Thursday, August 10, 2006

"It was a stone cold groove, my man."


Since I now live the jaunty life of a waitress/freelance writer/turn of the century orphan, I have the luxury of sitting on my couch watching films while others are, as my parents are wont to say, "acting like adults and making a living". I'd add that I'm also eating bon bons whilst lounging, but those are expensive and I tend to subsist on pretzels I snatched off the craft services table from a film shoot months ago. At least I'm practical.

Today's movie from my personal collection? Trading Places, directed by the fantastic John Landis. What can I say about this movie that hasn't been said? It's a fucking classic. This we know. But I love watching it over and over. The party scene where Billy Ray Valentine screams at all the rude guests- that is why I don't have parties. I turn into that person- I can't enjoy myself when I'm hosting at my house, I get too nervous and worry and generally am a creep (this does not apply to hosting at other venues, as has been the case the last few times I've hosted parties with other people at other locations- I tend to get realy drunk and have a great time then because it's someone else's job to clean up). I love watching him scream at everyone about the Persian rug. Plus all the party guests look like they just got off the L train after stocking up at American Apparel.

There is a lot of toplessness in this movie and I for one say, yay, because everyone has real boobs. That's so rare these days, to see that. I hate fake plastic surgery boobs. They both creep me out and make me very sad. Yuck.

I love when Jamie Lee Curtis pulls off her wig and has her cute short hair. She's awesome in this movie.

I also noticed that in the jail scene, the guard is the dad from Beverly Hills, 90210. I wish I wasn't so analytical and didn't catch the details like that. It doesn't just apply to movies, I do it in daily life, too. I wish I was stupid. Well, stupid-er.

Just also noticed that the guy who yells at Al Franken and the other dude about the gorilla in the train station is the hilarious gay guy from Airplane. "First, the dinosuars came, but they got fat and died..." That guy. Jesus. What a nerd I am.

Uh-oh. The Belush. (sigh) In an ape suit, no less.

I just love this movie so much. It's still as funny and subversive as it always was. What a delight. Don Ameche steals the show. And all the shots of old NYC and Philadelphia are amazing.

"Fear? That's the other guys' problem." Indeed.

4 comments:

saraisloco said...

I think I still have the Box O' Joe from said shoot....and yes with the X marked in black sharpie.

Reel Fanatic said...

This one is indeed great .. It was the funniest thing Dan Ackroyd ever did, and except for maybe "Coming To America," the funniest from Eddie Murphy too

Brandy For Sale. said...

Yeah, I agree. I found myself being so taken with just the tone and cadence of all Ackroyd's lines-out of all the other lines, his delivery was what I recalled down to the tone of voice. So funny. I'd love to see something modern that attempts this level of humor instead of poorly apeing it.

anne altman said...

welcome to the future: everything poorly aped.

sigh