Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Open Thread Monday

BuckwheatPicard - June 29th, 2009 at 5:14 am

I never saw this film, but since it's Hugh Grant, I'm sure I saw his performance elsewhere.

StlDan - June 29th, 2009 at 5:31 am

If you are not aware of what's going on in Honduras, here is a good article by the WSJ It puts Hillary in the same group with Castro, Chavez and Ortega. http://tiny.cc/RBacL

Holly - June 29th, 2009 at 5:33 am

This is one of Grant's best movies, since he pretty much just plays himself – a self-absorbed man-child. Good book and good movie.

Growltiger - June 29th, 2009 at 5:50 am

"About a Boy" was a very good film with one exception. Rachael Weitz (sp). How that irritating broad got into the movies, I'll never know. Madonna sucks all the oxygen out of a film; Weitz just makes it boring.

BuckwheatPicard - June 29th, 2009 at 5:50 am

Constitutional adherance? whatever for? That is one of those outmoded ways of thinking. You sir are a thought criminal, and I must report you to Minitrue.

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 5:55 am

I hope Honduras succeeds then in keeping their President out of office… anyone that abuses a countries constitution should be taken out of office….

SgtTank - June 29th, 2009 at 6:03 am

Chavez needs to go next. I hope someday that the people of venezula have the courage to rise up against him and his communist regime.

StlDan - June 29th, 2009 at 6:04 am

And I thought we were not going to meddle in other countries elections? How's that working? Obama.

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 6:07 am

What you mean a double talk President isn't going to keep his word…. For shame!!!

I guess we only meddle in other countries elections when the country is smaller and it suites us… :/

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 6:08 am

Hear hear… I had a roommate from Venezuala for 3 years… and she would always tell me what an idiot he is… All of his speeches would revolve around Bush and baseball…. :/

ALLAMERICAN - June 29th, 2009 at 6:11 am

What do you expect from that Pie-Faced ,Fat A$$ed Chicago via Arkansas Bolshevik. She makes me want to Hurl., but thanks for the Article. Let's Hope that those Brave Hondurans can hang on. The Democrats Their Good and For The People…..Yeah! Stop Being So Good To Us!

StanH - June 29th, 2009 at 6:34 am

I wonder if Barry will send in troops to save a fellow Marxist?

Tennessee_Jed - June 29th, 2009 at 6:39 am

anything that runs counter to socialistic approach to government is going to be condemned by the present administration. Chavez is considered to be a better guy by these people than President Bush ever was.

dcase - June 29th, 2009 at 6:49 am

wow- an open thread with a Hugh Grant chick flick and we will actually talk about the film…

By far the best thing Grant ever did. His take on a superficial, smarmy, lazy and shallow bachelor is spot on- he even said it's basically him in the role- and even after a couple of viewings it held up well. Good DVD for single guys to have when you, ahem, entertain the fairer sex… a lot of folk haven't seen it and it really is quite good. Well acted and directed and snappily written…

SceneOnTheScreen - June 29th, 2009 at 7:08 am

My wife and I both love this film. To say it's one of Hugh Grant's best films is an understatement. It's easily his very best film. The messages here are timeless and there are so many great moments throughout. We watch it every year or two and it never gets old. 9/10 stars.

Hank_Scorpio - June 29th, 2009 at 7:10 am

I can't bring myself to spend 2 hours of my life watching a Hugh Grant film.

aharris - June 29th, 2009 at 7:21 am

What's our excuse then? We have an entire Congress and Executive branch busy doing it right now and they have been since the '30s at least. I forget to add the Judiciary … Yeah they're no saints at this either. And you can start seeing Constitutional abuse further back than the '30s. I hate to say it, but Lincoln started some of it. A lot of what he did to hold the country together was really Unconstitutional although we can argue its necessity.

aharris - June 29th, 2009 at 7:24 am

This is scary stuff, and it should scare any sane American that our Executive branch is so openly on the side against democracy and the constitution of Honduras. If they are so openly against Democracy and the Rule of Law in one country, what will stop them from acting the same in ours? We know Pres BO is on record as stating that our Constitution is a flawed document of negative liberties. That should tell you what he thinks of it.

ALLAMERICAN - June 29th, 2009 at 7:34 am

To obvious Mr. Wonderful will send in Community Organizers to straighten out The Will of The People to Help save them from Themselves.

dcase - June 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am

we would agree on all of his other work, which runs from forgettable to tedious. He completely nails the shallow jerk thing and it fit him like a glove, the rest of the cast is good… it's just a good film.

kadaka - June 29th, 2009 at 7:39 am

You know, coming off the Micheal Jackson thing, that poster just looks creepy.

