Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => In Front of the Camera => Topic started by: filmcritic on June 18, 2003, 05:01:04 PM

Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on June 18, 2003, 05:01:04 PM
Philip Baker Hall is the greatest American actor. He gave a great and believable performance in "Secret Honor", playing Richard Nixon. He then starred in P.T. Anderson's first film, "Hard Eight", playing Sydney. Both performances are classics in there own way and they are both seriously underrated. The problem is that most people who read this haven't seen "Secret Honor" and that's nothing more than a real shame. But some of you out there at least saw him in "Hard Eight". Both films are masterpieces.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: AlguienEstolamiPantalones on June 18, 2003, 05:17:09 PM
i was kicked out of philp baker hall for sticking my dick in the orange jello , so my lawyer made a deal and now i am allowed to only hang out in monty hall
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Ernie on June 18, 2003, 05:19:33 PM
I think Philip Baker Hall is a great actor let me just say before I say anything else...

but I'm going to have to disagree with PTA and you, I think he's pretty far from the GREATEST...American or not. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy...I guess I've just never really seen enough of what PTA sees in him to call him anything close to the greatest...he's really not. Like, I couldn't believe what PTA was saying when he was talking about having a choice between De Niro and PBH...he said he would choose PBH...that's just crazy I think. Anyway, that's just me. I think the guy is a really great actor and looks like a pretty nice guy too seeing him on the magnolia diary.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: AlguienEstolamiPantalones on June 18, 2003, 05:26:49 PM
i love that PTA picked pbh as being better then deniro

i loved that he did it,

when his fans do it well then thats fucking cheesy

i hate when fans pick their opinions based on what the directer or whoever thought of it

thats why that post where directers list their top ten films is not that great a thing, sufre it could be used as a effective tool, but it could also be abused when some morons use it as a guide as to what they should think

you should like something because you like it, and not because someone cool picked it

dont pick your fav scene in a movie based on what the directer thought was his, im sure he loves all the sceanes and would want to hear feedback from all differnt sceanes, lester im talking to you here

And PTA picked PBH Way before it was cool for anyone else to pick him, thats why he is the great one

now if we are done here i would just like tos ay that phill collins is the fucking man
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Ernie on June 18, 2003, 05:50:07 PM
Ok, yea...I totally agree with that, that is great...I didn't think of that at all before. Now, I am glad he chose PBH too. Although I don't agree with PTA about PBH, I think it's cool that he has such an original favorite actor and that he sort of made PBH a better known actor and gave him some good roles. Just like I don't like Putney Swope but I think it's funny and cool that he likes it and calls it an influence. And then how he calls Jonathan Demme the best filmmaker ever...again, I don't agree...but it's cool that he thinks that...I've always thought that. That's the kind of stuff I want to do too. Work with unknowns that I think are great and reference really obscure films as influences...that's awesome.

Thanks for making me see this Pantolones...that's a much better way to look at it. Should have figured that out a long time ago.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: AlguienEstolamiPantalones on June 18, 2003, 05:59:33 PM
Quote from: ebeaman

Thanks for making me see this Pantolones...that's a much better way to look at it. Should have figured that out a long time ago.

wow im getting better at this, not once did i go off on a ovitz esc tangent

but ya know what , your not sopused to agree with people you look up to all the time, so its cool that your not a putney swope fan, im sure there is a film out there that you love that lots of people wont

ok now im back off to monty hall where i have to bus tables, so i can pay for my new banjo , which i plan on using to re record "california love "
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Ernie on June 18, 2003, 08:49:36 PM
Quote from: AlguienEstolamiPantalones
Quote from: ebeaman

Thanks for making me see this Pantolones...that's a much better way to look at it. Should have figured that out a long time ago.

wow im getting better at this, not once did i go off on a ovitz esc tangent

but ya know what , your not sopused to agree with people you look up to all the time, so its cool that your not a putney swope fan, im sure there is a film out there that you love that lots of people wont

Oh yeah, of course. I've never pretended to agree with PTA all the time, I'm no sycophant or whatever...people like that can really annoy me. I do agree with him most of the time though however, like 90% of the time...which makes sense to me. I mean, I love his stuff so much, it makes sense that I would love a lot of the stuff he's influenced by and stuff he likes. Cause I feel like in the first post I made in this thread I kind of made it sound like I never agree with PTA. Cause that's far from the truth. I think it's probably common to disagree with somebody when they're making such bold statements as naming someone the BEST actor of all time or the BEST director of all time as PTA did with PBH and Demme, you know...so it happens.

