- “Defending Your Life” (1991): Brooks plays a man who dies and arrives in the afterlife only to find that he must stand trial and justify his lifelong fears in order to advance to the next phase of existence; or be sent back to earth to do it again; co-starring Meryl Streep and Rip Torn.
- “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World” (2006): To improve its relations with Muslim countries, the U.S. government sends Brooks to South Asia to write a report on what makes followers of Islam laugh; co-starring Sheetal Sheth and John Carroll Lynch.
- “Lost in America” (1985): A 30-something married couple, played by Brooks and Julie Hagerty, are inspired by the film “Easy Rider” to quit their jobs, sell their home and travel across America in a Winnebago.
- “Modern Romance” (1981): Brooks plays a successful film editor with far too many issues affects the relationship between him and his remarkably patient girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold). Also stars Bruno Kirby and George Kennedy.
- “Mother” (1996): A neurotic, successful sci-fi writer who is finalizing his second divorce (Brooks), decides to initiate a project that will help him understand what went wrong in his relationships: He moves back in with his mother (Debbie Reynolds).
- “The Muse” (1999): A Hollywood screenwriter (Brooks) has hit an artistic slump, he turns to the services of a woman (Sharon Stone) touted as a veritable muse — but he soon gets more than he bargained for. Also starring Jeff Bridges and Andie MacDowell.
- “Real Life” (1979): Brooks, in a parody of 1973 reality TV program “An American Family,” portrays a documentary filmmaker who attempts to live with and film a dysfunctional family for one full year. Also starring Charles Grodin, Frances Lee McCain, J.A. Preston and Matthew Tobin.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Happy du Jour
Netflix is showing some serious Albert Brooks love starting tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Gabba Gabba Hey
Some great candid pics from Ramones manager Danny Fields: “The Ramones and some very happy fans, after their first appearance in San Francisco. The Ramones would not leave a gig until every person standing outside the dressing room got an autograph. They always knew how important their fans were, and they were very respectful.”
And yes that's the Danny from one of the greatest Ramones songs of all time, Danny Says.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Wtf du Jour
Interesting that the single greatest song ever made turned 50 last month without us knowing.
State du Moi
If these idiots who voted for Britain to leave the EU fuck up my BBC shows I'm gonna be pretty pissed.
Xmastime Memories!
"Hey, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way - buy a box of Thin Mints or I will maul you in your own home. Your choice." #grizzlygoddaughter
Brexit Thoughts, Since You Didn't Act
If with #brexit
England thinks they can compete with America on stupidity they are
fooling themselves; as stupid as Trump is we have Sarah Palin waiting in
the wings, ready to officially be unleashed at any moment. So Britains
please, a little respect.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Dem Sit-In
(Side note: John Lewis' Walking With the Wind is my favorite Civil Rights book not written by Taylor Branch.)
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Happy Birfday!
To Ray Davies who, besides being the only songwriter I'd put up against The Beatles, fucking OWNED England. Previous Xmastime:
I've long said that The Kinks are the most "English" band of all time (partly due to their being banned from touring in America during their peak), and here's an article to celebrate their hidden (?) masterpiece, The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society:
...Dave's brother Ray Davies, the band's principal songwriter and frontman, turned inward, seeking inspiration more than ever before from the people and places around him, and the not-so-distant British music hall past, delivering The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, a masterpiece that was completely out of step with Swinging London, while at the same time being utterly timeless...But in 1968, released the same day as the Beatles' self-titled White Album, Village Green disappeared without a trace..."It was obscure the week it came out," Dave Davies jokes of the album. "Something Else is probably my favorite Kinks album, but Village Green was just so good. We put those songs together in our front room, and we drew really heavily on our environment and our family, who had supported us, and I think that's why it has such a distinctive English flavor and why the songs are so intimate in a way. Ray has such a great way of drawing characters. The song 'Picture Book' is like sitting in the front room looking at old photographs with your mum."
Lovely Jubbly!
5 reasons Only Fools and Horses was the best sitcom ever.
3) CHARLES DICKENS.
