Marie Antoinette: The World's First "Celebutant"

'Marie Antoinette', the new Sofia Coppola film opens today and in my opinion, officially kicks off the Fall movie season. I mean, you wouldn't expect her to have a movie open in May, would you?

It seems the older (and wiser?) I get, the longer in the year I have to wait for movies that really appeal to me on more than a superficial level. Although there were a couple (like two) gems this year, '06 has more or less been a drag (on that note, there was a screening of 'Hedwig' at the ENZIAN this summer).

Now is this the result of the evolution of the filmmaking process? The one where tighter production schedules, monster marketing budgets, and focus groups have taken hold, pushing artistry and experimentation to the bottom of the list?

I have a theory that Kubrick didn't actually die because of natural causes, but that he just decided to stop breathing when he realized the days of forty takes and a two year edit session were a thing of the past.

Well, here's to what will hopefully be an award winning Fall movie season. Let's hear what you thought about 'Marie Antoinette' and maybe offer some insights into where movies are headed in the forseeable future.

The Departed - Scorsese's Return to the Street

(Consider this the first post of phase II of 'The Great Director Debate'.)

It's that time again. Marty has another offering for us on Friday, and to me, Christmas comes early this year. As he gets older, I appreciate even more the movies he creates and I wonder how many more he's got in him.

Let's take a survey on how many of you are looking forward to 'The Departed', and maybe voice your opinion on his work over the last 5-10 years.

What's the soundtrack going to be like? How many Stones songs will there be? Will there be V. O.? Freeze frames? Intense graphic violence? If you've already seen it, don't answer. This is strictly speculation. In a week or two, we'll come back and see if our predictions were on, or way off.

THE SUPER LATE DEBATE!!!

Holy crap, I guess my head WAS up someone's ass!

I completely got busy in doing other things and totally forgot about the debate.
What was I doing?

Oh, I don't know - being a father, watching movies, making music, hanging with Ray...oh...wait...that last one didn't happen...in fact...what DID happen there, Ray? You drag your ass all the way up to the Big Apple and now you're too good to hang with Pete and me in NYC?

Is it because I'm black? You rascist bastard!

Oh well...






Gore won the last one...no big surprise.
But due to the voting system here in the Director's Debate, George W Bush claimed himself the winner...

I'm thinking now is the time to spice things up.
Let's really get a debate going here.

I was gonna save this one for last...but you know what?
(I'm about to get all Tarantino on yer asses with not only a pop culture reference, but with a Tarantino pop culture reference)

I'm Travolta and this debate is Uma and I'm about to jab her in the heart with adrenaline!

Here we go folks...

Wes Anderson VS Paul Thomas Anderson

Argue to your heart's desire.

Go forth like the warrior Sean Connery...

THE ROUND TO DRIVE PETE MAD!!!

First off...

THE KING IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE NIGHT!

Peter Jackson is gone. He shuffles off to go live on those white shores that Gandalf talked about and that I'm too tired to access that geeky part of my brain to go into further detail about...blah blah blah...dirty hobbits...

Now...

We go with two people that I have heard Pete spend hours ripping to shreds. These were hours I was never going to get back.

Ever.

Goodbye hours…

So, for pay back, I present you with the following debate….


Robert Rodriguez VS Gore Verbinksi

Ah…I can hear Pete screaming from here…in fact...he just ran by my office, heading for the bathroom to try and escape this debate...

VOTE!!!!!

ROUND 3, DEBATE 2 - THE KING VS THE NIGHT!!!

First off...Sods took it!
He tooks it hard from Liman!
He tooks it likes he owns it!
And he is a bit cocky about it!

SO...while he's off shooting Ocean's Twenty-Three...

The New Debate!!!

Peter Jackson VS M. Night Shyamalan

Jackson directed the Lord Of The Rings movies...but he also directed King Kong.

Night directed Unbreakable...but he also directed Lady In The Water.

Now...are any of these 'bad' movies?

Not for me to say.

It's up to you!

SO DEBATE BEYOTCHES!!!

ROUND 3 BEGINS – ROUND 2 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

There are 9, count ‘em, 9 debates in this round.

It’s going to get harder and harder from here on out, kids!

Also, we’ll only be doing one match-up per round – 2 seems to be slowing us down and like Reeves and Bullock on a bus, I’m all about the speed!