And yea, I realize I'll probably have some of my favorites (whether actor, director, or movie) that people will find unbelievable in the future. Like Edward Scissorhands, I think it's one of the top 5 best movies of all time...that's probably going to be one of them. But that's fine with me. I'd hate to have everybody agree with me on everything.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: AlguienEstolamiPantalones on June 18, 2003, 08:56:52 PM
i agree with a lot of what my heros like, for example i am a motown fanatic and the stones borrowed a lot from motown.

pta, i dig lots of the stuff he likes

but ya know what i mean
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on June 26, 2003, 03:39:02 PM
I went to "Bruce Almighty" again yesterday for several reasons and one was to see PBH again. I have to admit that I've never really seen him on the big screen before. While I was watching him, he seemed like he had a lot of comic energy on screen when he's away from "Secret Honor" and "Hard Eight". I heard that he was on an episode of "Seinfeld" at some point and I heard it was one of the best episodes ever. He's done other television before which I've never seen. Has anyone?
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: modage on June 26, 2003, 03:46:58 PM
wait, you didnt see THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, MAGNOLIA, THE INSIDER, PSYCHO, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE TRUMAN SHOW, BOOGIE NIGHTS, or AIR FORCE ONE in the theatre?!?  NONE of them?  or you just saw them all in a theatre with a really small screen?
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on June 27, 2003, 11:06:07 PM
Well, I am pretty young to have seen most of the movies in theatres, but a couple of them I have. But I'm not counting them because at the time I wasn't really familiar with PBH. I wasn't really looking for him. I have only known about him for a couple of years and that's it. But when "Bruce Almighty" came out, I was very familiar with him. Now, I have gone back to look at his other roles (obviously on video).
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: bonanzataz on June 28, 2003, 01:04:14 AM
i'm still pissed off at my mom for seeing magnolia without me. i wanted to see it so bad and i had to wait for fucking video.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: modage on June 28, 2003, 11:53:49 AM
eww, seriously? :?
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 02, 2003, 11:38:49 AM
I found that PBH will be appearing in the new film "Dogville". It's directed by the great Lars Von Trier and starring Nicole Kidman. PBH, as always, doesn't have a huge role but a significant one. I don't have a release date right now for the U.S. It played at the Cannes Film Festival and it will be showing soon in foreign countries.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 05, 2003, 03:50:22 PM
I have some good news for PBH fans. He will be appearing in "In Control of All Things", which will be released in 2004 (they are currently filming).
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: rustinglass on July 05, 2003, 04:02:42 PM
I saw that seinfeld episode some time ago... He plays a library director, no?
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Cecil on July 05, 2003, 04:50:00 PM
yeah. mr. bookman, i believe
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: chainsmoking insomniac on July 07, 2003, 08:49:10 AM
Shit, I wasn't aware.  That's pretty cool.  I wish I could watch that episode.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 07, 2003, 11:32:39 AM
Me too. :evil:
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 10, 2003, 05:53:58 PM
I just found out that PBH will be appearing on an episode of "Cheers" called "Woody Gets An Election". Check your local listings.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 14, 2003, 03:01:15 PM
Philip Baker Hall will be on television on Tuesday this week. Check your local listings.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: MacGuffin on July 14, 2003, 03:06:22 PM
Quote from: filmcriticPhilip Baker Hall will be on television on Tuesday this week. Check your local listings.