It’s no secret that John Sullivan was a fan of the work of the great English writer; Charles Dickens, who’s work includes such notable masterpieces such as OLIVER TWIST and A CHRISTMAS CAROL both of which have never been out of print. Charles dickens also observed the complex English mannerisms of the public then portrayed elegantly through his creations.
John Sullivan proved to be a maestro of making his character believable to the viewer, no matter how ludicrous the situation they often found themselves in, this alarming level of talent is mirrored through the work of Dickens, an author that inspired John Sullivan to create the incredibly intangible comedy of OFAH.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Today du Jour
VERY pleased with my small talk efforts in my Uber today.
(5 minutes of silence)
Driver: (shattering 5 minutes of silence) Have a good weekend?
Me: I did. How about you?
Driver: It was good.
Me: (bravely deciding to push it) Well, it's over now.
Driver: Working for the next one!
Me: You got that right.
(Spent final 4 minutes of silence replaying the above in my head, finally patted self on the back for a job well done.)
New BBC Slice du Jour
Happy to announce that with Count Arthur Strong, Graham Linehan's winning touch (Father Ted, Black Books, The IT Crowd) strongly continues.
Memory Lane: 10 Years Ago Today On Xmastime
Since Xmastime has been around for a decade now, meaning I'm old, I'll be posting from time to time re: posts 10 Years Ago Today, since why the hell not.
I just missed this from June 15, 2006, but it's always been one of my favorites. Enjoy!
I just missed this from June 15, 2006, but it's always been one of my favorites. Enjoy!
My brother’s 4th birthday, I’m 2 ½ years old. This is the debut of one of my all-time moves: “Hey, look over there!” as my little mitts work their way to the big fat cake. Even at 4, my brother’s “smile” face is apparently the same as his “I’m gonna beat the fuck out of Xmastime” face. Interesting.
….as this little photo shoot has passed the 90-second mark I am now about to eat my plate. And I have no idea who the fuck these people are behind us, or how that little kid popped in since the first one was taken. Asshole.
This is where our gang would hang out, the stairs. We’d smoke Camels and make fun of Puerto Ricans passing by. Every once in a while I’d take my girl Marlo in the red jumper up to “the top of the stairs,” if you know what I mean. Then I’d come down and let the other fellas smell my arm. We were a tough gang. But then, you’d hafta be with those fucking outfits, even in 1974. Fore!
Here’s me on the kitchen counter. Apprently I’ve stumbled upon a jar that has a human brain in it. Nice. You people freakin out over something in this one? Maybe something in this photo that seems a bit familiar to you? Anything? …..you are correct, that is the very same jacket I wear to this day. Guess they made clothes tuffer in the 70s.
Ps – before you get too far into how cute I look in this one, you should know that inside the jacket is a Playboy my dad stole from Safeway and jammed in there. My first ever job: porn mule. Great.
Here’s my brother about to stab me in the chest because he hated how the breeze sailed through my golden, curly locks on a windy day. This was a game my mother would have us play, called “Go Stand in the Dirt Field in the Baking Heat with No Shoes on for 8 Hours Until Your Father and I Come Home from Work.” Ahhhhh….great times. Also, if you zoom in you can see my fly is open; must’ve been the early stages of me developing my “Elephant” skit (pull out pants pockets for the ears, let the mouse outta the house for the trunk, hilarity ensues.) I’m choking up!!!!
“Boy! Get that shirt off, this strange old man wants to take a picture with you boys!!! Smile!”
I have no idea who this person is. I hope it at least seemed normal at the time. Having a strange old man come over and be your kids’ “boyfriend”, I mean. Hmm.
“Alllllllright boys, party’s over….into the woods now. Camon, let’s go.”
Ah yes. Kindergarten!!!! Fresh-faced!! Whole world ahead of me!!!!
29 years later. Wow. Is this even human? Good lord. My belated apologies to Anna on the right for what Im sure was a less than spectacular lovemaking session that followed. Well, I'm assumed that's what we did afterwards. After being baked to a crisp in the broiling sun and pounding about 8 containers of Bud I'm usually "frisky." Ugh.
