....

1977.This came on Saturday at noon, cutting out ABC network's last Saturday morning line up which usually was the animated O.G. Readmore introducing some film. Most of it sucked but if it was animated I wanted to see it. Never got the chance because a bunch of wealthy Philly kids had to sing ol' standard favorites like Three Coins in the Fountain or Blue Velvet. Check out that little girl on the right with those ringlets. They must have spent hours on her hair.




still on in 1990, which was when I started to notice how long the show had been on the air.--->




photos: pioneers of broadcast/philadelphia

Yo, Invincible

Saw this last night with the gang for Gebhart's birthday. The evening started off with South Street Philly cheesestakes in Burbank--naturally. That place now feels like it's our gang hangout. Our turf! The hotrod drivers can have the Big Boy diners-the Toluca Lake and the cross-dressing one in Glendale

The movie was fun. What a trip back in time. 1970's Philly style. Early in the movie there were cops in uniform and I felt like I was seeing my dad on screen. [ he had a similiar one for the fire department].

Greg Kinnear as Vermeil was great. I wanted to see more scenes of him. He gives a very moving speech to his team just before a game, starting off with the line " Philadelphia fans have suffered.."
My God, I wanted to stand up and yell "Yes!The city has suffered for too long!"
I may have clapped , I don't remember. But I was clapping at every tackle like it was a real game.

....

well, I went to the SciFi.com site [thanks to Lori's post & link] and found this pic.

Oh my god. These things creep me out. What the hell are these? They'll give me nightmares.

[It's like a Sleestak mated with one of Santa's Toymaking Elves]




Anyway, while you're there, check out a funny cartoon by the creator of Hellboy. It's called The Amazing Screw On Head.The pilot is available on the SciFi site
Think of Wild Wild West meets The Tick. Very funny. Great voice cast. Paul Giamatti, David Hyde-Pierce [excellant villain]
& Molly Shannon.

link--
http://www.scifi.com/amazingscrewonhead/

....

This movie is definately one of the best films I've seen this year, certainly my favorite film now--will have to see how Snakes on a Plane holds up. While I loved Anchorman, I thought this was a tad better. Anchorman has moments where the comedy takes you out of the story--like the animation scene and the dialogue between the dog and bear [ even though that's a favorite scene of mine].

I think Adam Sandler and the rest of SNL alums should take notes on a Will Ferrell film. It's not about Will being the only funny star in the movie--everyone contributes and can also upstage the star. Gary Cole is terrific as Will's dad.Sacha Baron Cohen as the villian Jean Girard was also great. Little "Texas Ranger" was sooo funny. That kid was an amazing find. But John C. Reilly was my favorite--he just embraces white trash. It's not mean spirited, he's just lovable. I wish he could get an award for it. But I doubt the Academy would do it.

Plus I really enjoy comedy films where the script has hundreds of great lines that you just barely keep track of during the movie. I can't list them now, don't want to spoil them.


Forget it... I'll spoil one little bit. Don't read any further if don't want to know.
There's a scene in the movie where Ricky is saying prayer. It's in the trailer so I'm sure you've seen it . "Dear Little Baby Jesus..". Well that scene goes on for a bit in the movie. There's some arguments because Ricky Bobby likes his version of Jesus to be "Baby Jesus" and not the grown up Jesus.
That gag goes further at the end of the movie where we see the other takes during the credits, and John C. Reilly's character adds that he likes his version of Jesus to "change forms, like a shapeshifter. Like that show Manimal"
A "Manimal" reference in a movie gets a lot of points with me. Wanting Jesus to be Manimal--doubles it.

....

from the vault

Time to appreciate some films of the Silver Screen, because these films are worth seeing dammit. One of my favorite films is the 1934 film, The Thin Man starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.
William plays retired detective Nick Charles married to rich socialite Nora. They spend their days drinking and walking their dog Asta and that's about it.
Nick gets pulled into a case thanks to his wife who's just really bored and wants to do something fun. The plot is not really important , because it's all about Powell bumbling his way through a cast of crazy characters trying to solve the mystery while also keeping his nosy intoxicated wife out of harm's way. Powell and Loy are never over the top, not broad drunkards like Dudley Moore's Arthur.
Best scene: Tipsy Powell playing around with his Christmas present, a BB gun. Shooting with his feet, or shooting backwards using his wife's make up mirror for aim and just destroying the Christmas tree and everything else in the room. It's great because Powell knows the situation. He's a retired cop and this is the best retirement to have. Plenty of booze and money.



personal trivia: My parents' first dog was called Asta named after the Charles' pooch.
Asta had quite a role too in the movie. He is sent along with Powell's character when he has to do some risky detective snooping, and he's just as goofy as Powell.




photos: google images, william powell site