Revolutionary Road and Trailer madness November 12, 2008

No, I have not seen the movie, obviously. I watched the trailer a while ago set to the phenomenal song “Wild is the Wind” by Nina Simone. I think that song made that trailer, because no matter what you think, trailers do affect whether we see films or not.

I can’t even put a number on the times I have closed a trailer 10 seconds into it because of inane music, awkward nonsense, embarrassing Hollywood action hero close-ups (I’m talking to you Marky “Max Payne” Mark, and of course unintentional plot spoilers. They do the latter with romantic comedies all the time! For some reason they will show a series of “funny” introductions to both characters, show them bickering and crying and staring at each other longingly, and then during a terrible music montage, they show the characters making out against an elevator or something! What? Isn’t the point of a trailer to make us want to see the film to find out what happens? But hey with Hollywood these days, who doesn’t foresee the overpaid blank stars hooking up in a badly written romance? Yes I said blank, not minimalistic, blank. I’m sorry but there is a difference before Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Keanu Reeves. Moot point.

And back from my ramble, Revolutionary Road! Wow, I remember reading this book. I read it in conjuction with watching Into the Wild. Horrid combination. I came out feeling horribly depressed about the state of my life living in plastic white boxes, and watching poetry pass by as I read my calculus book. Lovely feeling. But listen, I loved reading Revolutionary Road and I loved Into the Wild (though in hindsight…Christopher McCandless could have been a tad bit practical).

Revolutionary Road was written by Richard Yates in 1961, where two vastly different generations were pit against each other in this world. You can practically understand where Yates is coming from, his general distaste (I’m assuming) for the suburbs popping up everywhere like a disease, and the loss of originality and passion in this trite era. And the final grudging acceptance of something that cannot be prevented. All this sounds like a pile of bullshit, but that’s because it’s coming from me. Go read that book. You’ll understand the distress he and his characters go through trying to live their live to the standards they had once set for themselves in such a suppressing environment. It’s depressing, and yet poetically written. I find that funny that a book about monotony can be so poetic. It’s a testament to Yate’s subtlety and genius.

And the trailer has put me into high hopes. Though I occasionally regret that we can’t have some new unknowns helm this film, I think the casting was well done. And from the 3 minutes that I have seen, Sam Mendes seems to have injected that melancholy into this film. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio will reunite and play the strained couple, Frank and April Wheeler. Kathy Bates is on for the ride as the superficial Helen Givings. I’m a bit skeptical about that, but what I am fascinated most by is Michael Shannon being cast as the crazy but brilliant John Givings. I hope he does that complex character justice, the film couldn’t possibly be complete without some good acting on Shannon’s part. They didn’t show his part, but I hope to see his character isn’t cut down too significantly in the film. Honestly, the trailer showing mainly DiCaprio and Winslet was probably a marketing move to get people excited. You know, the whole “Titanic Part 2, this time without Celine Dion” deal going on with them reuniting.

Anyways, I think I’ve dissected a simple trailer more than is necessary. I’m off, enjoy your day and take it for what it’s worth.

-me

Will Arnett and Andy Samberg news: I needed this October 17, 2008

Will and Amy with their Blades of Glory stunt doubles

I don’t care what you say, I love Will Arnett. Sure he typically plays the absurd asshole in most of his roles, but he plays it to perfection and for that I am forever a fan. Now, this guy has been around for awhile, generally being on shows that only last a season. He played the incomparable magician, Gob, on the lauded Arrested Development and starred in a lot of those movies with Will Ferrell and his Frat Pack. Additionally, he married the comic goddess known as Amy Poehler, and kicks your ass in general. Oh wait, sorry he kicks ass in general. That phrase is so confusing sometimes.

So today, I was browsing the internet and came across two articles. The first was on Perez Hilton where he outlandishly claimed that Marky Mark was a dangerous psycho and was going to rip the love of my life, Andy Samberg to pieces. Now, I watched the clip of Jimmy Kimmel talking to WAHHLLYY about Samberg’s genius imitation of Marky Mark talking it up with some animals. I thought it was hilarious, Marky mark was embarrassed and fake threatened my love, but other than that, there was nothing serious about it all. I love Perez Hilton at times, he says what I think at times, but that kid wants gossip whether its there or not. Sad. But here’s the funny clip. I’ve loved that crazy kid to pieces ever since Lonely Island. Maybe I’ll write about him later.

Mark Wahlberg talk to Animals

Well anyways, after I laughed at PH’s inability to spell(he’s worse than I am!) and congratulating myself that I could get through an article off the Wall Street Journal website, I happened across the most glorious article I have read in a while.

Fox inks pact with Will Arnett

Yes. Yes. Yes. And the man is getting money as if there wasn’t an economic crisis at all. A seven figure deal, and practically total control creatively! He can do anything he wants! How lovely is that? Damn, what I would give to be a tall, husky, slightly creepy but hilarious man. And to be married to a pregnant fabulous Amy Peohler? I bow to your feet. That’s a lot of money, but I bow to your feet. I think it’s a fabulous idea to give that sort of blood money (kind of) to a talented guy instead of those young hollywood jokes running around in diapers. I can’t wait to see what comes of this, I’m sure it will be no less than brilliant.