Finally!
After hearing about it for years, looks like the Ron Howard movie about The Beatles is actually happening! :)
From The Beatles' facebook page:
From The Beatles' facebook page:
Ron Howard’s authorized and highly anticipated documentary feature film about The Beatles’ phenomenal early career The Beatles: Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years is set for a global theatrical release date for September 16th.
The Beatles: Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years is based on the first part of The Beatles’ career (1962-1966) – the period in which they toured and captured the world’s acclaim.
The film will explore the band’s inner workings – how they made decisions, created their music and built their collective career together – all the while, exploring The Beatles’ extraordinary and unique musical gifts and their remarkable, complementary personalities.
It will focus on the time period from the early Beatles’ journey in the days of The Cavern Club in Liverpool to their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966.
Following an all-star world premiere in London on September 15th the film will be shown theatrically around the world and will stream exclusively in the US on Hulu.
VISIT THEBEATLESEIGHTDAYSAWEEK.COM TO WATCH THE TRAILER AND FIND OUT MORE.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Happy Father's Day!
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Blackadder 4evah
A few weeks back HERE I mentioned the brilliant final scene of the brilliant Blackadder; here's a clip showing how they took what was a disappointing final scene and turned it into the incredibly effective & poignant sendoff the show deserved.
Trump to the Rescue
In America.
Republicans sure don’t seem to mind taking real action when it comes
to something like tax cuts for the wealthy; I have yet to hear one of
them ask people for “thoughts and prayers that money stays in rich
people's bank accounts instead of going to the government.”
Thoughts. I Have Them.
10 years later, I think we can all agree that the Hold Steady were a bit maddeningly just okay.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Rats
If you've been looking for a sign that you should buy my juuuuuuuuuuuuust missed the NYT best-seller's list book, this is that
sign.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Weekend
"But Xmastime", you say in the voice of Craig “Ironhead” Heyward from those soap commercials (RIP), “didn't you LITERALLY write the book on being a Manny?"
Sigh. Yes, faithful reader
Pet Sounds is Fucking 50?!?!?
20 years ago The Beach Boys released the 30th anniversary box set of Pet Sounds, which I listened to maybe oh, 90,000 times. The biggest thrill was an entire disc of vocals-only tracks, which were stunning in not only the angelic voices they all brought to the tape, but reinforced what a genius Brian Wilson was when it came to arranging.
Today I see on Spotify there's now a 50th anniversary box set. I'm happy anytime there's a reason to celebrate one of the greatest albums of all time, but instead of the vocals-only treatment we get a bunch of concert recordings of the songs, which I'm sorry to say don't stack up anywhere near the studio vocals stuff.
Today I see on Spotify there's now a 50th anniversary box set. I'm happy anytime there's a reason to celebrate one of the greatest albums of all time, but instead of the vocals-only treatment we get a bunch of concert recordings of the songs, which I'm sorry to say don't stack up anywhere near the studio vocals stuff.
"What makes Pet Sounds that much more astonishing is that it is the work of one man, a half-deaf 23 year-old."Enjoy:
Wow.
Orlando, II
Yikes.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Questions. I Have Them.
Teaching Moments. I Have Them.
6 year-old: "Look - I can close my eyes & open this book up to the same page every time!! I'm amazing!!"
Me: "Yeah. It's a blank journal, professor."
Me: "Yeah. It's a blank journal, professor."
Well Done du Jour
This is somewhat impressive:
In case you hadn’t had enough Hamilton today, here’s a new video mixtape featuring Daveed Diggs, who is up for a Tony this weekend. The extraordinarily quick rapper joins his bandmate Rafael Casal and the musical theater workshop #Bars for a medley that remixes pop culture staples by rapping everything from Singin’ in the Rain to Good Will Hunting.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Thursday, June 09, 2016
Hilarity du Jour
Derek Jeter's been getting some shit (rightfully so) for an article he wrote praising Ali for paving the way to let athletes say whatever they think of feel, something at least one writer pointed out was not something Jeter ever did himself. Jeter famously never said anything even remotely interesting, all in the interests of keeping his privacy and image intact. Which is fine, but makes you scratch your head why he of all people would praise Ali in such a way.
