I Know One Bastard Who'll Watch This

A little Gervais from Big Think, one of my favorite websites.

This. Is. Awesome.

From A.V. Club:

About a month ago, a YouTube clip of a glorious CGI clusterfuck from the Indian movie Enthiran started circulating the Internet, racking up several million views from people enthralled by this strange movie featuring a paunchy, Elvis-looking actor multiplying into a shape-shifting mass of robots and causing massive, hilarious destruction.

But Enthiran is more than just an accidental viral hit: That paunchy guy is Rajinikanth, the biggest Indian movie star (he’s actually billed as “SUPERSTAR Rajni” in his movies) and the second highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan. His co-star in Enthiran is a former Miss World, and probably the only Indian film star recognizable to American audiences, Aishwarya Rai. Enthiran is the most expensive (around $38 million U.S.) and highest-grossing (roughly $82 million U.S) film in Indian history. Those special effects were done by Stan Winston Studios (of Jurassic Park, Aliens, Terminator, and more) and Industrial Light And Magic. And the music was composed by Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman. This isn’t just some random Indian movie that happened to stumble into the American consciousness; it’s the Indian blockbuster, essentially the Avatar of Tamil cinema (often referred to as “Kollywood,” the South Indian cousin of Bollywood). And yet most Western audiences are only familiar with it through a 10-minute YouTube clip they guffawed at with coworkers over lunch one day.

Full article (and more clips) here.

What's the name of that band again?

Finally, Ringo gets his due. See the caption to this photo.

Cameron Frye's House For Sale

Remember Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Cameron Frye's house is on the market for $2.3 million. Ferrari not included.

THE BEN ROSE HOME-site of the famous movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", cantilevered over the ravine, these two steel and glass buildings, which can never be duplicated, have incredible vistas of the surrounding woods. This is a unique property designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century. Estate Sale Sold -No disclosures! This is an amazing architectural treasure.

Check out the listing here.

Before he was a Batasshole..

Self-important prick, but I love this scene from Empire of the Sun. Child actors should get 2 in the back of the head on their 13th birthday. In a universe comprised almost completely of empty space, what a shame to find there's about 6 feet too little of it.

Yeah, Jay...

She's a babe.

Dr. Tufnel, I presume?

Christopher Guest was recently awarded an honorary doctorate at Berklee. Link to this page to watch videos of a fifty bassist (combined IQ: 78) rendition of 'Big Bottoms' and other good stuff. The real treat for me, if you look under the videos, is an mp3 of Elvis Costello performing a pre-taped version of 'Penny For Your Thoughts' from Waiting for Guffman, one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies!

This Looks Indescribably Good

Sweet baby Jesus in the manger, I love me some Steve Martin. Here, Mr. Martin recounts his years in stand-up, calling his memoir a biography - not an autobiography - because it's about someone he used to know. This book is rumored to be outstanding, and judging from the following deleted passage, it's a "can't miss" for me ...

On Returning to Disneyland
Ten years later, after the Beatles, drugs, and Vietnam had changed the entire tenor of American life, I returned to the magic shop at Disneyland and stood as a stranger. As I looked around the eerily familiar room another first came over me, a previously unknown emotion, one that was to have a curious force over me for the rest my life: the longing tug of nostalgia. Looking at the counter where I pitched Svengali Decks and the Incredible Shrinking Die, I was awash with the recollection of indelible nights where the sky was blown open by fireworks and big band sounds drifted through trees strung with fairy lights. I remembered my youth, when every moment was crisply present, when heartbreak and joy replaced each other quickly, fully and without trauma. Even now when I visit Disneyland, I am steeped in melancholy, because a corporation has preserved my nostalgia impeccably. Every nail and screw is the same, and Disneyland looks as new now as it did then. The paint is fresh, and the only wear allowed is faux. In fact, only I have changed. In the dream-like world of childhood memories, so often vague and imprecise, Disneyland remains for me not only vivid in memory, but vivid in fact.

The Darjeeling Limited

I forgot to mention that when K and the kids were out of town last weekend, I treated myself to a movie, 'The Darjeeling Limited.' In some ways I'm over the poor-little-rich-kid thing Anderson's movies focus so much on, and I wasn't crazy about 'Life Aquatic' (but I only saw it once and would probably like it better if I got to see it again). I went in to this one without much in the way of expectations.

I thought it was pretty good, though certainly not gooooooood. It was for the most part well-written and acted (Brody is excellent), and funny (the constant pill scarfing is hilarious, but some of the jokes seem a little choreographed), if not a little too aware of its own preciousness. The soundtrack, on the other hand, is awesome, with splashes of old Kinks among the Indian (Bollywood?) tracks.

In short, it wasn't my favorite, but I look forward to seeing it again on DVD. Oh, and there's some Natalie Portman skin (careful!) in the short before the film.

Steve Martin Weds

Surprise ceremony at a party. But the weird thing in this article is this:

"Martin delivered his vows sporting an Inspector Clouseau mustache he let grow in for his appearance in the upcoming sequel to 2006's "Pink Panther" remake.

His other movies include "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," "L.A. Story," "Parenthood," and "Father of the Bride.""

Now if you were going to summarize the movie career of the man who should win a Nobel prize for comedy, would you have chosen these films? What 4 films would you have selected?

The Be Sharps

And THESE guys were, OK, not quite as good as the Ruttles.

Moon

And from the Onion.

And I think this is from the "Last Stand" show. Bliss.

Photos

Subteens photos are located in a folder called "Teens" on the Franticly Telephoning President.

Great News for Joe!

SHA NA NA

The rock nostalgia group, most famous for its appearance in “Grease,” appears at 7:30 p.m. on May 10 in Moran Theater at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, 300 W. Water St., Jacksonville. Tickets range from $18-$44. 632-3373.
And you were worried about leaving behind the music scene of Austin!
(This is where Dave says, "I love Sha Na Na..")

Spidey Grows Up

"It kind of changes everything when you're a dad. You don't have the same time to hang out with your friends. You don't have the same time to do other stuff that, for me, I used to do. But you're trading it up for something that's better, which is getting to hang out with my daughter, and that's amazing."

Sounds like some musician I know.

Brush with Celebrity

I went to a trendy Austin restaurant because a friend came in town to visit. We were waiting in the bar for a table, and Willem Dafoe came in. He's really short, and had no movie star babe with him. He didn't have to wait for a table, either.