Random Thoughts

"You know, '80s movies could go one of four ways: enjoyably bad at the time, wildly entertaining now; enjoyable at the time, enjoyably bad now; bad at the time, worse now; fantastic at the time, just as good now. And here's my point: I think 'Weird Science' is in the last category. In fact, I'm almost positive." - ESPN.com's Bill Simmons

(In my best drunk Anthony Michael Hall voice) That's the truth, baby ... that's the clean truth.

* Cross "Sunset Boulevard" off the list of movies I'm embarrassed to admit I've never seen. Watched it last night. It's basically "Double Indemnity" but centered around Hollywood instead of insurance fraud. Who wouldn't love that? Best dialogue:

Norma: Salome - what a woman! What a part! The princess in love with a Holy Man. She dances the Dance of the Seven Veils. He rejects her, so she demands his head on a golden tray, kissing his cold, dead lips.
Joe: They'll love it in Pomona.

Update from Sam: Managed to knock 1.5 movies off my own "embarrassed" list. "Bonnie & Clyde" and John Cassavetes' "Faces." The Cassavetes wasn't on my official list, but the fact that I hadn't seen any of his films was really bothering me. I liked "Bonnie & Clyde" a lot, but it occasionally felt as if it were trying to figure itself out ... and I'm not even going to get into how I think Faye Dunaway is one of the most overrated actresses in film history. Adam and I are going to fight about that later.

But "Faces" -- Cassavetes' 1968 film about a middle-aged couple whose marriage is experiencing a rapid meltdown -- was incredible. I felt like I was watching an Actor's Studio master class with the greatest unknown actors of the 20th century. Not that Seymour Cassel and Gena Rowlands are unknown, exactly, but ... you get my point. If you love great acting, check it out.