The Drama Llama's Alphabet Movie Meme

Katy of The Drama Llama has created a new Alphabet Movie Meme that can be read here as I found the idea to be interesting as I’m kind in need of a break from writing reviews as well as working on so many things right now. So here is my take on Alphabet Movie Meme of hers:

A-Anticipated Film of 2014

That’s easy. Inherent Vice by Paul Thomas Anderson. I’m a big P.T. Anderson fan and I love the cast he’s getting for this film like Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, Jena Malone, and so many others. I could say a lot more about this but I’ve already written something for my Most Anticipated Films of 2014 list which I’m still working on.

B-Book Adaptation I’d Love to See

I’m not an avid book-reader as I don’t own a lot of fictional books as I haven’t been sure about what book should be adapted. Yet, I have heard that Guillermo del Toro wanted to adapt H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountain of Madness. The fact that it’s a horror story set in a lost world definitely plays into del Toro’s sensibilities but studios have been reluctant to green light because it’s took dark and too adult. I still want to see what he can do with that book.

C-Celebrity I’d Most Like to Meet

Jeez, that’s tough though I don’t like the term “celebrity” as it often makes me think of people who have no business being in the spotlight like Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan, Taylor Swift, the Kartrashians, or any of these no-talented fucking assholes. If it would be a legend, it would be… David Bowie. It’s Bowie… do you have to fucking ask why?

D-Dream Director/Actor Pairing

Here’s a crazy pairing but I think it would work. Lars von Trier and Scarlett Johansson. He’s Danish and she’s of Danish descent as I’m sure that von Trier would put Johansson in a very disturbing and wild film that would challenge her. Even as she is likely to go full-frontal and more while proving to everyone that she’s more than just some sex symbol which she’s starting to show in such films like Her and Under the Skin. 

E-Essential Classic Film

The Apartment. Here’s a film that I saw over a month ago and was just blown away by it. It’s definitely a film that explores a man’s ambitions and the humility that he has to go through while being in love with this woman who finds herself unhappy in her own situation. It’s right now my favorite Billy Wilder film as I just love watching Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine as I think the film’s ending is just absolutely perfect.

F-Favorite Film Franchise

Bond… James Bond. More than 50 years in the business and still kicking ass. There is no one as cool as James Bond whether he’s played by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig. He’s the guy who makes sure the world is safe while getting to score with the ladies on the side. Plus, you can’t count out his allies like Miss Moneypenny, M, and most of all, Q who always come up with good gadgets and gets frustrated whenever Bond ruins them.

G-Genre I Watch the Most

Art-house dramas. I’ve been attached to a lot of dramas outside of the U.S. as it’s often based in Europe or Japan. It’s got stories that are very different but also has some human elements that aren’t explored in a lot of American films. Whether it’s the minimalist realism of Robert Bresson, the rapturous alienation of Michelangelo Antonioni, the heavy drama of Ingmar Bergman, or the explorations of family and culture-divide in the films of Yasujiro Ozu.

H-Hidden Gem

There’s a film that I don’t think many people have seen or heard of but it’s a 1996 post-noir film by George Hickenlooper called Persons Unknown starring Joe Mantegna, Naomi Watts, Kelly Lynch, Jon Favreau, and J.T. Walsh. It’s this film about a former cop who finds himself entangled by a seductress and her wheelchair bound sister as it is a pretty grimy film but filled with amazing performances with Watts being the real standout.

I-Important Moment in My Film Life

I think one of the most important moments in my film life would have to be going to see 24 Hour Party People in late 2002. It was the first time I went to see a movie that wasn’t playing nearby as I drove 15-20 minutes UA Tara at Cheshire near Buckhead. It’s the first art-house film that I have seen in the theaters and things would definitely change in the years to come where I would think more outside of the box and see films that weren’t playing nearby.

J-Just the Right Movie for a Rainy Day

That’s tough because I watch all sorts of different films depending on what I have on my DVR hard drives or whatever DVD I have. There’s only some albums that I listen to on rainy days depending on my mood. I would probably say Chungking Express because at times it is pretty moody but also very whimsical. It’s a film that has a dark first half and a very kooky second half as it’s definitely my favorite Wong Kar-Wai film.

K-Kiddie Film I Still Shamelessly Enjoy

Follow That Bird. This is a film that I watched when I was a kid as it was on HBO all the time. I still love the film. I love Big Bird’s adventure where he is later captured by circus frauds while it features some great cameos from John Candy, Sandra Bernhard, and of course, Chevy Chase. There’s also Kermit the Frog and some dodos.

