Hot Tub Time Machine!

dir. Steve Pink
wri. Josh Heald, Steve Anders & John Morris

starring: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke

Well, what would you want from a movie called Hot Tub Time Machine? 

10 things you'll get if you see the new Cusack production are:


1. Another awkward set-up where funny guys from different sides of the Hollywood scene have to act like they're old buddies in the cinematic equivalent of a transporter accident. When we first see Cusack and Robinson, they/re high school buddies that haven't been in touch for a while and the awkwardness works, but when they fondly reminisce about the "old days" it feels like Day 1 at acting school. I hate these awkward scenes but understand that they're necessary to facilitate what can end up being inspired casting for comedies (that aren't produced by Apatow & Co).


2. Chevy Chase uses his crazy grandpa persona of late to remake Don Knotts' role from Pleasantville. 

3. Cusack slipping into his morose romantic shoes again. One of the many 1980s shout-outs includes getting him decked out in a Lloyd Dobler trenchcoat and prattling on with psuedo-poetic doomsday break-up rhymes.

4. Rob Corddry swinging for the fences in one of the most high-energy performances I've seen in a while. I'll admit, I'm not a Daily Show watcher and have only had minor knowledge of his work before HTTM, but it's his movie - and Cusack's glum characters always work better with a manic counterpark (Jack Black in High Fidelity, Jeremy Piven in GPB)

5. More Craig Robinson than ever! I always want more from the guy with one of the best delivery styles in the business, and he provides in this movie, especially in a late-movie roof-raiser that makes me happy.

6. Crispin Glover creeping you the fuck out by playing a nice guy.

7. A politically incorrect embracing of drugs, alcohol, sex & Poison.

8. Five-ten minutes of the awesome Lizzy Caplan.

9. One of the villains is named Blaine. Another is played by a cameo-ing classic 80s villain who I won't name here.

10. Totally Awesome references to Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Karate Kid, Back to the Future, and many more 80s trends, styles & songs. 



This is a fun movie that won't win any awards. It's a good time, probably for one time. Worth seeing with friends for the big laughs, raunchy gags and general pot-head writing on a napkin ridiculousness. 


Line of the movie might be from Crispin Glover's accidentally knocked down bellhop: "Are you raping?!" 


FOPAS.

Kramerica Follow-Up

I've run into him again. Next day. Same spot. Yes, Boba Fett was there too. 

It was surreal. Mr. Richards was staring at a real-estate poster and I commented on how there were some really nice apartments around there that we'd shot in. I mentioned the penthouse we recently shot in - with the all-white everything and the windows. He replied with something like "Of course the penthouses are nice." I wanted to fire back something about how he could afford it because he's probably crazy rich, but then I froze, because I was being presumptuous (Madoff?) and I didn't want to hurt his feelings (because the next time we meet would be the third date - and, well, I want it to go well).

He said he liked my Superman T-shirt, and I said I liked dressing for the job I want (super-hero). We chatted about looking the part is important and how people call him "sir" when he's in a suit. We went our separate ways...he disappeared fast.

I'm still not sure I'm not the secret guest of a new hidden camera show: "So You Think You're Not Dreaming".

Yesterday we were in Far Rockaway and he wasn't there. I hope I see him one more time...I think he's the kinda guy you bring home to the folks, you know?

Me & Mike

On my walk into the office, who should I run into completely out of the blue? Michael Richards, in black, with Fedora and tripod-ed Nikon D-SLR, standing, STARING at a street performer dressed as Boba Fett, playing the accordion. True story.

We chatted for five minutes. About my job (and how he thinks its cool), about his job (not working on anything - "they're scared of me...they're scared of their own shadow!"). We also discussed living in NY (too expensive) and if he goes to comedy clubs anymore. He was cool, totally engaged and interested in Locations work (not in working in it, but in the way it works).

My favorite part was when I asked if he'd work on old buddy Jerry Seinfeld's new show "The Marriage Ref" and the generally aloof and spacey Mr. Richards snapped into complete lucidity, scoffed and said "I'd never do that." 

It took me a minute to realize I wasn't being punk'd or something (because he wasn't moving, he was just chilling, totally immersed in the Bounty Hunter's act) - when I did come to my senses, I suggested a photo and was overwhelmed by the amount of technology I had on me and took an awkward MySpace-style jam with the DSLR (first draft came out chinny and he judged me). I should have used Flip, but I didn't think of it in time. 

Yes, I gave him my info and invited him to a show. He'll be sitting with Robert Smigel in the "Hell's Frozen Over" Section, with all celebs I've invited.

Rich Arnold, Movie Star

This is my friend, Rich:

He is a secret movie star.

The Best Photo I've Ever Taken?

From a recent event that I helped shoot, an awards dinner celebration:

This is without any digital embellishment.

Poetry

Among the many things I've abandoned since entering the work force (drowning) is writing poetry. A little positive reinforcement went a long way when Mrs. Caponegro raved over a poem of mine about a snowflake (ecstatic crystal) in middle school. I always fancied myself a poet and even was pretty prolific for a few years, when my ego was inflated enough to even submit some of that bloated sing-song to be read & published. Ah, Academia - so accepting. Now, I feel like that was another life, when I was more creative and had the energy to look back at passages like this one and mow trite phraseology out of them with extreme prejudice. I'd like to be that hungry again - that focused. But alas, only time will tell.

Shutter Island Review (SPOILERS)

Early release for good behavior recently, so I caught Scorsese's Shutter Island with my sister (her second time seeing it in four days).

Mr. Scorsese, (I hesitate to call him 'Marty', even in the comforts of my own site), is obviously a student of cinema, as well as one of the staunchest promoters for archiving and preserving classic films. With Shutter Island,  and to a certain extent the pulpy B-movie that was The Departed, the maestro has taken to immersing himself in bygone genres and bringing them back into the public consciousness by executing them according to code, with a tailored amount of personal flourish.