What, like all day on every channel and program?
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 14, 2003, 03:09:49 PM
NO, he'll be on the show Night Visions on Sci-Fi.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Sleuth on July 14, 2003, 03:10:22 PM
duh...
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 14, 2003, 03:12:00 PM
I'm not sure if he has a big role or not. Probably small.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: 82 on July 14, 2003, 08:20:32 PM
This man can walk like a motherfucker.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Fernando on July 15, 2003, 04:28:31 PM
I thought of posting the dialogue of this really funny episode of Seinfeld with PBH for those who haven't seen it (only PBH's scenes).
To really have the feeling of the same type of character that PBH played, just read his lines like he was talking a little fast and in very curt way. Enjoy!

The first scene, in Jerry's apartment, begins with Jerry opening the door for the curmudgeonly "Lieutenant Bookman":

Jerry: Oh, I'm glad you're here, so we can get this all straightened out. Would you like a cup of tea?

Bookman: You got any coffee?

J: Coffee?

B: Yeah. Coffee.

J: No, I don't drink coffee.

B: Yeah, you don't drink coffee? How about instant coffee?

J: No, I don't have--

B: You don't have any instant coffee?

J: Well, I don't normally--

B: Who doesn't have instant coffee?

J: I don't.

B: You buy a jar of Folger's Crystals, you put it in the cupboard, you
forget about it. Then later on when you need it, it's there. It lasts
forever. It's freeze-dried. Freeze-dried Crystals.

J: Really? I'll have to remember that.

B: You took this book out in 1971.

J: Yes, and I returned it in 1971.

B: Yeah, '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries.
Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman
telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of
his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But
you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public
Library, fella.

J: Look, Mr. Bookman. I--I returned that book. I remember it very
specifically.

B: You're a comedian, you make people laugh.

J: I try.

B: You think this is all a big joke, don't you?

J: No, I don't.

B: I saw you on T.V. once; I remembered your name--from my list. I looked it up. Sure enough, it checked out. You think because you're a celebrity that somehow the law doesn't apply to you, that you're above the law?

J: Certainly not.

B: Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp,
the one that says "New York Public Library"?  Well that may not mean
anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot.
Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before:
Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're
thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library
books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without
libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change
the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right
now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees
and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers?
Doesn't HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue
fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that
kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe
that turns you on, Seinfeld; maybe that's how y'get your kicks. You and
your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time
is over. Y'got seven days, Seinfeld. That is one week!


The second "Bookman scene" includes Kramer and his "spinster" gal Marion the Librarian. The two, walking hand in hand in the library after hours, think they're alone:

KRAMER: You know, the library is kind of a cool place when it's closed.

MARIAN: Oh, yeah. You don't have to be quiet. Listen to the echo: Hello!

KRAMER: Hello!

MARIAN: Hello!

KRAMER: Hello!

MARIAN: Hello!

BOOKMAN (emerging): Hello!

MARIAN (turning, surprised): Mr. Bookman.

BOOKMAN: I remember when the librarian was a much older woman: Kindly, discreet, unattractive. We didn't know anything about her private life. We didn't want to know anything about her private life. She didn't have
a private life. While you're thinking about that, think about this: The
library closes at five o'clock, no exceptions. This is your final
warning. Got that, kewpie-doll?


And herewith the third and final "Bookman scene," just with Jerry again,
who, back in the library now, writes out a check for the never-returned
TROPIC OF CANCER and hands it to Bookman:

J: Anyway, I hope there's no hard feelings.

B: Hard feelings? What do you know about hard feelings? Y'ever have a man die in your arms? Y'ever kill somebody?

J: What is your problem?

B: What's my problem? Punks like you, that's my problem. And you better not screw up again Seinfeld, because if you do, I'll be all over you like a
pitbull on a poodle.

