Evil Lincoln Yep this sure isn't a case of "wow I could never have imagined that (celebrity X) would do something like this."

I read that in one afternoon and laughed so hard I almost threw up at the description of the french guy raging at Tom Jones.

I see the movie playing out as a sort of fable of the lower depths (sorry to sound like some asshole film professor, I'll show myself out soon) so I think while Rourke's performance isn't entirely realistic in some ways it works for the movie.  The real-life thirtysomething barflies I've known weren't nearly as…

Invasion by the poor guy who did Downfall (can't remember his name but do remember that I can't spell it) would NOT be a good choice, except as a case study of how a talented director can get hobbled by Hollywood.

Aguirre is my sixth-favorite film of all time.  It's going to be weird watching it again knowing Kinski raped his first daughter though.

No, I don't think he really started to fuck up his face until Wild Orchid which IIRC was about four years later.  And Rourke actually looks pretty good here compared to some thirtysomething barflies I've met.

I can - SHUTTER ISLAND.  "We ah dooly appointed federahl mahshalls"UPCHUCK - makes me sick to this day.  The movie itself mostly blew goats too, the "God loves violence" scene between Buffalo Bill and DiCaprio may be the nadir of Scorsese's career.

You make that period sound a lot better than it was.

I think you've got to be on your guard around any type of performer/artist/writer/musician etc.   I'm not sure I'd say actors are necessarily the worst as a group.

Thanks for the tip, I am definitely going to hunt it down.

I think de Sica started out as an actor too, IIRC.

Me too.  One of the unsung masterpieces of the 80s, although it goes a little off the rails in the final third.  It's really a crime that Balaban hasn't directed more movies.

It's a Depression-era period piece with no sympathetic parts for a bankable star, so it's not really too hard to see why it hasn't been remade lately.  My pipe dream is Terrence Malick doing his version of the book with Matthew McConnaughy as Powell.  When I look at stuff like FRAILTY, and this year's KILLER JOE, it…

A brief (and it wasn't brief enough, trust me) perusal of Mr. Martz's comments led me to the conclusion that he is the Brad Pitt character in BURN AFTER READING, minus the affable nature and the brains.

Hey, I was totes talking about the Stallone version, I think it's awesome!

It's not terrible, but it's far from must-see viewing.  You're much better off watching THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY or GET CARTER, or watching them again if you've seen them already.

MY FATHER THE HERO had its moments too.

MY FATHER THE HERO had its moments too.

I decided not to watch the Academy Awards that year, and in a moment of weakness I clicked on the channel, just in time to catch Jack Nicholson revealing the Best Picture winner - I came close to blowing my lunch (dinner, really) and shitting myself simultaneously.  

I decided not to watch the Academy Awards that year, and in a moment of weakness I clicked on the channel, just in time to catch Jack Nicholson revealing the Best Picture winner - I came close to blowing my lunch (dinner, really) and shitting myself simultaneously.