William Murray, Thespian. Part 1: Army Training, Sir!

Dipping my pen in many inks, er...as it were. Here's another new little corner of the blog. A tribute to one of the greatest actors of the last 50 years...nay, Ever! Join me as I revisit the films of Bill Murray. Tonight we're taking a freebloggin' approach (Drunk Movie Time-style) to the War Comedy, Stripes. Future entries might get more in-depth academically as I examine the multifaceted career of this singular genius.


Year: 1981

Director: Ivan Reitman

I think his son Jason is doing well in the family tradition.

John Winger’s Mantra: $100 shine on a $3 pair of boots.

My Mantra: Jai guru dava. Om.
Also: It is better to look good than to feel good. 

If I’m gonna do this I have to hold myself back from the urge to just regurgitate one liners. SO MANY!! 

“Madam, perhaps you’d like to eat your luggage.”

Okay, original content, GO!

When Cash Cab goes bad.

I love multi-lingualism generally (and cute latin and asian girls, specifically), but I just feel like this picture should be widely available on the interwebs for use by all of the grammar nazis out there. #justdoin’mypart.

I appreciate that Ramis had a couple solid acting credits. He’s not a great actor, but he lends a certain nerdy cred.

"Son of beach. Sheet!!" Best non-swear ever.

The bridge scene reminds me of the episode of "The Simpsons" when Marge goes crazy and NOT the end of Rise of The Planet of the Apes.

Possibly the best thing any English speaker can learn 


#well,maybemotownwouldbebetter

The music is an interesting mix. First we get this little raggy thing, then later the solid military riff.

Yay boobs.

There was a couple standing behind me at the bar the other night having this break-up convo. But they were even more terrible because he was the anti-Murray. Complete doucheapoid.

THAT BITCH!! NOBODY CALLS TITO PUENTE “STUPID” AND LIVES!!

I really do have Tito LPs that I play on the reg. Not because of this movie...because Tito is really THAT amazing. I often used to use the “one of these days Tito Puente’s gonna be dead” line...until he actually died.

Favorite missed line: “It’s a little cute...I’m part of a lost and restless generation. What do you want me to do...run for the Senate?”

Winger may be a bum, but he has a pretty solid little apartment. 

Love the take with Murray dunking, throwing the ball straight thru the window, Ramis tossing his coat on the rack, then taking the last beer out of the fridge. I try for perfect little random moments like that all the time, but usually my coat falls on the ground

A little awkward hearing Murray say “I gotta dry out or I’m gonna be dead before I’m 30.”

I had a similar moment a few years back. And I made it without joining the Army.


And it turns out Murray was 31 when he made this.

 My pushup form is slightly better than this, but I can do about 50.

The “are you homosexual?” question during their recruitment interview is quaint and hilarious. Even 30 years ago (geez) they were ahead of the curve of how ridiculous that was:

“No, we’re not homosexual...but we are willing to learn.”
“Yeah, will they send us somewhere special?”

Mmmmm lady in uniform. That is NTS.

I’m pretty sure she’s a replicant.

CANDY! 

"Orange whip? Orange whip?... Three orange whips!"

Really underrated and solid movie score by the "other" Bernstein. (Elmer, not Leonard.)

The Laroquette salute is an amazing little touch.

Ok, so Apocalypse Now it is not, but it’s still fantastic in its own way.

In the back of my mind I want to believe that Kubrick based the 2-halves of Full Metal Jacket on Stripes. I mean, Ziskey is Private Joker, and Winger is...Private Snowball? Maybe.

Poll: Who’s the more badass drill sergeant? 

Sgt. Hulka?

Or

Gunnery Sgt. Hartman?

Let the masses decide.

Love how pissed Psycho Soyer looks when he’s getting shaved. It's always seemed his character was loosely based on John Cassavetes' role in The Dirty Dozen, but I never bothered to look it up and still cannot confirm this.

Now that’s the closely-cropped John Candy we all know and love from Summer Rental.

Boxer or jockey? ”Got something in a low-rise bikini...mesh if possible?”

Top of his game.

“I thought I’d better join before I got drafted...”

