Friday

Tuna
"Love 101"

Love 101 (2000) is a college based romantic comedy with an attempt at examining relationships seriously as well. Michael Muhney is a stud, and, like most of his peers, majors in drinking beer, getting laid, and shooting hoops. His roommate, Jon Collins, is more of a nerd, and has a mad crush on a girl in his chemistry class, Mary Kay Cook. Unfortunately, she has the hots for Muhney, and, over the Thanksgiving weekend, the two get plastered at the local tavern, and end up in his bed. His parents divorce left him very wary of relationships, and he feels very bad about sleeping with the girl his roommate is crazy about, and so throws her out of the room very rudely the next morning. This, of course, causes tension in the circle of friends.

Cook shows breasts during the sex scene, ad then again in the morning getting up. A girl Muhney picks up at a kegger, and then decides against having sex with, Kim Wade, also shows breasts before he leaves. IMDB readers have this at 5.6 of 10. Most of the attempts at humor were by other members of the cast. It may be a generational thing, but I didn't relate to these characters at all, and it was a rather long watch for me. The photography was very nice, however, and the eastern campus was photogenic. This is a C-, an adequate genre effort.

  • Thumbnails
  • Thumbnails

  • Kim Wade (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  • Mary Kay Cook (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

    "State of Grace"

    State of Grace (1990) is a relatively unknown New York gangster film with a terrific cast that includes Sean Penn, John Turturro, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, and Robin Wright. It is the story of an Irish gang out of Hell's Kitchen trying to make an alliance with the Italian mob. Penn comes home and joins the gang, working beside his childhood best friend, Gary Oldman, working for Oldman's older brother, Ed Harris, who runs the mob from a Jersey suburb. Robin Right is Oldman's sister, and Penn's long lost love. Saying much more about plot would be a spoiler, and I don't want to do that, as some of you might want to see this one.

    Wright shows breasts twice, first in a very dark sex scene with Penn, and then briefly dressing to go out. Scoop covered the stats on this in his review linked below. While this is not my favorite genre, it kept me awake. C+.

  • Thumbnails
  • Thumbnails

  • Robin Wright (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

  • Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy)

    The Good Thief (2002):

    (spoilers)

    The Good Thief is a terrific movie in many ways, but I predict that many of you will find it disappointing. I noticed in the online comments that many people went to it because of the excellent reviews, then found the film lacking. Many others disliked the way that the storyline tampered with the original French script, especially by adding the happy ending.

    I have some advice to offer.

    1) Don't be fooled by the plot summary into thinking it is a heist film. That is only true in the very broadest sense. People who enjoy a good heist film like to see the details of how the scam went off. This film doesn't explain, and doesn't really show how Bob and his men did what they did. Your enjoyment as a viewer is merely to see the result, and to smile at its impact.. This is because the plot pulls a flim-flam on the viewer. In the film we see Bob planning two simultaneous heists - a decoy and a real one. He lets word slip out on the street about the decoy, but the real heist is known only to his chosen cadre. The real heist is explained to the audience in detail.

    Or at least that's what the film wants you to think.

    All the while, the "real heist vs decoy" discussion has turned out to be merely magician's patter, the normal misdirection employed by the con man. But when the real scam is revealed, it comes as a surprise to the audience, and we know almost nothing of how it was done.

    Therefore, if you like the normal pleasures of a heist movie, they are essentially absent here. You will think "what the ...?" at the end.

    2) Don't expect it to have one of those existential endings like the original. Bob's best friend is not going to get shot, and Bob is not going to go to jail forever. This is not the same movie as Bob Le Flambeur (Bob the Flamer, originally to be played by Richard Simmons. Just kidding. I think the correct translation would be something like Bob the Big-Time Compulsive Thrill Gambler. or Bob the High Roller, or something like that. It was distributed in the USA simply as Bob the Gambler.)

    3) If you don't like a bit of magic in the story line, you'll be irritated. The premise of the film is that Bob is a great guy and a great thief, but a poor gambler. At then end, merely trying to establish his alibi, he has such a streak of luck in the casino that he breaks the house and they have to pay him by check. That was all just a lovely, serendipitous spin, and was (according to the film) the greatest run of luck in the casino since 1873. 'Tis magic, and not for those with an anal-retentive need for script credibility.

    4) Nick Nolte does some serious mumbling and groaning in this movie. (In addition to his other character flaws, the script made him a junkie in the remake.) Many people complained that they couldn't understand what he was saying.

