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Tuna
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"The Night and the Moment"
The Night and the Moment (1994) is a joint English/Italian/French film billed as an erotic costumer. It stars Lean Olin as a Marquise, and Willem Dafoe as a philandering writer of erotica whom she has invited to be one of her many house guests. Dafoe shows up in her bedroom that night, and, supposedly, the two try to seduce each other for the rest of the night in a cat and mouse game where she resists him, but makes him tell her stories of his exploits with other women who are also guests.
He does describe his trysts with Miranda Richardson and Carole Richert, but keeps returning to the story of his arrest for writing erotica, and the mysterious woman in the cell next to him. I will say that there are a very few plusses. Richert shows her breasts, and Richardson has a nip slip. The costumes and set design are very nice, and the cinematography does justice to them. So much for the good news. Olin and Dafoe use all of their talents delivering 90 minutes of the most boring, pretentious dialogue I have ever had to sit through. While they delivered the lines properly, they didn't, even for a moment, convince me that there was any chemistry between them. The climax was supposed to be a surprise revelation as to the identity of the mysterious woman in the adjoining cell, but it was telegraphed from nearly the start of the film, and I didn't really care anyway.
I always thought of Italy as being very strong musically, but it seems there is only one musician left in the entire country, Ennio Morricone, who did the score for this, and every recent Italian film I know of. The film had the resources of three important countries in cinema, and an outstanding cast, but managed to make sex and seduction a colossal bore. IMDB readers score this 4.1 of 10, but with only 51 votes. I don't expect the film to go higher as more people make the mistake of seeing it. It is technically competent, but an awful story in every way. D-
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Carole Richert
(1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7)
Miranda Richardson
(1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8)
"Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) is not my kind of film, and I had not seen it, but I will do nearly anything for a Fun House reader, and I received a request that said, essentially, women don't have to be nude to look sexy, and Linda Hamilton looked really sexy with some great pokies in the first part of the film. I have to admit that the extended version I watched entertained me. Giving Arnold some comedy really helped, as he is funny, even in straight action roles, and the story had enough pace to keep my interest. I was not as impressed with the special effects as most are, but I might be too familiar with what is possible in digital imaging.
Sure enough, the Hamilton pokies were there, and I enjoyed her performance, even though it was pretty much a one note character. Edward Furlong, as her son, did a very nice job for a child actor. It scores 8.0 at IMDB, placing it #123 in the top 250 list. It won four technical Oscars. It is a genre I should have hated, and I didn't, which is proof of serious cross-over appeal. B.
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Linda Hamilton
(1,
2,
3,
4,
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6,
7,
8,
9,
10)
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Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy)
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Movies:
Under Heavy Fire (2001), aka Going Back.
When model
Carré Otis made her
film debut in Wild Orchid in 1990, I was struck by the extremes she
brought to her role. On the one hand, she was one of the freshest
looking and most beautiful women I had ever seen. On the other hand,
she was what Comic Book Guy might call "worst.actress.ever"
The more things
change, the more they remain the same.
She lived about twenty hard
lifetimes during the 1990's. Heroin addiction, life with Hollywood bad
boy Mickey Rourke, tattoos, massive weight gain, bulemia, massive
weight loss. After all that, she has her looks back and is just as
beautiful as ever.
And her acting has
not improved one iota.
She met her match
in this cast. Think about it for a second. If you wanted to
match her with a perfect male counterpart, an exquisitely handsome man
with no acting ability, who would you choose? There may be several
good answers to that question, but I think her actual co-star, Casper
Van Dien, was as good a choice as any.
It's a war story
about a group of Vietnam vets who return after the war. Van Dien plays
an officer who is falsely accused of having caused many deaths in his
company by providing the flyboys with incorrect bombing co-ordinates.
