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Dig a Hole for Tom Snyder

July 31st, 2007 by Scott Marks

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Even in spite of a well publicized on-air meltdown with Howard Stern, I was a big Tom Snyder fan. His passing yesterday reminded me of two everlasting bits of gossip that I carry with me and impart whenever the occasion fits.

Appalachia pin up boy Ned Beatty was guesting and no nonsense Tom asked him to articulate his purported antisemitism. “I just don’t like those people,” Beatty admitted. It’s no wonder that we haven’t seen Mr. Beatty in any Hollywood productions in the past 20 years.

During his opening monologue the night after Orson Welles appeared on Tomorrow, Tom looked directly into the camera and uttered three unforgettable words: “Orson doesn’t flush.”

Thanks for all the great late nights, Tom!


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FREAKS / Tod Browning (1932)

July 31st, 2007 by Scott Marks

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Freaks (1932)

Directed by: Tod Browning

Written by: Clarence Aaron ‘Tod’ Robbins

Genres: Drama, Horror, Exploitation

Cast: Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams, Olga Baclanova, Roscoe Ates, Henry Victor, Harry Earles, Daisy Earles, Rose Dione, Daisy Hilton, Violet Hilton, Schlitze, Josephine Joseph, Johnny Eck, Frances O’Connor, Peter Robinson

Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1

Running Time: 64 min.

What begins as a sympathetic portrait of tragic sideshow performers winds up with the crazed little miscreants enacting a violent revenge against us “normal” folk. Undeniably made to capitalize on its cast’s deformities, there are still moments of genuine compassion sprinkled throughout. One of the oddest, most compelling films ever made. You won’t know whether to laugh, scream, cry, or cry from screaming with laughter, especially during those midget love scenes.

The DVD has three alternate endings and a documentary.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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NACHO LIBRE / Jared Hess (2006)

July 30th, 2007 by Scott Marks

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NACHO LIBRE

Directed by Jared Hess

Written by: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess and Mike White

Starring: Jack Black, Ana de la Reguera, Héctor Jiménez and Peter Stormare

Running Time: 100 min.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Whenever Groucho Marx was asked which of the thirteen Marx Bros. movies his favorite was, he always placed Leo McCarey’s Duck Soup at the top of the list. He was quick to point out that it was the only time in their career that the team was guided by a talented director. Contemporary comics need to listen to their elder’s advice.

After extensive research, I uncovered no relation between the Napoleon Dynamite director and Hitler’s deputy Rudolph Hess. It should have been apparent. Not only was Rudy a better dresser, no matter how warped it was, at least he possessed a vision. I’ve produced diarrhea with more consistency than Jared Hess’ “Nacho Libre.”

Jack Black (becoming more and more self-important with each passing film) plays Nacho, a man who grew from an abandoned orphan to staff cook in a Mexican monastery. In order to save the place from financial ruin, Nacho hatches a plan to make money as a Lucha Libre wrestler. How’s that for a high-concept screen story?

When not exposing his bare midriff, a prime source of the film’s feeble laugh-power, making funny faces and prancing around, Libre is forced to scavenge tasty nachos in order to top off the monasteries otherwise vile provisions. It is on one such hunt that Nacho encounters Esquelito (Héctor Jiménez), an emaciated beggar who functions best as a fraught attempt to come up with another merchandisable character like ND’s Pedro. I’m sure that the filmmakers took great delight in pairing fatty and skinny as tag team partners. No laurels for this barely hardy variation.

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PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE / Tim Burton (1985)

July 29th, 2007 by Scott Marks

Pee-Wee Herman

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Directed by: Tim Burton

Written by: Phil Hartman, Paul Reubens

Genres: Comedy, Family

Cast: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen, Irving Hellman, Monte Landis, Damon Martin, David Glasser, Gregory Brown, Mark Everett, Daryl Keith Roach, Bill Cable, Peter Looney, Starletta DuPois

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

Running Time: 90 min.

After numerous unpredictable appearances on the Letterman show earned him a cult reputation, this film introduced Pee-Wee Herman to mainstream America. The brilliance of Paul Reubens’ nine-year-old hyperthyroid case lay in his ability to wring boundless variations out of such a seemingly limited shtick. He was the closest his generation of comedians came to capturing the bendy playfulness of the classic cartoons that he frequently included in Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. He also shared their ability to unite parent and child in convulsive laughter. In addition to Pee, this also launched the directorial career of twenty-six-year-old budding animator Burton and his soon-to-be-superstar composer Danny Elfman. Sadly, Reuben’s subsequent acts of career hara-kiri may forever keep this from attaining the “family classic” status it deserves.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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MY BEST FRIEND / Patrice Leconte (2006)

July 28th, 2007 by Scott Marks

Dany Boon & Daniel Auetuil

MY BEST FRIEND

Directed by Patrice Leconte

Written by: Patrice Leconte & Jérôme Tonnerre from an idea by Olivier Dazat

Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Dany Boon, Julie Gayet & Julie Durand

Running Time: 90 min.

Aspect Ratio: cinemascope3.jpg

Rating: ★★★½☆

How many films can you think of that deal with friendship? It’s a Wonderful Life? Of Mice and Men? The Courtship of Eddie’s Father? In the Company of Men?

Comedy teams and/or buddy pictures don’t really count as they’re frequently more concerned with laughs or adventure rather than insights into camaraderie. Do you think if Curly had found someone better he’d still have palled around with Moe?

My Best Fried is about a man in search of one.

François Coste (Daniel Auteuil) is the type of guy who would attend the funeral of a man he hated just so he could ask the bereaving mother for an antique piece of her dead son’s furniture. The subject of funerals comes up over dinner with friends who assure François that no one would attend his.

It’s not that François is a monster. He’s successful, very charming, and quite dashing. Picture Tony Randall speaking perfect French. He also has a knack for keeping everyone at a polite, superficial distance.

His business partner Catherine (Julie Gayette) is so certain that François doesn’t so much as have one close acquaintance let alone a potential mourner, she gives him ten days to produce a best friend.

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HOT ROD / Akiva Schaffer (2007)

July 27th, 2007 by Scott Marks

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Hot rod to swill

HOT ROD

Directed by: Akiva Schaffer

Written by: Pam Brady

Starring: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Danny R. McBride, Isla Fischer & Sissy Spacek (?)

Running Time: 88 min.

Aspect Ratio:

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Childhood friends Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer are all terrifically funny. Just ask them

While in town for CominCon, San Diego’s yearly ode to childish awfulness, they stopped by a Mission Valley screening for a post show Q&A.

Having never seen their antics on SNL, I was assured by a fellow critic that these jokesters are sensational on NBC’s weekly skitfest. Sadly, none of the promised brilliance made it to the big screen.

A nerd fashions himself a stunt man and will go to any length to impress the girl he loves. One joke stretched out over 88 minutes.

Expect the anticipated: reels of childlike antics, flubbed stunts and, in the tradition of Adam Sandler, brutal hooliganism. Ian McShane picks up a check playing Rod Kimball’s (Samberg) stepdad, a brutish lout who loves mixing it up with the boy.

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