Free Thought or Group Think

I just post this tidbit on the IMDB message board about my tepid lack of interest in Alexander Payne's Art House Wanna-Be "Sideways" --

"You don't get it do you? You like a movie because someone has put it into your head is a great movie, and you have unconditionally accepted it. Subconciously Kenneth Turan told you this is a great movie, you went to this it due to that, and you simply accepted that thesis lock, stock, and two smoking Madonna's Husbands..."

Okay, beating up on Guy Ritchie was a literary cheapshot. But this post to finally annoy the "Sideways" supporters got me thinking. Does anyone really have their own opinion?

I was unimpressed by "Sideways" as a film. While certainly in the minority of opinion I am certainly not alone in my opinion. Even among the critical elite you can find a bit of brave dissent on whether "Sideways" is all that. Witness this Salon Review.

But how much of my opinion regarding "Sideways" can reasonably called My Opinion. I read this review before seeing the film, along with reviews in L.A. Times and CNN.com. I generally put less weight on Salon's reviews. As much as I appreciate Salon's overall editorial outlook and literary style, I find their film reviews a bit too critical, a bit too snobby for my tastes.

So when I went in to see "Sideways" I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like it in much the same fashion I wanted to like"Mystic River" the year before. But in the end I just could not bring myself to like it.

I wonder though is that really my own opinion. Or is it a combination of other factors? My general dislike, or simple disregard of Payne's other work. My general attempt to stand back and not follow the pack. Even watching a friend break up with his girlfriend who work on "Sideways". Did all this other social white noise contribute to the eventual outcome of my artistic opinion?

Probably, it did.

That makes me think. How honest is anyone's opinion?

Can a film critic really put aside his life experience and the general weight of social opinion and judge anything on just its merits? What if a critic wishes to to appear like a "Thinking Man", a man of culture and taste, wqould he be more likely to join the pack and praise a film that in his heart of hearts really doesn't like just to fit in? And of course the opposite it is true as well.

Can opinion based truly on merit and nothing else? Can one person's opinion truly be seperated from their life's experience, and their need to fit in or not fit in with a group? Are we really thinking or are we just going along with what everyone else thinks.

Keep It Sexy, America.

Year's Biggest Dick Update

While waiting for my Girlfriend to get ready for a screening of "The Aviator" I was doing a follow up website search on the year's Biggest Dick. Just a single tidbit makes me think he's might, also, be the world's biggest Plant --


"Although the man contacted the Houston Chronicle, promoting the tale as a "human interest story," he adamantly refused to be identified....In a city of 4 million people," he said, "do you think I want to be a Grinch?"

The AP has reported this unknown dick as living in Pasadena, this story is datelined HOUSTON... Anyone else smelling a trumped up Christmas stunt that gets everyone "thinking" and maybe gets everyone also talking about Ebay yet again?

Keep it Sexy, America.

And the Award for Biggest Dick of The Year.

Goes to the guy who tried to sell his Sons' Christmas gifts on E-Bay as a form of discipline.

I am no fans of kids on principle, and I get as annoyed as anyone at Kid's throwing tantrums when I am trying to buy XBOX games. But, jesus christ, this just sounds sadistic and cruel. Particularly the part of the story where they sit their kids down and show them in detail what they wouldn't get for Christmas. A tactic worthy of the Iraqi Captain in "Three Kings", 'You wanted a Nintendo DS my main man? What have you Americans got against Mario Brothers?'

Regretfully the story is anonymous so their will be no torchlight carolling and public flogging of this asshole and his assuredly desperate housewife. Although I tend to think a community gift certificate for a lifetime of therapy sounds more in order.

Keep it Sexy, America.

Losing My Religion

I think I have lost my patience when dealing with "Producers" and "Directors" who advertise on Craig's List, or any other website for screenwriters,. In my brief time dealing with these masses of slightly self-deluded individuals I find myself discovering that these guys -- who typically have done nothing except know somebody who knows somebody who is a maid at Will Smith's mansion -- want someone like Shane Black , want to soak up your time , spew out promises a-plenty, and want a re-written script done tomorrow for $100.

So I actually sent this to a "Producer" that is searching for a Screenwriter to Polish his scripts. Offensive, probably. Funny, possibly.


"Hello,

My name is Larry Madill.

I have been writing professionally for six years. I have worked for a couple of production companies and independent producers. Marullus Productions, Mother Nature Productions, and RIFT ltd in Canada...

But all of this back and and forth pissing contest of What I've Done, What You've Done doesn't really matter unless I can actually do the job. That job being one of re-writing your scripts, which I do believe I can. I know I can, in fact.

I've enclosed a sample script in PDF from scenes of scripts I wrote or were under development during my tenure at Marullus Production. You will find strong dialogue, indestructible structure, and strong characters all told with a brevity necessary for scripts.

Let me know if you are interested. You can give me a call at (323) 957-1148, or email me at larrymadill@comcast.net

Thanks,

Larry Madill

P.S. I'm not Polish, hope that's not a problem. "