JERRY (after Bookman exits): That is one tough monkey!
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 15, 2003, 04:37:24 PM
Man, I wish I could have seen it. Maybe they'll air it soon.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: chainsmoking insomniac on July 15, 2003, 06:01:27 PM
That sounds SO great.  Damn.  I was just imagining his voice saying those lines, and a smile crept up on my face.  Next to Ricky D., PBH is the perfect straight man for a Seinfeld episode.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 15, 2003, 07:47:20 PM
Reminds me of his performance in "Bruce Almighty". He's so straightforward and has such a dead-pan delivery that it makes it very amusing.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: jokerspath on July 16, 2003, 08:39:22 AM
That is a great thing.  I wish I'd seen that episode.  Thanks for posting the text...

aw
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: rustinglass on July 16, 2003, 02:08:29 PM
I remember laughing a lot with another scene.

When the librarian tells Jerry and Kramer about Mr. Bookman, Kramer goes: "Mr. Bookman?! That's amazing! That's like an icecream guy named Cone!"
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: jonas on July 16, 2003, 08:57:29 PM
Mr. Bookman also shows up in the final episode in the courtroom as a witness speaking against Seinfeld.

Nothing too spectacular, a pretty small appearance. I remember he goes off about how irresponsible Jerry is for a second and that's it.

PBH is the man.
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on July 17, 2003, 06:53:43 PM
You got it! 8)
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on August 06, 2003, 09:02:39 AM
Philip Baker Hall is coming on Lifetime this afternoon playing the judge in "A Cry For Help: The Tacey Thurman Story".
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: filmcritic on September 08, 2003, 03:38:40 PM
I have great news for all you PBH fans. "Secret Honor" is now available on ebay! It's starting at $8.99. Trust me, it's a really great movie with a great performance by PBH. No wonder PTA loved him after watching this. May the best man win...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3347533867&category=309
Title: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Find Your Magali on September 09, 2003, 12:58:02 AM
Quote from: filmcriticI have great news for all you PBH fans. "Secret Honor" is now available on ebay! It's starting at $8.99. Trust me, it's a really great movie with a great performance by PBH. No wonder PTA loved him after watching this. May the best man win...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3347533867&category=309


Wow. Very, very tempting. I've never seen this. ... I guess there's no chance we'll ever get a groovy DVD edition, huh?

I might just bid.
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: The Red Vine on January 28, 2006, 04:48:53 PM
what the hell has happened to PBH? I mean I love the guy, but he went from working with PTA and Altman to...

The Amityville Horror
Bruce Almighty
Lost Souls
Rules of Engagment
Sum of All Fears
and the upcoming The Shaggy Dog

he's gotta eat, I guess...
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: soixante on February 02, 2006, 05:23:35 PM
It's a challenge for an actor to do good work in a standard issue Hollywood film.  It's all about turning chicken shit into chicken salad.  Chris Walken and Billy Bob Thornton do it all the time.  Thornton made both Friday Night Lights and The Alamo much better than they would've been without him.

Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: md on February 02, 2006, 07:25:36 PM
...any news on the duck movie, that was speculated on the c and red vines site?  looks interesting to say the least...
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Ravi on February 04, 2006, 03:01:36 PM
Quote from: Find Your Magali on September 09, 2003, 12:58:02 AM
Quote from: filmcriticI have great news for all you PBH fans. "Secret Honor" is now available on ebay! It's starting at $8.99. Trust me, it's a really great movie with a great performance by PBH. No wonder PTA loved him after watching this. May the best man win...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3347533867&category=309


Wow. Very, very tempting. I've never seen this. ... I guess there's no chance we'll ever get a groovy DVD edition, huh?

I might just bid.

Hehehe...
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: picolas on February 05, 2006, 05:30:34 PM
was it really Secret Honor?
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: ono on April 07, 2011, 09:49:14 PM
Apparently he had a guest spot on Modern Family.  Pretty low opinion of that show around here, but worth checking it out to see him in action, I imagine.
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: mogwai on April 07, 2011, 09:58:40 PM
Phew, he's not dead yet!
Title: Re: Philip Baker Hall
Post by: Reel on April 07, 2011, 10:56:22 PM
that'll be a sad day for xixax. Prolly need a 3 day mourning period.