a side note, I managed to read almost all 100+ comments on your damn blog post and I don't know how you all find the time, but you crack me up!
For the record I actually liked The Company of Men because the characters were so damn nasty, but I have disliked everything else the director has done. I refused to see his Wicker Man remake, but I managed to catch his adaptation of Possession playing on TV and in all honesty, the film made me physically ill. A.S. Byatt is one of my favorite living writers and Neil LaBute butchered Possession. It wasn't his fault alone. Some fault has to go to Gwyneth Paltrow who I just find hard to watch in everything and anything.
p.s. If anyone ever wants to see a wonderful adaption of an A.S. Byatt novel, check out Philip Haas' beautiful 1995 film Angels and Insects. It's one of my favorite films from the '90s.
Kimberly, That sounds like a great story. I hope you will tell it, but if you don't, I certainly understand. It's not easy putting personal stuff like that out there. Nonetheless, perhaps we all have such stories to tell. I met my hubby online on a film discussion board, so film love translated into real love for us, too.
Kimberly, how wonderful to meet your husband at the movies, and how fitting. And the same goes for Marilyn meeting hers on a film discussion board. If you work up the nerve to write about it I'd love to read it.
Sharing a love for something makes a difference. My first wife had quite pedestrian tastes in film and music and I'd like to think that didn't matter but, sorry, it did. We also differed on religion, politics, and well, just about everything else. When you're young you think "opposites attract" is such a cool idea and then it quickly becomes a living hell. Anyway, I have of course remarried and am now happily with a classic film lover and artist. I swear, looking back, I don't even recognize who I was in my twenties and thirties anymore. He was some kind of a pod person unfamiliar to me.
And since you brought it up Kimberly, I've never much liked Gwyneth Paltrow myself.
Some fault has to go to Gwyneth Paltrow who I just find hard to watch in everything and anything.
If you hang in there for the end of Se7en, you might be pleased by one particular development.
I really liked Angels and Insects, too.
Jonathan & Marilyn - Thanks for the encouragement! Ever since I poured out my heart about my dad and our mutual love of horror movies I've been hesitant about getting too personal on my blog, but everyone likes a good romantic story. I suspect it may loose me a few male readers though.
Movies do bring people together! That's very cool that you met you own husband through your love of movies as well, Marilyn!
And Jonathan, I totally agree with you about the ridiculous myth that "opposites attract." Naturally my husband and I have some different interests and we enjoy spending time alone which is essential to our wellbeing, but we also have a hell of a lot in common. I've had countless male friends date & marry women who they have nothing in common with and all they do is moan and groan about their relationship when they're not being henpecked to death. My few female friends on the other hand all are in relationships with guys they share common ground with. I don't know what to make of that, except I have more male friends then female friends.
Since we're on the topic I can't resist mentioning that Angels and Insects happens to be a story about a man who marries a woman he has nothing in common with while forsaking the women who shares his love of insects. Thankfully he gets together with his one true love in the end after many trials and tribulations. The film has one of the best unsappy happy endings I've ever seen.
Arbo - I actually saw Se7en when it was released, but I always manage to forget that GP was in it. Obviously she didn't make much of an impression on me then. Now I just find her terribly annoying and overrated. My apologies to her many fans! She's a popular award winning actress so I'm sure I've gone and pissed someone off.
Jonathan's blog has become the "Go To" place when you want to bitch about something.
Thank you, I'm happy to host any bitch sessions anyone can come up with. In fact, maybe I'll change the tagline from "Silents to Sound" to "The Go-To Place for Bitching." I like it. I might just go with it.
And yes, Kimberly, I've met many a couple who have nothing in common and don't seem happy at all. I understand because I was in one of those relationships where my wife and I lived in entirely separate worlds. I convinced myself for a long time that's just what happens to couples once they're married but once I met the woman I'm married to now I realized I was drowning in self-rationalizing bullshit.
interesting post, interesting comments.
a few things:
bill r said... Oh, but if it helps, Labute didn't write Nurse Betty. he didn't write the initial script, he did re-write most of the dialogue.
and the bike line from wicker man? demanded by nic cage.
i don't think he's the god of gods in directing... i do believe in making sure i have my facts when i go after someone. i also think the man writes love stories... look at them, everything he does is about love, and how it's abused in some way. love stories leave someone behind broken and hurt... and he does that every time.
oh, and with possession?? the author chose labute to do the script and direct... and was pretty involved.
try reading/watching reasons to be pretty or in a dark dark house, both amazingly written pieces of work.
on a personal level, i miss the oriental theater in denver. it was the best, ever.
The Fox Theater in Bakersfield, CA is still up and running - beautifully renovated. They show independent movies and live shows. It's lovely landmark of our town with a lot of support.
http://www.foxtheateronline.com/
Thanks for the info Liz. The Fox is a beautiful theater.
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