RETRO REVIEW: BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (1988)

Ever hit the video store on a Friday night and have a hard time finding some forgotten gem for your weekend viewing pleasure?

Once Again I present, THE FRIDAY RETRO REVIEW!

For this weeks Retro review I decided to head back to the 80's for the seminal coke ride that is Bright Lights, Big City.

The film, based on the book by Jay McInerney, follows Jamie Conway (Micheal J. Fox) as his entire world begins to fall apart over the course of a few days. His wife (Phobe Cates) has left him, he is about to get fired from his job at a major magazine and he is becoming ever addicted to Cocaine. The impending one year anniversary of his mother's death doesn't do much to help matters either.

This was Fox's second of three consecutive forays into dramatic film (preceeded by the Rock n Roll road movie Light of Day with Joan Jett, and just before Casulties of War, the Brian Depalma directed Vietnam thriller with Sean Penn). Fox is fantastic in the flick, it really makes you wonder where his career could have gone if he didn't get sick. (That and his awesome guest spot on Rescue Me this year).

The movie also features strong performances from Keifer Sutherland as Tad (how about that for an 80's name) as Fox's overbearing cokehead pal and a great flashback scene with Dianne Wiest as Jamie's dying mother. That said, it's not with out it's bit of retro silliness.

Highlights:

• The opening 30 seconds is the eightiesist thing that ever eightied!
• A dream sequence at 30min in, featuring Fox talking to his zygote self in a glass womb. The scene makes you seriously wonder if it isn't something OTHER than blow they are all doing.
• Tracy Pollan (Fox's Family Ties costar and future wife) as Vicki, the woman who Conway finds solace in, briefly.
• Fox following two hot, big haired New York Debs into a Women's room to do coke, only to turn down a threesome with them. (One of the debs is played by Kelly Lynch, the future Mrs. Swayze)
  

I had never seen this movie before today, and one thing struck me as odd. At the time this movie came out the big buzz was about ALEX P KEATON IN A DRUG MOVIE! But you only actually see cocaine in the movie two, MAYBE three times. It really shows you how things have changed as far as what shocks the heartland these days.

Overall, the movie is a nice little ride with strong performances and a decent story. Definatly worth checking out if you wanna re-live a little slice of the ME decade.

FUN FACT: The lead role of Jamie Conway was originally offered to Tom Cruise, but he turned it down because he didn't want to be portrayed taking drugs. The Movie he did instead? RainMan.

FUN FACT 2: The book/film was the basis for a stage musical in 1999 (Bonus Video below)

TRAILER:


AND THE MUSICAL!!!! (It's as bad as might expect):


If you have an idea for a RETRO REVIEW you would like to see, hit me up at matthewlindley1@gmail.com or at the Glorious Noise Facebook page.

BREAKING NEWS PART 2!: JIMMY KIMMEL PWNS LENO AGAIN!

So Jay "Big Jaw" Leno went on Oprah yesterday to tell his story about the whole late night fiasco. Now, I am one who frequently criticizes the Queen of all Media for her softball interviews, but I really must say she took Jay to task. At one point, Oprah brought up the mini-feud with Jimmy Kimmel and chin boy made a sad attempt to throw Kimmel under the bus, saying he had been "Suckerpunched" by Jimmy when he appeared on Leno's 10@10 segment.

Perhaps Jay was egomanical or just plain dumb enough to think that Jimmy wouldn't respond.

But Respond he did:



So great. After Jimmy asks the audience if they want to hear the real story you can almost hear the voice from the old Mortal Kombat game saying FINISH HIM!

At this point Leno should just stay on his Island with what viewing audience he will have left, tell his tired jokes about the Gosselins or Judge Ito, and stop attempting to take on foes that are much stronger and talented than him.

BREAKING NEWS: The Gay Dating Super Bowl Ad, So That You Can Get The Hell Over It!

So here is the proposed Super Bowl ad for MANCRUNCH, a gay dating site, that has some folks all up in a lather. And surprise! It's really unimpressive:



So there ya go, see what I mean.

As of yet this ad has not been approved for air during the big game, even though the Tim Tebow Pro-Life spot apparently has.

Personally, I hope they air both ads for two reasons:

1. I am confident that the Tebow ad will prove to be as ultimately benign as the advert above.

2. Airing both ads will ensure that both Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann have something to lose thier collective sh*t about come Monday the 8th.

REVIEW: Crazy Heart

I knew the same thing leaving this film that I suspected walking in. This is a great film, but it is great because it succeeds where it certainly and easily could have failed.

The film tells the story of "Bad" Blake (the brilliant Jeff Bridges), a one time famous and now washed up Country singer who has fallen into an unending world of dive bar gigs and cheap booze. Bridges deals with a failing career, addiction and watching his former protege Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell) become king of the world as he falls into obscurity. All while trying to perhaps find redemption in the arms of a newspaper reporter. (Maggie Gyllenhall)

As I said before, there are so many things this movie could have done wrong but didn't. First-time director Scott Cooper is trying so hard to avoid cliche that you can almost hear it, and what his efforts bring is a wonderfully realistic character study. The perfectly cast film sucks you in and has you caring so hard about the extremely flawed anti-hero.

You find yourself at many moments of the film expecting the usual Hollywood silliness to slap you in the face, and at points that hand is most certainly cocked back and ready, but the strike never comes.

Finally, in a world where the Award crowd always seems to hand awards to actors who perform in the oh so tiresome "Played against type" or "Like you've never seen them" category. Jeff Bridges shows how to do it right and deserves any accolade he recieves for this fantastic performance.

1919-2010

Author J.D. Salinger dies yesterday at the age of 91, according to his son. Salinger was one of the most important writers of the last 100 years, penning the classic Catcher in the Rye. He also released Franky and Zooey and numerous short stories before becoming a recluse in the mid 60's.

Unfortunately, for many, he is better known as said recluse or for the fact that Catcher was the "inspiration" for Mark David Chapman's murder of John Lennon. But for anyone who ever read his work, they know his place in the history of American art will be hard-pressed to be matched.

Rolling Stone had the following quote from Salinger's agent:

“He was not in any pain before or at the time of his death,” the agency said in a statement. “Salinger had remarked that he was in this world but not of it. His body is gone but the family hopes that he is still with those he loves, whether they are religious or historical figures, personal friends or fictional characters.”

TRAILER: Green Zone

Here's the trailer for GREENZONE.

It stars Matt Damon and is directed by Paul Greengrass (United 93 and the last two Bourne flicks)

In this one Damon is a rogue agent in Iraq, and the suspense ensues!

Enjoy!

BREAKING NEWS: Pro Wrestlers get drunk and Hit People!

Shocking news out of Kentucky (which I just found out is actually a state!). WWE Pro Wrestlers Greg Helms and Chris Jericho were arrested last night at a Kentucky gas station for public intoxication.

As the story goes Helms and Jericho were in a cab with a woman and another man when helms decided to get all slappy-facey on his three cab mates. Both wrestlers were charged with public drunkenness, and it remains to be scene if the other two passengers will press charges for assault.

Jericho is a bonified star in the world of rasslin and also has a crappy metal band (Fozzy) and recently hosted yet another list show for VH1. Helms is the wrestling equivalent of the retarded cousin the added to the last season of The Brady Bunch. Perhaps his three party partners brought up that fact, and in turn caused him to show them that while his ring skills are lacking, his PIMP HAND IS STRONNNNG!