L-Location I’d Like to Visit

Tokyo in all of its glory but mostly the Hyatt Hilton Hotel where much of Lost in Translation was shot. The hotel rooms are just beautiful as is the view from the bars and the pool. It’s just so gorgeous.

M-Movie That I Know By Heart

Coming to America. It’s one of the few films I can quote along with Major League and Trading Places. Here’s a scene I can quote.

“You must be outta your goddamn mind, Joe Louis is the greatest boxer ever. I’ll be with you boys in a minute. He’s bad as Cassius Clay, he’s bad as Sugar Ray Robinson, he’s bad as that… who’s that new boy?” “Mike Tyson” “That’s it, he’s badder than him. Makes him look like a pit-bull.”

“Hey what about Rocky Marciano?” “Oh, there they go. Every time I start talking about boxing. A white man gotta pull out Rocky Marciano. That’s they want, that they want. Rocky Marciano. Rocky Marciano. Rocky Marciano is good but compared to Joe Louis. Rocky Marciano ain’t shit.”

“He beat Joe Louis’ ass”. “That’s right, he did.” “Joe Louis was 75 years old!” “I don’t know how old he is but he got his butt whooped”. “Joe Louis was 85 years when he got out of retirement to fight Rocky Marciano. He always lied about his age. I asked Frank Sinatra who sat in the chair and you know Frank told me. He told me he was 105 years old. 105 years old.”

“Man, you never met no Frank Sinatra”. “Fuck you! Fuck you! And fuck you! Who next?”

N-Netflix Movie I Actually Watched

I don’t have Netflix. I never watched anything on Netflix though I have seen movies that are on Netflix. The most recent is Point Break. It’s just a cool-ass film that is still fun to watch no matter how gay it is at times.

O-One Movie I Saw in the Theatres More than 1x

That’s easy. Lost in Translation. I saw it in the theaters three different times in the span of a few months in 2003. September 21 and October 18 at the Phipps Plaza near Lenox and on Christmas Eve at the now-defunct Lefont Theater at Buckhead. It’s the best film ever made.

P-Preferred Place to Watch a Film

The cinema. Seeing it on a big screen and with surround sound is the ideal way to watch a film. You’re in a seat. You chill out and relax. Not worry about any interruptions during the screening and just watch the film.

Q-Quote That Inspires Me

“Why do we fall? So we can get ourselves back up”-Batman Begins

R-Remakes (Friend or Foe)

That depends on the film and its intention. Yet, I would have say that I’m a foe for remakes because I don’t think there’s a need for them. Unless it’s in the hands of someone like David Fincher or a name I can trust. I can go with that but for anything else, no.

S-Snack I Enjoy the Most

I don’t eat snacks whenever I see a film. I don’t even buy anything other than a ticket whenever I go to the cinema. I just don’t like the prices for those things when I can get them somewhere else at a lesser price. If I did bring some snacks, it would probably Starbursts. They’re my favorite fruit candy.

T-Twist That Boggled My Mind

Definitely Atonement where the fates of Cecilia and Robbie where eventually revealed and what did Briony finally unveiled. It’s heartbreaking but also one that proves to shocking as it does add to the emotional weight of the film.

U-Unapologetic Fanboy For:

Jena Malone. She’s the Best in the World…

V-Very Excited for Award Season?

Sort of. There’s a lot of good movies that’s been coming out this year. I just hope the right ones get the awards.

W-Wish I Never Watched…

The Future. I like Miranda July but my God, this was without a doubt one of the worst films ever. It’s extremely pretentious and the characters are just a bunch of whiny pussies fretting over a cat who fucking dies. It’s a fucking waste of time.

X-XXX Movie I Really Watched at a Young Age

There’s a bunch of them that I saw as I was too young to see some of these films. I would say Wild Orchid. I was 10-11 when I first saw the film on HBO as any kid who was emerging into adolescent wanted to see the film because it showed breasts. I guess there is a reason why I like films with nudity and the original stuff that I’m writing (or trying to write) often involves nudity.

Y-Your Latest Movie-Related Obsession

I would say the films of Wong Kar-Wai as I’ve just finished my Auteurs piece on him as I just love the films that he’s made in his career as well as his shorts. There is truly no filmmaker right now in cinema that delivers the goods with such style and beauty.

Z-ZZZ Catchers

I frown upon sleeping during a film though I can understand depending on the film. I rarely do that because I’m always trying to pay attention though I think it only happened the time I saw Patch Adams when my sister rented the movie for the family to watch. It was just excruciatingly boring and just plain fucking stupid.

© thevoid99 2013