First off, Round 2 updates that you’ve all sorta, kinda been waiting for.

• The Superman Returns Debate has done the exact same thing the movie has done box-office-wise – it’s stalled. Oh, well, so much for trying to start some conversation around here. You guys just want blood!
• Darabont kicked Mingellas’ ass. Hopefully we’ll get that Green Mile musical I dream of late at night.
• Cuaron is the conquering conquistador.
• Liman makes it out of the Thunderdome to be thrust back in and against a heavyweight!

Let Round 3 Begin!!!

We start off Round 3 with no remorse and soft punches!!! Steven Soderburgh VS Doug Liman

An no matter how brutal it gets around here...remember...we're all friends...

MOVIE QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Name a movie you loved upon first viewing, but doesn’t hold up for you now
2. Name a movie you disliked upon first viewing, but upon second viewing, is better than you thought
3. Name a movie you had high expectations for and were let down
4. Name a movie you had high expectations for and they were met (possibly exceeded)
5. Name a movie everyone else liked/loved and you hated
6. Name a movie you liked/loved everyone else hated

(copy and paste into the respond box and add your answers -- if you like)

NON-DIRECTOR RELATED DEBATE #1 'Superman Returns'

Discuss...

NEW DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!! finally...

It’s the BATTLE OF THE BOURNES!!!



No…not Bjorns...Bournes... directors…


Paul Greengrass VS Doug Liman


Next up is the BATTLE OF THE SPANIARDS!!!




Fernando Meirelles VS Alfonso Cuaron


Although I don’t really know who is Spanish and who is Mexican and who is Portuguese and who is from Bolivia…I’m kinda ignorant when it comes to things like that…

Have a great holiday everyone - enjoy Life Day with your family and loved ones!

IMPORTANT FOR NEWBIES!!!


Also, if you're a new member and you're NOT getting updates via email from me, please send me your address so I can get you on the list. Thanks!

theechomusic@yahoo.com

WINNERS OF THE LAST 37 WEEKS!!!

So let’s do a quick recap at who has won…

Peter Jackson VS Stephen Sommers.
Pete Jackson won.
Big surprise.

Big Pete.


Thinner Pete.



Big Pete vs Thinner Pete.
Hmmm…

Looks like Big Pete = Jolly Pete.
Don’t diet…it’s makes you a miserable fuckwad!

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Martin Riggs took it from Jimmy Mangold by one vote!


Riggs and Murtagh live to direct another day!

(by the way, I may be one of the only people you’ll meet that can actually do a Danny Glover from Lethal Weapon impression…you just have to really know the movie to get the impression…)


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PT Anderson kicked the shit out of Alexander Payne. I’m totally surprised by that. Off the last four debates, I thought this one would be more of a tie than any other.

(what the fuck is it with Director’s and their Boob Grabbing Hand Posture? – check out the old pics and you’ll see what I mean)

But PT walks off with it leaving staunch Payne supporters, Joe and Pete to form their own website http://www.houseofpayne.org/.

Good luck with that guys.

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Now…the debate that’s been pissing me off like a VD from an ex-girlfriend I just can’t seem to shake (not a true story, by the way)


Minghella VS Darabont


This bitch has been at a tie forever.

For!

Evah!


So it will lay there until one of our newer members (Lew or Tim or Tim K or…wait, are there actually two Tims on here?) unties it like a date’s dress on prom night…horrible analgy, I know, I know.


I don’t know if this is going to help sway your votes but here are the fates that await ‘ol Frankie and Minghey if they lose…


Darabont lives on at Eleanor Roosevelt High School teaching drama and interpretive dance 101 to those aspiring actors/actresses/dancers in Scornsville, Kansas. Dance on, Darabont…dance on…

Minghella goes on the road with his one man show ‘Sling Blade – After The Machete Falls’.

So that’s that. Think about the fate you want for these two, newbies! The choice is yours!

And choosing…is three quarters of the battle!

New debate to be up shortly!

NEW DEBATE MOVES AHEAD!!!

For the first time in the history of the Director’s Debate, we are stuck at a tie. I am waiting for a tie breaker to come through. So instead of sitting around with our collective thumbs up our collective asses while listening to Collective Soul…think about it, think about it…I’m going to move ahead with the new debate.

The tally’s for the last debate will be up by Monday…but until then…let’s move on…

Alrighty then…you complained, so I listened.