    The problem with the film was not with the critics, but at the box office. There was no audience for it. It didn't please the people who wanted a gritty, character-based European art film because of the happy, sappy ending. It didn't please the people who wanted a heist movie, because everything it told the audience was a lie, and the result was basically unexplained. OK, take a minute to adjust your expectations. Now that you know it ain't Ocean's Eleven or Bob Le Flambeur, you may like it.

    I'm with Tuna. I thought Nolte got the role of a lifetime, a role that would have been perfect for Bogart in another time. I found Nutsa very charming in a gamin-like "Audrey Hepburn with an accent", "Leelee Sobieski on a starvation diet" kind of way. I just hope I don't have to learn to spell her name. Nolte and Tcheky Karyo did a very credible update of Bogart and Claude Rains; Nolte as the seedy, wisecracking American expat who hates when people find out that he has a good heart; Karyo as the garrulous French policeman who loves and admires a man he should be arresting.

    The film is different. It defies expectations. It has some of the grit and depth of a European character study, with none of the cynicism. It's not really an important film, but I enjoyed it a lot, to tell ya the truth.

    • Nutsa Kukhianidze. (Is she now the single hottest woman from the country of Georgia? I can't seem to name another one.)
    • the obligatory strippers. (1, 2)

     

    Mailbox:

    "I saw a test screening of Kill Bill a few days ago. The thirty-minute fight scene will give the MPAA a stroke. Arguably the most violent fight scene in any film, animated or live-action. Blood sprays, people scream in pain... Truly incredible.  It has a level of violence not seen in cinemas in ages. A little light in the story department, but that's OK. This is a movie you watch for the action and the Tarantino-cool, not for the story craftsmanship. And when Uma Thurman sets her eyes on one of the villains, this amazing, 70s wakka-cha-wakka synthesizer cranks up. RZA did the music for this, and goddammit if his soundtrack didn't rattle my balls."

    Mr X at www.popbitch.com. (From the Popbitch newsletter)


    Scoop - Two pics. First, a slightly larger pic of Teresa Ganzel from "National Lampoon Goes to the Movies."  It is a marginal upgrade of images already in the encyclopedia. Second, an observation on the career of actress Odessa Munroe.  Have a nice day,

    B


    Hey Scoop,
     
    That section you put in for me about the Naked News ladies and their nude-not nude pictures must have had some effect!  The newest pictures of Athena (the sexiest one there, I think) have come out and they are showing the "naughty bits'! No NN stickers!  Hurray for us! Thanks for your help!

    Gentleman George

    Scoop says: Well, I doubt if we did much, but maybe we helped in a small way to spread the word.
     

     

     

    Updates:

    • Charlie's French Cinema Nudity site is updated. Charlie pointed out that Leelee Sobieski will play the Uma Thurman role in Dangerous Liaisons on French TV this week. It is difficult to imagine that she could avoid nudity in that role, but we'll see.
    • new volumes: Brenda Vaccaro, Justina Vail, Charlotte Valandrey, Stacy Valentine, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Monika Van Campen, Alexandra Vandernoot, Mamie Van Doren, Kim van Kooten, Hilde Van Mieghem, Valerie Van Ost, Kristien Van Pellicom, Francesca Vanthielen, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Monique van Vooren, Leonor Varela, Roberta Vasquez, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Dana Vavrova, Astrid Veillon, Patricia Velasquez, Desiree Velez, Anna Veneziano, Petra Verkaik, Betty Verges, Tavaite Vernette, Kate Vernon, Cec Verrell, Victoria Vetri, Cerina Vincent, Sabine Vitua, Darlene Vogel, Susanne von Borsody, Sophie von Kessel, Heidi von Palleske, Dita Von Teese

     

     

    OTHER CRAP:

     

  • Other crap archives. May also include newer material than the ones above, since it's sorta in real time.

     

    PIRATE COUNTDOWN:

    days left until International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept 19)

     

    MOVIE REVIEWS:

    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.

  • Graphic Response
    • Maya Stange, topless in the indie flick "XX/XY".

      Additional comments by Graphic:
      Maya has been making movies for about ten years but this is the first time I have ever heard of her. She looks good, but this film was very irritating to watch.

    Be sure to pay Graphic Response a visit at his website. www.graphic-barry.com.

    Jr
    "What's the Worst That Could Happen?"
    As a whole, this 2001 Martin Lawrence/Danny DeVito comedy is nothing to write home about. The story is all fluff and very predictable, but it does have some laughs. The biggest surprise is William Fichtner! This guy has never played anything but bad guys or borderline psychos, but out of nowhere, he comes in to play a completely over the top, flamboyant, androgenous character that is just hilarious. The humor is partially because it's so unusual for Fichtner, but also because the character is just odd and out of place. However, Fichtner's performance is very welcome in this otherwise so-so comedy.