Otis plays a reporter who is covering the team's return to their
former battlefield. The casting was
truly bizarre. In addition to the Otis/Van Dien debacle, the strangest
thing is that the Vietnam Vets all seem to be in their 20s and 30s. I
kept thinking that the film must have taken place in 1978 or
something, but when I looked it up I saw that the present day action
takes place in 2001, while the flashbacks occur in 1968. Van Dien was
supposed to be a captain in the war, so I suppose he would have been -
what? - 26? 28? 30?. That would make him between 59 and 63 in
2001, but he played the part with no aging make-up except grey hair
and a grey beard. He looked like a very handsome 30 year old man with
white hair, and some of his old company looked even younger. I
just didn't get it at all. It looked like my high school's production
of Oklahoma!, in which people of the older generation, like Aunt
Eller, were played by high school kids who made no attempt to look or
act older except for the official Lorne Greene Brand can of spray-on
grey hair.
Despite the casting
problems,
and although it went straight-to-vid in the USA on a bare bones DVD
with no widescreen version, this film is nowhere near as bad as you
would think. In fact, this might have been a decent little movie with
some better acting from actors the right age for the parts. I found some things
to like in this film.
- The musical
score consisted of the greatest hits of the Vietnam Era (Country
Joe, Buffalso Springfield). This isn't the first period film to use
that music, but it was used correctly nonetheless.
- There were some
very affecting interviews with the people of Vietnam.
- The story of
Echo company itself (Van Dien's unit) was fairly interesting.
- The production
values and location footage were amazingly good for a straight-to-vid.
I called it a C-, indicating it
is (barely) watchable if the subject interests you.
You know who
directed this? Sydney Furie. Sydney Friggin' Furie!!
I didn't even know
he was still alive.
Furie is no stranger to
Vietnam War films, having directed The Boys in Company C, but his best
films were made between 1965-1978. That was a long time ago. Based on the IMDb scores, his top
film is The Ipcress File, which was made 36 years before Under Heavy
Fire. I am now an old man, and I was a high school junior
when that film came out! Furie made his first film when I was nine
years old. He isn't slowing down a bit. IMDb says he made two films in
2002, and is making two more in 2003, both starring Dolph Lundgren.
OK, OK, they're not monster summer blockbusters or artistic triumphs,
but the guy is still at it, and he got Carre Otis to take off her
shirt. God bless the old geezer.
Oscar crap
If you really think you
know who is going to win, there are plenty of offshore betting sites
that will allow you to put your money where your mouth is. These are
not those wusses who list odds "for entertainment only", but real gambling sites. These
are the opening odds from intertops.com. (Oscar betting is listed in
the sportsbook under entertainment)
Best Picture
Chicago |
1.4 |
Hours |
3.5 |
Gangs of New York |
5.5 |
Two Towers |
9.0 |
Pianist |
15.0 |
Best Director
Martin Scorsese |
1.7 |
Rob Marshall |
3.0 |
Stephen Daldry |
4.5 |
Roman Polanski |
7.0 |
Pedro Almodóvar |
11.0 |
Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis |
1.7 |
Jack Nicholson |
2.1 |
Adrien Brody |
6.0 |
Nicolas Cage |
11.0 |
Michael Caine |
15.0 |
Best Actress
Nicole Kidman |
2.0 |
Julianne Moore |
2.3 |
Renée Zellweger |
5.0 |
Diane Lane |
6.5 |
Salma Hayek |
14.0 |
Biggest surprise: industry insiders have been talking
as if Nicole Kidman were a shoo-in for best actress. Intertops is
actually offering 2-1 odds on her, and makes her about even with
Julianne Moore. If you believe the industry people, a bet on Kidman is a
solid opportunity.
By the way: Chris Cooper is considered almost
a lock for best supporting actor. He's at 3-2, and the second best
is 9-2.
Shock: it's frightening to think that so many people
who are in the industry, and are supposed to know shit from shinola,
actually think Steven Daldry deserved a best director nomination
over Spielberg and Peter Jackson. If you believe in conspiracies,
however, those omissions just about assured Scorsese's first
Oscar. Marshall did a great job, but are you going to turn down
Scorcese for a freakin' musical? Daldry is no factor, and the other
two, although deserved, are largely honorary nominations with no
realistic chance to win. Which ones were
really the best movies of 2002? Here's how IMDB
voters see the
Top 10
Y Tu Mama Tambien also scores 8.0, but is listed as a
2001 film. Here's how
critics see the top 10 (Rotten Tomatoes)
The preceding two lists exclude documentaries and
animated films. Spirited Away and Bowling for Columbine did well on
both. Combining both lists, there
would be six Oscar nominees (Minority Report and Far From Heaven are
exactly tied on both scales!)
