Bloody hell, it was easier when I didn't give a shit if what I wrote actually made sense to the spec-monkeys. This wee pitching project should be up tomorrow. Big props to Alex for actually having the patience to write a book on this stuff.
In the meantime, some notes:
-- Michael Showalter's The Baxter is a nice piece of work. Genuinely witty, constantly flirting with going over the top but somehow anchored by its sincerity ... parodying movies when necessary but then breaking into a real movie at the most unexpected of moments. Michelle Williams is carving a helluva a nice career out for herself, as is Elizabeth Banks. If you're overdosing on the CNN (you know who you are) it'll take the edge off.
-- I have no idea when the hell it''ll be on DVD, but I just watched Paul Gross act a smoking hole through the center of my TV screen in Slings and Arrows. It's too late to jump into the series now, unless Sundance runs a catch-up day, but damn. I may BitTorrent this, and you should toss it on the Tivo for when they rerun it.
-- to the nice folk who asked at the theater last night why I'm not blogging on Katrina: first, others are applying their expertise and research wizardry, and are doing a far better job than I believe I could in illuminating the situation. Second, whenever I start, I pretty quickly descend into a Conan-esque blind red rage, from which I emerge to find nothing typed but endless variations of "Michael Brown", "kleptocracy" and "bound in barbed wire and forced to kneel naked in the flood waters and eat the flesh of the dead", which proooobably isn't all that constructive. Serioulsy, I'm incoherent with anger and I try to keep my rants to at least some sort of structure. Just ... moving on. For now.
Back to work, see you tomorrow.
7 comments:
I'm also hooked on SLINGS & ARROWS. It's available on Sundance Channel's On Demand service, which is how I've been making my way through the series.
Is their On Demand just on cable systems or platform independent? Because really, this is just super.
As far as I know, their On Demand is only available through digital cable. The Sundance Channel website doesn't provide much help.
Really? I was kind of saddened at Gross' kind of bloated and hammy quality on the show. Until the last 5 mins of this week's show, where suddenly the charismatic and understated Paul Gross of Due South finally made an appearance. Still, as an expat Canuck in la la land, I'm addicted. A show about Stratford?? With Paul Gross, and Rachel McAdams, and Steven Ouimette and Don McKellar? Heavenly.
I was lucky enough to catch a sneak preview of The Baxter here in Seattle with Showalter in attendance. Being a big fan of The State, Stella (pre-Comedy Central, natch), and WHAS, I think this movie is everything those are not. Which is a great thing! Hearing Showalter speak about the tone of the movie, the style, the use of his friends and what he ultimately wanted - I think he succeeded and made a great little romantic comedy. It's not a brilliant piece of cinema, but it is a lot more enjoyable than 93% of what Hollywood generally classifies as Romantic Comedy.
I love Slings & Arrows. I caught the second season months ago on TMN On Demand and it just blew me away every week.
Until the last episode anyway, which I found disappointing.
Pretty effective data, thanks for the article.
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