A little odd that they can make fun of that. This was only like 6 years after the end of the Vietnam and still knee deep in the Cold War. Rebuilding trust in the military? A seriously different vibe than WarGames.

One of my favorite character statements is Ziskey’s: “I’ve always been kind of a pacifist. When I was a kid my father told me, “never hit anyone in anger, unless you’re absolutely sure you can get away with it.”


As much as I wish I were Murray, I’m probably closer to Ramis.

Another snap that should live more on the internet. Maybe too subtle?

There’s not a lot to say about the training section except: Montage!! Even Rocky had a montage.

Yay 80s voyeurism scene and gratuitous nudity!

Subtle things I catch but didn’t really get: Why does Winger put his dogtags in his shirt when he and Hulka go into “the office?” Is it just because he’s expecting a confrontation? Or is this a military thing? Just curious.

"No..don’t stop...I’ll still respect you...I’ll respect you even more...just use more whipped cream..." Definitely adding that to the repertoire.

It’s very convenient that the 2 hot female MPs from the bus station were also on duty the night that Ziskey and Winger had their little spat...otterwise the whole second half might have played out differently. (And yes I said "otterwise.")


Timothy Busfield (whom I almost called Gary Busey) ...Not quite thirtysomething. and it’s kinda depressing that you’d have to be at least thirtysomething to even know what I’m talking about. Because he’s now sixtysomething.

Worst thing he ever did was try to blow up that baseball diamond.

The Pom Pom is a testament to the ebbing of sexuality from the 70s into the 80s.

The Gary Templeton poster is a nice touch.

Soundtrack: The Spinners - Rubberband Man. Ow!

The MC is Dave Thomas. Not the Wendy's guy, the Great White North guy.

"We’ve been kickin’ ass for 200 years. We’re 10 and 1!"

I need to get me a "Death Before Disco" shirt. Reinhold is way underutilized in this movie.

They were still asleep in the motorcade at 1400 hours? dubious.

Also, they keep saying “graduation is at 2 o’clock.” Super dubious. Military time fail. Or maybe they really are just turrrrible soldiers.

I'm sure we've all seen the graduation scene. Just great stuff.

 I just want to note that if I ever hear anyone say "Razzle Dazzle!" they had better be talking about Stripes and not that god-awful episode of "LOST" with Billy Dee Williams.

When the news got out that the battalion was going to Italy, immediately the MPs knew they were in for the time of their lives? Is that why they gave each other that look?

Do they typically send Drill Sergeants anywhere in the world just to be with their prize platoons? Or did Hulka get promoted due to his injuries?

The Italian barracks looks an awful lot like the barracks from earlier. There’s just a sign that says they’re in Italy. Or maybe joining Police Academy.

Poll: Which would you rather have in a fight: 

The EM50 Urban Assault Vehicle or

 or Pee Wee’s X-1?

I'm not trying to influence your vote, but I will remind you that only the X-1 has a vicious lion mounted on the handlebars. 

I like the mishmash of random “European” clothing that the squad is wearing for their undercover mission.

Hulka’s gonna take things into his own damn hands. I hope someday someone designs a Stripes video game, Hulka’s Assault. Czechoslovakia never knew what hit em.

“C’mon, it’s Czechoslovakia, it’s like going into Wisconsin!

"Don’t order the schnitzel; they’re using schnauser!"

Aaahhh 80’s socialist stereotypes! What a country!

Gotta love the 80s video game graphics, too.

Ok, so they do the “Ox runs through the door to open it” bit, but I’d have to imagine that a door would be hard to flatten top to bottom like that. The hinges would break unevenly, so it would probably swing wildly out of whack. Someone call up Mythbusters.


A little shout-out to Joe Flaherty and his buddy: 

I’ve felt like that on many a Sunday morning.

Another meme in the waiting...?

Wait, so the rest of the company is already back in the States? I thought the whole mission was going to be denied by the DOD? Why do Winger and Ziskey get a parade?

The "News Update" ending is old hat now, but these are all pretty good. My faves:

Of course.