You requested, so I delivered.

This here debate is a little more interesting and little more “what the people want”

You gots one week to come to decision.

Mel Gibson VS James Mangold

Alexander Payne VS Paul Thomas Anderson

Gary and David say "This one's a good one!"

TWO FOR TUESDAY - WINNERS & NEW DEBATE!!!

This was supposed to be up Tuesday, but I had work stuff to do and we had to wait for the tie-breaker and for that, a big round of applause for The Dash! Glad to have you back, man. I missed you. I love you, man...I love you...YOU'RE MY BOY, DASH!!!!

So M. Night defeats the big nasty, stanky dragon thing...

And he's so happy in and understated way...

Gore is back for more!!! WOO HOO!!! (rhyme scheme provided by Shitty Rhymes Inc.)

And since he's out of the picture, I think now is a good time to drive Justin up the wall and see how many ways we can misspell David O. Russell's name.

O' Russell. O: Russell. O; Russell. O! Russell. Oh! Russell.
Oi Russell. Oy Vey Russell. O.R. McRussell. David O. Russellcrowe.

Ah...so many ways...

OK, these debates are taking longer than they normally should so I’m going to impose a new rule here.

One week per debate OR until we have enough votes to move on.

In the case of a tie, cell phone #’s for people who haven’t voted will be published for all to see and call…early in the morning…I’m talking REEALLLL early…

So here goes…the debate for the week...have fun chillens...

The B.H.O.C. (Big Hobbit On Campus) VS ....

Peter Jackson VS Stephen Sommers

(consider it another mercy round...or maybe not)

This next one is the BATTLE OF THE BEARDS!!!!

(which I jus trealized sounds like gay porn)

Shawshank VS The English Patient!
The Green Mile VS The Talented Mr. Ripley!
The Majestic VS Cold Mountain!

Frank Darabont VS Anthony Minghella


So let's start the debate!!!

ROUND 2, DEBATE 4

This is a debate that is two-fold.

It is one part serious debate.
It is one part mercy killing debate.

First, the mercy killing debate…

Based on the #of votes one director got last round, he is now going up against a two-headed beast so frightening, so terrifying, that the mere mention of this beast’s name inspires cold sweats and shivers around the world.

Behold…McBay!!!

The two headed monstrosity that continues to unleash it’s plague against the world! Behold it’s keen sense of kinetic editing, loud music, gratuitous butt shots! Behold it’s works of art forever immortalized in the Criterion Collection!

McBay! Who is brave enough to confront this unholiest of unholy demons?

Why it’s a little lad from Pennsylvania. A young lad who has removed the sword from the stone and is prepared to slay the beast.

A young lad we like to call M. Night.

M. Night Shyamalan VS Mc Bay











Next is an odd match up, but I’m going with my gut on this one.

I present to you the two directors who will do battle…and their doppelgangers…okay…not so much doppelgangers as it is that one of these guys looks like the slower (i.e. retarded) version of the other guy…you figure it out…

David O. Russell

and Opera Man

Gore Verbinski

and John Corbett














And so it begins…

Opera Man VS John Corbett





Have a great weekend!

(McBay image provided by Alt Industries)

WE GOT WINNERS!!!!

OK, here we go…

Wed Anderson wins again and by the bemused expression on his face…well…he’s bemused…what can you do about that? At least Wes has a song or two in his heart he wants to share with us all…

OK, that was a colossal waste of time…


Looking like the offspring of Dave Grohl and Matt LeBlanc, Richard Linklater takes the cake.

Meanwhile, Bryan Singer is said to be using pre-existing footage from previous Superman films for his movie...here we present an exclusive picture from Singer's upcoming 'Superman Returns'!

Damn...that looks good...................

And that’s that.

Next round will be up today.
It’s a Memorial Day Weekend Round.

Lots of fun to be had!!!

ROUND 2, DEBATE 3

(Crap! I just realized that the initials for last round were R2-D2…and I didn’t do anything with it…I am slacking in my sci-fi geek responsibilities)

This is a round I’m interested in seeing how it plays out. People are fanatical about these first two directors. They either love, love, love them…or think they’re OK.

Quentin Tarantino VS Wes Anderson

The second set of guys are each doing comedy movies in their own tone and fashion.

Farrelly Brothers VS Richard Linklater

Have fun with this one kiddies...and remember...