I myself have mentioned that as much as we love Jeter (he is the Ruth/Dimaggio/Mantle of our Yankee fandom generation), he pretty much makes sure he's duller than dirt:
I myself have mentioned that as much as we love Jeter (he is the Ruth/Dimaggio/Mantle of our Yankee fandom generation), he pretty much makes sure he's duller than dirt:
I love Jeter. We all do. He's the Yankee of our lifetimes. But I have no desire to read about him. He is JFK to A-Rod's RFK: the more you read about Jeter the less interesting he is, while A-Rod has layer after layer of odd complexity that can be fascinating, whether you like him or not. If it weren't for Jeter acting like a sniveling sixth-grade girl because of a comment A-Rod made (and then apologized profusely for), there would truly be nothing interesting about Jeter as a guy.And today HERE AT THE DAILY NEWS, they transpose Ali and Jeter with each other's personalities. Example:
ALI (with Jeter personality):
ON FRAZIER TRILOGY: "You know when you're fighting Frazier, he's never going to quit. You have to stay ready and be at your best. I was lucky enough to win a couple."
JETER (with Ali personality):Fucking dynamite.
ON THE YANKEES DYNASTY: "We're kings who wear the rings. Four times in five years we won the crown, made the rest of them frown. We reached the top under Mr. Torre, but everyone knows I was the story.
British vs. American Sitcom Writers
I feel like writers of British sitcoms are more celebrated than American writers. Maybe it’s because American sitcoms have always been 22+ episodes a season, they’ve had to have teams of writers thrown at them. British sitcoms, with their 6-7 episode series (seasons, to you American rubes), must more easily lend themselves to having a single writer commanding the entire thing. Everybody in England knows who Richard Curtis is, they all know Graham Linehan, they know Gervais/Merchant. Above all may be John Sullivan, who of course created and wrote every episode of Only Fools and Horses, but about a dozen more sitcoms as well along the way. Does anybody really know who wrote Friends? Or Frasier? And does anybody care?
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Amadeus Endures
I've long loved the movie Amadeus, which I mentioned HERE along with, of course, back farts.
Today Slate commemorates the screenwriter' death by noting how wonderfully enduring the movie has now been for decades:
Today Slate commemorates the screenwriter' death by noting how wonderfully enduring the movie has now been for decades:
Amadeus’ multilayered truths—about rivalries, about genius and craft, about the devastating feeling that you are not worthy of receiving the inspiration your work requires—are the keys to its enduring place in our culture. In Shaffer’s portrait of Talent and Craft as a pair of equally compelling and detestable grotesques, the movie and play reflect back to us our own psyches as we struggle to create. We’ve all been Salieri, lusting to finally, just for one moment, have the grace to be Mozart.BONUS: the movie's connection to Only Fools and Horses! :)
Thoughts. I Have Them.
Why is the expression "burned alive"? Shouldn't it be "burned dead"? I mean, they don't spring to life after being burned, do they? Nobody's ever "shot alive", they're "shot dead."
Quite a life I'm putting together here, people.
Trump Thoughts, II
Trump Thoughts
Democrats vote the first-ever African-American into office. 8 years
later, Republicans openly support a racist. I'm trying to find a
Wings/Beatles joke in there, but am failing.
Monday, June 06, 2016
Marah Nic Cage!
While Tramp Art is yet another Marah documentary of which I have no idea will ever come out, I can honestly say I've known Dave for 15+ years and yet have never heard this story, one of him meeting the guy who (allegedly) wrote the story that became the great flick Leaving Las Vegas. Trippy.
Marah Spain!
I've known about this documentary for years and while it may never actually come out, I can honestly say it's never really occurred to me to want to go to Spain until seeing this. Via Serge:
Years ago, I quit the band. It wasn't easy, but I wanted to be a dad and I couldn't see how to get both right.