He has that stare of a smug serial abuser… And the title, with the look of that poor trapped kid…

syn - June 29th, 2009 at 7:52 am

Is this the movie about Frank Lombard the associate director of Duke's Center for Health Policy and AIDS researcher in rural areas who was busted recently for selling his adopted 5 year old son as sex toy for same-sex perverts?

SgtTank - June 29th, 2009 at 8:15 am

Since this IS "open thread" monday, I'd like to recommend some EXCELLENT reading material.

"The traveler" and "The Dark River" Both excellent books by John Twelve Hawks, there is a 3rd one coming out this year that will finish the series and let me tell you that you will NOT be sorry that you bought and read these books.

Synopsis here.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/t/john-twelve-h...

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 8:20 am

It's a pretty good Hugh Grant movie, although I kind of wish they left out the Rachel Weisz character.

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 8:27 am

I do like Grant better when he plays nastier characters like in Restoration and An Awfully Big Adventure. He does bitchy very well.

BevfromNYC - June 29th, 2009 at 8:36 am

And has no nuclear capabilities…

Carole H. - June 29th, 2009 at 8:41 am

My favorite line is when he tells Toni Collette that she's a "barking lunatic"! I also like the blind date he has–the girl is the next step from vegan. She'll only eat food that has been gleaned because picking vegetables is murder! Hilarious.

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 8:43 am

We don't have an excuse… But America's masses are stupid and keep voting in the same idiots into office with American Idol style politics…. regardless of what side of the fence they are on…. but I have no doubt that the military is watching and waiting to see if our C.I.C slips up and totally destroys the constitution…

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 8:47 am

Ok, so I just watched Independence Day on A&E the other day (and I have seen it before)… but has anyone noticed the whole USA must save the world theme in the movie…. I have seen that movie many times since it came out… but for some reason that popped out at me when the British soldiers in Iraq said "It's about time" when someone came up and told them that the Americans are planning a counter attack… :/

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 8:47 am

Ok, so I just watched Independence Day on A&E the other day (and I have seen it before)… but has anyone noticed the whole USA must save the world theme in the movie…. I have seen that movie many times since it came out… but for some reason that popped out at me when the British soldiers in Iraq said "It's about time" when someone came up and told them that the Americans are planning a counter attack… :/

BuckwheatPicard - June 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am

yeah the US getting a plan together, was shown as the rallying point for the other nations.
Good call.

Thorien - June 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am

But doesn't he always nail the shallow jerk thing? Bridget Jones's Diary, Two Weeks' Notice, probably others…

CMoran - June 29th, 2009 at 9:07 am

About a Boy — def'ly Hugh at his best. Has anyone else noticed that he uses a very slightly different accent in most of his movies? Most noticeable in this film when he says "Hello, Barney. How are you?" (Yes, I *used* to have a big crush on him, so I noticed every little nuance!)

Open thread: Saw "Away We Go" on Saturday — really, really liked it. It reset my parental compass and refilled the romance tank. And it even has a subtle pro-life message at one point…

dcase - June 29th, 2009 at 9:09 am

mebbe not- once again, those flicks were formulaic and forced- this is just a genuine story that transcends the stars and has some nice essential truths and a good heart.

Never have defended Grant before; not likely to happen again…

Jamesb - June 29th, 2009 at 9:17 am

"Whaaat a ahem,…a…are you, um…ahem…(clear throat) talking about Hank?" (typical Hugh Grant line, in his style)

Jamesb - June 29th, 2009 at 9:18 am

In other words; REALITY!

Primer - June 29th, 2009 at 9:27 am

It's much easier for the to push around a country that you can invade with a troop of "Girl Scouts" Don't ya know!

AndrewPrice - June 29th, 2009 at 9:32 am

When it came out, it was considered both very patriotic and (indeed) anti-Clinton — because of the comparison between Pullman (man of action) and Clinton (talker and 'playa'). Many people also saw the death of the first lady as a fantasy attack on Hillary.

StlDan - June 29th, 2009 at 9:36 am

No disrespect to Girls Scouts, of course.

jarod2828 - June 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am

Easy K8te and Andrew, it's http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Americ...

John Locke - June 29th, 2009 at 9:56 am

Of course, the whole "one world" speech Pullman gives is off-putting and kinda undermines that theme, what with him declaring that the 4th no longer be simply America's independence day, but the world's. The film is certainly entertaining, and perennial 4th of July viewing in our household, but that part makes me want to gag.