-
Lord of the Rings (1,1)
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Minority Report (5,6)
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Talk to Her (3,6)
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Far From Heaven (5,6)
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Y tu Mama Tambien (5,4)
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The Pianist (2,3)
Note that the Oscars did manage to get the top two
films nominated, but the Top Six in yellow does not include Chicago, The Hours,
or Gangs of New York, all nominated for Oscars. (Although maybe it
should include Chicago) I guess you've probably noticed the following.
(1) neither critics nor the public rate Gangs of New York or The
Hours in the Top 10. The industry is poised to give Scorsese an
Oscar for a mediocre movie. (2) both critics and the public placed
Minority Report in the Top 6, and critics also placed Catch Me If
You Can in the Top 5, but no nomination at all for Spielberg (3) Y Tu Mama Tambien placed in the Top 5 on
both lists (4) Talk to Her, Adaptation, and Far From Heaven placed
in the Top 10 on both lists (4) if Lord of the Rings was the
best movie of the year by every single measurement, why not give it the goddamned Oscar, for
heaven's sake? According to Metacritic, the
best-reviewed film of the year was not LOTR, but Far From Heaven, which isn't
even nominated for Best Picture. Metacritic's conclusion was based on
a summary of critics' year-end Top 10 lists. Far From Heaven made the most Top 10
lists and was also Number One on the most lists, so maybe the wrong
Julianne Moore movie was nominated as Best Picture. The Hours was
not picked as the Number One film by anyone, and did not make that
many Top 10 lists.
As for the guy we cite most often, here is James
Berardinelli's final Top 10. If you look at his Top 5, they coincide
quite well with the choices shown above in yellow. (Regarding the
other two: he did not like
Y Tu Mama Tambien. He liked Far From Heaven very much, but it just
missed his Top 10.) He liked Secretary and Kissing Jessica Stein
more than most critics, but those were pretty damned good movies, if
a bit off the beaten path for the Academy to consider. Links lead to
Metacritic's summary 1.
Minority Report
2. The
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
3. The
Pianist
4.
Secretary
5. Talk To
Her
6. Eight
Women
7.
Kissing Jessica Stein
8.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
9. Read
My Lips
10.
Spirited Away
Other crap
Here
are the latest movie reviews available at scoopy.com.
- The yellow asterisks indicate that I wrote the
review, and am deluded into thinking it includes humor.
- If there is a white asterisk, it means that
there isn't any significant humor, but I inexplicably determined
there might be something else of interest.
- A blue asterisk indicates the review is written
by Tuna (or Lawdog or Junior or C2000 or Realist or ICMS or Mick
Locke, or somebody else besides me)
- If there is no asterisk, I wrote it, but am too
ashamed to admit it.
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Variety
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Monica Bellucci
(1,
2,
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4,
5,
6,
7,
8)
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Very cool, artistic non-nude scans by HBS of the Italian mega-babe and star of the upcoming "Matrix" sequels.
The breakdown:
Links 2,3,5 and 6 are close up head shots, the first 3 with some kind of food covering her face including cooking oil, a sardine and honey.
Link #4...my favorite of the batch.
Links 1 and 7, cleavage
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Rebecca-Romijn-Stamos |
The gorgeous actress/model posing in black lingerie. Very nice side bum view and some partial breast exposure. Thanks to AD.
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Kim Cattrall |
The "Sex and the City" star let's a nipple get away while she's out on the town.
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Carla Collado
Estafania Luyk
Laura Sanchez
Martina Klein
Vanessa Asbert
Vanessa Lorenzo
Veronica Blume
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Gorgeous models posing nude for a Greenpeace calendar. Scans by Nero.
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Désirée Nick
(1,
2,
3)
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Topless images by DeVo of the German actress and comedian.
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Anne Nahabedian
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2,
3,
4)
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The Canadian actress shows off her breasts while gettin' it on in scenes from the straight-to-video movie "Stiletto Dance". 'Caps by Señor Skin.