And:

The story reads: "After 27 years in the Army, local hero Sgt. Joe Hulka has announced his intentions to ‘turn in his fatigues.’ Well known for his courageous actions in Czechoslovakia, Sgt. Hulka has told the Examiner, ‘There’s big bucks in burgers and Springfield’s the...(cont. on page 3).” Classic.

Hmmm. Bill Paxton was a random soldier in this, too. He was on his way to a fine career.

I would also like to thank the James P. Beam Distilling Company for their fine work.

And I would like to thank you for following along. I'll be checking out another work of Murraypiece theater soon. Tune in!

A Better Life (2011) --73/100--

I picked this up, not knowing anything about it, after seeing listed it in the mess of Indie Spirit nominees (Best Actor, Demián Bechir). There’s not a lot of awards fodder available on DVD yet so I’ll take what I can get. Discovering little jewels like this are the reason I try to avoid hype whenever possible.

Carlos Galindo is an illegal immigrant in East L.A., struggling to find steady work as a gardener so he can support his teenage son and steer him away from negative inner-city influences. A great opportunity arises when a friend with a steady business decides to retire back to Mexico, if only Carlos can scrape together enough money to buy his truck and tools from him.

It took about 10 minutes for me to have that light bulb click and I went, “Wait...it’sThe Bicycle Thief!” (Or is is The Bicycle Thieves? Why is the title translated differently everywhere I look? Whatever. Ladri di Biciclette.) While it’s impossible to match Vittorio Di Sica’s masterpiece, A Better Life very effectively transplants the story to a contemporary situation and puts a human face on a contentious issue. I have no intent to make this blog a political sounding board, so I will abstain from taking any stances on the illegal immigration question, but I will say that this film paints a genuine portrait of the dilemma that affects millions in this country.

For the most part it is a simply told story with standard expositional turns that mostly match its predecessor, but there are some effectively tense scenes, fine acting, and a few wonderful visual transitions. I especially enjoyed an early conceit during the long ride home from a job, where Carlos looks longingly out the window as they drive past the beaches, restaurants, and wealthy neighborhoods where they work. The scenery gradually changes with each shot until we are smack dab in the neighborhoods where dilapidated housing, street gangs, poverty and crime are up front and personal.

This close juxtaposition between affluence and hardship is a strong thread in the film, as is the need to bridge the generation gap between the father and son. Especially since he lacks a mother figure, Carlos must pass down the values of uprightness and a good work ethic, but it is hard when there are literally no options for any sort of legal employment or recourse for transgressions. A Better Life certainly won’t solve any political debates and it falls short of inspiring a wave of cinema “nuevorealismo,” but it still has a strong message to import.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go watch Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure again.

2012-1-19 jmm

Drunk Movie Time, Episode 1: Brother, Can You Spare a Penny?/Dude, Where’s My Bike?

It was an ugly game, as rivalry games are wont to be, but a big win nonetheless, and upon leaving the stadium (*cough* “bar”) with my head held high and the greatest fight song in the land still ringing in my ears I remembered that I had now missed a couple of days posting on my newfound blog. “Better not let it slip,” says I to I, and I think through the few posts I have mostly written and try to recall if any of them are ready to publish, if the shit is polished enough to be an acceptable turd. “Not quite,” I decide, but then an idea fires in the synapses and the result is in front of you. Just something to keep things less monotonous here on The Man Who Viewed Too Much, to dive deep into some of my favorite movies and go a little stream-of consciousness. Ladies & gentlemen, madams et messieurs, I present my first drunken movie blerg.

Since the game had just ended my first thought was to freeblog the classic hoop film “Blue Chips.” Then I was shocked to discover that it is missing from the archives. Nolte, Kazaam, and Anfernee will have to wait for another night. Maybe in March. Instead, inspired by the recent viewing of “A Better Life” (review to come...mmmm, probably within the week) I’ve decided to review a film that truly shaped my childhood and my life, Tim Burton’s masterpiece, “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.” Feel free to pop in your own DVD or VHS copy and follow along as I bullet-point my way through this essential.

Drinking: Spaten Oktoberfest (Thanks, Berg!) followed by a little Charles Shaw Cab/Sav (It's cheap and it's good.)