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am

I did not know that… but then at that time I also wasn't into politics then… I never put that connection together, but I see it now.

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 10:04 am

Thank God our computer technology was compatible with that of the aliens or we would have been doomed.

AndrewPrice - June 29th, 2009 at 10:06 am

LOL! Didn't you know that Unix is the Gallactic Language?

AndrewPrice - June 29th, 2009 at 10:07 am

Apparently, this topic brings out my tourrettes, I've been moderated.

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 10:07 am

lol…. Seriously… I thought that quite strange too… but I chalked it up to artistic licensing…

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 10:11 am

I'm about the least techno savvy person you'll ever meet and even I found that plot point hysterical.

kadaka - June 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am

http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=564

This guy?

See, I said that poster was creepy!

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am

It's doing it to me too… :/

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am

You're more generous than me. I chalked it up to poor screenwriting.

k8blujay - June 29th, 2009 at 10:16 am

Maybe Jeff Goldblumes charecter was just so uber smart…. he did crack the countdown code after all…

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 10:19 am

I liked the fact that Goldblum and Will Smith didn't even need booster seats to sit in that alien ship. Weren't the aliens a wee bit taller than us?

Tchristemac - June 29th, 2009 at 10:21 am

I concur..

AMERICAN HEROES, Olly North great read!!!!

jarod2828 - June 29th, 2009 at 10:21 am

50 years of retrofitting it they probably got something set up

Another Carolyn - June 29th, 2009 at 10:23 am

Sure, go right ahead. Use logic to ruin my joke. : )

NeoConJedi - June 29th, 2009 at 10:28 am

That is one horrifying article. Thanks for the link. The sheer disdain for freedom this administration has astounds me.

One can only imagine when it will come to that in this country.

Primer - June 29th, 2009 at 10:46 am

Of course not! I have huge respect for the Girls Scouts. Not so much for "Dear Leader"……..
I'd put any one of them up against Barry any day. They'd win every time, be it in a debate or hand to hand combat………..

Thorien - June 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am

Well, maybe if it's on TV sometime I'll watch. At least I'll try -watching Hugh Grant does funny things to my gag reflex.

Gittes McQueen - June 29th, 2009 at 11:01 am

About Michael Jackson's sadly screwy psychology – the egomania and self-loathing:
Having himself labeled "King of Pop" was pathetic.
Stevie Wonder has produced a far more impressive body of work, with far more enduring value.
Hell, he's even won a lot more awards than MJ did. Seems SW is being overlooked, under-rated, forgotten, etc.

Some writer (Jerzy Kozinski maybe?) once observed that American artists have a disease of thinking that each time they produce new work, it must be "better" than any of their previous stuff. This is especially unhealthy when he/she measures success by seeing how well the work is appreciated by the public. The only legit goal for an artist in each project is to be true to one's current creative impulses and to express one's self honestly now; not calculating for maximum popularity; nor straining to be enshrined with the status of being king of that field…

kadaka - June 29th, 2009 at 11:06 am

Meanwhile the Supreme Court overturned Sotomayor in the firefighter case, "fear of litigation" is not an excuse. The liberal justices who dissented basically said this undermines Affirmative Action.

I have Hope for real Progress. Change is coming.

Bennett_Marco - June 29th, 2009 at 11:08 am

In the good old days, the CIA would be looking for some ambitious Venezulan Army colonel to accept delivery of a couple of suitcases full of cash and a sniper rifle.

Primer - June 29th, 2009 at 11:12 am

dcase
Four Weddings was watchable. No? I found it amusing just because of how many times they used the "F" word in the movie. When Brit's use the word it sound's so odd that it's funny. Maybe it's just me. I'm easily amused…………

kadaka - June 29th, 2009 at 11:15 am

Which is a curious thing considering what apparently went on with Divine Brown in 1995.

Darkwolf - June 29th, 2009 at 11:19 am

"Many people also saw the death of the first lady as a fantasy attack on Hillary. "

yet another of those guilty pleasures…

Darkwolf - June 29th, 2009 at 11:20 am

with C programming being it's math

LauraAgain - June 29th, 2009 at 11:34 am

Loved "About A Boy" … my 20 year old daughter and I can still crack each other up with lines from the film.

At Christmas, Hugh Grant gives his young friend a CD by Mystikal. "Shake Your Ass! Great song! Thanks!" exclaims the boy. Grandma sets down her tea cup and says "Sheik Yurass? Is he Moroccan?"

The boy's absent father gives him socks. "What a lucky boy!" exclaims Grandma.