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Carey Lowell |
Since I'm a huge "Law and Order" fan, and it's on at least 2-3 hours a day on TNT...here's a great collage by Hugo of the former L and O co-star topless in a love scene from "The Guardian" (1990).
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Sherilyn Fenn
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2,
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Excellent B&W scans of the actress posing nude. Great breast exposure in all 3.
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Caprice Bourret
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2,
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7)
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Web babe, Wonderbra model, former Miss Teen California, and UK actress barely dressed in these scans by f2k from the June '02 issue of FHM. Plenty of partial breast and bum views.
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Liberty Ross |
From Blackshine, the master of fashion scans...here is supermodel Liberty Ross posing topless.
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The Funnies by Number 6
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MEN'S VALENTINE'S DAY
Every 14th of February you get the chance to display your fondness for your wife or girlfriend by showering her with gifts, flowers, dinner, shows and any other baubles that women find romantic.
Every Valentines Day you rack your brains for that one special, unique gift that will show your wife or girlfriend that you really love them more than anything. Now ladies, I'll let you in on a little secret. Guys really don't enjoy this that much. Sure, seeing that smile on your face when we get it right is priceless, but that smile is the result of weeks of blood, sweat and consideration.
Another secret--guys feel left out. That's right, left out. There's no special holiday for the ladies to show their appreciation for the men in their life. Men as a whole are either too proud or just too embarrassed to admit it. Which is why a new holiday has been created.
March 20th is now officially "Steak and Blow Job Day". Simple, effective and self-explanatory. This holiday has been created so you ladies finally have a day to show your man just how much you love him. No cards, no flowers, no special nights on the town. The name of the holiday explains it all. Just a steak and a blow job. That's it.
Finally, this twin pair of Valentines Day and Steak and Blow Job Day will usher in a new age of love as men everywhere will try THAT much harder in February to ensure a more memorable March! It's like a perpetual love machine. The word is already beginning to spread, but as with any new idea, it needs a little push to start the ball rolling. So spread the word and help bring love and peace to this crazy world.
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Pat Reeder www.comedy-wire.com
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Pat's comments in yellow...
MICHAEL JACKSON REVISIONISM ROUNDUP
Tatum Didn't Date 'Im - Chalk up another lie for Michael Jackson: Tatum
O'Neal told "Access Hollywood" that his story about her being his first
girlfriend and trying to seduce him was "inaccurate." He claimed she tried
to undress him and talked explicitly about sex, but he was so shy, he
flipped out and rejected her. Tatum said she was not that sexually mature
at age 12, that she only remembers Michael coming over when her dad was
home, and that Michael "has a very vivid imagination."
But not enough to imagine actually HAVING sex with a girl.
He must have that time confused with his honeymoon.
He probably flipped out because he suddenly realized she wasn't a
12-year-old boy.
From BAD To Worse - The Fox Network agreed to pay Michael Jackson $2.5
million for a 30-minute rebuttal to last week's documentary, which he says
will show outtakes in which interviewer Martin Bashir compliments him on
his parenting. The show will be called "Take 2: The Interview They
Wouldn't Show You."
Rejected title: "Pedophilia: It's Okay!"
More like "The Interview He SHOULDN'T Show You."
Dear Lord! - Tuesday, 200 kids aged 12 to 16 from an L.A. youth group who
believe in Michael Jackson's innocence gathered at his star on Hollywood
Boulevard to pray for him. They're afraid he's so upset by last week's
documentary that he might kill himself.
He might throw himself off a balcony!
No, he can't die until he gets his face just right.
He's upset, but knowing there are 200 young boys hanging out on
Hollywood Boulevard gives him a reason to live.
Bite His Head Off! - Ozzy Osbourne said he wasn't surprised by Michael's
claims that his dad beat him. Ozzy said if Michael "had been my kid, I
would've whacked him, too, because he's nuts."
So it's sort of a chicken-and-the-egg thing.
He LOOKS more like Ozzy's kid.
That's right: Michael is so screwed up, Ozzy Osbourne wouldn't even let
him into his family!
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