Movie is GO!:

(Titles) Music by Danny Elfman, - the big motifs, love how they stay with you - Elfman was still in Oingo Boingo at this point, right? This wasn’t that long after Weird Science.

Co-written by Phil Hartman! - Always a sad thing to see, he was a true talent and his voice is all over this thing.

Apparently the Tour De France held their trophy ceremonies in a big field, not under the Arc du Triomphe or anything.

I want bunny slippers, and a carrot for them to sniff.

What does Pee Wee do for a living? How can he afford a house like this? Is he an inventor? Inventors don’t make shit, Gremlins taught me that.

Ahhhh, the breakfast Rube Goldberg breakfast machine! Want.

I still sometimes brush my teeth and say “Arrrrrr Mad Dog! Ruff...RUFF!!” And tape my face. And make myself a Mr. Breakfast. All in the same morning sometimes.

Pee-wee weighs 95 lbs. I be like dang.

Love the irony of how he doesn’t eat the breakfast after all of the hullaballoo of the Rube Goldberg machine. Hence the 95 lbs.

His neighbor Mr. Crowtray seems like a cool dude to put up with Pee-Wee’s BS. My landlord has a hissy if I even leave my grill out in the yard.

If I ever have the chance to say “Good Morning. I’m Here!” like Pee-Wee just did, well then...I hope I’m not talking to a bike, that’s all I’ll say.

His bike garage has a fake spotlight painted behind it. I want to see that in someone’s house someday.

My cousin Nate & I had this movie memorized by the time we were 10. The PW/Francis exchange is seared in my brain. “I know you are but what am I?” and

“Because, I don’t make monkeys, i just train ‘em!” - I’m pretty sure those were rejected lines from Gone With the Wind.

Kids in the 80s apparently just hang around on the lawn sitting on their BMX bikes, right? They were pretty RAD.

PW’s bike chain is clearly made of plastic. What a sucker. A chain of fools. So sad.

The sign on “Mario’s Magic Shop” is readable from the inside of the door. That’s weird.

TRIVIA!!~!

Nothing in Mario’s really seems like magic. It’s like dork survival.

So, again, bike kids just hang around in their gear. In Chuck’s Bike-O-Rama. Are they on their way to a shred? Are those the same kids? Did they change clothes while PW was in Mario’s?

Greatest Line in Movie History Right Now:

“You don’t want to get mixed up with a guy like me. I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”

!!

Elfman really took something from Bernard Herrmann & “Psycho” with the strings, didn’t he?

Coming blank into a scene...

Desk Cop: “What exactly leads you to believe the Soviets were involved?”

Clearly sounds like a Phil Hartman line and one of the funniest under the radar lines in the whole movie!!

As badass as PW’s house is, Francis Buxton’s pad is on a whole ‘nother level.

Ruebens is pretty brilliant sometimes. So over the top and hilarious!

“We’re miles from where anyone can hear you!! HAHA!”

His suit dries off pretty damn quickly.

I always wondered what Mr. Buxton’s gum tasted like. Did it taste like failure? I wonder if it killed him. He looks like he has heart problems.

Why does Francis hang out with rejects from “Grease”?

The “Big Meeting” scene is one of my favorites. 217 bits of information. Evidence.

Amazing Larry needs a spinoff.

That reminds me of this!:

In 3 hours he only gets through exhibit Q. That’s that the 17th letter. He had another 200 pieces of evidence?!!!

The cable-knit sweater bit cracks me up every time.

Madam Ruby. Man, what a bitch. And not very creative. She looks at billboards that were probably outside her place for weeks...did she just tell e’rrbody that e’rrthing was in the basement at the Alamo?

PW doesn’t seem that concerned that Mickey is an escaped criminal. Maybe Mickey just got caught jerking off in an adult cinema? (Sorry, Reubens. That’s the only time I’ll make that joke, it had to be done. Low hanging fruit.)

Why do people always think that you’re not supposed to take those tags off mattresses and pillows? It clearly says “except by the consumer.” People are allergic!

Shit, maybe Mickey was a mattress salesman! #eureka!