There's an underlying story about a duck, and a few characters are discussing. In the background we hear Grandma say "Are we having duck? Delicious!"

Maybe it was the time, place or British accent, but it was hysterical at the time.

Ok, I'm done.

matt - June 29th, 2009 at 11:35 am

This is a great movie! That's all I have to say in this open thread.

LawhawkSF - June 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

Unfortunately, the President was doing fine right up until he went into his Independence Day speech, dumped the Founding Fathers, and quoted a drunken Irish poet in their place. Good-bye Fourth of July, hello world government, peace and love.

Hank_Scorpio - June 29th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

now THAT'S funny…..

Hank_Scorpio - June 29th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

Even funnier is when a Scot swears……

Hank_Scorpio - June 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Yeah and I can't take 2 hours of that. The guy just annoys the crap out of me, I think Hugh Grant and Jack Black were put on this earth to be complete jackasses and they excel at it.

Although my son and I love Kung Fu Panda….

Hank_Scorpio - June 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

That's because he's not acting….

He also nails the awkward doofus, eg: Mickey Blue Eyes.

Von - June 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pm

"And then I was singing with my eyes closed" Seriously good movie. Check it out.

SupernaturalCat - June 29th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

Michael Jackson is still dead. He was dead when he was alive. The photos they are showing of him rehearsing are downright scary. Enough is enough. Billy Mays is still dead too…….a woman who suffered greatly, Farah, gets little notice. I dont think celebrities should be made out to be these icons when they die but if I feel for anyone its the people who had to stand by and watch Farah suffer so much, the rest is all media BS.

JibSheets - June 29th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Al Gore Blames MJ's death on Global Warming? Article at http://www.mozzsticks.com

Gordon_Winslow - June 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pm

I was about to write exactly the same thing. Underrated film.

kadaka - June 29th, 2009 at 2:26 pm

Are you just here to promote that site?

kadaka - June 29th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Good Lord man, 18 posts total according to your ID page, and ALL are shilling for that site?!

You, sir, are a spammer!

Or maybe just a really enthusiastic entrepreneur. Tell us your relationship to that site and maybe we will let it slide. For the sake of capitalism.

jules - June 29th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

This is a fabulous movie… as well as a great score by Badly Drawn Boy… Hugh Grant's character may be shallow and selfish at the beginning, but no more than the kid's nutty, self-involved ultra liberal mom whose attempt at suicide brings the boy and Hugh closer together. Definitely one of Hugh's finer movies although I've grown to admire 2 Weeks Notice every time it appears on Oxygen or AMC. Now back to Wimbledon coverage… the roof finally closed today so I lost a bet with my Dad that it would not rain during the Wimbledon fortnight for the rest of the century!

Sinapus - June 29th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

Wasn't he using a Mac Powerbook?

The "Uploading Virus" bit was also silly.

Sinapus - June 29th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

Good Lord man, 18 posts total according to your ID page, and ALL are shilling for that site?!

You, sir, are a spammer!

Bloody Vikings.

atheling - June 29th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

If you watch only one Hugh Grant film, it should be this one. It has some edge to it.

Thebutlerdidit - June 30th, 2009 at 12:37 am

I agree, I actually thought Hugh was pretty good in this, though none of his movies recquire a huge stretch, as he doesn't have that much elasticity in his performance abilities.

JibSheets - June 30th, 2009 at 4:34 am

let it slide? i love mozz sticks??

Thorien - June 30th, 2009 at 10:13 am

Oh, that's awful…ly funny!

Tom - June 30th, 2009 at 11:36 am

Loved the movie. Agree that 3 of 5 Hugh Grant movies are completely bypassable. This was really struck me as something with some depth. Great character arc. While his transformation would normally be predictable and contrived, the way Grant showed some growth and change while kicking and screaming the whole way made it very real, and kept you in the moment.

Loved the scene in the restaurant where he's accused of having some type of improper interest in the boy. He defends himself so well and starts showing that as shallow as he his, he truly does 'get it' when it comes to social interaction for that age group.

Tom - June 30th, 2009 at 11:37 am

Loved the movie. Agree that 3 of 5 Hugh Grant movies are completely bypassable. This was really struck me as something with some depth. Great character arc. While his transformation would normally be predictable and contrived, the way Grant showed some growth and change while kicking and screaming the whole way made it very real, and kept you in the moment.

aclay - July 1st, 2009 at 5:02 pm

This movie is very good. Grant's comedic touch is perfect. Rachel Weisz (sp?) stnks and isn't credible as a love interest but her part is minor.

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