The dad thing was worth it. I have no regrets. But everything else went haywire. I gave up a huge part of my identity when I left Marah, when I walked away from my brother and the dream we had built from the ground up with every ounce of blood/guts/sweat we had in us. My life suffered. I see that now. I wasn't happy about anything except my kids. But kids can't replace every part of an artist's soul. Certain people, people like me, I don't know...we require more, I guess.
Evidently, I filled up the gaps with IPAs and carbs. Sadness and restlessness are strange things. They will eat you alive if you let them. And too often, we let them. We just do.
In the fall of 2011, I went back with my brother and Christine and Mark and Marty to Spain for a tour. It was a one-off thing, a bunch of dates that would reunite Dave and I for a short time only. The tour was fantastic and a shambles. We played epic shows. And we gave birth to wild drama.
I came home thinking that was it. I would never play rock/roll again.
But whatever.
Every time I start thinking one thing, I end up being blown in some other direction. So it goes.
We'll be back in Spain again this fall and I'm looking forward to that so much. I love that land; I love the people; I love the fact that I never dreamed I'd be going back there again to play music. But I am. And I'm a totally different man than I've ever been. We all are. As a band and as people, we've grown so much. But that shit never stops. So we've got a lot to prove.
Anyway. Here's an extended clip from a documentary that's been in production since that last tour ended almost five years ago. I really love this. It's a snapshot of a band in transit. The final film will be a thing of beauty if you're at all interested in Marah.
Or if you're simply interested in watching how much life can push you one way only to pull you back where you truly belong, no matter how hard you try to run.
Plus, divorce, baby. I'm about 60 pounds lighter now than I was when I was married. Not sure what that says. But it must say something, that's for damn sure.
Rock/Roll.
Trump Thoughts. I Have Them.
Trump's the personification of the old joke about getting out of jury
duty by declaring you're a racist; by showing himself to be a racist to
pretty much everybody, nobody therein can sue him. Not great!
Saturday, June 04, 2016
Billy & The Champ
This is pretty amazing. Not bad when you get a standing ovation from The Greatest.
Billy Crystal's Muhammad Ali tribute - 15 Rounds (1979) from Face Productions on Vimeo.
Billy Crystal's Muhammad Ali tribute - 15 Rounds (1979) from Face Productions on Vimeo.
State du Moi
Was just successfully pick-pocketed by a 6 year-old. In related news, I have just found the world's first useful 6 year-old.
Yesterday On the Train
Guy right behind me:
“HEY! HEY! HEY MY TRAIN GETS IN IN 30 MINUTES…I CANT HEAR YOU, 30 MINUTES! I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING, ILL BE THERE IN…I CAN’T HEAR YOU…HEY, YOU THERE? YOU THERE? YOU THERE? 30 MINUTES! I’LL SEE YOU IN 30 MINUTES!!!...OKAY I’LL TEXT YOU WHEN I GET THERE.”
And that’s how “why didn’t you just text him that instead of barking on the phone for 5 minutes?” became the last thought in my pretty little head before it fucking exploded.
“HEY! HEY! HEY MY TRAIN GETS IN IN 30 MINUTES…I CANT HEAR YOU, 30 MINUTES! I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING, ILL BE THERE IN…I CAN’T HEAR YOU…HEY, YOU THERE? YOU THERE? YOU THERE? 30 MINUTES! I’LL SEE YOU IN 30 MINUTES!!!...OKAY I’LL TEXT YOU WHEN I GET THERE.”
And that’s how “why didn’t you just text him that instead of barking on the phone for 5 minutes?” became the last thought in my pretty little head before it fucking exploded.
Questions. I Have Them.
Friday, June 03, 2016
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Bruce du Jour
While Born in the USA became famous (eventually) for how shitty veterans in America were treated, the album's outtake Shut Out the Light was the song that laid out how harrowing the aftermath war really is.
Thoughts. I Have Them (Again.)
Shouldn't NHL team websites use the .net suffix instead of the .com one?
Thoughts. I Have Them.
Anytime during a meeting that I get to ask "so, any other stupid fucking questions?" feels like a win.
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