Awwwww, there goes PW’s bike!! The X1!! If he hadn’t been distracted this could have been all over within 45 minutes and then PW could have gone and started his awful farm and circus with his talking pig and wiener tree and Kris Kristofferson. God that movie sucked.

Where did they get that dress and wig to fool the cop at the checkpoint? Did PW have them in his hobo bag? Hmmm. Dubious.

Thelma and Louise should have just used the parachute on the back of their convertible.

Large Marge! “Worst accident I ever seen!” Holy crap...Tim Burton, you are a weird motherfucker. (obvs)

Bucket List #56: One of these days I hope to watch a sunrise with a woman...inside of a dinosaur.

That truck stop has some seriously retro gas pumps. #americanpickers

“But what? Everyone I know has a big ‘but.’ Come on Simone, let’s talk about your big ‘but.’” Love how the childish comedy slides right alongside the serious moment.

Aww yeah, the Burton claymation dream sequences are awesome. There’s something about this stuff that is so much, er...better(?) than it would be if it were clean CGI. You know they had to have worked for weeks to do that 10 second scene where the TRex eats PW’s bike.

Jan Hooks @ the Alamo - She’s perfect, and you know this was all Hartman.

“Yes, there are thousands and thousands of uses for corn, all of which I will tell you about right now!” That line has a very Simpsons vibe.

No basement at the Alamo. Denied! That Madam Rose needs a punch in the face.

Why does PW think Dottie is so terrible? Do you think they have a past, like they hooked up once and now Dottie is all obsessed with him, but PW is all, “Man, that bitch be trippin’, but she make a kray loud bike horn, yo. Nome sane?”

I’m kinda impressed at the shot of the bull jumping the fence. Is that normal? Can cows jump like that?

“Do you remember anything?

“I remember...the Alamo.”

“YEEEHAWW!!”

Awesome.

No comments on the “Tequila!” scene. I’ve danced that dance thousands of times...and probably will again. Especially if I’m ever hanging around w/ the Sons of Anarchy.

The scenes are so arbitrary and barely connected together at this point. Kinda loses steam even though it’s memorable.

AAGHHGHG CLOWN DOCTORS GO AWAY!!!

That kid from the Wonder Years...man he was the suck. That nun needs to punch him.

The “PW stealing the bike” motif has a bit of a “Mrs. Gulch coming to take away Toto” feel to it. Good work Elfman.

Warner Brothers had to love the gag where the guard drives the golf cart through the fake backdrop. Live action Looney Toons! Classic!

The driving through the studios stuff is great, especially the Godzilla scene. Outstanding.

Twisted Sister. Dee Snyder. Paycheck. Check.

Love how his bike is basically a James Bond Aston Martin on 2 wheels. Wish they had done a spec rundown with Q at the beginning. Oh, right they do a fake out with Francis at the end. ;)

Again, more kids on bikes...but just sitting there.

Betty White’s favorite scene: the pet shop escape. That place probably smelled crispy and delicious!!

Note to self: If I ever have a dog I am naming it Speck.

Kind of lazy/funny how they decide to finish it by making a movie about him getting his bike stolen, when the entire movie is kind of a spoof on The Bicycle Thieves in the first place.

@ the Drive-in. MORE kids just sitting around on bikes. Yeesh. Pedal something, you punks! And get off my lawn.

James Brolin and Morgan Fairchild in the PW movie. and PW’s fake voice as he Awesomesauce.

If I ever have a chance to say, “The X1 needs to cool down,” I hope I’m not talking about a bike. #justsayin’

Prison bus field trip to the drive-in. Do they have those? What if the bus crashes and Dr. Richard Kimball gets away?!

So basically, PW met people from every social strata on his adventures. And he’s not going to introduce any of them to each other. He’s kind of a dick.

Phil Hartman sighting!! “When exactly did you become blood brothers?” Awwww, miss that guy.

And Francis never got busted for stealing the bike and he is still a rich douche. The end.

That’s it. Wow this is kinda long. But NO EDITING!

[Okay, I cleaned up some typos, but left everything in, good and bad.]

Hope someone found this entertaining. I plan to do it again, so any requests for the next Drunk Movie Time?