    Now on to my big question....where is the nudity?!

    Sasha Knopf plays "Ms. September", and Vejiita sent this collage of Sasha topless in deleted scenes. Since this flick was on cable today, I decided to head to the Video Shanty and rent this puppy to make my own 'caps. Imagine my disappointment when this scene was NOT on my rented copy!

    So where can I find these scenes? A Euro-version? I'd love to 'cap it if anyone can point me in the right direction. In the meantime, here is Sasha showing a truck-load of cleavage.

    Variety
    Josie Davis
    (1, 2, 3, 4)

    Mena Suvari


    More great 'caps from Nicolas Cage's directorial debut, "Sonny". Josie looks fantastic topless and in link #2 also shows a little rear nudity and what appears to be a shaved pubic area. Mena doesn't show anything, but still looks good. Thanks to DeadLamb.


    Rachel Hunter
    (1, 2, 3)

    'Caps by nmd of the Kiwi model/actress in scenes from a documentary that recently was seen on UK TV. Link #1 shows home video of Rachel taking a bath (with clear breast views).

    Gabrielle Anwar
    (1, 2, 3, 4)

    Señor Skin 'caps From a movie that no one has ever heard of called "Beach Movie" aka "Board Heads" (1998). Anwar wears a bikini bottom with flowers taped to her breasts.

    A few notes about this flick...
    1. Writer/director John Quinn started off his career producing and acting in the "Goldy" series of family movies about friendly bears (or some such crap). Now, he directs softcore porn for Skinemax.

    2. Check out this cast...Bronson Pinchot, Loretta Swit, Victoria Silvstedt and Avalon Anders!

    Lynn Wolf
    (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

    Toplessness and getting it on in scenes from "Prelude to Love" (1995).

    Pat Reeder www.comedy-wire.com
    Pat's comments in yellow...

    ARNOLD ADDRESSES ECONOMY
    I Vill Blast Ze Deficit Viz A Bazooooka! - Wednesday, Arnold Schwarzenegger held his first press conference on the economy, saying that if elected California governor, he would appoint an independent auditing group to find ways to get rid of the deficit without cutting programs or raising taxes.

  • It will consist of his movie friends, such as Harry Potter and Gandalf the Wizard.
  • Appoint some studio bookkeepers: if they can make billions in profits disappear, maybe they can make a deficit disappear.
  • Then the auditing group will send its bill, and the deficit will be back.


    He Should've Picked Jimmy Buffett - Arnold also tried to reassure skeptical conservatives by saying that Californians are taxed from the first flush of the toilet in the morning until they go to bed and fear "that they will be taxed while they sleep." He also shot a mock menacing look at his billionaire financial advisor Warren Buffett and said that if he suggested raising property taxes again, he'd make him do 500 push-ups.

  • Buffett would order the butler to do them for him.
  • Now, THAT I'd be willing to pay to see!
  • Little do voters suspect that once he's governor, Arnold plans to make EVERYONE do 500 push-ups.
  • Better yet, just raise Warren Buffett's taxes by $38 billion.


    MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL VIA EBAY
    "Not A Real Doctor" - A Norwich, England, voodoo practitioner known as Doktor Snake plans to auction his services on eBay to help musicians achieve stardom by making a pact with the Devil at the crossroads, like bluesman Robert Johnson allegedly did. The author of "Doktor Snake's Voodoo Spell Book," he says that such a pact landed him a publishing contract. Snake said he'll guide the winner through the Crossroads Rite and provide a "genuine Devil's contract" between the musician and the Lord of Darkness. He denies that it's Satanic, saying the "Devil" is actually a "teaching spirit that gives you access to your inner-genius."

  • And damns you to Hell for eternity.
  • You know, like he did for Ozzy Osbourne.
  • So many of today's stars sold their souls to the Devil to be famous, he's now able to offer volume discounts.


    102-YEAR-OLD MAN LOOKING FOR NEW WIFE
    Sometimes, It Can TAKE A Whole Day... - Salvatore Bordino, 102, of Calabria, Italy, can't figure out why he's having trouble finding a third wife. He said, "I have a house, a pension, and I can carry out all my manly duties." He said he still hasn't "called it a day on certain activities," and he's looking for a beautiful woman in the best of health.

  • He doesn't want to have look for wife #4 in a few years.
  • Darn! That disqualifies Anna Nicole Smith!
  • Finding a younger woman should be easy, since almost all women ARE.